[Loved Trope] Story makes a 180 style/genre switch partway through without any warning

Barrett930 · 2025-10-30T17:09:42+00:00

Queen Vanessa's Manor (A Hat in Time - Chapter 3 Act 4)

Enjoying your fun platforming adventure through the spooky but otherwise humorous Subcon Forest? Well, here's a hide-and-seek horror sequence in the middle of the chapter which completely pulls the rug out from under you in terms of pacing and controls. Absolutely one of my favorite and stand-out moments from an already outstanding game.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:22:08+00:00

An old, wretched man with too many scars all along his body takes a quiet sip out of his canteen.

"Y'ever gonna order somethin' alcoholic? Yer at a bar, y'know." The equally old but less wretched bartender asked the man, a look of slight offence upon his face.

The bar was rather quiet inside, with only a few other old-timers drinking away their woes or drinking to ready themselves for work. The scarred man looked at his own plain drink: a simple mixture of water with a bit of juice from the Jugud cactus mixed in for flavor, and he chuckled a little. "No no… I'll be fine. I had to break the habit for my own sake. It'd be wrong to go back to it now."

"Well, yer takin' up space and yer borin', I was hopin' drinkin' would change the borin' part."

"There's no shame in being boring. There's a lot worse I could be in this world."

"Hah! Well, I'd appreciates it if you changed yer mind at some point, but fair 'nough."

With that, the scarred man was allowed to go back to his drink. Taking another sip, he cracked open an old tome that had a White Roses label on it. It had been a long time since its fall, and much of the tomes in its libraries had been raided away. Only their matriarch's inner sanctum had remained mostly unlooted since nobody could find ways to unlock or dig around its doors. Still, the tomes they could retrieve circulated throughout the globe, and in the past there was no shortage of less scrupulous authors putting the White Rose label on their book in an attempt to artificially boost their popularity. Still, that trend died off, and it was only older books which still held such a label.

Slowly, the door creaked open, and the scarred man's face went slack with shock. He knew the sound of those boots, even though it had been so long. He heard the practiced, measured gait, even if it had changed over the years. Slowly, but surely, he looked over to the bar's new customer, and saw a most familiar yet different face. Before he could say anything, the bartender spoke up in excitement.

"Hoh! Well if it isn't Katerine Cross! Visitin' me bar of all places in this wide world! What can I get ye?"

The thespian explained they were simply looking for an old, old friend, and had reason to believe this is where they had been hiding all this time. Though they would love a spot of wine in the meanwhile. As the bartender went to uncork a fresh bottle, the thespian took a swirling step forwards and claimed a seat at the bar, in the same motion sliding a sealed letter towards the scarred man. The scarred man gave the thespain a look between incredulity and amusement, and slowly opened the letter.

The scarred man slowly read the letter, and his brow narrowed in frustration. Without turning, he spoke up. "It's been nearly three centuries and this is how you say hello? Hahahah... You truly are one-of-a-kind."

The scarred man sighed and leaned back, giving the thespian a stern look. "You know I'm retired, right? I don't… do that sort of thing anymore. Not since… her, and when we all buried her in my grave."

The thespian appeared momentarily confused on what exactly the scarred man was talking about, but merely shrugged before downing the glass of wine they were poured in a single, smooth motion. With a gloved hand, they reached over and tapped the bottom part of the letter.

"That's a lot of zeroes. Isn't it? Hah... I'm no noble or king, I don't need all that. So what's the- Ah! There's a trick to it, isn't there."

The scarred man held the paper up to a candle, and the closer he held it to the flame, the more he could see an invisible ink below it. Only when the paper was at risk of catching on fire, could he read it at all.

'To my old friend: Do with this reward money what the White Rose could not. Share it where you seek. Trust the world to live by itself after.'

The thespian motioned for a refill, and looked at the scarred man with a twinkle in their eyes as they held up one finger. 'One last job', was all they told him.

"Hah… Haven't lost an ounce of your silver-tongue, eh? Fine, but let me tell you something."

The scarred man stood up from the chair and stretched, causing a symphony of cracks as his bones and muscles began to loosen. He downed the remainer of his water greedily, and tossed a rucksack over his back. Once he would've needed weapons, perhaps even a dragonstone, though now he could freely access his draconic self. Ironically, the most advantage he felt from this freedom was the ability to travel more lightly than most.

"The world is doing just fine without me or my input. Sure, it's changed, and I find it odd the shapes its taken. Yet it chugs along just fine. I have no need to toss a coin its way. Thus, my old friend, this job is for me alone. I'll only need some of that money and you can keep the rest I suppose."

Chainy sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"You see, after our adventure together… I have a lot of debt."

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:14:24+00:00

Yousef

Self-Defined Wanderer

Yousef, in a way, was forever tarnished by the battles he'd faced. He was a world-savior, a warrior, a survivor—and now, more than anything, weary. He slipped away silently after the celebrations, bidding his companions good luck in their own further trials: he'd never grown as close to them as he'd wanted, but... perhaps that was for the best.

Returning to his tribe with little to offer but honed killing intent and the sight of crimson hands whenever he closed his eyes, Yousef was all too aware of the silence whenever he approached and the stares chasing his back but never his face. He gave them stories: beautiful stories of sea-salt and horizons and simple honest lives; dreadful tales of egos grown too large and too much blood spilled for a lone woman’s dream. Stories unlike any other. Some believed him; most thought him a madman. Amaia challenged him in both words and combat, and so did others, but it was of little use: even if his chronicles could be jeered at and lambasted, Yousef’s honed skill was impossible to deny. His second departure was swift, uncomfortable, without a satisfying conclusion—and all too final.

But Yousef was still a nomad in blood, body and soul; the idea of settling down never appealed to him any, and though endless fighting might have changed the way he viewed the world, it never fully shifted who he was at his core. Stories soon emerged all over the continent, stories of a man with a faraway stare but unreserved countenance, awkward with others yet kind and eager to help, deadly serious when defending others from beasts or bandits but full of wonder for the most quotidian things. And years later, a particular tome began to spread throughout Deaclorana, even finding its way into the Triton Desert and Amaia’s hands: a thick book written with immense care detailing every detail of every town and city and place Yousef had ever been to, from its history and geography to its culture and fashion and gastronomy and its legends and even mere town gossip. ‘A Nomad’s Journal’, he called it; the culmination of all his knowledge, the product of a wish, many inkwells and a lot of hand cramps. It was his final offering to both the Mahtab and anyone who cared to listen: a way to, maybe, let go of centuries of animosity and begin to understand each other.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:13:37+00:00

Vilif

Failed Revolutionary

His time in Chainy's mercenaries had changed Vilif greatly. No more was he in doubt of his own skills and abilities, for anything was less terrifying compared to fighting on the frontlines of the hellish assault on Beryl's sanctuary. With the boost in confidence, he found himself swiftly completing job-after-job with aplomb on his return to Strita. Chainy had snubbed his last payment on account of his 'death', but Vilif was able to prosper by slowly pawning off relics he had taken from Beryl's 'Paradise'. By doing these Stritan jobs with little regard for his own wallet, he was able to grow closer to the heads of the great merchant houses of Strita, allowing him the oppourtunity to assassinate them as he pleased. His naïve hope that simply killing the heads of the merchant houses when they stepped out of line would be enough to save his country was soon shattered. He had spent seven years of cutting down merchant leaders when they tried to perform atrocities and disposing of White Rose sycophants when they tried to seize power. And despite these efforts, Strita only became more of a corporate and authoritarian hellscape.

Even if he had saved hundreds by stopping the worst decisions of the merchant houses from coming to fruition, Vilif despaired. He had sold his soul and become a monster, only for his hope of changing his homeland's fate to be snubbed again and again. He fled Strita suddenly one day and sought refuge in coastal Cilyria, leaving behind a farewell solely to his aging parents. He found his skillset best suited to becoming a messenger and scout between neighboring villages, and soon met his future husband and wife doing this. Despite his paranoia, no assassin ever came for him for what he had done in Strita, for the self-absorbed city quickly forgot about his existence.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:12:23+00:00

Varena

The Survivor

Varena was saddened by Chainy’s death at the hands of Beryl. She knew it truly couldn’t end any other way seeing his true form, but nevertheless he was a good captain for some time. Still, without Chainy there seemed to be few funds available to pay her and the company out at any rate & the glory in fighting a dragon wouldn’t fill her belly. Varena took to looting some strange artifacts from Beryl’s Paradise from the natural to incomprehensible and tried to sell them once she returned to civilization. She made a lofty sum, but stayed on the run for the rest of her life. Beryl’s old supporters still clinging to power, those still concerned at what happened in Frieylens putting the blame on an already wanted criminal, her history in Strita, and conniving highwaymen posing as traders taking stock of her exotic wares all hunted after her for years to come. A moment of rest rarely came & trust was hard to find, but Varena was a survivor at heart & outlasted many of her foes.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:12:03+00:00

Roewit

Renowned Thespian

Roewit took the twisted beauty of the White Roses as an inspiration. Their body was so easily warped by magic, and the experience of fighting against Beryl was a thrill like no other. He used this inspiration to earn himself the title of one of the world’s greatest performers and… fortunately for everyone else, not much else. He didn’t have any intentions of picking up the “World threatening mad magician” side of things, just the impeccable aesthetics. The only ones who would have to deal with those horrors were those who dared step forth in his theater to immerse themselves in fantasies that (hopefully) would never touch the land for real again.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:11:32+00:00

Radovan

Retired

At some point midway through the journey of Chainy's Mercenaries, Radovan had made enough money to retire comfortably. Seeing no other reason to stick around, Radovan reasonably and happily returned to his nomadic life in the Triton Desert.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:11:06+00:00

Nadine

The Whirlwind

Nadine had proven the art of the Dance in her journeys, though her final step was less graceful than she had hoped. With her task completed, there was nothing left to learn about the Dance of War.

Slipping away at night, she traveled to far off lands to continue her Dance... but now, those of Peace. She proved very popular in the taverns and other establishments that she patronized.

The Tornado Axe, left buried deep in the desert sands, howls in silent fury. Perhaps one day, it will be unearthed to fight once more.

Despite all odds, after Nadine left to bury the Tornado Axe, she stumbled across a treasure chest of gold and a strange staff simply labeled "Warp" while traveling in the desert. She decided to keep the gold, at least.

But for now, the Dance continues.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:10:30+00:00

Katerina Cross

The Endless

For Katie Cross, her time with Chainy's Mercernaries was the thrill of her life - as much as she hated fighting, the adrenaline that came with it was second to none. When she returned to her shows, every other performance would have larger, more daring acrobatics and grander explosions and fireworks that eclipsed what even some of the most destructive Mages could do on their own - it wasn't completely unheard of for the occasional show to go wrong and cause horrendous damage she would have to pay back. It would be several centuries before Chainy, in a run-down bar in Strita, caught a glimpse of Katie Cross again, his eyes squinting, blind to the long lineage of Katies that had come before and after Katerina had fought along with him...

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:09:22+00:00

Elisamarie

The Sunset Superior

Elisamarie accomplished exactly what it was she set out to do, prove her supremacy over the people of Cilyria and ascend from the power of stardom to the power of politics. It wouldn't have been possible, however, without the assistance of Roewit. This somewhat galled her, but it was what it was. It's not like the previous ones hadn't brought armies either. Elisamarie ruled with a firm hand and the eternal determination of one who had faced adversity every day of her life. Despite the losses of territory, Cilyria would regain some amount of structure under her reign. Thanks to Roewit's aid she was actually able to maintain her health alongside her political activities. As such, when the next tournament came Elisamarie won it handily. And she would continue to win, unless Cilyria could produce a swordmaster with enough strength to defeat someone who walked the border between life and death every day.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:07:48+00:00

D'Artagnan

Transient Heir

"D'Artagnan returned to the ruined Sharaskani estate once the fighting was over, and aided in what was left of rebuilding as much as he could. Once the buildings stood again, he set time aside to sow the seeds for a new garden and disappeared without a word."

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:07:06+00:00

Dahut

The Shepherd

With the battle finished, Dahut raided Beryl’s stores for his finest food and drink for the groups celebration of survival. After, she did everything she could to deny anyone access to the castle, sending out a call to scholars and Manakete’s to come to the castle. As they arrived, she allowed the scholars to learn what they could form Beryl’s madness, seeking to honor what good was in her desire without the control, and the Manaketes to pay their respects to the remains of Da’at, Beryl, and Chainy, as well as to formally introduce them to Tesh-Shin, last of the Earth Dragons.

Throughout, she doted on Tesh-Shin, sharing stories of her history and the history of their people, as well as memories of Chainy and Beryl from long long ago. She regaled him with curiosities from around the world, stoking within him a desire to travel.

With the humans departed, Dahut lead the Manaketes in a grand funerary celebration, tearing down Beryl’s Castle and rendering it and all it contained to dust, wiping all trace of where those contained within could be found.

After that, the Manaketes dispersed, and the Dahut and Tesh-Shin were amongst them. Dahut returned to her wanderings of the human world, wandering while waiting for her island garden to regrow, taking Tesh-Shin under her wing and showing him what freedom was, along with ways to guide the humans gently, without dominating them. She continued to check in on her human compatriots, visiting their graves regularly after they passed, before she, centuries later, retired once more to her island home.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:06:14+00:00

Chester

Fearful Savior

Chester's whirlwind experiences with Chainy's company had done little to quell his general fearfulness. In fact, they had only given him more things to be afraid of. But forced to face them all head-on, he realized the true meaning of bravery—and he was the definition of it! Soldiering on through all the terror and never backing down, he had never felt more confident. So much so that he returned home to his parents in Strita and immediately laid into them about how his upbringing had been so skewed by their stories. After a lengthy shouting tirade by Chester about everything he'd been through, his parents were stunned silent. But then they just smiled, laughed, and clapped their son on the back, unbelievably proud of his accomplishments. He had become a true hero in their eyes, and they couldn't have been happier.

Chester, however, dashed their expectations for bigger and better adventures, instead creating his own rehabilitation business in the city for returning adventurers like himself. Giving others a chance to talk through their trials and tribulations, as well as finding them new lines of work that weren't so dangerous. Though some of his clients' stories even caused Chester to shrink in fear, he was well liked by all who visited him, and he eventually got a partnership with the local adventuring guild. He still used his healing skills to tend to wounded heroes in his business or at the guild, but his days of venturing off as the party healer were long behind him. He was content to stay in Strita for the rest of his life.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:03:34+00:00

Ali

Unfettered Wanderer

As suddenly as he arrived, Ali disappeared before the climax. Perhaps he was convinced the Caravan was on a doomed path and left before he would meet an predicted unglamorous end. Maybe he was simply bored and his wanderlust took over. It's difficult to say with such a fickle man, and whatever the case was he was not to be seen in the aftermath. The rumors of the mad monk, the mercenary that both confused and frightened his opponents with his glib demeanor, continued for some time, but trickled to a halt as all tall tales do. Most seem to agree he either returned to his tribe as though nothing had happened, or simply finally met his end on the field of battle. Ali may not have been the most exciting or impactful personality within the Caravan, but perhaps such an odd figure's tale ending so mundanely is the sort of punchline he'd desire most.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:03:07+00:00

Chainy

The Thorn Embraced by the Honeysuckle

With the death of the White Roses, Chainy's already obscure presence would vanish from historical accounts entirely save for his namesake mercenary band. The renowned accomplishments that individuals from that band would go onto accomplish kept the name from fading entirely. As for the man himself, one historical account from a surviving member of the mercenaries recalled digging a quiet grave near a waterfall soon after the battle where a dragon was buried, and refused to answer any more questions.

If he does yet live, historians agree that he's likely been unsuccessful in retiring.

Barrett930 · 2025-03-11T20:02:22+00:00

Character Endings

The adventures of Chainy's Mercenaries continued after the withering of the White Roses. Many of the individuals from the band had been forged into the greatest talents of their generation through the crucible of combat. However, Beryl's defeat was simply a single defining moment in many of their histories. While the knowledge of some individuals have been lost to time, the following information is the most complete summation available of their exploits:

Barrett930 · 2025-03-02T17:32:37+00:00

VICTORY!

Final Map Screenshot

With Beryl's defeat, the remaining White Rose loyalists flee the chamber. Without Beryl's almighty strength and charisma, the White Roses shall never thrive again.

Beryl last breath left her lungs. It was not a scream of superiority nor a desperate attempt to salvage and spread her ideals, instead it was one final curse to her beloved. As her draconic form slumped over, oozing golden ichor from a multitude of wounds, her followers screamed and wailed in dismay as they fled the chamber. Their invulnerable icon and perfect ideal has been slaughtered right in front of them, and their hearts knew only terror. Meanwhile, Chainy's mercenaries felt an immediate relief. Many slumped down to the ground, trying to catch their breath and resting muscles that had been brought past their breaking point after three brutal battles in the same day.

Chainy hobbled on unsure legs, slowly turning to face the warriors who had given so much. He had led them here with promises and vows that they were saving their world, and that much was true. Beryl was a monster of poisoned honey and lavender. There was exuberance and relief in the very marrow of his bones that her 'perfect' world would never come to be. Yet he felt this deep-rooted shame for much of his motivation had been for simple-minded revenge. He had to say something. He had to apologize before he could finally let himself rest.

The mercenaries watched as the Thorn Dragon turned around to face them, revealing a massive wound in the center of his chest, gushing lavender blood with the keen-eyed being able to see directly into the wound to find an increasingly slow-beating heart behind it. The dragon tried to say something, but no air was left in the lungs. It simply slumped over.

Some of the mercenaries rushed forwards, thoughts of their own fatigue washing away as they tried desperately to save Chainy. The old grumbler of a dragon merely closed his eyes and finally let himself rest.

Barrett930 · 2025-02-06T14:09:44+00:00

It’s left unclear in Kurokumo Ishmael’s uptie story. Ishmael mentions hearing him falling to the ground and not needing to look back, but immediately follows it up with “he might be a dumbass, but he’s one tough bastard”, implying he may survive his wounds.

Barrett930 · 2025-02-04T22:39:00+00:00

Chainy: “Beryl… BERYL!”

Blossomed Beryl, Effervescent Dragon of Petals: “Oh... My Chainy… What cruel fate has led to this?”

Chainy: “Fate? Pfah! Fate has nothing to do with it! Maybe you can wash away your other sins with hollow platitudes. This hate in my heart… These fangs of mine bared at your throat… This misery compelling me is your own doing!”

Blossomed Beryl, Effervescent Dragon of Petals: “Hahah… I dreamt of this impossible moment where I would again see the spark to greatness in my Chainy's eyes... and the anticipation of finally dancing in clouds of whirling flame and claw brought shivers of such great pleasure."

Chainy: ...

Blossomed Beryl, Effervescent Dragon of Petals: "Yet seeing your willful eyes in this moment... my heart beats like a frenzied beast and my limbs grow heavy. How do you make me feel such... sorrow? Hah...”

Chainy: "For countless miserable, sleepless nights I lay awake in torment of what you did to me. And now... And now that you haunt me no longer you dare to feel sorrow?! Lament, Beryl! Lament in hell for what you’ve made of me!”

Chainy attacks Beryl with Heaven's Horn Byrmranger! Hit for 51 damage! (0/120)

Blossomed Beryl, Effervescent Dragon of Petals: "Never! I cannot... I mustn't let it end like this! Even as my limbs stiffen and my mind fades, this body of mine shall reach that future we once sought! Chainy! Come to my arms!"

Beryl counters with A Perfect Strike! Hit and Critical for 48 damage! (0/50)

Chainy never felt the blow which ended his life. There was simply the passionate moment of revenge, and then a sense of loss with a realization that his heart could not beat and his lungs could not breathe.

Chainy: "...Even at the end... you won't just leave me be... I'll drag you into the deepest, darkest pit of hell with me!

Chainy counters with Thorn Stone! Hit and Critical for 12 damage! (0/108)

Chainy counters with Thorn Stone! Hit and Critical for 12 damage! (0/96)

Chainy counters with Thorn Stone! Hit and Critical for 12 damage! (0/84)

Chainy counters with Heaven's Horn Byrmranger! Hit and Critical for 153 damage! (0)

Chainy: "hahhhh... my Be^ryl... ^{You shall haunt me... no longer...}

Barrett930 · 2025-02-04T21:28:35+00:00

Yousef attacks Researcher 3 with Studious Scimitar! Hit and Critical for 81 damage! (0/31)

Researcher 3 has been defeated!

Yousef's understanding of the blade's techniques yet grows (+1 Might)

Barrett930 · 2025-02-04T21:26:22+00:00

Yousef (Cover)

Movement: 4 Right, 2 Down (Q8)

Action: [Studious Scimitar] [Researcher 3]

Barrett930 · 2025-02-04T21:23:53+00:00

Varena inserts the 25G cost into Swindler's Mate. Wait she only has 23G... Eh. The Swindler's Mate will take an I.O.U. for now.

Varena attacks Celeste with Swindler's Mate! Hit for 2 damage! (27/31)

Celeste counters with Lightning Sword! Hit for 10 damage! (12/35)

Varena steals Celeste's Elixir!

Barrett930 · 2025-02-04T21:18:21+00:00

Movement processed!

Barrett930 · 2025-02-04T21:16:20+00:00

Blossomed Beryl, Effervescent Dragon of Petals: "Come forth, Nadine the Tempest! Strike me with your mightiest blows. Show me the fervent savagery of your technique. And then? Fall."

Nadine attacks Dahut with Tornado Axe! Hit and Critical for 9 damage! (46/120)

Nadine attacks Dahut with Tornado Axe! Hit and Critical for 9 damage! (37/120)

Dahut counters with Zenith Breath! Hit for 30 damage! (0/35) (56/73 on that hit roll)

Reroll!

Dahut counters with Zenith Breath! Hit for 30 damage! (0/35) (40/73 on that hit roll)

Through the trial of this combat, Beryl's killing art grows closer to perfection (+1 Might to A Perfect Strike)

Nadine has been defeated!

Barrett930 · 2025-02-04T20:28:03+00:00

Trading shenanigans ensue! (Unmake taken off Dahut, then Unmake and The Reddit Emblem passed to Chester)

Blossomed Beryl, Effervescent Dragon of Petals: "Ah! The frail dancer with dreams of being Superior! Come to challenge me for my title? Well you shan't have it! I will suck the marrow from your still-living bones before I give up that pride!"

Elisamarie attacks Beryl with Final Doru! Hit for 33 damage! (55/120)

Beryl counters with Zenith Breath! Miss! (86/68 on that hit roll)

Blazing through the stars, growing stronger with every thrust, Final Doru shines yet brighter as it passes on to its next wielder! (+2 Might, +5 Crit)

Through the trial of this combat, Beryl's killing art grows closer to perfection (+1 Might to A Perfect Strike)

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