History Literature / Brennus

* FakeMemories: Mindstar explicitly says it's impossible for any telepath, even Mindfuck, to implant or remove long-term memories (although they can prevent short-term memories from moving to long-term). [[spoiler:But it's been revealed that not only is it possible, someone or something has been continuously doing it to her and Basil, and both their parents and their lives before five years before the story starts are completely fake, and every time they come close to figuring it out, the power kicks in again and makes them forget what they were doing. Even her beleif that she's a serial rapist is fabricated: she's a ''virgin'']]

* Foil: Gadgeteers and Contrivers. Essentially both Gadgeteer and Contriver manifestations are the end result of a person facing recurring challenges. If they [[AntiEscapismAesop face their problems and move forward]] then they most likely become Gadgeteers. If they [[{{Escapism}} reject their problems and run away from reality]] then a Contriver manifests.

** Brennus tries to combine his magic with Hectate, resulting in the [[NoodleIncident Ultimate Lifeform]]

The author Tieshaunn has drawn inspiration from the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, LegionOfNothing and [[Literature/{{Worm}} Worm]].

* TechnicianVersusPerformer: Gadgeteers and Contrivers. It's a lot more complex than that however. Essentially both Gadgeteer and Contriver manifestations are the end result of a person facing recurring challenges. If they [[AntiEscapismAesop face their problems and move forward]] then they most likely become Gadgeteers. If they [[{{Escapism}} reject it and run away]] then a Contriver manifests.

** BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine: Gloom Glimmer and Outstep have a hint of this, with Outstep usually saying something inappropriate and Irene slapping him upside his head (with a glowing hand no less).

* DeflectorShields: Only two Gadgeteers are known to have developed forcefields - one of them is dead and the other rules most of Africa. [[spoiler: Until Macian, at eight years old, casually hands one to Ember.]]

* FakeMemories: Mindstar explicitly says it's impossible for any telepath, even Mindfuck, to implant or remove long-term memories (although they can prevent short-term memories from moving to long-term). [[spoiler: But it's been revealed that not only is it possible, someone or something has been continuously doing it to her and Basil, and both their parents and their lives before five years before the story starts are completely fake, and every time they come close to figuring it out, the power kicks in again and makes them forget what they were doing. Even her beleif that she's a serial rapist is fabricated: she's a ''virgin'']]

* MissingTime: This has been happening to [[spoiler: both Amy and Basil]], although neither of them have told the other. It doesn't help that they tend to forget they've forgotten things.

* NamedByDemocracy: The Protege. [[spoiler: His chosen codename is Ember.]]

* TheNameless: When introduced, Macian has no name, not even a codename. He never needed one. When Henry insists on one, he picks the codename Macian, [[MeaningfulName which means 'Maker']]. Henry then helps him pick one for his younger sister. [[spoiler: He picks Amanda.]]

* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Gadgeteers often run off of 'inspiration', and while their technology is technically reproducible it often suffers from this. For instance, Polymnia 'hears' all her inventions as melodies and symphonies: not exactly easy to communicate to mundane scientists. Hotrod sees his as stylized gears. Brennus uses pictographs [[spoiler: like Macian]].

* OhCrap: The reaction when Desolation-In-Light [[spoiler: used her powers intelligently]].
** To a lesser extent, Amy realizing that [[spoiler: she killed Hecate's cousin, Lupa Major]].

* SuperHumanTrafficking: Not uncommon. People with the Adonis trait (especially if it comes with little or nothing else) are targets for sex slavery. Other powers tend to vary depending upon the risk-versus-reward scenario, but the Califate pays top-dollar for Contrivers, and everyone wants a Gadgeteer. Used as a threat by a villain at one point. [[spoiler: Amusingly, he threatens to sell Brennus to his sister.]]

* TalkingInYourDreams: Basil has one of these with [[spoiler: Ember]].

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: The chance of having a mental defect rises exponentially with the strength of your power (and is even greater for Contrivers). God-Tier non-contrivers have a derangement chance of seventy-nine percent. Luckily, sixty-eight percent of metahumans fall within the Exemplar (weakest) tier, which has a mental defect chance of less than eleven percent.

* TheNameless: When introduced, Macian has no name, not even a codename. He never needed one. When Henry insists on one, he picks the codename Macian, [[MeaningfulName which means 'Maker']]. Henry then helps him pick one for his younger sister. [[spoiler: He picks Amanda.]]
* TheNotableNumeral: Tieshaunn (the author) is fond of this for villainous groups, giving us the Dark Five, the Savage Six and the Rabid Eight.

** In the Born at Sleep arc, she snaps at her team (minus Polymnia) due to one too many insults at her sister, and one gets the sense she is talking about herself.

* TheChessmaster: All over the pace. Pretty much every faction seen (and some factions within those factions) have chess masters trying to advance themselves or stay on top of one another. It's outright stated that villains would have taken over the world if they weren't so better at working with each other.

* ThickerThanWater: Basil certainly has this view and it seems to be a bit of theme in the series.

** Eloise wants to have this kind of relationship with Hennessy, though the latter seems to be avoiding her; they're still on better terms than when they were straight up ArchNemesis.

* FakeMemories: Mindstar explicitly says it's impossible for any telepath, even Mindfuck, to implant or remove long-term memories (although they can prevent short-term memories from moving to long-term).

** The Cold War is ongoing, with a massive [[IronCurtain Iron Wall]] being patrolled. At the story's beginning, Desolation-in-Light attacks the Soviet Union, killing their leadership and potentially upsetting the political balance.

* TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks: Desolation-in-Light appeared for the first time on September 1st, 1986, marking the end of the Golden Age of Metahumanity. This corresponds to when [[ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} Watchmen]] started publication.

* DeflectorShields: Only two Gadgeteers are known to have developed forcefields - one of them is dead and the other rules most of Africa. [[spoiler: Until Macian, at eight years old, casually hands one to a friend.]]

* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Gadgeteers often run off of 'inspiration', and while their technology is technically reproducible it often suffers from this. For instance, Polymnia 'hears' all her inventions as melodies and symphonies: not exactly easy to communicate to mundane scientists. Hotrod sees his as stylized gears. Brennus uses pictographs.

** The Protege.

The author Tieshaunn has drawn inspiration from the WhateleyUniverse, LegionOfNothing and [[Literature/{{Worm}} Worm]].

* {{Adorkable}}: Eudocia gets a d'aww moment when she quotes [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 Harbringer]] during a time when Brennus is incapacitated.

* {{Adorkable}}: Eudocia gets d'aww moment when she quotes [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 Harbringer]] during a time when Brennus is incapacitated.

* PhysicalGod: Is there anything that the Protege can't do? This mysterious character seems to be basically omnipotent from what has been revealed so far.

* DyingMomentOfAwesome: Metahumans are rarely able to initiate a 'Swan Song', flaring their power to new heights at the cost of burning through it very fast - and after it's gone, it burns through their life.

* HardLight: Lady Light's power is to conjure hard-light constructs with various abilities.

* MissingTime: This has been happening to both Amy and Basil, although neither of them have told the other. It doesn't help that they tend to forget they've forgotten things.

* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Gadgeteers often run off [[TheSparkOfGenius 'inspiration']], and while their technology is technically reproducible it often suffers from this. For instance, Polymnia 'hears' all her inventions as melodies and symphonies: not exactly easy to communicate to mundane scientists. Hotrod sees his as stylized gears. Brennus uses pictographs.

* PowerTrio: Our three heroes are Brennus, Tyche and Hecate.

** Tartsche, although a lot of readers won't realize it, is technically Transcendent-tier. His power, although only active when he's standing still, is a perfect defense, and he can spread it to envelop anyone he's touching. He also got away with very minor derangements despite such a high-ranking ability.