Line #21 PlayingWith/LovecraftLite


1	'''Basic Trope''': A [[CosmicHorrorStory bleak, pessimistic setting dominated by unfathomable monstrosities from outer space]]... and wacky heroes who fight them and even have some success.
2	* '''Straight''': An ordinary Joe witnesses a {{cult}} worshiping an inconceivably hideous [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien alien god]] idol and discovers that said god is about to land on Earth, [[GoMadFromTheRevelation driving most intellectuals on the planet mad with revelatory dreams]]. Very soon, however, Joe is drafted into a secret GovernmentAgencyOfFiction created and equipped specifically to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu destroy the alien threat]].
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** The Agency kills unfathomable attacking alien gods [[TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed at least once a month]]. When they get bored, they go after them on their own. In fact, the only one of the classical Lovecraftian deities they haven't killed yet is Azatoth... but only because he hid so well from them.
5	** Azatoth doesn't hide, [[BigGood he's the head]] [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu of The Agency]].
6	* '''Downplayed''':
7	** Every victory against the {{Eldritch Abomination}}s is a PyrrhicVictory. The {{Eldritch Abomination}}s deal [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu a lot of damage]] with every attack and their defeats are only minor inconveniences to them.
8	** The humans win, but only because there was another supernatural force on their side. It's hinted that this being is similar, and help humans out of EnemyMine situation.
9	** If a true EldritchAbomination is ever summoned to Earth, [[EvilOnlyHasToWinOnce humanity is entirely screwed]]. Humans ''can'' at least prevent cultists from ever achieving this goal, and focus relentlessly on doing so.
10	** Azatoth and his relatives show up every now and then, but life is pretty normal otherwise.
11	* '''Justified''':
12	** HumansAreSpecial.
13	** Alternatively the only thing special about the alien monstrosities is causing insanity in anyone without [[{{Determinator}} enough willpower]] and the ability to grasp the alien spatial warping. If the Agency can get past that, they could kill even the strongest ones with two shots from an [[MugglesDoItBetter elephant rifle]].
14	** Another alternative is that even though these monsters are able to [[PlanetEater eat planets]] and drive men insane, humanity luckily has got a few [[TakesOneToKillOne abominations]] of its own up its sleeve.
15	** HumansAreWarriors. One race of sentient's response to an EldritchAbomination may be to curl up into a ball of crazy; humanity's is to [[ColonyDrop run it over with a space station]] or [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill two]].
16	** Humans can NoSell the alien's MindRape powers and BrownNote appearance because [[HumanityIsInsane we're already crazy]].
17	* '''Inverted''':
18	** An [[StarfishAliens indescribable]] alien god comes to Earth [[BenevolentAlienInvasion in order to]] prevent WorldWarIII, teach humans their peaceful ways, [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu and have some tea]]. All the {{Sleazy Politician}}s who ''wanted'' WorldWarIII to happen and worked towards that regard these events as the worst thing to ever happen.
19	** Alternatively: HumansAreCthulhu.
20	** A seemingly typical CosmicHorrorStory plays out... in a situation where all the Lovecraftian deities are ''[[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu friendly]]'', and IntriguedByHumanity to the point that they overrun Earth in a manner not dissimilar to stereotypes of [[HawaiianShirtedTourist tourists]] that are [[JapaneseTourist annoying]].
21	* '''Subverted''':
22	** Joe discovers that the Agency overestimated its power. [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu Big time.]]
23	** The battle is hard-fought, the Agency getting the upper hand by the skin of its teeth... then the alien god decides that it's grown bored playing with insects and [[IAmNotLeftHanded stops holding back]].
24	* '''Double Subverted''': ...but the surviving humans organize a desperate defense and by joining forces with the entire humanity, Joe kills the alien with a giant CombinedEnergyAttack.
25	* '''Parodied''': A VillainEpisode reveals that to at least some of the "alien gods," HumansAreCthulhu.
26	* '''Zig Zagged''': The GovernmentAgencyOfFiction [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu destroys a powerful abomination]], only to find out that they only defeated an [[FightingAShadow Avatar]]. However, they eventually find a way to challenge the EldritchAbomination itself... [[HopeSpot but it fails horribly]]. A last minute HeroicSacrifice allows them to [[SealedEvilInACan seal the thing away]]... but nobody's sure if they'll be able to do it again if it gets out.
27	* '''Averted''':
28	** Extra-dimensional {{Eldritch Abomination}}s never appear in the story.
29	** A CosmicHorrorStory plays out how it usually would.
30	* '''Enforced''':
31	** "I don't care what [[Creator/HPLovecraft the original author]] wrote! We are making a Franchise/CthulhuMythos cartoon for kids!"
32	** The story is made lighter to avoid TooBleakStoppedCaring that can come from making a classic CosmicHorrorStory.
33	* '''Lampshaded''': "These 'alien gods' the ancients aren't so scary when you have [[MoreDakka modern firepower]]."
34	* '''Invoked''': "You say this ancient, unspeakable monstrosity devours worlds? Call your political connections; we're gonna need funding. [[MoreDakka And guns]]. [[DeusExNukina And some nukes]]."
35	* '''Exploited''': ???
36	* '''Defied''': The alien god has a semblance of cruel human sense of humor, so it lets humanity [[PunchPunchPunchUhOh damage it a little before wiping it from the face of the galaxy]].
37	* '''Discussed''':
38	** "You'd think that a... thing right out of a Lovecraft book would be invincible." "Lovecraft [[TechnologyMarchesOn didn't know about nukes and lasers]]."
39	** "Let's show those abominations that they shouldn't underestimate or fuck around with the human spirit."
40	* '''Conversed''': "Cthulhu's fate was [[LordBritishPostulate sealed the moment they gave him finite]] HitPoints. No matter how good his defenses, the {{munchkin}}s ''will'' see him dead."
41	* '''Deconstructed''':
42	** Although the GovernmentAgencyOfFiction can defeat the abominations, defeating them forces them to take [[ShootTheDog morally questionable actions]], and many agents [[HeWhoFightsMonsters get dangerously obsessed with their jobs]], are DrivenToMadness [[ShellShockedVeteran after a lifetime of trauma]], or simply lose their lives. As a whole, they're [[BlackAndGrayMorality only somewhat better]] than their enemies.
43	** Alternatively, if the story is told [[HumansThroughAlienEyes through the eyes of the abominations]], it turns out that humanity is actually ''one giant HiveMind'', who lies darkly dreaming indeed...
44	* '''Reconstructed''':
45	** The GovernmentAgencyOfFiction employs [[ThereAreNoTherapists the best therapists available]] and is held accountable for their DirtyBusiness; while they may not like dealing with the {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s they have to deal with, it keeps them from getting anywhere near the MoralEventHorizon.
46	** Said HiveMind turns out to be normally peaceful, and allows it's individual selves, well, individuality. It's only if humans at large [[ThePowerOfFriendship unite as one]] that [[CombinedEnergyAttack it's power manifests]].
47	* '''Implied''': A CosmicHorrorStory has a RayOfHopeEnding that implies, but not confirms, humans will triumph.
48	----
49	Back to LovecraftLite.
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51	%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
52	%%* '''Intended Audience Reaction''': ???
53	%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???

Context PlayingWith / LovecraftLite