This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the Helping Writers Podcast.

I hope you enjoyed this week's episode,

Artypal Antagonists for the Kronarch,

Death Blight and Temptor.

As the fifth of six archetypal character arcs in the life cycle, the Kron arc offers the first

great challenge of a character's elder years. Fundamentally, it is a story about a character coming to grips with the full magnitude of mortality.

And indeed, death itself is the primary archetypal antagonist within a Kronok or at least seems to be.

As noted in previous episodes the protagonist's view of the archetypal

antagonists evolves right along with her progression through the life

arcs. What begins as a decided me versus them viewpoint in the early

arcs becomes increasingly more complex. By the time the character is challenged to decide whether or not she will

fight that greatest of enemies, death itself, she will surprise herself with the realization that perhaps death is no enemy at all.

But this is a realization for the climax of a Kronark, when finally she is able to move into the liminal world of the mage.

Throughout most of her story, the Kron's antagonistic forces are represented more specifically

as a death blight and as the subtle

tempter who would lure her away from the truth. You may remember the crone begins

her story feeling rather played out, having just completed her king

arc in which she nobly sacrificed her temporal power and position, her life struggling with feeling the best part of her life is over and that she might now just give in to the sound the best part of her life is over and that she might now perhaps just give in to the somnlylure of a well-earned retirement.

Her primary challenge is that of surrendering to her mortality to death, and in so doing resisting the temptation to wage war against life out of

her bitterness that it should be so. Furthermore, she is inspired to begin bringing her story full circle by fostering new life,

via the young of her kingdom, who still desperately require her wisdom and initiatory powers.

The Kron arc becomes more symbolic and metaphoric

...