History Literature / Xenos

* BladeOnAStick:
** Net "Spear", a master Hunter named after his trademark polearm weapon. Net "Spear" is a rarity among Hunters, as polearms are rarely used in the narrow rooms and corridors of the Blighted Catacombs.
** Shortly after his arrival in the Stoka village, Vlad challenges another Borderlands' baron, el Ronst, to a duel. As baron el Ronst is a master fencer with a heavy zweihander sword, Vlad chooses a halberd. Vlad chops the axe blade into his opponent's leg, then rams the spear blade into the opponent's crotch, then sinks the tooth blade into the opponent's chest as said opponent lies on the ground, and finishes the duel by [[SwordPlant planting the halberd's bottom bayonet into the ground]] through the opponent's helmet and head.

* EpicFlail: Vlad, preparing to enter the Blight for the first time, is looking for a weapon most likely to disable a skeleton or a basic zombie with the first strike. As master blacksmith Dorn suggests a [[BladeOnAStick heavy bladed polearm]], Vlad asks about a club on a chain instead. Dorn reacts with some amusement: "A flail, but I don't have one and don't know of another smith who'd have one to sell right now." This causes Kerin, who was previously browsing Dorn's wares, to interrupt them, and offer Vlad a flail he made just to stand out from Belgor's smiths. While a no-name in Belgor, Kerin turns out to be as good as he claimed, and will become Vlad's best friend among the dwarven smiths.

* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask:
** Kenara el Laynistina, only child to the Lord of the elven Fern's House. She became Lady of this minor House in the elven empire on Ritum. By elven law, her future husband becomes the Fern's Lord, and his House then assimilates the Fern. House mergers between unequal Houses are rare, but the Fern has accumulated and safeguarded a library of magical knowledge and lore, making Kenara a valuable prize. The Swords' House is thus willing to make some morally questionable decisions regarding Kenara's future. Kenara's desperate search for a way to save her House ends on Satum in a confrontation with master Ranger Dalv "Jester".
** Loviya, princess of Karosa, in an arranged marriage to the king of Litiya. Loviya lost her husband, two sons and the only daughter in a rebellion of the nobles, leaving her and her 5-year-old grandson, the last legit heir to the throne. Loviya took command of the remaining loyal forces and loyal nobles, exterminated the rebels and reclaimed the throne. During her time as Queen-regent, she fell in love with Prokopiy, a master Hunter from Belgor she believes to be Vlad's grandfather, but chose to remain a queen. Loviya chose the future of her grandson over her own. In a rare moment of unveiled truth, she calls Aliana, adopted princess of Melor, literally a "stupid cow" for messing up the latter's relationship with Vlad, and tells Aliana: "I had no choice. Prokopiy - or my country, Hunter - or my grandson. You obviously understand whom and what I have chosen. You have the choice, don't loose Vlad."

* AnAxeToGrind: common weapon family on Arland:
** Vlad usually carries 2-4 throwing axes on his back when fully geared for battle.
** [[TheBlacksmith Master blacksmith]] Dorn is a retired master Hunter. His byname, earned by his weapon, is "Pole-axe". Dorn uses a small pole-axe sign as a signature on his wares.
** Master Hunter Yag "Axe" earned his byname in the same fashion.

** [[TheBlacksmith Master blacksmith]] Dorn is a retired master Hunter. His byname, earned by his WeaponOfChoice, is "Pole-axe". Dorn uses a small pole-axe sign as a signature on his wares.

* InSeriesNickname with TheyCallHimSword, but you have to EarnYourTitle: The Hunters' and Rangers' Guild share a tradition of assigning a byname to a hunter or ranger promoted to Master. This nickname is most often related to their WeaponOfChoice or magic school, but may be descriptive in some other way.
** WeaponOfChoice examples: Yag "Axe", Net "Spear", Magma mage Kar "Volcano", Ice mage Ins "Ice" etc.

** Similarly common among nobles for equally political reasons. Werebeast clans have bigger marriage issues than other nobles due to following long-standing pedigree plans to ensure their survival as a WitchSpecies. Several notable Hunters and Rangers of noble and high-noble birth have left their families to avoid marriage.

** Entire species were introduced to or wiped from Arland during the Interregnum. Trolls, goblins and vampires are the newcomers, and the werebeast WitchSpecies were reduced to two totems.

* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent: Werebeasts of Arland are several separate WitchSpecies with the innate power of VoluntaryShapeshifting, limited to one animal form each. Werebeasts are organized in patriarchal clans, in turn organized by totem. While numerous before the Interregnum, only two totems survived, the Bear and the Wolf. The Bear totem consists of two clans, Cave and Forest Bears. The Wolf totem consists of three clans: White, Gray and Black Wolves. The transformation appears to simply switch the human body [[ShapeshifterBaggage with clothing, armor and weapons]] for the animal body and back again. Equipment remains unchanged on transforming back and forth; dirt, blood and other traces of battle carry over from form to form. This ability is not related to regular magic of the elements. All werebeasts are capable of magic, although the power varies. Master Hunter Arna "Black" is a Black Wolf and a mediocre Water mage, and master Hunter Glavk "Bear" is a Cave Bear capable of the "general" school and almost nothing else. The largest problem of the werebeast clans is their survival, since they can [[WitchSpecies only produce healthy offspring with members of the same clan]].

* WitchSpecies: The largest problem of the werebeast clans is their survival, since they can only produce healthy offspring with members of the same clan - the shared totem is '''not''' enough. It's strongly implied that Arna "Black" joined the Hunters after falling in love with a White Wolf and his death at the hands of her Black Wolf relatives. Glavk "Bear" has already fathered 3 Bear cubs, as clan tradition demands. He's hopelessly in love with a human girl, knowing well that even if both his ''and'' her parents agreed to the marriage, he and his beloved would remain childless.