The Seven Words of Power--breaking down the Old Lanquage

Post by **singingstone** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:33 am

Hi! I've been following this thread and it has been so interesting that I had to chime in. First, I think relating the 7 words to the elements is a great idea. After all, the power of the Lords, old and new, was all about Earthpower. What better way to call on Earthpower than to name them in the old language? As for word Melenkurion, could it be the word for Earthblood? That would make sense to me. I think of the word Skyweir as meaning mountain, so Earthblood Mountain seems like a logical name to me. Also, I find it very hard to believe that Lord of Darkness or anything referring to Foul to be part of the Words of Power, simply because Earthpower has nothing to do with Despite. Wile it's true that the words(or wurds, weirds) could have been used to enact the Ritual of Desecration, I think it's more likely that they are a part of the law of the Land.

Post by **singingstone** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:43 am

I also wanted to say that I've been watching the BBC show "Torchwood" and Owen says the six known words in season 2 episode 7. He was possessed by Death at the time, so I don"t think the writers were interested in translating the 7 Words of Power. I think they just wanted to give a shout out to the Covenant Series. They said that it translates as "I shall walk the Earth and my hunger will know no bounds." That doesn't seem like something the Lords would say, does it.

Post by **singingstone** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:51 am

Is anybody curious that Nimoram, as in Banas Nimoram, is a lot like na-Mhoram?

also, I just realized that nobody has posted anything on this thread for a couple of years. I hope someone reads this.

Post by **Cambo** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:01 am

You've been following the thread...and it took you six years to consider your response?

Thanks for bumping it, though, hadn't seen it and it was very interesting.

Post by **singingstone** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:58 pm

I wrote:I've been following this thread and it has been so interesting that I had to chime in

I actually just joined Kevin's Watch and I didn't look at the dates until after I wrote that, so, I thought I was in a current thread. I have loved TCTC for a long time and I was very disappointing that I was so late.

Post by **Orlion** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:15 pm

singingstone wrote:
I wrote:I've been following this thread and it has been so interesting that I had to chime in
I actually just joined Kevin's Watch and I didn't look at the dates until after I wrote that, so, I thought I was in a current thread. I have loved TCTC for a long time and I was very disappointing that I was so late.

It's not a problem. Sometimes old threads revive.

Welcome, and post away!

Post by **singingstone** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:35 pm

Thanks Orlion and Cambo. I hope we get new insight from The Last Dark!

Post by **Shuram Gudatetris** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:19 am

Rocksister wrote:One more thing; I drive a silver Mustang and we get new license plates next year and can have seven letters on it. What do you think of RANYHYN for a license plate? Cool, eh??? Get? Mustang - Ranyhyn???? Of course, everyone and their brother will ask me what that is. I have the answer prepared; if you have to ask, it won't help if I answer.

I think that is a totally cool idea! Rocksister seems to have disappeared two Decembers ago, but just in case she reads this...

Did you end up doing it? and how did it go over (anyone curious?)?

Post by **Shuram Gudatetris** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:35 am

Borillar wrote:I think I've mentioned this before, but one thing that absolutely fascinated me was the fact that Covenant was able to use Words of Power successfully towards the end of TWL. I find it so interesting since (a) the lore of the Old Lords (which I think includes the Words of Power) is supposedly a "dead letter" by the time of the Sunbane, and (b) Covenant appears to be compelled to speak the words, or at least he doesn't understand what he's saying, which makes it odd that they work (since merely uttering the words is probably not the key to their power.). Point (a) is more of a mystery to me.

I have thought about this quite a bit, but in an entirely different context. I used to be a big Dragon Ball Z fan. Goku's famous move is the Kamehameha, or Kame Hame Ha. I was thinking about if I could control my ki, and translate my inner strength into a power blast, would I be able to do the Kamehameha? So I have actually fantasized about this quite abit.

Kame Hame Ha translates into Turtle Power Blast. Often, at least in DBZ but prob in lots of anime, when someone blasts someone with power, even if it isn't a grand ceremonial dance leading up to it, they say "HA!". or "Blast!" Anyway, I was thinking, that if I ever had to do a power blast, I would try to do a Turtle Power Blast. I would concentrate on the turtle (see the turtle of enormous girth, on his back he holds the earth) and how powerful a figure he is, the tough shell which protects the precious life, and I would ask the turtle spirit to lend me his power, and I would concentrate on the feeling of drawing power from the turtle spirit, and I would take as much as I could, and then I would BLAST my enemy!

I used to try to translate the six words the Lords would say. (Melenkurion Skyweir, please lend me your strength to crush this foe!) or somethng like that. Its been a long time since then. I used to think of Abatha as abate...so that is where I got the idea of reducing the enemies power, squash it, crush it. I forget the rest though.

Post by **singingstone** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:29 am

Borillar wrote:the lore of the old Lords (witch I think includes the Words of Power) is supposedly a "dead letter" by the time of the Sunbane. . .since merely uttering the words is not the key to their power

First of all, I would be willing to bet that the power of the old lords(Earthpower) is not a "dead letter" even if they are no longer around to utter them. Lord Foul did not destroy Earthpower, he just corrupted it and used it for his own ends. Therefore, the lore would work for any able to summon it. That being said, I think Magic, any kind of Magic, does not depend on the words or invocations, they only help focus the power that is all around us. Even the Staff of Law is only an instrument for this focusing. The real power is in our passions. I think, in this example, that Covenant became an Instrument for Earthpower (or some other entity) to act through him to achieve it's goals. The actual act of using the Words happens within.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:42 am

"Is that more of your pitch? How do you make it?"

At that, he laughed, and his mirth came more easily. "Yes, Chosen. In all good sooth, this is my pitch. The vat is formed of dolomite, that it may not be fused as would the stone of Starfare's Gem. But as to the making of pitch - ah, that it skills nothing for me to relate. You are neither Giant nor wiver. And the power of pitch arises as does any other, from the essence of the adept who wields it. All power is an articulation of its wielder. There is no other source than life - and the desire of that life to express itself. But there must also be a means of articulation. I can say little but that this pitch is my chosen means. Having said that, I have left you scarce wiser than before."

Linden shrugged away his disclaimer. "Then what you're saying," she murmured slowly, "is that the power of wild magic comes from Covenant himself? The ring is just his - his means of articulation?"

He nodded. "I believe that to be sooth. But the means controls intimately the nature of what may be expressed. By my pitch I may accomplish nothing for the knitting of broken limbs, just as no theurgy of the flesh may seal stone as I do."

(and moments later)

"Be not so hasty in your appraisal of these Elohim. They are who they are - a high and curious people - and their might is matched and conflicted and saddened by their limitations."

Post by **singingstone** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:58 am

Thank you Fist and Faith. I did not remember that exchange until you wrote that. I am currently rereading The One Tree and have not gotten to that point yet. Are you saying that Covenant was able to use the Words more successfully because he was more powerful? That makes sense. No one else could have done what he did, but I don't remember him learning the words from anyone. So I think he was compelled to speak them. If you have any other thoughts please let me know.

Post by **Sherman Landlearner** » Mon May 21, 2012 5:32 pm

I may be wrong, but it seems like Abatha has to be a negator of some sort. Kinda, stop, or something similar. Like "Abatha minoram!", maybe "Stop the party!" Melekurion abatha, might mean, maybe, this must be stopped, or perhaps melenkurion is simply an emphasizer. you know, stop, compared to STOP! But abatha definitely seems to be "stop", or a negation.