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1[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shot1_1812.png]]
2[[caption-width-right:320:Maeldun captured by the goblins]]
3An indie AdventureGame created by Creator/CrystalShard. The player takes the role of Maeldun Whiteblade, who is [[FrameUp framed for]] murdering King Vortigern of Theylinn. While on the run trying to clear his name, he has to deal with a goblin invasion, an assassin on the loose, an evil wizard trying to stop him, and the quirky faeries of Thierna na Oge.
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5The game is fully voice acted and [[http://store.steampowered.com/app/603870 can be downloaded from Steam]].
6----
7!!Contains examples of the following tropes:
8* ActionGirl: Branwyn. She proves her chops from the beginning of the game to the end when it comes to swords and thrown daggers.
9* ArbitrarySkepticism: The monk considers faeries a "figment of man's imagination" while an army of goblins is camped just a few miles away.
10%%* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: The good ending. [[spoiler:And no, you're not the one getting crowned.]]
11* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Kindness pays dividends in Theylinn.
12** If you are friendly with the tailor and give him a bottle of wine, he'll give you a cloak for free.
13** If you help the sorcerer's apprentice, she will [[spoiler: not turn on you]].
14** Although in gameplay there is no difference, Rhiannon will comment on this if you [[spoiler: save her from the faerie glamour.]]
15* BehindTheBlack: When Maeldun needs to hide, he positions himself so that you, the player, cannot see him, even if logically he should be able to be seen from any other viewpoint (such as that of Geraint or his guards).
16* BetterManhandleTheMurderWeapon: The reason why you're accused of murder. [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption No, you can't avoid it]], as you need to take the dagger to defend yourself against the assassin.
17* BookEnds: The game begins and ends with Maeldun attacking Castle Theylinn.
18* BrutalHonesty: Lady Branwyn and Geraint. Subverted with [[spoiler: Cailte.]]
19* BurnTheWitch: Downplayed with the sorcerer's apprentice. Born in the village of Havgan, she left to study magic under Taranis and has effectively been ostracized from Havgan ever since.
20* CaptainErsatz: The protagonist's sprite looks very much like Prince Alexander from ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVI'' (see SpiritualSuccessor, below; funnily enough, in the original concept, Maeldun is a captain ersatz of Graham, not Alexander).
21* CaptainObvious: as one of the goblin guards points out, their leader Rashakk Skullcrusher would be happy to crush your skull if you meet him. The other guard calls him out on stating the obvious.
22%%* ChangelingTale: Blossom [[spoiler:and Ruadh]].
23%%* ChekhovsGun: Branwyn's dagger.
24%%* ClearMyName: The protagonist's goal in the game.
25* ClueEvidenceAndASmokingGun: Maeldun is absolutely able to deduce the murderer by gathering clues, overhearing conversations, and discussing the situation at camp with Taliesin. In a twist, however, Maeldun will use the evidence to eliminate suspects, not convict them.
26** There is a piece of cloth that, if shown to Midir, showcases that the murderer must have been from Carbonek itself, eliminating Branwyn, as well as Finegas (who lives in the monastery) or in Havgan (Amerigin or Niamh).
27** The murderer must have black hair. This eliminates Paradur, Ashe, the sorcerer's apprentice, and the jeweler
28** The murderer must not have been elsewhere in the castle: This eliminates Ruadh (who was stealing the girdle) and Midir (who was passed out drunk at the time)
29** The murderer must have a reason to kill the king. This eliminates Geraint (who was loyal to the king) and Rhiannon (who loved her father)
30* DarkIsNotEvil: Arawn Nos. He looks evil and he lives in the dark and creepy part of Thierna Na Oge, but he will aid you if you prove your worth to him and he isn't even remotely evil.
31* DeadpanSnarker: Branwyn always has something to add to the conversation between Maeldun and another character when she is present. Geraint is also not bad at this.
32* DisguisedInDrag: In order to escape from Carbonek at the start of the game, you need to steal a dress from the tailor to disguise yourself and sneak past the guards.
33* EldritchLocation: Taranis' tower is invisible to the naked eye, and noted as being "not of this world" when Maeldun does reveal it. [[spoiler: Moreover, Taranis' power is MUCH stronger inside the tower than anywhere else.]]
34* EvilChancellor: [[spoiler:Taranis was one to King Vortigern and implied to be responsible for Vortigern's more belligerent acts in the backstory. An easily forgettable moment in the prologue shows him teleporting away just as Maeldun and his army accost Vortigern.]]
35* EvilOverlooker: The BigBad, who will cast spells while watching from his crystal ball.
36%%* EvilSorcerer: The BigBad.
37* ExactEavesdropping: There are twenty "Cutscenes" throughout the game, and most of them involve Maeldun doing this. Some provide alibis for various characters, which is useful for sussing out the murderer. Others simply provide interesting or amusing information about the characters.
38* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Want to catch that assassin? Sorry, you just can't.
39%%* FairyTale
40%%* FantasticFoxes: The Pooka.
41* ForcedTransformation: [[spoiler: Geraint is turned into a hawk. Taliesin speculates that the newly christened Deidre, if she survives, would probably be able to restore him.]]
42* FriendToAllLivingThings: The druid is kind to all animals (but not goblins, [[spoiler:unless Maeldun convinces him otherwise]]).
43* GenreThrowback: This is a 2007 game deliberately stylized, in terms of gameplay and graphics, to look like it had been made 15 years before that.
44* GoodLuckCharm: To win a gambling game, you need to find a horseshoe for luck first.
45* HappilyMarried: Downplayed by Maeldun and Branwyn. They are very happy together, but they are always described as consort or companion to each other rather than husband and wife.
46* HaveANiceDeath: As common in adventure games. Deaths are accompanied by a tombstone that has a poem written on it, describing your death.
47* HeCleansUpNicely: Ashe, the stable boy, if given some of Nimwe's power, turns into [[spoiler: a prince, complete with pumpkin coach]].
48* TheHighQueen: Nimwe, the Seelie Queen, is an [[FairFolk elfin]] lady of incredible grace and beauty.
49* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: An in-universe example. The tailor believes that the king was assassinated by [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Muldan Blackblade]], a barbarian with a [[{{BFS}} massive black sword.]]
50* IKnowYourTrueName: Sidhe and master sorcerers have true names, and speaking the true name of such a being gives the speaker power over the being, unless the being is powerful enough to resist. It says a lot about Nimwe's power relative to Maeldun that she is willing to tell him her true name. [[spoiler:Even Taranis is unable to do anything with that power.]]
51* ImprobableAimingSkills: Branwyn demonstrates her skill at throwing daggers in the prologue, and has a better aim than Maeldun.
52* InfoDump: The opening narration in the original game. The updated relrelease has a playable prologue instead.
53* InformedAbility: In the opening InfoDump, Maeldun is presented as a great warrior. In the game, he is anything but. Branwyn pointedly explains to the fawning Iseult that Maeldun is their ''diplomat'', and Branwyn herself is the great warrior. [[spoiler:She'll show it if you lead the barghest into your camp.]]
54* InterfaceScrew: one of the spells Taranis casts on you inverts the mouse controls. If you pick up the snake statue in his tower, a similar effect also happens.
55* {{Invisibility}}: Downplayed. Maeldun has a spell cast on him so that he will be unnoticeable by anyone not strongly connected to the murder [[spoiler:and at least one person who is]]. Rhiannon and Geraint are the only ones able to see through the magic, but Iseult and the Chancellor will see through it if Maeldun talks too much. [[spoiler:Funnily enough, the murderer themself won't see through it, no matter how much you talk to them.]]
56* {{Jerkass}}: Iseult is a real bitch to someone who isn't wealthy or well-connected.
57%%* KnightTemplar: Geraint.
58* LightIsNotGood: Nimwe de Danaan is kind and benevolent, and she lives in the bright and beautiful part of Thierna na Oge... but she has seduced mortal men into spending their lives in Thierna na Oge before, and she will happily do the same to Maeldun after he proves his heroism. Failure to actively resist her charms results in a BadEnding.
59* MerlinAndNimue: Taranis and his apprentice have this relationship.
60* MirrorCharacter: Lord Geraint and Lady Branwyn, when you think of it. Both command the armies of their master/companion, are completely loyal to them and would do anything they can to protect them. Both are [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]] [[DeadpanSnarker deadpan snarkers]] to some degree. Branwyn hates Vortigern and Geraint because the latter's armies destroyed here village. Geraint hates Maeldun and Branwyn because the latter's armies vanquished Vortigern's empire. Both cases are [[NotSoDifferentRemark mentioned]] in a conversation between Maeldun and Rhiannon. One of their principle differences is in ranged weaponry: Branwyn uses throwing daggers while Geraint uses a bow. [[spoiler: this lack of one means Geraint can't hit Nimwe's charm]]
61* MistakenForMurderer: Maeldun, since he is the first to find the murdered king and he [[BetterManhandleTheMurderWeapon picked up the murder weapon from his corpse to fight off the true killer]].
62* MoonLogicPuzzle: The game's creators definitely tried to avert this, but many instances do crop up, particularly [[ThatOnePuzzle the infamous murder mystery]]. Some people consider this a GuideDangIt, but the information is all in the game, and through elimination you can figure out that the assassin is really [[spoiler: Cailte, in case you wondered]].
63%%* MultipleEndings: Five, ranging from the sad to the evil to the good.
64* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Rashakk Skullcrusher.
65* OurGiantsAreBigger: Morholt the giant is a classic example: huge, dumb, mean, and [[IAmAHumanitarian cannibalistic]]. If you outwit his test of strength, he [[GentleGiant softens up]] and [[DefeatMeansFriendship becomes your pal]].
66* PardonMyKlingon: Goblins use "gronk" as a catch-all swearword, and "pigeon" as a catch-all insult.
67* PermanentlyMissableContent: There are a few items in chapters 1 and 2 that cannot be retrieved once you end those chapters. There's also several sidequest objectives that can only be done early in the game. Plus, a lot of the inventory objects that can be applied to multiple puzzles are one-use items.
68%%* PowerTattoo: Taranis and his apprentice, it's a sign of the Initiated
69%%* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: The goblins, and especially Rashakk Skullcrusher.
70* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Geraint, more or less. He doesn't die so much as get turned into a bird. Taliesin speculates that Deidre, if she's alive, could restore him, albeit it would be difficult.]]
71* {{Reconstruction}}: The game attempts to recreate the fun and joy of old VGA quests while jettisoning their annoying moments ({{Unwinnable}}, GuideDangIt, etc.).
72* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Lady Rhiannon refuses to sit idly in the castle while the kingdom is in trouble, and Maeldun can overhear her arguments with Geraint and Midir to that effect.
73* ShoutOut: Dozens of them, especially to ''VideoGame/KingsQuest'' games.
74** There are at least two to ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. You can find "Twurp's Peerage" in the monastery's library, and Maeldun describes cider as a drink made of apples. "Well, mostly apples."
75** Near the castle, you meet [[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz a talking scarecrow.]] [[spoiler:You can give him a brain, and afterward he will name himself Baum.]]
76** If you try to enter a stump, a message will appear, requiring you to insert [[VideoGame/TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland disk 23]], followed by 'Oops, wrong game.' Also, on the monk's bed there is a book called '[[VideoGame/TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland The Mystery of Ape Atoll]],' (no, not [[VideoGame/RuneScape THAT]] Ape Atoll) which involves swordfighting, dark magic and the undead.
77* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: A blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the prologue shows a sorcerer teleporting away just as Maeldun and his army are closing in on King Vortigern. Princess Rhiannon will tell you early in chapter 1 that that was Taranis, the king's former advisor.
78* SlippingAMickey: The first puzzle in the prologue (after climbing the castle wall and entering the barracks) involves slipping some strong liquor into a guard's cup so that you can steal his uniform.
79* SpiritualSuccessor: Of the ''VideoGame/KingsQuest'' series. It was even originally conceived as a FanSequel to the aforementioned franchise.
80* SpotTheImposter: One of the characters in Theylinn is a Faerie changeling, and can be exposed as such in a sidequest.
81* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: The next puzzle in the prologue after Slipping a Mickey is to distract Geraint. Maeldun does so by telling him "There's nobody drunk in the barracks, sir."
82* TheFairFolk: Both the Seelie and Unseelie faeries, but most especially the Pooka.
83* TrueLovesKiss: Required, of course, to wake the sleeping princess. [[spoiler:In the subversion, you are not her true love. You just give him a confidence booster and a magic glamour.]]
84* UpdatedRerelease: The game later received a graphic overhaul and added voice acting. However, it's no longer available for free on Creator/CrystalShard's website and you have to buy it on Platform/{{Steam}}.
85* {{Unwinnable}}: One trait of old Sierra adventures that [[AvertedTrope wasn't adopted]] by the game's creators. However, this trope still does apply to the best ending. If you don't want the normal or bad endings, which leave several problems unsolved, you'll still need to keep several spare save files in case you miss or lose certain items from solving puzzles the wrong way.
86* WorldOfHam: The dialogue is bombastic, grandiose and full of YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe. Very often {{Lampshaded}}.
87* YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe: [[TheFairFolk The fairies talk like this]]. Blossom the changeling also tries to, but isn't very good at it. It's also {{subverted}} and {{lampshaded}} many, many times, particularly in this EasterEgg:
88--> Helloeth! Thou appeareth to be playingeth an adventure gameth. Wouldeth thou liketh help with thateth?
89* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Deirdre used to live in the tiny village until she left, and the villagers...don't take kindly to her when she shows back up. Mostly they think it's inappropriate how she lives with a much older man.
90* YouFightLikeACow: As a ShoutOut, you can try this in your fight against Rashakk. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]

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