Summoning

[Admin]

Sun Sep 21, 2008 12:21 am

LaughingClown wrote:

We spoke about this ability before the forum reset and the last harvesting for the sourcebook. I'm bringing it up again in case we'd like to discuss specifics before the sourcebook is updated.

We had established:

Some Celestials are talented at morphs. Others are not. Those who are not tend to be better at conjuring. This is a way of condensing/digitizing living creatures that Celestials raise and/or engineer on Hom and calling them forth to fight beside them on Earth. Everything from snowsabers to "mythical" dragons can be conjured.

Eric

[Admin]

Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:27 pm

Cris wrote:

Eric!

Great to see you again.

Here's what we had from the previous forum:


"Quote:
Summoning is the ability to meld with a beloved animal companion to create a sentient weapon/armor.

There are creatures on Hom that resemble mythological beasts from Earth and from other worlds. These beasts are genetically crafted by Celestials. They are 4D creatures. They are cared for like someone might care for a horse -- as a companion and co-worker. Celestials can "don" these beasts when they go to another world of less than four dimensions. The creatures steps into the Celestial while the Celestial is in true form and the two become one. On the 3D (or less) world, the Celestial can call the beast forward and, because the beast resembles some kind of human mythological creature, the power of the myth allows the creature to quicken and become sentient armor or weaponry.

The creatures would imprint upon only one Celestial and could only meld with that Celestial. Then the Celestial would travel through a Portal to Earth. To summon the creature (to induce quickening), the Celestial would murmur the creature's name (their personal name, not their spieces). The creature would rise to the surface of the Celestial's body from within his/her body. So, for instance, a dragon creature might rise up across the Celestial's body manifested as body armor patterned like scales. Or a griffon creature might manifest as a massive three-blade sword, complete with gaunlet (all one piece). This would rise up out of the Celestial's hand and flow over hand and arm. Just like Celestials can carry lots of morphs, they can also carry lots of different creatures. Celestials *can* Warp and use Portals while carrying creatures. "


Here are some questions to consider . ..

1. "Conjure" has some wiccan connotations. It's pretty consistently used in conjunction with magical wizard types in fantasy. Do we want to choose another word? "Summon" is the current term in the sourcebook.

2. Personally, I would like to see these creatures able to take 2 forms--one where they morph into a weapon or armor and one where they can manifest next to the Celestial in battle.

Thoughts . . .?

Cris

[Admin]

Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:39 am

EJ wrote:

I'm going to run with the original sourcebook here (Eric? Maybe you just didn't remember? I know I didn't!) and stick with Summoning. I think it better explains what is actually happening.

As for the two forms a creature can take (weapon/armor and fighting companion), Cris, I do believe this has been decided as indeed the case. In the "Eris: Black & Gold" comic trilogy, Gier and Orcus both Summon mystical creatures. These creatures emerge from the bodies of the Celestials and stream out from them. They appear semi-transparent but are not illusions as they do real damage to the world around them (shattering windows; wounding Harper).

Does anyone take issue with this use?

EJ

[Admin]

Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:32 pm

EJ wrote:

Btw, Cris? *Thank you* for pulling that for us.

EJ

[Admin]

Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:42 pm

LaughingClown wrote:

Yes, thank you very much, Cris. My error. And I love the way summoing is used in the comic, so I take no issue.

I must admit that I've been hesitating to return to the forum until the sourcebook was updated for this very reason LOL Making errors of my own original ideas? Just not good form Sorry all.

Eric

[Admin]

Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:12 pm

papa nurgle wrote:

Also with EJ's ideas about a faction of rogue Celestials who have done genetic manipulation on themselves or other Celestials, what about using that manipulation and the Summoning ability to create extraordinary effects. For example arm weaponry that fires natural projectiles like gouts of flame, quilss, or bone spurs. The weaponry could come into form without the Celestial taking on a true Morph form or full Summoning. What if there are Celestials who work for the Council whose job it is to track down any rumors of such abberations and eliminate any abberants they find, like a modern day Blade Runner...

[Admin]

Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:45 am

EJ wrote:

Ah, Matt, I'm being too nonlinear for my own good The small faction among the Gwandii who did the bad, bad stuff were way, way long ago. Far before the Grail ever dropped on Earth. We're talking like, near 300 BC (Earth time) or... wait a sec... I think it was 900 BC (Eric? This is your timeline, friend. Help me out here?). So though the penchant for being extreme and self-ruling carried on among the pokey little Gwandii, I don't think the group would still be around because the members would be dust by now (though Eris remembers).

However, there is hope! I don't think we'd need genetic engineering for a Celestial to manifest awesome effects that they may have picked up from alien flora and fauna -- like flame, quills and bone spurs (I love bone spurs!). And you made me think of something Cris asked about months ago: Partial morphs. Can a morph master manifest just *part* of a morph? Hm. I'm going to open that one up again.

As for any kind of policing force... *wicked grin*... it was decided long ago that Celestials do not believe in anything beyond Council and that even that governing body was hard won. Celestials, by and large... *greatly* by and large, obey the laws. Imagine a peoples were everyone can hear and see everyone else's emotional state. Empathy and understanding would be pretty darn high. I think the closest we're going to get to BladeRunners ("Do Androids Dreams of Electric Sheep?") are Terrapyres tracking down Celestials

EJ

[Admin]

Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:43 pm

Luz wrote:

EJ, I am the timeline helper today. Here is the dates you need for this:

A rogue team from Gwandiis began illegal trade with the Olmec in 927 BC. One would assume that their interest in genetic manipulation began at this time as well since children were involved in the trade exchange. This union eventually went very badly and the specifics are covered in great detail by Eric Chen in his story for the battle anthology called, "373 BC"

It is important to take note that there were only two Gwandii involved in the trade. There were four other Gwandii who took the information and sample garnered from the union and became involved in genetic tampering. This was not a wide-spread evil in Gwandiis. Children effected by these tests would be very, very rare, and may very well include Eris, our universes great center of evil.

However, the penchant for Gwandii to be secretive and more violent, I believe is valid.

I wonder if Eris will make a "cameo" appearance in Matthew's story. It would be fitting.

Luz

[Admin]

Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:00 pm

papa nurgle wrote:

Nope sorry, Eris is part of the official canon for MG3K and as such I do not feel it is my prerogative to touch him. However, I have been thinking of ways to link my rogue group to Eris and his depredations, without having him come on stage as it were. Something about Eris having sympathizers in the Council who are possibly directing my Celestials. At least that is my idea at the moment...

[Admin]

Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:51 am

Cris wrote:

Eric, Please do not apologize!

I am pounding the keyboard working on the Sourcebook every spare moment. In the meantime, please let me know if there is a specific fact or reference you need as I have all the materials at my disposal. Integrating and making sure there aren't contradictions is what takes time. I would be happy to post any info you need.

You can also PM me to give me a head's up about where you've posted what you need and I'll pull the info together and post it.

Cris

[Admin]

Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:53 am

JenDiMarco wrote:

Three things:

Luz, in case you're tracking the finer details that are revealed in 373 BC, please know that the traders were reduced to two (instead of four). The main male and female from the original idea. All other events and outcomes remain the same.

Matt, please feel free to use Eris in cameo. Some of my favorite fanfiction plays with characters from the canon

EJ, I am busy charting out the shots for the Yellow Plot of the "Eris: Black & Gold" comic trilogy. This is where the Summoning takes place by Gier and Orcus. Can you please confirm:

1. Summoned beasts are the colors of the Celestial Summoning them.

2. Summoned beasts can be solid or semi-transparent.

3. Summoned beasts can be killed with what would normally be a fatal blow to the beast in flesh.

4. Summoned beasts dissipate into dust (not unlike Celestial death dust) when killed.

Thank you!

Jenn

[Admin]

Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:58 am

EJ wrote:

All of that is true, Jennifer, except I always imagined the beasts as semi-transparent. Will this be too difficult in terms of shooting?

EJ

[Admin]

Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:31 am

JenDiMarco wrote:

I can manage that in the comic, yes. But it will be harder. However, I want to stay true to the mythology.

Question:

Summoned beasts are raised like horses. This includes beasts from many different worlds. So... if a Celestial is back on Hom, the Summoned beast emerges/seperates from his body automatically? And in order to Summon a beast, the Celestial must own it, yes?

Jennifer

[Admin]

Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:28 am

EJ wrote:

Yes. That is all correct

EJ