Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* FiveRaces: There were more races before the Great War a thousand years ago, but as it stands humans are the Mundane (of course), centaurs are the Stout, elves are the High Men, and while the Otherfolk don't contribute a whole lot to the war in the second two books, they're firmly the Fairy.
* TheShortWar: The war against Endarkened forces and against the Endarkened themselves barely lasts longer than the winter - the instigating incident was during the first snowfall, and the final battle was marked by flowers starting to bloom, though mop-up efforts stretched things out a few months more. This is ''much'' shorter than the great war a thousand years ago, which took most of a century.
* WeHaveBecomeComplacent: The elves spent the last thousand years licking their wounds and basking in peace, still training some of their own for war but not actually fighting. Consequently they are reluctant to see a clear and present threat, and resort to the tactics of the last war when at last they do.
Changed line(s) 103 (click to see context) from:
** The Outlaw Hunt is a rather more mundane version. Also rather sadistic as fleeing to safety beyond the lands of Armethalieh (and thus beyond thier reach) really is not an option despite the official claims that it is exile.
to:
** The Outlaw Hunt is a rather more mundane version. Also rather sadistic as fleeing to safety beyond the lands of Armethalieh (and thus beyond thier their reach) really is not an option despite the official claims that it is exile.
* WinterWarfare: The difficulty of this on every level is thoroughly addressed.
* XanatosGambit: The Endarkened placed enclaves of Shadowed Elves under Elven territory, and let them be discovered. Kellen instantly saw what this was - a tactic to drain Elf resources and distract them from whatever else the Endarkened were doing, while the Endarkened themselves sat safe - but also that this was not something that could be ignored.
Changed line(s) 109 (click to see context) from:
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: [[spoiler:Idalia, Kellen, and Cilarnen after their Banishing.]]
to:
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: [[spoiler:Idalia, Kellen, and Cilarnen after their Banishing.Banishing, though Idalia and Cilarnen come back anyway.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* BlessedWithSuck: Unicorns have trouble with the proximity of people who are not chaste, celibate virgins - meaning their companions must be not just virgins, but unmarried virgins without romantic or lustful thoughts. Just how much trouble depends on the scene. Shalkan is able to accustom himself to stay only a few feet from Idalia, and a small herd with a broken-legged colt was able to approach her for healing as long as only a virgin actually touched the colt, but later unicorns struggle to fight non-virginal enemies and can't be healed except by virgins. Later still they have no problem at all fighting very non-virginal demons.
Changed line(s) 74 (click to see context) from:
* OurElvesAreBetter: The Elves of the Obsidian Trilogy usually live up to a thousand years (in peaceful times), and use that time to make living into an art. They are almost always perfect in whatever they do. Elf-made dishes, clothes, weapons, horses, fortresses - even mines, all better than anything humans can make. They make up for this awesomeness with a very, very convoluted system of politeness, considering questions and any sort of directness as extremely rude. Fortunately for the roundears among us, they probably won't expect you to understand everything. These elves all look very similar, too. To the untrained eye, except for the very old and the very young they're all alike as twins.
to:
* NoBodyLeftBehind: With the exceptions of coldwarg and Shadowed Elves, most of the Endarkened's creatures start to decay very quickly after being killed, usually smelling bad too. One character complains that slain Deathwings stink horribly no matter what they do, so the creatures 'strike at us even in death'.
* OurElvesAreBetter:The Over ten thousand years before the trilogy the Elves used to live brief, warlike lives and were often powerful mages, but they made a deal with higher powers to shut [[GodOfEvil He Who Is]] out of the Obsidian Trilogy world by sacrificing most of their magic. In return they were granted peace and long lives. They usually live up to a thousand years (in peaceful times), and use that time to make living into an art. They are almost always perfect in whatever they do. Elf-made dishes, clothes, weapons, horses, fortresses - even mines, all better than anything humans can make. They make up for this awesomeness with a very, very convoluted system of politeness, considering questions and any sort of directness as extremely rude. Fortunately for rude and only appropriate when time is short. While the roundears among us, they probably more enlightened ones accept that other races won't expect you to understand everything. everything, they all still try to train that formality into their allies. These elves all look very similar, too. To the untrained eye, except for the very old and the very young they're all alike as twins.
* OurElvesAreBetter:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* InsultToRocks: A beseiged elf protests when Deathwings are compared to flying rats, because rats have useful skins, make good pets, and can be eaten in an emergency.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* SpotOfTea: Elves, High Mages, and Lost Lands Wildmages all quite like tea, though the ''kind'' of tea preferred is hotly contested. Most elven teas are herbal and served at every occasion, especially in the army; talk of every aspect of tea is a mandatory part of conversation with them. Cilarnen detests the elven blends and declares that they taste of 'boiled grass' but is able to bond with some Elves by disparaging the tea the Lost Landers drink, which involves goat butter.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20,21 (click to see context) from:
* AffablyEvil: Chired Anigrel/Anigrel Tavadon, the main human villain, is seen by most High Mages as an extraordinarily competent and loyal young Mage. In reality, he has been evil since he was a small child.
* TheAgeless: Dragons do not age. However, they can be killed and, if bonded to a mage, die when their bonded does.
* TheAgeless: Dragons do not age. However, they can be killed and, if bonded to a mage, die when their bonded does.
to:
* AffablyEvil: Chired Anigrel/Anigrel Tavadon, the main human villain, is seen by most High Mages as an extraordinarily competent and loyal young Mage. In reality, he has been evil since he was a small child.
child and is a SelfMadeOrphan.
* TheAgeless: Dragons do not age. However, they can be killed and, if bonded to a mage, die when their bonded does. The Endarkened are also ageless.
* TheAgeless: Dragons do not age. However, they can be killed and, if bonded to a mage, die when their bonded does. The Endarkened are also ageless.
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
* AllergicToEvil: Vestakia started suffering from this at puberty, and she rapidly learned to use the discomfort as a warning[=/=]tracking tool.
to:
* AllergicToEvil: Vestakia started suffering from this at puberty, and she rapidly learned to use the discomfort as a warning[=/=]tracking tool. Unicorns have a less directional version of this, uncomfortable in the presence of 'taint' but without her ability to pinpoint it.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: All of the Endarkened and all of their pawns. Discussed briefly in ''The Outstretched Shadow'', where a rumor is repeated, that an imp taken young enough and raised well might not be evil, but that's the only time. When [[OurOrcsAreDifferent 'orcs' or 'dark elves']] are discovered, hybrids of elf and goblin, the elves immediately assume that their 'poor cousins' are inherently evil and slaughter the noncombatants, down to the smallest children. This is a series with BlackAndWhiteMorality, so they're right.
Changed line(s) 29 (click to see context) from:
* BlackAndWhiteMorality: The villains - the Endarkened - are irredeemably, undoubtedly evil, and aim to destroy and taint everything, all for their own pleasure. The heroes, on the other hand, are depicted as having no ulterior motives, fighting only to defend what is Good and to restore the balance in the world, and are shown to take no inherent pleasure in killing the Endarkened or their allies.
to:
* BlackAndWhiteMorality: The villains - the Endarkened - are irredeemably, undoubtedly evil, and aim to destroy and taint everything, all for their own pleasure. The many monsters they command are likewise entirely evil, though the heroes may feel a spark of pity that these creatures never had a choice. The heroes, on the other hand, are depicted as having no ulterior motives, fighting only to defend what is Good and to restore the balance in the world, and are shown to take no inherent pleasure in killing the Endarkened or their allies. The most selfish any of the heroes get is the pragmatic observation that if they don't pitch in and the alliance loses, everyone on the side of the 'Light' will die horribly.
Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* CelibateHero: Kellen's Mageprice [[spoiler:for receiving Shalkan's aid in escaping the Outlaw Hunt]] requires him to be this.
to:
* CelibateHero: Kellen's Mageprice [[spoiler:for receiving Shalkan's aid in escaping the Outlaw Hunt]] requires him to be this.this for a year and a day.
Changed line(s) 34,35 (click to see context) from:
* CoolGate: Jermayan constructs a large one to move the Elven Army across a mountain range, sacrificing [[spoiler:all of his magic to do so. This would kill him, except that he's rescued by the Starry Hunt]].
* DarkIsEvil: Hello, the En'''dark'''ened? In the first book, the first sign of Endarkened influence Kellen and Jermayn see is a species of flower that should be white but is coal black and fills them with revulsion.
* DarkIsEvil: Hello, the En'''dark'''ened? In the first book, the first sign of Endarkened influence Kellen and Jermayn see is a species of flower that should be white but is coal black and fills them with revulsion.
to:
* CoolGate: Jermayan constructs a large one to move the Elven Army across a mountain range, sacrificing [[spoiler:all of his magic to do so. This would kill him, except that he's rescued by the Starry Hunt]].
Hunt. He gets his magic back in a few chapters though]].
* DarkIsEvil: Hello, the En'''dark'''ened? In the first book, the first sign of Endarkened influence Kellen and Jermayn see is a species of flower that should be white but is coal black and fills them withrevulsion.revulsion, and goblins and dueregar are dark-skinned.
* DarkIsEvil: Hello, the En'''dark'''ened? In the first book, the first sign of Endarkened influence Kellen and Jermayn see is a species of flower that should be white but is coal black and fills them with
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: The audiobook for ''To Light A Candle'', the longest in the trilogy, is nearly thirty five hours long. This is because the narration has to state and restate every point repeatedly within a scene, and then rephrase and repeat in later scenes.
to:
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: The audiobook for ''To Light A Candle'', the longest in the trilogy, ''The Outstretched Shadow'' is nearly thirty five hours long. This is because the narration has to state and restate every point repeatedly within a scene, and then rephrase and repeat in later scenes. Apparently an editor was found for the other two books, because they're not like that.
Changed line(s) 45 (click to see context) from:
* FriendlessBackground: Kellen in Armethalieh at the beginning.
to:
* FriendlessBackground: Kellen in Armethalieh at the beginning.beginning, as is common with Mercedes Lackey's writing.
Changed line(s) 60 (click to see context) from:
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Cilarnen is (initially) a bigoted, spoilt brat, but nevertheless works with the Elves and Wildmages out of his love for his city. He eventually completely loses Jerkass status by overcoming his prejudiced upbringing, learning to see the 'Lesser Races' as valuable equals and even admitting that Kellen has become his best friend.
to:
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Cilarnen is (initially) a bigoted, spoilt brat, only barely managing to be polite to the centaurs who take him in. After a few [[CallARabbitASmeerp moonturns]] their kindness wears him down, but nevertheless works it takes a demon attack for him to realize these are his friends and he cares about them. Cilarnen struggles more working with the Elves and Wildmages but does so out of his love for his city. He eventually completely loses Jerkass status by overcoming his prejudiced upbringing, learning to see the 'Lesser Races' as valuable equals and even admitting that Kellen has become his best friend.
Changed line(s) 62 (click to see context) from:
* LightIsGood: Played straight for the majority of the story, but subverted when the High Mages [[spoiler:nearly ally themselves to the Endarkened because they have very cleverly renamed themselves the "Enlightened". Oh, and they dress up like good guys.]]
to:
* LightIsGood: Played straight for the majority of the story, but subverted when the High Mages [[spoiler:nearly ally themselves to the Endarkened because they have very cleverly renamed themselves the "Enlightened". Oh, and they dress up like good guys.guys - actually, they're described as looking not unlike the Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar, all in white and riding white horses.]]
* MeatMoss: The villages just outside of Armethalieh are in ''When Darkness Falls'' [[spoiler: free prey for Demons, who rend every living thing until every surface is coated with something that resembles this.]]
Changed line(s) 71,72 (click to see context) from:
* OurElvesAreBetter: The Elves of the Obsidian Trilogy usually live up to a thousand years (in peaceful times), and are almost always perfect in whatever they do. Elf-made dishes, clothes, weapons, horses, fortresses-- even mines, are all better than anything humans can make. They make up for this awesomeness with a very, very convoluted system of politeness. Fortunately for the roundears among us, they probably won't expect you to understand everything.
* OurOrcsAreDifferent: They're called "Shadowed Elves", and are the barely-sapient descendants of Elven prisoners from the last war, mixed with Goblins and Lesser Endarkened. [[spoiler:All of them were exterminated by the Elves and their allies, as part of the Endarkened EvilPlan.]]
* OurOrcsAreDifferent: They're called "Shadowed Elves", and are the barely-sapient descendants of Elven prisoners from the last war, mixed with Goblins and Lesser Endarkened. [[spoiler:All of them were exterminated by the Elves and their allies, as part of the Endarkened EvilPlan.]]
to:
* OurElvesAreBetter: The Elves of the Obsidian Trilogy usually live up to a thousand years (in peaceful times), and use that time to make living into an art. They are almost always perfect in whatever they do. Elf-made dishes, clothes, weapons, horses, fortresses-- fortresses - even mines, are all better than anything humans can make. They make up for this awesomeness with a very, very convoluted system of politeness. politeness, considering questions and any sort of directness as extremely rude. Fortunately for the roundears among us, they probably won't expect you to understand everything.
everything. These elves all look very similar, too. To the untrained eye, except for the very old and the very young they're all alike as twins.
* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Goblins are squat, bug-eyed humanoids which spit HollywoodAcid, swim through solid stone, and are so unintelligent and focused on consuming flesh that a horde will stop to devour its own slain mid-battle.
* OurOrcsAreDifferent:They're Whether they're closer to orcs or drow, they're called "Shadowed Elves", and are the barely-sapient descendants of Elven prisoners from the last war, mixed with Goblins and Lesser Endarkened.Endarkened. Physically weaker than their cousins, they're maggot-pale, dislike light, have bulging eyes, and their muzzles of needle-like teeth restrict them to their own language, which sounds like barking. [[spoiler:All of them were exterminated by the Elves and their allies, as part of the Endarkened EvilPlan.]]
* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Goblins are squat, bug-eyed humanoids which spit HollywoodAcid, swim through solid stone, and are so unintelligent and focused on consuming flesh that a horde will stop to devour its own slain mid-battle.
* OurOrcsAreDifferent:
* SelfMadeOrphan: After the Great War a thousand years ago, Savilla killed her father and became Queen. She is forever aware that her son [[VillainousIncest and lover]] Zyperis desires to do the same to her. Savilla's pawn Anigrel, at her instigation, leeched away the life of his own father as well.
Changed line(s) 82 (click to see context) from:
* ToThePain: There are multiple torture scenes, with many different ways of torture. When the antagonists make magic out of pain, that's only to be expected, though.
to:
* ToThePain: There are multiple To the Endarkened, torture scenes, with many different ways is the highest form of torture. art, and it's a rare scene of Savilla or Zyperis that makes no mention of it. When the antagonists make their magic is spawned out of pain, that's only to be expected, though.
Changed line(s) 84 (click to see context) from:
* {{Unicorn}}: Unicorns will refuse physical contact with any non-unicorn who is not a virgin (and yes, having sex while transformed counts) or with anyone who is evil. They're also very stealthy and quite dangerous in a fight.
to:
* {{Unicorn}}: Unicorns will refuse physical contact with in this setting are pony-sized, luminous, and have the power of speech. They are somewhat repulsed by the presence of any non-unicorn who is not a virgin (and yes, having sex while transformed counts) or and extremely repulsed with any contact with anyone who is evil. They're also very stealthy and quite dangerous in a fight. The isolationist elves allow free passage into their territory only to Wild Mages and unicorns, the latter of whom sometimes bond with virgin elves.
Added DiffLines:
** However sometimes when it calls for a HeroicSacrifice that seems rather pointless, with the Wildmage dying in a time or for a reason that [[SenselessSacrifice does not appear to be needful]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 35 (click to see context) from:
* DarkIsEvil: Hello, the En'''dark'''ened?
to:
* DarkIsEvil: Hello, the En'''dark'''ened?En'''dark'''ened? In the first book, the first sign of Endarkened influence Kellen and Jermayn see is a species of flower that should be white but is coal black and fills them with revulsion.
Added DiffLines:
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: The audiobook for ''To Light A Candle'', the longest in the trilogy, is nearly thirty five hours long. This is because the narration has to state and restate every point repeatedly within a scene, and then rephrase and repeat in later scenes.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
A Man Is Not A Virgin is no longer a trope.
Deleted line(s) 67 (click to see context) :
* AManIsNotAVirgin: The aversion is actually a plot point: the only reason Kellen can escape Armethalieh's territory is because his virginity lets him ride a unicorn. [[spoiler:At the end of the trilogy, with the war finally over, he consummates his relationship with Vestakia and he and Shalkan part ways.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* JailbaitWait: [[spoiler: Jermayan is more than happy to wait for the newly reborn Idalia to grow up, pointing out that he's already waited several years for her (she didn't want to marry him because of the MayflyDecemberRomance problem) and thought she was dead permanently.]]
Deleted line(s) 93 (click to see context) :
* WifeHusbandry [[spoiler: Jermayan is more than happy to wait for the newly reborn Idalia to grow up, ...]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
Coauthored by MercedesLackey and James Mallory, ''The Obsidian Trilogy'' tells the story of a war between a coalition of races and evil Demons known as the Endarkened. The three books in the series are ''The Outstretched Shadow'', ''To Light A Candle'', and ''When Darkness Falls''.
to:
* AManIsNotAVirgin: The aversion is actually a plot point: the only reason Kellen can escape Armethalieh's territory is because his virginity lets him ride a unicorn. [[spoiler:At the end of the trilogy, with the war finally over, he consummates his relationship with Vestakia and he and Shalkan part ways.]]
* {{Reincarnation}}: Idalia's Mageprice for a great work of Wild Magic in the third book proves to be [[spoiler:HeroicSacrifice of herself to ruin the Endarkened Queen's final rite, which required an ''unwilling'' sacrifice. But whatever force rules the Wild Magic isn't cruel: at the end of the trilogy she's reincarnated as the newborn daughter of the Queen of the Elves, solving the MayflyDecemberRomance problem between her and Jermayan as well.]]
Changed line(s) 77 (click to see context) from:
* TechnicalVirgin: Subvertedin ''Shadow''. Idalia explains to Kellen that her Mageprice for [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turning herself into an eagle]] to escape the Outlaw Hunt was for her to find a mate and raise a clutch of chicks before she would be allowed to resume human form. Later Kellen thinks that Shalkan avoids touching her because she's secretly evil, but this sets Idalia and Shalkan into gales of laughter. Idalia explains it's because she's not a virgin, and yes, brother dearest, having sex as an eagle counts.
to:
* TechnicalVirgin: Subvertedin Subverted in ''Shadow''. Idalia explains to Kellen that her Mageprice for [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turning herself into an eagle]] to escape the Outlaw Hunt was for her to find a mate and raise a clutch of chicks before she would be allowed to resume human form. Later Kellen thinks that Shalkan avoids touching her because she's secretly evil, but this sets Idalia and Shalkan into gales of laughter. Idalia explains it's because she's not a virgin, and yes, brother dearest, having sex as an eagle counts.
* {{Unicorn}}: Unicorns will refuse physical contact with any non-unicorn who is not a virgin (and yes, having sex while transformed counts) or with anyone who is evil. They're also very stealthy and quite dangerous in a fight.
Changed line(s) 86 (click to see context) from:
* WarIsHell: The Demons lay waste to vast swathes of land, killing thousands, if not millions, of beings. It's not fun for Kellen, or Jermayan, or anyone else... okay, the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Demons themselves and thier pets/lackeys]] are having a great time.
to:
* WarIsHell: The Demons lay waste to vast swathes of land, killing thousands, if not millions, of beings. It's not fun for Kellen, or Jermayan, or anyone else... okay, the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Demons themselves and thier their pets/lackeys]] are having a great time.
Changed line(s) 93 (click to see context) from:
* WildMagic: A fundamental part of the world. Wild Magic is essentially the consciousness of all life in the world, and works to ensure as much life survives as possible. Using Wild Magic is essentially a series of bargains; whenever it does something for you, you have to do something for it in return; what that something ''is'' isn't revealed until you cast the spell, and is rarely if ever the same twice. For instance, a spell to heal a minor injury may cost "Plant twelve acorns" one day, and "Travel in this direction until you find something to help, then help it" the next. The costs are extremely variable, but are always, ''always'' fair. At one point, [[spoiler: Idalia Tavadon]] casts a spell to stop a huge, long-lasting drought which has turned a rainforest into a tinderbox; this spell carries the cost of [[HeroicSacrifice "you must die"]]. The time of death isn't specified, however; all the caster knows is that Wild Magic will inform them when the time comes. The next spell they cast, and any subsequent spell up until their now-inevitable death, ends up being ''free'', or more precisely "This spell has already been paid for", due to the immense worth in dying [[spoiler: to permanently prevent demons from ''ever'' invading the world]].
to:
* WildMagic: A fundamental part of the world. Wild Magic is essentially the consciousness of all life in the world, and works to ensure as much life survives as possible. Using Wild Magic is essentially a series of bargains; whenever it does something for you, you have to do something for it in return; what that something ''is'' isn't revealed until you cast the spell, and is rarely if ever the same twice. For instance, a spell to heal a minor injury may cost "Plant twelve acorns" one day, and "Travel in this direction until you find something to help, then help it" the next. The costs are extremely variable, but are always, ''always'' fair. At one point, [[spoiler: Idalia Tavadon]] casts a spell to stop a huge, long-lasting drought which has turned a rainforest into a tinderbox; this spell carries the cost of [[HeroicSacrifice "you must die"]]. The time of death isn't specified, however; all the caster knows is that Wild Magic will inform them when the time comes. The next spell they cast, and any subsequent spell up until their now-inevitable death, ends up being ''free'', or more precisely "This spell has already been paid for", due to the immense worth in dying [[spoiler: to permanently prevent demons from ''ever'' invading the world]]. [[spoiler:And there's even an element of outright kindness in the Wild Magic: after dying to ruin the demons' plan, the Wild Magic reincarnates her as the newborn daughter of the Queen of the Elves, which lets her and Jermayan have a HappilyEverAfter (once the JailbaitWait is over).]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 52 (click to see context) from:
* HornsOfVillany: A prominent feature of the demons. Vestakia has a small pair of horns on her forehead [[SubvertedTrope but is heroic]].
to:
* HornsOfVillany: HornsOfVillainy: A prominent feature of the demons. Vestakia has a small pair of horns on her forehead [[SubvertedTrope but is heroic]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
Added DiffLines:
* ImperfectRitual: {{Invoked|Trope}} at the climax of ''When Darkness Falls'' by Creator/MercedesLackey and Creator/JamesMallory. The Demons' ritual to free their god from imprisonment requires an unwilling human sacrifice. Idalia spoils it by casting a spell to have her change places with the sacrifice (her father) at the last second and [[HeroicSacrifice dying willingly]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* HornsOfVillany: A prominent feature of the demons. Vestakia has a small pair of horns on her forehead [[SubvertedTrope but is heroic]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
->[-(Not to be confused with ''Literature/TheObsidianChronicles'' by LawrenceWattEvans.)-]
to:
->[-(Not to be confused with ''Literature/TheObsidianChronicles'' by LawrenceWattEvans.Creator/LawrenceWattEvans.)-]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* {{BFS}}: The Lostlanders employ one, the ''murragh'' or steelbride, which is described as being taller than a man and as heavy as a war-axe. Like its real life equivalents, it is mentioned as being able to behead running horses and bisecting lightly-armoured men in a single swing.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: In-universe example: when Cilarnen is scrying upon [[spoiler:a small farming village under attack by Demons, one of them looks directly at him through his scrying glyph]]. Cilarnen is [[NightmareFuel badly affected]] enough to (try to) vomit his guts out in response.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* TechnicalVirgin: Subvertedin ''Shadow''. Idalia explains to Kellen that her Mageprice for [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turning herself into an eagle]] to escape the Outlaw Hunt was for her to find a mate and raise a clutch of chicks before she would be allowed to resume human form. Later Kellen thinks that Shalkan avoids touching her because she's secretly evil, but this sets Idalia and Shalkan into gales of laughter. Idalia explains it's because she's not a virgin, and yes, brother dearest, having sex as an eagle counts.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* VowOfCelibacy: Kellen's Mageprice for Shalkan getting him clear of the Outlaw Hunt in ''Shadow'', on pain of castration. This causes a problem when he falls in love with Vestakia.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* WildMagic: A fundamental part of the world. Wild Magic is essentially the consciousness of all life in the world, and works to ensure as much life survives as possible. Using Wild Magic is essentially a series of bargains; whenever it does something for you, you have to do something for it in return; what that something ''is'' isn't revealed until you cast the spell, and is rarely if ever the same twice. For instance, a spell to heal a minor injury may cost "Plant twelve acorns" one day, and "Travel in this direction until you find something to help, then help it" the next. The costs are extremely variable, but are always, ''always'' fair. At one point, [[spoiler: Idalia Tavadon]] casts a spell to stop a huge, long-lasting drought which has turned a rainforest into a tinderbox; this spell carries the cost of [[HeroicSacrifice "you must die"]]. The time of death isn't specified, however; all the caster knows is that Wild Magic will inform them when the time comes. The next spell they cast, and any subsequent spell up until their now-inevitable death, ends up being ''free'', or more precisely "This spell has already been paid for", due to the immense worth in dying [[spoiler: to permanently prevent demons from ''ever'' invading the world]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
Coauthored by MercedesLackey and James Mallory, the Obsidian Trilogy tells the story of a war between a coalition of races and evil Demons known as the Endarkened. The three books in the series are ''The Outstretched Shadow'', ''To Light A Candle'', and ''When Darkness Falls''.
to:
->[-(Not to be confused with ''Literature/TheObsidianChronicles'' by LawrenceWattEvans.)-]
Coauthored by MercedesLackey and James Mallory,the ''The Obsidian Trilogy Trilogy'' tells the story of a war between a coalition of races and evil Demons known as the Endarkened. The three books in the series are ''The Outstretched Shadow'', ''To Light A Candle'', and ''When Darkness Falls''.
Coauthored by MercedesLackey and James Mallory,
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DeadlyUpgrade: Having been banished and cut off from the mana reserves of Armethalieh, [[spoiler: Cilarnen Volpiril (re)discovered a means of tapping the Great Elementals to fuel his High Magick. With care, luck, and far more training than he dare allow himself he may have lasted seven years without dying or burning his magegift out completely]].
Added DiffLines:
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: The only reason the Alliance ended up with a High Mage on their side is because Anigrel elected to use one of his patsies as a living booby trap for Kellen Tavadon.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* UnEqualRites: High Magick vs. Wild Magic
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* MutuallyExclusiveMagic: High Magick and Wild Magic, for the most part. Kellen starts out as a High Magick student but isn't very good at it, since his true talent is as a Knight-Mage.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* HumanMomNonhumanDad: Vestakia's mother was a Wildmage, and her father, the Demon Prince Zyperis.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 26 (click to see context) from:
** The selfish and shortsighted Armethalians occupy the middle ground. Both sides want them as allies/pawns.
to:
** The selfish and shortsighted xenophobic Armethalians occupy the middle ground. Both sides want them as allies/pawns.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** The selfish and shortsighted Armethalians occupy the middle ground. Both sides want them as allies/pawns.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 68 (click to see context) :
** In the final book of the Enduring Flame trilogy, we find a ''tehukohiakhazarishtial''. This is a hollow mountain filled with molten rock, or as most English-speakers would say, a volcano.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
Added DiffLines:
* TheAgeless: Dragons do not age. However, they can be killed and, if bonded to a mage, die when their bonded does.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 74 (click to see context) from:
* WifeHusbandry [[spoiler: Jermayan is more than happy to wait for the newly reborn Idalia to grow up, ...
to:
* WifeHusbandry [[spoiler: Jermayan is more than happy to wait for the newly reborn Idalia to grow up, ...]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: One of the most important things a Wild Mage should know. While the Wild Magic won't try to intentionally screw you, it asks a price for each wish it answers, and the price depends on the difficulty of the wish. Wild Mages are warned to think carefully about what they really want/need so that they can minimize the amount of work the Wild Magic has to do which in turn, minimizes the price the Mage and anyone who's willing to share the cost has to pay.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Eliminated \"If You Know What I Mean\" sinkhole as part of Special Efforts cleanup.
Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* WifeHusbandry [[spoiler: Jermayan is more than happy to wait for the newly reborn Idalia to grow up, IfYouKnowWhatIMean...]]
to:
* WifeHusbandry [[spoiler: Jermayan is more than happy to wait for the newly reborn Idalia to grow up, IfYouKnowWhatIMean...]]up, ...
