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* HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic: Averted. James, and the knights, as well as most of the men-at-arms, wear a helmet in order to protect their head.
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* TheAce: Brian is considered to possibly be the single best fighter in all of England,[[note]]John Chandos actually makes a statement pretty close to a legal declaration of this[[/note]] something he seriously needs because winning tournament prizes and ransoming horses and armor [[PerpetualPoverty is the only way he can keep himself and his lands financially afloat]] for most of the series. Unfortunately this also makes him a target of envy by other knights like [[TheRival Sir Harrimore]].
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* TheAce: ABNegative: In a couple of books, Brian and Daffyd are at risk of dying due to blood loss.
** In ''The Dragon at War'', Daffyd is injured from multiple crossbow bolts. When the possibility of doing a transfusion is brought up by James, one of the first hurdles is to figure out who gets to donate the blood, so that Daffyd didn't accidentally get the wrong blood type. With a bit of thinking, James is able to overcome this hurdle with some magic, and it is found that his own blood is safe for Daffyd, and again, using magic, is able to slowly transfer some of his own blood into the archer, saving his life.
** Likewise, in ''The Dragon and the Gnarly King'', Brian is injured due to a lance, [[spoiler: somewhat accidentally put through him by James himself]]. While not as serious as Daffyd's earlier injury, Brian was still short of blood. Remembering his prior experience, James is able to figure out whose blood was good -- once again, that blood was his own.
* TheAce:
** Brian is considered to possibly be the single best fighter in all of England,[[note]]John Chandos actually makes a statement pretty close to a legal declaration of this[[/note]] something he seriously needs because winning tournament prizes and ransoming horses and armor [[PerpetualPoverty is the only way he can keep himself and his lands financially afloat]] for most of the series. Unfortunately this also makes him a target of envy by other knights like [[TheRival SirHarrimore]].Harrimore]].
** Daffyd also shows signs of this, being an exceptional archer, and always competes against those who think themselves better with the bow, and on one occasion, wrestled two men in his father-in-law's outlaw band at the same time, breaking his arm in the attempt.
** In ''The Dragon at War'', Daffyd is injured from multiple crossbow bolts. When the possibility of doing a transfusion is brought up by James, one of the first hurdles is to figure out who gets to donate the blood, so that Daffyd didn't accidentally get the wrong blood type. With a bit of thinking, James is able to overcome this hurdle with some magic, and it is found that his own blood is safe for Daffyd, and again, using magic, is able to slowly transfer some of his own blood into the archer, saving his life.
** Likewise, in ''The Dragon and the Gnarly King'', Brian is injured due to a lance, [[spoiler: somewhat accidentally put through him by James himself]]. While not as serious as Daffyd's earlier injury, Brian was still short of blood. Remembering his prior experience, James is able to figure out whose blood was good -- once again, that blood was his own.
* TheAce:
** Brian is considered to possibly be the single best fighter in all of England,[[note]]John Chandos actually makes a statement pretty close to a legal declaration of this[[/note]] something he seriously needs because winning tournament prizes and ransoming horses and armor [[PerpetualPoverty is the only way he can keep himself and his lands financially afloat]] for most of the series. Unfortunately this also makes him a target of envy by other knights like [[TheRival Sir
** Daffyd also shows signs of this, being an exceptional archer, and always competes against those who think themselves better with the bow, and on one occasion, wrestled two men in his father-in-law's outlaw band at the same time, breaking his arm in the attempt.
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* TheMagicGoesAway: Magic is constantly leaking out into science.
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* TheMagicGoesAway: Magic is constantly leaking out into science. In ''The Dragon and the George'', Carolinus cites one such example, which turns out to be the development of sewing. In consequence, one of the primary ways that Magickians can advance in their ranks is by creating new magic, [[spoiler:as Jim does on several occasions, for instance, at the end of ''The Dragon, The Earl and the Troll''.]]
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Hobgoblins are cowardly and kindly goblins who have power over smoke and hide in chimneys. In one of the latter books, Jim's hob raises an army of hobgoblins who summarily wipe the floor with a much larger and more well-trained army of goblins. James himself also qualifies.
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Hobgoblins are cowardly and kindly goblins who have power over smoke and hide in chimneys. In one of the latter books, Jim's hob raises an army of hobgoblins who summarily wipe the floor with a much larger and more well-trained army of goblins. James himself also qualifies.qualifies; he's a peacable, good-natured person who always prefers to solves disputes by diplomacy, and is very good at talking his way out of jams - but he's also a tall (a giant by the standards of the medieval era), powerfully-muscled, skilled athlete who's highly agile and is especially good at high jumps. He's a pretty rudimentary man of arms compared to Brian, but then, as noted above, Brian is probably the best swordfighter in England - and as the series progresses, James becomes a good enough fighter to defeat a belted knight in single combat (in his human form) and a sea serpent (in his dragon form), a creature bigger and more powerful than a dragon.
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* HumanityEnsues:
** In ''The Dragon at War'', James turns [[spoiler: Secoh]] into a human while they are in France. Their reaction to being transformed is a LittleNo, because before, he could rely upon his teeth and claws, but now that he's human, he's physically weak. Still, this doesn't stop him from throwing himself into a fight [[ImprovisedWeapon while using a table leg as a club]] in order to protect his friends.
** [[spoiler: Gorbash also had a brief case of this, when he was trapped in James' body in the Modern era in ''The Dragon and the George''. Seems he ended up on the wrong end of a guard/cop who had a [[LawmanBaton baton]] and took a TapOnTheHead.]]
** In ''The Dragon at War'', James turns [[spoiler: Secoh]] into a human while they are in France. Their reaction to being transformed is a LittleNo, because before, he could rely upon his teeth and claws, but now that he's human, he's physically weak. Still, this doesn't stop him from throwing himself into a fight [[ImprovisedWeapon while using a table leg as a club]] in order to protect his friends.
** [[spoiler: Gorbash also had a brief case of this, when he was trapped in James' body in the Modern era in ''The Dragon and the George''. Seems he ended up on the wrong end of a guard/cop who had a [[LawmanBaton baton]] and took a TapOnTheHead.]]
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* ShoutOut: In ''The Dragon in Lyonesse'', when making arrangements for Brian to be able to return home in a hurry, [=KinetetE=] makes it so the spell is activated by his [[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz clicking his heels together three times]] and saying "Smythe, Smythe, Smythe". (Jim and Angie clearly realize the similarities, since they almost choke in surprise when they hear the method.)
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* ConfrontingYourImposter: Occurs twice in the series, where James and company encounter impostors of their allies -
** In ''The Dragon Knight'', James finds out about an impostor of [[spoiler: Prince Edward, who is giving life to the lie that he's joined the French]]. In fact, the real on wishes to [[LampshadeHanging confront this impostor himself.]] While he, himself doesn't get the chance to do anything, he does find himself face-to-face with his fake. However, James, upon remembering a story he'd been told prior, manages to deal with the situation by spashing both the real one and the fake with water, causing the fake, who'd been made from enchanted snow, to melt. As it is, James felt like he'd murdered the fake.
** In ''The Dragon Knight'', James finds out about an impostor of [[spoiler: Prince Edward, who is giving life to the lie that he's joined the French]]. In fact, the real on wishes to [[LampshadeHanging confront this impostor himself.]] While he, himself doesn't get the chance to do anything, he does find himself face-to-face with his fake. However, James, upon remembering a story he'd been told prior, manages to deal with the situation by spashing both the real one and the fake with water, causing the fake, who'd been made from enchanted snow, to melt. As it is, James felt like he'd murdered the fake.
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* ConfrontingYourImposter: Occurs twice in the series, where James and company encounter impostors of their allies -
allies.
** In ''The Dragon Knight'', James finds out about an impostor of [[spoiler: Prince Edward, who is giving life to the lie that he's joined the French]]. In fact, the realon one wishes to [[LampshadeHanging confront this impostor himself.]] While he, himself doesn't get the chance to do anything, he does find himself face-to-face with his fake. However, James, upon remembering a story he'd been told prior, manages to deal with the situation by spashing splashing both the real one and the fake with water, causing the fake, who'd been made from enchanted snow, to melt. As it is, James felt like he'd murdered the fake.
** In ''The Dragon Knight'', James finds out about an impostor of [[spoiler: Prince Edward, who is giving life to the lie that he's joined the French]]. In fact, the real
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* HyperAwareness: In ''Dragon Knight'', Daffyd can deduce from a single arrow with scratches on it that the castle is under attack, by whom, for how long, as well as who shot the arrow.
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* HyperAwareness: In ''Dragon ''The Dragon Knight'', Daffyd can deduce from a single arrow with scratches on it that the castle is under attack, by whom, for how long, as well as who shot the arrow.
* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: Jim made the mistake of introducing himself to Carolinus as a "Master of Arts" (his title as a college graduate). This term means something ''much'' more prestigious among Magicians, and Carolinus has never let him forget that little slip-up.
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** In ''Dragon At War'', James and those with him, get into a fight with those lead by a Scottish pirate known as "Bloody Boots", due to the fact that he'd dye his boots red with blood, presumably from a goat, but given the amount of blood inevitably spilled, in an attempt to get the dragon treasure that James had been given by the French dragons.
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** In ''Dragon ''The Dragon At War'', James and those with him, get into a fight with those lead by a Scottish pirate known as "Bloody Boots", due to the fact that he'd dye his boots red with blood, presumably from a goat, but given the amount of blood inevitably spilled, in an attempt to get the dragon treasure that James had been given by the French dragons.
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* WorstAid: Due to their relative lack of medical knowledge, even compared to that of the average person from the 20th century, James as a natural reluctance to let native "doctors" treat him or his friends, for this very reason. As it is, in ''Dragon at War'', Carolinus has a bad encounter with a couple of "so-called healers", who are excessively rough on him, especially given his age, and he probably would have died from their "so-called treatment", had James, Angie, and some of his men-at-arms not arrived to take him to their place, and even they wouldn't have saved him, had John Chandos and Sir Giles not shown up just then to scatter the group of vagabonds preventing them from leaving with the mage.
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* WorstAid: Due to their relative lack of medical knowledge, even compared to that of the average person from the 20th century, James as a natural reluctance to let native "doctors" treat him or his friends, for this very reason. As it is, in ''Dragon ''The Dragon at War'', Carolinus has a bad encounter with a couple of "so-called healers", who are excessively rough on him, especially given his age, and he probably would have died from their "so-called treatment", had James, Angie, and some of his men-at-arms not arrived to take him to their place, and even they wouldn't have saved him, had John Chandos and Sir Giles not shown up just then to scatter the group of vagabonds preventing them from leaving with the mage.
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* TheAce: Brian is considered to possibly be the single best fighter in all of England[[note]]John Chandos actually makes a statement pretty close to a legal declaration of this[[/note]], something he seriously needs because winning tournament prizes and ransoming horses and armor [[PerpetualPoverty is the only way he can keep himself and his lands financially afloat]] for most of the series. Unfortunately this also makes him a target of envy by other knights like [[TheRival Sir Harrimore]].
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* TheAce: Brian is considered to possibly be the single best fighter in all of England[[note]]John England,[[note]]John Chandos actually makes a statement pretty close to a legal declaration of this[[/note]], this[[/note]] something he seriously needs because winning tournament prizes and ransoming horses and armor [[PerpetualPoverty is the only way he can keep himself and his lands financially afloat]] for most of the series. Unfortunately this also makes him a target of envy by other knights like [[TheRival Sir Harrimore]].
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* BadassNormal: Among the Companions, who are more often involved in fighting, Brian, an exceptional knight, and Daffyd, an exceptional archer, are just men who are very good with their weapons, who, alongside of a DragonKnight / MagicKnight, a powerful mage, a Talking Wolf (who is a BadassNormal as far as wolves are concerned), a [[SelkiesAndWereseals selkie]], as well as a regular dragon, fight off a lot of supernatural creatures.
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* BadassNormal: Among the Companions, who are more often involved in fighting, Brian, an exceptional knight, and Daffyd, an exceptional archer, are just men who are very good with their weapons, who, alongside of a DragonKnight / MagicKnight, a powerful mage, a Talking Wolf (who is a BadassNormal CanisMajor as far as most wolves are concerned), a [[SelkiesAndWereseals selkie]], as well as a regular dragon, fight off a lot of supernatural creatures.
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* WarIsGlorious: Many of the local knights, and even the regular commoners, look forward to when they can go to war, much to James' annoyance.
* WarIsHell: James, by contrast to the native knights, dislikes the idea of fighting, due to his 20th century upbringing.
* WarIsHell: James, by contrast to the native knights, dislikes the idea of fighting, due to his 20th century upbringing.
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* {{Pirate}}: James has at least two encounters with these guys -
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* {{Pirate}}: James has at least two three encounters with these guys --
** In ''The Dragon Knight'', a group of rovers attack Brian's castle while he was visiting James. James, and some men, plus Daffyd and his father-in-law's outlaw band, are able to eliminate them with relatively minimal difficulty.
** In ''The Dragon Knight'', a group of rovers attack Brian's castle while he was visiting James. James, and some men, plus Daffyd and his father-in-law's outlaw band, are able to eliminate them with relatively minimal difficulty.
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** Geronde, after her father gets rescued, in preparation for her wedding, makes Brian [[IGaveMyWord swear]] to add water to any wine he drinks, much to Brian's annoyance. In is own words, he'd rather drink 19 glasses of water to have a glass of good wine, instead of ten glasses of watered wine. James, on one occasion [[LoopholeAbuse gets around this]] by personally pouring Brian a glass of wine, and giving it too him, as it would be rude for Brian to refuse said gift, much to Brian's pleasure.
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** Geronde, after her father gets rescued, in preparation for her wedding, makes Brian [[IGaveMyWord swear]] to add water to any wine he drinks, much to Brian's annoyance. In is own words, he'd rather drink 19 glasses of water to have a glass of good wine, instead of ten glasses of watered wine. James, on one occasion [[LoopholeAbuse gets around this]] by personally pouring Brian a glass of wine, and giving it too to him, as it would be rude for Brian to refuse said gift, much to Brian's pleasure.
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* EvilUncle:
** The Earl of Cumberland is this to Prince Edward, as he is always trying to get the young prince in one sort of trouble or another.
** Agatha Falon is the [[GenderFlip Evil Aunt]] version where Robert Falon is concerned.
** The Earl of Cumberland is this to Prince Edward, as he is always trying to get the young prince in one sort of trouble or another.
** Agatha Falon is the [[GenderFlip Evil Aunt]] version where Robert Falon is concerned.
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* WeaksauceWeakness: Being on ground that his Holy, or has been Blessed, prevents Magicians from using their magic, as does being Blessed themselves, which lasts 24 hours. Likewise, in areas where their magic is not native, they have issues. There are ways around this -
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* WeaksauceWeakness: Being on ground that his is Holy, or has been Blessed, prevents Magicians from using their magic, as does being Blessed themselves, which lasts 24 hours. Likewise, in areas where their magic is not native, they have issues. There are ways around this -
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Cut trope. Can't tell if its replacement trope or any others are applicable.
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** [[spoiler:But he's a RedHerring, appearing and being banished within a couple of lines. The BiggerBad really is Ahriman, a summoned Demon Lord and EldritchAbomination -- a Dark Power all his own -- that all must join together to banish back to his own Kingdom.]]
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** [[spoiler:But he's a RedHerring, appearing and being banished within a couple of lines. The BiggerBad villain really is Ahriman, a summoned Demon Lord and EldritchAbomination -- a Dark Power all his own -- that all must join together to banish back to his own Kingdom.]]
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** This is why James and the Earl of Cumberland tend to square off. The Earl had wanted to bury the nights that had fallen in the big battle in ''The Dragon Knight'' in one grave, but James had promised [[spoiler: Giles]] that he'd bury that knight at sea, [[spoiler: which in fact restored that knight to life.]]
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** This is why James and the Earl of Cumberland tend to square off. The Earl had wanted to bury the nights knights that had fallen in the big battle in ''The Dragon Knight'' in one grave, but James had promised [[spoiler: Giles]] that he'd bury that knight at sea, [[spoiler: which in fact restored that knight to life.]]
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** In ''The Dragon in Lyonesse'', the men of the Drowned Lands cooperate with King Arthur's knights, against an invading force commanded by the Earl of Cumberland
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** In ''The Dragon in Lyonesse'', the men of the Drowned Lands cooperate with King Arthur's knights, against an invading force commanded by the Earl of CumberlandCumberland.
** Among the villains, most seem to work with the others, but they generally don't like each other, alongside the Dark Powers. In fact, [[spoiler: Hugh de Bois]] has worked alongside of the evil mage Malvinne, and later, worked alongside the Earl of Cumberland, Agatha Falon, Queen Morgan, and the Earl and Agatha had worked with the Gnarly King prior.
** Among the villains, most seem to work with the others, but they generally don't like each other, alongside the Dark Powers. In fact, [[spoiler: Hugh de Bois]] has worked alongside of the evil mage Malvinne, and later, worked alongside the Earl of Cumberland, Agatha Falon, Queen Morgan, and the Earl and Agatha had worked with the Gnarly King prior.
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%% * PerspectiveFlip
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%% * TheStoic: Daffyd.
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* SuddenNameChange: In the first book, one of Jim's companions is the wolf Aragh. In all subsequent books, his name is Aargh.
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* WateringDown: During major parties, there is a tendency to add water to the wine that folks drink. Part of this is the idea that adding water will reduce the odds of intoxication, allowing guests to feast longer. Of course, given how much folks drink, this doesn't have much effect.
** Geronde, after her father gets rescued, in preparation for her wedding, makes Brian [[IGaveMyWord swear]] to add water to any wine he drinks, much to Brian's annoyance. In is own words, he'd rather drink 19 glasses of water to have a glass of good wine, instead of ten glasses of watered wine. James, on one occasion [[LoopholeAbuse gets around this]] by personally pouring Brian a glass of wine, and giving it too him, as it would be rude for Brian to refuse said gift, much to Brian's pleasure.
** Geronde, after her father gets rescued, in preparation for her wedding, makes Brian [[IGaveMyWord swear]] to add water to any wine he drinks, much to Brian's annoyance. In is own words, he'd rather drink 19 glasses of water to have a glass of good wine, instead of ten glasses of watered wine. James, on one occasion [[LoopholeAbuse gets around this]] by personally pouring Brian a glass of wine, and giving it too him, as it would be rude for Brian to refuse said gift, much to Brian's pleasure.
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* MartialPacifist: As a Knight, James tends to find himself in one conflict or another. However, due to his 20th century upbringing, which declares that WarIsHell, he is often reluctant to actually fight, or at least start one. Then there's the fact that as a Magician, he can't take any aggressive actions, unless he has to. That being said, when push comes to shove, and he is forced to fight, he fights to win.
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* MindRape: Towards the end of ''The Dragon and The Gnarly King'', James does a variant of this to the Earl of Cumberland, in order to get him to rescind certain warrants that were against James and his Companions. In short, he showed the Earl just what would happen if he pushed things too far, which would lead to the Earl being drawn and quartered - a punishment which the Earl merely spat at - while wearing his Coat of Arms, which caused the Earl to yell out in a loud voice "[[BigNo NOOOOO!!!! Not my arms!]]", which apparently is a FateWorseThanDeath for a knight, as it would mean that all record of him would be destroyed as well.
** As it is, the next time they meet, in ''The Dragon in Lyonesse'', when James and his Companions have been made prisoner by his men, the Earl seems to react like he's in a situation where he has just grabbed a tiger by the tail.
** As it is, the next time they meet, in ''The Dragon in Lyonesse'', when James and his Companions have been made prisoner by his men, the Earl seems to react like he's in a situation where he has just grabbed a tiger by the tail.
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* MyMasterRightOrWrong: The servants and men-at-arms are very loyal to those they see as their lords.
** That being said, they do have limits. In fact, it is mentioned that, due to the various changes that James was implementing, such as better hygiene practices and certain renovations to see to it that the Lord's Bedroom would be reasonably warm at all times, the servants probably would have left, had James not have been a Mage, and thus knew more than the average person of the era.
** That being said, they do have limits. In fact, it is mentioned that, due to the various changes that James was implementing, such as better hygiene practices and certain renovations to see to it that the Lord's Bedroom would be reasonably warm at all times, the servants probably would have left, had James not have been a Mage, and thus knew more than the average person of the era.
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* UndyingLoyalty: The servants and men-at-arms of the castle show a lot of this.
** Strange dragon shows up - everyone grabs a weapon, and gets set to attack it, until Angie lets them know that James was just practicing some magic and had just startled her.
** James gets captured by the enemy force hidden inside the castle - everyone grabs a weapon in an attempt to save him. James actually has to order them to halt, in order to save them from being massacred by the opposing men-at-arms that are better armed and armored.
** Strange dragon shows up - everyone grabs a weapon, and gets set to attack it, until Angie lets them know that James was just practicing some magic and had just startled her.
** James gets captured by the enemy force hidden inside the castle - everyone grabs a weapon in an attempt to save him. James actually has to order them to halt, in order to save them from being massacred by the opposing men-at-arms that are better armed and armored.
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* BenevolentBoss: As far as the people of the castle are concerned, James is seen as this, even in spite of his [[BunnyEarsLawyer bunny-eared]] and [[PointyHairedBoss occasionally unusual tendencies]], in so far as Medieval England is concerned. In fact, they'll [[UndyingLoyalty fight and die for him, if need be.]]
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* LittleMissBadass: May Heather shows a lot of signs of this. At the age of 8, she was willing to take a battle-ax to a dragon that had just shown up at the castle (actually, her Lord, who was dealing with a minor magical issue), in order to protect her Lady. By the age of 11, she is, in all but name, the NumberTwo, where the servants are concerned.
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* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Given the setting of the book, this sort of thing does happen. James and Angie, being from the late 20th century, often have to learn how to deal with things that others just take for granted.
** One instance is James' tendency to invite others, regardless of rank, to sit down with him. Servants and man-at-arms however, don't sit down with their lord and master, and thus feel uncomfortable when he makes the invitation. Angie basically [[LoopholeAbuse gives them an order to disobey said invitation]], much to their relief.
** One instance is James' tendency to invite others, regardless of rank, to sit down with him. Servants and man-at-arms however, don't sit down with their lord and master, and thus feel uncomfortable when he makes the invitation. Angie basically [[LoopholeAbuse gives them an order to disobey said invitation]], much to their relief.
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* SapientEatSapient: Implied as well as discussed to have occurred, at least in the past, with dragons and trolls having dined on humans.
** Dragons used to eat humans, until they, the humans, grew shells (armor), horns (lances) and started charging them on their horses. Seems that even a dragon can fall to a human in that situation.
*** As it is, in the first book, there was talk of the winner of a raffle eating Angie, had James, in Gorbash's body decided that holding her for ransom would be a better idea.
** Trolls are also known for eating humans, which is why having several hundred in the area were a concern in ''The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll''.
* SavageWolves: As far as a wolf is concerned, if you're not a friend, you're an enemy, and if you're an enemy, expect to get your throat torn out.
** Dragons used to eat humans, until they, the humans, grew shells (armor), horns (lances) and started charging them on their horses. Seems that even a dragon can fall to a human in that situation.
*** As it is, in the first book, there was talk of the winner of a raffle eating Angie, had James, in Gorbash's body decided that holding her for ransom would be a better idea.
** Trolls are also known for eating humans, which is why having several hundred in the area were a concern in ''The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll''.
* SavageWolves: As far as a wolf is concerned, if you're not a friend, you're an enemy, and if you're an enemy, expect to get your throat torn out.
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* SelkiesAndWereseals: Sir Giles, a selkie knight.
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* SelkiesAndWereseals: Sir Giles, a selkie knight. The same seems to be true of the rest of his family.
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* WorfHadTheFlu: There's been a few times where Brian and/or Daffyd have received an injury that prevents them from assisting James and the rest in any fighting. James often has to figure out how to make do without them.
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* AnAssKickingChristmas: ''The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll'' is set during the Christmas season, and includes [[TheTourney a Tournament and a Joust]], which everyone loves to see, even the Bishop himself (although he's not supposed to approve of it).
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* EveryoneIsArmed: Given the setting, most everyone is indeed armed, either with obvious weapons, hidden weapons, things that can be used as weapons, or there are weapons/things that can be used as weapons nearby.
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* JerkWithAHeartOfGold / JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: As far as wolves are concerned, there's only friends, whom they act abrasive to, or enemies, whom they tend to tear the throats of, or folks whom they just don't give a damn about. If one is a friend, they'll help out of love, but don't expect them to admit it. If one is an enemy, expect to lose AnArmAndALeg. If you're not someone they are concerned about, they may not care if a group of bandits are about to attack you.
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* TakingTheBullet: In ''The Dragon on the Border'', James, Brian, and Giles repeatedly shield Daffyd with their bodies during an early fight with the Hollow Men. Justified in that James, Brian, and Giles are wearing armor while Daffyd lacks armor. That being said, Brian takes an injury through a gap in the armor, [[SecretStabWound which the others find out when the man is pale from blood loss]]. Luckily for Brian, James is able to help save his life, using what he knows of his 20th century medical knowledge.
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* BadassNormal: Among the Companions, who are more often involved in fighting, Brian, an exceptional knight, and Daffyd, an exceptional archer, are just men who are very good with their weapons, who, alongside of a DragonKnight / MagicKnight, a powerful mage, a Talking Wolf (who is a BadassNormal as far as wolves are concerned), a [[SelkiesAndWereseals selkie]], as well as a regular dragon, fight off a lot of supernatural creatures.
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* TheMagnificentSevenSamurai: Let's see, James is a DragonKnight as well as a MagicKnight, Brian is a KnightInShiningArmor, Daffyd is an ArcherArchetype, Aargh is a Talking Wolf who doesn't stand for nonsense, Carolinus is one of the three most powerful mages in the world, Secoh is, initially, a somewhat cowardly dragon, and they, among others, have to defend England, as well as the rest of the world, from the Dark Powers.
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** This is why James and the Earl of Cumberland tend to square off. The Earl had wanted to bury the nights that had fallen in the big battle in ''The Dragon Knight'' in one grave, but James had promised [[spolier: Giles]] that he'd bury that knight at sea, [[spoiler: which in fact restored that knight to life.]]
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** This is why James and the Earl of Cumberland tend to square off. The Earl had wanted to bury the nights that had fallen in the big battle in ''The Dragon Knight'' in one grave, but James had promised [[spolier: [[spoiler: Giles]] that he'd bury that knight at sea, [[spoiler: which in fact restored that knight to life.]]
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* ReverseEscortMission / StealthEscortMission: Two of these occur in ''The Dragon Knight''.
** Upon finding out that John Chester, Brian's noble-born, and inexperienced, squire was going to command the men-at-arms while they were away, James is mildly annoyed at this, until he sees Brian talking to Tom Seiver, his Chief man-at-arms, and thus, realizing the situation, talks to his own, former Chief Man-at-Arms-Turned Squire, Theoluf, who understands the situation, and agrees to quietly ''assist'' in helping Chester keep command of the men. Chester doesn't find out but acknowledges the pair for their assistance.
** While reflecting upon the prior situation, James realizes that Brian and Giles had made their own silent agreement to help keep him out of trouble. James is actually touched by the realization, and doesn't let on that he knows.
** Upon finding out that John Chester, Brian's noble-born, and inexperienced, squire was going to command the men-at-arms while they were away, James is mildly annoyed at this, until he sees Brian talking to Tom Seiver, his Chief man-at-arms, and thus, realizing the situation, talks to his own, former Chief Man-at-Arms-Turned Squire, Theoluf, who understands the situation, and agrees to quietly ''assist'' in helping Chester keep command of the men. Chester doesn't find out but acknowledges the pair for their assistance.
** While reflecting upon the prior situation, James realizes that Brian and Giles had made their own silent agreement to help keep him out of trouble. James is actually touched by the realization, and doesn't let on that he knows.
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* BroughtDownToBadass / BroughtDownToNormal: When he runs out of his magic, or is unable to use it, or is unable to turn into a dragon, James is only good enough to use his weapons to just protect himself. That being said, he's still pretty smart, can talk himself out of trouble, and, oh, odds are that his Companions are either nearby, with him, are just about to show up with extra help.
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* BroughtDownToBadass / BroughtDownToNormal: When he runs out of his magic, or is unable to use it, or is unable to turn into a dragon, James is only good enough to use his weapons to just protect himself. That being said, he's still pretty smart, can talk himself out of trouble, and, oh, odds are that his Companions are either nearby, with him, or are just about to show up with extra help.
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* VerbalJudo: There are many scenarios where James gets his way out of trouble, simply by talking.
** When he first meets Brian, who was out dragon-hunting, James convinces the knight that he was also a knight that had been placed under a spell to look like a dragon.
** When he meets the knight Giles, who was in dispute with him over a room, James explains that he had made a vow not to draw his sword unless it was to cross blades with a French knight. Giles is actually impressed by this vow, and James defuses the situation by offering to share the room, to which Giles accepts, and eventually becomes a Companion.
** When Brian and Mortimor are gambling, and a fight is about to occur between them, James is able to use complicated words to throw Mortimor off his idea of provoking a fight with him.
** When taken prisoner by the Earl of Cumberland, James is able to convince the Earl that [[PlayAlongPrisoner being a prisoner]] [[AllAccordingToPlan was just part of the plan]], preventing the immediate execution of James and his friends.
** When he first meets Brian, who was out dragon-hunting, James convinces the knight that he was also a knight that had been placed under a spell to look like a dragon.
** When he meets the knight Giles, who was in dispute with him over a room, James explains that he had made a vow not to draw his sword unless it was to cross blades with a French knight. Giles is actually impressed by this vow, and James defuses the situation by offering to share the room, to which Giles accepts, and eventually becomes a Companion.
** When Brian and Mortimor are gambling, and a fight is about to occur between them, James is able to use complicated words to throw Mortimor off his idea of provoking a fight with him.
** When taken prisoner by the Earl of Cumberland, James is able to convince the Earl that [[PlayAlongPrisoner being a prisoner]] [[AllAccordingToPlan was just part of the plan]], preventing the immediate execution of James and his friends.
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* BroughtDownToBadass / BroughtDownToNormal: When he runs out of his magic, or is unable to use it, or is unable to turn into a dragon, James is only good enough to use his weapons to just protect himself. That being said, he's still pretty smart, can talk himself out of trouble, and, oh, odds are that his Companions are either nearby, with him, are just about to show up with extra help.
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* KnightInShiningArmor:
** Brian is a Straight example of this trope, believing in honor, chivalry, wouldn't harm a lady or child, and would help said lady or child if they were in trouble.
** Played with where James is concerned. He's not actually a knight, but exemplifies the trope in such a way that others wish that they were more like him.
** Parodied with the Bright Knight, who wears enchanted armor that reflects the sun into his opponents' eyes.
** Brian is a Straight example of this trope, believing in honor, chivalry, wouldn't harm a lady or child, and would help said lady or child if they were in trouble.
** Played with where James is concerned. He's not actually a knight, but exemplifies the trope in such a way that others wish that they were more like him.
** Parodied with the Bright Knight, who wears enchanted armor that reflects the sun into his opponents' eyes.
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* BodyguardingABadass: James might be a magician, and have the ability to turn into a dragon, but when he travels around, he tends to have his Companions, or about half a dozen men-at-arms, near him. This is justified because there's times that James gets attacked by foes, and lacks the ability, or time, to utilize magic, or it's not practical to turn into a dragon at the moment, and he's only just good enough to utilize his mundane weapons to protect himself in a fight. In such cases, even having half a dozen men-at-arms tends to come in handy, to say nothing about his Companions.
