History Main / DarkShepherd

->''"You have two options. You can wait until I leave, and then murder [[spoiler:Abigail]]. [[BadassBoast But then I'll come back. I'll slay every lice-ridden peasant, anything that moves and can't climb a tree]]. Or, you can lead honourable lives; clear your conscience and start again, like humans. The choice is yours."''

If the baddie has been remonstrated in some morally sound way, once they're around the corner, [[WhatYouAreInTheDark safe and alone]], [[IgnoredEpiphany they may suffer doubt]]... or perhaps he was only ''acting'' remorseful to escape, with no intention of repentance. Whether out of habit or malice, the villain is poised to forget the moral lesson and do the exact same thing that got him in trouble. At which point, the DarkShepherd steps in.

* Harry Dresden of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has elements of this in how he treats his apprentice Molly, combined with ScareEmStraight.
** After Cassius fakes a HeelFaceTurn and the Knights have to leave him alone, even though its blatantly obvious, Harry gives a candidate for the page quote.
--> Fortunately for you, they [Michael and Sanya] are good men. Unfortunately for you... *produces baseball bat* I'm ''not''.

** After Cassius fakes a FaceHeelTurn and the Knights have to leave him alone, even though its blatantly obvious, Harry gives a candidate for the page quote.

* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sister Butch]] of ''WesternAnimation/JohnCallahansQuads". Her only motivation (read: ''only motivation'') for doing anything in life is her faith, and you'd better believe she'll do anything from ''threaten people with eternal damnation for not donating enough to a charity'' to breaking and entry to [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome taking on Satan in a wrestling arena]] for that purpose.

* If the player chooses Renegade options in the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' trilogy, the protagonist, Shepard, will act like this. (Taking Paragon options makes him/her a GoodShepherd, and both courses of action have pros and cons.) Either way, s/he ends up saving the galaxy.

* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sister Butch]] of ''Main/JohnCallahansQuads". Her only motivation (read: ''only motivation'') for doing anything in life is her faith, and you'd better believe she'll do anything from ''threaten people with eternal damnation for not donating enough to a charity'' to breaking and entry to [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome taking on Satan in a wrestling arena]] for that purpose.

* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sister Butch]] of ''John Callahan's Quads.'' Her only motivation (read: ''only motivation'') for doing anything in life is her faith, and you'd better believe she'll do anything from ''threaten people with eternal damnation for not donating enough to a charity'' to breaking and entry to [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome taking on Satan in a wrestling arena]] for that purpose.

* Harry Dresden of ''Literature/TheDredsenFiles'' has elements of this in how he treats his apprentice Molly, combined with ScareEmStraight.

* Harry Dresden has elements of this in how he treats his apprentice Molly, combined with ScareThemStraight.

DoItForMe is a mild, mostly good version of this, in which a less altruistic character is bribed with affection. The act shows a lack of integrity and a lack of confidence that good can speak for itself that is a mark of the Dark Shepherd mindset.

Through the lens of GoodCopBadCop, the Dark Shepherd closes the sieve. However, usually aware of the somewhat shameful nature of his persuasion, the Dark Shepherd's work is often private, behind the back of any Good Shepherd that may put a stop to it. Compare HobbesWasRight

Through the lens of GoodCopBadCop, the Dark Shepherd closes the sieve. However, usually aware of the somewhat shameful nature of his persuasion, the Dark Shepherd's work is often private, behind the back of any Good Shepherd that may put a stop to it. Compare HobbesWasRIght

Through the lens of GoodCopBadCop, the Dark Shepherd closes the sieve. However, usually aware of the somewhat shameful nature of his persuasion, the Dark Shepherd's work is often private, behind the back of any Good Shepherd that may put a stop to it.

* The prophets who were sent by {{God}}, especially those of the [[Literature/TheBible Old Testament]], have often preach sermons which deals with warnings of punishment to humanity if they don't repent, making this OlderThanFeudalism.

* It's safe to say that {{God}} Himself can be a Dark Shepherd to all of His creation at times, especially in Literature/BookOfExodus where Moses lead the Israelites to escape oppression in Egypt, but this is only for them to do what they want. One of those things were making a golden calf while The 10 Commandments were being established. Because of this, God comes in and causes extremely bad things to His people, making sure that they will ''only'' worship and obey Him. Also, in the New Testament, there is God's warning of eternal damnation for humanity if they don't repent.

->''"You have two options. You can wait until I leave, and then murder [[spoiler:Abigail]]. But then I'll come back. I'll slay every lice-ridden peasant, anything that moves and can't climb a tree. Or, you can lead honourable lives; clear your conscience and start again, like humans. The choice is yours."''
-->-- '''Geralt''', to a lynch-mob, ''VideoGame/TheWitcher''

-->'''Geralt''', to a lynch-mob, ''VideoGame/TheWitcher''

->'''Murphy''': "Do not kill, do not rape, do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace!"\\
'''Connor''': "These are not polite suggestions! These are codes of behavior -- and those of you that ignore them shall pay the dearest cost!"
-->-- ''TheBoondockSaints''

* The twins and Il Duce of ''BoondockSaints'' have a Dark Shepherd final speech, unique in that they are warning the unidentified stray sheep via P.A.

* It's safe to say that {{God}} Himself can be a Dark Shepherd to all of His creation at times, especially in Literature/BookOfExodus where Moses lead the Israelites to escape oppression in Egypt, but this is only for them to do what they want. One of those things were making a golden calf while The 10 Commandments were being established. Because of this, God comes in and causes extremely bad things to His people, making sure that they will ''only'' worship and obey Him.

* The [[ReligionOfEvil inverse-Catholic]] (with [[EqualOpportunityEvil inverse-Anglican, Baptist, Jewish and Muslim]] sects) covenant of the Lancea Sanctum from ''VampireTheRequiem'' doctrinally claim this is their relationship with humanity. Sanctified vampires "[[ScareEmStraight scare humans straight]]" into the arms of God by acting as the predators that they are.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* If the player chooses Renegade options in the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' trilogy, the protagonist, Shepard, will act like this. (Taking Paragon options makes him/her a GoodShepherd, and both courses of action have pros and cons.) Either way, s/he ends up saving the galaxy.

* If the player chooses Renegade options in the MassEffect trilogy, the protagonist, Shepard, will act like this. (Taking Paragon options makes him a GoodShepherd, and both courses of action have pros and cons.) Either way, he ends up saving the galaxy.

-->''By what right do you reproach your wife, hypocrite?'' demanded the monk, ''By what right.''
-->Belisarius was mute.
-->''Verily men are foul. Even so does the churchman who sells his soul damn the harlot who sells her body. Even so does the magistrate in robes of bribery condemn the thief in stolen rags.''
-->Belisarius opened his mouth again. Closed it.
-->''Repent,'' commanded Michael
-->BelisariusSeries

The GoodShepherd is optimistic in his heavenly intentions and arguments, but the Dark Shepherd focuses on the evil in people. The Dark Shepherd resorts to threats and fear in the sheep's moment of doubt or descent, to scare the sheep away from the edge of the cliff.

* The grim hermit Michael of Macedonia in the ''Literature/BelisariusSeries'', who later helps raise up an AlternateHistory version of the Knights Hospitalier.

-->''Verily men are foul. Even so does the churchman who sells his soul damn the harlot who sels her body. Even so does the magistrate in robes of bribery condemn the thief in stolen rags.''