Rose of the Prophet: Difference between revisions

* [[Butt Monkey]]: Usti, the comically overweight, much-abused djinn assigned to Zohra by Fedj (who actually does so as an act of ''revenge'' against Usti for [[Noodle Incident|some unspecified slight]]).

* [[Cain and Abel]]: Sort of. {{spoiler|Khardan and Achmed eventually end up on opposite sides of the conflict when Achmed becomes Qannadi's adopted son and most loyal general, but neither is considered the "bad" one.}}

* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: Other that more powerful magic (such as that which allows the holder of their mortal dwelling place to command a djinn) [[Cold Iron]] is the only thing than can restrain an immortal. {{spoiler|Like Kaug.}}

* [[Cold Iron]]: The main weakness of all Immortals- it can't ''hurt'' them, but it can bind them and render them powerless. A common threat used against the djinn is being locked in an iron box and put somewhere nasty where they'll never be found. {{spoiler|Pukah defeats Kaug by tricking him into entering an entire ''mountain'' made of the stuff.}}

** Asrial makes a deal with {{spoiler|Death}} to {{spoiler|betray Pukah}} in exchange for letting her go free to protect Mathew in his darkest hour. {{spoiler|Or at least it ''seems'' like she does- although she delivers Pukah's protective amulet to Death, instead of leaving she takes Pukah's place and sacrifices herself to let him win his bet with Death.}}

* [[Deliberate Values Dissonance]]: Prevalent throughout the story. Mathew is shocked and bewildered by the brutal and simplistic worldview of the people of Akhran, who have little regard for the sanctity of life, even though they are generally good honourable people.

* [[Green-Eyed Monster]]: Zohra hates Meryem from the moment Khardan brings her back to camp with the intent of adding her to his harem {{spoiler|even before Meryem tries to murder her and she and Mathew realise Meryem is a spy for the Amir.}}

* [[Grey and Grey Morality]]: Despite gods and their followers in the world of Sularin being openly ''labelled'' as good, evil and neutral, almost nothing is as simple as it seems. Khardan notes {{spoiler|Zhakrin's}} Paladins of the Night initially seem to be cruel and heartless monsters, but are caring and loyal to each other; Auda Ibn-Jad is unquestionably an almost immeasurably evil man but {{spoiler|risks his life to protect Khardan when they become [[Blood Brothers]], even though Khardan tricked him and eventually sacrifices his life to avenge his earlier brother Catalus.}} Most notably, the final conflict isn't between the forces of good and evil, but the forces of chaotic neutral (Akhran) and lawful neutral (Quar).

* [[Guile Hero]]: Pukah, although he has a tendency to [[Hilarity Ensues|stuff up hilariously.]]. Also Matthew to an extent; while a powerful sorcerer in his own land, he's bereft of most of the tools he needs to work his magic for the majority of the story and has to survive on his wits.

* [[Honor Before Reason]]: Khardan shifts around this trope a bit, ranging from simple Pride Before Reason to a steadfast Faith Before Reason.

{{quote| There were times, however, when he admitted to himself that the eyes of the sparrow were dull and lackluster after one as looked into the fiery black eyes of the hawk.}}

* [[I Owe You My Life]]: Mathew decides after Khardan saves his life that even if his life isn't worth living for himself, he'll live to pledge it to Khardan's.

{{quote| '''Mathew:''' I'm sorry. And Zohra, [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|you have been speaking my name... just fine.]]<br />

'''Zohra:''' Of course. I knew I was saying it right, Mat-hew. It was you who were not hearing it right. }}

* [[Jerkass]]: Meelusk the fisherman, a miserable, shrivelled, selfish old bastard who is described as being so low that even the followers of Benario the Thief God spit on him in contempt.

** Likewise, Khardan is honourable, noble and honest, but he's also capable of being a ''real ass'' sometimes. His cluelessness about Zohra's feelings gets him into NO end of trouble when he brings [[The Vamp|Meryem]] back to camp for the first time (he [[What an Idiot!|thought she'd be PLEASED that he wanted to take another wife]], assuming that he'd "tamed" her as a result of their last [[Ship Tease]] moment).

** Between the two of them they take [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]] to the level of actually ''wanting to see the other die in pain and disgrace!'' {{spoiler|It's little short of a miracle that they finally admit their love for each other once and for all.}}