Should the activities described in the books not seem tiring enough...
Nikki Flynn and Edwin Dantes welcome you to the darker parts of Anthologies of Ullord!An isolationist nation living on a secluded archipelago. War-mongering invaders who have taken control and oppressed its peoples. The nations' kings have for two decades maintained an agreement that satisfies both of their interests, keeping a military presence from the power-hungry Sama on the hijir's homeland, while the Hijir nobility act to keep their invaders content enough not to influence their lives more than needed.
But not all of the Hijir people are so happy with their king's pact. Vigilante groups of Hijir have cropped up, running a small rebellion against their Sama oppressors, while in the background, subtle political power-plays take shape to fight back as well…
Tropes found in The Crystalline Archipelago Sordid Nexus:
- Aristocrats Are Evil: Played with. There are many examples of this being played straight and subverted throughout the story. Every noble featured does something at least questionably evil.
- A lot of what Saymette and Nayli do under their father's orders including spying and attempts at manipulating the hijir royal family.
- A lot of what Thaeodas does including back Ally surgery, so he can fight off the Sama should he need to.
- Things that are resorted to during the war.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: This is turned up to 11 or so with some characters.
- Body Guard Crush: This is apparent in many of the relationships among the Hijir. The pair spend an extensive amount of time together and thus bonds deepen and an attraction remains on at least one side.
- Body Horror: As part of their rituals when a child is born, Hijir children's backs are sliced open and gemstones are implanted there. This is to influence the child's personality and life path. It is a religious ceremony and rite that the Hijir have used for generations.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: The gemstones of the archipelago.
- Red — grants melee combat capabilities and aggression.
- Orange — magic use and bookish tendencies.
- Green — ranged combat skills and logical problem solving.
- Yellow — protection abilities and serenity and other calm personality traits.
- Blue — stealth capabilities such as deceit and perceptiveness and hyper vigilance.
- Purple — political discourse and mediation abilities.
- Brown — crafting and creation inspiration.
- Grey — maintenance and perfection.
- Clear — interpersonal energetic personality traits.
- Black — interpersonally attractive and charismatic.
- White — reserved personality.
- Metal — appreciation of tradition, hard work and dedication.
- Courtly Love: This is the expectation with the Saol Garda regardless of gender, sexual orientation and so on and so forth. Except nobody gets mad if their relationship deepens.
- Decoy Protagonist: With the revolving door of characters covered who is actually doing what and how is not exactly on the nose obvious. Thanks, Riki! And thanks, Pramod!
- Fantastic Racism: Both sides see the other in a negative light. The Sama think of themselves as superior, refined and more attractive than the other races and they prefer seeing sama marry other Sama. They believe other races to need refinement to appreciate the gods and to worship the gods as they do. The Hijir think the sama are horrific, warmongering monsters with no empathy for others. And many want their traditions and birthrights back without the interference of a foreign government.
- Functional Magic: The gemstones and ores implanted in the backs of the Hijir children upon their birth. They are believed to influence personality and the abilities the child will develop throughout their lives.
- My Country, Right or Wrong: Both sides embody this and many believe it wholeheartedly.
- Occupiers Out of Our Country: The Hijir rebels' end goal.
- Prevent the War: Why the king of the Hijir capitulated to the Sama in the backstory.
- Rebel Leader: A few options for who the “leader” of the rebel Hijir making guerrilla strikes against Sama soldiers are present.
- Royally Screwed Up: Basically, any royal family member or noble for that matter.
- Ship Tease: The saol garda and their undying, unquestioning love for their charge, during combat rescues, some and characters practically Flirting Under Fire: allow for plenty of opportunities.
- Starts Stealthily, Ends Loudly: The first combat scene.
- War Is Glorious: This is how the Sama see war and conflict in general.
- War Is Hell: Shown throughout.
- Underhanded tactics are used by both sides during the war. This includes Productive Use of Alone Time
- Eneco develops PTSD after one of his attacks takes too long to kill enemies and he is scarred by their dying screams as they burn to death.
