History Literature / Tasakeru

Somewhere far away, there exists another Earth… a parallel reality to our own where man has never existed, but animals speak, think, and act like us. Not fully human and not fully animal, they emulate the best and worst of mankind without ever being aware of it. This is the story of a group of exiles trying to survive, a noble but flawed society constantly teetering on the edge of chaos, and a world that will need the very outcasts it has rejected to save it from destruction. This is TASAKERU.

[[ShamelessSelfPromotion BHS]] also writes an IntercontinuityCrossover fanfic called ''FanFic/StarsAbove'', co-authored by {{@/Forzare}}, and additional [[CrossOver Crossovers]] called ''FanFic/{{Respect}}'' and ''FanFic/ShatteredSkies''.

* AccidentalMisnaming / DoNotCallMePaul / EmbarrassingFirstName: "My name is ''Faun''. NOT Faunelle!"
* ActionGirl: Faun.
* AnimalStereotypes: In effect with Faun (sexually confident and tricksy), Hanami (timid and girlish), Drake (Lone Wolf) and Rowan (down-to-earth).

* BadassBandolier: Faun's boom belt, [[MsFanservice worn strategically]] [[{{Stripperiffic}} over her "assets".]]
* BadassBookworm: Rowan. He's wise, philosophical, and even-tempered... and he carries a ''huge'' morning star.
* BeastFable: [[WordOfGod Trying to be this]] while subverting or avoiding some of the typical direct analogues and stereotyping ([[TheThemeParkVersion ethnic]] and [[AnimalStereotype otherwise]]) of the genre.
* {{BFS}}: The Silver Order knights' broadswords.
* BrokenHero: All the Outcasts, in one way or another. See DarkAndTroubledPast below.
* TheChick: Hanami. She's also TheHeart.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: A prerequisite for becoming an Outcast.
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Mostly from the Squirrels (StayInTheKitchen) and Skunks (GenderFlip of radical islam).
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The story of Minerva (a fox lady who whipped off her dress and spun it over her head like a drunk fratboy during a multi-species church service) brings to mind the Bible story of King David going streaking whilst caught up in a fit of religeous ardor.
* DontFearTheReaper: The ferrets' worldview. Unlike the other races, their Death God isn't expressly evil, it's a [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm force of nature that's incomprehensible to mortal minds.]] [[NiceJobBreakingIthero And if it's killed, something even worse happens,]] because the [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil "balance of nature"]] gets futz'd up.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Squirrels are [[{{Wutai}} Ancient Japanese]], with Samurai and ripping good fairy tales.

* FertileFeet: The Fox myth about their goddess of life. Makes sense, really.
* FieryRedhead: Again, Faun. [[PyroManiac In a literal sense as well.]]
* FighterMageThief: [[spoiler:Zero, Hanami, and Faun.]]
* FirstEpisodeSpoiler: [[spoiler:Hanami is a [[GreenThumb flower mage.]]]]
* FourthWallMailSlot: The Website/{{Tumblr}} account.

* {{Giant Spider}}s: Lots of them in the first book. [[spoiler:Including one [[SpiderPeople sentient one]], their mother.]]
* [[UseYourHead Glasgow Kiss]]: Faun gives one to an amourous male who's making passes at her in book 1.
* GoodIsNotNice: Describes Nadeshiko Argenteus pretty much to a tee.
* AncientGrome: The rabbit culture.
* GreenThumb: [[spoiler:Hanami's Mage Flower can grow ''anything'', anywhere, in any shape she wants. For the Outcasts, who have had constant troubles getting enough food, she's a blessing.]]
* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Faun.
* HeartIsAnAwesomePower: [[spoiler:Hanami's GreenThumb isn't limited to growing just flowers... it can grow ''anything'' that she's touched before, making her a potentially unlimited source of food.]]
* HiveQueen: [[spoiler: N'Ktane, a sentient female spider who uses her smaller, feral children as drones.]]
* [[IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming Idiosyncratic Chapter Naming]]: Each chapter opens with a haiku rather than a chapter title.

* [[InnocentFlowerGirl Innocent Flower Girl]]: Hanami.

* [[IntelligentGerbil Intelligent Squirrels]]: Along with foxes, badgers, wolves, skunks, ferrets, rabbits, and raccoons. These are the eight formally-recognized sentient species, but there are traces of others that have since died out, and one that is discriminated against due to mixed heritage. Somewhat combines this trope with PettingZooPeople, see below.

* LastOfHisKind [=/=] LivingRelic: [[spoiler:Seker the Last.]]

* TheMarvelousDeer: [[spoiler:The Pale Deer that the Outcasts encounter deep in the forest.]]

* MatureAnimalStory
* MixAndMatchCritter: Wolfoxes, subject to much FantasticRacism due to social taboos against crossbreeding.

* MyHeroZero: Zero Takaishi. Actually a nickname for "Reimaru".

* PerfectPacifistPeople[=/=]ProudScholarRace: The badgers.
* [[PersonaNonGrata Personae Non Gratae]]: The Outcasts.
* PettingZooPeople: All of the sentient species.
* PornStash: Faun doesn't bother to ''hide'' hers; she keeps it strewn all over her floor.

* PsychicPowers: [[spoiler:"Readers", such as N'Ktane, can dig through your memories or hypnotize you just by looking at you. N'Ktane and her drones have venom that renders their victims more susceptible to these powers.]]
* ThePunishment: Aconite, the skunk Death Goddess. Her sisters cursed her to poison everything she touches, and to never feel love.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Outcasts, naturally.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: [[spoiler:N'Ktane... eight of them!]]
* ReedRichardsIsUseless: [[spoiler:Averted, The Outcasts immediately seize on Hanami's potential for growing food.]]

* ThePunishment: Aconite, the skunk Death god.

* {{Teleportation}}: Boltpath Stones, which allow one to RideTheLightning.

* WhoWouldWantToWatchUs: The intro for the Tumblr page has Rowan wondering this.

* WorldOfFunnyAnimals: A [[DarkerAndEdgier darker]] and [[MatureAnimalStory edgier]] example.
* WorldTree: The Shinju at the center of Unify.

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: [[spoiler:Seker. He's been awake for every second of the last 3,500 years. He may be invincible, ageless, and immortal, but he's completely unable to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep.]]
* YouCanLeaveYourHatOn: Faun's favorite bar (the [[IncrediblyLamePun Fool's Rush Inn]]) has an exotic dancer.

%% * ZeroContextExample

* XMeetsY: {{Literature/Redwall}} meets ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo meets Anime/PrincessMononoke.

The series also has a {{Tumblr}} account, [[http://askoutcasts.tumblr.com "Ask the Outcasts"]].

* FourthWallMailSlot: The {{Tumblr}} account.

The story takes place in an AlternateUniverse, [[InAWorld on an Earth where]] humans have never existed. With humans absent, various mammal species have evolved into intelligent, civilized creatures called [[InsistentTerminology "sentients"]]. On a small island in the middle of the ocean, eight sentient species have evolved, and have clashed with one another for thousands of years. The story takes place during a period of uneasy truce, in which the island's only city enforces order by permanently banishing any "dangerous elements" to the uncharted forest on the island's eastern side. Those that are banished call themselves Outcasts, and the story is about a multi-species group of these exiles, fighting for survival. In time, though society has rejected them, the Outcasts will become critical to the survival of their species, their homes, and everything that they know.

* {{Precursors}}: The jackal-like Titans, who raised a mighty empire before inexplicably disappearing (except for [[CaptainErsatz their version of]] [[Film/TheMummy Imhotep]]).

''[[http://tasakeru.com Tasakeru]]'' is an ongoing WebSerialNovel series written by [[Tropers/FringeBenefits BHS]]. Planned as a series of 24 short books, the series aims to use [[PettingZooPeople animal characters]] to reflect on [[HumansAreFlawed human nature]]. Think "{{Redwall}}, [[MatureAnimalStory but grown-up]]", or ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' as a young adult [[HighFantasy High]] [=/=] HeroicFantasy.

* XMeetsY: {{Redwall}} meets ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo meets Anime/PrincessMononoke.

* InterfaithSmoothie: ''Sanshinto'' (or "Tritheism") is primarily based on Shinto, mixed with Greek and Roman mythology and a little bit of Japanese Buddhism. The individual species' beliefs draw liberally from just about everything else, from Hinduism to Native American mythology to the CthulhuMythos.

!!''{{Tasakeru}}'' contains examples of:

* {{Precursors}}: The jackal-like Titans, who raised a mighty empire before inexplicably disappearing (except for [[CaptainErsatz their version of]] [[Film/TheMummyImhotep]]).

* XMeetsY: {{Redwall}} meets UsagiYojimbo meets Anime/PrincessMononoke.

%%* BlackCloak: The Death God's servants are just Sentient-sized masses of smoke wearing these.

* LadyLand: Skunk society. Most males aren't even allowed outside without wearing concealing robes. So, basically, a GenderFlipped Iraq /Iran.
* LastOfHisKind [=/=] LivingRelic: [[spoiler:Seker, the Last.]]

* TheArtefact: The tumblr used to be a FourthWallMailSlot, but is now the author's writing blog. It's still called "Ask the Outcasts".

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: [[spoiler:Seker. He's been awake for every second of the last 3,500 years. He may be invincible, ageless, and immortal, but he's completely unable to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep.

''[[http://tasakeru.com Tasakeru]]'' is an ongoing WebSerialNovel series written by [[Tropers/FringeBenefits BHS]]. Planned as a series of 24 short books, the series aims to use [[PettingZooPeople animal characters]] to reflect on [[HumansAreFlawed human nature]]. Think "{{Redwall}}, [[MatureAnimalStory but grown-up]]", or ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' as a young adult [[HighFantasy High]] [=/=] HeroicFantasy..

''[[http://tasakeru.com Tasakeru]]'' is an ongoing WebSerialNovel series written by [[Tropers/FringeBenefits BHS]]. Planned as a series of 24 short books, the series aims to use [[PettingZooPeople animal characters]] to reflect on [[HumansAreFlawed human nature]]. Think "{{Redwall}}, [[MatureAnimalStory but grown-up]]".

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/3ce97a55ff3a5508adeadafc9171d01f.png]]

SmellySkunk: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]], but the FantasticSlur towards them is "Stinktail". By WordOfGod, calling a skunk "stinktail" to their face is the easiest way to [[BerserkButton get the stuffing beaten out of you.]]

%%** [[spoiler: WaifFu: "My name is NAOLE!"]]
%%* ActionGirl: Faun.
%%* [[spoiler: AllMythsAreTrue: Well, in-universe myths. Each sentient species sees [[AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder their version of the God of Time]] when Zero first becomes his [[GodInHumanForm Avatar]].]]

%%* AllWebbedUp: quite frequently, just this side of being overused.

%%* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: Foxes are, of course orange. Wolfoxes are blue.
%%* [[spoiler:AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder: Zero in his God form, at first.]]
%%* ArmedLegs: Faun's boots.
%%* AttackAttackAttack: Zero's main "tactic", usually ineffective. [[spoiler: It's when he goes into TranquilFury that he's truly dangerous.]]
%%* AttemptedRape: Stalker breaks into Hanami's house with this in mind. [[spoiler: It doesn't go well for him.]]
%%* BackFromTheDead: Ares, reborn as Stalker.
%%** [[spoiler:FromBadToWorse: And [[GiantSpider N'Ktane]], as of the end of Book III.]]

%%* [[spoiler:BadassGrandpa: Drake in the first chapter of Book III.]]
%%* [[spoiler: BargainWithHeaven: Zero makes a contract with a god to save Hanami.]]

%%* {{BFS}}: Lily and Nadeshiko's broadswords. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]], as it's stated that anyone else would be using them as cudgels (meaning they're at least as big as a Zweilhander or Claymore), but both mother and daughter are [[ImplausibleFencingPowers Just That Good.]]

%%* BloodMagic: from which Legion was born.
%%* [[spoiler: BrainwashedAndCrazy: result of wearing one of the Orders ''[[MindControlDevice Tama]]'' [[MindControlDevice bracelettes.]] ]]
%%* [[CantArgueWithElves Can't Argue With Skunk People]]: Why the rest of Unify hasn't told the Silver Order paladins where they can stick those greatswords is a mystery, and where do they get off policing the other race's quarters, not to mention their "crossbreed and die" policy.
%%** Imagine the Catholic Church with a very large peacekeeping contingent, and that's pretty much the Silver Order; the organization is large enough to influence policy even among those it doesn't directly govern. [[WordOfGod They also provide healing magic (a very rare ability) to the sick and injured, and grow enough crops to feed half the population.]]
* CatGirl: Defied, cats aren't sentient. So there.

%%* ChildSoldiers: The {{Samurai}} Militia accepts male squirrels as soon as they turn 13.
%%** Nadeshiko's only [[TeenGenius 14]], so the Silver Order may do something similar.
%%* CompositeCharacter: Stalker has elements of [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]] (motivation is tied directly to his mother, undead), [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]] ([[WolverineClaws six-inch blades on his fingertips]]), [[Franchise/{{Halloween}} Michel Myers]] (out of his mind and pure evil), and Comicbook/{{Venom}} (Malevolent symbiote grants him spider-based superpowers).
%%* {{Cult}}: the Demon Fangs. Their Rites are usually orgies of horrific violence.
%%* CuteLittleFangs: Legion's grin is described as being "fang-filled, but unmistakably friendly".
%%* CuteMute: Legion, a rare ''male'' version.
%%* [[spoiler:CurbstompBattle: Happens [[RuleofThree three]] times in Book IV. The first two times, [[BigBad N'Ktane]] curbstomps the Outcasts. [[PhysicalGod The third time, however...]]]]

%%* [[DarkSkinnedRedhead Dark Furred Redhead]]: Daphne, Archer in a PowerTrio sent to [[spoiler: assassinate Drake]].
%%* ADateWithRosiePalms: Faun suggests this to Renubis, saying "[[CrowningMomentOfFunny Have you tried... indulging yourself? It really doesn't make you go blind!]]"
%%* [[spoiler: DeflectorShield: Naole has a personal one, acquired completely by accident.]]

%%* [[spoiler:DemonicPossession: Hanami in Book IV.]]

%%* DontFearTheReaper: The ferrets' worldview. Unlike the other races, their Death God isn't expressly evil, it's a [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm force of nature that's incomprehensible to mortal minds.]] [[NiceJobBreakingIthero And if it's killed, something even worse happens,]] because the [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil "balance of nature"]] gets futz'd up.
%%** Wolfox godlore presents their Death God as TheSacredDarkness; an entity of pure silence and darkness, since their other two deities are personifications of light and sound as much as they are time and life. The dark and quiet modulate the other two into recognizable forms, rather than being blinding and deafening.

%%* EmbarrassingNickname: Nadeshiko absolutely despises being called "Little One".
%%** Faun calls Legion "Freakshow" behind his back.
%%* EmpathicHealing: Renubis states that he can't magically heal Hanami, because the healer has to feel their patient's pain as a trade-off.
%%* EmptyShell: Essentially what happens to those who have their souls taken by Stalker. They appear to be constantly awake, but completely incoherent and unresponsive.
%%* EverybodyHatesHades: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]], the Death God is originally portrayed as a force of pure hatred and destruction, but Naole prays to him for a favourable judgement when her life is in danger.
%%** It seems that his reputation is well-deserved, however.
%%* EvilTowerOfOminousness: Black Rose Tower. It pierces the clouds and has SpikesOfDoom, due to the massive rosebush growing on it.

%%* EyeScream

%%* FantasyGunControl: Gunpowder exists, and it is even called ''gun''powder, but there are no ''guns''.
%%** [[WordOfGod There are cannons, though. We just haven't seen them yet.]]

%%* FighterMageThief: Zero, Hanami, and Faun.

%%* FlatEarthAtheist: Drake. His reasoning is that the Gods abandoned him, so turnabout is fair play. [[spoiler: After the fight at the Black Rose Tower, he's become more of a NayTheist.]]
%%* ForcefulKiss: Zero has an unfortunate tendency to be on the receiving end of these.

* {{Giant Spider}}s: Lots of them in the first book.

%%* GoodIsNotNice
%%* {{Gotterdammerung}}: According to one psychotic cultist, at least. Note, this is the literal definition, ie, [[spoiler: death of the gods.]]
* AncientGrome: [[WordOfGod The rabbit culture.]]

%%* {{Hypocrite}}: The silver order is dedicated to protecting life. But not if that life happens to belong to a half-breed or BigCreepyCrawlies. They could care less what happens to ''them''. And they have no qualms about murdering Zero if he keeps sneaking into the city either. [[spoiler: Lily, at the beginning of book 6, asked the Magistrate's help in arresting the outcasts.]]
%%*: Completely intentional. Their creed has shifted from "Protecting life" to "protecting the ''sanctity'' of life", where sanctity can mean basically whatever the Order wants it to. - BHS
%%*:That definition is about as sturdy as wet cardboard. - TU

%%* IllGirl: Zero's sister Naole has mild anemia. Not so much a problem on our world, but on the other Earth, where medicine is far less developed...
%%* ImprovisedWeapon: Naole breaks a vase over Stalker's head, to negligible effect.

%%* LivingRelic, LastOfHisKind, ''and'' TheFogOfAges: Renubis.

%%* LowerDeckEpisode: Book 6, Chapters 1 and 3 are more about the Magistrate Council and Nadeshiko, respectively, than the Outcasts.

%%* MalevolentArchitecture: The Black Rose Tower. Not only was it raised by ancient magic within the space of a few minutes, but it heals itself whenever anyone tries to damage it. That, and it was briefly occupied by a would-be world conqueror.
%%** [[spoiler:And later by a crazy, undead, superpowered rapist.]]

%%* MeaningfulFuneral: Nadeshiko has to preside over one.
%%* [[spoiler: MindControlDevice: the bracelettes distributed by the Order.]]
%%* MindRape: A favorite technique of the "spider family". Done by N'Ktane to both Zero and Hanami, with relish.
%%** [[spoiler: And by Stalker to [[LadyofWar Nadeshiko]] in Book III.]]

%%** Also Legion, who has the ears of a fox and rabbit mixed, a huge, bushy tail from both squirrel and skunk blood, a powerful physique from badgers, huge teeth from wolves, a ferret's eyes, and a raccoon's markings.
%%** [[OhCrap He doesn't have a skunk's oil gland, does he?]]
%%* MeaningfulName: [[WordOfGod Admittedly, completely guilty of this.]] "Hanami" is the Japanese flower-viewing festival. "Reimaru" can translate to "zero zero". A [[Myth/ClassicalMythology faun]] is a playful trickster. "Renubis" comes from "renew" and [[Myth/EgyptianMythology "Anubis"]], the Egyptian Judge of the Dead, and he's a jackal to boot. In fact, each of the sentient species have their own naming conventions.

%%* NightmareSequence: [[spoiler:Hanami]] has several in Book IV.
%%* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Drake figures he's killed Ares after their big fight in book III. No. Apparently, the Silver Order doesn't teach it's initiates to [[MakeSureHesDead make sure.]]

%%* NotUsingTheZedWord: Rabies is known as "the Frothing Blight."

%%* {{Omake}}: ''The Star of Aurora,'' written as a tribute to [[{{Redwall}} Brian Jacques]].
%%* [[spoiler: OurVampiresAreDifferent: The story's vampires are called "sanguivores". Rather than having (or using) fangs, they have [[TooManyMouths lamprey maws on their fingers]].]]
%%* PardonMyKlingon: Easily translated; Mange = shit and Shed = fuck (rather humorous TranslationConvention, as mange is a skin disease and shedding is moulting, both rather inconvenient and embarassing for furries).

%%* [[spoiler: PhysicalGod / GodJob: Zero as the ''keshin'' for the God of Time, and Hanami as the same for the goddess of life.]]
* PlanetOfHats:Every race has their quirks, tied to their religion.

%%* RedEyesTakeWarning: Stalker

%%* RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain: Invoked, Nadeshiko wonders how invincible Stalker will be after she chops his head in half. [[spoiler: He doesn't let her find out.]]
%%* RobeAndWizardHat: LampShaded, and {{Averted}}. Naole expects Hanami to be wearing this outfit when they first meet.

%%* SanitySlippage: [[spoiler: Lily, who believes her dead mate is on vacation, and thinks her 14-year-old daughter is six.]]
%%* ShoutOut: To Creator/HPLovecraft's ''Literature/TheDunwichHorror'' -- Faun finds huge footprints, smells a wretched odour, and sees something terrifyingly ugly.
%%** To ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes with "[[NoodleIncident The]] ''[[NoodleIncident Udon]]'' [[NoodleIncident Incident]]." [[note]]''Udon'' is a type of oriental pasta[[/note]]

%%* [[spoiler: ShapeShifterGuiltTrip: A demon tries this on Nadeshiko.]]
%%* SlidingScaleOfUndeadRegeneration: level 2 for the [[=PE=] type Stalker.
%%** [[spoiler: Level 4 for ''[[OurVampiresAreDifferent Sanguivores]]''.]]
* SmellySkunk: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]], but the FantasticSlur towards them is "Stinktail".
** WordOfGod: Calling a skunk "stinktail" to their face is the easiest way to [[BerserkButton get the stuffing beaten out of you.]]
%%* SpitTake
%%* StalkerWithATestTube and StalkerWithACrush: [[IncrediblyLamePun In a very literal sense]] in Book III.

%%* SuperSoldier: Legion was supposed to be this, but he was decanted mute, hunchbacked, and covered in open sores. So Stalker named him Lesion, kicked him a few times, and sicced him on Zero's sister. He didn't count on Legion being kind-hearted.
%%* SurvivorsGuilt: Experienced in spades by Zero at thirteen years old. In the first month of his service as a samurai, Zero's squad of rookies was ambushed by a fanatical Death God cult. Seventeen died and more were injured, but Zero survived without a scratch. His inability to deal with the guilt led to his fleeing to Tasakeru and being declared a {{ronin}}.
%%* [[spoiler: TalkingToTheDead /DeadPersonConversation: Apparently, Lily's been talking to her favorite mate ever since he died a few years back.]]
%%* TermsOfEndangerment: [[GiantSpider N'Ktane]] is fond of using these.

%%* TheRevolutionWillNotBeVilified: Note that it was quite unsuccessful mind you, but nobody seems to begrudge the Wolfoxes their rebellion 100 years ago. Their punishment for commiting several war-crimes?[[note]]forbidden magic and targeting civilians, specifically[[/note]] They have to wear {{Black Cloak}}s (Something male skunks have had to do for centuries) and live in permanent exile ([[SarcasmMode like they didn't before]]). Basically a slap on the wrist and a "No! Bad! Go sit in the corner!"
%%* TheSymbiote: The baby GiantSpider fused to Stalker's left arm.
* TheNicknamer: Faun gives everyone nicknames. Hanami is "Flowers", Zero is "Takky", Rowan is "Stripehead"... she hates her own full name so much that she gives everyone nicknames, including herself.

%%* [[spoiler: TooManyMouths: Drake has lamprey maws on his fingertips.]]

%% TheUndead: the Outcasts encounter, in this order; a [[OurLichesAreDifferent Lich]] (Renubis), a [[OurZombiesAreDifferent Revenant]] (Stalker), a ghost ([[spoiler:N'Ktane]]) and a whole mess of {{Psychopomp}}s. [[spoiler:The first undead they ever encountered was actually Drake. He's a vampire of some sort.]]
%%* TheUnderworld/ AHellOfATime: The Beneath. It's apparently quite boring there, no matter how evil or good you were in life.
%%** Turns out, the Beneath is just the ''waiting room.'' Souls wander around until they are judged, then they either undergo MentalFusion ''a la'' Myth/HinduMythology or CessationOfExistence ''a la'' Myth/EgyptianMythology.

%%* VillainSong: a "[[MadArtist Mad]] [[SpoonyBard Bard]]" writes one for Stalker.

%%** Stalker's claws got mutated to insane lengths.

%%* WhoWantsToLiveForever: Renubis. He's been awake for every second of the last 3,000 years. He may be invincible, ageless, and immortal, but he's completely unable to eat, drink, sleep, breathe, or even ''feel''; his sense of touch was taken away by the immortality potion.

%%* YouNeedToGetLaid: Perspehone suggests Nadeshiko "[[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow lie with one of her florins]]" when the latter is depressed over the MeaningfulFuneral.
%%* YourSoulIsMine: Stalker

* PsychicPowers: [[spoilers:"Readers", such as N'Ktane, can dig through your memories or hypnotize you just by looking at you. N'Ktane and her drones have venom that renders their victims more susceptible to these powers.]]

* TransportersAndTeleporters: Boltpath Stones, which allow one to RideTheLightning.

%%* FirstEpisodeSpoiler: Hanami is a [[GreenThumb flower mage.]]

%%* GargleBlaster: Faun's favorite, Dead God Firewater, a blood-red drink with fumes that can cause fainting in lightweights.
%%** So more or less paint thinner with a pretty color then?
%%*** [[WordOfGod Canonically it's 90% whiskey... the other 10% is unknown, but presumably it's what gives it the color. Faun usually adds a pinch of gunpowder to hers.]]

%%* [[UseYourHead Glasgow Kiss]]: Faun gives one to an amourous male who's making passes at her in book 1.

%%* GreenThumb: Hanami's Mage Flower can grow ''anything'', anywhere, in any shape she wants. For the Outcasts, who have had constant troubles getting enough food, she's a blessing.
%%* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Faun.
%%* HiveQueen: N'Ktane, a [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Lolth expy.]]
%%*: I've never actually played, but looking at her Wikipedia page, yeah, I see the resemblance! - BHS

* [[IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming Idiosyncratic Chapter Naming]]: Each chapter opens with a haiku that describes it in some way.

%%* [[InnocentFlowerGirl Innocent(?) Flower Girl]]: Hanami.

%%* NotAMorningPerson: Faun's way of "greeting the morning" is to curse its existence.

%%* PornStash: Faun doesn't bother to ''hide'' hers; she keeps it strewn all over her floor.

%%* PsychicPowers: N'Ktane has these. She's shown to be able to [[HiveMind mentally command her children]], read minds, inflict MindRape, create convincing illusions, and hypnotize her victims. Some of these powers also passed to her "son", Stalker.

%%* ReedRichardsIsUseless: Averted, The Outcasts immediately seize on Hanami's potential for farming. [[spoiler: Hanami also used her GreenThumb powers to make it rich by undercutting the usual Market Price for fresh veggies.]]

%%* {{Ronin}}: Zero was declared one after he ran away due to [[DarkAndTroubledPast trauma.]]

%%* StoryWithinAStory: ''The Legend of Hayaoh'', a folk tale from Zero's childhood.

%%* TransportersAndTeleporters: Boltpath Stones, which allow one to RideTheLightning.
%%* TrickBomb: Faun makes them as a hobby, and has an ammo belt full of them, with many different varieties. She has the expected incendiaries and flashbangs, but also tar bombs, [[BoundAndGagged ribbon bombs]], [[LieToTheBeholder disguise bombs]], [[BrownNote sonic bombs]], [[{{Hammerspace}} compression bombs]]...

%%* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Averted, Hanami's GreenThumb powers are very useful, and certainly more practical than, say, {{Fireballs}} or AnimateDead.

%%* [[WhyDiditHaveToBeSnakes Why Did It Have To Be Spiders?]]: Faun [[spoiler:absolutely freaks when the group goes into the spider nest.]]
%%* WolverineClaws: Stalker's claws got mutated to insane lengths.
%%** Faun's gloves have switchblade fingers.

%%* YouCanLeaveYourHatOn: Faun's favorite bar (the [[IncrediblyLamePun Fool's Rush Inn]]) has an exotic dancer.