The Seven Words of Power

[MrKABC]

Why were there only SIX words?????? (in LFB, there were FIVE?)

Melenkurion Abatha! Duroc minas mill khabaal!

That's SIX. Why did they refer to SEVEN words?

[khabaal]

There has been LOT of discussion about this before ... so there is plenty to read. Just do a search and it will all come up.
Interesting there was a lot of discussion on the various posts that in actual fact the 'words' of powere were actually phrases, rather than words . . . . ie 'Melenkurion Abatha' was one word . . . . 'Abatha' was another word etc etc etc.
That was all blown out the water for me the other day while browsing through the back of 'Runes' in the Glossary and it clearly lists EACH word as an individual word of power ....... ie 'Melenkurion' is listed as 'A word of power' !!!!!
Sorry chaps . . nice try ... but no cigar?!?!?
Maybe the Seventh word of power is yet to come?
I am really hanging on the whole concept of the third Chronices turning full circle, and we end up back at the very beginning before the First Chronicles with Berek etc etc etc.
After all ... evrything in life is pre-ordained, and we follow the natural path that has been decided for us.

[dlbpharmd]

This has been discussed quite a bit, will try to find the old threads. Also, I think SRD answered a question about this in the GI, will try to find that as well.

[I'm Murrin]

From the Gradual Interview:

There are in fact *seven* words, of which only six have ever been revealed. All such lore was hidden in Kevin's Wards, but several of the Wards were never recovered. Presumably Kevin hid the seventh word for the same reason that he concealed the Seventh Ward: he was trying to create a sequence of knowledge (a curriculum) in which people would learn (and earn) their way from one level to the next. The idea is to try to ensure that people only receive knowledge/power when they're ready for it.

Now, of course (I mean after "The Second Chronicles") *all* of Kevin's lore has effectively ceased to exist. (Linden's new Staff of Law doesn't even have *runes,* for crying out loud.) And without that lore to give it substance, the seventh word--if anyone chanced to discover it--would be meaningless.

[Encryptic]

From the Gradual Interview:

There are in fact *seven* words, of which only six have ever been revealed. All such lore was hidden in Kevin's Wards, but several of the Wards were never recovered. Presumably Kevin hid the seventh word for the same reason that he concealed the Seventh Ward: he was trying to create a sequence of knowledge (a curriculum) in which people would learn (and earn) their way from one level to the next. The idea is to try to ensure that people only receive knowledge/power when they're ready for it.

Now, of course (I mean after "The Second Chronicles") *all* of Kevin's lore has effectively ceased to exist. (Linden's new Staff of Law doesn't even have *runes,* for crying out loud.) And without that lore to give it substance, the seventh word--if anyone chanced to discover it--would be meaningless.

I think SRD just doesn't want to admit that the seventh Word was supposed to be "Open Sesame" or "Abracadabra".

[drew]

What I dound odd, is that the Seventh word was unknown by the new lords, but the seventh ward was in a place named as the first word.
Melenkurion!

[onewyteduck]

I would speculate (or at least be QUITE hopeful!) that we will learn more about the words of power and the 7 wards in the future.

And if not, well, I'm all for a bunch of angry Watcher's camped on SRD's front lawn!

[I'm Murrin]

SRD's already made sure he doesn't have to go down that road with his comment above - since the new Staff of Lore has no runes, no words, nothing other than Law itself to govern it, the Words of Power are now useless.

[MrKABC]

SRD's already made sure he doesn't have to go down that road with his comment above - since the new Staff of Lore has no runes, no words, nothing other than Law itself to govern it, the Words of Power are now useless.

Well then, why did the krill of Loric respond to the Seven (six) Words of Power when Covenant fought the Lurker of the Sarangrave?

The krill is a tool of Law as well! Hmmmmmm?

[dlbpharmd]

Well then, why did the krill of Loric respond to the Seven (six) Words of Power when Covenant fought the Lurker of the Sarangrave?

Would you elaborate on this please?

[Akasri]

*sounds of Urviles attacking*

People of the Land: "Quick Mhoram, help us!"

High Lord Mhoram "I will utter the seven words of power..."
"Melenkurion!"
"Abatha!"
"Duroc!"
"Minas!"
"Mill!"
"Khabaal!"
"Supercilli... umm, Superintel... wait... Supercalifragilisticexpealadocious!"
"Damn, too late!"

[matrixman]

I believe the Seventh Word was "Shazam!" This word would have summoned a mighty being from "elsewhere" to the Land. However, Kevin saw in his oracular vision that this being had a white cape, but no white gold, so he suspected that even this powerful individual was insufficient to combat Lord Foul directly (though the being's ability to fly under his own power no doubt impressed Kevin). Thus, both the Seventh Word and the Seventh Ward were left unused by Kevin, who in the end thought the Ritual of Desecration was the way to go...because he was just that kinda guy.

(Now we return you to your regularly scheduled discussion...)

[CovenantJr]

I would speculate (or at least be QUITE hopeful!) that we will learn more about the words of power and the 7 wards in the future.

And if not, well, I'm all for a bunch of angry Watcher's camped on SRD's front lawn!

As Murrin says, it looks like SRD has provisionally bailed on that idea. We may never know what the seventh word is.

[I'm Murrin]

The Words worked in tWL because, while Law in the Land was more mutable and had been twisted considerably at that time, it was still shaped around the rules engraved in the original Staff. It wasn't until the new Staff was formed that the lore of the old Staff was replaced.

[khabaal]

I have just started to read TCTC again and the magic seven is coming up more and more . . . IN LFB TC was at the hospital 7 months before he returned to Haven Farm. The message from Foul was for him to deliver a message to the council of Lords, if he did not then the Land would be in ruin in 7 months . . but if he did then the Land would prevail for 7x7 years ......
There must be a seventh word of power . . . and we will find it out in the Last Chronicles ...... it is after all the pinnacle of all of Kevin and the old Lord's Power, if we found it out too soon then maybe TC would not have been needed in the Land, and there would be no books ?!?!?!?!?

[Encryptic]

I have just started to read TCTC again and the magic seven is coming up more and more . . . IN LFB TC was at the hospital 7 months before he returned to Haven Farm. The message from Foul was for him to deliver a message to the council of Lords, if he did not then the Land would be in ruin in 7 months . . but if he did then the Land would prevail for 7x7 years ......
There must be a seventh word of power . . . and we will find it out in the Last Chronicles ...... it is after all the pinnacle of all of Kevin and the old Lord's Power, if we found it out too soon then maybe TC would not have been needed in the Land, and there would be no books ?!?!?!?!?

Wait...I'm confused. He had 7 months to deliver the message? I thought Foul told him Drool would be enthroned at Lord's Keep in two years if the message failed. It's been a while since I read LFB but I remember that scene pretty clearly.

::shrug::

If I'm not mistaken, Covenant also returned to the Land in Power That Preserves after 7 years had gone by. He was warned that the Lords had 49 years in LFB, then he returned after 40 years in Illearth War, then 7 years passed by before he returned.

[Sylak]

I beleive that the seven words do stil have power, just not teh same power as they once weilded. As for eth seventh word, i beleive it quite possible that we will learn that from Linden attempting to travers tiem once again in a next book, and that (as previously mentioned) Kevin had no use for/desire to allow use of the word, or that Kevin himself was ignorant of the Word, adn that that one word wil save the land. It is also possible that the word has been given, but hidden, for example teh seventh word might be "Würd" or another word not normaly ascoiated by Kevin's lore.

[MrKABC]

The Words worked in tWL because, while Law in the Land was more mutable and had been twisted considerably at that time, it was still shaped around the rules engraved in the original Staff. It wasn't until the new Staff was formed that the lore of the old Staff was replaced.

I am fascinated by the idea of the new Staff of Law changing lore. I don't know if I completely buy into the concept though.

The original Staff of Law required years, if not decades, of training to use. We never saw it DO much.

The new Staff seems to have different abilities (ie, to exert a "beneficient" force around its location) but I am speculating that it is weaker than its predecessor, since it hasn't done anything to restore the Law, nor does it uphold the Law when traveling through the Fall, and simply closing that Fall seemed to sap its power (and exhaust Linden).

[Encryptic]

The Words worked in tWL because, while Law in the Land was more mutable and had been twisted considerably at that time, it was still shaped around the rules engraved in the original Staff. It wasn't until the new Staff was formed that the lore of the old Staff was replaced.

I am fascinated by the idea of the new Staff of Law changing lore. I don't know if I completely buy into the concept though.

The original Staff of Law required years, if not decades, of training to use. We never saw it DO much.

The new Staff seems to have different abilities (ie, to exert a "beneficient" force around its location) but I am speculating that it is weaker than its predecessor, since it hasn't done anything to restore the Law, nor does it uphold the Law when traveling through the Fall, and simply closing that Fall seemed to sap its power (and exhaust Linden).

It could be that Linden lost the owner's manual that accompanied the new Staff of Law and hence has no clue how to use it properly.

[MrKABC]

It could be that Linden lost the owner's manual that accompanied the new Staff of Law and hence has no clue how to use it properly.

Actually, she does have the CD/ROM instruction manual with a searchable-index PDF file on it...

There is just one minor problem with the computer systems in the Land that prevent her from using it...