Mini Battle

[Princess Ivy]

Inspired by DD's battle of the magic users thread, what about authors who have used different magics in different settings, take eddings (as this is on his board, duh) we have:
The Will and the Word, where the protagonists use the strength of their own will aided by energy drawn from around them and release it with a word.
and
The magic of Sticum, where the protagonists apeal to the gods with prayers (incantations), gestures and sometimes sacrifices. Although initially in the books they appeal to the gods of styricum, it is later found out that they can also apeal to the elenic god.

so, which do you think is best, and why?

 

[shandril]

think i would definatly have to go with the Will and the Word being based on the strength of will and maybe im mistaken but im pretty sure the is also a certain degree of divine intervention on occasions as well......

on thinking about it though really through incarnation and prayer also requires a certin strength the strength of belief in your god and if you have a reliable god backing and paying attention at the same time youd definatly be a force to be reckoned with....

bugger this wasnt as easy as i first thought it would be...*laughs*

 

[shandril]

Will and the Word..

 

[Princess Ivy]

the problem with the will and the word is the exhuastion of the user. remember belgaraths collapse?

 

[shandril]

do we have use of the Orb of Aldur?

 

[Princess Ivy]

only garion can use the orb and only sparhawk can use the rose.

 

[shandril]

*mutters and grumbles and makes way over to the bookcase to pull the books out and read them again.......*

if i had read the sparhawk series more than the once i could probably answered with a more enlightened veiw.....but its been years since i read it

for the moment i will still go with the will and the word but have a nagging suspision i will be back later after reading the series again....to change it

 

[Princess Ivy]

i personaly do prefer the will, mainly because it's very fast, and the gods of stiricum can be capracious, you might not get what you want in other words.

 

[Riva]

Especially if you are Kalten...

Will and the word is more effective in a long use if you ask me. The language sparhawk and the others have to use to use magic is so complex that i think even a master would get messed up if (s)he had to face belgarath or some skillfull will and the word user. Will and the word would be so much faster.

 

[Princess Ivy]

I love kalten, especially his reasoning on foreigners

 

[The Ace]

I'll have to go for the Will and the Word, it seems more reliable. Belgarath's collapse was brought about by the fight with Ctuchik, who had ruled the western Angaraks through power and terror for millenia. The Twins and Polgara had a similar problem at Thull Mardu when faced with every grolim the Angaraks could muster. The Will and the Word does the job every time.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Just to play devils advocate I'll go for the magic of the Styrics.

The Will and the Word greatly depends on the strength of the user - Garion, Belgarath & Polgara are all incredibly stronger than their Angarak counterparts. It was noticable that in the Mallorean when they encountered the shamans who raised demons that they were 'unstoppable' by anyone bar a God once released.

When you use the magic of styricum you are in effect asking a god to take a hand in mortal affairs, especially for the 'big' magic. Using that as a reference Sephrenia & Aphrael against Garion would result in Riva needing a new king...

 

[The Ace]

Well, it's been a while since Garion killed a god, maybe he's out of practice.

 

[Foxtale]

Don't forget the Will and the Word version in Althalus, where it literally was just a word. I mean, there was a little bit in there on how the more you will it to happen the stronger it will be, but it never tired him out like it did to Belgarath.

That was just reading ancient words from a Book of God.

 

[Princess Ivy]

Don't forget the Will and the Word version in Althalus, where it literally was just a word. I mean, there was a little bit in there on how the more you will it to happen the stronger it will be, but it never tired him out like it did to Belgarath.

That was just reading ancient words from a Book of God.

babe, i try very hard to forget althalus, in any way at all. shudder.

 

[Foxtale]

Hmmm, that proves once again that enjoyment of Eddings is completely subjective (or, as I suspect, is completely dependent on which books you read first).

 

[ellimist84]

the will and the word simply because you have the power to state and think about what you want, not state what you want and rely on someone else (god or not) to do it for you.

 

[devilsgrin]

having read Belgariad/Malloreon and Elenium/Tamuli many times i would have to vote for The Will and the Word. I would even go so far as to say that Polgara could mop the floor with Aphrael! She may be a god, but she is not a powerful god, just manipulative. (I must also add, that i do NOT like Aphrael so it may make me biassed against her).
My reasoning. the Magic of Styricum relies on 1) knowing the styric language, 2) having time and uninterrupted chance to pray to {insert god here} and 3) a god powerful enough to respond to your requests. Aphrael started to die! when her worshippers began being killed.
Will and the Word is entirely centred on oneself. and the power and knowledge that the wielder has. it is virtually instant, and can affect any possible result required. Belgarath and Belgarion alone (without the Orb in Belgarions case) would be more than able to face down a Styric god and emerge victorious. Polgara, as i mentioned could take Aphrael - if she wanted to that is... Polgara would probably want to mother her... Sephrenia would not stand a chance against Polgara.

 

[Steffi]

Oh definatly The Will and the Word

Notice it's similarity to The Force

 

[devilsgrin]

The similarity is only superficial... there are limitations to what the Force can accomplish, not so the Will and the Word. Its only limitations are imagination and the wielder's level of power... no force user could turn the sky green or chop the tops off all the mountains... a Will and Worder could