Basic Trope: A character who speaks on behalf of the Big Bad.
- Straight: In The Troped Nation the Big Bad is Syd the Sinner, however the heroes don't encounter him and instead get messages from him through his loyal secretary Melodias the Messenger.
- Exaggerated:
- Everyone sees Syd daily, but he still insists on having Melodias speak for him.
- Melodias repeats Syd's messages word for word, right down to the Evil Laugh and horrible jokes.
- Downplayed:
- Syd can and has spoken on his own before, he just prefers Melodias to do.
- Melodias isn't afraid to spin things his own way to mess with the heroes when relaying.
- Justified:
- Syd knows better than to just threaten them himself since he'd be free to slaughter, so he sends in Melodias, who is more capable in self-defense, to do the job for him.
- Syd is actually mute, and Melodias is the only one who can understand him due to their Psychic Link.
- Despite being the leader of the dark side Syd can't communicate with anyone face-to-face except Melodias.
- Syd is simply too busy to do it himself.
- Syd's reluctant to talk in public, not because of secretive or mysterious tendencies, but it's a byproduct of him being a very shy, jittery mess. He sends his secretary Melodias to be his mouth because he's both loyal and knows how to get around social situations.
- Syd is physically incapable of going out and doing things himself, whether it’s because he’s on life support, he’s an evil computer, he’s trapped in a magical prison, or something else entirely.
- Inverted:
- Syd the Sinner speaks on behalf of his surbordinate Melodias.
- The heroes cannot or are unable to talk to Hirota to discuss plans with him, so confidante Sierra the Speaker is sent out to on his behalf.
- Subverted:
- Syd decides to do his own talking for now on...
- After Syd's death Melodias becomes a Dragon Ascendant, continuing where he left off.
- Melodias performs a Heel–Face Turn.
- Double-Subverted:
- ...that is, by whispering his words in Melodias' ear for him to repeat.
- However, in remembrance of his old role, he sets Franklin up as his messenger.
- However Lance sees through what would have been a plan for him to be a Fake Defector and calls it out.
- Alternately this doesn't end up relieving him of his prior duites.
- Parioded: The group storms into Syd's castle and straight to his throne room, but before they can get a word in Melodias, a previously never-before-seen character, cuts in and states they are unworthy of hearing his voice, thus must listen to him as a translator. Even in his Boss Fight.
- Zigzagged: Melodias generally acts as a messenger, but Syd isn't afraid to speak on his own... to his goons, but never the True Companions.
- Averted: Syd gives every threat or news himself.
- Enforced: "I don't think the audience will think Syd is an ominous villian at the rate we're going... What if we get Melodias to speak on his behalf?"
- Lampshaded: "Seriously, does that guy always speak on behalf of Syd? We know it's him!"
- Invoked: Melodias intentionally took on the role so as to work up the ladder.
- Exploted: Lovable Rogue Lance kills Melodias when they next meet figuring Syd will have to come himself or send another flunky to face them.
- Defied: Melodias' tongue is sliced off, leaving him unable to speak.
- Discussed:Lance: "Are you seriously just here to deliver a threat? If Syd's so bad then he should come at us himself."Melodias: "Oh-ho, you think then? The High Sinner is many things, but one that he is not is an idiot."
- Conversed:Beth: "Honestly one of this show's underrated dynamics is Syd the Sinner and Melodias'."Henry: "Huh? You mean the villian and his mouthpiece?"Beth: "Yeah. I mean it's clear that they have a friendly connection. If only we could see more of that."
- Played for Laughs:
- Melodias treats Syd like a dog in public, giving him commands, tugging him on a leash and translating his growls for others.
- Syd is a Cloudcuckoolander, and Melodias is his minder.
- Played for Drama: Melodias was chosen as the messenger because he was The Only Believer of the Knight Templar message they use.
Back to Mouth of Sauron.
