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Trope was cut/disambiguated due to cleanup
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* YouWannaGetSued: The game's BonusBoss is basically described indirectly allowing it to be greatly abridged. The justification id the neither its name nor attacks are allowed to be mentioned due to copyright.
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* YouWannaGetSued: The game's BonusBoss OptionalBoss is basically described indirectly allowing it to be greatly abridged. The justification id the neither its name nor attacks are allowed to be mentioned due to copyright.
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* WidgetSeries: Before we even get into the book content, it is a self-contained trilogy where the text is deliberately shrunk so almost 400,000 words (remember, a typical book is 50,000 words) can fit into under 500 pages. Then it frequently uses even smaller print, along with GratuitousJapanese (and Hebrew, and also Hindu Sanskrit) as part of PaintingTheFourthWall.
** It's a post-apocalyptic world where the governments have deliberately agreed to create a perpetual anarchist state, where a girl is sent on a MissionFromGod to collect mystical tattoos to stop a demon, and the girl in question is actually a CosmicKeystone and the universe is destroyed if she dies. That's just the first part.
** Apparently, the reason she couldn't beat the BigBad the first time is because her big attack relies upon PersonalityPowers, and if she's feeling moody it destroys her instead. Since her boyfriend broke up with her, most of the second part is about them goofing off (including fishing and a Yu-Gi-Oh! parody) and her pretending they never broke up. She confronts the demon only to find out the reason the universe was destroyed before is that she is God, meaning she sent herself on the quest.
** The final part of the trilogy has her embarking on another quest, this time with her husband and nine-year-old child to kill an angel. We get several hints that maybe she shouldn't do this quest, before the ending splits into three parts: she either kills the angel and becomes corrupted and proceeds to kill her party and probably a good chunk of the world before dying herself, "sparing" the angel by not killing her when she has giant spear stuck in her and going home to enjoy farming, or healing her whereupon she becomes God and her husband has a date with her in the afterlife.
** It's a post-apocalyptic world where the governments have deliberately agreed to create a perpetual anarchist state, where a girl is sent on a MissionFromGod to collect mystical tattoos to stop a demon, and the girl in question is actually a CosmicKeystone and the universe is destroyed if she dies. That's just the first part.
** Apparently, the reason she couldn't beat the BigBad the first time is because her big attack relies upon PersonalityPowers, and if she's feeling moody it destroys her instead. Since her boyfriend broke up with her, most of the second part is about them goofing off (including fishing and a Yu-Gi-Oh! parody) and her pretending they never broke up. She confronts the demon only to find out the reason the universe was destroyed before is that she is God, meaning she sent herself on the quest.
** The final part of the trilogy has her embarking on another quest, this time with her husband and nine-year-old child to kill an angel. We get several hints that maybe she shouldn't do this quest, before the ending splits into three parts: she either kills the angel and becomes corrupted and proceeds to kill her party and probably a good chunk of the world before dying herself, "sparing" the angel by not killing her when she has giant spear stuck in her and going home to enjoy farming, or healing her whereupon she becomes God and her husband has a date with her in the afterlife.
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None
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* RoleplayingGameVerse: To the point where the novel uses the same acronyms as a role-playing game but with different words (M.P. is mystic power; N.P.C. stands for Neutral Protected Class which are humans that cannot be harmed by others by virtue of God's protection).
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* RoleplayingGameVerse: RolePlayingGameVerse: To the point where the novel uses the same acronyms as a role-playing game but with different words (M.P. is mystic power; N.P.C. stands for Neutral Protected Class which are humans that cannot be harmed by others by virtue of God's protection).
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* CrocodileTears: The name and premise of a FairyTale. A talking crocodile has massive amounts of Wangst about how the other forest critters don't trust it, so it cries alot. They finally learn to trust it, and everyone lives HappilyEverAfter. ''[[SurpriseCreepy Until the crocodile eats everyone.]]''
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* CrocodileTears: The name and premise of a FairyTale. A talking crocodile has massive amounts of Wangst about how the other forest critters don't trust it, so it cries alot. They finally learn to trust it, and everyone lives HappilyEverAfter. ''[[SurpriseCreepy ''[[SurprisinglyCreepyMoment Until the crocodile eats everyone.]]''
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* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Uses the [[{{LightNovel/Slayers}} Lina Inverse rule]] of magic loss during the [[MenstrualMenace menstrual cycle]]. This is a balance to the above advantage for females. Downplayed in the book version, but it is still mentioned that "being distracted" is a source of spell failure. This probably counts.
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* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Uses the [[{{LightNovel/Slayers}} [[{{Literature/Slayers}} Lina Inverse rule]] of magic loss during the [[MenstrualMenace menstrual cycle]]. This is a balance to the above advantage for females. Downplayed in the book version, but it is still mentioned that "being distracted" is a source of spell failure. This probably counts.
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Has Two Mommies is now a disambig. Dewicking
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** There's also a few common tropes like AllGenesAreCodominant, probably AnatomicallyImpossibleSex, HasTwoMommies, and a number of others. It's not explained either why Ambrosia has completely opposite hair color from her mom.
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** There's also a few common tropes like AllGenesAreCodominant, probably AnatomicallyImpossibleSex, HasTwoMommies, and a number of others. It's not explained either why Ambrosia has completely opposite hair color from her mom.
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* HasTwoMommies and actual HomosexualReproduction: Aqorm and Lilith might be shown with a child at the ending.
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* DanBrowned: The libraries are actually funny to read. Not only do they often have gaps in knowledge about certain subjects like RealLife history and math, but even some of the books about the more fantastic elements don't match up with other books. Either there are varying views of history, or a [[ContinuitySnarl problem with the author's story]], which is even more hilarious since [[BadLiar it's all the same author writing it]].
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* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Averted. The party tries to stop/talk to Ambrosia [[spoiler: when she goes off the deep end and starts killing people]]. It turns out [[LaserGuidedAmnesia she doesn't even remember them]]. And then things [[EpicFail go really wrong]] [[KillEmAll on both the stopping and talking parts]].
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* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Averted. The party tries to stop/talk to Ambrosia [[spoiler: when she goes off the deep end and starts killing people]]. It turns out [[LaserGuidedAmnesia she doesn't even remember them]]. And then things [[EpicFail go really wrong]] [[KillEmAll wrong on both the stopping and talking parts]].
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* KillEmAll: One of the most interesting endings involves [[spoiler: Ambrosia]] snapping after [[MoralEventHorizon killing an angel]], and deciding that since she has already [[RealityWarper created the universe]], her job description of maintaining the BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil requires that she... [[UnusualEuphemism balance the scales]].
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* BettyAndVeronica: A couple of bisexual cases. For Aqorm, the resident thief, her "Betty" is Elias, the somewhat bookish type man, and her Veronica is Lilith, another girl and a [[HornyDevils succubus]]. Lilith's Betty is actually Aqorm, and her "Veronica" is Michael, a very effeminate-looking angel guy who is this because they are polar opposites.
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* BettyAndVeronica: A couple of bisexual cases. For Aqorm, the resident thief, her "Betty" is Elias, the somewhat bookish type man, and her Veronica is Lilith, another girl and a [[HornyDevils [[SuccubiAndIncubi succubus]]. Lilith's Betty is actually Aqorm, and her "Veronica" is Michael, a very effeminate-looking angel guy who is this because they are polar opposites.
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** OurDemonsAreDifferent: Demons are supposedly the same initial breed as angels, just more inclined toward evil. They've somehow bred differently than angels, becoming more the HornyDevils variety, those there are several subspecies of demons. [[spoiler: Children of angels and demons appear human.]]
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** OurDemonsAreDifferent: Demons are supposedly the same initial breed as angels, just more inclined toward evil. They've somehow bred differently than angels, becoming more the HornyDevils SuccubiAndIncubi variety, those there are several subspecies of demons. [[spoiler: Children of angels and demons appear human.]]
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* {{Stripperific}}: Lilith, the [[HornyDevils succubus]], is wears a black bikini. And [[VaporWear nothing else]].
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* {{Stripperific}}: Lilith, the [[HornyDevils [[SuccubiAndIncubi succubus]], is wears a black bikini. And [[VaporWear nothing else]].
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* AwesomeMcCoolname[=/=]MeaningfulName: Ambrosia Brahman (the surname having to do with Hindu priestly castes and also with the similarity to the word Brahma, and the first name being "food of the gods").
** ThemeNaming in this regard. Her mom is Manna Leaven (or "leavened" "bread from heaven") before taking the "family name" of [[spoiler: God]], Brahman.
** ThemeNaming in this regard. Her mom is Manna Leaven (or "leavened" "bread from heaven") before taking the "family name" of [[spoiler: God]], Brahman.
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removed incorrectly formatted zero-context Five Man Band example
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* FiveManBand[=/=]PsychoRangers: In the town of Momiji, there is a rival group trying to stop Belial forming a FiveManBand (amusingly, when they meet their counterparts from Ambrosia's team, they don't fare well due to OpenMouthInsertFoot comments):
** TheLeader: [[{{Bishonen}} Hikari]]
** TheLancer: [[OurElvesAreDifferent Aster]] [[spoiler: (gets beaten repeatedly)]]
** TheSmartGuy: Wizard Gumi [[spoiler: (gets burned with fire magic)]]
** TheBigGuy: [[ThirdPersonPerson Na'ud]] [[spoiler: (gets punched out by Ambrosia)]]
** TheChick: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Momo]] [[spoiler: (actually gets killed, leaving a permanent pool of blood)]]
** TheLeader: [[{{Bishonen}} Hikari]]
** TheLancer: [[OurElvesAreDifferent Aster]] [[spoiler: (gets beaten repeatedly)]]
** TheSmartGuy: Wizard Gumi [[spoiler: (gets burned with fire magic)]]
** TheBigGuy: [[ThirdPersonPerson Na'ud]] [[spoiler: (gets punched out by Ambrosia)]]
** TheChick: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Momo]] [[spoiler: (actually gets killed, leaving a permanent pool of blood)]]
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Direct link.
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* TropeTrigger: Ambrosia Brahman is a Trope Trigger for Elias as MrExposition. Ambrosia's average intelligence and amnesia allow SmartGuy Elias to expound on obscure details pertaining to the plot.
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* TropeTrigger: Ambrosia Brahman is a Trope Trigger for Elias as MrExposition. Ambrosia's average intelligence and amnesia allow SmartGuy TheSmartGuy Elias to expound on obscure details pertaining to the plot.
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* FairyTales: Each library has a few. These are typically not known tales, but rather [[FracturedFairyTale in-universe fantasy stories]]. For instance, one of the better stories is "''The Bloody Pet Shovel''" [[Awesome/OracleOfTao (in its entirety)]].
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* FairyTales: FairyTale: Each library has a few. These are typically not known tales, but rather [[FracturedFairyTale in-universe fantasy stories]]. For instance, one of the better stories is "''The Bloody Pet Shovel''" [[Awesome/OracleOfTao (in its entirety)]].
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* DiabolusExNihilo: Whereas the robots and such are written so they work better in the post-apocaylptic story, the Monsters, especially are at odds with the other creatures. There is a definite sense of GenreShift whenever they enter the story.
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: Whereas the robots and such are written so they work better in the post-apocaylptic story, the Monsters, especially are at odds with the other creatures. There is a definite sense of GenreShift whenever they enter the story.
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** TheLancer: [[OurElvesAreBetter Aster]] [[spoiler: (gets beaten repeatedly)]]
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** TheLancer: [[OurElvesAreBetter [[OurElvesAreDifferent Aster]] [[spoiler: (gets beaten repeatedly)]]
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** OurElvesAreBetter: Elves are essentially human, but even half-elves have abnormal lifespans and centuries of youth.
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** OurElvesAreBetter: OurElvesAreDifferent: Elves are essentially human, but even half-elves have abnormal lifespans and centuries of youth.
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** And of course, ElementalMagic, WhiteMagic, and BlackMagic.
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** And of course, ElementalMagic, ElementalPowers, WhiteMagic, and BlackMagic.
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* CerebusSyndrome: Much of the game is SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel with [[AnAesop various moral lessons about love]] being taught. Then, around the fourth of these, there is everything from a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop to the implication that Ambrosia at some point [[DyingDream died and the other characters are part of a dream]].
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* CerebusSyndrome: Much of the game is SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel with [[AnAesop various moral lessons about love]] being taught. Then, around the fourth of these, there is everything from a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop to there's the implication that Ambrosia at some point [[DyingDream died and the other characters are part of a dream]].
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''Oracle of Tao'' is a book based on [[VideoGame/OracleOfTao a video game]] made by the same person. The book has several key differences in the pacing of events, and it lacks the interactive element for obvious reasons, but it still attempts to emulate the experience of playing an RPG.
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''Oracle of Tao'' is a book self-published novel based on [[VideoGame/OracleOfTao a video game]] made by the same person. The book has several key differences in the pacing of events, and it lacks the interactive element for obvious reasons, but it still attempts to emulate the experience of playing an RPG.
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%%You can read samples of the book [[http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/bulmabriefs144/2042406/ here]] (login required). The book is in planning for Lulu.com publishing upon its completion. Currently, the main story is completed.
%%[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
%%[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
to:
%%You can read samples of the book [[http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/bulmabriefs144/2042406/ here]] (login required). The book is in planning for Lulu.com publishing upon its completion. Currently, the main story is completed.
%%[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
required).
%%[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
''Oracle of Tao'' is a book based on [[VideoGame/OracleOfTao a video game]] made by the same pperson. The book has several key differences in the pacing of events, and it lacks the interactive element for obvious reasons, but it still attempts to emulate the experience of playing an RPG.
to:
''Oracle of Tao'' is a book based on [[VideoGame/OracleOfTao a video game]] made by the same pperson.person. The book has several key differences in the pacing of events, and it lacks the interactive element for obvious reasons, but it still attempts to emulate the experience of playing an RPG.
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None
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''Oracle of Tao'' is a book based on [[VideGame/OracleOfTao a video game]] made by the same pperson. The book has several key differences in the pacing of events, and it lacks the interactive element for obvious reasons, but it still attempts to emulate the experience of playing an RPG.
to:
''Oracle of Tao'' is a book based on [[VideGame/OracleOfTao [[VideoGame/OracleOfTao a video game]] made by the same pperson. The book has several key differences in the pacing of events, and it lacks the interactive element for obvious reasons, but it still attempts to emulate the experience of playing an RPG.
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Fixing the description. Not sure about the external links category, so it's commented out for now.
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Years ago, an amateur UsefulNotes/RPGMaker game was posted on [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/1760/ Rpgmaker.net]]. The author later decided that they were going to make it into a novel. The book has several key differences in pacing of events, and lacks the interactive element (since you can't really play a book), but attempts to emulate the experience of playing an rpg.
You can read samples of the book [[http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/bulmabriefs144/2042406/ here]] (login required). The book is in planning for Lulu.com publishing upon its completion. Currently, the main story is completed.
[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
The book is a bit different from what most novel readers are used to. The author, having adapted it from a video game, makes heavy use of PaintingTheMedium (including using shadow text, small caps, [[BilingualBonus foreign alphabets]], and zalgo text). Characters are either adventurers who can be [[DeathIsCheap freely revived]], or the [[FunWithAcronyms Neutral Protected Class]] who cannot be killed because they are protected by God. The story is also able to go back in time using save points. There are also two types of chapters, conventional numbered chapters for major themes that are always InWhichATropeIsDescribed and minor "sub-chapters" that are character chapters in SwitchingPOV.
You can read samples of the book [[http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/bulmabriefs144/2042406/ here]] (login required). The book is in planning for Lulu.com publishing upon its completion. Currently, the main story is completed.
[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
The book is a bit different from what most novel readers are used to. The author, having adapted it from a video game, makes heavy use of PaintingTheMedium (including using shadow text, small caps, [[BilingualBonus foreign alphabets]], and zalgo text). Characters are either adventurers who can be [[DeathIsCheap freely revived]], or the [[FunWithAcronyms Neutral Protected Class]] who cannot be killed because they are protected by God. The story is also able to go back in time using save points. There are also two types of chapters, conventional numbered chapters for major themes that are always InWhichATropeIsDescribed and minor "sub-chapters" that are character chapters in SwitchingPOV.
to:
You
The author, having adapted this book from a video game, makes heavy use of PaintingTheMedium (including using shadow text, small caps, [[BilingualBonus foreign alphabets]], and corrupted text similar to WebOriginal/{{Zalgo}}). Characters are either adventurers who can be [[DeathIsCheap freely revived]], or part of the [[FunWithAcronyms Neutral Protected Class]] who cannot be killed because they are protected by God. The story is also able to go back in time using save points. There are also two types of chapters, conventional numbered chapters for major themes that are always InWhichATropeIsDescribed and minor "sub-chapters" that are character chapters in SwitchingPOV.
%%You can read samples of the book [[http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/bulmabriefs144/2042406/ here]] (login required). The book is in planning for Lulu.com publishing upon its completion. Currently, the main story is completed.
The book is a bit different from what most novel readers are used to. The author, having adapted it from a video game, makes heavy use of PaintingTheMedium (including using shadow text, small caps, [[BilingualBonus foreign alphabets]], and zalgo text). Characters are either adventurers who can be [[DeathIsCheap freely revived]], or the [[FunWithAcronyms Neutral Protected Class]] who cannot be killed because they are protected by God. The story is also able to go back in time using save points. There are also two types of chapters, conventional numbered chapters for major themes that are always InWhichATropeIsDescribed and minor "sub-chapters" that are character chapters in SwitchingPOV.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
This page needs a lot of cleanup in general, but might as well start with this
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Years ago, an amateur UsefulNotes/RPGMaker game was posted on [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/1760/ Rpgmaker.net]]. The author (me!) decided this game was so good (not really) they were going to make it into a novel. The book has several key differences in pacing of events, and lacks the interactive element (since you can't really play a book), but attempts to emulate the experience of playing an rpg.
to:
Years ago, an amateur UsefulNotes/RPGMaker game was posted on [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/1760/ Rpgmaker.net]]. The author (me!) later decided this game was so good (not really) that they were going to make it into a novel. The book has several key differences in pacing of events, and lacks the interactive element (since you can't really play a book), but attempts to emulate the experience of playing an rpg.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
See Ask The Tropers
Added DiffLines:
Years ago, an amateur UsefulNotes/RPGMaker game was posted on [[http://rpgmaker.net/games/1760/ Rpgmaker.net]]. The author (me!) decided this game was so good (not really) they were going to make it into a novel. The book has several key differences in pacing of events, and lacks the interactive element (since you can't really play a book), but attempts to emulate the experience of playing an rpg.
You can read samples of the book [[http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/bulmabriefs144/2042406/ here]] (login required). The book is in planning for Lulu.com publishing upon its completion. Currently, the main story is completed.
[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
The book is a bit different from what most novel readers are used to. The author, having adapted it from a video game, makes heavy use of PaintingTheMedium (including using shadow text, small caps, [[BilingualBonus foreign alphabets]], and zalgo text). Characters are either adventurers who can be [[DeathIsCheap freely revived]], or the [[FunWithAcronyms Neutral Protected Class]] who cannot be killed because they are protected by God. The story is also able to go back in time using save points. There are also two types of chapters, conventional numbered chapters for major themes that are always InWhichATropeIsDescribed and minor "sub-chapters" that are character chapters in SwitchingPOV.
----
!! This book contains examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:A-E]]
* ActionGirl: Our female lead, Ambrosia Brahman.
* AdaptationDeviation: There are a few, yes. The biggest one is that the game had Christianity almost go extinct but for one small church in a town surrounded by vampires, with the story focusing mainly on Taoism. The book changed where it was almost HiJackedByJesus. This also meant Jesus was a RecurringCharacter when before he basically didn't appear.
** In the book, the way the Aiken monastery is built includes stuff like an anti-air force field.
** The video game simply allows you to go back to the New Earth from the Void. The book has them trapped there (for unexplained reasons) until they complete their quest. Because of this, Book 2 jumps backward in time to before they entered the Void, and Ambrosia gets them to go on sidequests.
* AdaptationDistillation: The Game Plus arc, mainly to finish the last portion of the book quickly.
* AdaptationExpansion: Several of the characters are fleshed out so far.
** And not surprisingly, world-building. A great deal of effort is spent explaining how exactly how magic works. Some of the expansion creates issues of its own, since the way things look or work wind up different.
** The inclusion of the town of {{Qurac}} which in turn created a sort of RetCon where the game wound up having it too. This also added in the religion of Sakun, a sort of mix of ex-Islam (the customs without many of the more objectionable rules), pre-Islamic Sumerian religion, Hebrew beliefs, and Zoroastrianism.
* AdmiringTheAbomination: Subverted, though Azrael and Elias are often very surprised they got to see one legendary creature or another, essentially fixating on their research.
** Ambrosia actually gets turned on by the [[OurAngelsAreDifferent purebred angels]] she sees in Heaven, actually calling it in the narration a "sexy beast."
* AfterTheEnd: On the surface, the world in more or less the same, besides some portals closing. [[spoiler: In fact, the universe has been created from scratch, and [[PlatonicCave many things that didn't actually exist and were covered by illusory reality]] [[EndOfTheWorldSpecial now do exist]].]] Oh yes, and there's a giant floating egg in midair now.
* AllAmazonsWantHercules: Defied. Most of the men are pretty boys, some of which border on DudeLooksLikeALady.
* AllDeathsFinal: Subverted. There are "revival" spells, but certain deaths are not able to be remedied. There are graves, so understandably, old age is one of the constants. As are certain effects like disintegration or CessationOfExistence. Or diseases, judging from the cause of death in many gravestones. Also, there are a vast number of war-related casualties, so resurrection probably only works on bodies before decay has set in. This is possibly due to some sort of ResurrectionSickness (in the case of disease, causing them too be too weak, and die again) or DestinationHostUnreachable (in the case of old age).
** Not played straight with Yazim Jianne, surprisingly. In the novel version, the reason he can't raise his wife is not because resurrection is impossible, but because he is a MadScientist, and refuses to consider that possibility.
* AllForNothing: The underlying plot of the Game Plus story arc is that Ambrosia probably shouldn't even be doing her quest. God could easily resolve the story, and the quest is slowly making her [[HeWhoFightsMonsters She Who Fights Monsters]]. All the meaning and purpose of the earlier story is undermined, making the actual point that Ambrosia should have been happy with living at home and raising a family, rather than trying to go on another quest. [[spoiler: It gets worse, as she learns that MurderMakesYouCrazy after killing the "villain" this time.]]
* AllMythsAreTrue: [[BaitAndSwitchComment Except when they're]] [[UnreliableNarrator not]].
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Ambrosia, before she met anyone in the party.
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: GenderFlip. Ambrosia seems to care little about her heroic quest, but has a mini-HeroicBSOD if something goes wrong in her relationship.
* AmbitionIsEvil: Neither Ambrosia, nor [[spoiler: the crown prince]] Nevras, nor [[spoiler: Tamashii, their daughter]] want the kingdom promised them. Instead, they want freedom and a [[{{Suburbia}} house in the fantasy suburbs]].
* AmnesiacHero: Ambrosia, although it is subverted. She can't remember her real parents or anything before age nine. [[AdaptationDeviation It was four, in the game]].
* AnatomyOfTheSoul: It's something along the lines of Body soul (that which animates everything), Heart (divided into Light and Dark, and ideally in balance), and Name (for this reason there is TrueName magic).
** This has been changed to Body, Spirit (which includes chakra, magic, and the like), Soul (different from the spirit as it is associated with afterlife), and Name.
* AnchoredShip: Until the hero [[spoiler: confronts and joins her evil half, she's too neurotic to embrace her feelings.]]
* AngelsDevilsAndSquid: The New Earth is host to Heaven, Hell, and the underwater world, complete with portals to sleeping deities, and sea creatures chanting in R'ylehian.
* AnInteriorDesignerIsYou: Sort of. [[spoiler: The party can add a bed, banker, and other features to your tent. Later morphs the tent into a house, mansion, and a portable town, if they get obscene amounts of money.]] This trend continues in the book.
* AnonymousBenefactor: In the first scene, some random guy gives you enough gold to start. Too bad what you spent in the plot [[DiabolusExMachina gets wasted]]
* ApocalypseMaiden: ''Don't'' knock Ambrosia out. The universe will start to crumble when she's unconscious.
* ArtifactOfDoom: [[Theatre/TheRingOfTheNibelung The Ring of Nibelung]].
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: When talking about golems, apparently living matter can exist in a state of perfect health on an inert substance with no source of nutrition. That's right, chia pets for all lifeforms.
** There's also a few common tropes like AllGenesAreCodominant, probably AnatomicallyImpossibleSex, HasTwoMommies, and a number of others. It's not explained either why Ambrosia has completely opposite hair color from her mom.
** Oddly, while out-of-place fantasy wildlife is a thing, in one particular part, there was no MisplacedWildlife or MisplacedVegetation because the penguins in the desert? It was based on ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_Desert Atacama Desert]]'', the world's driest place.
* ArtisticLicenseMedicine: In the story, germ theory is regarded as nonsense.
* ArtisticLicensePhysics: Apparently, the universe's physics works on about the same laws as Cephiro. As long as you have a strong will, you can defy laws like gravity, momentum, and water pressure.
** The Earth is apparently flat, yet shaped vaguely like a "burrito" allowing one to fall off in one direction but loop back around the other.
** The most egregious example of this trope, however, is device that is built which is called the Paradox Engine, which inverts the natural reactions of matter, so fire that is made will create ice, which in turn cannot melt since melting is heating up. It conveniently ignores causal reactions (such as building the fire in the first place) or reactions of reactions (what this ice does to food trying to refrigerate).
* ArtisticLicensePolitics:
** Apparently, the story involves a world government that is somehow also an anarchy.
** The politics in general, seem to be taken to absurd ends such as income taxes taken every five minutes, or parodies of modern day politics.
* AscendedFridgeHorror: Something suspected by the protagonist and the audience is reprised later in the game. [[spoiler: The possibility of DreamApocalypse and DeadAllAlong. Although not quite true, it goes FromBadToWorse.]]
* AsianRuneChant: The Kuji-in pops up at least once, as Azrael's special attack.
* AttractiveBentGender: All male angels, and half-angels. But especially Michael.
* AuthorAppeal:
** The game, being made without a corporation or outside input, but as a hobby game, is presumably entirely this (or else it wouldn't be included). On a more specific note, both the high number of {{MarathonBoss}}es and {{RomanceSidequest}}s are the author's main reason for liking the game.
** The author also has a thing for [[SuddenDownerEnding Cerebus Endings]], as most of the main game and one of the second game have extremely bleak, if not downright scary endings. [[spoiler: This game literally has an AxeCrazy ending where the hero wipes out ''her own party.'']]
** There's obviously a fetish for crossdressing. It is possible to go through the game with three of the characters wearing women's clothes, and there are some side-references to it in some NPC lines. Not to mention the whole "angels are sexless" thing, where Michael is clearly wearing a skirt and appears to have breasts in his battlesets.
*** The author of the game is an actual user of tvtropes, so likely ''this entire page.''
* AwesomeByAnalysis: Elias can learn to summon (or several other magic types) just by reading books about various creatures (when usually this involves fighting monsters).
** He can also learn how to do runecasting this way.
** For that matter, if he browses through the libraries, he reads a four volume set called History of The World, memorizes it, and ''reprints'' it from memory in game.
* AwesomeMcCoolname[=/=]MeaningfulName: Ambrosia Brahman (the surname having to do with Hindu priestly castes and also with the similarity to the word Brahma, and the first name being "food of the gods").
** ThemeNaming in this regard. Her mom is Manna Leaven (or "leavened" "bread from heaven") before taking the "family name" of [[spoiler: God]], Brahman.
* AwfulTruth: [[spoiler: Ambrosia is God, and neither the world, nor anyone in it is real. [[EndOfTheWorldSpecial But Ambrosia fixes that]], and later becomes the bearer of the AwfulTruth that ''was'' the case.]]
* AxeCrazy: Ambrosia, in one (or two) of the bad endings.
* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler: In both the original game, and the PlayableEpilogue, this is part of the best ending.]]
* BadassFamily: Ambrosia is a PersonOfMassDestruction, and Nevras is a warrior with a {{BFS}} who can slice things into ribbons. Their daughter is TheEmpath with MagikarpPower on all stats.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The fable "The Ever-Exploding Head"
--> ''Once, when humanity was still young, a man wished he could watch humanity forever. As I giant disembodied head. However, years of viewing violence, betrayal, and cruelty made his head explode. But because he wished to view forever, his head reformed. However, every so often it explodes again. Be careful what you wish for.''
* BeneathTheMask: Both Ambrosia and Nevras have things they'd rather not show.
* BetaCouple: Every character besides the main two (and one extra character, who stays single).
* BetterAsFriends: One of the couples can be swapped out for another. Since it's borderline [[CourtlyLove platonic]], it may be a better choice.
* BettyAndVeronica: A couple of bisexual cases. For Aqorm, the resident thief, her "Betty" is Elias, the somewhat bookish type man, and her Veronica is Lilith, another girl and a [[HornyDevils succubus]]. Lilith's Betty is actually Aqorm, and her "Veronica" is Michael, a very effeminate-looking angel guy who is this because they are polar opposites.
* BigFancyHouse: Aqorm's house. [[spoiler: She ran away from her family mansion, because she wanted to be a street musician.]]
* BlackAndWhiteMagic: Since it's based on [[UsefulNotes/{{Taoism}} Taoism]], usually [[RedMage merged]].
* BlackBugRoom: Shortly before facing Estheriel, Ambrosia gets separated from her party, and faced with her evil half taunting her. She is forced confront the fact that despite supposedly being TheHero, she's [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman been killing Mooks this whole time]] [[HeWhoFightsMonsters and it's making her as bad as them]]. Then she has a vision of either dying at the hands of the villain, or killing her family off. In comparison to any other BlackBugRoom, it really isn't that disturbing but it does pave the way for later events.
* {{Blackmail}}: Ambrosia gets some pictures of Nevras [[spoiler: [[WigDressAccent crossdressing in order to sneak in to a plot-important building]]]]. Once sold, she can always make more...
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: God, who apparently is more into some sort of balance than true goodness. Knowing what you do later on, though, God's motivations are downright weird. [[spoiler: Ambrosia is God, and vice versa, so any problems God and his minions caused are effectively somewhere along the lines of Ambrosia giving herself something to do since she's ''bored''.]]
* BodyguardCrush: Possibly the main couple.
* BreakUpBonfire: Averted. She keeps his personal items, like his diary.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Ambrosia herself, in a moment of doubt (she later is talked into "realizing" she's real again).
* TheButcher: Oddly subverted, and made into one of the AcceptableFeminineGoalsAndTraits. Lilith being from a race of violent demons, wants to be a cook because she likes cutting things up.
** Later gets training from the ChefOfIron.
* CallToAgriculture: Seriously, this is among the good endings.
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Ambrosia's second mission is to stop the angel Estheriel. When she finally faces him, she's told that killing an angel that hasn't given its way to evil and become a demon, is like killing [[IncorruptiblePurePureness an innocent child]] and will [[MoralEventHorizon probably drive her mad]]. [[spoiler: It does.]]
* CantHaveSexEver: The not-so-evil wizard, [[FullNameBasis Yazim Jianne]]. [[spoiler: His wife dies during an experiment gone wrong, and although he joins the party, he's pretty much the only one that ends up couple-less at the end.]]
** Eventually averted, [[spoiler: with Selqui]].
* CapitalLettersAreMagic: This seems to be the approach used with most of the magical effects in the game, named items, etc.
* CastFromHitPoints: Nevras's Dragon Strike ability requires one turn extra, and this, in order to use. Well, it is strong enough to kill a dragon. In the novel, since hit points may or may not exist, this amounts to him coughing up blood.
* CastingAShadow[=/=]LightEmUp: Elias. Ambrosia can use these two, but not directly, needing help from a PowerTattoo.
* CerebusRetcon: Double Subverted. [[spoiler: Ambrosia has a sudden flashback where she thinks she was dead, and can't explain why she had no wounds after that. At the time, this turns out to be a test for her resolve, before gaining another Crest, so she denies it showing . It turns out this might have been true later, and she starts to again not exist, this time fading to nothing (that is, the original retcon was subverted, then retconned again as a symptom of another, more horrifying conclusion). Which is then subverted again, as she manages to force herself into existence. Which is then retconned again, this time, [[MindScrew applying to everyone but her]].]]
* CerebusSyndrome: Much of the game is SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel with [[AnAesop various moral lessons about love]] being taught. Then, around the fourth of these, there is everything from a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop to the implication that Ambrosia at some point [[DyingDream died and the other characters are part of a dream]].
** For that matter, ReverseCerebusSyndrome: [[spoiler: Immediately after a terrible point in a story where someone gets ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice you have three choices as to whether to finish them off, leave them, or kill them. Killing them makes the story head south, while either of the other options causes the ending to take a dramatic upswing.]]
* ChandlersLaw: Creator/RaymondChandler actually appears as a [[PeopleJars preserved holograph]] in a futuristic town, partially explains the trope (with ninjas dramatically popping up, walking up to the hero and attacking, and disappearing before anyone can figure out what's going on).
* CityWithNoName: The opening town? It's called Opening town, and you can [[HelloInsertNameHere rename it]].
* ClosedCircle: The town of Sekai can't be left until you fix everyone's problems.
* ComedicSociopathy: Ambrosia literally ''kills'' her counterpart in a rival party, because [[OpenMouthInsertFoot she says the wrong thing]].
--> '''Ambrosia:''' [[RealWomenDontWearDresses You're a disgrace to women everywhere. Far from being competent, you're just decoration.]]
--> '''Momo:''' [[NoGuyWantsanAmazon The one who is a disgrace is you. You've lost your feminine ways,]] [[MasculineGirlFeminineBoy and become a man.]] [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits No wonder your party is so odd, with you as leader.]]
--> '''Ambrosia:''' Be right back, guys. I have a murder to perform.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: The dialogue with God's battle.
--> '''Azrael''': Uhhhh... guys? Do we really wanna fight God?
--> '''God''': Have no fear. I cannot be killed, even if I am defeated.
--> '''Ambrosia''': Did you hear that? We have nothing to worry about, God can't be killed.
--> '''Azrael''': That wasn't what I was worried about at all!
* CommonTongue: While elves know Elvish, and there are some languages from the original Earth (the only ones that survived also had an alphabet attached), there is Common. There's also confusingly, English, which Common is based on. But Common has different grammatical rules such as being able to start sentences with but and ignore some punctuation like commas, except when used to break a sentence up arbitrarily. Obviously, the author is writing in Common, not English, for convenience.
* ContemplateOurNavels: Good lord, Ambrosia.
* ContinuityDrift: A significant problem in the adaptation of the book. Basing it on a video game meant it had certain rules that started to change when rewriting as a book, so it sometimes wound up with BroadStrokes or OutOfCharacter moments.
* ConvenientlyUnverifiableCoverStory: Due to the fact she can't remember her early childhood (averting NoInfantileAmnesia), she remembers being adopted at a young age. Too bad her original parents are dead, we can't ask them anything. And she grew up on the streets of a town a ''continent'' away after their death, so we can't ask the villagers anything. Needless to say, her actual past turns out to be quite different, once she remembers everything.
* CosmicEgg: The Universe Egg.
* CosmicHorrorReveal: Not the main plot, but the book has a bounty hunting sidequest that is relatively calm and relaxing, until they get to about the last monster, who turns out to be an EldritchAbomination.
* CrapsaccharineWorld: [[spoiler: The universe and everyone in it, beside the hero [[DreamApocalypse don't even exist]]. Unlike the typical DreamApocalypse, where some people may have been there before the dream, it is kinda clear that the only option for the remaining person (who in fact turns out to be the avatar of God) is to either spend eternity alone once she awakes from this dream, or knowingly create every living thing, realizing that there's a change they ''still'' might not be real]].
* CrazyHomelessPeople: Ambrosia, although subverted later in the game, when she buys a house. She's still very much like a crazy person, though.
* CrazyPrepared: Yazim Jianne has plans up to J-4, at least, including the option that he will meet the Oracle of Tao (who he firmly believes does not exist, yet plans for anyway) and tell her all of his plans. This plan involves teleporting away to safety.
* CrocodileTears: The name and premise of a FairyTale. A talking crocodile has massive amounts of Wangst about how the other forest critters don't trust it, so it cries alot. They finally learn to trust it, and everyone lives HappilyEverAfter. ''[[SurpriseCreepy Until the crocodile eats everyone.]]''
* CurbStompBattle:
** Many of the GamePlus battles are greatly abridged to the point of ending up this way.
** The battle against God ends almost as soon as it begins.
* CuttingTheKnot: One puzzle involves turning all the keys into one key to open a door. Or ramming into the door until half-dead.
* CuteAndPsycho: Ambrosia is definitely crazy, but doesn't seem to have any {{Yandere}} tendencies. She's not TheFakeCutie either, she's just unstable.
* DanBrowned: The libraries are actually funny to read. Not only do they often have gaps in knowledge about certain subjects like RealLife history and math, but even some of the books about the more fantastic elements don't match up with other books. Either there are varying views of history, or a [[ContinuitySnarl problem with the author's story]], which is even more hilarious since [[BadLiar it's all the same author writing it]].
* DarkIsNotEvil: Lilith uses dark powers, but is otherwise friendly.
* DarkReprise: There's a few songs that pop up later with a distorted tempo.
* DeadlyDistantFinale: Only Nevras and Ambrosia, but it's made clear that except for immortals like angels/demons, that LifeWillKillYou.
* DeathIsCheap: Not only is there in-universe resurrection, but God routinely resets reality.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: The Void world has much of the landscape in grey, with the characters in SplashOfColor. Also, this happens in some FlashbackEffects.
* DemocracyIsBad: The current Earth is run by a group dedicated to [[LogicBomb organized anarchy]]. That is, a [[OneWorldOrder world government]] is set up ''[[{{Hypocrite}} in order to ensure cities cannot form large governments and oppress people]]''.
* DemotedMemories: With a bit of MediumAwareness. Ambrosia manages to convince herself that her quest never happened, that this is a DyingDream, and that she's a character in a novel. [[spoiler: She's right on [[MediumAwareness at least one count]].]]
* DerailingLoveInterests: Also [[spoiler: DiscountLesbians]]
* DiabolusExMachina: Poor Ambrosia never can catch a break. She finally makes some money thanks to a generous donation and uses it to buy something. Giant worms attack her, ruining the purchase.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Played straight and averted. The party gets Cthulhu as a bounty, of all things. The first time, they lose horribly, coupled with with what you might expect from such a loss. Later, they try again, and are able to beat him. Averted with their fight against God though. While the video game version of this does allow you to win with effort, in the book, God beats the party by doing stuff like blowing on them or with the FingerPokeOfDoom.
* DirtyCommunists: a number of object lessons on why socialism doesn't work, using apocalyptic imagery to show happens when the Anti-Government Council fails and big government takes over. In addition to causing widespread suffering, it isn't even profitable, because when the government wants to enforce the MarkOfTheBeast (here, a RFID chip inside people to track how wealth is spent and tax accordingly), most people prefer to stay broke. All it does it make the government run out of money when they overtax the poor, and the rich figure out how to keep their money.
** There are also numerous scenes where people actually call them "dirty communists" and one of them involves a town full of vampires and how they suck the lifeblood of others. One chapter has one popping [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raised_fist raised fist first]] out of a coffin.
* DismantledMacGuffin:
** In order to become the [[TitleDrop Oracle of Tao]], Ambrosia has to collect a series of scattered tattoos by realizing [[AnAesop some profound truth]] from various [[HermitGuru wise people]] (sort of a ShoutOut to [[Literature/TheLostYearsOfMerlin The Seven Songs of Merlin]]).
** Also, another version of this is going on in the villains' case, since the BigBad is sealed inside a giant pot, and [[ThirteenIsUnlucky thirteen]] gems are needed to unseal the spell.
* DivineDate: Nevras finds out Ambrosia is [[spoiler: God]], and shortly thereafter asks her on a date.
* DivineParentage: Tamashii's mom is literally God.
* DivineRaceLift: You get to fight God [[spoiler: not Ambrosia, the original Trinity]] who turns out to be three women. That, or God looks like the Triforce.
* DoubleConsciousness: Ambrosia has this. As does Anideshi, due to her Sage trance ability.
* DowntimeDowngrade: Averted. During the downtime, not only do they not break up, but Ambrosia actually has a child.
* DragonsUpTheYinYang: Lots of both, including a few Eastern dragons.
* DualBoss: Sera and Phim.
** And DuelBoss: Nevras's sword trainer.
* EarthAllAlong: lampshaded from the ''very beginning of the game'', along with a second world called [[DarkWorld the Void]] due to WorldSundering. The PlayableEpilogue omits the extra world, since the gate to this other world was presumably sealed.
* EldritchAbomination: Three to be exact.
* EldritchLocation: Also {{Bizarrchitecture}}. Castle made of [[WombLevel flesh, veins, and blood flowing in the background]]? Check. Same castle also filled with floating islands with few to no walls? Check. Same castle really the [[CosmicEgg foundation of the universe]] and possibly a fetal metaphor? Check. [[BodyHorror Hands and eyes as part of the landscape]]? Check.
** Also MalevolentArchitecture: A few of the castles would fit the description.
* EmpathicEnvironment: Played straight and defied. In the game, weather is often random, defying the notion of an empathic environment. In the book, the weather is usually random, but Ambrosia is kinda a FisherKing (that she has an actual fishing pole lends to the analogy).
* EternalLove: Ambrosia and Nevras, in at least one ending.
* EveryoneMeetsEveryone: Also, PuttingTheBandBackTogether.
* EvilGloating: Parodied. He apparently is the time not only to reveal his identity and his mission to what should be his mortal enemy, many of his plans (including what he plans to do if he accidentally tells his plans) but also...
--> '''Yazim Jianne''': You'd like to know about me, now wouldn't you? You'd like to know that I am Yazim Jianne, the sorceror who will summon the dread demon Belial to give my beloved a new body. You'd like to know that, wouldn't you? But I won't tell you, I'll never tell you!
--> '''Ambrosia (narrating)''': He continued ranting, and telling me increasingly personal details about his wife, his past, and several things about his sex life that were honestly too kinky to share.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:F-J]]
* FairyTales: Each library has a few. These are typically not known tales, but rather [[FracturedFairyTale in-universe fantasy stories]]. For instance, one of the better stories is "''The Bloody Pet Shovel''" [[Awesome/OracleOfTao (in its entirety)]].
* FantasticReligiousWeirdness: The world religions are greatly affected by a demonic upheaval that destroys most of the population. Churches, even [[ChristianityIsCatholic Catholic]] ones, are referred to as "revival" churches, which takes on a new meaning entirely, since much of these religions are gone, along with their members. Instead of temples, most people in need of healing or worship, have to seek out wandering old priests. Also, many religions have become their endtimes equivalent (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miroku Miroku]] Buddhism, which is mainly composed of itinerant monks). That and the general state of the Earth is such that angels and demons are present in temples.
* FemaleAngelMaleDemon: Inverted. Though the male angel has AmbiguousGender, and the female demon is highly aggressive.
** In the book however, it is stated that demons use their tails to sire children, while angels can shift their sex to bear children. So, while Michael is male, he can have children like a female, while Lilith can make children like a male.
* FeminineWomenCanCook: Except that for much of the early story, Ambrosia is forced to eat raw meat. Not having a knife or a way to make fire doesn't help.
* FertileFeet: Ambrosia, after becoming the Oracle, grows massive amounts of some generic weed. Also, in flashbacks ([[spoiler: since this power was originally hers]] ), she as a kid grew tiny sprouts inside her shadow when she moved.
* TheFettered: Ambrosia. Which is good, because she's CuteAndPsycho, and without her rules she'd go totally AxCrazy.
* FictionalUnitedNations: Somewhat inverted actually. The Council is a big one-world government, dedicated to preventing one-world governments and even countries from forming.
* FightingYourFriend: Ambrosia fights her former party.
* FiveFingerDiscount: Not outright theft, so much as con artistry and a heavy does of sex appeal. Nevras, being a crossdresser heads around town on a shopping trip. In one of these places, a merchant offers an extreme discount in [[SexforServices exchange for other payment]], but Nevras sneaks out without paying except for the reduced price.
* FiveManBand[=/=]PsychoRangers: In the town of Momiji, there is a rival group trying to stop Belial forming a FiveManBand (amusingly, when they meet their counterparts from Ambrosia's team, they don't fare well due to OpenMouthInsertFoot comments):
** TheLeader: [[{{Bishonen}} Hikari]]
** TheLancer: [[OurElvesAreBetter Aster]] [[spoiler: (gets beaten repeatedly)]]
** TheSmartGuy: Wizard Gumi [[spoiler: (gets burned with fire magic)]]
** TheBigGuy: [[ThirdPersonPerson Na'ud]] [[spoiler: (gets punched out by Ambrosia)]]
** TheChick: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Momo]] [[spoiler: (actually gets killed, leaving a permanent pool of blood)]]
* FlashStep: Nevras uses it in one scene, but it is never referenced again.
* FlatWorld:
** Anideshi reveals she knows that the New Earth (not clear about the first one), is a layered world. The surface we stand on has hills and valleys, along with sea level extremes, but is essentially a series of discs: surface, inner layer, molten core, bottom layer (to keep the lava in). As for the sky, there are two domes, the inner firmament (where the sky is), and the outer firmament (where the stars are), with the sun and moon rotating around within a sphere outside the firmament. This is explained as why you can see stars but not past the horizon, despite the first being light years away. Other planets do exist but they are surrounded by Outer Space (that is to say, there is a space between them that is not our reality but God's universe) and have their own spheres. [[spoiler: This is one of the hints that Ambrosia's reality isn't what it seems.]]
** This is an example of an OrwellianRetcon, as the earliest version of the story had this, but updated the concept to more like a coin, flat yet with hemispheres. From there, it became an idea that it was flat yet folded vertically. Then it was described as being more like a burrito, and finally like an open-faced waffle iron.
** The Game Plus arc zig-zags this, as it starts with a round Earth, then flat Earth with some flaws (like the sun frying people who live near the equator), then a flat "globe" Earth that it rounded on the bottom, flat on the crust and has a domed atmosphere.
* ForgingScene: In Heaven, one of the angels makes Nevras a sword out of sunlight and love, tempers the sword with words about various struggles in his life, and quenches it with his tears and the [[JesusWasWayCool blood of the Lamb]].
* FantasyKitchenSink: It has 1800s diving suits in the same work with dinosaurs, magic, and time travel. And a sort of chocobo {{Expy}} called an ostrogoth (yes, like the historical [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrogoths Ostrogoths]])
* TheFourGods: A group of bosses in game.
* FunctionalMagic: Some of the spells fall under various categories...
** LanguageOfMagic: Angels can use true names to learn spells (similar to the ''VideoGame/TreasureOfTheRudra'')
** RuleMagic: Similar to Literature/OldKingdom style exorcism.
** WildMagic: A FFT style geomancy system.
** SummonMagic: Summoning works kind of like Naruto, in that it sucks out a huge amount of mana.
** And of course, ElementalMagic, WhiteMagic, and BlackMagic.
* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Uses the [[{{LightNovel/Slayers}} Lina Inverse rule]] of magic loss during the [[MenstrualMenace menstrual cycle]]. This is a balance to the above advantage for females. Downplayed in the book version, but it is still mentioned that "being distracted" is a source of spell failure. This probably counts.
* GenericDoomsdayVillain: Many of the secondary villains seem to have little backstory, beyond just wanting to destroy the world.
* GenreBusting: There are dating variables like a romance game, puzzles (ranging from easy to ThatOnePuzzle), some of the endings have strong horror aspects, is it a comedy, a tragedy, a sci-fi, or a fantasy? It's not a western. Yet.
* GenuineHumanHide: Tiamat is seen wearing a flesh suit of sorts to resemble a pretty woman. Somehow or other, this overlaps BiggerOnTheInside, since Tiamat's true form is not only male, but a huge three-headed dragon.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: Whereas the robots and such are written so they work better in the post-apocaylptic story, the Monsters, especially are at odds with the other creatures. There is a definite sense of GenreShift whenever they enter the story.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: When defeated by Elder Beings, the group experiences [[LovecraftLite Cthulhu-style sequence]] where unspeakable things [[spoiler: [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment which we won't speak of here]]]] happen to Ambrosia, driving her nuts before the universe is consumed by the Elder Beings.
** This hasn't happened yet in the book, but the party did have an encounter with an EldritchAbomination. They were killed first.
* GoMadFromTheIsolation: Even if you would get the GoldenEnding, you have a choice to either [[spoiler: let the universe go on with just Ambrosia [[GodInHumanForm ruling as God]] or do something about it]]. If you choose the first choice, [[spoiler: she gets to sit by herself and her evil half ''[[FateWorseThanDeath for all eternity]]''.]] This is [[WhatTheHellPlayer avoidable]], though.
* GodInHumanForm: Ambrosia.
* GodsHandsAreTied: God can reset time, appear in dreams and the like, but cannot publicly help the party, since doing something major will strip all nearby humans of free will and fill them with compulsion to worship and obey.
* GrandFinale: The novel is in three parts, part on covers Belial up to the party being defeating and the universe ending, then part is sidequests ultimately ending in a rematch, and the story essentially wraps up three generations of a few family lines, ending in the death and afterlife of our main characters. Unless Ambrosia gets wished back with a Franchise/DragonBall, there's no viable way to continue this story.
* GreenAesop: Two of these, actually. The nature of the Earth is split due to destruction of the environment and God's resulting intervention. And one whole town screwed up its air and water by using radioactive matter to power their city.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Much of the game, Ambrosia is either morally mixed, fighting a mostly evil (but with PetTheDog moments) enemy, or a mostly good (but with UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans moments) enemy.
* GrowOldWithMe: Followed by EternalLove. (In the final and best ending)
* HasTwoMommies and actual HomosexualReproduction: Aqorm and Lilith might be shown with a child at the ending.
* HauntedHouse: Inverted, if possible. That is to say, the Castle of Fear is dark and spooky with some dangerous traps. But it is not half as scary as the [[AWolfInSheepsClothing sweet and innocent looking]] girl outside by the name of [[NamesToRunAwayFrom Tiamat]].
* TheHeart: Ambrosia, and later [[spoiler: [[TheEmpath Tamashii]], her daughter.]]
* HelpingWouldBeKillStealing: It's within God's power to wipe both of the game's major villains out. Instead, he makes Ambrosia do it. Likewise, Ambrosia herself decides the best way to help humanity is to live her own life and let other people solve their own problems.
* HermitGuru: Several.
* HeroicNeutral:
** Nevras actually quotes from Film/TheGodfather when he hears of his new quest:
--> ''Nevras: Another one? Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!''
** Also Lilith, despite being a demon. She's locked her house until Ambrosia enters her life, then gets persuaded by her earnestness.
* HeroicBSOD: Ambrosia can have one at about two or three different points, since she doesn't really want the quest in the first place.
* HeroicRROD: Nevras learns a technique named Blossom at some point. It's basically a combo attack that can give him up to eight attacks. The ninth time this is used, though... he executes a single attack that drains enormous amounts of life, and then kills him.
* HiddenElfVillage: The town of Ru'un is right smack in the middle of a forest maze.
* HiJackedByJesus: In the video game, Jesus is not even a character, and the story is far more Taoist. In the book however, Jesus is a RecurringCharacter who pops up everywhere, despite the fact that he's supposedly under house arrest to the town of Kushiyama. The book is more of a syncretic story with both Christian and Taoist elements, so Jesus acts very much like surfer or Zen master despite saying some of the same lines.
* HomelessHero: Subverted, since over the course of the story, [[StandardHeroReward she gains a house]].
** Also HumbleHero, for her general view that AmbitionIsEvil with regard to any rewards for her quest.
* HopeSpot[=/=]DespairEventHorizon: If you don't have the right party, the characters will still make pretty speeches on ThePowerOfLove. It'll seem effective for awhile, but... [[spoiler: [[RocksFallEveryoneDies everyone dies]]]]. This is played out in the novel where the group totally screws up because without Nevras, Ambrosia rushes through without defeating some necessary bosses, and Belial is invincible.
* HorseOfADifferentColor: The ostrogoths ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrogoths yes, I chose that name on purpose]]) are riding ostriches with four legs and black feathers meant to depict a bird with a gothic "hairstyle".
* HouseHusband: Nevras, if the second intro is to be believed.
** Subverted later on, as it mentions him working part-time.
* ICallItVera: Lilith has a giant rock called Christina. This also counts as a ShoutOut to Thadius from ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned''.
* IFoughtTheLawAndTheLawWon: One of the towns, the entire party almost gets arrested and chased down by police for being immigrants. The crime becomes more absurd when you realize that in order to be allowed into the town, you must already be a citizen.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: Ambrosia, since much of her quest doesn't seem to be directly related to her. Instead, she starts out alone in a town and gathers a party.
** LonelyTogether: Ambrosia and Nevras.
*** Heck, half the party seems to have no secondary friendships, and is drawn together for this reason.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Averted. The party tries to stop/talk to Ambrosia [[spoiler: when she goes off the deep end and starts killing people]]. It turns out [[LaserGuidedAmnesia she doesn't even remember them]]. And then things [[EpicFail go really wrong]] [[KillEmAll on both the stopping and talking parts]].
* ImmortalImmaturity: Lilith and Michael, though probably more a case of EmotionalMaturityIsPhysicalMaturity since they look in their twenties.
* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: There's a few.
** Nevras's Phoenix Sword is made from love and light, and is drawn from his chest, coming into being even after getting broken. It's a cute pink hilt with a golden blade.
** Ambrosia's First Steel dagger reforges itself if broken and is poisonous to EldritchAbomination types. Her fishing rod is also cool as it is made from a material called Conception, which remakes itself into any tool the user desires. It's also impossible to break as its wielder simply has to think about it being whole again.
** Azrael has a flame sword filled with the spirit of Raphael. It's pretty much an exorcism sword too, and an across the board anti-evil weapon.
*** She later gets a BFS called Eternal Moon.
** Lilith has a sword that is made out of a dragon's blood and bones.
** Anideshi gets the Sword of Sorrow, a sword that can cause life or death.
* IndestructibleEdible: There are a few, but the aversions are not what you'd think. Organic or religious-themed food lasts forever, while preservative-laden white bread rots in about a month. WordOfGod is that the author is skeptical of many aspects of Pasteur's germ theory.
* InHarmonyWithNature: Anideshi, presumably.
* IntimidatingRevenueService: Largely inverted. The novel is much more conservative than the video game, explaining the complete worldwide lack of income tax, and how instead the town guards usually resort to either extortion, shady businesses (one town has an entire economy based around creating convincing crossdressers), or outright prostitution. Still, those tax collectors tend to be such that you don't mess with them (they are not only strong warriors with heavy armor, but they have AntiMagic due to the fact they [[ReligionIsMagic they tend to be atheists]]).
* InJoke: Jokes from multiple media are mixed together, such as the Rheingold section of [[Theatre/TheRingOfTheNibelung the Ring Saga]] mixed together with the "Precious" line from ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings''.
* ILied[=/=]FalseReassurance: PlayedForLaughs with a demon. Twice, and the wizard working for him falls for both.
--> '''Belial''': Seek the rest quickly and I shall [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves reward]] you greatly!
--> '''Belial''': I promise, on my [[NoHonorAmongThieves honor as a demon]] to [[ExactWords grant any wish I am capable]].
* ImNotAfraidOfYou: In Selqui's [[SwitchingPOV character chapter]], she talks in-depth about dinosaurs and how for years people have been making plaster casts of dinosaurs, and how she doesn't believe they are real. The dinosaur-like Jabberwock is defeated by a combination of this, and a Puff of Logic as the beast stands upright with a stoop, yet it long-necked like a hydra, forcing it to fall over when all necks extend. It quickly turns into dust.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: One of the final bosses gets run through with a heavy spear.
* InterspeciesRomance.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Angels. Which is why killing one, even for morally questionable deeds, is enough to trigger a MoralEventHorizon, apparently.
* InWhichATropeIsDescribed: The novelization only has its own chapter system. It has mini-chapters with the name of the character that the point-of-view centers around, then it has larger chapters that mostly start with "in which" (may of which are punny or deliberately misleading), such as Chapter 5:
--> ''Ummmm, Leeroy Jenkins. In which everyone dies because Ambrosia is stupid. But don't worry, God resets everything.''
* ItsAlwaysSpring: Averted, as there are seasons.
* JerkassHasAPoint: The underlying theme of the series. The villains usually have a valid goal, even if they don't go about it correctly.
* JesusWasWayCool: Jesus has had a Second Coming and is now in one of the towns. Not only is he awesome relaxed about people literally drinking his blood, not only is he an unkillable shapeshifting superhuman who is set up to eventually rule... All of these things are cool in themselves, but Jesus's blood is also used as a quenching liquid for swords in Heaven.
* JumpedAtTheCall: Ambrosia, largely since she had nothing better to do (the second time, not so much).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:K-O]]
* KaizoTrap: The FinalBoss has one if you have the wrong party. This plays out in the novel.
* KillEmAll: One of the most interesting endings involves [[spoiler: Ambrosia]] snapping after [[MoralEventHorizon killing an angel]], and deciding that since she has already [[RealityWarper created the universe]], her job description of maintaining the BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil requires that she... [[UnusualEuphemism balance the scales]].
* KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand: This situation is on the final showdown against rivals. Later becomes the start of a HeelFaceTurn, when the mercenaries (motivated by [[{{Greed}} greed]] not [[ForTheEvulz malice]] ) find out the BigBad temporarily exploying them is lying about the payment, because they will be [[MoneyForNothing nowhere to spend it]].
* KillerRabbit: One of the bounties. It is described using an comparison of a chipmunk from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' created by the [[ShoutOut Pillar Men]], describing the whole incident as ancient archaeology.
* KnightTemplar: Estheriel, though to his credit, he [[HeroAntagonist actually does care for humanity]]. It's just he has completely wrong way of going about it, when faced with the choice of people hurting/killing each other [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill due to free will]].
* KonamiCode: the group are stuck in the villain's mansion and there is some arrow trap puzzle (that somehow you can't just go around) involving a cross-shaped stone pressure plate, two circular pressure plates, and two long ones. Aqorm fiddles with the pressure plates in the general pattern (never mentioning B, A, or start but "the circular plates" or the "long plate on the right") and the pressure plate deactivates. Then you hear this exchange.
--> ''“Wait, how'd you know to do that exact pattern?” I asked. Aqorm explained, “Oh that? That's the secret code to the universe.”''
* LadyLand: Sort of. The town's name is {{Futanari}}.
* LamarckWasRight: Elves can fire (at least crossbows) and dodge arrows as a racial ability. Their reason for being able to dodge arrows is because previous generations trained to do so, as well as themselves.
** Also, you can apparently educate generations of crows, until they finally understand how to read and use mailing addresses to deliver mail. Yes, seriously.
* LaserHallway: One of the futuristic towns has this on several floors.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Zig-zagged. Ambrosia ([[OutOfCharacter usually]]) doesn't appear to know that she's in a book, while the others sometimes refer to action as an "account" or "log" and address the audience as "readers."
** At one point, Ambrosia is told she is in a book.
* LeeroyJenkins: Shortly before Ambrosia attacks a boat salesman, prompting him to summon [[KrakenAndLeviathan Leviathan]], she mutters the words "Leeroy Jenkins," causing everyone in the party to gasp, except for [[{{Bookworm}} Elias]], who has not heard the 'legend'.
* LegacyCharacter: Ambrosia was not the ''first'' Oracle of Tao. The first one failed [[spoiler: because he discovered he wasn't real. Given that the Oracle is actually [[note]][[GodJob a replacement for God]][[/note]], this is likely to get passed on whenever Ambrosia retires from the post]].
* LemonyNarrator: [[TheHero Ambrosia]] is also the narrator. She goes on [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny side topics]] about her family or personal history, glossing over what a normal narrator would consider the main story. It somehow manages to avoid ProtagonistCenteredMorality, since Ambrosia has no real illusions of her own righteousness. But she talks a great deal about her personal interests in the story at hand (if she's interested in it), her failings in knowledge legends and history, and her overall skepticism in the story's plot.
--> ''Ambrosia: ...God would send an Oracle to restore the Earth to Balance, [[BuffySpeak and stuff]]. '''[[TemptingFate But that'll never happen]]'''.''
* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: There are a few NewPowersAsThePlotDemands, that are basically limited by being used once, and then thrown away.
** Nevras's full name is Crown Prince [[GenderBlenderName Nevrasia]] Astra [[MetaphorIsMyMiddleName Danger]] Fitz Embor Phoenix III, but every point outside his initial introduction, he is either Nevras Fitzembor or ... well, [[NameThatUnfoldsLikeLotusBlossom without the Danger]].
* LightIsNotGood: Two distinct versions of this, one a KnightTemplar who is a party member, the other an EndgamePlus final boss.
* LittleMissSnarker: Tamashii to some extent. She says some pretty off-color things.
* LostAtSea: Both the novel and the game have a shipwreck early on (conveniently washing up near shore for a DerelictGraveyard event where the group stumbles through wreckage to get to shore), but the novel also has the mast break, stranding the group within sight of the nearest island, but unable to get there for awhile.
* LostTechnology: The story is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth that has basically been created anew. Most of the technology of the old world is lost, and thanks to an overbearing anti-government group (the Council), most of this technology is not coming back.
* LoveAtFirstPunch: Ambrosia doesn't get to know Nevras until ''after'' a bar scene where he's beaten up over something he said.
* LovecraftLite: Turning {{Eldritch Abomination}}s into overpowered yet beatable enemies, check. Tentacle hentai jokes, check? Having a side character say stuff about Cthulhu when she dies from an effect, check.
* LoveWillLeadYouBack: With AnAesop about how it's hard work to fix what's broken.
* LovingAShadow: In the literal sense. (Also, FightingAShadow)
* {{Magitek}}: To a really huge extent. Cellphones run on lightning magic, and emotional connections. [[SwissBankAccount Automatic Teller Machines]] run on some sort of magic. One town has an subversion of this, since it is an ancient city of lost technology.
* MakeOutPoint: One of the bars.
* MakeUpOrBreakUp: The option which happens actually determines your ending.
* MarkOfTheBeast: In universe it is less a supernatural concept and [[TrackingChip chip]] implanted in the hand or neck used for currency. It kinda screws up the economy, since nobody wants all their transactions tracked.
* MasculineGirlFeminineBoy: Nevras definitely fits this side of the equation, and Ambrosia is both tough physically and has a fearsome temper.
* {{Masquerade}}: Subverted. There is a lot of freaky stuff that goes on in this world, and for the most part the general populace (at least, the educated general populace, Ambrosia seems to need to be explained things) knows about them, and doesn't care. Except for the one big secret: [[spoiler: that the world and everyone in it but Ambrosia, don't exist, at least not until after her help.]]
* TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife: The reason Ambrosia's Oracle [[spoiler: and God]] powers get taken away at the end of the first arc.
* MayflyDecemberRomance: Two, actually. One with a man and an [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld half-elf girl]], the second between the same half-elf girl and an immortal demon.
** Oddly, this is averted in the novel, as it is explained that lifespan in the New Earth tends to be subjective, and couples tend to grow old together, even if different lifespans.
* TheMeaningOfLife: The meaning of life is defined twice. First, it's defined as bonds to nature, family, and love (but this is part of some religion). And then later, someone asks as a test what the meaning of life truly is. The answerer basically says that it's a self-defining question (as in the meaning of life is "the meaning of life", that is to say what life means to you is the meaning of life, making it a personal question).
* MenActWomenAre:
** Played straight in that Ambrosia is [[spoiler: [[DivineRaceLift God's daughter]]/[[MyOwnGrampa God]] ]], and Nevras is the resident warrior.
** Inverted, since Nevras is by default the crown prince and more or less a NonActionGuy that doesn't even want the job, and manages to avert it mainly because he marries into poverty. The case for Ambrosia is based on her quest, that it something she has to do, to earn her birthright.
* MightMakesRight: Regardless of what your character believes in, usually the way to "prove" it is to defeat the other in battle.
** And oddly enough, its [[RightMakesMight inverse]]. Although "right" is replaced with "[[ThePowerOfLove love]]."
* MirrorMatch: Also an important plot point, as you have a [[LiteralSplitPersonality dark side]].
* MistakenDeclarationOfLove: One of the reasons for a breakup, is after a kiss.
* MoonLogicPuzzle: There is a complex puzzle which involves solving three puzzles to decode the fourth. All of them are in groups of three, and it seems logical that the answer is something to do with three. Nope, you are supposed to exit out of the multiple choice, and MrExposition then explains that the answer is in fact Death. Why? Because the question as given was:
--> ''Answer this [[FourIsDeath fourth]] and [[AllDeathsFinal final]] question. What do these other questions have in common?''
* MoralMyopia: A heroic version of this. Ambrosia makes no bones about the fact that she seriously doesn't care about the villains' troubles. So much so, that she turns apathy into almost a religion of its own.
** At the other hand, many of the ethics Ambrosia learns are ones only she follows, letting others of her party do as they please, making it an [[InvertedTrope inversion of sorts]].
** They help feed Phoenix with some extra fish they caught in exchange for the best minds working on refrigeration tech. Only because of SchizoTech (see below) they can't just make HVAC systems and cool food, they have to do it through strange applications of magic and/or alchemy. One of these involves teaching bacteria magic. They declare it a failure though and '''release''' these bacteria out into nature. Another one, they try uses the fabric of time to freeze food in place but it's heavily implied that if this tech ever goes wrong, it might destroy the fabric of time.
* MoveInTheFrozenTime: has a scene where the evil wizard Yazim Jianne tries to freeze everyone. Ambrosia manages to unfreeze at the last second, talking with him for awhile before he flees. She also manages to kiss her love interest Nevras during this time, having him [[https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/32635-Kiss-deaf-hearing-loss complain about not]] [[ShownTheirWork hearing]] when it unfreezes.
* MrExposition: Your priest, Elias is a bit of a brainiac, knowing just about everything about every subject in the game. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], in that he's spent about 2/3 of his life in a library.
** In the novel, God tends to also take this role, since his being TheOmniscient means he can talk about literally anything.
* MsFanservice: Lilith, and to some extent, Ambrosia's dark half.
** Oddly enough, some of the [[WigDressAccent men's disguises]] fall under this category. Nevras crossdresses as a [[{{Meido}} maid]], Elias has a [[{{Miko}} shrine priestess]] outfit, and Yazim Jianne is a CuteWitch.
* MultipleEndings: ''And how''! There's over ten endings, [[EarnYourHappyEnding most of them bad]].
* MurderMakesYouCrazy: Ambrosia is more or less a little crazy already (being a MoodSwinger SugarAndIcePersonality with a LiteralSplitPersonality), but in a Bad Ending she goes noticeably over the edge after killing [[IncorruptiblePurePureness an angel]]. She starts talking about "balancing the scales" (which, since she [[spoiler: created the universe from a DreamApocalypse]], means basically destroying everything), and goes on a homicidal rampage, even killing her own party.
* MustNotDieAVirgin: There's a SexyDiscretionShot on top of a mountain, while the world is gonna end if they don't do anything.
* MyOwnGrampa: [[spoiler:Ambrosia is an [[GodInHumanForm incarnation of God]], and God married her mother to make her. So she's her own "father."]]
* NatureHero: Anideshi.
* NecessarilyEvil: The demon, Belial. [[spoiler: It turns out he knows that he is doing evil, but not for any discernible benefit of anyone on Earth. He's coerced by his fellow demons to find them a homeland, even though this likely means the destruction of most current life on Earth. Likewise, he destroyed a huge number of people on Earth because he was treated like a monster and [[SealedEvilInACan sealed into an urn]].]]
* NuclearNullifier: The FantasticNuke, the Brahmastra Sutra has a counter, the Gayatri Mantra. These are based on actual chants, and the latter is basically a WorldHealingWave. When cast after the first spell, it cannot heal any who have been hurt or killed in the blast, but it remove fallout and makes even ice into fertile land.
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: One of the reasons given for why the breakup may have happened.
* NoOntologicalInertia: Basically everything, inside [[DarkWorld the Void]]. The only place that is safe is town.
* NoSell: Two cases of it, both in the NewGamePlus. The first is when Estheriel shrugs off the PowerOfTheVoid. The second [[spoiler: happens when Ambrosia goes crazy, and her party tries to stop her, but she's fueled by the PowerBornOfMadness, and shrugs their attacks off.]]
** Also, one of the final bosses does this for the first turn, before the party pulls out all the stops.
* NoSuchThingAsWizardJesus: There is some overlap between various characters and what religious characters can do (notably FertileFeet). This trend is actually lampshaded, as Ambrosia is worried that if there's Heaven and Hell on Earth, she has doubts about an afterlife.
** Jesus actually appears in the novel. To some extent this is averted, as Jesus can ''still'' do stuff that would be considered miraculous given the setting.
* NothingIsScarier: In one town, there's an upstairs room that people nearby say "don't go upstairs, there's nothing up there." If you do it anyway, there really is ''nothing'' there (you get trapped in the room, which fades to black, until it [[CessationOfExistence swallows you up]]). Making it literally ''nothing'' is scarier.
* OfficialCouple: Ambrosia and Nevras. Given a limited fanbase, there's no real shipping though.
* OneWorldOrder:
** [[HypocriticalHumor An anarchic one]], which forbids all towns from developing organized military and centralized governments.
** After the first one falls apart, a real one.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: [[ThemeNaming Sera and Phim]], the two recurring bounty hunters.
* OntologicalMystery: Subverted in that it doesn't take place inside a ClosedCircle. But it does involve a QuestForIdentity. [[spoiler: And it does involve a DreamApocalypse.]]
* OnlySmartPeopleMayPass: That, or several cases of MoonLogicPuzzle.
* OrwellianRetcon: Ambrosia's last name changed from Brahmin (in the [[VideoGame/OracleOfTao video game]]) to '''Brahman'''.
* OurGodsAreDifferent: In general, Oracle of Tao is a mashup between Taoism and Christianity, with heavy amounts of henotheism and pantheism. This means there is one God, who is in basically everything, but every other religion's gods are our "angels." Thor? Yup, he's just another servant of God, and brings his hammer along.
** Besides God though, we have beings called Reapers who effectively act less as deities and more like backstage crew than pull the various levers and buttons to make stuff like gravity work. We're told it's done by magic, but at the level of reality they exist on, it's not clear magic even exists (magic runs on particles called runes).
* OurMonstersAreDifferent: See below. It's practically an index.
** OurAngelsAreDifferent: There are two type of angels, the modern {{WingedHumanoid}}s, and the older {{EldritchAbomination}}s model. This is actually justified, explaining that traditionally angels ''were'' all like the EldritchAbomination mentioning this story, but because humans have a [[AllMenArePerverts great tendency for interspecies relationships]], current angels are actually a watered-down breed.
** OurDemonsAreDifferent: Demons are supposedly the same initial breed as angels, just more inclined toward evil. They've somehow bred differently than angels, becoming more the HornyDevils variety, those there are several subspecies of demons. [[spoiler: Children of angels and demons appear human.]]
** OurDragonsAreDifferent: Everything from Eastern, to Western, to Dungeons & Dragons style chrmoatic, metal, and jewel dragons.
** OurElvesAreBetter: Elves are essentially human, but even half-elves have abnormal lifespans and centuries of youth.
** OurGeniesAreDifferent: In a town called {{Qurac}}, genies are part of the regular population. They sleep in their urns or lamps, they mainly grant wishes only if they owe favors (you can't just run up to one and rub their lamp, but if it's plugged for 1000 years they may owe you a wish if you release them), they can grant wishes for themselves (minor only, compared to what they can do for others), and they can marry humans bit in return they start to look human (still have powers though).
** OurGhoulsAreCreepier: The idea was based from the movie [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069228/ Ghouls]]. They keep coming back, unless somehow sealed away, and come from another dimension.
** OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Goblins are cursed immortals, suicidal since they prefer death to pain, and have an ability called doubt which has a psychic effect and is displayed with [[RainbowSpeak white text with black outline]].
** OurHomunculiAreDifferent: There is rather heavy overlap between golems, homunculi, and chimera. It's implied that you can build a golem with mostly organic materials like kelp, and have most of the constituent part alive even if the golem itself is not. Golems tend to follow the whole hebrew letters "[[ShownTheirWork emeth]]". Chimeras can be done from multiple animals/plants through genetics, but it's not limited to weird-looking animals, you can also make something resembling a human. Homunculi are not really mentioned, so golems are basically a stand-in.
** OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Everything from merfolk, to water elementals, to selkies, to sirens. They're basically an incredibly diverse race.
** OurMonstersAreWeird: You fight everything from Elder Beings, to robots, to Stonehenge. Super-cute anime style sirens, ShoutOut enemies, and truly freakish monsters populate the game.
*** The book attempts to distinguish between "creatures" and "Monsters". The former are common beasts like medusas or mummies or vampires, while Monsters are shadow creatures that become an EldritchAbomination if they touch other creatures ([[ContinuitySnarl it doesn't always get it right]], though).
** OurVampiresAreDifferent: Vampires are subject to silver and holy effects, and vampire lords can only be killed by destroying their coffin. Vampires protect one of the towns, in exchange for their food. Stakes are never mentioned, and vampires actually like garlic. Vampires are more like some wild beast than true undead, and can probably mate.
*** In the book, there are vampires and there are Followers. The vampires are pretty standard, aside from the above, but it is strongly implied that they are socialists. The Followers however are [[ReligiousVampire Christians]], and ''literally'' drink the blood of Christ.
*** Also, standard vampires basically implant a rune on those they want to turn after biting them, sucking blood isn't enough. The rune starts tempting them to become a vampire, and they can refuse. If they accept, a leech-like parasite enters their body, and they are driven to suck blood.
** OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The cursed werewolves come from a side effect of skin magic, using wolf skins (and similar) to transform into that creature. A bite or scratch from these creatures gives you the werewolf curse. On the other hand, there are also beast forms that accomplished mages can do, which literally transforms you into the animal itself with no advantages or weaknesses (no silver allergy, no heightened strength or speed beyond a normal wolf).
* {{Ouroboros}}: As a boss.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:P-T]]
* PaintingTheMedium: In the novel, italics, bold, and other text features are used to large effect.
* PairTheSpares: Pretty much every character.
** Selqui was created just for the one character that didn't get a romantic match, Yazim Jianne.
* PalsWithJesus: The party literally meets Jesus. [[DivineRaceLift She is]] [[CrystalDragonJesus very different from normal]] (see OurVampiresAreDifferent for more info).
* ParalyzingFearOfSexuality: The reason for the AnchoredShip above. Thankfully, Ambrosia gets over it.
* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: Anideshi and Azrael. Sort of an odd example though, since it's not the parents that arranged it, but destiny (that and it's a two-woman relationship). [[spoiler: In a book she reads, there's some prophecy that Anideshi is doomed to be reincarnated over and over again, until the last time where she's reborn to save the world with an exorcist, and finalize the relationship. She struggles with this and doesn't want to see anyone for fear her life would get written for her, but actually pairs up with Azrael, who ''just happens'' to be an exorcist.]]
* PerpetualBeta: To the point where nothing in this page can be assumed to be up-to-date.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: Ambrosia can, in the story, at least, destroy the entire universe with nothing more than a whim. She only has it for brief periods, though.
* [[spoiler: PlatonicCave: It turns out the entire world is an illusion.]]
* PleaseSelectNewCityName: This is actually still true in the novel, there are large blank spaces where you can [[HelloInsertNameHere name the town]] (not that it sticks).
* PointofNoReturn: There are a few of these.
* [[spoiler: PosthumousNarration]]: [[spoiler: Possibly subverted, in that it's never clear exactly when she starts narrating. She may start at the beginning in fact, but by the end of the game she is dead and in Heaven of sorts.]]
* PollutedWasteland: Hotaru, which has air so toxic you can't even stay outside for more than about 5 minutes.
* PortalPicture: In one of the towns, the painting is so real you can just walk into it.
* PowerBornOfMadness: [[spoiler: A one point, Ambrosia crosses her MoralEventHorizon by choosing to murder [[IncorruptiblePurePureness an angel]]. She then decides to become a sort of [[BalanceOfGoodAndEvil moral balance]], since there's too much good (or something), and tries to destroy everything. When they try to stop her, it turns out her madness has given her RealityWarper powers, not to mention NighInvulnerability, so she slaughters the entire party.]]
* PowerOfTheVoid: Which is usually the ability to slowly [[CessationOfExistence consume things in nothingness]].
* PowerTattoo: Ambrosia has eight of these, plus a YinYangBomb ability when she gains full control of them. Anideshi also is able to get them.
* PreClimaxClimax: [[SexyDiscretionShot Blacked out, but there are sound effects to indicate what's going on]].
* PsychicPowers: [[spoiler: The hero's daughter, Tamashii is TheEmpath, with some [[PlayingWithFire pyrokinesis]] and [[EmpathicHealer healing powers]].]]
* TheQuietOne: Azrael can be this at times. She rarely speaks, except to note some supernatural or magical event.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: A dwarf and a Bishonen seem to have teamed up as mercenaries. They end up being the game's recurring WorthyOpponent equivalent for the party, ultimately helping them [[spoiler: when faced with the fact that their employer will destroy not only the world but ''[[OnlyInItForTheMoney the economy]]'']].
** The party itself has everything from elves, to angels, and demons.
* RasputinianDeath: Belial is beaten up in [[OneWingedAngel two or three forms]], the party [[AllYourColorsCombined unites their powers]] to blast him away. [[TheBattleDidntCount This doesn't kill him]], and the party has to kill off his ''true'' [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm true form]], which turns him into a ghost. Once ''that ghost'' is dead, to put him away for good requires [[MadeOfMagic draining all his magic]].
** The angel Estheriel is beaten in combat, ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice, and then killed by the hero (assuming they don't choose instead to save him).
* RealityWarper: The end of the game, Ambrosia gains the power to create/destroy pretty much the entire universe. Still, due to GameplayAndStorySegregation, she never uses these in battle.
* {{Reconstruction}}: See the [[Fridge/OracleOfTao Fridge Section]] for more details.
* RedMage: Elias.
* ReferenceOverdosed: There are {{ShoutOut}}s to several anime, things like the Abhorsen series, random songs, assorted books, and other games. Some of the characters are {{Expy}}-types for this reason. There is even a quotes page in the first 10 pages.
** To give you an idea just ''how'' reference overdosed, one chapter contains references to Pieta, the Triforce drawing in a Zelda manual, Justin Bieber, and driving Adam and Eve from Eden.
* {{Reincarnation}}: Anideshi is [[CursedWithAwesome blessed (or cursed)]] with the ability to remember all her incarnations.
* ReincarnationRomance: Anideshi and Azrael.
* ReligionIsMagic: To a large extent. Atheists have AntiMagic, agnostics are scholars (and can thus learn any spell), and other religions basically empower magic. EveryoneIsASuper to a varying extent, except for Ambrosia, who explicitly can only use her [[MasterOfOneMagic Oracle magic]].
* ReligiousEdutainment: The game is a strange mix of several different religions to teach the author's personal beliefs.
* ReligiousHorror: Of a strongly syncretic type. Christianity blends with Taoism, Buddhism blends with Christianity, and Taoism blends with everything else.
** Most of the horror elements do come from a form of Christianity, but it not only rejects Milton and the notion of {{Satan}} as tempter (Satan is an accuser, and is still working for God), but it takes Isaiah 45:7 to its logical extreme and asserts that GodIsGood ''and'' GodIsEvil. That God allows evil to happen to see if we will build character or reject God. It mentions the MarkOfTheBeast repeatedly but blames the evil of humanity, not Satan for it.
** There are also Buddhist elements, specifically a scene where Azrael walks through Niraya (Buddhist hell). She does at one point quote Romans 8 as though it were a sutra.
** And it mixes Taoism with Lovecraft, essentially. Since humans have good and evil, despite there being only one God, they are capable of creating powerful creatures known as Monsters. Given enough time and enough people convinced of their existence, these become an EldritchAbomination. There's also a sense that things like disease are actually a sort of hysteria
* ReligiousVampire: The Followers' hat is that they are Christians that attend the Church, donate to charity and drink only the blood of Christ.
* RespawnPoint: God resets time, dropping you in the last place you were saved. This is true event though this is a novel.
* TheRevealPromptsRomance: [[spoiler: Nevras's dark secret as a WholesomeCrossdresser.]]
* [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts RisingCostOfHealthInsurance]]: Both inns and priests cost more as your character levels.
* RoleplayingGameVerse: To the point where the novel uses the same acronyms as a role-playing game but with different words (M.P. is mystic power; N.P.C. stands for Neutral Protected Class which are humans that cannot be harmed by others by virtue of God's protection).
* RomanceSidequest: for basically all characters (except Yazim Jianne).
** Now he at least has a meeting up with a romantic match. Time will tell about the rest.
* SavePoint: A rare non-video game example. It affects the story about like you might think.
* ScaryScarecrows: When Ambrosia goes AxCrazy, she [[spoiler: uses the party's dead bodies as scarecrows to keep the voices in her head at bay.]]
* SceneryPorn: Just about every background scene is either a shot taken on a camera, or a wall painting, or some sort of fanart, with everything from gorge overlooks to pictures of fields or forests, to AlienSky or even TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
* ScheherezadeGambit:
** There's some heavy speeches in this game. Everything from a GreenAesop, to [[HistoryRepeats political]] or [[GoingCosmic theological]] viewpoints. Much of it is also TalkingTheMonsterToDeath, though it doesn't really avert battles.
** Often it works after the battle, getting you the MacGuffin, or interesting the monster enough with your responses that they join your party.
* SchizoTech: Because the New Earth is basically a post-apocalyptic world with a strange [[FictionalUnitedNations world anti-government called the Council]] that imposes rules against certain technology and much of it is LostTechnology in the first place. What remains ranges from medieval civilization which uses magic as a sort of technology (updating maps and calendars, and [[{{Magitek}} even magical cellphones]]) and alchemy (a strange mix of high tech chemistry and some weird EquivalentExchange abilities, while most other technology is prior to the invention of electricity, while being able to invent extreme futuristic tech like "refrigerators" that freeze time or bracelets that reverse petrifaction).
** After the Council falls, alchemy gets replaced by technology, which given the strange way things have developed, is a sort of nuclear steampunk. They have largely coal-powered golems that can fire various energy weapons or outright radiation, while they spew black smoke in the air.
* SchrodingersCast: Ambrosia at one point is unsure whether she's alive or dead. She's given a choice whether she decides she's alive or dead, based on various flashbacks. ''It can go either way.'' The rest of the cast is either alive, or doesn't exist, depending upon [[spoiler: whether Ambrosia decides to create them]].
* SchrodingersQuestion: [[spoiler: Pretty much the ending options you choose can determine whether the entire universe exists or not. Among other things...]]
** And a ShoutOut to SchrodingersButterfly in one of the temples. [[spoiler: There is a character, asking the characters who talk to it if it's a butterfly or a person. The answer seems to be [[AnswerCut implied by what's on the screen]].]] Not to mention the story itself is SchrodingersButterfly.
* SealedEvilInACan: Belial has been trapped for much of his life in an urn. Although, he's only really evil [[SelfFulfillingProphecy after being sealed in an urn]].
* SecretCharacter: Selqui, the seal girl.
* SelfDisposingVillain: On a {{Mook}} scale. Some of the lesser creatures, notably [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblins/kobolds]], would rather kill themselves than let you take them alive, and may do so after about 1/2 their life is gone. Largely preserved in the novel.
** This is continued in the novel.
* [[SelfInflictedHell Self-Inflicted Afterlife]]: Hell is an empty desolate waste, resembling [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yomi Yomi]], the Japanese equivalent. The Heaven appears as a FluffyCloudHeaven, at first, but it turns out that both are based on the hero's conception of the fate she deserves. Her final destination is a sort of MundaneAfterlife resembling her living existence.
* SequelReset: Game's all wrapped up, but then we have a sequel. Why? Just to show Ambrosia as an ActionMom. In fact, since Ambrosia is God's incarnation, it's heavily implied she manufactured the problem leading to the sequel. Also a SequelHook, as the antagonist is introduced in the first game (but other than that, the story is more or less resolved).
* SelkiesAndWereseals: The bonus character, Selqui, is a selkie with the ability to shed her skin.
* ShapeshiftingSeducer: Portia has some shapeshifting ability (because of the working rules of the universe, impersonating other people is impossible, but animal transformations, and gender transformation is possible), and is able to become male. It's hinted that she might have become male to end up with Tamashii (since she is mysteriously absent when [[spoiler: Bakamaru]] first shows up).
* SharpenedToASingleAtom: Played straight and downplayed. The sword is covered with a sort of ceramic outer coating that is impossibly strong and sharp on the atomic level, but a master swordsman uses a special technique to deliver AnAesop about swords being sharp to the point of getting easily broken.
* SheatheYourSword: There's at least one battle like this.
* ShockValueRelationship: Michael and Lilith. [[spoiler: The two characters make out in a bar, wrecking the place while they bang into stuff with passionate kissing. Not to mention it's relationship that's sort of taboo anyway, since it's an angel/demon pairing. And she kinda ditches him immediately after. Subverted in that unlike most relationships of this sort, they actually like each other.]]
* SincerestFormOfFlattery: Some of the ShoutOut examples are cited by name, or included as concepts in the game. Most notably, [[spoiler: Lina Inverse makes a brief cameo appearance in the game.]]
* SilkHidingSteel: [[spoiler: (Nevras has got the SilkHidingSteel personality down pat, even though ostensibly he looks like [[{{Expy}} Cloud]]. He's attractive enough for a guy, and has a the quiet nobility thing too) ]].
* SingleTargetSexuality: Portia loves Tamashii to the point where she says no matter how beautiful or kind or intelligent (or nude) another person is, she won't even think about them.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan.
* SpaceWhaleAesop: Likely many of the morals taught by the game. One GreenAesop is:
--> Don't pollute or the Earth will turn into a black hole, and God will need to split existence in half.
** And then you have TheChainOfHarm as an aesop:
--> Don't hurt living things. It has no side effect on you, but they tend to take it out on weaker things, who in turn take it out on weaker things, until that single action causes some chain reaction that kills off the mice (possibly causing an insect infestation).
* SpinOffspring: Amazingly, this happens within the same story, thanks to the PlayableEpilogue.
* SplitPersonalityMerge: Ambrosia does this after a mountaintop scene.
* StableTimeLoop: How does the villain Yazim Jianne know Ambrosia is from the right timeline (they have a multiverse)? Ambrosia tells him that at some point one of his female assistants gives a Transport Coin and tells her to meet him, that he fixes the first time he sees it, because it was hastily made by him later on. The thing is, before seeing it, he had no intention of making it, but now events in the present caused a loop in the past and future.
* {{Stripperific}}: Lilith, the [[HornyDevils succubus]], is wears a black bikini. And [[VaporWear nothing else]].
* SuddenDownerEnding: Some of the book endings.
* SugarAndIcePersonality: Ambrosia. At first glance, she seems to be a {{Tsundere}}, but this is part is her MoodSwinger SugarAndIcePersonality, and when she's actually upset, she'll revert to a [[SugarAndIcePersonality cold, gloomy personality]]. [[DefrostingIceQueen She gets better]].
* SwitchingPOV: The book has two types of chapters, one to indicate a break in section, one to break for a different character perspective.
* TakenForGranite: Anideshi has a ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''-style Sage transformation, complete with the risk of turning into stone if things don't work out right.
* TasteTheRainbow: Especially in racial variation, but this is typical in-game.
* TenMinuteRetirement: Many of Ambrosia's HeroicBSOD events.
* TheAntiGod:
** In the novel, they have something called Rival Powers, which is basically the concept that something that is part of the universe aside from God creates horrible side-effects. For instance, {{Eldritch Abomination}}s have a power of fear in the minds of humans because they ''might'' exist.
** They also have Elder Formless, which are essentially Lovecraft creatures.
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: An attack called Attack Player targets the screen. Considering this is a sidescroll RPG, rather than vertical format (as is true of UsefulNotes/RPGMaker XP), this is pretty interesting. If the player dies, the game is over.
* TheHeroDies: Although, less a sudden death or murder, and more of simple old age. [[spoiler: It's actually a good ending.]]
* TheSacredDarkness: The Earth is made of two halves, the New Earth (which is completely different from Earth in its history), and the Void (which is made of some kind of all-consuming darkness with NoOntologicalInertia). This Void is sort of the inverse of the stable energy of Light, but not associated with normal darkness or dark energy.
* TheTreacheryOfImages: Used to great effect later in the game.
* ThroughTheEyesOfMadness: A possible interpretation of what's going on is that aside from meeting her party, the entire quest is a giant delusion of a girl hoping to feel important because her birth parents abandoned her.
* TitleDrop: Several times, as it's Ambrosia's goal.
* TokenMiniMoe: Tamashii, [[spoiler: Ambrosia's daughter.]]
* TokenEvilTeammate: Yazim Jianne. [[HeelFaceTurn Sort of]]. He still is a creepy wizard, and a pervert, even after becoming good.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Ambrosia.
* TooDumbToLive: At one point, a villain asks her "[[StockPhrases Who are you gonna trust? Me, who you've just met? Or these guys, who you've known for months?]]" Ambrosia can choose the person they've just met.
* TrickingTheShapeshifter: Estheriel's teammate (Loki) pulls this off.
* {{Troperiffic}}: Just look at this page.
** Also many {{DeadUnicornTrope}}s. Especially the Cloud {{Expy}}, and Website/TheGrandListOfConsoleRolePlayingGameCliches.
* TropeTrigger: Ambrosia Brahman is a Trope Trigger for Elias as MrExposition. Ambrosia's average intelligence and amnesia allow SmartGuy Elias to expound on obscure details pertaining to the plot.
* TroubledSympatheticBigot: Lilith hates angels. How can you hate angels?!? [[spoiler: She's a demon, so angels kind of hate her.]]
* TrulySingleParent: [[spoiler: God. Has a child with [[MeaningfulName Manna Leaven]], Ambrosia's mother, but it's later revealed that ''nobody really exists aside from Ambrosia'', so God effectively created a clone.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:U-Z]]
* UnderstandingBoyfriend: Nevras, to Ambrosia's TomatoInTheMirror nature.
* UnreliableNarrator:
** Ambrosia, mainly due to InnocentInaccurate. Ambrosia tells the history of the world, as she knows it, but lacks knowledge of history, or trust in legends. And some of her knowledge is lacking certain details that come up later.
** God also has extreme aspects of being unreliable. As an omniscient being, one might expect him to have everything figured out, but God gives two different versions of end times, and instructs us that the later one (chronologically written, though it's earlier in the story, occurring in Chapter 2) abrogates the earlier one. But even this cannot be trusted because it appears both are right at least partially.
** [[spoiler: It is strongly hinted that not much in terms of reality in this book (down to actual history books) is real, so the entire first two books (at least) are basically Film/VanillaSky]].
* UnusualEuphemism: Nevras talks about "meeting attacks with equal force" and "revenge" with Ambrosia [[spoiler: ...they're kissing.]]
* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler: The wizard helping the evil demon, does do because the [[DealWithTheDevil demon promised to revive his wife]]. He is [[WellIntentionedExtremist somewhat villainous in his own right]], but largely is lied to in order to further the demon's plans.]]
* UrbanLegends: God apparently starts one in the novel that humans that die underwater aren't well handled by the Afterlife and potentially get noticed by Elder Beings (like Cthulhu). He pretty much says it isn't true, but humans will believe it anyway. Sure enough, later on, Azrael expresses concerns about dying at sea, and having Elder Beings pay attention to her.
* {{Valkyries}}: Including Brunhilda.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: An angel/demon romance.
** Also WhyCantIHateYou.
* WalkingTheEarth: Ambrosia does it, with her friends. Despite the fact that many systems of transportation do exist, their quest apparently goes so far off road that they still need to walk (that, or they're just too poor).
* WeWantOurJerkBack: Ambrosia is very much a {{Tsundere}} throughout the early game, but enters decay on this point over the course of the story, she eventually becomes a sort of weird mix of SugarAndIcePersonality and MamaBear.
** Possibly all of the characters, given the AdaptationDeviation and AdaptationExpansion of some of the characters.
* WideEyedIdealist: Ambrosia in the early game, before experimenting with [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality her own ideas]], believes unquestioningly in the justice of her cause. The first Oracle she meets is careful to [[DeterminedDefeatist snap her out of this]].
* WidgetSeries: Before we even get into the book content, it is a self-contained trilogy where the text is deliberately shrunk so almost 400,000 words (remember, a typical book is 50,000 words) can fit into under 500 pages. Then it frequently uses even smaller print, along with GratuitousJapanese (and Hebrew, and also Hindu Sanskrit) as part of PaintingTheFourthWall.
** It's a post-apocalyptic world where the governments have deliberately agreed to create a perpetual anarchist state, where a girl is sent on a MissionFromGod to collect mystical tattoos to stop a demon, and the girl in question is actually a CosmicKeystone and the universe is destroyed if she dies. That's just the first part.
** Apparently, the reason she couldn't beat the BigBad the first time is because her big attack relies upon PersonalityPowers, and if she's feeling moody it destroys her instead. Since her boyfriend broke up with her, most of the second part is about them goofing off (including fishing and a Yu-Gi-Oh! parody) and her pretending they never broke up. She confronts the demon only to find out the reason the universe was destroyed before is that she is God, meaning she sent herself on the quest.
** The final part of the trilogy has her embarking on another quest, this time with her husband and nine-year-old child to kill an angel. We get several hints that maybe she shouldn't do this quest, before the ending splits into three parts: she either kills the angel and becomes corrupted and proceeds to kill her party and probably a good chunk of the world before dying herself, "sparing" the angel by not killing her when she has giant spear stuck in her and going home to enjoy farming, or healing her whereupon she becomes God and her husband has a date with her in the afterlife.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Ambrosia's choice in the [[CosmicEgg Universe Egg]] is witnessed by the party, but other than this, nobody can see her choice. The "villain" isn't really a villain, but although she isn't really egged on, she can definitely make a very ''off'' choice (to murder an angel who has already been run through by a rather large spear). Or a very good one (to heal it, although given that this ''same angel'' was trying to take over the world), or a [[UnflinchingWalk very apathetic one]], but somewhat understandable one given a [[DarkestHour no-win situation]].
* WholesomeCrossdresser: Subverted for much of the story, though.
* WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons: Used largely as an exposition device. [[MrExposition Elias]] usually has to explain something abstract to Ambrosia (who, while not stupid, is BookDumb), and thus to anyone in the audience who happens not to know about the subject. WhatTheHellHero version of this as one of the villains gives the [[BeamMeUpScotty mangled stock quote]], "Who are you gonna trust? Me, who you've just met, or your friends that you've known several months?" And Ambrosia can actually choose to say, "[[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter You]]."
* XanatosGambit: The [[ArtifactOfDoom Ring of Nibelung]] rigs it so the HeroAntagonist, despite sealing it away, still manages to lose horribly.
* YetAnotherStupidDeath: The novel basically lampshaded this by giving God the ability to reset things.
* YinYangBomb.
* YouAllLookFamiliar: Played straight with guards and certain merchants, and subverted in the case of maids and police.
* YouWannaGetSued: The game's BonusBoss is basically described indirectly allowing it to be greatly abridged. The justification id the neither its name nor attacks are allowed to be mentioned due to copyright.
* ZenSurvivor: A few of them, including some literal Zen types. Most notably though, the Aiken Master, and [[spoiler: Ambrosia herself, after the first story.]]
[[/folder]]
----
You can read samples of the book [[http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/bulmabriefs144/2042406/ here]] (login required). The book is in planning for Lulu.com publishing upon its completion. Currently, the main story is completed.
[[PerpetualBeta Nope]]. Apparently, the book after having gone through an editor and now getting adjusted for clarity and continuity. Also, thanks to Lulu currently having issues with a new update, the author currently searches for a new publisher. Currently, it's a tossup between Nookpress and Amazon KDP for printing the book. [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRK6V7Z/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593043157&sr=1-9 Maybe here?]]
The book is a bit different from what most novel readers are used to. The author, having adapted it from a video game, makes heavy use of PaintingTheMedium (including using shadow text, small caps, [[BilingualBonus foreign alphabets]], and zalgo text). Characters are either adventurers who can be [[DeathIsCheap freely revived]], or the [[FunWithAcronyms Neutral Protected Class]] who cannot be killed because they are protected by God. The story is also able to go back in time using save points. There are also two types of chapters, conventional numbered chapters for major themes that are always InWhichATropeIsDescribed and minor "sub-chapters" that are character chapters in SwitchingPOV.
----
!! This book contains examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:A-E]]
* ActionGirl: Our female lead, Ambrosia Brahman.
* AdaptationDeviation: There are a few, yes. The biggest one is that the game had Christianity almost go extinct but for one small church in a town surrounded by vampires, with the story focusing mainly on Taoism. The book changed where it was almost HiJackedByJesus. This also meant Jesus was a RecurringCharacter when before he basically didn't appear.
** In the book, the way the Aiken monastery is built includes stuff like an anti-air force field.
** The video game simply allows you to go back to the New Earth from the Void. The book has them trapped there (for unexplained reasons) until they complete their quest. Because of this, Book 2 jumps backward in time to before they entered the Void, and Ambrosia gets them to go on sidequests.
* AdaptationDistillation: The Game Plus arc, mainly to finish the last portion of the book quickly.
* AdaptationExpansion: Several of the characters are fleshed out so far.
** And not surprisingly, world-building. A great deal of effort is spent explaining how exactly how magic works. Some of the expansion creates issues of its own, since the way things look or work wind up different.
** The inclusion of the town of {{Qurac}} which in turn created a sort of RetCon where the game wound up having it too. This also added in the religion of Sakun, a sort of mix of ex-Islam (the customs without many of the more objectionable rules), pre-Islamic Sumerian religion, Hebrew beliefs, and Zoroastrianism.
* AdmiringTheAbomination: Subverted, though Azrael and Elias are often very surprised they got to see one legendary creature or another, essentially fixating on their research.
** Ambrosia actually gets turned on by the [[OurAngelsAreDifferent purebred angels]] she sees in Heaven, actually calling it in the narration a "sexy beast."
* AfterTheEnd: On the surface, the world in more or less the same, besides some portals closing. [[spoiler: In fact, the universe has been created from scratch, and [[PlatonicCave many things that didn't actually exist and were covered by illusory reality]] [[EndOfTheWorldSpecial now do exist]].]] Oh yes, and there's a giant floating egg in midair now.
* AllAmazonsWantHercules: Defied. Most of the men are pretty boys, some of which border on DudeLooksLikeALady.
* AllDeathsFinal: Subverted. There are "revival" spells, but certain deaths are not able to be remedied. There are graves, so understandably, old age is one of the constants. As are certain effects like disintegration or CessationOfExistence. Or diseases, judging from the cause of death in many gravestones. Also, there are a vast number of war-related casualties, so resurrection probably only works on bodies before decay has set in. This is possibly due to some sort of ResurrectionSickness (in the case of disease, causing them too be too weak, and die again) or DestinationHostUnreachable (in the case of old age).
** Not played straight with Yazim Jianne, surprisingly. In the novel version, the reason he can't raise his wife is not because resurrection is impossible, but because he is a MadScientist, and refuses to consider that possibility.
* AllForNothing: The underlying plot of the Game Plus story arc is that Ambrosia probably shouldn't even be doing her quest. God could easily resolve the story, and the quest is slowly making her [[HeWhoFightsMonsters She Who Fights Monsters]]. All the meaning and purpose of the earlier story is undermined, making the actual point that Ambrosia should have been happy with living at home and raising a family, rather than trying to go on another quest. [[spoiler: It gets worse, as she learns that MurderMakesYouCrazy after killing the "villain" this time.]]
* AllMythsAreTrue: [[BaitAndSwitchComment Except when they're]] [[UnreliableNarrator not]].
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Ambrosia, before she met anyone in the party.
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: GenderFlip. Ambrosia seems to care little about her heroic quest, but has a mini-HeroicBSOD if something goes wrong in her relationship.
* AmbitionIsEvil: Neither Ambrosia, nor [[spoiler: the crown prince]] Nevras, nor [[spoiler: Tamashii, their daughter]] want the kingdom promised them. Instead, they want freedom and a [[{{Suburbia}} house in the fantasy suburbs]].
* AmnesiacHero: Ambrosia, although it is subverted. She can't remember her real parents or anything before age nine. [[AdaptationDeviation It was four, in the game]].
* AnatomyOfTheSoul: It's something along the lines of Body soul (that which animates everything), Heart (divided into Light and Dark, and ideally in balance), and Name (for this reason there is TrueName magic).
** This has been changed to Body, Spirit (which includes chakra, magic, and the like), Soul (different from the spirit as it is associated with afterlife), and Name.
* AnchoredShip: Until the hero [[spoiler: confronts and joins her evil half, she's too neurotic to embrace her feelings.]]
* AngelsDevilsAndSquid: The New Earth is host to Heaven, Hell, and the underwater world, complete with portals to sleeping deities, and sea creatures chanting in R'ylehian.
* AnInteriorDesignerIsYou: Sort of. [[spoiler: The party can add a bed, banker, and other features to your tent. Later morphs the tent into a house, mansion, and a portable town, if they get obscene amounts of money.]] This trend continues in the book.
* AnonymousBenefactor: In the first scene, some random guy gives you enough gold to start. Too bad what you spent in the plot [[DiabolusExMachina gets wasted]]
* ApocalypseMaiden: ''Don't'' knock Ambrosia out. The universe will start to crumble when she's unconscious.
* ArtifactOfDoom: [[Theatre/TheRingOfTheNibelung The Ring of Nibelung]].
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: When talking about golems, apparently living matter can exist in a state of perfect health on an inert substance with no source of nutrition. That's right, chia pets for all lifeforms.
** There's also a few common tropes like AllGenesAreCodominant, probably AnatomicallyImpossibleSex, HasTwoMommies, and a number of others. It's not explained either why Ambrosia has completely opposite hair color from her mom.
** Oddly, while out-of-place fantasy wildlife is a thing, in one particular part, there was no MisplacedWildlife or MisplacedVegetation because the penguins in the desert? It was based on ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_Desert Atacama Desert]]'', the world's driest place.
* ArtisticLicenseMedicine: In the story, germ theory is regarded as nonsense.
* ArtisticLicensePhysics: Apparently, the universe's physics works on about the same laws as Cephiro. As long as you have a strong will, you can defy laws like gravity, momentum, and water pressure.
** The Earth is apparently flat, yet shaped vaguely like a "burrito" allowing one to fall off in one direction but loop back around the other.
** The most egregious example of this trope, however, is device that is built which is called the Paradox Engine, which inverts the natural reactions of matter, so fire that is made will create ice, which in turn cannot melt since melting is heating up. It conveniently ignores causal reactions (such as building the fire in the first place) or reactions of reactions (what this ice does to food trying to refrigerate).
* ArtisticLicensePolitics:
** Apparently, the story involves a world government that is somehow also an anarchy.
** The politics in general, seem to be taken to absurd ends such as income taxes taken every five minutes, or parodies of modern day politics.
* AscendedFridgeHorror: Something suspected by the protagonist and the audience is reprised later in the game. [[spoiler: The possibility of DreamApocalypse and DeadAllAlong. Although not quite true, it goes FromBadToWorse.]]
* AsianRuneChant: The Kuji-in pops up at least once, as Azrael's special attack.
* AttractiveBentGender: All male angels, and half-angels. But especially Michael.
* AuthorAppeal:
** The game, being made without a corporation or outside input, but as a hobby game, is presumably entirely this (or else it wouldn't be included). On a more specific note, both the high number of {{MarathonBoss}}es and {{RomanceSidequest}}s are the author's main reason for liking the game.
** The author also has a thing for [[SuddenDownerEnding Cerebus Endings]], as most of the main game and one of the second game have extremely bleak, if not downright scary endings. [[spoiler: This game literally has an AxeCrazy ending where the hero wipes out ''her own party.'']]
** There's obviously a fetish for crossdressing. It is possible to go through the game with three of the characters wearing women's clothes, and there are some side-references to it in some NPC lines. Not to mention the whole "angels are sexless" thing, where Michael is clearly wearing a skirt and appears to have breasts in his battlesets.
*** The author of the game is an actual user of tvtropes, so likely ''this entire page.''
* AwesomeByAnalysis: Elias can learn to summon (or several other magic types) just by reading books about various creatures (when usually this involves fighting monsters).
** He can also learn how to do runecasting this way.
** For that matter, if he browses through the libraries, he reads a four volume set called History of The World, memorizes it, and ''reprints'' it from memory in game.
* AwesomeMcCoolname[=/=]MeaningfulName: Ambrosia Brahman (the surname having to do with Hindu priestly castes and also with the similarity to the word Brahma, and the first name being "food of the gods").
** ThemeNaming in this regard. Her mom is Manna Leaven (or "leavened" "bread from heaven") before taking the "family name" of [[spoiler: God]], Brahman.
* AwfulTruth: [[spoiler: Ambrosia is God, and neither the world, nor anyone in it is real. [[EndOfTheWorldSpecial But Ambrosia fixes that]], and later becomes the bearer of the AwfulTruth that ''was'' the case.]]
* AxeCrazy: Ambrosia, in one (or two) of the bad endings.
* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler: In both the original game, and the PlayableEpilogue, this is part of the best ending.]]
* BadassFamily: Ambrosia is a PersonOfMassDestruction, and Nevras is a warrior with a {{BFS}} who can slice things into ribbons. Their daughter is TheEmpath with MagikarpPower on all stats.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The fable "The Ever-Exploding Head"
--> ''Once, when humanity was still young, a man wished he could watch humanity forever. As I giant disembodied head. However, years of viewing violence, betrayal, and cruelty made his head explode. But because he wished to view forever, his head reformed. However, every so often it explodes again. Be careful what you wish for.''
* BeneathTheMask: Both Ambrosia and Nevras have things they'd rather not show.
* BetaCouple: Every character besides the main two (and one extra character, who stays single).
* BetterAsFriends: One of the couples can be swapped out for another. Since it's borderline [[CourtlyLove platonic]], it may be a better choice.
* BettyAndVeronica: A couple of bisexual cases. For Aqorm, the resident thief, her "Betty" is Elias, the somewhat bookish type man, and her Veronica is Lilith, another girl and a [[HornyDevils succubus]]. Lilith's Betty is actually Aqorm, and her "Veronica" is Michael, a very effeminate-looking angel guy who is this because they are polar opposites.
* BigFancyHouse: Aqorm's house. [[spoiler: She ran away from her family mansion, because she wanted to be a street musician.]]
* BlackAndWhiteMagic: Since it's based on [[UsefulNotes/{{Taoism}} Taoism]], usually [[RedMage merged]].
* BlackBugRoom: Shortly before facing Estheriel, Ambrosia gets separated from her party, and faced with her evil half taunting her. She is forced confront the fact that despite supposedly being TheHero, she's [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman been killing Mooks this whole time]] [[HeWhoFightsMonsters and it's making her as bad as them]]. Then she has a vision of either dying at the hands of the villain, or killing her family off. In comparison to any other BlackBugRoom, it really isn't that disturbing but it does pave the way for later events.
* {{Blackmail}}: Ambrosia gets some pictures of Nevras [[spoiler: [[WigDressAccent crossdressing in order to sneak in to a plot-important building]]]]. Once sold, she can always make more...
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: God, who apparently is more into some sort of balance than true goodness. Knowing what you do later on, though, God's motivations are downright weird. [[spoiler: Ambrosia is God, and vice versa, so any problems God and his minions caused are effectively somewhere along the lines of Ambrosia giving herself something to do since she's ''bored''.]]
* BodyguardCrush: Possibly the main couple.
* BreakUpBonfire: Averted. She keeps his personal items, like his diary.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Ambrosia herself, in a moment of doubt (she later is talked into "realizing" she's real again).
* TheButcher: Oddly subverted, and made into one of the AcceptableFeminineGoalsAndTraits. Lilith being from a race of violent demons, wants to be a cook because she likes cutting things up.
** Later gets training from the ChefOfIron.
* CallToAgriculture: Seriously, this is among the good endings.
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Ambrosia's second mission is to stop the angel Estheriel. When she finally faces him, she's told that killing an angel that hasn't given its way to evil and become a demon, is like killing [[IncorruptiblePurePureness an innocent child]] and will [[MoralEventHorizon probably drive her mad]]. [[spoiler: It does.]]
* CantHaveSexEver: The not-so-evil wizard, [[FullNameBasis Yazim Jianne]]. [[spoiler: His wife dies during an experiment gone wrong, and although he joins the party, he's pretty much the only one that ends up couple-less at the end.]]
** Eventually averted, [[spoiler: with Selqui]].
* CapitalLettersAreMagic: This seems to be the approach used with most of the magical effects in the game, named items, etc.
* CastFromHitPoints: Nevras's Dragon Strike ability requires one turn extra, and this, in order to use. Well, it is strong enough to kill a dragon. In the novel, since hit points may or may not exist, this amounts to him coughing up blood.
* CastingAShadow[=/=]LightEmUp: Elias. Ambrosia can use these two, but not directly, needing help from a PowerTattoo.
* CerebusRetcon: Double Subverted. [[spoiler: Ambrosia has a sudden flashback where she thinks she was dead, and can't explain why she had no wounds after that. At the time, this turns out to be a test for her resolve, before gaining another Crest, so she denies it showing . It turns out this might have been true later, and she starts to again not exist, this time fading to nothing (that is, the original retcon was subverted, then retconned again as a symptom of another, more horrifying conclusion). Which is then subverted again, as she manages to force herself into existence. Which is then retconned again, this time, [[MindScrew applying to everyone but her]].]]
* CerebusSyndrome: Much of the game is SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel with [[AnAesop various moral lessons about love]] being taught. Then, around the fourth of these, there is everything from a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop to the implication that Ambrosia at some point [[DyingDream died and the other characters are part of a dream]].
** For that matter, ReverseCerebusSyndrome: [[spoiler: Immediately after a terrible point in a story where someone gets ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice you have three choices as to whether to finish them off, leave them, or kill them. Killing them makes the story head south, while either of the other options causes the ending to take a dramatic upswing.]]
* ChandlersLaw: Creator/RaymondChandler actually appears as a [[PeopleJars preserved holograph]] in a futuristic town, partially explains the trope (with ninjas dramatically popping up, walking up to the hero and attacking, and disappearing before anyone can figure out what's going on).
* CityWithNoName: The opening town? It's called Opening town, and you can [[HelloInsertNameHere rename it]].
* ClosedCircle: The town of Sekai can't be left until you fix everyone's problems.
* ComedicSociopathy: Ambrosia literally ''kills'' her counterpart in a rival party, because [[OpenMouthInsertFoot she says the wrong thing]].
--> '''Ambrosia:''' [[RealWomenDontWearDresses You're a disgrace to women everywhere. Far from being competent, you're just decoration.]]
--> '''Momo:''' [[NoGuyWantsanAmazon The one who is a disgrace is you. You've lost your feminine ways,]] [[MasculineGirlFeminineBoy and become a man.]] [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits No wonder your party is so odd, with you as leader.]]
--> '''Ambrosia:''' Be right back, guys. I have a murder to perform.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: The dialogue with God's battle.
--> '''Azrael''': Uhhhh... guys? Do we really wanna fight God?
--> '''God''': Have no fear. I cannot be killed, even if I am defeated.
--> '''Ambrosia''': Did you hear that? We have nothing to worry about, God can't be killed.
--> '''Azrael''': That wasn't what I was worried about at all!
* CommonTongue: While elves know Elvish, and there are some languages from the original Earth (the only ones that survived also had an alphabet attached), there is Common. There's also confusingly, English, which Common is based on. But Common has different grammatical rules such as being able to start sentences with but and ignore some punctuation like commas, except when used to break a sentence up arbitrarily. Obviously, the author is writing in Common, not English, for convenience.
* ContemplateOurNavels: Good lord, Ambrosia.
* ContinuityDrift: A significant problem in the adaptation of the book. Basing it on a video game meant it had certain rules that started to change when rewriting as a book, so it sometimes wound up with BroadStrokes or OutOfCharacter moments.
* ConvenientlyUnverifiableCoverStory: Due to the fact she can't remember her early childhood (averting NoInfantileAmnesia), she remembers being adopted at a young age. Too bad her original parents are dead, we can't ask them anything. And she grew up on the streets of a town a ''continent'' away after their death, so we can't ask the villagers anything. Needless to say, her actual past turns out to be quite different, once she remembers everything.
* CosmicEgg: The Universe Egg.
* CosmicHorrorReveal: Not the main plot, but the book has a bounty hunting sidequest that is relatively calm and relaxing, until they get to about the last monster, who turns out to be an EldritchAbomination.
* CrapsaccharineWorld: [[spoiler: The universe and everyone in it, beside the hero [[DreamApocalypse don't even exist]]. Unlike the typical DreamApocalypse, where some people may have been there before the dream, it is kinda clear that the only option for the remaining person (who in fact turns out to be the avatar of God) is to either spend eternity alone once she awakes from this dream, or knowingly create every living thing, realizing that there's a change they ''still'' might not be real]].
* CrazyHomelessPeople: Ambrosia, although subverted later in the game, when she buys a house. She's still very much like a crazy person, though.
* CrazyPrepared: Yazim Jianne has plans up to J-4, at least, including the option that he will meet the Oracle of Tao (who he firmly believes does not exist, yet plans for anyway) and tell her all of his plans. This plan involves teleporting away to safety.
* CrocodileTears: The name and premise of a FairyTale. A talking crocodile has massive amounts of Wangst about how the other forest critters don't trust it, so it cries alot. They finally learn to trust it, and everyone lives HappilyEverAfter. ''[[SurpriseCreepy Until the crocodile eats everyone.]]''
* CurbStompBattle:
** Many of the GamePlus battles are greatly abridged to the point of ending up this way.
** The battle against God ends almost as soon as it begins.
* CuttingTheKnot: One puzzle involves turning all the keys into one key to open a door. Or ramming into the door until half-dead.
* CuteAndPsycho: Ambrosia is definitely crazy, but doesn't seem to have any {{Yandere}} tendencies. She's not TheFakeCutie either, she's just unstable.
* DanBrowned: The libraries are actually funny to read. Not only do they often have gaps in knowledge about certain subjects like RealLife history and math, but even some of the books about the more fantastic elements don't match up with other books. Either there are varying views of history, or a [[ContinuitySnarl problem with the author's story]], which is even more hilarious since [[BadLiar it's all the same author writing it]].
* DarkIsNotEvil: Lilith uses dark powers, but is otherwise friendly.
* DarkReprise: There's a few songs that pop up later with a distorted tempo.
* DeadlyDistantFinale: Only Nevras and Ambrosia, but it's made clear that except for immortals like angels/demons, that LifeWillKillYou.
* DeathIsCheap: Not only is there in-universe resurrection, but God routinely resets reality.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: The Void world has much of the landscape in grey, with the characters in SplashOfColor. Also, this happens in some FlashbackEffects.
* DemocracyIsBad: The current Earth is run by a group dedicated to [[LogicBomb organized anarchy]]. That is, a [[OneWorldOrder world government]] is set up ''[[{{Hypocrite}} in order to ensure cities cannot form large governments and oppress people]]''.
* DemotedMemories: With a bit of MediumAwareness. Ambrosia manages to convince herself that her quest never happened, that this is a DyingDream, and that she's a character in a novel. [[spoiler: She's right on [[MediumAwareness at least one count]].]]
* DerailingLoveInterests: Also [[spoiler: DiscountLesbians]]
* DiabolusExMachina: Poor Ambrosia never can catch a break. She finally makes some money thanks to a generous donation and uses it to buy something. Giant worms attack her, ruining the purchase.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Played straight and averted. The party gets Cthulhu as a bounty, of all things. The first time, they lose horribly, coupled with with what you might expect from such a loss. Later, they try again, and are able to beat him. Averted with their fight against God though. While the video game version of this does allow you to win with effort, in the book, God beats the party by doing stuff like blowing on them or with the FingerPokeOfDoom.
* DirtyCommunists: a number of object lessons on why socialism doesn't work, using apocalyptic imagery to show happens when the Anti-Government Council fails and big government takes over. In addition to causing widespread suffering, it isn't even profitable, because when the government wants to enforce the MarkOfTheBeast (here, a RFID chip inside people to track how wealth is spent and tax accordingly), most people prefer to stay broke. All it does it make the government run out of money when they overtax the poor, and the rich figure out how to keep their money.
** There are also numerous scenes where people actually call them "dirty communists" and one of them involves a town full of vampires and how they suck the lifeblood of others. One chapter has one popping [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raised_fist raised fist first]] out of a coffin.
* DismantledMacGuffin:
** In order to become the [[TitleDrop Oracle of Tao]], Ambrosia has to collect a series of scattered tattoos by realizing [[AnAesop some profound truth]] from various [[HermitGuru wise people]] (sort of a ShoutOut to [[Literature/TheLostYearsOfMerlin The Seven Songs of Merlin]]).
** Also, another version of this is going on in the villains' case, since the BigBad is sealed inside a giant pot, and [[ThirteenIsUnlucky thirteen]] gems are needed to unseal the spell.
* DivineDate: Nevras finds out Ambrosia is [[spoiler: God]], and shortly thereafter asks her on a date.
* DivineParentage: Tamashii's mom is literally God.
* DivineRaceLift: You get to fight God [[spoiler: not Ambrosia, the original Trinity]] who turns out to be three women. That, or God looks like the Triforce.
* DoubleConsciousness: Ambrosia has this. As does Anideshi, due to her Sage trance ability.
* DowntimeDowngrade: Averted. During the downtime, not only do they not break up, but Ambrosia actually has a child.
* DragonsUpTheYinYang: Lots of both, including a few Eastern dragons.
* DualBoss: Sera and Phim.
** And DuelBoss: Nevras's sword trainer.
* EarthAllAlong: lampshaded from the ''very beginning of the game'', along with a second world called [[DarkWorld the Void]] due to WorldSundering. The PlayableEpilogue omits the extra world, since the gate to this other world was presumably sealed.
* EldritchAbomination: Three to be exact.
* EldritchLocation: Also {{Bizarrchitecture}}. Castle made of [[WombLevel flesh, veins, and blood flowing in the background]]? Check. Same castle also filled with floating islands with few to no walls? Check. Same castle really the [[CosmicEgg foundation of the universe]] and possibly a fetal metaphor? Check. [[BodyHorror Hands and eyes as part of the landscape]]? Check.
** Also MalevolentArchitecture: A few of the castles would fit the description.
* EmpathicEnvironment: Played straight and defied. In the game, weather is often random, defying the notion of an empathic environment. In the book, the weather is usually random, but Ambrosia is kinda a FisherKing (that she has an actual fishing pole lends to the analogy).
* EternalLove: Ambrosia and Nevras, in at least one ending.
* EveryoneMeetsEveryone: Also, PuttingTheBandBackTogether.
* EvilGloating: Parodied. He apparently is the time not only to reveal his identity and his mission to what should be his mortal enemy, many of his plans (including what he plans to do if he accidentally tells his plans) but also...
--> '''Yazim Jianne''': You'd like to know about me, now wouldn't you? You'd like to know that I am Yazim Jianne, the sorceror who will summon the dread demon Belial to give my beloved a new body. You'd like to know that, wouldn't you? But I won't tell you, I'll never tell you!
--> '''Ambrosia (narrating)''': He continued ranting, and telling me increasingly personal details about his wife, his past, and several things about his sex life that were honestly too kinky to share.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:F-J]]
* FairyTales: Each library has a few. These are typically not known tales, but rather [[FracturedFairyTale in-universe fantasy stories]]. For instance, one of the better stories is "''The Bloody Pet Shovel''" [[Awesome/OracleOfTao (in its entirety)]].
* FantasticReligiousWeirdness: The world religions are greatly affected by a demonic upheaval that destroys most of the population. Churches, even [[ChristianityIsCatholic Catholic]] ones, are referred to as "revival" churches, which takes on a new meaning entirely, since much of these religions are gone, along with their members. Instead of temples, most people in need of healing or worship, have to seek out wandering old priests. Also, many religions have become their endtimes equivalent (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miroku Miroku]] Buddhism, which is mainly composed of itinerant monks). That and the general state of the Earth is such that angels and demons are present in temples.
* FemaleAngelMaleDemon: Inverted. Though the male angel has AmbiguousGender, and the female demon is highly aggressive.
** In the book however, it is stated that demons use their tails to sire children, while angels can shift their sex to bear children. So, while Michael is male, he can have children like a female, while Lilith can make children like a male.
* FeminineWomenCanCook: Except that for much of the early story, Ambrosia is forced to eat raw meat. Not having a knife or a way to make fire doesn't help.
* FertileFeet: Ambrosia, after becoming the Oracle, grows massive amounts of some generic weed. Also, in flashbacks ([[spoiler: since this power was originally hers]] ), she as a kid grew tiny sprouts inside her shadow when she moved.
* TheFettered: Ambrosia. Which is good, because she's CuteAndPsycho, and without her rules she'd go totally AxCrazy.
* FictionalUnitedNations: Somewhat inverted actually. The Council is a big one-world government, dedicated to preventing one-world governments and even countries from forming.
* FightingYourFriend: Ambrosia fights her former party.
* FiveFingerDiscount: Not outright theft, so much as con artistry and a heavy does of sex appeal. Nevras, being a crossdresser heads around town on a shopping trip. In one of these places, a merchant offers an extreme discount in [[SexforServices exchange for other payment]], but Nevras sneaks out without paying except for the reduced price.
* FiveManBand[=/=]PsychoRangers: In the town of Momiji, there is a rival group trying to stop Belial forming a FiveManBand (amusingly, when they meet their counterparts from Ambrosia's team, they don't fare well due to OpenMouthInsertFoot comments):
** TheLeader: [[{{Bishonen}} Hikari]]
** TheLancer: [[OurElvesAreBetter Aster]] [[spoiler: (gets beaten repeatedly)]]
** TheSmartGuy: Wizard Gumi [[spoiler: (gets burned with fire magic)]]
** TheBigGuy: [[ThirdPersonPerson Na'ud]] [[spoiler: (gets punched out by Ambrosia)]]
** TheChick: [[BitchInSheepsClothing Momo]] [[spoiler: (actually gets killed, leaving a permanent pool of blood)]]
* FlashStep: Nevras uses it in one scene, but it is never referenced again.
* FlatWorld:
** Anideshi reveals she knows that the New Earth (not clear about the first one), is a layered world. The surface we stand on has hills and valleys, along with sea level extremes, but is essentially a series of discs: surface, inner layer, molten core, bottom layer (to keep the lava in). As for the sky, there are two domes, the inner firmament (where the sky is), and the outer firmament (where the stars are), with the sun and moon rotating around within a sphere outside the firmament. This is explained as why you can see stars but not past the horizon, despite the first being light years away. Other planets do exist but they are surrounded by Outer Space (that is to say, there is a space between them that is not our reality but God's universe) and have their own spheres. [[spoiler: This is one of the hints that Ambrosia's reality isn't what it seems.]]
** This is an example of an OrwellianRetcon, as the earliest version of the story had this, but updated the concept to more like a coin, flat yet with hemispheres. From there, it became an idea that it was flat yet folded vertically. Then it was described as being more like a burrito, and finally like an open-faced waffle iron.
** The Game Plus arc zig-zags this, as it starts with a round Earth, then flat Earth with some flaws (like the sun frying people who live near the equator), then a flat "globe" Earth that it rounded on the bottom, flat on the crust and has a domed atmosphere.
* ForgingScene: In Heaven, one of the angels makes Nevras a sword out of sunlight and love, tempers the sword with words about various struggles in his life, and quenches it with his tears and the [[JesusWasWayCool blood of the Lamb]].
* FantasyKitchenSink: It has 1800s diving suits in the same work with dinosaurs, magic, and time travel. And a sort of chocobo {{Expy}} called an ostrogoth (yes, like the historical [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrogoths Ostrogoths]])
* TheFourGods: A group of bosses in game.
* FunctionalMagic: Some of the spells fall under various categories...
** LanguageOfMagic: Angels can use true names to learn spells (similar to the ''VideoGame/TreasureOfTheRudra'')
** RuleMagic: Similar to Literature/OldKingdom style exorcism.
** WildMagic: A FFT style geomancy system.
** SummonMagic: Summoning works kind of like Naruto, in that it sucks out a huge amount of mana.
** And of course, ElementalMagic, WhiteMagic, and BlackMagic.
* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Uses the [[{{LightNovel/Slayers}} Lina Inverse rule]] of magic loss during the [[MenstrualMenace menstrual cycle]]. This is a balance to the above advantage for females. Downplayed in the book version, but it is still mentioned that "being distracted" is a source of spell failure. This probably counts.
* GenericDoomsdayVillain: Many of the secondary villains seem to have little backstory, beyond just wanting to destroy the world.
* GenreBusting: There are dating variables like a romance game, puzzles (ranging from easy to ThatOnePuzzle), some of the endings have strong horror aspects, is it a comedy, a tragedy, a sci-fi, or a fantasy? It's not a western. Yet.
* GenuineHumanHide: Tiamat is seen wearing a flesh suit of sorts to resemble a pretty woman. Somehow or other, this overlaps BiggerOnTheInside, since Tiamat's true form is not only male, but a huge three-headed dragon.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: Whereas the robots and such are written so they work better in the post-apocaylptic story, the Monsters, especially are at odds with the other creatures. There is a definite sense of GenreShift whenever they enter the story.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: When defeated by Elder Beings, the group experiences [[LovecraftLite Cthulhu-style sequence]] where unspeakable things [[spoiler: [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment which we won't speak of here]]]] happen to Ambrosia, driving her nuts before the universe is consumed by the Elder Beings.
** This hasn't happened yet in the book, but the party did have an encounter with an EldritchAbomination. They were killed first.
* GoMadFromTheIsolation: Even if you would get the GoldenEnding, you have a choice to either [[spoiler: let the universe go on with just Ambrosia [[GodInHumanForm ruling as God]] or do something about it]]. If you choose the first choice, [[spoiler: she gets to sit by herself and her evil half ''[[FateWorseThanDeath for all eternity]]''.]] This is [[WhatTheHellPlayer avoidable]], though.
* GodInHumanForm: Ambrosia.
* GodsHandsAreTied: God can reset time, appear in dreams and the like, but cannot publicly help the party, since doing something major will strip all nearby humans of free will and fill them with compulsion to worship and obey.
* GrandFinale: The novel is in three parts, part on covers Belial up to the party being defeating and the universe ending, then part is sidequests ultimately ending in a rematch, and the story essentially wraps up three generations of a few family lines, ending in the death and afterlife of our main characters. Unless Ambrosia gets wished back with a Franchise/DragonBall, there's no viable way to continue this story.
* GreenAesop: Two of these, actually. The nature of the Earth is split due to destruction of the environment and God's resulting intervention. And one whole town screwed up its air and water by using radioactive matter to power their city.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Much of the game, Ambrosia is either morally mixed, fighting a mostly evil (but with PetTheDog moments) enemy, or a mostly good (but with UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans moments) enemy.
* GrowOldWithMe: Followed by EternalLove. (In the final and best ending)
* HasTwoMommies and actual HomosexualReproduction: Aqorm and Lilith might be shown with a child at the ending.
* HauntedHouse: Inverted, if possible. That is to say, the Castle of Fear is dark and spooky with some dangerous traps. But it is not half as scary as the [[AWolfInSheepsClothing sweet and innocent looking]] girl outside by the name of [[NamesToRunAwayFrom Tiamat]].
* TheHeart: Ambrosia, and later [[spoiler: [[TheEmpath Tamashii]], her daughter.]]
* HelpingWouldBeKillStealing: It's within God's power to wipe both of the game's major villains out. Instead, he makes Ambrosia do it. Likewise, Ambrosia herself decides the best way to help humanity is to live her own life and let other people solve their own problems.
* HermitGuru: Several.
* HeroicNeutral:
** Nevras actually quotes from Film/TheGodfather when he hears of his new quest:
--> ''Nevras: Another one? Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!''
** Also Lilith, despite being a demon. She's locked her house until Ambrosia enters her life, then gets persuaded by her earnestness.
* HeroicBSOD: Ambrosia can have one at about two or three different points, since she doesn't really want the quest in the first place.
* HeroicRROD: Nevras learns a technique named Blossom at some point. It's basically a combo attack that can give him up to eight attacks. The ninth time this is used, though... he executes a single attack that drains enormous amounts of life, and then kills him.
* HiddenElfVillage: The town of Ru'un is right smack in the middle of a forest maze.
* HiJackedByJesus: In the video game, Jesus is not even a character, and the story is far more Taoist. In the book however, Jesus is a RecurringCharacter who pops up everywhere, despite the fact that he's supposedly under house arrest to the town of Kushiyama. The book is more of a syncretic story with both Christian and Taoist elements, so Jesus acts very much like surfer or Zen master despite saying some of the same lines.
* HomelessHero: Subverted, since over the course of the story, [[StandardHeroReward she gains a house]].
** Also HumbleHero, for her general view that AmbitionIsEvil with regard to any rewards for her quest.
* HopeSpot[=/=]DespairEventHorizon: If you don't have the right party, the characters will still make pretty speeches on ThePowerOfLove. It'll seem effective for awhile, but... [[spoiler: [[RocksFallEveryoneDies everyone dies]]]]. This is played out in the novel where the group totally screws up because without Nevras, Ambrosia rushes through without defeating some necessary bosses, and Belial is invincible.
* HorseOfADifferentColor: The ostrogoths ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrogoths yes, I chose that name on purpose]]) are riding ostriches with four legs and black feathers meant to depict a bird with a gothic "hairstyle".
* HouseHusband: Nevras, if the second intro is to be believed.
** Subverted later on, as it mentions him working part-time.
* ICallItVera: Lilith has a giant rock called Christina. This also counts as a ShoutOut to Thadius from ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned''.
* IFoughtTheLawAndTheLawWon: One of the towns, the entire party almost gets arrested and chased down by police for being immigrants. The crime becomes more absurd when you realize that in order to be allowed into the town, you must already be a citizen.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: Ambrosia, since much of her quest doesn't seem to be directly related to her. Instead, she starts out alone in a town and gathers a party.
** LonelyTogether: Ambrosia and Nevras.
*** Heck, half the party seems to have no secondary friendships, and is drawn together for this reason.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Averted. The party tries to stop/talk to Ambrosia [[spoiler: when she goes off the deep end and starts killing people]]. It turns out [[LaserGuidedAmnesia she doesn't even remember them]]. And then things [[EpicFail go really wrong]] [[KillEmAll on both the stopping and talking parts]].
* ImmortalImmaturity: Lilith and Michael, though probably more a case of EmotionalMaturityIsPhysicalMaturity since they look in their twenties.
* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: There's a few.
** Nevras's Phoenix Sword is made from love and light, and is drawn from his chest, coming into being even after getting broken. It's a cute pink hilt with a golden blade.
** Ambrosia's First Steel dagger reforges itself if broken and is poisonous to EldritchAbomination types. Her fishing rod is also cool as it is made from a material called Conception, which remakes itself into any tool the user desires. It's also impossible to break as its wielder simply has to think about it being whole again.
** Azrael has a flame sword filled with the spirit of Raphael. It's pretty much an exorcism sword too, and an across the board anti-evil weapon.
*** She later gets a BFS called Eternal Moon.
** Lilith has a sword that is made out of a dragon's blood and bones.
** Anideshi gets the Sword of Sorrow, a sword that can cause life or death.
* IndestructibleEdible: There are a few, but the aversions are not what you'd think. Organic or religious-themed food lasts forever, while preservative-laden white bread rots in about a month. WordOfGod is that the author is skeptical of many aspects of Pasteur's germ theory.
* InHarmonyWithNature: Anideshi, presumably.
* IntimidatingRevenueService: Largely inverted. The novel is much more conservative than the video game, explaining the complete worldwide lack of income tax, and how instead the town guards usually resort to either extortion, shady businesses (one town has an entire economy based around creating convincing crossdressers), or outright prostitution. Still, those tax collectors tend to be such that you don't mess with them (they are not only strong warriors with heavy armor, but they have AntiMagic due to the fact they [[ReligionIsMagic they tend to be atheists]]).
* InJoke: Jokes from multiple media are mixed together, such as the Rheingold section of [[Theatre/TheRingOfTheNibelung the Ring Saga]] mixed together with the "Precious" line from ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings''.
* ILied[=/=]FalseReassurance: PlayedForLaughs with a demon. Twice, and the wizard working for him falls for both.
--> '''Belial''': Seek the rest quickly and I shall [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves reward]] you greatly!
--> '''Belial''': I promise, on my [[NoHonorAmongThieves honor as a demon]] to [[ExactWords grant any wish I am capable]].
* ImNotAfraidOfYou: In Selqui's [[SwitchingPOV character chapter]], she talks in-depth about dinosaurs and how for years people have been making plaster casts of dinosaurs, and how she doesn't believe they are real. The dinosaur-like Jabberwock is defeated by a combination of this, and a Puff of Logic as the beast stands upright with a stoop, yet it long-necked like a hydra, forcing it to fall over when all necks extend. It quickly turns into dust.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: One of the final bosses gets run through with a heavy spear.
* InterspeciesRomance.
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Angels. Which is why killing one, even for morally questionable deeds, is enough to trigger a MoralEventHorizon, apparently.
* InWhichATropeIsDescribed: The novelization only has its own chapter system. It has mini-chapters with the name of the character that the point-of-view centers around, then it has larger chapters that mostly start with "in which" (may of which are punny or deliberately misleading), such as Chapter 5:
--> ''Ummmm, Leeroy Jenkins. In which everyone dies because Ambrosia is stupid. But don't worry, God resets everything.''
* ItsAlwaysSpring: Averted, as there are seasons.
* JerkassHasAPoint: The underlying theme of the series. The villains usually have a valid goal, even if they don't go about it correctly.
* JesusWasWayCool: Jesus has had a Second Coming and is now in one of the towns. Not only is he awesome relaxed about people literally drinking his blood, not only is he an unkillable shapeshifting superhuman who is set up to eventually rule... All of these things are cool in themselves, but Jesus's blood is also used as a quenching liquid for swords in Heaven.
* JumpedAtTheCall: Ambrosia, largely since she had nothing better to do (the second time, not so much).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:K-O]]
* KaizoTrap: The FinalBoss has one if you have the wrong party. This plays out in the novel.
* KillEmAll: One of the most interesting endings involves [[spoiler: Ambrosia]] snapping after [[MoralEventHorizon killing an angel]], and deciding that since she has already [[RealityWarper created the universe]], her job description of maintaining the BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil requires that she... [[UnusualEuphemism balance the scales]].
* KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand: This situation is on the final showdown against rivals. Later becomes the start of a HeelFaceTurn, when the mercenaries (motivated by [[{{Greed}} greed]] not [[ForTheEvulz malice]] ) find out the BigBad temporarily exploying them is lying about the payment, because they will be [[MoneyForNothing nowhere to spend it]].
* KillerRabbit: One of the bounties. It is described using an comparison of a chipmunk from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' created by the [[ShoutOut Pillar Men]], describing the whole incident as ancient archaeology.
* KnightTemplar: Estheriel, though to his credit, he [[HeroAntagonist actually does care for humanity]]. It's just he has completely wrong way of going about it, when faced with the choice of people hurting/killing each other [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill due to free will]].
* KonamiCode: the group are stuck in the villain's mansion and there is some arrow trap puzzle (that somehow you can't just go around) involving a cross-shaped stone pressure plate, two circular pressure plates, and two long ones. Aqorm fiddles with the pressure plates in the general pattern (never mentioning B, A, or start but "the circular plates" or the "long plate on the right") and the pressure plate deactivates. Then you hear this exchange.
--> ''“Wait, how'd you know to do that exact pattern?” I asked. Aqorm explained, “Oh that? That's the secret code to the universe.”''
* LadyLand: Sort of. The town's name is {{Futanari}}.
* LamarckWasRight: Elves can fire (at least crossbows) and dodge arrows as a racial ability. Their reason for being able to dodge arrows is because previous generations trained to do so, as well as themselves.
** Also, you can apparently educate generations of crows, until they finally understand how to read and use mailing addresses to deliver mail. Yes, seriously.
* LaserHallway: One of the futuristic towns has this on several floors.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Zig-zagged. Ambrosia ([[OutOfCharacter usually]]) doesn't appear to know that she's in a book, while the others sometimes refer to action as an "account" or "log" and address the audience as "readers."
** At one point, Ambrosia is told she is in a book.
* LeeroyJenkins: Shortly before Ambrosia attacks a boat salesman, prompting him to summon [[KrakenAndLeviathan Leviathan]], she mutters the words "Leeroy Jenkins," causing everyone in the party to gasp, except for [[{{Bookworm}} Elias]], who has not heard the 'legend'.
* LegacyCharacter: Ambrosia was not the ''first'' Oracle of Tao. The first one failed [[spoiler: because he discovered he wasn't real. Given that the Oracle is actually [[note]][[GodJob a replacement for God]][[/note]], this is likely to get passed on whenever Ambrosia retires from the post]].
* LemonyNarrator: [[TheHero Ambrosia]] is also the narrator. She goes on [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny side topics]] about her family or personal history, glossing over what a normal narrator would consider the main story. It somehow manages to avoid ProtagonistCenteredMorality, since Ambrosia has no real illusions of her own righteousness. But she talks a great deal about her personal interests in the story at hand (if she's interested in it), her failings in knowledge legends and history, and her overall skepticism in the story's plot.
--> ''Ambrosia: ...God would send an Oracle to restore the Earth to Balance, [[BuffySpeak and stuff]]. '''[[TemptingFate But that'll never happen]]'''.''
* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: There are a few NewPowersAsThePlotDemands, that are basically limited by being used once, and then thrown away.
** Nevras's full name is Crown Prince [[GenderBlenderName Nevrasia]] Astra [[MetaphorIsMyMiddleName Danger]] Fitz Embor Phoenix III, but every point outside his initial introduction, he is either Nevras Fitzembor or ... well, [[NameThatUnfoldsLikeLotusBlossom without the Danger]].
* LightIsNotGood: Two distinct versions of this, one a KnightTemplar who is a party member, the other an EndgamePlus final boss.
* LittleMissSnarker: Tamashii to some extent. She says some pretty off-color things.
* LostAtSea: Both the novel and the game have a shipwreck early on (conveniently washing up near shore for a DerelictGraveyard event where the group stumbles through wreckage to get to shore), but the novel also has the mast break, stranding the group within sight of the nearest island, but unable to get there for awhile.
* LostTechnology: The story is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth that has basically been created anew. Most of the technology of the old world is lost, and thanks to an overbearing anti-government group (the Council), most of this technology is not coming back.
* LoveAtFirstPunch: Ambrosia doesn't get to know Nevras until ''after'' a bar scene where he's beaten up over something he said.
* LovecraftLite: Turning {{Eldritch Abomination}}s into overpowered yet beatable enemies, check. Tentacle hentai jokes, check? Having a side character say stuff about Cthulhu when she dies from an effect, check.
* LoveWillLeadYouBack: With AnAesop about how it's hard work to fix what's broken.
* LovingAShadow: In the literal sense. (Also, FightingAShadow)
* {{Magitek}}: To a really huge extent. Cellphones run on lightning magic, and emotional connections. [[SwissBankAccount Automatic Teller Machines]] run on some sort of magic. One town has an subversion of this, since it is an ancient city of lost technology.
* MakeOutPoint: One of the bars.
* MakeUpOrBreakUp: The option which happens actually determines your ending.
* MarkOfTheBeast: In universe it is less a supernatural concept and [[TrackingChip chip]] implanted in the hand or neck used for currency. It kinda screws up the economy, since nobody wants all their transactions tracked.
* MasculineGirlFeminineBoy: Nevras definitely fits this side of the equation, and Ambrosia is both tough physically and has a fearsome temper.
* {{Masquerade}}: Subverted. There is a lot of freaky stuff that goes on in this world, and for the most part the general populace (at least, the educated general populace, Ambrosia seems to need to be explained things) knows about them, and doesn't care. Except for the one big secret: [[spoiler: that the world and everyone in it but Ambrosia, don't exist, at least not until after her help.]]
* TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife: The reason Ambrosia's Oracle [[spoiler: and God]] powers get taken away at the end of the first arc.
* MayflyDecemberRomance: Two, actually. One with a man and an [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld half-elf girl]], the second between the same half-elf girl and an immortal demon.
** Oddly, this is averted in the novel, as it is explained that lifespan in the New Earth tends to be subjective, and couples tend to grow old together, even if different lifespans.
* TheMeaningOfLife: The meaning of life is defined twice. First, it's defined as bonds to nature, family, and love (but this is part of some religion). And then later, someone asks as a test what the meaning of life truly is. The answerer basically says that it's a self-defining question (as in the meaning of life is "the meaning of life", that is to say what life means to you is the meaning of life, making it a personal question).
* MenActWomenAre:
** Played straight in that Ambrosia is [[spoiler: [[DivineRaceLift God's daughter]]/[[MyOwnGrampa God]] ]], and Nevras is the resident warrior.
** Inverted, since Nevras is by default the crown prince and more or less a NonActionGuy that doesn't even want the job, and manages to avert it mainly because he marries into poverty. The case for Ambrosia is based on her quest, that it something she has to do, to earn her birthright.
* MightMakesRight: Regardless of what your character believes in, usually the way to "prove" it is to defeat the other in battle.
** And oddly enough, its [[RightMakesMight inverse]]. Although "right" is replaced with "[[ThePowerOfLove love]]."
* MirrorMatch: Also an important plot point, as you have a [[LiteralSplitPersonality dark side]].
* MistakenDeclarationOfLove: One of the reasons for a breakup, is after a kiss.
* MoonLogicPuzzle: There is a complex puzzle which involves solving three puzzles to decode the fourth. All of them are in groups of three, and it seems logical that the answer is something to do with three. Nope, you are supposed to exit out of the multiple choice, and MrExposition then explains that the answer is in fact Death. Why? Because the question as given was:
--> ''Answer this [[FourIsDeath fourth]] and [[AllDeathsFinal final]] question. What do these other questions have in common?''
* MoralMyopia: A heroic version of this. Ambrosia makes no bones about the fact that she seriously doesn't care about the villains' troubles. So much so, that she turns apathy into almost a religion of its own.
** At the other hand, many of the ethics Ambrosia learns are ones only she follows, letting others of her party do as they please, making it an [[InvertedTrope inversion of sorts]].
** They help feed Phoenix with some extra fish they caught in exchange for the best minds working on refrigeration tech. Only because of SchizoTech (see below) they can't just make HVAC systems and cool food, they have to do it through strange applications of magic and/or alchemy. One of these involves teaching bacteria magic. They declare it a failure though and '''release''' these bacteria out into nature. Another one, they try uses the fabric of time to freeze food in place but it's heavily implied that if this tech ever goes wrong, it might destroy the fabric of time.
* MoveInTheFrozenTime: has a scene where the evil wizard Yazim Jianne tries to freeze everyone. Ambrosia manages to unfreeze at the last second, talking with him for awhile before he flees. She also manages to kiss her love interest Nevras during this time, having him [[https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/32635-Kiss-deaf-hearing-loss complain about not]] [[ShownTheirWork hearing]] when it unfreezes.
* MrExposition: Your priest, Elias is a bit of a brainiac, knowing just about everything about every subject in the game. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], in that he's spent about 2/3 of his life in a library.
** In the novel, God tends to also take this role, since his being TheOmniscient means he can talk about literally anything.
* MsFanservice: Lilith, and to some extent, Ambrosia's dark half.
** Oddly enough, some of the [[WigDressAccent men's disguises]] fall under this category. Nevras crossdresses as a [[{{Meido}} maid]], Elias has a [[{{Miko}} shrine priestess]] outfit, and Yazim Jianne is a CuteWitch.
* MultipleEndings: ''And how''! There's over ten endings, [[EarnYourHappyEnding most of them bad]].
* MurderMakesYouCrazy: Ambrosia is more or less a little crazy already (being a MoodSwinger SugarAndIcePersonality with a LiteralSplitPersonality), but in a Bad Ending she goes noticeably over the edge after killing [[IncorruptiblePurePureness an angel]]. She starts talking about "balancing the scales" (which, since she [[spoiler: created the universe from a DreamApocalypse]], means basically destroying everything), and goes on a homicidal rampage, even killing her own party.
* MustNotDieAVirgin: There's a SexyDiscretionShot on top of a mountain, while the world is gonna end if they don't do anything.
* MyOwnGrampa: [[spoiler:Ambrosia is an [[GodInHumanForm incarnation of God]], and God married her mother to make her. So she's her own "father."]]
* NatureHero: Anideshi.
* NecessarilyEvil: The demon, Belial. [[spoiler: It turns out he knows that he is doing evil, but not for any discernible benefit of anyone on Earth. He's coerced by his fellow demons to find them a homeland, even though this likely means the destruction of most current life on Earth. Likewise, he destroyed a huge number of people on Earth because he was treated like a monster and [[SealedEvilInACan sealed into an urn]].]]
* NuclearNullifier: The FantasticNuke, the Brahmastra Sutra has a counter, the Gayatri Mantra. These are based on actual chants, and the latter is basically a WorldHealingWave. When cast after the first spell, it cannot heal any who have been hurt or killed in the blast, but it remove fallout and makes even ice into fertile land.
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: One of the reasons given for why the breakup may have happened.
* NoOntologicalInertia: Basically everything, inside [[DarkWorld the Void]]. The only place that is safe is town.
* NoSell: Two cases of it, both in the NewGamePlus. The first is when Estheriel shrugs off the PowerOfTheVoid. The second [[spoiler: happens when Ambrosia goes crazy, and her party tries to stop her, but she's fueled by the PowerBornOfMadness, and shrugs their attacks off.]]
** Also, one of the final bosses does this for the first turn, before the party pulls out all the stops.
* NoSuchThingAsWizardJesus: There is some overlap between various characters and what religious characters can do (notably FertileFeet). This trend is actually lampshaded, as Ambrosia is worried that if there's Heaven and Hell on Earth, she has doubts about an afterlife.
** Jesus actually appears in the novel. To some extent this is averted, as Jesus can ''still'' do stuff that would be considered miraculous given the setting.
* NothingIsScarier: In one town, there's an upstairs room that people nearby say "don't go upstairs, there's nothing up there." If you do it anyway, there really is ''nothing'' there (you get trapped in the room, which fades to black, until it [[CessationOfExistence swallows you up]]). Making it literally ''nothing'' is scarier.
* OfficialCouple: Ambrosia and Nevras. Given a limited fanbase, there's no real shipping though.
* OneWorldOrder:
** [[HypocriticalHumor An anarchic one]], which forbids all towns from developing organized military and centralized governments.
** After the first one falls apart, a real one.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: [[ThemeNaming Sera and Phim]], the two recurring bounty hunters.
* OntologicalMystery: Subverted in that it doesn't take place inside a ClosedCircle. But it does involve a QuestForIdentity. [[spoiler: And it does involve a DreamApocalypse.]]
* OnlySmartPeopleMayPass: That, or several cases of MoonLogicPuzzle.
* OrwellianRetcon: Ambrosia's last name changed from Brahmin (in the [[VideoGame/OracleOfTao video game]]) to '''Brahman'''.
* OurGodsAreDifferent: In general, Oracle of Tao is a mashup between Taoism and Christianity, with heavy amounts of henotheism and pantheism. This means there is one God, who is in basically everything, but every other religion's gods are our "angels." Thor? Yup, he's just another servant of God, and brings his hammer along.
** Besides God though, we have beings called Reapers who effectively act less as deities and more like backstage crew than pull the various levers and buttons to make stuff like gravity work. We're told it's done by magic, but at the level of reality they exist on, it's not clear magic even exists (magic runs on particles called runes).
* OurMonstersAreDifferent: See below. It's practically an index.
** OurAngelsAreDifferent: There are two type of angels, the modern {{WingedHumanoid}}s, and the older {{EldritchAbomination}}s model. This is actually justified, explaining that traditionally angels ''were'' all like the EldritchAbomination mentioning this story, but because humans have a [[AllMenArePerverts great tendency for interspecies relationships]], current angels are actually a watered-down breed.
** OurDemonsAreDifferent: Demons are supposedly the same initial breed as angels, just more inclined toward evil. They've somehow bred differently than angels, becoming more the HornyDevils variety, those there are several subspecies of demons. [[spoiler: Children of angels and demons appear human.]]
** OurDragonsAreDifferent: Everything from Eastern, to Western, to Dungeons & Dragons style chrmoatic, metal, and jewel dragons.
** OurElvesAreBetter: Elves are essentially human, but even half-elves have abnormal lifespans and centuries of youth.
** OurGeniesAreDifferent: In a town called {{Qurac}}, genies are part of the regular population. They sleep in their urns or lamps, they mainly grant wishes only if they owe favors (you can't just run up to one and rub their lamp, but if it's plugged for 1000 years they may owe you a wish if you release them), they can grant wishes for themselves (minor only, compared to what they can do for others), and they can marry humans bit in return they start to look human (still have powers though).
** OurGhoulsAreCreepier: The idea was based from the movie [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069228/ Ghouls]]. They keep coming back, unless somehow sealed away, and come from another dimension.
** OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Goblins are cursed immortals, suicidal since they prefer death to pain, and have an ability called doubt which has a psychic effect and is displayed with [[RainbowSpeak white text with black outline]].
** OurHomunculiAreDifferent: There is rather heavy overlap between golems, homunculi, and chimera. It's implied that you can build a golem with mostly organic materials like kelp, and have most of the constituent part alive even if the golem itself is not. Golems tend to follow the whole hebrew letters "[[ShownTheirWork emeth]]". Chimeras can be done from multiple animals/plants through genetics, but it's not limited to weird-looking animals, you can also make something resembling a human. Homunculi are not really mentioned, so golems are basically a stand-in.
** OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Everything from merfolk, to water elementals, to selkies, to sirens. They're basically an incredibly diverse race.
** OurMonstersAreWeird: You fight everything from Elder Beings, to robots, to Stonehenge. Super-cute anime style sirens, ShoutOut enemies, and truly freakish monsters populate the game.
*** The book attempts to distinguish between "creatures" and "Monsters". The former are common beasts like medusas or mummies or vampires, while Monsters are shadow creatures that become an EldritchAbomination if they touch other creatures ([[ContinuitySnarl it doesn't always get it right]], though).
** OurVampiresAreDifferent: Vampires are subject to silver and holy effects, and vampire lords can only be killed by destroying their coffin. Vampires protect one of the towns, in exchange for their food. Stakes are never mentioned, and vampires actually like garlic. Vampires are more like some wild beast than true undead, and can probably mate.
*** In the book, there are vampires and there are Followers. The vampires are pretty standard, aside from the above, but it is strongly implied that they are socialists. The Followers however are [[ReligiousVampire Christians]], and ''literally'' drink the blood of Christ.
*** Also, standard vampires basically implant a rune on those they want to turn after biting them, sucking blood isn't enough. The rune starts tempting them to become a vampire, and they can refuse. If they accept, a leech-like parasite enters their body, and they are driven to suck blood.
** OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The cursed werewolves come from a side effect of skin magic, using wolf skins (and similar) to transform into that creature. A bite or scratch from these creatures gives you the werewolf curse. On the other hand, there are also beast forms that accomplished mages can do, which literally transforms you into the animal itself with no advantages or weaknesses (no silver allergy, no heightened strength or speed beyond a normal wolf).
* {{Ouroboros}}: As a boss.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:P-T]]
* PaintingTheMedium: In the novel, italics, bold, and other text features are used to large effect.
* PairTheSpares: Pretty much every character.
** Selqui was created just for the one character that didn't get a romantic match, Yazim Jianne.
* PalsWithJesus: The party literally meets Jesus. [[DivineRaceLift She is]] [[CrystalDragonJesus very different from normal]] (see OurVampiresAreDifferent for more info).
* ParalyzingFearOfSexuality: The reason for the AnchoredShip above. Thankfully, Ambrosia gets over it.
* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: Anideshi and Azrael. Sort of an odd example though, since it's not the parents that arranged it, but destiny (that and it's a two-woman relationship). [[spoiler: In a book she reads, there's some prophecy that Anideshi is doomed to be reincarnated over and over again, until the last time where she's reborn to save the world with an exorcist, and finalize the relationship. She struggles with this and doesn't want to see anyone for fear her life would get written for her, but actually pairs up with Azrael, who ''just happens'' to be an exorcist.]]
* PerpetualBeta: To the point where nothing in this page can be assumed to be up-to-date.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: Ambrosia can, in the story, at least, destroy the entire universe with nothing more than a whim. She only has it for brief periods, though.
* [[spoiler: PlatonicCave: It turns out the entire world is an illusion.]]
* PleaseSelectNewCityName: This is actually still true in the novel, there are large blank spaces where you can [[HelloInsertNameHere name the town]] (not that it sticks).
* PointofNoReturn: There are a few of these.
* [[spoiler: PosthumousNarration]]: [[spoiler: Possibly subverted, in that it's never clear exactly when she starts narrating. She may start at the beginning in fact, but by the end of the game she is dead and in Heaven of sorts.]]
* PollutedWasteland: Hotaru, which has air so toxic you can't even stay outside for more than about 5 minutes.
* PortalPicture: In one of the towns, the painting is so real you can just walk into it.
* PowerBornOfMadness: [[spoiler: A one point, Ambrosia crosses her MoralEventHorizon by choosing to murder [[IncorruptiblePurePureness an angel]]. She then decides to become a sort of [[BalanceOfGoodAndEvil moral balance]], since there's too much good (or something), and tries to destroy everything. When they try to stop her, it turns out her madness has given her RealityWarper powers, not to mention NighInvulnerability, so she slaughters the entire party.]]
* PowerOfTheVoid: Which is usually the ability to slowly [[CessationOfExistence consume things in nothingness]].
* PowerTattoo: Ambrosia has eight of these, plus a YinYangBomb ability when she gains full control of them. Anideshi also is able to get them.
* PreClimaxClimax: [[SexyDiscretionShot Blacked out, but there are sound effects to indicate what's going on]].
* PsychicPowers: [[spoiler: The hero's daughter, Tamashii is TheEmpath, with some [[PlayingWithFire pyrokinesis]] and [[EmpathicHealer healing powers]].]]
* TheQuietOne: Azrael can be this at times. She rarely speaks, except to note some supernatural or magical event.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: A dwarf and a Bishonen seem to have teamed up as mercenaries. They end up being the game's recurring WorthyOpponent equivalent for the party, ultimately helping them [[spoiler: when faced with the fact that their employer will destroy not only the world but ''[[OnlyInItForTheMoney the economy]]'']].
** The party itself has everything from elves, to angels, and demons.
* RasputinianDeath: Belial is beaten up in [[OneWingedAngel two or three forms]], the party [[AllYourColorsCombined unites their powers]] to blast him away. [[TheBattleDidntCount This doesn't kill him]], and the party has to kill off his ''true'' [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm true form]], which turns him into a ghost. Once ''that ghost'' is dead, to put him away for good requires [[MadeOfMagic draining all his magic]].
** The angel Estheriel is beaten in combat, ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice, and then killed by the hero (assuming they don't choose instead to save him).
* RealityWarper: The end of the game, Ambrosia gains the power to create/destroy pretty much the entire universe. Still, due to GameplayAndStorySegregation, she never uses these in battle.
* {{Reconstruction}}: See the [[Fridge/OracleOfTao Fridge Section]] for more details.
* RedMage: Elias.
* ReferenceOverdosed: There are {{ShoutOut}}s to several anime, things like the Abhorsen series, random songs, assorted books, and other games. Some of the characters are {{Expy}}-types for this reason. There is even a quotes page in the first 10 pages.
** To give you an idea just ''how'' reference overdosed, one chapter contains references to Pieta, the Triforce drawing in a Zelda manual, Justin Bieber, and driving Adam and Eve from Eden.
* {{Reincarnation}}: Anideshi is [[CursedWithAwesome blessed (or cursed)]] with the ability to remember all her incarnations.
* ReincarnationRomance: Anideshi and Azrael.
* ReligionIsMagic: To a large extent. Atheists have AntiMagic, agnostics are scholars (and can thus learn any spell), and other religions basically empower magic. EveryoneIsASuper to a varying extent, except for Ambrosia, who explicitly can only use her [[MasterOfOneMagic Oracle magic]].
* ReligiousEdutainment: The game is a strange mix of several different religions to teach the author's personal beliefs.
* ReligiousHorror: Of a strongly syncretic type. Christianity blends with Taoism, Buddhism blends with Christianity, and Taoism blends with everything else.
** Most of the horror elements do come from a form of Christianity, but it not only rejects Milton and the notion of {{Satan}} as tempter (Satan is an accuser, and is still working for God), but it takes Isaiah 45:7 to its logical extreme and asserts that GodIsGood ''and'' GodIsEvil. That God allows evil to happen to see if we will build character or reject God. It mentions the MarkOfTheBeast repeatedly but blames the evil of humanity, not Satan for it.
** There are also Buddhist elements, specifically a scene where Azrael walks through Niraya (Buddhist hell). She does at one point quote Romans 8 as though it were a sutra.
** And it mixes Taoism with Lovecraft, essentially. Since humans have good and evil, despite there being only one God, they are capable of creating powerful creatures known as Monsters. Given enough time and enough people convinced of their existence, these become an EldritchAbomination. There's also a sense that things like disease are actually a sort of hysteria
* ReligiousVampire: The Followers' hat is that they are Christians that attend the Church, donate to charity and drink only the blood of Christ.
* RespawnPoint: God resets time, dropping you in the last place you were saved. This is true event though this is a novel.
* TheRevealPromptsRomance: [[spoiler: Nevras's dark secret as a WholesomeCrossdresser.]]
* [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts RisingCostOfHealthInsurance]]: Both inns and priests cost more as your character levels.
* RoleplayingGameVerse: To the point where the novel uses the same acronyms as a role-playing game but with different words (M.P. is mystic power; N.P.C. stands for Neutral Protected Class which are humans that cannot be harmed by others by virtue of God's protection).
* RomanceSidequest: for basically all characters (except Yazim Jianne).
** Now he at least has a meeting up with a romantic match. Time will tell about the rest.
* SavePoint: A rare non-video game example. It affects the story about like you might think.
* ScaryScarecrows: When Ambrosia goes AxCrazy, she [[spoiler: uses the party's dead bodies as scarecrows to keep the voices in her head at bay.]]
* SceneryPorn: Just about every background scene is either a shot taken on a camera, or a wall painting, or some sort of fanart, with everything from gorge overlooks to pictures of fields or forests, to AlienSky or even TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
* ScheherezadeGambit:
** There's some heavy speeches in this game. Everything from a GreenAesop, to [[HistoryRepeats political]] or [[GoingCosmic theological]] viewpoints. Much of it is also TalkingTheMonsterToDeath, though it doesn't really avert battles.
** Often it works after the battle, getting you the MacGuffin, or interesting the monster enough with your responses that they join your party.
* SchizoTech: Because the New Earth is basically a post-apocalyptic world with a strange [[FictionalUnitedNations world anti-government called the Council]] that imposes rules against certain technology and much of it is LostTechnology in the first place. What remains ranges from medieval civilization which uses magic as a sort of technology (updating maps and calendars, and [[{{Magitek}} even magical cellphones]]) and alchemy (a strange mix of high tech chemistry and some weird EquivalentExchange abilities, while most other technology is prior to the invention of electricity, while being able to invent extreme futuristic tech like "refrigerators" that freeze time or bracelets that reverse petrifaction).
** After the Council falls, alchemy gets replaced by technology, which given the strange way things have developed, is a sort of nuclear steampunk. They have largely coal-powered golems that can fire various energy weapons or outright radiation, while they spew black smoke in the air.
* SchrodingersCast: Ambrosia at one point is unsure whether she's alive or dead. She's given a choice whether she decides she's alive or dead, based on various flashbacks. ''It can go either way.'' The rest of the cast is either alive, or doesn't exist, depending upon [[spoiler: whether Ambrosia decides to create them]].
* SchrodingersQuestion: [[spoiler: Pretty much the ending options you choose can determine whether the entire universe exists or not. Among other things...]]
** And a ShoutOut to SchrodingersButterfly in one of the temples. [[spoiler: There is a character, asking the characters who talk to it if it's a butterfly or a person. The answer seems to be [[AnswerCut implied by what's on the screen]].]] Not to mention the story itself is SchrodingersButterfly.
* SealedEvilInACan: Belial has been trapped for much of his life in an urn. Although, he's only really evil [[SelfFulfillingProphecy after being sealed in an urn]].
* SecretCharacter: Selqui, the seal girl.
* SelfDisposingVillain: On a {{Mook}} scale. Some of the lesser creatures, notably [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblins/kobolds]], would rather kill themselves than let you take them alive, and may do so after about 1/2 their life is gone. Largely preserved in the novel.
** This is continued in the novel.
* [[SelfInflictedHell Self-Inflicted Afterlife]]: Hell is an empty desolate waste, resembling [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yomi Yomi]], the Japanese equivalent. The Heaven appears as a FluffyCloudHeaven, at first, but it turns out that both are based on the hero's conception of the fate she deserves. Her final destination is a sort of MundaneAfterlife resembling her living existence.
* SequelReset: Game's all wrapped up, but then we have a sequel. Why? Just to show Ambrosia as an ActionMom. In fact, since Ambrosia is God's incarnation, it's heavily implied she manufactured the problem leading to the sequel. Also a SequelHook, as the antagonist is introduced in the first game (but other than that, the story is more or less resolved).
* SelkiesAndWereseals: The bonus character, Selqui, is a selkie with the ability to shed her skin.
* ShapeshiftingSeducer: Portia has some shapeshifting ability (because of the working rules of the universe, impersonating other people is impossible, but animal transformations, and gender transformation is possible), and is able to become male. It's hinted that she might have become male to end up with Tamashii (since she is mysteriously absent when [[spoiler: Bakamaru]] first shows up).
* SharpenedToASingleAtom: Played straight and downplayed. The sword is covered with a sort of ceramic outer coating that is impossibly strong and sharp on the atomic level, but a master swordsman uses a special technique to deliver AnAesop about swords being sharp to the point of getting easily broken.
* SheatheYourSword: There's at least one battle like this.
* ShockValueRelationship: Michael and Lilith. [[spoiler: The two characters make out in a bar, wrecking the place while they bang into stuff with passionate kissing. Not to mention it's relationship that's sort of taboo anyway, since it's an angel/demon pairing. And she kinda ditches him immediately after. Subverted in that unlike most relationships of this sort, they actually like each other.]]
* SincerestFormOfFlattery: Some of the ShoutOut examples are cited by name, or included as concepts in the game. Most notably, [[spoiler: Lina Inverse makes a brief cameo appearance in the game.]]
* SilkHidingSteel: [[spoiler: (Nevras has got the SilkHidingSteel personality down pat, even though ostensibly he looks like [[{{Expy}} Cloud]]. He's attractive enough for a guy, and has a the quiet nobility thing too) ]].
* SingleTargetSexuality: Portia loves Tamashii to the point where she says no matter how beautiful or kind or intelligent (or nude) another person is, she won't even think about them.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan.
* SpaceWhaleAesop: Likely many of the morals taught by the game. One GreenAesop is:
--> Don't pollute or the Earth will turn into a black hole, and God will need to split existence in half.
** And then you have TheChainOfHarm as an aesop:
--> Don't hurt living things. It has no side effect on you, but they tend to take it out on weaker things, who in turn take it out on weaker things, until that single action causes some chain reaction that kills off the mice (possibly causing an insect infestation).
* SpinOffspring: Amazingly, this happens within the same story, thanks to the PlayableEpilogue.
* SplitPersonalityMerge: Ambrosia does this after a mountaintop scene.
* StableTimeLoop: How does the villain Yazim Jianne know Ambrosia is from the right timeline (they have a multiverse)? Ambrosia tells him that at some point one of his female assistants gives a Transport Coin and tells her to meet him, that he fixes the first time he sees it, because it was hastily made by him later on. The thing is, before seeing it, he had no intention of making it, but now events in the present caused a loop in the past and future.
* {{Stripperific}}: Lilith, the [[HornyDevils succubus]], is wears a black bikini. And [[VaporWear nothing else]].
* SuddenDownerEnding: Some of the book endings.
* SugarAndIcePersonality: Ambrosia. At first glance, she seems to be a {{Tsundere}}, but this is part is her MoodSwinger SugarAndIcePersonality, and when she's actually upset, she'll revert to a [[SugarAndIcePersonality cold, gloomy personality]]. [[DefrostingIceQueen She gets better]].
* SwitchingPOV: The book has two types of chapters, one to indicate a break in section, one to break for a different character perspective.
* TakenForGranite: Anideshi has a ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''-style Sage transformation, complete with the risk of turning into stone if things don't work out right.
* TasteTheRainbow: Especially in racial variation, but this is typical in-game.
* TenMinuteRetirement: Many of Ambrosia's HeroicBSOD events.
* TheAntiGod:
** In the novel, they have something called Rival Powers, which is basically the concept that something that is part of the universe aside from God creates horrible side-effects. For instance, {{Eldritch Abomination}}s have a power of fear in the minds of humans because they ''might'' exist.
** They also have Elder Formless, which are essentially Lovecraft creatures.
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: An attack called Attack Player targets the screen. Considering this is a sidescroll RPG, rather than vertical format (as is true of UsefulNotes/RPGMaker XP), this is pretty interesting. If the player dies, the game is over.
* TheHeroDies: Although, less a sudden death or murder, and more of simple old age. [[spoiler: It's actually a good ending.]]
* TheSacredDarkness: The Earth is made of two halves, the New Earth (which is completely different from Earth in its history), and the Void (which is made of some kind of all-consuming darkness with NoOntologicalInertia). This Void is sort of the inverse of the stable energy of Light, but not associated with normal darkness or dark energy.
* TheTreacheryOfImages: Used to great effect later in the game.
* ThroughTheEyesOfMadness: A possible interpretation of what's going on is that aside from meeting her party, the entire quest is a giant delusion of a girl hoping to feel important because her birth parents abandoned her.
* TitleDrop: Several times, as it's Ambrosia's goal.
* TokenMiniMoe: Tamashii, [[spoiler: Ambrosia's daughter.]]
* TokenEvilTeammate: Yazim Jianne. [[HeelFaceTurn Sort of]]. He still is a creepy wizard, and a pervert, even after becoming good.
* TomatoInTheMirror: Ambrosia.
* TooDumbToLive: At one point, a villain asks her "[[StockPhrases Who are you gonna trust? Me, who you've just met? Or these guys, who you've known for months?]]" Ambrosia can choose the person they've just met.
* TrickingTheShapeshifter: Estheriel's teammate (Loki) pulls this off.
* {{Troperiffic}}: Just look at this page.
** Also many {{DeadUnicornTrope}}s. Especially the Cloud {{Expy}}, and Website/TheGrandListOfConsoleRolePlayingGameCliches.
* TropeTrigger: Ambrosia Brahman is a Trope Trigger for Elias as MrExposition. Ambrosia's average intelligence and amnesia allow SmartGuy Elias to expound on obscure details pertaining to the plot.
* TroubledSympatheticBigot: Lilith hates angels. How can you hate angels?!? [[spoiler: She's a demon, so angels kind of hate her.]]
* TrulySingleParent: [[spoiler: God. Has a child with [[MeaningfulName Manna Leaven]], Ambrosia's mother, but it's later revealed that ''nobody really exists aside from Ambrosia'', so God effectively created a clone.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:U-Z]]
* UnderstandingBoyfriend: Nevras, to Ambrosia's TomatoInTheMirror nature.
* UnreliableNarrator:
** Ambrosia, mainly due to InnocentInaccurate. Ambrosia tells the history of the world, as she knows it, but lacks knowledge of history, or trust in legends. And some of her knowledge is lacking certain details that come up later.
** God also has extreme aspects of being unreliable. As an omniscient being, one might expect him to have everything figured out, but God gives two different versions of end times, and instructs us that the later one (chronologically written, though it's earlier in the story, occurring in Chapter 2) abrogates the earlier one. But even this cannot be trusted because it appears both are right at least partially.
** [[spoiler: It is strongly hinted that not much in terms of reality in this book (down to actual history books) is real, so the entire first two books (at least) are basically Film/VanillaSky]].
* UnusualEuphemism: Nevras talks about "meeting attacks with equal force" and "revenge" with Ambrosia [[spoiler: ...they're kissing.]]
* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler: The wizard helping the evil demon, does do because the [[DealWithTheDevil demon promised to revive his wife]]. He is [[WellIntentionedExtremist somewhat villainous in his own right]], but largely is lied to in order to further the demon's plans.]]
* UrbanLegends: God apparently starts one in the novel that humans that die underwater aren't well handled by the Afterlife and potentially get noticed by Elder Beings (like Cthulhu). He pretty much says it isn't true, but humans will believe it anyway. Sure enough, later on, Azrael expresses concerns about dying at sea, and having Elder Beings pay attention to her.
* {{Valkyries}}: Including Brunhilda.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: An angel/demon romance.
** Also WhyCantIHateYou.
* WalkingTheEarth: Ambrosia does it, with her friends. Despite the fact that many systems of transportation do exist, their quest apparently goes so far off road that they still need to walk (that, or they're just too poor).
* WeWantOurJerkBack: Ambrosia is very much a {{Tsundere}} throughout the early game, but enters decay on this point over the course of the story, she eventually becomes a sort of weird mix of SugarAndIcePersonality and MamaBear.
** Possibly all of the characters, given the AdaptationDeviation and AdaptationExpansion of some of the characters.
* WideEyedIdealist: Ambrosia in the early game, before experimenting with [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality her own ideas]], believes unquestioningly in the justice of her cause. The first Oracle she meets is careful to [[DeterminedDefeatist snap her out of this]].
* WidgetSeries: Before we even get into the book content, it is a self-contained trilogy where the text is deliberately shrunk so almost 400,000 words (remember, a typical book is 50,000 words) can fit into under 500 pages. Then it frequently uses even smaller print, along with GratuitousJapanese (and Hebrew, and also Hindu Sanskrit) as part of PaintingTheFourthWall.
** It's a post-apocalyptic world where the governments have deliberately agreed to create a perpetual anarchist state, where a girl is sent on a MissionFromGod to collect mystical tattoos to stop a demon, and the girl in question is actually a CosmicKeystone and the universe is destroyed if she dies. That's just the first part.
** Apparently, the reason she couldn't beat the BigBad the first time is because her big attack relies upon PersonalityPowers, and if she's feeling moody it destroys her instead. Since her boyfriend broke up with her, most of the second part is about them goofing off (including fishing and a Yu-Gi-Oh! parody) and her pretending they never broke up. She confronts the demon only to find out the reason the universe was destroyed before is that she is God, meaning she sent herself on the quest.
** The final part of the trilogy has her embarking on another quest, this time with her husband and nine-year-old child to kill an angel. We get several hints that maybe she shouldn't do this quest, before the ending splits into three parts: she either kills the angel and becomes corrupted and proceeds to kill her party and probably a good chunk of the world before dying herself, "sparing" the angel by not killing her when she has giant spear stuck in her and going home to enjoy farming, or healing her whereupon she becomes God and her husband has a date with her in the afterlife.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Ambrosia's choice in the [[CosmicEgg Universe Egg]] is witnessed by the party, but other than this, nobody can see her choice. The "villain" isn't really a villain, but although she isn't really egged on, she can definitely make a very ''off'' choice (to murder an angel who has already been run through by a rather large spear). Or a very good one (to heal it, although given that this ''same angel'' was trying to take over the world), or a [[UnflinchingWalk very apathetic one]], but somewhat understandable one given a [[DarkestHour no-win situation]].
* WholesomeCrossdresser: Subverted for much of the story, though.
* WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons: Used largely as an exposition device. [[MrExposition Elias]] usually has to explain something abstract to Ambrosia (who, while not stupid, is BookDumb), and thus to anyone in the audience who happens not to know about the subject. WhatTheHellHero version of this as one of the villains gives the [[BeamMeUpScotty mangled stock quote]], "Who are you gonna trust? Me, who you've just met, or your friends that you've known several months?" And Ambrosia can actually choose to say, "[[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter You]]."
* XanatosGambit: The [[ArtifactOfDoom Ring of Nibelung]] rigs it so the HeroAntagonist, despite sealing it away, still manages to lose horribly.
* YetAnotherStupidDeath: The novel basically lampshaded this by giving God the ability to reset things.
* YinYangBomb.
* YouAllLookFamiliar: Played straight with guards and certain merchants, and subverted in the case of maids and police.
* YouWannaGetSued: The game's BonusBoss is basically described indirectly allowing it to be greatly abridged. The justification id the neither its name nor attacks are allowed to be mentioned due to copyright.
* ZenSurvivor: A few of them, including some literal Zen types. Most notably though, the Aiken Master, and [[spoiler: Ambrosia herself, after the first story.]]
[[/folder]]
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