Powers That Be: Difference between revisions
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These unnamed, unseen forces are pulling the strings. They can be good, evil, or ambiguous.
This trope can be thought of as a character similar to the [[Big Bad]]. This entry refers to the thing that is represented by a character, rather than the character itself. Not all [[Big Bad
Even [[Big Good|good Powers That Be]] [[Neglectful Precursors|tend to rub the heroes the wrong way,]] as they tend to be too distant to understand the heroes' concerns and [[Protectorate]].
One variety of the
Sometimes, this term is used by fans to refer to [[Executive Meddling|network executives]] or [[Real Life Writes the Plot|other forces]] behind a work's fate.
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== Folklore & Mythology ==
* For humans, it was the gods. But then for the gods, most of the European mythologies, at least, had some version of Fate/the Fates, whose edicts no god could avoid. The Greeks and Romans mentioned it every once in a while, usually in the form of prophecies, but the Norse gods were already planning for their own deaths at
** This is still true for most modern religions. The Judeo-Christian [[God]] is probably the best example here - not only is he all-powerful and ineffable, but his original Hebrew title is "YHWH" (pronounced Yah-weh), which basically means "[[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|The Power Which Is]]". Similarly, in Latin he is IHVH (Jehovah) which means "That Which Is". Even in English, he is sometimes referred to as "The Great I AM".
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* Above [[Discworld]] gods there are eight mysterious beings called the Old High Ones. Only one is known: Azrael, the Death of Universes.
* ''[[The Magids|Deep Secret]]'' by [[Diana Wynne Jones]] uses this up to the pommel. The "Magids" (magicians who keep the worlds running) are supervised by the Upper Table (who are rarely seen) who are in turn supervised by Them Up There. There is also known to be more above Them Up There but they are so secretive no one even knows what they're called (or something like that, I'm not entirely certain).
* In the [[Anne McCaffrey]] /Elizabeth Ann Scarborough ''[[Petaybee]]'' book series, the [[Big Bad]] of the Powers Trilogy, the Intergal company, are called the
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (and Tolkien's legendarium in general) has the Valar, who are essentially angels. A variation in that they are bound in the world. However, above and beyond them is [[God|Eru Ilúvatar]] (who is implied to intervene at 'the end of all hope' when Frodo's will fails in ''The Return of the King'', and is described thusly in ''The Book of Lost Tales'':
{{quote|''Eriol:''' Who was Ilúvatar? Was he of the Gods?
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* The various cabals in ''[[The X-Files]]''.
* The Elders in ''[[Charmed]]'', and the Angel of Destiny.
* ''[[Twin Peaks]]'' had the Little Man, the FBI, possible alien abductors, "BOB", and the woods in general. The entire series was one big, creepy Battle of the Network
** And how can we forget the lodges?
** The owls are not what they seem.
* "Management" in ''[[Carnivale]]'' appears at first to be this trope, but during the second season many of his mysteries a revealed and thus becomes more human-like.
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'': The Time Lords of Gallifrey (the Doctor's own people), who are introduced in "The War Games" and recur now and then throughout the Third Doctor's era. (In later stories, as entire stories are set on Gallifrey, they become less mysterious and godlike, more human, in terms of their politics and motivations.) They sometimes take the Third Doctor's TARDIS to other planets (with him and companion in it), so he can carry out a mission (with some reluctance). Also the Fourth Doctor in "Genesis of the Daleks."
** The White and Black Guardians are the cosmic manifestations of "Order and Chaos"
* ''[[24]]'': The true masterminds of the events of Day 5.
{{quote|'''Christopher Henderson''': You can't touch them. But they can touch you.}}
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** While they leave it vague, the "entity" is actually {{spoiler|the planet. It's what opened the time gates, leading the heroes to eventually defeat [[Cosmic Horror|Lavos]].}} The main conflict in the game is essentially {{spoiler|"the planet vs Lavos."}} The "entity" reprises its role in Chrono Cross by {{spoiler|summoning Dinopolis to defend itself against FATE, only this time it fails}}.
* ''Silent Hill'', where it is never clear what's causing all strange events.
** Actually this trope really only applies for ''[[Silent Hill 2]]'', and ''[[Silent Hill Homecoming]]''. In the others, the
*** Unless that's simply because the [[Eldritch Location|town itself]] ''allows'' them to be such. Thus, as the first troper said, it really ''isn't'' clear what is the ultimate PTB which is behind all the strange events in [[Silent Hill]].
* ''[[Nexus War]]'' originally did this with the nine Elder Powers, but in later versions they became less mysterious to the point of becoming prone to [[Level Grinding]].
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