History Literature / HicSuntDracones

Hic Sunt Dracones [[http://www.hsd13.wordpress.com]] is a web novel created by Terry Zilla, one of the many tropers here in TV tropes and is a work in progress. Hic Sunt Dracones (Latin for Here There Be Dragons) is a work of fantasy that takes place in the [[SteamPunk steampunk]] fantasy world of Zanoth, a strange little planet with the usual [[LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces races]] found in many other works of fantasy but with a [[DarkerAndEdgier darker]] twist on [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]]. Instead of the usual [[TheHobbit Smaug]] or [[DragonBall Shenlong]] fare, the dragons of Hic Sunt Dracones more easily fit into the Eldritch Abomination description, being alien monsters from another dimension who seek to devour all life on Zanoth.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Orkish Empire has an undeniably [[EagleLand American]] feel to them while the Sylvan Commonwealth can be reminiscent of the [[BritishStuffiness British]] although they do have a [[EuropeansAreKinky wild side]]. The Kingdom of Humanity is mostly a [[TakeThat Take That]] against the corruption, mediocrity and stagnation found in the Philippines, the author's home country. Meanwhile, the continent of Elbador, a continent being settled by the Orkish Empire can be similar to South America, complete with an Amazon River and rainforest while Panadyssia, a colony of the Sylvan Commonwealth has a lot in common with Australia, including an Outback and Uluru. The Halflings [[WordOfGod according to the author]] are based on the indigenous people of various countries such as the pygmies of the Philippines, Aboriginies of Australia, the Native Americans of the Americas and the Ainu of Japan.

* MultipleHeadCase: The more heads a dragon has, the older and stronger it's likely to be in much the same way that [[KitSune kitsune]] are noted by their number of tails.

** [[GorgeousGorgon Gorgeous]] [[MedUsa Gorgon]]: Gorgons of the setting tend to be [[GorgeousGorgon quite attractive]] although they have shades of being SnakePeople with legs and LizardFolk (having scales here and there and possessing forked tongues. What makes them different from the norm is that they have snakes ''in'' their hair rather than ''for'' hair.

** Also of note are the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] of the setting which are benevolent creatures that [[DaywalkingVampire have no problem with the sun]] and are [[VegetarianVampire vegetarian]] by default. The only thing that they have similar to common vampires is their allergy to garlic and VoluntaryShapeshifting abilities.

* EldritchAbomination: The dragons of this setting are closer to this than the fire-breathing lizards we all know and love. They have more in common with Xenomorphs and deep sea creatures than the dragons of folklore (see SeahorsesAreDragons). Even [[UpToEleven worse]] with [[LargeAndInCharge Monarch]] type dragons.

* FantasyCharacterClasses: The Imperial Hunt divides its members into 36 distinct [[CharacterClassSystem "professions"]] vaguely reminiscent of RPG classes. They include [[StoneWall Combatant]], [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight]], [[BlackKnight Blackguard]], [[BarbarianHero Berserker]], [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Blademaster]], [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Fighter]], [[TheHunter Slayer]], [[RanGer Ranger]], [[LawEnforcementInc Enforcer]], [[NinJa Ninja]], [[TheHashshashin Assassin]], [[PhantomThief Sneakthief]], [[LoveableRogue Corsair]], [[TheGunslinger Marshal]], [[ElementalPowers Mage]], [[FluffyTamer Shaman]], [[TheDarkArts Warlock]], [[MiKo Oracle]], [[PsychicPowers Mentalist]], [[WizardClassic Wizard]], [[MageMarksman Pariah]], [[TheMedic Healer]], [[GreenThumb Druid]], [[NecroMancer Necromancer]], [[BareFistedMonk Mona]][[NunsAreSpooky stic]], [[BadassBookworm Sage]], [[FantasticScience Numerologist]], [[ThePaladin Paladin]], [[MusicalAssassin Bard]], [[DanceBattler Dancer]], [[TheBeastmaster Tamer]], [[TheBlacksmith Smith]], [[TheEngineer Tinker]], [[AlchemyIsMagic Alchemist]], [[MasterOfIllusion Illusionist]] and [[JackOfAllStats Knave]].

* FantasyCharacterClasses: The Imperial Hunt divides its members into 36 distinct [[CharacterClassSystem "professions"]] vaguely reminiscent of RPG classes. They include [[StoneWall Combatant]], [[KnightInShiningArmor Knight]], [[BlackKnight Blackguard]], [[BarbarianHero Berserker]], [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Blademaster]], [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Fighter]], [[TheHunter Slayer]], [[RanGer Ranger]], [[LawEnforcementInc Enforcer]], [[NinJa Ninja]], [[TheHashshashin Assassin]], [[PhantomThief Sneakthief]], [[LoveableRogue Corsair]], [[TheGunslinger Marshal]], [[ElementalPowers Mage]], [[FluffyTamer Shaman]], [[TheDarkArts Warlock]], [[MiKo Oracle]], [[PsychicPowers Mentalist]], [[WizardClassic Wizard]], [[MageMarksman Pariah]], [[TheMedic Healer]], [[GreenThumb Druid]], [[NecroMancer Necromancer]], [[BareFistedMonk Mona]][[NunsAreSpooky stic]], [[BadassBookworm Sage]], [[FantasticScience Numerologist]], [[PalaDin Paladin]], [[MusicalAssassin Bard]], [[DanceBattler Dancer]], [[TheBeastmaster Tamer]], [[TheBlacksmith Smith]], [[TheEngineer Tinker]], [[AlchemyIsMagic Alchemist]], [[MasterOfIllusion Illusionist]] and [[JackOfAllStats Knave]].

The story revolves around a young [[HobbitS halfling]] named [[UnluckyEverydude Joshua]] [[TheHero Dominica]]. As a young boy, he had lost his village, family and friends to a powerful three-headed dragon in [[TheEmpire The Kingdom of Humanity]]. Vowing revenge, Joshua joins the [[WhoYouGonnaCall Imperial]] [[DragonSlayer Hunt]], a military organization dedicated to hunting the [[UnDead undead]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] and, of course, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]]. There he meets an [[OurElvesAreBetter elven]] [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincessess princess]] named [[BadassPrincess Erulia]] [[RichBitch Taemwyn]] and a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] [[CountryMouse village girl]] named [[TheGunslinger Neshka]] [[NatureHero Gerolov]]. Meanwhile, something sinister brews among the nations of the Farlands and the dragons, who many think are far away in another continent, may be closer than they ever imagined.

* ActionGirl: Erulia and Neshka. Really, any female of any race who joins the Imperial Hunt or the Citizen's Watch.

** [[EvilChancellor Viziers]] are the most dangerous of dragons, being skilled with magic, extremely tough and blindingly fast.

* EldritchAbomination: The dragons of this setting are closer to this than the fire-breathing lizards we all know and love. They have more in common with Xenomorphs than the dragons of folklore. Even [[UpToEleven worse]] with [[LargeAndInCharge Monarch]] type dragons.

* FantasyCharacterClasses: The Imperial Hunt divides its members into 36 distinct [[CharacterClassSystem "professions"]] vaguely reminiscent of RPG classes.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Orkish Empire has an undeniably [[EagleLand American]] feel to them while the Sylvan Commonwealth can be reminiscent of the [[BritishStuffiness British]]. The Kingdom of Humanity is mostly a [[TakeThat Take That]] against the corruption, mediocrity and stagnation found in the Philippines, the author's home country. Meanwhile, the continent of Elbador, a continent being settled by the Orkish Empire can be similar to South America, complete with an Amazon River and rainforest while Panadyssia, a colony of the Sylvan Commonwealth has a lot in common with Australia, including an Outback and Uluru. The Halflings [[WordOfGod according to the author]] are based on the indigenous people of various countries such as the pygmies of the Philippines, Aboriginies of Australia, the Native Americans of the Americas and the Ainu of Japan.

** [[GorgeousGorgon Gorgeous]] [[MedUsa Gorgon]]: Gorgons of the setting tend to be [[GorgeousGorgon quite attractive]] although they have shades of being SnakePeople with legs and LizardFolk (having scales here and there and possessing forked tongues]]. What makes them different from the norm is that they have snakes ''in'' their hair rather than ''for'' hair.

* Mordor: The Grimlands. UpToEleven with the Dragonlands.

The story revolves around a young [[HobbitS halfling]] named [[UnluckyEverydude Joshua]] [[TheHero Dominica]]. As a young boy, he had lost his village, family and friends to a powerful three-headed dragon in [[The Empire The Kingdom of Humanity]]. Vowing revenge, Joshua joins the [[WhoYouGonnaCall Imperial]] [[DragonSlayer Hunt]], a military organization dedicated to hunting the [[UnDead undead]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] and, of course, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]]. There he meets an [[OurElvesAreBetter elven]] [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincessess princess]] named [[BadassPrincess Erulia]] [[RichBitch Taemwyn]] and a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] [[CountryMouse village girl]] named [[TheGunslinger Neshka]] [[NatureHero Gerolov]]. Meanwhile, something sinister brews among the nations of the Farlands and the dragons, who many think are far away in another continent, may be closer than they ever imagined.

** OurElvesAreBetter: Metal Elves are actually high elves, Fire Elves are dark elves, Water Elves are ChristmasElves, Wood Elves are ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin and Earth Elves are similar to the depiction of [[HalfHumanHybrid half-elves]]. Elves are also related to Goblins through their common ancestor the [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe purple-skinned Sylvans]].
** OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Goblins of Zanoth are more like the [[OurElvesAreBetter dark elves]] of the setting, being [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation oddly-colored]] [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe elves]] and similar to the [[LineagE2 dark elves]] with as Earth Goblins having gold skin, Metal Goblins having silver skin, Fire Goblins having red skin, Water Goblins having blue skin and Wood Goblins having green skin. They are related to elves through Sylvans. However, Goblins of this setting retain some of their love for explosives and high technology from other settings like WorldOfWarcraft and AgeOfWonders.

** OurOgresAreHungrier: The Ogres of the setting are more like the [[YouKai oni]] of Japanese folklore but also share quite a few similarities with [[AllTrollsAreDifferent Trolls]] and [[OurGiantsAreBigger giants]] of European folklore. They tend to be quite intelligent and are [[HeroicBuild rather]] [[AmazonianBeauty attractive]]. Like the Goblins above, they have [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation strange skin colors]] but also have [[HornedHumanoid horns]] and [[SpikesOfVillainy spikes on their shoulders and back]].

The story revolves around a young [[HobbitS halfling]] named [[UnluckyEverydude Joshua]] [[TheHero Dominica]]. As a young boy, he had lost his village, family and friends to a powerful three-headed dragon in [[The Empire The Kingdom of Humanity]]. Vowing revenge, Joshua joins the [[WhoYouGonnaCall Imperial Hunt]], a military organization dedicated to hunting the [[UnDead undead]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] and, of course, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]]. There he meets an [[OurElvesAreBetter elven]] [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincessess princess]] named [[BadassPrincess Erulia]] [[RichBitch Taemwyn]] and a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] [[CountryMouse village girl]] named [[TheGunslinger Neshka]] [[NatureHero Gerolov]]. Meanwhile, something sinister brews among the nations of the Farlands and the dragons, who many think are far away in another continent, may be closer than they ever imagined.

* ExpY: A lot of the characters physically resemble characters from other works. Here are a few examples:

** OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Goblins of Zanoth are more like the dark elves of the setting, being [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation oddly-colored]] [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe elves]] and similar to the [[LineagE2 dark elves]] with as Earth Goblins having gold skin, Metal Goblins having silver skin, Fire Goblins having red skin, Water Goblins having blue skin and Wood Goblins having green skin. They are related to elves through Sylvans. However, Goblins of this setting retain some of their love for explosives and high technology from other settings like WorldOfWarcraft and AgeOfWonders.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The dragons of this setting would probably make the skilled dragonslayers of any other setting very uncomfortable at the very least due to their [[EldritchAbomination eldritch]] nature.

Hic Sunt Dracones [[http://www.hsd13.wordpress.com]] is a web novel created by Terry Zilla, one of the many tropers here in TV tropes and is a work in progress. Hic Sunt Dracones (Latin for Here There Be Dragons) is a work of fantasy that takes place in the steampunk fantasy world of Zanoth, a strange little planet with the usual races found in many other works of fantasy but with a unique twist on dragons. Instead of the usual Smaug or Shenlong fare dragons, the dragons of Hic Sunt Dracones more easily fit into the Eldritch Abomination description, being alien monsters from another dimension who seek to devour all life on Zanoth.

In the midst of it all, salvation lies in the hands of a young halfling and his companions in the Imperial Hunt whose duty it is to hunt and kill any and all dragons that they find in the supercontinent of the Farlands. Meanwhile, something sinister brews among the nations of the Farlands and the dragons, who many think are far away in another continent, may be closer than they ever imagined.

* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: [[AvertedTrope Nope.]] Dwarves in Zanoth look like elves in their early teens.

* Expy: A lot of the characters physically resemble characters from other works. Here are a few examples:

** [[TheHero Joshua Dominica]] is a mix of [[TheHobbit Bilbo Baggins]] and [[AttackOnTitan Eren Yaeger]]. Appearance-wise though, he looks more like a young [[NarutO Haku]] with a mouse ears and tail.

* ElementalPowers: Nearly all races and their respective [[MaNa mana]] come in five flavors according to the traditional Chinese elements. There's [[ExtraOreDinary metal]] (also includes [[ShockAndAwe lightning]]), [[GreenThumb wood]] (also includes [[BlowYouAway wind]]), [[DishingOutDirt earth]] (includes [[GemstoneAssault crystals]]), [[PlayingWithFire fire]] (includes [[InstantAwesomeJustAddLava lava]]) and [[MakingASplash water]] (includes [[AnIcePerson ice]]). The only exceptions to this rule are humans who can only have Earth, Orks who only have Fire and Sylvans who only have Water. Dragons, who can [[YourSoulIsMine absorb]] the memories and mana of the victims they devour, have [[PowerOfTheVoid void powers]].

* ElementalPowers: Nearly all races and their respective [[MaNa mana]] come in five flavors according to the traditional Chinese elements. There's [ExtraOreDinary metal]] (also includes [[ShockAndAwe lightning]]), [[GreenThumb wood]] (also includes [[BlowYouAway wind]]), [[DishingOutDirt earth]] (includes [[GemstoneAssault crystals]]), [[PlayingWithFire fire]] (includes [[MagmaMan lava]]) and [[MakingASplash water]] (includes [[AnIcePerson]] ice]]). The only exceptions to this rule are humans who can only have Earth, Orks who only have Fire and Sylvans who only have Water. Dragons, who can [[YourSoulIsMine absorb]] the memories and mana of the victims they devour, have [[PowerOfTheVoid void powers]].

* BodyHorror: Mortals [[TheCorruption mutated]] by dragons and their favored servants. Some dragons also qualify as well.

* EldritchAbomination: The dragons of this setting are closer to this than the fire-breathing lizards we all know and love. They have more in common with Xenomorphs than the dragons of folklore.

* LovecraftLite: The Imperial Hunt and the Citizen's Watch have wiped out most of the sentient dragons in the Farlands even after the devastating Blasted War.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The dragons of this setting would probably make the skilled dragonslayers of any other setting very uncomfortable at the very least due to their [[EldritchAbomination eldritch]] nature.

* ActionGirl: Erulia and Neshka. Really, any female of any race who join the Imperial Hunt or the Citizen's Watch.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: [[TheWoobie The halflings]] are forced to live in secluded areas by [[TheEmpire The]] [[ThoseWackyNazis Kingdom]]. Halfling settlements are often surrounded by barbed wire and guards, [[IndustrializedEvil forced to work beyond the limits of their endurance]], [[PoliceBrutality beaten regularly by guards]], [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame hunted and killed like animals when they try to escape]], [[PoweredByAForsakenChild are more or less treated like livestock]] and are generally [[FantasticRacism hated]].

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Orkish Empire has an undeniably [[EagleLand American]] feel to them while the Sylvan Commonwealth can be reminiscent of the [[BritishStuffiness British]]. The Kingdom of Humanity is mostly a [[TakeThat Take That]] against the corruption, mediocrity and stagnation found in the Philippines, the author's home country. Meanwhile, the continent of Elbador, a continent being settled by the Orkish Empire can be similar to South America, complete with an Amazon River and rainforest while Panadyssia, a colony of the Sylvan Commonwealth has a lot in common with Australia, including an Outback and Uluru. The Halflings [[WordOfGod according to the author]] are based on the indigenous people of various countries such as the pygmies of the Philippines, [[AustralianAboriginies Aboriginies]] of Australia, the Native Americans of the Americas and the Ainu of Japan.

* CutesyDwarf: [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarves]] resemble early teen elves or humans while [[Hobbits halflings]] look like kids who are [[LittleBitBeastly furry]].

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Orkish Empire has an undeniably [[EagleLand American]] feel to them while the Sylvan Commonwealth can be reminiscent of the [[BritishStuffiness British]]. The Kingdom of Humanity is mostly a [[TakeThat Take That]] against the corruption, mediocrity and stagnation found in the Philippines, the author's home country.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Orkish Empire has an undeniably [[Eagleland American]] feel to them while the Sylvan Commonwealth can be reminiscent of the [[BritishStuffiness British]]. The Kingdom of Humanity is mostly a [[TakeThat Take That]] against the corruption, mediocrity and stagnation found in the Philippines, the author's home country.

* CutesyDwarf: [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarves]] resemble early teen elves or humans while [[Hobbits Halflings]] look like kids who are [[LittleBitBeastly furry]].

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Orkish Empire has an undeniably [[Eagleland American]] feel to them while the Sylvan Commonwealth can be reminiscent of the [[BritishStuffiness British]]. The Kingdom of Humanity is mostly a [[TakeThat Take That]] against the corruption, mediocrity and stagnation found in the Philippines.

* BodyHorror: Mortals [[TheCorruption mutated]] by dragons and their [[Cult servants]]. Some dragons also qualify as well.

Hic Sunt Dracones [[hsd13.wordpress.com]] is a web novel created by Terry Zilla, one of the many tropers here in TV tropes and is a work in progress. Hic Sunt Dracones (Latin for Here There Be Dragons) is a work of fantasy that takes place in the steampunk fantasy world of Zanoth, a strange little planet with the usual races found in many other works of fantasy but with a unique twist on dragons. Instead of the usual Smaug or Shenlong fare dragons, the dragons of Hic Sunt Dracones more easily fit into the Eldritch Abomination description, being alien monsters from another dimension who seek to devour all life on Zanoth.

For the trope on the appearance of dragons on maps, go here.

!![Hic Sunt Dracones] contains examples of:
* AnimalisticAbomination: The dragons are, of course. They're also a good example of Eldritch Abomination.
* EldritchAbomination: The dragons of this setting are closer to this than the fire-breathing lizards we all know and love. They have more in common with Xenomorphs than dragons of any folklore

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: The dragons of this setting would probably make the skilled dragonslayers of any other setting very uncomfortable at the very least.

[[http://http://hsd13.wordpress.com/]] is a web novel created by Terry Zilla, one of the many tropers here in TV tropes. Hic Sunt Dracones (Latin for Here There Be Dragons) is a work of fantasy that takes place in the steampunk fantasy world of Zanoth, a strange little planet with the usual races found in many other works of fantasy but with a unique twist on dragons. Instead of the usual Smaug or Shenlong fare dragons, the dragons of Hic Sunt Dracones more easily fit into the Eldritch Abomination description, being alien monsters from another dimension who seek to devour all life on Zanoth.