History Main / DyingTruce

* The final duel scenes in ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''Literature/TheTamuli'' both wrap up with Sparhawk delivering the fatal blow and then having a respectful (if short) conversation with the one he just killed.

* in ''Film/BlackPanther'', T'Challa not only doesn't finish off the mortally wounded Killmonger but actually helps him walk to the surface so that he can see a Wakandan sunrise before he dies.

* Anime/CowboyBebop: After Spike killed Vicious, all the mooks simply let him walk down the steps unimpeded.

* Film/ShootEmUp: at the very end, when Smith and Hertz are both nearly dead, Smith lets Hertz answer his cellphone as he walks away. The truce breaks, though, and both of them attempt one final shot to really kill each other off.

* VideoGame/AssassinsCreed: All kills of official storyline targets end with a short sequence where the protagonist allows the assassinated to speak a few lines or say a few words before their death.

* Near the end of DavidGemmell's ''Literature/{{Legend}}'', Druss The Legend is dying from poison and as his final action performs a YouShallNotPass at a gate that is about to fall to the Nadir invaders besieging the fortress of Dross Delnoch. He kills numerous foes before he is too weak to hold his axe and falls down. The Nadir hold Druss in such reverence that the fighting immediately stops and a Nadir warrior picks up Druss's axe and puts it back in Druss's hands so the legendary warrior can die holding his weapon. When Druss dies, the Nadir take his body back to their camp and give him a funeral as if he was one of their own kings.

* ''VideoGame/FableI'' does this when the Hero defeats TheDragon to JackOfBlades, [[spoiler:Maze, his mentor in the Heroes Guild]]. He uses his last moments to warn the Hero of Jack's plans and express his shame for his part in them.

* ''Videogame/AssassinsCreedIII'' has an example with no words. Charles Lee has been badly wounded by Connor during their chase, and Connor is in only slightly better shape. When Connor finally tracks Lee down to a tavern, Charles doesn't even try to resist. Knowing he's finished, he simply enjoys one last drink before passing the battle to Connor. Connor accepts it, then ends Charles' suffering with a final stab.

** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' subverts the traditional "dying man utters his last words" scene when Rodrigo Borgia survives and attempts to fight off Ezio instead, and then again a bit later when Ezio refuses to kill him.
** ''Videogame/AssassinsCreedIII'' has an example with no words. Charles Lee has been badly wounded by Connor during their chase, and Connor is in only slightly better shape. When Connor finally tracks Lee down to a tavern, Charles doesn't even try to resist. Knowing he's finished, he simply enjoys one last drink before passing the battle to Connor. Connor accepts it, then ends Charles' suffering with a final stab.

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* Anime/CowboyBebop: After Spike killed Vicious, all the mooks simply let him walk down the steps unimpeded.

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* ''Fanfic/WhenThereWasATomorrow'': In the epilogue, [[VideoGame/HaloReach Noble Six]] winds up facing down a [[Franchise/MassEffect Krogan]], [[spoiler:Kreave, who's bitter about losing his chance to kill Shepard, and decides to settle it with Six instead. After the Spartan wins, Kreave laments that now no one will remember him. Six tells him that they will as long as they remember Reach and what happened there. Kreave seems to accept this as he dies]].

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* ''Series/CoronationStreet'': in the long-running soap opera, Ken Barlow and Mike Baldwin are lifelong rivals and bitter enemies. They drop their enmity twice. Once when both are taken prisoner by a desperate gunman who threatens to kill his hostages; a second time when Baldwin finally dies, the only other person present to make sure his death is not lonely and unremarked being Ken Barlow. (TearJerker?)
* In the Season 3 finale of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', [[spoiler:the wounded Lincoln sacrifices himself by flying the Quinnjet into space, along with Hive and the missile containing the Inhuman virus. As the warhead counts down, Lincoln remarks that he finally got to [[ExactWords see the world]], and Hive remarks that all he ever wanted to do was feel a connection with those around him.]]

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* Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/GloryRoad''. After Oscar Gordon manages to mortally wound the Never-Born (AKA The Eater of Souls), he and it talk for a while before it dies.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* VideoGame/AssassinsCreed: All kills of official storyline targets end with a short sequence where the protagonist allows the assassinated to speak a few lines or say a few words before their death.
** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' subverts the traditional "dying man utters his last words" scene when Rodrigo Borgia survives and attempts to fight off Ezio instead, and then again a bit later when Ezio refuses to kill him.

* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': At the end Revan manages to mortally wound Malak, after which the two of them have a short conversation about the choices they made and the consequences of them until Malak dies.

* Near the end of Creator/{{David Gemmell}}'s ''Legend'', Druss The Legend is dying from poison and as his final action performs a YouShallNotPass at a gate that is about to fall to the Nadir invaders besieging the fortress of Dross Delnoch. He kills numerous foes before he is too weak to hold his axe and falls down. The Nadir hold Druss in such reverence that the fighting immediately stops and a Nadir warrior picks up Druss's axe and puts it back in Druss's hands so the legendary warrior can die holding his weapon. When Druss dies, the Nadir take his body back to their camp and give him a funeral as if he was one of their own kings.

* The final duel scenes in ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''The Tamuli'' both wrap up with Sparhawk delivering the fatal blow and then having a respectful (if short) conversation with the one he just killed.

[[AC:{{UsefulNotes/Television}}]]
* ''CoronationStreet'': in the long-running soap opera, Ken Barlow and Mike Baldwin are lifelong rivals and bitter enemies. They drop their enmity twice. Once when both are taken prisoner by a desperate gunman who threatens to kill his hostages; a second time when Baldwin finally dies, the only other person present to make sure his death is not lonely and unremarked being Ken Barlow. (TearJerker?)

So the hero is duking it out with the FinalBoss (or maybe just a MiniBoss). Either way, his opponent is most definitely his enemy. After striking a mortal blow, his foe is now too weak to even hold his weapon or be any threat as he lays dying. The hero (or sometimes even the villain, in the case that TheHeroDies) will drop their weapons and sit down for a friendly chat. Maybe ask the soon-to-be-dead if they have a LastRequest. Or if they want OneLastSmoke. Or just be philosophical.

Examples:

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* The final duel scenes in ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''The Tamuli'' both wrap up with Sparhawk delivering the fatal blow and then having a respectful (if short) conversation with the one he just killed.

* Played straight in ''Film/{{Collateral}}''. During the climactic gunfight on the train, Max gets off a lucky shot that hits Vincent in the heart. Vincent staggers and takes a seat, and a shocked Max sits across from him, trying to reassure Vincent that the train is almost at the next stop. Vincent smiles and [[ArcWords repeats an anecdote he shared earlier in the movie.]]
-->'''Vincent:''' Hey, Max. Guy gets on the train in LA, dies. Think anyone will notice?

* Anime/CowboyBebop: After Spike killed Vicious, all the mooks simply let him walk down the steps unimpeded, knowing that he's about to die soon himself.

* Near the end of {{David Gemmell}}'s ''Legend'', Druss The Legend is dying from poison and as his final action performs a YouShallNotPass at a gate that is about to fall to the Nadir invaders besieging the fortress of Dross Delnoch. He kills numerous foes before he is too weak to hold his axe and falls down. The Nadir hold Druss in such reverence that the fighting immediately stops and a Nadir warrior picks up Druss's axe and puts it back in Druss's hands so the legendary warrior can die holding his weapon. When Druss dies, the Nadir take his body back to their camp and give him a funeral as if he was one of their own kings.

This is a very good time for a VillainsDyingGrace, DeathEqualsRedemption, or MyGodWhatHaveIDone to be discussed.

The truce is rarely ever spoken or negotiated. Usually only happens when the dying character is going to be KilledOffForReal, and both parties know for sure that there's no way for them to survive. They just know there's no point in making a dead man dead-er, and are honourable enough to ensure they die more peacefully. Unless the defeated one is very good at faking it and taking advantage of the others party's honourable nature.

* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': At the end Revan manages to mortally wound Malak, after which the two of them have a short conversation about the choices they made and the consequences of them until Malak dies.

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