I. Theoretical Foundations
1.1 The Doctrine of Primordial Pacts
Blamag’s Infernal Bestiary teaches that interdimensional beings—referred to as Elemental Familiars—exist in symbiotic harmony with the material world. Unlike the coercive methods of Solomon’s Ars Goetia, Blamag’s philosophy emphasizes mutualistic contracts where summoners provide energy (via Aetheric Offerings) in exchange for a Familiar’s services. Familiars are classified into four tiers: Emberkin (fire-aligned), Aquarids (water-aligned), Terraliths (earth-aligned), and Zephyrlings (air-aligned).
1.2 The Triad of Ethical Summoning
All summoning rituals adhere to three principles:
- Non-Exploitation: Familiars cannot be compelled to harm sentient beings.
- Temporal Limitation: Contracts expire at dawn unless renewed with consent.
- Elemental Balance: Summoning more than two Familiars of opposing elements (e.g., fire and water) risks Aetheric Collapse, destabilizing the local ecosystem.
II. Practical Applications & Effects
2.1 Core Applications
- Defensive Warding: Terraliths can erect temporary stone barriers, while Zephyrlings disrupt hostile magical projectiles.
- Scouting & Reconnaissance: Aquarids manifest as translucent water serpents capable of traversing liquids to gather information.
- Energetic Healing: Emberkin purify toxins by incinerating them at a molecular level, though this requires precise control to avoid overheating.
2.2 Limitations
- Familiars refuse tasks violating their alignment (e.g., a Terralith cannot ignite fires).
- Prolonged summoning (>6 hours) drains the caster’s vitality, manifesting as fever or hallucinations.
III. Key Artifacts
3.1 The Infernal Bestiary (Grimoire)
- Binding: Leather from a salamander’s shed skin, resistant to flames and water. Pages are made from Vellum of the Veil (goat parchment soaked in interdimensional dew).
- Ink: Chronoglow Ink (glowworm essence mixed with powdered moonstone) for permanent entries; Fadeleaf Ink for temporary notes.
- Taboo: Drawing a Familiar’s sigil in reverse summons a Wraithbound—a corrupted spirit that haunts the caster until exorcised.
3.2 Summoning Implements
- Obsidian Chime: A black glass bell struck to signal the start and end of rituals. Its resonance repels parasitic spirits.
- Aetheric Brazier: A copper bowl filled with sand from Blamag’s Sanctum Desert, used to burn offerings (e.g., dried herbs, enchanted resins).
- Elemental Compass: A lodestone engraved with tiered sigils to track active Familiars and prevent over-summoning.
IV. Ritual Praxis
4.1 Preparation (24 Hours Prior)
- Sanctify the Summoning Circle: Scrub a 9-foot-diameter area with saltwater and trace its perimeter with crushed amethyst to amplify conductivity.
- Charge the Brazier: Burn a blend of sage, myrrh, and cedarwood at midnight while reciting the Oath of Balance from the Bestiary.
4.2 Summoning Protocol
Step 1: Sigil Activation
- Open the Bestiary to the desired Familiar’s page (e.g., Aquarid Sigil).
- Trace the sigil over the brazier using a Phoenix Feather Quill, ensuring the ink glows blue (water alignment). Chant:
“From tides unseen and depths untold,
Rise bound by pact, not coerced by gold.”
Step 2: Elemental Conduit
- Place a bowl of seawater (for Aquarids) in the circle’s center. Strike the Obsidian Chime thrice.
- As smoke from the brazier coalesces into a serpentine form, state your request clearly (e.g., “Reveal the location of the lost artifact”).
Step 3: Pact Sealing
- Tear the sigil page from the Bestiary and burn it in the brazier. If the Familiar accepts, the flame turns turquoise; if rejected, it sputters black.
- Upon acceptance, sprinkle the ashes into the seawater to finalize the pact.
- At dawn, ring the Obsidian Chime seven times and say:
“By sun’s first light, our pact now ends.
Return to mist, as foe to friends.” - Scatter the remaining ashes to the wind.
V. Historical Precedent
1498 “The Coral Rebellion”
A student summoned an Aquarid to locate a sunken ship but failed to dismiss it. The Familiar flooded Blamag’s lower vaults, spawning coral that still glows bioluminescent blue. This incident led to the Aquatic Containment Edict, mandating secondary dismissal sigils for water-aligned rituals.
Conclusion
Blamag’s Infernal Bestiary redefines summoning as a collaborative art, blending ancient wisdom with ethical rigor. As inscribed on the grimoire’s cover: “To command the elements is to converse with the cosmos—heed its whispers, lest you drown in its roar.”
Blamag Summoning Advisory
“Do not feed Familiars chocolate. The 1513 ‘Cocoa Incident’ proved that sugar-hyped Zephyrlings can dismantle rooftops and rearrange tiles into embarrassing limericks.”
