The world is poised on the brink of war. Ersht, the rising superpower in the west, and Govitz, an old world dominant force, stew over the great War of Annihilation just twenty years ago. Both nations left the war extremely powerful, but due to conflicting ideologies found themselves in deadlock. With these forces on the brink of war, a small, deniable strike force has been sent into Govitz to cut down an Ershtine war hero turned traitor. This is your legend.
— Opening narration in the OOC thread.
The year is 1642. Summer is fading into Autumn. Retired Veteran and former war hero, Joi Hart, has stolen a pair of incredibly powerful weapons. Nullification Tomes. Though no two are exactly the same, their functions are essentially identical- to produce a field capable of annihilating a large area around the epicenter of the spell. Entire cities could be wiped from the map by such a weapon- And may very well be, if the tomes aren't recovered. More to the point, Hart has absconded to Govitz, the only counterbalance to Ersht's power in the world. At this moment, the Nullification Tome is the only concrete advantage Ersht has to hold over Govitz. However, this can only be true so long as Govitz does not have the same arcane knowledge. Such power in Govitian hands would be devastating to the strategic position of all nations. To this end, a promising young soldier has been selected, along with a handful of specialist combatants, to infiltrate Govitz, hunt down Hart, and recover the Nullification Tomes. This is that story, and it is for your eyes only.
— Opening narration in the IC thread.
Fire Emblem on Forums: Death to Traitors
is one of the many installments in the series of Fire Emblem on Forums roleplays on the Bay 12 Forums. The story focuses around the Badass Crew assembled by Jack Smith to pursue the treasonous Joi Hart, who has stolen powerful Nullification Tomes from the nation of Ersht to deliver them to the nation of Govitz. Along the way, they encounter opposition as Govitz attempts to ensure the party's failure at each turn, all the while dealing with legends of wars long past....
The IC thread can be found here and the OOC thread here.
Death to Traitors contains the following tropes:
- Badass Crew: The party was specifically assembled as one by Jack to retrieve the Nullification Tomes from Govitz.
- Crapsack World: Kalgar is currently this, as Keyleth can attest to, being sold away into slavery by her parents just for food.
- Fantastic Nuke: Nullification Tomes have have this effect and are capable of destroying entire cities, as the party finds out when they visit Tselino's ruins. They actually teleport the places they are used on into Another Dimension, which is inimical to matter from this one.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Ersht and Govitz to America and the USSR during the Cold War. Sivult and Ervalt are France and Britain, while Kalgar is East Germany.
- Lensman Arms Race: Part of the reason Govitz wants the Nullification Tomes is that they will be able to counter Ersht and catch up in arcane development.
- Living Legend: Evra Opus, Marcus Saad and Joi Hart all qualify as this, with Evra and Saad having interactions based on this fact.
- The Mafia: Lucette's true family was the Sivultian version of this, before they were wiped out in a Mob War that left Lucette very, very bitter.
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: Jack's team of elites consists of an Insufferable Genius, a Boxed Crook, a Ninja Maid and The Drunken Sailor, among other things. They are, as par for the course of a Fire Emblem party, completely capable of curbstomping threats.
- Plausible Deniability: The party discards anything that might link them to Ersht to ensure they are not caught in the course of their mission.
- Shout-Out: As below, the entire game is a Whole-Plot Reference to Metal Gear, specifically Snake Eater.
- Theodore is one to Kamen Rider; he himself is an Expy of Kuroto Dan and his skills are based on various catchphrases said in the many series. As the story progresses and more of Theo's Jerkass act fades, he becomes more similar to Sento Kiryu, including his disgust at magic being used for the purposes of war.
- Wham Line: "No. It creates a portal, between our world and the other," regarding Nullifcation Tomes.
- Whole-Plot Reference: The entire game is one to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
- You Are Too Late: The party gets to Tselino.....only to find it reduced to a smoking crater, courtesy of a Nullification Tome.
