Of Seal Summoning:
Summoning is a fairly common magic, although most notably used by Necromancers, Elementalists and Druids, there are many different types of Summoning styles. Sylinth uses the ancient, and often considered obsolete, art of Seal Summoning (SS). This requires a contract of sorts, consisting of a Symbol for the Summon; called the Celestial Summon (CS), and a suitable material upon which the symbol is etched, carved, tattooed or otherwise marked on. The process of summoning requires tremendous mental concentration, and sufficient Soul Enery (SE), which is exchanged for the space and matter occupied by the CS in this world, into the Celestial Plane from which the CS came from. This Summon art is rarely practiced not only because of it's degree of difficulty but also because SS also has a finite number of summons.
Basic Rules:
1. A Master must have completed the required formal contract in order to summon from the Celestial Plane
2. A Master must always have the required Soul Energy to summon a CS. If the master does not have enough SE, the summoning will fizzle and the SE will be dispersed
3. A CS may never directly and willingly cause serious injury to its master
4. A CS may stay in the physical plane with it's master as long as the master is able to provide the necessary SE
5. A CS can NEVER be forced into the physical plane without a formed formal contract
*Full details discussed in 'Summoners Contract'
Summons: Summons are ranked in level of strength and ability; From lowest to highest, these are the C,B,A and S ranks.
C class Summons
(creatures and inanimate objects of the lowest power. there are around 100)
B class Summons
(creatures and inanimate objects of average power. there are around 70)
A class Summons
(powerful creatures, weapons and armor. there are around 50)
S class Summons
(Mythical beasts, Elementals, and Legendary Weapons. there are around 50)
Symbols: though other Summoning arts may have multiple summons of the same creature, SS has a finite number of summons. This can be viewed as a major drawback, considering that the aim of most summoners is to have their own private army. But there is a major cause for this, because that the CS have their own lives and own personalities within their dimension called the Celestial Plane. Because of this limited number of CS, each and every one of them answers to a certain symbol. Most of the low ranking summons have their symbols compiled through magical documents, which are sold by merchants who sell such items. The higher ranking symbols though, require another process of attainment altogether. Due to to the CS having a certain degree of free will, the more powerful CS tend to be stubborn, and only accepting a contract with Summoners whom they deem worthy of their power.
Celestial Plane: While other summons animate corpses and inanimate objects, or draw animals and form elementals, SS draws all of its summoned creatures (Celestial Summons) from a different and separate dimension called the Celestial Plane. In this dimension, Living CS have their rate of recovery tripled, while weapons and armor are mended by 'The Smith' (a CS)
Soul Energy: Soul Energy (SE) is the currency of Seal Summoning. It's created through concentration and meditation. It is traded in place of the matter and energy shifted from the CS onto the physical plane. The more powerful the summon, the larger amount of SE required.
Important Notes:
*Summons are not mindless minions to do the summoner's every command, they are rational beings capable of their own thoughts and actions. the 'Summoner's Contract' explains the full details.
*Not all Celestial Summons are bound to the Celestial Plane.. Some summons (commonly the powerful ones) are actual beings from the physical plane.
**Details on above is discussed on Summon Contract.
*Although the counts for each class looks fairly high, note that only one Summoner can control the Symbol (and therefore the CS) and call upon it.
*Ex. as Syl owns the Arrowhead Seal of Sagittarius, no other summoner can summon Him. This may not be a problem concerning C and B class summons, but what summoner would be satisfied with mediocre Skeletons and Treemen when you can summon the Phoenix, Minotaur, etc. therein lies Sylinth's quest.
More details to follow
The Summoners Contract under construction