History Main / SentientCosmicForce

It can favor some people or factions over others. It can communicate, or at least be communed with. It has goals, and can enact plans to further those goals (which may involve picking someone to be TheChosenOne). It is rarely described as actually "alive", however -- it is not something that can be spoken to directly. In this way, sentient cosmic forces are generally distinct from deities: while you may meditate and commune with it in a temple, it doesn't actively seek prayer or worship. More plainly, although a sentient cosmic force is aware of events and capable of influencing them, it is not a person.

* The Force from the ''StarWars'' universe. It's an energy field, it gives powers. It has a {{Chosen One}} (and may have caused the virgin birth of said ChosenOne).

* ''[[Mistborn Mistborn]]'' has Ruin, the malevolent cosmic force that apparently has power over the mists, and can force them to block sunlight from crops. It was this power which originally threatened the world and was known as the Deepness.It is later revealed that [[spoiler:Ruin is the destructive god who is [[NiceJobBreakingItHero released]] at the end of "The Well of Ascension" when Vin releases the power at the [[PlaceOfPower Well of Ascension]]. Eons ago, Ruin was tricked by his brother, Preservation, who created life, which had more of Preservation than Ruin. They had made a [[EquivalentExchange deal]] that Ruin would eventually get to destroy all life, but Preservation sacrificed his mind to [[SealedEvilInACan bind Ruin's consciousness into a prison]], separate from his main strength, his atium body.]]

* [[Mistborn ''Mistborn'']] has Ruin, the malevolent cosmic force that apparently has power over the mists, and can force them to block sunlight from crops. It was this power which originally threatened the world and was known as the Deepness.It is later revealed that [[spoiler:Ruin is the destructive god who is [[NiceJobBreakingItHero released]] at the end of "The Well of Ascension" when Vin releases the power at the [[PlaceOfPower Well of Ascension]]. Eons ago, Ruin was tricked by his brother, Preservation, who created life, which had more of Preservation than Ruin. They had made a [[EquivalentExchange deal]] that Ruin would eventually get to destroy all life, but Preservation sacrificed his mind to [[SealedEvilInACan bind Ruin's consciousness into a prison]], separate from his main strength, his atium body.]]

* ''[[Mistborn]]'' has Ruin, the malevolent cosmic force that apparently has power over the mists, and can force them to block sunlight from crops. It was this power which originally threatened the world and was known as the Deepness.It is later revealed that [[spoiler:Ruin is the destructive god who is [[NiceJobBreakingItHero released]] at the end of "The Well of Ascension" when Vin releases the power at the [[PlaceOfPower Well of Ascension]]. Eons ago, Ruin was tricked by his brother, Preservation, who created life, which had more of Preservation than Ruin. They had made a [[EquivalentExchange deal]] that Ruin would eventually get to destroy all life, but Preservation sacrificed his mind to [[SealedEvilInACan bind Ruin's consciousness into a prison]], separate from his main strength, his atium body.]]

* ''Mistborn'' has Ruin, the malevolent cosmic force that apparently has power over the mists, and can force them to block sunlight from crops. It was this power which originally threatened the world and was known as the Deepness.It is later revealed that [[spoiler:Ruin is the destructive god who is [[NiceJobBreakingItHero released]] at the end of "The Well of Ascension" when Vin releases the power at the [[PlaceOfPower Well of Ascension]]. Eons ago, Ruin was tricked by his brother, Preservation, who created life, which had more of Preservation than Ruin. They had made a [[EquivalentExchange deal]] that Ruin would eventually get to destroy all life, but Preservation sacrificed his mind to [[SealedEvilInACan bind Ruin's consciousness into a prison]], separate from his main strength, his atium body.]]

* TheLifestream of ''{{Final Fantasy VII}}'', used as a fuel by the [[MegaCorp Shinra Electric Power Company]]. In its solidified form it is [[PowersAsPrograms the materia that allows the use of magic]], and is the combined spirit of all living things of the Planet, and when you piss it off enough it [[GaiasVengeance releases a whole bunch of monsters to get rid of whatever is anoying it]].

* The Force from the ''StarWars'' universe. It's an energy field, it gives powers. It has a {{Chosen One}} (and may have caused the immaculate conception of said ChosenOne).

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* Dust, from ''HisDarkMaterials'': while the "magic" element of it is subtle it's observed to be attracted to children as they reach puberty [[spoiler: , is discovered to be to be the stuff which gives intelligent creatures sentience]] and is the reason Lyra's truth-telling Alethiometer works. [[spoiler: It also speaks to a character from Will's world who is studying it through her computer and sends her on a quest]].

* Eywa in ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' is a GeniusLoci physically comprised of the neural network between the various flora and fauna on Pandora, and comprising the memories of various creatures, but is sentient and can cause GaiasVengeance when required.

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* Apparently the Voodoo from ''TalesOfMonkeyIsland'' is this, according to the Voodoo Lady. Of course, real Voodoo has nothing to do with this.
* The Lifestream on ''{{Final Fantasy VII}}'', used on as a fuel by The [[MegaCorp Shinra Electric Power Company]], on it's solidified form is the materia that allows the use of magic, and is the combined spirit of all living things of the planet, and when you piss it off enough [[GaiasVengeance releases a whole bunch of monsters to get rid of whatever is anoying it]].

* The Lifestream on ''{{Final Fantasy VII}}'', used on as a fuel by The [[MegaCorp Shinra Electric Power Company]], on it's solidified form is the materia that allows the use of magic, and is the combined spirit of all living things of the planet, and when you piss it enough [[GaiasVengeance releases a whole bunch of monsters to get rid of whatever is anoying it]].

* The god of Mijak from the ''GodspeakerTrilogy'' is a particularly evil variant. It never speaks in words to its worshippers, but influences their thoughts and desires and acts through its priests, the godspeakers, and through specific chosen ones like Hekat and later the Hammer. It demands constant sacrifice to sustain itself and very much wants to conquer the world. A character from outside the Mijaki culture at one point describes it as "a well of dark power".

* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', destiny/the will of the universe is both sentient and [[DeadpanSnarker rather snarky]].

* Dust, from ''HisDarkMaterials'': while the "magic" element of it is subtle it's observed to be attracted to children as they reach puberty [[spoiler: , is discovered to be to be the stuff which gives intelligent creatures sentience]] and is the reason Lyra's truth-telling Aletheometer works. [[spoiler: It also speaks to a character from Will's world who is studying it through her computer and sends her on a quest]].

* The Force from the ''StarWars'' universe. It's an energy field, it gives powers. It has a {{Chosen One}} (and may have caused the birth of said ChosenOne).

* Eywa in ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' overlaps with TheLifestream. It's the collective minds of everything on Pandora (even those who died). But it shows a will, it can be turned against someone or something leading to GaiasVengeance.

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* Dust, from ''HisDarkMaterials'': while the "magic" element of it is subtle it's observed to be attracted to children as they reach puberty [[spoiler: , is discovered to be to be the stuff which gives intelligent creatures sentience]] and is the reason Lyra's truth-telling Aetheometer works. [[spoiler: It also speaks to a character from Will's world who is studying it through her computer and sends her on a quest]].

A sentient cosmic force is a form of BackgroundMagicField with a will of its own. Like a BackgroundMagicField, it is a pervasive form of AppliedPhlebotinum, existing on a planetary or universal scale, that acts as "fuel" for FunctionalMagic. It is generally not material, existing as an intangible energy or on a spiritual level, though it may have an physical manifestations in areas that act as a [[LeyLine nexus]] or [[PlaceOfPower wellspring]] for it. However, while BackgroundMagicField is simply an inanimate part of nature, a sentient cosmic force is capable of thinking and acting on its own.

A subtrope of BackgroundMagicField. Like it, The SentientCosmicForce is a form of AppliedPhlebotinum . It is pervasive, either existing on a planetary scale, or on a universal one. Generally, it is not material, existing as an intangible energy, or on a spiritual level, though it may have an physical manifestations in areas that act as nexus or wellsprings for it. But what truly separates it from a BackgroundMagicField is that a Sentient Cosmic Force has a will of its own.

It can favor people or factions over others. It can be communicated, or at least communed with. It has the ability to do the titular choosing of TheChosenOne. It may have a plan of its own. It is rarely is described as a real sentience, as in something that can be reasoned the same way one can reason with a person, more often it is given traits associated with sentience but not treated as fully aware individual. Generally a Sentient Cosmic Force is not treated the same way a deity would. While you may meditate and commune with it in a temple, it doesn't require to be prayed to or to be appeased, because The Sentient Cosmic Force's sentience is rarely given the same depth as that of a true god. More plainly, it does not have as much personality as a deity would.

The goodness or evilness of this will can often tell you if this is a CrapsackWorld or not. Or it might be simply too alien to fit [[BlueAndOrangeMorality any existing notions of morality]]. TheDarkSide occurs be when this good or neutral will is corrupted, or be the darker aspect of that will, counterbalanced by more positive aspects.

May overlap with TheLifestream when The Sentient Cosmic Force is said to be created by life itself or when the dead are said to become one with it.
!! Examples:

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* The Counter Force in [[{{Nasuverse}} Kinoko Nasu's works]]. It favors two sides, "Gaia", the will of the planet, and "Alaya", the will of humanity. If one becomes closer to destruction, the Counter Force will act towards saving the one closer to destruction, usually at the expense of the other. The form it can be communed with exists as "Counter Guardians", heroes who have formed a contract with the World to save it when it comes closer to destruction.

* The Force from the ''StarWars'' universe. It's an energy field, it gives powers. It has a chosen one (which it may have given life to itself).

* While its motives are unclear, in ''Film/{{Excalibur}}'' a Force-like...force...is referred to as 'The Dragon'.

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* The Counter Force in the ''{{Nasuverse}}''. It favors two sides, "Gaia", the will of the planet, and "Alaya", the will of humanity. If one becomes closer to destruction, the Counter Force will act towards saving the one closer to destruction, usually at the expense of the other. The form it can be communed with exists as "Counter Guardians", heroes who have formed a contract with the World to save it when it comes closer to destruction.