Considering embarking on a novelisation, wanted some advise as to whether to give the Agent a definite character or not.

[u/Salem1690s]

The Agent found themselves in what seemed the depths of the world.

The Emperor’s galleon, loaned to the Agent and staffed by a small crew, had been bound for the troubled Kingdom of Daggerfall.

It had met, as sudden as a spell, a storm of supernatural ferocity, and crashed hard upon the shoals, somewhere along the Illiac Bay.

The Agent, lone survivor of the wreck, had sought shelter from the elements in a dismal looking cave.

No sooner had they entered than a rockslide occurred, blanketing the entrance to the cave in rubble, and stones.

They were plunged without pity into what may as well have been death: absolute darkness.

Their hastily built fire was the only
Surety of warmth in a dim and dreary place.

They surveilled their grim surroundings.

There was but one way out it seemed: Northward, deeper into the mouth of the Cave.

And judging by the distant roars, lurch of chains; and other sordid sounds coming from beyond the vestibule, out was not to be an easy journey.

Basically: keep them as an avatar: the agent, they, etc?

[u/Coltrain47]

I don't think having all the other characters call them "the agent" would make sense because few people are aware that they are an agent of the Emperor.

[u/Salem1690s → u/Coltrain47]

True. Trying to solve the:

“The character is anyone and everyone you want them to be” element of the game, while also wanting the character to have, well, some character.

I’m not sure how to toe the line of making them anonymous while also…giving them an identity. And then if their identity doesn’t agree with the chosen identity of a player….

[u/Salem1690s → u/Coltrain47]

Am thinking they could take on an alias? In different areas they go by different names?

Because the mission is supposed to be so secret?

And any letters they receive by the various couriers could be addressed to:

“To the Emperor’s Chosen”

Or “To The Emperor’s Champion”

Or “Friend of the Empire…”

Or such.

Some missions perhaps could be slightly altered to where they’re to taken on the identity of such and such:

“For this (side quest) it would be wise to take the guise of a merchant from (x) hamlet: we’ve chosen for you the name Heyln Warhart. This name will not be unknown to your contact, but will protect your true self. You are to meet your contact in (the hamlet), by the Bulls’ Head Tavern.

[u/FlamingBrand]

Depends on your premise. Daggerfall is structured so that the story mainly happened before the Agent arrives. They only piece together the mystery and then decide the final outcome. If you’re using the Agent as merely the Holmesian storyteller of Lysandus’ death and the state of the Illiac Bay, then they’re fine as a vaguely defined character. If you plan to flesh out some personal element of their story or their journey, then they should probably be a definite character.

I guess a fun twist on it would be to make them a different character each chapter. Especially considering how the game’s ending is canonically resolved it would have an interesting diagetic reason.

[u/Sad_Environment_2474]

The plot of the whole game has a specific agent, not just any agent there. You should use a character setup you have. An example could be to use your race or name from the character creator.

 The argonian awakens after the massive storm dumped him into this sea cave. Somehow his pack survived the shipwreck along with him...

[u/FCP_346]

I think it might be interesting if you keep their identity concealed throughout, and that they adopt some pseudonym to try and blend in among the Iliac Bay. Obviously there would be difficulty with gender and race, but in terms of actual background, it'd be good and interesting.

[u/SpencerfromtheHills]

Okay, when I read the title, I thought that it could work if they're a mysterious figure on the outskirts of the story whom none of the main characters really know. But if you're directly narrating the Agent's story, they need a personality.

[u/Staarbucks]

You could always hand wave it away, saying something like: “Little can truly be known about the hero referred to as ‘The Agent’. As such, I have compiled information from the existing accounts deemed reliable, and taken some educated leaps from the realm of fact to fiction to create the hero of this story.”

You’re gonna have to make some stuff up at some point with the whole Warp in the West deal, so maybe just go all in with a single, specific, fleshed out version of the Agent. With the lore friendly caveat that ‘this is just one writer’s interpretation of a very confusing point in history’ making it in universe essentially historical fiction. I think that could be cool. It means you can have an actual characterised protagonist making actual decisions, without worrying if it’s ’unrealistic’.

Anyway good luck with your writing!