Summoning

In the world of PÈRYL, all otherworldly beings—irrespective of their ethos—are collectively called demons. Taxonomy of demons of course allows for numerous subsets: angels are the messengers and heralds of greater divinities; devils are malevolent in nature, some as minor creatures (imps), others as princelings of vile demesnes to rival minor godlings; parabeings are constructs of various material that are given a semblance of life by pulling subtle bodies from the Void; elementals exist throughout the multiverse in higher and lower realms of reality, brought forth to the mundane world through summoning or quirk of the Rift. Creatures from other realms collectively—angels, devils, parabeing construct, elementals, et al—as are demons, and thus all summoned beings are demons.
The subtle bodies of demons require matter to coalesce inside of if they are to remain corporeal on the material plane. Some summoning magic provides the means to form this cohesive shell around the subtle body of the summoned demon. However, in such instances, the material binding the summoned is brittle, finite, and begins to degrade and decay almost immediately, which in turn causes the summoned being's subtle body to assert itself over crude matter and at best the summoning ends. At worst, the assertion of the subtle over the gross breaks the binding magics first before ending the summoning and the demon freed from such binding is never pleased with its gaoler. Many a summoner met a unpleasant end at the hands of an enraged, wrathful demon before the summoning magic itself spent.
More powerful beings could themselves create the corporeal vessel to house their subtle body and thus maintain their presence on the material plane, however, summoned demons of such power rarely consent to do so. Summoning is rarely desired by the summoned. Demons: devils, angels, greater elementals, fae, and even the least of minor godlings all maybe capable, yet few are willing to comply with the demands of their summoner. The magic circle that they are summoned into may appear to be merely one dimensional, but to the demon trapped inside it is multidimensional and almost always unpleasant: a gaol, a cage, and a torture device. Demons therein have reported cacophonous tintinnabulations, painful jagged edges contorting around their bodies, nauseating scents, mental confusion, and sensations of drowning, burning, freezing.
To circumvent the frailty of the magic-generated vessel (as well as alleviating the pain of binding magics), a summoner can provide the subtle body of their summons with offerings that will be of greater resilience, binding the summoned being to the material plane. Powerful artificers have bound demons into magical weapons, ornate boxes, rings, and amulets. Others have offered up mortal flesh in the form of a sacrifice—dragons, humanoids, magical yet earthly beings—which the subtle body of the summoned demon then corrupts, distorts, and grows into a vessel in the image of their truer form.
In the case of summoners who have rapport with their summoned, offerings, not sacrifice, can be made instead, but they are often unnecessary. Furthermore, magic circles to trap the summoned are rarely necessary; no binding magic wards are necessary. Elementalists, for example, will invite their primal allies into the material level of hyperreality and the summoned will create their own mortal frames. They are not as resilient as organic, earthly forms, but they are far more so than those created wholly of magic. They are comparable to those made from living sacrifice, but without the murderous loss of life.

Ishknari- sumning circle active.png

Activated Ishkhnari Summoning Circle by 包德強

An activated and lively summoning circle used by the acolytes of the Ishkhnari. It involves a modified pentangle and the minotaur-glyph of the beast. It is powered by dark magics augmented by an eye-stone.

Seal of Hœm / Magic Circle of the Seven Moons

Seal of the Mayor of Port Hren by 包德强

The Mayoral Seal of Port Hren. It depicts the colours of the Seven Moons, with each of the dyads across from their counter and the centrality of the Gold Moon, Wœn.

Because of its depiction of the Seven Moons, it is also used as a magic circle in Summoning. This usage well predates its adoption as the mayoral seal of Port Hren, and for some scholars, particularly among the sceptical Schqhènnites, implies a history of summoner magic involved with the Throne governance of the city.