Charm is another multipurpose tool, or to use the word I prefer, a multitool.

Especially when you discuss this word in the context of tabletop RPGs, you also get the meaning of a spell. And even then, it can mean a specific spell, like the Charm spell of D&D, or the concept of casting a spell in general. I’ve seen the phrase “cast a charm” many times in fantasy, where it means casting some sort of spell. Usually I see it used for spells that are either subtle or some sort of enchantment (not necessarily charming someone). I haven’t seen it used for mentioning someone who’s casting Fireball, for example. Though I must admit, it does sound funny.

I would argue that this second use of the word may be seen in worlds with a soft magic system. For example, the world of the Lord of the Rings could be one. If you saw it in a D&D world, it would most probably be used to add more of a poetic flair to a phrase. Though, again, I wouldn’t be surprised if the word was used in a world with a hard magic system, while not mentioning a very specific effect. As I said at the start, this word is a multitool.

And that’s all for today. Tomorrow’s prompt is Burden. It’s quite the heavy word (pun intended), and, like today, there are many places you can go talking about it.

And until next time, have fun!