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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1000002294.png]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:[[CoversAlwaysLie He doesn't want to destroy the world. She does.]]]]
3
4->''"Destroying the world solves everything."''
5
6''Sands of Destruction'' is a Platform/NintendoDS game developed by Creator/{{Imageepoch}} and published by Creator/{{Sega}}. It was released in Japan in 2008 as ''World Destruction: Michibi Kareshi Ishi'', with a North American release in January 12th, 2010. It was also [[AnimatedAdaptation adapted into an anime]], ''Anime/SandsOfDestruction'', which aired in 2008 and similarly had a North American release in early 2010. A [[Manga/SandsOfDestruction manga]] was released in 2009, and there was an online AudioPlay which ran around the same time as the anime. These were only released in Japan; however, there is an English {{Scanlation}} of the manga available.
7
8The setting is a fictional world, where animals and human-animal hybrids reign supreme, and [[FantasticRacism humans are considered second-class citizens.]]
9
10Meet the ''[[OmnicidalManiac World Annihilation Front]]'' (''World Destruction Committee'' in Japan and in Funimation's subtitled version), who consider this world [[CrapsackWorld so corrupt]] that the only way to save it is to [[DarkMessiah destroy it.]] A human member of the Front is the main '[[VillainProtagonist heroine]]', Morte Asherah, who has a nasty attitude, a massive sword and a goal of (what else) to destroy the world with the powers of something known as the "Destruct". Along the way, she picks up Kyrie Illunis, a mild-mannered human with the power to destroy the world, but no desire to do so, and Taupy Toplan, a small bear creature on the scale of a teddy. (Just don't call him a stuffed animal). Kyrie and Taupy, unlike Morte, have no desire to destroy the world, but they are guilty by association and hunted as part of the collective "World Annihilation Front." Latecomers include a dragonkin who can see the future and a guy in an awesome green longcoat who grew up with Morte.
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12The World Salvation Committee consists of one highly intellectual (but not necessarily intelligent) wolfman with an intense sense of [[HonorBeforeReason honor]], his fellow wolfman rival who looks down on him for being a half-breed, an eagle-man with an ego, and several hundred FacelessGoons.
13
14This series has a [[Characters/SandsofDestruction Character Sheet]] right here. Read at your own risk for spoilers for those who haven't watched the anime, read the manga, or played the game. For a game with a similar premise but higher on the SurrealHorror, see ''VideoGame/{{OFF}}''.
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16----
17!!''Sands of Destruction'' provides examples of the following tropes:
18
19* ActionCommands: The game requires you to press a sequence of five buttons in order to execute a LimitBreak. The faster you press the buttons, the stronger your attack will be. Normally, the sequence will be of different buttons, but if you equip an accessory with the Guidance trait, you'll only have to press X repeatedly. This would be more useful if the game penalized you for pressing the wrong button, but you can just mash all four DS buttons at once and the game will only register the correct ones.
20* ActionGirl: Morte is [[BloodKnight gung-ho about fighting]]. Rhi'a is less intense in her enthusiasm, but no less capable of taking care of herself when she needs to.
21* ActionGirlfriend: Morte to Kyrie, after she realizes her feelings about halfway through the game.
22* ActOfTrueLove: Kyrie [[spoiler:asks Naja to kill him so he can't destroy the world specifically so Morte will be safe]]. Morte [[spoiler:struggles to find the entrance to, and then get to the top of, the Temple of Light]] because she finally realized her feelings toward him were more than [[InLoveWithYourCarnage a mere desire to see him end the world]]. The [[TrueCompanions rest of the Front]] helps because they consider Kyrie a personal friend and unequivocally the nicest guy they've ever met.
23* ActionPrologue: The game opens with you controlling Naja as he and Rajiv fight off Morte in Viteaux. It then cuts to [[ADayInTheLife Kyrie going about his normal business]] in Barni, picking up vegetables and hunting for sandcaps to cook (which naturally turns into fighting a sandwhale).
24* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler: Lacertus Rex]] is very polite to the heroes, even when revealed as the BigBad.
25* AintTooProudToBeg: When Porcus Rex threatens to eat a boy, Kyrie suggests he just beg for mercy. He then says that, if it'll help, [[PleaseSpareHimMyLiege he'll beg for the boy's life, too]]. Everyone else is convinced Kyrie is either insane, stupid, or both.
26* AllSwordsAreTheSame: Naturally, given the sprite-based nature of the game. This is true even for Morte's {{BFS}} and its replacements: while it's plausible that a single sword could have such an unusual design, it's also possible to equip her with random greatswords dropped from enemies. When the enemies held them, they looked like rather large, but straight and fairly generic swords. As soon as she grabs it, it somehow morphs to her signature dual-ended scimitar shape.
27* AllTheWorldsAreAStage: The Depths of Memories has you revisit each location you encountered along your adventure.
28* AlternateTimeline: As Kyrie began researching the Destruct Code's history, he noted how it extends to the beginning of creation, when the gods were given a choice: either to allow humans to rule over beasts, or vice versa. The gods for that world gave that power to beasts, which gives [[HumansAreBastards an interesting perspective flip]] [[FridgeHorror when you think about it]].
29* AlternativeForeignThemeSong: The Japanese game opens with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm7CKpq88h0 "Crash"]] by Music/{{AAA}},[[note]]They also did the AnimeThemeSong "Zero" (which was unchanged, even in the English dub), and the two were released on the same album[[/note]] while the English game opens with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc7z88ABlzs "Time's Arm"]] performed by Music/CzechPhilharmonicCollegium. The words are not in English, however, they're in [[GratituousLatin Latin]], making it also a ForeignLanguageTheme.
30* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: The Primal Cataract contains a chunk of rock for each of the seven colors of the rainbow. When you finally reach the end to fight [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex - the real one -]] it has a flowing, twirling rainbow.
31* AmbidextrousSprite: Anyone with FashionableAsymmetry is fully flippable, such as Kyrie's single glove and Taupy's eyepatch.
32* AmbitionIsEvil: Subverted. Despite Pictis Rex's motive to hold the peace talks, he was actually very reasonable, and he would have helped end the conflicts between Beastmen and humans peacefully. Unfortunately, someone else had other ideas...
33** Player straight with [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]], who aims to [[spoiler:become a god and make the world in his own image]].
34* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: A weird case where the hardcore ''was too much'' for the demographic. If they kept the hardcore, it would have kept the general theme of the game. Why they didn't keep the hardcore for the ''American'' release is anyone's guess. See [[YMMV/SandsOfDestruction the YMMV page]] for details.
35* AndTheRest: After Kyrie [[spoiler:is resurrected at the Temple of Light]], he's overjoyed to see Morte and the fact that she's gone through such trouble to find him again. It takes a few moments before he realizes the rest of the team is there, too, and then he thanks them as a group.
36* AndThisIsFor: Later, Kyrie's post-LimitBreak PreMortemOneLiner changes to "That one's for Morte!" Rather odd, considering she may be perfectly unharmed or not even in the active party.
37* AngerBornOfWorry: After [[spoiler:traveling to the Temple of Light to visit the Crimson Sun]], Morte is [[KissKissSlap at first overjoyed to see Kyrie, but soon switches to screaming at him]].
38-->'''Morte:''' Did I ''ask'' you to [[spoiler:die for me]]!?
39* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Kyrie makes two to Morte:
40** First, after seeking out Elephas Rex [[spoiler:to cure Morte of the curse Serpens Rex put on her]], he exclaims how much she means to him while crying TearsOfJoy. Unfortunately, [[MomentKiller Elephas Rex walks in before she properly responds]].
41** Second, in the Valley of Dragons, [[spoiler:as he lies dying in her arms from Naja sticking his claws straight through his chest]], he tells her again that he loves her. Unfortunately, Morte was once again too preoccupied to properly respond.
42* AntiAntiChrist: Kyrie was ''supposed'' to be the one to end the world. Unfortunately, he's really not into the whole doom-and-death thing.
43* AntiFrustrationFeatures: In the Cave of Memories, you must visit the rooms containing Kyrie's memories of the adventure in reverse order that they happened. If you mess up, Kyrie will helpfully remind you what he did before and where you should go next.
44* AnyoneCanDie: Up to and including [[spoiler: Kyrie, but he revives.]]
45* ApatheticCitizens Played very straight by the [[=NPCs=]]. Let us count the ways:
46** Your hero Kyrie is a PersonOfMassDestruction who was jailed for [[PowerIncontinence accidentally killing a beastlord]] and [[WhereIWasBornAndRazed turning his whole village to sand]], and his LoveInterest Morte is [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast the Crimson Plague, feared Beastslayer,]] and supposedly one of the most notorious members of the World Annihilation Front (and definitely carrier of a {{BFS}} that no one ever asks her to please leave outside). Most people don't even ''blink'' when you walk into town - not just the humans, who ''might'' believe you're there to liberate them from [[FantasticRacism feral rule]], but even most of the ferals don't seem to care (including if you walk into a feral-only portion of a city; the most reaction you'll get is a casual, "Oh dear, how did you get in here? This is no place for humans," not even a threat to call the guards if you don't leave).
47** When people start noticing that the world may actually be ending, their reactions are pretty low-key, too - a couple ''say'' they're scared but still roam around the city as usual, though some question if such a thing is even possible.
48** The best for the game has to be in the city of Viteaux, however, when Porcus Rex threatens to [[EatsBabies eat a child]] [[DisproportionateRetribution for accidentally running into him]]; the crowd of onlookers definitely feels sorry for the kid, but doesn't dare intervene or even raise an objection. Even his companions point out to Kyrie that this is simply the way things are (luckily for that kid, though, Kyrie is an AllLovingHero and refuses to accept the status quo).
49* ApocalypseHow: Kyrie accidentally causes two Class 0s: once at the start of the game when he [[DoomedHometown destroys Barni]], and again at [[spoiler:the Sky Gaol during the peace talks]]. If his powers ever fully activate, he's capable of causing a Class 6, turning the entire world and everything on it to sand.
50* ApocalypseMaiden: Kyrie can't control his powers of destruction; when that pesky voice starts talking, his body acts of its own accord and obliterates everything around him. [[spoiler:When he decides he's too much of a danger to continue living, he asks Naja to kill him.]]
51* ApocalypseWow: Kyrie's destructive powers are shown twice in all their sand-inducing glory.
52* ArbitraryHeadCountLimit: You're limited to only three people in battle at once; the rest are LazyBackup.
53* ArbitraryGunPower: Rhi'a's guns are roughly equal in power to the equipment available to other characters at that point in time. This is true even of Agan; while whips may be painful, they are generally not lethal except by DeathOfAThousandCuts.
54* ArcWords: ''Acta est fabula'', the Desruct Code.
55* TheArk: [[spoiler:TheVeryDefinitivelyFinalDungeon houses the DNA of all creatures and plant life. It was stored so that in the event of the world being destroyed or suffering some other cataclysmal event, it could be recreated again.]]
56* ArmorOfInvincibility: Kyrie ''may'' get the Crimson Gear, assuming you [[spoiler:revisited Barni before he died, then revisited Barni ''again'' after he was resurrected]]. If not, it's [[PermanentlyMissableContent gone]] and you get the Crimson Robe as a consolation prize. Both are stronger than any other armor he can obtain, but the Gear nullifies all elements as well as having a higher defensive value.
57* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Elephas Rex eventually points out to Kyrie that if Morte succeeds in destroying the world, they won't be able to be together. He leaves him to figure out for himself exactly what he should do and whether he should continue assisting the World Annihilation Front.
58* AxCrazy: The first lines out of Morte's mouth are about killing people and blowing up the world...so naturally, [[IdiotHero the protagonist]] [[AmazonChaser finds this really hot]]. [[spoiler:Of course, Kyrie actually has a reason for agreeing with her, even if he doesn't know it.]] However, she's ''never'' shown touching an innocent, and it can be inferred that all of the rumors about her are just Beastmen propaganda.
59* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Kyrie]] dies and is revived about halfway through the game. [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]] is fought twice and at first the characters believe it to be this trope, but the first time was ActuallyADoombot; he's also the one behind the BossRush automatons inhabiting the Primal Cataract.
60* BackToBackBadasses: When facing down the World Salvation Committee, Morte and Agan circle with their backs to each other. None of the other team members pair up with someone to watch their backs; presumably they do because they're familiar with each other's fighting styles due to having been in the Golden Lions together.
61* BadassAdorable: Taupy. He can (and will, if the price is right) kick your ass up and down the street with his [[IncrediblyLamePun bear hands]], but just try resisting the urge to hug him.
62* BadassLongcoat: Morte is, and Agan WISHES he was one of these. Well, at least he's got a nice hat.
63* BadMoonRising: Morte's super-powered LimitBreak has her jumping in front of a red crescent moon before delivering maximum pain.
64* BattleAura: Rhi'a has one when she transforms; it's a light purple dragon, of course. [[spoiler:Kyrie gains a golden lion aura after the Crimson Sun resurrects him.]]
65* BattleCouple: Kyrie and Morte become one about halfway through the game.
66* BearsAreBadNews: Subverted. Taupy is one of the strongest characters... Which, really, just means that the trope applies to your opponents.
67* BeastMan: Subverted in that most ferals look human. Played straight with the beastlords, as well as Crimson Sun (who is technically the [[ElementalEmbodiment embodiment]] of Light/Fire, but come on, he's a giant lion-man.)
68** However, it's implied that most ferals do have a transformation form, not ''just'' the beastlords.
69* BigBad: [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]] is the one controlling the tyrannical beastlords, and manipulates everyone ([[spoiler:yes, ''[[RunningBothSides everyone]]'']]) in order to [[spoiler:[[GodhoodSeeker become a god]] and [[InTheirOwnImage remake the world in his own image]]]].
70* BlackAndGreyMorality: Sure, some of the beastlords (Keyword some- Felis and Ursa Rex are all nice. Elephas Rex is also shown not to be that crazy, Pistris Rex just wants a better spot on the council) are downright evil, but the party is trying to ''destroy the world.'' [[spoiler: They even wind up fighting ''God.'' Granted, said god is trying to get Kyrie to destroy the world, while Kyrie just wants to make a new one, but still.]]
71* BlackAndWhiteMagic: Blood Skills and Life Skills, respectively. Everyone has access to both, though what their specific skills do within the categories varies.
72* BlessedWithSuck: Kyrie has the power to turn everything (yes, ''everything'') in a large area into sand.
73* BloodKnight: Morte is the only member of the Front who seems to ''enjoy'' fighting.
74* BombThrowingAnarchists: The introduction makes Morte and the World Annihilation Front seem like this, but as their name implies, they're not just interested in toppling evil governments; they want to end the world. That doesn't stop various characters from ''calling'' them anarchists, though.
75* BossInMookClothing: The Desert King, a breed of large, vicious sand whale randomly encountered only during Agan's Rite of Ascension. You're playing as Agan alone, which makes it difficult enough, but it can [[TakenForGranite turn you to stone]] and nullifies fleeing (even including Agan's Quip), in addition to being tough and hitting just as hard as it takes.
76* BossRush: The Primal Cataract is populated by mechanical reconstructions of the various beastlords you've fought. They're RandomEncounters, though, so you probably won't encounter them in order and will almost definitely encounter them more than once.
77* BoyMeetsGirl: Kyrie and Morte, of sorts, when he first meets her in the Sky Gaol. She doesn't feel the same way he does for her at first... [[spoiler: until he dies. Then he got better.]] In the ending, [[spoiler: when they remake the world into a better place, the two share a kiss, and recite the words that creates the new world. The last scene shows the two of them side-by-side looking out at the blue ocean, with the delightful heart emotes over both their heads.]]
78* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler:Morte]] ends up this way briefly, under the mind control of a certain Beastlord. The ensuing fight will net you a NonstandardGameOver if you accidentally kill your companion.
79* CameBackStrong: [[spoiler:Kyrie]] is both mentally and physically stronger after he comes BackFromTheDead.
80* CharacterCheck: After Morte spends several minutes in ''[[{{Tsundere}} deredere]]'' mode, she quickly snaps back to her usual tough self. Agan points out that this ''is'' the feared Beastslayer they're talking about; no one should expect her to get all sappy.
81* CanNotSpitItOut: Morte, big time. After realizing her feelings for Kyrie, she goes through a brief period where she shouts at anyone who'll listen that she's doing what she's doing because she loves him, but when she finally finds Kyrie to tell him, the closest she gets is to say that [[{{Tsundere}} the Front is his home now and if he wants to be there, he shouldn't leave again]]. [[IUhYouToo Kyrie understands, and responds with a simple, "I'm home, Morte."]]
82* CantDropTheHero: For most of the game, though Kyrie is later dropped from the party [[spoiler:after he asks Naja to kill him to save the world]]. At this point, Morte becomes undroppable, whereas previously she could be switched out at will. [[spoiler:After Kyrie returns, he's undroppable again and Morte returns to her previously-switchable role.]]
83* CatchPhrase: These are an actual gameplay feature. As you progress through the game, each playable character gains "Quips", which they can equip up to four of at a time. When a Quip is triggered (by things like taking damage, killing an enemy, or even just starting a battle), they provide a bonus of some sort to your characters.
84* CharacterPortrait: Named characters have them; random villagers don't. Beastlords also lose their portrait when they transform.
85* ChainOfDeals: A couple:
86** When you visit the Sky Gaol for the second time, several of the prisoners ask you to pass letters and packages between then (why none of them ask you to ''go find the guard with the keys'' is never mentioned). Completing the chain nets you a few good items.
87** Talking to certain beastwomen in various towns around the world will have them comment on [[GirlyBruiser Morte]]'s good fashion sense and gift her with a gaudy piece of armor. When you find the next woman, she'll take the last piece from your inventory and give you a new one [[SerialEscalation more outlandish than the last]].
88* ChekhovsGunman: When you first enter Lyse, you can TalkToEveryone, but there's no hint that one of the [=NPCs=] will later be important. [[spoiler:After you've discovered that the Tower of Light is inaccessible, return to the woman standing near the bridge between the town and the temple and she'll give you the book required to enter.]]
89* CloudCuckooLander: Rhi'a, at times.
90* ColdEquation: [[spoiler:A desperate and depressed Kyrie]] decides that if Naja kills him, Morte and the others will be able to continue to live [[spoiler:because he can't destroy the world if he's dead]].
91* ConflictingLoyalty: Kyrie promises Morte that he'll help her end the world if that's what she wants, but after Elephas Rex [[ArmorPiercingQuestion points out that he can't be with her if the world is destroyed]], Kyrie begins to feel an internal conflict between his desire to keep his promise and his desire to keep Morte safe.
92* ContinueYourMissionDammit: At certain points in the plot, you'll be locked into moving along a certain path. Attempts to take other paths will result in one of your party members scolding you that this is not a time for detours. When the plot calms down, you can come back and poke around to your heart's content.
93* CoversAlwaysLie: The [[http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/nintendo/images/6/63/Sands_of_Destruction_%28NA%29.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100917072754&path-prefix=en American box art]] makes it seem like [[TheMenInBlack Kyrie]] is the one out to destroy the world and Morte is some sort of pensive ApocalypseMaiden. The reality is quite the opposite.
94* CultSoundtrack: Creator/YasunoriMitsuda wrote the music for the game. While people may bicker about the game's other qualities, ''nobody'' disses the soundtrack.
95* CradlingYourKill: In a flashback, it's revealed that [[spoiler:Taupy held his best friend in his arms after defeating him in a duel]].
96* DeathbringerTheAdorable: The World Annihilation Front members are actually pretty affable folks for the most part, and apart from a few alarmists, most of the folks they encounter along the way don't have any problem with helping them even knowing who they are.
97* DeathWorld: The game goes to great lengths to show just how terrible everything is, and why the World Annihilation Front feels so justified in their goals.
98* DefendCommand: An option, though it's largely useless unless you're just wanting to get a specific character to be able to take a turn (e.g. to see their LimitBreak) and the ones before them keep killing all the enemies before it comes up.
99* DeityOfHumanOrigin: At the end of the game, [[spoiler:Kyrie Illunis]] may be considered to be this, as he [[spoiler:kills the old Creator of the world and remakes it into a better place]]. Of course, he was NotQuiteHuman to begin with: [[spoiler:the Creator was ''his mom'' and he was the soulless Destruct contained in a human form. It just so happens that everyone being nice to him and showing him love caused him to grow his own soul and become human - though he still had ridiculous power due to his origins as the Destruct]].
100* DesertPunk: Seems to fall here, as while the color palette is brighter and machinery is less important than your typical punk fare, [[SandIsWater the world's oceans are made of sand]] and our heroes are essentially swashbuckling wanderers (despite Morte claiming she's out to end the world, the team actually seems to do a whole lot more good than harm wherever they show up). Punk machinery comes up more often later as the ScienceFantasy becomes more blended; Lacertus Rex's clock tower in Galoa is full of exposed gears and automatons, [[spoiler:he's capable of creating perfectly lifelike mechanical copies of himself or other Ferals, and the final boss is essentially a machine-fused angel]].
101* DeusExMachina: [[spoiler: When exactly did Kyrie get that SuperMode? It's implied that Crimson Sun merged with him when he was resurrected but isn't said outright and it only when a player goes to customize his moves or enters battle to an awesome new battle theme.]]
102** [[spoiler: He got it when you resurrected him and he accepted his identity as the Destruct. Notice that in his profile, his race changes from 'Human' to 'Destruct' to reflect this.]]
103** [[spoiler: Also quite literal with The Creator, which appears to be a machine.]]
104* DiedInYourArmsTonight: [[spoiler:Kyrie dies in Morte's arms]] when Naja kills him in the Valley of Dragons. PietaPlagiarism is involved, especially given that he explicitly sacrificed himself for her.
105* DinosaursAreDragons: Rhi'a's personal quest has you freeing her ancestor from a curse that's keeping him a zombie. Naturally, this ancient dragon bears a striking resemblance to a T-rex, as do some of the RandomEncounters around the Dragonkin Ruins of the current day. Rhi'a's grandfather appearing as a skeleton is also likely meant to bring fossils to mind.
106* DisappearsIntoLight: [[spoiler:Kyrie]] does when he dies. [[spoiler:You later encounter him again as a glowing ball of light, which is apparently what the Destruct looks like when not in a human body. It's still very obviously Kyrie, though, refusing to obey the Crimson Sun's orders to go back and destroy the world and then flashing with excitement when Morte speaks to him.]]
107* DiscOneFinalDungeon: [[spoiler:The Primal Cataract, where Lacertus Rex is fought. It leads to the real final dungeon, the Ark, where the [[GreaterScopeVillain Creator]] lies.]]
108* DiscretionShot:
109** BattleDiscretionShot: PlayedForLaughs atop the Tower of Light. Morte beats and berates Kyrie for [[spoiler:deciding to die so that the world - and, more importantly to him, ''she'' - couldn't be destroyed]], but the camera just cuts to a ReactionShot from the rest of the team.
110** GoryDiscretionShot: In the Sky Gaol, [[spoiler: when Morte kills Rajiv,]] the camera follows the rest of the party while they leave the room. It's implied that she took her time.
111** ShadowDiscretionShot: In the Valley of the Dragons, when [[spoiler: Naja kills Kyrie, we see the silhouette, but Naja's claw is quite clearly going through Kyrie's chest.]]
112* DisproportionateRetribution: Porcus Rex attempts to eat a child just because he ran into him.
113* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: When Morte's AngerBornOfWorry leads her to punch Kyrie, the rest of the team simply laughs and says he's lucky she didn't pull her {{BFS}} on him, despite the fact that it's been established that Morte is ''not'' someone you want to make angry. As Kyrie is a NiceGuy, he just [[TurnTheOtherCheek lets her get it out of her system]]. Refreshingly, however, she only does this ''once'' in the whole game instead of turning it into a RunningGag; the rest of the time, she's quite gentle with him (though at least half the team likely wishes it ''did'' become a running gag instead, as they feel they should GetARoom for their sweet talk).
114* DraggedIntoDrag: Apparently how characters feel about being equipped with accessories meant for the opposite gender: they'll wear them, but their morale will take a hit and you'll start your turn in battle with fewer moves. Of course, the gender of some accessories seems pretty arbitrary: earrings are all for girls, but Naja and Agan are both shown to wear them in their portraits (and they seem to be very similar in style to the girls' earrings). Likewise, bangles are for boys, but Morte seems to be wearing some sort of bracelet on her right wrist (and it's not so different in style from Kyrie's). Confusingly, Taupy's preferences for equipment tend to follow the girls, yet he's never shown to be a WholesomeCrossdresser and is definitely not effeminate.
115* DramaticWind: Blows during your VictoryPose.
116* TheDulcineaEffect: Kyrie is ecstatic when Morte decides to drag him around the world in order to convince him it's an awful place mere moments after breaking him out of the Sky Gaol and soon promises to help her in whatever she needs, including ending the world. [[LoveMakesYouDumb He's obviously not thinking clearly at that moment]].
117* DullSurprise: The game normally has emotive voices and at least gets its character sprites GoingThroughTheMotions as they talk. However, at the end of the game, Kyrie proclaims that he won't destroy the world because he has people he loves now, and they love him. Morte's text response has an exclamation point and her sprite animation seems embarrassed, but her face portrait is neutral rather than lovestruck and her voice is about the same as one you'd use to ask him to pass the salt at dinner.
118%%* DyingDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler:Kyrie to Morte]] in the Valley of the Dragons.
119* EarnYourHappyEnding: Kyrie goes through much angst over his Destruct powers and the accidental carnage he causes, [[spoiler:dies and is brought back to life, and is forced to fight and kill his mother, the Creator of the world]], but is eventually able to master his powers and be with Morte [[spoiler:in a new, better world they create together]].
120* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler:Naja]] requests forgiveness for [[spoiler:killing Kyrie]] and to join the team; he is allowed to do so and only [[TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong Agan]] is even slightly suspicious of him (despite forgiveness not being her first instinct, Morte decides to [[WhatWouldXDo do what Kyrie would do]] and forgive him).
121%%* ElementalEmbodiment: The four Primals.
122* EmptyRoomPsych: The library in Galoa has a back portion that's normally blocked by the librarian, who moves late in the game. When you get back there, you can find a completely empty room. It does nothing. There's nothing to be taken from it. It's just...there.
123* EnemyWithout: One OptionalBoss is a manifestation of [[spoiler:Kyrie's doubts and fears, a side effect of when he grew a soul and became human, then decided to give that up to try and save the world from himself.]]
124* EquipmentSpoiler: You can occasionally find guns before Rhi'a decides to join your team, and [[spoiler:throwing blade wheels]] before you pick up [[spoiler:Naja Gref]].
125%%* EssenceDrop: One of the things monsters may give you.
126* EveryoneHasStandards: Morte has a loud personality and bright pink wardrobe to match, but eventually the SerialEscalation of the dresses the Feral women want to trade with her gets to be too much. The final one really gives her pause because [[spoiler:it's ''see-through'']], [[SubvertedTrope but she does eventually decide to wear it]] - "a dress is a dress", after all.
127* EvilOverlord: Downplayed with [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]], who technically isn’t in charge of the world but is able to manipulate the [[spoiler:other]] Beastlords [[spoiler:and the party]] into doing their bidding.
128* EvilPlan: [[spoiler: Lacertus Rex has one going. He runs the World Annihilation Front so he can gain power over the Destruct and [[GodhoodSeeker become the creator of a new world.]]]]
129** [[spoiler: This backfire spectacularly when Morte pulls a YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness on him.]]
130* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The World Annihilation Front wants to end the world. The World Salvation Committee wants to prevent this.
131* TheExtremistWasRight: Morte wants to end the world...and the world agrees. That's why the Sand Sea is growing and Kyrie's destructive powers have awakened. [[spoiler:Subverted in the end, though, when it turns out ''remaking'' the world is better than outright destroying it.]]
132* FacialCompositeFailure: The bounty posters of your group are naturally exaggerated caricatures, and seemingly can't even decide on what they want to caricature.
133* FantasticRacism:
134** Exceptions going to Rana Rex, right? Working children to death and then using them as fertilizer is not cool.
135** Even though this is Morte's primary motivation for wanting to destroy the world, for every city where humans are openly bullied, it seems like there's another where they live more or less as equals. Morte's hometown even has a human chief with a laid-back feral population.
136*** In the anime, at least. In the game, Morte just seems to want to destroy the world for the sake of it. The crappiness of it is just her best argument.
137* FastballSpecial: Taupy's special finishing move was summoning Muffy, being picked up, spin for momentum and ''thrown'' at the enemies.
138* TheFellowshipHasEnded: The epilogue shows the main characters doing different things in different parts of the world, each apparently on their own. [[spoiler:Except for Kyrie and Morte, who are now a couple looking out over the new water-filled sea.]]
139* FeministFantasy: While the overall cast gender ratio is heavily skewed in favor of males, the females who do appear all take an active, important role.
140** The game may place the player in the shoes of Kyrie Illunis, but he's often out-shined by his LoveInterest and SupportingLeader, Morte Asherah. She's the one in charge of directing the team in where they'll go and what they'll kill, and is generally a very tough DarkActionGirl (who [[GirlyBruiser happens to like flashy pink dresses]]). You CantDropTheHero in this game, and it's notable that, while that's ''usually'' Kyrie, there's a chunk where it's Morte [[spoiler:due to him being dead and her seeking to revive him because she just realized that she loves him for more than his useful powers]]. Even when Kyrie manages to grow as a character and Morte decides to turn from some of her OmnicidalManiac ways, it's only so they can become a BattleCouple, not so their roles can be reversed to "traditional" male lead and female support (unlike the later manga adaptation, which is much less feminist-friendly). The game is keen to point out that the reason Kyrie is successful in trying to ScrewDestiny is due to ThePowerOfLove, not HeroicResolve. The Japanese subtitle, translated as ''Guided Wills'', makes the interplay of the two leads clear: Kyrie may be TheHero, but he's not the guy in charge; Morte may be the actual leader and a bit AxCrazy, but she's heavily influenced by Kyrie's AllLovingHero tendencies.
141** Agan is due to inherit the title of Chief from his mom, who gained the title after her husband was killed, and no one comments on it or suggests he needs to hurry up and claim his "proper" role or that she's doing an inferior job; their leader is simply anyone who has passed the Rite of Ascension. The Bacchitav Caravan is a pretty egalitarian place overall, one of the [[FantasticRacism few locations]] where humans and beastmen of either gender are treated equally (possibly because life on the Sand Sea is tough and they all HadToBeSharp; as long as they're capable of pulling their own weight and contributing to the Sand Tribe, race and gender are pretty immaterial).
142** Rhi'a is treated with great respect as a Dragonkin, in addition to being quite capable as TheGunslinger; the fact that she resembles a fifteen-year-old girl is a moot point.
143** Serpens Rex is a powerful sorceress, notable for being able to brainwash [[spoiler:Morte]], who later utterly avoids the tricky mental spell used by Noctua Rex (a male owl, though it's possible it's due to the ''type'' of spell, not the skill of the caster).
144** The final boss, [[spoiler:the Creator of the world]], is also female.
145* FightingYourFriend: Serpens Rex hypnotizes [[spoiler:Morte]] into fighting you alongside her. Don't kill your BrainwashedAndCrazy teammate, or you'll get a NonstandardGameOver.
146* FinalSpeech: [[spoiler:Kyrie]] lasts an awful long time for someone who was ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice.
147* FiringOneHanded: Rhi'a in the opening movie. When she chains her flurry attacks, she fires with one hand, then the other, then [[GunsAkimbo both at once]].
148* FirstEpisodeTwist: The [[AnimeFirst anime]] takes its sweet time telling us that Kyrie has the power to turn everything to sand, holding out until the very end. The game actually kicks off its plot with him [[PowerIncontinence losing control of said power]] and makes no secret about the fact that he's capable of destroying the world [[AntiAntiChrist even if he really doesn't want to]].
149* FlatCharacter: There's a reason she's called Morte. [[spoiler: Lampshaded near the end. All the other characters are forced to undergo a flashback which tells their reason to go against the world, and she complains that nothing is happening to her. Even when she eventually changes her mind about destroying the world, she's still extremely brash and ready to rush in blade-first instead of stopping to talk it out - her goal may have changed, but her personality is quite the same.]]
150* ForDoomTheBellTolls: An ominous bell rings out as Kyrie's Destruct powers activate.
151* ForeignLanguageTheme: The English opening [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc7z88ABlzs "Time's Arm"]] is in [[GratituousLatin Latin]], mostly because this game loves its GratuitousLatin.
152* ForgottenFallenFriend:
153** The entirety of Barni Village becomes one for Kyrie. Apart from one passing mention several hours after the fact, he never even reflects on the matter, though it's somewhat implied that he was deep in denial (and when it finally hits him [[spoiler:that he's really the one responsible and that he can't be rid of these powers, he decides suicide is the best option]]).
154** [[spoiler:Elephas Rex]] eventually becomes one for Rhi'a when his views come into opposition with the Front's new goal. Even though it's established that she highly respects him, after his death she never comments on it again. Of course, given her PsychicPowers, she likely knew how he would die long before it ever happened, and given that she's [[Really700YearsOld 300]] in a world of human-length lifespans, [[MayflyDecemberFriendship she's likely seen a lot of death]].
155* GenderRestrictedGear: Clothes and armor are occasionally strictly gendered, though a lot are OneSizeFitsAll ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg except Taupy]]). This is despite the fact that the boys are slim {{Bishounen}} and there's as much of a height difference between Kyrie and [[spoiler:Naja]] as there is between Kyrie and Morte (and she's physically stronger than him, so it's not a question of if the armor is simply too heavy). Accessories ''can'' be worn by anyone, but characters may feel they've been DraggedIntoDrag and start the battle with lower morale if wearing the "wrong" accessory.
156* GetARoom: Agan is at least mildly annoyed by how open Morte and Kyrie are in their affection for each other. [[spoiler:Naja]] agrees with him. Surprisingly, no one says anything about Taupy and Muffy, though they're even more shameless.
157* GetOnTheBoat: You're first limited to wherever Felis Rex decides to drop you off using his cruise ship (which means running errands for him, naturally). After you rescue Agan, you'll have your own ship, though it'll be a few more plot points before you're allowed to sail anywhere and your CoolShip becomes the GlobalAirship in function (it's still an entirely normal boat, same as when you started, but the ''plot'' has seen fit to allow exploration).
158* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: Serpens Rex. She pops up in the middle of the [[strike: desert]] sandsea, traps you in a literal MirrorUniverse, scatters the party, [[spoiler: then hypnotizes Morte into fighting you.]] The FinalBoss also counts, as the story was largely fantasy for the most part, then suddenly took a hard left into sci-fi at the end.
159* GodhoodSeeker: [[spoiler: Lacertus Rex tries to pull this off.]]
160* GoingThroughTheMotions: Every time a character speaks, he/she display one gesture specific to him/herself, such as Agan fixing his hat or Rhi'a rocking back and forth on her heels. Every. Single. Time.
161* GoryDeadlyOverkillTitleOfFatalDeath
162* GratuitousLatin: Latin everywhere in this game. As previously mentioned, there is the song "Time's Arm." The ArcWords translate to "the play is over." Nearly all of the Beastlords' titles combine the Latin words for their species followed by Rex (King); and even the last boss spouts several lines in Latin before finally dying.
163* GrimUpNorth: The northern Winter Continent of Garragis is cold and largely uninhabited except for monsters and the ruins of the Dragonkin. However, the FantasyWorldMap shows it to be about the same latitude as the temperate Autumn Continent of Tanner.
164* GuideDangIt: The Temple of Light is initially locked. To get inside, you must first trigger a conversation with your companions by [[spoiler:using the teleport pads a couple times]] - which you'll likely ''eventually'' do just out of frustration, but there's no indication that's required. During the conversation, Taupy says you should return to the beginning and start over. Does that mean returning to the entrance of the temple grounds and running along the path again? [[spoiler:Nope! You're supposed to go back to ''the town outside the temple'' and speak to one random lady who's just standing around looking like any other filler NPC and get her to give you a book. Even if you TalkToEveryone the first time you enter town, nothing in her initial conversation will tip you off that you'll need to speak to her ''again'' later.]] Yeah, good luck figuring ''that'' out on your own. Once you have the book you need, the actual path you need to follow is as much an exercise in TrialAndErrorGameplay as it is memory and planning. Morte becomes increasingly frustrated with each new twist, and by the end of that quest, you're likely to feel for her.
165* TheGunslinger: Rhi'a.
166* HalfHumanHybrid: Naja from the Salvation Committee. Despite being a reasonable person, some of his colleagues don't exactly refrain from showing their racism in regards to his parentage.
167* HappilyMarried: The game's two couples both fit this trope to a degree.
168** First there's Taupy and his [[AmbiguousSituation wife/live-in girlfriend]] Muffy. While she's largely a SatelliteLoveInterest, it's clear they love each other and that their situation works for them; any time Taupy is home, he and Muffy are shamelessly affectionate.
169** About halfway through, Kyrie and Morte become an OfficialCouple. Agan seems to think they're SickeninglySweethearts, but he's the ButtMonkey and TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong; they're actually less schmoopy than Taupy and Muffy. While they're still teenagers (and thus unmarried), they have none of the drama or jealousy typically associated with teen romance, and the ending implies that they'll continue to stay together.
170* HealerSignsOnEarly: ''Everybody'' gets healing abilities, but your main man Kyrie has nothing ''but'' various healing abilities at the start.
171* HearingVoices: Kyrie hears an ominous voice telling him to "awaken and destroy" and saying ''[[ArcWords acta est fabula]]'' every time his destructive powers activate, though no one else hears the voice. He also hears [[ForDoomTheBellTolls a bell]]; while he's the only one who hears it the first time, his soon-to-be accidental victims also hear it the second time.
172* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Naja. ''After'' he kills TheHero.]]
173* HeroesPreferSwords: Averted; our protagonist Kyrie is a knife user and the only sword-wielder of any sort in the group is Morte, with a {{BFS}} scimitar. [[spoiler:Played straight after Kyrie Awakens; he trades his pair of knives for a single, standard sword.]]
174* HeroicBSOD: Morte has one after [[spoiler:Kyrie is killed]]. She refuses to eat anything for three days, apparently just sitting on her bed and staring off into space. She finally snaps out of it when [[spoiler:the Front sends new orders suggesting a way to resurrect Kyrie]].
175* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Kyrie Illunis]] eventually decides to sacrifice himself to save the rest of the team [[spoiler:and the world, as he has no control of his powers but at least can't kill anyone if he's dead himself. Luckily he gets better.]]
176* HeyThatsMyLine: When Agan picks up Morte and Kyrie from the Sky Gaol, she encourages them to hurry up and get on the Sea Gail with a standard "All aboard!" Agan complains that he's the one who's supposed to say that.
177* HighlyConspicuousUniform: The game only introduces us to [[OddlySmallOrganization two members]] of the World Annihilation Front (your TokenEvilTeammate[=/=]LoveInterest, Morte, and the leader of the Front, [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]]), and we aren't even told if they ''have'' a uniform, but Morte's outfit is '''''hot pink'''''. GameplayAndStoryIntegration has her personal outfits equipped with the trait "War Paint", which makes the enemy more likely to target her. As her stats don't lend her to being a tank ([[GlassCannon she can dish hits, but can't take them]]), this means she's likely to die in combat. [[DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist A lot - luckily Kyrie gets a revive move.]] Their opponents, the World Salvation Committee, wear pale blue and white uniforms in a world that's largely desert ([[SandIsWater including the ocean]]). The one place their uniforms might provide some camouflage, the Winter Isle, is the one place you'll never encounter them.
178* HitchhikerHeroes: Once you [[IntroOnlyPointOfView get control of]] TheHero Kyrie, he meets his LoveInterest, Morte. As she hopes to use his status as a PersonOfMassDestruction to cause TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt and he's just fallen in LoveAtFirstSight, the two agree to become a team and journey across the world - she to convince him to want to use his powers (as he's ''not'' keen on the idea of world destruction), and him because...hey, the pretty girl asked. They soon meet Taupy, a bounty hunter who is first paid to keep tabs on them for Felis Rex, but eventually decides to join the group because Kyrie is a NiceGuy and that's a very strange thing (especially if he's capable of ending the world as Morte thinks he is). Morte suggests they seek out her old friend Agan to use his ship (since hers [[DrivesLikeCrazy got wrecked somehow]]), but it turns into a RecruitmentByRescue when they discover he's been captured and is undergoing some ColdBloodedTorture due to the FantasticRacism that humans and beastmen have against each other. He's reluctant to get involved in any of Morte's craziness, but eventually decides [[TeamMom it's better to keep an eye on them]] - and because Kyrie's nice to the point of insanity. Later, Rhi'a - the [[CuteMonsterGirl dragonkin]] who's been hanging around with Felis Rex - decides to join because she, too, is curious about Kyrie (especially since she's aware of his destiny and didn't expect the Destruct to have emotions at all, much less to be kind and polite), and because [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight she thinks it's the thing to do, even if dragons are supposed to be strictly observers of the fate of the world, not participants in it]]. This seems to make a full roster, but TheSixthRanger [[spoiler:Naja, the guy you controlled briefly in the beginning,]] decides to join the team just after the mid-point of the game, [[MagneticHero once again because Kyrie is so strangely nice to everyone]] [[spoiler:and he can't believe he asked him to kill him in order to prevent himself from losing control of his powers and ending the world. Furthermore, he has a hard time accepting that someone could be resurrected after he stabbed them in the chest, but if anyone deserves a second chance, it's Kyrie]]. It's not a DebutQueue because there's plenty of ''other'' plot going on between character collections.
179* HonorableElephant: Hospital administrator Elephas Rex refuses to turn away patients.
180* HugeGuyTinyGirl: [[GenderInvertedTrope Gender inverted]] by Taupy and Muffy.
181** Taupy's a gruff, one-eyed, no-nonsense bounty hunter who looks like [[BadassAdorable an adorable teddy bear less than half as tall as most of the rest of the cast.]] Muffy also looks like an adorable teddy bear, albeit one that is at least twenty feet tall.
182* HumanResources: [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]] wants to use humans as the base material for a new world [[GodhoodSeeker where he's a god]]. He also requires Kyrie's powers, both to break down the present world in a timely manner and to rebuild the new one; whether or not such a thing would require "harvesting" Kyrie's powers or simply taking control of him isn't stated.
183* ICannotSelfTerminate: [[spoiler:When Kyrie]] decides he's too dangerous to continue living, he asks Naja to kill him rather than considering a way to do it by himself. [[spoiler:After he's resurrected, he apologizes for making such a cruel, selfish request without thinking of how guilty Naja might feel.]]
184* ICantBelieveImSayingThis:
185** At one point, Naja eventually notes that Morte has ceased to surprise him with her bombastic behavior and comments that he can't believe himself.
186** Every time Morte says something remotely feminine, Agan snarks that he can't believe she just said that. Apparently he still sees her as OneOfTheGuys, hot pink miniskirt and all.
187* IHaveManyNames: The game's wanted posters have nicknames for your characters that change over the course of the game. Most are fairly absurd, but given that the wanted posters are [[FacialCompositeFailure overall horrible caricatures]], it's not so surprising that their names are equally unfitting[[note]]NiceGuy Kyrie starts off known as TheButcher because he's a PsychoKnifeNut, but really, the only thing he wants to butcher [[SupremeChef is a steak]] - and likely [[FriendToAllLivingThings a tofu steak]] at that[[/note]]. Morte (probably the only one to ''deserve'' her nicknames) overhears a couple of ferals discussing her various names - Beastslayer, Scarlet Plague - and finds the idea hilariously entertaining until they get to "[[ThisIsMyNameOnForeign Lady Death]]", which she finds lame.
188* ImAHumanitarian: In the original version, before the [[ExecutiveMeddling executives told the writers to tone it down]], the beastmen didn't just rule over humans, they ''ate'' them. Porcus Rex threatens to eat a human boy, and perhaps implies he does so routinely, but is stopped before he can even decided how he wants to cook him.
189* InfinityMinusOneSword: The Zephyr Blade is Morte's second-strongest weapon in the game and is available as soon as you find 20 Green Ore and can give it to the smith on the Bacchitav Caravan. If you feel like farming Green Anima in the Undercroft, you could potentially have that sword for nearly the entire game.
190* InfinityPlusOneSword: Every character has one:
191** Kyrie gets the Destruct Blade after [[spoiler:defeating his shadowy doppelganger, which requires returning to the Temple of Light after it's turned dark, finding ''yet another'' way in, and then chasing the shadow down.]]
192** Morte gets a giant sword called Infini, so heavy that most ''men'' can't even ''lift'' it, much less wield it effectively. Randomly visiting Agi Wharfs will have Felis Rex show up to offer it to her if she can get him the Divine Ear Pick.
193** Taupy gets the Friend's Gloves by defeating three fellow bounty hunters and taking ''their'' gloves, then [[spoiler:accidentally being confronted by Muffy, who already knew who killed Ace and was no longer angry.]]
194** Agan gets the Ganza Whip for completing the Sand Tribe's ceremonial quest.
195** Rhi'a gets Omega, a pair of guns, for revisiting the Tower of Wind after her scene in the Depths of Memories.
196** Naja gets the Silverwolf Fang, an ancestral weapon from his tribe, after searching the Tower of Earth and fighting off looters.
197* ItWasAGift:
198** Averted by Morte. While her first sword, the Nameless Blade, was given to her by the local blacksmith of the Bacchitav Caravan, she shows no particular attachment to it and is equally happy with any sword; she cares more about the strength of the weapon than where she got it. The blacksmith himself considers it to be an OldShame and desperately wishes to replace it (which grants you her InfinityMinusOneSword if you take him up on his offer), but not because being stuck with an inferior weapon could be dangerous to a fellow Sand Tribe member; he's just worried someone will trace it back to him and think his skills are still as poor as when he forged it. She also has no problems [[GiveMeYourInventoryItem trading in clothes]] which were given to her by Feral women, though as she had no prior relationship to them, it's not quite as odd.
199** Played straight by most other characters and various weapons and armor they receive; they're obviously happy to have items of sentimental value as well as practical power. Luckily, the two coincide more often than not.
200* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Kyrie is clearly smitten with Morte, but her interest in him is more [[PersonOfMassDestruction pragmatic]] at first. He eventually decides [[spoiler:he wants her to live safely more than he wants to be with her, and asks Naja to kill him so he can't lose control of his powers and accidentally kill her or destroy the world.]] She doesn't take it so well.
201* JustBeforeTheEnd: Morte points out that the world is already well on its way to the end with the ever-expanding Sand Sea, earthquakes, and whatever else the environment can think of to throw at them. She's just here to give it a kick in the pants and hurry it along.
202* JustifiedTitle: The Japanese title is ''World Destruction''. Guess what the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin World Destruction Committee]] is out to do?
203* KissKissSlap: Morte's first reaction to seeing Kyrie again atop the Temple of Light is utter joy, but she quickly shifts to berating him for [[spoiler:deciding suicide was the best option]]. The camera [[BattleDiscretionShot cuts away]] to a ReactionShot of the rest of the team watching her punch him and commenting that [[HairTriggerTemper he's lucky she didn't pull her sword]].
204* LarynxDissonance: Taupy, as mentioned above, is an adorable teddy bear-like feral...with a gruff, badass voice.
205* LateArrivalSpoiler:
206** The [[http://img.gamefaqs.net/box/4/0/4/96404_front.jpg Japanese boxart]] shows all the main characters lined up, facing the same direction as if they are a team, despite Naja being antagonistic. [[spoiler:Naturally, he makes a HeelFaceTurn - or, given the VillainProtagonist nature of the game, perhaps that'd be a FaceHeelTurn.]]
207** If you've got the sound track, don't read the song titles until you've played the game. One is titled "[[spoiler:Kyrie's]] Death" and spoils the mid-game PlotlineDeath. As it's an instrumental, though, just ''listening'' to the song itself won't actually spoil you.
208* LazyBackup: Everyone follows you around and is present for all of the plot, but [[ArbitraryHeadCountLimit only three may fight at once]]. The rest apparently just stand there even when their teammates are getting whaled on.
209* LeakedExperience: Your LazyBackup gets between 1/3 and 1/2 the experience of your active party. There's an item which allows you to give one person on the bench a full complement of experience (but no Customization Points), but no one likes to wear it.
210* LethalChef: Kyrie's special skills involve the use of food to attack. But also to heal.
211* LetsSplitUpGang: In Mechto, Kyrie and Morte sneak up on Aquilla Rex while Taupy, Naja, and Rhi'a keep the rest of the World Salvation Committee busy.
212* LimitBreak: All characters have a SuperMovePortraitAttack which hits for massive damage, plus a Blood Skill and a Life Skill that are only available after filling a critical hit gauge during battle.
213* LoveEpiphany: It takes [[spoiler:Kyrie dying in her arms]] for Morte to realize she's fallen in love with him.
214* LoveMakesYouDumb: Kyrie, she may be pretty and you may have just fallen in LoveAtFirstSight, but Morte ''is trying to destroy the world!'' What makes you think it's a good idea to hang around and help her? It takes Elephas Rex to point out to him that, if she's successful, they won't be able to be together on account of that whole "being dead" thing.
215* LoveAtFirstSight: Quite literal emphasis on the "sight" part: when Kyrie first meets Morte in the Sky Gaol, we're shown her from his point of view, with her face in shadows. At this point, he's just freaked out and concerned about making the Ferals angry for breaking out of jail. After they escape, he quickly changes his mind and decides to help her - [[ShowDontTell just after they get out on the open Sand Sea, where the sun is shining and he can see her face]].
216* LoveRedeems: Kyrie's love for Morte eventually convinces her to turn from her OmnicidalManiac tendencies, [[spoiler:and her love for him allows him to resist the Destruct Code's orders to destroy the world]].
217* LuckBasedMission: What battles inevitably turn into, thanks to the combat system's method of giving you or your enemies another attack based on getting a critical hit. You can steamroll a boss in one playthrough, or just never get a turn in another.
218** This isn't the case if you activate the GameBreaker [[MagikarpPower powers]] from flurry attacks though. Of course, if a boss manages to get the first turn in a battle, it can ''still'' steamroll over you.
219* MacGuffinDeliveryService: [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]] allows the World Destruction Committee to rescue Kyrie and kill the Primal Lords which are key to unlocking his power, then demands that they hand him over so he can be used [[spoiler:to create a world where Lacertus Rex is the supreme ruler. Considering they ''just'' went to the trouble of resurrecting Kyrie, this plan naturally doesn't go over very well.]]
220* MagikarpPower: Flurry attacks are rather weak (though accurate) at the beginning of the game when compared to blow attacks (more damage and less accurate, but this can easily be compensated for). However, once you reach lvl 20 (which isn't very far into the game, even without grinding, which is also fairly easy to do) you get the option of further improving all your attacks, giving them certain bonuses when doing so. Blow attacks can get some decent powerups from this, but flurry attacks get the option to chain which is more or less a GameBreaker.
221* ManualLeaderAIParty: The tutorial section that allows you to control Naja has you fighting alongside the computer-controlled Rajiv; the rest of the game lets you control all the characters in your party. It's unclear if he's controlled by the AI simply to avoid overwhelming the new players or [[spoiler:because Naja later joins the Front and becomes permanently playable, whereas Rajiv is summarily killed off about a third of the way in.]]
222* MeaningfulName: Kyrie means 'Lord' in Greek, Morte means 'Death' in many Latin-derived languages.
223* MechanicallyUnusualClass: Averted by Rhi'a. Despite being a flying gun-wielder, she plays just like any other character, even when it doesn't make sense.[[note]]For example, no one can chain Air Flurries because they can't stay in the air that long. Makes sense for grounded melee characters, but she ''flies and attacks targets at range''. She should have '''zero''' trouble hitting a fellow flier.[[/note]]
224* MilhollandRelationshipMoment: [[spoiler: Muffy knew all along.]]
225* MirrorUniverse: Literally, in the case of Serpens Rex's crazy mirror dimension.
226* MomentKiller: Elephas Rex walks in just after Kyrie admits to Morte that he cares for her and isn't sure what he'd do without her. Instead of continuing their conversation with an audience, she takes the opportunity to change the subject.
227* MoneySpider: Naturally. Kill stuff, get gold. Doesn't matter what you killed.
228* MoodWhiplash: On paper, the story looks like pretty serious stuff, and the original draft by writer Masato Kato was apparently even darker and more violent. As it turns out, [[ExecutiveMeddling the higher-ups]] insisted on marketing the game to a [[LighterAndSofter younger demographic]], and so they settled on the worst solution possible: keep the same basic story points, but pack each and every scene with lame, anime-cliche humor and have the game's position on the SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness go haywire.
229* MoreDakka: Rhi'a if you chain her Flurry attacks, and Agan's Special Attack.
230* MotherNatureFatherScience: Averted by [[spoiler:the final boss. Mother Nature ''is'' science.]]
231* MotivationalLie: When confronting Aquilla Rex, Rhi'a tells Kyrie she's [[{{Seers}} seen a vision]] in which everyone survives the fight; she admits she saw no such thing as soon as he's out of earshot. When everyone ''does'' survive, Kyrie [[ApologizesALot apologizes for doubting her]].
232* MST3KMantra: A couple characters question things like how the World Annihilation Front is able to find its members anywhere and everywhere and rain down notes with their instructions even when indoors. Morte [[InvokedTrope tells them to stop worrying about such things]].
233* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: Agan is usually the Zoidberg. For example, when he first introduces himself, the Ferals have never even heard of him, despite the fact that he's the Golden Lions' second. One of them eventually remembers that he saw Agan's name scrawled at the bottom of one of Morte's wanted posters as a known associate; he thought the single-digit bounty was a joke. Such treatment continues, off and on, at various points throughout the game. [[ButtMonkey The poor guy never catches a break]].
234* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Morte Asherah, in account that "Morte" is the Latin word for "Death". Her nicknames "Scarlet Plague", "Beastslayer", and "Lady Death" also count. Kyrie ends up nicknamed "Destruct", but anyone who meets him immediately decides that it doesn't suit him at all.
235* NewEden: [[spoiler:The game ends with the world remade by Kyrie's powers - the sea is now water, humans and ferals apparently get along, and the new world looks pristine.]]
236* NiceJobFixingItVillain: VillainProtagonist Morte would like to figure out a way to get Kyrie to fulfill his destiny and destroy the world. [[spoiler:Turns out, hanging around with her is exactly what he needs to get control of his powers and ''avoid'' destroying the world.]]
237* NinjaZombiePirateRobot: Taupy is a teddybear-sized bear with a gruff voice, a bandanna and an eyepatch who fights enemies with martial arts.
238* NonstandardGameOver: Don't kill BrainwashedAndCrazy [[spoiler:Morte]] during that one boss fight. This means not using your LimitBreak, as it will hit all opponents and the Beastlord is much tougher than your companion.
239* NotSoDifferentRemark: Agan tells Kyrie he's more like Morte than he realizes; despite the fact that she's much more enthusiastic about the World Annihilation Front's goals than he is, they're both exceptionally stubborn. [[BirdsOfAFeather This cheers Kyrie up.]]
240%%* OfficialCouple: Kyrie and Morte.
241* OneSizeFitsAll: Most armor falls here, though some are GenderRestrictedGear.
242* OneWingedAngel: All the beastlords pull this (the ones you fight, anyway).
243** [[spoiler: [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere The Creator]] does this after you defeat her human form.]]
244* OurSoulsAreDifferent: You can be created without one, but if enough people show you love and affection, you'll develop one all on your own.
245* TheOutsideWorld: Kyrie was pretty sheltered in Barni and grew up believing the world was a fairly nice place and that it was natural for Ferals to rule humans because they were so benevolent, like Ursa Rex was. Morte quickly disabuses him of such naivete, and even offers to travel the world with him to prove how much it needs to be destroyed.
246* PatchworkMap: The Autumn and Winter continents are about the same latitude, separated only by an expanse of [[SandIsWater Sand Sea]], though one is very temperate and inhabitable while the other is icy and foreboding. Likewise, the southern half of the map is taken up by the tropical jungles on the Summer Isle and the temperate plains of the Spring Isle.
247* PartyInMyPocket: You'll only ever see the character you're controlling ([[CantDropTheHero normally Kyrie]], but Morte for a portion of the plot), but everyone else will show up for cutscenes.
248* PartyOfRepresentatives: You've got both humans and beastmen in your party, as well as a dragonkin [[spoiler:and later a half-feral]]. However, two of your humans are nomadic and largely accepting Sand Tribe members, and the third is extremely naive about the world; there's no "average" human who hates or fears ferals among them. Taupy, meanwhile, is no feral apologist; he sees the FantasticRacism against humans as being as vile as the humans see it. So, while there's the potential for a conflict of ideologies, there rarely is; the biggest conflict is actually simply questioning why they're helping Morte when they don't actually wish to destroy the world like she does.
249* PartyScattering: [[spoiler:Serpens Rex]] scatters the party in a [[MirrorUniverse Mirror Dimension]] and [[spoiler:hypnotizes Morte into fighting you alongside her]]. Kyrie has to find everyone before they can leave.
250* PenultimateWeapon: Kyrie gets the Hand of the Sun, which he receives [[spoiler:when he's resurrected by the Crimson Sun]].
251* PersonOfMassDestruction: Kyrie's status as one is what catches Morte's attention and kickstarts the plot.
252* PitbullDatesPuppy: Morte is a tough ActionGirl who's normally ObliviousToLove and a bit of an OmnicidalManiac. Kyrie is an AllLovingHero and consumate NiceGuy. Somehow they make it work.
253* PipeMaze: The sewers of the Botanical Gardens are a twisting mess of waterworks.
254* PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou: Taupy tells [[spoiler:Muffy]] that it's time for her to have her revenge on him [[spoiler:for killing her brother in a duel-by-proxy]]. He doesn't ''specifically'' state that she can kill him, but the rest of the party's reactions would suggest they know that's what he intended. [[spoiler:She doesn't, of course. She already knew and had come to terms with what had happened.]]
255* PlotlineDeath: While your party members can die at any point and is revived after the battle, [[spoiler:Kyrie]] will die in a cutscene midgame and does not automatically hop up when it's over.
256* PlotTunnel: You'll have to walk down one just after the midpoint of the game. Until you visit Galoa and make your way through the clock tower, then visit Lyse and find a way to the top of the Temple of Light, you're not allowed to do anything else. Morte is a bit too single-minded to go off poking at random things in the world.
257* PowersInTheFirstEpisode: In contrast to the anime, the discovery of Kyrie's powers is what starts the plot here; [[PowerIncontinence it's just that he can't use them on command]] ([[AntiAntiChrist and wouldn't want to if he could]]).
258* ThePowerOfLove: It can [[OurSoulsAreDifferent make you grow a soul]] and [[spoiler:allows Kyrie to refuse to follow the Destruct Code]].
259* PrecisionFStrike: "Mild language" is listed as one of the reasons for the game's T rating, but you can actually count the number of times anyone swears on one hand.
260* PreMortemOneLiner: After activating their LimitBreak, each character has a line which plays before the enemies tally up which of them are now dead and which are just missing a large chunk of their health bar.
261* PresentAbsence: [[spoiler:Kyrie]] gets one about halfway through the game. While he's [[spoiler:currently ''dead'' (or, more specifically, a ball of light)]], Morte still acts [[WhatWouldXDo the way she knows he would]]. Of course, considering [[spoiler:the Front is trying to resurrect him]], he also becomes the driving force of the plot for this time.
262* ProlongedPrologue: It takes quite a bit of time before you even get control of your protagonist. After that, it takes quite a bit of time before the world opens up for free exploration.
263* PunBasedTitle:
264** The Japanese subtitle ''Michibikareshi Ishi'' is translated as "Guided Wills", but the verb conjucation ''-kareshi'' is rather irregular. This is because ''kareshi'' is also the Japanese word for "boyfriend", making it clear that Kyrie's will is being guided by Morte. [[spoiler:And, when he actually does become her boyfriend, he asserts a strong pull on her as well, turning her intent from destroying the world to simply fixing it.]]
265** The English title ''VideoGame/SandsOfDestruction'' clearly refers to Kyrie's power to turn everything to sand.
266* RandomEncounters
267* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: As far as Beastlords go, Ursa Rex was evidently a fair and just ruler, who had [[FantasticRacism no problem with humans]], and Elephas Rex treats both humans and ferals equally at his hospital. Felis Rex may be a blackmailer, but he's overall fairly reasonable as well.
268* ResurrectedRomance: [[spoiler:Kyrie and Morte]] don't get together until after he comes BackFromTheDead, because it took him dying in her arms for her to realize he meant something to her.
269* RightBehindMe: A couple of prison guards comment on Morte and how scarily psychotic she is as she's walking up behind them. In an InvertedTrope, she ''loves'' the things they're saying about her.
270* SandIsWater: The Sand Sea is exactly like every sea on Earth - it's big, everybody sails on it, it's full of whales and jellyfish - except that it's made of sand.
271* SanityStrengthening: Morte is clearly nuts at the opening of the game[[note]]likely bipolar-manic[[/note]]. Kyrie is basically walking, talking lithium for her. He's not exactly a LivingEmotionalCrutch, but traveling with him definitely helps her sanity; by the end of the game, she seems almost normal.
272* TheSavageSouth: Summer Continent appears to be an {{expy}} of Africa, complete with deserts and savannah and a large jungle in the middle. The biggest sign of civilization is the complex operated by Elephas Rex, and travelers who fail to take precautions usually collapse from heat exhaustion before they reach it.
273* SceneryPorn: For a world that's supposedly well on its way to the end, the place is ''pretty''. The larger 256MB DS card is earning its keep with the backgrounds.
274* SchizoTech: Farming is apparently still done by hand and [[TheGunslinger Rhi'a's guns]] are the exception rather than the rule for favored weapons, but Sand Skiffs are essentially hovercraft with internal combustion engines. [[spoiler:Nobody really blinks at the futuristic tech found inside the Ark, either.]]
275* ScienceFantasy: Where the story eventually lands. It starts out seeming to be a light fantasy, as while a couple of characters have skills that could be considered spells (and then there's the matter of the Ferals), most of them are functionally equivalent to the real world. Then you add some modern tech, like engines. Then more fantasy as you add the [[ElementalEmbodiment Primal Lords]] and the way Beastlords can transform. Then you add futuristic sci-fi at the end, [[spoiler:when they visit the Ark, which is basically a space ship full of DNA popsicles]].
276* ScrewDestiny: Kyrie does not want to destroy the world. [[spoiler: Just remake it into a better one.]]
277* SeaOfSand: There is a literal ocean named the "Sand Sea". Unusually, it seems to be treated more like an actual ocean rather than a colossal desert, seemingly requiring specialized equipment to traverse it, there are even Sand Whales that live beneath the sands.
278* SecretLevel: Some time after [[spoiler:the Temple of Light turns dark]], you can return to the area to complete another set of puzzles and fight an OptionalBoss.
279* SeeksAnothersResurrection: After [[spoiler:Kyrie asks Naja to kill him so he can't destroy the world]], Morte sets out to revive him.
280* SenselessSacrifice: [[spoiler:Kyrie eventually decides]] his death would mean the world would be saved. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:the Destruct has numerous backups in place to ensure the system works, including a method of resurrection in case of premature death.]]
281* ShadowArchetype: [[spoiler:Dark Kyrie]] is one for Kyrie, though [[GuideDangIt you may not find him during the course of the game]], as he's an OptionalBoss. [[spoiler:He's a manifestations of Kyrie's doubts and fears, a side effect of when he grew a soul and became human, then decided to give that up to try and save the world from himself - apparently the part of himself that he rejected in order to be able to make a heroic sacrifice also rejected the idea that suicide would save people and so got himself his own body.]]
282* ShootTheDog: Naja eventually [[spoiler:kills Kyrie at his request]] because they both believe that it will save the world. [[spoiler:Nope. There are backups to ensure the Destruct continues to exist.]]
283* ShoutOut: Bits and pieces scattered through quips and lines.
284-->'''Agan:''' [[WesternAnimation/{{Snagglepuss}} Exit, stage left!]]\
285'''Taupy:''' [[Film/{{Casablanca}} Here's looking at you, girl.]]
286* SickeninglySweethearts: Agan and [[spoiler:Naja]] accuse Kyrie and Morte of being this, though they're actually pretty low-key in their affection. Taupy and Muffy are much more blatant, but no one ever complains about them (being [[TinyGuyHugeGirl size-mismatched]] live stuffed animals apparently gives you license to be teeth-achingly cute).
287* SingleTear: Morte cries one atop the Tower of Light [[spoiler:when Kyrie comes back to life]]. Immediately afterwords, she switches back to her usual tough demeanor.
288* SlidingScaleOfAntagonistVileness: The beastlords. We have [[HeroAntagonist Elephas Rex]] on one end, who will treat any and all patients who come to him, including [[spoiler: Morte]], down through Felis Rex, who is a nice guy, but still blackmails you into running errands for him, to Noctua Rex, [[spoiler: who traps you in your memories and tries to kill you, but is trying to save the world]], to the {{Jerkass}} Aqulia Rex down to Porcus Rex and Rana Rex, who eat random humans and use humans for fertilizer, respectively, and finally we have [[spoiler: Lacertus Rex, who wants to use all of humanity as raw material for a new world where he is God.]]
289* SlidingScaleOfShinyVersusGritty: Despite being titled ''Sands of Destruction'', the game is far over on the shiny end of the scale.
290* SmartBall: Morte is normally the type to suggest blowing stuff up first and not asking any questions later, but she gets to hold the Smart Ball for a bit atop the Tower of Light and declares that [[spoiler:instead of destroying the world, she and Kyrie will use his power to ''recreate'' it]]. Apparently she was actually paying attention when Lacertus Rex was babbling at the team, as everyone else dismisses the idea at first.
291* SoundtrackDissonance: The song which plays during [[spoiler:Kyrie]]'s DyingDeclarationOfLove starts off melancholy but becomes oddly hopeful, considering the whole ''dying'' part and all, especially as he doesn't get a real answer as to whether or not the feeling is mutual.
292* SoWhatDoWeDoNow: Morte has a brief moment soon after busting Kyrie of out the Sky Gaol at the start of the game. She expected he'd just end the world then, bam, and she didn't bother to think of what she'd have to do if he ''couldn't'' or ''wouldn't'' turn everything around him to sand again. She decides that getting out of the Gaol should be their first goal, followed by waiting for new orders from the Front.
293* SpaceCompression: Continents are quite small; even with the RandomEncounters, it still takes less than an hour to walk across most of them.
294* SpinAttack: Most LimitBreak attacks and several regular attacks involve at least a modicum of spinning.
295* SpritePolygonMix: Intentionally invoked to make the game resemble ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'', as it was developed by the same people.
296* StaffOfAuthority: Ursa Rex had one. It somehow miraculously survived Kyrie's first bout of PowerIncontinence and was taken by Lupus Rex; Felix Rex would like you to retrieve it for him.
297* StatusEffects: Namely, Poison and Paralyze (Stun). There's also Seal, though not many enemies can inflict it.
298* StoryToGameplayRatio: 20-30 hours of gameplay, compared to about 3-4 hours of cutscenes. Many of those tend towards the front of the game.
299* SuspiciousVideogameGenerosity: Any healing points found inside the dungeon, after the party has traveled deep enough. Suspicious enough, due to the game allowing you to save anywhere.
300* SwampsAreEvil: Upon arriving in Fallenmire, Kyrie discovers, to much to his horror, that there are skeletons floating around the wetlands. Taupi explains that the ferals forced their humans slaves to work to their graves on a nearby mine without caring about the dangers of mining in such a hazardous area. It's also the only place that grows the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinidia_polygama Silvervine]] that [[HighOnCatnip Felis Rex]] wants.
301* TearsOfJoy:
302** Kyrie is overcome with happiness when [[spoiler:Elephas Rex manages to save Morte from a curse]] and makes an [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove Anguished Declaration of Personal Importance]] through them. He even notes how silly it is of him to start crying at a time like this, though Morte doesn't rib him for it, surprisingly.
303** Morte cries a SingleTear atop the Tower of Light [[spoiler:when Kyrie comes back to life]].
304* TechPoints: Called Customization Points (CP). You use them to upgrade your attacks' power and accuracy or mana cost, unlock new attacks, and chain your flurries.
305* TeethClenchedTeamwork: When [[spoiler:Naja]] joins the group, Agan is more than a little distrustful of him. They eventually do find a common ground, though: [[GetARoom annoyance with Kyrie and Morte's shameless PDA]].
306* ThatsAnOrder: The leader of the World Annihilation Front insists Morte leave the Destruct (Kyrie) with him, as he wishes to use his powers himself. [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend Morte is not amused.]]
307-->'''Leader:''' Now, as your leader, I command you: leave the Destruct here and begone!\
308'''Morte:''' Why should I?\
309'''Leader:''' I gave you an order.\
310'''Morte:''' And you expect me to follow it? Ha. You're dumber than I thought.
311* ThatWasntARequest: What the Front leader's actions amount to for the rest of the team, as only Morte ever really claimed membership.
312* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: Some characters' personal quests, such as Agan's and Taupy's, are set up such that they are the only one allowed to fight. The other characters merely hang back and cheer them on, even if that means they get trounced a time or two.
313* TookALevelInBadass: Kyrie, [[spoiler:after being resurrected, in combat anyways. He's still a whiny bitch otherwise.]]
314** [[CharacterDevelopment A more confident somewhat less whiny bitch]], [[spoiler: whose (rather hilarious) reaction to an order to destroy the world is a flat "No" which leaves The Creator speechless.]]
315* TransformationSequence: All the beastlords before battle, as well as Rajiv's, Naja's, and Rhi'a's Special Attacks. [[spoiler: And Kyrie at the start of each fight, after his awakening as the Destruct.]]
316* TreacherousSpiritChase: If you return to the Temple of Light after it's darkened, Kyrie will spot a person who he claims looks just like him and insist on chasing after him. At first no one else believes him, but eventually they decide it ''does'' look a lot like there's a second Kyrie out there. [[spoiler:When you finally catch up, he's an OptionalBoss.]]
317* UselessUsefulSpell: Kyrie's ''Porta Clausa''. It negates all damage for three turns! Sounds like an awesome way to turn your party into an invincible killing machine, yeah? Well, no, it also negates damage done to your enemies, so in practice it just makes the battle three turns longer. The only way it would be useful is if you needed to heal the entire party and needed a few turns to do that, but Kyrie has ''another'' Life Skill that heals everyone, dispels all status effects, ''and'' revives all fallen members in one go.
318* UtilityPartyMember: Agan has a Quip which allows the party to escape from battle quickly, [[MoneyMultiplier another which increases the amount of gold earned, and is the only character who likes to wear the accessories which double the amount of gold gotten from battle]]. While he's only a mid-tier character in terms of battle ability, if you're looking for more gold (or just annoyed with how long it takes to escape RandomEncounters), you're likely to keep him in.
319* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The Primal Cataract appears to be one; Agan claims sailors avoid it because no one who goes in has ever come out again. [[spoiler:Then subverted, as not only is it possible to leave the Cataract, but it's not even the final dungeon - just the ''gateway'' to the '''real''' final dungeon, the Ark.]]
320* VictoryPose: [[BloodKnight Morte]] [[GenkiGirl jumps up and down]] [[MilkingTheGiantCow while punching the air]]. Most other characters simply stand in place, satisfied that they've won, though Taupy does [[BadassBack turn his back to the camera]].
321* VillainShoes: You control Naja during the ActionPrologue; after you get control of TheHero Kyrie, though, Naja becomes an antagonist dead-set on preventing Kyrie's LoveInterest Morte from using his powers to end the world (Kyrie himself [[AntiAntiChrist isn't big on wanting to end the world]], either, but [[LoveMakesYouDumb definitely does want to help Morte]] and that's what ''she'' wants). Of course, given the game's playing with BlackAndGreyMorality and VillainProtagonist, it's hard to say controlling Naja actually counts as "villain" shoes. There's also a segment later in the game where you lose Kyrie and take control of Morte in his place, [[spoiler: but by that point she's reconsidered destroying the world and decided she'd rather try to fix it instead.]]
322* ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption: Actually averted; the peace talks ''don't'' turn into a fight. [[spoiler:But they do go sideways, as Kyrie's powers activate again, killing Pistris Rex, Karna, and anyone else unfortunate enough to have been inside the Sky Gaol. There just isn't a fight because ''there's no one there left to fight''.]]
323* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer: Kyrie doesn't like to fight, but every time he comes up against a Beastlord, they're so unreasonable that his only option is a fight. While the townspeople may talk about fearing retribution, it never comes, and their lives seem to be much better without tyrants walking around trying to eat them or turn them into fertilizer.
324* VisualInitiativeQueue: It's constantly changing its order, though, so you probably won't be looking at it very much.
325* WeirdWorldWeirdFood: Because the world is a vast desert with similar properties to an ocean, the people casually eat things like sand whale and sand squid.
326* WelcomeToCorneria: Somewhat averted. While [=NPCs=] only ever have one thing at a time to say to you, they do gradually change what they say over the course of the story. If you kill a beastlord who lives in a town, they will comment on it - some gleeful, some fearing retribution, some rather detached and unemotional. If you come back after advancing the plot further, some of them may even change what they say again, going from commenting on just the local problems to world issues like destroyed [[ElementalEmbodiment Primal Lords]].[[note]]They're technically just turned into eggs, but as far as the man on the street knows, they may as well be dead.[[/note]] However, only certain people do this; others will continue to say the same line endlessly.
327* WellIntentionedExtremist: Morte, a member of the World Annihilation Front, intends to "destroy this meaningless world." Hey, it'll end the FantasticRacism!
328* WeWereYourTeam: After [[spoiler:Kyrie commits suicide-by-Naja]], the rest of the team wonders what they will do and contemplates splitting up, as their original reason for sticking together is gone (despite the fact that they're now considered wanted members of the World Annihilation Front - whether or not they personality have any desire whatsoever to destroy the world - and it might be a little difficult to reintegrate into society). Luckily for them, the plot moves on before they actually split up and they don't have to spend time PuttingTheBandBackTogether.
329* WhatWouldXDo: After [[spoiler:killing Kyrie at his request and learning of plans to resurrect him, Naja]] asks to join the Front. Everyone bickers about it until Morte decides to do what she knows Kyrie would do, even though he isn't there at the moment.
330* WhereIWasBornAndRazed: A variation of it happened to Barni, Kyrie's home village. The awakening of his Destruct power turned almost everything, including people, to sand.
331* WorldHealingWave: At the end of the game, [[spoiler:Kyrie and Morte use his powers as the Destruct to reform the world, turning the Sand Sea to water and eliminating racism.]]
332* WorldWreckingWave: Morte expects that killing the Primal Lords will have this effect, suggesting that after they kill the Azure Sea, water will be uncontrolled, resulting in storms and floods everywhere. [[spoiler:In fact, it's the exact opposite effect, though still unpleasant: because the Azure Sea merely reverted to an egg form instead of ceasing to exist, water became even more scarce, resulting in the canals of Viteaux drying up and presumably producing a drought over the rest of the world as well.]]
333* XanatosGambit: Looking closely at the events that lead to Kyrie's joining the Front, which began with the Front leader ''announcing this to the world'', when [[spoiler: Lacertus Rex reveals himself as the one in charge of the World Destruction Front, having done so just to get his followers to bring him the Destruct and to use its power for the sake of creating a new world in his image]], [[FridgeHorror iyou realize that even if Morte hadn't managed to bust Kyrie out of Beastmen custody, he would have been ''more'' than capable of getting to Kyrie himself.]]
334* YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood: Naja says this to [[spoiler:Lacertus Rex]], pointing out that he has the knowledge to solve every ill plaguing the world and yet has chosen to try to enslave it.
335* YourFavorite: [[ChildhoodFriend Agan]] attempts to get HeroicBSOD'd Morte to eat by offering her sandwhale bacon sandwiches. He knows it's serious when she refuses to so much as look at him.
336* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: The World Salvation Committee lumps the World Annihilation Front and the Golden Lions together under the heading of terrorists. While you could certainly argue that the former are, the later see themselves as freeing humans from FantasticRacism and are somewhat offended at the association.

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