Humans learn their true names the first time they use magic or have it used on them. It consists of their first name, or whatever name they think of themselves as, plus one word in Sylvan that illustrates their personality. They are the only person in the world with this true name.
Speaking a person's true name such that they can hear it affects them as if you had spent a point of Leverage (you do not gain a character point for speaking someone's True Name, as you if you had applied Leverage). That is, you have the following options:
- Speak their true name and then ask/tell them to do something. If they do it, they get 1 character point.
- Speak their true name and then make a roll against them. Your roll is at +1.
- Speak their true name as you deal damage to them. You do +1 damage (apply this last, after wounding, vulnerabilities, etc. Never multiply it.)
- Speak their true name, and if none of the above happen, their next roll against you is at -1.
Angels, demons, genies, faeries, and spirits all have unique true names that they know intrinsically; this is different from the name given to them by their creators/parents. Speaking their true name such that they can hear it affects them as above, but at +3 instead of +1. This is a -4 point disadvantage for these races. Everyone else is at +2, and this is a -2 point disadvantage.
Your True Name can only be used against you once per scene, unless you would like to choose to allow further uses.