History Literature / TheCrimsonShadow

* BenevolentMageRuler: Brind'Amour, after he becomes king of Eriador.

* SorcerousOverlord: King Greensparrow, who rules Avon, Eriador and the islands nearby.

* FantasyCounterpartReligion: The unnamed religion which people in both Avon and Eriador follow appears to be closely based on Christianity, though most details aren't explored. God is explicitly invoked, though with no mention of a Jesus figure, numerous cathedrals exist in major cities of both countries, the good mages considered themselves priests with their powers being a gift from God, the single priest who we see resembles Catholic ones, and the evil mages make [[DealWithTheDevil pacts with demons to get increased magical abilities]] (much like what was believed about witches by most Christians once).

* CrystalDragonJesus: The unnamed religion which people in both Avon and Eriador follow appears to be closely based on Christianity, though most details aren't explored. God is explicitly invoked, though with no mention of a Jesus figure, numerous cathedrals exist in major cities of both countries, the good mages considered themselves priests with their powers being a gift from God, the single priest who we see resembles Catholic ones, and the evil mages make [[DealWithTheDevil pacts with demons to get increased magical abilities]] (much like what was believed about witches by most Christians once).

* KarmicThief: Oliver views himself as this, robbing rich merchants who grew rich from exploiting others.

* CrystalDragonJesus: The unnamed religion which people in both Avon and Eriador follow appears to be closely based on Christianity, though most details aren't unexplored. God is explicitly invoked, though with no mention of a Jesus figure, numerous cathedrals exist in major cities of both countries, the good mages considered themselves priests with their powers being a gift from God, the single priest who we see resembles Catholic ones, and the evil mages make [[DealWithTheDevil pacts with demons to get increased magical abilities]] (much like what was believed about witches by Christians once).

''The Crimson Shadow'' is a fantasy book series by author Creator/RASalvatore. ''Sword of Bedwyr'' was published in 1994, followed by ''Luthien's Gamble'' and ''The Dragon King'' (1996). Luthien, heir to the island of Bedwydrin, departs from home after the tragic death of his friend and soon takes up with the swashbuckling Oliver deBurrows. They form a successful team of thieves, but soon turn their attentions to fighting the injustices around them...
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!!Examples:

* BlackAndWhiteMorality: There is basically no ambiguity in the sides during the series. On the good side are people rebelling to be free against [[EvilSorcerer evil wizards]] with a [[AlwaysChaoticEvil wholly evil race as]] their [[{{Mooks}} minions]]. At worst, good guys Luthien and Oliver work as thieves, but even then their only victims are [[AssholeVictim exploitative collaborting merchants]]. On the bad guys' side, there is a [[TokenGoodTeammate single female mage]] who's just misguided rather than purely evil.
* CavalryBetrayal: A rare [[InvertedTrope inversion]]. During a naval battle between the Avonese and Eriadorans, ships come sailing over from Baraduine (an island ruled by Avon), making the former celebrate. Instead though they attack the Avonese ships, since it turns out that Baraduine would like to be free.

* {{Cyclops}}: The cyclopian race. Due to having only one eye, their depth perception is very bad, so they are generally poor at using ranged weapons. One that we see makes up for this by having a crossbow equipped with small mirrors on each side to help him aim.

* InvoluntaryShapeshifter / VoluntaryShapeshifting: Greensparrow made a pact with a dragon to share his body in return for magical powers. Most of the time he can control this, but the dragon forces him to transform occasionally.

* ReligionIsMagic: The good wizards considered themselves priests, Brind Amour relates, with their power ultimately coming from God. In fact, it was they who built the great cathedrals which exist in Avon and Eriador.

* BlackAndWhiteMorality: There is basically no ambiguity in the sides during the series. On the good side are people rebelling to be free against [[EvilSorcerer evil wizards]] with a [[AlwaysChaoticEvil wholly evil race as]] their [[{{Mooks}} minions]]. At worst, good guys Luthien and Oliver work as thieves, but even then their only victims are exploitative collaborting merchants. On the bad guys' side, there is a [[TokenGood single female mage]] who's just misguided rather than purely evil.

* CavalryBetrayal: A rare [[InvertedTrope inversion]]. During a naval battle between the Avonese and Eriadorans, ships come sailing over from Baraduine (an island ruled by Avon), making the former celebrate. Instead though they attack the Avonese ships, since it turns out that Baraduine would like to become independent too.

* KangarooCourt: Duke Morkney presides over a court like this. He doesn't hear any evidence, and no one is ''ever'' acquitted. The punishments, naturally, are excessive.

* MadeASlave: This is the fate of all Huegoth captives.

''The Crimson Shadow'' is a fantasy book series by author R. A. Salvatore. ''Sword of Bedwyr'' was published in 1994, followed by ''Luthien's Gamble'' and ''The Dragon King'' (1996). Luthien, heir to the island of Bedwydrin, departs from home after the tragic death of his friend and soon takes up with the swashbuckling Oliver deBurrows. They form a successful team of thieves, but soon turn their attentions to fighting the injustices around them...

!Examples:

* SlaveLiberation: {{Subverted}}. Luthien, upon becoming smitten with Siobhan and, learning she's a slave, sets out to free her. He arrives at her master's house, where he sees Siobhan sneaking out. It turns out that she does this regularly, and is part of a thieves gang. The title of this chapter is appropriately "Not So Much A Slave".

* TheRevolutionWillNotBeVillified: The Eriadorans' rebellion is against an evil wizard king and his minions for their freedom. It's never once shown as anything except entirely justified and good, overthrowing Greensparrow after he attacks them again.

* SlaveLiberation: {{Subverted}}. Luthien, upon becoming smitten with Siobhan and learning she's a slave, sets out to free her. He arrives at her master's house, where he sees Siobhan sneaking out. It turns out that she does this regularly, and is part of a thieves gang. The title of this chapter is appropriately "Not So Much A Slave".

* TheRevolutionWillNotBeVillified: The Eriadorans' rebellion is against an evil wizard king and his minions for their freedom. It's never once shown as anything except entirely justified and good, then for overthrowing Greensparrow after he attacks them again.

* BagOfHolding: Oliver is given a sack with this effect by Brind'Amour. Things placed inside it come to his hand by simply thinking about them too. It works due to being [[PocketDimension extradimensional]].

* CavalryBetrayal: A rare [[InvertedTrope inversion]]. During a naval battle between the Avonese and Eriadorans, ships come sailing from Baraduine (an island ruled by Avon), making the former celebrate. Instead though they attack the Avonese ships, since it turns out that Baraduine would like to become independent too.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Eriador is pretty clearly a parallel for Scotland, with one of its famed heroes being Bruce [=MacDonald=], who has the city Caer [=MacDonald=] named after him. Avon stands in England, with cities such as Newcastle and Carlisle which match actual English cities' names. Gascony is a clear parallel to France, not only with the pseudo-French names and having the name of a historical French province, but also its history in regards to people from there having invaded Avon (England) in the past. All three also share the same relative locations. An island near both may be the stand in for Ireland, though we don't get much information on it. Isenland stands in for Iceland, with its people being raiders like the vikings. Eriador and Avon also seem to follow a counterpart Christianity, though with no Jesus figure.

* HalfBreedDiscrimination: It's said many elves and humans dislike half-elves, though we never actually see anyone express this.

* TheRevolutionWillNotBeVillified: The Eriadorans' rebellion is against an evil wizard king and his minions for their freedom. It's never once shown as anything except entirely justified and good.

* WarIsHell: Luthien's father warns him that unlike in stories this is how it really turns out to be. Luthien later learns this is true for himself.

* LaResistance: Starting from a small band of rebels led by Luthien, and then growing into a whole army which fights for Eriador's freedom.
* LesCollaborateurs: The merchants of Montfort seem to collaborate, along with Duke Morkney, who is apparently from there too.

* WarIsHell: Luthien's father warns him that unlike in stories this is how it really turns out to be. Luthien later learns this is true for himself.