|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:58 am
The Summoning
The Cavern
At the end of all the tunnels, those that have not completely collapsed, at least, there is a large cavern. The cavern is usually several miles into the earth, and is protected by ancient and powerful magic. Those who are not drawn by the tolling, but stumble in by accident, are kept out by an illusion made to look like part of the dirt and rock that makes up the tunnel walls -- and is physically impassable by all except for those select few known as the Aelfir.
The cavern itself is usually quite large, a hundred feet to several hundred feet in diameter, with walls that are marked with runes and ancient depictions of battles -- hounds and summoners from long ago at fierce war with demons.
Even the air here seems strange. Heavy and thick with the weight of the earth and -- something else. A whispering that glides across the mind like warm, thick, syrup and dulls the senses into a fading numbness... blacking it out until there is nothing but warmth. No light, no sound, or touch, or taste, or even the memory of such things.
Then, when it leaves, there is the curious feeling of something else in the mind.
It is apparent that, whatever else may have happened, some sort of magic was wrought in those countless moments while the Aelfir had been taken over by the magic in the room. If an observer had been in the room they would have seen them moving about to gather items and mix and stir them, chanting strange and powerful words as they did so. Sometimes the summoner may emerge with their new hound only hours after entering the Tunnels, and sometimes not for days.
But no-one is ever there to observe, or to say what exactly happens. Somehow, the Cavern blocks others out, even other Summoners, during this process.
Whatever words are spoken, as well as the process itself, are always completely forgotten by the time the Summoner comes too -- usually moments before the portal is set to open. It's at this time that the Hound and Summoner may speak for the first time. In order for the pact to be made both parties will either make a promise or a sacrifice. Afterward, the portal will open to release the hound, as a small pup and, with it, forge a lifelong bond that is, for most, more intimate and powerful than anything else that may yet experience.
Afterward, most Summoners can usually find the Cavern again. However if they are with others who are not summoners, or who have not yet been chosen for their own summoning, the way to the Cavern will be as lost to them as to an outsider. It seems to be some sort of mechanism for protecting itself from those who are not meant to enter -- though how this happens is unknown.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 12:07 pm
To Be Chosen
◘ As you well know all Aelfir, or future summoners, are afflicted by "The Tolling" which may be called many other names depending upon local region. Whatever it's called, the sensation is the same -- a sort of ringing, buzzing, sound that makes the person feel anything from somewhat uncomfortable to disturbed.
◘ At some point, the sound will become incessant and the summoner is filled with a sense of longing that overrides all other feeling. Most people can choose to ignore it for awhile, but, in the end, it almost always leads them down to the Underground, and the tunnels within.
◘ The Tolling's strength is different for summoners at any one time. Someone may experience it very strongly one moment while, at the same time, someone else barely even notices it. It's a very individual things. Though, generally, it seems to be stronger on full moons and new moons (but this isn't always the case and summonings can happen any day of the year).
◘ The amount of time it takes for someone to hear the tolling, and to answer it, can vary. This can be anywhere from a few months to several years before they hear or feel a thing!
The Summoning Process
◘ The actual summoning can ONLY take place in the Caverns, located in the Underground. Hounds cannot simply materialize out of thin air.
◘ The only items present in the Caverns are a cauldron and some miscellaneous ingredients which never really seem to run out, somehow...
◘ There are no books or other written accounts as to how the summoning works, and no verbal oration, either. The secret to this, if it was ever known, has been completely lost.
◘ The character is NEVER aware of the actual process of the summoning. The knowledge was lost, remember? They don't magically understand how to do this from nowhere, and there is no book or other understandable written material in the room to explain it. They are overcome by magic, sort of like being possessed, and will go through the process without remembering any of it. When they wake up, there will be a portal in the air, and they can talk with the hound (who is not yet summoned.
◘ The important thing about the sacrifice is that it's something meaningful to both parties, so this can vary quite a lot! The other caveat is that material items, even diamonds, the character's favorite stuffed teddy bear, or grandma's famous apple pie, are not enough. So a promise of some sort, or some kind of pact or other agreement must be made. For most the promise of increased power/strength/longevity through the hound might be enough for the human, and the hound may think it's enough to just be allowed into Earth. Sometimes a human needs a companion, or a protector, or they're blind and want to see, or deaf and want to hear (in which case they can use the hound as their eyes/ears, but won't be 'cured'). Stuff like that.
◘ For Hounds gained through a breeding -- yes the Hound does still need to be summoned. Read more about the nature of the 'breeding' process between hounds, below.
A Failed Summoning
◘ It's technically possible for this to happen, though only when the two parties cannot agree on what to sacrifice. For most, the human is sacrificing an aspect of their life (they will NEVER be alone again, which for some is a good thing) and the Hound is sacrificing a portion of it's own life energy (they'll never live as long as an unbound Hound, but will still live quite awhile).
◘ Sometimes, though, a hound or person may want MORE than what the other is willing to give up. If a compromise cannot be breached, then one or the other will make the decision to terminate the spell, and the portal will disappear.
◘ If the summoning does fail, it's extremely unlikely that the Summoner will have the same chance again, and most are too overwhelmed and excited by what is happening to be stingy anyway.
◘ Still, it IS possible for the hound, or the summoner, to trick the other into agreeing to a sacrifice they might not otherwise have agreed to. The result is usually a rather unhappy bond that is stressful, evening sickening, to one, or both, parties.
The Caverns
◘ There are a number of caverns throughout Canis, and all of them are more or less the same. How many there are is not entirely known, though the current count seems to be something around 20-30.
◘ Inside the caverns the walls are filled with murals of ancient battles, hell hounds, and their summoners, as well as demons. There are also old runes carved here, but they are indecipherable and impossible to translate.
◘ As for other contents in the room there is only ever a slight raised platform in the middle with a cauldron, and a few chests filled with ingredients that, mysteriously, never seem to run out. Doing anything with these ingredients will yield no results on it's own.
◘ There are no books or other written items, aside from the carved runes, and no explanation, after, for how the summoner managed to create the portal which will summon the hound. Only a used cauldron and, perhaps, a slight headache from having been overwhelmed by the magic.
◘ The magic in the room is heavy against the mind, but it doesn't have a physical presence at all. It cannot be seen, heard, or tasted, nor physically felt.
◘ The caverns only permit one person, ever, inside the room itself during a summoning and will block out, and even hide itself, from others. It will also hide itself from those who are not summoners, such as whysts and glemmings, or those summoners who have not yet made a summoning themselves.
◘ Summoners that have made a summons are able to visit the caverns again afterward, even with other summoners, but NEVER if they are in the company of non-summoners, or Aelfir who have not yet made a summons. The cavern will be impossible to find. The reason for this is unknown.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 12:18 pm
Hounds gained through Breedings
First of all, it's important to note that hounds, being spiritual beings, do not breed in a normal fashion. This is why babies can be made from two males or two females, just as easily as a male and a female. What happens is that their spirit 'essence' mingles when the two come into close proximity. This doesn't happen ALL the time, and is more likely to happen when the two hounds have some sort of emotional connection, even a brief one. Hounds are never aware of this process, either, which is probably a good thing (I mean, really, "woops, sorry I just mingled with you"?)
After that, the new hounds are created and are mere wisps of spirit energy. They cannot be seen, and are formed in a sort of 'in-between' realm, or limbo, and will eventually be sucked back down toward the Abyss. The reason why they don't have a physical presence is because they're still too young and weak to make one, and without the anchoring bond of a human companion they cannot resist the pull back to their natural realm.
It's at this point that most newly made hounds can be summoned. The process for the summoner is still the same -- they don't remember any of it, etc. Once the hound is successfully summoned, it takes on the physical aspect of a pup.
◘ Because the hound is already so close to the earthen realm, it doesn't require the huge discharge of energy that adult hounds use up to cross through the portal. This is why only adult hounds are summoned directly from the Abyss.
◘ If, ICCly, you wanted the 2nd gen (or higher) hound to be from the abyss then it would have to be an adult which has already made it to it's natural realm, and would give up it's energy to pass through. It would STILL appear as only a puppy, though, because of the energy exchange.
◘ As far as relatives recognizing each other in the setting this is possible. They might recognize as a sense of their own spirit essence in the individual and know them to be of their 'family' but Hounds do not raise their young the way many other creatures do. It doesn't mean you can't RP the hounds in that manner, since this isn't a hard and fast rule, but it IS important to remember that hounds are NOT aware of actually having any offspring until/unless they happen to run into them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 2:00 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
