History PlayingWith / DefectorFromDecadence

** Bob, a LawfulGood paladin working for TheEmpire, protests after being ordered to [[DoomedHometown raze a village]] [[DisproportionateRetribution on the off-chance one of them]] ''[[DisproportionateRetribution might]]'' [[DisproportionateRetribution know a member of]] LaResistance. After failing to keep his allies from [[MoralEventHorizon carrying out their orders]] and [[WatchingTroyBurn seeing the results firsthand]], Bob decides to [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]] and turn on the empire.

** Emily, a scout for resistance, sees the [=rapine/destruction/looting=] TheEmpire's forces are permitted to indulge in and decides [[EvilIsCool the benefits]] are much better on their side.

* '''Enforced''': Because of his reluctance, the Empire tries to kill him, forcing him to switch sides.

** It's not actually "TheEmpire" who are the evil side, but the defectors who formed a RenegadeSplinterGroup based off of fringe politics and/or evil means.

** Bob, a LawfulStupid paladin working for TheEmpire, protests after being ordered to [[DoomedHometown raze a village]] [[DisproportionateRetribution on the off-chance one of them]] ''[[DisproportionateRetribution might]]'' [[DisproportionateRetribution know a member of]] LaResistance. After failing to keep his allies from [[MoralEventHorizon carrying out their orders]] and [[WatchingTroyBurn seeing the results firsthand]], Bob decides to [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]] and turn on the empire.

* '''Played For Laughs:''' The Rebels are just as bloodthirsty and horrible as the Empire, but Bob doesn't mind, the real reason he defected were those awful Imperial Army combat rations.
* '''Played For Drama:''' After they extract plenty of useful information from him, [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized the revolutionaries]] decide Bob should be RewardedAsATraitorDeserves.

** Bob breaks off from the Empire and forms a new faction, one that still does terrible things, but does them to fulfill goals rather then personal [[{{Greed}} profit]] and [[[ForTheEvulz pleasure]].

** resistance is entirely made up of former members of TheEmpire who decided they couldn't put up with their ruler's [[ForTheEvulz evil ways]] any longer.

** [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]] Alice is horrified when her parents, King Charles and Queen Diane, decide to align with TheEmpire, so she chooses to [[RebelliousPrincess take off and joins]] LaResistance as [[TheStrategist their strategist]].

** LaResistance is entirely made up of former members of TheEmpire who decided they couldn't put up with their ruler's [[ForTheEvulz evil ways]] any longer.

* '''Downplayed''': Commander Bob likes the war thing but does not approve the current Evil General's policy and decides to take his troops elsewhere, not helping the Hero, but not killing him either.

** Emily, a scout for LaResistance, sees the [=rapine/destruction/looting=] TheEmpire's forces are permitted to indulge in and decides [[EvilIsCool the benefits]] are much better on their side.
** [[TheCynic Fred]], adamantly believing that [[BeingGoodSucks heroism is a fool's game]], and that the LaResistance is doomed, willingly sides with TheEmpire's forces out of sheer spite.

** Bob defects when Emperor Evulz refuses to give him a free limousine. However, LaResistance doesn't want to give him a free limousine either. Bob ends up creating an alliance called "Free Limousine for Bob", but can't get anyone to join.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob defects from Emperor Evulz since he could no longer stand [[KickTheDog their excessive cruelty]], but it turns out that LaResistance [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized is even worse]].

* '''Discussed''': "If Emperopr Evulz keeps being such a [[ForTheEvulz pointlessly sadistic bastard]], LaResistance is going to double in size by the end of the month!"

** Mason, a LawfulStupid paladin working for TheEmpire, protests after being ordered to [[DoomedHometown raze a village]] [[DisproportionateRetribution on the off-chance one of them]] ''[[DisproportionateRetribution might]]'' [[DisproportionateRetribution know a member of]] LaResistance. After failing to keep his allies from [[MoralEventHorizon carrying out their orders]] and [[WatchingTroyBurn seeing the results firsthand]], Mason decides to [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]] and turn on the empire.
** [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]] [[IceQueen Vel]][[TooCleverByHalf vet]] is horrified when her parents, King Sable and Queen Satine, decide to align with TheEmpire, so she chooses to [[RebelliousPrincess take off and joins]] LaResistance as [[TheStrategist their strategist]].

* '''Downplayed''': Commander Mason likes the war thing but does not approve the current Evil General's policy and decides to take his troops elsewhere, not helping the Hero, but not killing him either.

** Mason just had a HeelRealization and acts accordingly.
** Velvet isn't really changing sides so much as making where she stands ''clearer'' after her parents seem to pull a FaceHeelTurn.
** Mason and Velvet know that [[MortonsFork either option stinks]], and that staying on a side their conscience can't take is just as likely to end with them dead - [[RedemptionEqualsDeath so might as well die with a cleaner one than they'd have otherwise.]]

** Bob, a scout for LaResistance, sees the [=rapine/destruction/looting=] TheEmpire's forces are permitted to indulge in and decides [[EvilIsCool the benefits]] are much better on their side.
** [[TheCynic Zead]], adamantly believing that [[BeingGoodSucks heroism is a fool's game]], and that the LaResistance is doomed, willingly sides with TheEmpire's forces out of sheer spite.

** Mason is shaken by the village's destruction, but [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans justifies it to himself]] and remains a soldier of the empire.
** While upset, Princess Velvet remains with her parents and doesn't run off to join the rebellion.

** However, the next time Mason's commander orders them across the MoralEventHorizon, he chops off his commander's head and turns on those of his comrades who won't stand down.

** Mason has been a LawfulStupid KnightTemplar to the core, but switches sides after witnessing Emperor Evulz [[KickTheDog punting a puppy]] -- who Mason promptly [[PetTheDog adopts]] as his MoralityPet.
** Mason defects when Emperor Evulz refuses to give him a free limousine. However, LaResistance doesn't want to give him a free limousine either. Mason ends up creating an alliance called "Free Limousine for Mason", but can't get anyone to join.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Mason defects from Emperor Evulz since he could no longer stand [[KickTheDog their excessive cruelty]], but it turns out that LaResistance [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized is even worse]].
* '''Averted''': Mason is fixated on the idea of MyMasterRightOrWrong, no matter how tortured his conscience is.

** Mason's commander, suspecting that his loyalty isn't absolute, deliberately engineers a SecretTestOfCharacter in the guise of a MoralEventHorizon to see whether or not he'll defect (fully expecting that, if he ''does'' defect, he can kill Mason before he escapes).
** King Sable and Queen Satine decide to align themselves with the empire [[IDidWhatIHadToDo in order to protect their kingdom]], despite suspecting that their daughter will leave and start supporting the rebellion openly.

* '''Defied''': Mason's commander, suspecting that he might defect, sends him to another unit or [[WeHaveReserves simply kills him beforehand]].

** Despite switching sides because he could no longer stand by what his peers were doing, Mason finds himself still judged by their behavior, as well as his past misdeeds. The camadarie he once shared with his comrades is gone, the bonds broken by his own decisions, and he can't forge new ones to replace them because [[ReformedButRejected nobody trusts a traitor]]. Ultimately, Mason becomes a MartyrWithoutACause, seeking to atone for his mistakes by sacrificing himself for his ideals.
** Princess Velvet quickly finds that her rank hardly matters in the rebellion, save among those hoping to make her a puppet ruler or otherwise take advantage of her -- something which becomes somewhat of a moot point after her parents disinherit her. She struggles to adjust to the harshness of life as a renegade underground, and questions whether her decision to defect was really all that smart, ideals aside.

** Though distrusted by the bulk of the resistance's forces, Mason manages to prove himself to a few members and forges a new group of TrueCompanions, their bonds strengthened by shared ideals. This reinforces his newfound alliegence and assures him that he made the right decision turning on his former allies after they crossed the line.
** Despite becoming a FallenPrincess, Velvet buckles down and becomes a crucial figure in the rebellion, inspiring others through her sacrifices and her absolute ''refusal'' to become anyone's puppet.
* '''Played For Laughs:''' The Rebels are just as bloodthirsty and horrible as the Empire, but Mason doesn't mind, the real reason he defected were those awful Imperial Army combat rations.
* '''Played For Drama:''' After they extract plenty of useful information from him, [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized the revolutionaries]] decide Mason should be RewardedAsATraitorDeserves.

* '''Inverted''': Bob, a scout for LaResistance, sees the [=rapine/destruction/looting=] TheEmpire's forces are permitted to indulge in and decides [[EvilIsCool the benefits]] are much better on their side.

* '''Inverted''': Bob, a scout for LaResistance, sees the [=rapine/destruction/looting=] TheEmpire's forces are permitted to indulge in and decides [[EvilIsCool the benefits]] are much better on thier side

* '''Parodied''': Mason has been a LawfulStupid KnightTemplar to the core, but switches sides after witnessing Emperor Evulz [[KickTheDog punting a puppy]] -- who Mason promptly [[PetTheDog adopts]] as his MoralityPet.

* '''Averted''': Mason is fixated on the idea of MyMasterRightOrWrong, no matter how tortured his conciense is.

* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Deconstructed''':
** Despite switching sides because he could no longer stand by what his peers were doing, Mason finds himself still judged by their behavior, as well as his past misdeeds. The camadarie he once shared with his comrades is gone, the bonds broken by his own decisions, and he can't forge new ones to replace them because [[ReformedButRejected nobody trusts a traitor]]. Ultimately, Mason becomes a MartyrWithoutACause, seeking to atone for his mistakes by sacrificing himself for his ideals.
** Princess Velvet quickly finds that her rank hardly matters in the rebellion, save among those hoping to make her a puppet ruler or otherwise take advantage of her -- something which becomes somewhat of a moot point after her parents disinherit her. She struggles to adjust to the harshness of life as a renegade underground, and questions whether her decision to defect was really all that smart, ideals aside.
* '''Reconstructed''':
** Though distrusted by the bulk of the resistance's forces, Mason manages to prove himself to a few members and forges a new group of TrueCompanions, their bonds strengthened by shared ideals. This reinforces his newfound alliegence and assures him that he made the right decision turning on his former allies after they crossed the line.
** Despite becoming a FallenPrincess, Velvet buckles down and becomes a crucial figure in the rebellion, inspiring others through her sacrifices and her absolute ''refusal'' to become anyone's puppet.

* '''Lampshaded''': "Could you do something about the outfit?" "It's the only set of armor I have." "Come on! File down the [[SpikesOfVillainy spikes]], get a paint job, ''something''!" "Sorry."

* '''Conversed''': "That one's too nice, he will never last running with the forces of Emperor Evulz."

----

* '''Discussed''': "If Emperopr Evulz keeps being such a [[ForTheEvulz pointlessly]] [[CompleteMonster sadistic bastard]], LaResistance is going to double in size by the end of the month!"

** Though distrusted by the bulk of the resistance's forces, Mason manages to prove himself to a few members and forges a new group of {{Nakama}}, their bonds strengthened by shared ideals. This reinforces his newfound alliegence and assures him that he made the right decision turning on his former allies after they crossed the line.

* '''Straight''': Mason, a LawfulStupid paladin working for TheEmpire, protests after being ordered to [[DoomedHometown raze a village]] [[DisproportionateRetribution on the off-chance one of them]] ''[[DisproportionateRetribution might]]'' [[DisproportionateRetribution know a member of]] LaResistance. After failing to keep his allies from [[MoralEventHorizon carrying out their orders]] and [[WatchingTroyBurn seeing the results firsthand]], Mason decides to [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]] and turn on the empire.

* '''Exaggerated''': LaResistance is entirely made up of former members of TheEmpire who decided they couldn't put up with their ruler's [[ForTheEvulz evil ways]] any longer.

* '''Justified''': Mason just had a HeelRealization and acts accordingly.

* '''Subverted''': Mason is shaken by the village's destruction, but [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans justifies it to himself]] and remains a soldier of the empire.

* '''Double Subverted''': However, the next time Mason's commander orders them across the MoralEventHorizon, he chops off his commander's head and turns on those of his comrades who won't stand down.

* '''Deconstructed''': Despite switching sides because he could no longer stand by what his peers were doing, Mason finds himself still judged by their behavior, as well as his past misdeeds. The camadarie he once shared with his comrades is gone, the bonds broken by his own decisions, and he can't forge new ones to replace them because [[ReformedButRejected nobody trusts a traitor]]. Ultimately, Mason becomes a MartyrWithoutACause, seeking to atone for his mistakes by sacrificing himself for his ideals.

* '''Reconstructed''': Though distrusted by the bulk of the resistance's forces, Mason manages to prove himself to a few members and forges a new group of {{Nakama}}, their bonds strengthened by shared ideals. This reinforces his newfound alliegence and assures him that he made the right decision turning on his former allies after they crossed the line.

* '''Invoked''': Mason's commander, suspecting that his loyalty isn't absolute, deliberately engineers a SecretTestOfCharacter in the guise of a MoralEventHorizon to see whether or not he'll defect (fully expecting that, if he ''does'' defect, he can kill Mason before he escapes).

* '''Played For Drama:''' ???

Back to DefectorFromDecadence.

* '''Lampshaded''': "Could you do something about the outfit?" "It's the only set of armor I have." "Come on! File down the [[SpikesOfDoom spikes]], get a paint job, ''something''!" "Sorry."

* '''Lampshaded''': "Could you do something about the outfit?" "It's the only set of armor I have." "Come on! File down the [[SpikesOfEvil spikes]], get a paint job, ''something''!" "Sorry."

* '''Inverted''': Bob, a scout for LaResistance, sees the [=rapine/destruction/looting=] TheEmpire's forces are permitted to indulge in and decides [[EvilIsCool the benifits]] are much better on thier side