✧°˖────———- ・・・・・ . ☽ ‧₊˚ ···╮
How to write a
cunning
character
╰┈ ‧₊˚ ☾. ⋅ ・・・・———-────°˖✧

‧₊˚┊Reverse psychology is their best friend┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -Reverse psychology is a technique involving the assertion of a belief or behaviour that is opposite to the one desired, with the expectation that this approach will encourage the subject of the persuasion make your OC do things without making it look like they're asking them to do it. They play mind games so well that your OC won't even understand that they're doing what this cunning character wants them to do.

‧₊˚┊Planner┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -They plan things way ahead of time. You mayn't do plotting but this character sure as hell does that. Needless to say that they're the mastermind of the game, and their actions are drafted accordingly.

‧₊˚┊Unreliable┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -This character is the definition of unreliable. Think of them as the people who say, "Well i didn't lie, i just hit the truth." they ARE that person, whether for good or bad. You can't fully trust them because they lack that honest and loyalty (sometimes)

‧₊˚┊Personality-shifter┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -They don't behave like their usual self. They change their personality according to the people they're accompanying. This helps them develop a certain kind of relationship with people and reap benefits out of this.

‧₊˚┊Resourceful┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -They know exactly what's going on. They're very conscious of their surroundings and trust me, they're always hiding information. This is a very important that they have because this is the main reason why they're personality shifters. They want to know what's going on where so that they can plot their next moves accordingly. Also too much information can mean that they can easily manipulate others, if they want to.

‧₊˚┊Let them be avid readers┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -Does that help? Hell yeah. Knowledge is power, and they usually try to use this knowledge as their main weapon. This also helps in predicting what's going to happen. And they also help in them knowing how to play around with the other characters.

‧₊˚┊Connections┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -They need to have connections to be powerful. This doesn't mean they only need to be rich, they can also be connected to people who are poor. Let's take an example of our dear Sherlock Holmes. He is very well reputed amongst the elites of London but he also has connections with poorer crowds which gives him a powerful resource.

‧₊˚┊Sneaky┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -Let them be sneaky. This would help them to maintain their position if they are threatened. Lie they can easily go from point A to B without letting anyone notice them which is a very  powerful move. Also, let them be sneaky with their thoughts and information, this would help a lot in your nvel.

‧₊˚┊Trickster┊˚₊‧

₊⊹ -They're obviously one and that means they can trick anyone into undermining their (not the trickster) confidence. Mid battles are probably one of the most powerful battles ever and if the trickster make their enemies' confidence low then they can play with them EASILY, and they have a control over the information.