Second Snows

[mercuryangel]

{ - Δ Unknowing Doomed Dead Wood - }

[Mia thought she might be lost for a moment. The numerous warp points and doors, along with her tendency not to hoard Chim Spheres meant that she often had to backtrack to an earlier part of the shrine dungeon... if she could ever find it. Why would anyone build something like this??

But if you happen to be lucky, in a room built away from the rest of the dungeon, you might catch the end of her staff glowing blue for a moment as she attacks, leaving a momentary splash of milky-white water behind. Clerics like her can't learn Arts, and staves never have special attacks. What could this mystery technique be? (Ivan will of course be able to recognize it as a Djinni attack, if he's watching.)

Later, you could see her invoking some sort of strange creature, which proceeds to scour enemies with some sort of beam. Even she seems surprised, as if she didn't expect it to look quite that way...]

Comments

[minetodecide]

[Another test run of the Meteor Driver, that's what he wanted to do here but before he could have the chance to transform, he spotted someone fighting some monsters. A cleric, with a...a pet monster? How do you get a pe--was that a laser beam? Regardless, he hangs back and watches the fight.]

[mercuryangel]

[A group of icicles forms in midair and cascades towards the remaining monster, which looks like some kind of weird owl.]

[minetodecide]

[He's seen enough, this monster is obviously not from this world. He steps out from where he was hiding and approaches once the last enemy was dealt with.]

That's a powerful pet you have, I didn't know you could have one in this place.

[mercuryangel]

[Ahhh, she was being watched! Not good!]

Neither did I... He's from my home, but he just appeared recently!

[minetodecide]

Recently? Was it your level 20 item lock?

[mercuryangel]

I didn't have any locked items. Maybe living things don't count for that?

[minetodecide]

Maybe. [He kneels down to take a look at the small monster. This creature was out of place, it didn't match any of the usual monster designs here and the fact that it aided a player made all the more strange.] Does it bite?

[mercuryangel]

[It seems to be backing away from Ryusei. And also a little tired.]

No, not really, but it doesn't seem to like you anyway.

[greatcleavage]

[Cue the avenging fighter rushing onto the scene, sword held high!]

You're not in this fight alone! I....

...that's a summoned monster on your side, isn't it.

[mercuryangel]

[Oh dear, she's been discovered! Good thing it was Roy...]

I wouldn't call him a monster!

[greatcleavage]

[Roy spends an unfortunate amount of time in dungeons.]

Sorry, force of habit. The spell name I'm used to is just "Summon Monster".

[mercuryangel]

Why would anyone want to summon a monster?

[greatcleavage]

A variety of reasons! First, action economy. A summoned monster is another initiative roll on your side of the field. Second, targeting, since a summoned monster is another body on your side of the field in turn, forcing them to either spend time and energy dealing with the monster, or ignore it at their peril. Thirdly, most summoned monsters have an advantage a party member doesn't, such as better movement, superior size and ability to grapple, or access to certain special attacks.

[mercuryangel]

Then what happens if it attacks you instead?

[greatcleavage]

It can't. A summoned monster serves the caster of the spell that summoned it.

[mercuryangel]

That would make it a lot more useful.

[greatcleavage]

Exactly. Of course, druids still excel at summoning, because they can generally summon a given creature at a lower level of spell than the wizard or cleric equivalent. The arcane and clerical versions generally result in a celestial or fiendish creature, which has minor advantages, but mechanically doesn't outweigh the availability.

[Roy knows a LOT about a LOT, as it happens.]

[mercuryangel]

This is an elemental, though...

[greatcleavage]

Elementals tend to suffer the same problems, because they're on the "monster" list and not the "nature's ally" list, so they have to be of comparative power.

But that's what I'm used to, anyway. Your friend here looked pretty capable!

[mercuryangel]

I used to be able to summon more than one at a time and have them work together, but that doesn't seem to be working.

[greatcleavage]

Interesting. There was never an artificial limit on summoning for the spells I'm used to. I think some got errata'd in for psionics, but I'm not sure we used that book. Do you think it's an artificial level limitation?

[mercuryangel]

I'm not sure. And while all three of these are different, summoning them like this does the same thing no matter which one it is.

[greatcleavage]

So they've been standardized to one attack method, with different elemental damage?

[mercuryangel]

There is more than one way I can use them, though, and they're happy to help.

[greatcleavage]

Hmm.

Well, whatever the case, I'm glad you've managed to recover at least this level of power. Can you act independently of them, or are you required to devote your effort to commanding them?

[mercuryangel]

Well, most of the time they just hang around me. Summoning or unleashing one doesn't take all that long, but it tires them out fairly quickly.

[greatcleavage]

Monster-summoning spells do generally have a short duration. Is their ability to appear based on your energy, or theirs?

[mercuryangel]

Theirs. And using more advanced summoning tires them out in different amounts.

[greatcleavage]

Well, I have to say that sounds both versatile and extremely useful. Especially for a healer, since it allows you to contribute in roles beyond just spellcasting and restoration!

[mercuryangel]

The other people I was traveling with from home had these, too, actually.

[greatcleavage]

Really? That's... something else. Is it natural from people where you're from to be able to just summon creatures?

[mercuryangel]

They don't respond well to people that don't have the kind of power they and I do.

[They're perfectly visible to others, but will run away or attack...]

[greatcleavage]

...In other words, I shouldn't be trying to make friends.

Still, does that put someone fighting on your side in danger, if you summon them, or can you direct them in the middle of a fight?

[mercuryangel]

I can still direct them. A lot of the reason they don't help non-Ade... other people is that they usually can't.

[Get a grip on your tongue, Mia, it almost slipped out again.]

[greatcleavage]

[Roy politely pretends he'd heard nothing.]

Sorry to be so inquisitive. I want to be prepared if and when you need to summon them to fight alongside us, is all.

[mercuryangel]

[She doesn't quite pick up on the "pretending" part.]

That makes a lot of sense. You can't be prepared for everything, but what your friends can do should never be a surprise.

[greatcleavage]

Exactly, especially since I tend towards the 'tactics' part of teamwork. Though I feel bad not being able to properly make friends with the little guy.

[mercuryangel]

There are three of them, actually. Their names are Mist, Fizz, and Tonic.

...But yes, sorry.

[greatcleavage]

Mist, Fizz, and -- are those the names they gave themselves?

[mercuryangel]

...They are, actually.

[greatcleavage]

Okay, that makes me worry less about your sanity. And more about theirs.

[mercuryangel]

One of the ones Isaac usually used is actually quite the talker.

[greatcleavage]

You're used to all your allies being able to summon these, I would take it. That's the only way I can see that their caution of people who can't summon them would be effective...