Gear Saints
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“Our only choice is to become marauding produce bandits, knocking over shipments from the orchards before they can reach the stores! WE SHALL BRING ABOUT . . . THE PRODUCE-POCALYPSE!”
—Bobo, Indifference Capital
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A humor/action series self-published on Amazon by Gregor Canteberry. The main character, Cecil, is the resident Mad Scientist of the city of Heronberg. Along with his odd roommate, Bobo (pictured right), he protects the city from all manner of supernatural, technological, and extraterrestrial threats. He is quickly joined by Paula and Scott. Word of God indicates there will be a future character named Siegfried.
Book 1: Indifference Capital: Heronberg: Home to supernatural creatures, evil corporations, and a dangerously indifferent populous. When the brand-new supermarket gets up and starts walking around, the resident Mad Scientist must team up with a secretary and a physics-defying ball of insanity to fight self-aware shopping carts and a monstrous artificial intelligence.
Book 2: Mirror in the Crosshairs [dead link]: Heronberg: Home to . . . the highest gun-ownership per capita in the world. It's doppelganger season, a magical time of year when blood-sucking creatures appear in human form to prey on the people. The resident mad scientist, a secretary with a brand-new pistol, and a physics-defying ball of insanity team up to hunt monsters and try not to get mistaken for prey.
Character sheet (temporarily placed here until a new page is created for it)
Cecil Roud: The main character.
- Celibate Hero
- Cool Bike
- Crazy Prepared: He has a motorcycle FULL OF GUNS.
- Mad Scientist and Omnidisciplinary Scientist
- Mundane Utility: Despite the ability to invent just about whatever he wants (a Toolbox of Holding is mentioned), he makes a living selling As Seen On TV gizmos. Also responsible for some Schizo-Tech.
- Engineer Exploited For Evil: He's offered the chance to make weapons, but claims to only make those for his own pleasure.
Bobo: Cecil's roommate and sidekick. The cause of, and solution to, all his problems.
Paula Cerulean: The new girl in town.
- Fish Out of Water with a touch of Unfazed Everyman and Only Sane Girl
- Common Sense: Since she's unused to how strangely things are done in Heronberg, she often comes to the patently obvious solution much quicker.
- Is It Always Like This?
Ensemble tropes:
- Blonde, Brunette, Redhead (Scott, Cecil, and Paula)
- Four-Philosophy Ensemble: Word of God says, ". . . Cecil is The Apathetic, Bobo is The Optimist, Paula is The Realist, and Scott is The Cynic. Bonus fifth: Siegfried (a future character) is The Conflicted."
- Four-Temperament Ensemble: Bobo is sanguine, Scott is choleric, Cecil is melancholic, Paula is phlematic.
- Freudian Trio: More of a Power Fivesome. Bobo and Siegfried are both Id, Scott and Cecil are both Super-egos, while Paula has to act as Ego for everyone.
Minor characters:
- Mayor Mister Socky: Technically a Sock Puppet.
- Alex the Gun Hipster: Too Clever by Half; good thing his Immortal Life Is Cheap.
- Auto Mattick: Runs the gun shop.
- A Boy and His X[context?]
- Apathetic Citizens (as indicated by the title of the first book)
- Everybody Is Single
- Monster of the Week
- No Big Deal
- Rule of Cool and Rule of Fun
- Straight Man and Wise Guy
- There Are No Global Consequences: Judging from Paula's surprise, the existence of AI, laser weapons, and Bobo either haven't spread outside of Heronberg, or the rest of the world is just as apathetic.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight
- Word Salad Title
The first book (Indifference Capital) provides examples of
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: As Cecil is habitually quick to warn people. He doesn't mind telling Scott 'I told you so'.
- Arson, Murder, and Lifesaving
- Brick Joke: "I think I see a scratch."
- Chekhov's Gun: Cecil tells Paula she won't need a motorcycle helmet. Ha.
- Conveyor Belt O' Doom (minus the doom)
- Faceless Goons: Shopping carts?
- Mugging the Monster: Two men attempt to rob a Heronberg bank, and get more than they bargained for from the bank's patrons.
- Sequel Hook: There are many mentions of 'doppelganger hunting season'.
- This Is Sparta:
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“I wish--” he panted between clenched teeth, “I could say-- this was the first time-- I’ve been left naked-- outside-- covered in yellow liquid-- _this week_.” |
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The second book (Mirror in the Crosshairs) provides examples of
- Humanshifting: The doppelgangers take human form in order to seek out victims.
- Immortal Life Is Cheap: Alex the Gun Hipster has cloning insurance, and can therefore be revived endlessly. Good thing, too, because everyone wants to kill him.
- Imposter Forgot One Detail
- No Hero Discount: Played straight and subverted. Cecil gets a discount at Auto Mattick's for taking out the monstrous grocery store; Bobo is still charged double.
- Plot Tailored to the Party
- Ship Tease:
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“Hey, Cecil?” |
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- Spot the Imposter
- Too Clever by Half: Alex.
- Vampiric Draining: When the doppelgangers feed, ripping off the victim's head is usually involved.