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Alphabetization.
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* TheMagocracy
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* TheMagocracy: The old Alliance of Eldemar was definitely ruled by the leading mage families.
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Schedule has sped up a bit. :D
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The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since the story began in October, 2011. The 'Target Date' for the next chapter is posted on [[https://www.fictionpress.com/u/804592/ the author's profile page.]]
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The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, month or two circa mid-2013) mid-2014) since the story began in October, 2011. The 'Target Date' for the next chapter is posted on [[https://www.fictionpress.com/u/804592/ the author's profile page.]]
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* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Many cities choose to seal off parts of the Dungeon (an underground maze of caves and tunnels) to serve as sewers.
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* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Many cities choose to seal off parts of the Dungeon (an underground maze of caves and tunnels) to serve as sewers.sewers -- which is why said sewers are so labyrinthine and oversized.
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* LeaveMeAlone: At least initially, Zorian tends to be dismissive of people trying to help him out, like [[https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2961893/6/Mother-of-Learning Byrn on the train.]]
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The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since the story began in October, 2011. [[https://www.fictionpress.com/u/804592/ The author's page]] may show a 'Target Date' for the next chapter.
to:
The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since the story began in October, 2011. The 'Target Date' for the next chapter is posted on [[https://www.fictionpress.com/u/804592/ The the author's page]] may show a 'Target Date' for the next chapter.
profile page.]]
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** During a conversation about mana reserves in Chapter 22, Taiven tells Zorian that [[spoiler:this trope is a general rule: mages with larger mana reserves simply ''can't'' hone their shaping skills to the degree than weaker mages can]].
to:
** During a conversation about mana reserves in Chapter 22, Taiven tells Zorian that [[spoiler:this trope is a general rule: mages with larger mana reserves simply ''can't'' hone their shaping skills to the degree than weaker mages can]].can]].
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: {{Discussed|Trope}} in Chapter 22 with regard to [[spoiler:the aranea living in Cyoria]]; [[spoiler:"Grunt" (Oran)]] mentions humanity's tendency to assume that intelligent non-humans are hostile, but [[spoiler:the matriarch]] argues that there are counterexamples, and says [[DefiedTrope she hopes to expand them]] in order to [[spoiler:secure a place for her web in Cyorian society]].
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: {{Discussed|Trope}} in Chapter 22 with regard to [[spoiler:the aranea living in Cyoria]]; [[spoiler:"Grunt" (Oran)]] mentions humanity's tendency to assume that intelligent non-humans are hostile, but [[spoiler:the matriarch]] argues that there are counterexamples, and says [[DefiedTrope she hopes to expand them]] in order to [[spoiler:secure a place for her web in Cyorian society]].
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* WeakButSkilled: Zorian's {{mana}} reserves are much smaller than those of combat mages like Taiven, but as the loop continues he picks up enough finesse and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty trickery]] to hold his own against a lot of very dangerous opponents.
to:
* WeakButSkilled: WeakButSkilled:
** Zorian's {{mana}} reserves are much smaller than those of combat mages likeTaiven, Taiven and [[spoiler:Zach]], but as the loop continues he picks up enough finesse and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty trickery]] to hold his own against a lot of very dangerous opponents.opponents.
** During a conversation about mana reserves in Chapter 22, Taiven tells Zorian that [[spoiler:this trope is a general rule: mages with larger mana reserves simply ''can't'' hone their shaping skills to the degree than weaker mages can]].
** Zorian's {{mana}} reserves are much smaller than those of combat mages like
** During a conversation about mana reserves in Chapter 22, Taiven tells Zorian that [[spoiler:this trope is a general rule: mages with larger mana reserves simply ''can't'' hone their shaping skills to the degree than weaker mages can]].
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*ButterflyOfDoom: [[ZigzaggingTrope Zigzagged]]. Zorian's actions don't always have an effect proportional to the effort expended: big changes sometimes do almost nothing, small changes often spread and have knock-on effects.
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Recently discovered this.
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The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since the story began in October, 2011.
to:
The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since the story began in October, 2011.
2011. [[https://www.fictionpress.com/u/804592/ The author's page]] may show a 'Target Date' for the next chapter.
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None
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* MyBelovedSmother: Zorian's mother is a manipulative social climber who tried to groom him into a worthy successor for their merchant family. It didn't take. It's implied that her husband is as bad.
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* MyBelovedSmother: MeddlingParents: Zorian's mother is a manipulative close-minded, status-obsessed social climber who tried to groom him into a worthy successor for their merchant family. It didn't take. It's implied that her husband is as bad.
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*DeliberateValuesDissonance: Some traditionalists in Zorian's neck of the woods believe it's a waste of time to educate female children. [[spoiler:But until she tells him, he doesn't know his parents thought that way about Kirielle. He promises to teach her, no matter what.]]
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*MyBelovedSmother: Zorian's mother is a manipulative social climber who tried to groom him into a worthy successor for their merchant family. It didn't take. It's implied that her husband is as bad.
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Ah, Combat Pragmatist is the trope for dirty-fighting \'\'characters\'\'. Also, Xvim was misalphabetized.
* CombatPragmatist: Knowing that [[WeakButSkilled he'll likely be less powerful than those he'll have to fight]], Zorian plans much of his fighting style around tricks and traps.
* CynicalMentor: Professor Xvim has impossibly high standards he expects Zorian to live up to immediately. ''Everyone'' hates him.
* CynicalMentor: Professor Xvim has impossibly high standards he expects Zorian to live up to immediately. ''Everyone'' hates him.
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* CynicalMentor: Professor Xvim has impossibly high standards he expects Zorian to live up to immediately. ''Everyone'' hates him.
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* TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty: Knowing that [[WeakButSkilled he'll likely be less powerful than those he'll have to fight]], Zorian plans much of his fighting style around tricks and traps.
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* TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty: Knowing that [[WeakButSkilled he'll likely be less powerful than those he'll have to fight]], Zorian plans much of his fighting style around tricks and traps.
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* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.
to:
* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.parents.
* WeakButSkilled: Zorian's {{mana}} reserves are much smaller than those of combat mages like Taiven, but as the loop continues he picks up enough finesse and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty trickery]] to hold his own against a lot of very dangerous opponents.
* WeakButSkilled: Zorian's {{mana}} reserves are much smaller than those of combat mages like Taiven, but as the loop continues he picks up enough finesse and [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty trickery]] to hold his own against a lot of very dangerous opponents.
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* SecretTest: The second meeting between Zorian and [[spoiler:Detective Haslush Ikzeteri]] turns out to be one of these: [[spoiler:Haslush]] combined a disguise and a [[JediMindTrick compulsion spell]] to make Zorian think he was in the wrong place. [[spoiler:Haslush]] explains afterwards that part of his motive was [[spoiler:emphasizing the importance of perceptiveness for divination]].
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* GiantSpider: The aranea are a somewhat {{downplayed|Trope}} example -- Zorian's narration describes them as being the size of his chest. [[SpidersAreScary They're still pretty scary, though]], not in the least because [[spoiler:they are a species of mind-mages]].
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See discussion.
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* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.
* WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld
* WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld
to:
* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.
* WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorldparents.
* WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld
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*CynicalMentor: Professor Xvim has impossibly high standards he expects Zorian to live up to immediately. ''Everyone'' hates him.
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*GrumpyBear: Zorian can't be having with all the cheerful, boisterous people around him trying to involve him in parties and other excessively social situations - that's for his brothers and sister.
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*GoodMorningCrono: Zorian's loop always begins with his [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling little sister]] jumping on top of him and shouting "Good morning!" repeatedly.
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* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.
to:
* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.parents.
*WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld
*WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld
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*AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Zorian is blindsided and utterly helpless when [[spoiler:the aranea matriarch]] pays him a visit. He's then presented with some annoyingly logical and reasonable suggestions why he should accept help from [[spoiler:a colony of giant telepathic spiders]].
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* SarcasticConfession: Going backwards in time is widely known to be completely and utterly impossible -- so in [[http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2961893/16/Mother-of-Learning Chapter 16]], when Taiven asks Zorian how [[spoiler:Zach, a third-year student like Zorian, managed to slay a dragon]], he goes ahead and tells her, knowing she won't believe him. [[spoiler:Unfortunately -- or perhaps fortunately -- his sister and his roommate ''do'']].
to:
* SarcasticConfession: Going backwards in time is widely known to be completely and utterly impossible -- so in [[http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2961893/16/Mother-of-Learning Chapter 16]], when Taiven asks Zorian how [[spoiler:Zach, a third-year student like Zorian, managed to slay a dragon]], he goes ahead and tells her, knowing she won't believe him. [[spoiler:Unfortunately -- or perhaps fortunately or, rather, ''fortunately'' -- his sister and his roommate ''do'']].
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Minor edit, to make length of spoiler less indicative.
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* TheUnchosenOne: [[spoiler:Zach ]] quite probably ''[[DecoyProtagonist thinks]]'' he's the main character, the ChosenOne who will save the country [[OneManArmy single-handedly]] through his own power. Zorian, whom the story actually follows, isn't so sure this will work, concentrating instead on building his meagre skills and investigating the root cause of the loop.
to:
* TheUnchosenOne: [[spoiler:Zach ]] Noveda]] quite probably ''[[DecoyProtagonist thinks]]'' he's the main character, the ChosenOne who will save the country [[OneManArmy single-handedly]] through his own power. Zorian, whom the story actually follows, isn't so sure this will work, concentrating instead on building his meagre skills and investigating the root cause of the loop.
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None
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* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: The Splinter War was so named for the knock-on effect the first mass deployment of artillery and rifles had on the country. [[spoiler:The highly-trained, magical elite couldn't quite prevail against poorly-trained, massed rifle troops. When the houses who were the most prominent battlemages were also the politicians, the effect was further fragmentation of the country.]]
to:
* TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: The Splinter War was so named for the knock-on effect the first mass deployment of artillery and rifles had on the country. [[spoiler:The highly-trained, magical elite couldn't quite prevail against large numbers of poorly-trained, massed rifle troops. When the houses who were the most prominent battlemages were also the politicians, the effect was further fragmentation of the country.]]
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None
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*TheUnchosenOne: [[spoiler:Zach ]] quite probably ''[[DecoyProtagonist thinks]]'' he's the main character, the ChosenOne who will save the country [[OneManArmy single-handedly]] through his own power. Zorian, whom the story actually follows, isn't so sure this will work, concentrating instead on building his meagre skills and investigating the root cause of the loop.
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None
Added DiffLines:
*TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar: The Splinter War was so named for the knock-on effect the first mass deployment of artillery and rifles had on the country. [[spoiler:The highly-trained, magical elite couldn't quite prevail against poorly-trained, massed rifle troops. When the houses who were the most prominent battlemages were also the politicians, the effect was further fragmentation of the country.]]
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Minor edit. (Also, it updated two days ago! Huzzah!)
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The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since beginning the story in October, 2011.
to:
The story is presently incomplete -- new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since beginning the story began in October, 2011.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Many cities choose to seal off parts of the Dungeon (an underground maze of caves and tunnels) to serve as sewers.
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** AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Parts of the Dungeon are often sealed off from the rest to serve as sewers.
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Re-estimating update schedule.
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The story is presently incomplete -- the author has published approximately one chapter per month since beginning the story in October, 2011.
to:
The story is presently incomplete -- the author has published approximately one chapter per month new chapters have been posted at irregular intervals (every couple of months, circa mid-2013) since beginning the story in October, 2011.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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'''[[http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2961893/1/Mother-of-Learning Mother of Learning]]''' by nobody103 begins with fifteen-year-old Zorian Kazinski, a studious, solitary young man, waking on the morning he is to catch the train to his third year of training at Cyoria's Royal Academy of Magical Arts. A man with no idea that in a month's time, he would find himself embroiled in circumstances far beyond the capacity of any fifteen-year-old mage-in-training to deal with ... and then [[GroundhogDayLoop find himself once again waking on the morning he is to catch the train to begin his third year at Cyoria]].
The story is presently incomplete -- the author has published approximately one chapter per month since beginning the story in October, 2011.
----
!! This work contains examples of:
* ArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler:Kirielle]]'s husband has already been chosen six years in advance.
* BoisterousBruiser: Taiven is a just-graduated MagicKnight looking to get apprenticed as an explorer and shameless in her ability to railroad through anything in her way.
-->'''Taiven''' [''barging into the room'']: Roach! You're just the man I... wait, am I interrupting something?\\
'''Zorian:''' Yes?\\
'''Taiven:''' Never mind, it will only take a minute. [''shoving a newspaper into his face''] Did you see this?
* ChekhovsArmoury: There are innumerable details in the early chapters whose importance only come to light many, many chapters later.
* DungeonCrawling: One common source of employment for mages and students of magic is exploring The Dungeon (also known as the Underworld or the Labyrinth), an enormous underground maze of caves and tunnels. Appropriately, the deeper one travels, the stronger the magic and the more dangerous the inhabitants.
** AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Parts of the Dungeon are often sealed off from the rest to serve as sewers.
* TheEmpath: Entertainingly, [[spoiler:Zorian]], probably the most misanthropic character in the setting.
* GroundhogDayLoop: Although, unusually, the central character of the loop [[spoiler:is not the protagonist, but Zach Noveda, one of Zorian's classmates]].
* KidAnova: Among Zorian's classmates is Benisek, a boy whose primary occupation at school is the pursuit of girls.
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: ''Repetitio est mater studiorum'' -- [[GroundhogDayLoop repetition]] is the mother of learning.
* MagicKnight: Taiven is a combat mage who has been training in nonmagical combat since she was a little kid.
* MundaneUtility:
** Mixed in with the dramatic battle or creative magic are spells that do such useful things as "keep off the rain" and "make a floating platform which can be used to carry things".
** Among Zorian's tricks is [[spoiler:picking mechanical locks]] by [[spoiler:sensing and moving the tumblers with his mana]].
* TheNicknamer: Taiven calls Zorian "Roach", and her two partners in DungeonCrawling "Grunt" and "Mumble".
* PowerIncontinence: [[spoiler:Zorian's empathetic powers]] cause him headaches whenever he is stuck in crowds of people.
* SarcasticConfession: Going backwards in time is widely known to be completely and utterly impossible -- so in [[http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2961893/16/Mother-of-Learning Chapter 16]], when Taiven asks Zorian how [[spoiler:Zach, a third-year student like Zorian, managed to slay a dragon]], he goes ahead and tells her, knowing she won't believe him. [[spoiler:Unfortunately -- or perhaps fortunately -- his sister and his roommate ''do'']].
* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.
The story is presently incomplete -- the author has published approximately one chapter per month since beginning the story in October, 2011.
----
!! This work contains examples of:
* ArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler:Kirielle]]'s husband has already been chosen six years in advance.
* BoisterousBruiser: Taiven is a just-graduated MagicKnight looking to get apprenticed as an explorer and shameless in her ability to railroad through anything in her way.
-->'''Taiven''' [''barging into the room'']: Roach! You're just the man I... wait, am I interrupting something?\\
'''Zorian:''' Yes?\\
'''Taiven:''' Never mind, it will only take a minute. [''shoving a newspaper into his face''] Did you see this?
* ChekhovsArmoury: There are innumerable details in the early chapters whose importance only come to light many, many chapters later.
* DungeonCrawling: One common source of employment for mages and students of magic is exploring The Dungeon (also known as the Underworld or the Labyrinth), an enormous underground maze of caves and tunnels. Appropriately, the deeper one travels, the stronger the magic and the more dangerous the inhabitants.
** AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Parts of the Dungeon are often sealed off from the rest to serve as sewers.
* TheEmpath: Entertainingly, [[spoiler:Zorian]], probably the most misanthropic character in the setting.
* GroundhogDayLoop: Although, unusually, the central character of the loop [[spoiler:is not the protagonist, but Zach Noveda, one of Zorian's classmates]].
* KidAnova: Among Zorian's classmates is Benisek, a boy whose primary occupation at school is the pursuit of girls.
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: ''Repetitio est mater studiorum'' -- [[GroundhogDayLoop repetition]] is the mother of learning.
* MagicKnight: Taiven is a combat mage who has been training in nonmagical combat since she was a little kid.
* MundaneUtility:
** Mixed in with the dramatic battle or creative magic are spells that do such useful things as "keep off the rain" and "make a floating platform which can be used to carry things".
** Among Zorian's tricks is [[spoiler:picking mechanical locks]] by [[spoiler:sensing and moving the tumblers with his mana]].
* TheNicknamer: Taiven calls Zorian "Roach", and her two partners in DungeonCrawling "Grunt" and "Mumble".
* PowerIncontinence: [[spoiler:Zorian's empathetic powers]] cause him headaches whenever he is stuck in crowds of people.
* SarcasticConfession: Going backwards in time is widely known to be completely and utterly impossible -- so in [[http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2961893/16/Mother-of-Learning Chapter 16]], when Taiven asks Zorian how [[spoiler:Zach, a third-year student like Zorian, managed to slay a dragon]], he goes ahead and tells her, knowing she won't believe him. [[spoiler:Unfortunately -- or perhaps fortunately -- his sister and his roommate ''do'']].
* TheUnfavourite: Zorian's lack of personal charm and disinterest in the family business are heartily disapproved of by his parents.
