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Author: Euodiachloris

Feb 22nd 2011 at 3:36:02 PM

Hmmm -- I like the idea... but it may need reworking a little.
As a trope, this would be linked with Magnificent Bastard, Chessmaster and the Xanatos tropes?
Another possible example that springs to mind is Johan's use of the top-brass of the various Right-Wing factions in the Anime/ Manga Monster.  They think they're getting the ultimate Hitler who'll lead them to victory, instead, they get a Complete Monster of a totally different stripe who really doesn't mind using and then killing them.  Actually, Johan uses Roberto in pretty much the same way by playing on his mis-aimed hero-worship... Then there are the captains of industry he tries to roast in the Munich University Library... OK - he uses everybody this way.
Bookwise/ Filmwise: Sauron springs to mind - namely from the Silmarillion when he plays Numenor for all it's worth and brings about it's downfall using the King's Faction's greed.  I think that would work as an example in this case.  However, he also does a similar thing within the scope of the Lord of the Rings. He helps Dwarves, Elves and Men by boosting their research into the creation of these wonderfully powerful ring-tools that will aide them all in creating a wonderful world... then chains them with the One Ring behind their backs.
Again, a book: the Wheel of Time.  This is Mordeth-Padain Fain's favorite way of dealing with anybody - including himself/ves. King Balwen Mayel of Aridhol thinks he's getting an advisor who will help him start to turn back the advance of the Shadow and the inevitable erosion of the Nations during the Trolloc Wars.  What he gets is a one-way ticket to madness and murder with his capital city turning into an evil Genus Loci with a pet Eldritch Abomination stalking its streets.  Oh, and the death of his Nation, to boot.  Then there is what happens with Padain Fain-side and the Ta'veren themselves several centuries later: all think they'll just have to skip over the city's border with saddle-packs of gold for the by-now-fairly-Abominable-himself Mordeth - but, there's a unstated catch.  The boys escape just in time (almost: Mat doesn't, quite, as he gives in to greed and takes a certain knife with him) - but, Pandain Fain becomes merged with Mordeth when he tries to take him over.  It didn't quite go according to plan, however.  The Fain-Mordeth mix then goes on to do basically the same types of things to these main characters; Pedron Niall, Elaida a'Roihan and Toram Riatin.  Other major characters get a slight touch, and many minor characters also get both types of treatment.
I'll have to sleep on it, but I think I can come up with more.