Well, when we were discussing alter-egos of Discworld for Our Heroes, Rinsewind was the favored avatar for Vila. Cartainly, the cowardly hero fits. But what of Verence? He starts of as a Fool, plays down his intelligence, is met with scorn until his abilities become noticed, at which point he is used and given little reward. He falls in love with a pretty girl and learns to start standing up for himself. After that point, of course, what parallels there are don't hold--Verence is more intellectual and less sensual than Vila. (Although, unlike Rinsewind, there's no confusing girls with potatoes!) And Verence gets the girl, and the kingdom, and Vila goes back to the ship. But it's interesting. Oh, yes. Verence is not a 'little man', as Magrat fist thinks-- he scrunches himself in a way that makes him look smaller. Like Vila.