Pariah

Read Exodus 33-36

Exodus 34:30 “And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.”

Some story worlds' populations include a pariah—someone the other characters avoid or someone who has isolated himself. It could be someone the other characters are afraid of or someone who is afraid of the other characters.

It could be someone with unusual talents or someone who acts strangely. It could also be a misunderstanding—someone shunned in error, or someone who is trying to heal from trauma before mixing with others.

 

Not every story benefits from having such a character, but when looking to enrich the plot, it’s worth thinking about. As long as the character plays an important role at some point in the story, a pariah could make for an interesting addition.