I don’t have an insane leader, but I do have an evil one. My novel focuses on a desert culture I’ve created, the Embikka. Part of their mythology includes a figure called Shenur- his name means “master”, and although he’s a mythological figure, he’s widely considered to be based on some real-life tyrant far back in Embikka history.

In the mythos, Shenur is a foreigner. He came to the desert from outside, and through tricks and treachery, ended up ruling its people. He is always portrayed as greedy and cruel, though he may use false kindness as a weapon. He’s very clever, but since he doesn’t know the ways of the desert, he’s often defeated by other mythological figures such as the heroine Dena or the trickster Ekand.

Shenur is the most wicked figure in Embikka mythology, and so he’s usually shown as taking what is most important to them- water. In some myths, he steals all the water in the desert and keeps it hidden. In others, he finds a way to stop the rain itself- these myths are especially common, since Embikka culture revolves around rain. Water and especially rain represents freedom, and so Shenur taking that away is the cruelest thing he could do.

Embikka myths involving Shenur, however, always end with him being overthrown- myths typically use the phrase “cast down and forgotten” for him. He’s a frightening figure, with a lot of power. But he always loses in the end.