Mary Sue of Lymond and Sevigny

[rusty_halo]

http://rusty-halo.com/wordpress/?p=2774

mrv3000 ran the Doctor through the Mary Sue Litmus Test and the results were highly amusing. (I suppose we should start calling him Doctor Sue.)

I couldn't resist doing the same for Francis Crawford of Lymond...

(This was originally made for the Gargoyle fandom; I've taken out some of the Gargoyle-specific questions, and left some in because they're silly.)

Section 1 - The Name Game

Is the character named after you? (This can be your first name, middle name, or the name you go by in chat or irc.) If so, stop now. Put your pencil (mouse?) down and turn in your test.[10]
DO NOT NAME YOUR CHARACTER AFTER YOURSELF.
DO NOT NAME YOURSELF AFTER YOUR CHARACTER.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR EXCEPTION IS.

Is the character's name an unusual spelling of a more common name or word?[1]

No.

Is the character's name unusual in another way?

No.

A female with a male-sounding name?[1]

No.

A name the character chose for him or herself, because s/he "didn't want to forget"?[1]

No...

A noun or adjective not normally used for a name (especially for human characters)[1]?
(Touchy with gargoyle characters, but use your discretion. Would any self-respecting gargoyle really want to go through life with this name?)

No.

Does the character have a really cool name that you wish you had?[1]

No. We're starting off well...!

Is the character's name in the title of the story or is the title otherwise a description of the character? (i.e. "The Girl Who Could Fly")[5]

Hmmm... Well, the series is called The Lymond Chronicles, so I'll give it this one, even though the titles of the individual books don't necessarily refer to Lymond... although, actually The Ringed Castle does, and Pawn in Frankincense kind of does, among other things, so definitely.

Does the character have more than one name? (i.e. a nickname or a pseudonym that other characters use to refer to the character)[1]

Goodness, yes; I can't count how many names he goes by! "Lymond," obviously, and "Francis Crawford," and "Francis" to a select few, and "Master of Culter" and "Comte de Sevigny" and "Voevoda Bolshoia" and "Vervassal Herald" and and and... and that's not even starting on all the alternate identities he assumes!

Did you spend more than a day looking for just the right name?[1]

I have no idea if Dunnett did.

Have you considered naming your pet or child the character's name?[1]

I don't think Dunnett did!

(+6)

Section 2 - Physical Attributes

Is the character the same gender as you?[1]

Nope.

Is the character from the same racial group as you?[1]
(Note: if the character is a gargoyle, fay, or another magical/genetically altered being, answer yes to this question.)

I'm going to say he's from the same racial group as the author, both being Scottish patriots...

Is the character a hybrid of two or more species?[3]
Is the character a cross-breed of any other type? (i.e. multi-racial, multi-clan)[1]

No...

Is the character not subject to limitations normally put upon someone of this species? (Examples: A character who is any part gargoyle but does not turn to stone at dawn. A character who is in any part fay but is not vulnerable to iron. A human who is immortal.)[4]

I'd say this one is kind of debatable, since his species is human but he accomplishes feats no real human could... but I'll give the author the benefit of the doubt here and say that while his feats are highly implausible, they're not technically impossible.

Is the character a teenager or in her/his early twenties?[1]

Indeed! And Dunnett makes a big deal of how (absurdly) young he is.

Does the character look like s/he is a teenager or in her/his early twenties for no apparent reason[2]?

For a magical or special scientific reason[2]?

That you plan on making a plot point later?[1]

Does this sentence or similar appear anywhere in your story? "(Character's name) was the youngest person to ever become (insert job title here)."[5]

There are definitely hints toward it. He makes a big deal of hiding his age in Checkmate when he's getting all those French honors.

Is the character the age you would like to be?[1]

Can't speak for Lady Dunnett here...

Is the character beautiful or roguishly handsome?[1]

Both!

Does one or more of the regulars find the character highly attractive?[1]

Uh, yeah, everyone finds him highly attractive.

Do other regulars see him/her as a threat because of this?[1]

Gabriel must. And we hear lots of complaints about his "seductive" ability.

Does the character have an unusual eye color for no apparent reason?[3]

Nope.

Will this be a plot point later?[1]

Not really, although if this question were about hair color it would be a different story.

Does the character have really nice hair that you describe more than once, or on the first page?[1]

Hells yeah.

Does the character have an accent which you do not share?[1]

Nope, he's got that educated "lack of accent" thing (noted by Christian in Game of Kings) and an ability to blend in by assuming different accents and speaking different languages like a native. (Well, except for that occasional failure to emphasize the first syllable when speaking Gaelic, or whatever it was.)

Does the character have a scar or a strange marking that is noticed by another character, but does not actually detract from his/her appearance?[1]

Oh, man. What scars doesn't he have? Hands, back, chest, galley brand, cross carved by Joleta (!)... and of course, still beautiful.

Is the character deaf, mute, or both?[1]

Nope.

Is s/he no longer deaf and/or mute by the end of the story/series or else dead? (subtract 1 pt if character is alive and still deaf or mute at the end of the entire series)[3]

Is the character otherwise physically disabled? (anyone who says "She's so pretty that it's like a disability because everyone hates her or wants to have sex with her" will be summarily keelhauled)[subtract 2 pts]

He goes blind a lot?

Is the character no longer disabled at the end of the series, or else dead?[1]

Yep, he is magically healed of his blindness by true love. Seriously!

Is the character mentally disabled? (read: at the functional level of Forrest Gump or below)[subtract 2]

No, although you could make some definite arguments for mental illness (how many times does he try to kill himself?).

Does the character have any telekinetic, telepathic, or other psychic powers despite / because of this disability?[3]

Hmmm. There is that whole "Lymond and Philippa communicate psychically" thing...

Is the character overweight? (not just "I ate too many Snackwells and now my thighs are HUGE, but honestly overweight)[subtract 2]

There is the Thady Boy Ballagh era....

Is this remarked upon by another character who is not motivated by jealousy?[subtract 2]
Is the character no longer overweight by the end of the series?[4]

Yep, the Tour des Minimes saves him from the horrors of getting fat, and then he's back to being icy, catlike, and gorgeous.

(+19)

Section 3 - Personal Traits

Is the character the long-lost child or descendent or sibling of a regular or recurring character?[1]

Nah, he is the only main character that matters.

Was the character adopted or did he/she otherwise live with people who were not his/her parents as a child?[1]

Ummm.... it depends which part of the story you're at! In the end... kinda. I'll give it a half point, since Gavin's not his father.

Is the character a member or a friend of a hitherto unknown clan of gargoyles?[1]

Okay, this gargoyles thing is really goofy.

And is the last surviving member of that clan?[1]

Not really, although you could say he's technically the last surviving legitimate heir of Francis Crawford I.

Add points for each aspect seen somewhere during your character's life:

- abandoned by caregivers[1]

I'll say that being rejected by his "father" counts.

- born or forced into slavery[1]

Yep, galley slave.

- born or raised in extreme poverty[1]

No.

- sole survivor of a calamity[2]

Hmmm, is he ever? I don't think so. Although he comes close with the shipwreck in Ringed Castle.

- physical abuse[2]

I'll say between Gavin destroying his musical instruments, burning Sybilla's books, and chasing him away with a whip, there's a strong implication of physical abuse. (And isn't there some more direct reference, of Gavin not being smart enough to argue with Lymond's words and so resorting to his fists?)

- sexual abuse by a caregiver[3]

Does Margaret Lennox count?

- rape[3]

Between the implications of a pretty blond 16-year-old boy spending two years as a galley slave and the Aga Morat's "sleep with me or I'll kill your friend," I'd say yes, although I don't think Lymond would agree.

- member of a "despised" class or race[1, 2 if it is a plot point of the "I can make a contribution even thought I'm ... " variety]

He thinks he is (a bastard, tainted, born of incest, "hunchback in the gutter" etc), but he isn't.

- illegitimate birth[2]

Again, thinks he is, but isn't. I'll give him half the points.

- later parent of illegitimate child[1 pt each]

Yep. *sniffle*

- any other life experience inspired by V.C. Andrews[3]

Would "sleeping with half the French court" go here? Margaret Lennox? Joleta Reid Mallett? Cutting his wrists? Getting addicted to opium? "Killing his own son"? Yeah, I'll give him the melodrama points.

Does the character suffer from guilt about something terrible that s/he did in the past?[1]

Hahahahaha. This is like the definition of Lymond. What doesn't torment him with guilt?

Do the other characters eventually convince her/him that it was not his/her fault?[1]

Hmmm.... kind of? Philippa helps him get over his issues, so that he's able to stop blaming himself enough to become a functioning human being, so, yeah.

Does the character share your religious beliefs?[1]
(Add an extra point if the character is a gargoyle or fay.)

I have no idea what Dunnett's religious beliefs were.

Did the character have an unusual birth or unusual experience in early infancy? (i.e. abducted, placed in a basket and set afloat, visited by Three Weirdos, etc.)[1]

Uh. Yeah. "My mother was married to my father and my grandfather, but that's okay because my grandfather had amnesia and she thought he was dead, and he's actually my father, and my 'father' is my brother and hates me for looking like my grandfather and distracting my mother's attention..."

Does the character have a twin, a clone, or a sibling of the same gender?[2]

Marthe! Who technically is none of these, but may as well be all three.

About whom you plan on writing another story later?[2]

No. Poor Marthe.

Does the character have a very good singing voice?[2]

The best!

Or play a musical instrument amazingly well?[1]

Stunningly well.

The guitar or flute, for instance?[2]

Francis Crawford of Lymond plays every instrument perfectly.

Does the character have better taste in music than you do?[1]
(For example, does your character own cd's that you think educated people ought to own, even though you've never actually listened to the music yourself?)

I'm going to assume that Lady Dunnett actually knew what she was talking about here.

Does the character do what you do for fun or profit?[1]
(This includes having the same job you have, or would like to have when you're older, or having a job that sounds like a lot of fun even though you know nothing about it. It can also mean RPing, computer programming, whatever.)

Hmmm, I'd say being a roguish adventurer, spy, and hero is a total fantasy "job"...

Is the character royalty of any type?[3]

Nope.

That she/he does not originally know about?[3]

No, although there is a similar thing with the whole "actually the legitimate heir all along" ending.

Does the character make more wisecracks than Brooklyn?[1]

I don't know who Brooklyn is, but does Francis Crawford make wisecracks? Is the sky blue?

Does everyone end up liking the character (among the regulars you like)?[1]

This is arguable, since most people end up hating him first, and then come around to loving him in the end. But, yeah, basically all the sympathetic main characters end up loving him.

(+47.5)

Section 4 - Super Powers

Does the character, not being fay, have magical/mutant powers anyway?[2]

Not really, although he's absurdly good at everything.

Does the character have telekinesis or telepathy? (Twins count.)[2]

Not enough that it really matters in the story.

Does the character just "know things" for no apparent reason?[2]

There's always a reason, however convoluted and implausible.

Can the character fly?[1]

Er, no.

Without the aid of wings?[2]

Can the character heal with a touch and/or thought?[1]

Remember that time he "freed Oonagh's soul from her body" by having sex with her?

Do animals (especially fuzzy ones) instinctively like the character?[2]
(Subtract two points if the only animals that like the character are non-butterfly insects and crawly lizard-types.)

I doubt it, since he kills a lot of them. The 1500s weren't a good time to be a fuzzy animal. And Slata Baba is just creepy.

(+48.5)

Section 5 - The Love Connection

Does the character fall in love with and/or have sex with another recurring character from the show?[1]

Yes.

With whom you would like to fall in love and/or have sex?[1]

Who wouldn't fall for Philippa?

Does the story end with the character's wedding?[2]

Hahaha, no. Lymond's wedding must be the least romantic wedding in the history of literature. Although the series does end with kind of a redux of vows, but it's not an actual wedding.

(+50.5)

Section 6 - The Real World and Your Character

Would you like to be friends with the character if you met in real life?[1]

I would.

Do you think everyone who reads the story should automatically like the character and want to be friends with the character?[1]

Doubtful. He's a lot to handle.

If someone tells you he/she doesn't like your character, do you take it as a personal attack on you?[1]

It's pretty understandable that a lot of people wouldn't find him likable.

(+51.5)

Section 7 - The Fiendish Plot

Do you introduce the character on the first page of the story?[2]

Yes.

In the first sentence?[1]

"'Lymond is back.'"

Do you tell the story from the character's point of view, all or mostly?[1]

In six books and thousands of pages, we get less than ten scenes in Lymond's own POV.

Does the character manage to develop a friendship with an otherwise villainous character, and through this friendship, reform the other character?[2]

Hmmm. He tries, with Oonagh and Joleta and kind of even Gabriel, but it doesn't really work except in Oonagh's case. Although he does manage to reform Ludovic d'Harcourt just by his presence in The Ringed Castle.

Does the character save the day and/or another character's life?[3]

Constantly. Although he sucks at saving the lives of the people he actually cares about.

Through magical/mystical intervention?[1]

Nah.

Through dying? (Turning to stone "forever" counts.)[3]

No but...

Through almost dying?[2]

Yes.

Does everyone go into mourning?[1]

Hmmm, yeah. *thinks of his coma during Checkmate and the fakeout of his "death" at the very end*

Does s/he get not-dead by the end of the story?[4]

Yup! He gets an amazing coma recovery and a "that's not me, that my amazingly similar clone half sister."

Do you plan to write many more stories revolving around this character?[2]

Alas, she never did, although she wrote a whole series about his ancestors that I still haven't read.

Do you plan to write one or more stories featuring this character's child(ren)?[2]

I wish she had.

(+66.5)

Possible Points: 170 (assuming some questions obviate the rest) Preliminary testing suggests the following basic scoring scheme:

0-14 Developed character, unlikely MS.
15-20 Borderline character. Characters in this range are potential MS's, who can go either way dependent on the author's skill.
21+ Mary Sue/Gary Stu. Proceed with greatest caution.
35+ Reconsider your character and plot. Please.

Yeah, Lymond got a 66.5 (+ or - the margin of error that comes from me adding halfassedly).

Of course, I'd argue that there's a difference between a Mary Sue and a main character, and that in Lymond's case most of his awesometastic abilities cause at least as much trouble as they're worth. But then, this is just for lulz anyway. :)

Current Mood: amused

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