My completion percentage of RPGs that I've played is somewhere in the single digits. I'm familiar with the tropes more in a cultural sense than through any actual experience in my part, which is why I asked.
I've played well over a hundred RPG's from all over the world and I can tell you that it is true. You run into that kind of dialog a lot in Japanese RPG's.
Mayor: "Hey man, can you save my town?"
Duder: "No problem, but I kinda lost my weapon in the OCEAN OF CHAOTIC MONSTERS on my way here and could use a new one."
Mayor: "Hmmm..."
Duder: "..."
Mayor: "..."
Mayor's Daughter: "Tee hee! FATHER! He's asking you for help in defeating the town; loan him your sword. The one you used in the battle against the RAETHURIAN TORIC DEMON in your youth."
Mayor: "My dear, I would but you see I sold it to a merchant for a hefty sum so that I could afford to buy you your wedding dress."
Mayor's Daughter: "Oh. MY.... GOD! FATHER I LOVE YOU!"
Duder: "..."
The Mayor and his daughter turn to look at Duder.
Mayor: "The merchant will surely help you with this task. Tell him that the Mayor has requested that he loan the sword to you until your quest is complete."
Duder: "Thank you, Mayor. I will save this town from the demon's blight."
So Duder makes his way to the local smithy and speaks to Forgrun the Dwarf who is known the world over as a really cool smithy and he sells sweet armor and swords.
Forgrun: "Eh? Whatcha want, human? Came here to gawk at my AXshhhhhh and be inspired by my over acting?"
Duder: "I need the mayor's sword. He sent me here himself and request that you hand over the sword to me until I complete my quest."
Forgrun: "Eh? A quest? QUEST?! Lishen here, human, you aren't gettin' that sword without paying me. Or my AXshhhhh will split ya in two!" *Slobbers all his beard*
Duder: "Come on, man. I'm broke. I lost my shit out on the OCEAN OF CHAOTIC MONSTERS and I really want to help your town."
Forgrun: "Not my problem."
Duder: "What?"
Forgrun: "Not my problem."
Duder: "..."
Forgrun: "..."
Forgrun: "300,000 gold."
Duder: "But..."
Forgrun: "Monsters drop gold and there be no end of them outside of town."
Duder: "..."
Duder grinds experience and gold for 5 hours and he finally has enough gold to afford the Mayor's sword so he heads back to Forgrun's shop to finally buy the sword.
Enters Town.
TOWN IS ON FIRE! THE DEMON ATTACKED THE TOWN! THE SMITHY IS DEAD. EVERYONE IS DYING! BUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN IS THE MAYOR'S SWORD!
The only person alive is the mayor's daughter.
Mayor's Daughter: "Take it, and slay the demon! TAKE IT! And my dress... give it to someone you love."
Duder: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
Duder rushes the demon and ...
Title fades in slowly and reads: GIANT FINAL FANTASTIC QUEST 8-2 : THE QUEST OF DUDER
BRIGHT FLASH!
The sound of a sword slicing into flesh can be heard and a thump is audible when the demon's body hits the ground.
Duder: "The king must know of this...."
Cinematic depicting Duder traveling via the airship FLEETING FALCON to the king's sky castle. Epic music is playing over the video.
Basically that's how all Japanese RPG's start.
