Sometimes a character will come along to make a pronouncement that winds up triggering the inciting incident, or informs the protagonist of impending danger, or indicates where his fortune may be found. Such archetypal characters are known as heralds. These folks can also be allies, shadows, or almost any other archetype. They are often harbingers of what’s to come (both good and bad), although it may not be obvious at the time that they make their pronouncement.
