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* ActionGirl: [[spoiler: Miss Sierra]]
* AlternateHistory: It's either this or...
* AllJustADream: One of the {{Easter Egg}}s. Featuring [[http://www.ifdb.tads.org/viewgame?id=a3ym4ipix7sjsfrf I0]]'s Tracy no less.
* AntiHero: Varicella. And if not for the fact that the other contestants are worse than himself, he'd be a straight-up VillainProtagonist.
* AristocratsAreEvil: [[spoiler: [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Prince Louis]]]], though he initially comes off as merely an UpperClassTwit, and [[spoiler:in the winning ending, [[EvilOverlord Charles the Terror]]]] On the other hand, most of the contestants for the regency show that you don't need blue blood to be a horrible person.
* BarefootLoon: Charlotte (at least the game promo art depicts her without footwear).
* AlternateHistory: It's either this or...
* AllJustADream: One of the {{Easter Egg}}s. Featuring [[http://www.ifdb.tads.org/viewgame?id=a3ym4ipix7sjsfrf I0]]'s Tracy no less.
* AntiHero: Varicella. And if not for the fact that the other contestants are worse than himself, he'd be a straight-up VillainProtagonist.
* AristocratsAreEvil: [[spoiler: [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Prince Louis]]]], though he initially comes off as merely an UpperClassTwit, and [[spoiler:in the winning ending, [[EvilOverlord Charles the Terror]]]] On the other hand, most of the contestants for the regency show that you don't need blue blood to be a horrible person.
* BarefootLoon: Charlotte (at least the game promo art depicts her without footwear).
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* AristocratsAreEvil:
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** Queen Sarah's description of what happened to the old King's body (including bits falling off) prior to his death [[spoiler: from Variola's poison.]]
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** Queen Sarah's description of what happened to the old King's body (including bits falling off) prior to his death [[spoiler: from [[spoiler:from Variola's poison.]]poison]].
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* BrokenBird: [[spoiler: Prince Charles.]] And how!
** Also Queen Sarah, who was sexually molested as a child.
** Also Queen Sarah, who was sexually molested as a child.
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* BrokenBird: [[spoiler: Prince %%** [[spoiler:Prince Charles.]] And how!
**Also Queen Sarah, who was sexually molested as a child.
**
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* CatchPhrase: Varicella tends to comment "how unseemly" about just about anything in the palace that doesn't fit his demanding standards.
* ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: The "best" ending has Varicella being tortured to death. On live television, and over the course of an entire week.]]
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Rico is the Coffers Minister, but otherwise fits the type.
* ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: The "best" ending has Varicella being tortured to death. On live television, and over the course of an entire week.]]
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Rico is the Coffers Minister, but otherwise fits the type.
to:
* CatchPhrase: CharacterCatchphrase: Varicella tends to comment "how unseemly" about just about anything in the palace that doesn't fit his demanding standards.
* ColdBloodedTorture:[[spoiler: The [[spoiler:The "best" ending has Varicella being tortured to death. On live television, and over the course of an entire week.]]
* %%* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Rico is the Coffers Minister, but otherwise fits the type.
* ColdBloodedTorture:
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:The "[[FailureIsTheOnlyOption best]]" best ending is by far the worst ending for the protagonist.]]
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* EvilVersusEvil: Varicella versus the other Ministers. Varicella is almost certainly the least evil minister in the Palazzo, though.
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* HeroicBSOD: Queen Sarah will have one if you show her the tape of [[spoiler: Father Bonfleche attempting to molest her son.]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Modo.]]
* IdleRich: Prince Louis. Not even a prospect of The Regency can get him to do something. [[spoiler:If he does end up Regent, he promptly runs Piedmont into the ground]].
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Modo.]]
* IdleRich: Prince Louis. Not even a prospect of The Regency can get him to do something. [[spoiler:If he does end up Regent, he promptly runs Piedmont into the ground]].
to:
* HeroicBSOD: Queen Sarah will have one if you show her the tape of [[spoiler: Father [[spoiler:Father Bonfleche attempting to molest her son.]]
*son]].
%%* HoistByHisOwnPetard:[[spoiler: Modo.[[spoiler:Modo.]]
* IdleRich: Prince Louis. Not even a prospect ofThe the Regency can get him to do something. [[spoiler:If he does end up Regent, he promptly runs Piedmont into the ground]].
*
%%* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
* IdleRich: Prince Louis. Not even a prospect of
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* InTheBack: Played with. While the game is full of figurative backstabbing, when you stab [[spoiler: the defeated and wounded Wehrkeit]], Varicella [[LampshadedTrope lampshades]] the fact that he's doing it from the front.
* ItsPersonal: Wehrkeit isn't just Varicella's rival for the regency, he also had Varicella's brother Terzio murdered.
* LampshadeHanging: In one of the endings where Wehrkeit kills you, he says that [[TakingYouWithMe the two of you are going to hell]], and that he expects to meet you there and keep doing this over and over again. That's a pretty accurate description of the game itself, which is meant to be played many times in order to learn from your previous failures.
* ItsPersonal: Wehrkeit isn't just Varicella's rival for the regency, he also had Varicella's brother Terzio murdered.
* LampshadeHanging: In one of the endings where Wehrkeit kills you, he says that [[TakingYouWithMe the two of you are going to hell]], and that he expects to meet you there and keep doing this over and over again. That's a pretty accurate description of the game itself, which is meant to be played many times in order to learn from your previous failures.
to:
* InTheBack: Played with. While the game is full of figurative backstabbing, when you stab [[spoiler: the [[spoiler:the defeated and wounded Wehrkeit]], Varicella [[LampshadedTrope [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] the fact that he's doing it from the front.
* ItsPersonal: Wehrkeit isn't just Varicella's rival for theregency, regency; he also had Varicella's brother Terzio murdered.
*LampshadeHanging: LampshadeHanging:
** In one of the endings where Wehrkeit kills you, he says that [[TakingYouWithMe the two of you are going to hell]], and that he expects to meet you there and keep doing this over and over again. That's a pretty accurate description of the game itself, which is meant to be played many times in order to learn from your previous failures.
* ItsPersonal: Wehrkeit isn't just Varicella's rival for the
*
** In one of the endings where Wehrkeit kills you, he says that [[TakingYouWithMe the two of you are going to hell]], and that he expects to meet you there and keep doing this over and over again. That's a pretty accurate description of the game itself, which is meant to be played many times in order to learn from your previous failures.
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* LastPlanStanding
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** Wehrkeit is in charge of Piedmont's defence, and the "Wehr" in his name means "defence" in German (as in "Wehrmacht").
to:
** Wehrkeit is in charge of Piedmont's defence, and the "Wehr" 'Wehr' in his name means "defence" in German (as in "Wehrmacht").''Wehrmacht'').
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* MilitaryCoup: Attempted by Klaus Wehrkeit, who is luckily [[TimedMission currently in Venice.]]
* MindScrew: [[spoiler:Typing "wake up" ends the game with TheReveal that it was actually AllJustADream of a female university student in what is presumably our own universe, caused by her musings on European history in the early Middle Ages. For extra mindscrew, the student is named Charlotte, implying that Princess Charlotte is her avatar and Varicella himself is just a side character in her dream.]]
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Both Varicella and Variola are named after diseases. See ThemeNaming below.
* MindScrew: [[spoiler:Typing "wake up" ends the game with TheReveal that it was actually AllJustADream of a female university student in what is presumably our own universe, caused by her musings on European history in the early Middle Ages. For extra mindscrew, the student is named Charlotte, implying that Princess Charlotte is her avatar and Varicella himself is just a side character in her dream.]]
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Both Varicella and Variola are named after diseases. See ThemeNaming below.
to:
* MindScrew: [[spoiler:Typing "wake up" ends the game with TheReveal that it was actually AllJustADream of a female university student in what is presumably our own universe, caused by her musings on European history in the early Middle Ages. For extra
*
** Both Varicella and Variola are [[DiseasedName named after
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* NightmareFuelColoringBook: More like "nightmare fuel executive toy": Charlotte rearranges Rico's magnetic sculpture thingie to depict an angel impaled on a pitchfork. She titles it "Picnic in the Park".
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: If you manage to disarm [[spoiler: Wehrkeit]], you can finish [[spoiler: him]] off in one of these. (Or if you have [[spoiler: Charlotte]] with you at the time, [[spoiler: she'll]] do it for you.)
* TheOphelia: Charlotte.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: If you manage to disarm [[spoiler: Wehrkeit]], you can finish [[spoiler: him]] off in one of these. (Or if you have [[spoiler: Charlotte]] with you at the time, [[spoiler: she'll]] do it for you.)
* TheOphelia: Charlotte.
to:
* NightmareFuelColoringBook: More like "nightmare fuel executive toy": toy"; Charlotte rearranges Rico's magnetic sculpture thingie to depict an angel impaled on a pitchfork. She titles it "Picnic in the Park".
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: If you manage to disarm[[spoiler: Wehrkeit]], [[spoiler:Wehrkeit]], you can finish [[spoiler: him]] [[spoiler:him]] off in one of these. (Or if you have [[spoiler: Charlotte]] [[spoiler:Charlotte]] with you at the time, [[spoiler: she'll]] [[spoiler:she'll]] do it for you.)
* %%* TheOphelia: Charlotte.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: If you manage to disarm
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* RapeAsBackstory: Queen Sarah by her stepfather, Charlotte by [[spoiler: Louis and Rico]]. Also [[spoiler: Charles by Pierre]].
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Nearly all of Varicella's rivals. [[spoiler:Even Variola has a mechanism to drug Miss Sierra]].
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Nearly all of Varicella's rivals. [[spoiler:Even Variola has a mechanism to drug Miss Sierra]].
to:
* RapeAsBackstory: Queen Sarah by her stepfather, Charlotte by [[spoiler: Louis [[spoiler:Louis and Rico]]. Also [[spoiler: Charles [[spoiler:Charles by Pierre]].
* %%* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Nearly all of Varicella's rivals. [[spoiler:Even Variola has a mechanism to drug Miss Sierra]].
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* ShoutOut: a good half ([[TimeMarchesOn or all of them?]]) of [[CloudCuckoolander Charlotte's]] ramblings are references to popular culture (in 1999).
* TakingYouWithMe: If you stand around too long after the wounded [[spoiler: Wehrkeit]] shows up, [[spoiler: he]] will take you out before dying.
* TakingYouWithMe: If you stand around too long after the wounded [[spoiler: Wehrkeit]] shows up, [[spoiler: he]] will take you out before dying.
to:
* ShoutOut: a A good half ([[TimeMarchesOn or (or all of them?]]) them?) of [[CloudCuckoolander Charlotte's]] ramblings are references to popular culture (in 1999).
in 1999.
* TakingYouWithMe: If you stand around too long after the wounded[[spoiler: Wehrkeit]] [[spoiler:Wehrkeit]] shows up, [[spoiler: he]] [[spoiler:he]] will take you out before dying.
* TakingYouWithMe: If you stand around too long after the wounded
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** Varicella and Variola are [[ScientificAndTechnologicalThemeNaming both]] named after [[DiseasedName diseases]]: ''varicella'' is Latin for "chickenpox", ''variola'' means "smallpox". Unsurprisingly, Variola is the nastier one.
** Varicella's given name is Primo, or "first." His younger brother is Terzio, derived from "three."
** Varicella's given name is Primo, or "first." His younger brother is Terzio, derived from "three."
to:
** Varicella and Variola are [[ScientificAndTechnologicalThemeNaming both]] named after [[DiseasedName diseases]]: ''varicella'' is Latin for "chickenpox", "chickenpox"; ''variola'' means "smallpox". Unsurprisingly, Variola is the nastier one.
** Varicella's given name is Primo, or"first." "first". His younger brother is Terzio, derived from "three.""[[NumericalThemeNaming three]]".
** Varicella's given name is Primo, or
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: The [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption "best"]] best ending is by far the worst ending for the protagonist.]]
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: The [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption "best"]] [[spoiler:The "[[FailureIsTheOnlyOption best]]" best ending is by far the worst ending for the protagonist.]]
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* PedophilePriest: [[spoiler: Pierre Bonfleche]]
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* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler: Prince Charles]] murders his mother, among several other atrocities, in one ending.
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* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler: Prince [[spoiler:Prince Charles]] murders his mother, among several other atrocities, in one ending.
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** Varicella and Variola are both named after diseases: ''varicella'' is Latin for "chickenpox", ''variola'' means "smallpox". Unsurprisingly, Variola is the nastier one.
to:
** Varicella and Variola are both [[ScientificAndTechnologicalThemeNaming both]] named after diseases: [[DiseasedName diseases]]: ''varicella'' is Latin for "chickenpox", ''variola'' means "smallpox". Unsurprisingly, Variola is the nastier one.
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clarified a bit
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* AristocratsAreEvil: [[spoiler:Prince Louis]], though he initially comes off as merely an UpperClassTwit, and [[spoiler:in the winning ending, [[EvilOverlord Charles the Terror]]]] On the other hand, most of the contestants for the regency show that you don't need blue blood to be a horrible person.
to:
* AristocratsAreEvil: [[spoiler:Prince Louis]], [[spoiler: [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Prince Louis]]]], though he initially comes off as merely an UpperClassTwit, and [[spoiler:in the winning ending, [[EvilOverlord Charles the Terror]]]] On the other hand, most of the contestants for the regency show that you don't need blue blood to be a horrible person.
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* VillainousAromanticAsexual: He is more [[AntiHero anti-heroic]], but Varicella may be this, given that he never expresses sexual or romantic feelings for anyone, and when the player tries to remove a character's clothes, he refuses because he finds the human body slightly repulsive.
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Per wiki rules, critical reception of the work is not allowed on the main description.
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''Varicella'' is a piece of interactive fiction written by Creator/AdamCadre. It was released in 1999, and won four Xyzzy awards that year, including best game of that year. You can get it on [[http://adamcadre.ac/if.html his page]].
to:
''Varicella'' is a piece of interactive fiction written by Creator/AdamCadre. It was Creator/AdamCadre and released in 1999, and won four Xyzzy awards that year, including best game of that year.1999. You can get it on [[http://adamcadre.ac/if.html his page]].
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None
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* InfantImmortality: JustifiedTrope; Varicella can't very well become the Regent if Prince Charles dies. [[spoiler:Wehrkeit probably kills Charles if his coup succeeds, but it doesn't happen onscreen]].
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* InfantImmortality: ImprobableInfantSurvival: JustifiedTrope; Varicella can't very well become the Regent if Prince Charles dies. [[spoiler:Wehrkeit probably kills Charles if his coup succeeds, but it doesn't happen onscreen]].
