The Elenium: Difference between revisions

Line 68:

* [[Big Bad]]: [[God of Evil|Azash]] in the first trilogy. The second is a bit more complicated, with {{spoiler|[[Physical God|Cyrgon]], [[Evil Sorceror|Zalasta]] and [[Eldritch Abomination|Klael]] all vying for the role}}. By the end, even {{spoiler|Krager}} has thrown in his hat for the title.

* [[Big Bad Wannabe]]: Annias. He's smart, and a decent [[Chessmaster]], but his [[Smug Snake]] tendencies typically bite him in the hindquarters, and he's no match for [[Dragon-in-Chief|Martel]] or the real [[Big Bad]], [[God of Evil|Azash]]. {{spoiler|Krager}} in the Tamuli.

* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: Zalasta gets one of these moments in the Tamuli when he wipes out a powerful enemy sorcerer and a [[Dinosaurs Are Dragons|giant dinosaur]] during a battle. {{spoiler|It's actually a big dramatic [[False Flag Operation]] designed to win the Elenes' trust}}.

* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: Zalasta gets one of these moments in the Tamuli when he wipes out a powerful enemy sorcerer and a [[Dinosaurs Are Dragons|giant dinosaur]] during a battle. {{spoiler|It's actually a big dramatic [[False-Flag Operation]] designed to win the Elenes' trust}}.

* [[Black Knight]]: The first character we see in the series wears black platemail, has a crooked nose, carries a huge sword, rides an evil-looking horse and quietly threatens anyone who gets in his way. His name is Sparhawk and [[Dark Is Not Evil|he's the protagonist]].

** The entire Pandion Order invokes this trope. They have a reputation for being cruel and implacable warriors who torture prisoners graphically in their chapterhouses. They planted those rumors themselves, to make enemies believe they're even more [[Badass]] than they already are.

Line 225:

* [[Mayfly-December Romance]]: While this doesn't quite appear, the foundation is firmly set for {{spoiler|Aphrael and Talen}}

* [[Medieval Stasis]]: [[Averted Trope|Averted]] for the most part. The history behind the Elene kingdoms includes bronze-age warriors and the discovery of iron, and when the {{spoiler|Cyrgai}} show up in the second series they're all wearing bronze-age equipment and using antiquated phalanx tactics. Also, the borders of Cynesga have changed dramatically over time.

* [[Megaton Punch]]: Berit delivers one of these when Talen's [[Bratty Half Pint]] act starts to wear on the group. He throws in a punt for good measure.

* [[Megaton Punch]]: Berit delivers one of these when Talen's [[Bratty Half-Pint]] act starts to wear on the group. He throws in a punt for good measure.

* [[Mordor]]: Zemoch is a classic example.

* [[My Hovercraft Is Full of Eels]]: Basically what happens whenever Kalten tries to speak Styric. Also happens to Sparhawk in the first book when he magicks up a bouquet of flowers for Sephrenia but comes this close to conjuring up a handful of snakes.

* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: Martel's name could be a historical [[Shout Out]] to Charles Martel, a Frankish duke who stopped the Muslim invasion of Europe in the eighth century by using cunning, pragmatism and adaptability. [[Elite Mooks|And heavy professional infantry.]] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tours.

* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: Martel's name could be a historical [[Shout-Out]] to Charles Martel, a Frankish duke who stopped the Muslim invasion of Europe in the eighth century by using cunning, pragmatism and adaptability. [[Elite Mooks|And heavy professional infantry.]] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tours.

* [[Neighbourhood Friendly Gangsters]]: Platime is one of these. Sure, he's committed almost every crime in the book, but not treason - and besides, he loves the Queen and pays his taxes!

** He's also never committed barratry and he's never fucked an animal. [[Sarcasm Mode|Truly, a virtuous man.]]

Line 291:

* [[Sealed Evil in A Can]]: Azash, who was sealed inside a clay idol of himself. He did find some ways around this, however- it turns out his spirit can enter ''any'' identical idol as well, and he had a huge temple-fortress built around the original. {{spoiler|The Cyrgai later on are more like Sealed Evil In A City}}

* [[Sedgwick Speech]]: In the midst of the big siege in the third book [[Deceptive Disciple|Ulesim]] gets up in front of the Rendors and delivers a huge speech about attacking the city relentlessly. And then Kurik nails him between the eyes with a crossbow bolt in mid-sentence. The ensuing chatter is a minor [[Crowning Moment of Funny]].

* [[Semi Divine]]: The Delphaes in ''The Shining Ones'' started as humans but now are slowly evolving into gods. As a result, they possess awesome powers, but they can also melt alive anyone who gets too close to them. Eventually, they fully evolve into gods and leave the earth forever.

* [[Semi-Divine]]: The Delphaes in ''The Shining Ones'' started as humans but now are slowly evolving into gods. As a result, they possess awesome powers, but they can also melt alive anyone who gets too close to them. Eventually, they fully evolve into gods and leave the earth forever.

* [[She Is All Grown Up]]: Ehlana, as Sparhawk quickly discovers.

* [[Shipper On Deck]]: Aphrael, about midway through the ''Tamuli''.

* [[Shout Out]] / [[Homage]]: The entire subplot involving Ghasek in ''The Ruby Knight'' (involving the [[Chekhov's Gunman]] Bellina no less) could have been lifted straight out of a [[Hammer Horror]] movie. The terrified people in the nearby village, the [[Hate Plague]]-infected minstrel, the creepy forest setting with its chilling moonlight, the haunted castle, the discovery in the basement, the [[Fate Worse Than Death]] for Bellina in the end--it has it all. And it was incredibly effective, disturbing, and a major source of [[Nightmare Fuel]] to some.

* [[Shout-Out]] / [[Homage]]: The entire subplot involving Ghasek in ''The Ruby Knight'' (involving the [[Chekhov's Gunman]] Bellina no less) could have been lifted straight out of a [[Hammer Horror]] movie. The terrified people in the nearby village, the [[Hate Plague]]-infected minstrel, the creepy forest setting with its chilling moonlight, the haunted castle, the discovery in the basement, the [[Fate Worse Than Death]] for Bellina in the end--it has it all. And it was incredibly effective, disturbing, and a major source of [[Nightmare Fuel]] to some.

** It is also a [[Shout Out]] to Real Life serial killer [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Erzebet_Bathory~~ Countess Elizabeth Bathory], who {{spoiler|kept a [[Torture Cellar]] in her castle and was eventually condemned to be walled up in her quarters.}}

** It is also a [[Shout-Out]] to Real Life serial killer [[wikipedia:Erzebet Bathory|Countess Elizabeth Bathory]], who {{spoiler|kept a [[Torture Cellar]] in her castle and was eventually condemned to be walled up in her quarters.}}

** The story of Otha, [[Blatant Lies|innocent goatherder]], following a lost member of his herd and coming across the idol of Azash, who then commands him to worship him and convert the rest of Eosia to his [[Religion of Evil]], very much feels like a dark and [[Refuge in Audacity|rather ballsy]] subversion of the story of [[The Bible|Moses and the Burning Bush]].

* [[Statuesque Stunner]]: Mirtai, the Atan giantess who towers over all the Church Knights. She could pass for [[Tall, Dark and Bishoujo]] if you overlook [[Knife Nut|the dozen or so knives she carries everywhere]]. That includes knives strapped to her knees [[Groin Attack|specifically for kneeing men in the crotch.]]

Line 312:

* [[Strictly Formula]]: The series, like [[The Belgariad]], quite deliberately and shamelessly rips from myth and medieval literature. And it's [[Tropes Are Not Bad|awesome.]] As Eddings put it with respect to the Belgariad, ripping off myth is "the literary equivalent of peddling dope."

* [[Sticky Fingers]]: Talen. It's become a [[Running Gag]].

* [[Stop Worshipping Me]]: Averted. The God of the Atans doesn't go in for grand displays (except on ''very'' important ceremonies), and his people don't bother him much unless it's important, so he's on the unusual side for a god. The flip side is he is obligated to at least see what a worshiper wants when they do call for his attention.

* [[Stop Worshipping Me!]]: Averted. The God of the Atans doesn't go in for grand displays (except on ''very'' important ceremonies), and his people don't bother him much unless it's important, so he's on the unusual side for a god. The flip side is he is obligated to at least see what a worshiper wants when they do call for his attention.

* [[Story Breaker Power]]: Xanetia positively ''oozes'' these. She's effectively immortal, she can read minds {{spoiler|and thus promptly discovers the [[Manipulative Bastard]]}}, she can melt people ''and scenery'' to goo with a touch, she can {{spoiler|touch Bhelliom without being obliterated}}, she can turn invisible, and her magic makes absolutely no "sound." Once she joins the party she's effectively a one-stop shop for all your [[Game Breaker]] needs.

* [[Story-Breaker Power]]: Xanetia positively ''oozes'' these. She's effectively immortal, she can read minds {{spoiler|and thus promptly discovers the [[Manipulative Bastard]]}}, she can melt people ''and scenery'' to goo with a touch, she can {{spoiler|touch Bhelliom without being obliterated}}, she can turn invisible, and her magic makes absolutely no "sound." Once she joins the party she's effectively a one-stop shop for all your [[Game Breaker]] needs.

* [[Supernatural Sensitivity]]

* [[Surrounded By Idiots]]: {{spoiler|[[The Mole|Zalasta]]}}'s mooks include [[He-Man Woman Hater|Scarpa]], [[Sissy Villain|Sabre]] and [[Punch Clock Villain|Krager]] - an insane misogynist, an effeminate poseur and a drunk respectively. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, indeed. (He's quite aware he's doing so, too.)

* [[Tall, Dark and Bishoujo]]: Mirtai nails EVERY trait of the trope perfectly, but her status as a [[Proud Warrior Race Guy]] [[Knife Nut]] disqualifies her from it.

* [[Terrain Sculpting]]: when trolls invade northern Tamuli, the Bhelliom responds by creating a humongous escarpment to separate them.

* [[Thieves Guild]]: Played straight and on a grand scale. Sure, Platime's chief thief in Cimmura, but every town everywhere has its own thieves' guild, and they all coordinate to some extent.

* [[Thieves' Guild]]: Played straight and on a grand scale. Sure, Platime's chief thief in Cimmura, but every town everywhere has its own thieves' guild, and they all coordinate to some extent.

* [[Time Stands Still]]: Played straight by the Troll-Gods, starting when Sparhawk browbeats Ghnomb into helping him catch up to {{spoiler|Martel}}. Used pretty heavily in the second series.

** Averted by Aphrael, whose time compression technique is closer to [[Year Inside, Hour Outside]].

Line 361:

[[Category:Fantasy Literature]]

[[Category:The Elenium]]

[[Category:Trope]]