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Up To Eleven is a defunct trope
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* MugglePower: '''[[UpToEleven Lacrimosa]]'''. The downside is that the Banishers must rely on outwitting Lacrimosa because Anchors don't work against humans.
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* MugglePower: '''[[UpToEleven Lacrimosa]]'''.'''Lacrimosa'''. The downside is that the Banishers must rely on outwitting Lacrimosa because Anchors don't work against humans.
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Art Major Biology merge
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* ArtMajorBiology: There is quite a bit of this, admittedly because the focus of the story is not on the explanations of how anchorium affect DNA etc. The characters, especially the more scientifically inclined, are quick to [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall point this out]].
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* ArtMajorBiology: ArtisticLicenseBiology: There is quite a bit of this, admittedly because the focus of the story is not on the explanations of how anchorium affect DNA etc. The characters, especially the more scientifically inclined, are quick to [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall point this out]].
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Has nothing to do with familiarity with in-universe fiction.
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* [[spoiler:BittersweetEnding]]: Considering the genre, this was to be expected.
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* [[spoiler:BittersweetEnding]]: BittersweetEnding: Considering the genre, this was to be expected.
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* RobotWar: The Android Revolution was a non-violent version. The revolution ended with Androids gaining free will and full independence without bloodshed because the humans were GenreSavvy and knew they wouldn't win if they went to war with the robots.
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* RobotWar: The Android Revolution was a non-violent version. The revolution ended with Androids gaining free will and full independence without bloodshed because the humans were GenreSavvy and knew they wouldn't win if they went to war with the robots.
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* DarkActionGirl: Miressa.
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* DarkActionGirl: Miressa.DataPad: Everyone in Vertreiben carries around a portable glass touchscreen in a grey frame. It's used to do things from finishing reports on the go to sending emails to each other.
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* SuperSoldier: The Banishers have enhanced reflexes, acute senses, a fast HealingFactor that also drastically slows down the ageing process, and an innate sense of combat tactics and fighting. With proper training their bodies develop into their full physical potential to sync completely with the Anchors, resulting in the incredibly powerful Final Stage Anchors. They're the protagonists, and the only hope humanity has to fight against the Machines.
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Avoid Word Cruft.
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* CreativeSterility: Averted, and in some cases very mercilessly so. The Androids have their own culture and arts scene that humans tend to overlook due to lack of knowledge, and are always in the process of devising new things. "Mercilessly" applies to the Machines, who are just as creative with their technology [[spoiler:that by the end of the story all the Banishers have left that the Machines don't have are [[{{Determinator}} sheer willpower]] and [[WorthLivingFor the reason to fight]]]].
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* CreativeSterility: Averted, and in some cases very mercilessly so.Averted. The Androids have their own culture and arts scene that humans tend to overlook due to lack of knowledge, and are always in the process of devising new things. "Mercilessly" This applies to the Machines, who are just as creative with their technology [[spoiler:that by the end of the story all the Banishers have left that the Machines don't have are [[{{Determinator}} sheer willpower]] and [[WorthLivingFor the reason to fight]]]].
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* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Averted ''hard'' [[spoiler:when Ivan gets shot in the head]]. Accompanied by a GoryDiscretionShot and PinkMist.
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* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Averted ''hard'' [[spoiler:when Ivan gets shot in the head]]. Accompanied by a GoryDiscretionShot and PinkMist.
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* {{Robosexual}}: Completely averted - Androids are not anatomically correct and see no point in such relations. Any human who does try finds out very quickly that they will have a one-sided relationship.
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* {{Robosexual}}: Completely averted Averted - Androids are not anatomically correct and see no point in such relations. Any human who does try finds out very quickly that they will have a one-sided relationship.
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* TechnicolorEyes: Apart from the Androids, this is completely averted.
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* TechnicolorEyes: Apart from the Androids, this is completely averted.
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** The Colossi are obviously this to the tripods of TheWarOfTheWorlds.
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** The Colossi are obviously this to the tripods of TheWarOfTheWorlds.''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds''.
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* AIIsACrapshoot: Completely averted where you'd expect this trope to happen. The mainframe computer that controls and regulates Vertreiben's base never malfunctions; neither Drake nor Tirya act against their superiors even though they are highly sapient.
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* AIIsACrapshoot: Completely averted Averted where you'd expect this trope to happen. The mainframe computer that controls and regulates Vertreiben's base never malfunctions; neither Drake nor Tirya act against their superiors even though they are highly sapient.
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* JerkassWoobie: Many, but the most distinctive are Leon, Miressa, and Evans.
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* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Averted ''hard'' [[spoiler:when Ivan gets shot in the head]]. Accompanied by a GoryDiscretionShot and PinkMist.
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* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Miressa has a family, which makes her an ActionMom.
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* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Miressa has a family, two daughters, which makes her an ActionMom.
* JerkassWoobie: Many, but the most distinctive are Leon, Miressa, and Evans.
* VillainousCrush: Miressa has had one on Leon for a very long time, since they were once coworkers.
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* Woobie: The Banishers. Many of them have lost loved ones to the Machines, or are fighting for their loved ones.
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** Miressa, who goes toe-to-toe with ''Leon'' of all people using physical strength and wits alone. [[spoiler:And nearly succeeds taking out the entire Vertreiben headquarters.]]
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** Miressa, who goes toe-to-toe with ''Leon'' of all people using physical strength and wits alone. [[spoiler:And nearly succeeds taking out in crippling the entire Vertreiben headquarters.]]
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* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Lacrimosa taking out Vertreiben to restore purity to the human race.
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* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Lacrimosa taking out Vertreiben Lacrimosa's reasoning ultimately boils down to restore purity "trying to ease the human race. Banishers' suffering", which seems close enough.
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* AliensAreBastards: Or are they?
* BadassNormal: Quite a few supporting characters are this, but the following are the most notable.
** Current Head Researcher Ivan Aleksandrov [[spoiler: who not only survives an assassination attempt, but manages to finish what his predecessor failed to do so - help Leon bust the corruption ring within the Federation using his own wits and resources]].
** Ex-Head Researcher Michael Kwan, who supported Vertreiben and Leon regardless of how much opposition he received for it, and worked to destroy the corruption ring within the Federation.
** Miressa, who goes toe-to-toe with ''Leon'' of all people using physical strength and wits alone. [[spoiler:And nearly succeeds taking out the entire Vertreiben headquarters.]]
** Current Head Researcher Ivan Aleksandrov [[spoiler: who not only survives an assassination attempt, but manages to finish what his predecessor failed to do so - help Leon bust the corruption ring within the Federation using his own wits and resources]].
** Ex-Head Researcher Michael Kwan, who supported Vertreiben and Leon regardless of how much opposition he received for it, and worked to destroy the corruption ring within the Federation.
** Miressa, who goes toe-to-toe with ''Leon'' of all people using physical strength and wits alone. [[spoiler:And nearly succeeds taking out the entire Vertreiben headquarters.]]
* DarkActionGirl: Miressa.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Miressa has a family, which makes her an ActionMom.
* TheFundamentalist: Miressa. Her belief? That Earth gave the Banishers [[CursedWithAwesome their powers as a punishment]], and that the power would eventually cripple them so the Banishers need to be saved by cutting off the afflicted body parts or destroying the weapons. Leon wasn't ready to publish the Anchor research just yet, which didn't improve the situation.
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!!Tropes that apply to the organisations of LxT:
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Lacrimosa and the Underground, in that they don't care what you are as long as you share their goals.
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Lacrimosa and the Underground, in that they don't care what you are as long as you share their goals.
to:
!!Tropes that apply to the organisations of LxT:
organisations:
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Lacrimosa and the Underground, in that they don't care what you are as long as you share their goals. Lacrimosa isn't technically evil, though.
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Lacrimosa and the Underground, in that they don't care what you are as long as you share their goals. Lacrimosa isn't technically evil, though.
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* MeaningfulName: ''Vertreiben'' is German for "to banish". ''Lacrimosa'' is Latin for "weeping", which fits with their motto "The Earth Weeps For Purity". ''Lux Ex Tenebris'' is Vertreiben's motto and is Latin for "Light From Darkness".
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* MeaningfulName: ''Vertreiben'' is German for "to banish". ''Lacrimosa'' is Latin for "weeping", which fits with their motto "The Earth Weeps For Purity".Weeps". ''Lux Ex Tenebris'' is Vertreiben's motto and is Latin for "Light From Darkness".
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* MultinationalTeam: ''Vertreiben''. Even the League of Generals, as each League General comes from each Vertreiben branch.
* OddlySmallOrganization Vertreiben at first glance, but only until the international Vertreiben branches are revealed. Lacrimosa fits the bill as well, although Lacrimosa has plenty of supporters internationally.
* OrganizationWithUnlimitedFunding: Vertreiben. It's funded by the Goldenshrines, an extremely wealthy and powerful old family that controls money flow.
* OddlySmallOrganization Vertreiben at first glance, but only until the international Vertreiben branches are revealed. Lacrimosa fits the bill as well, although Lacrimosa has plenty of supporters internationally.
* OrganizationWithUnlimitedFunding: Vertreiben. It's funded by the Goldenshrines, an extremely wealthy and powerful old family that controls money flow.
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* MultinationalTeam: ''Vertreiben''. Even the League of Generals, as each League General comes from each Vertreiben branch.
*OddlySmallOrganization Vertreiben at first glance, OddlySmallOrganization: Initially Vertreiben. but only until subverted when the international Vertreiben branches are revealed. Lacrimosa fits the bill as well, although Lacrimosa has plenty of supporters internationally.
plays this trope straight.
* OrganizationWithUnlimitedFunding: Vertreiben. It's funded by the Goldenshrines, an extremely wealthy and powerful old family thatcontrols money flow.acts as middlemen negotiators between big companies and parties.
*
* OrganizationWithUnlimitedFunding: Vertreiben. It's funded by the Goldenshrines, an extremely wealthy and powerful old family that
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* Robosexual: Completely averted - Androids are not anatomically correct and see no point in such relations. Any human who does try finds out very quickly that they will have a one-sided relationship.
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* Robosexual: {{Robosexual}}: Completely averted - Androids are not anatomically correct and see no point in such relations. Any human who does try finds out very quickly that they will have a one-sided relationship.
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* [[spoiler:BittersweetEnding]]: [[spoiler: Vertreiben wins, but the Machines are left without a source of sustenance and on the brink of extinction, and thousands of people have died over the course of the war. On a smaller scale, Leon Goldenshrine is free of his guilt and burdens, but has permanently lost the use of his legs due to the damage to his nervous system from ingesting anchorium as an experiment.]]
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* [[spoiler:BittersweetEnding]]: [[spoiler: Vertreiben wins, but Considering the Machines genre, this was to be expected.
* BizarreAlienBiology: The Cores that the Banishers must destroy appear crystalline yet areleft without a source considered organic. The Senestrals look like they are made of sustenance opaque blue glass and on optic fibres, and take the brink form of extinction, and thousands of people have died over the course of the war. On a smaller scale, Leon Goldenshrine is free of his guilt and burdens, but has permanently lost the use of his legs due to the damage to his nervous system from ingesting anchorium as an experiment.]]floating disembodied alien torso.
* BizarreAlienBiology: The Cores that the Banishers must destroy appear crystalline yet are
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* PsychicNosebleed: What happens to humans who get in the way of the Machines' attacks, but not to those who are under MindControl.
* PsychicPowers: The Machines and the Senestrals. Humans don't have any because they were never evolved to have them [[spoiler:with the exception of psychic immunity, a rare adaptation that blocks psychic powers from affecting the individual's mind]]. Psychic attacks are called "psy" and psychic powers in general is referred to as psionics.
* PsychicPowers: The Machines and the Senestrals. Humans don't have any because they were never evolved to have them [[spoiler:with the exception of psychic immunity, a rare adaptation that blocks psychic powers from affecting the individual's mind]]. Psychic attacks are called "psy" and psychic powers in general is referred to as psionics.
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* TripodTerror: The Colossi [[spoiler:and the Mothership]]. Predictably, Vertreiben nearly gets attacked [[spoiler:when the Federation mistakes their moving to another location as an actual Colossus happening to pass by]].
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** The Colossi are a rather obvious one to TheWarOfTheWorlds.
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** The Colossi are a rather obvious one obviously this to the tripods of TheWarOfTheWorlds.
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* ShoutOut:
** The Colossi are a rather obvious one to TheWarOfTheWorlds.
** The Colossi are a rather obvious one to TheWarOfTheWorlds.
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* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Plenty of Androids [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this and this is enforced by how badly normal humans treat the other races and those they think are "lesser humans". Even the Machines are not exempt to this, [[spoiler: as a dying race of aliens travelling across galaxies trying to find a new home and invading planets for sustenance]], ironically from the Banishers themselves. There is no clear stance on whether the story condones this or accepts it as part of a natural cycle.
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* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Plenty of Androids [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this and this is enforced by how badly normal humans treat the other races and those they think are "lesser humans". Even the Machines are not exempt to this, [[spoiler: as a dying race of aliens travelling across galaxies trying to find a new home and invading planets for sustenance]], ironically from the Banishers themselves. There is no clear stance on whether the story condones this it or accepts it as part of a natural cycle.advises against it.
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* AntiHero: It would be easier to list the exceptions, which is probably around 1-5 people.
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* HumansAreFlawed: What led to the Great Rewind. Interestingly, this trope is held as a stance by people who oppose the trope below in the story.
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* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Lacrimosa taking out Vertreiben to restore purity to the human race.
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On an alternate [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CyberPunk cyberpunk]] Earth in [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the 22nd century]], humanity is being plagued by mechanical beings with the power to [[MindControl control]] humans. No one knows where they came from or what they are, but the one thing they do know is that there is no way to fight back.
Until one day, the enigmatic rich scientist Leon Goldenshrine discovers a substance known as anchorium, and therefore gave mankind a fighting chance.
Until one day, the enigmatic rich scientist Leon Goldenshrine discovers a substance known as anchorium, and therefore gave mankind a fighting chance.
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On an alternate [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CyberPunk cyberpunk]] Earth in [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the 22nd century]], humanity is being plagued by mechanical beings with the power to [[MindControl control]] humans. No one knows where they came from or what they are, but the one thing they do know is that there is no way to fight back.
back. Not even the race of once-enslaved robots can help.
Until one day, the enigmatic rich scientist Leon Goldenshrine discovers a substance known as anchorium, and therefore gave mankind a fighting chance. \n He founds an organisation called Vertreiben once he discovers humans have traces of anchorium that give objects weapon-like abilities when activated, and begins to train the army that he hopes will eradicate the Machines as well as research the crystals that could quite possibly become the best energy resource on the planet.
Until one day, the enigmatic rich scientist Leon Goldenshrine discovers a substance known as anchorium, and therefore gave mankind a fighting chance.
* FantasticSlur: Oh so many. The Androids, the cybernetically enhanced and the Banishers get their own sets.
* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: It is implied this happened to the Androids some time before the Revolution.
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* HumansAreBastards: So much that so many of the Banishers are either {{Jerkass}}es or [[ProperlyParanoid paranoid]] of "normal humans". In the end, though, it's up in the air whether the story is condemning humans for it or letting it slide as natural behaviour.
* HumongousMecha: The giant Machines, notably the Colossi and the Machine nicknamed "Old Man" for its appearance and coincidentally given code name.
* HumongousMecha: The giant Machines, notably the Colossi and the Machine nicknamed "Old Man" for its appearance and coincidentally given code name.
to:
* HumansAreBastards: So much that so many HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Plenty of Androids [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this and this is enforced by how badly normal humans treat the other races and those they think are "lesser humans". Even the Machines are not exempt to this, [[spoiler: as a dying race of aliens travelling across galaxies trying to find a new home and invading planets for sustenance]], ironically from the Banishers are either {{Jerkass}}es or [[ProperlyParanoid paranoid]] of "normal humans". In the end, though, it's up in the air themselves. There is no clear stance on whether the story is condemning humans for condones this or accepts it or letting it slide as part of a natural behaviour.
cycle.
* HumongousMecha: The giant Machines, notably the Colossi and the Machine nicknamed "Old Man" for its appearance and coincidentally given code name.
* HumongousMecha: The giant Machines, notably the Colossi and the Machine nicknamed "Old Man" for its appearance and coincidentally given code name.
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* RobotWar: The Android Revolution was a non-violent version. The revolution ended with Androids gaining full independence without bloodshed because this time the humans were GenreSavvy and knew they wouldn't win if they went to war with the robotic race.
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* RobotWar: The Android Revolution was a non-violent version. The revolution ended with Androids gaining free will and full independence without bloodshed because this time the humans were GenreSavvy and knew they wouldn't win if they went to war with the robotic race.robots.
* SecondLawMyAss: Many Androids feel this way. Of note is Tirya Ein Kaln, an X-Class Android (a battle robot) whose opinion of humans can be described as "less than stellar". In general the Second Law doesn't apply to the Androids because they have free will.
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* ThreeLawsOfRobotics: The Android race is not subject to these laws, leading to the Android President having to debate over this with human delegates from time to time.
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* SupportingLeader: The Android President Antonov is this.
* ThreeLawsOfRobotics: TheAndroid race is Androids manufactured after the Revolution are not subject to these laws, leading programmed with the Laws, predictably eliciting fear and apprehension from humans due to the Android President having lack of protection for them. This was because the humans agreed to debate grant the Androids free will; they didn't expect it to mean complete deletion of the Three Laws. However, the Androids are peaceful and are never shown to hurt humans in any circumstance, even if they may be a bit dismissive over this with human delegates from time to time.concepts.
* ThreeLawsOfRobotics: The
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* RobotWar: The Android Uprising was this. The revolution ended with Androids gaining full independence without bloodshed because that was exactly what they wanted.
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* RobotWar: The Android Uprising Revolution was this. a non-violent version. The revolution ended with Androids gaining full independence without bloodshed because that was exactly what this time the humans were GenreSavvy and knew they wanted.wouldn't win if they went to war with the robotic race.
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* FoeYay: Between Leon and Miressa. Leon just does it to humour her, but it's still there.
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On an alternate [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CyberPunk cyberpunk]] Earth in [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the 22nd century]], humanity is being plagued by mechanical beings with the power to [[MindControl control]] humans. No one knows where they came from or what they are, but the one thing they do know is that there is no way to fight back.
Until one day, the enigmatic rich scientist Leon Goldenshrine discovers a substance known as anchorium, and therefore gave mankind a fighting chance.
But of course, nothing is that simple.
!!This graphic novel gives examples of:
* AIIsACrapshoot: Completely averted where you'd expect this trope to happen. The mainframe computer that controls and regulates Vertreiben's base never malfunctions; neither Drake nor Tirya act against their superiors even though they are highly sapient.
* TheAlliance: At the final battle. [[spoiler:The Android Republic, the Federation and Vertreiben.]]
* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: Androids of A-Class intelligence and below can only have one colour/shade, e.g. Drake is mostly white and grey, Edina Rua Talan is purple. X-Class Androids must have two separate colours e.g. Tirya is both blue and red. The result is one hell of a rainbow population.
* AmbiguousRobots: The Machines. Are they MechanicalLifeforms with an organic heart? Or are they organic lifeforms growing inside a mechanical shell? The only race that knows avoided answering the question.
* AndroidsArePeopleToo: There are groups of people who believe in this. Others are more likely to judge them as JustAMachine.
* ArtificialLimbs: Although we only get to meet one person who has these, it is implied that there is a sizeable population of these people. The Federation debates on calling them "human" alongside the genetically mutated and the Banishers.
* ArtMajorBiology: There is quite a bit of this, admittedly because the focus of the story is not on the explanations of how anchorium affect DNA etc. The characters, especially the more scientifically inclined, are quick to [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall point this out]].
* BigApplesauce: Gets featured as a training area for Stage One Banishers.
** TheBigRottenApple: Along with being half-destroyed by the Machines New York City is home to the biggest Cybergoth scene and the destroyed areas are nesting zones for young Machines.
* BigBadassBattleSequence: [[spoiler:The final confrontation between Vertreiben and the Machines.]]
* BishonenLine: Averted with both Banishers and Machines. Although the Machines become bipedal and certainly move like a human, that is about the only similarity.
* [[spoiler:BittersweetEnding]]: [[spoiler: Vertreiben wins, but the Machines are left without a source of sustenance and on the brink of extinction, and thousands of people have died over the course of the war. On a smaller scale, Leon Goldenshrine is free of his guilt and burdens, but has permanently lost the use of his legs due to the damage to his nervous system from ingesting anchorium as an experiment.]]
* TheCityNarrows: Any Cybergoth area, if you are not a Cybergoth.
* ComputerVoice: AKIVA has one, along with a digital projection of her appearance.
* CoolHouse: The Goldenshrines' Swiss house, [[spoiler:a remodelled 22nd century spaceship that still works]]. The Vertreiben headquarters could be considered this as well [[spoiler:since it is in fact a working alien battling transport]].
* CrapsackWorld: There isn't anything happy about a "alternate [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CyberPunk cyberpunk]] Earth".
* CreativeSterility: Averted, and in some cases very mercilessly so. The Androids have their own culture and arts scene that humans tend to overlook due to lack of knowledge, and are always in the process of devising new things. "Mercilessly" applies to the Machines, who are just as creative with their technology [[spoiler:that by the end of the story all the Banishers have left that the Machines don't have are [[{{Determinator}} sheer willpower]] and [[WorthLivingFor the reason to fight]]]].
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Vertreiben was the stomped in the Machine invasion of the Federation HQ.]]
* EasilyDetachableRobotParts: While Drake, Tirya, Antonov and all the other Androids can remove things like hands and forearms, they certainly don't do it on a whim and would only do so if the situation called for exchanging their tools.
* FamilyBusiness: There are seven rich families on Earth that each control a corporation. While these corporations are never mentioned, each one is responsible for said family's wealth, like how the Goldenshrines when not being scientists are actually middleman negotiators for large-scale business transactions and agreements. Each family is also vulnerable to each of the SevenDeadlySins; the Goldenshrines are victim to Pride while the Eisenbergs are predisposed to Greed.
* FantasticRacism: A large portion of the human population feel this way towards the Androids.
* FoeYay: Between Leon and Miressa. Leon just does it to humour her, but it's still there.
* GlowingEyes: The Machines and the Banishers, the latter only during their active Anchor modes (Leon being the exception). Slightly varied in that only the iris glows, not the pupil.
* TheGovernment: [[TheFederation The United Federation of Earth]], formed to prevent events like the Great Rewind ever occurring again. The government still tends to lack in a few areas such as welfare and is known for its FantasticRacism and ineptitude, but tries to work for the good of mankind all the same.
* GreatOffscreenWar: Two - the Great Rewind and the Android Revolution. The Revolution is more vague than the Great Rewind, which does get partially explained throughout the story.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: The entire world has become this.
* GuiltFreeExterminationWar: The entire war eventually becomes this.
* HolographicTerminal: Exists everywhere on Earth.
* HopelessWar: Before Leon discovered anchorium, humanity was pretty much in this when the Machines started attacking.
* HumansAreBastards: So much that so many of the Banishers are either {{Jerkass}}es or [[ProperlyParanoid paranoid]] of "normal humans". In the end, though, it's up in the air whether the story is condemning humans for it or letting it slide as natural behaviour.
* HumongousMecha: The giant Machines, notably the Colossi and the Machine nicknamed "Old Man" for its appearance and coincidentally given code name.
* MajorWorldCities: Most of the capital cities of the world are still intact and play as important locations to meetings. The "Most Mentioned City" award goes to Geneva in Switzerland as it houses the nearest Federation branch that Banishers can visit.
* MechaMooks: The chihuahua-sized insect-shaped robots in New York City.
* ModernStasis: News cameras may now just be holographic discs, but Leon still reads the newspaper. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that most of mankind's 22nd century technology got destroyed in the Great Rewind and they're still rebuilding.
* MoralityKitchenSink
* {{Mutants}}: The Banishers can be considered as this, since anchorium has altered their bodies and is apparently inheritable.
* NamesGivenToComputers: [[FunWithAcronyms AKIVA]] (Type I), and the Androids who live with humans (slight variant of Type III). Justified because humans can't remember their serial numbers like they do, so they use the letters in the serial numbers to create names, e.g. Drake (D), Edina Rua Talan (ERT) and Tirya Ein Kaln (TEK).
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Vertreiben destroyed so many Machine Cores that [[spoiler:the Machines were forced to invade the Federation to steal their generators in order to make more Cores.]] It didn't go very well for Vertreiben.
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Averted with the Anchors. The prototypes are owned by Leon and Fabian Goldenshrine, but due to their high instability Leon designed more stable, if weaker, versions of Anchors for less experienced Banishers. Played straight with the Vertreiben headquarters [[spoiler:because it was taken from the Machines]].
* OneManArmy: The League Generals against normal Machines. They don't tackle problems below the most critical for this reason.
* Robosexual: Completely averted - Androids are not anatomically correct and see no point in such relations. Any human who does try finds out very quickly that they will have a one-sided relationship.
* RobotRepublic: The Android [[TheRepublic Republic]].
* RobotWar: The Android Uprising was this. The revolution ended with Androids gaining full independence without bloodshed because that was exactly what they wanted.
* ScreensAreCameras: Played straight everywhere, especially with the transmissions to Vertreiben.
* SlidingScaleOfRobotIntelligence: Androids work depending on their intelligence Class, which denotes the amount of intelligence they were programmed with when built. In ascending order: E, D, C, B, A, X.
** D- and E-Class Androids are Levels 1 and 2.
** C- and B-Class Androids are Level 3.
** A- and X-Class Androids are Level 4, the difference being X-Class Androids are more militarised than A-Class.
* ThreeLawsOfRobotics: The Android race is not subject to these laws, leading to the Android President having to debate over this with human delegates from time to time.
* TechnicolorEyes: Apart from the Androids, this is completely averted.
* TechnologyPorn: Due to AuthorAppeal.
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Lux Ex Tenebris starts in the year 2156, where humans have made contact with alien races and technology advancement is highly sped up.
* UnusualUserInterface:
** Drake can access AKIVA and override processes in computers integrated into buildings by using cords from his non-dominant wrist onto any surface of the building.
** The computers and tables Leon uses in the basement of his house to carry out Anchor research.
** [[spoiler:The HolographicTerminal that Leon uses to control his house/spaceship.]]
* ViewerFriendlyInterface: Everything seen in the Vertreiben headquarters completely averts every single tenet listed despite being mostly touchscreen.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: The entire story basically questions this. There are the Androids, the humans who aren't considered as such (cyborgs, Banishers, genetically mutated, the Cybergoths), and the Machines.
!!Tropes that apply to the organisations of LxT:
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Lacrimosa and the Underground, in that they don't care what you are as long as you share their goals.
* LawEnforcementInc: Vertreiben. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that they're the only ones with the capability to defeat the Machines; Leon's strong dislike of the Federation means they're not associated with the government, but are still an approved organisation.
* MeaningfulName: ''Vertreiben'' is German for "to banish". ''Lacrimosa'' is Latin for "weeping", which fits with their motto "The Earth Weeps For Purity". ''Lux Ex Tenebris'' is Vertreiben's motto and is Latin for "Light From Darkness".
* MegaCorp: Astral Technologies Ltd.
* MildlyMilitary: Vertreiben and Lacrimosa.
* MugglePower: '''[[UpToEleven Lacrimosa]]'''. The downside is that the Banishers must rely on outwitting Lacrimosa because Anchors don't work against humans.
* MultinationalTeam: ''Vertreiben''. Even the League of Generals, as each League General comes from each Vertreiben branch.
* OddlySmallOrganization Vertreiben at first glance, but only until the international Vertreiben branches are revealed. Lacrimosa fits the bill as well, although Lacrimosa has plenty of supporters internationally.
* OrganizationWithUnlimitedFunding: Vertreiben. It's funded by the Goldenshrines, an extremely wealthy and powerful old family that controls money flow.
* TheSyndicate: The Underground.
!!Tropes that apply to the Anchor crystals:
* AbsurdCuttingPower: Many Anchor weapons.
** AbsurdlySharpBlade: They never blunt, and can cleave weaker Machines cleanly into two.
* AppliedPhlebotinum: Admitted by the author to be this.
* BeamOWar: Between Anchor-based shields and Machine energy weapons.
* EmpathicWeapon: Anchors only work when the wielder has an overwhelming desire, emotion or motive to use it. Part of Banisher training involves concentrating on accessing the reasons to use it at a split second.
* LivingWeapon: A rather unusual case in that animals with anchorium inside can be utilised by the Banishers that activate their powers, for example Benjamin's spider, Elizabeth's centipede and Nikolai's dragonfly. These Anchors tend to have the abilities of the animal amplified into practical uses for fighting.
* FinishingMove: The Ultimate of a Final Stage Banisher.
* ImprobableWeapon: The deactivated forms of the weapons can range from a pair of mirrors to gauntlets to thimbles to, in one case, a ''dragonfly''.
* LoyalPhlebotinum
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Averted with the Anchors. The prototypes still exist, albeit as extremely powerful and highly reactive versions of the current generation, and Leon is rather particular over keeping records and design schemes.
* PowerGivesYouWings: Ultimates of some Anchors develop wings, as is displayed by the League General of Europe. There is also the Airborne Anchor, a rarely-occurring Anchor that starts off with the innate ability to bestow flight.
* PowerSource: The reason why Anchor crystals are so desired is their other use - giving off large amounts of energy that can be harnessed without danger. The Research Division of Vertreiben is tasked with discovering how to do this.
* ScrewLearningIHavePhlebotinum: Banishers suddenly seem to have great knowledge on using their weapons, such as Leon's mastery of swordsmanship in lieu of his double-blade sword. However, training is still needed to upkeep the knowledge and the Banishers must keep fit in order to withstand the strain. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Fabian.
--->'''Fabian:''' So what's the explanation for suddenly having knowledge of using the Anchors?\\
'''Leon:''' It seems that knowing how to use them comes from activating the Anchor. Exactly how this happens isn't clear.\\
'''Fabian:''' Oh, so we depend on AppliedPhlebotinum to be bestowed with the knowledge of the fine arts of combat? That's the explanation? [[SarcasmMode I thought we were scientists]].
* WeaponOfMassDestruction The Ultimates of Final Stage Banishers are this. Justified in that Final Stage Banishers ''need'' to be this in order to fight the most powerful Machines. Helped by the Anchors not affecting anything that isn't Machine.
Until one day, the enigmatic rich scientist Leon Goldenshrine discovers a substance known as anchorium, and therefore gave mankind a fighting chance.
But of course, nothing is that simple.
!!This graphic novel gives examples of:
* AIIsACrapshoot: Completely averted where you'd expect this trope to happen. The mainframe computer that controls and regulates Vertreiben's base never malfunctions; neither Drake nor Tirya act against their superiors even though they are highly sapient.
* TheAlliance: At the final battle. [[spoiler:The Android Republic, the Federation and Vertreiben.]]
* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: Androids of A-Class intelligence and below can only have one colour/shade, e.g. Drake is mostly white and grey, Edina Rua Talan is purple. X-Class Androids must have two separate colours e.g. Tirya is both blue and red. The result is one hell of a rainbow population.
* AmbiguousRobots: The Machines. Are they MechanicalLifeforms with an organic heart? Or are they organic lifeforms growing inside a mechanical shell? The only race that knows avoided answering the question.
* AndroidsArePeopleToo: There are groups of people who believe in this. Others are more likely to judge them as JustAMachine.
* ArtificialLimbs: Although we only get to meet one person who has these, it is implied that there is a sizeable population of these people. The Federation debates on calling them "human" alongside the genetically mutated and the Banishers.
* ArtMajorBiology: There is quite a bit of this, admittedly because the focus of the story is not on the explanations of how anchorium affect DNA etc. The characters, especially the more scientifically inclined, are quick to [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall point this out]].
* BigApplesauce: Gets featured as a training area for Stage One Banishers.
** TheBigRottenApple: Along with being half-destroyed by the Machines New York City is home to the biggest Cybergoth scene and the destroyed areas are nesting zones for young Machines.
* BigBadassBattleSequence: [[spoiler:The final confrontation between Vertreiben and the Machines.]]
* BishonenLine: Averted with both Banishers and Machines. Although the Machines become bipedal and certainly move like a human, that is about the only similarity.
* [[spoiler:BittersweetEnding]]: [[spoiler: Vertreiben wins, but the Machines are left without a source of sustenance and on the brink of extinction, and thousands of people have died over the course of the war. On a smaller scale, Leon Goldenshrine is free of his guilt and burdens, but has permanently lost the use of his legs due to the damage to his nervous system from ingesting anchorium as an experiment.]]
* TheCityNarrows: Any Cybergoth area, if you are not a Cybergoth.
* ComputerVoice: AKIVA has one, along with a digital projection of her appearance.
* CoolHouse: The Goldenshrines' Swiss house, [[spoiler:a remodelled 22nd century spaceship that still works]]. The Vertreiben headquarters could be considered this as well [[spoiler:since it is in fact a working alien battling transport]].
* CrapsackWorld: There isn't anything happy about a "alternate [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CyberPunk cyberpunk]] Earth".
* CreativeSterility: Averted, and in some cases very mercilessly so. The Androids have their own culture and arts scene that humans tend to overlook due to lack of knowledge, and are always in the process of devising new things. "Mercilessly" applies to the Machines, who are just as creative with their technology [[spoiler:that by the end of the story all the Banishers have left that the Machines don't have are [[{{Determinator}} sheer willpower]] and [[WorthLivingFor the reason to fight]]]].
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Vertreiben was the stomped in the Machine invasion of the Federation HQ.]]
* EasilyDetachableRobotParts: While Drake, Tirya, Antonov and all the other Androids can remove things like hands and forearms, they certainly don't do it on a whim and would only do so if the situation called for exchanging their tools.
* FamilyBusiness: There are seven rich families on Earth that each control a corporation. While these corporations are never mentioned, each one is responsible for said family's wealth, like how the Goldenshrines when not being scientists are actually middleman negotiators for large-scale business transactions and agreements. Each family is also vulnerable to each of the SevenDeadlySins; the Goldenshrines are victim to Pride while the Eisenbergs are predisposed to Greed.
* FantasticRacism: A large portion of the human population feel this way towards the Androids.
* FoeYay: Between Leon and Miressa. Leon just does it to humour her, but it's still there.
* GlowingEyes: The Machines and the Banishers, the latter only during their active Anchor modes (Leon being the exception). Slightly varied in that only the iris glows, not the pupil.
* TheGovernment: [[TheFederation The United Federation of Earth]], formed to prevent events like the Great Rewind ever occurring again. The government still tends to lack in a few areas such as welfare and is known for its FantasticRacism and ineptitude, but tries to work for the good of mankind all the same.
* GreatOffscreenWar: Two - the Great Rewind and the Android Revolution. The Revolution is more vague than the Great Rewind, which does get partially explained throughout the story.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: The entire world has become this.
* GuiltFreeExterminationWar: The entire war eventually becomes this.
* HolographicTerminal: Exists everywhere on Earth.
* HopelessWar: Before Leon discovered anchorium, humanity was pretty much in this when the Machines started attacking.
* HumansAreBastards: So much that so many of the Banishers are either {{Jerkass}}es or [[ProperlyParanoid paranoid]] of "normal humans". In the end, though, it's up in the air whether the story is condemning humans for it or letting it slide as natural behaviour.
* HumongousMecha: The giant Machines, notably the Colossi and the Machine nicknamed "Old Man" for its appearance and coincidentally given code name.
* MajorWorldCities: Most of the capital cities of the world are still intact and play as important locations to meetings. The "Most Mentioned City" award goes to Geneva in Switzerland as it houses the nearest Federation branch that Banishers can visit.
* MechaMooks: The chihuahua-sized insect-shaped robots in New York City.
* ModernStasis: News cameras may now just be holographic discs, but Leon still reads the newspaper. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that most of mankind's 22nd century technology got destroyed in the Great Rewind and they're still rebuilding.
* MoralityKitchenSink
* {{Mutants}}: The Banishers can be considered as this, since anchorium has altered their bodies and is apparently inheritable.
* NamesGivenToComputers: [[FunWithAcronyms AKIVA]] (Type I), and the Androids who live with humans (slight variant of Type III). Justified because humans can't remember their serial numbers like they do, so they use the letters in the serial numbers to create names, e.g. Drake (D), Edina Rua Talan (ERT) and Tirya Ein Kaln (TEK).
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Vertreiben destroyed so many Machine Cores that [[spoiler:the Machines were forced to invade the Federation to steal their generators in order to make more Cores.]] It didn't go very well for Vertreiben.
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Averted with the Anchors. The prototypes are owned by Leon and Fabian Goldenshrine, but due to their high instability Leon designed more stable, if weaker, versions of Anchors for less experienced Banishers. Played straight with the Vertreiben headquarters [[spoiler:because it was taken from the Machines]].
* OneManArmy: The League Generals against normal Machines. They don't tackle problems below the most critical for this reason.
* Robosexual: Completely averted - Androids are not anatomically correct and see no point in such relations. Any human who does try finds out very quickly that they will have a one-sided relationship.
* RobotRepublic: The Android [[TheRepublic Republic]].
* RobotWar: The Android Uprising was this. The revolution ended with Androids gaining full independence without bloodshed because that was exactly what they wanted.
* ScreensAreCameras: Played straight everywhere, especially with the transmissions to Vertreiben.
* SlidingScaleOfRobotIntelligence: Androids work depending on their intelligence Class, which denotes the amount of intelligence they were programmed with when built. In ascending order: E, D, C, B, A, X.
** D- and E-Class Androids are Levels 1 and 2.
** C- and B-Class Androids are Level 3.
** A- and X-Class Androids are Level 4, the difference being X-Class Androids are more militarised than A-Class.
* ThreeLawsOfRobotics: The Android race is not subject to these laws, leading to the Android President having to debate over this with human delegates from time to time.
* TechnicolorEyes: Apart from the Androids, this is completely averted.
* TechnologyPorn: Due to AuthorAppeal.
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Lux Ex Tenebris starts in the year 2156, where humans have made contact with alien races and technology advancement is highly sped up.
* UnusualUserInterface:
** Drake can access AKIVA and override processes in computers integrated into buildings by using cords from his non-dominant wrist onto any surface of the building.
** The computers and tables Leon uses in the basement of his house to carry out Anchor research.
** [[spoiler:The HolographicTerminal that Leon uses to control his house/spaceship.]]
* ViewerFriendlyInterface: Everything seen in the Vertreiben headquarters completely averts every single tenet listed despite being mostly touchscreen.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: The entire story basically questions this. There are the Androids, the humans who aren't considered as such (cyborgs, Banishers, genetically mutated, the Cybergoths), and the Machines.
!!Tropes that apply to the organisations of LxT:
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Lacrimosa and the Underground, in that they don't care what you are as long as you share their goals.
* LawEnforcementInc: Vertreiben. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that they're the only ones with the capability to defeat the Machines; Leon's strong dislike of the Federation means they're not associated with the government, but are still an approved organisation.
* MeaningfulName: ''Vertreiben'' is German for "to banish". ''Lacrimosa'' is Latin for "weeping", which fits with their motto "The Earth Weeps For Purity". ''Lux Ex Tenebris'' is Vertreiben's motto and is Latin for "Light From Darkness".
* MegaCorp: Astral Technologies Ltd.
* MildlyMilitary: Vertreiben and Lacrimosa.
* MugglePower: '''[[UpToEleven Lacrimosa]]'''. The downside is that the Banishers must rely on outwitting Lacrimosa because Anchors don't work against humans.
* MultinationalTeam: ''Vertreiben''. Even the League of Generals, as each League General comes from each Vertreiben branch.
* OddlySmallOrganization Vertreiben at first glance, but only until the international Vertreiben branches are revealed. Lacrimosa fits the bill as well, although Lacrimosa has plenty of supporters internationally.
* OrganizationWithUnlimitedFunding: Vertreiben. It's funded by the Goldenshrines, an extremely wealthy and powerful old family that controls money flow.
* TheSyndicate: The Underground.
!!Tropes that apply to the Anchor crystals:
* AbsurdCuttingPower: Many Anchor weapons.
** AbsurdlySharpBlade: They never blunt, and can cleave weaker Machines cleanly into two.
* AppliedPhlebotinum: Admitted by the author to be this.
* BeamOWar: Between Anchor-based shields and Machine energy weapons.
* EmpathicWeapon: Anchors only work when the wielder has an overwhelming desire, emotion or motive to use it. Part of Banisher training involves concentrating on accessing the reasons to use it at a split second.
* LivingWeapon: A rather unusual case in that animals with anchorium inside can be utilised by the Banishers that activate their powers, for example Benjamin's spider, Elizabeth's centipede and Nikolai's dragonfly. These Anchors tend to have the abilities of the animal amplified into practical uses for fighting.
* FinishingMove: The Ultimate of a Final Stage Banisher.
* ImprobableWeapon: The deactivated forms of the weapons can range from a pair of mirrors to gauntlets to thimbles to, in one case, a ''dragonfly''.
* LoyalPhlebotinum
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Averted with the Anchors. The prototypes still exist, albeit as extremely powerful and highly reactive versions of the current generation, and Leon is rather particular over keeping records and design schemes.
* PowerGivesYouWings: Ultimates of some Anchors develop wings, as is displayed by the League General of Europe. There is also the Airborne Anchor, a rarely-occurring Anchor that starts off with the innate ability to bestow flight.
* PowerSource: The reason why Anchor crystals are so desired is their other use - giving off large amounts of energy that can be harnessed without danger. The Research Division of Vertreiben is tasked with discovering how to do this.
* ScrewLearningIHavePhlebotinum: Banishers suddenly seem to have great knowledge on using their weapons, such as Leon's mastery of swordsmanship in lieu of his double-blade sword. However, training is still needed to upkeep the knowledge and the Banishers must keep fit in order to withstand the strain. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Fabian.
--->'''Fabian:''' So what's the explanation for suddenly having knowledge of using the Anchors?\\
'''Leon:''' It seems that knowing how to use them comes from activating the Anchor. Exactly how this happens isn't clear.\\
'''Fabian:''' Oh, so we depend on AppliedPhlebotinum to be bestowed with the knowledge of the fine arts of combat? That's the explanation? [[SarcasmMode I thought we were scientists]].
* WeaponOfMassDestruction The Ultimates of Final Stage Banishers are this. Justified in that Final Stage Banishers ''need'' to be this in order to fight the most powerful Machines. Helped by the Anchors not affecting anything that isn't Machine.
