Is your protagonist inherently good
Hello and welcome to The Demon Cleaner blog. My name is Nadi Abdi, author of The Demon Cleaner series.
Today, we're answering the question, is your protagonist inherently good. In this case, we're talking about Lillas Mikkinnan, protagonist of the Demon Cleaner series.
We've talked about the demon cleaners as a community. Now, I want to take a moment to talk about the goodness of Lillas, specifically. I talked about her a little bit during the discussion about cleaners, but we're gonna take a look at her history, habits, and influences which includes the people who raised her.
If you've never read Legacy of Lillas, swing through that novella. It gives our girl's origin story and shows the people, places, and things that made her who she is. The Cliff Notes: she loses her family and is placed in the care of Dr. Superville (which is an actual name I stumbled upon that I decided was too good to not use). Neither he nor she knows what she's capable of, and they go to great lengths to find out. He teaches her a lot of philosophies about power and how those with it move and behave. Lots of lessons about respect and fear. Lillas is in the unique position that she gets to choose who she wants respect from and who she wants fear from.
I say all of that to say this. No, your girl is not inherently good. If you know alignments, I would say she's neutral. Anyone can get it. But she doesn't seek people out (except for knights, but that's a different story). If you don't mess with her, she won't mess with you. If you start some shit, you are then at the mercy of her mood. If she's alone, she'll put you on the news.
Any great power needs checks and balances to prevent tyranny. For Lillas, that comes in the form of her friends and family. Spent time in a lab, but before that, she had family. Since then, she's gained more friends and family who adore her and whose opinions she values. That, more than anything, keeps her in line.
As we go through the series, we'll hear some rules and philosophies that she's learned and true to live by. “Don't attack people with no power because they can't defend themselves against you.” “Don't lie because power doesn't lie.” And lots of others. We'll see when she keeps those rules and when she breaks them.
I say she's neutral because if you attack her, if you attack anyone close to her m the response will be quick and dirty. Also, I feel like Angel made her to be neutral. It's just fits in line with her position in the story. Human connection and evolution are not things Angel can predict. It had no way of knowing Lillas would form bonds that would determine how she used her abilities.
Lillas can be reasonable and be reasoned with. People generally aren't afraid to approach her. She doesn't give tyrant vibes. She's awkward and shy around people and prefers to be left alone. She will help when needed, in the fastest, more efficient way possible, then leave. That way may involve violence. Good luck.
The demon knights. The demon knights are where we see Lillas in her most non-negotiable, tyrannical state. She knows what they are. She knows what they do. In her mind, they've possessed, abused, and murdered enough in their history, that any move against them is justified. The older they are, the more wickedness they've committed.
She's not wrong. It's impossible for a demon knight to live their life without harming mono humans and fighting demon cleaners. Ask one about their parents, about their siblings. If the story doesn't involve a sudden death or disappearance m they were raised by knights. Knights only respect other knights.
Legally, you can’t just go around executing knights especially if they're young. However, morally, all cleaners have an obligation to protect mono humans from knights. That’s what they were created for. Lillas just has a bit more power to do so than others.
Lillas does anything necessary to protect those in her care. She lives and dies by her word. The worst fate to her is her parents’ disappointment. If you’re with her, she’s with you and will torch a lot of buildings to save your life.
So, I guess her goodness depends on how you define good in the first place.
But I would still place her at the neutral at any time. As you all get to know her better, we can revisit this.
That's it for today's Demon Cleaner post. I’m Nadi Abdi. Sign up for the journey. Stay for the drama.
Read more by Nadi Abdi
The Demon Cleaner: Blog, Substack
Black Women in Fantasy: Blog, Substack
Nadi Abdi on Writing, Reading, and Politics: Blog, Substack
Read the intro short story, An Occurrence at Boyd Boone's House, free on KU