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Speak of the Devil
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You know how when you're in a crowd, you can tell whenever someone says your name? Some people (usually villains) can do that anywhere. Older Than Feudalism, the core trope is that saying the name of the person summons them. Rarely are they summoned surprised and vulnerable; be assured that saying the name of this guy is a bad thing. Though probably just for you; they'll usually disappear afterward.note The question of why everyone in the world often knows this name, despite the taboo against it, is rarely addressed. This makes talking about the villain problematic, as they have to be referred to as "The Enemy" or "He Who Must Not Be Named" or "You Know Who", or just by a nickname, as with Satan, who may be called "Old Nick" or "Mister Scratch" (or Louis Cypher). Sometimes these nicknames are conspicuously positive, just in case they're listening anyway, as with The Fair Folk, because you do not want to face down a pissed-off faerie. If referring to them by any name summons them, then you're screwed. If attempting to talk to someone not in the know, this can easily lead to Poor Communication Kills. There also remains the possibility of someone slipping up (especially when surprised or caught off-guard), or someone not in the know saying it. If you have another enemy you want to deal with, perhaps you can trick them into saying the name. Another variation is that the villain's name must be said multiple times to summon them. In these cases, saying the name once is safe, so you probably don't need to worry about summoning them accidentally, or being tricked into doing so (unless you have no idea what's going on and just come across a piece of paper saying "Say Hastur 3 times.") (Okay. "Hastur three times.") Instead, the villain is essentially Sealed Evil in a Can, and they'll be summoned either by someone who has no idea what's going on, or by someone who got their tropes mixed up and thinks they'll be able to control the villain this way (perhaps through I Know Your True Name), or bargain with them. Expect this guy to die horribly. Also expect this villain not to disappear. Note that the phrase "Speak of the devil and he shall appear" is often used for a more mundane situation: people are talking about some guy, and that guy suddenly shows up, usually having heard the things said about them. That trope is And Here He Comes Now. Compare and contrast Tempting Fate, which refers to more general invited misfortune and can just as easily be a Contrived Coincidence in-universe. If saying the villain's name doesn't necessarily summon them, but may simply cause something bad, that's The Scottish Trope. If knowing someone's true name instead gives you power over them, that's I Know Your True Name. If summoning them is a good thing, see Call on Me. See also Inadvertent Entrance Cue. When this is done for humor rather than being a supernatural ability, it's Right Behind Me. Related to the Sneeze Cut. When this is invoked for a murder, a Trouble Magnet Gambit is very likely the method used. Works using this trope will often discuss The Power of Language. Example subpages |
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