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Now a YMMV trope.
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* SpiritualSuccessor: The Zimiamvian series is loosely related to ''The Worm Ouroboros'' and can be considered a sort of prequel.
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* VillainousCrush: Gro, Heming ''and'' Corinius fall for Mevrian. She's quite something! Unluckily for them all she's also vowed to Artemis. Recognizing the honorable character and intentions of Gro and Heming Mevrian turns them down gently and with courtesy as opposed to her scornful rejection of the brutish Corinius.
to:
* VillainousCrush: Gro, Heming ''and'' Corinius fall for Mevrian. She's quite something! Unluckily for them all she's also vowed to Artemis. Recognizing the honorable character and intentions of Gro and Heming Heming, Mevrian turns them down gently and with courtesy as opposed to her scornful rejection of the brutish Corinius.
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-> ''"Rightfully, having such a timeless life, this King weareth on his thumb that [[TitleDrop worm Ouroboros]] which doctors have from of old made for an ensample of eternity, whereof the end is ever at the beginning and the beginning at the end for ever more."''
to:
-> ''"Rightfully, having such a timeless life, this King weareth on his thumb that [[TitleDrop worm Ouroboros]] Ouroboros which doctors have from of old made for an ensample of eternity, whereof the end is ever at the beginning and the beginning at the end for ever more."''
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* MagicKnight: King Gorice XII is a master sorcerer, and, although we never see him in a fight, is also described as physically very strong and imposing. Lord Juss is primarily a fighter, but can also use some magic.
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* MagicKnight: MagicKnight:
** King Gorice XII is a master sorcerer, and, although we never see him in a fight, is also described as physically very strong andimposing. imposing.
** Lord Juss is primarily a fighter, but can also use somemagic.magic. It's noted that the Demons consider magic an unseemly weapon for a warrior, and Juss also seems more cautious about the [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique potential side-effects of powerful spells]], and thus chiefly uses his abilities to ward off hostile spellcasting from others rather than to wield directly himself.
** King Gorice XII is a master sorcerer, and, although we never see him in a fight, is also described as physically very strong and
** Lord Juss is primarily a fighter, but can also use some
* OurGhoulsAreCreepier: They're extinct by the present of the novel, but based on characters' descriptions of them they seem to have been a species of bloodthirsty cannibals who regularly made war on the rest of Mercury and wielded some form of BlackMagic (they're described as having "conjured the sun from the sky" at one point). Nobody seems terribly torn up that they're gone.
* PredecessorVillain: The Ghouls were defeated at some point prior to the beginning of the novel, but the effects of their war against the rest of Mercury hang heavily over the plot.
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* PurpleProse: And how!
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* PurpleProse: And how!how! The novel is written in a deliberately archaic style that can read as very overwrought to a modern audience.
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* UnbuiltTrope: ''The Worm Ouroboros'' bears many of the hallmarks of the HighFantasy genre, but its style and underlying themes give it quite a different feel from later Tolkien-inspired works and the deconstructions (and reconstructions) of the same. Fittingly, it predated LOTR by several decades.
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* CrossoverCosmology: The peoples of Mercury mostly seem to worship the Greco-Roman pantheon, but there are a nonetheless a handful of references to Satan that crop up (mostly courtesy of Corinius, who likes to [[OhMyGods swear by him]]).
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Gorice XII's magic, at least in its most powerful forms, seems to be this. Gorice himself warns Gro that his "engine" is potentially dangerous to its wielder and he requires Gro's aid to cast the spell to target the Demons' ship [[spoiler: and when he tries a spell of similar power on his own near the end of the book, it proves his undoing]].
* DiscardAndDraw: [[spoiler: King Gorice's]] reincarnations seem to work like this, as he comes back to life each time with somewhat different abilities. Specifically, [[spoiler: Gorice X]] was a MasterSwordsman, [[spoiler: Gorice XI]] was the WorldsStrongestMan and [[spoiler: Gorice XII]] is a powerful EvilSorcerer.
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* DraggedOffToHell: [[spoiler:Gorice, we must assume. Though the ending implies he'll come back.]]
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* DraggedOffToHell: [[spoiler:Gorice, we must assume.assume, after his last spell fails. Though the ending implies he'll come back.]]
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* AllEncompassingMantle
* TheAlliance: Demonland and Goblinland, [[spoiler: later also Impland and Pixieland]].
* TheAlliance: Demonland and Goblinland, [[spoiler: later also Impland and Pixieland]].
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* TheAlliance: Demonland and
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* BigBad: Gorice. ''All'' of him.
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* BigBad: Gorice. ''All'' King Gorice and his identically-named ancestors are the primary antagonists of him.the setting. [[spoiler: In fact, it is the same King Gorice who keeps ressurecting.]]
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* BoisterousBruiser: Goldry Bluszco, Corinius.
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* TheHero: Juss.
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* TheHero: Juss.As the primary protagonist of the book, Juss has a well-rounded set of skills including combat prowess, leadership and even some magical ability. He has no real weakness and is the natural leader of Demonland and the first among its lords -- a king in all but name.
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** Mevrian praises Corund's sons for being this.
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** Mevrian praises Corund's sons for adhering to the code of chivalry despite being this.her enemies in the war.
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* SelfDisposingVillain: [[spoiler:Gorice XII.]]
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* SelfDisposingVillain: [[spoiler:Gorice XII.XII falls victim to his own spell.]]
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Dewicking Disambig
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* WitchSpecies: InNameOnly. The Witches are one of the major peoples of Mercury and the antagonists of the novel, but while their king is a [[SorcerousOverlord powerful sorcerer]], most of them have no more magical ability than anyone else.
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* OurManticoresAreSpinier: Mantichores (variously also spelled "mantycores" and "mantichoras") inhabit the high mountains of Impland "below the snow fields". They are given their usual appearance as similar to lions but bigger, of "dull red" colour, with "prickles" like a porcupine, a hideous-looking "man's face", "elephant ears", and huge teeth. Their name is (correctly) explained as meaning "man-eater", and they are said to be especially [[BrainFood fond of human brains.]] Because of the mantichores, the inhabitants of Mercury consider it impossible to scale the mountains of Impland; when Lords Juss and Brandoch Daha nevertheless ascend Koshtra Pivrarcha, they are attacked by a mantichora, which however they manage to kill. Fortunately mantichores are solitary and repelled by the smell of mantichore blood, so after being soaked in the blood of the mantichore, Juss and Brandoch are no longer troubled by other mantichores.
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Removing reference to defunct trope.
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** La Fireez
** Corinius.
** Corinius.
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* {{Asexuality}}: In contrast to the Witches, the Lords and Ladies of Demonland are mostly asexual beings -- with the single exception of Brandoch Daha, none of them show interest in sex, and none at all (including Brandoch) show interest in a romantic attachment. This even includes Goldry Blusczo, who is "betrothed" to Princess Armelline of Goblinland, but whose bride has about two appearances in the book – after all, it is only a political marriage.
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* InexplicablyAwesome: King Gorice [[spoiler: is an immortal sorcerer who has lived for centuries by reincarnating in a new body whenever he's killed]]. The origins and mechanics of this [[spoiler: reincarnation]] are never really explained; when Lord Juss questions Queen Sophonisbia about it, all she can say is that the gods must permit it for [[InMysteriousWays their own purposes]] and that's all we ever get.
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* NonIndicativeTitle: The eponymous ''Worm Ouroboros'' is not actually an entity in the book.
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* NonIndicativeTitle: The eponymous ''Worm Ouroboros'' is not actually an entity in the book. It ''is'', however, a important thematic motif associated with King Gorice [[spoiler: and the ending]].
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* CombatPragmatist: Gorice XI cheats in his wrestling match with Goldry Bluszco by ramming his fingers up his opponent's nose (it's nowhere near as funny as it might seem in context). [[spoiler: Unfortunately for him, Bluszco is just flat-out a better wrestler and, being now sufficiently pissed off, he kills Gorice by slamming him headfirst into the ring.]]
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* TryToFitTHATOnABusinessCard: The ambassador from Witchland says that he represents "Gorice XI, most glorious King of Witchland, Lord and great Duke of Buteny and Estremarine, Commander of Shulan, Thramnë, Mingos, and Permio, and High Warden of the Esamocian Marches, Great Duke of Trace, King Paramount of Beshtria and Nevria and Prince of Ar, Great Lord over the country of Ojedia, Maltraëny, and of Baltary and Toribia, and Lord of many other countries, most glorious and most great, whose power and glory is over all the world and whose name shall endure for all generations." The lords of Demonland, still stinging from Gorice's cowardly abandonment of them during the war against the Ghouls, are unimpressed.
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Corrected Carcë to Carcë
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* BookEnds: The main storyline begins and ends with an envoy from Witchland arriving to Demonland. In addition, there's an attack on Carcë near the beginning and another one near the end of the book.
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* BookEnds: The main storyline begins and ends with an envoy from Witchland arriving to Demonland. In addition, there's an attack on Carcë Carcë near the beginning and another one near the end of the book.
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* IKissYourFoot: The story kicks off with the ambassador of Witchland bringing a message from Gorice XII: namely, that his "servants" in Demonland have not paid homage to him recently, so he bids them to present themselves to him, swear allegiance, and "kiss [his] toe" to demonstrate that he is the overlord of Demonland. Some of the lords of Demonland would have killed the ambassador right there for this grievous insult, but Juss knew the whole thing was a declaration of war, but that Gorice hoped the Demons would start it.
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* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: PlayedWith when Juss swears the Witchland ambassador will not be harmed, and that his oath "hath never been forsworn, to Witch or other barbarian."
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* BloodKnight: Most of the characters, actually.
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* BloodKnight: Most of the characters, actually.characters firmly believe that WarIsGlorious and that their lives would be meaningless without it. Lord Gro and the Red Foliot are the only notable exceptions.
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* TheBrute: Corund. Strong, loud and likes to fight, but also ''somewhat'' dim. However, unlike your typical Brute, Corund is (generally) honorable.
** Corsus fits this better. And, no, he does not have Corund's sense of honor.
*** On the other hand Corsus tends to use subterfuge and deception, while Corund is more direct in his approach.
** Corsus fits this better. And, no, he does not have Corund's sense of honor.
*** On the other hand Corsus tends to use subterfuge and deception, while Corund is more direct in his approach.
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* TheBrute: Corund. Strong, The Witchland nobles Corund and Corsus are strong, loud and likes like to fight, but also ''somewhat'' dim. aren't exactly known for their intelligence. However, unlike your typical Brute, they differ in that Corund is (generally) honorable.
**generally honorable, while Corsus fits this better. And, no, he does not have Corund's sense of honor.
*** On the other hand Corsus tends to use subterfuge and deception, while Corund is more direct in his approach.isn't.
**
*** On the other hand Corsus tends to use subterfuge and deception, while Corund is more direct in his approach.
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Forgotten Framing Device describes it better
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* AbortedArc:
** The story begins with the avatar of a man called Lessingham going to Mercury (note that this Mercury has no resemblance to the real-life planet), but this whole arc gets dropped after the first few chapters. Lessingham is never mentioned again.
** Lessingham is actually the hero of Eddison's later Zimiamvia trilogy, in which there are brief nods back to his experiences in this book.
** The story begins with the avatar of a man called Lessingham going to Mercury (note that this Mercury has no resemblance to the real-life planet), but this whole arc gets dropped after the first few chapters. Lessingham is never mentioned again.
** Lessingham is actually the hero of Eddison's later Zimiamvia trilogy, in which there are brief nods back to his experiences in this book.
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* ForgottenFramingDevice: The novel begins with a man from Earth, Lessingham, who dreams his way to Mercury, where the bulk of the novel takes place. On Mercury, Lessingham can watch the locals but cannot be seen or interact with the environment. After observing a feast at the royal court of Demonland in chapter I, at the beginning of chapter II he finds himself transported to the Foliot Islands, where the wrestling match between Gorice and Goldry is about to take place, at which point he disappears from the narrative and is never mentioned again. The rest of the book is entirely about the adventures and intrigues of the nobles of Mercury.
to:
* ForgottenFramingDevice: The novel begins with a man from Earth, Lessingham, who dreams his way to Mercury, where the bulk of the novel takes place. On Mercury, Lessingham can watch the locals but cannot be seen or interact with the environment. After observing a feast at the royal court of Demonland in chapter I, at the beginning of chapter II he finds himself transported to the Foliot Islands, where the wrestling match between Gorice and Goldry is about to take place, at which point he disappears from the narrative and is never mentioned again. The rest of the book is entirely about the adventures and intrigues of the nobles of Mercury.[[note]]Lessingham is, however, the hero of Eddison's later Zimiamvia trilogy, in which there are brief nods back to his experiences in this book[[/note]]
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* TheBigGuy: Goldry Blusczo. While all the Lords of Demonland are supreme warriors, Goldry is the tallest and strongest. Corund is this to the Witches.
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* TheBigGuy: TheBigGuy:
** Goldry Blusczo. While all the Lords of Demonland are supreme warriors, Goldry is the tallest andstrongest. strongest.
** Corund is this to the Witches.
** Goldry Blusczo. While all the Lords of Demonland are supreme warriors, Goldry is the tallest and
** Corund is this to the Witches.
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* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: [[spoiler: Gro]], he switched sides to the Witches then to the [[spoiler: Demons]] [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder then back again.]]
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Lord Gro]]. [[spoiler: He goes on to do a FaceHeelTurn near the end of the story.]]
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Lord Gro]]. [[spoiler: He goes on to do a FaceHeelTurn near the end of the story.]]
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* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: [[spoiler: Gro]], [[spoiler:Lord Gro]] is an incredibly manipulative Magnificent Bastard with a soft spot for the underdog. Thus every time he switched pulls off a successful plan (and this happens frequently), he immediately goes and switches sides to support the Witches then to people he just screwed over. This makes him by far the [[spoiler: Demons]] [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder then back again.]]
most awesome character in the book. Unfortunately, the stress of being the only non-Blood Knight in his world eventually gets to him, and he goes berserk and starts randomly killing people from both sides in the middle of a battle, leading to his death.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Lord Gro]].[[spoiler: He goes on to do a FaceHeelTurn near the end of the story.]]
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Lord Gro]].
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* SceneryPorn: Go ahead. Just ''try'' to find a location or a building that's introduced with less than half a page of adjectives.
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* SceneryPorn: Go ahead. Just ''try'' The story frequently stops in order to find a location or a building that's introduced with less than half a page describe the supernaturally beautiful scenery, both indoors and outdoors. The description of adjectives.the Demon Lords' throne room is the most outrageous example, but there are others. The novel contains its share of CostumePorn as well.
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* TakeThat: As listening to the martlet rambling about the noble Demons and the accursed Witches, Lessingham thinks the little bird talks like a politician.
-->"Behold, wonder, and lament," said the martlet, "that the innocent eye of day should be enforced still to look upon the children of night everlasting. Corund of Witchland and his cursed sons."\\
Lessingham thought, "A most fiery politician is my little martlet: damned fiends and angels and nothing betwixt for her. But I'll dance to none of their tunes, but wait for these things' unfolding."
-->"Behold, wonder, and lament," said the martlet, "that the innocent eye of day should be enforced still to look upon the children of night everlasting. Corund of Witchland and his cursed sons."\\
Lessingham thought, "A most fiery politician is my little martlet: damned fiends and angels and nothing betwixt for her. But I'll dance to none of their tunes, but wait for these things' unfolding."
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* BladeCatch: At one point, Brandoch Daha catches a lance being thrust at him, unhorses the rider wielding it, and beheads him. [[spoiler: Thus ends Corund's son Cargo.]]
to:
* BladeCatch: BarehandedBladeBlock: At one point, Brandoch Daha catches a lance being thrust at him, unhorses the rider wielding it, and beheads him. [[spoiler: Thus ends Corund's son Cargo.]]
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* RespawnPoint: The Iron Tower of Carcë for Gorice.
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* ResetButton: Deliberately pushed at the end. The princes of Demonland, having triumphed over rival Witchland, nevertheless mourn the loss of their worthy enemies and the ending of their epic battles. Their companion the demi-goddess Sophonisba allows their entire world to be reset to just before the countries declare war, to the satisfaction of all involved, with the implication that this may keep happening for the rest of time.
* RespawnPoint:The Whenever King Gorice of Witchland is killed (and buried), he soon after reincarnates in the Iron Tower of Carcë for Gorice.Carcë.
* RespawnPoint:
* SoWhatDoWeDoNow: After [[spoiler:the heroes']] final victory, they are feasting in their hall, feeling melancholy over their inability to complete any more great deeds, when one of their powerful magical allies offers them a gift for helping her earlier. [[spoiler:They wish for the villain and his henchmen to be resurrected so they can fight him again, rather than being bored, finding some other adventures, or turning on each other]].
* StupidNeutral: [[spoiler:Lord Gro]] just can't help rooting for the underdog, which leads him to switch sides on a regular basis until in the final battle he starts attacking both sides at once.
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* ThoseTwoGuys: Intelligent, duplicitous Gro and badass Corund. Fritz Leiber credited them as one of the inspirations for Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser.
* TomeOfEldritchLore: Gorice's grimoire.
* TomeOfEldritchLore: Gorice's grimoire.
to:
* ThoseTwoGuys: Intelligent, duplicitous Gro and badass Corund. Fritz Leiber credited them as one of the inspirations for Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser.
''Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser''.
* TomeOfEldritchLore:Gorice's grimoire.The grimoire of King Gorice of Witchland in E. R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros is used to harness the powers of Hell.
* TomeOfEldritchLore:
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* UglyGuysHotDaughter: Corsus' daughter Sriva, "strangely fair for such a father."
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* UglyGuysHotDaughter: Corsus' Lady Sriva, the beautiful daughter of old, fat and ugly Duke Corsus.
-->Zenambria, wife to Duke Corsus, sat on her left, and on her right Sriva,"strangely daughter to Corsus, strangely fair for such a father."
-->Zenambria, wife to Duke Corsus, sat on her left, and on her right Sriva,
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* VictoryIsBoring: And accordingly sends the Demons off into melancholy.
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* VictoryIsBoring: And accordingly sends [[spoiler:The protagonists win, but find nothing else interesting for them to do after their victory. They wish for the Demons off into melancholy.conflict to happen all over again, causing the entire thing to start over again]]. This is the purpose of the title, as the Ouroboros is a symbol of a snake or dragon eating its own tail, symbolizing cyclicality.
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* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: Just about everybody wonders why on Mercury the beauteous Prezmyra picked Corund of Witchland - at least a decade her senior and frequently compared to an ox in appearance - out of a score of suitors. She is clearly devoted to him to the point of committing suicide after he is killed.
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* GreatOffscreenWar: The 'Holy War' against the Ghouls.
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* GreatOffscreenWar: The 'Holy War' against the Ghouls.Ghouls, in which all the "polite" nations of the world of Mercury fought alongside each other, and that ended just shortly before the book's storyline begins.
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* [[spoiler: HereWeGoAgain]]
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* [[spoiler: HereWeGoAgain]]HereWeGoAgain: The story begins and ends with [[spoiler:the Witchland declaring war against the Demonland]].
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Corinius to Mevrian. Only it turns out he doesn't, because [[EveryoneHasStandards even his own men find it disgusting.]]
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* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Corinius to Mevrian. Only it turns out he doesn't, because [[EveryoneHasStandards even his own men find it disgusting.]]
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* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: Corinius to Mevrian. Only it turns out he doesn't, because [[EveryoneHasStandards even his own men find it disgusting.]]InHarmsWay: The story ends with the triumph of the heroes and the defeat of their noble foes, after a long and ruinous war. The heroes are bored. So the gods bring back their foes that they might fight them.
* KingBobTheNth: All the Kings of Witchland have been named Gorice, with the novel opening with the death of Gorice XI and ascension of Gorice XII. This is implied to be because all of them are actually the same Familial Body Snatcher.
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* LovableTraitor: Gro, of course.
to:
* LovableTraitor: Gro, Lord Gro feels that any idiot can do well by being on the winning side but that true genius and sportsmanship lies in joining the losing side and helping them to become the winning side. So in the war between Witchland and Demonland he deserts whichever side is winning to help the losing side and does this several times throughout the novel. He is unhappy but not surprised at the sort of course.reputation this gives him.
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* MeaningfulName: Corsus is coarse, but Gallandus is gallant. No wonder they don't get along.
to:
* MeaningfulName: MeaningfulName:
** Corsus is coarse, but Gallandus is gallant. No wonder they don't get along.
** Corsus is coarse, but Gallandus is gallant. No wonder they don't get along.
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* MurderIsTheBestSolution: [[spoiler:Corsus]] is deeply convinced of this, even though it ''always'' backfires on him.
to:
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: [[spoiler:Corsus]] is deeply convinced Corsus, general of this, even though the Witchland will opt for murder in a tight spot: Thus, he [[spoiler:poisons King Rezedor of Goblinland, stabs his second-in-command Gallandus for fear of mutiny, and, finally, poisons the whole remaining elite of Witchland]] in an effort to save his skin. Each time, it ''always'' backfires on him.him and leaves him off worse than before.
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* [[NobleDemon Honorable Enemy]]: Mevrian praises Corund's sons for being this.
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* [[NobleDemon Honorable Enemy]]: NobleDemon:
** Mevrian praises Corund's sons for being this.
** Mevrian praises Corund's sons for being this.
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* {{Ouroboros}}: King Gorice wears a ring with this symbol. But the book's name also refers to something else... [[spoiler: the ending]]
to:
* {{Ouroboros}}: King Gorice wears a ring with this symbol. But also the book's book is a story that is taken to be part of a wider conflict with an ill defined beginning or end which casts an interesting light on the heroics of the main characters. To reflect this they have the name and also refers to something else... [[spoiler: the ending]][[spoiler:the BookEnds of HereWeGoAgain]].
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* PunchClockVillain: Laxus, Admiral of Witchland. The Demons themselves acknowledge that he is an utterly decent guy, only he happens to serve the evil side. And he has an exemplary sense of duty!
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* PunchClockVillain: PunchClockVillain:
** Laxus, Admiral of Witchland. The Demons themselves acknowledge that he is an utterly decent guy, only he happens to serve the evil side. And he has an exemplary sense ofduty!duty.
** Laxus, Admiral of Witchland. The Demons themselves acknowledge that he is an utterly decent guy, only he happens to serve the evil side. And he has an exemplary sense of
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* AgentPeacock: Brandoch Daha, La Fireez, Corinius.
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* AgentPeacock: AgentPeacock:
** Lord BrandochDaha, Daha is explicitly referred to as "delicate", his looks are described as "like a girl's", and he dresses extravagantly—- but he is also one of the best warriors and ''the'' best swordsman in the world of Mercury.
** LaFireez, Fireez
** Corinius.
** Lord Brandoch
** La
** Corinius.
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* BookEnds: The main storyline begins and ends with and ends with an envoy from Witchland arriving to Demonland. In addition, there's an attack on Carcë near the beginning and another one near the end of the book.
* {{Born Winner}}s: The Lords of Demonland.
* {{Born Winner}}s: The Lords of Demonland.
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* BookEnds: The main storyline begins and ends with and ends with an envoy from Witchland arriving to Demonland. In addition, there's an attack on Carcë near the beginning and another one near the end of the book.
*{{Born Winner}}s: BornWinner: The Lords of Demonland.
*
* BraveScot: Although Lord Brandoch Daha — mightiest swordsman in the world of Mercury — does not speak with a Scottish accent and has no other obvious Scottish traits, the motto inscribed above his castle's gate is surprisingly composed in (something that sounds like) Scots:
-->Ye braggers an' 'a'\\
Be skeered and awa'\\
Frae Brandoch Daha!
-->Ye braggers an' 'a'\\
Be skeered and awa'\\
Frae Brandoch Daha!
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* CitadelCity: Carcë, capital of Witchland, is described as this.
to:
* CitadelCity: Carcë, the heavily fortified capital of Witchland, is described both as this. a citadel and a city.
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* CombatByChampion: A wrestling match between Goldry Bluszco of Demonland and King Gorice XI of Witchland sets the main plot in motion.
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* CombatByChampion: A wrestling match between Goldry Bluszco of Demonland and King Gorice XI of Witchland Witchland, with Witchland's claim for suzerainty over Demonland at stake, sets the main plot in motion.
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* DeathOrGloryAttack: Gorice XII’s "sending". While it is an extremely powerful spell, performing it is so difficult and dangerous that Gorice is reluctant to use it more than once.
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* DeathOrGloryAttack: Gorice XII’s "sending".XII's "Sending". While it is an extremely powerful spell, performing it is so difficult and dangerous that Gorice is reluctant to use it more than once.
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* EvilFormerFriend: Lord Gro from King Gaslark’s perspective.
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* EvilFormerFriend: Lord Gro from King Gaslark’s Gaslark's perspective.
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* EvilTowerOfOminousness: The Iron Tower in Carcë. Also a MageTower.
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* EvilTowerOfOminousness: The Iron Tower in Carcë.Carcë, lair of the sourcerous King Gorice of Witchland. Also a MageTower.
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* FamilialBodySnatcher: King Gorice of Witchland is actually an immortal spirit that possesses its son every time a body dies.
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* FoodSongsAreFunny: General Corund sings a "Roast Pork Song" which discourses about how pork is better than poultry and mutton.
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* FullFrontalAssault: King Gorice XI and Lord Goldry Bluszco engage in their "wrastling" match while completely buck naked.
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* AssInAmbassador: The Witchland Ambassador in the first chapter. After delivering his message and being given a response, he could have said goodbye politely and left without further comment. Instead, he chooses to taunt the Demonland Lords.
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* BadassBoast: Humility is not the strong (or weak) point of the heroes of Mercury, be they Demons or Witches. Brandoch Daha and the Gorices are especially prone to this.
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* BadassBoast: BadassBoast:
** Humility is not the strong (or weak) point of the heroes of Mercury, be they Demons or Witches. Brandoch Daha and the Gorices are especially prone to this.
** Humility is not the strong (or weak) point of the heroes of Mercury, be they Demons or Witches. Brandoch Daha and the Gorices are especially prone to this.
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--> "The world without me would be a summer without roses. Carce without me would be a night without stars."
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Cross-wicking from Immortal Ruler.
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* ImmortalRuler: For unknown reasons, King Gorice of Witchland [[ResurrectiveImmortality reincarnates upon death]]. In this way, he has ruled Witchland for at least three-hundred years in twelve incarnations.
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* WhiteAndGrayMorality: Bear in mind that the morality on this world is different from our own, being more in line with that of medieval Norse warriors. The Witches come across as worse because they're trying to subjugate all the smaller nations. King Gorice and Lord Corinius come across as thoroughly evil (and Lord Corsus is not far behind), but the same cannot be said of the other Witchland nobles.
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* WhiteAndGrayMorality: WhiteAndGreyMorality: Bear in mind that the morality on this world is different from our own, being more in line with that of medieval Norse warriors. The Witches come across as worse because they're trying to subjugate all the smaller nations. King Gorice and Lord Corinius come across as thoroughly evil (and Lord Corsus is not far behind), but the same cannot be said of the other Witchland nobles.
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* WitchSpecies: InNameOnly. The Witches are one of the major peoples of Mercury and the antagonists of the novel, but while their king is a [[SorcerousOverlord powerful sorcerer]], most of them have no more magical ability than anyone else.
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Greek Mythology isn't really a trope, and the info about the gods is covered elsewhere. Also fixed a couple of typos.
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* ForeverWar: Although there are brief periods of peace, any given country is constantly at war with one other country.
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* ForeverWar: Although there are brief periods of peace, any Any given country is constantly almost always at war with at least one other country.
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* Myth/GreekMythology: Although it takes place on a fantasy world, the only gods mentioned are those of ancient Greece.
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* ReluctantWarrior: Lord Gro and the Red Ffoliot. They stick out because ''all'' the other characters are [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race Guys]]
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* ReluctantWarrior: Lord Gro and the Red Ffoliot.Foliot. They stick out because ''all'' the other characters are [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race Guys]]
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* UndyingLoyalty: In the final battle for Carcë, the Red Ffoliot turns up with three hundred men.
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* UndyingLoyalty: In the final battle for Carcë, the Red Ffoliot Foliot turns up with three hundred men.
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** Prezmyra gets one of her own:
--> "The world without me would be a summer without roses. Carce without me would be a night without stars."
--> "The world without me would be a summer without roses. Carce without me would be a night without stars."
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* LikeFatherLikeSon: Corund's sons are brave and honourable. Corsus sons, though we see very little of them, seem to be cruel and scheming like their father.
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* LikeFatherLikeSon: Corund's sons are brave and honourable. Corsus Corsus's sons, though we see very little of them, seem to be cruel and scheming like their father.
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* DecoyProtagonist: Lessingham, who is simply never mentioned after the first few chapters. He is no loss.
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* DecoyProtagonist: Lessingham, who is simply never mentioned after the first few chapters. He is no loss.
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* TheEmperor: Despite not carrying the title, King Gorice embodies most aspects of this trope.
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* TheEmperor: Despite not carrying the title, King Gorice embodies most aspects of this trope.trope, including having lesser kings as vassals.
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%% * TheGoodKingdom: Demonland, sort of. It seems to lack an actual monarch, but Lord Juss seems to be the informal ruler.
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* HoistbyHisOwnPetard: Gorice is prone to this. Gorice X, a master swordsman, is killed in a sword-fight; master wrestler Gorice XI is killed in a wrestling match (in which he cheats); Gorice XII, a sorcerer, is killed when his spell backfires.
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* TheLeader: Juss.
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* TheLeader: Juss. Although he is never given a title, he is ''de facto'' leader/king of Demonland.
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* MagicKnight: King Gorice XII and, to a much lesser extent, Lord Juss.
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* MagicKnight: King Gorice XII is a master sorcerer, and, to although we never see him in a much lesser extent, fight, is also described as physically very strong and imposing. Lord Juss.Juss is primarily a fighter, but can also use some magic.
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A HighFantasy novel written by Eric Rücker Eddison in 1922, [[UrExample predating]] the ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'' by more than 30 years, ''The Worm Ouroboros'' presents a sort of transitional text between classic high romance and modern fantasy. The novel focuses on a long war between Witchland (under King Gorice) and Demonland (led by Lord Juss and his brothers) in a fictional version of the planet Mercury, inspired primarily by [[Literature/TheIcelandicSagas Norse sagas]] and Myth/ClassicalMythology. A notable similarity to LOTR is that both novels feature a heroic quest (Juss and Brandoch Daha's quest to rescue Goldry Bluszco) against the backdrop of a protracted war.
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A HighFantasy novel written by Eric Rücker Eddison in 1922, [[UrExample predating]] the ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'' ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' by more than 30 years, ''The Worm Ouroboros'' presents a sort of transitional text between classic high romance and modern fantasy. The novel focuses on a long war between Witchland (under King Gorice) and Demonland (led by Lord Juss and his brothers) in a fictional version of the planet Mercury, inspired primarily by [[Literature/TheIcelandicSagas Norse sagas]] and Myth/ClassicalMythology. A notable similarity to LOTR is that both novels feature a heroic quest (Juss and Brandoch Daha's quest to rescue Goldry Bluszco) against the backdrop of a protracted war.
