This idea came from this random writing fragment. It got me thinking, what if people in fantasy worlds were allergic to things that we aren't. For example, what if one race was allergic to another? Or another twist on that thought: what if someone was allergic to certain types of magic? There's a lot of possibilities to this idea, allergies to words, allergies to places, maybe even an allergy to one of the four elements. I mean one can have a lot of fun with this. Now, on the surface this idea would lend itself more nicely to the humorous, pun-based fantasy stories; however, with some work, I'm sure there are ways you could work it into more serious fantasy. And there are other facets of this, such as how these allergies are treated, or the effects these allergies would have. What do yall think?

This. Is. Awesome.

I especially like the idea of one race being allergic to another (or even being allergic somehow to one faction within their own race).

Come to think of it, you could have a flip-side where one race is actually attracted to another one because being near them is good for them instead of causing bad symptoms...

Anyway, back on topic, I think this is a great idea with almost endless possibilities that could affect all kinds of things, what if a race was allergic to steel (or your world's equivilant)? They would have to either avoid metal weapons or use some other type of metal that may or may not work as well. *is getting all sorts of ideas*

Thanks for posting this, Seer!

P.S. That random writing fragment is pretty awesome too.

In Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles (Dealing With Dragons and sequels; they're decidedly light fantasy, though they don't go in for anything like puns), the dragons are allergic to wizards' magic, and even to the presence of a wizards' staff nearby---but conversely and helpfully, soapy water with a twist of lemon melts the wizards.

Cool! I'm glad you liked the idea.
Hmmm...an interesting concept to play with. Or you could have one race be the cure for another race's allergic reaction to a third race!
According to The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference (the Race chapter again), Julian May has an idea similar to this in her Saga of Pliocene Exile. She uses this for a race that is inspired by fairy lore (fairies in England/Europe were said to have a weakness for iron). She uses a genetic explanation, not a cobha/magical one.
But that's just saying that I've heard a similar idea before, not in any way saying that your idea can't be used just because someone else once thought of something similar.

That sounds interesting!



Yes! But the race that is the cure is allergic to the race they are curing.



That's good to know (not exactly surprising either, though I'd not heard of that), thanks! Yeah I should be able to work out something pretty different. *goes to add idea to gdoc*

I must reiterate that without careful attention to how you handle it, an impossible allergy will have a feeling of absurdity around it that could shatter the tone of your story if you're not intentionally wanting to create a lighthearted or humorous piece.

I understand that...and I think it could be done, or a similar effect achieved another way (suppose one race carries some sort of organism that makes the other race sick, and the race carrying the organisms are needed by the ones that are made sick by them for some reason, so then the third race is brought in that somehow rights the situation...however that might work (the idea of course needs a lot of development).
Then again, I might at some point want to write a humorous piece, and just save this idea for that. *shrugs* We'll see I guess...

Figured you knew, was just clarifying a little further for other peoples on the forum.

Be sure to keep me posted if these ideas ever go anywhere for you.

Oh, I see. It's a good reminder, too, so it bears repeating anyway.

Alright I will!