History YMMV / TheWarGods

* FridgeLogic: Although it's frequently emphasized in the text that no form of power is inherently evil and that it's only the ''methods'' that make dark wizardry evil, there seems to be no incentive for wizards to stay 'white,' since there are no 'good' institutions to counterbalance the Church of Carnadosa. The only representative of white wizardry is [[TheArchmage Wencit of Rum,]] and he seems to have no interest in taking apprentices or forming a new White Wizard academy (even though a similar institution exists for magi;) he's much too busy going around and executing wizards on the spot without any opportunity to reform. The practice of wizardry is also described as so seductive that those born with the talent cannot resist using it. And since it's illegal in every country in the world, you can't exactly join a support group for it. So essentially, if you are born with any kind of wizard power, you have [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption no other options]] besides joining the Church of Carnadosa, practicing blood magic, and eventually getting killed by Wencit of Rum. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice.]]
** To be fair, it is apparently possible for someone to have the wizard gift and not consciously use it (both [[spoiler: Leeana Bowmaster]] and [[spoiler: Trisu of Lorham]] are implied to be gifted without actually being wizards). This still doesn't excuse Wencit failing to make any attempt to start an academy, take an apprentice, or do something to revive White Wizardry.
** It's implied in a few places that people really, really distrust Wizards, even White Wizards, with Wencit being the sole exception. So it might be that while Wencit would be willing to take on some apprentices or open a school he is concerned about the public reaction should he choose to do so.
** It's hinted he has decided not to, and most people who would be wizards may become mages. But it's heavily hinted a new Wild Wizard is coming and that will change things.
** In the books at least one of the Magi has the opinion that Wencit has decided not to try and train any new White Wizards on the grounds that Wizardry in general is to powerful for anyone to be trusted with. Or to put it another way, the more people who know how to practice Wizardry the easier it becomes for someone who would misuse it to get training. The one group he does share the information with are the Magi since apparently it's impossible for a Magi to become a Wizard.
** It's possible Wencit ''can't'' take an apprentice. Not because he's too busy hunting dark wizards, but because wild wizardry is inborn rather than taught. (And if his spellcasting style is too different from that of wand wizards, he might not feel capable of teaching wand wizardry.) We may find out more if we ever get that sequel to ''Sword of the South'', what with all the hints that another wild wizard will be showing up.

* StrawmanPolitical: The third and fourth books in particular consistently cast any Sothoii opposed to either allying with the hradani (especially the Horse Stealers) or supporting the war maids as, at best, unable to get over grudges about legitimate but now historical grievances, and at worst hidebound reactionaries solely concerned with whatever personal power loss they fear from the changes. While a few such hostile individuals (Trisu of Lorham, most notably) are shown to be intelligent, fair and decent people all the same, it is always in spite of their antipathy, and any character development always involves abandoning rather than strengthening these positions; there is never any suggestion that such opinions could have any grounds not ultimately reducible to bigotry (e.g. the dangers of a hradani losing control to the "old Rage" at the wrong time while among the Sothoii, or the effects on Sothoii families of wives or daughters who leave to become war maids for selfish reasons rather than desperate ones).

** It's possible Wencit ''can't'' take an apprentice. Not because he's too busy hunting dark wizards, but because wild wizardry is inborn rather than taught. (And if his spellcasting style is too different from that of wand wizards, he might not feel capable of teaching wand wizardry.) We may find out more if we ever get that sequel to ''Sword of the South'', what with all the hints that another wild wizard will be showing up.

** In the books at least one of the Magi has the opinion that Wencit has decided not to try and train any new White Wizards on the grounds that Wizardry in general is to powerful for anyone to be trusted with. Or to put it another way, the more people who know how to practice Wizardry the easier it becomes for someone who would misuse it to get training. The one group he does share the information with are the Magi since apparently it's impossible for a Magi to become a Wizard.

* EarWorm: ''The Lay of Bahzell Bloody-Hand'' is set to one, to Bahzell's great dismay.

* CanonSue: Bahzell. Just bear in mind Weber's [[Literature/HonorHarrington known]] to be [[TropesAreTools good]] with this trope. The setting is also Creator/DavidWeber's personal RPG, and most of the characters are supposed to be figures of legend.

** In the books at least one of the Magi has the opinion that Wencit has decided not to try and train any new White Wizards on the grounds that Wizardry in general is to powerful for anyone to be trusted with. Or to put it another way, the more people who know how to practice Wizardry the easier it becomes for someone who would misuse it to get training. The one group he does share the information with are the Magi since apparently it's impossible for a Magi to become a Wizard.
* {{Lawful Evil}}: Hasn't come up in the books much, but among the Dark Gods Krashnark is noted as being the only one to fit this alignment, while the others all Neutral or Chaotic Evil. He is also noted for being a [[WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent disappointment to his parents]] (Though Phrobus does take some comfort in the fact that no matter how powerful Krashnark gets, he will ''never'' attempt to supplant him - and Krashnark is the only one of Phrobus' children powerful enough to have a chance at defeating him in an open confrontation - because that would involve forswearing his oath of fealty to his father) and the only one Tomanak actually ''respects''. He shows up more in ''War Maid's Choice''.
* {{Lawful Good}}: Wencit of Rum, last of the Council of Ottovar, still follows the laws the Council laid down. He's the only good wizard left and he'll follow the laws to the full despite there not being anyone who could challenge him if he broke them. He refuses to use magic against non-magical users and will read the equivalent of MirandaRights to evil spell casters - [[GoodIsNotNice before mercilessly attacking them, always with fatal results, even if his opponent is remorsefully begging for his or her life]].

* CanonSue: Bahzell. Just bear in mind Weber's [[Literature/HonorHarrington known]] to be [[TropesAreTools good]] with this trope. The setting is also DavidWeber's personal RPG, and most of the characters are supposed to be figures of legend.

* {{Lawful Evil}}: Hasn't come up in the books much, but among the Dark Gods Krashnark is noted as being the only one to fit this alignment, while the others all Neutral or Chaotic Evil. He is also noted for being a [[WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent disappointment to his parents]] (Though Phrobus does take some comfort in the fact that no matter how powerful Krashnark gets, he will ''never'' attempt to supplant him because that would involve forswearing his oath of fealty to his father) and the only one Tomanak actually ''respects''. He shows up more in ''War Maid's Choice''.

* {{Lawful Evil}}: Hasn't come up in the books much, but among the Dark Gods Krashnark is noted as being the only one to fit this alignment, while the others all Neutral or Chaotic Evil. He is also noted for being a [[WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent disappointment to his parents]] and the only one Tomanak actually ''respects''. He shows up more in ''War Maid's Choice''.

** It's hinted he has decided not to, and most people who would be wizards may become mages. But it's heavily hinted a new Wild Wizard is coming and that will change things.

* {{Lawful Evil}}: Hasn't come up in the books much, but among the Dark Gods Krashnark is noted as being the only one to fit this alignment, while the others all Neutral or Chaotic Evil. He is also noted for being a [[WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent disappointment to his parents]] and the only one Tomanak actually ''respects''.