Chalion: Difference between revisions

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* ''The Hallowed Hunt'' (the Son's book)

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=== This series contains examples of: ===

== This series contains examples of ==

* [[Adipose Rex]]: Roya Orico is both obese and sickly, frequently with food stains on his clothing. He is a peripheral force for good at best and his moral weakness puts major characters in peril.

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* [[The Book Cipher]]: Used in ''The Curse of Chalion'' when Cazaril and Iselle need to communicate privately over long distances.

* [[Bury Your Gays]]: In ''The Curse of Chalion'', Ias and dy Lutez both died in the backstory, as did Umegat's partner.

* [[Cassandra Truth]]: Ista was labeled insane for ~~years -- turns~~ out she was just truthfully recounting the visions the gods were sending to her. This may have been a punishment for killing Dy Lutez.

* [[Cassandra Truth]]: Ista was labeled insane for years—turns out she was just truthfully recounting the visions the gods were sending to her. This may have been a punishment for killing Dy Lutez.

* [[A Child Shall Lead Them]]: Iselle

* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: There are a quite a few.

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** [[Chekhov's Army]]: The Order of the Daughter. Who knew a bunch of hardened soldiers sworn to the service of the Goddess of Virginity could help the maiden princess defend herself from unwanted suitors?

* [[Chick Magnet]]: Arhys is quite [[Unusual Euphemism|blessed by the Father]]. Indeed, it proves an important plot point.

* [[Compelling Voice]]: This is one benefit of harboring a spirit animal, as Ingrey discovers when he stops a raging ice bear with nothing but a firm verbal command. ~~Horseriver--being~~ a bit more powerful and ''a lot'' more ~~experienced--can~~ employ even more complicated tricks, overlapping with [[Jedi Mind Tricks]] and [[Mind Control]].

* [[Compelling Voice]]: This is one benefit of harboring a spirit animal, as Ingrey discovers when he stops a raging ice bear with nothing but a firm verbal command. Horseriver—being a bit more powerful and ''a lot'' more experienced—can employ even more complicated tricks, overlapping with [[Jedi Mind Tricks]] and [[Mind Control]].

* [[Completely Missing the Point]]: It's Cattilara's main character trait.

* [[Crystal Dragon Jesus]]: The Quintarian faith, while its theology is different and well-developed, fills the cultural role of the medieval Catholic Church. The Quadrene religion is closely related to Quintarianism but disagrees on a few very significant points, making it somewhat parallel the relationship between Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

* [[Curse]]: Obviously a central theme in the first two books. Also important in the third, but there it is generally referred to as a "geas," and is another way a saying "magically compelled."

* [[Cursed with Awesome]]: Ingrey's "defilement" grants some wicked cool abilities like [[Compelling Voice]], superhuman strength and a general air of being [[Troubled but Cute|angsty and tortured]] ~~-- although~~ for good reason, as he's (seemingly) still going to be cut off from the gods when he dies.

* [[Cursed with Awesome]]: Ingrey's "defilement" grants some wicked cool abilities like [[Compelling Voice]], superhuman strength and a general air of being [[Troubled but Cute|angsty and tortured]]—although for good reason, as he's (seemingly) still going to be cut off from the gods when he dies.

* [[Dangerous Forbidden Technique]]:

** Death magic is not only forbidden by law; if successful it results in the death of both [[Taking You with Me|the target and the perpetrator]].

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** Sorcery is dangerous mostly due to the very thin line between possessing a demon and demonic possession.

** Possessing a spirit-animal gives on great physical strength and speed. Unfortunately, it may also drive the bearer mad, or leave them sundered from the gods at their death, unless another shaman is available to exorcize their soul.

* [[Dark Is Not Evil]]/[[Light Is Not Good]]: Played with. The Bastard's associated color is white... and he's the lord of demons and god of disasters, who people tend to try to appease rather than worship. Except... his role is to rein in and control demons so they don't hurt humans, and he's also the god of unexpected blessings. Further, most of his "disasters" are either [[Xanatos Gambit~~|Xanatos Gambits~~]] to eventually better humanity's lot, or desperate measures to control the damage caused by the other gods' meddling.

* [[Dark Is Not Evil]]/[[Light Is Not Good]]: Played with. The Bastard's associated color is white... and he's the lord of demons and god of disasters, who people tend to try to appease rather than worship. Except... his role is to rein in and control demons so they don't hurt humans, and he's also the god of unexpected blessings. Further, most of his "disasters" are either [[Xanatos Gambit]]s to eventually better humanity's lot, or desperate measures to control the damage caused by the other gods' meddling.

** ''Paladin of Souls'' suggests that the Bastard maintains the balance between order and chaos, keeping the world between frozen stasis and destruction.

** Likewise, the Father's colors are black and grey, but he's the god of fatherhood, leadership, and justice.

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*** [[Sixth Ranger]] : Goram

* [[Flip Personality]]: Demons in ''Paladin of Souls''. Those with second sight can see who is in control of a body.

* [[The Four Gods]]: Not specifically the Chinese ~~ones--they~~ are a Father, Mother, Son, and ~~Daughter--but~~ similar in some respects, for instance in ruling the four seasons. Quintarians also believe in a fifth god, the Bastard, for "all things out of season."

* [[The Four Gods]]: Not specifically the Chinese ones—they are a Father, Mother, Son, and Daughter—but similar in some respects, for instance in ruling the four seasons. Quintarians also believe in a fifth god, the Bastard, for "all things out of season."

* [[For Want of a Nail]]: In the original poem's sense. After Cazaril realizes the extent of the gods' manipulations, he wonders how many men they sent on the road to help Teidez as he was sent to help Iselle, and who never made it.

** A prayer to the Bastard calls this trope explicitly, with indication that it's divinely inspired at the time:

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* [[Give Me a Sign]]: One of them generally will, though you may regret asking.

* [[God's Hands Are Tied]]: The reason why [[Deus Ex Machina]] aren't flying around everywhere. Explained in-story that a person who manages to open themselves to the Five Gods is an ''empty'' vessel, having surrendered their will completely. Harder than it seems, and not nearly a comfortable thing - see the notes for [[Blessed with Suck]] above.

* [[Grande Dame]]: The Dowager Provincara dy Baocia is a [[Meddling Parents|Meddling Matriarch]]~~--her~~ son moved his capitol and court from Valenda to Taryoon to get away from her, and much of her daughter Ista's flight at the beginning of ''Paladin of Souls'' is getting away from her even after she's died. Less than a month after her death, the following exchange occurs:

* [[Grande Dame]]: The Dowager Provincara dy Baocia is a [[Meddling Parents|Meddling Matriarch]]—her son moved his capitol and court from Valenda to Taryoon to get away from her, and much of her daughter Ista's flight at the beginning of ''Paladin of Souls'' is getting away from her even after she's died. Less than a month after her death, the following exchange occurs:

{{quote|"My lord dy Baocia -- as the head of the family now, it's your place to insist she be more sensible!"

"Actually," Ista noted, "He's been head of the family for a decade and a half."

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* [[The Last Dance]]:

** Cazaril intends to use what time he has left to secure the safety of "his ladies" and the political stability of the kingdom.

** Arhys waltzes into the enemy ~~camp--well~~ outnumbered and expecting to ~~die--gambling~~ that his temporary immunity to injury will break their ranks and allow him to kill the enemy sorcerers.

** Arhys waltzes into the enemy camp—well outnumbered and expecting to die—gambling that his temporary immunity to injury will break their ranks and allow him to kill the enemy sorcerers.

* [[Last-Name Basis]]: Many characters in ''Curse of Chalion'' and ''Paladin of Souls'' are referred to by last name; some go by nicknames based on them (Caz from dy Cazaril, Palli from dy Palliar).

* [[The Last Thing You Ever See]]: Very much averted, as Caz informs someone stupid enough to threaten him that if he wanted them dead, they'd never see it coming.

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* [[Made a Slave]]: Cazaril comes home fresh from the [[Galley Slave|galley rowbanks]] at the beginning of ''The Curse of Chalion''. And it had been so bad that after being freed, at first he starts weeping at the slightest cause. Yet his protecting of a fellow rower plays an important part in ending the curse.

* [[Male Gaze]]: Used in ''The Hallowed Hunt'' when Ingrey starts falling for Ijada. For the female readers, it doubles as an excuse to describe her [[Gorgeous Period Dress|pretty medieval dresses]].

* [[~~May-December~~ Romance]]: Cazaril and Betriz.

* [[May–December Romance]]: Cazaril and Betriz.

* [[Meaningful Name]]: Jokol Skullsplitter, but it doesn't mean what you'd think.

* [[Mission From God]]: The crux of every book.

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* [[No Man of Woman Born]]: The specific conditions of raising the curse in ''The Curse of Chalion.''

* [[No Periods, Period]]: Averted.

* [[The Obi Wrong]]: ''Paladin of Souls'' is actually Ista's second [[Call to Adventure]]. The first ~~time--before~~ the events of the ~~series--she~~ sort of [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|accidentally murdered a guy]] and [[Heroic BSOD|went crazy]], leaving it to her daughter [[Taking Up the Mantle|to sort things out]].

* [[The Obi Wrong]]: ''Paladin of Souls'' is actually Ista's second [[Call to Adventure]]. The first time—before the events of the series—she sort of [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|accidentally murdered a guy]] and [[Heroic BSOD|went crazy]], leaving it to her daughter [[Taking Up the Mantle|to sort things out]].

* [[Off on a Technicality]]: Cazaril isn't arrested for death magic because it turns out only ''unsuccessful'' attempts are illegal. Plus the law is mainly there to curb people trying to fake it with poisons and other mundane methods.

* [[Our Demons Are Different]]: Demons answer to the Bastard, who is like the [[Harry Potter|House of Hufflepuff]] when it comes to taking up souls. He takes anyone not covered by the other four gods and is the patron of homosexuals, bastards, and all things out of season. In Chalion, it is acknowledged that demons are [[~~Always Chaotic~~ Evil]], but this mostly means that possession of (or by) a demon puts you under the temple's purview. The Roknari, one the other hand, consider the Bastard to be [[Satan]], and the Quintarian religion heresy. They cut off the thumbs, tongue and genitalia of people thought to worship him.

* [[Our Demons Are Different]]: Demons answer to the Bastard, who is like the [[Harry Potter|House of Hufflepuff]] when it comes to taking up souls. He takes anyone not covered by the other four gods and is the patron of homosexuals, bastards, and all things out of season. In Chalion, it is acknowledged that demons are [[Exclusively Evil]], but this mostly means that possession of (or by) a demon puts you under the temple's purview. The Roknari, one the other hand, consider the Bastard to be [[Satan]], and the Quintarian religion heresy. They cut off the thumbs, tongue and genitalia of people thought to worship him.

* [[Pet the Dog]]: dy Jironal gets a very brief one when Cazaril looks for him in his chancellory office, patting one of his couriers on the shoulder and encouraging him to do his best when the man reports winter snows making travel difficult.

* [[Pirates Who Don't Do Anything]]: Jokol and his men are frequently subject to speculation that they are pirates. If they in fact are, they are the kind that go around singing, drinking and...that's about it.

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* [[Revival Loophole]]: This is Ias and dy Lutez's plan for breaking the curse. It doesn't go well.

* [[Romancing the Widow]]: Lord Illvin in ''Paladin of Souls''.

* [[Royally Screwed-Up]]: The magical ~~version -- see~~ title for ''The Curse of Chalion''.

* [[Royally Screwed-Up]]: The magical version—see title for ''The Curse of Chalion''.

* [[Runaway Fiancee]]: Iselle

* [[Running Gag]]: There are a few.

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* [[Smug Snake]]: Dondo dy Jironal makes his [[Evil Chancellor|big brother]] look good.

* [[Spare to the Throne]]: Shows up peripherally in ''The Hallowed Hunt'', as the eldest son of the hallowed King has already died. Succession politics aren't central to the plot, but they are a crucial detail.

* [[Take a Third Option]]: A [[Magnificent Bastard~~|Magnificent Bastardly~~]] subversion of this originates the enmity between Cazaril and Dondo.

* [[Take a Third Option]]: A [[Magnificent Bastard]]ly subversion of this originates the enmity between Cazaril and Dondo.

* [[Taking You with Me]]: In a really crazy villainous version, {{spoiler|Horseriver}} wants to take the souls of his dead warriors into oblivion with him, to spite the gods.

* [[That Old Time Prescription]]: Ingrey was given a pain-reliving medication made from poppies (among other things).