Plague of Names
A strange side effect after the Hell Week Accords went into effect was the so-called "Plague of Names". For a week after they were enacted, everyone who was present in the Kirinal Concordance Zone at the time could hear whenever someone said their true name, along with the sentence immediately afterward. Luckily, the plague ended for most after a week, but an unfortunate few suffer its effects to this day.
Instructor of Recruits
The Az-damned Naming Plague was one of the worst weeks of my life! Do you know how many stupid punks know my name because of that dumb "Kill Flayer & Ghost Boy Chronicle"? Unfortunately, I know just how many. Unlucky for them, the link goes both ways and I could follow my "name callers" to the source!
Sgt. Kill Flayer
When the Hell Week Accords were enacted in the Kirinal Concordance Zone, Hell itself manifested in the Kirinal Pit. Three Infernal Armies rose out and attacked escaping out of the Zone and into the world.
Unfortunately for the war-torn Kirinalos, the devilish invaders had left behind more than rubble and collateral damage. The people of the Zone were also infected with the same mind virus that allows devils to hear those who call them by name. Fortunately, the mental affliction eventually passed after a week, but the virus still persists. Outbreaks of the Naming Plague still occur in the Zone and the lands around it. The exact vector by which it is transmitted has never been discovered.
An unfortunate few are permanently afflicted and can hear their name called no matter what they do to stop it.
Symptoms
Someone knows that they have caught the Plague of Names when they suddenly hear voices saying their name. They hear it in their head and are the only one who can hear it along with the sentence said afterwards. They know the direction from which it was said. They can follow the voice to its source, if its said enough, to confront their name-caller.
This only works if the person/entity's full true name is said. A person's true name is the one that their heart answers to.
I love that last line! Oh, and poor Sarge! That was a great anecdote to start us off with.
Thanks for the quick like/comment! I have some reading to do myself! I'm going to add a bit at the end where Sarge mentions that he actually still has the Plague, but no one ever calls him by his true name more than once!
Take a look at my Institutions of Learning challenge article.
Learn about the World of Wizard's Peak and check out my award winning article about the Ghost Boy of Kirinal!
I love that addition! Sarge is so cool. I just love getting a bit of his POV each time I open one of your articles.