Character sketch!

What's a story without good characters?

Every story is equipped with a vast array of characters. The hero, the villain, and all of their cohorts form the main character base for most stories. Here's a list of the usual set of characters you find in a novel:-

THE HERO

The hero, male or female, usually has a history. Something inexplicable in his life. Either he has a troubled story or a completely normal life with just a few things totally out of place. The hero is always on the good side, and will stick to his principles forever. No amount of bribery will make him join the evil side. The hero's usually brave and determined. And the hero always does what he has to, because two out of three times, he/she has lost a loved one because of the villain.

THE SIDEKICK

There's always a sidekick, or in many cases, multiple. But the common thing about these sidekicks is that they're absolutely loyal to the hero. They will stick by his side no matter what. Some other times, the sidekick might initially be portrayed as a rival, and later grows on to form a deep bond and friendship with the hero. The thing about them is, most people love them better than the hero, not any less because they usually provide the comic relief in the otherwise serious story.

THE THIRD WHEEL(s)

The other good characters, who usually stick to the background, but come to the fore in some situations, just to let you know they're there! They're predominantly good, and they usually tend to die easily, just because they're easy to kill without disappointing fans.

THE TRAITOR

More often than not, there's a character who is portrayed originally as good, but goes over to the enemy side later, shocking everyone completely. He thinks that the grass is greener on the other side, and assists the villain in his.... uh.... villainous actions. Usually, though, the traitor has a change of heart nearing the end, and comes back on the good side, playing a very crucial role in the defeating the villain.

THE VILLAIN

The villain is mostly self-confident, slightly or totally nuts and wants to bring the  whole world under his subordination. You can't help liking him/her a little (after all, who else in the book is so freaking evil?)

But when the end approaches, you must side with the hero. Evil is awesome, until it starts killing your favourite characters randomly.

VILLAIN'S ARMY

Every villain has an army. One completely dedicated towards mindless slaughter, and willing to do anything to show its support to its master. These usually make interesting sideline topics, and have some history behind them.

WISE TEACHER

I've always wondered how is it that almost all novels have a wise-old-man character. But that's the way it is. Be it old Dumbledore, or even older Gandalf, there is always a teacher to guide the hero along on his journey... and he always has a beard!