Here is a list of tropes sorted under Diamondia, home of the Diamond Dogs.
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Diamondia and the Diamond Dogs
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General
- Catchphrase: One of the most common battle-cries is "RIR AVOK ONNON OZ AVOK KJANTH!", which means "FOR OUR HOLD AND OUR CLAN!", emphasizing their loyalty to their Underholds and Pack-Clans which form one of the central pillars of their societies.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Growing class tensions and conflict is emerging among the Underholds of the Diamond Dog civilization as the world enters the industrial age. Being among the first on Equus to embrace mechanization and industrialization in the Fourth Age, ruling pack-clans, industrialists and mercantilists which predominated Diamond Dog societies had become this, having grown immensely rich, all the while ignoring the plights of and exploiting poorer Diamond Dogs who mine and produce for them and indulging in Conspicuous Consumption - a growing class divide and wealth gap entrenched by centuries-long traditions and social orders stratifying social hierarchies in the Underholds and making it difficult for those at the bottom of Diamond Dog societies to have a say about their conditions or better their lot. Many believe it is only a matter of time before resentments of the working-class Diamond Dogs against the upper-classes would boil over, with Queen Daisy's rise and the revolution in her Underhold being seen by many as the triggering point for imminent Diamondia-spanning social upheaval.
- Eloquent in My Native Tongue: The Diamond Dog language doesn't translate well. As such, Diamond Dogs sound rather brutish and unrefined in other languages but are actually very well learned and eloquent speaking their own language.
- The Exile: Diamond Dogs like the trio seen in Canon are exiles, banished from the main Diamond Dog civilization for various offences, forced to live on the surface or in burrows in the wild, living in pale imitation of their civilized counterparts digging holes or mining gems when not scavenging for a living. They appear crude and unsophisticated compare to their civilized counterparts due to the long isolation in the wilds or descending from earlier exiles and living their lives deprived of proper education or nutrition.
- Hulk Speak: Subverted. Diamond Dogs are actually quite sophisticated on a cultural level, eloquent in their own languages and is as if not more well-versed than many other races and civilizations with a wealth of literature and lore. However, much is lost in communication when they attempt to speak other languages, which either have pronouns they never used before nor know how to or do not have certain verbs and words that the Diamond Dog languages have, and even when speaking in their own tongues other races like Ponies may miss much due to their communication methods extending beyond verbal and into visual and olfactory cues and ranges like dogs do. Plus, some Diamond Dogs are exiles who lacking proper education and nutrition had degenerated in both culture and thinking. All of this resulted in this stereotype of Diamond Dogs being crude communicators.
- The Nose Knows: Because they are sapient Canines, Diamond Dogs places a lot of emphasis on scents. A Diamond Dog could tell their kin and how close they are to them by their smells, and 'scent-ties' apparently informs a lot of their social-interactions.
- Our Dwarves Are All the Same: The civilized Diamond Dogs of Diamondia and elsewhere takes a lot of inspiration from the Dwarves of many Fantasy settings. This is explained
to be in part due to the Diamond Dogs noticing and admiring many similarities between their people and the long-vanished 'Antediluvian Dwarves' which once co-existed with 'Antediluvian Humanity' (of which Megann Williams, the Rainbow Empress was one of) and emulating many of their ways with their own civilizations, modified to account for differences between the two races. Comparisons between the Diamond Dogs with other mentioned 'Dwarven' analogues such as the Duradin, the Dwelldarks and the Deepfolk were made.- The Diamond Dogs of the Nine Realms differ from the brethren in certain ways, from their ability to teleport to their skill in crafting weapons and equipment using Insubstantial Ingredients.
- Running on All Fours: Diamond Dogs, as per their canon depictions, are semi-quadrupedal/bipedal. While their front paws can use tools and grab objects like an Antediluvian Human or Minotaur, it's also used for digging, running and fighting like dogs, moving with a Gorilla-like gait.
- Silly Reason for War: An ongoing feud/conflict rages between a Diamond Dog Underhold in Diamondia and a Tomb King of Crypta over an anvil inlet with a coin stolen from Crypta, since the Cryptans absolutely will not allow any of their treasures to leave their lands, while that particular Underhold had a stingy and grudgebearing culture to rival the old Duradin and absolutely will not allow their crafts to be taken by the unworthy. Since the feud/conflict started the anvil had changed sides countless times as their forces had raided and battled each other over it. Even in-universe some like Prince Forging Scales considers this as silly as it sounds.
- Underground City: Like Dwarves, whom they are based on, Diamond Dogs dig, build and live in large underground settlements and citadels call 'Underholds'. Each Underhold is often a political unit (i.e. a kingdom) in their own right, or merely one major city or stronghold in a larger alliance, confederation, kingdom or empire, depending on the Underhold's city and affiliations. Not every Diamond Dogs live in Underholds, as surface settlements and cities exists, though they either exists around and/or in support of the Underholds or are hedge kingdoms built by banished Diamond Dogs.
- Ultimate Blacksmith: The Diamond Dogs, both mortal and divine, are among some of the greatest metal craft experts and artisans on Equus, similar to their 'Antediluvian Dwarven' inspirations.
Queen Daisy, the Diamond from the Rough
Character: Hero
Alignment: Lawful Good
Type: Revolutionary, Diplomat, Conqueror, Reformer, Queen, Divine Champion
Faction: Diamondia
Queen Daisy (her entry here
) is the ruling sovereign of Diamondia and a divine champion of the Diamond Dog Pantheon.- The Champion: Daisy became one for the Diamond Dog pantheon when they notice both her and her fellow poor, exploited and oppressed Diamond Dogs' plights as well as her potential to change things by reforming or remaking the present social-economic systems of Diamondia into something fairer and better for all Diamond Dogs, not just her Underhold but also the rest of Diamondia. As such, they are giving her revolution and rule their full backing, aiding her whenever she need it as well as encouraging her own efforts as leader.
- The Chosen One: Not born into that role, but Daisy was chosen to become a Divine Champion after the Diamond Dog pantheon saw both her selfless, humble but determined and charismatic character, realizing the potential she has in not only reforming her Underhold but also much of Diamondia into fairer and better societies for all Diamondkind, fully supporting her efforts as a revolutionary leader and an Underqueen for her Underhold.
- Great Offscreen War: Daisy's revolution and overthrow of the ruling elites resulted in other Diamond Dog Underholds declaring war and marching their armies against her Underhold, both out of fear of her revolution spreading and also due to the scent-ties of the ruling elites with the ruling Pack-Clans of the other Underholds. While the resulting conflicts were not depicted, it was shown that thanks to Daisy picking her commanders based on merit rather than connections and proving to be much more competent and inspiring leader in general, she was able to get the upper-claw in the conflicts and conquer those Underholds instead, forming a confederation or 'empire' of Underholds found on her ideals and reforms with her Underhold at its head.
- The Magnificent: Known as "the Diamond from the Rough" for both her working-class origins but also for rallying her fellow Diamond Dogs to overthrow the corrupt regime which exploited them and being elected Queen of the Underhold for it.
- Magnetic Hero: Daisy was a charismatic Diamond Dog who was able to rally the masses for her revolution and even convince the soldiers and supporters of the regime she opposes to realize their folly and turn against their masters.
- Rebel Leader: Originally a mineworker, the loss of Daisy's parents to a mining accident and the poor lot of herself and her fellow Diamond Dogs in her Underhold due to the greed and misrule of the ruling elite led her to fight to better their lot, eventually arranging for the ruling elites' overthrow and herself becoming crowned Queen of her Underhold by her fellow Diamond Dogs.
- The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified: Queen Daisy managed to overthrow the exploitive upper class of her Underhold without significant bloodshed through sheer charisma and carefully-planned actions to convince her fellow Diamond Dogs and even those who defended and supported the regime such as the soldiers the unfairness and wrongness of their rulers' ways.
- Sir Swears-a-Lot: Queen Daisy, being of working-class and miner descent, has a notable 'potty-mouth', not holding back to make what's on her mind known with plenty of swearing and curse-words.
- What You Are in the Dark: Queen Daisy could had used the reveal of her blood/scent connections with the ruling elites of her Underhold to demand a place among them, leaving her fellow Diamond Dogs in the dust. Instead, she did not abandon her fellow proletariat and instead used this information to call out the elites for their hypocrisy and showed everyone not only how meaningless the class system is, but also how selfless and humble she herself is. This wins her the Karmic Jackpot when with divine support the Diamond Dogs of the Underhold made her their queen after the revolution.
Yipper, the Ambassador Pup
Character: Heroic
Alignment: Neutral Good
Type: "Junior Diplomat", Precocious Kid, Troublemaker
Faction: Red Diamond Underhold
Yipper (his entry here
) is a young Diamond Dog pup from the Red Diamond Underhold, and a "Junior Diplomat" who stumbled into his prestigious position by complete accident.- Cheerful Child: Yipper is always happy to explore and wander around, grinning all the while.
- Noodle Implements: One of his misadventures involved a shipment of rubies, a pizza, and a box of wrenches; this somehow ended in a Mine Overboss being washed away in a flood of cheap beer she'd been planning to pass off as gourmet imported ale.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: Being a little puppy, he's naturally this. Even Ember and Tiamat think he's cute.
- Smarter Than They Look: Despite being a puppy, he's a quick thinker and can come up with creative solutions to problems that stump adults. After the Dragons' raid on Red Diamond Underhold was called off, Yipper proposed the Diamond Dogs pay tribute by diverting an aquifer to a lava pool the dragons used to use as a swimming hole, solidifying the lava to mine for gemstones.
- Spanner in the Works: On his way home from playing out in the wastes, he ran into the dragons' Slingtails bombarding the Underhold with stones. Unaware of the battle going on, Yipper and his friends took a liking to the creatures and tried to ride them. Since Slingtails love kids, this pretty much stopped the raid in its tracks.
Ambassador Ninny/"Screaming Ninny"
Character: Idiotic
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Type: Ambassador/Noble/Bigot/Idiot/Deceased/Complete Disaster
Faction: Diamondia
[Incoherent screaming]
Ambassador Ninny, better known as "Screaming Ninny" (his entry here
) is an extremely bigoted noble from Diamondia who nearly caused a disaster for his people during a diplomatic trip to Draconia.- 0% Approval Rating: No one missed him when he finally meets his end being Eaten Alive by Dragon Queen Tiamat. They even had a statue made of him depicting his final moments in a sarcastic commemoration of his existence.
- "Ass" in Ambassador: He really wasn't good at the "Diplomacy" thing. Anecdotes reported how diplomatic agreements and peace treaties on the verge of conclusion quickly falls apart within five minutes of him showing up, and what few Underholds with ties to the pitiful backwater he came from broke off while he was in charge of diplomacy between them. And then there's how his 'diplomacy' with Dragon Queen Tiamat almost caused a world-wrecking war between Dragon and Diamond Dog races.
- Born Lucky: The only reason Screaming Ninny manages to get away being such a stupid unrepentant jerkass other than being a noble and a childhood friend of the similarly despicable ruling King Rex.
- Butt-Monkey: As much of a jerkass he was who only accomplished anything (and even then not well) in life by sheer luck, Ninny still often gets his comeuppance for being such a repulsive and useless Diamond Dog. He had been beaten up by elderly people whom he tried to bully, nearly murdered by his servants whom he mistreated, chased out of lands by angry mobs of races he offended, nearly going broke from all the divorce fees from his long-suffering ex-wives and partners. Finally, his agism, sexism and racism combined to bring about his downfall via insulting Dragon Queen Tiamat and getting Eaten Alive for it.
- Eaten Alive: His unmourned demise, courtesy of Dragon Queen Tiamat. And even then he manages to give her gas, too.
- Fantastic Racism: He's a racist who believes Diamond Dogs are superior to everyone else, with a special dislike for Ponies. He's also an ageist (he tripped one of his grandparents with his friend the future King Rex as a joke and may had been responsible for their early death), a sexist who thinks females are the weaker sex and a classist who treats his servants like slaves. It more often than not backfired on him and landed him in trouble which he only gets out of by sheer dumb luck - luck which eventually ran out when he insulted Dragon Queen Tiamat for being old, female, a Dragon and for being fat... with predictable results.
- Karmic Death: After a lifetime of being a racist, sexist, ageist and classist jerkass who ruins everything for everyone with his ego and incompetence, his dumb luck finally runs out when he suggested to Dragon Queen Tiamat that she's old, fat, and less worthy of being a divine sovereign of Dragonkind than her consort Dragon King Bahumet because of her sex, and should submit to him or change her title to king, as well as implying Dragonkind is inferior to the Diamond Dogs and should submit to them as the weaker partner of the alliance proposal he was putting forth on behalf of King Rex. Unamused, Dragon Queen Tiamat responded by eating him.
- Jerkass: Pretty much an asshole from day one and died as one.
- The Millstone: He's that shrunken and putrid rotten fruit one scraps up from the bottom of an already spoiled barrel of fruit produce. His very existence literally made everything worse for everybody around him, so useless and repulsive a person he was.
- Mike Nelson, Destroyer of Worlds: Ambassador 'Screaming' Ninny proved to be such a inconceivably stupid, inept and bigoted jerkass that he nearly started a world-devastating conflict between the Dragon and the Diamond Dog races by insulting the heck out of an unamused Dragon Queen Tiamat. His track record up to that climatic moment REALLY has to be seen to be believed in terms of just how much damage he caused just by existing.
- Narcissist: Ninny is an egotistical bastard who believes himself to be the best thing to ever come out of his Underhold, and is determined to prove it whenever and wherever possible - usually causing the opposite result.
- Never My Fault: He never accepts responsibility for his own mistakes and misdeeds and thus never learn from them, remaining the same stupid unrepentant bastard he was until his dying day.
- Person of Mass Destruction: Many beings of Equus are capable of causing almost apocalyptic amounts of damage whether through their powers, their deeds, or simply by their very existence, and Screaming Ninny is a hilariously pitiful and shocking example of this trope. He is held up In-Universe as the definitive example of just how dangerous an otherwise ordinary individual could be just by being a stupid, arrogant, bigoted jerkass with too much authority in his claws - As in, 'world-threatening' level of dangerous - and is almost enough to justify the argument that some people truly deserve to die for the sake of everyone else. To note, he ruined his Underhold in his brief tenures as an incompetent and reactionary royal official, triggered wars and worsened international crises just by being at diplomatic conferences for five minutes, and insulted Dragon Queen Tiamat so badly he nearly caused a world-wrecking conflict between the Dragon and the Diamond Dog races, if not for the voices of reason among mortal/divine Dragonkind calming her incredible wrath.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: He was a noble and a childhood friend of the similarly unsavory King Rex of the Rex dynasty ruling his Underhold, which he milked for all their worth to get ahead in life beyond his negligible merits. This also allows him to get away with a lot of jerkassery and incompetence besides luck. Doesn't save him from getting Eaten Alive by Dragon Queen Tiamat after insulting her in the end, however.
- Stupid Evil: More Stupid than Evil, all things considered. His actions caused a lot of damage, suffering and inconvenience all around and the world is better off with him dead, which as per this trope is caused by his own self-destructive stupidity via becoming Dragon Queen Tiamat's meal.
- Too Spicy for Yog-Sothoth: Downplayed. Tiamat apparently got a bout of gas after eating him, much to her embarrassment.
- Undignified Death: His last moments were spent screaming and cowering from Dragon Queen Tiamat as she eats him after he insulted her, followed by perishing in her guts and managing to give the Dragon Queen gas upon digestion. The Diamond Dogs even immortalized it in statue form in sarcastic commemoration of his jerkass stupidity.
