Master Farin's Introductory Lecture on Summoning

[The lecture hall fills with excited chatter as first-year summoning students take their seats. At exactly the appointed hour, Master Farin Brownlock steps into the room. Despite his diminutive halfling stature, his presence immediately commands attention. His wild gray hair seems to float around his head as if caught in a perpetual breeze, and his brass-rimmed spectacles glint in the lamplight. His well-worn robes bear subtle patterns that appear to shift when viewed directly.]

Good morning, aspiring summoners! Welcome to Summoning 1-3: Foundations of Extraplanar Relations. I am Master Farin Brownlock, and I will be guiding you through your first steps into the vast multiverse beyond our own.

[He sets a worn leather satchel on the desk and removes several items: a piece of chalk, a small silver bell, and a leather-bound journal embossed with strange symbols.]

Before we begin, I must emphasize something of paramount importance. This class is not—I repeat, NOT—Conjuration. If you were hoping to learn how to create beings from nothing, I suggest you seek out Master Elisande's class down the hall.

[He removes his spectacles and polishes them thoughtfully.]

Conjuration creates; Summoning connects. When a conjurer manifests a hellhound, they craft a magical construct that mimics a hellhound's properties. When a summoner calls a hellhound, they are bringing forth an actual living being from the infernal planes. One makes a copy; the other makes a doorway. The distinction is not merely academic—it is fundamental to everything we will do in this class.

Now, I know many of you have heard stories about summoning—tales of malevolent demons breaking free of their constraints, or of foolish mages consumed by the very entities they sought to control. Some of these stories are true. Summoning is an art fraught with genuine danger, which is precisely why we begin with the most secure, if not the most ethically comfortable, method: Binding Summons.

The Nature of Summoning

At its core, summoning is an art of relationship. When you reach across the veil between worlds, you establish a connection between yourself and another conscious being. This connection begins with your magical signature—your unique metaphysical fingerprint that identifies you across the planes.

[He taps the air with his chalk, and glowing lines appear, forming a complex sigil that pulses with golden light.]

This is my own signature, simplified for demonstration purposes. Every time I cast a summons, this pattern ripples through the multiverse before me, announcing who I am and what I intend. And here lies the first critical lesson: your reputation precedes you—quite literally—as your magical signature ripples through the cosmos before your summons even completes.

Entities talk to one another. They share information about summoners—about how they treat those they call, whether they honor their agreements, whether they are worthy of respect or merely seek to exploit. Some of you may believe this irrelevant when performing binding summons, but I assure you, it matters greatly. A bound entity that respects you, even grudgingly, is far less likely to exploit weaknesses in your summoning circle than one that loathes you with every fiber of its being.

And make no mistake—the beings you summon have agency. They can resist your call if they choose. When this happens, a battle of wills ensues, a metaphysical struggle that can drain both parties significantly. This is why we begin with lesser entities from planes close to our own, such as the elemental planes. They are both easier to reach and generally less inclined to resist when approached with proper respect.

Binding Summons: Safety in Structure

[Master Farin begins drawing an intricate circle on the floor, the chalk leaving lines that glow with a soft blue radiance.]

I know many of you may have ethical reservations about binding summons, and rightfully so. To compel another being to your will is not something to be undertaken lightly. However, I would be remiss in my duties if I did not start you with the method that offers the greatest protection while you develop your skills.

Think of it as learning to swim with a rope tied to the shore. Eventually, you'll swim freely, but until you understand the currents, the rope ensures you don't get swept away.

A proper binding circle consists of several crucial elements:

[He points to various components of the circle as he names them.]

First, the outer containment ring, which establishes the physical boundaries the summoned entity cannot cross. Notice the unbroken lines and precise measurements—any imperfection here creates vulnerability.

Second, the runic identifiers that specify exactly what type of entity you wish to summon. Vagueness is your enemy; precision is your ally. Summon "a fire elemental" and you might get anything from a flickering ember-sprite to a raging inferno lord. Specify "a minor fire elemental of calm temperament, no larger than three feet in height," and your results will be far more predictable.

Third, the binding sigils that establish your authority. These symbols convert your will and magical energy into constraints that the summoned entity must obey.

Fourth, and most crucial for beginners, the emergency banishment triggers. These specialized runes activate automatically if the binding fails, instantly severing the connection and returning the entity to its home plane.

[He completes the circle, and the entire structure pulses once before settling into a steady, subtle glow.]

This is a standard binding circle suitable for a lesser elemental. Note the doubled containment rings, the quadruple emergency banishment triggers, and the precise identification parameters. For your first summonings, you will use circles with even more redundant safety features.

The Mana Gradient of Planar Distance

Now, before we proceed to our demonstration, we must discuss a critical practical consideration: the mana cost of summoning across planar distances. This is what separates the theoretical summoner from the practical one, and what has sent many an ambitious apprentice to the infirmary with severe mana depletion.

[He taps his chalk against the innermost circle.]

Our realm, Aethoria, sits at the center of what we call the Planar Gradient. The planes immediately adjacent to ours—the Elemental Planes of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, along with the Fae Realm and the Shadow Realm—require the least mana to reach. A competent journeyman summoner might call forth a minor elemental and maintain the connection for up to an hour without significant strain.

[He moves to the next ring outward.]

The secondary planes—the Astral Sea, the Ethereal Plains, the Dreamlands—exist at what we call a Double Gradient. The mana requirement doesn't simply double, as some simplistic texts suggest. Rather, it increases exponentially. A summoning that might cost you twenty mana units for an elemental would require approximately one hundred units for an equivalent entity from these planes.

[His chalk moves to the third ring.]

The Outer Planes—including the Celestial Domains where beings like Elithrial reside, the Planes of Eternal Conflict that Skarathor calls home, and the numerous Abyssal Realms—exist at a Triple Gradient. Here, the mana requirements become truly prohibitive for all but master summoners with exceptional capacity. What cost one hundred units at the secondary planes now demands upwards of five hundred.

[He draws a final circle beyond the chart's edge.]

Beyond these lie what we call the Far Realms, planes so distant from our reality that their very nature defies our understanding. Summoning from these regions is less a matter of mana quantity and more a question of mana quality. The energies required must be specially attuned through ritual, sacrifice, and often years of preparation. Even then, success is... uncommon.

This is why we begin your training with elemental summonings from the nearest planes. Not only are the beings there generally more comprehensible to our minds, but the mana requirements allow for error margins that more distant summonings simply cannot afford. A lapse in concentration during an elemental summoning might give you a headache; the same lapse when reaching for the Outer Planes could leave you comatose—or worse.

I should note that established relationships can somewhat mitigate these costs. Elithrial and I have worked together for so long that our connection has formed what we call a Planar Pathway—a semi-permanent channel that reduces the mana requirement substantially. This is yet another reason to cultivate positive relationships rather than rely solely on binding force.

[He turns back to the class.]

For your first summonings, prepare your bodies and minds for significant exertion. Even reaching the Elemental Planes will tax your untrained systems. I advise rest, proper nutrition, and abstaining from other magical workings for at least two days prior to our practical session.

[He pauses, looking over the classroom with a serious expression.]

Oh, and one last thing—never attempt to hide signs of mana exhaustion during summoning exercises. The moment you feel your concentration wavering, signal for assistance. I would much rather help a student properly terminate a summoning than reconstruct a classroom after an uncontrolled planar rift. The southwestern tower still hasn't fully recovered from last year's incident.

Entity Hierarchy and Mana Requirements

[After discussing the Planar Gradient, Master Farin retrieves a crystalline model from his desk. As he sets it on the binding circle, it projects a four-tiered hierarchy of glowing symbols arranged in an intricate pyramidal structure.]

Now we must address another critical factor in summoning calculations: the hierarchical nature of extraplanar entities. Just as distance between planes affects mana cost exponentially, so too does the power and rank of the entity you seek to summon.

[He indicates the lowest tier of the projection.]

Minor entities—such as a spark elemental, a lesser fae sprite, or a shadow wisp—form the foundation of their respective planar hierarchies. These beings represent the baseline mana cost for their plane. For example, a minor fire elemental might require approximately fifty units of mana to summon and bind for half an hour.

[His hand moves to the second tier.]

Greater entities—such as emberlings, fae warriors, or shadow stalkers—possess more power and frequently, greater intelligence than their minor counterparts. The mana requirement for these beings doubles from the baseline. Our fire elemental example now demands one hundred units, and the binding circle requires additional stabilizing components.

[He moves to the third tier, which expands to reveal three sub-levels.]

Nobility represents a significant jump in the power hierarchy. This tier itself is divided into three ranks:

[He indicates the lowest sub-section of the nobility tier.]

Lesser Nobility—beings such as flame lords, fae knights, or shadow hunters—command respect within their domains and often control contingents of lesser beings. The mana requirement quadruples from the baseline to two hundred units.

[He points to the middle sub-section.]

Middling Nobility—such as archfiends, fae counts, or void barons—wield substantial power and influence throughout their realms. Summoning these entities requires eight times the baseline mana, or four hundred units in our example.

[He indicates the highest sub-section of the nobility tier.]

Greater Nobility—entities like Bellinor the Prince of Chains or Lady Shimmerleaf of the Autumn Court—are beings of immense power who command vast territories and legions of lesser nobles. The mana requirement surges to sixteen times the baseline, requiring eight hundred units for our hypothetical fire entity.

[Finally, he indicates the apex of the pyramid.]

Monarchs—elemental sovereigns, archfey rulers, shadow emperors, and their equivalents—stand at the pinnacle of their respective hierarchies. These beings rule entire planes or significant portions thereof, commanding absolute authority over all lesser entities in their domains. The mana cost for such beings is a staggering thirty-two times the baseline. Our simple fire elemental summoning has now become a ritual requiring sixteen hundred units of mana, specialized containment measures, and frankly, a very good reason to attempt it at all.

[He dismisses the projection with a wave of his hand.]

When we combine these hierarchical factors with planar distance, the mathematics become rather sobering. A being of Greater Nobility from an Outer Plane might require upward of twenty thousand mana units—well beyond even my capacity without substantial preparation and support. As for Monarchs from those realms? The numbers become truly astronomical.

This is why historical accounts of legendary summoners calling forth nobles and monarchs from distant planes invariably mention extensive ritual preparation, multiple supporting casters, rare material components, and often, significant personal sacrifice. The great summoner Varathorn famously spent seventeen years preparing to summon Bellinor, the Prince of Chains, from the Ninth Abyssal Circle. The ritual consumed the life force of eleven willing assistants and left Varathorn physically aged by decades—but succeeded.

[He gives the class a stern look.]

I tell you this not to frighten you, though a healthy respect for these forces is appropriate, but to emphasize the importance of careful selection. Many novice summoners fixate on calling the most powerful entity possible, when frequently a minor being with precisely the right capabilities would serve their purpose more effectively and safely.

Consider: would you rather successfully maintain a stable connection with a minor water elemental that can precisely answer your questions about underwater currents, or lose control of a water lord that floods your laboratory before returning to its plane?

[He looks pointedly at several eager-looking students.]

For your first practical exercise, we will summon only the most minor of elemental entities—barely more than animated motes of their respective elements. Even these will test your reserves, but with proper preparation and the safety measures we'll implement, the risk will be manageable.

Mana Cost Reference Table

| Entity Level | Adjacent Planes | Secondary Planes | Outer Planes | Far Realms | |------------------------|----------------|------------------|----------------|------------| | Minor | 50 units | 250 units | 1,250 units | Variable* | | Greater | 100 units | 500 units | 2,500 units | Variable* | | Lesser Nobility | 200 units | 1,000 units | 5,000 units | Variable* | | Middling Nobility | 400 units | 2,000 units | 10,000 units | Variable* | | Greater Nobility | 800 units | 4,000 units | 20,000 units | Variable* | | Monarchs | 1,600 units | 8,000 units | 40,000 units | Variable* |

*Far Realm summoning costs cannot be reliably quantified in standard mana units. Attempts require specialized ritual components, often including significant sacrifices.

Binding Costs and Willpower Requirements

[Master Farin draws the class's attention to the intricate components of the binding circle on the floor.]

We must now address a practical consideration that many theoretical texts neglect: the ongoing costs of maintaining a summoning. I speak of both mana expenditure and willpower demands, which vary significantly based on your chosen binding method.

Binding Circle Maintenance

For active bindings, where you maintain control against the entity's will, you face a threefold cost:

1. Initial Summoning Cost: The mana required to reach across planes and establish the connection
2. Circle Empowerment: A continuous mana expenditure to maintain the integrity of your binding circle
3. Willpower Contest: The mental fortitude required to prevent the entity from seizing control

The circle empowerment cost scales with both the entity's power and its resistance to binding. A compliant minor elemental might require only 5% of the initial summoning cost per hour to maintain the circle. A furious being of nobility rank might demand up to 20% per hour, steadily draining your reserves.

[He traces a series of reinforcement sigils in the binding circle.]

More concerning is the willpower contest. Particularly powerful or hostile entities will continuously test your bindings, seeking weaknesses. This resistance manifests as mental pressure that can cause splitting headaches, disorientation, and eventually complete exhaustion. I have seen accomplished summoners collapse after mere minutes of containing a particularly strong-willed entity.

The classic failure mode is what we call "circle inversion"—when the summoned entity seizes control of the binding and turns it against the summoner. The more powerful the entity, the greater the willpower required to prevent this outcome.

Contracted and Agreement Summons

By contrast, contracted summons require mana only for the initial planar transit. Once the entity is present, the terms of the contract—not your ongoing mana—maintain the relationship. You must still supply the agreed-upon compensation, of course, but your mana reserves can begin recovery immediately.

Agreement summons are even more efficient, requiring mana only for the initial connection. This efficiency is why experienced summoners inevitably favor these arrangements when possible.

Return Mechanics

[Master Farin produces a small crystal model showing energy flowing between planes.]

Finally, we should discuss return mechanics. If a summoned entity is depleted of mana, severely injured, or "killed" while in our plane, it automatically returns to its home plane. This is not true death but rather a forced transition—the entity's essence is drawn back to its native plane where it will eventually recover its form and energy.

This planar law applies even to hostile summonings gone awry. An entity running amok may cause significant damage before its energy depletes, but it cannot permanently remain in our plane without a sustaining summoner or anchoring artifact.

Remember this when considering your bindings: a perfectly maintained circle might still fail if you cannot sustain its mana requirements. A contracted summoning almost always proves more reliable for extended tasks.

Duration Factor for Binding Summons

Each half-hour of maintained connection multiplies the initial circle maintenance cost:

• First 30 minutes: Base maintenance cost (5-20% of summoning cost per hour)
• 1 hour: 1.5× base maintenance cost
• 2 hours: 3× base maintenance cost
• 4 hours: 7× base maintenance cost
• 8 hours: 15× base maintenance cost

Beyond eight hours, maintenance costs increase geometrically, making extended binding summonings impractical without specialized ritual support, established Planar Pathways, or group casting arrangements.

A Practical Demonstration

Now, to truly understand the principles we're discussing, I believe a demonstration is in order. I've arranged for two of my associates to join us today—beings I've summoned under different arrangements that illustrate various approaches to extraplanar relationships.

First, allow me to introduce Skarathor, a manifestation from the Planes of Eternal Conflict.

[Master Farin produces a small metal disk etched with complex symbols. He places it in the center of the circle and speaks a short phrase in a language that sounds like grinding gears. The air within the circle shimmers and distorts.]

I summon thee by our contract, Skarathor, Blade of the Sevenfold Conquest.

[The air tears open with a sound like ripping metal. From within the rift steps a towering figure composed of interlocking plates of armor, countless blades of varying sizes, and constantly moving mechanical components. Steam hisses from joints in its form, and its "face" is merely a helmet with a narrow slit from which emanates a fierce red light.]

Skarathor is bound to me by a contractual summons. We have a formal agreement specifying exactly what each of us may request of the other, the duration of service, and the compensation provided. Notice that despite his fearsome appearance, he stands calmly within the circle. The binding is present, but it serves primarily as a framework for our agreement rather than a compulsion.

[The mechanical entity inclines its head slightly toward the class.]

Skarathor has agreed to answer a few questions about his realm and the nature of contractual summons, but first, let me introduce my second guest. This demonstration will require a slightly different approach.

[Master Farin clears his throat and speaks in a conversational tone.]

Elithrial, old friend, if you're not otherwise occupied, we're ready for that discussion about storytelling traditions across the planes.

[For a moment, nothing happens. Then, a soft golden light begins to fill the room, not emanating from any specific source but seeming to gently saturate the air itself. The light coalesces into a tall, robed figure with a hooded face. As the form solidifies, six magnificent wings unfold from its back, each feather lined with gently blinking eyes of various colors. The figure's face remains hidden within the hood, but there's an impression of serene benevolence emanating from it.]

Students, this is Elithrial, a celestial being known among the Eloi as the Archivist of Forgotten Tales. Elithrial and I have known each other for over thirty years, and our relationship is based entirely on agreement summons and shared interests. There is no binding, no contract—merely trust built over decades. Elithrial visits occasionally for tea and conversation, and in exchange for new stories from Aethoria, shares tales from across the cosmos.

[The hooded figure inclines its head in greeting, and a gentle voice that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere speaks.]

Elithrial: Greetings, young seekers of knowledge. It is my pleasure to assist in your education. Master Farin tells most entertaining stories, and I find your world's confections quite delightful. The scones with clotted cream are particularly worth traversing planar boundaries for.

[Master Farin smiles warmly.]

Indeed, I've prepared some fresh ones for after the lecture. Now, I'd like to demonstrate the fundamental differences in these two types of relationships.

Skarathor, would you please describe the sensation of being called through a contractual summons?

[The mechanical entity speaks in a voice like metal striking metal.]

Skarathor: The summons comes as a vibration through the planes, carrying the summoner's signature. I feel the terms of our contract activate, binding both myself and Farin Brownlock to our agreed parameters. The transition is controlled, deliberate. I maintain awareness and agency within the boundaries we have established. The binding circle serves as a stabilizing influence rather than a prison.

[Master Farin nods and turns to the celestial being.]

Elithrial, would you explain how you experience an agreement summons?

Elithrial: [Its voice gentle and melodious] When Farin calls, I perceive it as something akin to what you might call a polite knock upon a door. I sense his presence and intention, and I choose whether to answer. There is no compulsion, merely invitation. The transition between planes occurs through mutual intent rather than magical structure. It is more... conversational than mechanical.

[Master Farin addresses the class again.]

Notice the fundamental differences in approach and experience. Both beings are here willingly, though under different arrangements. Skarathor operates within more formal constraints but receives specific compensation for defined services. Elithrial enjoys greater freedom but provides assistance based on friendship and mutual interest.

As you progress in your studies, you'll learn when each approach is appropriate. For now, however, we begin with binding summons—not because they represent the ideal relationship, but because they provide the necessary safety measures while you develop your skills and reputation.

Your First Assignment

Over the next fortnight, you will study the binding circles I've provided in your course materials. You will memorize each component, understand its function, and practice drawing them with absolute precision. At the end of this period, each of you will perform your first summoning—calling forth a lesser elemental under carefully controlled conditions.

I cannot overstate the importance of precision in this work. A misdrawn line, a mispronounced word, or a wavering will can all lead to complications. Approach this assignment with the seriousness it deserves.

[He distributes a set of parchments to the class.]

These contain the specific circles you will use, along with detailed explanations of each component. Study them thoroughly. Practice drawing them until you could do so in your sleep. When we reconvene for the practical exercise, I expect perfect execution.

[He returns to the front of the room, standing between his two summoned companions.]

Remember this above all else: Every entity you summon is a thinking, feeling being with its own history, personality, and agenda. The methods we use to establish relationships with these beings reflect not just our magical skill, but our character. Begin with binding for safety, certainly—but aspire to relationships built on mutual respect and understanding.

[He glances at the celestial being beside him.]

After all, the finest tea tastes better when shared with friends than with servants.

[The mechanical entity gives what might be interpreted as a mechanical snort.]

Skarathor: The Halfling waxes poetic again. Combat efficiency requires clear command structures, not friendship bracelets.

Elithrial: [With gentle amusement] And yet, old warrior, you chose to renew your contract rather than seek another summoner. Curious, is it not?

[Skarathor makes a grinding sound that might be the equivalent of a begrudging harrumph.]

[Master Farin smiles at the exchange.]

And that, students, is your first glimpse into the complex relationships that await you beyond the veil of our world. For next class, read chapters one through three in "Foundations of Extraplanar Communication" and practice your circle-drawing. Dismissed.

[As the students begin to file out, Master Farin produces a small silver teapot and a plate of scones from his satchel, setting them on the desk.]

Now, Elithrial, about that story I promised you... Have you heard about the curious incident at the Northern Academy involving three apprentices, a miscast weather spell, and an extremely disgruntled postal pegasus?

[The celestial being's wings flutter with apparent delight as Master Farin begins his tale, while Skarathor takes up a position by the door, mechanical components shifting restlessly as if perpetually preparing for battle.]