Line #18 DarthWiki/TheApostles


1	An [[TheEveryman average Joe]], going about his day, is suddenly plunged into a [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]] to [[WarForFunAndProfit carry out some]] [[TerroristsWithoutACause terrorist act]]/create an army of [[SuperSoldier super-soldiers]]/[[TakeOverTheWorld take over]] or [[EarthShatteringKaboom blow up]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the world]]/[[ConspicuouslyPublicAssassination assassinate someone powerful]]/[[BankRobbery steal a bunch of cash]]. Maybe HeKnowsTooMuch, [[ImDyingPleaseTakeMyMacGuffin has]] [[ItWasAGift possession]] [[TragicKeepsake of]] [[OrphansPlotTrinket a]] {{MacGuffin}} or [[ReluctantMadScientist could make something the villains need]]. Or maybe he’s just the RightManInTheWrongPlace. No matter the case, he’ll likely have to [[SternChase go on the run]] as he’s pursued by {{Mooks}} out to kill or seize him. This will give him [[FightScene plenty]] [[EscapeSequence of]] [[ChaseScene opportunity]] to showcase his [[SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat often]] [[IMinoredInTropology hidden]] or [[InstantExpert newly]] [[TookALevelInBadass acquired skills]], track down [[MrExposition someone]] who can [[{{Infodump}} tell him what the hell is going on]] and [[FlawExploitation learn his enemy’s weakness]], though there will likely be some [[FoeTossingCharge collateral]] [[InnocentBystander damage]] [[HumanShield along]] [[BusFullOfInnocents the]] [[LeaveNoWitnesses way]]. TheHero may learn his [[IHaveYourWife wife]]/[[DamselInDistress girlfriend]], [[SnoopingLittleKid kids]], the President's daughter or even the President himself ([[PresidentEvil supposing he’s not one of the villains]]) has/have been taken and [[AndYourLittleDogToo is being held hostage]] by the bad guys, who might [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse try and coerce him into their service]]. So what’s a man to do? [[RoaringRampageOfRescue Kick ass and take names all the way to victory, of course!]]
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3	[[WellThisIsNotThatTrope This is not that story]].
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5	Rather than the hero of such action film fodder, [[PerspectiveFlip our focus is instead on the]] [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal hard-nosed homogeneous henchmen]] [[PerspectiveFlip who would normally hunt him down]].
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7	After being dishonorably discharged from the military ('''Note:''' branch TBD later), a young man is contacted by a [[HiddenAgendaVillain Mr. Carpenter]], who says he works for an organization known as “[[NebulousEvilOrganization Byzantine]]” that hires out martially-skilled agents to select clientele and asks if he's interested in work. The young man agrees and he and eleven others — all handpicked to be [[TallDarkAndHandsome near-identical, tall, dark-haired white men]] — are assembled. They are given covers based on the names of different [[TitleDrop apostles]], the young man dubbed "[[DesignatedHero John]]," and soon begin their lives of fast cars, beautiful women, exotic locations and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick cold-blooded murder]]. They go on a variety of missions for paying parties, including members of [[TheMafia the criminal underground]], [[MegaCorp powerful businesses]] and [[BananaRepublic third-world governments]]. Gradually, their numbers dwindle as opposing forces prove more capable and determined and loyalties begin to crumble. [[AudienceSurrogate John]] watches those around him meet their [[ForegoneConclusion inevitable fates]], all the while wondering when his number will be up.
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9	This story is not designed to champion the hired guns so much as [[WhatMeasureIsAMook explore the sort of person one would have to be to willingly take such a job]] and their lives behind the scenes of typical action thrillers.
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11	Working soundtrack (in no particular order):
12	* “Secret Agent Man” hard rock cover (''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0CQ8iaK5s8&feature=fvst originally]]'' by Johnny Rivers)
13	* “''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F8QM3tjkTE Everybody Knows]]''” by Leonard Cohen
14	* “''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53vOTk2S-kk Assassins]]''” by Anarchy Club
15	* “''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5woe6X7k0HA Weapon of Choice]]''” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
16	* "''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgV0_IRokqU&feature=related The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret]]''" by Queens of the Stone Age
17	* "''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30p8BueWFPk Traitor]]''" by Tarot
18	* "Fortunate Son" cover by Articles of Faith
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20	----
21	!!This work contains examples of:
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23	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking
24	* BecauseImGoodAtIt
25	* BreadEggsMilkSquick
26	* BreakoutMookCharacter: The novel is a DarkerAndEdgier expansion of this concept.
27	* ButForMeItWasTuesday
28	* ContractOnTheHitman: Inevitable in such a setting, although the contract is not put out on John — he's the one who ''carries it out''. Also not [[IronicNickname Jude]], surprisingly.
29	* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife
30	* EvilMentor: Mr. Carpenter. Also has...
31	* FourEyesZeroSoul
32	* IdleRich: It's implied several of the Apostles, John included, come from such backgrounds.
33	* InLoveWithTheMark: One of the Apostles has this problem; John [[NothingPersonal solves]] [[JustFollowingOrders it]].
34	* LonelyRichKid: John's past has hints of this, before he's grown too jaded to care.
35	* [[ManOfWealthAndTaste Men of Wealth and Taste]]: The Apostles. This is pretty much standard for Byzantine employees.
36	* MurderInc: Byzantine, or at least the branch of it the Apostles work for.
37	* MyMasterRightOrWrong: [[MeaningfulName Simon]], who is very grateful for his employment.
38	* MysteriousBacker: Byzantine again, since NoOneSeesTheBoss
39	* ThemedAliases
40	* NoNameGiven: The narrator is referred to by his colleagues and handler as “John,” but this is explicitly not his real name and he uses a number of other aliases throughout the story.
41	* OnlyInItForTheMoney
42	* ProfessionalKiller: The Apostles are {{Mooks}} in effect, although their skills are more on par with EliteMooks or a CarnivalOfKillers. They also sometimes behave as a PraetorianGuard to various clients.
43	* [[PunchClockVillain Punch Clock Villains]]: The Apostles again; most are fairly passable as normal guys when they're off-duty.
44	* RageBreakingPoint: As a teen, John snaps and puts a guy in the hospital. He later enlists himself under a false name to get away from life at home. He snaps again in the field, earning him a dishonorable discharge. Soon after, he's approached by Byzantine.
45	* TheSociopath: Possibly several of the Apostles. Some were likely also [[SociopathicSoldier Sociopathic Soldiers]].
46	* SpyFiction: The "dirty martini" kind.
47	* StandardEvilOrganizationSquad: The Apostles.
48	* TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: Well, not ''everyone'', but you'd have a hard time narrowing down the list of suspects when they're all tall, dark-haired white males.
49	* UsedToBeASweetKid: John, though there was probably [[ParentalNeglect no one who noticed]].
50	* VillainsBlendInBetter: This trope is actively encouraged by how the Apostles were selected.
51	* VillainsOutShopping
52	* VillainProtagonist: The narrator & the other Apostles. Also, their handler, Mr. Carpenter.
53	* WrongSideOfTheTracks: Those Apostles who weren't formerly of the IdleRich. Probably also [[LowerClassLout Lower Class Louts]].
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Context DarthWiki / TheApostles