->''"Why do you descend?"''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_27.png]]

'''The Drop''' is a sequel to ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'', made by Space Lizard of Creator/TildeOneGames, with character art by Daigerus.

Five years after the events of ''The Reconstruction'', society has begun to rebuild itself. But recently, something bizarre has happened: the Drop collapsed in upon itself, leaving a gaping, seemingly-bottomless hole in the ocean. Curious adventurers from around the world gather to see the depths for themselves. Early reports tell of a strong magical pervasion, granting even those unskilled in elemental arts the ability to wield magic, and of segments of land and even living creatures from other parts of the world suddenly appearing within.

Structurally, the game is a {{Roguelike}}, with the [[MultipleLifeBars Body/Mind/Soul system]] and ElementalRockPaperScissors from ''The Reconstruction''. There is a strong focus on environmental manipulation, as well -- various environmental effects such as plants and water are spread throughout the floors, and can be manipulated for your benefit by using specific spells. Similarly, many enemies have special reactions towards spells with certain properties.

There are nine playable characters (as well as six {{Secret Character}}s unlocked by beating the game with the others), each with their own subplot and reasons for delving the Drop. Five are returning characters from ''The Reconstruction'', four are newcomers.
* '''Tehgonan Clapian''', now well into his adolescence, is tired of being dismissed as a child. He adventures into the Drop simply so he can claim to be the first to have braved the depths -- "To prove them all wrong."
* '''Moke''' has been recruited into the fold by the Greater Shra, and it is at their request that he ventures into the Drop, despite his own fears. The Greater Shra claim that the power to save the world rests beneath the caverns, and he seeks to find it.
* '''Halia Falitza''' once had mind-reading powers, which is what allowed her to pull off [[ObfuscatingInsanity her act]] so well. However, she now feels those powers fading. Hearing news of the Drop's magical properties, she descends in the hopes of re-discovering her powers.
* '''Lani Derra''', now an officer of Nal, quests for treasure -- not for herself, but for the poor and starving in Nal.
* '''Dehl''', with '''Xopi Sikohlon''' in tow, journeys to the Drop in the hopes that the wish-granting dragon can restore Xopi's sight.
* '''Fena Asarik''', the new commanding officer of the Nalian forces, investigates the Drop for the sake of her city -- hearing rumors of a fearsome beast at the very bottom, she wishes to make sure it does not bring harm to her people, as they are already teetering on the brink from the previous catastrophe.
* '''Sypak''' is a wildborn shra. When the Drop formed, he was one of the people snatched from the outside world and sucked into its depths. He clawed his way out, only to find that he was miles away from his home in the Shra Lowlands. He descends again, hoping to find a way back.
* '''Valitazzo''' is a Fortian fih'jik. A cold, bitter man whose life has been a string of misfortune, he has an eye only for power and destruction. He descends in the hopes of finding more power, and using it to find vengeance on those who have wronged him.
* '''Arko''', by contrast, is a deeply religious fih'jik who sees the appearance of the Drop as a sign of the end times. He chases after the rumors of a beast beneath the depths, hoping to cleanse its evil from the world.

The game can be downloaded [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/4395/ here.]] It also has [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/4395/media/1151/ a trailer here.]]

Has nothing to do with the 2014 [[Film/TheDrop crime drama]] starring Creator/JamesGandolfini, Creator/NoomiRapace and Creator/TomHardy.

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!! Tropes present in this game:
* AcceptableBreaksFromReality: You can never be killed by using a harmful item on yourself. This is so that players aren't discouraged from [[FingertipDrugAnalysis experimenting with unknown items]] out of fear that they'll lose everything.
** Also, [[spoiler:Tezkhra can still gain favor and use the golden thread in the postgame, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation even though the adventurers' camp has long since disbanded]]]].
* AchillesHeel: Flying enemies are completely immune to all ground-based spells, which can make them tricky to defeat...however, they take additional damage from spells and items with the "AIR" property -- so much that it's entirely possible to hit the damage cap without trying very hard. (It's not the ''only'' way to defeat them, however, since they take normal damage from other attacks.)
* ActionGirl: Lani and Asarik.
* ActualPacifist: [[spoiler:Rehm]] has become close to this. Killing enemies while playing as them will make them feel really guilty, resulting in permanent stat damage.
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: The Sshan Sourbread item.
* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Havan]] is really quite pitiful. [[spoiler:He became so tainted by the chaos energy that he couldn't even die properly, and has become even crazier than before as a vengeful spirit. He still believes himself a hero -- and he thinks he can somehow redeem himself by killing Tezkhra. Tezkhra sees it as a mercy when he finally kills him for good.]]
** To a lesser extent, there's also [[spoiler:the fake Tezkhra. He may have been an unapologetic EvilOverlord, but the way in which he was killed was [[CurbStompBattle truly pathetic]]. Tezkhra takes pity on him, too.]]
* AllTheWorldsAreAStage: A slightly meta example. The various floor "themes" in the Drop are all based on locations from ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'', giving a similar effect to most examples of the trope.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Subverted. Si'shra are attempting to peacefully integrate into society -- one possible background for a shra character is a reformed si'shra. The ones you encounter in the Drop are still pretty vicious, though, particularly [[spoiler:the fake Tezkhra]].
* AndIMustScream: [[spoiler:Even after being killed and swallowed by the Drop, Havan's spirit still clung to the material world due to the chaos energy that permeated it. He had to sit at the bottom of the Drop, alone. For ''five years''. Little wonder that he's gone even nuttier than usual.]]
* AnticlimaxBoss: Inverted -- ''you'' are the anticlimax encounter. [[spoiler:In the ending for the fake Tezkhra, upon descending into the final chamber, he declares that he wants to fight the Tatzylvurm. Epic battle music starts playing...and then the Tatzylvurm kills him effortlessly.]] [[invoked]]
* ArtificialStupidity: Allies will gleefully [[SuicidalOverconfidence throw themselves under the bus]] if an enemy becomes aggressive. This is particularly annoying with Xopi, [[EscortMission who has to be kept alive]] [[GameplayAndStorySegregation and, being blind, shouldn't be able to see enemies anyway]].
* AuraVision: [[spoiler:Xopi]] is granted this by the Tatzylvurm in their ending.
* AwesomeButImpractical: [[spoiler:Fake Tezkhra]]'s SignatureMove, [[spoiler:God's Gift]]. It has one of the highest damage multipliers of any spell in the game...but it also has a health cost to match. Using it is going to cripple you for a while afterwards, even if it manages to kill the target.
* BackStab: Inflicts additional damage. Fih'jik characters can select a trait that makes it even more powerful. ([[spoiler:Sirush]] also has a similar trait.)
* BarrierChangeBoss: The FinalBoss blocks all elements except one. The element changes every time they use a special ability, but you can usually infer what it is from what ability they use.
* BeautifulVoid: [[spoiler:Tezkhra's ending.]]
* BeneathTheMask: Now that Falitza has dropped [[ObfuscatingInsanity her act]], we get to see what her real personality is like. She is actually shrewd, perceptive, and a little bit snarky.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Of a sort. The two {{Cowardly Boss}}es, Depth Blights and Indigo Walkers, are among the most powerful enemies. Depth Blights are immune to almost all status effects, preventing you from stunlocking them, and Indigo Walkers are capable of dealing [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill triple-digit damage]] with their melee attack.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: The tchiitra and other bug-type enemies, although [[DownplayedTrope they are generally no larger than humans]].
* BigNo: [[spoiler:Valitazzo]]'s reaction to the Tatzylvurm sending them back to the surface.
* BlatantLies: If you talk to the white-robed shra as a human character, he'll say that there is "no ill will from the Greater Shra to your kind" about the whole enslavement thing. This is very obviously a lie -- whether or not he himself has no ill will towards humans, the other Greater Shra make their displeasure about the subject ''very'' clear.
* BloodKnight: The Gladiator enemy. [[PetTheDog However, they attack with soul damage, which is nonlethal]].
* BoisterousBruiser: Lani, as in ''Videogame/TheReconstruction''.
* BornLucky: One of Asarik's special traits is "Favored by Fortune", which manifests in gameplay by causing enemies to drop items more often.
** Subverted with the regular version of that trait, "Luck's End". Your character will start ''out'' lucky (manifested by additional starting favor), but become less fortunate thereafter (manifested by a lowered drop rate).
* BossArenaIdiocy: Prior to version 1.32, the FinalBoss' arena was filled with pools of acid and putrid water, which could be thrown at them for free damage. This damage is also, conviently, NonElemental, making it possible to ignore their [[BarrierChangeBoss gimmick]]. Version 1.32 averts this by removing all environmental effects from the arena, making the fight more difficult.
* BossBanter: The FinalBoss [[VideogameSetPiece requires that you deplete all three of their life meters to beat them]]. After you deplete one, they'll taunt you about how they aren't dead yet, complete with custom text depending on which life meter it is.
* BraggingRightsReward:
** The bonus for getting a complete bestiary. In order to complete the bestiary in the first place, you need to defeat the FinalBoss, which requires completing the game with most of the characters anyway.
** Beating the game by reaching the "final chamber" will award you with a large amount of favor. However, since you've already beaten the game, this is only useful if you want to utilize the EndlessGame mechanic.
* BreathWeapon:
** [[spoiler:Fake Tezkhra]]'s Putrid Breath ability.
** [[spoiler:The Tatzylvurm has a souped-up version of that -- it can exhale deadly toxic fumes. It uses this to kill the fake Tezkhra in one ending.]]
* {{Cap}}: Damage is capped at 199.
* CastFromHitPoints: As is a staple for the series. This aspect is played up to add some more risk -- magic is much more costly than it was in ''VideoGame/TheReconstruction'', and you're on your own. If you're not careful, you can easily leave yourself a sitting duck by depleting your health pools.
* CatFolk: Fih'jik.
* CharacterPortrait: Every playable character has one in the character select screen. They are absent in the game itself, however.
* ContinuingIsPainful: Defeat will cause you to lose half your favor and all items except your weapon. You'll also be taken back to the safe camp, meaning that you'll have to pay a fee to return to the floor you were on.
* ContinuityLockout: Though most characters' profiles give enough background information for their (fairly simple) plots to make sense, [[spoiler:Tezkhra]]'s is nearly impossible to understand without playing the other games first.
* ContinuityNod:
** A number of spells share names (and, sometimes, effects) with abilities from Videogame/TheReconstruction.
** A few enemies that were also in Videogame/TheReconstruction have similar or identical thought snippets. Particularly notable is the dunestalker's "[[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments IS TASTY???]]"
* CowardlyBoss: The Depth Blight and the Indigo Walker. Both are inherently fearful and will run away from you. [[BewareTheNiceOnes Be careful about attacking them, though...]]
* CurbStompBattle:
** Unless you're high level or the environment is greatly in your favor, attacking boss monsters usually results in this happening to you.
** In the story, [[spoiler:Fake Tezkhra versus the Tatzylvurm. The Tatzylvurm simply ''[[BreathWeapon exhales]]'', and Tezkhra dies from the toxic gas.]]
*** [[spoiler:This also happens with the Tatzylvurm and the ''real'' Tezkhra -- but the other way around.]]
* CutsceneBoss: [[spoiler:The Tatzylvurm. Upon encountering it, Tezkhra simply kills it with one blast from his Stardraw cannon.]]
* DamageOverTime: One status effect for each of the three life bars, imported from ''Videogame/TheReconstruction''. "[[UniversalPoison Poison]]" has been replaced with "pain", however.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Many of the legacy characters were minor or static characters in ''Videogame/TheReconstruction''. [[spoiler:Alito]] and [[spoiler:Yfus]] are particularly notable examples.
* DeadpanSnarker:
** [[LemonyNarrator The narrator.]]
** Alito has become remarkably snarky. Seeing dozens of gloryhounds come and go probably has that effect.
** Falitza, at some points.
** The purple-robed shra, if you annoy him.
--->"I see...runes...no, letters...words...words upon your mind. They state... 'I cannot remember what magic I have learned already.' Hmm."
* DeathByIrony: [[spoiler:The fake Tezkhra prides himself on being so "defiled" as to be a reincarnation of his GodOfEvil. This defilement is so potent, in fact, that he's immune to DamageOverTime effects and his very breath is toxic. In the end, though, it's not enough to save him -- he's killed by inhaling poison gas.]]
* DemBones: A line of enemies. Some of them have actually broken down, and are now simply swirling clouds of bone parts.
* DifficultyLevels: A "hardcore" mode exists for those who want a more traditional {{Roguelike}} experience.
* DiscOneNuke: Bestiary information is preserved between characters, so if you fill it out as one character, all additional characters will be able to get the bonuses for reaching completion milestones before even entering the Drop.
** Also, Valitazzo's SignatureMove, Horrible Night.
** Prior to version 1.1, there was also Judgment, sold by one of the spell vendors. Despite being a starting spell, it had the capacity to inflict stun, which can completely incapacitate enemies. The trigger chance wasn't high enough to be reliable, but it was still a useful standby until you got better stunlock spells. Version 1.1 changed it to inflicting wither instead, however.
* DontYouDarePityMe: [[spoiler:Valitazzo]], in their ending.
* DownerEnding: Of a sort. The ending for [[spoiler:the fake Tezkhra]] results in [[spoiler:the Tatzylvurm killing them effortlessly]]. It's something of a ForegoneConclusion, though.
** [[spoiler:However, the ending for the real Tezkhra is a more traditional downer ending. He gets his soul ripped out by the Drop, then returns to the surface only to find that he's tranced and the camp is long gone, stranding him on the island.]]
* DumpStat: Mind for shra, Soul for Fortians, Body for fih'jik. The "sniffing shra" at the base camp provides hints about this.
* EasterEgg: Sort of. The sniffing shra at the base camp usually provides information on your race's stat layout. Talk to him as Moke, however, and you'll only make him cough and wheeze as he chokes on Moke's strong scent.
** Also, completing the game as [[spoiler:Rehm]] without [[spoiler:consuming any "alcohol" items]] will change the ending slightly.
* ElementalPowers: [[PlayingWithFire Heat]], [[AnIcePerson cold]], [[PsychicPowers mental]], [[ShockAndAwe phy]][[DishingOutDirt si]][[BlowYouAway cal]], [[PoisonousPerson noxious]], and [[LightEmUp div]][[SoulPower ine]]. All characters have an innate element that's one of these six -- magic of your own element is strengthened, but you can't use magic of the opposing element at all.
* ElementalRockPaperScissors: As in ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'', heat opposes cold, mental opposes physical, and noxious opposes divine. [[spoiler:Falitza's ending]] also teases at the possibility that Tezkhra's and the Tatzylvurm's elements from ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'' -- "order" and "chaos", respectively -- might enter the equation in the future.
* EndlessGame: Potentially. Even after beating the game normally, you can keep exploring new floors ad infinitum.
* EnemyScan: Procure Status and Acute Observation. They provide different information, though -- Procure Status reveals an enemy's special attack, while Acute Observation reveals their stats.
* EscortMission: Dehl's gameplay gimmick is this. Xopi is frail (his stats are half Dehl's), and if he falls, Dehl does too.
* FantasticDrug: [[MushroomSamba Mush Caps]] and Madman's Lash. The former seems to be a hallucinogen, and the latter is explicitly stated to be a powerful sedative used to keep unruly Sanctifellians under control.
** Certain items seem to be this for certain species (making them in-universe AlienCatnip). Anything with the "[species]DAZE" property will inflict confusion if consumed or used by the listed species. The descriptions of some items with such properties imply this as a possible reason.
* FinalBoss: [[spoiler:Havan's vengeful spirit]].
** Possibly a TrueFinalBoss as well, as it can only be encountered as the last SecretCharacter, [[spoiler:Tezkhra]].
* FinalDeath: In hardcore mode, if your character dies, they're lost permanently.
* FingertipDrugAnalysis: This is your primary means of identifying new items, [[TooDumbToLive minus the "fingertip" part]]. This can lead to some amusing situations, such as eating a strip of cloth and not realizing it until after the fact. The LemonyNarrator is [[DeadpanSnarker quick to make fun of you for this]].
* {{Foil}}: Arko and Valitazzo are both this to [[spoiler:Yfus]]. [[spoiler:The former has the religious piety of his youth, as well as a similar desire to help those in need; the latter has a similar backstory of being cast out and abandoned by friends and family. In a way, they both represent who Yfus could have become had he been more or less fortunate, respectively.]]
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: Trying to read [[spoiler:[[FinalBoss Havan]]]]'s mind will produce something interesting:
-->"You DARE read my mind? After [[spoiler:Tezkhra]]... YOU are next!"
* GrievousHarmWithABody: One weapon is a bone club. There's also the Multispine, a twisted mass of bone left over from defeating the Multiskull.
* HarmfulHealing: Due to the CastFromHitPoints mechanic. Many healing items also contain side effects.
* HumansAreAverage
* IdiosyncraticMenuLabels: See the page image above.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: [[spoiler:Yfus' driving motivation. After losing his connections to the only group that would accept him after the guild disbanded, he was overcome by loneliness and now longs for the acceptance and friendship he once knew.]]
* Instant180DegreeTurn: Averted in the Drop itself, but played straight at the base camp.
* InterfaceScrew: Confusion will cause your character to move around randomly when you try to move. Blindness will also cause the screen to darken.
* InterfaceSpoiler: Of a sort. From time to time, other playable characters will appear at the base camp to chat with you. However, this includes secret characters that you haven't unlocked yet, which can ruin some of the surprise.
* InventoryManagementPuzzle: A simple variant -- you can only carry eight items in total (plus one equipped weapon). This is done to limit your options and force you to use items more often. You can also reduce your inventory space further through a SelfImposedChallenge trait.
* ItsAllUpstairsFromHere: Inverted. You start at ground level and spend the entire game descending deeper into the Drop.
* JackOfAllStats: [[HumansAreAverage Humans]].
* KillItWithFire: Fire is highly dangerous -- getting caught in it will quickly cause your health to drop, as well as disorient you. It goes away after a while...but turns into heavy smoke, which will stun you as long as you're in it. Ultimately, though, it's not actually that effective at ''killing'' things.
* KingMook: The rare boss monsters usually take this form. The exceptions are the "mythical" creatures, which have a unique appearance.
* KnightInSourArmor: [[spoiler:Yfus.]]
* KnightTemplar: The Purity Da'khnas, who single-mindedly eradicate anything and everything noxious-aligned.
* LadyOfWar: Asarik.
* LampshadeHanging: Hardcore characters carry a plain, useless thread in place of the golden thread. The description notes, "You briefly wonder why you are even carrying it."
* LargeHam: Valitazzo.
* LastNameBasis: As in ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'', Fortians are referred to by this way. Halia Falitza is always referred to by her last name, for instance, even by the game itself.
* LastLousyPoint: Finding the last few rare monsters to complete the bestiary can be quite tedious, since their appearances are dictated entirely by the RandomNumberGod.
** Enemy #117, [[spoiler:Tezkhra]], is particularly bad. They can appear on any floor theme, but they're three times as rare as the other boss monsters.
* LemonyNarrator: The narration when eating/using items can get pretty snarky when you do something stupid. Some of the item descriptions are also pretty tongue-in-cheek.
* LightEmUp: The Divine element in general, but Yfus particularly specializes in this. He has a high vision stat, and his spells give off more light.
* LizardFolk: Shra.
* MascotMook: Tchiitra hatchlings.
* TheMedic: Arko has a trait that improves the effectiveness of healing spells.
* MetalSlime: Matterfiends. They drop ''huge'' amounts of essence, and their rare drop is an [[RareCandy elemental core]]. They ''can'' be pretty dangerous if you don't kill them quickly, though.
* MindRape: There are a few spells that can mess with enemies' emotional states, usually through inducing panic. The spells Unstable Mind, Fearful Vision, and Impure Thoughts are particularly good examples of this.
* MoodWhiplash: The endings for the last two secret characters are much darker and more serious than the endings for the other characters and the game's tone in general.
** To a lesser extent, [[spoiler:Yfus]]' ending is surprisingly depressing and downbeat, whereas most characters' are much more perky and humorous in tone.
* MultipleLifeBars: As is the series staple, they are [[SoulAnatomy body, mind, and soul]].
* MushroomSamba: Eating Mush Caps seems to produce some form of this, though the player isn't privy to it. Eating them will produce the message, "You begin too feeeel straaaaaaaaaa..." and then your character will start floundering around randomly.
* NeverTrustATrailer: In the trailer, Lani claims to be a GlorySeeker who just wants the Drop's treasure for herself. This is not the case in the game itself. It's possible that this was just a last-minute change, though.
* NoAntagonist: There really isn't a main villain in this game. [[spoiler:Fake Tezkra]], despite being an EvilOverlord, is an optional boss who doesn't even spawn in a playthrough all that often. [[spoiler:The Tatzylvurm]] is more of a LivingMacguffin then an antagonist [[spoiler:and is TheUnfought]]. Even [[spoiler:Havan]] only appears if you play as [[spoiler:the real Tezkhra]], and the boss is treated more like a [[FinalBoss final challenge]] than a villain.
* NonIndicativeName: The "Sanguine Soarer" is a legendary bird with...''white'' plumage, not red. This is lampshaded in its description.
* NoSell: Some enemies have properties that they "block". This trait means that any spell or item used on them that contains that property is completely negated.
** More generally, all flying enemies are immune to spells with the "GROUND" property.
** Matterfiends are notable for being immune to all elements except the one they are vulnerable to. NonElemental damage from items still works, though.
** The Depth Blight is immune to anything that inflicts stun, confusion, blindness, or panic, preventing you from abusing stunlock spells to kill it.
** The Hellish Alpha and Snapping Death enemies both contain pretty nasty surprises: they are immune to the elements they'd normally be [[ElementalRockPaperScissors weak to]].
*** Golden Dervish enemies are similar: they're flying creatures that block attacks with the "AIR" property -- normally an AchillesHeel for flying enemies.
* NotActuallyCosmeticAward:
** Similarly to ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'', there are accomplishments you can achieve. Also similarly to ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'', they provide some actual benefit -- every one increases the starting favor of future characters by a small amount.
** The "Mark of the [[spoiler:Tezkhra]]" item. Players of ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' would probably think it's a CosmeticAward that's just proof you beat the OptionalBoss...but in actuality, it's a potent RareCandy.
* OptionalBoss: All of the rare monsters appear rarely and it's entirely possible to just ignore them (and in some cases, that may be the best idea), but they give you very nice rewards if you can beat them.
* OrganDrops: Sometimes they're useable items, but most of the time they're just trash.
* PacifistRun: [[spoiler:Rehm]] has a trait that nudges the player in this direction. Killing enemies will cause their stats to degrade, but many enemies will be less aggressive. [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman You can still kill non-humanoids as much as you want, though.]]
* PurposelyOverpowered: [[spoiler:[[SecretCharacter Tezkhra]]]], naturally.
* RandomlyGeneratedLevels
* RareCandy: Cores. There's one for every life meter, which can be used to increase a stat by one point, and there's also one for every element, which can be used to greatly increase your progress toward learning a new spell.
** There are also some rare "trophy" items dropped by legendary/mythical creatures with similar effects.
* RealityWarper: The Tatzylvurm implies himself to be this in Dehl and Xopi's ending, though being pummeled in [[Videogame/TheReconstruction the previous game]] has [[HoldingBackThePhlebotinum left him mostly powerless]].
* RedemptionDemotion: Of a sort. [[spoiler:In ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'', "God's Gift" was a terrifying attack capable of knocking your characters down to critical health at a whim, and was exclusively used by the si'shra warden. Now that you can actually ''play'' as a si'shra warden that can use God's Gift, it's AwesomeButImpractical.]]
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Dusk Stalker, as well as a few si'shra enemies.
** [[spoiler:Fake Tezkhra]] is a particular example.
* {{Retraux}}: The text font and sound effects are both highly reminiscent of early games. This makes for an interesting contrast with the orchestral soundtrack and the fancy particle effects on spells.
* TheRuntAtTheEnd: The Greater Shra make an appearance as spell vendors. All of them maintain an air of knowledge and mysteriousness...and at the end is nervous, stuttering Moke, just as frail and pathetic as he was last game.
* SanitySlippage: [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] experiences this as he descends deeper and deeper into the Drop, eventually culminating in [[spoiler:the Blue One surfacing and speaking directly]].
* SecretCharacter: One is unlocked for every race you complete the game with -- [[spoiler:Sirush]] for humans, [[spoiler:Rehm]] for shra, [[spoiler:Alito]] for Fortians, and [[spoiler:Yfus]] for fih'jik. There is also one unlocked by unlocking all the others -- [[spoiler:a false Tezkhra]]. Beating the game with ''that'' secret character will unlock yet ''another'' -- [[spoiler:the real Tezkhra]].
* ScienceHero: [[spoiler:Alito]], whose motivation for exploring the Drop is to catalogue its mysteries.
* SelfImposedChallenge: When creating a custom character, there are a few "challenge traits" you can select that make the game more difficult in certain respects. You do get boosted growth rates out of the deal, however.
* SequelHook: '''Everything.''' The story component of the game seems to exist primarily to taunt series fans by throwing out even more mysteries that will only be answered in the final game.
* ShipTease: Lani/Rehm can probably be considered to have gone past teasing and into actual confirmation. [[spoiler:In Rehm's ending, Lani even proposes that they ''adopt children''.]]
* ShopFodder:
** Streamlined. Most enemies' common drops are useless items that are only good for making money. You don't have to sell them yourself, though -- they're automatically converted when you pick them up.
** The Bandit's Scrip item is closer to the trope. It's virtually useless as a combat item, but can be converted into a large amount of favor. %%Is this actually ShopFodder or is it BetterOffSold?
* ShroudedInMyth: [[spoiler:The "dragon" has succumbed to this despite the Drop only existing in its present state for the span of a few months! It's not a terrifying beast, it doesn't have a hoard, and it doesn't have the power to grant wishes. In truth, it is rather peaceful, and offers guidance and wisdom to those who find it.]]
* SignatureMove: Militia Strike for Asarik, Horrible Night for Valitazzo, Spirit Crush for Dehl, Perplexing Grin for [[spoiler:Rehm]], and [[spoiler:God's Gift]] for [[spoiler:Fake Tezkhra]]. [[spoiler:Tezkhra]] has ''two'' signature moves, both of which are carryovers from Videogame/TheReconstruction: [[spoiler:Stardraw]] and [[spoiler:Blinding Bloom]].
* SimpleYetAwesome: Valitazzo's SignatureMove, Horrible Night. It's one of the most powerful spells in the game, and it's an area-of-effect attack on top of that. It's costly, but only on par with other high-level spells, and Valitazzo has a special trait that makes spell costs less of an issue in the first place. [[DiscOneNuke You start with it, too]].
* SophisticatedAsHell: Many item and enemy descriptions take this form, with the first sentence being an objective encyclopedia-esque description, and the second being phrased in much more informal manner, usually containing a joke.
* SquishyWizard: Valitazzo. His defenses and melee damage are crippled, but he has huge stores of {{Mana}} and his spells have additional range.
* StatGrinding: Sort of. Stats themselves operate under normal CharacterLevel rules (though your levels are split into three, one for each of the life meters), but learning new spells works this way. Casting spells or using items affiliated with a particular element will build up "elemental experience", eventually resulting in you learning a new spell.
* StealthPun: The blue-robed shra's response to trying to purchase cold magic as a heat-elemental character is, "Inflammatory."
* StepfordSnarker: [[spoiler:Yfus. His cold and caustic exterior hides the fact that he feels increasingly lost, alone, and depressed.]]
* TheStoic: [[spoiler:Tezkhra]], naturally. Falitza even blames her inability to mind-read them on their lack of emotions.
* StoneWall: Asarik.
* {{Superboss}}: [[spoiler:Fake Tezkhra]], which is particularly strong, but even rarer than normal. It even drops a trophy item that sounds like a CosmeticAward that's just proof of defeating it (it's actually [[NotActuallyCosmeticAward not]]).
* TechnicalPacifist: Arko. His Body attack stat is crippled due to this, but he suffers no qualms about inflicting Mind and Soul damage.
** [[spoiler:Rehm]] is closer to an ActualPacifist, but they still don't mind killing non-humanoids.
** Dehl doesn't even pay lip service to this anymore; he can brutally murder anyone he pleases with no repercussions.
* TerseTalker: The blue-robed shra speaks only in one-word sentences.
* ThemeNaming: As in ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'', fih'jik all have two-syllable, four-letter names. Valitazzo, being a Fortian convert, is an exception -- his original name was "Valo".
* ThreeStatSystem: Body, Mind, and Soul.
* TookALevelInJerkass: [[spoiler:Yfus]], who is callous and dismissive towards the characters he doesn't know, and is frequently cold and bitter even to his friends.
** [[spoiler:Closer to a subversion, however -- he is actually a StepfordSnarker covering for his crippling depression and loneliness after losing everything he cared about. Deep down, he still desperately wants to help people.]]
* TookALevelInKindness: [[spoiler:Rehm]], who is now an ActualPacifist.
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The opening of the trailer is a massive spoiler to players of ''Videogame/TheReconstruction'' and ''Videogame/IMissTheSunrise'' -- though brief, the snippet of dialogue at the beginning is very obviously spoken by [[spoiler:Tezkhra]], revealing that they are one of the {{Secret Character}}s.
* TraumaCongaLine: [[spoiler:Yfus]] just cannot catch a break. [[spoiler:He was cast out from Kir'Ssha, he had to kill his own brother, and then his father died while he was in the guild. Afterwards, the guild disbanded, leaving him friendless and alone. He bore this with a StiffUpperLip last game, but in the intervening years it's really worn him down. He travels to the Drop in hopes of finding his old friends, but of course the Tatzylvurm cannot help him, and its attempt to show him that he does not need to be so dependent on others just makes him even more depressed.]]
* UndergroundMonkey: Mostly manifested via PaletteSwap, though additional features are usually added as well.
%%* TheUnfought: [[spoiler:The Tatzylvurm]]. See CutsceneBoss, above.
* VideogameCrueltyPotential: All over the place. Repay enemies that "trust" you by {{Back Stab}}bing them! Send your allies to their deaths while you hide in safety! Murder lost civilians who are just trying to get home, or frightened animals who can do you no real harm! Torture enemies by exploiting their worst fears, or just cut out the middleman and MindRape them directly!
** It is possible to attack Xopi if you're playing as Dehl.
* VideogameSetPiece: As with previous entries in the series, the FinalBoss requires you to deplete all three of their life meters before being vanquished. Also makes more of an attempt to justify it, this time -- the boss will give some unique flavor text with every life bar you deplete, taunting you about why they aren't dead yet.
** The FinalBoss also uses special techniques that fill the field with environmental effects and allow them to teleport. They can also change their damage type.
* VillainProtagonist: One of the secret characters, [[spoiler:Fake Tezkhra]].
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: [[spoiler:Rehm]]'s PacifistRun trait inflicts stat damage on them when they kill an enemy...but only if that enemy is a humanoid. You can still kill bugs, birds, beasts, and constructs with impunity.
* YouBastard: Gameplay deterrence isn't enough for [[spoiler:Rehm]]'s PacifistRun trait. If you kill anyone, [[spoiler:Rehm]] will say something from a pool of possible lines, all of which are designed to make you feel horrible.
%%* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Sypak.

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