History Characters / Inscryption

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Relatively anyway. After facing the Archivist in act 3, you can find photos from Luke's computer hidden around the map. They reveal that he had a sister who tragically died. And that he began doing his "Lucky Carder" show as a way to cope with her death.

* GenreBlindness: After discovering an obscure, surreal game which appears to hold a dark secret, what does Luke do? Why, contact the same video game company that created this game of course! By the time he realizes that they have no interest in helping him whatsoever and attempts to go public with his findings, they have already gotten fed up with him and he is killed by them to cover up their tracks. Then again, going by real world logic, contacting the video game developer ''was'' arguably the most sensible action he could take - he just didn't realize he was in a psychological horror game with mystery elements and that it wasn't the in-game characters who were the real threat but the company that created them (And whatever OLD_DATA is) in the first place.

* IronicName: In spite of his online show being named "The Lucky Carder," the few videos we see of him opening card packs don't paint a very lucky image of himself at all, with him only acquiring a single rare card which didn't have much value anyway. And given [[BoomHeadshot what happens to him by the end of the game, the name becomes even more ironic.]]
* KilledMidSentence: "I told you-" '''[[BoomHeadshot (BLAM)''']]

* NonActionGuy: He might be a pretty skilled card player with some tech-savvy knowledge who can beat the in-game characters of ''Inscryption'' through his card game abilities, but in "real life," he's an UnluckyEverydude who is both incapable of fighting and unwilling to do so, given how the moment [=GameFuna=] comes after him he hides from them and avoids direct contact as much as possible. When he is finally confronted by Amanda in the ending he dies without even having the possibility to run or fight back. [[NoNonsenseNemesis Not that she gave him a chance.]]

* PunnyName: Alongside IronicName above, his online show is a pun on his full name, "Luke Carder," and the word "Lucky" in place of the first name. Also, "Carder" is both a normal surname and a word used to designate a person who deals with card information and data.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: Only their arms are seen in the first-person segments, and while they do get one of several sprites in Act 2, they are still not developed beyond being someone who wants to replace one of the four Scrybes. This is intentional as the characters are revealed to not be speaking to the challenger, but to Luke Carder himself. As the challenger is nothing more than a blank slate for the player (Luke in this case) to project onto, the Scrybes do not see them as a real person. Hence why Leshy believes it is okay for him to torment and kill challengers just to provide a fun experience for the player- he knows that he is not actually harming a real person, and he shows no ill-will, either.

* RogueProtagonist: In a sense- each challenger who loses is turned into a death card by Leshy, and in the second phase of his fight, he can potentially unleash some of these same cards against the current challenger. He can also use some death cards for other people.

The collective main antagonists of the game. The Scrybes are the masters of ''Inscryption'', with each having their own domain of cards that they rule over. Whatever harmony there once was between them has long since gone, as each Scrybe faces off with the others for complete control over their world. In Act 1, Leshy has attained complete control of the game and has turned the other three into cards- Stoat, Stinkbug, and Stunted Wolf. In Act 2, they are freed and serve as the main bosses of the four areas. In Act 3, P03 has become the new game master, but the other three are still out there.

* AffablyEvil: Aside from [[{{Jerkass}} P03]], the Scrybes are generally quite cordial towards Luke despite their ambitions and during the climax they each give him a warm handshake as a final show of respect (or in Magnificus' case, ''try'' to do so).

** Special mention to Leshy's demise, when the rustic cabin atmosphere of the first act returns at the end of the game, its much more nostalgic then terrifying, especially now that the player is given context as to how the game works.
* BigBadEnsemble: At first, it seems that the Game Master is the sole villain as the one running the titular DeadlyGame and killing you if you lose. But Leshy is just one of the four Scrybes- the other three being Grimora, Magnificus, and P03- and all of them are competing with each other to gain control of the game and carry out their nefarious agendas, with Leshy and P03 getting the most focus.

* TheDogWasTheMastermind: The three talking cards- Stoat, Stinkbug, and Stunted Wolf- who aid you in escaping from the Game Master and seem to be nothing but his helpless victims are revealed in Act 2 to be his fellow Scrybes who were using you to break free from their ForcedTransformation only so they could carry out their own plans against each other.
* EliteFour: The four Scrybes are the masters of the titular card game, each having dominion over one of the four card types (Beasts, Undead, Magickal and Technology), and in Act 2 are the main bosses the challenger must defeat ToBeAMaster. Though unlike the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' Elite Four of which they are inspired, you fight each in a separate location akin to Gym Leaders and the "champion" is simply whichever Scrybe you decide to replace after beating them all once. They're also the BigBadEnsemble competing for control of the game world.

* ForcedTransformation: The talking cards were Leshy's equals before he took pictures of them, turning them into cards. But on top of being turned into cards, their images were morphed into animals. As you continue to play, they slowly begin to revert back into their old forms (though still remaining cards). Stoat is P03, a TVHeadRobot, Stinkbug is the {{Necromancer}} Grimora and Stunted Wolf is a WizardClassic and PlantPerson. Also, at the end of Act 1, the challenger [[HoistByHisOwnPetard gets to turn Leshy himself into a card as well]].

* PostFinalBoss: After P03 is dealt with and Grimora decides to delete the game itself, the three remaining Scrybes each challenge the player to a card match as the world ends... which are each unfortunately cut short when their files are removed. It is pretty much impossible to lose to any of them. Magnificus doesn't even get the chance to shake your hand farewell.
* RealityWarper: Whichever of the four Scrybes obtains the OLD_DATA becomes this, allowing them to take control of the game world and become the new game master. Leshy, for example. seems to have shades of this, especially in the final boss. One moment you are staring down at the map and suddenly you ''are'' the piece on the map.

* TreacherousAdvisor: The three talking cards- Stoat, Stinkbug and Stunted Wolf- aid you in Act 1 against their captor by giving you advice on how to play your cards and hinting on how to solve the puzzles. Come Act 2, and it turns out they were using you to get rid of Leshy so they could control the game themselves, with Stoat/P03 showing no gratitude for you saving him.
* TwoAliasesOneCharacter: The four Scrybes are formally introduced in Act 2, and it is not until you beat Leshy that it is revealed the other three were the talking cards from Act 1- Stoat, Stinkbug and Stunted Wolf.

* AffablyEvil: At times. He traps people's souls in cards, including his own colleagues, sure, but it's shown that he does care about being an accommodating host and putting on a fun, entertaining game. He gave the Woodcarver a much bigger role to play than she did originally, allows you to solve puzzles in his cabin, and even kept the Scrybes on as a presence in his game when he didn't need to. After beating him in Act 2 he will express some regret for his actions against P03, stating he believes [[HappinessInSlavery that life as a beast card is noble, even one as lowly as a Stoat.]]

* AntiVillain: Type II and III. Despite his scary role as the first main villain, Leshy's [[FourthWallObserver awareness of the game he's in]] and his own BlueAndOrangeMorality prevents him from being truly irredeemable. Sure, his games may have mechanics of removing eyes and teeth, and anyone who loses gets their soul turned into a card, but it's not like he's hurting "real" people, only programs that [[DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist are replaced without consequence after every Game Over]]. He may have usurped power over his fellow Scrybes, but that was just to maintain a [[StatusQuoIsGod status quo that threatened the plans of two of them]] (P03 [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence wanted to spread Inscryption to the internet]], and Grimora wanted to [[OmnicidalManiac destroy everything on the disc including herself]]). In the end, much of the scary woodland atmosphere in Act 1 is just that, atmosphere to keep the player invested and the game running. He had no grand evil schemes, he just wanted to enjoy sharing a fun roleplaying experience with the player, nothing more.

--> '''The Game Master, on your first attempt:''' ''That's far enough''

** Mostly averted in Kaycee's Mod, as he will always be the FinalBoss of any run...until you unlock the "Final Boss" challenge, which when activated, will [[TrueFinalBoss replace Leshy with a skeletal pirate known as Royal Dominguez]].

* {{Foil}}: To P03. Both are Scrybes that manage to take control of the game and enjoy playing against the challenger, but that's where the similarities end. Leshy is polite to the Player and allows them to roam his cabin; P03 shackles the Player to the table until he needs the Player to get something to continue the game. Leshy is disappointed whenever a challenger fails to defeat him, while P03 is visibly disgruntled when they ''do'' manage to defeat him. Leshy cares more about atmosphere and storytelling than game balance, allowing the player to use several different {{Gamebreakers}}. P03 cares alot about game balance, but is a terrible storyteller. P03 is the one who is playing out of self preservation whereas Leshy is the one playing solely to play.

* TheGMIsACheatingBastard: Downplayed. Leshy might use plenty of quirks and tricks during his games, but he avoids outright cheating and allows for complete card freedom and construction with the only limitation being RNG, so he won't complain if one of your cards ends up breaking his game and one-shooting his moon for example. That being said, him filling his entire board side with bears if you start beating a boss before advancing the storyline is blatant cheating on his part.
* HeelRealization: During his last game with you, Leshy admits that once someone finds the things they want to do, there never seems to be enough time to do them. If you attempted to take over his place as a Scrybe, he also seems bothered for a second, but them snaps out of it and is more sad than angry that things went the way they did, showing that, for all his ambition, he truly wanted to enjoy a game with the player, and because of the infighting and conflicts between the Scrybes, including him, he will never be able to do that anymore.
* HostileShowTakeover: He successfully did this before you entered the picture. In fact it's implied by all the 3D aspects for Inscryption that this is an intentional part of the game, with each Scrybe having a modeled version of their environment (Leshy's Cabin, P03's Factory, Grimora's Crypt, and Magnificus' arena), place to put the new game button (Leshy's Side room and P03's container), ways of interpreting their minions and [=NPCs=] (Masks and P03's screen), and even 3d variants for their card systems.

* TheLastDance: After Grimora deletes the game, the player is brought one last time into Leshy's cabin to face him while the game is slowly fading. At this point, with the help of the strongest cards you acquired during the first act, it's easy to crush him, but he doesn't care for all that matters to him is playing. Even as the [[ScoringPoints scales]] are deleted, he insists on continuing the game. He only resigns once the bell that allows you to end your turn gets deleted, accepting his defeat and [[GracefulLoser shaking your hand while congratulating you]].

* ALighterShadeOfBlack: Leshy might have taken over the game and transformed his fellow Scrybes' souls into cards, but he's always shown as a [[AffablyEvil respectful host]] who genuinely wants to give the player a good time and even undergoes a HeelRealization by the end of game, realizing that the Scrybes' ambitions and infighting led to the end of what he wanted to do the most. By contrast, P03 is not only a much bigger {{Jerkass}} and UngratefulBastard towards the player, but also shows much more outright megalomaniacal tendencies in desiring to be the only host of ''Inscryption'' while mocking Leshy and the other Scrybes. It's a downplayed example though, because both of them come off as [[TragicVillain tragic]] and P03's desire to be free and in control of the game is understandable given [[AndIMustScream the situation he was in before, even if he's still an overly ambitious jerk.]]

* ManyFacedDivinity: Downplayed. [[spoiler: Leshy's final boss fight has his ritualistic masks float and cycle around his body magically to represent his godlike power as the dungeon master]].

* NeverMyFault: During the final round of the fourth BossBattle, the gamemaster will gripe about GameplayAndStorySegregation by complaining that it makes no sense when an animal's stench reduces the moon's power to zero. He does not see fit to acknowledge that the nonsense is his fault in the first place for [[ItMakesSenseInContext bringing the moon to an animal fight]].
* ObliviouslyEvil: His BlueAndOrangeMorality plays a big role into this. Sure, he threatens and roadblocks the player, but its for the sake of story and it's not like he's hurting real people. Yes, he turned his fellow Scrybes into animal cards, but he genuinely believes [[HappinessInSlavery they're happier this way]]. In the end, all he wants is a good game, and if he needs to give the player a challenge, then so be it.

--> (''after the Fecundity nerf [[labelnote:Note]] Kaycee's mod only.[[/labelnote]]'') Kaycee... Did you? '''You tampered with one of my sigils'''. You thought it too powerful no doubt, but please... '''No more of that'''.
* PlantPerson: When not obscured by the darkness around his cabin, this is show to be Leshy's appearance: A lanky humanoid being with a wooden-looking body, leaves and moss in place of beard and hair, and some mushrooms growing in places.

* {{Sadist}}: Most prominently in Act 2, where he seems to take a great deal of enjoyment out of making you and your cards "suffer," even complaining if you lose to him too quickly because he wished for a longer struggle. This seems to mostly be an air he puts on to drive players to best him as part of the game, as he's otherwise a very GracefulLoser and only ever seems to outright despise P03, [[{{Jerkass}} for very good reason]].
* VillainRespect: It comes with being a GracefulLoser, and the more a player fights back and wins, the more the player is rewarded. At the end of Act 3, he even revives the old deck the player used when defeating him in Act 1, just to make this fleeting moment more worthwhile. When the scales disappear he keeps the game on, all he wants is just to keep playing even when there is no way to win or lose. As he dies, he's not worried about death, just how much time he'll have to play with the player, simply happy to see how far they came and how well they played
-->'''Leshy:''' It's the same deck you had before you... well it doesn't matter now. [[PetTheDog It was a good deck. You did well]].

* WeirdBeard: His beard is made out of moss. He is a PlantPerson, which pretty much [[JustifiedTrope justifies it.]]

A sentient card that's always present in the player's deck, who holds a grudge against your opponent for causing its current state. He is actually the Scrybe of Technology, who was turned into a card by Leshy and wants to escape so he can bring about the Great Transcendence- uploading the game online so he can escape and control everything. He is also the most personally unpleasant of the Scrybes, with a smug attitude and air of superiority- as such, the others quite dislike him.

* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Its true personality, a snide, mechanics-obsessed pro-gamer who immediately blames the RandomNumberGod [[NeverMyFault when it loses.]]

* BadBoss: In Act 2, in its efforts to get better cards it is willing to sacrifice its underlings to its factory's machines. Downplayed in that none of them seem at all bothered by it, and the most complaining against it is a small dialogue from the The Dredger about not being made a boss.

* BigBadFriend: It simply doesn't want to be under anyone else's control; once it's in charge its only real care is completing the Great Transcendence. Entertaining the player with card gameplay is just a means to that end.

* CreativeSterility: As a Scrybe and as the Game Master it doesn't have the biggest imagination or creativity. It's cards have descriptive names like Double Gunner or Insectodrone and his Act as a Gamemaster is basically Act 1 and 2 combined with a skin job. The only thing really unique is that he uses 5 lanes, something that he mocks Leshy for constraining himself with.
* EnemyMine: Does not like the other talking cards, especially the Stunted Wolf, but the situation is desperate enough that it points you towards them anyway. From act 2 onwards, it never acknowledges this previous alliance - with them ''or'' you - ever again.

* FinalBoss: Averted. The last major challenge of the game is overcoming its four "Uberbots," but P03 is beheaded by the Scrybes instead of presenting a final challenge, and everything after is just a denouement.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Of the four Scrybes, Leshy, Grimora and Magnificus may be enemies, but they are also very friendly to each other and do seem to have some kinship. None of them like P03, who is a smug {{Jerkass}}. Grimora and Magnificus only tolerate him as much as they need to in order to escape their card forms in Act 1.
* {{Foil}}: To Leshy. Both are Scrybes that manage to take control of the game and enjoy playing against the challenger (although for P03, it's an IgnoredEpiphany), but that's where the similarities end. Leshy is polite to the Player and allows them to roam his cabin; P03 shackles the Player to the table until he needs the Player to get something to continue the game. Leshy is disappointed whenever a challenger fails to defeat him, while P03 is visibly disgruntled when they ''do'' manage to defeat him. P03 is the one who is playing out of self preservation whereas Leshy is the one playing solely to play.

* {{Irony}}: Its main motive for doing everything is to never be a pawn in another Scrybe's game again and be in control. while it ultimately gets away with this plan, it also used Luke's version of the game specifically. This means it's always doomed to start as the pawn to its most hated rival, Leshy, and be subject of the Scrybes last laugh at the end.
* {{Jerkass}}: The Stoat is critical of every move the player makes, calling most things misplays, rude and snippy with the other sentient cards, and downplays the difficulty and capabilities of the game master. Not to mention the ingratitude towards the player for freeing the Scrybes from Leshy's clutches and subsequent takeover...

* {{Munchkin}}: Is completely ''obsessed'' with the card game's meta, using its temple purely as a means to manufacture bots that it can Inscrybe into better cards. No matter what's in your deck, it will ''always'' tell you it's garbage, and if you beat it, it'll just [[NeverMyFault blame it on the RNG instead of admit defeat.]]
* NotQuiteDead: The end of the [[AlternateRealityGame ARG]] led to a video showing the upload of Inscryption resuming, followed by an ASCII rendition of the Stoat's face appearing on Luke's monitor and winking. Seems like P03's decapitation didn't quite take.

* OutGambitted: Subverted. Seems to have a plan to defeat the GM after being established as a character, and while its actions bring Stinkbug back into play, it otherwise plays no part in the plans for escape, with the role being divided between Stinkbug and the Stunted Wolf. Caught in a web of being OutGambitted. It helps to out-gambit Leshy, and eventually the other Scrybes; it's out-gambitted by the player/Luke and the Scrybes once it takes over; and it ultimately (and unintentionally) out-gambits everyone, including [=GameFuna=], by uploading the whole of the game and evidence of their crimes from Luke's camera; but that also means it's been out-gambitted by The Devil, if they're an active force.
* OutsideGenreFoe: The other three Scrybes- a nature spirit, necromancer, and ArtAttacker- all fit within ''Inscryption'''s fantasy world, while P03 is the Scrybe of Technology and a TVHeadRobot who's headquarters is a robot factory.

** As little meaning as the gesture ended up becoming, it did appreciate the Dredger's contribution to its Takeover, and makes him on of the few actual [=NPCs=] in its game to have dialog.
* SmugSnake: Emphasis on the "smug" aspect. Once it reveals its true colours to you, P03 almost drizzles with smugness and will compare its game and the "improvements" it made over Leshy's multiple times to you. It will also often go into short monologues about its capabilities as you play, leading to its eventual downfall as it becomes so confident over its power against Luke that it doesn't believe the other scrybes can threaten it at that point ([[NeckSnap they can).]]

* TechnicianVsPerformer: When it becomes the GM in the latter half of the game it becomes starkly clear that P03 is much more about strategy, deck optimization and mechanics while caring not about drawing the player into its setting. Hastily making up an ExcusePlot on the spot for encounters, rarely getting into character of its [=NPCs=] and generally being much terser than Leshy. One line of dialogue even sees it criticize Leshy's style as too focused on flavor making up for suboptimal play.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: His "Great Transcendence" was an attempt to escape the current state of ''Inscryption'' by spreading it across the internet, thus effectively making all characters, including the Scrybes immortal. Of course, he [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist snidely remarks that a majority of those copies will give him control]], so it's a case of saving the game mixed with his own ego trip.