Summoning

This is the first of two documents I'm writing concerning summoning. This one is factual, containing the guidelines and intricacies of summoning, the other being historical.

The Link

At the core of summoning is a mental link between the summoner and the "Beast Realm". Bloodline summoners are born with this, some stronger than others. When not fro the bloodline, one must create a link, more on this below. This link exists as a tunnel of sorts. Through this tunnel a summoner can peer into the Beast Realm and select a creature to pull through to our realm.

When summoning actually occurs, the summoner finds the creature (Most summoners pick a set of creatures and use them. A creature you've summoned before is easier to find.) and widens the link, creating a dimensional tear that the monster can come through. This begins the strain on the summoner's mind and body.

Effects

The effects summoning has on one are thus: From the time one widens their link to the Beast Realm, there begins a steady draw of energy (In terms of other spells, it'd be like using a fireball continually, and it continuing to take mana). This effects one both mentally and physically. This is the hardest thing for beginning summoners. The strain of summoning is a very unfarmiliar one, and thus it takes practice. Most summoners can after a while get over this and really aren't effected much until just after a summon leaves.

 While the monster remains in this realm, there is a strain as well. However, there's another element to summoning. The Beast Realm is an unruly place, and many monsters don't appreciate being pulled from their home to fight for some human. The summoner can gain control of the beast by creating another link between himself and it. This link enables him to control its actions. This is a rather complicated process, so I think I can demonstarte well by example.


Wind is being held up by a band of thieves, who outnumber him pretty easily. Wind summons his fire tiger (I have forgotten his name in recent times). Lets suppose he had only summoned it a few times, and although the summon doesn't particularly mind fighting for him, isnt crazy about it either. To begin, Wind lets the summon do what he wants. He takes down a couple of thieves before he decides Wind looks tasty. At this point, Wind strengthens the link between them and tries to control the creature. He can try to take either complete control, or only take partial control. In this way a summoner and his summon beast can in a sense combine strengths. This actually takes more energy on the part of the summoner, because while it may be more effective its hard to maintain a more precise level of control.

Remember: Every beast is different. Some monsters may be more than happy to cooperate (These monsters usually have an ability other than an attacking one that is useful) and some may not be. A summoner can not always gain control, if they summon a monster with a strong will it may go out of control.

For the time you have a summon, you take a fraction of the damage it does. By creating the partial control link, you take more, but as was said before, it can yield in some cases more powerful results. If a summon dies while you have it summoned, various things can happen. Past examples have been madness, the link to the beast-realm shattering, comas, and death. It depends on the person, monster, and level of link you had. Because of this, there's a "fail-safe" system of sorts. When a monster reaches low health, the summoner's mind automatically calls it back. The summoner themselves can override this, but puts his summon and himself in danger.

Once a summon is returned to its realm, the summoner will, depending on the strength of what they summoned, feel a great fatigue, dizziness, or something similar. This can be dangerous in the middle of a battle. Summoning cannot be done all day, either. Depending on the strength of a monster, one can summon a few monsters a day. Once the tier system is established, this will be easier to determine (For example, one could summon two tier I monsters in a given period of time, or one tier II or III monster).


Bloodline

Long ago, summoners were a clan. Summoning was a blood trait, and, partially because of a lack of magical technology, could not be reproduced. The tribe has since dissolved (More on that in the history document) but descendants still remain. A summoner can be bloodline, cross-breed, or artificial (Better word for that to be announced.) Bloodline and cross-breed summoners can summon naturally from birth, though they must be taught to use the skill properly. Other summoners must acquire  the skills, spend a massive amount of time learning, and risk their lives to become summoners. Bloodline summoners have the potential (Again, this can depend on individuals more) to summon more powerful monsters, but are much less likely to be accepted by an RP Admin.

Getting One Approved

Because summoning can be very open-ended, EVERY one must be approved. You must submit to an RP Admin a detailed account of your summoner's history and abilities. Note that while they can learn other magic, most summoners don't, and no summoners can use any other magics while summoning. Summoners will need to have well thought-out applications to become summoners, and if an RP Admin doesn't feel he/she can trust you with summoning, you wont get it.

Since I'm sure there are things I didn't cover, contact me on Graal (Account name Kumori, usually named Wind or Zaneth), AIM (Shiiyume, ShiyumeUmii) or e-mail (NekoGalani@aol.com)