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Raptor

 Raptor
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TVTItem
 Raptor
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Raptor
 Raptor
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Raptor
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A historical novel set in the late fifth and early sixth centuries, Raptor is the tale of Thorn, a Ostrogoth wanderer whose true nature must be kept a secret. Thorn is a hermaphrodite, both male and female, and dual genders are a dangerous thing to possess in the dying Roman Empire. A mannamavi, a man-maiden, would be an enslaved freak at best and a monster to be slaughtered at worst. Thorn seeks to survive by creating two separate identities, the male Thorn and the female Veleda, and living a double life. Thorn serves King Theodoric the Great as he seeks to create an Ostrogoth empire, Veleda fights to overthrow the tyrant Strabo, and both find family, friends, and lovers among those they meet. Together, the two people in one intersex body fight, explore, and romance their way through the monasteries, convents, palaces, and battlefields of Europe. But it becomes hard to separate Thorn and Veleda, and even harder to keep the world from discovering their secret. And when another hermaphrodite enters their lives, everything starts to collapse.By Gary Jennings, Raptor is a meticulously researched historical epic. Thorn and Veleda's travails happen amidst real-life events such as the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the civil war for the kingship of the Ostrogoths, the clash of Arianism versus Catholicism, and the plunging of Europe into the Dark Ages. The Goths and Romans are the peoples most featured, and their languages and cultures are accurately described, but Celts, Huns, Syrians, and Greeks appear and create a diverse cast of characters. As typical for Jennings' other novels (such as Aztec), graphic violence and bizarre sexual situations abound. More importantly, Raptor follows in the Jennings tradition of detailing a fascinating character's entire life, and in giving that life only one constant: those whom the hero loves, will die.
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2023-05-16T02:58:03Z
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2023-05-16T02:58:03Z
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DBTropes
 Raptor / int_1122f435
type
Pregnant Hostage
 Raptor / int_1122f435
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Pregnant Hostage: Fabius’ wife Placidia is pregnant and close to giving birth when she and Calidius are kidnapped and held captive by Huns. Calidius escapes, but Placidia is beheaded, with her corpse extruding a fetus that does not survive.
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Raptor / int_1122f435
 Raptor / int_112daba0
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Retired Badass
 Raptor / int_112daba0
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Retired Badass: Wyrd is an elderly former Roman legionary who now spends his days at relaxing activities such as hunting bears and slaying Huns.
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 Raptor / int_12dd1d4c
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Rape as Drama
 Raptor / int_12dd1d4c
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Rape as Drama: Thorn has his first experience of sex when he is repeatedly raped by the monk Brother Peter during his childhood at the monastery. In adulthood, Thorn is again raped by Strabo while the hermaphrodite is pretending to be Amalamena. Thorn brutally avenges both violations.
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 Raptor / int_18aff462
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Artistic License – Biology
 Raptor / int_18aff462
comment
Artistic License – Biology: Thorn can sexually function as either male or female, and lives and acts as a man or a woman at will. Such an even and unproblematic physical and mental split between the genders is an unrealistic portrayal of an intersex person. Thor/Genovefa is portrayed the same way and similarly stretches biological credulity. However, Thorn is said to be sterile, and infertility is actually suffered by many real-life intersex people.
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 Raptor / int_1cc527d7
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Asskicking Leads to Leadership
 Raptor / int_1cc527d7
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Asskicking Leads to Leadership: The headwoman of the Walis-kari, or Amazons, rules because she is “the fiercest, most bloodthirsty, most merciless” and is “capable of killing any or all of the rest” of the tribe.
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 Raptor / int_22cf536c
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Chekhov's Gun
 Raptor / int_22cf536c
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Chekhov's Gun: The bronze breast guard, which protects Veleda from a sword strike and later serves as a concealed weapon to assassinate Tufa.
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Raptor / int_22cf536c
 Raptor / int_23781532
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Ironic Name
 Raptor / int_23781532
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Ironic Name: Several cases. Fabius’ kidnapped wife, a woman known for her willfulness, is named Placidia. One of the hideous Amazons is named Ghashang — "Pretty". The headwoman of the Amazons, who won her position by killing all her competitors, is Modar Lubo — "Mother Love".
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Raptor / int_23781532
 Raptor / int_267ce120
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Dirty Old Man
 Raptor / int_267ce120
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Dirty Old Man: Wyrd is a blunt and vulgar man who comes across as this, but he has been rendered impotent by age.
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Raptor / int_267ce120
 Raptor / int_2a02e5c9
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Guile Hero
 Raptor / int_2a02e5c9
comment
Guile Hero: Thorn is a passable warrior, but most of his victories are accomplished through cunning and intelligence rather than brute force.
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Raptor / int_2a02e5c9
 Raptor / int_2a3e0069
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Amazonian Beauty
 Raptor / int_2a3e0069
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Amazonian Beauty: Defied. Legends describe the Amazons as beautiful, lithe huntresses of the forest. When Veleda meets her first Amazon, she drily comments that storytellers should have realized that living in the elements, hunting and performing heavy labor, actually leaves women looking brutal and bestial.
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Raptor / int_2a3e0069
 Raptor / int_2a8a7ea6
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Bury Your Gays
 Raptor / int_2a8a7ea6
comment
Bury Your Gays: Anyone who seeks out a same-sex encounter with Thorn will die horribly. Brother Peter molests Thorn while initially believing him to be a boy, and is later killed by the juika-bloth on Thorn's orders. Sister Deidamia seduces Thorn while he/she is living as a girl, and as punishment the abbess beats Deidamia, possibly to death. Robeya aggressively propositions Thorn's female identity Juhiza. Robeya soon becomes a victim of Monkey's poison.
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 Raptor / int_2bd44a0f
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Hermaphrodite
 Raptor / int_2bd44a0f
comment
Hermaphrodite: The central trope of the book. Thorn's intersex condition is well described in terms of specific primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Hair: Thorn wears his pale blond hair shoulder-length, slightly short for a woman and slightly long for a man, but an acceptable length for either gender. He never develops facial hair or chest hair. Voice: Thorn's voice never breaks, resulting in him sounding like either a soft-spoken man or a husky-voiced woman. Height: Thorn is taller than most women and shorter than most men (the book actually describes him as taller than many men and shorter than many women, but this makes less sense and is likely a typo). He is slim, but physically stronger than a female. Breasts and Genitalia: Thorn has definite breasts, but they are quite small, and he hides them by wearing a binding cloth under his shirt or tensing his pectoral muscles when shirtless. Thorn has a functioning vagina, but never menstruates. He lacks a scrotum and testicles, but has a relatively normal-sized and functioning penis. When undressed, he uses careful postures to hide his missing testicles (when passing as male) or binds his penis under a concealing cloth wound around his hips (when passing as female). Fertility: Thorn never becomes pregnant or fathers any children. The monks who examined him as an infant explicitly stated that he was sterile. Thor/Genovefa is also a hermaphrodite, and he/she has the same sexual characteristics as Thorn/Veleda (albeit slightly more feminized, with larger breasts and a smaller penis). Thor/Genovefa and Thorn/Veleda are explicitly stated to be near-twins in their resemblance.
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 Raptor / int_2fa6b075
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God Save Us from the Queen!
 Raptor / int_2fa6b075
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God Save Us from the Queen!: Queen Giso of the Rugii is a power-hungry, shrewish woman. A second example comes from the spoiled and cruel Amalaswintha, who is slated to become Queen Regent for her son.
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 Raptor / int_317629db
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Embarrassing Nickname
 Raptor / int_317629db
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Embarrassing Nickname: Maghib is commonly known as Maggot.
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 Raptor / int_325a15f1
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Rags to Royalty
 Raptor / int_325a15f1
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Rags to Royalty: Aurora rises from a mere peasant woman to a de facto queen.
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 Raptor / int_32768814
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Kick the Son of a Bitch
 Raptor / int_32768814
comment
Kick The Son Of A Bitch: Thorn does this quite often. Thorn kills Brother Peter by setting the juika-bloth on him, tearing his head apart. Peter had previously raped Thorn. Thorn arranges the poisonings of Jaeirus and Robeya. Jaeirus had attempted to rape “Juhiza” and killed Gudinand, and Robeya was complicit in her son’s misdeeds. Strabo captures and repeatedly rapes Thorn’s female guise. Thorn chops off all four of Strabo’ limbs and leaves him to die. Thorn hands Thor/Genovefa over to the Amazons to be enslaved, tortured, and killed. Thor/Genovefa had murdered Swanilda, stabbed Maghib, been unfaithful to Thorn, and generally acted vilely.
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 Raptor / int_33ba37ca
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Out with a Bang
 Raptor / int_33ba37ca
comment
Out with a Bang: Several cases. Anyone who sleeps with a venefica dies of poisoning. Victims of veneficas include Jaeirus, Robeya, and Theodoric. Veleda masquerades as a courtesan and is eventually summoned to sleep with Tufa. Veleda fatally stabs Tufa through the heart while he is off-guard and er . . . (Distracted by the Sexy busy).
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 Raptor / int_396e1c2a
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Face Death with Dignity
 Raptor / int_396e1c2a
comment
Face Death with Dignity: When Placidia realizes that she will not be saved from the Huns, she simply kisses her son goodbye, asks his rescuer to care for him well, and dashes off to distract the Huns from the escapees.
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 Raptor / int_3d5547b0
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Perfect Poison
 Raptor / int_3d5547b0
comment
Perfect Poison: The venefica, which is a human being. To create a venefica, an infant (usually a female slave) is constantly fed small doses of poison. The venefica develops an immunity to the effects of the poison, but as she matures, it accumulates in her body. Eventually the quantities of poison become such that anyone who has sexual intercourse with the venefica is fatally poisoned.
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Raptor / int_3d5547b0
 Raptor / int_44a1dd10
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King Incognito
 Raptor / int_44a1dd10
comment
King Incognito: Thorn first meets Theodoric while the latter is traveling as an ordinary young man called Thiuda.
 Raptor / int_44a1dd10
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Raptor / int_44a1dd10
 Raptor / int_4510b368
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Ambiguous Gender
 Raptor / int_4510b368
comment
Ambiguous Gender: Thorn has a serious case of this, and although he lives most of his life as a man, he uses his physical ambiguity to revert to the female identity of Veleda at whim or need. See the Hermaphrodite entry below for a thorough analysis. Thor/Genovefa is similarly ambiguous and practices the same sort of double life, albeit presenting mostly as a female. The juika-bloth is also ambiguously gendered, and its ambiguity has a symbolic purpose. The bird never has an opportunity to mate, and so Thorn never discovers whether it is male or female. This uncertainty naturally reflects upon Thorn's own ambiguous sex, heightening his similarity to the raptor.
 Raptor / int_4510b368
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 Raptor / int_4560b6bb
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Gag Nose
 Raptor / int_4560b6bb
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Gag Nose: Maghib possesses one which is the butt of many rude jokes.
 Raptor / int_4560b6bb
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Raptor / int_4560b6bb
 Raptor / int_47fea76b
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Butt-Monkey
 Raptor / int_47fea76b
comment
Butt-Monkey: Maghib, also called Maggot. He is scrawny, unattractive, and looked down on for being an Armenian. Meirus employs him to collect foul-smelling mud, and when he becomes Thorn and Thor/Genovefa’s guide, they treat him terribly, with Genovefa even forcing him to sleep with her behind Thorn’s back). Thor/Genovefa eventually stabs him, and when Maghib recovers, he promptly becomes the loathsome Queen Giso’s bedmate. Maghib’s fortunes do eventually improve, though - he receives Thorn’s apologies, becomes Meirus’ business partner, and is named the king’s praefectus.
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 Raptor / int_4cacfcc3
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Honey Trap
 Raptor / int_4cacfcc3
comment
Honey Trap: Veleda acts as a courtesan to assassinate Tufa. Later, Livia arranges a poisonous Honey Trap for Thorn.
 Raptor / int_4cacfcc3
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Raptor / int_4cacfcc3
 Raptor / int_4efc4fae
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Good Scars, Evil Scars
 Raptor / int_4efc4fae
comment
Good Scars, Evil Scars: Thorn gains a scar on his eyebrow from an angry farmer. The scar heals into a silvery line bisecting the eyebrow, and Thorn notes it makes him look brave and manly (in his male guise) or unique and striking (as a female).
 Raptor / int_4efc4fae
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Raptor / int_4efc4fae
 Raptor / int_4f84b27a
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Suck Out the Poison
 Raptor / int_4f84b27a
comment
Suck Out the Poison: When Thorn is bitten by an adder, Thiuda cuts the flesh around the bite and allows the wounds to bleed, preventing the venom from circulating throughout Thorn's body.
 Raptor / int_4f84b27a
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 Raptor / int_55940b68
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Doorstopper
 Raptor / int_55940b68
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Doorstopper: The hardcover edition is over 900 pages.
 Raptor / int_55940b68
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Raptor / int_55940b68
 Raptor / int_55ab1be5
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Royal Brat
 Raptor / int_55ab1be5
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Royal Brat: Jaeirus, although he is technically the son of a dux rather than royalty. Also, Amalaswintha is a Princess and a thoroughly horrible person.
 Raptor / int_55ab1be5
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Raptor / int_55ab1be5
 Raptor / int_56352cc6
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Animal Assassin
 Raptor / int_56352cc6
comment
Animal Assassin: The juika-bloth, who Thorn trains to attack upon hearing the word "slait" (Gothic for kill). The bird kills Brother Peter and helps Thorn by attacking or intimidating several later enemies.
 Raptor / int_56352cc6
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Raptor / int_56352cc6
 Raptor / int_56515a39
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Artistic License – History
 Raptor / int_56515a39
comment
Artistic License – History: The historical background of the novel is accurate, as are many of the story's events (such as the deposition of Romulus Augustulus and Theodoric's killing of Odoacer). However, there are some alterations or outright fabrications for the sake of plot. Most notably, Thorn/Veleda is an entirely fictional character, and Strabo was not dismembered in real life.
 Raptor / int_56515a39
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Raptor / int_56515a39
 Raptor / int_56563927
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Noble Wolf
 Raptor / int_56563927
comment
Noble Wolf: Wyrd seems to believe in this trope.
 Raptor / int_56563927
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Raptor / int_56563927
 Raptor / int_59ddd555
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Psycho Lesbian
 Raptor / int_59ddd555
comment
Psycho Lesbian: Robeya is a perfect example. Dengla may also be homosexual, and she is incredibly depraved.
 Raptor / int_59ddd555
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Raptor / int_59ddd555
 Raptor / int_60fa92ac
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Names to Run Away from Really Fast
 Raptor / int_60fa92ac
comment
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Wyrd the Forest-Stalker, the Carrion-Maker, the Friend of Wolves.
 Raptor / int_60fa92ac
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Raptor / int_60fa92ac
 Raptor / int_6366f900
type
Old Soldier
 Raptor / int_6366f900
comment
Old Soldier: Wyrd is a former Roman legionairy who is still more than capable of wreaking havoc. Theodoric, Soas, and Thorn also all take on traces of the Old Soldier in their later years.
 Raptor / int_6366f900
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 Raptor / int_64713b04
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Pedophile Priest
 Raptor / int_64713b04
comment
Pedophile Priest: Brother Peter, and he isn't overly concerned with the gender of his victim.
 Raptor / int_64713b04
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Raptor / int_64713b04
 Raptor / int_693cabaf
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Gladiator Games
 Raptor / int_693cabaf
comment
Gladiator Games: Strabo arranges for his captured enemies to fight each other to the death in an arena for his amusement. Thorn convinces the gladiators to attack the audience instead.
 Raptor / int_693cabaf
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 Raptor / int_6bda9a30
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Meaningful Name
 Raptor / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: Many cases. Thorn: It is a gender-neutral name, appropriate for a hermaphrodite. The thorn is also a symbol in the Elder Futhark runic alphabet used by the Goths, and Thorn deduces his Gothic origins partially from the thorn rune drawn on his infant swaddling clothes. Less seriously, Wyrd complains that Thorn is indeed a thorn in his side. Theodoric: The name means "ruler of the people," fitting Theodoric's ambitions and role. Strabo: A mocking title given to Theodoric the Great's cousin and enemy Theodoric Strabo, the name means "wall-eyed" and references Strabo's misaligned eyes. Amalamena: Translates to "Moon of the Amals," and Amalamena once bitterly calls herself a lunatic, noting the association of lunacy and the moon. Thor: Named after the Norse god of thunder, Thor is noted to be a thunderous grumbler and complainer. Thor is also remarkably similar to Thorn, and the similarity between the two hermaphrodites is at the heart of their relationship. Genovefa: Named after a famously adulterous queen, Genovefa lives up to her namesake's example.
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 Raptor / int_7294b403
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Altar Diplomacy
 Raptor / int_7294b403
comment
Altar Diplomacy: Appears at times, appropriately for the historical setting. Theodoric marries the Frankish Princess Audefleda to form an alliance with her brother King Clovis, and Theodoric's daughters are married off to their father's various allies. More sinisterly, Strabo intends to claim Amalamena for himself and use her to force Theodoric's submission.
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 Raptor / int_771f6307
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Brother–Sister Incest
 Raptor / int_771f6307
comment
Brother–Sister Incest: Amalamena pines after Theodoric, but realizes it is a hopeless infatuation. A more blatantly horrifying case happens when Dengla forces her twin sons to have sex with each other as part of their dedication to Bacchus.
 Raptor / int_771f6307
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 Raptor / int_80621707
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Arranged Marriage
 Raptor / int_80621707
comment
Arranged Marriage: The norm among royalty. Strabo threatens to force Amalamena into one, and Theodoric and his daughters later enter their own politically motivated marriages.
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 Raptor / int_813afa05
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Defiled Forever
 Raptor / int_813afa05
comment
Defiled Forever: Discussed and averted. Fabius is afraid that Placidia has been raped by the Huns, rendering her defiled. Wyrd explains that Placidia’s pregnancy would dissuade the Huns from raping her, but even before this revelation, Fabius promises to rescue and cherish Placidia nonwithstanding.
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Raptor / int_813afa05
 Raptor / int_85b1e741
type
Creepy Crossdresser
 Raptor / int_85b1e741
comment
Creepy Crossdresser: Thorn portrays Thor/Genovefa as this to incite the Amazons against him.
 Raptor / int_85b1e741
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1.0
 Raptor / int_85b1e741
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Raptor / int_85b1e741
 Raptor / int_8805822f
type
Naughty Nuns
 Raptor / int_8805822f
comment
Naughty Nuns: Two of the nuns in the Balsam Hrinkhen are mentioned to be having a lesbian affair. Sister Deidamia starts a relationship with Thorn, believing him to be another female, and Genovefa apparently had sex with every member of a convent.
 Raptor / int_8805822f
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1.0
 Raptor / int_8805822f
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Raptor / int_8805822f
 Raptor / int_8e0ceaf5
type
Finger in the Mail
 Raptor / int_8e0ceaf5
comment
Finger in the Mail: The Huns cut off two of Placidia’s fingers and deliver them to her father-in-law as proof she is their hostage.
 Raptor / int_8e0ceaf5
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1.0
 Raptor / int_8e0ceaf5
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Raptor / int_8e0ceaf5
 Raptor / int_9400b3b5
type
Questionable Consent
 Raptor / int_9400b3b5
comment
Questionable Consent: Almost all of Thorn's sexual encounters. When Thorn consented to Deidamia's approaches, he was a child who had little understanding of sexuality and had previously been groomed by a sexual predator. Deidamia herself believes Thorn is a normal female and is horrified to discover his male aspects. Any sex Thorn/Veleda has with anyone not aware of his/her hermaphroditism, such as Gudinand, Dona, Widamer, and Swanilda, is filled with consent issues. It is likely none of Thorn's partners would have consented if they were aware of his true gender. The sexual encounters Thorn has with Brother Peter, Strabo, and Thor/Genovefa are the only instances of clear-cut consent or lack thereof. Brother Peter and Strabo outright rape Thorn, and Thor/Genovefa is a hermaphrodite who is fully aware of Thorn's gender and willing to embrace it.
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Raptor / int_9400b3b5
 Raptor / int_a16aeb99
type
Genuine Human Hide
 Raptor / int_a16aeb99
comment
Genuine Human Hide: Modar Lubo’s crude throne is decorated with a human skin. Thor’s uniquely scarred skin is slated to be the next hide on the throne.
 Raptor / int_a16aeb99
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1.0
 Raptor / int_a16aeb99
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Raptor / int_a16aeb99
 Raptor / int_a20460b8
type
Hot Consort
 Raptor / int_a20460b8
comment
Hot Consort: Aurora, and later Audefleda, to Theodoric.
 Raptor / int_a20460b8
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1.0
 Raptor / int_a20460b8
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1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_a20460b8
 Raptor / int_a588c1cf
type
Cool Horse
 Raptor / int_a588c1cf
comment
Cool Horse: Velox, a magnificent black stallion of the Kehailan breed (implied to be the same as modern Arabian horses). Velox and his offspring serve Thorn well throughout his adventures.
 Raptor / int_a588c1cf
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1.0
 Raptor / int_a588c1cf
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1.0
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Raptor / int_a588c1cf
 Raptor / int_a6275bef
type
Cool Sword
 Raptor / int_a6275bef
comment
Cool Sword: The Gothic snake blades, which are superior in flexibility and resilience compared to other European weapons. The forging process is a closely guarded secret.
 Raptor / int_a6275bef
featureApplicability
1.0
 Raptor / int_a6275bef
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_a6275bef
 Raptor / int_a8a5e4ed
type
Christianity Is Catholic
 Raptor / int_a8a5e4ed
comment
Christianity is Catholic: Averted. Thorn lives in a time of religious upheaval, with the Catholic and Arian sects of Christianity (who held differing beliefs regarding the nature of Christ and the holy Trinity) struggling for dominance. Many Catholic authorities turn against the Arian Theodoric and his people, and the religious clashes threaten the Gothic kingdom's stability.
 Raptor / int_a8a5e4ed
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-1.0
 Raptor / int_a8a5e4ed
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_a8a5e4ed
 Raptor / int_a91f77d9
type
Dirty Old Monk
 Raptor / int_a91f77d9
comment
Dirty Old Monk: Many of the monks living in the Balsam Hrinkhen break their vows of celibacy, bedding women and fathering children who are passed off as the monk’s “nieces” and “nephews.” Brother Peter is an even more egregrious, pedophilic example.
 Raptor / int_a91f77d9
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1.0
 Raptor / int_a91f77d9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_a91f77d9
 Raptor / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Raptor / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Wyrd mocks everything and anyone, but religion (particularly Christianity) is his favorite target.
 Raptor / int_ae3d6438
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1.0
 Raptor / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_ae3d6438
 Raptor / int_b2f4114e
type
Heir Club for Men
 Raptor / int_b2f4114e
comment
Heir Club for Men: Theodoric struggles with this trope. His consorts only produce daughters, leaving the royal succession and the continuation of Theodoric’s lineage in question.
 Raptor / int_b2f4114e
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1.0
 Raptor / int_b2f4114e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
hasFeature
Raptor / int_b2f4114e
 Raptor / int_b476386f
type
Sweetie Graffiti
 Raptor / int_b476386f
comment
Sweetie Graffiti: Thorn cuts his and Livia’s names in the glacier at the Place of Echoes.
 Raptor / int_b476386f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Raptor / int_b476386f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_b476386f
 Raptor / int_b58c51d8
type
My Beloved Smother
 Raptor / int_b58c51d8
comment
My Beloved Smother: Queen Giso coddles and shelters Frido, and no one, least of all her son, appreciates her efforts.
 Raptor / int_b58c51d8
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1.0
 Raptor / int_b58c51d8
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1.0
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Raptor / int_b58c51d8
 Raptor / int_b82b5723
type
Convulsive Seizures
 Raptor / int_b82b5723
comment
Convulsive Seizures: The epileptic Gudinand fights the dux's son Jaeirus, and for a moment it seems that Gudinand will win. Then a seizure hits, and Jaeirus beats Gudinand to death.
 Raptor / int_b82b5723
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1.0
 Raptor / int_b82b5723
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1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_b82b5723
 Raptor / int_bb7ae292
type
Child by Rape
 Raptor / int_bb7ae292
comment
Child by Rape: It is briefly mentioned that the deaf-mute servant Camilla bore Strabo a son after he raped her.
 Raptor / int_bb7ae292
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 Raptor / int_bb7ae292
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Raptor / int_bb7ae292
 Raptor / int_bec0417c
type
Happily Married
 Raptor / int_bec0417c
comment
Happily Married: Fabius and Placidia, to the point Fabius’ father sees his son’s feelings as unusual. Theodoric is also Happily Married to Aurora and Audefleda, although the former was technically a consort rather than a full wife.
 Raptor / int_bec0417c
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 Raptor / int_bec0417c
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1.0
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Raptor / int_bec0417c
 Raptor / int_bf1255fa
type
Really Gets Around
 Raptor / int_bf1255fa
comment
Really Gets Around: Thorn is raped by Brother Peter and seduced by Sister Deidamia as a child. In adulthood, Thorn beds female slaves and the occasional prostitute, and near-constantly takes free lovers, both male and female, from all social classes. Thorn’s sexual exploits reach their peak when he romances fellow hermaphrodite Thor/Genovefa. Thor/Genovefa gets around even more than Thorn. He/she mentions being sexually used by an entire convent of nuns, apparently bedded both a husband and wife while living as the couple’s servant, and has taken many lovers. When he/she forms a relationship with Thorn/Veleda, the hermaphrodites agree to be faithful to one another, but Thor/Genovefa cheats immediately and repeatedly with Maghib and a number of prostitutes.
 Raptor / int_bf1255fa
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1.0
 Raptor / int_bf1255fa
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Raptor / int_bf1255fa
 Raptor / int_cb70651c
type
Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane
 Raptor / int_cb70651c
comment
Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: The Baiuvarja wise-sayer's prophecy that Thorn would slay a friend, and that Wyrd would be slain by a friend. The prediction does come to pass, but in a natural, seemingly non-supernaturally-influenced, manner.
 Raptor / int_cb70651c
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1.0
 Raptor / int_cb70651c
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1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_cb70651c
 Raptor / int_cbf5c04
type
Insult of Endearment
 Raptor / int_cbf5c04
comment
Insult of Endearment: Wyrd refers to Thorn as "urchin," an appropriately gender-neutral nickname that shifts from an expression of disdain to one of affection.
 Raptor / int_cbf5c04
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1.0
 Raptor / int_cbf5c04
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Raptor / int_cbf5c04
 Raptor / int_d028e0da
type
An Arm and a Leg
 Raptor / int_d028e0da
comment
An Arm and a Leg: Thorn/Veleda hacks off all four of Strabo’s limbs and arranges them into a nauthing-stake to taunt him. Amazingly, Strabo survives.
 Raptor / int_d028e0da
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1.0
 Raptor / int_d028e0da
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1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_d028e0da
 Raptor / int_d29a6629
type
Death by Childbirth
 Raptor / int_d29a6629
comment
Death by Childbirth: Aurora unexpectedly dies giving birth to Thiudagotha.
 Raptor / int_d29a6629
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1.0
 Raptor / int_d29a6629
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_d29a6629
 Raptor / int_d3beb0de
type
Precocious Crush
 Raptor / int_d3beb0de
comment
Precocious Crush: Livia, at the age of roughly ten, is strongly implied to fall in love with Thorn, then in his late teens.
 Raptor / int_d3beb0de
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1.0
 Raptor / int_d3beb0de
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Raptor / int_d3beb0de
 Raptor / int_d483114e
type
Everybody Wants the Hermaphrodite
 Raptor / int_d483114e
comment
Everybody Wants the Hermaphrodite: Thorn (and his alter ego Veleda) is extremely attractive to both men and women. A monk and a nun both sexually pursue him while he is still a child. In his teenage years, Thorn begins taking lovers of both genders, starting with Gudinand. As an adult, Thorn constantly beds female slaves and prostitutes, free men and women, and another hermaphrodite. Thor/Genovefa is even more promiscuous.
 Raptor / int_d483114e
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 Raptor / int_d483114e
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Raptor / int_d483114e
 Raptor / int_d5d976dd
type
I Have Many Names
 Raptor / int_d5d976dd
comment
I Have Many Names: Wyrd the Forest-Stalker, the Carrion-Maker, the Friend of Wolves. These overlap with Names to Run Away from Really Fast. Thorn also adopts several names, such as Juhiza, Veleda, Torn, and Tornareikhs.
 Raptor / int_d5d976dd
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1.0
 Raptor / int_d5d976dd
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 Raptor
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Raptor / int_d5d976dd
 Raptor / int_d9d2c40b
type
Amazon Brigade
 Raptor / int_d9d2c40b
comment
Amazon Brigade: Thorn/Veleda meet a man-hating group of Scythian tribeswomen, whose neighbors call them Amazons. Thorn/Veleda detail their society and muse about their history, but find them far less glamorous than their mythical namesakes.
 Raptor / int_d9d2c40b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Raptor / int_d9d2c40b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_d9d2c40b
 Raptor / int_dae5c997
type
Action Girl
 Raptor / int_dae5c997
comment
Action Girl: Multiple examples. Veleda is just as fierce as her alter ego Thorn, and can draw on his strength and martial skills. Swanilda hunts, camps, and secretly delivers vital documents by herself. Finally, the forest-dwelling Amazons can all hunt and fight (skills necessary for their lifestyle).
 Raptor / int_dae5c997
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1.0
 Raptor / int_dae5c997
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 Raptor
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Raptor / int_dae5c997
 Raptor / int_db912a80
type
The Good King
 Raptor / int_db912a80
comment
Aurora and Amalamena are both blondes, and both are sweet young women. Theodoric too has golden hair, and is The Good King for most of his reign.
 Raptor / int_db912a80
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1.0
 Raptor / int_db912a80
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1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_db912a80
 Raptor / int_dcbe8a6e
type
Chekhov's Gunman
 Raptor / int_dcbe8a6e
comment
Chekhov's Gunman: Livia, the Roman mine director's daughter.
 Raptor / int_dcbe8a6e
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1.0
 Raptor / int_dcbe8a6e
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 Raptor
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Raptor / int_dcbe8a6e
 Raptor / int_e2ccee25
type
Animal Motifs
 Raptor / int_e2ccee25
comment
Animal Motifs: Both Thorn and Wyrd are associated with specific animals. Thorn is constantly compared to a raptor, or bird of prey. He captures and tames a juika-bloth (a species of eagle) in his youth, and the bird becomes his friend and defender. As Thorn discovers his hermaphroditism and suffers its consequences, he consciously takes on the symbolic traits of a raptor - separation from humanity, amorality, and freedom from all constraints. Wyrd is called the "Friend of Wolves," and he refuses to hunt them, even though their pelts are highly valuable. However, the reasons for his sympathy with wolves are never explained. He is ultimately killed by rabies from the bite of a mad wolf.
 Raptor / int_e2ccee25
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1.0
 Raptor / int_e2ccee25
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Raptor / int_e2ccee25
 Raptor / int_e407c172
type
Silk Hiding Steel
 Raptor / int_e407c172
comment
Silk Hiding Steel: Amalamena is a beautiful, frail, demure princess. She is also highly educated, unafraid of battle or harsh travel, and helps Thorn personally negotiate with Emperor Zeno. Amalamena's gorgeous handmaiden and cosmetician Swanilda is also tougher than she appears. She successfully disguises herself as a man and travels alone to deliver important documents, and when traveling with Thorn, she proves an adept hunter and camper.
 Raptor / int_e407c172
featureApplicability
1.0
 Raptor / int_e407c172
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1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_e407c172
 Raptor / int_e9a3a1ed
type
Never Learned to Read
 Raptor / int_e9a3a1ed
comment
Never Learned to Read: Thor/Genovefa is illiterate. This throws a wrench in Thorn’s lie that he/she is a fellow researcher of Gothic history.
 Raptor / int_e9a3a1ed
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1.0
 Raptor / int_e9a3a1ed
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1.0
 Raptor
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Raptor / int_e9a3a1ed
 Raptor / int_eaf5a1ac
type
Groin Attack
 Raptor / int_eaf5a1ac
comment
Groin Attack: Strabo threatens to cut out the genitals of “Amalamena,” who is actually Thorn in female guise, and send them to Theodoric. Thankfully Strabo cannot carry out his threat before Thorn cripples him. An Amazon cuts Thor's phallus off.
 Raptor / int_eaf5a1ac
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1.0
 Raptor / int_eaf5a1ac
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 Raptor
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Raptor / int_eaf5a1ac
 Raptor / int_eba4e300
type
Honorary Uncle
 Raptor / int_eba4e300
comment
Honorary Uncle: Thorn becomes one to Theodoric's children.
 Raptor / int_eba4e300
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1.0
 Raptor / int_eba4e300
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1.0
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Raptor / int_eba4e300
 Raptor / int_ee7a60e9
type
One-Steve Limit
 Raptor / int_ee7a60e9
comment
One-Steve Limit: Averted. Two men named Theodoric compete for leadership of the Ostrogoths (an example of Truth in Television, as Theodoric the Great and Theodoric Strabo did both exist and battle for dominance).
 Raptor / int_ee7a60e9
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 Raptor / int_ee7a60e9
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 Raptor
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Raptor / int_ee7a60e9
 Raptor / int_efd11fe3
type
A Dog Named "Dog"
 Raptor / int_efd11fe3
comment
A Dog Named "Dog": Thorn never formally names his tamed juika-bloth (a type of eagle), and he simply addresses it as "juika-bloth" when he gives it commands.
 Raptor / int_efd11fe3
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1.0
 Raptor / int_efd11fe3
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 Raptor
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Raptor / int_efd11fe3
 Raptor / int_f10d3363
type
Distracted by the Sexy
 Raptor / int_f10d3363
comment
Veleda masquerades as a courtesan and is eventually summoned to sleep with Tufa. Veleda fatally stabs Tufa through the heart while he is off-guard and er . . . (Distracted by the Sexy busy).
 Raptor / int_f10d3363
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1.0
 Raptor / int_f10d3363
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 Raptor
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Raptor / int_f10d3363
 Raptor / int_f3626b09
type
Mercy Kill
 Raptor / int_f3626b09
comment
Mercy Kill: Thorn performs two mercy killings of loved ones. The juika-bloth becomes terminally ill with a parasite from feeding upon boar meat, and after unsuccessfully treating it, Thorn shoots the bird to put it out of its misery. Interestingly, the juika-bloth understands Thorn’s intent to Mercy Kill it, and purposefully flies in front of his arrow. Wyrd is bitten by a mad wolf and soon develops symptoms of the hundswoths, or rabies - seizures, hydrophobia, foaming at the mouth, and becoming savage. He attempts to self-terminate by inducing a fatal seizure, and Thorn puts an arrow through him to ensure his death.
 Raptor / int_f3626b09
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 Raptor / int_f3626b09
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Raptor / int_f3626b09
 Raptor / int_f617419c
type
Trial by Combat
 Raptor / int_f617419c
comment
Trial by Combat: Gudinand and Jaeirus are allowed to settle their dispute through a public quarterstaff battle. It ends lethally and injustly.
 Raptor / int_f617419c
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1.0
 Raptor / int_f617419c
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Raptor / int_f617419c
 Raptor / int_ff7e9adf
type
Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold
 Raptor / int_ff7e9adf
comment
Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Both played straight and averted. Aurora and Amalamena are both blondes, and both are sweet young women. Theodoric too has golden hair, and is The Good King for most of his reign. Thor/Genovefa has golden hair, but turns out to be a complete monster. Thorn himself/herself has pale blond hair, but amorality is a central part of his/her character.
 Raptor / int_ff7e9adf
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Raptor / int_ff7e9adf
 Raptor / int_ffad4e9f
type
Shown Their Work
 Raptor / int_ffad4e9f
comment
Shown Their Work: Like all of Gary Jennings’ historical fiction, Raptor is heavily researched. Jennings traveled through the Balkans for much of a decade performing research, and the events, locations, and languages in the book are for the most part highly accurate.
 Raptor / int_ffad4e9f
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Raptor / int_ffad4e9f
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ItemName
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Raptor

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Raptor
hasFeature
Hermaphrodite / int_cf6061e3