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* RightForTheWrongReasons: It turns out the story that Vanja used as inspiration to trick the villagers into helping her collect her rubies was based on an actual forgotten Low God. When the cult's activities and popularity grows, she winds up restoring the power of an actual deity.
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* RightForTheWrongReasons: It turns out the story that Vanja used as inspiration to trick the villagers into helping her collect her rubies was based on an actual forgotten Low God. When the cult's activities and popularity grows, she winds up restoring the power of an actual deity. [[spoiler: It later turns out that the song was based off of a real Low God, but the spirit she empowered was her mother's ghost pretending to be said Low God.]]
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* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed. [[spoiler: It later turns out that the Hellhound thing may have been fabricated, but the journey Vanja goes on still helps her ruin the plans of a corrupt thieving prince and a scam artist brothel owner.]]
* VillainsNverLie: [[spoiler: Averted. Nearly everything the Scarlet Maiden says--from saying that she had nothing to do with more violent cultists going after Vanja, to her tale about needing a sacrifice to stop the Hellhound, to her insistence that a virgin do the deed, even to her identity as the Scarlet Maiden--were all made up. It was all a ruse by the ghost of Vanja's mother to get revenge on Vanja, whom she blames for her death, and to become a god.]]
* VillainsNverLie: [[spoiler: Averted. Nearly everything the Scarlet Maiden says--from saying that she had nothing to do with more violent cultists going after Vanja, to her tale about needing a sacrifice to stop the Hellhound, to her insistence that a virgin do the deed, even to her identity as the Scarlet Maiden--were all made up. It was all a ruse by the ghost of Vanja's mother to get revenge on Vanja, whom she blames for her death, and to become a god.]]
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* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed. [[spoiler: It later turns out that the Hellhound thing may have been was fabricated, but the journey Vanja goes on still helps her ruin the plans of a corrupt thieving prince and a scam artist brothel owner.]]
*VillainsNverLie: VillainsNeverLie: [[spoiler: Averted. Nearly everything the Scarlet Maiden says--from saying that she had nothing to do with more violent cultists going after Vanja, to her tale about needing a sacrifice to stop the Hellhound, to her insistence that a virgin do the deed, even to her identity as the Scarlet Maiden--were all made up. It was all a ruse by the ghost of Vanja's mother to get revenge on Vanja, whom she blames for her death, and to become a god.]]
*
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* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple. She also sees to only count sex acts that can impregnate someone as a way to lose one's virginity.
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* VillainsNverLie: [[spoiler: Averted. Nearly everything the Scarlet Maiden says--from saying that she had nothing to do with more violent cultists going after Vanja, to her tale about needing a sacrifice to stop the Hellhound, to her insistence that a virgin do the deed, even to her identity as the Scarlet Maiden--were all made up. It was all a ruse by the ghost of Vanja's mother to get revenge on Vanja, whom she blames for her death, and to become a god.]]
* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple. She also sees to only count sex acts that can impregnate someone as a way to lose one's virginity. [[spoiler: The part about the Maiden refusing to allow men in relationships take on the Hellhound was true, because she became a Low God after her lover died doing the same thing and she doesn't want other couples to be broken up. However, it's ultimately subverted because the Scarlet Maiden is an impostor taking the place of the Red Maid of the River. She's Marta, Vanja's mother, and insists on taking Conrad even after he and Vanja have consummated their relationship because her real goals are to hurt Vanja and become a god.]]
* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple. She also sees to only count sex acts that can impregnate someone as a way to lose one's virginity. [[spoiler: The part about the Maiden refusing to allow men in relationships take on the Hellhound was true, because she became a Low God after her lover died doing the same thing and she doesn't want other couples to be broken up. However, it's ultimately subverted because the Scarlet Maiden is an impostor taking the place of the Red Maid of the River. She's Marta, Vanja's mother, and insists on taking Conrad even after he and Vanja have consummated their relationship because her real goals are to hurt Vanja and become a god.]]
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* BigBrotherInstinct: Udo, who quickly takes a shine to Vanja. He'd figured out early on that Vanja was lying about the Scarlet Maiden but understood her motivations for spinning the lie. He's not fond of Kirkling's insistence on Vanja's guilt, but this is after he's learned about her past so it's implied to by sympathy over that. [[spoiler: That's only part of it. He and Helga realize that Vanja is their missing sister.]]
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* BigBrotherInstinct: Udo, who quickly takes a shine to Vanja. He'd figured out early on that Vanja was lying about the Scarlet Maiden but understood her motivations for spinning the lie. He's not fond of Kirkling's insistence on Vanja's guilt, but this is after he's learned about her past so it's implied to by be sympathy over that. [[spoiler: That's only part of it. He and Helga realize that Vanja is their missing sister.]]
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** In the final pages of the book, Vanja [[spoiler: accuses Kirkling of blaming Conrad for his mentor and her lover's death. She comes to the conclusion that Kirkling was so hellbent on convicting Vanja because she wanted Conrad to lose something as precious, either his career or his love. It's implied that Kiirkling disagrees and she tries to respond,]] but Vanja leaves before she can give a retort or defense.
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* RevengeByProxy: Vanja believes this is why [[spoiler: Kirkling is making things so difficult for Conrad. She believes that Kirkling blames Conrad for the death of his mentor--the man she loved. So she tried to sabotage his finding and get her arrested so that he'd be forced to lose something precious like she did.]]
* RichesToRags: The fraudster [[spoiler: Madame Treasury]] loses everything thanks to Vanja and her friends.
** [[spoiler: Erhmgard is out of prison]] by the end of the book, but given that she's wandering around by herself instead of delegating her tasks to others it seems that she lost her fortune and possibly even her title [[spoiler: because of the role she played in the Margrave's treasonous plot.]]
* RichesToRags: The fraudster [[spoiler: Madame Treasury]] loses everything thanks to Vanja and her friends.
** [[spoiler: Erhmgard is out of prison]] by the end of the book, but given that she's wandering around by herself instead of delegating her tasks to others it seems that she lost her fortune and possibly even her title [[spoiler: because of the role she played in the Margrave's treasonous plot.]]
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* GreenEyedMonster: Helga's mother was like this in life. She couldn't stand anyone else being the center of attention.
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* GreenEyedMonster: Helga's mother was like this in life. She couldn't stand anyone else being the center of attention. [[spoiler: After she froze to death in the woods, she was furious that her family prayed for Vanja instead of her. Thanks to her connection to the lantern and her blood connection to her children, she sees Vanja making a fortune in rubies and finding love, and she is ''furious.'']]
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* NeverMyFault: [[spoiler: Vanja's mother insists that her death was Vanja's fault even though she was the one who chose to abandon the four-year-old Vanja to two goddesses in the middle of a forest. During a snow storm.]]
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* InsaneTrollLogic: Marta, Helga's mother, had a weird tendency to blame all of her woes on her youngest child. [[spoiler: Vanja]] was blamed for a near-fire when a stray spark from the fireplace. Marta insisted that she had deliberately sat next to the fire so it would happen. [[spoiler: As a ghost, she insists that Vanja always thought that she was better than her and that she is to blame for her death. Again, Vanja was ''four years old'' when she was abandoned in the woods.]]
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* InsaneTrollLogic: Marta, Helga's mother, had a weird tendency to blame all of her woes on her youngest child. [[spoiler: Vanja]] was blamed for a near-fire when a stray spark from the fireplace.fireplace landed in a basket she was holding. Marta insisted that she had deliberately sat next to the fire so it would happen. [[spoiler: As a ghost, she insists that Vanja always thought that she was better than her and that she is to blame for her death. Again, Vanja was ''four years old'' when she was abandoned in the woods.]]
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* InsaneTrollLogic: Marta, Helga's mother, had a weird tendency to blame all of her woes on her youngest child. [[spoiler: Vanja]] was blamed for a near-fire when a stray spark from the fireplace. Marta insisted that she had deliberately sat next to the fire so it would happen. [[spoiler: As a ghost, she insists that Vanja always thought that she was better than her and that she is to blame for her death. Again, Vanja was ''four years old'' when she was abandoned in the woods.]]
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* GreenEyedMonster: Helga's mother was like this in life. She couldn't stand anyone else being the center of attention.
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** [[spoiler: The Scarlet Maiden is Marta, Vanja's mother, and did everything not only so she could become a god but also so she could ruin Vanja's life. She still blames Vanja for her death and wants revenge.]]
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* ActionGirl: Bruna the huntress. She's very buff, wields a bow and arrows made of moonlight.
* CallingTheOldManOut: When it becomes clear that Kirkling just has it in for Vanja Conrad snaps at her and stops cooperating with her at all.
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* CallingTheOldManOut: When it becomes clear that Kirkling just has it in for Vanja Conrad snaps at her and stops cooperating with her at all.
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* CallingTheOldManOut: When it becomes clear that Kirkling just has it in for ExactWords: This is something the characters always have to be careful of when dealing with supernatural entities. Vanja Conrad snaps at her and stops cooperating makes sure to be warry of this even when dealing with her at all.benevolent and amicable Low Gods.
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* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple. She also sees to only count sex acts that can impregnate someone as a way to lose one's virginity.
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* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed. [[spoiler: It later turns out that the Hellhound thing may have been fabricated, but the journey Vanja goes on still helps her ruin the plans of a corrupt thieving prince and a scam artist brothel owner.]]
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* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed. [[spoiler: It later turns out that the Hellhound thing may have been fabricated, but the journey Vanja goes on still helps her ruin the plans of a corrupt thieving prince and a scam artist brothel owner.]]]]
* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple. She also sees to only count sex acts that can impregnate someone as a way to lose one's virginity.
* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple. She also sees to only count sex acts that can impregnate someone as a way to lose one's virginity.
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* DontFearTheReaper: Death is extremely kind to children who died untimely deaths. During Vanja's time growing up in her home, the young girl would play with these children to help them calm down before they finally moved on.
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* ScarsAreForever: We find out in this book that Erhmgard didn't just frame Vanja to get her whipped. When she noticed that the wounds were healing too cleanly, she pulls off some of the scabs and threatens to frame Vanja for hitting her if she fights back. She mixed ash and oil into an expensive salve Joniza gave her.
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* ScarsAreForever: We find out in this book that Erhmgard didn't just frame Vanja to get her whipped. When she noticed that the wounds were healing too cleanly, she pulls off some of the scabs and threatens to frame Vanja for hitting her if she fights back. She mixed ash and oil into an expensive salve Joniza gave her. This made the scars worse.
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* BigBrotherInstinct: Udo, who quickly takes a shine to Vanja. He'd figured out early on that Vanja was lying about the Scarlet Maiden but understood her motivations for spinning the lie. He's not fond of Kirkling's insistence on Vanja's guilt, but this is after he's learned about her past so it's implied to by sympathy over that. [[spoiler: That's only part of it. He and Helga realize that Vanja is their missing sister.]]
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* LaserGuidedKarma: Madame Treasury enjoys hiring illiterate workers and scamming them out of months of wages. Vanja and her friends [[spoiler: fake a bed lice outbreak and make it look like she knowingly allowed a city inspector to enjoy her brothel's services with an outbreak going on]] in order to get her business shut down.
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* LaserGuidedKarma: Madame Treasury enjoys hiring illiterate workers and scamming them out of months of wages. Vanja and her friends [[spoiler: fake a bed lice outbreak and make it look like she knowingly allowed a city inspector to enjoy her brothel's services with an outbreak going on]] in order to get her business shut down. It also turns out that the Madame was committing tax fraud, [[spoiler: so Vanja takes advantage of that and a legal loophole to buy out her whole brothel for a penny.]]
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* {{Narcissist}}: Helga's mother showed many of the trademark signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. She always needed to be the center of attention, going as far as to announce one of her multiple pregnancies at someone else's wedding. She would often twist her kids' achievements so in a way she could take credit for it, saying that Deiter only became a good bard because she had him listen to music a lot. She also had a habit of blaming her youngest child for all their problems. Many experts have noted that narcissistic parents tend to scapegoat one of their kids. [[spoiler: This was why she gave Vanja over to Fortune and Death.]]
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* ScarsAreForever: We find out in this book that Erhmgard didn't just frame Vanja to get her whipped. When she noticed that the wounds were healing too cleanly, she pulls off some of the scabs and threatens to frame Vanja for hitting her if she fights back. She mixed ash and oil into an expensive salve Joniza gave her.
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* GodNeedsPrayerBadly: This book offers more insight into the nature of the Low Gods. The narration compares the relationship between mankind and Low Gods to that of rivers and valleys; they shape each other. Low Gods sustain themselves through mankind's prayers to them, but they are also influenced by them and their worshippers perceptions of them. There are also religions that believe that all of the Low Gods are aspects of a single High God. It is technically possible to create a Low God by tricking a large enough number of people into believing, but this is a serious crime known as Profane Fraud.
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* GodNeedsPrayerBadly: This book offers more insight into the nature of the Low Gods. The narration compares the relationship between mankind and Low Gods to that of rivers and valleys; they shape each other. Low Gods sustain themselves through mankind's prayers to them, but they are also influenced by them and their worshippers perceptions of them. There are also religions that believe that all of the Low Gods are aspects of a single High God. It is technically possible to create a Low God by tricking a large enough number of people into believing, but this is a serious crime known as Profane Fraud. This method can also [[spoiler: help a demon ascend to godhood.]]
* HotterAndSexier: While no sex acts are described in detail, sex is heavily discussed and Vanja and Conrad become a lot more physically intimate. Sex work isn't frowned upon in the Blessed Empire. Brothels are sancionted by the government and undergo regular health checks to make sure there aren't any breakouts of sexually transmitted infections or things like bed lice.
* HotterAndSexier: While no sex acts are described in detail, sex is heavily discussed and Vanja and Conrad become a lot more physically intimate. Sex work isn't frowned upon in the Blessed Empire. Brothels are sancionted by the government and undergo regular health checks to make sure there aren't any breakouts of sexually transmitted infections or things like bed lice.
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* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed.
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* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed. [[spoiler: It later turns out that the Hellhound thing may have been fabricated, but the journey Vanja goes on still helps her ruin the plans of a corrupt thieving prince and a scam artist brothel owner.]]
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* CallingTheOldManOut: When it becomes clear that Kirkling just has it in for Vanja Conrad snaps at her and stops cooperating with her at all.
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* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Helga and her family are Vanja's relatives. It turns out their mother was selfish and abusive and gave up Vanja without telling anyone.]]
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* AuthorFilibuster: Early in the book a midwife gives Vanja a lesson on birth control and safe sex practices. It's also used as an opportunity to show how Hedge Witches in the setting use magic to provide birth control methods.
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* AuthorFilibuster: Early in the book a book, Helga the midwife and fledgling hedgewitch, gives Vanja a lesson on birth control and safe sex practices. It's also used as an opportunity to show how Hedge Witches in the setting use magic to provide birth control methods.
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** It turns out that [[spoiler: Vanja's biological mother]] froze to death that fateful night in the woods.
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* ShipperOnDeck: Helga really wants Vanja and Conrad to fully get together and consummate their relationship. Partly because she and one of her brothers bet good money on if they would by a certain date.
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* GadgeteerGenius: Vikram's Prefect work focuses on this. He can make specialized locks and devices useful for their line of work.
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* BullyingADragon: Madame Treasury's first big mistake was scamming her contractors out of months of wages. Her second mistake was insulting Vanja right in front of her and a certain Junior Prefect.
* GadgeteerGenius: Vikram's Prefect work focuses on this. He can make specialized locks and devicesuseful for their line of work.that are very useful.
* GadgeteerGenius: Vikram's Prefect work focuses on this. He can make specialized locks and devices
* LaserGuidedKarma: Madame Treasury enjoys hiring illiterate workers and scamming them out of months of wages. Vanja and her friends [[spoiler: fake a bed lice outbreak and make it look like she knowingly allowed a city inspector to enjoy her brothel's services with an outbreak going on]] in order to get her business shut down.
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* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple.
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* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple. She also sees to only count sex acts that can impregnate someone as a way to lose one's virginity.
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After Vanja drunkenly loses the fortune of rubies she'd earned for defeating the Margrave in a river, she spins a lie about having a vision of a Low God known as the Scarlet Maiden to trick the villagers into helping her get them back. After all, she couldn't trust those strangers not to steal them, so she needed to convince them that they'd earn the wrath of a deity if they did. But then strange happy coincidences start bringing the villagers more and more good fortune. They become convinced that the Scarlet Maiden has granted them her blessing, and t hat Vanja is her prophet. She goes along with the lie, waiting for an opportune time to scurry away, but then a certain Junior Prefect comes to investigate on behalf of the Godly Court.
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After Vanja drunkenly loses the fortune of rubies she'd earned for defeating the Margrave in a river, she spins a lie about having a vision of a Low God known as the Scarlet Maiden to trick the villagers into helping her get them back. After all, she couldn't trust those strangers not to steal them, so she needed to convince them that they'd earn the wrath of a deity if they did. But then strange happy coincidences start bringing the villagers more and more good fortune. They become convinced that the Scarlet Maiden has granted them her blessing, and t hat that Vanja is her prophet. She goes along with the lie, waiting for an opportune time to scurry away, but then a certain Junior Prefect comes to investigate on behalf of the Godly Court.
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Vanja Schmidt overthrew a corrupt Margrave and prevented him from taking over an Empire. She proved her innocence and his guilt in front of the Godly Court. She won the love of Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad. Despite all of that, she still couldn't let go of the fact of how her mother abandoned her to the goddesses Fortune and Death for being the thirteenth child of a thirteenth child. So, she sets out on a journey to discover herself and become someone worthy of Conrad's love. That was her intention.
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Vanja Schmidt overthrew a corrupt Margrave and prevented him from taking over an Empire. She proved her innocence and his guilt in front of the Godly Court. She won the love of Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad. Despite all of that, she still couldn't let go of the fact of how her mother abandoned her to the goddesses Fortune and Death for being the thirteenth child of a thirteenth child. So, she sets out on a journey to discover herself and become someone worthy of Conrad's love. That was her intention.
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[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/painteddevils.png]]
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[[caption-width-right:399:some caption text]]
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* GodNeedsPrayerBadly: This book offers more insight into the nature of the Low Gods. The narration compares the relationship between mankind and Low Gods to that of rivers and valleys; they shape each other. Low Gods sustain themselves through mankind's prayers to them, but they are also influenced by them and their worshippers perceptions of them. It is technically possible to create a Low God by tricking a large enough number of people into believing, but this is a serious crime known as Profane Fraud.
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* GodNeedsPrayerBadly: This book offers more insight into the nature of the Low Gods. The narration compares the relationship between mankind and Low Gods to that of rivers and valleys; they shape each other. Low Gods sustain themselves through mankind's prayers to them, but they are also influenced by them and their worshippers perceptions of them. There are also religions that believe that all of the Low Gods are aspects of a single High God. It is technically possible to create a Low God by tricking a large enough number of people into believing, but this is a serious crime known as Profane Fraud.
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* JerkAssHasAPoint: Emeric's new boss is shown to be a stickler for the rules who's dragging her feet in approving his becoming a full fledged prefect. However, it's hard to blame her for not being fond of Vanja given that Vanja didn't know that the Scarlet Maiden was an actual Low God. From her perspective, she was committing a fraud. It's only because the story Vanja got the idea from was in fact the story of a real, albeit forgotten, Low God and the fact that she didn't enrich herself even as her story spiraled out of control that Emeric has any hope of finding her to be innocent.
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* GadgeteerGenius: Vikram's Prefect work focuses on this. He can make specialized locks and devices useful for their line of work.
* GodNeedsPrayerBadly: This book offers more insight into the nature of the Low Gods. The narration compares the relationship between mankind and Low Gods to that of rivers and valleys; they shape each other. Low Gods sustain themselves through mankind's prayers to them, but they are also influenced by them and their worshippers perceptions of them. It is technically possible to create a Low God by tricking a large enough number of people into believing, but this is a serious crime known as Profane Fraud.
* JerkAssHasAPoint: Emeric's newboss boss, Kirkling, is shown to be a stickler for the rules who's dragging her feet in approving his becoming a full fledged prefect. However, it's hard to blame her for not being fond of Vanja given that Vanja didn't know that the Scarlet Maiden was an actual Low God. From her perspective, she was committing a fraud. It's only because the story Vanja got the idea from was in fact the story of a real, albeit forgotten, Low God and the fact that she didn't enrich herself even as her story spiraled out of control that Emeric has any hope of finding her to be innocent.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler: Vanja has forgotten all about her godmothers and lost her ability to see their influence in this book.]]
* GodNeedsPrayerBadly: This book offers more insight into the nature of the Low Gods. The narration compares the relationship between mankind and Low Gods to that of rivers and valleys; they shape each other. Low Gods sustain themselves through mankind's prayers to them, but they are also influenced by them and their worshippers perceptions of them. It is technically possible to create a Low God by tricking a large enough number of people into believing, but this is a serious crime known as Profane Fraud.
* JerkAssHasAPoint: Emeric's new
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler: Vanja has forgotten all about her godmothers and lost her ability to see their influence in this book.]]
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* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple.
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* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple.couple.
* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed.
* SpannerInTheWorks: Vanja is this to the Hellhound. Had she not spun her lie when she did, the Scarlet Maiden would have run out of strength and the Hellhound would have been unleashed.
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After Vanja drunkenly loses the fortune of rubies she'd earned for defeating the Margrave in a river, she spins a lie about having a vision of a Low God known as the Scarlet Maiden to trick the villagers into helping her get them back. After all, she couldn't trust those strangers not to steal them, so she needed to convince them that they'd earn the wrath of a deity if they did. But then strange happy coincidences start bringing the villagers more and more good fortune. They become convinced that the Scarlet Maiden has granted them her blessing, and t hat Vanja is her prophet. She goes along with the lie, waiting for an opportune time to scurry away, but then a certain Junior Prefect comes to investigate in behalf of the Godly Court.
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After Vanja drunkenly loses the fortune of rubies she'd earned for defeating the Margrave in a river, she spins a lie about having a vision of a Low God known as the Scarlet Maiden to trick the villagers into helping her get them back. After all, she couldn't trust those strangers not to steal them, so she needed to convince them that they'd earn the wrath of a deity if they did. But then strange happy coincidences start bringing the villagers more and more good fortune. They become convinced that the Scarlet Maiden has granted them her blessing, and t hat Vanja is her prophet. She goes along with the lie, waiting for an opportune time to scurry away, but then a certain Junior Prefect comes to investigate in on behalf of the Godly Court.
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* AuthorFilibuster: Early in the book a midwife gives Vanja a lesson on birth control and safe sex practices.
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* AuthorFilibuster: Early in the book a midwife gives Vanja a lesson on birth control and safe sex practices. It's also used as an opportunity to show how Hedge Witches in the setting use magic to provide birth control methods.
* BloodMagic: There's a way to get around the VirginSacrifice the Scarlet Maiden needs to fend off the Hellhound: Get the blood of seven brothers. Thankfully, a nonlethal amount will work.
* BloodMagic: There's a way to get around the VirginSacrifice the Scarlet Maiden needs to fend off the Hellhound: Get the blood of seven brothers. Thankfully, a nonlethal amount will work.
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* RightForTheWrongReasons: It turns out the story that Vanja used as inspiration to trick the villagers into helping her collect her rubies was based on an actual forgotten Low God. When the cult's activities and popularity grows, she winds up restoring the power of an actual deity.
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* RightForTheWrongReasons: It turns out the story that Vanja used as inspiration to trick the villagers into helping her collect her rubies was based on an actual forgotten Low God. When the cult's activities and popularity grows, she winds up restoring the power of an actual deity.deity.
* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple.
* VirginSacrifice: The Scarlet Maiden doesn't want a male virgin to be the sacrifice because she views them as pure, but because she thinks it would be cruel to take someone who "has already been claimed." Essentially, she's against the idea of breaking up a loving couple.
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Published in 2023, ''Painted Devils'' is the sequel to ''Literature/LittleThieves''.
Vanja Schmidt overthrew a corrupt Margrave and prevented him from taking over an Empire. She proved her innocence and his guilt in front of the Godly Court. She won the love of Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad. Despite all of that, she still couldn't let go of the fact of how her mother abandoned her to the goddesses Fortune and Death for being the thirteenth child of a thirteenth child. So, she sets out on a journey to discover herself and become someone worthy of Conrad's love. That was her intention.
Instead, she wound up founding a cult.
After Vanja drunkenly loses the fortune of rubies she'd earned for defeating the Margrave in a river, she spins a lie about having a vision of a Low God known as the Scarlet Maiden to trick the villagers into helping her get them back. After all, she couldn't trust those strangers not to steal them, so she needed to convince them that they'd earn the wrath of a deity if they did. But then strange happy coincidences start bringing the villagers more and more good fortune. They become convinced that the Scarlet Maiden has granted them her blessing, and t hat Vanja is her prophet. She goes along with the lie, waiting for an opportune time to scurry away, but then a certain Junior Prefect comes to investigate in behalf of the Godly Court.
And then the Scarlet Maiden appears, for real, and claims Conrad as a virgin sacrifice needed to stave off the wrath of a fearsome Hellhound.
Now Vanja and Conrad must journey across the land in hopes of finding an alternative to the sacrifice, all the while watched over by Conrad's boss, who seemed hellbent on jailing Vanja for fraud.
!!This work contains examples of:
* AuthorFilibuster: Early in the book a midwife gives Vanja a lesson on birth control and safe sex practices.
* JerkAssHasAPoint: Emeric's new boss is shown to be a stickler for the rules who's dragging her feet in approving his becoming a full fledged prefect. However, it's hard to blame her for not being fond of Vanja given that Vanja didn't know that the Scarlet Maiden was an actual Low God. From her perspective, she was committing a fraud. It's only because the story Vanja got the idea from was in fact the story of a real, albeit forgotten, Low God and the fact that she didn't enrich herself even as her story spiraled out of control that Emeric has any hope of finding her to be innocent.
* RightForTheWrongReasons: It turns out the story that Vanja used as inspiration to trick the villagers into helping her collect her rubies was based on an actual forgotten Low God. When the cult's activities and popularity grows, she winds up restoring the power of an actual deity.
Vanja Schmidt overthrew a corrupt Margrave and prevented him from taking over an Empire. She proved her innocence and his guilt in front of the Godly Court. She won the love of Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad. Despite all of that, she still couldn't let go of the fact of how her mother abandoned her to the goddesses Fortune and Death for being the thirteenth child of a thirteenth child. So, she sets out on a journey to discover herself and become someone worthy of Conrad's love. That was her intention.
Instead, she wound up founding a cult.
After Vanja drunkenly loses the fortune of rubies she'd earned for defeating the Margrave in a river, she spins a lie about having a vision of a Low God known as the Scarlet Maiden to trick the villagers into helping her get them back. After all, she couldn't trust those strangers not to steal them, so she needed to convince them that they'd earn the wrath of a deity if they did. But then strange happy coincidences start bringing the villagers more and more good fortune. They become convinced that the Scarlet Maiden has granted them her blessing, and t hat Vanja is her prophet. She goes along with the lie, waiting for an opportune time to scurry away, but then a certain Junior Prefect comes to investigate in behalf of the Godly Court.
And then the Scarlet Maiden appears, for real, and claims Conrad as a virgin sacrifice needed to stave off the wrath of a fearsome Hellhound.
Now Vanja and Conrad must journey across the land in hopes of finding an alternative to the sacrifice, all the while watched over by Conrad's boss, who seemed hellbent on jailing Vanja for fraud.
!!This work contains examples of:
* AuthorFilibuster: Early in the book a midwife gives Vanja a lesson on birth control and safe sex practices.
* JerkAssHasAPoint: Emeric's new boss is shown to be a stickler for the rules who's dragging her feet in approving his becoming a full fledged prefect. However, it's hard to blame her for not being fond of Vanja given that Vanja didn't know that the Scarlet Maiden was an actual Low God. From her perspective, she was committing a fraud. It's only because the story Vanja got the idea from was in fact the story of a real, albeit forgotten, Low God and the fact that she didn't enrich herself even as her story spiraled out of control that Emeric has any hope of finding her to be innocent.
* RightForTheWrongReasons: It turns out the story that Vanja used as inspiration to trick the villagers into helping her collect her rubies was based on an actual forgotten Low God. When the cult's activities and popularity grows, she winds up restoring the power of an actual deity.
