History TheNightUnfurls / TropesEToN

* FallGuy: Sanakan deduces that Grishom is set up as the fall guy by Mandeville for the rebellion at Ken. Kyril confirms this, believing that Mandeville is doing that in order to secretly secure routes from Ken to the Black Fortress, where Vault is residing.

** Last but not least, [[TheDreaded Kyril Sutherland]]. [[PlayerCharacter The Good Hunter]]. Chronologically, he manages to ''[[ZigZaggingTrope zig-zag]]'' this trope. At the beginning of it all, he was a son of a poor farmer. Then ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' happened, [[spoiler:[[AndThenJohnWasAZombie and then Kyril was]] [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext a squid]]]]. To keep this concise and more understandable, he went to a town named Yharnam in search for a cure for his illness, as an unarmed outsider. It is how he became an EmpoweredBadassNormal HunterOfMonsters, slaying beasts and other hunters by the dozens and hundreds, even to the point of [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu punching out]] at least three [[EldritchAbomination great ones]]. After that, [[spoiler:he was somehow [[EldritchTransformation transformed]] into a [[EldritchAbomination great one]] himself, but he managed to avert the BlueAndOrangeMorality that comes with his [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascension]]]]. [[spoiler:Taking a [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith human form]]]], he [[WalkingTheEarth wandered around the world]] until his arrival to Eostia, again as a foreign outsider. There, he started out as a regular [[HiredGuns sellsword]], only to kick tons of ass, spill tons of blood, and be [[{{Knighting}} knighted]] as TheDreaded [[BlackKnight Sir Kyril (the Bloody)]], infamous for his [[{{Gorn}} brutality]] in the battlefield. He later gets [[FieldPromotion promoted]] to Lord Executioner after quelling a [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized rebellion]] with steel and fire, being equivalent to the ruler's left-hand man. The kicker is that the people InUniverse believed that this trope is PlayedStraight for him once (because [[spoiler:Kyril's true nature]] has yet to be common knowledge), but the readers who have played ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' before will [[DramaticIrony understand]] that it actually applies to him ''twice''.

* GenderIsNoObject: The military of Eostia make no gender distinctions whatsoever. Nobody raises an eyebrow when they see male [[TheMedic healers]], female [[ArmyScout scouts]], and women in command.

* HatesBaths: [[BeastMan Yurie]] dislikes anything related to baths, like the water and soap. May or may not have something to do with her resembling a [[CatsHateWater cat]] in all but name.

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: By the time the story reached the Rebel Scum Arc, a major point of [[DiscussedTrope discussion]] is whether Kyril's morally questionable methods in the war effort, such as [[TakeNoPrisoners executing prisoners who surrendered beforehand]], and quelling the rebellion in Ken by force, makes him no different than the Black Dogs he is fighting against. Particularly, [[HonorBeforeReason Claudia]] believes that not only does he play this trope straight, his actions would risk tarnishing Celestine's reputation as TheHighQueen. Even those who back Kyril's approach, like Alicia and Lily, have admitted that they would not defend his actions. Nonetheless, the narrative makes it clear why this trope [[SubvertedTrope will never happen]] to Kyril. Unlike the Black Dogs, Kyril and his followers have never raped, enslaved, or experimented on innocent bystanders. Instead, his objectives are to MakeAnExampleOfThem and to [[ShootTheDog swiftly prevent the escalating war from continuing to devastate the populace]], however questionable those methods may be. Furthermore, Kyril knows all too well what this trope entails during his DarkAndTroubledPast, having witnessed his fellow Hunters gradually and literally becoming as [[AxCrazy bloodthirsty]] as the beasts they hunt. His conclusion? In face of an uncompromising threat, ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption, because the people who suffer because of said threat are the ones that matter. For a last touch of {{irony}}, [[spoiler:Kyril Sutherland WasOnceAMan, [[EldritchTransformation transformed into an eldritch entity]], yet demonstrates such self-discipline that no inhuman being can ever reach]].

*** Celestine does not take it well upon witnessing [[spoiler:Kyril getting shot in front of her, then rising BackFromTheDead seconds later.]] She is so shocked that the only thing she can do is to hyperventilate while sinking to her knees. This has persisted for 2 chapters, in spite of her apparent recovery after the incident, to the point where she presses herself onto his chest after he is summoned. Still owing answers to Celestine (and Olga, who is also present), he reluctantly pulls out his [[ArtifactOfDoom journal]] for the InternalReveal the readers have been waiting for... [[FromBadToWorse and things get worse for the two]].
** In Chapter 30 of the original, Olga falls into a disheveled state, [[ThousandYardStare staring blindly ahead]] while [[DrowningMySorrows swirling her fifth wineglass]]. The reason is that her loyal servant and LivingEmotionalCrutch Chloe is currently in an unresponsive state, and it is unknown whether she would make it or not.

-->'''Kyril:''' When I came here, I wanted nothing to do with the war. All I had wanted was to be left alone so I could suffer my memories in solitude. Until I learned what Vault planned for every single man, woman and child. The women and children slaves and men who resisted his regime dead or dying. Yharnam was dead long before I came here. Eostia is war torn but she still has a chance for peace.\\

* HeyYou: How does Alicia address Kyril during the entirety of Chapter 1 of the remastered version? "You there! The one in the hat!", "You there, mercenary!", "mercenary", and "that man". Her two seconds, Vera and Kendra, calls him "cur", "the man", and "stranger". It shows how [[SarcasmMode cordial]] their relationship is.

** How do they triumph against Grishom and the remaining rebel forces, putting an end to the rebellion at last in Chapter 26? ThePlan is that Bergen and his company would create a cordon to surround the cathedral where Grishom and his men are residing in, so as to prevent them from escaping. To lure them out, Soren and the mages would be responsible for [[BurnBabyBurn setting the cathedral on fire]]. After that, the rebels would be flushed into an escape route, only to be dispatched by Kyril and the heavy-hitters. In the end, the tactic is such a success that [[Literature/TheArtOfWarSunTzu Sun Tzu]] would be proud.

** Olga swears "I'll kill you all!" when she, along with Chloe, are about to be imprisoned by Kyril and the Black Dogs in Chapter 5, remastered version.

* ImNotHereToMakeFriends: Focused on the mission to bringing Olga to Celestine, this is the Hunter's attitude during his journey to the Black Fortress alongside the Black Dogs. To him, the Black Dogs would either become corpses or potential enemies, so there's no point in befriending them.

** Kyril generally has a "NothingPersonal" attitude to the blood he spilt before and during the war, but there are two occasions where he attributes a personal reason to the conflict. The first occasion (where the plot starts [[SerialEscalation escalating]]) is the elimination of Shamuhaza. Kyril's motive for his elimination goes beyond averting a [[ApocalypseHow major disaster]] -- [[spoiler:he considers this his duty to uphold the {{Masquerade}}, to make sure the shameful deeds of the Healing Church remain buried, so none would suffer like he did in his DarkAndTroubledPast, like [[SoiledCityOnAHill what happened to Yharnam and its citizenry]]]]. The second occasion is [[spoiler:his first death in the fanfic]]. [[spoiler:He finds it unacceptable that he [[EyeScream lost an eye]] and Celestine is [[HeroicBSOD scarred]] due to his "assassination", sending him in an UnstoppableRage and overkill the assassin responsible]]. He even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] how petty the second occasion is.

* JustOneMan: The phrase "he's just one man!" is an all-too common response from anyone who [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimates]] the [[OneManArmy Good Hunter's asskicking capabilities]].

** As the story sometimes refers Chloe, Olga's shadow, as her knight, together with how [[UndyingLoyalty protective]] Chloe is to her liege lady, the two count as this. Though, Olga sees their relationship as [[LikeADaughterToMe more than that]].

** Sergeant Roland prepares to meet his end, axe in hand as his soldiers are being forced back by greenskins. Then he catches sight of a dangling, upside down rune, painted on a flag unfurled in the distance -- the arrival of Sir Kyril's company.
** Soren, after killing ten guards on his own, is seemingly at his limit. One of his arms is broken, yet there's five more remaining and Mandeville's within his sights. He intends to go down in a blaze of glory, until a gunshot is heard, and one guard [[BoomHeadshot has a hole on the side of his head]]. The remaining four turn as they see Hugh charge from the left flank.

* MarshmallowHell: Happens in Chapter 20 of the original. After Soren declares he is not going to mess up again, Grace teases Soren via this method, his face rubbed up against her large chest.

** Celestine's first name is a StellarName based on the latin word "caelestis", which means "heavenly", alluding to her status as [[CrystalDragonJesus the Goddess Reborn]]. Her last name, ''Lucross'', is also known as ''Lucullus'' as a result of SpellMyNameWithAnS. Lucullus was a Roman general and statesman who became the conqueror of the eastern kingdoms in the course of the Third Mithridatic War, renowned for his extraordinary generalship. Except that Celestine is TheHighQueen, [[IronicName neither a general nor a conqueror]].

* MelancholyMoon: In Chapter 1 of the original, Kyril is seen sharpening his [[SerratedBladeOfPain Saw Cleaver]] under a moonlit night, preparing for his duty to Celestine, who gave him the task of delivering her rival Olga back to the South, alive. Within the sound of steel being sharpened, he broods over the reality that a [[HunterOfMonsters hunter]] like him is better at ending lives than preserving them. Kyril then turns his attention to the Holy Moonlight Sword, which, as the name suggests, has a complimentary motif to the moon in the sky. The story than presents a ContinuityNod about the weapon's heritage: how the sword once belonged to the First Hunter of the Healing Church, Ludwig; how the [[WasOnceAMan owner]] of the sword inevitably fell to the Beast Scourge, twisted into an accursed beast, a mockery of his former ideals; how the man that was once Ludwig the Accursed [[DyingAsYourself finally found peace]] as Ludwig the Holy Blade; and lastly, how the blade, his mentor and guiding Moonlight, is bequeathed to the Hunter during his final moments. To cap it off, the last two paragraphs of this scene has Kyril hoping that nothing terrible would happen in the upcoming battle. Overall, it is a melancholy scene that compliments with Kyril's isolated and introspective nature, especially to those who are familiar with ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' lore.
* MenOfSherwood: Sir Kyril Sutherland's company counts as this, along with several named supporting characters. They include Bergen, Indriga, Alaric, Lucius, Roland, and many more. Compared to the [[BadassCrew hunters]], these men and women neither stand out in any way, nor go through some sort of major [[CharacterDevelopment character arc]]. Nevertheless, their competence and discipline prove to be vital for ending any battle as swift as possible. Every soldier has went through a [[TrainingFromHell rigorous training regiment]], have both studied and applied various strategies and tactics, and are fully equipped with everything they need (i.e. adequate food, weapons, etc.) in order to fulfil their role and survive. [[JustifiedTrope No wonder they do their job well]].

* MistakenForBetrayal: In the remastered version, upon seeing Olga accompanying Kyril on the road to the capital, Grace feels betrayed by how Kyril insists on protecting the woman she hates in order to complete his mission. To be fair, he had no idea about the animosity between the two.

** Right before the end of the ''Tragedy of Rad Arc'', Kyril faces off an amalgamation of corpses that bears resemblance to [[Characters/BloodborneEnemiesAndBosses The One Reborn]].

* MolotovCocktail: Both Kyril and Soren have Molotovs under their disposal. For the latter, they're useful for [[BurnBabyBurn starting a fire at a cathedral]] to burn it down.

** Kyril is displeased with the mud in Scathlocke, for it, along with the cold and humidity, are responsible for bogging down the soldiers under his command.
** Getting stuck in the mud is one of the risks of trekking through the Dead Marshes, as Fredrick, who sinks waist deep into the muck, learns the hard way.

** {{Downplayed}} in the original version. The {{mooks}} of the Black Dogs, being {{mooks}}, are generally not named and hence exist to be disposed of. However, there are a few exceptions. Although they have little to no bearing to the plot, they are given a name and serve a small, specific purpose before getting killed off. Here are two examples.

** Sanakan and Hugh is an obvious duo. Sanakan is the [[ScreamingWarrior screaming]] powerhouse with the [[DropTheHammer giant hammer]] or {{BFS}}, while Hugh is the graceful fighter with the [[WhipSword whip]]-[[CaneFu cane]], katana, or the [[BowAndSwordInAccord bow-blade]].

* GoneHorriblyRight: Hoo boy. [[spoiler:The assassination attempt on the Good Hunter instead of the Goddess Reborn is an absolute success! Both in [[BackFromTheDead killing him]] [[ResurrectiveImmortality (once, that is)]] and [[UnstoppableRage pissing him off]]. In response, the Good Hunter [[NothingIsScarier rewards the assassin]] [[SarcasmMode handsomely]] for his MomentOfAwesome.]]

* FlashStep: Whenever the Good Hunter is "blurring into motion", as per the narration, he takes a step forward and, from his opponent's perspective, instantly appears either behind or in front of them in a blink of an eye. The mechanics and limits of this ability are unclear[[note]]we don't know whether it's the Art of Quickening from ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'', an ability he gained from [[spoiler:being a great one]], or something else entirely[[/note]], but from the looks of it, it cannot be used repeatedly (otherwise, it would become a StoryBreakerPower).

* HumanoidAbomination: [[spoiler:The Good Hunter's appearance is that of a tired human male in his twenties, but underneath his lean frame is something repeatedly emphasised to be incomprehensible within the context of the setting (i.e., a StandardFantasySetting). Bewildered and brutalised, all of his foes fail to comprehend his insane strength and speed, let alone meaningfully engage him in battle. Combining both versions of the story, the Hunter demonstrates feats that defy the laws of reality. He resides in a place completely bound to his will, can strike down intangible wraiths without any sort of enchantment (the normal way of dealing with them), [[ResurrectiveImmortality revives upon death]] while other beings only have one life, and outright [[RealityWarper warps the surrounding environment]] during his UnstoppableRage. The trope is made more apparent in the original version, where his human appearance is in actuality a mask for something that bombards the minds of people if unveiled to the world. Celestine, the resident reincarnated Goddess of the setting, wisely concludes that prying into his items and secrets only results in madness. Thank goodness he is of good alignment.]]

* HunterOfMonsters:
** Kyril used to be a Hunter in Yharnam, responsible for hunting down beasts, madmen, and all sorts of monstrosities, to purge those who [[AxCrazy lost themselves to bloodlust]] and transformed into beasts. After reaching Eostia, he puts down roving packs of orcs to [[OnlyInItForTheMoney earn some coin]].
** After TakingUpTheMantle as "First Hunter", Kyril [[InvokedTrope invokes this trope]] in the original version by finding people well suited to become Hunters, his [[TheApprentice apprentices]]. He took a total of 4, and under his tutelage, all 4 will give up every earthly pleasure to hunt down beasts, the insane, and the impossibly horrifying.

* LightningBruiser: Kyril is the closest to an end-game hunter who has successfully mastered the [[AttackAttackAttack ferocious fighting style]] that defines ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' as a whole. Power-wise, beneath his lean build is an unstoppable [[spoiler:eldritch]] force that overpowers any named fighters (Claudia, Vault, and the like) and one-shots orcs, greenskins who are unreasonably tough for one's blade to cut through. His Holy Moonlight Sword can also deal tons of damage for crowd control with its [[SwordBeam energy waves]], arguably the most potent weapon out of all. Speed-wise, he is faster than any character in the fanfic bar none. Aside from dodges, strafes, and side-steps, he has also shown with the unique ability to FlashStep, though whether this is due to him using the Art of Quickening [[spoiler:or part of his overworldly might]] is unclear. Whenever he fights, there will be at least one instance where his foe is surprised by not only his strength, but also how lightning fast he is. Toughness-wise, he does not tire easily, has [[FeelNoPain high pain tolerance]], and can shrug off attacks that would have been killing blows for regular combatants, including magical fire that would reduce others to ash. In case his injuries are serious enough, he always has a Blood Vial ready to heal himself back in tip-top shape. To top it off, all of the above attributes are cranked up to eleven when he [[SuperMode eats a Beast Blood Pellet]][[note]]this one is yet to be featured in the remastered version[[/note]].

* LoveHurts: One of the reasons why Kyril is [[CelibateHero unwilling to engage in courtship and romance]] is because he believes love only ends in pain for him and others. He once considered himself a good man and loved another during the Night of the Hunt, but it went awry. Kyril admits that had he were a normal guy instead of a ShellShockedVeteran HunterOfMonsters [[spoiler:who is secretly a HumanoidAbomination]], maybe he would consider. The story presents a [[LighterAndSofter benign]] [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]] of this trope by showing how it needn't be as drama-laden or heart-wrenching as it is often assumed to be. Kyril doesn't deny feeling sad about his loss, despite being TheStoic, but he doesn't dwell on it. He decides not to find a romantic partner or fall for anyone precisely because he wants to prevent pain and further loss. The idea that "love is pain" is a signal. A signal that helps him make a pragmatic decision for the good of himself and others, not to set himself up for anguish and frustration. Furthermore, even though he believes this trope to be true, Kyril is still capable of opening up to his [[TheConfidant doll confidant]] and [[PlatonicLifePartners platonic friend]], expressing pride to his [[TheApprentice apprentices]], and providing consolation to his [[UnwantedHarem unwanted suitors]]. All in all, it's okay to feel that LoveHurts, because a) [[MundaneSolution you can just choose not to fall in love]], and b) it doesn't mean you are incapable of caring, helping, or feeling happy about others.

* MagicMissileStorm: A Call Beyond unleashes a [[StarPower small star]] that explodes into streaks of light that bombard anything in their vicinity, true to [[VideoGame/BloodBorne the game]] it is featured in. It is used in Chapter 20 of the original version to [[BreachingTheWall make a gap in a fortress wall]], which allows Kyril and his company to infiltrate the Leaping Lizard stronghold. [[spoiler:Chapter 6 of the remastered version ends with Kyril using it to insta-kill Vault and his men. Not only is this an [[OhCrap "Oh Crap!"]] moment for the ones on the receiving end, it is also one for Olga as well -- even an experienced BlackMagic user like her has never seen such a powerful spell before. That is the day she realised the power gap between the two has never been more apparent than before.]]

* MakeAnExampleOfThem: Kyril's reasoning for [[TakeNoPrisoners not taking any prisoners, or, if he did have any, killing them]], as well as why he intends to put down the rebellion by force during the ''Rebel Scum Arc''. He wants to send a message to the Black Dogs and the traitors, to let them know what he would do to them should they continue to pursue their goal of a Sex Empire.

* MentorInSourArmor: Kyril Sutherland may not have [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the esteem, the snarkiness, and the short height]] of this typical archetype, but he is still [[TheStoic stoic]] and [[BrutalHonesty blunt]] to a fault. It goes without saying that [[DarkAndTroubledPast Yharnam]] has [[ConditionedToAcceptHorror scarred]] [[ShellShockedVeteran him]] a big deal, but he is still a literal KnightInSourArmor. As apprentice hunters, their training is harsh but not to the point of [[TrainingFromHell being worse than hell]], they get complimented if they show progress, and the entire reason why they are training under him is because they wanted to become stronger and improve their lives, which he did gave them the opportunity to do so. As for his badassery, he is ''the [[OneManArmy Good fucking Hunter]]''.\\
Perhaps the quality that makes him stand out from many a person of this archetype is that he is upfront to his apprentices about the requirements of being a hunter (particularly, any apprentice hunter would have [[spoiler:[[EldritchAbomination Kyril's]] own blood coursing through their veins]]), and he would neither think any less of them should they wish to quit, nor force them to do anything against their wishes. Last but not least, the very fact that he can [[SoProudOfYou feel pride]] towards his four apprentices says a lot about his character.

* NinetiesAntiHero: {{Reconstructed}}. The Hunter fulfils the basic requirements, being a [[TheDreaded dreaded]], brooding, frosty, weary, and [[TheCynic cynical]] LightningBruiser who mainly deals with irredeemable folk via three methods: a [[SerratedBladeOfPain serrated cleaver]] to the face, a bullet to the head, and loads and loads of {{Gorn}}. Whereas {{deconstruction}}s criticise this CharacterArchetype as laughable, destructive and unlikeable, ''The Night Unfurls'' asserts that the Hunter isn't purely defined by being an unrelenting onslaught that leaves behind mangled corpses in his wake. He can take a breather, he can feel contentment, and most astoundingly, he is capable of being a constructive influence in the setting.

* NoNonsenseNemesis: Kyril Sutherland from the remastered version is a heroic example who prefers to-the-point conversations over beating around the bush. He never messes around when conducting a task or hunting down his prey, comfortable with striking when his enemies drop their guard, as well as [[spoiler:flinging an exploding star to a villain's face as soon as said villain reveals his EvilPlan]].

* NotSoStoic: Kyril Sutherland is a ConsummateProfessional whose facial expression is perpetually nonchalant, even when butchering his foes, but there are moments where he expresses significant outward emotion. He always bounces back to normal after these moments, though.
** During a {{flashback}} in Chapter 1 of the original, he remained stoic and solemn as he watched his mentor figure Eileen the Crow pass on as he stayed by her side. He didn't realize he had been [[ManlyTears crying]].
** The Hunter bursts into laughter after Vault reveals his EvilPlan to create a SexSlave [[TheEmpire Empire]], because it sounds ridiculous.
** In Chapter 13 of the original, he keeps his annoyance towards [[spoiler:the rumors claiming he slept with Maia]] inside, until he reaches his RageBreakingPoint due to a parchment alerting him that the refugees in the Church are getting kicked out. This is a {{downplayed}} example -- he is visibly seething rather than exploding or yelling, but his display of anger, which differs from the calm menace he generally exudes, still comes across as extremely terrifying.
** He outright ditches his professionalism for a while when he eats a Beast Blood Pellet in Chapter 26 of the original, which causes him to behave like a [[TheBerserker feral beast]] who roars and claws. And then he ''bellows'' to the fleeing rebels that [[PrepareToDie he would come for them]].
** In Chapter 32 of the original, he gets [[UnstoppableRage really, really mad]] [[spoiler:after experiencing his first death via assassination]], so mad that he [[spoiler:briefly [[RealityWarper distorts reality]] to pursue the assassin responsible]].

* NoSell: In Chapter 5, remastered version, Olga tries to [[OneHitKill one-shot]] Kyril [[KillItWithFire with fire]]. He simply dispels the flames with a [[MakeMeWannaShout Beast Roar]], while revealing himself to be unharmed save for minor ClothingDamage.

* MakeMeWannaShout: Kyril's Beast Roar works like this, unleashing a roar that can repel nearby foes while damaging them internally if they get too close, as shown in Chapter 2 of the original. It makes a return in Chapter 5 of the remastered version, with Kyril deflecting Olga's fire attacks via this method.