History Literature / KeysToTheKingdom

* EvenEvilHasStandards: In the seventh book, [[spoiler:after the Piper tries to manipulate Arthur into giving up the Keys one last time, Lord Sunday tells him, in short, to shut up and deal with it.]]

* PunchClockVillain: The [[spoiler:New Nithlings]] are really nice chaps who only serve [[spoiler:the Piper]] because they owe him.

* WhoWantsToLiveForever: [[spoiler:The Architect eventually got bored of living and decided she wanted to return to Nothing. But the Old One, who was a part of her, had to be destroyed to in order for her to be dissolved, and his chains can only be broken if all of Creation is undone as well. Thus she started playing XanatosSpeedChess and created a BatmanGambit; see below and above. Also Arthur, although in his case his complaint was that the sorcery involved would leave him unable to return home without causing sickness and potentially killing his home town. It's implied this got better, though he is still immortal.]]

* XMustNotWin: Funnily enough, Arthur's side could be considered as X [[spoiler: since the other main combatants know if he succeeds the House will be destroyed.]]

--> -- Literature/KeysToTheKingdom

* AlternateHistory: Arthur's world is ''almost'' the same as ours, except it was the scene of a devastating plague that prompted the government to take the hard line on any epidemic.
** However, it may not apply. Arthur's hi-tech cast in Drowned Wednesday, and the fleetingly mentioned electronic paper are two examples of future technology, meaning that the plague could be a future event, and the story is set TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The way the House's hierarchy works. Each Denizen has a number representing how close they are to being full authority. Superior Saturday is number one - more powerful entities exist, but they're not Denizens.

* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler:See WhoWantsToLiveForever, below. If Arthur realized at any point what was going on, there is no way he would have gone through with it and the Architect's plan would have been ruined then. However, she's able to be enough of a ManipulativeBastard that he's not able to figure out the truth in time.]]

* BearsAreBadNews: Part Two of The Will

* BigBad: The pirate Feverfew is this in ''Drowned Wednesday'', and the title character of each other book in the series is the big bad of that book. In addition, Superior Saturday is responsible for bad things that happen in multiple books.
* BigGood: Dame Primus. [[spoiler: However, as Arthur suspects, she's actually not acting in his best interests at all.]]

* BrilliantButLazy: Mister Monday. Lord Sunday to an extent, being too proud to actually do anything [[spoiler: until it's too late]] but possibly the most powerful Denizen in the House.

'''Arthur''': I mean...Where am I now? Is there some sort of life after death? If the Architect created everything...\\

* ChainedToARock: The Old One, a Prometheus-like character (or maybe the real deal) is chained to a clock, from which wooden puppets appear every twelve hours to remove his eyes, which grow back painfully over the next few hours. Reinforcing the Prometheus similarities is that it used to be his liver that was taken before his eyes. (May or may not have been by a vulture).
** [[spoiler:Arthur gets chained to a smaller version of the Old One's clock in Lord Sunday]]

** [[spoiler:The Compleat Atlas of the House]] is a pretty major one; in Lord Sunday [[spoiler: Arthur uses it to, ahem, remake the Universe.]]

* TheChosenOne: Arthur, the Rightful Heir. Arguably [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]], since he was chosen because he was about to die, and Monday would promptly get the key back.

* CoDragons: Each Morrow Day has or had 3 specific 'superior denizens' which count as their second in command (Noon, Dawn, and Dusk). Grim Tuesday took his three denizens, melded them into one and then separated that into seven, calling them Grotesques and giving them each different names. It's unknown what time they can be on Earth.

* TheCorruption: A {{Muggle}} using FunctionalMagic will accumulate a buildup of sorcerous taint, eventually transforming them into an immortal Denizen.
** On a side note, [[spoiler:the Will is revealed to have done this to the Trustees, and it's implied they weren't half as bad as they were during the series. Monday's Dusk is the only one who truly seems to be aware of this, though. There's a fairly blatant hint in Sir Thursday, where the titular Trustee's eyes are shown to be ''yellow''. Then the Fourth Part of the Will turns out to be a snake.]]
* CreativeSterility: Grim Tuesday can copy anything, but can't make anything original.

** Defied by The Piper who purposely gives [[spoiler:his creations]] the ability to learn like mortals.

* EvilTwin: The Skinless Boy, a mute clone of Arthur created by [[spoiler: Saturday]] to blackmail him into giving up the Keys. Has a nasty MindControl ability.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In Sir Thursday, Dame Primus says that she suspects that the Trustees "have been influenced or induced to behave as they do, with the ultimate aim being the complete and utter destruction of the House - and with it, the entirety of creation." [[spoiler:It is the Will that's influencing them for that exact purpose!]] Even more dramatically, if you pay attention to the ''precise'' wording and punctuation in Dame Primus's letter in Drowned Wednesday, you may notice that [[spoiler:she explicitly names herself as the Architect]].
** Despite all the pieces of the Will being male, Dame Primus is female. [[spoiler: Because the Architect is female.]]

* GenkiGirl, PluckyGirl: Suzy.
* GenreSavvy: Arthur spends most of the series making friends with various Denizens. He does the same in the Gardens in ''Lord Sunday'', and his new friend leads him outside. [[spoiler:Straight into a trap. Turns out the gardening boy is actually Lord Sunday in disguise.]]
** When Arthur barters information from the Raised Rats they agree on a three questions three answers each type of agreement. Arthur, however, is quick to ask for clarification whether there is a 'trick' to it, such as asking that question counts, or whether it's only significant questions. It's the latter.

* GreenRocks: Nothing (that is, Nothing with a capital N - a fictional substance) can do anything needed for the plot - from dissolving stuff, powering machines, or turning you into a mouse for a day.

* HazardousWater

* HonourBeforeReason: Arthur battles with this after [[spoiler: Dartbristle]] is killed trying to fulfil a task. Despite working for The Piper, Arthur is encouraged by the Will to finish his last act. However, he decides to do it, and accept the concenquences later because it's what he feels is right. [[spoiler: Turns out it allows The Piper to get into the Upper House. Not great.]]
** Despite being the highest in authority of the Dusks, meaning increasing snobbishness, Sunday's Dusk 'The Reaper' takes time out of his [[spoiler: kidnapping of leaf]] to help 'a comrade' who is in trouble when in the door. [[spoiler: It's the Lieutenant Keeper, and despite the Reaper saying Sunday could make him whole, he dies and passes on his sword and duty to Leaf]] scuppering his plan. The Reaper laments on what a mistake this was and just leaves to report his failure.
* HourOfPower

* HumanoidAbomination: The Scoucher, a Nithling with tentacle-arms featured in book 2.
** Even more disturbingly, its description eerily foreshadows the dreaded [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slendy...]]

* IJustWantToBeNormal: Arthur, once he realizes that TheCorruption, above, will eventually keep him from going home.

* InnocentFanserviceGirl: Suzy. She thinks nothing of undressing in front of Arthur, and often wears [[ClothingDamage shredded or sliced-open clothing.]] But then, she has the body of a child....

* KidHero

* KillEmAll: [[spoiler:Happens to everything in every universe. The people in the Secondary Realms come back to life. Most of the Denizens and Newniths in the House do not. Neither does Emily.]]
* LargeAndInCharge: Almost a physical law in the House. The more power or authority you have, the taller you are (it's suggested they do this to intimidate the lower peons); the holders of the Keys are seven to nine feet high. Being demoted shrinks you. Denizens like heights apparently.

* LosingYourHead: Denizens can also survive ''decapitation'', if they get their head reattached to the rest of their body soon enough. If their body is not available, they can regrew it from simply a head.

* MeaningfulName: Piper's Children have their original first name followed by a set of words related to their job (Suzy and Arthur's two fake names involved ink coloring, while Fred presumably handles adding golden initials and numbers.

** Suzy's last name (mentioned once in Mister Monday) is Dyer, which fits the color stuff that most Piper's Children have going on.

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in Lady Wednesday. Arthur's home is described as something along the lines of 'Odd name for a town... Never heard of that country before...'

* ScaledUp: [[spoiler:Mister Monday]]

* ShoutOut: Several. Probably the most notable is [[Literature/TheRimeOfTheAncientMariner The Ancient Mariner]] being a major secondary character. And [[CoolOldGuy he's awesome]]. He also has a ship that can sail in space [[Literature/{{Discworld}} shaped like a giant turtle]].

'''Arthur''': Sorry. I was only...(trails off)\\

*** [[spoiler:The irony is that one of the pathways IS through the wardrobe...]]

* ShroudedInMyth: Arthur himself. By the third book, Japheth has been assigned to writing fictionalized versions of his already fairly impressive accomplishments that portray him as seven-foot tall, and looking something akin to a Greek God. Needless to say, people often tend to be [[ExpectingSomeoneTaller somewhat disappointed on meeting him in person]].
** Of course, [[spoiler: he actually does end up looking like this when he becomes the New Architect.]]

* SiblingRivalry: Monday's Noon and Monday's Dusk.

* TooDumbToLive: Many of the Denizens, much to Arthur's frustration. Lower-ranked Denizens in particular seem to find it all but impossible to do anything that they weren't specifically designed for. Many of the former-bureaucrat crew of the sailing ship ''Moth'' had very little idea of what they were doing, despite having crewed the ship for several thousand years.

*** The First Part of the Will, which leads Arthur into a trap. (Diligence, opposing Sloth, but without patience) The flip-side of this is that the virtue's overabundance of motivation and dearth of sense is also why it escaped [[spoiler: while the others had to be rescued]].
*** The Second Part of the Will, which holds a contest to decide who will use the Key to stop Nothing from consuming the universe. (Charity, opposing greed, but without temperance/prudence, wants everyone to have a fair shot)
*** The Third Part of the Will, which wants to waste time while its worshipers sing hymns and constantly natters on about belief. (Faith, opposing gluttony but without diligence).
*** The Fourth Part of the Will, which spits acid into the face of the general of a much larger army during a ceasefire. (Judgement, opposed to unthinking wrath, but lacking patience) [[spoiler: the fact that Judgement is used rather than the more traditional counter-virtue of Patience is plot-significant.]]
*** The Fifth Part of the Will is the most sensible and personable of its kin, but its laidbackness and personal restraint prevent it from aiding Arthur as much as other parts. (Temperance, opposing lust but lacking urgency)
*** The Sixth Part of the Will, which gave Arthur orders he didn't have time to follow. Also, its attempt to give DueToTheDead to a fallen enemy accidentally allows the Piper to invade the Upper House. (Kindness, opposing envy but lacking the sense of priorities the other virtues grant)

* UnstoppableRage: Arthur, in some cases when he is using all or almost all of the Keys.

* VirtueViceCodification: Each part of The Will represents one of seven virtues, most likely intended as opposites to the SevenDeadlySins, but differing from the classical SevenHeavenlyVirtues. They also refer to the Heavenly virtues themselves [[spoiler: in a twisted way that hints at the source of the trouble]]. In order of Monday to Sunday (classical counterpart in parentheses), they represent Fortitude(Diligence), Prudence (Charity), Faith(Chastity), Justice(--), Temperance (Moderation), Charity(Kindness), and Hope(Humility).

* AutomatonHorses: The Not-Horses used by the Glorious Army of The Architect are a literal example. They have a tough, metallic skin, run for much longer than a normal horse, and can go without sleep for a week. They do need to be cleaned with a wire brush so that they don't rust though.

* ThemeTable

* TotallyRadical: Subverted and inverted.

'''Arthur''': [[{{Narnia}} Through the wardrobe maybe.]]\\

* GenderIsNoObject: For Denizens, gender seems to be entirely meaningless.

** Monday's Noon can only stay on Earth from noon to one PM. Logically, Dusk and Dawn are under similar restrictions.
** Similarly, the Trustees can only visit the Secondary Realms on the day they are named after (Monday on Monday, Tuesday on Tuesday, etc.)

* VampireInvitation: the Fetchers, although apparently you don't have to own/live in the building to invite them in.

--> -- KeysToTheKingdom

* FantasyKitchenSink: Elements of Christian theology, Ancient Greek myth, and European folklore are all present in the House. The protagonist actually meets the Pied Piper, the [[Literature/TheRimeOfTheAncientMariner Ancient Mariner]], and a towering old man who is suspiciously similar to [[GreekMythology Prometheus]].

*** The Third Part of the Will, which wants to waste time while its worshipers sing hymns (temperance, opposing gluttony but without diligence).

*** The Fifth Part of the Will, which spends more time eating armor than helping Arthur. (Chastity, opposing lust but lacking... anything sensible)
*** The Sixth Part of the Will, which gave Arthur orders he didn't have time to follow. (Kindness, opposing envy but lacking the sense of priorities the other virtues grant)

* [[spoiler:EndOfTheWorldSpecial: At the end of the series, Arthur becomes the successor to the Architect and is given the opportunity to replace the universe that was just destroyed. Instead of starting from scratch, he just recreates the old universe.]]

* [[spoiler: KillEmAll: Happens to everything in every universe. The people in the Secondary Realms come back to life. Most of the Denizens and Newniths in the House do not. [[TearJerker Neither does Emily.]]]]

* [[spoiler:OmnicidalManiac]]: Dame Primus.

* [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Ordinary Primary School Student: Arthur, except he's twelve.

* [[spoiler:OutsourcingFate: It turns out that the purpose of Arthur's quest was to become the new Architect. See the EndOfTheWorldSpecial entry above.]]

** There is, in fact, an entry missing from this page because it would be to big of a spoiler: [[spoiler: OmnicidalManiac]]

* ShockwaveClap: Dame Primus does this with the Second Key in Sir Thursday.

*** [[spoiler:The irony is that one of the pathways IS through the cupboard...]]

* ShroudedInMyth: Arthur himself. By the third book, Japheth has been assigned to writing fictionalised versions of his already fairly impressive accomplishments that portray him as seven-foot tall, and looking something akin to a Greek God. Needless to say, people often tend to be [[ExpectingSomeoneTaller somewhat disappointed on meeting him in person]].

* LineOfSightName: Arthur, to prevent being noticed, thinks of being soldier "[[CodeName Ray Green]]" in Sir Thursday from seeing the sun's rays and the forest nearby.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In Sir Thursday, Dame Primus says that she suspects that the Trustees "have been influenced or induced to behave as they do, with the ultimate aim being the complete and utter destruction of the House - and with it, the entirety of creation." [[spoiler:It is the Will that's influencing them for that exact purpose!]]

* FantasticVoyage: In a submarine crewed by Rats, [[spoiler:swallowed by a kilometres-long whale.]]

* AGodAmI: A side effect of using sorcery, not just for mortals, but having it on call seems to affect the thinking of many senior Denizens as well.

** The Mariner is one of the most powerful beings ever, being son of the Architect, and helps out Arthur. However, he keeps reiterating he's trying to be ChaoticNeutral.

* MeleeATrois: Although it begins with just Arthur VS the Morrow Days, by the final two books it's now Superior Saturday VS Lord Sunday VS The Piper VS Lord Arthur, culminating in one final showdown in ''Lord Sunday''. When [[spoiler: Arthur gets Saturday's key, she]] is enslaved by the Piper leaving only the three sides. The Mariner, who counts as a side by himself, is ChaoticNeutral in all this, but eventually comes over to Arthur's side.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: ''Everywhere''. The series itself is named for a line from [[AsTheGoodBookSays the gospels]], and it just gets deeper from there. The Incomparable Gardens are a fairly obvious reference to the Garden of Eden for a start, and given that Lord Sunday's [[SevenDeadlySins sin]] is {{Pride}}, he could be interpreted as the equivalent to [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]]. Saturday's Tower, built with the intent of reaching the Gardens, calls to mind the Tower of Babel. The Incomparable Gardens are also hosted on "Drasils", which is suspiciously similiar to the word "Yggdrasil", the World Tree of Norse mythology.

* {{Retcon}}: at the end on Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday is asked to destroy a piece of enchanted cloth, presumably to further the BigBad's ends. However, in Sir Thursday it is stated that doing so would ''undo'' the BigBad's enchantment, unravelling their plan.
** Actually, the point was [[spoiler: that the shirt pocket wouldn't be destroyed, but would instead spawn the Skinless Boy (hence why he appears at the end of Grim Tuesday and leaves via the elevator, he was born at some point during the book). It was just that to defeat the Skinless Boy, Arthur himself had to plunge the pocket back into Nothing. Quoting Scamandros on the creation:]]
--> '''Dr. Scamandros''': A scrap of material that has lain next to your heart, [[spoiler: overlaid with charms and planted in Nothing to grow a Cocigrue!]]
** [[spoiler: And the Compleat Atlas on the destruction]]:
--> '''The Atlas''': [[spoiler: Lord Arthur must plunge that pocket back into Nothing.]]
** Both when a Spirit-Eater was being described in the Atlas, and when the incident with the Gray Spot was mentioned in the last book, they said it was mute, yet Leaf heard it apologizing when it was 'accidentally' bumping into everyone to spread it's influence.

** The name "The Will of the Architect" ends up meaning something different than first thought. [[spoiler: While it seems to be a will as in testament, it ends up proving to be more as in the architect's will be done.]]