Words Can Break My Bones: Difference between revisions

** Though the linking process works more akin to a magical search engine, the book seeking out the world that best fits the description given, the words used can also change a world once the link is made, and are described in terms of this trope. In ''The Book of Atrus'', Anna explains about 'levels' of words, the simplest being a description of a thing, the next being a modifier of such a description, i.e. a meta-word. She never says what the third level is, but it's implied to be the performative word, one which alters what it describes.

* Quantum linguistics in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' [[Expanded Universe]], used by the [[Cthulhu Mythos|Great Old Ones]]. Remarkably similar to the magic of the Carrionites in "The Shakespeare Code," below.

* In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' legendarium, where the world was essentially ''sung'' into existence, words and [[Magic Music|song]] have great power. Many of the most significant magical acts in the series are not of the fire and brimstone variety, but rather acts of word or song that influence the nature of their surroundings in the speaker's favour. Names also have a power; names such as Elbereth and Earendil are used to repel creatures of the Shadow, and Treebeard warns Merry and Pippin against giving out their [[I Know Your True Name|right names]] lightly.

* A form of this in [[Tales of Kolmar]]. Servants of the Goddess Shia in times of great peril can be blessed by Her for an instant, and in that instant She speaks through them, using words they don't understand and don't need to have ever heard before. Nobody knows what they mean, but nothing can stand against them - and when they're spoken in this way, it's said that someone close to the Servant, someone they value dearly, dies within seven days. However, someone can know these words and even say them without either effect. The Goddess speaking these words is the big thing here, not the words themselves.

 

== Tabletop Games ==

** Similar and related are certain [[Geometric Magic|rune spells]] such as Symbol of Death - yep, it's at least as nasty if you step on it.

** Oh, and the dark speech, as introduced in the ''Book of Vile Darkness'' - capable of damaging solid objects and driving people insane, as well as forming a component of seriously nasty (by D&D standards) magic.

[[Category:Word Power]]

[[Category:Magic and Powers]]

[[Category:Be Careful What You Say]]