I’m struggling on coming up with a term for a magical item for binding something to someone. It needs to be a general term so people can describe their item how they want. Like, it can be a staff, crystal, quill, etc. Does anyone know a general term like that? I keep thinking of words like totem or fetish but I don’t like either of those. I figured I would ask the community and see what others may come up with.
I’m struggling on coming up with a term for a magical item for binding something to someone.
I’m struggling on coming up with a term for a magical item for binding something to someone.
How about “focus”?
How about “focus”?
Token, or more specifically sympathetic token, taken from the idea of sympathetic magic (though more promently in Monsterhearts)
Token, or more specifically sympathetic token, taken from the idea of sympathetic magic (though more promently in Monsterhearts)
fetter, link
fetter, link
I like ‘fetter’
I like ‘fetter’
“Clasp”
“Clasp”
Imprint?
In Ars Magica, this sort of thing was called a “talisman.”
Imprint?
In Ars Magica, this sort of thing was called a “talisman.”
Leash, lash, latch
Leash, lash, latch
Jeremy Strandberg I like the word Talisman for what I’m going for. It has to do with binding and summoning creatures and that sounds like something a person who does that would use.
Jeremy Strandberg I like the word Talisman for what I’m going for. It has to do with binding and summoning creatures and that sounds like something a person who does that would use.
contract. covenant. horcrux. momet. Simulacra bond, simulacra link etc.
contract. covenant. horcrux. momet. Simulacra bond, simulacra link etc.
Wait, are you looking for a word for:
a) an object in/to which a spirit is bound
or
b) an object that a sorcerer binds to themselves in order to amplify or store their own power?
“Talisman” generally implies B. See also: phylactery, amulet, periapt (though all three generally have defensive/protective implications).
For A: vessel, fetter, fetish, gris gris, juju, or totem are all better terms for that.
“Vessel” and “fetter” are least culturally-specific. “Vessel” is more neutral (the spirit could be bound there willingly or not); “fetter” implies binding spirits against their will.
Wait, are you looking for a word for:
a) an object in/to which a spirit is bound
or
b) an object that a sorcerer binds to themselves in order to amplify or store their own power?
“Talisman” generally implies B. See also: phylactery, amulet, periapt (though all three generally have defensive/protective implications).
For A: vessel, fetter, fetish, gris gris, juju, or totem are all better terms for that.
“Vessel” and “fetter” are least culturally-specific. “Vessel” is more neutral (the spirit could be bound there willingly or not); “fetter” implies binding spirits against their will.
Oh… if you’re going for:
c) an object bound to a creature, used to summon that creature to your presence
then I’d go with something like “conduit.”
Oh… if you’re going for:
c) an object bound to a creature, used to summon that creature to your presence
then I’d go with something like “conduit.”
The Talisman is what they use to invoke their power. It’s left up to the player to determine how or what the creatures are held in/summoned from.
The Talisman is what they use to invoke their power. It’s left up to the player to determine how or what the creatures are held in/summoned from.
Atune?
Atune?
Like I attuned to the Hamer of gork
Like I attuned to the Hamer of gork
More like, “Bob used his Talisman to bind the displacer beast into a small figurine”
More like, “Bob used his Talisman to bind the displacer beast into a small figurine”
Pokeball?
Pokeball?
Daniel Fowler that’s sort of what inspired this yeah lol
Daniel Fowler that’s sort of what inspired this yeah lol
Sounds like maybe a soul trap or soul binding
Sounds like maybe a soul trap or soul binding
Well… if it’s a term for binding someone to someone else… you could use an anachronistic (in fiction) term. What did the first use to bind these people/things. Was it a collar, cuff, ring, necklace, amulet, crown, tiara, tattoo, brand, etc… Whatever it is that could be the in-game term for it, even if the device is no longer used. Everyone calls it a ring… not because it was a ring, but because copper rings were what were used at first to bind X to sorcerers…
Well… if it’s a term for binding someone to someone else… you could use an anachronistic (in fiction) term. What did the first use to bind these people/things. Was it a collar, cuff, ring, necklace, amulet, crown, tiara, tattoo, brand, etc… Whatever it is that could be the in-game term for it, even if the device is no longer used. Everyone calls it a ring… not because it was a ring, but because copper rings were what were used at first to bind X to sorcerers…
Attunement, Magical or Spiritual Syncing, binding, tethering, harmonize, coherence
Attunement, Magical or Spiritual Syncing, binding, tethering, harmonize, coherence
I like the idea of the “totem” being referred to as a promise. I use grok’s promise to summon him. That way you can also incorporate mechanics for “breaking a promise”
I like the idea of the “totem” being referred to as a promise. I use grok’s promise to summon him. That way you can also incorporate mechanics for “breaking a promise”
Or contract
Or contract
Anchor.
Anchor.
I like the word brand to describe a binding tool. It’s a versaitile word that doesn’t overlap with the standard tropespeak.
I like the word brand to describe a binding tool. It’s a versaitile word that doesn’t overlap with the standard tropespeak.