Character Interview: Talindra Jurhan

Character Interview Questions Sheet 1 – Major Characters

Name of character: Talindra Jurhan

Place of character in the story: Love Interest

Relationship to the lead if this person is not the lead: Crush

What’s your name?Talindra


How old are you? 21

What do you look like? If you had to describe yourself as though you were
talking about someone else, what would you say? I have lovely thick long black hair. I love my hair! Blue eyes and milky skin. I am not very tall and am only slightly built. My nose is maybe a little large and my ears stick out a little bit. I have more than a few freckles spattered accross my nose and arms.

What are your speech patterns like? I have been educated at the court, so I like to think that I speak very well. I am not fluent in Nebatian but since they have been coming to court I have been learning their language, and I am picking it up well enough.

Do you sometimes lie? “White lies” or significant lies? Can people usually
tell when you’re lying or are you a really accomplished liar? Is your whole
life a lie? If so, why and how? Lying is wrong. I have never told any major lie and I don't like telling small lies either.

What is your usual facial expression? Are people drawn to your warmth
and cheerfulness, or are you seen as quiet / dour / grim / humourless /
reserved / etc? Does your face reflect the ‘inner you’ or are looks
deceiving? I am an open person. I am friendly try to talk to everyone I come across. There are always new people coming through the royal court. I try to avoid getting noticed too much but neither do I shy away. I like to think this is a true reflection on my character

How do you handle anger? Are you slow to anger or easy to annoy? Are
people afraid of you, and if so is this justified? I get angry with my parents and my brother but not easily. I don't like being fooled or lied to and this is the one thing that makes me mad. People are not afraid of me, I'm just a woman.

How do you react to confrontation? Would you give anything for a quiet life
or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight? I like discussion rather than arguements, arguements seem a waste of time and energy. I won't give up my opinion but know when its a good time to keep my mouth shut.

How much power do you wield at home, in the workplace, and in social
situations? Are you the quiet “power behind the throne” type or do you
wield obvious power? Or do you feel powerless? If so, why – and what
might be the catalyst to make you change? I am an unmarried woman in an increasingly unstable court. Things are not going well in Karana and I'd rather not be in the middle of it when things get messy. I have no power over anyone.

What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when
they meet you? Just a silly girl getting in the way of more important people.

In your case, is ‘what you see is what you get’, or do people sometimes
make the wrong judgement about you? If so, why would this be? I'm not silly all the time and I pay more attention than people give me credit for. That said, I wouldn't know how to use any power I had.

What is your level of education? Has what you have been obtained by
‘street smarts’ or ‘book smarts’? I was educated at the Karanan court by the scholars there, I have also had some home schooling by a Quillaan tutor. I am relatively well educated.

Where do you live? My parents are land owners, sometimes we stay in our townhouse near the court in Karana. Sometimes we stay at the palace and sometimes we stay at the mansion in the countryside. Usually when things get a bit dangerous, like when there is plague in the city.

Do you live alone, share a house, or…? I like with my mother, father and younger brother. Halandir has been staying at the mansion recently with his tutor, however he has returned to court now.

Are you in a relationship, or part of a family? I love my mother and father and brother very much. They are only trying to do what is best for me, although we do disagree sometimes

Who is your best friend? (If you have one). When did this relationship
start? What makes you friends? Sylvia, she is a priestess of Life and we have known each other since we was very young. I don't see her much now that she has her daughter and that she is married to Rasputin, who is scary, but I know I can go to her when I am troubled.

Who is your enemy / who do you dislike most? Why? When did this dislike
start, and why? There is this girl, Martha Du Saire; We have never really got on very well while we were growing up but when we hit fifteen, she started going out of her way to be deliberatly nasty. She'd do stupid things like put gross things in my books and pull my hair. She and I still don't get along but I do my best to keep out of her way. She liked to put herself in the way of the powerful men at court and I doubt very much that she is still a maid.

Who else is in your circle of acquaintances? Who would you turn to in
times of trouble? Liza, she has been one of my friends for a long time, she and I share a number of classes and often work together. Her family are not as rich as my own but she is a wonderful friend. I can tell her anything. Sylvia is another, although I think I mentioned her earlier. We have grown apart a bit now but I know she is there for me.

If there is anyone in your circle that might betray you, who would it be? I don't even like thinking about this. Although if I had to think about it, I trust Josephine less than the others. She always seems so distant and aloof from the rest of us. Maybe we just have less in common but I can't bring myself to trust her fully. Does that make me a bad person?

Is there anyone you would not expect to betray you? How would you
feel/react if they did? I'd be heartbroken. I have a very close group of small friends at the court and I can't even think about what I'd do if I was betrayed.

How would you describe your personality? What are your best points &
assets? What are your flaws or weaknesses? I am so powerless to do what I want. My father is arranging my marriage to someone I don't like and I really want to get out of it. Despite my protestations he won't listen. I wish I was stronger and more able to resist him. I am a kind gentle person and I guess thats why he thinks he can do all this for me. I should have started standing up for what I felt when I was younger.

If there was one thing about your LOOKS that you could change, what
would it be? I'd love to have dark eyes like my hair, mine are blue and I think they look a bit hard.

If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change,
what would it be? Strength. I'd have more of it.

What makes you likeable? Are you likeable enough for people to want to
spend extended periods of time with you? I like to think I listen and that I am agreeable. I grew up with my friends and although I am not the most adventerous person I don't mind taking part in the challenges we set for each other. I love singing and I'm pretty good at that too, although I don't sing much at the court, not since Tamon came to the throne.

What makes you unlikeable? Is this a chronic problem or can you change? I know I can be a bit petulant at times and it annoyd me when my brother acts like a brat so I know it's off putting. I try and stop it but sometimes it just happens. The girls can all be a bit petty and I know I am as bad as the rest of them.

What type of people would like you, and who might not like you? I try to like everyone and I know those who have asked for my hand have been rich gentlement but I think I'd rather be with someone I actually liked, and who liked me for me, not my family fortune.

Would you describe your life to this point as being generally happy, pretty
average, or generally unhappy? Can you briefly explain why? I am happy. I have good friends and a family that loves me. I know times are changing and not for the best and I dread the day my father signs the contract that will have me wed to the new Duke but until then, I am resolute to remaining happy. I am sure I will find a way out of that situation when the time comes.

What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you? I have lived a sheltered life, as you can imagine. I have had everything done for me and I have rarely seen anything bad. Although I do remember the battles fought during the civil unrest 4 years ago. We were caught in the middle of a particularly nasty spot, our mansion in the country was right in the centre and we had to flee. It turned out fine in the end but I remember the fear of the night. I still have bad dreams about it from time to time, and it was 4 years ago now

What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? Oh my. This is a tough question to answer. I think it was when I first ssung at the court when I was younger, I knew then that I could do it well. I remember people's applause and I felt good that I had given them something. I hope to one day do it again.

How important are material possessions to you? Do you regard them as a
symbol of your success, or a trap, or neither? I have a lot of clothes and I love wearing them. I like getting new jewelry like any other girl does and there are a few pieces that I couldn't bare to part with. I have this favourite pair of shoes as well, they are so soft and fit perfectly. I dread the day I have to get them replaced. I know they shouldn't mean as much as they do. The preachers of Cuthbert, Master of The Dead, tell me I can't take it with me, but I do like to look nice.

How do your surroundings reflect your success (or lack of it) in life so far? I live in a palace... If my father has his way, I will always live in a palace, although that will be married to a man I hate. I don't know if that's success or not. I find the whole thing confusing. I like the beautiful surroundings but I don't think I will be happy here after I am married. I think I'd be happier anywhere else.

What do your surroundings say about you? (Your house, your car, your
kitchen, your bathroom, your workplace.) Spoilt rich brat? I like it here but I know there are a lot of people who will envy me.

Do you feel that you have achieved all you are capable of in life? Or all
that you want to achieve? I want a happy family life, like I have always had, I want to be loved for who I am, not my family fortune.

Has your life changed in any way recently? If so, what brought on this
change? Is it a change for the better or for worse? The Old Duke died and Tamon inherited the throne. His brother was meant to but he disappeared a long time ago. He and his friend Alton the archmage have something strange going on. replacing the servants with slaves and sometimes they disappear for days on end and no one knows what they are doing. It's wierd and I'm not entirely sure I like it.

If your life has changed for the worse lately, what can you do to turn things
around? I don' know how this is going to affect me, and I doubt I can do anything about the political situation, I'm just a girl and Tamon won't listen to me, he only wants me for an heir I'm sure.

Do you INTEND to change your life in the near future? If so, how and why? I don't want anything to change. That's what frightens me the most.

What is the most important goal in your life? (What do you really WANT?) The most? In the whole world? I secretly want to travel away from the palace and see what else there is in the world. It's a big place and I want to see at least a little more of it before my time is over. I've only been to our mansion just outside the city and here. I want to see the tribal lands of the elves and maybe even Quillaa.

And how do you plan to achieve it? I don't know. I have no money of my own and a destiny I don't want. I'll think of something, even if it involves running away.

What are the likely obstacles to your getting what you want? How do you
plan to overcome these foreseeable obstacles? What might be the likely
result of your actions? I'd be disowned for a start! I don't know how Im going to do it but I will think of something. I'll start stashing some money somewhere and when I have a bit put together I'll run off and strike out on my own. I don't know how well I'll do. It will be so different from living here in this beautiful palace.

Have you faced any other obstacles to get to the point you are at now? I inherited my position... It's not all it looks.

What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get
what you want? How might you influence others to help you? I could sing for a living I guess. Or join a travelling troup. I'm sure there are ways I can earn some coins as I travelled about. I am sure my friends here would help me escape. I think Sylvia would be the best one to help me get out of here though

What is the biggest thing motivating you to achieve / get what you want? The thought of my looming marriage, maybe thats why I want to escape really. Just get out of that rather than an actual need to see the world.

Name the character trait or personality weakness that is most likely to
prevent you from getting what you want. How might you compensate for
this? Fear. I am so scared of the thought of going it alone I am not sure if I am more scared of marrying a man I dislike or running away.

Who would you die to protect? My brother and friends

Who would die to protect you? My brother andI hope my friends!

What is the thing you most fear losing in life? (This might be a person, a
possession, or an abstract quality like ‘respect’, ‘freedom’ or ‘credibility’.)

What drives you to do things you might regret later?

What are you about to do right now – today? How is this relevant to what is
important to you?
What will you do next?

Finish these sentences:
“The most important thing in life is…”
“If there’s one thing that makes me mad it’s…”
“I would lose interest in life if…”
“I can usually get myself out of trouble by…”
“If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…”
“I don’t like people who…”
“I like people who…”
“My most pressing need right now is…”
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next month is…”
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next year is…”
“My motto in life is: …”
Final question:
“Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself that has a bearing on
what you might do or say in any given situation?”