Line #105 Main/SacrificialLamb


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11	->'''Indiana Jones:''' Don't worry, Wu Han, I'm gonna get you out of here!\
12	'''Wu Han:''' Not this time, Indy. I followed you on many adventures... but against the great unknown mystery... I go first, Indy!
13	-->-- ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom''
14
15	So here it is, the first episode of a brand-new story. You want to give a powerful first impression, the idea that this story will be different and you can't expect the typical stuff from this story. Aware that the GenreSavvy audience needs to be impressed, you need to establish this situation is serious.
16
17	For that reason, they wheel in the Sacrificial Lamb. They are presented as an important part in the plot or having a close relationship with the main characters, perhaps filling a character archetype (love interest, best friend, etc). Then, in a shocking twist, the lamb is [[KillTheCutie slaughtered]] early on -- [[MidSeasonTwist by episode seven]], tops, and [[FirstEpisodeTwist likely sooner]]. The law is laid down: ''You like these characters? Well, AnyoneCanDie here. You have been warned.''
18
19	In short -- '''This Character Exists to Die.'''
20
21	Because of their disposable origin, [[ForgottenFallenFriend they are often forgotten]] once the plot actually kicks into gear. In the worst cases, this is followed by everyone acting as though the lamb never existed in the first place, and somehow still gets an EverybodyLaughsEnding after dramatically losing a friend, love, or relative during the story. The opening credits may bill the [[BaitAndSwitchCredits lamb equally with the other non-lead characters]], implying that they form part of the regular cast. And of course, if the lamb turns out to be an EnsembleDarkHorse, they may end up BackFromTheDead very quickly.
22
23	Sometimes, to help maximize impact, they get to be the IntroOnlyPointOfView or are equipped with a FatalFamilyPhoto.
24
25	Compare to the SacrificialLion, who fills a similar purpose (die to establish threat) [[MauveShirt but whose character has been around for a longer time]] and whose death has long term repercussions with the characters and the story.
26
27	Note that technically speaking, the Lamb or Lion doesn't have to ''actually'' die for this trope to be in effect; sometimes, simply being crippled or otherwise brutally taken out of the story (at least temporarily) is enough to qualify. The important aspect is that the character exists to be a ''victim''.
28
29	Contrast with the RedShirt, who is not so much a character as he is a practice dummy for the villains; WeHardlyKnewYe, in which a character is introduced and dies much more quickly with less impact; and MonsterMunch, in which a character is introduced purely to be killed by an enemy, showing off its abilities or lethality. Compare and contrast SurvivedTheBeginning, when the story begins with a cast massacre, and the few who survive get some PlotArmor.
30
31	See also SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome, for the curious tendency of people who survive horror movies to wind up as this if they appear in a sequel.
32
33	See also DeadStarWalking and FirstEpisodeResurrection. Related to DoomedHometown, which is meant to affect the protagonist rather than the audience, and PlayerPunch for the video game version.
34
35	!!'''As a {{Death Trope\|s}},, all Spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''
36	----
37	!!Examples:
38	[[index]]
39	* SacrificialLamb/AnimeAndManga
40	* SacrificialLamb/LiveActionTV
41	* SacrificialLamb/VideoGames
42	[[/index]]
43
44	[[foldercontrol]]
45
46	[[folder:Comic Books]]
47	* ''ComicBook/OneHundredBullets'': Lee Dolan is the second recipient of Graves' attache case that is seen. He gets a headshot from the target of his revenge.
48	* In ''ComicBook/Aquaman1989'', a young rebel is shown sticking up for Aquaman, being brave, and reminding him of Aqualad. He's killed by the jellyfish to show they're a serious threat.
49	* An example is MVP in ''ComicBook/AvengersTheInitiative'', though it turned out he was later cloned, making it almost a FirstEpisodeResurrection.
50	* In ''ComicBook/TheAvengersJonathanHickman'', there are a series of alternate Illuminati who exist just to die to the planetary threats which are menacing 616 Earth.
51	* In Creator/MilestoneComics' ''ComicBook/BloodSyndicate'', [[AntiHero team leader]] Tech-Nine turns out to be the lamb, spontaneously disintegrating from a PhlebotinumBreakdown at the end of the first arc.
52	* The DC mini-series ''ComicBook/CosmicOdyssey'' features the heroes protecting four planets from the Anti-Life Equation. Three of those planets (Earth, Rann, Thanagar) were long-established worlds in the DC Universe, while the fourth (Xanshi) had only a couple of appearances prior to the mini-series, so it gets destroyed.
53	* Blink of ''ComicBook/GenerationX'' dies in the crossover that introduced the rest of the team, via HeroicSacrifice. She's remained dead, despite said death (She used her powers to [[TeleFrag "blink" apart]] a giant enemy, but couldn't get herself clear) being ready-made for a NeverFoundTheBody return. (The Blink starring in ''Comicbook/{{Exiles}}'' is from the ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse timeline.)
54	** ...and then ''Exiles'' ended, so [[DeathIsCheap the original Blink was brought back]], and [[{{Expy}} retooled to have the same powers and look as]] the ''Exiles'' version but with short hair.
55	* Trajectory from the "new" ''ComicBook/InfinityInc''.
56	* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': Legionnaire Blok was brought back solely to be killed by Roxxas the Butcher and push the Legion to reform during the early days of the Five Years Later continuity, although Blok was a character who had been created a decade before his death.
57	* In #0 of ''ComicBook/SevenSoldiers'' introduced is a new Seven Soldiers of Victory composed of veteran member Greg Saunders as Vigilante, Gimmix, Boy Blue, Dyno-Mite Dan, I Spyder, and Shelly Gaynor as the third Whip. Despite most of the members being strictly Z-List, with the exception of Greg and Shelly somewhat, fans had already grown to like them and were saddened when the majority of the team was killed off at the end of the issue.
58	* ''ComicBook/StarTrekIDW'': In the first story arc (and just like the TOS episode that inspired it, "Where No Man Has Gone Before"), officers Gary Mitchell and Lee Kelso are introduced as being Kirk's friends from Starfleet Academy, who he requested specifically because they were two of the most capable officers he knew. Both die by the end of the second issue (Kelso killing himself after Mitchell possesses him, and Mitchell himself dying after he attempts to kill Kirk).
59	* Kole, of the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' comics, was created ''just so she could die'' in the original ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''.
60	* ''ComicBook/TrinityWar:'' Doctor Light, a literally just-inducted member of the Justice League of America, who is incredibly pleasant and nice, a stark contrast to his previous depictions, is ([[ComicBookDeath apparently]]) killed by a sudden discharge of Superman's eye-beams to kick off the event.
61	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Matthew Michaelis is introduced as an old war buddy of ComicBook/{{Steve\|Trevor}}'s, and every bit as brave and dutiful... but he's a newly-created character with no real ties to anyone else and nothing to teach Wonder Woman, so he gets cut down during the big firefight with Ares' cultists.
62	* All but one of the members of the ''ComicBook/XForce'' revamp later known as the ''ComicBook/XStatix'' were killed at the end of the first issue - including the team leader and narrator. Later, the new team assembled in the wake of the original group's demise saw Bloke and St. Anna bite it on their first mission. The survival rate improved slightly until the Spike and U-Go Girl died just before the change to X-Statix.
63	* In MediaNotes/{{the Bronze Age\|OfComicBooks}} {{revival}} of the ''Comicbook/XMen'' comic, Thunderbird is killed two issues after he's introduced. He was actually created to be kicked off the team in his first issue, but the writers changed their mind at the last moment. Then they realized they no idea what to do with him.
64	* In ''[[ComicBook/Marvel2099 X-Men 2099]]'', Serpentina is easily the most likeable character, is the closest thing to a love interest for the viewpoint character, and has the less than impressive [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway power to stretch her arms]]. She dies in the third issue, the end of the first story arc.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Fan Works]]
68	* In ''Fanfic/EchoesKagaseo'', [[spoiler:Kabuto]] is killed off early in order to establish that AnyoneCanDie. This turns out to be one of the ''lighter'' casualties of the series.
69	* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainKnightOfTheOrangeLily'': Kisaragi explains the story of how he met Tokio in the 400 Rabbits Car, which involved him being introduced to his friend Utahoshi. Utahoshi was a kind and gentle rabbit who was hoping to take the throne and be the next White Rabbit. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, due to Grace and the Apex coming in, when he tried to reach out to a terrified Tokio -- who was trying to ''escape'' the Apex after they had assaulted him -- he let his back be turned, and Grace pluged a celestial bronze knife -- a weapon that kills anything non-human aka '''everyone made by the Train''' -- into the back of his skull, killing him.]] It showed just ''how'' dangerous Grace and the Apex are and her and apathy towards anyone that wasn't Apex.
70	* ''Fanfic/SonOfTheSannin'': A nameless trio of genin are seen babysitting Shizune and Shisui's kids shortly before they're ambushed by Danzo's Root agents. Two of them are promptly offed while the third runs away in fear.
71	* ''Fanfic/AWaterbendingQuirk'' [[PlayingWith plays with this]] with the Hunters: Vixen, their information gatherer, is swiftly sacrificed by their leader Iktomi in order to further their plans. Then it turns out that [[spoiler:part of that plan was turning her into a TrojanPrisoner who leads the police into a trap]].
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
75	* 2 of ''WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}'' is the first of 9's kind he meets, fixes 9's voice, tries to defend him from a monster ten times his size and half-cat skeleton half-machine, gets caught and carried off by it, is revealed to have been rather well-loved by his group, is subject to a rescue mission by 5 and 9, and gets killed as a result of 9 having a TooDumbToLive moment as soon as it looks like he's in the clear. All within the first fifteen to twenty minutes of the movie.
76	* As soon as the ComicBook/SuicideSquad is assembled and briefed in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'', [=KGBeast=] decides that Amanda Waller is bluffing about the [[ExplosiveLeash implanted bombs]]. He soon becomes [[MakeAnExampleOfThem an object lesson to the others]] that Waller is ''not'' bluffing.
77	* In ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6'', after Hiro Hamada is bailed out of jail after participating in an illegal underworld bot-fighting club, his older brother Tadashi takes him to S.F.I.T., the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, where he meets Tadashi's friends, who will later become his teammates and friends. After a fire breaks out in the exhibition hall, Tadashi rushes in to try to rescue Professor Callaghan, only for Tadashi to be killed, with Callaghan apparently killed as well, [[spoiler:only for Callaghan to survive and be unmasked as Yokai, vowing revenge against Alistair Krei and his Krei Tech company, because he believed his daughter Abigail was killed, only to discover that she is alive and well]].
78	* In the otherwise very goofy ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'', at the very beginning of the film, one of the chickens (Edwina), also known as #282, who has stopped laying eggs is killed and eaten by the farmers, to remind the viewers that yes, this is a chicken farm, and yes, when they get too old, they get eaten (which is why the chickens are trying to escape, of course).
79	* Queen Tara from ''WesternAnimation/Epic2013'', who is killed early on to establish just how dangerous the Boggans actually are.
80	* The captured sentries guarding the Great Wall of China in ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}''. "How many men does it take to deliver a message?" "One..."
81	* ''WesternAnimation/SausageParty'': This trope is of significant value to a movie where the main characters are food. There's the Irish potato who was singing "Danny Boy", then an Italian tomato, then a head of lettuce, a loaf of bread getting sliced by knife, strips of bacon, a block of cheese, a bunch of tortilla chips, and baby carrots.
82	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would have featured]] an Australian Spider-Man among the AllianceOfAlternates. However, unlike the other Spider-People, this one did not originate from the comics or any other prior part of the Creator/MarvelComics media. In fact, as soon as he's introduced, he would destabilize and die, showing that the other characters' occasional [[OminousVisualGlitch glitching]] isn't just for show.
83	* ''WesternAnimation/WatershipDown'' had Violet, a rabbit extra who didn't exist in the book, dying early on to show the world was full of danger. But to those who remember the book, it was a foregone conclusion anyway since once they reach Watership Down, they have no females to continue their lineage with and have to search for more.
84	[[/folder]]
85
86	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
87	* Cummings in ''Film/ArmyOfTheDead'' is a walking HateSink, a power-tripping rapist security guard who exploits his position of authority at the refugee camp to force the women there to have sex with him. In fact, Lily recruited him into the CaperCrew specifically for this purpose, to have somebody who nobody would miss to sacrifice to [[MonsterLord Zeus]] and his alpha zombies so that the rest of the crew can progress deeper into the Vegas Strip without being disturbed.
88	* In ''Film/BattleRoyale'', Fujiyoshi and Nobu are handpicked by Kitano to die first so that their deaths can traumatize the 40 other students into quiet submission. But other than those two, because this is about Japanese children forced into killing each other as a game, most of the characters can be considered sacrificial lambs as many don't even have any dialogue or screen time other than being revealed to be dead or getting killed on-screen.
89	* The tour guide in ''Film/BigGame'', to make Hazar KickTheDog and show that he's a PsychoForHire.
90	* In ''Film/Blade1998'', Karen's ex-boyfriend has a brief bit of banter with her in the morgue to establish him as an alright guy just before a skinless vampire rips his jugular out and attacks Karen. His death propels Karen into the plot and gives the audience a real taste of how brutal vampires can be.
91	* ''Film/BreakheartPass'': The murder of Dr. Molyneux quickly establishes that there's far more going on on the train than a simple mission to transport medicine and support troops to Ft. Humboldt.
92	* ''Film/ChildrenOfMen'' gives Julianne Moore star billing only to have that character KilledOffForReal roughly ten minutes into the movie, clearly establishing it as an AnyoneCanDie film.
93	%%* ''Film/{{Elysium}}'': Alas, poor [[spoiler:Julio]], they hardly knew ye.
94	* Steven Seagal's character in ''Film/ExecutiveDecision''. On some posters, Seagal was given equal billing with Creator/KurtRussell, making his death a real shock.
95	* ''Film/FrightNight2011'' has "Evil" Ed. He's the main character's ex-best friend and is already on to Jerry's status as a vampire. He's also played by the recognizable Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Then he's bitten by Jerry less than twenty minutes in, though he doesn't actually ''die'' until later.
96	* Sandra Brody dies in the first fifteen minutes of ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'' due to severe radiation poisoning.
97	* Both segments of ''Film/{{Grindhouse}}'' use this trope:
98	** In ''Film/PlanetTerror'', you get to know Dr. Block's lesbian lover just long enough to care when she gets eaten.
99	** ''Film/DeathProof'' takes this trope to 11 by setting up an entire protagonist cast and then smoking them in one fell swoop.
100	* In ''Film/HotShots'', the most sympathetic trainee pilot dies about a third of the way into the movie, after ticking just about every 'doomed' box an action film can offer ([[FatalFamilyPhoto beautiful loving wife]], hasn't signed his life insurance papers, is carrying the evidence to crack the Kennedy murder case in his pocket....) Maybe he shouldn't have picked "Dead Meat" as his callsign...
101	* ''Film/TheHungerGames'': Several tributes are seen being threatened/killed both on-screen and off, such as the curly-haired teenager who hides in the Cornucopia before getting sliced by Cato when he tries to escape. [[spoiler:Rue and Foxface]] could also be a case of this.
102	%%* Sarah in ''Film/{{Hush}}''
103	* Played completely straight in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', which despite being released after ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'', is in fact a prequel. In this film, Indy's sidekick gets killed within the first five minutes, but of course since this is chronologically the first Indiana Jones film, the audience never got to know him.
104	* Amelia, one of the two candidates who's nice to [[TheHero Eggsy]], from ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'' exists solely to show that the training for new Kingsmen really is dangerous and can cost lives. [[spoiler:Except it isn't and she was really [[InvokedTrope a plant from the Kingsmen themselves]], precisely to give the other candidates the impetus to try as hard as possible]].
105	* Sarah from ''Film/LawAbidingCitizen''. Quite upsetting to see since Sarah was one of the nicest and least corrupt characters in the film.
106	* In ''Film/Masquerade2021'', Sofia gets just enough screen time to come across as sympathetic before she's murdered by a masked intruder.
107	* Art Lean from ''Film/MortalKombatTheMovie'' mainly existed to show the characters (and the audience) how badass [[MultiArmedAndDangerous Goro]] was (and give Johnny Cage some ''serious'' motivation to kick his four-armed ass) as well as give Shang Tsung a ''major'' KickTheDog moment by [[YourSoulIsMine devouring his soul]].
108	* ''Film/MrNiceGuy'' opens with Demons member Gina (Tina in the international version) being beaten and BuriedAlive in TheMafia's "guest house".
109	* Creator/DrewBarrymore's casting as Casey from ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}'', who is one of the first ones to die in the movie, gave the first major sequence of the movie some much-needed EmotionalTorque.
110	* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
111	** ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'': The two officers who die due to a [[TeleporterAccident transporter accident]], showing that despite all the advancements in science and technology, space exploration is still a dangerous business in the 23rd century.
112	** ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'': Engineering cadet Peter Preston. In the Director's Cut, he's introduced as Scotty's young nephew, eager to get into space. He ends up dying horribly in the line of duty when Khan attacks... and Scotty isn't even given time to mourn him, as he has to get back to repairs.
113	** In ''Film/StarTrek2009'', Captain Robau, Acting Captain George Kirk, and the ''USS Kelvin'' all bite the dust in the film's opening, their ultimate purpose being to preserve the lives of Winona Kirk and her newborn son, James T. Kirk. Also, later in the film, Amanda Grayson dies just moments before she can be beamed away to safety. Because, you know, Spock facing the destruction of his homeworld and the annihilation of his entire race isn't having a bad enough day already.
114	* ''Film/StarshipTroopers3Marauder'' actually has an innocent-looking female aide-de-camp called Lamb, who gets [[BigBrotherIsWatching executed for sedition]].
115	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
116	** ''Film/ANewHope'' has Owen and Beru Lars, Luke's adoptive guardians, who get slaughtered by stormtroopers offscreen to show that the Empire will kill ''anyone'' who's in their way.
117	** ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' brings in Dack, Luke's gunner. Luke apparently knows him better than we do.
118	** ''Film/TheLastJedi'' has Rose's sister Paige, who dies during the bomber attack at the very beginning of the movie.
119	* The only reason [[spoiler:Slipknot]] of ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' is in the movie seems to be to show that [[spoiler: Waller wasn't bluffing about the [[ExplosiveLeash implanted bombs]].]]
120	* The movie version of ''Literature/Twilight2005'' features Waylon Forge, a character not in the books who apparently merely exists to have the movies show the vampires actually killing someone.
121	%%* Angie from ''Film/VantagePoint''.
122	* ''Film/WhenTrumpetsFade'': Bobby, the wounded but optimistic comrade our hero carries off the front in the opening scene, [[MercyKill then shoots.]]
123	* In ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', as part of of his EstablishingCharacterMoment, Judge Doom used a poor, innocent Toon shoe to demonstrate the Toon-killing power of his Dip.
124	%%* Ben Talbot from ''Film/TheWolfman2010''.
125	* ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': Antiope, a figure very close to Diana, is killed early in the story by human invaders. This death establishes the threat of humans and the war and encourages Diana to go out into the world of man.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Literature]]
129	* Marta in the Kirsten series of the ''Literature/AmericanGirlsCollection''. She is introduced as Kirsten's best friend on the long journey from Sweden to America, and once they land in America, [[HopeSpot it seems that Kirsten and Marta's families will be able to travel together to Minnesota so the girls will not have to be separated]]. Then, Marta suddenly dies during a cholera epidemic. Marta is mentioned briefly in ''Kirsten Learns a Lesson'', but her short life and tragic death are more a way for the author to show the precarious circumstances of immigrants and pioneers in the mid-19th century.
130	* In ''Literature/TheAskAndTheAnswer'', PluckyGirl Maddy is introduced and killed off early on. She was one of the few cheerful and optimistic characters, and her death demonstrated the senseless brutality of the Mayor's men.
131	* In a twist on the usual Sacrificial Lamb, almost the entire character list "disappears" in Chapter 5 of "Jacob's Trouble, the Gathering Storm," some 75 PAGES INTO THE BOOK! The ENTIRE CREW of the Icarus 4 disappears, except for one man. The author states that this in order for the reader to become familiar with the characters, to like or dislike them, in an attempt to give the reader an idea of the feelings that those persons not taken in Rapture would experience.
132	* In ''Literature/BekaCooper'', the death of [[spoiler:Verene]] serves as a reminder of just how dangerous Dog work is and the harsh statistic that twenty percent of trainees are killed on duty.
133	* Both Christine and her stuntman in ''Literature/BrideOfTheRatGod'' wear an ArtifactOfDeath that ended up a prop in a film. The stuntman is killed, and Christine's friends have to save her.
134	* In ''Literature/DeadSix'', Train is introduced early as one of Lorenzo's companions, and then quickly killed off in order to show that Big Eddie will not give Lorenzo's men a choice in accepting his job.
135	* Lady Mirum from ''Literature/DragonsOfRequiem''. She's killed off in the second chapter (and in her POV chapter, no less) right after [[DecoyProtagonist the story makes her seem like she'd be a main character]]. After she dies, the next chapter shifts over to one of the ''real'' main characters, Kyrie Eleison.
136	* Kim Delaney in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', both in ''Literature/FoolMoon'' specifically and the series as a whole. She's presented as Dresden's sort-of apprentice but is torn to shreds by [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent a loup-garou]] while attempting to contain it with a partially-complete magic circle that Dresden [[YouAreNotReady refused to teach to her in full]]. This sets the loup-garou up as the major threat of the book and starts Dresden's CharacterArc of realizing that concealing information from people, even "for their own good," can have tragic consequences.
137	* Charity Burbage in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''. Her death in the very first chapter is to show that the war with [[BigBad Voldemort]] will be ''serious'', and that not all deaths will be heroic and noble.
138	** Frank Bryce, the Muggle who Voldemort kills in the opening chapter of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', plays the same role in that book, even combining it with IntroOnlyPointOfView. His entire purpose was basically to show that ''Voldemort is BACK!!'' (At least Frank gets a cameo later when he comes out during the joining of wands along with Voldemort's other kills.)
139	** Hedwig serves this purpose in the final book. While some of Harry's loved ones had died in previous books, this usually happened near the end of the books, often as a result of a heroic sacrifice. Hedwig's death came within the first few chapters and was unceremonious, clearly signalling that people would start dying much more often.
140	** Emmeline Vance appears to be an in-universe example. Snape claims to have given the information to the Death Eaters that led to her death. [[spoiler: It is thus likely Snape was instructed to do this by Dumbledore, as a ploy to gain Voldemort's trust]].
141	* In the spinoff of the ''Literature/CHERUBSeries'', ''Literature/HendersonsBoys'', a young boy named Hugo becomes part of the plot in the first book, only to get shot in the back by a Nazi officer 10 chapters later and die.
142	* The elven guards in the first chapter of the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle''. Paragraphs of detailed, important-sounding description... boop, gone.
143	* ''Literature/TheMarkOfTheHorseLord'': Phaedrus the gladiator kills his only friend Vortimax in the first chapter.
144	* Chuck makes it only to the end of the first book of ''[[Literature/TheMazeRunner The Maze Runner Trilogy]]'', having become TrueCompanions with Thomas and being treated like everyone's annoying kid brother. He also figures out the final part of shutting down the Maze.
145	* Kitson Glade in ''Literature/ThePrioryOfTheOrangeTree''. He's an upbeat, loyal friend to Loth and tries to make the best of the fact that they've been sent on a suicide mission as the new ambassadors to Yscalin (aka {{Mordor}}). When they get themselves into the quest to stop the Nameless One's return, Kit dies in a random earthquake during their escape through Yscalin's caverns. Kit's death signals just what kind of dangers everyone is in now, and that there is no guarantee that anyone's death is going to be "meaningful."
146	* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': Maxon, Lord Chanticleer's steward and POV character of the first chapter of ''Reynard the Fox'', suffers an offscreen death shortly after the [[IntroOnlyPointOfView conclusion of said chapter]].
147	* Isaiah in ''Literature/SomeoneElsesWar''.
148	* So far, every prologue (and epilogue) character in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has died. Chett was lucky enough to have an offscreen death.
149	* In Sharon Kay Penman's historical novel ''Literature/TheSunneInSplendour'', several early chapters are told from the point of view of Edmund, Earl of Rutland. Portrayed as thoughtful, wise-beyond-his-years, and caring of his younger brother, the future [[UsefulNotes/RichardIII King Richard III]]. The novel sticks to history and seventeen-year-old Edmund is murdered, Red Wedding Style, against the rules of honor while he is a prisoner of the House of Lancaster.
150	%%* ''Literature/TheLastDragonChronicles'': [[spoiler:Hannah and Clive didn't do anything to deserve their fate.]]
151	* As a concession to what was happening in real life at the time, one of the later books in ''Literature/TalesOfTheCity'' had Michael's longtime love John suffer an off-screen death from HIV/AIDS.
152	* In ''Literature/ThoseThatWake'', [[spoiler:Isabel]] dies halfway through the book; she didn't get much characterization, but she's mourned, and her death shows things are serious.
153	* Ogilvy the astronomer in ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds'' is an early example. He is one of a handful of named characters, is a [[FriendlyTarget friend]] of the narrator, and takes part in much of the action of the novel... until he is killed by a Martian DeathRay in Chapter Five.
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Podcasts]]
157	* Most of the cast of the ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'' game ''Creepy Town'', of course. Jake even refers to the first victim likely to die as a "lamb to the slaughter".
158	[[/folder]]
159
160	[[folder:ProfessionalWrestling]]
161	* In early 2012, Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} hyped the debut of a rookie named Tianlong. Tianlong's career lasted precisely one match - he suffered a career-ending shoulder injury at the hands of 17.
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Roleplay]]
165	* ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'': Most of the summons that manage to last a significant amount of time then killed by the latest major threat to demonstrate how dangerous they are. [[AsianFoxSpirit Wilson]] managed to Subvert this due to his initial insignificance and neutrality and survives until the end of the game, and [[AuthorAvatar Build]] managed to do likewise.
166	** There was an actual entity called the Sacrificial Lamb that was summoned in 2, intended to be this trope - [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope but it ended up being possessed by Nether Parasites and resurrected as the very dangerous Goat from Heck]]]].
167	[[/folder]]
168
169	[[folder:Theatre]]
170	* The prologue of ''Theatre/KeyLargo'' by Maxwell Anderson features an A.E.F. unit in the UsefulNotes/SpanishCivilWar that has already been whittled down to five men. The one who decides to leave the lines later reveals that all the others were killed shortly after.
171	[[/folder]]
172
173	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
174	* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': Although Mia Fey hits all the criteria, the universe itself is not really AnyoneCanDie. Even weirder, she sticks around after the fact to serve as the main character's SexyMentor through the magic of spirit channeling.
175	* ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'':
176	** Sayaka Maizono, the Ultimate Pop Sensation. She's set up to be a LoveInterest and is effectively the {{Deuteragonist}} of the game until the first chapter, wherein she's the first to die.
177	** Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Fashionista, gets an extra shout-out in the game’s intro and is set up to be a potential main character, until she’s unceremoniously executed by the mastermind in the first chapter for violating a rule. [[spoiler:Things are not how they seem in her case, however, as the "Junko" in the game is actually her twin sister Mukuro Ikusaba. The ''real'' Junko Enoshima is the one who orchestrated her twin's death, and she's also the mastermind behind the events of the game.]] In the unofficial English translation, Monokuma even lampshades ''and'' discusses this after Junko's death.
178	--->'''Monokuma''': I'm really feelin' it right now-- the importance of ''tropes''...\
179	I was wanting to avoid causing any unnecessary deaths, if at all possible, but I guess a sacrificial lamb really ''is'' necessary! '''Man''', I love that trope!\
180	But hey, you guys get it now, don't you?
181	* ''VisualNovel/NineHoursNinePersonsNineDoors'': The Ninth Man dies at the start. [[WhyAmITicking Brutally.]] And it happens before the player can make any narrative choices at all, making it clear that there's no saving him.
182	[[/folder]]
183
184	[[folder:Webcomics]]
185	* Richard from ''Webcomic/{{Earthsong}}''. Killed (well, sent home, but close enough) inside the first 25 pages.
186	** Played with, in that he is in fact a bad guy. Also provides the important point of explaining WHY they fight the bad guys.
187	* Golden Jane from ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes''. Helped Jane Mighty get started on her life of crime, then was [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder killed]] by their boss.
188	* One Eye from ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}''. His most important contribution to the plot is to become a motivation for Big Ears to become a paladin.
189	* 8 characters emerge from boxes at the start of ''[[{{Webcomic/Morphe}} morphE]]''. All synopses mention only 5 characters emerging from the crates. 8 - 5 = 3 characters dying in chapter 1.
190	* ''Webcomic/OffWhite:'' The entire pack ([[EverybodysDeadDave except for one]]) that was introduced in chapter 2. Yes, even the puppies.
191	* Nia from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' met Ja on the 20th floor of the Tower and became his friend and partner, and then got horribly eviscerated by Lurker to show that he's not just in it for shits and giggles.
192	* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': Cara gets enough introduction to be very sympathetic, and then is killed rather horribly to ensure the reader understands that this is a work that won't shy away from child deaths and that Starfish is reprehensible.
193	[[/folder]]
194
195	[[folder:Web Original]]
196	* Joey and Ajax from ''Literature/ThePiratesCoveredInFur''. The former was one of the main characters' boyfriends, while the latter was part of [[TheHero Michum's]] main group. They're both killed off in the same chapter to show how ruthless Lyle's invasion will be and to enforce that AnyoneCanDie.
197	* ''{{WebAnimation/RWBY}}'' has Tukson, a bookstore owner that had defected from the White Fang. He's murdered in the opening scene of Volume 2 to demonstrate how dangerous Mercury and Emerald are.
198	* ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' has a variation of this trope, where usually an NPC is murdered in the prologue. In the first version, it was a nameless student that Danya shot because he was wearing his hat sideways, and Danya [[KickTheDog "didn't like punks"]]. However, true to this trope, in other versions (and alluded to in the first version) the teachers, who the characters had probably interacted with at some point during [[DevelopingDoomedCharacters pregame]] are promptly shot. And very often, the prologue is [[ADeathInTheLimelight told in the perspective of one of the teachers murdered]].
199	** It happens with the students as well. When V4 started, a few characters active during pre-game were killed off immediately, namely Remi Pierce, Warren Brown, Reika Ishida, and Chris Davidson.
200	** And in V5, prominent pregame character [[spoiler:David Russell]] commits suicide in his opening post. He is soon followed by [[spoiler:Daniel Whitten]], and [[spoiler:Naomi Bell]].
201	* ''Literature/TailsOfTheSpaceGladiators'' has Jamie Garvon, an inmate who becomes one of David's close friends, and he also teaches him some tips about surviving in prison. He's killed in chapter 6 to show just how deadly the other gladiators and tournaments are and to hammer in that no one is safe.
202	* Tara, in ''ARG/TheWallWillFall'' ARG.
203	[[/folder]]
204
205	[[folder:Western Animation]]
206	* ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheSecretDoor'' has Nola, a fairy who Malucia drains magic from to show she's evil--and to trick her into showing her where the Queen Unicorn hides.
207	* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' zigzags this trope often:
208	** Jeffretariat is a DeconstructedCharacterArchetype example. He had his own ambitions and life, yet all people remember him for is his death being one of the catalysts for his brother's suicide (courtesy of being [[TheParagon Secretariat]]'s younger sibling, whom by comparison he couldn't help but come off as dull).
209	** Kinko, a child refugee in the impoverished country of Cordovia, is killed during a bombing at the camp. Diane, having gotten attached to him, is broken by his death. This, coupled with the philanthropist/benefactor of the camp/ActionFashionista Sebastian St. Claire brushing off his death in order to focus on rebuilding the camp, leads Diane to suffer a HeroicBSOD and return to Hollywood where she crashes at [=BoJack=]'s, avoids talking to her husband Mr. Peanutbutter and tries to drink her weight in alcohol.
210	** Herb Kazzaz may have had a small role in the show, most of it just being flashbacks, but the viewers still got to know him just enough. Although it was known he was going to die from the third episode of the season, they wound up [[PlayedForLaughs playing for laughs]]. The day his cancer surprisingly went into remission, he was tweeting while driving and hit a truck. That didn't kill him; the peanuts inside the truck did.
211	** [[spoiler:Sarah Lynn]] only had around four episodes where she played an integral role, although her importance in [=BoJack=]'s life made her seem like a very important character, similar to Herb. However, her death was a shock. [[spoiler: In "That's Too Much, Man!," she agreed to go on a six-week bender with [=BoJack=], her ParentalSubstitute and previous TV dad on Horsin' Around. Although she lampshaded the likelihood of her dying young in her first appearance, it was mostly PlayedForLaughs. That being said, her overdose on a brand of heroin, fittingly called [=BoJack=], was PlayedForDrama and certainly rough to watch. It happened right after she seemed to have a HeelFaceTurn as she realized how unhappy fame made her. Sarah Lynn had been wanting to go to the planetarium since they first started their bender and [=BoJack=] finally takes her to one after witnessing her BSOD – heroic or villain is up to interpretation. She reveals that she really only wanted to go because she admires all of the work that goes into constructing domed buildings. The final interaction goes like this:]]
212	-->[[spoiler:'''Sarah Lynn:''' Isn't it amazing? [...] No, I mean this building. Domed buildings are so cool.]]\
213	[[spoiler:'''[=BoJack=]:''' I prefer rectangular buildings, as I've]] [[CallBack firmly established.]]\
214	[[spoiler:'''Sarah Lynn:''']] [[FinalWords I want to]] [[CallBack be an]] [[spoiler: architect.]]\
215	[[spoiler:'''[=BoJack=] is inspired to dive into existentialism, via the audio and visuals playing before them.''']]\
216	[[spoiler:'''[=BoJack=]:''' See, Sarah Lynn, we're not doomed. [...] Right, Sarah Lynn? ''(beat)'' Sarah Lynn? ''(beat)'' ...Sarah Lynn?]]
217	* A whole episode of ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'' was devoted to parodying this trope. It begins with the narrator telling viewers that one character will die, and assuring them that they're not going to do something cheap like bring in a new character just so they can kill him. The show then proceeds to do exactly that, in an incredibly obvious fashion, complete with the cast going out of their way to act like [[RememberTheNewGuy the new guy had been around all along]] ("Oh Ponce, you're a regular character!") Ponce dies almost immediately after the regular cast are done telling everyone how much they love him.
218	%% * Felicity in ''WesternAnimation/{{Felidae}}''.
219	* Ripcord in ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeRenegades'', though his death wasn't just for drama: The premise of the show is that his teammates are being pursued for his murder (which they didn't cause) and the destruction of a Cobra Industries plant (which they ''were'' responsible for, but they acted in self-defense).
220	* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Discussed in "Legend of the Gobblewonker", as Dipper is going over his plan to catch a photo of a lake monster.
221	-->'''Dipper:''' What's the number one problem with most monster hunts?\
222	'''Soos:''' You're a side character and you die in the first five minutes of the movie. Oh wow, am ''I'' a side character? Do you ever think about stuff like that?
223	* In ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes2006'', Ferro Lad dies two episodes after his introduction in an awesome HeroicSacrifice. His death was the same as the comics, but watchers and readers got to know the comic version for much longer.
224	%% * Frank Grimes on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
225	* ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'': [[TokenAdult Cat]] is an [[CoolOldGuy elderly member]] of the [[LaResistance Knothole Freedom Fighters]], most of whom are [[ChildSoldier teenagers]]. He quickly establishes himself to be a [[CloserToEarth voice of reason]] who is quite willing to put himself in danger to save his allies. Unfortunately, that willingness [[DistressedDude gets him captured]]: when a mission in [[VillainWorld Robotropolis]] goes awry, Cat takes it upon himself to direct the [[RobotSoldier SWAT-bots]] away from everyone else... and ends up bound and brought before [[EmperorScientist Doctor]] [[BigBad Robotnik]], who [[WickedCultured politely asks him]] to reveal the location of [[HomeBase Knothole village]]. Cat [[DefiantToTheEnd refuses]], and is [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured]] [[OffscreenVillainy off-screen]]. Sonic manages to track down Cat's jail cell later on, finding him looking the worse for wear. Before he can attempt a rescue, Cat informs him that Robotnik has found [[RoyalBlood Princess]] [[{{Protectorate}} Sally]] - [[RightfulKingReturns the very person they're fighting to put on the throne]]. She's gone off searching for evidence that [[DaddysGirl her Father might still be alive]]. Cat insists that Sonic leave him behind [[UndyingLoyalty because her safety comes first]]. Sonic goes to protect her, promising to return, and he ''does'' - [[YouAreTooLate only to find Cat's cell empty]].
226	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In the episode "Hooky", Patrick invites [=SpongeBob=] to play on the fish hooks cast into Bikini Bottom by humans. Seeing there are so many hooks and not one fish around, [=SpongeBob=] asks "''Where is everybody?''", Patrick replies he did see a kid playing with the hooks earlier and the camera zooms to child-sized shoes laying on the ground...
227	* A non-fatal example on ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama''. : Done in the 2007 season where [[AlphaBitch Heather]] steals [[JerkJock Eva's]] Walkman so she could inevitably throw a tantrum so that the latter's team could vote her off despite her strength and athleticism proving useful in challenges.
228	** Done a second time in ''Revenge Of The Island'' where [[EvilRedhead Scott]], seeing that [[CuteMute Silent B's]] intelligence could throw a wrench in his manipulation, convinces their team to vote B off, which ends up working.
229	** [[spoiler:Done a third time in the season premiere of the 2023 reboot where [[TheChessmaster Bowie]] convinces his team that [[MrFanservice Caleb's]] hunky physic means that he could be a threat both physically and manipulatively and that booting him off first could be their only chance of survival, this works.]]
230	** This trope is [[CountryMouse Ezekiel’s]] entire gimmick. He competes in the 2007 season, he gets booted first due to his misogynistic comments. He competes in ''World Tour'', he gets eliminated first again because he gave his team’s stick to a crocodile.
231	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' pulled the exact same thing with Cliffjumper, he was briefly brought back to life, but he CameBackWrong, and then died in an explosion, with no signs he'll return. His relation to Arcee was explored in a flashback in "Out of the Past".
232	** There was also Tailgate, another partner whose death has driven Arcee mad. The show never reveals Tailgate's appearance.
233	** Wheeljack mentioned all the other Wreckers died in the war before they brought the war to earth, including Seaspray and Roadbuster.
234	* Most of the Monarch's henchmen in ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' only last a single episode before being brutally killed by Brock Sampson or another threat. Only Henchmen 21 and 24 survived all of them until the third season when 24 was killed in an explosion.
235	* Morph on the ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' cartoon series, who came BackFromTheDead due to popularity.
236	[[/folder]]

Context Main / SacrificialLamb