Line #61 Literature/OfFearAndFaith


1	->''To have faith is to have wings.''
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3	''Of Fear and Faith'' is a WebSerialNovel hosted on [=FurAffinity=] and written by [[http://www.furaffinity.net/user/silvertherainbowwolf/ Silver Wolf]] that focuses on the themes of, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin fear and faith]], using characters borrowed from various users on [=FurAffinity=].
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5	The plot starts off with [[TheSnarkKnight August]] and [[ExtremeDoormat Phenix]] being approached by mysterious talking animals (Vatra and Noble) that offer the two a chance to accompany them on a journey. They won't say where they're going or how they'll get there, only that the two men will find their destinies on the path, an offer which neither of them can refuse, despite all logic and reason warning them against it.
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7	Other characters join the group along the way (usually at [[TheChooserOfTheOne Vatra]]'s insistence), including [[TeamDad North]], a religious man who is one of very few to still believe in God; [[PluckyGirl Elin]], a bubbly CatGirl with deep-seated emotional scars; [[TheCharmer Aiden]], a self-centered LadykillerInLove; [[ProperLady Lilac]], a shy, submissive girl who's in love with Aiden; [[GenkiGirl Tel]], a brave young idealist; and [[TheGadfly Kavik]], a cool and confident BloodKnight.
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9	The story focuses primarily on the eight main characters and their CharacterDevelopment as they fight against the [[TheLegionsOfHell Nichts]], demonic creatures that have reduced most of the world to a wasteland; the [[TheHeartless Voices]], powerful demons that can manipulate the minds and senses of people; and the Disciples, the military organization that keeps what's left of the world in order through [[KnightTemplar whatever means necessary]].
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11	The story can be read on the author's blog [[http://argentiris.blogspot.com/ here]].
12	----
13	!!Tropes:
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15	* AbusiveParents:
16	** Lilac's mother is verbally and emotionally abusive to an almost hilariously disturbing degree. She's an utter narcissist who insults Lilac with almost every sentence that leaves her mouth without even noticing.
17	** August and Scarlet's (step)parents were both abusive. Their father hit Scarlet (and, it's implied, August as well), and their mother [[spoiler:sexually abused August]].
18	* TheAlcoholic: August used to be one and struggles to keep that vice in his past.[[labelnote:*]]Disregarding a couple of [[SeriesContinuityError continuity errors]] in the early chapters.[[/labelnote]] So he's picked up a [[MustHaveNicotine different habit]] to use as an emotional crutch instead.
19	* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Phenix feels that North is this to him. North doesn't see it that way, but Phenix feels some resentment over it. This comes to a head after [[spoiler:North convinces the Disciples in the Fortress of the Damned to follow him after a single RousingSpeech after Phenix had tried for three straight chapters to accomplish the same feat with fairly dismal results]] at the end of ''Falling In the Black''.
20	* AmbiguouslyBi: [[TheCasanova Aiden]] flirts with literally every woman he meets, although he mentions he's used his charms [[EvenTheGuysWantHim on men]] as well and seemingly flirts with Tel on a couple of occasions.
21	* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Elin is easily distracted by noises, insects, and pickles and her narration will sometimes drift off topic to notice minute details and trivial things that are unrelated to the scene as a whole.
22	* BadassBoast: North gets one of these when fighting against Fear.
23	-->"Don't try to intimidate ''me'', monster! I am North Avalon, beloved son and steadfast soldier of the Most High God! And I will '''not back down'''!"
24	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Phenix is a very well-mannered individual and a bit of a push over, but ''don't'' threaten his friends. [[ThouShaltNotKill He won't kill you]], but he will make you wish he did.
25	* BigDamnHeroes: North, August and Elin swoop in and save the day [[spoiler:during the fight with Sorrow at the end of ''Veil of Sorrow'']], saving Phenix from one of the [[TheDreaded Voices]].
26	* BloodKnight:
27	** While he prefers to [[MartialPacifist avoid violence]], North takes [[PsychoticSmirk great]] [[LaughingMad pleasure]] in [[PayEvilUntoEvil destroying evil]] if he does have to fight.
28	** Kavik is very excited about the prospect of fighting the [[TheLegionsOfHell Nichts]] and bemoans missing the battle with [[TheDreaded Fear]], so it's safe to say he's this.
29	* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: After Kavik refused Noble and August's attempts to recruit him, he was found by another [[TalkingAnimal feral]] [[TheChooserOfTheOne Fionbri]] named [[{{Jerkass}} Garu]] who decided to convince Kavik to join August, and refused to take no for an answer.
30	* CannotSpitItOut: Played with. Lilac and Aiden admit they're attracted to and flirt with one another, but both refuse to admit (even to themselves) that they're in love with each other.
31	* TheCasanova: Aiden, who seems to be able to successfully flirt with any and every woman he meets.
32	* TheCavalry: Luthian arrives just in time to save August from being killed by Fear.
33	* CigaretteOfAnxiety: While August tends to smoke [[MustHaveNicotine in general]], his first reaction to stress is almost always to light a cigarette.
34	* ChivalrousPervert: DoubleSubverted with Aiden. He comes off as this, but it's [[HandsomeLech mostly an act]]. [[LadykillerInLove Except with Lilac]].
35	* TheChooserOfTheOne: Vatra, who picked out her recruits personally with her instincts, as opposed to Noble who was given specific directions on who to find.
36	* DarkAndTroubledPast: As of ''Falling In the Black'', it's clear that every one of the main characters have histories along these lines. It's hard to tell who has it the worst.
37	* DeathSeeker: Implied to be the case with Phenix.
38	* DespairEventHorizon: The Disciples inside the eponymous fortress in ''Fortress of the Damned'' have crossed this except for Grazia (albeit just barely). Later, [[spoiler:Sorrow tries to push most of the Stray Dogs past this]].
39	** HopeIsScary: Embodied by the aforementioned Disciples, especially Giovanna, who initially refuses any help that the Stray Dogs offer.
40	* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Phenix and August before Vatra and Noble come along. The rest of the crew seem to be this as well, but those two are the most explicit.
41	* {{Determinator}}: All of the Stray Dogs have shades of this. A standout example of this would be when North's legs cave from under him so he decides to ''crawl'' back to the battle with Fear, refusing to let August go it alone.
42	* DoomedHometown: Elin's home town was destroyed by Nichts three months before the story began. Bringing this up seems to be the only thing capable of dampening her spirits.
43	** Tel's home was also destroyed by the Nichts and we see his recollection of this event in a flashback, including the last time he ever saw his father.
44	* TheDreaded:
45	** Even though August had never seen it before, Fear's presence sent shivers down his spine. [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Fittingly enough]].
46	** The group (especially Elin) is terrified by the prospect of running into Ferro, the leader of the Disciples of Strength. As it turns out, they have good reason to be.
47	* EvenTheGuysWantHim: According to Aiden, it's not just the ladies who fall for his charms (something which he occasionally exploits).
48	* ExtremeDoormat: Phenix has absolutely zero backbone when dealing with women.
49	* FirstPersonSmartass: Pretty much every character has shades of this.
50	* {{Flashback}}: Invoked [[spoiler:and ''weaponized'' by Sorrow]]. A good deal of the Fortress of the Damned arc[[labelnote:*]]''Fortress of the Damned'' to ''Resolution'', i.e. chapters 11-14[[/labelnote]] is dedicated to the main characters' [[DarkAndTroubledPast unpleasant flashbacks]].
51	* TheGadfly: Kavik says and does things specifically to push people's buttons, but he sincerely cares about his friends and knows where to draw the line.
52	* GenkiGirl: Elin has no shortage of energy and enthusiasm, sometimes to [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace other characters' misfortune]].
53	* HandsomeLech: Aiden is more this than a ChivalrousPervert, not really giving any thought to the feelings of the women he's pursuing (the main reason he's upset about his girlfriend cheating is that she cheated on him ''first''). This, however, [[LadykillerInLove does not apply around Lilac]].
54	* HatesBeingTouched: August, except by [[IncestSubtext Scarlet]] and [[HoYay North]].
55	* TheHeartless: The Voices are powerful Nichts created from humankind's negative emotions that instill that emotion in people by their mere presence.
56	* HeroicSelfDeprecation:
57	** Lilac's narration is riddled with self-deprecating comments, especially when talking to or about [[LoveInterest Aiden]].
58	** August and Phenix often have bad things to say about themselves as well, but not nearly to the extent that Lilac does.
59	* HollywoodAtheist: Phenix reveals that he is rather adamant about his disbelief in God when he and North get into a heated discussion about it. Apparently, they've had this argument several times before.
60	* HonorBeforeReason: This is a trait ingrained in the minds of all Disciples, to be loyal to their order above anything else, even their own needs and desires. Giovanna embodies this trait, electing to stay in the hellhole of a fortress she and her soldiers were sentenced to because it was their duty to do as they were told. [[spoiler:The very first thing she does after finally escaping is to turn herself in to be arrested for abandoning her post]].
61	* HopeCrusher: Sorrow is the literal manifestation of this and, naturally, is ''very'' good at it.
62	* HumanSacrifice: Elin is almost sacrificed by a cult trying to summon [[TheLegionsOfHell Nichts]] to do their bidding.
63	* ImHavingSoulPains: August says it feels like [[TheDreaded Fear]] is choking his soul when it's around.
64	* INeedAFreakingDrink: August after [[NoSocialSkills trying to talk to people]].
65	* IncestSubtext:
66	** August's narration where [[NotBloodSiblings Scarlet]] is concerned comes off like this at first, but it becomes clear that he is indeed attracted to her, although he's not happy about that at all.
67	** With Scarlet, it's much more ambiguous, as she does seem to flirt with him but she may just be teasing him to make him uncomfortable (according to August, she even flirted with him when they were ''kids'', so make of that what you will).
68	* InnocentProdigy: Tel, who, while not a child, is very sweet and innocent but also incredibly perceptive and good at understanding how people think and how to talk to them.
69	* JumpedAtTheCall:
70	** Elin eagerly jumps at the chance to join Phenix's party when asked. After all, it's way better than being stuck alone in the woods forever.
71	** North and Tel both seemed to require little if any convincing by Vatra in order to join her mysterious quest (although both of their conversations with her are offscreen).
72	* LadykillerInLove: [[HandsomeLech Aiden flirts]] [[TheCasanova and lays]] with pretty much every woman who crosses his path, [[LoveAtFirstSight and then he meets Lilac]]. He doesn't understand why he's suddenly head over heels for her or how to handle it.
73	* TheLeader: North is a type II, being calm, rational and helping keep the team centered and focused.
74	* LoveAtFirstSight: Deconstructed.
75	** Aiden and Lilac fall in love with each other upon meeting, but both refuse to believe it because Aiden doesn't want to get attached to anyone and Lilac doesn't want to get hurt.
76	** August falls in love with a woman after seeing her picture in a locket and then thinks he's lost his mind.
77	* MassOhCrap: The entire group and the Disciples following them have this reaction [[spoiler:to Sorrow confronting them at the edge of the veil]] partway through ''Veil of Sorrow''.
78	* MartialPacifist:
79	** Phenix, who doesn't like to fight and [[ThouShaltNotKill refuses to kill]] but is a badass fighter and can use magic to [[ManOnFire set people on fire]] without killing them.
80	** North is an odd mix of this and a BloodKnight. He prefers not to resort to violence if he can avoid it, but he ''[[PsychoticSmirk really]]'' enjoys fighting people he deems evil.
81	* TheMentor: Noble and Vatra found and recruited most of the crew's members and continue to help out as guides to the group.
82	* MindRape: A fairly minor example as far as this trope goes, but Fear's presence drives August into a panic almost immediately, messing with all [[ImHavingSoulPains six]] of his senses.
83	** [[spoiler:Sorrow]] employs a much straighter example of this trope via [[spoiler:weaponized flashbacks]].
84	* MustHaveNicotine: August, who is almost always seen holding, lighting or smoking a cigarette.
85	* MyGreatestFailure: Implied. August asks North if the latter has any regrets and North says that he has just one, but doesn't elaborate any further than that. [[spoiler:We get to see firsthand what this regret is in ''Falling In the Black'', and it is [[{{Understatement}} unpleasant]]]].
86	* NamedWeapons: The Testaments are all {{Cool Sword}}s personifying a positive emotion or trait and are named after the thing they embody.
87	* NearDeathExperience: [[spoiler:Aiden and Lilac]] share one in ''Fear the Reaper'' when [[spoiler:the tunnels they're both in collapse on them]]. ''Echoing Scars'' begins with the former trying to come to terms with the resulting trauma.
88	* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace: [[TheGadfly Kavik]], [[GenkiGirl Elin]], [[{{Keet}} Tel]] and [[TheCasanova Aiden]] are all this to varying degrees, but [[TheTease Scarlet]] outdoes them all, especially around her [[FlirtyStepsiblings little brother]].
89	* NoSocialSkills: August's attempts at fraternizing with the other members of the group upon first meeting them are painfully awkward, and he doesn't talk to anyone outside the group at all.
90	* OhCrap: The Fortress of the Damned arc has several of these moments, over and over. See MassOhCrap and ThisIsGonnaSuck for specific examples.
91	* PayEvilUntoEvil: North is a firm believer in this, which causes friction between him and [[MartialPacifist Phenix]].
92	* ThePollyanna: Even immediately after almost being sacrificed by a [[TheLegionsOfHell Nichts]]-worshiping cult, Elin is still all smiles and giggles.
93	* PrettyBoy: Kavik is described as this, a fact for which he was mercilessly bullied when he was a teenager. Unfortunately for said bullies, this just pushed him to become a badass BloodKnight and kick all their asses.
94	* [[spoiler:RapeAsBackstory: August's stepmother sexually abused him, but this is somewhat glossed over during August's deluge of flashbacks in ''Falling In the Black''. Although it certainly helps to explain his self-loathing nature.]]
95	* RefusalOfTheCall: Aiden, for about five minutes [[LoveAtFirstSight before meeting Lilac]]. Kavik and Scarlet also both refuse the call, but with Kavik [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive the call knew where to find him]].
96	* ReligionOfEvil: The cult underneath Caldera was definitely this, sacrificing people to summon Nichts under their control. It’s unknown what they were planning on doing with them once they were summoned, but it most certainly wasn't anything that would contribute to society.
97	* RousingSpeech: North delivers one to the Disciples at the end of ''Falling In the Black''. [[spoiler: It works out well for him and the Disciples, as they finally agree to cross to the other side of the veil alongside North and co. It doesn't go as well for Phenix, who feels like a complete failure after three straight chapters of trying and failing to convince the Disciples to follow him, then North comes in and gets them all on his side in a second.]]
98	* TheSnarkKnight: August considers average people to be weak in either will or mind, but he has very few kind words to say about himself and admits that he only barely managed to rise above those same "weak" people.
99	* StepfordSmiler: Elin has shades of this, although it's debatable how much of her bubbly persona is just an act. Either way, as of ''Echoing Scars'' it's obvious that she has much deeper emotional scars than she lets on.
100	* TheStrategist: August falls into this role in the battle that takes place during ''Fear the Reaper'', coming up with the plan that the group (along with the Disciples) use that pushes back the Nichts hordes. That is, before [[TheDreaded Fear]] shows up.
101	** Aiden proves to be a pretty good one as well during the fight at the Fortress of the Damned.
102	* SurvivorGuilt: August has this after the second battle with Fear, feeling responsible for the high death toll of said battle since he believes it was his plan that got so many people killed. Later, in ''Echoing Scars'', he wonders why he survived the fight in place of those other people and North helps him to try and make some sense of it.
103	* SwitchingPOV: The story is in first person and all eight of the main characters ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Scarlet]]) get to narrate at one point or another (occasionally all in the same chapter).
104	* TalkingAnimal: Noble and Vatra are this, unlike the rest of the characters.
105	* TeamDad: North is the leader of the team, the oldest member, the first one most of the others come to for comforting advice about their emotional problems and he calmly mediates arguments within the group. He is definitely this, and even has some shades of being the TeamMom.
106	* TeamMom: Lilac does her best to take care of her teammates, even at her own expense.
107	* TheTease: Scarlet seems to be like this in general, but it's most pronounced with [[FlirtyStepsiblings August]], as she enjoys flirting with him and wearing revealing outfits around him to make him uncomfortable (although she may have [[IncestSubtext other reasons]] for doing this).
108	* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Kavik basically has this to say [[spoiler:about the huge horde of Nichts approaching the fortress]] near the end of ''Fortress of the Damned''. Aiden has a similar moment in the next chapter after the red rain starts to fall. Aiden in particular seems [[LampshadeHanging more annoyed by how clichéd it is]] than by the dangerous implications of it.
109	* UndyingLoyalty: Giovanna inspires this in her soldiers, especially Grazia. [[spoiler:When the first crop of soldiers escape from the Veil thanks to Tel and Noble, they decide to stay put just outside the edge and wait for Giovanna]].
110	* WarriorMonk: North, who prays before and after killing people in battle.
111	* WhatTheHellHero: Phenix calls out North a couple times for jumping to extremes, but North is adamant about his positions (although he does listen and try to see Phenix’s side of things).
112	* [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway What Kind of Lame Weapon is Love, Anyway?]]: Phenix's [[CoolSword Testament]], Love, is made fun of by some of the others, and even he doesn't understand the logistics of having a weapon that supposedly embodies love.

Context Literature / OfFearAndFaith