The Law of Literary Tropes

The Law of Literary Tropes is a metaphysical law specifically affecting the practice of Literomancy. Attributed to Queen Sable Aradia, who is usually credited with its discovery, it is commonly stated as:

Literomancy tends to literary tropes.

But it has also been "simplified" as:

Literomancy tends to follow the most well-worn story paths.

In other words, Literomantic effects tend to fall into fiction cliches, tropes, or even memes or myths. The Magic of Words tends to follow literary patterns that are familiar to a large number of people. Perhaps best thought of as a subset of The Law of Least Resistance, a wise Literomancer can take advantage of existing literary tropes to enhance their magic and improve its effects.
On the other hand, this also means that the negative effects of tropes tend to afflict Literomancers, and may go hand-in-hand with the positive effects. Resisting literary tropes, if a Literomancer wishes a different result, can also be difficult.

Manifestation

Is this why literomancer powers all look like something out of anime?

— A student at the World Literomantic Academy, trying to be funny

Honestly? Yes.

— Queen Sable's reply

The most obvious manifestation of this law is in the observed effects on the readily available powers that are typically displayed by literomancers. Critics and comedians have often observed that when literomancers call upon their powers, they often look like something out of a high fantasy movie, superheroes, or an anime; and they're not wrong.

Why d'ya think I yell out the power name like an idiot when I invoke m'lightning powers? Ya don't think I just like the sound of m'own voice, d'ye?

— Cheetya Ironfist, newest member of the Owsla

Strangely, embracing these tropes does appear to improve the resulting effects. Cheetya Ironfist, for example, observably achieves greater effects from his ability to call lightning by calling out, "JUPITER THUNDER DRAGON!"

So is that why cloaks are like a fashion trend among Tome Knights?

— Another WLA student

Right again.

— Queen Sable

I'm just glad me powers don't require the skimpy schoolgirl outfits as well!

— Cheetya Ironfist, offering further commentary on his experience of The Law of Literary Tropes

"My Life is So Weird"

It has been postulated by a number of literomancers, including Queen Sable and Erin Righ, that The Law of Literary Tropes goes beyond simple visual and observed spell effects. They theorize that the lives of literomancers may also be affected by tropes associated with the sort of powers they display. Literomancers calling upon anime tropes often find themselves in embarrassing situations; those who use high fantasy tropes often find themselves fighting existential threats in the form of profoundly evil villains; and those calling up eldritch horrors often find themselves in situations that threaten their sanity.

Here, this is the best advice I can possibly give new literomancers. I call it "The Tome Knight's Survival Guide."

— Queen Sable

TV Tropes? "The Universal Genre Savvy Guide"?

— Another student of literomancy at WLA

Best Tome Knight field manual in existence.

— Queen Sable, dispensing life-saving advice to her students

This article is a work in progress, and may be subject to changes.

This article is part of a series related to streaming the Game of Tomes. For more information, see Streaming Game of Tomes.

And guys? Be careful! The tropes of this plotline don't tend to end well for the parental units.

— Queen Sable to King Darth Nikolas and Realm of Music re: Lord Galakrond having been taken by the Undead Horde (WW2)

As Lord Galakrond's mother and the party cleric whose powers are driven by love, Queen Sable has often been required to duel her son to save him when he has been among the Undead, especially when he was a Night Monarch.

Queen Sable and Lord GalaWight Dueling (Battle of Mt. Mitchell) by Sable Aradia

One party cleric, at your service!

— Queen Sable at the Battle of Scorched Earth (WW4)

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane

The Owsla may be the best royal Bodyguards in the world, so naturally they are required to guard the Bunny Queen, a royal lunatic who is nevertheless quite good at her job. And naturally, she keeps ending up in harm's way despite their best efforts, often through her own actions.

Cmd. Kitoypoy carries Queen Sable from the battlefield after the Battle of Kin Beach by HeroForge/Kitoypoy/Sable Aradia

With my particular power set, I'm basically a grown-up Sailor Moon! (waves hands around anime style, sings) Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight... self-deprecating laugh

— Queen Sable being a smartass

"The Bun Sibs" are a Sibling Team who are often better together. As part of the Woodlander royal family, they are also part of an odd, Badass Family and Super Family Team with a Tangled Family Tree. As part of The Voiders, they are also Weirdness Magnets whose not-quite-sane status is as much a weakness as a strength.

Bun Sibs by Tempest Kwake