History Literature / TheBelgariad

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Drosta, the Nadraks and many Thulls]] in the first series, [[spoiler:[[TheEmperor 'Zakath]] and [[EunuchsAreEvil Sadi]]]] in the second.

* ArmorIsUseless: ZigZagged, armour is protrayed somewhat realistically, in that it is very useful for protecting people but it is not infallible, for instance, Mandorallean's plate armour deflects swords and arrows, but a heavy blow from a club caves in his breastplate and injures his ribs, similarly, chain mail deflects blades pretty well, but a determined thrust or a razor-sharp throwing knife can cut through.

** Ce'Nedra, though fall

* EnfantTerrible: {{Justified}} in ''The Mallorean'', because a woman is about to give birth to [[HalfHumanHybrid the child of a Demon Lord.]] [[DeathByChildbirth Neither child nor mother survive.]]

* ArrangedMarriage: Garion and Ce'Nedra, ''centuries before they're born''. Note to the Tolnedran Empire: Signing a marriage contract for 'when the lost heir of Riva returns', when you don't really believe that day will ever come, can and will come back to bite you.

* RefugeInAudacity: Morindim agicians usually mutter the incantations that summon demons to keep others from learning them. However, Belgarath speaks one very clearly--because no magician in his right mind would try summoning a Demon ''Lord'' (basically one step short of summoning the King of Hell himself). Belgarath does this because he needs to deal with a lot of demons very quickly, and thus summons one that can pull rank.

* OurVampiresAreDifferent: The Reavers that inhabit the Great Southern Forest in Cthol Murgos, they're described as vaguely human shaped, corpselike creatures with fangs and claws that feed on the flesh and blood of the living and shun the daylight.

* OurVampiresAreDifferent: The Reavers that inhabit the. Great Southern Forest in Cthol Murgos, they're described as vaguely human shaped, corpselike creatures with fangs and claws that feed on the flesh and blood of the living and shun the daylight.

** Some felt that the Asturians were more English than French: they were famed for their use of the longbow. They pass off their banditry as Robin Hood-like. The Sendars seem more like a medievalized United States: a society made up of immigrants from the rest of the world where hard work was the most respected trait. Plus, they make a big deal about their democratically elected government.

** The title "Kal" means both King and God, so any of the Angarak monarchs who appended it to their names fall under this as well.

* EmpathicWeapon: The Orb definitely has a personality of its own, but it's not very developed. As Belgarath says, it's "closer to a horse or dog than an actual person." It tends to get very enthusiastic when it "lends a hand" to Garion's sorcery, leading to some rather spectacular effects, and sometimes gives him unsolicited advice. For example, when he mentions offhand that it could write his name in the stars, it starts to explain exactly how to go about it. Zakath, who had virtually been holding him prisoner a short while before, has some very interesting reactions to listening to Garion explain to the Orb it was only an example. It's implied that part of the reason Garion -- and, indeed his ultimate ancestor Riva Iron-Grip -- was chosen to bear the Orb is his basic humility; he's not subject to the temptation to use the Orb for the sake of power.

* BloodBath: Zandramas, {{Evil Sorcer|er}}ess and priestess of a ReligionOfEvil, shows a fondness for cutting out people's hearts and bathing in their blood. The "cutting out hearts" part is part of her duty as a priestess of Torak. The "bathing in their blood" part is atypical enough that it {{squick}}s out even other Angarak priests of Torak.

** The rural Drasnians bear a strong resemblance to the Finnish (particularly the reindeer herding culture) with some influence from the old Swiss (i.e., pikemen as a military specialty), including the long and harsh winters. The Nyissans have strong resemblance to both the ancient Egyptian and ancient Central American cultures in dress, politics, and rulership. (And while the rainforests aren't swampy jungles, they come close environmentally.) The Rivans could be said to be a melding of classic generic "fantasy human" and with the old world Eastern Europeans. (Stoic, steadfast, conforming by necessity on the outside but very family oriented, bright and colorful, and warm on the inside... as shown physically by their homes and attire, and personally by their attitude.)

* BigGood: The Prophecy of Light. It can defeat Gods, and alter the fabric of reality, but is restrained by the rules that it and its [[EvilCounterpart counterpart]] the [[BiggerBad Dark Prophecy]] laid out. If they ever fought directly it would destroy the Universe.