History Literature / ArmiesOfDeath

* BigEater: At one point in Zengis you can have an eating contest with the local champion Big Belly to gain money and, possibly, additional soldiers.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: In order to hire the hillmen in Claw, you must defeat their chief in a wrestling match.

* AnAxeToGrind: The aptly named Axeman is a gigantic brute wielding a massive, double-headed Axe you can encounter in Zengis, asking you to give him back a golden ring he stole.

''Armies of Death'' is the 36th entry of the ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' series of gamebooks, written by Ian Livingstone and acting as a direct sequel to the previous adventure ''Literature/TrialOfChampions''.

After you successfully emerged from the renewed Deathtrap Dungeon and killed the despised Lord Carnuss, you were free to enjoy the 20000 gold pieces promised by Sukumvit. After spending most of it on a massive castle, you learn of a worrying rumor: according to travelers from the East, a foolish adventurer named Drek accidentally broke the pot where Agglax, the Shadow Demon, was sealed. Now, the vile fiend has hidden himself somewhere far in the eastern wildlands, where he's gathering a massive army of Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, Chaos Warriors and other unpleasant monsters and fanatics. Confident in your skills and riches, you decide to start an ambitious quest: hire an army and head east towards Zengis and the Forest of Fiends, where Agglax is gathering his forces. At the head of a small army of humans, elves and dwarves you embark on a dangerous journey, gathering troops and items that will allow you to defeat this dangerous foe and save Allansia.

!!''Armies of Death'' contains examples of:

* AuthorAvatar: The innkeeper you visit in Zengis is a dead ringer for Ian Livingstone, and shares Livingstone's love of sailboat racing.

* CallBack: Again, in Zengis you can rescue a Dwarf who's being attacked by, [[CreatorsPet another Shapechanger]], which already appeared in many other books, such as ''Literature/TheForestOfDoom'', ''Literature/IslandOfTheLizardKing'' and ''Literature/MidnightRogue'' among others.

* GuideDangIt: The Oracle is mandatory, and in order to obtain the right to ask him how to defeat Agglax, you must appease him with several items you can acquire in Zengis... but before meeting him you have no idea of what items he will like to receive, and yeah, the list is pretty random... [[spoiler: (a brass owl, a green vase, a critter that turns you invisible and a golden brooch for his daughter).]] Also, [[spoiler: while you're told by the Oracle that you must find the Crystal of Light and how to activate it, noone tells you how to find it (by capturing the Blog and demanding treasure), nor that you need the Axeman's ring to obtain it.]]

* HeroicSacrifice: Depending on your choices in the final battle against Agglax's army, [[spoiler: Max may sacrifice herself to save you. If you didn't hire her in Zengis, you're dead.]]

* KeystoneArmy: If you die, your army disbands. [[spoiler: The same thing happens to the Armies of Death when Agglax is destroyed and each faction start to blame the others for Agglax's death.]]

* KillItWithIce: Happens to you if you try to fight Agglax with everything but [[spoiler: the Crystal of Light.]]

* OhCrap: Agglax shows shocks and runs away [[spoiler: if you shows him the Crystal of Light.]]
* PlotCoupon: Among a long series of items required to proceed, there's the [[spoiler: Crystal of Light, required to banish Agglax.]]

* RedHerring: If you visit the Livingstone AuthorAvatar and listen him to the very end he will give you his old magical sword which implies can harm even the Shadow Demons. [[spoiler: It's completely useless, as the only way you can confront and kill Agglax is with the Crystal of Light.]]

* TooImportantToWalk: Agglax sits on a macabre throne carried around by four zombie slaves. [[spoiler: As seen when he runs away from you, his long robe isn't suited for running.]]
* TheWarSequence: The "Skirmishes" and, on a much bigger scale, the finale. Well, that army of yours was there for a reason you know?

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: In order to hire Laas and his hillmen, you must defeat him in a duel without weapons of sorts.

* HeroicSacrifice: In the final battle against Agglax's army, [[spoiler: either Max or Laas, depending on your actions, will sacrifice him/herself to save you.]]

* CreatorThumbprint: Ian Livingstone's love for boat-racing can be seen in the first half of the story, where you're given an option to travel by river to Zengis.

* MuggingTheMonster: In the river route, letting the River Raiders board the ship results in them coming face to face with a small army of Elves aiming their arrows at them. At which point they surrender and you can forcefully hire them.

After you successfully emerged from the renewed Deathtrap Dungeon and killed the despised Lord Carnuss, you were free to enjoy the 20000 gold pieces promised by Sukumvit. After spending most of it on a massive castle, you learn of a worrying rumor: according to travelers from the East, a foolish adventurer named Drek accidentally broke the pot where Aggrax, the Shadow Demon, was sealed. Now, the vile fiend has hidden himself somewhere far in the eastern wildlands, where he's gathering a massive army of Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, Chaos Warriors and other unpleasant monsters and fanatics. Confident in your skills and riches, you decide to start an ambitious quest: hire an army and head east towards Zengis and the Forest of Fiends, where Aggrax is gathering his forces. At the head of a small army of humans, elves and dwarves you embark on a dangerous journey, gathering troops and items that will allow you to defeat this dangerous foe and save Allansia.

* BigBad: Aggrax the Shadow Demon, leader of the titular Armies of Death.

* DemonLordsAndArchDevils: Aggrax is one of the Shadow Demons, which are under the service of the Demon Princes.
* DragonRider: Downplayed example, Aggrax' forces include a wyvern-riding Goblin assassin and another one who acts as a scout.

* GuideDangIt: The Oracle is mandatory, and in order to obtain the right to ask him how to defeat Aggrax, you must appease him with several items you can acquire in Zengis... but before meeting him you have no idea of what items he will like to receive, and yeah, the list is pretty random... [[spoiler: (a brass owl, a green vase, a critter that turns you invisible and a golden brooch for his daughter).]] Also, [[spoiler: while you're told by the Oracle that you must find the Crystal of Light and how to activate it, noone tells you how to find it (by capturing the Blog and demanding treasure), nor that you need the Axeman's ring to obtain it.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: In the final battle against Aggrax's army, [[spoiler: either Max or Laas, depending on your actions, will sacrifice him/herself to save you.]]

* KeystoneArmy: If you die, your army disbands. [[spoiler: The same thing happens to the Armies of Death when Aggrax is destroyed and each faction start to blame the others for Aggrax's death.]]

* KillItWithIce: Happens to you if you try to fight Aggrax with everything but [[spoiler: the Crystal of Light.]]

* OhCrap: Aggrax shows shocks and runs away [[spoiler: if you shows him the Crystal of Light.]]
* PlotCoupon: Among a long series of items required to proceed, there's the [[spoiler: Crystal of Light, required to banish Aggrax.]]

* RedHerring: If you visit the Livingstone AuthorAvatar and listen him to the very end he will give you his old magical sword which implies can harm even the Shadow Demons. [[spoiler: It's completely useless, as the only way you can confront and kill Aggrax is with the Crystal of Light.]]
* RockMonster: A humanoid one is sent by Aggrax to kill you with a deadly bear hug. You can make easy work of him if you still have Dwarves in your army, as they hammer him to death.

* SealedEvilInACan: Aggrax was one in the backstory, as with many, many other demons in the series.

* TooImportantToWalk: Aggrax sits on a macabre throne carried around by four zombie slaves. [[spoiler: As seen when he runs away from you, his long robe isn't suited for running.]]