Tropes:Ways of Darkness


 * This page is about tropes that apply to the whole franchise in general. For tropes about the FRPG or any of the video game adaptations, see Tropes:Ways of Darkness (FRPG), Tropes:Ways of Darkness (2012 game) and Tropes:Ways of Darkness (2013 game).

Tropes applying to the franchise in general include:
 * : The Massenpreost Despotanfras were not nice, to say the least. They maintained a and, highly oppressive , in which they were on the top as the Magician-Priests and the ruling class, below them were the Lizardmen as -, and at the bottom were the Goblins, Trolls and Ogres as.
 * : The period between the fall of the Ancient Lizardman Empire (3000 BEKE) and the Golden Age of Froturn (~800 BEKE) was this world's equivalent of the Dark Ages.
 * : The Dwarves and the Massenpreost Despotanfras both came from different planets originally. The latter is now extinct, while the earlier went through a collective amnesia and can't remember their secret origins.
 * : Most Demons, with a few noteworthy exceptions.
 * Lizardmen are obviously
 * Pepetoka are
 * Qori are (the furry kind).
 * : See Early Installment Weirdness at the FRPG tropes page. This trope is heavily mixed with the trope.
 * : Many.
 * The Kingdom of Etrand is clearly modelled on Medieval Europe (mostly France, England and Hungary), and to a lesser extent, the Roman Empire (continental hegemony, military powerhouse).
 * Some of the Human subraces were inspired by real-life subraces/phenotypes and cultures, with the Steelhelmi being the Alpine race, Western Etrandish being the Turco-Hungarian race (or Turano-Dinaric race), Southern Etrandish being the Iberian (Spanish-Portuguese) race, Brevian being the Nordic/Germanic race, Dracfoldi being the Celtic race, and last but not least Hulran being the Dutch race.
 * The Earldom of Etrancoast (formerly Kingdom of Hulra) is inspired by the Dutch, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.
 * The Kingdom of Froturn is... Romans-Byzantines (proud and ancient civilization that influences everyone else culturally, also having a Senate like Rome), with a hint of English (constitutional monarchy) and Chinese (heavy bureaucracy, reliance on appointed bureaucrats instead of a landed aristocracy).
 * Neressa is... Byzantium meets Sassanid Persia meets Ancient China? The city itself is heavily influenced by Constantinople.
 * The Ancient Lizardman Empire was a civilization meets Ancient Rome, and to a lesser extent Mesopotamia. The current Lizardmen are a lot like Native Americans - a marginalized, neglected and stateless race that is given some autonomy on their home turf that happens to be nominally under foreign suzerainty.
 * The Wood Elves of Dragoc are like a mashup of Celts, Native Americans and Japanese... sorta.
 * The Shár Empire is clearly China.
 * The Kingdom of Strba is based off Serbia, despite being a vassal of Shár (China).
 * The Empire of Týrýng is loosely inspired by Japan and Korea.
 * : Averted. Primitive wooden cannons and experimental hand cannons are confirmed to exist as of 831, and there is a Firearms skill in the RPG module.
 * Hand Cannons saw usage during the Battle of Ancestors Field, in 809 AEKE.
 * : More or less.
 * : Zigzagged. Technology is clearly evolving, albeit at a snail's pace. In certain places, we see, with mixing of Medieval and Steampunk elements.
 * : Angels are a race whose existence is dubious and are.
 * : Demons are literally (who merely happen to resemble the classic red-skinned demons with animal horns) from another planet/dimension called Nortiimus.
 * : Dragons are a sentient race that can speak like Humans and even learn their languages. They can also learn how to use Magic, with many of them being shapeshifters. Winged Cobras are an offshoot species of Dragons.
 * : Dwarves have a culture influenced by Celtic, Semitic and Indian cultures, but they are also very technology minded, with their society being -land in the middle of Etrand.
 * : There are High Elves, Wood Elves, Dark Elves, Half-Elves... and even the Humans and Orcs are actually Elven races!
 * : Distinction is made between two types of ghosts: Spirits and Spectres.
 * : Goblins are a race of semi-nomadic merchants, animal herders and farmers who don't have much in the way of martial traditions. They also have some subraces.
 * : Gnomes are designated as the race of engineers, scientists, alchemists and inventors in the Dwarven caste system.
 * : Gryphons are a sentient race related to Dragons. However, unlike Dragons, they cannot speak - which more or less makes them avian equivalent of dolphins.
 * : Humans are an Elven race evolved from the Proto-Elves, making them a closely-related sister-race to the High Elves and Wood Elves.
 * : Ogres are a sentient humanoid race, but they don't eat other humanoids.
 * : Orcs are an Elven race. Corrupted Elves.
 * : Vampirism is caused by a disease, but our Vampires can still grow up and reproduce sexually - as long as they are well-fed.
 * : Therianthropy is a diease most likely related to Vampirism. Our Werebeasts are also undead, like Vampires.
 * The Týrýng are (the kemonomimi type) - a race of s.
 * The Azisiri are (the kemonomimi type).
 * : Don't believe me? Just look at the four categories: canon, legacy, non-canon and player.
 * : The Massenpreost Despotanfras race is extinct because the Lizardmen killed them all right before founding their empire.
 * Ironically, the Lizardmen themselves might also qualify for the trope - after killing of the Despotanfras, they had their empire, which  (and an immesurably amount of written records). However, unlike the race they killed, the Lizardmen are alive and well, if somewhat marginalized (similar status to real-life Native Americans).
 * : Military technology seems to be stuck at the level of the real-life 13th century throughout most of the world, with swords, bows, crossbows, halberds, chainmail, plate mail, trebuchets, primitive wooden cannons and experimental hand cannons being the the most advanced it can get. In contrast, civilian technology seems to be more advanced, with obviously post-medieval inventions (such as the wine cork, printing press and rickshaw) already being present, and some societies - like the Dwarven one - being downright steampunk, Etrandish cities like Grandfolk going through a sort of proto-industrialization as of 831 AEKE, etc.
 * Ironically, the Lizardmen themselves might also qualify for the trope - after killing of the Despotanfras, they had their empire, which  (and an immesurably amount of written records). However, unlike the race they killed, the Lizardmen are alive and well, if somewhat marginalized (similar status to real-life Native Americans).
 * : Military technology seems to be stuck at the level of the real-life 13th century throughout most of the world, with swords, bows, crossbows, halberds, chainmail, plate mail, trebuchets, primitive wooden cannons and experimental hand cannons being the the most advanced it can get. In contrast, civilian technology seems to be more advanced, with obviously post-medieval inventions (such as the wine cork, printing press and rickshaw) already being present, and some societies - like the Dwarven one - being downright steampunk, Etrandish cities like Grandfolk going through a sort of proto-industrialization as of 831 AEKE, etc.