History Fanfic / RedactionOfTheGoldenWitch

[[VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry What happened on Rokkenjima on October 4th and 5th, 1986?]]

* AmbiguousEnding: [[spoiler: The person or persons responsible for the deaths of the Witch Hunters isn't revealed, although it's largely implied if not outright confirmed Sarah was not the culprit. There's also the matter of the Witch of Adjuration whom Walter believes has been menacing the Witch Hunter communities, but whether this is Sarah, the killer, or someone else, is left unanswered. There's also a vague implication that Sarah's brother is not dead and is trying to find her.]]
** However, in Andromalius [=TIP=] #2/Sunny and other extra content, [[spoiler: Sarah/The Summoner does indeed call herself the Witch of Adjuration.]]

* CloserToEarth: The Summoner, in contrast to the many other magic users seen in the series, is not so formal and tends to not pepper her speech with grandiose metaphors.

* KillEmAll: In typical ''Umineko'' fashion, the Fragment eventually becomes a bloodbath, including [[spoiler:a lot of ''demonic'' deaths]].

** DelusionsOfEloquence: Andromalius' KnowNothingKnowItAll tendencies is mirrored by his pretentious speaking style that his know-it-all tendencies, forgoing contractions and using [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness advanced vocabulary for his age]]. However, he sometimes misuses words, betraying the implication that he doesn't really know exactly what he's saying, which people older and more knowledgeable than him don't hesitate to point out. [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] because this doesn't happen much, though.

** [[spoiler:In Umineko Sunny's Coda, the relatively quieter and brooding Drew and energetic, loud Addie become fast friends.]]

** Defied in the Witch Ending, where [[spoiler:Shouon kills Kinzo in order to stop the family conference from happening. Meta-wise, the whole story with Shouon is commentary on how as a fanwork, the author can make whatever they want happen without having to feel constrained by the rules of canon, no matter how much WishFulfillment there is.]]

* {{Foil}}: The writers of Redaction's Forgery and [[spoiler:[=TIP=] #2/Umineko Sunny's story had extremely similar pasts that gave them a lot of baggage and self-loathing, and both are avid Witch Hunters. However, the Rokkenjima stories drove Sarah further into her self-loathing as Yasu and Battler's dynamic reminded her of her inability to do anything for her brother, whereas it saved Drew from it as being fellow Witch Hunters is a big part of his relationship with Addie, who greatly helped his mental health. The difference in tone between the stories they write reflects the difference between their worldviews.]]

** [[spoiler:In Umineko Sunny's Coda, the quiet, brooding Drew and energetic, loud Addie become fast friends.]]

* PaletteSwap: The Summoner looks like a brunette version of [[spoiler:Beato's human guise]]. {{Lampshaded}} in the [=TIPs=], which state "Any resemblance is purely coincidental and/or the result of lazy sprite edits. Even the buttons are cheaply tarnished! She needs a better costumer."

** Natushi recieves a long one delivered by three people: [[spoiler:Shannon, Lion, and Beatrice]]. While the intensity varies with each speaker, they're all driving to the same point: that Natsuhi wasted every opportunity to do something, ''anything'', to [[spoiler:help the child she was given 19 years ago]], and now it's far too late. Then it turns out that [[spoiler:this is all her nightmare, implying she's effectively calling ''herself'' out]].

[[http://whabroad.wordpress.com/ Witch Hunters Abroad]]'s ''Redaction of the Golden Witch'' has been created as a visual novel. A video runthrough of the original script [[https://www.youtube.com/user/KingInPrussia/featured can be found on YouTube]], along with extra videos that fit into the same canon. A remake of a [=TIP=] not included in the original visual novel and YouTube uploads, ''Umineko Redacted: Some Kind of Sunny Little Dream'', can be found [[https://renall.itch.io/umineko-sunny here]].

* TwoAliasesOneCharacter: Andromalius TIP #2/Umineko Sunny reveals that [[spoiler:Andromalius, Shouon, and the story's writer, Drew, are the same person, albeit as representations of him at different points in his life.]]

[[http://whabroad.wordpress.com/ Witch Hunters Abroad]]'s ''Redaction of the Golden Witch'' has been created as a visual novel. A video runthrough of the original script [[https://www.youtube.com/user/KingInPrussia/featured can be found on YouTube]], along with parts of an Untitled Erika Reboot.

** However, in the [=TIPS=], [[spoiler: Sarah/Cassandra/The Summoner does indeed call herself the Witch of Adjuration.]]

** The [=TIPS=] offers two, though one slides more into a DownerEnding. [[spoiler: In the "Demon" ending, Shouon reveals to Kyrie that Lion is the child of Kinzo and Beatrice II, and then takes an offer to apprentice under the Summoner with no regard over what happens to the Ushiromiyas. In the "Human" ending, Shouon leaves the island but destroys the evidence of Lion's true birth, feeling that while he can't save the Ushiromiyas, he doesn't have to make their deaths even worse.]]

* FirstPersonSmartass: The 1996!Protag is very snarky, both inside their head and out. Since their lines are written as part of their narration without quotations, it can be difficult at times to judge what they're actually ''saying''.

** Unexpected and unintended consquences of one's actions are a running theme throughout the story, and play a vital role in [[spoiler:the 1996 Protag's connection to the Witch Hunter movement]].

* MercyKill: In the Magicial version of the 1996 incident, [[spoiler:the assassin Andromalius]] comments on this while finishing off one of the victims, who had [[spoiler:fallen off a cliff and taken the ingot into his ribs]].
* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: The Summoner [[EvilGloating gloats]] about the Ushiromiyas sowing the seeds for their own defeat by pushing [[spoiler:a grieving Kanon]] over to her side.

* NestedStory: There's the Forgery itself, the Meta!World's reading of the strange Fragment, the 1996 Witch Hunters, and Walter Absalom's analysis of the Forgery and its potential connection to the 1996 Incident.

* OddFriendship: Not even the 1996!Protagonist is entirely sure why they and Cass have become friends.

* TheUnreveal: Several times during the 1996 segment, the Protagonist's name is teased at without being revealed, such as giving a false name.

* YouCantFightFate: In the [=TIPS=]. [[spoiler: Shouon realizes something horrible is going to happen in October 1986, because he's repeatedly told this "world" will cease to exist. Even though he's told he will survive because he doesn't have a role to play, he gets outraged at Andromalius and those who keeps telling him vague hints about the horrible things to occur. Both endings for this segment establish he can't stop their deaths, but he ''is'' given the option of revealing or not revealing Lion's true parentage before he leaves.]]

* SpeakIllOfTheDead: The 1996!Narrator feels like his Witch Hunter companions have lost sight of the fact that the Rokkenjima Incident involved real people who actually died. Part of the reason he travels to the island with them is in hope that seeing the site will help drive home the reality of the situation to them.

One analysist believes he has uncovered why. In 1996, another incident occured on Rokkenjiima when a group of Witch Hunters snuck onto the island. While this incident has fallen into obscurity, believed by many to be some kind of group suicide or simple accident, Walter Absalom presents an alternate theory: somebody got away with murder. And this particular Forgery serves as a stealthy confession.

* AmbiguousEnding: [[spoiler: The person or persons responsible for the deaths of the Witch Hunters isn't revealed, although it's largely implied if not outright confirmed Sarah was not the culprit. There's also the matter of the Witch of Adjuration whom Walter believes has been menacing the Witch Hunter communities, but whether this is Sarah, the killer, or someone else, is left unanswered.]]

** One of the Solutions offered for the Heretic Fragment [[spoiler:leaves open the possibility of Battler and Shannon surviving, ambigious as it might be]].

* WouldNotHurtAChild: [[spoiler: The Summoner promises Kanon in red that she won't harm any of Kinzo's grandchildren, and Battler later points how she left Maria's fate completely ambiguous.]]

One particular Forgery fell into obscurity soon after its release. While obviously a fake due to the fact it was released in English, that wasn't the only reason for its rejection by the Witch Hunt community at large. Instead of following the familiar formula, this particular Forgery forwent many of of the classic trappings, including introducing a mysterious new antagonist in place of the Golden Witch.

* IWishedYouWereDead: [[spoiler: In the Fragment, Battler's internal monologue is positively scathing towards the adults after Shannon is found dead. It manifests when Godha is being browbeaten over watching Battler and the cousins, but as Battler points out, Godha is expected to watch after three teenagers and a child with nothing to arm himself with while the other adults hold on to their shotguns with no intent of letting go. This hypocrisy disgusts Battler so much he pretty much wishes his parents and the others would die. When that ''happens'' though, Battler's clearly regretful.]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Natsuhi receives a long one delivered by three people: [[spoiler: Shannon, Lion, and Beatrice. The intensity of the speech varies depending on which character focus is given to, but it all boils down to the same point, that Natsuhi wasted every opportunity to actually do something, ''any''thing, to help the child that was given to her 19 years ago, and now it it far too late. Then this is somewhat subverted because all of this is happening in Natsuhi's nightmare, which may very well mean the person delivering the speech is herself.]]

** Captain Kawabata still feels guilty over what happened on Rokkenjima in 1986, and doesn't appreciate being told how he should mourn.

** [[spoiler: This is also seen in Sarah's memories when she was in high school. People mocked her because of what happened with her father.]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Natsuhi receives a long one delivered by three people: [[spoiler: Shannon, Lion, and Beatrice. The intensity of the speech varies depending on which character focus is given to, but it all boils down to the same point, that Natsuhi wasted every opportunity to actually do something, ''any''thing, to help the child that was given to her 19 years ago, and now it it far too late. Then this is somewhat subverted because all of this is happening in Natsuhi's nightmare, which may very well the person delivering the speech is herself.]]

* TheWorfEffect: Suffered by the Seven Sisters. At first, this is used to illustrate [[spoiler:Kanon's full potential]], directly comparing their battle to similar confrontations in past Fragments. Eventually, this builds to the point where [[spoiler:several are KilledMidSentence, and Lucifer is unceremoniously killed offscreen]].

* DramaticallyMissingThePoint: During their trip, the 1996!Protag keeps hoping that his companions will come to realize just how awful the Rokkenjima Incident was, and that the fandom they've built off the back of this tragedy is kind of creepy. Time and again, the implications keep flying right over their heads.

* FirstPersonSmartass: The 1996!Protag is very snarky, both inside his head and out. Since his lines are written as part of his narration without quotations, it can be difficult at times to judge what he's actually ''saying''.

** The 1996!Protagonist takes an especially harsh look at the Witch Hunt phenomenon. Each of his companions appears to have completely lost sight of the fact that the Ushiromiya family and their staff were real victims of an actual tragedy.

* OddFriendship: Not even the 1996!Protagonist is entirely sure why he and Cass have become friends.

* TheUnreveal: Several times during the 1996 segment, the Protagonist's name is teased at without being revealed, such as him giving a false name.

* TheLastDance: [[spoiler:Kinzo]] approaches the preparations for the coming conflict this way. {{Justified}} since, as they explain, [[spoiler:they're already dead, so there's no reason '''NOT''' to see how far he can go]].

* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Summoner's eyes are normally black, but turn red when they're upset or feeling particularly wicked.

* TheUnreveal: Several times during the 1996 segment, the Protagonist's name is teased at without being revealed, such as him giving a false name.

* DramaticallyMissingthePoint: During their trip, the 1996!Protag keeps hoping that his companions will come to realize just how awful the Rokkenjima Incident was, and that the fandom they've built off the back of this tragedy is kind of creepy. Time and again, the implications keep flying right over their heads.

* TriangRelations: A Type 3 exists in 1996: Hiro and Karl both have crushes on Cass, who appears completely oblivious to their feelings. Karl suspects that Cass might have feelings for the Protagonist instead.

* DeadpanSnarker: The 1996!Protag is very snarky, both inside his head and out. Since his lines are written as part of his narration without quotations, it can be difficult at times to judge what he's actually saying.

* IntergenerationalFriendship: Not even the 1996!Protagonist is entirely sure why he and Cass have become friends.

* TheLastDance: [[spoiler:Kinzo]] approaches the preparations for the coming conflict this way. {{Justified}} since, as they explain, [[spoiler:they're already dead, so there's no reason '''NOT''' to see how far he can go]].

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: When the 1996!Narrator realizes that Professor Ootsuki wants to hear their group's theories about what happened on Rokkenjima.

* SuddenPrincipledStand: After witnessing [[spoiler:Rosa's murder of Shannon]], Doctor Nanjo proceeds to call out everyone involved, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone lamenting his own part in it]].