History Main / PositionOfLiteralPower

Positions of Literal Power are a lot like a position of power and authority, but instead of granting legal and political powers, it grants actual [[FunctionalMagic magical]] [[MagicAndPowers ones]]. They can be gained in a multitude of ways, earned through great effort, won in some sort of competition, passed down in a family, or granted by a powerful being such as the [[AnthropomorphicPersonification embodiment of a concept]], a being that's [[MadeofMagic made of magic]], a [[PhysicalGod god]], [[ThePowersThatBe the Powers that Be]], or even a [[SentientCosmicForce Sentient Cosmic Force]]. They occasionally pass into whoever [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt kills its previous owner]], or [[BequeathedPower they can be passed on willingly]].

* ''Literature/DresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden gains the "mantle" of Winter Knight in ''Literature/{{Changes}}'', granting him a larger amount of overall power, SuperStrength, a HealingFactor, immunity to cold, and several new spells in exchange for his service to the Fae Queen of the Winter Court. Likewise, there is also a Knight of the Summer Court, and THREE SEPARATE positions for the Queens of both Courts (The Mother AKA the Queen Who Was, the Queen, AKA the Queen Who Is, and the Lady, AKA the Queen Who Is To Come). Another example, is the Archive, the repository of all human knowledge that resides within a human being, and is passed down from mother to daughter. The Blackstaff of the White Council is their Wetworks guy, who in his official position is allowed to violate the Laws of Magic, and gets an ArtifactOfDoom (the eponymous Black Staff) to be able to work BlackMagic without going insane.
** Slightly more metaphorically, several figures in the series hold different offices and possess different abilities while acting in different capacities. Therefore Donar Vadderung will have different powers depending on whether he is currently acting in his capacity as [[spoiler:Odin, King of Asgard]] or [[spoiler:Kringle, King of Winter]] at the time.

Positions of Literal Power are a rare theme, but not rare enough to be completely overlooked. Positions of Literal Power are, as you might have guessed, a lot like a position of power and authority, but instead of granting legal and political powers, it grants [[FunctionalMagic magical]] [[MagicAndPowers ones]]. They can be gained in a multitude of ways, earned through great effort, won in some sort of competition, passed down in a family, or granted by a powerful being such as the [[AnthropomorphicPersonification embodiment of a concept]], a being that's [[MadeofMagic made of magic]], a [[PhysicalGod god]], [[ThePowersThatBe the Powers that Be]], or even a [[SentientCosmicForce Sentient Cosmic Force]]. They occasionally pass into whoever [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt kills its previous owner]], or [[BequeathedPower they can be passed on willingly]].

Not directly related to PlaceOfPower though such a place might come with the position, or a "[[CoolChair seat of literal power]]" although they can certainly overlap. Can overlap with ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest if needed. Not to be confused with AuthorityEqualsAsskicking, though this trope could potentially [[JustifiedTrope justify that one in-universe]].

** Slightly more metaphorically, several figures in the series hold different offices and possess different abilities while acting in different capacities. Therefore Donar Vadderung will have different powers depending on whether he is currently acting in his capacity as [[spoiler:Odin, the Winter King]] or [[spoiler:Santa Claus]] at the time.

* ''Literature/TheCityOfBrass'': The [[RoyaltySuperpower ruler of the Djinn]] is marked with the [[PowerTattoo Seal of Suleiman]], which lets them negate any djinn magic at will, [[spoiler:up to inflicting a species-wide DePower]]. One coup stalls when the rebels realize they have no clue how the Seal is passed on. [[spoiler:The true Seal is a ring that's absorbed into the new ruler's heart.]]

* The ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series invokes this trope with the concept of "mantling". In essence, to mantle someone (a person, a deity, a ''cosmic force'', etc.), one must become so like them that there ceases to be a functional difference between the two entities; it seems that at this point the universe itself ceases to distinguish between the two, and they become one entity. It operates on the principle of "if you walk like a duck, swim like a duck and quack like a duck, you ARE a duck". As the Dunmeri [[PhysicalGod Tribunal deity]] Vivec would say, "walk like the gods until they walk like you". Essentially, it is BecomingTheMask played UpToEleven. There have been several notable examples throughout the series and in history. To note:

Not directly related to PlaceOfPower though such a place might come with the position, or a "[[CoolChair seat of literal power]]" although they can certainly overlap. Can overlap with ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest if needed. Not to be confused with AuthorityEqualsAsskicking, though this trope could potentially [[JustifiedTrope justify that one in-universe]]. Compare & contrast LoyalToThePosition which might be part of this trope or its inverse.

Not directly related to PlaceOfPower though such a place might come with the position, or a "[[CoolChair seat of literal power]]" although they can certainly overlap. Can overlap with ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest if needed. Not to be confused with AuthorityEqualsAsskicking, though this trope could potentially [[JustifiedTrope justify that one in-universe]].

Not directly related to PlaceOfPower though such a place might come with the position. Can overlap with ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest if needed. Not to be confused with AuthorityEqualsAsskicking, though this trope could potentially [[JustifiedTrope justify that one in-universe]].

Not directly related to PlaceOfPower though such a place might come with the position. Can overlap with ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest if needed.

* ''Franchise/{{Dragonball}}'': Kami. No one's entirely sure what the benefits of being Kami are, but the current Kami chooses his successor before his death. And they get the aforementioned benefits.

* ''Literature/SpinningSilver'': The world's magic system is heavily legalistic and as such recognized definitions and authorities hold enormous sway. When one of the protagonists, Irina, makes sur to ask nothing of Chernobog save that he leave "me and mine alone." [[spoiler:Because she is the tsarina, this means that he can't touch ''anyone in the country of Lithvas''. That also includes her husband once he leaves his body, because her rights to him as his wife legally override his mother's contract selling him to Chernobog.]]

* ''Literature/SpinningSilver'': The world's magic system is heavily legalistic and as such recognized definitions
and authorities hold enormous sway. When one of the protagonists, Irina, makes sur to ask nothing of Chernobog save that he leave "me and mine alone." [[spoiler:Because she is the tsarina, this means that he can't touch ''anyone in the country of Lithvas''. That also includes her husband once he leaves his body, because her rights to him as his wife legally override his mother's contract selling him to Chernobog.]]

* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': When a cat becomes leader of their Clan, they are given [[CatsHaveNineLives nine lives]] by [=StarClan=].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' has four Maidens, one for each season, each with great powers said to be different from Semblances (the show's term for special powers). Upon dying, the Maiden's power is transferred to the woman she was thinking of at the moment of her death. If she wasn't thinking about a woman, the powers go to a random woman in the world. Unfortunately, if a Maiden is killed, her last thoughts are probably going to be about her attacker, meaning that murder is a reliable way to get Maiden powers.

* ''Franchise/{{Dragonball}}''. Kami. No one's entire sure what the benefits of being Kami are, but the current Kami chooses his successor before his death. And they get aforementioned benefits.
* ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}''. Magic Crests are magical seals passed down from parent to child in a mage family, possessing power and knowledge from their entire line. They are attached to the next in line upon their predecessor's death. With practice, a possessor of a crest can learn any spell a previous user could use, without learning the spell themselves. As time passes, [[{{Magibabble}} the magic circuits that contain the formula of the spells somehow become more stable, allowing the the mage to learn the spells even easier]]. Simply put: once a spell is in the crest, your ancestors have already done the work for you, and the longer ago they did it, the better it works.

* Disney's ''Film/TheSantaClause Trilogy''. Whenever Santa dies, whoever killed him becomes the new Santa, with all the abilities, responsibilities, and properties that entails.

* ''Literature/DresdenFiles''. Harry Dresden gains the "mantle" of Winter Knight in ''Literature/{{Changes}}'', granting him a larger amount of overall power, SuperStrength, a HealingFactor, an immunity to cold, and several new spells in exchange for his service to the Fae Queen of the Winter Court. Likewise, there is also a Knight of the Summer Court, and THREE SEPARATE positions for the Queens of both Courts (The Mother AKA the Queen Who Was, the Queen, AKA the Queen Who Is, and the Lady, AKA the Queen Who Is To Come). Another example, is the Archive, the repository of all human knowledge resides within a human being, and is passed down from mother to daughter. The Blackstaff of the White Council is their Wetworks guy, who in his official position is allowed to violate the Laws of Magic, and gets an ArtifactOfDoom (the eponymous Black Staff) to be able to work BlackMagic without going insane.

* In ''Literature/TheTwelveKingdoms'', Rulers are inherently nigh-immortal. Time does not touch them, they're nearly immune to disease and poison, and can only be killed with 'special' weapons. They can also understand all languages, which is mostly important when dealing with visitors from OUR world. They DON'T get superhuman strength, speed, or anything of the sort, but every kingdom has one or more hereditary artifacts that only the king/queen can use, which may confer such advantages. More importantly, they have the right to add names to a special 'Scroll of Immortals', which confers the same advantage to anyone recorded in it.The price of all this? They become a Fisher King, tied to the fate of their realm. If they rule poorly, the lands will suffer, and their Kirin will be sickened. If the Kirin dies from the sickness, the ruler follows soon after.The scrolls of immortality, however, are relatively 'open' - the king/queen can add just about anyone they want to them, or remove them on a whim. Usually, valued advisers, nobles, generals and ministers are recorded in the scrolls to keep them around, and encourage them to do a good job. (After all, if they screw up and lose their title, the immortality goes with it.) And, indeed, both royals and nobles often get valued servants added to the scrolls so they don't have to deal with watching people age and die around them all the time. Adds up to quite a few immortals bouncing around, one would imagine.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. The Slayer possesses enhanced senses, strength, and speed, as well as the power to detect vampires (only mentioned in the first episode, never actually used). Upon each Slayer's death, a new slayer is "activated", instantly gaining the powers. [[spoiler:Later on, Buffy activates ALL the Slayer candidates worldwide using the Slayer Scythe, giving her a massive army of Slayers.]]
* ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}''. The Charmed Ones are the most powerful good witches in existence. However, all three must remain alive for them to possess any powerful above the ordinary witch. After one dies, they eventually find a replacement. Not to mention the [[BigBad "Source of All Evil"]]. When he dies, someone else becomes the Source, which comes with authority over the Underworld (and TheLegionsOfHell) and potent evil powers.

* ''Series/TheSecretCircle''. Members of certain magical families are naturally linked together, their magic is naturally more powerful when they are in proximity. Through a ritual, the "bind the circle", and become unable to use magic unaided by another of the circle. However, their magical power becomes much stronger. When a member of the circle dies, their closest relative takes their place in the circle.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''. Prophets -- there is only one prophet at a time. When one dies, another candidate is "activated", and becomes a prophet. With the exception of their writer, prophets are the only ones who can read the Tablets, a mystical collection of stone tablets with all the information -- and more -- one a specific powerful supernatural race, such as angels, demons, leviathans.

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', various [[PhysicalGod gods]] have mortal "Chosen", that they supply with a fixed set of powers. In the TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms there's also the Magister, tasked by Mystra, goddess of magic, to promote the Art of magic in the mortal world. There is only ever one Magister, and when they die or relinquish their title in any other way the mantle and its associated powers pass to the successor.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Nobilis}}'', the godlike Imperators, who are the source and embodiment of the foundational concepts of existence, can share part of their being with someone, turning them into Nobles, {{Anthropomorphic Personification}}s of a particular concept. Should a Noble die, the Imperator can choose someone else to become Noble of that concept.
* In ''TabletopGame/UnknownArmies'', it's possible to become one of the Invisible Clergy, the Archetypes that shape existence, by embodying a new Archetype or usurping an existing Archetype.
* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' Jace becomes the Living Guildpact, the ultimate mediator of conflicts between the guilds, which grants him immensely powerful magic that he can only use in circumstances where this authority is relevant. Though the first to hold this position, he is noted as being a singularly awful choice for it primarily due to being a planeswalker who often leaves the world and creates huge bureaucratic backlogs because its mystical nature allows no one else to make binding decisions in his absence. [[spoiler: He is eventually replaced in the role by the dragon Niv-Mizzet, an erratic InsufferableGenius and previous leader of one of the guilds, who people still expect to be an improvement.]]

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII''. Sorceresses pass their power to the nearest compatible woman upon death.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series invokes this trope with the concept of "mantling". In essence, to mantle someone (a person, a deity, a ''cosmic force'', etc.), one must become so like them that there ceases to be a functional difference between the two entities; it seems that at this point the universe itself ceases to distinguish between the two, and they become one entity. It operates on the principle of "if you walk like a duck, swim like a duck and quack like a duck, you ARE a duck". As the Dunmeri [[PhysicalGod Tribunal deity]] Vivec would say, "walk like the gods until they walk like you". Essentially, it is BecomingTheMask played UpToEleven. There have been several notable examples throughout the series and in history. To note:

* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}:'' This trope comes part and parcel with the RPGMechanicsVerse of the comic. Unlike RealLife the people, or units, don't grow and learn new skills and positions they have to have the 'Special'. Want to hurt, let alone hit, someone with a thrown rock? Be an archer. Want someone to listen to you? Better be a commander.
* ''Webcomic/CodeNameHunter'' when a Fae Aspect like the Summer or Winter Queen dies, they automatically do a MentalFusion with the next most powerful Fae in line that just so happens to pass on their power. Note that the Aspect's personality is likely to be dominant.
* ''WebComic/TowerOfGod''

* In the ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' episode "The Fancy Party," several villains compete to inherit the "power" of the dying Queen Entozoa. It turns out [[spoiler:the power in question is [[DemonicPossession a spirit who has survived for years by possessing different vessels]].]]

* ''Series/TheSecretCircle''. Members of certain [[WitchSpecies magical families]] are naturally linked together, their magic is naturally more powerful when they are in proximity. Through a ritual, the "bind the circle", and become unable to use magic unaided by another of the circle. However, their magical power becomes much stronger. When a member of the circle dies, their closest relative takes their place in the circle.

* ''Literature/DresdenFiles''. Harry Dresden gains the "mantle" of Winter Knight in ''Literature/{{Changes}}'', granting him a larger amount of overall power, SuperStrength, a HealingFactor, an immunity to cold, and several new spells in exchange for his service to the Fae Queen of the Winter Court. Likewise, there is also a Knight of the Summer Court, and THREE SEPARATE positions for the Queens of both Courts(The Mother AKA the Queen Who Was, the Queen, AKA the Queen Who Is, and the Lady, AKA the Queen Who Is To Come). Another example, is the Archive, the repository of all human knowledge resides within a human being, and is passed down from mother to daughter. The Blackstaff of the White Council is their Wetworks guy, who in his official position is allowed to violate the Laws of Magic, and gets an ArtifactOfDoom (the eponymous Black Staff) to be able to work BlackMagic without going insane.
** Slightly more metaphorically, several figures in the series hold different offices and possess different abilities while acting in different capacities. Therefore Donar Vadderung will have different powers depending on whether he is currently acting in his capacity as [[spoiler: Odin, the Winter King or Santa Claus]] at the time.

** Anyone who becomes a Ranker must already be superhuman after climbing the Tower as a Regular, but the contract with the Administrators to become a Ranker makes them even more so. So much more, in fact, that the number of Regulars who have ever beaten a Ranker can be counted with the fingers on one hand with some left to spare. The powers gained or at least greatly enhanced by becoming a Ranker include SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, SuperReflexes, SuperToughness, [[MagicByAnyOtherName Shinsu]] manipulation, and possibly SuperSenses.

** Jahad and the other highest rulers of the Tower have a contract with the Administrators that makes them even more powerful and grants them CompleteImmortality. Mind you, nobody has ever taken the place of any of them to see if they would get those powers in their stead. It's just bee the same eleven guys since the beginning of the Jahad Empire.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy8''. Sorceresses pass their power to the nearest compatible woman upon death.

* ''Literature/TheRavenTower'': The ruler of Iraden is granted conditional {{immortal|Ruler}}ity by the city-state's PatronGod, the Raven -- they can only die by [[HumanSacrifice sacrificing themselves]] to the Raven to empower its PhysicalReligion. Anyone else who tries to kill them drops dead on the spot.

* Pretender Gods in the ''VideoGame/{{Dominions}}'' series can grant one of their commanders the title of Prophet, which basically turns even the most mundane of mortals the ability to claim [[PlaceOfPower Thrones of Ascension]] on their behalf and essentially turns them into a souped-up priest capable of granting powerful boosts to their nation's elite sacred troops in battle.

* In addition to being necessary to ascend to the rank of [[TopGod Pantokrator]], Thrones of Ascension in the ''VideoGame/{{Dominions}}'' series also grant passive bonuses to the Pretender God that controls them, such as extra Magic Gems or boosts to their dominion's Scales.