History Main / PowersThatBe

* [[{{God}} The Creator]] in the ''Literature/ChroniclesOfThomasCovenant''. His EvilCounterpart [[GodOfEvil Lord Foul]] ''used'' to be this, until he was imprisoned inside the Arch of Time, rendering him "merely" a PhysicalGod.

* ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'' introduced the PlotHole to the [[{{Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses}} Channel Awesome Universe]] as a sort of all-powerful entity capable of destroying the universe should it destabilize. The source of it's stability is a single person, who acts as a balancing force and prevents further damage to the Plot by seeking to minimalize the Plot Holes that form due o everyday life in the verse. The current holder of that position is [[FanDumb Douchy McNitpick.]]

* In ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', each floor of the Tower is passively ruled over by a Guardian[=/=]Administrator. They were in the Tower before its GodEmperor explored and conquered it tens of thousands of years ago. Most of them have no names given and they're seldom seen; it seems as though they like to hang out in some parallel dimension next to their floor. They act only to enforce the most serious rules of the Tower, and they're overwhelmingly more powerful than almost anyone in the Tower.[[note]]As of mid-season 4, the number of known characters who are likely to be more powerful than the Guardians is exactly two, both of them being mysterious [[ParadoxPerson Irregulars]].[[/note]] They're also the ones who have given the more active rulers of the Tower their powers. Additionally, some of them seem to be plotting in the background to change the story.

* In ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', each floor of the Tower is passively ruled over by a Guardian[=/=]Administrator. They were in the Tower before its GodEmperor explored and conquered it tens of thousands of years ago. Most of them have no names given and they're seldom seen; it seems as though they like to hang out in some parallel dimension next to their floor. They act only to enforce the most serious rules of the Tower, and they're overwhelmingly more powerful than almost anyone in the Tower.[[note]]There are exactly two characters who have been mentioned who are likely to be more powerful than the Guardians, both mysterious [[ParadoxPerson Irregulars]].[[/note]] They're also the ones who have given the more active rulers of the Tower their powers. Additionally, some of them seem to be plotting in the background to change the story.

* In ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', each floor of the Tower is passively ruled over by a Guardian[=/=]Administrator. They were in the Tower before its GodEmperor explored and conquered it tens of thousands of years ago. Most of them have no names given and they're seldom seen; it seems as though they like to hang out in some parallel dimension next to their floor. They act only to enforce the most serious rules of the Tower, and they're overwhelmingly more powerful than almost anyone in the Tower. They're also the ones who have given the more active rulers of the Tower their powers. Additionally, some of them seem to be plotting in the background to change the story.

* In ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', each floor of the Tower is passively ruled over by a Guardian[=/=]Administrator. They were in the Tower before any humans entered. Most of them have no names given and they're seldom seen; it seems as though they like to hang out in some parallel dimension next to their floor. They act only to enforce the most serious rules of the Tower, and they're overwhelmingly more powerful than almost anyone in the Tower. They're also the ones who have given the more active rulers of the Tower their powers. Additionally, some of them seem to be plotting in the background to change the story.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' has more than a few of these, since the setting is FantasyKitchenSink with AllMythsAreTrue thrown in, any Powers That Be in mythology and religion are also one here.
** The magicians who become [[TheArchmage Majins]] (lit. Magic Lord) are fully capable of becoming one of these, as Aleister [[spoiler:and the True GREMLIN group]] can clearly manipulate events subtly but surely. [[spoiler:The former demonstrates it by one-shotting [[BigBad Fiamma]] and creating the whole Academy City and its espers, while the latter is the true master mind for the GREMLIN group.]]

* The Data Overmind in ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' is the actual power behind the humanoid interfaces (Who are basically just mouthpieces, or better, agents). The Overmind is mainly neutral, wishing only to observe. [[spoiler: There is however, another such entity called the "Sky Canopy Domain" which is much more [[StarfishAliens alien]].]] Also, there's the Agency that Itsuki belongs to and whoever runs the time travellers.
* The dead Original King or Shinou Heika from ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh'' could fall under this trope as well, since he has been controlling and manipulating almost every action of the great demon tribe for the past ''4000 years''!! Despite this, however, he is not evil and is actually working to ''defeat'' the BigBad of the series, Shoushu. Could also fall under AncientConspiracy.

[[GodIsEvil Bad Powers that Be]] are mysterious and abstract; an UltimateEvil that will exist AsLongAsThereIsEvil. They will also be too vague to engage the heroes directly and so a lesser villain will act as TheHeavy and carry out the Powers' EvilPlan.

* The Presence of Franchise/TheDCU. It is the power behind the various angels of the DCU and seems to be a part of ''everything'' in existence. It's also the one holding the Spectre's leash. In the "Day of Judgment" lead-in to ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'', the Spectre finally went too far and killed the last Lord of Order in his bid to destroy all magic. The Presence put an end to his rampage and sealed him in his next human host; one of the few times a Power was shown to take direct and undeniable action.
** The Source is this in Jack Kirby's ''Fourth World'' comics; it is beyond the comprehension of even those who consider themselves gods. In the wider DC canon, they are two aspects of the same being, who like The One Above All in Marvel is the Abrahamic {{God}}.
** DC's ''ComicBook/StarHunters'' had The Entity, which was shown floating next to the body of a character who had died, and later resurrected him. It looked a bit like the Eye of Providence (that eye-in-a-pyramid thing on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, most readily visible on the back of a US one dollar bill). Presumably it would be yet another aspect of The Presence/The Source if anyone at DC still cared about fitting ''Star Hunters'' into the greater continuity.

* The seven Endless-Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Destruction- in ''ComicBook/TheSandman.'' They are above and beyond gods, have existed since before humanity dreamed of gods, and will be there after gods, and possibly the universe itself, have died.

-->-- '''[[Literature/BookOfEphesians Ephesians 6:12]]''', ''Literature/TheBible''

* The [[PhysicalGod Godhand]] in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. They [[spoiler:(as ordered by the [[GreaterScopeVillain Idea of Evil]])]] are responsible for [[WindsOfDestinyChange pulling the strings of Causality]] to [[CrapsackWorld bring as much suffering as possible]] upon the world.

* The [[EldritchAbomination Godhand]] in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. They [[spoiler:(as ordered by the [[GodIsEvil Idea of Evil]])]] are responsible for [[WindsOfDestinyChange pulling the strings of Causality]] to [[CrapsackWorld bring as much suffering as possible]] upon the world.

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', these powers are represented by Truth and the Gate, two ambiguously malevolent entities that supervises every alchemy process in the world. They will come at alchemists trying to sacrifice their own limbs or other's souls, ripping them off in order for the transmutation to succeed.

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' has the Lifemaker, creator of the magic world.

** DC's ''StarHunters'' had The Entity, which was shown floating next to the body of a character who had died, and later resurrected him. It looked a bit like the Eye of Providence (that eye-in-a-pyramid thing on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, most readily visible on the back of a US one dollar bill). Presumably it would be yet another aspect of The Presence/The Source if anyone at DC still cared about fitting ''Star Hunters'' into the greater continuity.

* [[https://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/s/legend-of-zelda-fan-fiction/the-legend-of-link-lucky-number-13/19769 The Legend of Link: Lucky Number 13]]: Fate and Destiny. They hold themselves aloof from the rest of godly society (few have even seen them in person) and are thought to be the foundation of reality itself; without them, everything would collapse. [[spoiler:Link disproves this concern.]]

* The Aash Ra serve in this function in the ''{{Literature/Astral Dawn}}'' series.

* The ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' setting is literally centered around the city of Sigil, located at the very center of TheMultiverse - the only place where gods can not go and which has magical portals to every place that exists. While the city is basically pure anarchy and populated by mortals, angels, demons, undead, and even weirder beings, there is also The Lady of Pain, who is customarily considered its supreme ruler. She's unusual in that she's both a definite and well known being and that she's frequently seen physically wandering the streets of the city, but almost everything about her is a complete mystery. She appears as a completely silent figure in long robes and an intricate metal mask that covers all of her features; nobody has any clue what she is, how she came to Sigil, or ''what she actually does!'' All she does is silently float through the streets, which causes people to also call her simply "her Serenity". Only when someone actively tries to shift the status quo of Sigil, attempts to take control over its portals, or [[StopWorshippingMe starts to worship her]], does she appear to the offender and cause him to be ripped apart by her shadow, then silently continue floating down the roads. While the Planescape setting is actually highly developed, the writers intentionally left the Lady's identity completely open, stating that there is no truth the players could ever hope to unveil. This doesn't stop characters within the setting to come up with theories that range from an ancient over-deity to [[{{TotemPoleTrench}} three squirrels standing on each other shoulders dressed in a robe and using a simple levitation trinket.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Demonology 101}}'', those who control Hell are referred to as "The Powers That Be" or as simply "The Powers."

* In ''WebComic/TowerOfGod'', each floor of the Tower is passively ruled over by a Guardian[=/=]Administrator. They were in the Tower before any humans entered. Most of them have no names given and they're seldom seen; it seems as though they like to hang out in some parallel dimension next to their floor. They act only to enforce the most serious rules of the Tower, and they're overwhelmingly more powerful than almost anyone in the Tower. They're also the ones who have given the more active rulers of the Tower their powers. Additionally, some of them seem to be plotting in the background to change the story.

Not to be confused with Creator/AnneMcCaffrey's ''Literature/{{Petaybee}}'' series, which has this at the title of the first book and an alternate series title. Or, a short-lived sitcom produced by Creator/NormanLear that starred John Forsythe from {{Series/Dynasty}} & featured two pre-famous actors, Creator/DavidHydePierce & Creator/JosephGordonLevitt.