History Literature / DeadWest

** Medice for those who are gifted with HealingHands.

** Ariolus seems to be for clairvoyance. Interestingly, they use French for this particular ability, several times.

** Aura is some kind of projection of an [[PersonalityPowers Aristocrat's personality]]. Most of the time, it is [[BattleAura "Sharp"]], sending a message that the projector is very, very dangerous (and at least one of his powers is very useful for hurting people). Another common aura is "Soft", it is more calming and inspire happiness (common for Medices and Ariolus). The third is [[BlessedWithSuck "Devil's Veil", and pojects innocence and inspires BigBrotherInstinct in the onlookers. What is peculiar that is doesn't seems to respond to the user's main abilities. von Ransow, an aristocrat with only Soft abilities has this, and Niall's abilities are mostly good for killing everything.

* PsychicPowers: the aristocrats have these in several flavors, and if they speak about it, they almost exclusively use Latin terms.
** Confessor is for MindReading.
** Medice for HealingHands.
** Vindex and Propugnator seems to be for two different abilities, although they mean mostly the same (protector). Both are for some kind of barrier.
*** Actually, they seem to mean respectively shield and armor. One refers to an ability to stop any kind of offense (even gunfire, and can be extended for others nearby), the other is good for lessen the power of the attacks which reach the user.
** Dominator for [[PeoplePuppet giving orders]].
** Incenditor is for PlayingWithFire.
** Speculator seems to be reserved for some kind of "scanning", to determine other aristocrats' abilities.
** Arcanus helps to hide abilities from others.

** Susurrator for {{Telepathy}}.
** Excubitor for sharpened senses. Note that there seems to be some kind of SpiderSense for supernatural threats, but it is most likely innate and never called this.

* Aura is some kind of projection of an Aristocrat's personality. Most of the time, it is [[BattleAura "Sharp"]], sending a message that the projector is very, very dangerous. Another common aura is "Soft", it is more calming and inspire happyness. The third is [[BlessedWithSuck "Devil's Veil", and pojects innocence and inspires BigBrotherInstinct in the onlookers. What is peculiar that is doesn't seems to respond to the user's other abilities, not like Soft (mainly non-agressive powers) and Sharp (for the ones whose powers are good for killing everything).

* RunningGag: Gervas and Mordechai being MistakenForGay, with several NotWhatItLooksLike moments. Gervas MistakenForBadass, and contemplating to buy a parrot.
** Also, the Porcelain Doctor cannot finish his damned book!
** Cedric always forgets to buy salmon dog biscuits.
* SmugSnake: downplayed with the Queen's Sleuth. He is quite nice when not spiriting Niall away for HeroicBSOD -inducing secret trips, and after Gervas delivers him an epic verbal beatdown, his first act is trying to convince [[GracefulLoser Cedric to tie Gervas to the MacArkills as tightly as possible, raise his knightly favors and keep our narrator as close to his little brother as possible]]. But he does nick the Porcelain Doctor for the Queen's service for time to time, and does abuse his temporarily higher status, up and including to kissing the doctor, French-style (ostensibly trying to erase his memories). He also keeps him in this type of service, and only treats Gervas nicely because he thinks he is the descendant of Maria Theresa's Hound.
** The [[spoiler: substitute]] sheriff in Blackvein.
* {{Steampunk}}: The general setting seems to be this. The ships and trains they use are running on steam, and two supporting characters are established creators and users of various steam-powered inventions. One of them is a shooting range with moving figures! There are also steam-powered cars, and zeppelins (the protagonists can't use them [[spoiler:because of the Porcelain Doctor PlayingWithFire abilities. Aristocrats like him have a red marking in their passports, and banned from using zeppelins.]])

** Excubitor for sharpened senses.

* GirlOnGirlIsHot: played with; one FriendlyRival bounty hunter company offered to pay the Merry Company's tab, if [[ActionGirl Carolina]] kisses [[DudeLooksLikeALady the Porcelain Doctor]]. She enthusiastically does this. Twice. Then Gervas tooks the role of the party crasher and informs them that the good doctor is, in fact, a men.

* GoodOldFisticuffs: it seems like the most honorable aristocratic duels involve swords or this. It ends up quite funny, when even in the middle of a raging battle, officers drop their guns to have a go at each other. Gervas even lampshades this, stating that he now understands why battles are so long. He might be right, some soldiers even stop to watch their lords wrestling in the middle of a freaking artillery display or in heavy gunfire. This is the more friendly version of honor battles, and Gervas is frequently participating in these when defending the lazaretums.

* MagicalNegro: it implied to be the case with the MacArkill family's servants. This or they are terrifyingly competent in taking care of crazy lords with PsychicPowers. They are stated to be [[BattleButler Battle Butlers and Maids]], and Thomas always seems to find something to cook a gourmet meal with, even in the wilderness, and manages to serve it like in a high-life restaurant. It says something when your lord thinks that you are the only one [[spoiler: openly]] needed to accompany his precious baby brother to a journey on the other side of the world. Because you are the only one who can occasionly get him to actually eat. Thomas is just that qualified. Oh and he is also able to clean and repair clothes, and find everything his young master might need. His wife, sons and daughters seem to be the same. Gervas suspects that they are a kind of elves or magicians in service of the MacArkill family.

* {{Macguffin}}: [[spoiler: the crystals.}}

* SmugSnake: downplayed with the Queen's Sleuth. He is quite nice when not spiriting Niall away for HeroisBSOD -inducing secret trips, and after Gervas delivers him an epic verbal beatdown, his first act is trying to convince [[GracefulLoser Cedric to tie Gervas to the MacArkills as tightly as possible, raise his knightly favors and keep our narrator as close to his little brother as possible]]. But he does nick the Porcelain Doctor for the Queen's service for time to time, and does abuse his temporarily higher status, up and including to kissing the doctor, French-style (ostensibly trying to erase his memories). He also keeps him in this type of service, and only treats Gervas nicely because he thinks he is the descendant of Maria Theresa's Hound.

* EpicBromance: between the narrator and the Porcelain Doctor. Maybe more than that from Gervas' side. In the last novel, this becames a [[spoiler: TragicBromance, with Niall's eventual death by Gervas' hands.]]

* GettingCrapsPastTheRadar: Gervas gets some books for his friend to entertain himself while he is bedridden, a few of them with "slightly frivolous content, quite popular in England." The narration avoids any explicit description, but is quite clear that our narrator gave the good doctor porn.

* BigBrotherInstinct: The Porcelain Doctor commonly inspires this in almost everyone. It annoys him to no end, as he is perfectly capable to take care of himself, thankyouverymuch. [[spoiler:it's his aura, called "the devil's veil". Normally, it shows him pretty frail and inspires protective instincts and love in the affected. He cannot turn it off most of the times, and when the devil's veil is off, he is terrifying.]]

* DeathGlare: The Porcelain Doctor has one, paired with colour-changing eyes. When he is calm, his eyes are green. Blue is a good indicator that he is pissed. This is not real colour change, when he openes his eyes more, their colour changes with the light.
* DudeLooksLikeALady: played with. People frequently mistake the Porcelain Doctor for a pretty girl, but it is mostly because he spends his time next to [[HeroicBuild Gervas or his equally gigantic brother]]. Next to them everyone would look like a girl. When they can get a second glance, or hear him speak, they mostly reconsider (and think he is Gervas' husband).
* EpicBromance: between the narrator and the Porcelain Doctor. Maybe more than that from Gervas' side. In the last novel, this becames a [[spoiler TragicBromance, with Niall's eventual death by Gervas' hands.]]
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: played with; one FriendlyRival bounty hunter company offered to pay the Merry Company's tab, if [[ActionGirl Carolina]] kisses [[DudeLooksLikeALady the Porcelain Doctor.]] She enthusiastically does this. Twice. Then Gervas tooks the role of the party crasher and informs them that the good doctor is, in fact, a men.
** Gervas imagination runs in the brothel scene, as Carolina disappears with a girl.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: Gervas and Niall. Maybe even Cedric. They live together after their respective marriages, and their children grow up to be more than friends.

* MagicalNegro: it implied to be the case with the MacArkill family's servants. This or they are terrifyingly competent in taking care of crazy lords with PsychicPowers. They are stated to be [[BattleButler Battle Butlers and Maids]], and Thomas always seems to find something to cook a gourmet meal with. It says something when your lord thinks that you are the only one [[spoiler: openly]] needed to accompany his precious baby brother to a journey on the other side of the world. Because you are the only one who can occasionly get him to actually eat. Thomas is just that qualified. Oh and he is also able to clean and repair clothes, and find everything his young master might need. His wife, sons and daughters seem to be the same. Gervas suspects that they are a kind of elves or magicians in service of the MacArkill family.
* MistakenForBadass: A bit downplayed with Gervas Klarenfeld; the narrator, originally just a commoner journalist gets mistaken as an aristocrat, almost constantly. The confusion is fueled further by his name, which he shares with a long dead legendary (aristocrat) master spy, the Hound of Maria Theresa, and his HeroicBuild. He really is a commoner, with no ties to said spy, and with no PsychicPowers, but since the master spy had the power to avoid detection and read minds, and Gervas is quite skilled in ColdReading (and eavesdropping), he cannot convince most people that he is a commoner. The only characters who believe him are the Porcelain Doctor and the Beast, since they reason he has nothing to gain by lies. And even the Beast thinks that he might have some of the Hound's blood.

* SmugSnake: downplayed with the Queen's Sleuth. He is quite nice when not spiriting Niall away for HeroisBSOD -inducing secret trips, and after Gervas delivers him an epic verbal beatdown, his first act is trying to convince [[GracefulLoser Cedric to tie Gervas to the MacArkills as tightly as possible, raise his knightly favors and keep our narrator as close to his little brother as possible]]. But he does nick the Porcelain Doctor for the Queen's service for time to time, and does abuse his temporarily higher status, up and including to kissing the doctor, French-style. He also keeps him in this type of service, and only treats Gervas nicely because he thinks he is the descendant of Maria Theresa's Hound.

** In-universe, Niall's aura, the Devil's Veil, is seen as this. Anyone affected by his aura views the Porcelain Doctor as the most precious, fragile and innocent thing ever, and it induces BigBrotherInstinct big time, but the false innocence could seduce people into trying to crush him. His aura only changes to "Sharp" when he is in a real rage, and this always comes as a big shock, as his powers are quite terrifying. After it's back, the who people just witnessed a CurbStompBattle delivered, resume to treat him as a baby. Even Gervas, who gets several first-hand tastes of his true powers, can't help himself.
** And it clearly doesn't help when another aristocrat with the Devil's Veil tries to express his rage about some of this soldiers trying to ShootTheMedic on the battlefield, and ends up getting adoring smiles and cooing sounds. Gervas compares him to a "raging kitten".

* HeroicBSOD: quite a few instances. When Gervas has them, they are quite understated, but Niall has an epic one in Diamond, induced by a secret mission from the Queen. He even cries, something he never did before, and Gervas suspects [[spoiler: he might have been raped.]] He needs a few days to recuperate. It is stated that this always happens when Cherryworth, the Queen's Sleuth spirites him away.

* MistakenForBadass. A bit downplayed with Gervas Klarenfeld; the narrator, originally just a commoner journalist gets mistaken as an aristocrat, almost constantly. The confusion is fueled further by his name, which he shares with a long dead legendary (aristocrat) master spy, the Hound of Maria Theresa, and his HeroicBuild. He really is a commoner, with no ties to said spy, and with no PsychicPowers, but since the master spy had the power to avoid detection and read minds, and Gervas is quite skilled in ColdReading (and eavesdropping), he cannot convince most people that he is a commoner. The only characters who believe him are the Porcelain Doctor and the Beast, since they reason he has nothing to gain by lies. And even the Beast thinks that he might have some of the Hound's blood.

And it clearly doesn't help when another aristocrat with the Devil's Veil tries to express his rage about some of this soldiers trying to ShootTheMedic on the battlefield, and ends up getting adoring smiles and cooing sounds. Gervas compares him to a "raging kitten".

* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Gervas is very, very strong and fast, even able to keep up with most aristocrats. The Porcelain Doctor accepted him as his companion for the fact that he is strong and sturdy enough to restrain him if he goes nuts.

* MistakenForBadass. A bit downplayed with Gervas Klarenfeld; the narrator, originally just a commoner journalist gets mistaken as an aristocrat, almost constantly. The confusion is fueled further by his name, which he shares with a legendary (aristocrat) master spy, the Hound of Maria Theresa, and his HeroicBuild. He really is a commoner, with no ties to said spy, and with no PsychicPowers, but since the master spy had the power to avoid detection and read minds, and Gervas is quite skilled in ColdReading (and eavesdropping), he cannot convince most people that he is a commoner. The only characters who believe him are the Porcelain Doctor and the Beast, since they reason he has nothing to gain by lies. And even the Beast thinks that he might have some of the Hound's blood.

* {{Bishounen}}: the Porcelain Doctor, big time. Pale, pretty face, with no sign of stubble? Check. Slim figure with narrow waist and with barely visible muscles? Check. Long, flowing ginger hair, big green eyes? Check and check. The Le Tellier twins also qualify, even if in a bit more statusque sense.
* BrickJoke: The little tablet. Dog treats.

* KnightTemplarBigBrother: Cedric, big time. His finer moments include burning several churches (only the first was warranted), and dropping a teenager into a huge, steam-powered meat grinder. Feet first. He kind of deserved it.

* NoodleIncident: several, most of them in their BackStory. They would explain a lot about our narrator...

* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: the Amber Duchess and the Porcelain Doctor; a beautiful, fragile-looking Scottish [[RebelliousPrincess duchess]] paired with a [[BattleMedic young]] [[BraveScot Scottish]] [[{{Bishounen}} earl]]. Granted, it didn't start with mutual love, but they had a lot of respect towards each other, and after getting married, the doctor soon started to reciprocate the duchess' love. [[KnightTemplarBigBrother The Beast]] obviously spent a lot of time searching for the perfect lady for his little brother ("I have to spend the rest of my life in her company after all.")
* PrisonRape: * Used as a threat, as the narrator and his [[DudeLooksLikeALady friend]] were mistaken as spies. The sheriff says if they fess up, he might let the "lady" spend the night at his house; if they don't, he will chain up Gervas in a solitary cell and put the Porcelain Doctor together with the other prisoners. Gervas understands the threat, but the Porcelain Doctor is oblivious, and declines the offer. Averted with the fact that after he had been put together with the murderers, he easily fights them off, and Gervas breaks out of his own cell to pluck his friend out of trouble. Then they decide to stay in prison after all (breaking out would be a crime), so they leave the beaten guys in their relocked cell, and return to Gervas' slightly better one. They are still sleeping there when the real sheriff returns.

* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: the Amber Duchess and the Porcelain Doctor; a beautiful, fragile-looking Scottish [[RebeillousPrincess duchess]] paired with a [[BattleMedic young BraveScot Scottish {{Bishounen}} earl]]. Granted, it didn't start with mutual love, but they had a lot of respect towards each other, and after getting married, the doctor soon started to reciprocate the duchess' love. [[KnightTemplarBigBrother The Beast]] obviously spent a lot of time searching for the perfect lady for his little brother ("I have to spend the rest of my life in her company after all.")

* KnightTemplarBigBrother: Cedric, big time. His finer moments include burning several churches (only the first was warranted), and dropping someone into a huge, steam-powered meat grinder. Feet first.

* RunningGag: Gervas and Mordechai being MistakenForGay, with several NotWhatItLooksLike moments. Gervas MistakenForBadass, and contemplating to buy a parrot. Also, the Porcelain Doctor cannot finish his damned romance!

* PrisonRape: * Used as a threat, as the narrator and his [[DudeLooksLikeALady friend]] were mistaken as spies. The sheriff says if they fess up, he might let the "lady" spend the night at his house; if they don't, he will chain up Gervas in a solitary cell and put the Porcelain Doctor together with the other prisoners. Gervas understands the threat, but the Porcelain Doctor is oblivious, and declines the offer. Averted with the fact that after he had been put together with the murderers, he easily fighted them off, and Gervas breaks out of his own cell to pluck his friend out of trouble. Then they decide to stay in prison after all (breaking out would be a crime), so they leave the beaten guys in their relocked cell, and return to Gervas' slightly better one. They are still sleeping there when the real sheriff returns.

* NightmareFuel: sometimes, if you piss of the Porcelain Doctor, he will not be satisfied by merely stabbing you. Ruining his books may result your face being grinded into embers. Mercifully, we don't get a long description.
** The part with Mordechai showing the world he sees to Gervas also qualifies.
** Niall berserkering. Gervas gets a quick glance at the end results, and promptly throws up.

* BigBrotherInstinct: The Porcelain Doctor commonly inspires this in almost everyone. It annoys him to no end, as he is perfectly capable to take care of himself, thankyouverymuch. [[spoiler:it's his aura, called "the devil's veil". Normally, it shows him pretty frail and inspires protective insticts and love in the affected. He cannot turn it off most of the times, and when the devil's veil is off, he is terrifying. Beautiful, pretty, but terrifying.]]

[[folder:Tropes associated with Dead West]]

* {{Badass}}: everyone. Even the butlers and maids. Comes in multiple flavors!

** BadassBookworm and BadassInANiceSuit [[spoiler:the honorable Sir Niall]] Mordechai Calloway [[spoiler:MacArkill]], the Porcelain Doctor. He walks with a stick. Said stick hides a sword. He can beat you up with them.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Gervas. High on drugs. Needing a kitten to pet.
* GeniusBonus: Constantly. If you have enough historical knowledge, the novels make more sense, and the text is littered with ShotOut for victorian literature, plays etc.
** An example: Gervas is quite fond of a certain ballet, Brahma and the Bayader. It sounds quite meek, but it was infamous for its less then innocent costumes and content.
** Another one: there are only slight changes in history and religion. If you know about the Nephilim, you understand easier why are the aristocrats are the ruling class. [[FridgeBrilliance Jesus was an aristocrat in this world, and indeed, he is related to King David by his mother]]

* HoYay: it is pretty obvious that Gervas has the hots for the Porcelain Doctor. Even when supposedly courting [[ActionGirl Carolina]], he spends more time with him, "protects" him etc. They even sleep together (perfectly innocently, of course). This is frequently [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]], even by the good doctor.
* KnightTemplarBigBrother: Cedric, big times. His finer moments include burning several churches (only the first was warranted), and dropping someone into a huge, steam-powered meat grinder. Feet first.

Dead West is a peculiar little web novel series, it was available for a short time only for a few people. The author was discouraged by her family, so she take it off. Still, it was an intruguing storyline with a rich, well-developed world.

Psychic aristocrats, magic, zombies, in a steampunk-themed picaresque setting.

* ArcWords : Porcelain body, steel soul, golden heart, diamond will. It is used to describe the young doctor, and has a MeaningfulEcho.

** BadassNormal: Gervas. He is a GeniusBruiser in [[BadassWithANiceSuit sharp clothes]] and keeps up with most of the Aristocrats [[spoiler:even with the [[RedBaron Beast]]!]] The Merry Company may also qualify.
** BadassBookworm and BadassWithANiceSuit [[spoiler:the honorable Sir Niall]] Mordechai Calloway [[spoiler:MacArkill]], the Porcelain Doctor. He walks with a stick. Said stick hides a sword. He can beat you up with them.

* {{Bishounen}}: the Porcelain Doctor, big time. Pale, pretty face, with no sign of stubble? Check. Slim figure with narrow waist and with barely visible muscles? Check. Long, flowing ginger hair, big green eyes? Check and check.
* GeniusBonus: Constantly. If you have enough historical knowledge, the novels make more sense, and the text is littered with ShotOut for numerous victorian literature novels, plays etc.

* BigBrotherInstict: The Porcelain Doctor commonly inspires this in almost everyone. It annoys him to no end, as he is perfectly capable to take care of himself, thankyouverymuch. [[spoiler:its his aura, called the devil's veil. Normally, it shows him pretty frail and inspires protective insticts and love in the affected. He cannot turn it off most of the times, and when the devil's veil is off, he is terrifying. Beautiful, pretty, but terrifying.]]

* HeroicBuild : the protagonist, Gervas is frequently mistaken as an aristocrat, due to his height and muscular build.

* OurZombiesAreDifferent: the shamblers. These are the re-animated corpses of the European settlers, always reassembled by the native spirits magic. Since ThePlague all but wiped out the Native Indians, they are the only thing keeping the westerners to conquer the continents. It seems to be effective. Apparently their speed, power and abilities are depending on freshness. They can be stopped for a few night by destroying their brain stems, or cutting them into pieces, but theys are constantly reassembled by the spirits.
* UnsettlingGenderReveal: zigzagged. Gervas meets the titular porcelain doctor on a steamship, and concludes that the waifish, slim redhead with the creamy skin and the narrow waist ("like wearing a corset") and soft voice, wearing dainty glasses must be a crossdressing woman. He swores to protect the doctor, who is quite baffled, but accepts... then later, on a train, after a clash with "shamblers", the doctor disrobes a bit. Our narrator promptly tries to look away, but peeks a little, and takes a Double Take. The doctor was, in fact, a he. Not that this stops Gervas. Even better, almost everybody mistakes him for a girl. Carolina even grabbed his loins (cue minor freakout, from both parties), and wasn't too sure even after that!

** BadassNormal: Gervas. He is a GeniusBruiser in [[BadassWithANiceSuit sharp clothes]] and keeps up with most of the Aristocrats [[spoiler:even with the [[RedBaron Beast]]!]] The Merry Company also qualifies.

* UnsettlingGenderReveal: zigzagged. Gervas meets the titular porcelain doctor on a steamship, and concludes that the waifish, slim redhead with the creamy skin and the narrow waist ("like wearing a corset") and soft voice, wearing dainty glasses must be a crossdressing woman. He swores to protect the doctor, who is quite baffled, but accepts... then later, on a train, after a clash with "shamblers", the doctor disrobes a bit. Our narrator promptly tries to look away, but peeks a little, and takes a Double Take. The doctor was, in fact, a he. Not that this stops Gervas.
Even better, almost everybody mistakes him for a girl. Carolina even grabbed his loins (cue minor freakout, from both parties), and wasn't too sure even after that!

The series contained four novels:
- Porcelain
- Steel
- Gold
- Diamond
Each referring to a layer of ArcWords.

ArcWords : Porcelain body, steel soul, golden heart, diamond will. It is used to describe the young doctor, and has a MeaningfulEcho.

AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: played straight with most of the Aristocrats. They are the ruling class for a reason. Several, upsetting, psychic reasons.

Badass : everyone. Even the butlers and maids. Comes in multiple flavors!
* BadassNormal: Gervas. He is a GeniusBruiser in [[BadassWithANiceSuit sharp clothes]] and keeps up with most of the Aristocrats [[spoiler:even with the [[RedBaron Beast]]!]] The Merry Company also qualifies.
* BadassCripple: combined with BadassBookworm and BadassWithANiceSuit [[spoiler:the honorable Sir Niall]] Mordechai Calloway [[spoiler:McArkill]], the porcelain doctor. He walks with a stick. Said stick hides a sword. He can beat you up with them.
* FourStarBadass: The Porcelain Doctor's beloved big brother. Also known as [[spoiler: [[RedBaron the Beast]], the most honorable Lord William Cedric Stewart Calloway MacArkill]].

BewareTheNiceOnes: Gervas to a lesser extent; he is perfectly polite and usually jovial, but he can twist a two-inch steel bar, and if you annoy him, he will make you a nice and tightly fitted cravat from said steel. The Porcelain Doctor combines this with BewareTheQuietOnes. He is calm, collected, soft voiced, blushes like a girl and if not disturbed, just sits quietly, reading something. But if you push one of his BerserkButtons, better run. [[spoiler:He is not a royal knight for just looking good, and by the ripe age of 22 (which is not even legal age in this setting), he is a revered war hero, and received several medals for his medical services on battlefields... oh, and for single-handedly defending the lazaretums on said battlefield. Several times. Alone. With a very pronunced limp. His [[RedBaron nicknames]] include the Aog (death), and Two Angels (one for mercy, one for death).]]

BigBrotherInstict: The Porcelain Doctor commonly inspires this in almost everyone. It annoys him to no end, as he is perfectly capable to take care of himself, thankyouverymuch. [[spoiler:its his aura, called the devil's veil. Normally, it shows him pretty frail and inspires protective insticts and love in the affected. He cannot turn it off most of the times, and when the devil's veil is off, he is terrifying. Beautiful, pretty, but terrifying.]]

Bishounen: the Porcelain Doctor, big time. Pale, pretty face, with no sign of stubble? Check. Slim figure with narrow waist and with barely visible muscles? Check. Long, flowing red hair, big green eyes? Check and check.

GlassCannon : the doctor averts this [[spoiler:when using his powers]]: he can take damage as much as he can dish out. [[spoiler:When temporarily depowered, he becomes this.]]

HeroicBuild : the protagonist, Gervas is frequently mistaken as an aristocrat, due to his height and muscular build.

MistakenForGay: This is a running gag. When Gervas and the doctor confirm for someone that the good doctor is in fact a he, everybody thinks they are a gay couple, and even encourage them, as homosexuality is not frowned upon in the New World (not like in Europe). After a while they just roll with it (Gervas is very gleeful; the doctor is not happy).

OurZombiesAreDifferent: the shamblers. These are the re-animated corpses of the European settlers, always reassembled by the native spirits magic. Since ThePlague all but wiped out the Native Indians, they are the only thing keeping the westerners to conquer the continents. It seems to be effective. Apparently their speed, power and abilities are depending on freshness. They can be stopped for a few night by destroying their brain stems, or cutting them into pieces, but theys are constantly reassembled by the spirits.

UnsettlingGenderReveal: zigzagged. Gervas meets the titular porcelain doctor on a steamship, and concludes that the waifish, slim redhead with the creamy skin and the narrow waist ("like wearing a corset") and soft voice, wearing dainty glasses must be a crossdressing woman. He swores to protect the doctor, who is quite baffled, but accepts... then later, on a train, after a clash with "shamblers", the doctor disrobes a bit. Our narrator promptly tries to look away, but peeks a little, and takes a Double Take. The doctor was, in fact, a he. Not that this stops Gervas.

* BadassNormal: Gervas. He is a GeniusBruiser in [[sharp clothes]] and keeps up
* BadassCripple: [[spoiler:the honorable Niall]] Mordechai Calloway [[spoiler:McArkill]], the porcelain doctor. He walks with a stick. Said stick hides a sword. He can beat you up