Line #65 Literature/TheWingsOfWar


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_wings_of_war.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350: Monster. Mercenary. Gladiator. Protector. Hero.]]
3
4	->''Of one kind, and yet of another,''\
5	''wings and wind bear him forth.''\
6	''From chains comes his second birth''\
7	''and never shall he stand for them.''\
8	''Child of the Daystar, he will speak the language''\
9	''and be the speaker of his people.''\
10	''To leave and then return,''\
11	''bearing a woman of ice and snow on his arm.''
12	-->--'''Uhsula, Seer of the Undercaves'''
13
14	''The Wings of War'' is an ongoing series of DarkFantasy novels by Bryce O'Connor. Currently, there are five books in the series, consisting of ''Child of the Daystar'', ''The Warring Son'', ''Winter's King'', ''As Iron Falls'', and ''Of Sand and Snow'', with a sixth and presumptive final book in the series set to be released in future.
15
16	The series follows the life and exploits of one Raz i'Syul Arro, [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast the Monster of Karth, Scourge of the South, and Dragon of the North.]] Raz is an atherian, a lizard-like species native to the harsh wastes of the Cienbal desert, renowned and feared for their frightful appearance and animalistic savagery. The atherian species as a whole generally has little to no interaction with the humans of the world and vice versa, however, Raz is different. In addition to being a rare winged one of his kind, Raz was brought up by humans as a child. After being captured and subsequently left for dead in the desert by a slaver band, he was found by members of the Arro clan, a wandering desert merchant band that eventually becomes his adoptive family, teaching Raz the ways and language of man, integrating him into their society, the first known case of an atherian to do so.
17
18	You can learn more on the author's [[http://www.bryceoconnorbooks.com/ official website]].
19
20	----
21	!!This series contains examples of:
22
23	* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Valaria Petruk. Apart from her lickspittle Behn Argo, everyone else on the Council of Cyurgi' Di hates her, with the clear implication that if it were not for her considerable intelligence and aptitude for magic, she would not be a councilor at all. She is also not well-liked by the rank and file acolytes of Cyurgi' Di, and Raz takes an immediate loathing to her upon first meeting her, her demeanor and mannerisms reminding him of those of Quin Tern.
24	* AfraidOfBlood: Carro al'Dor becomes extremely nauseated by the sight of blood. This despite being the chief Healer of Cyurgi' Di.
25	* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: How Gulraht Baoill became chief of the Northern mountain clans. Subsequently, [[spoiler: the method by which Carro al'Dor (with Raz as his champion) takes power over the clans as The Peacekeeper, ending the war in the North.]]
26	* BadassBoast: There are several of these said over the course of the books, most of them coming, unsurprisingly, from Raz. Of particular note, though, is this one, spoken by Raz to Gulraht Baoill, Kayle of the mountain clans, during their duel, in response to Gulraht asking for Raz's name and titles so he can seek him and his parents out in the afterlife after he himself dies:
27	-->'''Raz:''' I am Raz i'Syul Arro. Son of Agais, son of Aigos. I am heir to the masters of the Arro clan. I am the Monster of Karth, the Scourge of the South. I am demon and dragon, a child of the Sun and Moon, watched over by Her Stars. ''[[GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger (points at Gulraht)]]'' You can tell my father that, whenever you meet him.
28	* BatmanGambit: The plan Raz, Syrah, and Carro devise to defeat Gulraht Baoill and his army in ''Winter's King''. Carro, [[spoiler: having just recently been Broken and expelled from the faith for breaking the Laorin's ThouShaltNotKill commandment]], meets Gulraht and his army outside the fortress of Cyurgi' Di with Syrah, Raz, and the rest of the Laorin defenders behind him. [[spoiler: Having no further attachment to the Laorin,]] Carro then challenges Gulraht to a duel to the death for the right to be named Kayle of the mountain clans, announcing himself to be of mountain man blood by way of his father, thus he has a perfectly legitimate claim. Gulraht accepts, out of concern that refusing would dishonor him in the eyes of his army, and seeing it as a good opportunity to crush the Laorin's spirit. Carro then announces that he will delegate his role in the duel to a champion of his choosing, at which he signals Raz to step forward. Gulraht, having already been excited of the rumors spread around his army of the Laorin having a dragon fighting for them and being a BloodKnight and ChallengeSeeker both, is downright ''thrilled'' at the prospect of fighting Raz, making him all too more eager for the duel. The chance of success for this plan hinged on Gulraht's dedication to the ways of his people and his Stone Gods, his willingness to accept Carro at his word and appearance that he is of mountain blood and accept his challenge, and whether or not Raz will succeed in killing him, [[spoiler: which Raz does succeed in doing, although costing the lives of a number of Laorin defenders in the interim when it was believed both he and Gulraht had perished when they fell off the mountain]].
29	* BearsAreBadNews: In ''The Warring Son'', Arrun makes a [[{{Foreshadowing}} seemingly offhand comment]] warning Raz that if he plans on going farther north he should keep a watch out for ursali, mammoth-sized bears which he describes as being 'half as tall again' as Raz (who is a little over ''seven feet tall'', mind you) and twice as wide, with white-and-brown fur that makes them hard to spot in winter. Come ''Winter's King'', Raz, Talo, and Carro run afoul of one while travelling through the Arocklen Woods, one that's taken [[SuperPersistentPredator a rather keen interest in stalking and killing them.]] Their first reaction to seeing this lumbering monstrosity barreling out of the woods towards them [[RunOrDie is to run for their lives in terror.]] That's right, even ''Raz.'' Eventually, though, the group is trapped on an island in the middle of a frozen lake, and Raz is forced to fight the ursalus head-on. [[spoiler: After a tremendous battle, Raz manages to slay it, but the victory comes at a terrible price, as Talo, having suffered a terrible mortal blow from the ursalus earlier, is [[MercyKill mercy killed]] by Raz at his behest.]]
30	* BerserkButton: With Raz, it's slavery (due to him being enslaved briefly himself as a child) and attempting to hurt or kill the ones he loves or cares for. If you are a slaver and Raz should encounter you, or you manage to succeed in hurting or killing those he cares for, you'd better fervently pray to whatever god you believe in for a quick and painless death [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge when he eventually gets]] [[UnstoppableRage his hands on you.]]
31	* BigBrotherInstinct: Raz is this to a lot of people in his life, ranging from his adoptive sister Ahna to the Koyts, and especially to Syrah. [[BerserkButton Do not wrong the ones he cares for,]] [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge ‘less you wish to incur]] [[UnstoppableRage the Dragon's fury.]]
32	* BitchAlert: Valaria Petruk. Even before her first appearance in ''The Warring Son'', she is described by Talo as a 'venomous cow' who would 'see the return of hanging disobedient acolytes by their ankles in the furnaces' is she were ever made High Priest. And then when she makes her first formal appearance, she cements this reputation with her supposition that the sacking and burning of Metcaf and Harond, as well as the horrific massacre of both town's citizens by Gulraht Baoill's army were completely acceptable and warranted as she sees it as divine punishment by Laor in retaliation for the town's citizens not being faithful enough to Him. In response to this, Syrah even begins to call her an insufferable bitch [[CurseCutShort before being cut short by Jofrey.]]
33	* BreakTheCutie: Syrah Brahnt in ''Winter's King''. [[ColdBloodedTorture Oh.]] [[EyeScream So.]] [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Very.]] [[HatesBeingTouched Much.]]
34	* ICallItVera: Raz named his dviassegai Ahna in remembrance of his [[spoiler: murdered adoptive sister]], whom he loved and cared for dearly.
35	* TheChampion: Raz acts as one for Carro (and by extension the Laorin) at the end of ''Winter’s King'', facing off against Baoill himself.
36	** He also sets himself up as one during ''As Iron Falls'', representing all the former slaves.
37	** If Uhsula’s prophecies are anything to go by, Raz is the champion of the entire atherian species.
38	* CompanionCube: Raz's dviassegai, Ahna. He makes a frequent habit of talking to it when he's alone and pent up with his thoughts.
39	* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Most of the slaves are conditioned to behave and work, since it’s the only way they’ll be able to continue surviving. Ideas like “freedom” and “choice” become foreign to them. When Raz frees a couple of slaves and declares their freedom, the former slaves are stunned at the prospect.
40	** In fact, for a few (such as Aleem), their first instinct is to consider Raz their new master, much to his annoyance.
41	* CrapsackWorld: From the crime and slave rings of the South, to the barbarians and blood sports of the North, almost nowhere in the world seems to be good and pure.
42	* {{Determinator}}: When Raz has his sights sets on something, nothing will stop him. No man, no beast, no force of nature will bring him down.
43	* TheDreaded: Among the bad guys, Raz is seen as nothing more than a myth, a legend merely conjured to inspire fear. A few dismiss these stories, believing that the atherian can't possibly be ''that'' strong. Whenever the man himself shows up, foes are quick to realize that these myths do ''not'' live up to his name.
44	** Among the Northern tribes, he is called Dahgün. [[note]]"Dragon"[[/note]] At first no one takes this seriously, considering dragons are no longer present in the world, but after multiple reports tell of the same creature terrorizing the Northerners, people become convinced that the Dahgün isn’t just some sorcery conjured up by the Laorin to scare them.
45	* DrivenToSuicide: At the end of ''Child of the Daystar'', [[spoiler: the Grandmother]] takes her life by throwing herself off a roof in order to prevent [[spoiler: [[TheManBehindTheMan Lazura]]]] from extracting any further information regarding magic from her mind. Her last words (and first words she's spoken in years) before doing so is a heartfelt wish for her son Raz to stay safe.
46	** Near the end of ''The Warring Son'', this happens to poor [[spoiler: Lueski]]. Driven past the DespairEventHorizon in response to seeing [[spoiler: the decapitated head of her brother]], and realizing Raz cannot avenge her loss while she is being held hostage, smiles and gives Raz a tearful "I'll miss you" before pushing her neck against the blade of the man restraining her and slitting her throat on it, stunning and horrifying everyone watching.
47	-->'''Raz:''' ''[[BigNo NO!]]''
48	* DualWielding: Raz's secondary weapons are a gladius sword and war ax, which he dual wields in combat.
49	* DudeNotFunny: In ''As Iron Falls'', after a fight with a band of mercenaries:
50	-->'''Syrah:''' There was a second, there, when you were pretending you’d split my bounty with that woman…\
51	'''Raz:''' ''[laughing]'' Who says I was pretending? I asked for fifty-fifty. She didn’t give it to me.\
52	'''Syrah:''' ''[scowling]'' Not funny.\
53	'''Raz:''' It’s a little funny.\
54	'''Syrah:''' It’s ''not'' funny...
55	* {{Epigraph}}: Almost every chapter begins with a epigraph, either a passage from an in-universe book or a quote from a character relevant to the situation.
56	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Grandmother's personal name is never mentioned or revealed.
57	* EyeScream: In ''Winter's King'', this happens to Syrah Brahnt as she has her right eye sliced out by Kareth Grahst, [[spoiler: right before he lets his men have their way with her]]. She has to wear a cloth bandage around her destroyed eye in the aftermath of the event.
58	** Later on, during the battle at Cyurgi' Di, one of the Laorin, Kallet Brern, is killed by an arrow through the eye.
59	** In ''The Warring Son'', Raz grisly executes one of the bounty hunters he faces in the Arena in this manner, sliding a dagger into the man's eye slowly enough to make the man scream in agony for over ten seconds before finally ending his life.
60	* FaceHeelTurn: Raz's adoptive cousin Mychal Arro, who in the aftermath [[spoiler: of the majority of his family being murdered]], eventually ends up renouncing his life as an Arro, changes his name to Adrion Blaeth, and becomes the personal banker for Ergoin Sass, one of the city of Miropa's most feared and powerful crime lords, or Mahsaden.
61	* FantasticRacism: Given the fact that Raz is the first known free atherian living among humans, he encounters a lot of this. [[FantasticSlurs "Scaly", "lizard", and "animal"]] appear very frequently in reference to him and other atherians; this is almost always used to showcase the character of the individual Raz is dealing with.
62	-->'''Ergoin Sass [taunting Raz]:''' Ahh, so it even eats like an animal. How appropriate.
63	* FatBastard: Quin Tern, Head Chairman of Azbar.
64	-->''He was an atrociously fat figure, with bouncing jowls and thick fingers that sparkled with jeweled rings. His blond hair was long and well kept, giving him an almost girlish look, and he nodded when the guard bent to speak in his ear before waving him away. Quin Tern, Raz decided, was as unpleasant on the outside as he was likely rotten on the in.''
65	* FishOutOfWater: When Raz first steps foot in the North, he is amazed by the different flora and fauna. Forests, mountains, and even snow fascinate him.
66	** During one trip in ''As Iron Falls'', Raz constantly stares at the sky, entranced by rain. This amuses Syrah, Eva, and a few others, one calling him "bloody mental" for being so easily impressed by it.
67	---> '''Syrah:''' The world is fascinating in that way. We live in lands that border each other, and yet the rains that we consider only a necessary nuisance are something else entirely to you.
68	* GiveMeASword: After threatening Brahen with a SwordOverHead, delivering a TheReasonYouSuck speech, and then asking the others whether he should FinishHim or not, Karan begs Raz to spare him. She says that if he were in Brahen’s position, he would be not so different. After they pick themselves up from the ground, Raz offers him his gladius, hilt first, to everyone’s shock. He then asks Brahen whether he will fight alongside or against him.
69	** [[spoiler: It is likely he chose to fight alongside the former slaves, though Brahen ends up dying in the ensuing battle. Raz recovers his gladius from Brahen’s corpse.]]
70	* GladiatorGames: The Arenas of the North participated in these until the Laorin were successful in having them shut down some decades prior to the events of the series. However, in recent months, the Arena at the city of Azbar has been reopened on the order of the city's head chairman, Quin Tern, leading to much anger and consternation from the Laorin in the city. It is to this Arena that Raz finds himself heading at the beginning of ''The Warring Son'', where he takes a job as a gladiator in a gambit to eliminate the vast number of bounty hunters after his head in an open combat setting.
71	* GreenEyedMonster: It seems like [[spoiler: Reyn Hartlet]] is on his way to becoming one of these in the aftermath of Syrah's rescue at the hands of Raz in ''Winter's King'', and the heartrending revelation that she can no longer bear to be touched by him, or any other man for that matter, besides Raz. It is not yet known how deeply this will affect him, but given his rashness, inclination towards violence, disintegration of trust in the pacifistic laws of the Laorin, and intense love for Syrah, as well as a rather ominous-sounding epigraph at the beginning of a chapter that takes place from his POV, it can be safe to assume that Raz has far from seen the last of him…
72	** [[spoiler: This conflict seems to have decayed. He shows up for the first chapter of “As Iron Falls,” glares at Raz as he and Syrah depart, then leaves the scene. He is never mentioned again.]]
73	* HappilyAdopted: Raz is happy with the Arros, and in turn, the Arros take him in as one of their own.
74	** Syrah is too. She sees Cyurgi' Di as her home and Talo as her father figure, despite not being related to him.
75	* HatesBeingTouched: A tragic side-effect of Syrah's nigh-constant [[spoiler: rape and torture]] at the hands of the mountain men while their prisoner in ''Winter's King''. She cannot bear to touch or be touched by any man after her rescue, reacting with panic and hysteria to any male attempt to touch her, even going so far as to lash out violently with magic at any attempting to do so, as seen with [[spoiler: Reyn Hartlet]]. The only known exception to this fear is Raz i'Syul Arro. He is the only man able to touch her after her rescue without triggering a reaction from her.
76	** In ''As Iron Falls'', the only other individual allowed to get close to Syrah is Karan Brightneck. As Raz notes, this is mostly due to her being female and atherian.
77	* HeroicBSOD: Poor Raz suffers many of these. A good [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan talking-to]] seems to be the best cure.
78	** [[spoiler: The destruction of Clan Arro, transforming into a DespairEventHorizon for him.]]
79	** [[spoiler: The death of the Koyts.]]
80	** [[spoiler: Realizing he left Syrah behind as he and Carro ascended to the Citadel.]]
81	** [[spoiler: Letting the second slave ship go during the pirate attack on the Sylgid.]]
82	** [[spoiler: Seeing the atherian slaves working the fields in Perce almost tips him over the edge.]]
83	** Syrah suffers a major one in the final part of ''As Iron Falls''. [[spoiler: After seeing the mutilated corpses of Lysa and Argoan, the distress causes her magic to go wild, ending in a cataclysmic supernova that destroys almost ''everyone'' in the courtroom, friend and foe alike. Afterward, she is absolutely ''horrified'' by her destructive power.]]
84	* HeWhoFightsMonsters: During the third act of ''Child of the Daystar,'' it is revealed that Raz, [[spoiler: after losing his family to slave raiders]], spent the majority of his mercenary life taking contracts to eliminate problematic people, earning him the moniker "Monster of Karth." After an encounter with a group of slaves, Raz realizes that everything he's been doing was all for nothing. Getting rid of bad people didn't make the world better. If anything, he opened the way for villains just as bad to rise to the top.
85	** [[HesBack He gets better]] after Eva tells him that, despite playing into the hands of his enemies, he can still choose to make things right.
86	* LaResistance Tired of running, Raz decides it’s time to fight back. After conquering the Moalas, 11 people choose to join him in his mission to abolish slavery. After rescuing more slaves in Perce, burning slave camps along the way, and eventually liberating entire cities, his army is ''50,000'' strong.
87	* LargeAndInCharge: Gulraht Baoill, the Kayle of the mountain men. He stands well over seven feet tall, with a huge body mass that is built purely out of muscle. In his first impression of the Kayle before their duel, Raz regards him to be more giant than man, taken aback by the fact that for the first time in his life, he finds himself actually having to look ''up'' to meet someone's face.
88	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: After getting through a storm and then faced with the possible threat of pirates, Raz begins to question his situation.
89	-->'''Raz:''' First storms, then pirates. I'm glad we didn't run into any sea monsters, or I'd start to think I was living in some far-fetched fantasy.
90	* LizardFolk: Raz is an atherian, a species of desert-dwelling, dark-skinned humanoid lizards that usually keep to themselves in the Crags. The atherian are mostly female; males are one-in-twenty and mostly serve as breeding fodder. Winged males are an extreme rarity, said to be more aggressive and savage than their wingless counterparts.
91	** Raz in particular steps more into DraconicHumanoid territory, mostly thanks to his wings, his incredible strength and endurance, and his title of Dragon. When Syrah is with him and uses her fire magic, people mistakenly believe Raz capable of breathing fire.
92	* MadeOfIron: Sliced, impaled, crushed, beaten, stomped, burned, chewed… Raz has survived many encounters that would otherwise kill a normal man.
93	* MartialPacifist: The Laorin religion. It's members are peaceful and pacifistic to an extent, but have no qualms about non-lethally defending themselves with staff and magic should it come to it.
94	* MeaningfulName: "Raz i'Syul" means "Child of the Sun."
95	* MightyRoar: Comes from Raz when he's [[RoarBeforeBeating announcing a challenge]] or [[TurnsRed becomes sufficiently enraged]].
96	* MookHorrorShow: If there’s a fight between Raz and a bunch of mooks, expect a slaughter. In the aftermath of any battle, even allies are horrified by the bloody mess left behind by Raz’s ruthlessness.
97	* MoralityPet: Syrah seems to be the best person in the world who can teach Raz to not kill everyone that looks at him the wrong way. If she wasn't there to ask him to spare his opponents, Raz's kill count would have easily been twice as high.
98	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: Syrah invokes this after the battle with the Tash, looking around and witnessing the sheer destruction caused by her supernova. For the first time in her life, Syrah Brahnt, Priestess of Laor, is a killer.]]
99	* OhCrap: After the Percian pirates inspect the Sylgid, the crew successfully evades them. [[spoiler: Or so they think, only for Syrah to realize they forgot to hide one vital piece of evidence.]]
100	-->'''Syrah:''' [[spoiler: Ahna. Ahna is still on the floor of the cabin. They know we're abroad.]]
101	* PlayingWithFire: Syrah’s main form of magic. She can use it to create lights, summon fiery ropes, superheat objects, [[spoiler: and go supernova at the end of ''As Iron Falls'']].
102	* TheProphecy: Three prophecies circulate throughout the series.
103	** First is the Grandmother's prophecy, describing the next member of the Arro clan. [[spoiler: The prophecy is talking about Raz, not Agais's biological son (who ends up dying).]]
104	--->''Of blood will be born the next of score-and-four,''\
105	''yet twice will be the cost.''\
106	''The only of his kind, he will fall for a face of snow,''\
107	''and follow and be followed to dark depths and icy summits.''\
108	''Son of the Sun he is.''\
109	''Son of the Sun he will be named.''
110	** The second prophecy (from the top of the page) comes from Uhsula, seer of the Undercaves.
111	--->''Of one kind, and yet of another,''\
112	''wings and wind bear him forth.''\
113	''From chains comes his second birth''\
114	''and never shall he stand for them.''\
115	''Child of the Daystar, he will speak the language''\
116	''and be the speaker of his people.''\
117	''To leave and then return,''\
118	''bearing a woman of ice and snow on his arm.''
119	** The third prophecy comes from Abir Fahaji, [[spoiler: a seer just like the Grandmother and Uhsula]].
120	--->''Sand and snow, they come as one,''\
121	''fire and ice made whole.''\
122	''The Dragon's blade, the Witch's might,''\
123	''each will pay its role.''\
124	''On wings of war, freedom soars,''\
125	''though death will claim its fill.''\
126	''Stand and fight, all you chained,''\
127	''as iron falls to will.''
128	* RaisedByHumans: Raz is the first ever instance of an atherian being raised by humans. He knows the language and the culture and customs very well. Unfortunately, living with the Arros means he knows very little of his own species.
129	* RedBaron: Raz i'Syul Arro. [[IHaveManyNames He has many names]], including Monster of Karth, Scourge of the South, and Dragon of the North. Yeah, you don’t want to mess with this guy.
130	* {{Roofhopping}}: Raz’s preferred method of transportation when inside of a city. Made easier thanks to his strong legs and wings.
131	* RousingSpeech: In ''As Iron Falls'', Raz delivers two inspiring speeches to mass groups of people.
132	** First is abroad the Sylgid, when he persuades freed slaves to follow him to Perce.
133	--->'''Raz:''' But give me reason to, and I ''do'' promise to fight for all of that with every ounce of my will and being… or die trying.''
134	** Second is after a slave camp of Karesh Syl is razed to the ground.
135	--->'''Raz:''' Consider that, as I say this: what is your choice? Will you stay and cower? Will you allow the army to come and throw you back into chains? Or will you seize this chance, this hope, and fight for the freedom of will and life ''all'' men deserve?
136	* SecretLegacy: [[spoiler: Raz is the son of Queen Shas-hana Rhan of the Under-Caves. By definition, Raz is a prince, set to be the next king of the atherian people. He does not know this, though it'll likely be revealed to him in the fifth book.]]
137	* SlaveLiberation: The third act of ''As Iron Falls'' revolves around Raz and his small army freeing Perce's slaves and liberating its cities. By the end of the book, Raz's army is 50,000 strong. [[spoiler: His next target is Miropa, off to finish what he started...]]
138	* TheSyndicate: The Mahsaden of the South, which spans over 6 cities and all but governs each of them - brutally. Their M.O. can be summarized by their name in Old Desert, which translates to "Give Life and Spirit, or Have It Taken".
139	* ThatManIsDead: Mychal Arro eventually forsakes his family name [[spoiler: in the aftermath of the Arro clan's destruction]] and changes his name to Adrion Blaeth in correspondence with his FaceHeelTurn as he becomes the personal banker for Ergoin Sass, one of the Mahsaden of Miropa, and he does not take kindly to having his old name brought up in this exchange with Raz:
140	-->'''Adrion:''' You going to kill me, too, cousin?\
141	'''Raz:''' You don't deserve any better.\
142	'''Adrion:''' Oh, and you're going to be the judge of that? You? Really? Look at yourself sometime, Raz. You turned into you long before I turned into me. If anything, you taught me how to sail this ship.\
143	'''Raz:''' I'm not you, and if you say that I am again, Mychal, I swear by the Sun I'll cleave you open right here and now.\
144	'''Adrion:''' DON'T CALL ME THAT! DON'T CALL ME THAT! BASTARD!\
145	'''Raz:''' Fine, ''Adrion.'' I'll call you whatever you want. I'd rather it, actually. You don't deserve the name your parents gave you.
146	* ThouShaltNotKill: One of the cardinal rules of the Laorin religion. It's members are forbidden from ever taking a life, or otherwise take or be complicit in actions that will result in the loss of lives. If a member of the order breaks this rule, they have their magical abilities ripped out of them in a rite known as Breaking before being permanently cast out of the faith.
147	* TiredOfRunning: After being on the run for almost a full year, Raz finally decides it's time to stop running and start fighting.
148	-->“I'm tired of running, Syrah,” he told her in an exhausted sort of voice. “I'm so, so tired of running. I told myself when we were still in the North that I was done turning tail every time trouble reared its head, and look how well that's worked out. It's been over a year since I fled Miropa, and in all that time all I've been doing is running and hiding and running some more.”
149	** When Syrah asks why he would ''possibly'' want to stay in enemy territory:
150	--->“Because I want a chance to save everyone, for once,” he told her in a calm, cool voice as they sat there in the dim glow of her arcane light.
151	* TookALevelInBadass: After being a DamselInDistress for too long, Syrah is finally able to take care of herself, only surpassed by Raz in terms of badassery. The fact that she holds powerful magic also helps with this.
152	** In book four, during a friendly training spar aboard the Sylgid, Syrah manages to disarm Raz with her staff and bring him to his knees.
153	--->'''Syrah''': What was that you said? Did you say "three" moves to disarm you?
154	** Culminates in the final part of ''As Iron Falls''. [[spoiler: Struck by grief, her magic goes wild and lets out a burst of fire that blows up the courtroom, immediately ending the battle.]]\
155	[[spoiler: In the aftermath of the battle, when the guards putting pressure on them earlier show up in the courtroom, they threaten to attack. Then Syrah shows up behind Raz, ''enveloped in flames'', and delivers an ultimatum to the guards.]]
156	---> '''Syrah:''' [[spoiler: The Dragon has offered you a choice. He is generous in this. ''I'' am less so. Leave, now, or the White Witch will find reason to leave you as nothing more than charred bones and dust for the winds.]]
157	* UnstoppableRage: A result of his atherian instincts, Raz can enter a sort of "[[SuperpoweredEvilSide Monster Mode]]" during tense situations. While he tries to suppress it most of the time, if distressed enough, the monster inside of him will start to take over. When he's anticipating battle, sometimes Raz will willingly let the monster out. His movements become faster, his attacks are stronger, and his resistance to pain increases. He becomes unaware of anything else but the fight, and his vision produces only shades of red and black. The only thing that can pull him from his rage is either when the threat is gone or someone's voice begs him to stop.
158	* WatchingTroyBurn: [[spoiler: At the end of the second act of ''Child of the Daystar'', Raz returns to see the Arro clan's members and wagons burning to the ground. Very few of the Arros survive, but those he cared about most, including Agais, Grea, and Ahna, perish in the fire. The disaster causes a DespairEventHorizon, driving him insane and leading him to slaughter the offenders in a RoaringRampageOfRevenge. It marks the beginning of the next chapter of Raz's life as a cruel mercenary.]]
159	* WeaponAcrossTheShoulder: Raz often handles Ahna this way when he's casually walking about town with it, although he does take care to have its blades covered whenever he does so to avoid accidental injury to himself.
160	* WildMagic: [[spoiler: Though normally under her control, Syrah's magic goes haywire at the end of ''As Iron Falls''. Grief-stricken with the image of the captain and first mate's corpses, her magic causes the courtroom to explode, killing both allies and enemies and severely injuring many more. Some are reduced to cinders and ashes (including Lysa and Argoan), while others have body parts charred beyond repair (such as Koro and Ekene).]]
161	* WingedHumanoid: Raz is a rare winged atherian, who are said to be stronger and more feral than their wingless counterparts.
162	* WingsDoNothing: Downplayed. Despite having wings, Raz seems to be unable to fly, though he can glide short distances and slow any falls. The closest he's gotten to true flight is when he took advantage of updraft from a burning building. Instead, he usually spreads his wings to make himself look bigger and more intimidating.
163	* WorstAid: After a fight at the end of ''Child of the Daystar'', Raz is struck with a crossbow bolt to his side. He manages to pull the bolt out, leaving a hole in his body, and uses his shirt as a tourniquet. Once he gets away, he makes a fire from flint and the wood of a broken table, superheats a knife over the flame, and uses the white-hot metal to cauterize the wound.
164	* WorthyOpponent: In ''Winter's King'', Raz and Gulraht Baoill silently regard each other as this during their duel, with each of them relishing the opportunity to fight the other. Gulraht at one point remarks to Raz that had he been brought up among the mountain tribes, he would've done extremely well, a statement which Raz disdainfully rebukes.
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Context Literature / TheWingsOfWar