Line #56 Webcomic/ATaleOfFiction


1	[[quoteright:161:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TOF_TVTropes_5137.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:161:[[BigNo NOOOOOOOO!!!]] Why did it have to be the Teevee? [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-3-episode-3/ Now we'll never know how the third season of "Unhuman Rogue Wrestlers" ends!]]]]
3
4	->''"After all, you didn’t even bother to name your particular species; we defined the whole bunch of you as being NOT-human, so you must be a what, monster? That makes sense. After all, you are digging the mines, I am writing – as in, putting words together, making stuff up, naming things."''
5	-->-- '''I am not fiction''', Baruch Caan's blog
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7	An English-language webcomic written and drawn by Felix Schittig and Kilian Wilde and updated on Mondays and Thursdays. [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/ ''A Tale of Fiction'']] is the continuing story of the adventures of [[ChickMagnet Harper]], his roommate [[PlayfulHacker Vauxhall]] (or '[[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Room]]'), and a {{shapeshifting}} [[strike:monster]] unhuman [[IdentityAmnesia they've]] [[InSeriesNickname named]] [[MeaningfulName 'Sneaky']] and their [[LaResistance fight]] against the [[TheEmpire Department of Unethical Fiction (or DUF)'s]] [[VillainWorld government]] of Fictionaria.
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9	The comic initially oscillates between gag strips, often based off real-life experiences of the comic's authors or their friends, and an over-arching storyline dealing with the aforementioned DUF. Later, the plot takes over, but a light-hearted touch prevails throughout. Major questions abound about the circumstances leading to the DUF's rule, how they gained power and what happened to the former ruler, the mysterious King.
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11	A Tale Of Fiction has a large amount of background material on the world and other goodies available on the site via Vauxhall's "Dragbook", including an in-universe news feed, an ambiguously DUF-critical [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/dragbook/browser/im-not-fiction/ web-column]] (apparently on indefinite hiatus) and an [[ShowWithinAShow in-universe webcomic]] called "Bison and the Boar Boys" (originally updated every Tue/Thu/Sat, now on indefinite hiatus).
12	----
13	!!''A Tale of Fiction'' provides examples of:
14	* AllThereInTheManual: Information on certain things mentioned in the comic (e.g., [[MindControlDevice turn-masks]]) but not further explained can be found in the Dragbook.
15	* ArtEvolution: The art style becomes more detailed and sharp as the series progresses,.
16	* AscendedExtra: Baruch Caan wasn't a character at first, just a name under blog posts. Then he appeared in the strip, but mostly as a gag character. Now, he seems to be becoming a mover and shaker...
17	* BackFromTheDead: Even a pretty large hole in the head and loss of all life signs apparently isn't enough to keep [[spoiler: Sneaky]] down. [[spoiler: Koudlam]] is also reconstituted in some as-yet unknown fashion after his demise.
18	* BadassNormal: The DUF soldiers and especially the special agents qualify for this, fighting (and beating) unhumans with improved physical abilities and magique users on a regular basis.
19	* BeatPanel: A lot, especially in chapter 1. [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-1-episode-4/ Awkward]], [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-1-episode-5/ Harper]]...
20	* BigEater: Sneaky in the first chapter. He [[SwallowedWhole likes]] [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-1-episode-48/ pizza]].
21	* BilingualBonus: In a way. A lot of the jokes are funnier if you speak fluent German, as the authors'... [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny uneven grasp]] of [[BlindIdiotTranslation English]] occasionally backfires on them, with interesting results.
22	* CallBack: "Unhuman Rogue Wrestlers".
23	* CerebusSyndrome: Subverted. The comic actually starts out without many jokes, but after a few strips, the TrueCompanions fall into a routine of gag comics. It then feels like a shock when Sneaky [[spoiler:tears some poor guy apart with a monster claw]] when they get caught illegally climbing a tower.
24	* [[ChekhovsGag Chekhov's Gag]]: The [[CreatingLifeIsUnforeSeen tentacled monster the trash evolved into]] after Harper neglected his duties turns out to be the reason the DUF searches the apartment building. But then, [[YourMom it did resemble his mom...]]
25	* [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Gun]]: Harper's affair with [[spoiler:Sync's girlfriend. Sync and her later broke up after he found out. It understandably affects his job performance.]]
26	* ColdBloodedTorture: Mike is not happy with [[spoiler: Sync]]. And he wants information. So he tries to get it using [[MindRape quite]] [[EyeScream extreme]] means.
27	* DeadpanSnarker: Most of the main characters get a turn.
28	* DisproportionateRetribution: Pity the poor fool who shouts at a confused Sneaky...
29	* DistractedByTheSexy: Just about everyone in [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-9-episode-40/ this strip]]. By each other.
30	* DistressedDude: [[spoiler:Harper and Vauxhall]] get a turn as this, as does [[spoiler:Baruch Caan]].
31	* DrugsAreGood: The heroes often partake of various drugs, while the antagonists generally don't (barring some alcohol by the more sympathetic DUF-allied characters). Drugs are also an important source of information via [[HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs vivid]] [[VisionQuest dreams]].
32	* EleventhHourSuperpower: When Gidders' airship [[spoiler:is shot down by the DUF]].
33	-->'''Sneaky:''' Fuzz flew away? Like... by himself? Without an avivessel?\
34	'''Gidders''': He does that from time to time.
35	* FaceFramedInShadow: In the [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/hello-world/ very first strip]], with the [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness council]] pushing the [[BigRedButton button]].
36	* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: Most characters killed in this comic are killed fairly graphically.
37	* FantasticDrug: The Seasoning, used in religious festivals by the priests of Freemon. Causes [[HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs visions]] and incites orgies.
38	* FantasticRacism: A major plot focus. Unhumans are forced to live in slums in DUF-controlled territory and are generally discriminated against.
39	** Averted in Catherinesborough, where unhumans and humans seem to live in harmony since the DUF was ousted in the Bloody New Year's Eve.
40	* ForTheEvulz: Agent Nitz, as described in the Dragbook.
41	* FriendsWithBenefits: Just about all of Harper's relationships to date seem to be this.
42	* GodWasMyCopilot: Several characters are more than they seem. [[spoiler: Among others, the King, the Lawmaker, Fuzz, Gidders, and Baruch Caan are all revealed to be unknowing incarnations of the Gods.]] And it's made clear suggests that more will be revealed as time goes on.
43	* HeroicBSOD: Suffered by Gidders when he learns of the fate of his avivessel.
44	* HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs: Apart from the drug-induced expository visions, the [[EruditeStoner High Priest]] is portrayed as having a quasi-mystical understanding of his surroundings specifically due to his consumption of any even vaguely druglike substance he can lay hands on.
45	* HolidayNonUpdate: A regular occurence.
46	* IdentityAmnesia: Sneaky. Presumably a plot point.
47	* InhumanEyeConcealers: Sneaky sports BlackEyesOfEvil no matter what form he takes; consequently, he wears sunglasses to cover them while in human form.
48	* InterfaceScrew: [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-13-episode-35/ This.]] Also used in many dream and drug sequences.
49	* IThoughtEveryoneCouldDoThat: Sneaky doesn't realise that his shapeshifting is an unusual ability at first.
50	* InformedAttribute: Special Agent Colibeuf is stated to have a strong moral concept [sic], but we don't see much evidence of that until much later in the plot.
51	* InterruptedIntimacy: Maurice walks in on Harper and [[spoiler: Miranda]] at an... inopportune time.
52	* KnightOfCerebus: Special Agent Nitz, who turns up and quickly increases the violence in the strip by a factor of 10.
53	* LampshadeHanging: Self-conscious humor is a constant source of punchlines, most obviously featured in [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-5-episode-41/ Sneaky's confusion]] about [[MrExposition Fuzz's Entry]] in chapter 5.
54	* LeaveNoWitnesses: Super Special Agent Johnson is very serious about controlling who knows about specific details of the Lawmaker's past. [[spoiler: Enough so that he's [[SheKnowsTooMuch willing to kill Trish]], a loyal magique-user with [[EnslavedTongue rare and useful talents]], to keep those secrets.]]
55	* MindControlDevice: Turn-masks.
56	* MindRape: The turn-masks force you to betray your friends and like your enemies, and (depending on how they're set up) you're able to see it all happening and remember it afterwards.
57	** Mike also uses this to make his torture more effective. He uses {{Magitek}} to have an actual torture session with the victim in their mind, leaving their body intact and allowing him to reset any damage as often as he wants.
58	* MrExposition: Vauxhall, whenever DUF lore or history comes up.
59	* TheMole: [[spoiler: High Secretary Benn]] turns out to have been a RISE ally all along.
60	* MorphicResonance: Sneaky's eyes retain their black, abysmal look after all kinds of shapeshifting.
61	* MythArc: Finding out the fate of the mysterious King, understanding the past, [[spoiler: learning the identity of the gods,]] and defeating the DUF.
62	* NoDialogueEpisode: Fairly often for the first few strips, establishing Sneaky. Also used for action sequences.
63	* OhCrap: A few times, very nicely [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-5-episode-5/ here.]]
64	* PornStash: Of ''epic'' proportions on the Dragbook. Unfortunately, it's password-protected.
65	* PunchClockVillain: Chapter 4 is all about DUF agents in their free time, having drinks and enjoying each others' company.
66	* ShoutOut: Several.
67	** Gidders and Fuzz remind us of a [[Franchise/StarWars certain other human mercenary with a flying machine and his furry sidekick...]]
68	** The regularly used curse expression "frakk" seems to be a ShoutOut to the FutureSlang of [[Series/BattlestarGalactica2003 Battlestar Galactica]]'' (although in Galactica the spelling would be with one 'k' only)
69	** [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-2-episode-4/ This]] strip has been confirmed to reference VideoGame/MetalGear.
70	** The TrueCompanions trying to climb the DUF tower and getting caught is a ShoutOut to something similar that happened to the authors in Tokyo... well, minus the bloody killing of a police officer.
71	** Bison and the Boar Boys is a ShoutOut to a friend of the authors' whose online handle is Bison.
72	*** There are quite a few Shout Outs to friends of the authors in the comic generally.
73	** The [[FantasticDrug Seasoning]] is a clear reference to the Spice from {{Franchise/Dune}}, being a drug with special properties that is derived from giant worms.
74	* ShowWithinAShow: Bison and the Boar Boys, a gag-a-day comic available on the Dragbook's "[=FictionFox=] Browser". [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/dragbook/browser/im-not-fiction/ "I am not fiction"]] may also qualify.
75	* SmokingHotSex: Mostly averted in the series, but one occurence in [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-1-episode-13/ Chapter 1]].
76	* SpockSpeak: Sneaky falls into this quite often.
77	* {{Stripperiffic}}: The [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-9-episode-40/ "CWBL host"]].
78	* TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: In the very first strip, no less.
79	* TheInfiltration: [[spoiler: Claire]] joins up with the DUF under the name Clear. She gets close to [[spoiler: her turned father]], but has to give up her position before she can act to resolve the situation.
80	* TortureChamberEpisode: Mike has [[https://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-52-episode-1/ one of these]]. Use of MindRape also makes it seem [[InterfaceScrew endless]].
81	* TrueCompanions: The three main characters, occasional differences between roommates notwithstanding.
82	* WhamEpisode: Tend to crop up at the end of chapters. Also, [[http://www.taleoffiction.com/chapter-3-episode-37/ this.]]
83	* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Invoked in-universe by Special Agents in particular.

Context Webcomic / ATaleOfFiction