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*AlwaysIdenticalTwins: Nephron and Molochite are presumably this (it's ''possible'' they are just fraternal twins with a very StrongFamilyResemblance, as that seems to be present in other members of the House of the Masks).
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* TwoAliasesOneCharacter: [[spoiler:Nephron and Osidian, actually Osidian Nephron]] in the first book.
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* ArtisticLicenseBiology: With the sheer amount of incest going on in the House of the Masks [[note]](and considering that the available family tree only goes back 10 generations or so)[[/note]] it seems unrealistic, to say the least, that all the members of that House that we meet in the story are not only healthy, but said to be very good-looking. [[spoiler:There does seem to be ''some'' mental instability in the cases of Molochite and Osidian, but that's about it. And even those could be explained by reasons other than being the result of centuries of inbreeding.]]
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** According to [[AllThereInTheManual the family trees]] found in the author's website, Azurea was only 15 when she died giving birth to Carnelian. Urquentha (Sardian's mother) was also 15 at the time of her son's birth, and 17 when she had her (unnamed) daughter. (Looking through the family trees will reveal other examples from previous generations, too.)
** Assuming Sil is the same age as Fern (a few years older than Carnelian), she gave birth to Leaf while also in her teens.
** Assuming Sil is the same age as Fern (a few years older than Carnelian), she gave birth to Leaf while also in her teens.
to:
** According to [[AllThereInTheManual the family trees]] found in the author's website, Azurea was only 15 when she died giving birth to Carnelian. Carnelian.
** There's also Urquentha (Sardian'smother) mother), who was also 15 at the time of her son's birth, birth and 17 when she had her (unnamed) daughter. (Looking daughter.
** Looking through the family trees will revealother further examples from previous generations, too.)
generations.
** Assuming Sil is the same age as Fern (a few years older than Carnelian), she gave birth to Leaf whilealso in her teens.
** There's also Urquentha (Sardian's
** Looking through the family trees will reveal
** Assuming Sil is the same age as Fern (a few years older than Carnelian), she gave birth to Leaf while
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* TeenagePregnancy: According to [[AllThereInTheManual the family trees]] found in the author's website, Azurea was only 15 when she died giving birth to Carnelian. Urquentha (Sardian's mother) was also 15 at the time of her son's birth, and 17 when she had her (unnamed) daughter. (Looking through the family trees will reveal other examples from previous generations, too.)
to:
* TeenagePregnancy: TeenagePregnancy:
** According to [[AllThereInTheManual the family trees]] found in the author's website, Azurea was only 15 when she died giving birth to Carnelian. Urquentha (Sardian's mother) was also 15 at the time of her son's birth, and 17 when she had her (unnamed) daughter. (Looking through the family trees will reveal other examples from previous generations, too.)
** According to [[AllThereInTheManual the family trees]] found in the author's website, Azurea was only 15 when she died giving birth to Carnelian. Urquentha (Sardian's mother) was also 15 at the time of her son's birth, and 17 when she had her (unnamed) daughter. (Looking through the family trees will reveal other examples from previous generations, too.)
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* TeenagePregnancy: According to [[AllThereInTheManual the family trees]] found in the author's website, Azurea was only 15 when she died giving birth to Carnelian. Urquentha (Sardian's mother) was also 15 at the time of her son's birth, and 17 when she had her (unnamed) daughter. (Looking through the family trees will reveal other examples from previous generations, too.)
** Assuming Sil is the same age as Fern (a few years older than Carnelian), she gave birth to Leaf while also in her teens.
** Assuming Sil is the same age as Fern (a few years older than Carnelian), she gave birth to Leaf while also in her teens.
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Just copying the example over from the trope page.
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* EveryoneIsBi: Sexuality is pretty much discarded as a point of interest, where straight and gay relationships are equally common-place. The problem comes where you have the Chosen (who are the undisputed [[MasterRace "supreme race"]] so to speak) and the other races (who act as their slaves and who aren't even allowed to look at their faces). Considering that all subservient races are completely oppressed by the Chosen and horrifically bound by The Law, there tends to be a ''lot'' of sexual abuse, rape, and subjugation of both genders of those races... and some of the stuff the more sadistically-minded Chosen are into crosses the line of "torture" and becomes BrainBleach incarnate (UpToEleven). In fact, when the main character (who is a Chosen, but brought up away from their culture), finds out that another Chosen has raped his half-slave brother, said Chosen can't understand why he's so upset and is genuinely shocked that he cares so much.
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* MaternalDeathBlameTheChild: Subverted with Carnelian's father Sardian, who does not blame him in the slightest for the death of his mother in childbirth. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Carnelian, his aunt Ykoriana certainly does.]]
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* MaternalDeathBlameTheChild: Subverted Averted with Carnelian's father Sardian, who does not blame him in the slightest for the death of his mother in childbirth. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Carnelian, his aunt Ykoriana certainly does.]]
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* OffingTheOffspring: In the first book, it is widely rumoured that Ykoriana recently murdered her own daughter Flama Ykoria [[note]](as her high blood rank, corresponding to an equally high number of votes, would have made sure her favoured brother Nephron would be chosen over Molochite in the election)[[/note]]. [[spoiler:However, we learn in the third book that ''Molochite'' was in fact the one who murdered Flama Ykoria, making it a subversion of the trope.]]
** [[spoiler:Ykoriana also tries to have Osidian (and Carnelian) killed by the end of the book, but the attempt is unsuccessful.]]
** [[spoiler:Ykoriana also tries to have Osidian (and Carnelian) killed by the end of the book, but the attempt is unsuccessful.]]
to:
* OffingTheOffspring: In the first book, it is widely rumoured that Ykoriana recently murdered her own daughter Flama Ykoria [[note]](as her high blood rank, corresponding to an equally high number of votes, would have made sure her favoured brother Nephron would be chosen over Molochite in the election)[[/note]]. [[spoiler:However, we learn in the third book that ''Molochite'' was in fact the one who murdered Flama Ykoria, making it [[CainAndAbel a subversion of the trope.different trope]].]]
**[[spoiler:Ykoriana Ykoriana also tries to have [[spoiler:have her son Osidian (and (along with Carnelian) killed by the end of the first book, but the attempt is unsuccessful.]]
**
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* ConjoinedTwins: The Masters believe conjoined twins, which they call "syblings", to be representatives of the Twin Gods in some way. The twins share the same name ("Left-Name" and "Right-Name" are used to distinguish them if neccesary) and one of them is blinded at birth. All of them are children of members of the Emperor's family and serve as elite guards and servants at the palace. When Carnelian theorizes that the high number of syblings within the royal household may have to do with the divine blood burning in their veins, his father wryly points out that more likely it has to do with the drug cocktails given to pregnant women of the House of Masks.
to:
* ConjoinedTwins: The Masters believe conjoined twins, which they call "syblings", to be representatives of the Twin Gods in some way. The twins share the same name ("Left-Name" and "Right-Name" are used to distinguish them if neccesary) and one of them is blinded at birth. All of them are children of members of the Emperor's family and serve as elite guards and servants at the palace. When Carnelian theorizes that the high number of syblings within the royal household may have to do with the divine blood burning in their veins, his father wryly points out that more likely it has to do with the drug cocktails given to pregnant women of the House of Masks.Masks to make them bear twins.
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* ConjoinedTwins: Believed by the Masters to be representative of their dual gods.
to:
* ConjoinedTwins: Believed by the The Masters believe conjoined twins, which they call "syblings", to be representative representatives of the Twin Gods in some way. The twins share the same name ("Left-Name" and "Right-Name" are used to distinguish them if neccesary) and one of them is blinded at birth. All of them are children of members of the Emperor's family and serve as elite guards and servants at the palace. When Carnelian theorizes that the high number of syblings within the royal household may have to do with the divine blood burning in their dual gods.veins, his father wryly points out that more likely it has to do with the drug cocktails given to pregnant women of the House of Masks.
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* ThemeNaming: Many of the Masters seem to be named after gemstones. Named throughout the story, we have: Carnelian himself, his father Sardian (sard), his mother Azurea (azurite), Jaspar (jasper), Molochite (malachite), Osidian (obsidian), Spinel, Opalid (opal), Amethus (amethyst), Berillus (beryl), Emeral (emerald), Onyxor (onyx), Tapaz (topaz).
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* ContrivedCoincidence: In the second book, [[spoiler:Carnelian and Osidian just happen to be found by Plainsmen from the exact same tribe Ebeny (Carnelian's foster mother) was born into (and whose language he had been taught in childhood). [[note]]It is even mentioned that Plainsmen languages vary widely even between neighbouring tribes, which makes the whole situation really quite unlikely.[[/note]]]]
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* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: In spite of the lengths she might have gone to in order to keep power, Ykoriana did have genuine love for [[spoiler:her daughters, the late Flama Ykoria (who she ''didn't'' actually murder, as previously thought) and Ykorenthe]]. And unfortunately for Carnelian, she did not take the death of his mother (her beloved younger sister) in childbirth well at all.
to:
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: In spite of the lengths she might have gone to in order to keep power, Ykoriana did have genuine love for [[spoiler:her daughters, the late Flama Ykoria (who she ''didn't'' actually murder, as previously thought) and Ykorenthe]]. And unfortunately for Carnelian, she did not take the [[spoiler:the death of his Carnelian's mother (her beloved younger sister) in childbirth well at all.''at all'']].
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* BiTheWay: Sardian.
* BrotherSisterIncest: The God Emperors practise this.
* BodyHorror: Loads and loads of it. The Masters' civilization is obsessed with ritual mutilation. [[spoiler: Also, the followers of the Darkness Under the Trees. ''Brr''.]]
* BrotherSisterIncest: The God Emperors practise this.
* BodyHorror: Loads and loads of it. The Masters' civilization is obsessed with ritual mutilation. [[spoiler: Also, the followers of the Darkness Under the Trees. ''Brr''.]]
to:
* BiTheWay: Sardian.
Sardian. Later on, there's also, [[spoiler:Fern]].
* BrotherSisterIncest: The God Emperors practisethis.
this (among ''other'' forms of incest) to keep their House's blood pure.
* BodyHorror: Loads and loads of it. The Masters' civilization is obsessed with ritual mutilation.[[spoiler: Also, [[spoiler:Also, the followers of the Darkness Under the Trees. ''Brr''.]]
* BrotherSisterIncest: The God Emperors practise
* BodyHorror: Loads and loads of it. The Masters' civilization is obsessed with ritual mutilation.
** [[spoiler:Osidian ultimately ends up as the Cain to Molochite's Abel in the third book, after their armies meet in battle and Molochite is burned to death inside the Iron House.]]
** [[spoiler:And earlier in the same book, Molochite is also revealed to be the one who murdered their sister Flama Ykoria some years prior.]]
** [[spoiler:And earlier in the same book, Molochite is also revealed to be the one who murdered their sister Flama Ykoria some years prior.]]
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* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: In spite of the lengths she might have gone to in order to keep power, Ykoriana did have genuine love for [[spoiler:her daughters, the late Flama Ykoria (who she ''didn't'' actually murder, as previously thought) and Ykorenthe]].
to:
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: In spite of the lengths she might have gone to in order to keep power, Ykoriana did have genuine love for [[spoiler:her daughters, the late Flama Ykoria (who she ''didn't'' actually murder, as previously thought) and Ykorenthe]]. And unfortunately for Carnelian, she did not take the death of his mother (her beloved younger sister) in childbirth well at all.
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* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Carnelian is fully repared to do this at the end of the story, but fortunately doesn't actually have to go through with it.]]
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* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Carnelian [[spoiler:Carnelian is fully repared prepared to do this at the end of the story, but fortunately doesn't actually have to go through with it.]]
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* HumanSacrifice: The Maruli's offering to the Darkness Under the Trees. Also, all brothers of a new GodEmperor must be sacrificed during his apotheosis.
* ImAHumanitarian: [[spoiler: What do you think is in the render?]]
* ImAHumanitarian: [[spoiler: What do you think is in the render?]]
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* HumanSacrifice: The Maruli's offering to the Darkness Under the Trees. Also, all brothers (and other close male relatives with pure enough blood) of a new GodEmperor must be sacrificed during his apotheosis.
Apotheosis.
* ImAHumanitarian:[[spoiler: What [[spoiler:What do you think is in the render?]]render?]]
* IncestIsRelative: And ''extremely'' common in the House of the Masks, usually in the form of BrotherSisterIncest and ParentalIncest pairings.
* ImAHumanitarian:
* IncestIsRelative: And ''extremely'' common in the House of the Masks, usually in the form of BrotherSisterIncest and ParentalIncest pairings.
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* KissingCousins: Fern and Sil, [[spoiler: Carnelian and Osidian, although they turn out to be [[SiblingIncest even more closely related.]]]]
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* KissingCousins: Fern and Sil, [[spoiler: Carnelian [[spoiler:Carnelian and Osidian, although they turn out to be [[SiblingIncest even more closely related.]]]]
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* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Carnelian is actually Osidian and Molochite's brother.]]
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* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Carnelian [[spoiler:Carnelian is actually the son of the God Emperor Kumatuya, making him Osidian and Molochite's brother.half-brother.]]
* MaternalDeathBlameTheChild: Subverted with Carnelian's father Sardian, who does not blame him in the slightest for the death of his mother in childbirth. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Carnelian, his aunt Ykoriana certainly does.]]
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* MightyWhitey: Deconstructed in the second book with [[spoiler: Osidian amongst the Ochre.]]
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* MightyWhitey: Deconstructed in the second book with [[spoiler: Osidian [[spoiler:Osidian amongst the Ochre.]]Ochre]].
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* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Darkness Under the Trees. Legions. More subtly, [[spoiler: ''Kor'' is the Quyan word for 'death'.]]
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* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Darkness Under the Trees. Legions. More subtly, [[spoiler: ''Kor'' [[spoiler:''Kor'' is the Quyan word for 'death'.]]
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* ParentalIncest: Often occurs within the imperial house. Yes, this story has ''every'' kind of family lovin'.
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* ParentalIncest: Often occurs within the imperial house.House of the Masks (see BrotherSisterIncest above as for why). Yes, this story has ''every'' kind of family lovin'.
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* QueerRomance: Carnelian's romances with Osidian and later with Fern are a central part of the story.
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* QueerRomance: Carnelian's romances with Osidian [[spoiler:Osidian and later with Fern Fern]] are a central part of the story.
* ScaryBlackMan: Applies to all the Marula oracles of the Darkness Under the Trees, but especially to Morunasa.
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* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler:Fern is this after Osidian's massacre of the Ochre tribe.]]
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* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler:Fern is becomes this after Osidian's massacre of the Ochre tribe.]]
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* WhamLine: [[spoiler: "The sartlar ''are'' the Quyans."]]
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* WhamLine: [[spoiler: "The WhamLine:
** [[spoiler:"Though in every way that matters to me you are my son, it is not my blood that runs in your veins."]]
** [[spoiler:"The sartlar ''are'' the Quyans."]]
** [[spoiler:"Though in every way that matters to me you are my son, it is not my blood that runs in your veins."]]
** [[spoiler:"The sartlar ''are'' the Quyans."]]
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* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler:Fern is this after Osidian's massacre of the Ochre tribe.]]
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* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: In spite of the lengths she might have gone to in order to keep power, Ykoriana did have genuine love for [[spoiler:her daughters, the late Flama Ykoria (who she ''didn't'' actually murder, as previously thought) and Ykorenthe]].
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* OffingTheOffspring: In the first book, it is widely rumoured that Ykoriana recently murdered her own daughter Flama Ykoria [[note]](as her high blood rank, corresponding to an equally high number of votes, would have made sure her favoured brother Nephron would be chosen over Molochite in the election)[[/note]]. [[spoiler:However, we learn in the third book that ''Molochite'' was in fact the one who murdered Flama Ykoria, making it a subversion of the trope.]]
** [[spoiler:Ykoriana also tries to have Osidian (and Carnelian) killed by the end of the book, but the attempt is unsuccessful.]]
** [[spoiler:Ykoriana also tries to have Osidian (and Carnelian) killed by the end of the book, but the attempt is unsuccessful.]]
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* QueerRomance: Carnelian's romances with Osidian and later with Fern are a central part of the story.
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* SlaveRace: The sartlar.
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* EnslavedElves: [[spoiler:The sartlar, who are considered little more than animals and have been entirely enslaved, turn out to be none other than the legendary [[{{Precursors}} Quyans]].]]
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* StraightGay: None of the gay characters is in any way stereotypical - probably owing to the fact that the author himself is gay.
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* StraightGay: None of the gay characters is are in any way stereotypical - probably owing to the fact that the author himself is gay.
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Except the trope is actually called Royal Inbreeding. Dang.
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* RoyalIncest
to:
* RoyalIncestRoyalInbreeding
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Changing Royally Screwd Up to Royal Incest, as genetic defects are never brought up. Moved YMMV items.
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* DoingItForTheArt: As noted above, Pinto created (with assistance) an entire fictional language and a glyph system to write it in.
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* EvilAlbino: The Masters, arguably.
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* EvilAlbino: The Masters, arguably.Masters.
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* GodEmperor
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* GodEmperorGodEmperor: Born mortal, believed to ascend to godhood when he is crowned emperor.
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* RoyallyScrewedUp
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: There was a gap of ''eight years'' between the publication of the second and third books.
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: There was a gap of ''eight years'' between the publication of the second and third books.
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* RoyallyScrewedUp
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: There was a gap of ''eight years'' between the publication of the second and third books.RoyalIncest
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: There was a gap of ''eight years'' between the publication of the second and third books.
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* DomesticatedDinosaurs: Huimur (ceratopsids, small versions of which are used as pack animals and giant versions of which are outfitted with flame pipes and ridden to war) and aquar (theropods which are [[HorseOfADifferentColor this world's equivalent to horses]]).
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Adding situational sexuality.
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* SituationalSexuality: This is implied to happen a lot in the society of the Masters. The Masters place a tremendously high value on blood purity, so much so that their women are [[NoWomansLand not even allowed to leave their house]], except when they get married off and are instead kept at their husband's house. As such, males often form very intense emotional and sexual relationships with each other.
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Tropes cannot be averted/subverted/whatever \"brutally\"
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* MightyWhitey: Brutally, ''brutally'' deconstructed in the second book with [[spoiler: Osidian amongst the Ochre.]]
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* MightyWhitey: Brutally, ''brutally'' deconstructed Deconstructed in the second book with [[spoiler: Osidian amongst the Ochre.]]
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''Literature/TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' is a LowFantasy trilogy by Ricardo Pinto. It is notable for being extremely dark and featuring no magic at all.
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''Literature/TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' consists of the following books:
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renamed
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* HalfBreed: Children of Masters and common people are called Muramaga. They're technically slightly higher in the hierarchy than common people, but it doesn't matter all that much.
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* MixedAncestry: Children of Masters and common people are called Muramaga. They're technically slightly higher in the hierarchy than common people, but it doesn't matter all that much.
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----
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Namespacing.
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''TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' consists of the following books:
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''TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' is a LowFantasy trilogy by Ricardo Pinto. It is notable for being extremely dark and featuring no magic at all.
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Changing namespace.
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/carnelian_8539.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:This drawing by the author became the genesis of the story.]]
->''Flesh, knit bone to bone\\
Your withered earth\\
Oh ancient Mother\\
Scorched tearless You await\\
The Sky Lord come to thunder\\
Rumbling His stormy belly\\
Withholding His urgent seed\\
Until He shall pierce You with His shafts\\
Quench the burning air\\
Rill and pool Your dusts\\
Fill Your wombs with spiralling jades\\
Until Your flesh swells up\\
In the midst of breaking waters\\
Clenching for release\\
\\
Thrust forth the Green Child\\
Ten thousand times reborn\\
Squeeze Him into the air\\
Enjewelled by the morning\\
To take sweet nurture\\
At Your breasts\\
That He might dance again\\
And once more blow His scents\\
Beneath the skies.''\\
--> '''The Song to the Earth'''
''TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' is a LowFantasy trilogy by Ricardo Pinto. It is notable for being extremely dark and featuring no magic at all.
Cruel and oppressive, the Masters rule over the three lands; a race of tall, pale people who believe the blood of gods runs in their veins. Carnelian is a Master but, having grown up in exile, he has the unusual trait of mercy. When his father is called back to the capitol Osrakum to oversee the election of a new GodEmperor, he finds himself plunged into a web of intrigue and deceit.
''TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' consists of the following books:
# ''The Chosen''
# ''The Standing Dead''
# ''The Third God''
!!This trilogy provides examples of:
* AndIMustScream: The Wise, arguably, and combined with a liberal dose of BodyHorror. Somewhat unusual, in that they're an active political force. Still, having your eyes, tongue, nose, ''and eardrums'' cut out and being left with writing encoded on strings of beads and coded messages to a stunted, dwarfish interpreter as your only avenues of communication is pretty nightmarish.
* BiTheWay: Sardian.
* BrotherSisterIncest: The God Emperors practise this.
* BodyHorror: Loads and loads of it. The Masters' civilization is obsessed with ritual mutilation. [[spoiler: Also, the followers of the Darkness Under the Trees. ''Brr''.]]
* CainAndAbel: Nephron and Molochite. The fact that whoever loses the election has to be executed might have something to do with that.
* CallARabbitASmeerp: The dinosaurs are not referred to by their scientific names. (Some do appear to be made up, but not all.)
* ChildByRape: Fern.
* ConjoinedTwins: Believed by the Masters to be representative of their dual gods.
* ConLang: Quya, the language of the Masters. [[http://www.ricardopinto.com/work/stone_dance/topics/song_to_the_earth/index.php Hear the author speak it here.]] There's also a system of glyphs to write it, and the title of each chapter is written in both English and Quya glyphs.
* CrapsackWorld
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: ''And how''.
* DeathByChildbirth: Carnelian's mother.
* [[DinosaursAreDragons Dinosaurs]] [-[[DinosaursAreDragons WITH FLAMETHROWERS]]-] [[DinosaursAreDragons Are Dragons]]
* DoingItForTheArt: As noted above, Pinto created (with assistance) an entire fictional language and a glyph system to write it in.
* {{Doorstopper}}: The first volume clocks in at just over 700 pages. The next two are even longer.
* EncyclopediaExposita: The writings of the Wise are occasionaly quoted.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: Prehistoric flora and fauna abound.
* EvilAlbino: The Masters, arguably.
* EyeScream: Blinding people is a ''routine punishment'' in this world.
* FantasticRacism: Sort of. The pale Masters believe themselves to be more than human and oppress the other, darker skinned people.
* GodEmperor
* HalfBreed: Children of Masters and common people are called Muramaga. They're technically slightly higher in the hierarchy than common people, but it doesn't matter all that much.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Carnelian is fully repared to do this at the end of the story, but fortunately doesn't actually have to go through with it.]]
* HorseOfADifferentColor: The aquar, some sort of theropod dinosaur.
* HumanSacrifice: The Maruli's offering to the Darkness Under the Trees. Also, all brothers of a new GodEmperor must be sacrificed during his apotheosis.
* ImAHumanitarian: [[spoiler: What do you think is in the render?]]
* KillItWithFire: The Masters use the sartlar's fear of fire to keep them at bay.
* KissingCousins: Fern and Sil, [[spoiler: Carnelian and Osidian, although they turn out to be [[SiblingIncest even more closely related.]]]]
* LowFantasy: So low, in fact, that there is no magic at all.
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Carnelian is actually Osidian and Molochite's brother.]]
* MalevolentMaskedMen: An entire race of them.
* MasterRace: One of the purest examples in all fiction.
* {{Mayincatec}}: The Masters have some shades of this (see the picture above), but then again there're also significant Roman and Southeast Asian influences.
* MightyWhitey: Brutally, ''brutally'' deconstructed in the second book with [[spoiler: Osidian amongst the Ochre.]]
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Darkness Under the Trees. Legions. More subtly, [[spoiler: ''Kor'' is the Quyan word for 'death'.]]
* NoWomansLand: The Masters are rather sexist. Fertile women are generally not even allowed to leave the house.
* ParentalIncest: Often occurs within the imperial house. Yes, this story has ''every'' kind of family lovin'.
* PinballProtagonist: Carnelian for large parts of the story. And whenever he decides to take matters into his own hands, it ends in disaster.
* {{Precursors}}: The Quyans.
* PteroSoarer: The briefly mentioned "sky saurians".
* RaptorAttack: The raveners appear to be this.
* ReligionOfEvil: The Maruli's worship of "The Darkness Under the Trees". They appear to greatly fear it themselves.
* RoyalBlood
* RoyallyScrewedUp
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: There was a gap of ''eight years'' between the publication of the second and third books.
* SlaveCollar: Members of the legions are forced to wear these. As they can't take these off themselves, the Masters have no trouble identifying deserters.
* StockDinosaurs:
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeCeratopsids Ceratopsids]] ("huimur")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeSauropods Sauropods]] ("heaveners")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Raptors]] ("raveners")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeLargeTheropods Medium-sized theropods]] ("aquar")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles Pterosaurs]] ("sky saurians")
* StraightGay: None of the gay characters is in any way stereotypical - probably owing to the fact that the author himself is gay.
* SurpriseIncest: [[spoiler:Twice. Carnelian and Osidian are cousins. Oh no wait, they're actually brothers!]]
* TangledFamilyTree: '''[-ALL-]''' Masters in the story are somehow related, which combined with their obsession with blood purity and resulting incestuous unions makes for some bewildering family trees.
* WhamLine: [[spoiler: "The sartlar ''are'' the Quyans."]]
* WorldBuilding: A fantastically detailed, almost obsessive example, [[AllThereInTheManual fleshed out even more on the author's website]].
* WrittenByTheWinners: [[spoiler: The Wise go to great lengths to make sure nobody knows the true story behind the fall of the Quyans and the rise of the Chosen.]]
[[caption-width-right:350:This drawing by the author became the genesis of the story.]]
->''Flesh, knit bone to bone\\
Your withered earth\\
Oh ancient Mother\\
Scorched tearless You await\\
The Sky Lord come to thunder\\
Rumbling His stormy belly\\
Withholding His urgent seed\\
Until He shall pierce You with His shafts\\
Quench the burning air\\
Rill and pool Your dusts\\
Fill Your wombs with spiralling jades\\
Until Your flesh swells up\\
In the midst of breaking waters\\
Clenching for release\\
\\
Thrust forth the Green Child\\
Ten thousand times reborn\\
Squeeze Him into the air\\
Enjewelled by the morning\\
To take sweet nurture\\
At Your breasts\\
That He might dance again\\
And once more blow His scents\\
Beneath the skies.''\\
--> '''The Song to the Earth'''
''TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' is a LowFantasy trilogy by Ricardo Pinto. It is notable for being extremely dark and featuring no magic at all.
Cruel and oppressive, the Masters rule over the three lands; a race of tall, pale people who believe the blood of gods runs in their veins. Carnelian is a Master but, having grown up in exile, he has the unusual trait of mercy. When his father is called back to the capitol Osrakum to oversee the election of a new GodEmperor, he finds himself plunged into a web of intrigue and deceit.
''TheStoneDanceOfTheChameleon'' consists of the following books:
# ''The Chosen''
# ''The Standing Dead''
# ''The Third God''
!!This trilogy provides examples of:
* AndIMustScream: The Wise, arguably, and combined with a liberal dose of BodyHorror. Somewhat unusual, in that they're an active political force. Still, having your eyes, tongue, nose, ''and eardrums'' cut out and being left with writing encoded on strings of beads and coded messages to a stunted, dwarfish interpreter as your only avenues of communication is pretty nightmarish.
* BiTheWay: Sardian.
* BrotherSisterIncest: The God Emperors practise this.
* BodyHorror: Loads and loads of it. The Masters' civilization is obsessed with ritual mutilation. [[spoiler: Also, the followers of the Darkness Under the Trees. ''Brr''.]]
* CainAndAbel: Nephron and Molochite. The fact that whoever loses the election has to be executed might have something to do with that.
* CallARabbitASmeerp: The dinosaurs are not referred to by their scientific names. (Some do appear to be made up, but not all.)
* ChildByRape: Fern.
* ConjoinedTwins: Believed by the Masters to be representative of their dual gods.
* ConLang: Quya, the language of the Masters. [[http://www.ricardopinto.com/work/stone_dance/topics/song_to_the_earth/index.php Hear the author speak it here.]] There's also a system of glyphs to write it, and the title of each chapter is written in both English and Quya glyphs.
* CrapsackWorld
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: ''And how''.
* DeathByChildbirth: Carnelian's mother.
* [[DinosaursAreDragons Dinosaurs]] [-[[DinosaursAreDragons WITH FLAMETHROWERS]]-] [[DinosaursAreDragons Are Dragons]]
* DoingItForTheArt: As noted above, Pinto created (with assistance) an entire fictional language and a glyph system to write it in.
* {{Doorstopper}}: The first volume clocks in at just over 700 pages. The next two are even longer.
* EncyclopediaExposita: The writings of the Wise are occasionaly quoted.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: Prehistoric flora and fauna abound.
* EvilAlbino: The Masters, arguably.
* EyeScream: Blinding people is a ''routine punishment'' in this world.
* FantasticRacism: Sort of. The pale Masters believe themselves to be more than human and oppress the other, darker skinned people.
* GodEmperor
* HalfBreed: Children of Masters and common people are called Muramaga. They're technically slightly higher in the hierarchy than common people, but it doesn't matter all that much.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Carnelian is fully repared to do this at the end of the story, but fortunately doesn't actually have to go through with it.]]
* HorseOfADifferentColor: The aquar, some sort of theropod dinosaur.
* HumanSacrifice: The Maruli's offering to the Darkness Under the Trees. Also, all brothers of a new GodEmperor must be sacrificed during his apotheosis.
* ImAHumanitarian: [[spoiler: What do you think is in the render?]]
* KillItWithFire: The Masters use the sartlar's fear of fire to keep them at bay.
* KissingCousins: Fern and Sil, [[spoiler: Carnelian and Osidian, although they turn out to be [[SiblingIncest even more closely related.]]]]
* LowFantasy: So low, in fact, that there is no magic at all.
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Carnelian is actually Osidian and Molochite's brother.]]
* MalevolentMaskedMen: An entire race of them.
* MasterRace: One of the purest examples in all fiction.
* {{Mayincatec}}: The Masters have some shades of this (see the picture above), but then again there're also significant Roman and Southeast Asian influences.
* MightyWhitey: Brutally, ''brutally'' deconstructed in the second book with [[spoiler: Osidian amongst the Ochre.]]
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Darkness Under the Trees. Legions. More subtly, [[spoiler: ''Kor'' is the Quyan word for 'death'.]]
* NoWomansLand: The Masters are rather sexist. Fertile women are generally not even allowed to leave the house.
* ParentalIncest: Often occurs within the imperial house. Yes, this story has ''every'' kind of family lovin'.
* PinballProtagonist: Carnelian for large parts of the story. And whenever he decides to take matters into his own hands, it ends in disaster.
* {{Precursors}}: The Quyans.
* PteroSoarer: The briefly mentioned "sky saurians".
* RaptorAttack: The raveners appear to be this.
* ReligionOfEvil: The Maruli's worship of "The Darkness Under the Trees". They appear to greatly fear it themselves.
* RoyalBlood
* RoyallyScrewedUp
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: There was a gap of ''eight years'' between the publication of the second and third books.
* SlaveCollar: Members of the legions are forced to wear these. As they can't take these off themselves, the Masters have no trouble identifying deserters.
* StockDinosaurs:
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeCeratopsids Ceratopsids]] ("huimur")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeSauropods Sauropods]] ("heaveners")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeBirdlikeTheropods Raptors]] ("raveners")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeLargeTheropods Medium-sized theropods]] ("aquar")
** [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles Pterosaurs]] ("sky saurians")
* StraightGay: None of the gay characters is in any way stereotypical - probably owing to the fact that the author himself is gay.
* SurpriseIncest: [[spoiler:Twice. Carnelian and Osidian are cousins. Oh no wait, they're actually brothers!]]
* TangledFamilyTree: '''[-ALL-]''' Masters in the story are somehow related, which combined with their obsession with blood purity and resulting incestuous unions makes for some bewildering family trees.
* WhamLine: [[spoiler: "The sartlar ''are'' the Quyans."]]
* WorldBuilding: A fantastically detailed, almost obsessive example, [[AllThereInTheManual fleshed out even more on the author's website]].
* WrittenByTheWinners: [[spoiler: The Wise go to great lengths to make sure nobody knows the true story behind the fall of the Quyans and the rise of the Chosen.]]
