Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Characters / GodsWillBeWatching

Go To

1[[VideoGame/GodsWillBeWatching Return to the main page]]
2----
3%%
4%%Due to the spoiler policy over at Administrivia/HandlingSpoilers no trope names are to be spoiled, the same with spoilers above the example line.
5%%
6%%
7%%In addition, Zero Context Examples are not allowed.
8%%
9%%
10%%Mods have taken to issuing suspensions to people who ignore these policies.
11%%
12%%
13%%
14[[foldercontrol]]
15
16
17[[folder:Everdusk Company]]
18
19!!Sergeant [[spoiler: Abraham]] Burden
20-->''"Ecuk's neutrality and worshipping of justice, science and truth over all things. I can respect that."''
21[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sgtburden2_8651.jpg]]
22
23The main character. Sergeant Burden is member of an infiltration unit that is currently investigating the Xenolifers at the behest of the Everdusk Company.
24----
25* AmbiguouslyHuman: While he can die of injuries, he apparently doesn't need to eat or drink, has a completely unbreakable morale, his medical profile at Everdusk is confidential, the Medusea Virus has inexplicably no effects on him and while he gets tired by intense effort (such as digging out the rubble in Chapter 3), he can walk through the entire desert in Chapter 5 without ever needing to rest. [[spoiler:[[TheUnreveal We never discover what he is exactly]], it could be a side-effect his his numerous time loops.]]
26* DeadPersonImpersonation: [[spoiler:The real Abraham Burden dies during Chapter 5. Since the player character doesn't have an identity, Jack gives him Abraham's dogtags and identity.]]
27* {{Determinator}}: Nothing will stop him from completing his tasks. [[spoiler:Thanks to a GroundhogDayLoop, he literally can't.]]
28* DoomMagnet: His history with Xenolifer often puts others in dangers way.
29* DrivenToSuicide: Kills himself in Chapter 4 if all his crewmen die. [[spoiler:He also throws himself off into space in Chapter Seven, claiming that he's sick of being forced to make the hard decisions over and over. [[GroundhogDayLoop It doesn't work]].]]
30* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Goes only by "Sergeant" in Chapter 5.
31* FateWorseThanDeath: Burden is thrust to many different situations, all varying degrees of pain. [[spoiler: We find out in the end that no matter what he does, he's stuck in GroundhogDayLoop, repeating the events of the game over and over and the player is given no explanation why.]]
32* AFatherToHisMen: Downplayed, the crew certainly looks up to Burden but they do question his decisions and morals at times.
33* GallowsHumor: Jack notes that he tends to make a lot of jokes about cannibalism. [[spoiler:It could be lingering memories from his time-loops of his time in the frozen world where he could had had to kill some of the survivor so the rest of the team could have food.]]
34* HeroicSpirit: Burden's spirit is always being tested by the gods, he never breaks.
35* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Jack, who features in almost all chapters.
36* IdentityAmnesia: [[spoiler:Burden is just a name given to him by Jack. We never do find out what his real identity is, or if he even has one.]]
37* TheLeader: His leadership (and survival) skills are said to be legendary. Let's see if you can live up to that.
38* MeaningfulName: Burden. He has a lot on his shoulders.
39* NoNameGiven: [[spoiler: His true identity. The only thing we can be sure of is that he was formerly a Sergeant of Everdusk, but each time loop has him forget everything he's ever experienced. The identity of Abraham Burden is that of a former Sergeant that killed himself due to guilt.]]
40* [[PerpetualMotionMonster Perpetual Motion Man]]: Never gives himself anything when dividing food and water between his companions and never gets tired or exhausted from going without. He can suffer from injuries in Chapter 2, and fatigue in Chapter 3, though.
41* PragmaticHero: Despite the actions he's taken, his intentions have always been morally good.
42* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Downplayed, more of a cold hatred than rage, but he certainly thinks the [[spoiler:GroundhogDayLoop of his existence]] is some sort of sick divine joke.
43* ShirtlessCaptives: When Burden is a prisoner in Chapter 2, he is shirtless.
44* ShootTheShaggyDog: He actually [[spoiler: manages to remember that he's stuck in a time loop.]] The kicker? [[spoiler: It's always in the climatic final battle between him and Liam, so its too late to actually change the whole situation.]]
45* TheUnfettered: Normally calm and idealistic, but when something happens to put the mission at risk there's very little he won't sacrifice to uphold it.
46* WouldHurtAChild: Considers harming Eddie an option in order to break his parents willpower.
47
48!!Corporal Jack Maslow
49-->''"This is your concept of mercy Burden? This looks far worse than a shot in the back of the head to me."''
50[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cpljack2_6990.jpg]]
51
52The soldier of Sergeant Burden's crew, who accompanies him while infiltrating the Xenolifers and beyond.
53----
54* ArtificialLimbs: If he gets his arm chopped off in the 2nd mission.
55* AnArmAndALeg: Possible in Chapter 2. Although if it happens [[ArtificialLimbs he gets a new one he's much happier with.]]
56* TheBigGuy: Has the second highest body mass in the squad, after Donald who's far less muscular, and has the second-highest dig power, after [=Br4nd-On=] the robot. Notably, he was born on one of the most inhospitable planets we've seen, so it makes sense he'd be in good physical condition. When shirtless in Chapter 2, he's positively ripped.
57* BlackDudeDiesFirst: He is the first main character who can die without you being forced to redo the mission, and can, in fact, die on 4 different occasions throughout the game. In the same playthrough even. The other main characters can at most die twice, though this is partially due to them being featured in fewer missions than Jack.
58* ClusterFBomb: Drops one during the introduction in anger at Xenolifer for leaving them on an alien planet.
59* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: [[spoiler:Possible in Chapter 2 when on the rack.]]
60* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Burden, having been with him for seven years by the end of the game.
61* HeroicSpirit: Of the team, he is the one who will take the longest to break down psychologically, and demands the least when it comes to food. Not surprising, considering he was raised on a desert planet where water is incredibly sparse and it's always day, meaning if you try to sleep outside of shelter, you're essentially committing suicide.
62* OldSoldier: Feels his age in the DLC.
63* ShirtlessCaptives: Like Burden, he's shirtless in Chapter 2 while being tortured.
64
65
66
67!!Sarah Gaynor
68
69-->''"Why do they hate us so much to abandon us to our death on this frozen planet?"''
70[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sarahgaynor2_3054.jpg]]
71
72The psychiatrist of Sergeant Burdens crew and Donald's wife.
73----
74* AmicableExes: She and Donald in the DLC. She's more over it than he is, but she is still quick to praise him when he thinks of things she doesn't.
75* {{Chickification}}: A plot point in the DLC, as one of the Op'maun shrines allows the player to change into an AlternateUniverse where Donald and Sarah never divorced. This makes Sarah less useful with guns (at the expense of making Donald lose much less stamina).
76* TheHeart: Technically also TheSmartGuy, not only being a psychiatrist but also an expert in brain genetics, her role in the team is keeping everyone's morale up and she's notably a bit more friendly than Dr. Zenész (who is by no means cold, but rather more focused on the mission) and often stresses the important of talking to your squad and keeping them happy.
77* {{Irony}}: She has the lowest maximum morale rating in both the original version and the full game's fourth Chapter, despite her gameplay role being boosting of morale.
78* TheLoad: In Chapter 4. Her morale is much lower than anyone else's, her pep talks take 3 out of 5 actions of the day, and doing things such as feeding her raw meat can send her into a panic easily.
79* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Discussed in conversation with Liam, Jack, and Donald. She admits she hasn't killed anyone yet, and Donald admires that. Liam agrees, saying she shouldn't look forward to having blood on her hands.
80* TookALevelInBadass: In the interim, Sarah learns how to fight from Jack. Liam claims she's even better with weapons than he is.
81
82!!Donald Gaynor
83
84-->''"Yeah, how noble… I don't give a fuck"''
85[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/donaldgaynor_5193.jpg]]
86
87The engineer of Sergeant Burdens crew and Sarah's husband.
88----
89* AmicableExes: With Sarah after the story ends. He can get back together with her in the DLC.
90* TheEngineer: He's there to handle maintenance on the ship, the team's equipment as well as [=Br4nd-On=]. He's also the best repairman in the group and is one of the two members of the group who can handle the defibrillator and repair the radio.
91* HeroicSelfDeprecation: He considers himself inferior to Dr. Zenész because the doctor made so many wonderful things. Zenész himself disagrees, as he considers Donald's [=Br4nd-On=] to be superior to anything he ever made. He also doesn't consider himself a hero, as he admits the fate of the universe doesn't interest him, but he'll help because it interests Sarah.
92* TheLoad: In the DLC chapter, since he loses stamina very quickly and is the worst shot with weapons. At least he can tell you how long until the next rest area. [[spoiler: Averted in the alternative timeline in which he and Sarah are still married. Here his stamina is just as good as Liams.]]
93* MissionControl: In the DLC episode, his job is to discuss how long it is between checkpoints.
94* MrFixIt: If it's a machine, Donald can make it sing. Notably, he can repair robots, run an electric cardiogram-type machine, and repair the broken radio better than anyone.
95* NerdGlasses: Has pretty thick coke-bottle frames. Notably, he's the second-weakest of the people who can dig in Chapter 3, and the easiest to tire in the climb in the DLC.
96* TookALevelInCynic: Donald has always been fairly dismissive, but as a young man, he jumped at the idea of saving the world and making it a better place. In the DLC chapter, his divorce from Sarah has made him care very little about the world.
97* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Donald will cite this if he refuses to reunite with Sarah via Op'Mauhn technology.
98
99!!Doctor Paul Zenész
100
101-->''"Nothing good can be achieved through terrorism."''
102[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/doctor_1781.jpg]]
103
104The doctor of Sergeant Burdens crew.
105----
106* EccentricMillionaire: Billionaire, actually, but likes the idea of being considered eccentric. The only reason Liam could fund the mission in the DLC was because Zenész foot the bill.
107* FeelingTheirAge: His stamina drains quickly in the DLC episode, and he ascribes that to being over 70.
108* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: He's the only one who smokes, and he does it in a sophisticated gentleman fashion. Most notably, this object is something called an eternal cigarette, which has no nicotine in it. It's just an oral fixation for him.
109* TheLoad: In the DLC chapter. He's barely a better shot that Donald, tires very easily (and unlike Donald, there's no way to fix it). He offers some injections, but otherwise slows the party down.
110* TheMedic: Of a sort. He does not heal wounds, but rather is the only member who can quickly whip up antidotes out of local herbs as well as the second person who can use the defibrillator. He's also got some chemicals for the climb up the mountain in the DLC.
111* NonIdleRich: He became rich selling his various creations in the interim between the game and the DLC. This was subverted though, as he was bored out of his skull and joined up with the old team because he didn't have much better to do.
112* TheSmartGuy: Expert in bacteriology and former chief of the Counterviral department of the Constellar Federation, he's the go-to guy to figure out purely biological problems. He also talks philosophy with Shaman on the journey up the mountain.
113* TheStoic: A lot calmer and more soft-spoken than the others. Notably, on the 4th mission, while the other {{Freak Out}}s for low morale include Sarah crawling into a ball and crying and Jack dropping to the ground and shaking back and forth out of nervousness, Zenész's FreakOut is simply putting down his cigarette.
114
115!![=Br4nd-On=]
116-->''"I'll do my best Sir."''
117[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/br4nd0n_7094.jpg]]
118
119The robot companion of Sergeant Burdens crew. A prototype built by Donald, he was designed to connect with humans on an emotional scale.
120----
121* DoAndroidsDream: In fact, yes, according to what Donald tells you. The robot model has an empathic module built in, meant to allow him to emulate human behaviour. However, what happened in most models was that the owner's personality eventually overrode the robot's, causing an existential crisis in the robot. The model was scrapped, though Donald keeps [=Br4nd-On=] around and wipes the module once a year to prevent any existential crisis.
122* HeroicSacrifice: He offers to pull one in Chapter 3, volunteering to connect the faulty power cables so that power would not be an issue. Burden disagrees, merely because the robot can haul more debris to dig themselves out than anyone else. [[spoiler:The assault on the Matriarch plays this straighter.]]
123* RobotsArePeopleToo: [=Br4nd-On=] is fully sentient and Donald talks about him as though he were alive, which gets on Burden's nerves. Whether or not [=Br4nd-On=] is more disposable than a human crewmember ultimately depends on the player.
124
125!!Marvin
126
127-->''"Woof!"''
128[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbwmarvin_5349.jpg]]
129
130A dog that accompanies Sergeant Burden
131----
132* TheLoad: In Chapter 3, as he digs about 8kg less debris than Donald, and takes twice as long to test cures on.
133* TeamPet: His main role, although he helps out with some tasks too.
134
135[[/folder]]
136
137[[folder:Xenolifers]]
138
139!!Liam Feronh-Gau
140
141-->''"I may be a suicidal hero, but I'm not a suicidal idiot."''
142[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/liam_3337.jpg]]
143
144Leader of the Xenolifer organisation.
145----
146* AntiVillain: It's made very clear that Liam is not happy about what he does and tries to minimize casualties. Add to that his loyalty to his crew and the way he utterly trusts Abraham and Jack, and you've got yourself a terrorist you might just be inclined to agree with.
147* BaddieFlattery: He's fond of Burden, and says so openly.
148* HeroAntagonist: He's trying to be, certainly. From an omniscient viewpoint, [[spoiler: he's right that the Constellar Federation needs to be stopped, but he's wrong in thinking that he can actually make a difference for the better]].
149* HeroOfAnotherStory: [[spoiler:He serves as the hero of the DLC chapter, when he [[EnemyMine teams up with Burden's old crew]]]].
150* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Abraham worries that Liam's ambition could turn him into the thing they try hard to fight against and tries to drive him in the right direction.
151* OldSoldier: Much older around the time of the DLC.
152* WellIntentionedExtremist: He knows that he's doing bad things, but he believes that stopping the wide-spread slavery is worth the blood it might cost.
153
154!!Shaman
155
156-->''"They won't see me coming."''
157[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shaman_892.jpg]]
158
159The technician in charge of hacking the computer during Xenolifers attack on the Holistic Empire
160----
161
162* CodeName: Since he was raised by aliens his true name isn't a human one, and the rest of Xenolifer refers to him by Shaman rather than attempt his real name. When his real name is revealed, he asks everyone else still refer to him as Shaman.
163* HollywoodHacking: He barely interfaces with technology. Justified in his case, as he uses Op'maun technology.
164* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: His talents are unusual, no question. But he doesn't consider it magic.
165* SkullForAHead: It's not clear whether or not it's a mask or makeup, but Shaman always wears it.
166
167!!Claire
168-->''"I won't allow that. I won't allow our future to be shaped by monsters."''
169[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbwclaire_1108.jpg]]
170
171One of Xenolifers top researchers, mother of Eddie and Frank's wife. Primarily concerned for her child and husband.
172----
173* MamaBear: Averted. While she is very protective of Eddie, killing him will cause her to go into a catatonic state rather than attack you.
174* VillainousBreakdown: Whether you believe she's a villain or not, shooting Eddie will cause her to break down and refuse to even interact with you.
175
176!!Frank
177-->''"Mass murder? This is sacrifice!"''
178[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbwfrank_5925.jpg]]
179
180One of Xenolifers top researchers, father of Eddie and Claire's husband. Primarily concerned for his child and wife.
181----
182* CrusadingWidower: Killing either Claire or Eddie will cause him to get more inclined to rebel rather than get scared.
183* PapaWolf: Downplayed. Kill his son and he'll be incredibly likely to rebel, as opposed to getting scared which is what happens most of the time when executing the hostages.
184
185!!Ford
186-->''"It is the powerful that shape the world, not the just."''
187
188[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbwford_4879.jpg]]
189One of Xenolifers top researchers, the oldest of the team and primarily concerned for the well being of the rest of the team.
190----
191* TheMenFirst: He loves his fellow researchers, and will react badly if they are harmed.
192* WellIntentionedExtremist: Like most of Xenolifer, but he makes it very clear that, considering what he has seen throughout his life, he's absolutely certain that there's no other way to end slavery.
193
194!!Wouter
195-->''"Hell yeah I have! We're saving the world, man."''
196[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbwwouter_6058.jpg]]
197
198One of Xenolifers top researchers, the youngest of the team and primarily concerned with not getting beaten.
199----
200* DirtyCoward: He's usually the first one to give up his password, just hit him a few times and he'll break very quickly.
201* TotallyRadical: His conversations have some shades of this.
202
203!!Eddie
204[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbweddie_5404.jpg]]
205
206The child of Frank and Claire, he is a toddler who functions as a bargaining chip (more or less) during the penultimate chapter.
207----
208* ChildrenAreInnocent: Stays engaged with his handheld during a HostageSituation, unaware of the severity of the situation.
209* MoralityPet: Is this to the entire group. Hitting him, while drastically raising rebellion, greatly decreases morale.
210* VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: Killing him is not advised, as the negative outcomes greatly outweighs the positives.
211
212!! Agent Amber
213
214A former member of Xenolifers, Amber was the team's psychologist. Committed suicide before the game starts.
215----
216* BoomHeadshot: How she offed herself.
217* GoMadFromTheRevelation: [[spoiler:Realizing she was stuck in a GroundhogDayLoop did this to her.]]
218* GroundhogDayLoop: [[spoiler:Liam points out that, like Burden, she was living one.]]
219* ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted, she is one. Of course, she was driving herself insane.
220[[/folder]]
221
222[[folder:Hollistic Empire]]
223
224!!Irving
225-->''"You get what you deserve thanks to your own strengths. Fuck equality."''
226[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbwirving_189.jpg]]
227
228A torturer who greatly enjoys his work, but has a tendency to be overzealous.
229----
230* AxCrazy: He really seems to love his job, and doesn't seem to particularly care if he accidentally kills Burden or Jack (only giving a "the boss isn't going to like this" type of reaction.) Notably, on one of the days, he brings out a literal ax.
231* CoolShades: Never seen without them.
232* FauxAffablyEvil: Will very quickly drop the act and go back to bashing your kneecaps in when he's done joking around.
233** He tells Burden a story that he was once made to torture a cyborg, difficult given the cyborgs ability to switch off their pain receivers. Instead, he befriended the cyborg, which made the cyborg slowly release some personal details to Irving, which he promptly used to capture the cyborg's sister and rip her ribcage open in front of him.
234* SecondFaceSmoke: Does this to Burden right before smashing his knees in during the days with the hammer.
235* TheSocialDarwinist: Supports the Empire because they don't believe in equality or human rights, thus allowing the strong to earn what they deserve on their own merits.
236* SunglassesAtNight: Is never seen without his sunglasses. This is [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in one of Burden's provokes.
237* TortureForFunAndInformation: His hat. While he is an employee and understands what he is supposed to do, he does enjoy it too.
238* TortureTechnician: Of the sadistic kind. He certainly has a veneer of friendliness and ''just doing my job'' style, but he makes it clear that he considers his torture an art that he enjoys greatly, even performing it as a child on pet hamsters.
239
240!!Alexander
241[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gwbwalexander_9836.jpg]]
242
243A quiet man who serves as an assistant to Irving during torture sessions.
244----
245* ButForMeItWasTuesday: He didn't remember torturing Jack when the two met.
246* EnemyMine: Jack found him sold as a slave in the interim after the game and the DLC.
247* MadeASlave: He was sold as a slave before he was found by Jack.
248* TheQuietOne: Never says a single word, not even when Jack provokes him.
249* WalkingShirtlessScene: Is as shirtless as his captives.
250[[/folder]]
251
252[[folder:Constellar Federation]]
253!!Sergeant Abraham
254-->''"If you feel you need to make any sacrifices, I give you full authority to do so- starting with me."''
255[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sgtabraham_1094.jpg]]
256
257An old, crippled Officer who is technically the man in charge of the soldiers you encounter on Legin
258----
259* DrivenToSuicide: He commits suicide after a while if you do not kill him yourself.
260* TheLoad: He's useless to the team as he is, and he knows it. There's no way you can make it back to base camp with his missing leg. [[spoiler: So he commits suicide so that everyone else can get on without him wasting their water and slowing them down.]]
261* MeaningfulName: He's [[spoiler: the original Abraham Burden. He lives up to his name.]]
262

Top