Language of Absolute Obedience

One of my character can speak the Language of Absolute Obedience, which, as the name suggests, makes whoever listens to the command obey it. Obviously, this power can be absurdly broken so I need to make it so he wouldn't use it the whole time.

First of all, you CAN disobey LAO, but if you do, it will be a MASSIVE Brown Note that will break your neurological system very quick. The kicker is that it applies to anyone, even the user himself, although to slightly lesser degree.

Secondly, the user is a shy, introverted, and reclusive person who hardly speaks. He's also related to the Big Bad, who upon noticing his power, pretty much brainrapes him so he wouldn't be detected and exploited by his powerthirsty (lulz) father.

Thirdly, if it's a lasting command, like, "Do X for few years", it can be negated by high level Anti-Magic, which isn't rare, but not exactly easy to obtain.

Oh, and anyone knows a good language for that kind of power other than the Adamic Language?

edited 25th Jul '11 4:15:44 PM by dRoy

You've got his powers in check, just because of who he is. But the fact that it's a language, i.e. a learnable skill... that might pose some problems. (For instance, how does he know it while his father presumably doesn't?)

Perhaps making the language 'work' correctly requires plenty of authority and practice, beyond just learning how to speak it?

Or perhaps its like Mandarin and must be spoken with the right inflections or it doesn't count. Either way, he might need some professional coaching.

Based on The Other Wiki's page, the Adamic language doesn't seem to be the kind of thing that can be 'learned', so to speak. Adam and Eve are said to've spoken it, and it seems to be entirely theoretical. Perhaps effective use requires an innate gift or divine link of some sort. Sure, it might be possible to sort of 'learn' what it's like, but it'll simply be meaningless gibberish without the gift.

edited 25th Jul '11 5:50:50 PM by CrystalGlacia

Ah, the thing is that it is innate and he's the only one in my verse who can use it.

Then it's as simple as making it really difficult for him to use, so he can fumble when he's nervous, ill-practiced... or when the plot demands.

You could have the language be Lojban. It's esoteric-looking and has few enough speakers that it's unlikely any of your readers will know it. Also, it's designed to be completely grammatically unambiguous, which could be important for a language with inherent magical powers like that.

While that looks really cool and neat (are those same meanings?), I'm currently sticking with Adamic Language because that's the oldest language and you know how in fantasy works older things are more powerful.

If it's an innate ability only that character can use why is there even a term for it?

Good question. While it can be used by him and him only in this generation, it was shown throughout history twice. One causing massive war, one just fading in obscurity in a mountain town.

Side question: Can you say Godelian statements like, "Disobey this order?" It doesn't really matter if you can't, but it'd still be interesting.

edited 2nd Aug '11 11:07:13 AM by Yej

So there's really nothing even connecting this "language" to Adam as far as anyone knows. since I'm assuming this language will be heard as a normal language(since the Adamic language would be dead if it ever existed and your probably not going to invent a new language) I would recommend simply having it be named litterally unless thats too long.

Two words: Snow Crash.

No, seriously, read the book. Its premise is based on exactly what you're looking for.

edited 2nd Aug '11 11:49:51 AM by annebeeche

Well, yes and no. If you obey the words, then yes. If you try to defy or immune to the words, then it becomes a lethal Brown Note that can easily fry your nervous system.

Because this applies to the user himself, so his commands consists of very short words, mostly something on the line of "Do as written here." or "Sleep."

Have I mentioned that English sci-fi novels are practically not available where I live and the ones that are translated have really bad translation? -_-

Oh in that case I'd recommend simply naming it Imperium perhaps adding another word to make it sound ominous if resisted if thats not enough.

Mostly I could see it being named if it's appeared before but not a connection to Adam unless perhaps the first user claimed it was so. Wait ok I see another possibility. Do you have a name for the first user of this ability that started that war?

If so you could simply call it '"insert name here";s voice' or something like that.

Ooh, that's a great idea.

If you mean "insert name here"s voice.

It gets better. You implied there were historical records so you could have others that know he has this ability wonder. Did he inherit just the voice or is he the rebirth of "insert name here"?

edited 8th Aug '11 10:13:09 AM by Dracul

0.0! Holy shit, that's brilliant!

Thanks it gets better.

You said the user is a shy, introverted, reclusive person that hardly speaks. That could be because he knows of the rumors if the power is discovered at a young enough age. Either because he's scared or because he decides that talking is simply too much trouble.

Of course you would have to remove the brain rape hidding the ability if people know about it.

Also how controlable is this ability?

edited 8th Aug '11 10:36:01 AM by Dracul