History Literature / Below

-->'''Jase''': Any other instructions we need before we head to our certain death?
-->'''Turk''': You could cinch up your cod.

* YouHaveFailedMe: Masterfully subverted by Gareth. Knowing there are political complications to killing anyone and hating to waste a resource he could possibly put to use, but unwilling to forgive the thieves after the wagon job debacle, he [[TakeAThirdOption finds a third option]].

!''Below'' contains examples of:

* AlternateHistory: The setting is post-Renaissance medieval, but the presence of magic, magical creatures, and the ruins have altered a few things. The Roman Empire attempted to chart the Elder Kingdom and exploit it for treasure, only to give up when they realized the risk/reward ratio was too high. The Vikings followed through on their early attempts to colonize Vinland, resulting in their control of the New World and bringing corn and cocoa across the Atlantic early.
** Further justified in-story by the fact that there are rifts joining different worlds (including Faerie), some with time shifts. Some of the items Brenish finds are decidedly not from that world.

A master forger's wife asks young highwayman [[GuileHero Brenish]] to sell a [[MockGuffin fake]] [[TreasureMap map]] to the late wizard Visak's [[DragonHoard famous treasure]]. Fascinated with tales of the [[BeneathTheEarth underground ruins]] of the [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair Elder Kingdom]] where the treasure is kept, Brenish already has a reputation as a lore master—but he's an [[ConsummateLiar even better liar]]. Unfortunately his boss Gareth St. James is every bit as obsessed with the ruins, and once he learns of the map Brenish is forced to bluff that it could be real.

A master forger's wife asks young highwayman [[GuileHero Brenish]] to sell a [[MockGuffin fake]] [[TreasureMap map]] to the late wizard Visak's [[DragonHoard famous treasure]]. Fascinated with tales of the [[BeneathTheEarth underground ruins]] of the [[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair Elder Kingdom]] where the treasure is kept, Brenish already has a reputation as a lore master—but he's an [[ConsummateLiar even better liar]]. Unfortunately his boss Gareth St. James is [[NotSoDifferent every bit as obsessed]] with the ruins, and once he learns of the map Brenish is forced to bluff that it could be real.

* NotSoDifferent: Brenish is well aware of the fact that he and Gareth are two sides of the same coin. So is Gareth.
** [[spoiler:Brenish and Lila, both master liars,]] are a subtler piece of work.

[[SimilarlyNamedWorks Not related]] to the 2018 {{Roguelike}} ''VideoGame/{{BELOW}}''.

Not related to the 2018 {{Roguelike}} ''VideoGame/{{BELOW}}''.

''Below'' is a {{Roguelike}} fantasy adventure novel by Lee Gaiteri.

* HonorAmongThieves: Brenish and his cohorts are all in a guild together. The plot is set into motion by Brenish looking in on the family of a guild brother who's currently locked up for forgery.
* InstrumentOfMurder: Although it does no killing directly, the discord organ (an enchanted ocarina) lays down a lingering spell that turns people against one another.

* {{Invisibility}}: Gareth brings along a potion that can induce this effect. Objects held by invisible people quickly "fade". Invisibility comes with voidsight, so the invisible can still see each other and reflections from any light their torches cast. Items carried by the invisible will fade quickly, and reappear if set down.

* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Brenish and Gareth know more about the ruins than anyone else, and understand how many explorers came to bad ends. Much of their learning comes from interviewing survivors, and from listening to Visak himself while he was still alive.
** Flipped later when Gareth unleashes a [[TransformationRay polymorph]] [[MagicWand wand]] he brought along [[RuleOfCool because it would make a better story after their return]], even though he of all people should be aware [[FinaglesLaw how unpredictable it is]]. It does some good in battle, but it also [[spoiler:leads to [[TakenForGranite Jase's death]]]]. This marks a turning point for Brenish's opinion of Gareth.

** Visak's treasure was originally the [[DragonHoard hoard of a literal dragon]]: Kalnosh the Great, whom he slew.

* ConsummateLiar: Brenish, naturally. When he's not taking RefugeInAudacity or speaking in [[HalfTruth Half Truths]] or [[CassandraTruth Cassandra Truths]], sometimes he just goes with a SeamlessSpontaneousLie. He's so good he can outfox people [[SelfProclaimedLiar who ''expect'' him to lie]], which is everyone around him except for [[LieDetector Cirawyn]].