Line #40 Main/Turncoat


1	The [=Turncoat=] is the guy who switches sides at some point to help out the other side. Can be [[FaceHeelTurn a hero who turns bad]], or [[HeelFaceTurn a bad guy who suddenly decides to help the good guys]], but usually it's just anyone who thinks that the switch will benefit them personally.
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3	If they're discovered to have been on the "other" side the whole time, they're TheMole. If they're faking their switch, they're a FakeDefector. If they switch back and forth, they're going through the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor.
4
5	There are several possible motivations. Someone who decides that their side is corrupt or otherwise unworthy may become a DefectorFromDecadence; someone who simply wants to end up on the winning team may decide that IFightForTheStrongestSide.
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7	It's interesting to note the origins of the phrase "turn coat". Back in the day (we're talking horse and musket age) soldiers defecting to the other side would turn their coats around so the liner would face the outside, to indicate they were not a soldier of the enemy. Of course, one only did this when you were far enough away from your own lines, lest you fall victim to FriendlyFire for treason.
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9	Turncoat has almost ''universally'' negative connotations: calling someone a turncoat is roughly equivalent to calling them a traitor, scoundrel, self-serving jerk, or other bad names. It's rare to find someone called a turncoat with ''good'' implications, though the trope can refer to bad guys becoming good guys just as often as the opposite.
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11	Compare OpportunisticBastard, WildCard, DirtyCoward and ChronicBackstabbingDisorder. Not to be confused with ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/TurnCoat''.
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13	----
14	!!Examples:
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16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
19	* ''Anime/{{Beyblade}}'': Kai Hiwatari switches sides ''six times''. First, he's part of the antagonistic Blade Sharks. Then he joins the Bladebreakers (first switch). Then he switches sides and joins the Demolition Boys (a FaceHeelTurn, and switch #2). Then he switches sides ''again'' and rejoins the Bladebreakers (three). He stays with them until he goes over to the Blitzkrieg Boys (the Demolition Boys renamed, and switch number four). His next move is to join the bad guys of season three, BEGA (five). Of course, he realizes the error of his ways and switches back again (six).
20	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
21	** Uryuu Ishida goes from being an enemy of Ichigo and the shinigami to an ally... albeit with {{loophole\|Abuse}}s helping him along the way to protect his pride.
22	** [[BigBad Aizen]], [[TheDragon Gin]] and [[BlindJustice Tousen]] betray Soul Society to join [[CrapsackWorld Hueco Mundo]]. [[spoiler: Then [[TeamKiller Aizen]] betrays Hueco Mundo and [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor Tousen]]. [[StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred Aizen]] and [[BestServedCold Gin]] betray each other.]]
23	** In the [[{{Filler}} Zanpakutou]] {{A\|nime}}rc, Byakuya betrays the shinigami to side with the rebelling [[TalkingWeapon zanpakutou]]. [[spoiler: He's actually a FakeDefector.]]
24	* Flarejet in ''[[Manga/TransformersZone Transformers: Operation Combination]]'', a Decepticon who used to be an Autobot and a friend of Firefoad
25	* Justin Law in ''Manga/SoulEater'' defects from the DWMA to become a devotee to the [[HumanoidAbomination Kishin]].
26	* ''Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords2004'' has Vio, [[spoiler: a FakeDefector]], and [[spoiler: Shadow, who pulls a HeelFaceTurn and helps the heroes]].
27	* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'': Kagura desired her freedom from her enslavement to Naraku. As the story develops, she helps Sesshoumaru against Naraku more and more and begins to aid Inuyasha's group against him, too. [[spoiler:When she takes active measures to save Kohaku's life, Naraku finally ends hers.]]
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Comic Books]]
31	* In ''ComicBook/AllFallDown'', [[spoiler:Pronto]] becomes this in exchange for a new pair of legs.
32	* Played for laughs in ''ComicBook/GiraffesOnHorsebackSalad'' when [[Creator/MarxBrothers Chico Marx]] gets himself hired as Linda's prosecuting attorney in the trial against the Woman Surreal. Given that this is [[TheDitz Chico]] here, it's not particularly effective.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Fan Works]]
36	* The 4th ''WebAnimation/TouhouM1GrandPrix'' had Utsuho, Orin, Satori & Koishi swap partners.
37	* ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'': Quirrell's school armies start allowing these a few games in. The idea of being a spy is sufficiently appealing that it ''very'' quickly devolves into absolute chaos, and the armies turn into three [[FlockOfWolves flocks of wolves]] -- Draco and Hermione struggle to keep their armies in line, while Harry thrives. This turns out to be Quirrell's setup for a ''very'' poor message of "fascism is good, actually". [[spoiler:Of course, he is Voldemort, so we're not actually meant to ''agree'' with him.]]
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
41	%%* Cypher, in ''Film/TheMatrix''.
42	* ''Film/LittleGiants'': Spike Hammersmith when he leaves the Little Giants and plays for the Cowboys after initially joining the Giants because Danny fibbed and said he was Kevin. Considering how he was tricked into joining the Little Giants in the first place, can anyone really hold it against Spike?
43	* Richard Cameron from ''Film/DeadPoetsSociety'', who is worried about getting caught in the Society's off-campus secret parties, and informs Dean Nolan of the Society's activities after Neil's suicide, resulting in Keating's forced resignation from the Welton teaching staff.
44	* Melchior in ''Film/SodomAndGomorrah'' is already a self-serving schemer before he and his fellow Hebrews reach the title cities, but he completely turns traitor after first directing Prince Astaroth in his aggressive pursuit of Lot's daughter Shuah, then willingly joins the Sodomites and passes on intel about the Hebrews' defences against a possible attack by the Elamites (who are in league with Astaroth). The Hebrew elders are incensed to discover he has turned traitor and declare that he is dead to them.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Literature]]
48	* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is filled with these. Particularly sellswords, who will abandon battle and even turn ''against'' those who hired them and join the enemy if the tide is against them.
49	** Theon Greyjoy [[spoiler:is dubbed Theon Turncloak by the Northeners after he rejoins his family and betrays Robb.]]
50	** On Robb's side is also [[spoiler:Lord Roose Bolton and Lord Walder Frey. They betray the Starks at [[NastyParty the Red Wedding]], when in a shocking violation of [[SacredHospitality guest right]] the Freys kill his mother and most of his army, Roose personally murdering Robb.]]
51	** Because rule of the Stormlands is contested early on by three different members of House Baratheon, it becomes something of a RunningGag for any given Stormlord to rapidly change sides due to changing circumstances. Given the cynicism of the series, those that do ''not'' switch sides end up suffering for not being able to adapt.
52	** The Second Sons once sworn themselves to Daenerys, then they switched sides with Yunkai when they lay siege to Meereen. [[spoiler:Then its revealed they were playing FakeDefector, and were really on Daenerys side all along.]]
53	** "The Princess and the Queen", an in-universe history about a civil war between two branches of the Targaryen dynasty (the Greens and the Blacks), has Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White. They are dragonseeds (illegitimate descendants of those with Valyrian blood), who are recruited to become dragonriders by the Black claimant, Rhaenyra. However they betray her army at Tumbleton, joining the Greens for unknown reasons. Later they prove treacherous to the Greens, planning to seize power themselves. [[spoiler:This leads to the Greens murdering them.]]
54	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': [[spoiler:Peter Pettigrew]], who sold out two of his best friends, [[spoiler:Lily and James Potter]], to [[BigBad Voldemort]], and then framed a third friend, [[spoiler:Sirius Black]], for the whole thing. He considered turning back (just a little bit!) after [[spoiler:Harry Potter]] [[IOweYouMyLife saved his life]], but [[spoiler: the mere thought of betraying Voldemort caused his magical prosthetic arm to strangle him]].
55	* Esmer in ''[[Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant]]'' is chronically unable to choose a side, to the annoyance of everyone involved. He has the rare distinction of being able to switch sides several times a day and the personal power to pull it off.
56	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': In Creator/BenCounter's ''Literature/HorusHeresy'' novel ''Galaxy In Flames'', [[spoiler:Lucius]] motivated by [[GreenEyedMonster envy]] of how [[spoiler:Tarvitz]] took command, betrays [[spoiler:the last survivors of Horus's treacherous attack]].
57	* ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'': In ''Chessmen of Mars'', the ancient I-Gos is perpetually praising his days. So thorough is his admiration that he changes his loyalties on realizing who is TheHero.
58	-->''Then I did not fully realize the cowardice of my jeddak, or the bravery of you and the girl. [[GoodOldWays I am an old man from another age and I love courage]]. At first I resented the girl's attack upon me, but later I came to see the bravery of it and it won my admiration, as have all her acts. She feared not O-tar, she feared not me, she feared not all the warriors of Manator. And you! Blood of a million sires! how you fight! I am sorry that I exposed you at The Fields of Jetan. I am sorry that I dragged the girl Tara back to O-Tar. I would make amends. I would be your friend. Here is my sword at your feet.''
59	* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', Nobby Nobbs is famous in times of war for exactly this. He hovers around the edge of the battlefield, swiping boots off the fallen soldiers and will just move in with whoever he thinks is winning. The generals used his uniform as an indicator to tell who was winning.
60	* In Mercedes Lackey's ''The Black Gryphon'', two of Urtho's generals seem to be carrying the IdiotBall for most of the book; they're constantly losing troops of all species by attempting flashy, dangerous tactics which would lead to glorious victories, if only they actually worked; it later comes to light that these losses are intentional, as they have been working for the enemy for some time.
61	* ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian'':
62	** In ''Literature/RoguesInTheHouse'', Conan's BackStory includes being betrayed by a woman. After he's out of prison, he tracks her down and (since she is a woman) abducts her to drop her in a cesspit.
63	** In ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon'', Publio turns on Conan because Conan's presence might reveal that his wealth springs from dealing with Conan when he was a corsair.
64	** In "Literature/TheScarletCitadel" Amalrus, who lured Conan into an inverted CavalryBetrayal.
65	* Happens in Creator/JohnLeCarre, along with [[TheMole moles]], with regularity, since that's the whole point of having agents and double agents. As one character put it:
66	-->''Don't feel too bad. Christ himself only had twelve, and one of them was turned.''
67	* In ''Literature/{{Harald}}'', the leader of [[RoyalBrat King James's]] secret police betrays him when [[spoiler: James makes a HeelFaceTurn.]]
68	* ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'': Not that Kallor made the most trustworthy impression beforehand, but his betrayal still comes as a bit of a shock to his superiors. Nobody thought that he would willingly [[spoiler: join the Crippled God just to get a shot at Silverfox]].
69	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Turncoat''. [[spoiler:However, the true traitor isn't exposed until the end.]]
70	* ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'': Though Lieutenant-Governor Asa Bowen was loyal to Governor Adams personally during the civil war, he comes to disagree with the newly independent Confederation's politics, as well as the growing power of the military clique around Chief of Staff John Rumford and shadowy elder statesman William Kraft. Eventually, under the influence of his mistress, he joins the mutinous "Deep Green" faction and leads a coup attempt against the constitutional government.
71	* ''Literature/TheLordOfBembibre'': In the former Castilian civil war, the [[BigBad Count of Lemos]] betrayed the Queen María to join the Infante Don Juan when he realized what side was clearly going to lose.
72	* ''Literature/TheBlackArrow'': [[BigBad Sir Daniel Brackley]] constantly changed sides during the Wars of the Roses, profiting every side. During the Battle of Risingham, he is insistently asked by his Lancastrian "allies" to join the battle, but he tries and stalls for time until it is clear who is winning, and he nearly changes sides when it looks like the House of York is crushing them.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
76	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Faith (Face-Heel, then Heel-Face) and Spike (Heel-Face, then Face-Heel, then ''back'' Heel-Face). Not to mention Angel (Heel-Face when he got a soul, Face-Heel when he lost it, etc. ad nauseum). Also Andrew (Heel-Face) and Anya (Heel-Face, brief Face-Heel, then back to Heel-Face).
77	* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': Waldreg turns mid season against his own people to assist the Orcs conquering his own home, and convinces almost half of the Southlanders that is better to serve their enemies and be alive, than to fight them and die.
78	* ''Series/TheXFiles'': AD Walter Skinner started a bit shady and it looked like he was working with the Cancer Man. He turned out to be one of the few good guys at the FBI and trusted ally for Mulder and Scully. Episode "S.R. 819" paints him as a turncoat who seeks benefits for himself. He has a touching scene in hospital where he tells Scully he wishes to be helpful. Yet at the end of the episode, he refuses to support Mulder and Scully's quest.
79	-->'''Skinner:''' I always played it safe. I wouldn't take sides. Wouldn't let you and Mulder... pull me in.\
80	'''Scully:''' You've been our ally more times than I can say.\
81	'''Skinner:''' Not the kind of ally that I could have been.\
82	''[several scenes later]''\
83	'''Skinner:''' So you still think this is about you? About the X-Files?\
84	'''Mulder:''' Yes. Yes, I do. And I have an idea who may be behind all this. But I'd need your authority to continue the investigation.\
85	'''Skinner:''' I have neither the authority nor the will to allow your continued inquiry into this matter. You'll perform your duties as directed by AD Kersh and only AD Kersh.\
86	''[Mulder and Scully stare at Skinner in surprise]''\
87	'''Scully:''' Sir?\
88	'''Skinner:''' This matter's closed, Agents. Am I clear?
89	* ''Series/{{Lost}}'':
90	** Juliet [[HeelFaceTurn turned good]] while [[spoiler: Michael]] [[FaceHeelTurn turned bad]] [[HeroicSacrifice and then good again]].
91	** Ben often is in a HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, depending on who's side he's on at that moment and what his present goal is. [[spoiler: He undergoes a final HeelFaceTurn in the final episode, after Hurley offers him a second chance at redemption, as his NumberTwo while he settles into the role as new protector of the Island]].
92	* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In the final episode, the Cardassian ships turn on their Dominion allies and aid the Federation Alliance fleet. Though the fact that one of their major cities on their homeworld had been wiped from the face of the planet might have had something to do with it. Gul Dukat fits this trope alone, when he realizes that the military is going to be overthrown he switches to back the civilians ("Way of the Warrior")
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
96	* ''Literature/TheBible'': In [[Literature/BooksOfSamuel 2nd Samuel]], Ishbosheth's military captain Abner, who supported him when he became king of most of Israel after his father King Saul had died, decided to defect and turn over the entire kingdom to its rightful God-anointed ruler David (who ruled over Judah at the time) when Ishbosheth accused him of [[SleepingWithTheBosssWife sleeping with his father's concubine]] and Abner took offense to that.
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98
99	[[folder:Video Games]]
100	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'': Count Borghen betrayed Fynn to the Empire, becoming a general and leading to the assault that starts off the game.
101	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'': Kain Highwind switches sides ''[[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor four times]]'' throughout the course of the game. He was under MoreThanMindControl from about one hour into the game to about one hour until the end of the game. Golbez just liked to screw with the heroes by slackening his control on Kain.
102	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': [[spoiler:Reeve Tuesti, controlling]] Cait Sith is TheMole for the bad guys at first, but quickly swaps sides wholeheartedly once he's found out, even taking a risk for the party through [[spoiler:sacrificing one of his puppets for their cause]].
103	* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'': [[spoiler: Yuan]] switches from allying with the heroes to trying to kill them so often even the other characters comment on how hard it is to keep track. [[spoiler:It makes sense, as he's a double agent within the villains' organization, and leads his own organization opposing the villains that is easily confused with said villains. So he never really switches sides, just motives.]] Pretty much half of the cast betrays Lloyd at one point or another. [[TooDumbToLive Which makes you wonder just how naive he is]].
104	* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'':
105	** Any troops you build up in a city but haven't purchased yet can be bought up by anyone who takes the city from you. Those Archangels you've been saving your gems for can become reinforcements for your enemies' armies.
106	** Heroes who have been defeated in battle (i.e., haven't fled or surrendered) return to the pool of heroes that anyone, including your enemies, can recruit from, with all their levels and artifacts. The same happens if they ''do'' flee or surrender, and you don't re-hire them by the end of the week.
107	* Played for laugh in ''VideoGame/HyperdimensionNeptuniaVictory''. When [[ButtMonkey Nepgear]] is tricked to switch side to Vert, a notification told everyone that "Nepgear gained Turncoat affinity!"
108	* Zevran from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' may join your party after [[spoiler:you foil his attempt to assassinate you for Loghain]]. If he does, depending on his RelationshipValues, he might later turn around and rejoin the enemy.
109	* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
110	** Many recruitable characters start out on the enemy side, but can either be persuaded to join by your Lord character persuading them that their cause is wrong, your Lord character giving them a fat sack of cash, or a friend/relative/lover asking them to switch sides. Some examples include Beowulf from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', who will turn against his employers if someone carrying 10,000 gold talks to him, and Tharja from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', a Plegian Dark Mage who finds herself disillusioned with her home nation and can join up with the Shepherds if Chrom talks to her.
111	** Treason in the heroes' home country or allies is also common. ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Binding Blade]]'' is particularly rife with this. Several lords in the so-called Lycian League throw in with [[TheEmpire Bern]] when it invades. A huge chunk of Ostia's army also betrays their land after Marquess Hector is killed and plot to kill his daughter Lilina. (They fail.)
112	** The [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality morality of defecting to the player's side]] is a matter of [[DeconstructedTrope some weight.]] Unsympathetic enemies tend to be [[BadBoss contemptuous of their former allies]] as having been useless all along, while more [[AntiVillain sympathetic antagonists]] tend to be outraged at their friends' lack of loyalty to their country.
113	---> '''Eagler:''' ''"I name you traitors all! Draw your blade! Do your worst!"''
114	* ''VideoGame/PhantomDoctrine'' includes this as a gameplay mechanic: if you capture an enemy agent and have the appropriate technology, you can make them into a sleeper agent and release them to work for you at certain times and in certain ways. Of course, you have to be careful, because the same can happen to ''your'' agents (unless they have the perk "Loyal", which prevents any brainwashing). [[spoiler: In the CIA storyline, Fender is considered a Turncoat, to the point of the Cabal using that as his codename after he betrays them, but it's clear to the player early on that he's been brainwashed against his will: the key in the game is to find out how, and more importantly, ''why''.]]
115	* ''VideoGame/GridLegends'': Lara acts as this for Seneca right before the final race, she does so to expose the [=McKanes=] for illegally modifying their cars to keep Nathan as Ravenwest's top driver.
116	--> '''Marcus:''' You have a great driver; you're just holding her back because she's not named [=McKane=].\
117	'''Ryan:''' ''(turns his attention to Lara)'' Is this your doing? You just ended your career, I hope you know that.\
118	'''Lara:''' Que saber? Eu terminei com isso![[note]]You know what? I'm done with this![[/note]] [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere I quit!]]
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
122	* In TabletopGame/{{Shogi}}, captured pieces change sides.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Webcomics]]
126	* Played with in regard to the vampire [[spoiler: Durkon]] in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. When he's first turned, he is a thrall to [[spoiler: Malack]], the vampire who created him, and is forced to fight against his former allies. After his creator's destruction restores his free will, he immediately joins back up with his friends. Except it's a ruse-- [[OurVampiresAreDifferent a vampire in the OotS-verse]] isn't the same person they were when alive, but a malevolent spirit masquerading as them, with the original personality [[AndIMustScream a helpless witness]]. [[spoiler: Durkon]]'s vampiric spirit is actually [[spoiler: the High Priest of Hel]], and while [[DramaticIrony the audience is shown this almost immediately]], it takes a while for the rest of the characters to catch on.
127	* ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'': Rapdevil switches sides from Prince's team to Kim Lurker's defectors.
128	* ''Webcomic/ZebraGirl'': [[http://zebragirl.keenspot.com/d/20040813.html Lampshaded]] after Sam has already berated the gangsters for using cheesy movie plot lines.
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Web Original]]
132	* ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'': Julie Mikan, who started off Heel did a HeelFaceTurn [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor then managed another]] FaceHeelTurn.
133	[[/folder]]
134
135	[[folder:Western Animation]]
136	* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Azula joins forces with the imprisoned Long Feng and takes control of his [[SecretPolice Dai Li agents]] to capture the Avatar, overthrow the king, and free Long Feng from prison. Once the Earth Kingdom is under their control, Long Feng wants to dump her and rule by himself. However, during the time of her leadership, the Dai Li have come to greatly appreciate the ability and ruthlessness of Azula, so they just ignore his order to capture her, waiting for them to prove who is more worthy of their loyalty. Azula wins, easily.
137	* This happens a few times in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''.
138	** [[spoiler:Faro Argyus]] in Season 1 episode "Cloak of Darkness". [[spoiler:He secretly works under Asajj Ventress to free Nute Gunray from Jedi custody.]]
139	** [[spoiler:Clonetrooper Slick]] in Season 1 episode "The Hidden Enemy". [[spoiler:It's revealed Slick was tired of being a 'slave' to the Jedi and decides to join forces with the Separatists.]]
140	** [[spoiler:Pong Krell]] in the Umbara arc of Season 4, who leads the 501st in the Battle of Umbara. [[spoiler:Turns out he was turning armies of clones against each other.]]
141	* Terra from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' manages to be both this and the mole. She starts off on the Titans side but is swayed over to Slade at the promise of him helping her control her powers, she then comes back and joins the team as TheMole.
142	* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'': Raimundo once [[FaceHeelTurn betrayed his friends]] and joined Wuya. He later [[HeelFaceTurn returned to them]]. Omi would later join Chase Young but that was justified by a Wu's effect. Raimundo also joined forces with Hannibal Roy Bean but in that case, he was just a FakeDefector.
143	* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': Tohru's HeelFaceTurn at the end of Season 1.
144	* Iago in ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', which gets a LampshadeHanging in ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' where DependingOnTheWriter, Iago is either Jafar's henchman or Aladdin's sidekick.
145	[[/folder]]

Context Main / Turncoat