What to Do with a Character that has Stumbled in Cliche

[Ramon Rozas]

I am working on the cast of a short story, and as I visualized this character, I considered the traits I wanted/thought of:

I needed someone tough and proficient with a sword or axe, an adventurer type
For plot reasons, they needed to be from a remote or desolate area of this world
It would be helpful if they had royal or political connections, again for plot reasons,
I visualized this character as female, for no particular reasons but that what was in my mind.

Then I realized that I had drawn up the classic barbarian warrior princess! Should I just give her a female shield-carrier and do the whole Xena thing and be done with it?

What do you do when you have drifted into cliche?

[Richard H. Fay]

Let's see...

Remote doesn't necessarily equate to barbaric. In some ways, Bhutan is remote, but I wouldn't call their nation or people barbaric. Perhaps you could create a "less barbaric" character coming from a "less barbaric" society.

Political connections don't necessarily mean royal, as in "Xena, Warrior Princess". There could be all sorts of different levels of nobility. Plus, depending on your society, their could be a religious hierarchy with political power alongside the secular authority.

Someone trained as a warrior might not be "royal" at all. They may simply be a part of a warrior class, or even a professional soldier. The Condotierre mercenary warlords of medieval Italy were professional soldiers who, on occasion, became political leaders as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condottieri

Female, eh? I can't help but to think of a new Osprey Publishing book that has caught my eye - Samurai Women 1184-1877:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/stor..._9781846039515

[Ramon Rozas]

Thank you for the thoughts, Mr. Fay - I'll try shifting around "her" traits!