Summon Familiar

Summoning involves calling forth entities, creatures, objects, or energies from other realms or locations. It also encompasses banishing those same entities. Summoning is at the heart of what is called ritual magic. Ritual magic requires the use of a specific design. It also usually requires some material spell components. Unlike non-ritual spells, ritual spells usually take more time as the caster has to make the proper preparations. Some ritual spells take an hour. Longer ones, particularly in the form of ceremonial magic, can take hours or even days.

The first ritual spell Bisset would teach his adapt was to summon a familiar. A familiar is some non-corporal entity that agrees to accompany a spellcaster on their magical journey. You only get one familiar, although its shape can and often does change. You usually don't get to select the shape, but most familiars tend to remain primarily in only one or two. They convert to the others as needed.

Nor do you get to choose the type of non-corporal entity. As Bisset discovered, each plane in the multiverse has its unique resonance and energy. Creatures native to these realms are shaped by this energy, both in temperament and in appearance. The plane a familiar comes from can also be a reflection of the practitioner's own soul or alignment. An individual seeking knowledge and enlightenment might attract a celestial familiar, while one dabbling in forbidden or dark arts might call forth a fiend or shade.

The type of familiar differs depending upon the plane it primarily resides upon. There are four planes where the spirits of familiars derive: Mount Celestia (celestrial), The Abyss (fiend), Feywild (fey); or Shadowfell (shade). Here is some general information about the types of familiars: 

Mount Celestia (Celestial Familiars):

This plane embodies the principles of good, order, and virtue. Celestial creatures are often seen as benevolent, radiant, and protective. A familiar from this plane is often drawn to characters or practitioners with a sense of righteousness and justice.

The Abyss (Fiend Familiars):

The Abyss is chaotic and evil, filled with torment and malice. Fiendish familiars, hailing from this plane, are often drawn to practitioners who possess a darker, more malevolent nature. They will accomplish their desires, fulfill their ambitions, or pure create chaos.

Feywild (Fey Familiars):

The Feywild is a realm of emotions, beauty, and whimsy. Fey creatures are capricious, mysterious, and intrinsically tied to the forces of nature and magic. They are often unpredictable and a little mischievous. A fey familiar align well with practitioners who have a strong bond with nature or who tread the line between order and chaos.

Shadowfell (Shade Familiars):

A mirror to the Feywild, the Shadowfell is a realm of gloom, decay, and despair. Shades or shadowy familiars embody these principles, often being more reserved, melancholic, or secretive. They can be tethered to practitioners who are more introspective, those who deal with necromantic powers, or those with a tragic or sorrowful past.

In essence, the plane of origin for a familiar not only dictates its nature and abilities but provides insight into the cosmic balance of the multiverse. It emphasizes that magic, in its many forms, is deeply connected to the larger universe and its myriad planes of existence. Here's why it's often the first spell taught in spellcasting:

1. Safety: Familiars, by nature, are often non-hostile and are there to aid the caster. This means that there's minimal risk involved when compared to summoning other, potentially more dangerous entities. It's akin to learning to handle a household pet before studying larger, wild animals.

2. Bonding and Responsibility: Summoning a familiar is not just about the act itself but nurturing a bond with the summoned entity. This teaches young arcanists about the responsibilities tied to summoning. A familiar typically acts as a loyal companion, and caring for it instills a sense of accountability in the caster.

3. Utility and Versatility: Familiars can serve various roles, such as scouts, messengers, or aides in spellcasting. Introducing students to this versatile tool early on provides them with practical assistance as they navigate their further studies.

4. Foundational Principles: The process of summoning a familiar introduces students to key concepts of summoning magic, like forming magical contracts, channeling energies from other planes, and maintaining control over a summoned being.

5. Emotional Support: The journey of an arcanist can be daunting and isolating. A familiar can offer emotional support, acting as a comforting presence during stressful times.

6. Ethics and Morality: Dealing with a familiar forces students to confront the ethics of summoning. They learn that the beings they summon have feelings, desires, and needs, teaching them to treat these entities with respect.

7. Immediate Feedback: Having a familiar provides immediate feedback on the caster's proficiency. If a student struggles to communicate with, understand, or even summon their familiar, it's a clear sign that they need more practice and understanding.

8. Mastery Before Complexity: Before moving on to more complex and potentially perilous summoning spells, it's essential that students have a firm grasp of the basics. Learning the ritual to summon a familiar offers a comprehensive foundation, from understanding the incantations and materials required for the spell to mastering the nuances of interacting with another being from a different plane.

"Summon Familiar" isn't just a spell; it's a comprehensive lesson in responsibility, ethics, and the foundational principles of summoning. By mastering this, students are better prepared for the challenges of more advanced summoning spells and rituals. The core structure of an octagram is essentially the same, with the most complex one being at the top of this page. The Summon Familar spell will teach you how ritual magic work.

First, this is what we need the end result to look like:

In Bisset's arcane theories, the octagram holds a pivotal role. The eight-pointed star is seen not just as a geometric figure, but as a representation of the multiverse's layered fabric. Each point stands as a beacon, shedding light on the complex interplay between various magical dimensions and realms.

First Exercise:  Learning To Draw The Octagram

As a ritual spellcaster you'll need to be able to draw the octagram with a single line. There can be no interruptions. You cannot repair an octagram, you can only redraw it. Note that the entire octagram is made with two squares inside of a circle. Mathematically, this is known as the 1+2=8 equation (a single circle plus two squares equally eight triangles. As Bisset summarized:

"Within the heart of the octogram lies the axiom of arcane unity: 1+2=8. One circle, the boundless essence of life, joined with the duality of two squares, brings forth the eight triangles of multiversal resonance. This is not mere geometry, but the fundamental frequency of existence itself." - Kilroy Bisset, Mystic Praxis

In Bisset's teachings, the circle represents the singularity of life and the universe — it's the initial vibration, the point of inception. It's the boundless essence from which all things sprout. The two squares embody duality: light and shadow, order and chaos, life and death. They represent the polarity of the universe, the balance that all things seek.

When these foundational elements combine, they form the eight triangles of the octagram, representing the eight frequencies or resonances of the multiverse. This is where Bisset's frequency theory comes into play. Just as different musical notes resonate at unique frequencies, each of these triangles embodies a distinct vibration or energy in the multiverse.

When summoning entities or channeling energies, the octagram serves as a nexus, harmonizing these eight frequencies. By aligning one's intent with a specific triangle or frequency, the summoner can call forth entities from different realms or harness specific energies. It's a tool of precision, ensuring the caster's alignment with the desired frequency.

The 1+2=8 equation is central to Bisset's frequency theory. He postulated that everything in existence resonates at a frequency, and these frequencies are interconnected. The octagram encapsulates this interconnectedness, demonstrating that individual elements (the circle and squares) can converge to create a larger, unified resonance (the eight triangles).

The octagram finds echoes in various phenomena. The most relevant for spellcasting are the phases of the moon. The moon goes through approximately eight phases in its cycle (New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent). At higher levels of summoning these moon phases become particularly important as they are tied to both specific planes and certain types of magic.

For Bisset, the 1+2=8 equation wasn't just mathematical; it was the underpinning of the universe, a constant reminder of the intricate dance between singularity, duality, and the multiversal expanse.

To begin your studies you need to first learn how to draw the octagram with a single line. Bisset gave explicit instructions that the adept not be told or shown the path necessary but rather needed to find the path themselves. All rituals and summonings are derived from this basic octagram, so the more you can practice drawing it the better.

The Second Exercise: Learning to Draw the Summon Familiar Octagram

The layout of the summoning octagram used in the summon familiar spell works for all inner plane summoning. Planes can be considered other worlds, universes, or dimensions. Thus far there has not been a definitive explanation of planes, but suffice to say that with experience a spellcaster can learn to bring and send things between the planes. For the summoning familiar ritual, we'll be using the four planes described above.