first ⚡ a topic on summoning

[ramuhs]

Type: Text
Sender ID: ramuhs
To: General public
Subject: Summoning other creatures and people
Warnings: None except maybe FFXVI spoilers in their respective threads?

[// PUBLIC PORTION //]
A curious question to my fellow riftfarers — to those who are capable of "summoning" or calling upon powerful beings or even people, how does it work in your world? Any particular requirements? Contracts?

And have you any luck doing so while here? Any changes you've discovered?

[This is a general broadcast type post, so anyone can threadhop if they'd like to swap stories or anything! Cid will be reading everything...with very keen interest.]

[// PRIVATE TO FFXVI CAST //]

In case you're wondering what this is about, while on that ghost ship a girl somehow managed to summon me from a rock she had—materia she called it. She also knew about Ramuh and some of the other Eikons from our world.

Given there was no warning and that she might not be the only one, thought I should give everyone a heads up. For now I'll be trying some tests with her to see how it works and will share the results.

Comments

[ramuhs]

[Oh hello someone actually using voice at him. And it's one that sounds familiar...

But hang on. Ifrit and Leviathan, too? Since this sounds a lot different from what he heard from Yuffie, this must be yet another world with similar entities. He'll get used to it, but—this is still weird.]

That's quite a lot. So these...primals, as you call them. You say they are created by hopes and prayers, and also drain aether. [That he can somewhat understand at least.] Do they continue to exist after their summon or are destroyed after they fulfill their purpose?

[afflatusexarch]

[ Oh ho! He recognizes this voice... But interesting that he is not asking what aether is. Hmm! ]

They are capable of maintaining form as long as they are continuously supplied with aether and prayer. Tempering bends ones will to that of the primal. A faction of the Amalj'aa constantly bring others before the Lord of the Inferno to create new followers and new prayers, as an example.

[ramuhs]

And through this tempering, these primals are capable of ensuring they survive by manipulating others to do their bidding... Along with the drain of the aether on the land, I see now why you called it "unfortunate".

[afflatusexarch]

Quite so. A group of people on my star often refer to these primals as "eikons."

[ Cid. "ramuhs." Lightning magicks. He starting to see the patterns here. ]

Ironically, Ramuh isn't particularly known to be as violent as Ifrit or even Garuda. While other Primals tend to seek conflict with the other Spoken races nearby, Ramuh is content to remain in the Sylphlands, protecting the Slyphs.

[ > private ]

[ramuhs]

[.........Oh boy. Just going to be tapping his pen against the paper he has.]

So figured out a few things, have you? G'raha.

just private from here on out

[afflatusexarch]

Aye, but I might not necessarily figured it out so soon if not for meeting a few others.

The idea of turning to stone simply through overuse of your own personal aether does not settle well with me. Though to think that you could be summoned so readily...

I can see your concern there.

[ramuhs]

Fortunately we're not at risk of the curse, though we still try not to use our aether outside of combat or other uses. At the very least, I can feel a difference in how much energy I can expend without tiring.

As for the summoning, it's certainly not something that we've ever had to deal with, though I do remember old texts that spoke of people who could once summon the Eikons directly. Unfortunately I didn't read up much on it, so I don't have much to compare to from what I experienced firsthand.

[afflatusexarch]

Had I known that beforehand, I would have scolded you for the use of levin so readily. One should not be so quick to consume their own aether in such a way. There are even consequences for it where I come from.

[ IT'S NOT ABOUT STAMINA CID! ]

If only I could put hands on said texts. I might have been able to be of more assistance. Unfortunately or fortunately, I know full well how the peoples of my star discovered the art of summoning.

[ramuhs]

[...

Cid really can't help but laugh as he raises a hand in mock surrender.]

Aye, I know. I'm not quite so reckless with my own aether—trust me, I know well the dangers. Would you feel better if I told you I spearheaded the movement to try and stop the abuse of the magic users of my world, even destroy it completely?

[A charming smile.]

[afflatusexarch]

In a way, I suppose. Dion made mention of the state of your star. While I cannot possibly conceive of a place where channeling and bending aether to one's sill ceases to exist... Mayhap it is the best solution.

For all of you.

[ramuhs]

If the people had more respect towards other magic users and our magic wasn't used as much as it was, then perhaps we wouldn't have to resort to such measures. Like this world. But not that it matters, given what the real issues ended up being.

[Thanks Ultima.]

[afflatusexarch]

Oh if only it were simply a matter of changing mindsets, hmm? There always seems to be something else lurking in the background and pulling the strings.

I also apologize for I might have made one of your companions irritable.

[ramuhs]

[Hah, if only. He knows that all too well. But his next bit makes Cid arch a brow.]

Now you have me curious. What happened?

[afflatusexarch]

Now you have to understand, I might have a bit of a personal take in this curse business. Though I had been speaking to Joshua about the potential to teach how I channel aether.

Clive, naturally, was rather upset about the notion. I might have told him to trust his brother's judgement.

That did not go over well, as you can imagine. He told me off and I might have replied in kind.

[ramuhs]

[.......Ah ha ha ha....

Definitely some quiet, dry laughter there.]

Aye... Clive is quite...overprotective about his brother. Do forgive him, he's been through quite a lot. However, he likely needed to hear whatever you had to say as well so you won't hear anything from me.

[Boy can be a bit of a knucklehead sometimes.]

Though now I'm curious. How do you channel your own aether?

[afflatusexarch]

I realize this. However, he also should realize that he knows little and less about me to make such assumptions.

[ He already figures that the lot of them have had difficult lives. It's not a contest. Not really. ]

Anyway... It's through the use of ambient aether. Channeling in this way means that you do not use your own life energy.

[ramuhs]

[....Aaah.]

So this would be more like how the rest of the magic users of my world would use aether.

[afflatusexarch]

How so? What is that process?

[ramuhs]

They have the rare knack to channel the aether around them and control to their will, though it's still at the cost of straining their body and progression of the curse.

[afflatusexarch]

Were they using some type of foci?

[ramuhs]

No. The only other method of drawing aether is through the use of crystals.

[afflatusexarch]

Does drawing aether from the crystals also progress this curse?

[ramuhs]

It does not. However, it's a limited resource and limited in power compared to those who can channel aether directly.

[afflatusexarch]

So, then, theoretically... Providing a focus might be key. One would pull the aether towards the foci and it serves as the true medium.

Then it would be just a matter of turning that aether into the sort of magic you're calling for.

[ramuhs]

[Hmmm.]

It is a way, to be sure. Bearers who try to hide their identity use crystals, and to mask their own use of aether when they need it.

[Including himself—]

The catch is having a medium that could handle and replicate our more powerful spells, which crystals could not.