History VideoGame / FableII

** For decades heroes had been free to do whatever they wanted, with the people pretty much at their mercy. Once guns were invented the more numerous common folk quickly got together and killed them all off.

** Rose and Sparrow's situation at the start of the game; homeless and hungry and struggling to survive. It's even heavily implied that Rose, who is in her mid teens at the oldest, has been asked for sexual favours in exchange for some much needed gold. Fortunately, Rose turns the offer down, insisting that 'they'll never be ''that'' hungry.'

* LostForever: If you don't have the Knothole Island DLC and [[spoiler:you don't choose the Love ending, then all items buried beneath the ground]] are LostForever, [[spoiler:as you can't dig them up without your dog, who dies during the endgame]]. The DLC [[spoiler:allows you to resurrect your dog, at the cost of a human sacrifice]].

* ApocalypticLog:
** In the ''Hobbe Squatters'' sidequest you can find a diary that documents [[spoiler: Tommy's descent into madness as he becomes one with the hobbes. The spelling and content rapidly gets worse with each entry.]]

* BigBad:
** Lucien.

** In a way, Demon Doors

* ChekhovsGun:
** [[spoiler: The Music Box that Sparrow and Rose purchase at the start of the game.]]

** Collecting 50 Silver Keys
** Opening 50 Demon Doors
** Shooting 50 Gargoyles

* CrapsackWorld: It's downplayed somewhat, but Albion is a Somalia-esque anarchic failed state with nothing more than a small, ineffectual police force, no real government, and no military. While people seem to still be living relatively normal lives, the fact remains that everywhere that isn't actually in a town is swarming with literally hundreds of bandits and highwaymen, each one of whom is individually more powerful than any guard or civilian (and they always attack in groups). That's not even getting into the monsters, the evil spirits, or the slave traders who operate pretty much openly. The player character can either slightly improve it or make it ''much'' worse depending on their actions.

* [[DeathByNewberyMedal Death by Game of the Year]]: The ending of the prologue [[spoiler: and the climax.]]
* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist:
** The Hero cannot actually die; if they are knocked out in battle they simply lose any surrounding experience, and earn a scar. They will then leap back into action, knocking back any remaining enemies.

* DifficultySpike:
** The Spire because [[spoiler: the Hero is stripped of their usual weapons and can only rely on three healing potions while being up against [[EliteMooks Spire Guards]]. Returning to Albion ten years later also means that most enemies are tougher than before.]]
* DownloadableContent:

*** The various titles the Hero can use are often related to their appearance, morality or social standing.

* EvilBrit:
** Lucien.
** Reaver.

* EvilVersusEvil:
** Arguably, Reaver against Lucien.
** An evil Hero would be this against Lucien.

* FiveManBand: The Hero and their allies;
** TheHero: The Hero.
** TheLancer: Reaver.
** TheSmartGuy: Garth.
** TheBigGuy: Hammer.
** TheHeart: The Dog.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: In the beginning of the game, Rose says that one could eat for a week with five gold coins. The cheapest food item in the game costs ''ten''.
** Also, you get shot multiple times by pistols, rifles, and crossbows throughout the game, so [[spoiler:how can one shot from Lucien's pistol (pretty much) kill you?]] [[spoiler: Arguably because Lucien shot Sparrow when they were a child and before they had entered the Chamber of Heroes.]]

* HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic:
** Most of the helmets the Hero can wear is found in the DLC packs, and they ''always'' raise either aggressiveness, scariness, or how evil they appear to be.
* HeroicSacrifice:

* HistoryRepeats: The Tattered Spire [[spoiler: was constructed by the Archon of the Old Kingdom, and used to re-create the world, just as Lucien is trying to do]].

* InfinityPlusOneSword: The crossbow that you get for shooting all 50 gargoyles. However, since there's a gargoyle in Fairfax Castle, you can't get it until you've already beaten the main quest and amassed a fortune.

* LargeHam:
** ''Reaver''.
** Some of the [=NPCs=] can be this, including the guards.

* TheMole: Lilith. She runs up to you and she exclaims, distraught, that her family had been attacked. Her husband had been killed and her son had been kidnapped. She requests that the Hero rescue her son who had apparently been taken to the nearby Howling Halls by Balverines. Hammer agrees to this and, along the way to Howling Halls, reassures Lilith a few times that they will rescue her son. However, this all turns out to be a trap, and once inside the Howling Halls, she exclaims "Children, I bring you flesh!" in a demonic tone and disappears, prompting her "children" to attack. Once all of the Balverines are defeated, she reappears as a White Balverine and attacks the Hero, who eventually kills her. You can just beat the crap out of her upon meeting her, you'll get some evil points, but two lines of extra dialogue.
** If you look at her info, one of her likes is "Travel-Ready Beef Jerky". This could be a hint at her love for flesh as a Balverine.

** While the "Wealth" option wasn't terribly interesting as it doesn't get you anything you can't get anyway ("Power" would have been better), being forced to choose between the other two "good" options was quite beautiful to some players. The ending was ultimately a good portrayal of what sacrifice truly means - most any player could resist taking the pile of gold, but are you willing to give up [[spoiler:the lives of your sister, your family (or families), and your beloved dog, and take a permanent hit in your effectiveness as an adventurer]] in order to do the right thing?.
*** To other players, it was seen as a ''painfully'' forced, unnecessary SadisticChoice. There is no reason given why the same magic that can save [[spoiler:an unknown large number of lives]] or save [[spoiler:a variable small number of lives]] can't save both. You are simply told pick one or the other, with no justification given for not being able to wish for something like [[spoiler:all of Lucien's victims to be resurrected]], which would give the effects of both choice A and B.
** Its also worth noting that one thing in the game world ''does'' change if you take the [[spoiler: Sacrifice]] ending. [[spoiler: The people of Bowerstone know about your sacrifice, send you a letter telling you that they are grateful, and build a statue in your honour. Evil or good, hated or loved by all, that's something that can't be taken away from your character.]]

* NoNameGiven:
** The Hero has no official name, and is instead known by their nickname. {{Fanon}} usually uses the nickname Sparrow as their real name.

* PainfullySlowProjectile: Magic basically requires to to stand still and charge it. Getting hit does not ruin your concentration, but it is entirely impractical. And in some instances, like [[DoomsdayDevice The Shard]], it's mandatory.

* RapidAging:
** Reaver [[spoiler: tricks the Hero into this, in order to fuel his own eternal youth. However the Hero ''can'' choose to sacrifice an innocent girl in their place. She becomes a decrepit old woman in ''seconds'' and runs off in horror.]]

* SadisticChoice: Aside from the ending, when you decide [[spoiler: whether to age yourself or allow an innocent girl to age.]]
** Granted, should you decide to [[spoiler: let it happen to yourself, said aging is purely aesthetic, and doesn't appear to have noticeable effect on the gameplay itself. There are also a few rare items that will reverse the effects if you hold onto them.]]

* SceneryGorn:
** Wraithmarsh [[spoiler: which used to be Oakvale]] is overrun with Hollowmen and Banshees. It's almost always shrouded in fog, has a few ruined buildings here and there, and countless graves and tombs.

** A rather explicit one to Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}. One character, Giles, has a son named Rupert and a wife named Jenny. He offers a quest to kill a bandit, Ripper. It's almost a LampshadeHanging. You can also find kids playing where they fight the UltimateEvil and quote, ''"From beneath you it devours,"'' ala [[FinalBoss The First Evil.]]

* SpoonyBard: Roland the Bard, who, after you complete a quest, sings of your glory at Bloodstone, and at The Sandgoose in Oakfield.

* TempleOfDoom:
** The Court of Shadows.
** The various Shrines on Knothole Island.
* ToiletHumour:
** The game is ''full'' of it.
** The Hero can fart and belch on command, and it's used to entertain people.

* VideoGameCaringPotential: Especially regarding your dog and your family (or families). This gives the player [[spoiler: real motivation to kill the game's BigBad because he [[PlayerPunch ''murders'' your spouse(s) AND children near the end of the game.]] And if that wasn't enough, he [[ShootTheDog shoots your dog]] because said dog [[TakingTheBullet takes the bullet for you]]]].
** You can comfort your dog and give him treats when he's scared.

** Hammer is very big, and actually very pretty even though she dresses casually.

* TheDragon: The Commandant and the Great Shard are the Dragons to Lord Lucien. The Commandant's personality screen even describes him as Lucien's right hand man.

** Some of the NPCs can be this, including the guards.

** The Hero can be this; [[=NPCs=]] will find it amusing.

** The Hero can be this; {{=NPCs=}} will find it amusing.

** [[spoiler: Lady Grey, if the Love Hurts subquest is completed.]]

** A female player character with maxed out physique will look like [[http://www.timing-design.com/crap/fable2-monster.jpg this]]. The third game fixes the problem but still alters the physique.

* Crossdresser:
** The Hero can be this; NPCs will find it amusing.

* EliteMooks: Spire Guards. [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as most spire guards are either mercs hired from champions of [[FightClubbing The Crucible]], or [[CriminalAmnesiac just have their memories and identity ripped apart and become unthinking brutes]].

* OutlawTown: Bloodstone.

* RapidAging: There is a location in the Wraithmarsh where either you or a girl will age rapidly.

* ADogNamedDog: The dog's default name is in fact Dog.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Like in ''VideoGame/FableI'', the main character is always either referred to as "Hero" or whatever title they currently have. Rose refers to the Hero by their nickname, "Sparrow," which becomes the default title.

* The Hero can fart and belch on command, and it's used to entertain people.

** Depending on the choice you make at the end of the game, [[spoiler: either the hero's family or everyone who died as a result of Lucien building the Spire]].

** There's an actual broken bridge between Bowerstone and Oakfield. Barnum has bought it with the intention of fixing it up, but is unable to do so due to the high level of bandit activity in the area. [[spoiler: Once Sparrow takes out the bandit's leader, Barnum is as good as his word, and fixes the bridge immediately.]]

* AdultFear: Herman is looking for his son, Joey in the Hobbe Caves. You decide to help him, and later [[spoiler:he finds his son was turned into a Hobbe, and loses the will to live, literally laying down and dying. It's rather....dark, considering the humor that the Fable franchise is known for.]]
%%* AdventurerOutfit
* AndYourLittleDogToo: The game does a ''very'' good job of making you hate Lucien.

* BrawnHilda: A female player character with maxed out physique will look like [[http://www.timing-design.com/crap/fable2-monster.jpg this]]. The third game fixes the problem but still alters the physique.

* BrokenBridge: In a way, Demon Doors. Not to mention an actual Broken Bridge.
* BullyHunter: Compulsory, as your character has to fight off an adolescent thug who was tormenting a dog after Rose has a LeeroyJenkins bully hunter moment herself. (She runs up to challenge the thug and promptly gets knocked out.)

* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: That music box...]]

* ComingOutStory: The "Blind Date" sidequest.

* DegradedBoss: The Commandant and Thag, Although Thag Suffer this in a much greater degree than the commandant. The Spire Soldiers are least retain a status of MiniBoss, while that the Bandit chieftains are just Elite Mooks.
* DrillSergeantNasty: That Goddamn Commandant!

* ToiletHumour: So much of it.

Using it to wish for a life in the castle, they quickly find themselves brought before it's current owner Lord Lucien himself. Just when it seems their dreams are coming true Lucien suddenly turns his gun on the duo, believing one of them is the hero destined to stand in his way. He coldy kills Rose and proceeds to shoot her sibling out of the castle tower to their [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat apparent doom]].

But heroes prove [[MadeOfIron hard to kill]] and the youngster survives. The child grows to adulthood armed with a new purpose in life - stopping Lucien and saving Albion from certain destruction.

* AnnouncerChatter: During the Crucible. Also occurs during the Blacksmith and Bartender jobs, you'll have the 'owner' commenting on your work.

** Depending on the choice you make at the end of the game, [[spoiler: either the hero's family or everyone who died as a result of Lucien building the Spire]]

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Like in ''VideoGame/FableI'', the main character is always either referred to as "Hero" or whatever title they currently have. Rose refers to the Hero by their nickname "Sparrow", which becomes the default title.

* GallowsHumour: "Til Death Do Us Part", a quest, requires you to court someone who's fiancé killed themselves. One of their disliked expressions is Play Dead.

* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: You'll only be let into the Temple of Shadows if you eat several crunchy chicks. While they are alive. With the not-so-evil guy commenting on how disgusting and evil the act is. Saying thing like 'That one was still moving' and 'The most anyone got up to was two' and... 'scuse me...

** To a lesser extent, this applies to most ranged weapons that have slow attack speeds or immensely draconic reload time. Time Control and Raise Dead can be useful for combatting this. However, this is averted by one particular gun, which is basically a machine gun; just press the shoot button really fast.

* SkeletonGovernment: Taken to extremes - the government of Albion seems to consist entirely of the police, apparently organized and commanded by no one. Prior to the beginning of the game the government was slightly larger - namely, it consisted of the police and Lord Lucien. The player character can actually declare themselves absolute dictator of the country by virtue of simply ''buying all the property in Albion'', as there's no actual government to dispute that claim (canonically, this is actually what happens).

* TakingTheBullet: [[spoiler: Your dog near the end]].

* TooKinkyToTorture: It's incredibly difficult to coerce kinky or aggresion-loving villagers into giving you discounts because using scary expressions on them [[NightmareFetishist turns them on]]. Even if you're a 7 foot, musclebound demon who strikes terror and fear into everyone who sees them... in fact, that just makes it worse.

* UnwantedAssistence: In the first game, the Guildmaster was prone to contacting you through the guild seal to comment on your health state or your combat multiplier or various other things. This isn't just a gameplay mechanic, but something he's canonically doing, as some of the loading screens mention a rumor that the Guild Master was eventually found dead with the words "Your health is low" carved into his forehead.
* VideoGameCaringPotential: Especially regarding your dog and your family (or families). Which gives the player [[spoiler: real motivation to kill the game's BigBad because he [[PlayerPunch ''murders'' your spouse(s) AND children near the end of the game.]] And if that wasn't enough, he [[ShootTheDog shoots your dog]] because said dog [[TakingTheBullet takes the bullet for you]]]].

* XMeetsY: The developers have described Fable II as "A Creator/MontyPython sketch directed by Creator/TimBurton. It's a dark fairy tale with a light-hearted English twist."

* AdventurerOutfit

* FiveManBand:
** Hero: Sparrow
** The Lancer: Reaver
** The Big Guy: Hammer
** The Smart Guy: Garth
** The Chick: Theresa

* [[IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten If You're So Evil Eat This Chicken!]]: You'll only be let into the Temple of Shadows if you eat several crunchy chicks. While they are alive. With the not-so-evil guy commenting on how disgusting and evil the act is. Saying thing like 'That one was still moving' and 'The most anyone got up to was two' and... 'scuse me...

* UsefulNotes/{{Romani}}: The stereotype is subverted; though the hero(ine) is raised in a Gypsy caravan, they are more or less normal people making a decent living. Theresa fits the stereotype, though she isn't one.

The story begins on a cold evening in Bowerstone. The young "[[PlayerCharacter Sparrow]]" and his/her older sister, Rose, are doing their best to get by on the streets [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor dreaming of a life]] in Castle Fairfax. Their day is interrupted by a travelling salesman claiming to be selling all manner of magical items. Despite Rose's cynicism, a mysterious woman named [[BlindSeer Theresa]] approaches them, convincing them that the musical box is in fact genuine. The two set about raising the coin and purchasing the [[MacGuffin musical box]].

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Like in ''VideoGame/FableI'', the main character is always either referred to as "Hero" or whatever title he currently has.
** Rose refers to the Hero by his/her nickname "Sparrow".

* {{Foreshadowing}}: During the intro, a sparrow takes a dump on the main character just before the action starts. While his/her sister Rose seems to think that it may be a sign of good luck, the character's life is going to take a big dump on him/her with the events that follow.

* MadnessMantra: If the player opens the Wrathmarsh Demon Door and proceeds to the cottage's second floor, (s)he will be greeted by a corpse surrounded by several suits of armor. Nearby there is a letter from the cottage owner Terry Cotter that ends with "They watch over me" repeated over and over.

* MuggingTheMonster: The Hero will still get attacked by random bandit gangs even if they're the most feared and hated being in the history of Albion with a kill count in the tens of thousands - often while s/he is openly carrying a pair of deadly-looking weapons, bulging with more muscles than the Incredible Hulk, and sporting ''glowing red eyes and devil horns''.

* WhatTheHellHero: A minor example when Theresa gives you a lesson about how you murdered a group of bandits who had just as many life experiences and memories as you did. Subverted seconds later when she reassures you that the world is better off with the bandits dead.

** The game gives you three choices, allowing you to decide [[StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan whether you feel the needs of the many outweigh either the needs of the few or the one]].

** A rather explicit one to Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}. One character, Giles, has a son named Rupert and a wife named Jenny. He offers a quest to kill a bandit, Ripper. It's almost a LampshadeHanging.

** Also, you get shot multiple times by pistols, rifles, and crossbows throughout the game, so [[spoiler:how can one shot from Lucien's pistol (pretty much) kill you?]]

* ShoutOut: A rather explicit one to Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}. One character, Giles, has a son named Rupert and a wife named Jenny. He offers a quest to kill a bandit, Ripper. It's almost a LampshadeHanging.