[PnP] pnp Digest, Vol 136, Issue 2

Sun Feb 12 20:27:19 CET 2017

Added a couple of suggestions/comment below, from d kerr's letter. I hadn't thought on this much, since I haven't created anyone who would want to summon a demon. But I have gathered ideas from other sf books, so comments below, which I would tend to use if & when I have such a character

["retain control" that's the critical section.  To me
 this implies as
 long as the summoning control lasts.
 "demon can be used" kinda conflicts with that control by
 saying as
 long as he cna be used (though i could see that as long as
 the poor
 demon is alive?).]
--------->>> seems to me that control lasts as long as the spell strength/success allows. As to what use you would put it, it feels dangerous to ask too great a thing of it, altho' I think it would complain that such a task was beyond its powers & might need browbeating/threats to get it to obey to its own limits. As to when that control ends, the demon should be forced (as part of the spell) to return to its "home" - unless there is a weakness in the spell, which would tempt the demon (if angry enough at being summoned & ordered around) to attack the one who called it.

If, when a demon is summoned repeatedly, it is treated with some respect (but not with fear) and it knowledge used in a manner to please it, it might develop a respect for its caller & be more willing to stick around & help (altho' this does not seem a demon's nature, really - unless its peers browbeat/bully it & it wants a friend, even one from another realm)
- - - - - - - 
[ So now i
 don't see how
 one could summon a demon adn it stays for years.

 But i could also see that if the demon is
 influnced/controled theen
 why would he not want to stay?  Ugh.]
------------>>>>>> I don't see a demon staying for years - I don't think a spell's power would last for very long at all. I also don't think the spellcaster would care to have the demon staying around all that long
But I can see casting the spell to summon it frequently, & a relationship developing from that - anything from a constantly complaining & conniving,lying demon seeking to destroy the summoner by "obeying" commands in its own sly way (adding additional twists to words or doing secret things in addition to following orders) - to a relationship that embodies some trust & friendship (if in a sideways sort of way - being as it's with a demon & all - lol). The relationship should be built upon the natures of both the wizard & the demon summoned (& who might have to face punishment by its superiors if it behaves against its alignment or its superiors). 

(Have you read Robert Aspirin's books, which are hilarious punny stories of many magical races?)

You're giving me ideas for characters as part of a future story.

Bess L. Hadley 

--------------------------------------------
On Sun, 2/12/17, pnp-request at list.powersandperils.org <pnp-request at list.powersandperils.org> wrote:

 Subject: pnp Digest, Vol 136, Issue 2
 To: pnp at list.powersandperils.org
 Date: Sunday, February 12, 2017, 3:00 AM

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 Today's Topics:

    1. Maelorna's response to Z'leyra (d
 kerr)
    2. Re: Question about famliars (Scott
 Adams)

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Message: 1
 Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 08:33:21 -0500
 From: d kerr <megumimika at gmail.com>
 To: pnp at list.powersandperils.org
 Subject: [PnP] Maelorna's response to Z'leyra
 Message-ID:
     <CAD17R1iQTQLkOVvoY+CLNAJ2YMjbJnau9nCsPOnRwUvUvy2TXw at mail.gmail.com>
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

 Maelorna smiles and nods, "As you say, it was an offer and
 freely given."
 as she steps back, the look of pure innocence on her face as
 she looks
 about, meeting the eyes of the men who look at her, holding
 their gaze for
 a moment before continuing to look about.  "Honestly
 from the way they are
 looking at me, I do not believe that would even be an
 issue." she muses and
 chuckles softly.

 As she reaches up to make sure her earrings are still
 attached, '*You
 stupid girl, did you honestly think I was not able to hear
 what you spoke
 about?*' the voice almost bellows in her head.  '*You
 speak about avoiding
 the reunion and do that which would bring about your
 destruction.*'
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 Message: 2
 Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 20:29:49 -0500
 From: Scott Adams <longshotgm at comcast.net>
 To: The Powers and Perils Mailing List <pnp at list.powersandperils.org>
 Subject: Re: [PnP] Question about famliars
 Message-ID: <mailman.2.1486897201.19929.pnp at list.powersandperils.org>
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1";
 format=flowed

  >I'm in Scott's game, he suggested asking on here.

 Yep.  I encourage many to post here.  Sadly not
 many do.  There are
 many good players and GMS and a community is nothing
 without
 sharing of ideas.

  >With Hell Powers, Summoning Demons, the second part,
 creating a
  >familiar bond with a demon,?  is that mostly for
 item creation or
  >is it something more along the lines, summoning the
 demon and having
  >it effectively become a pet that lasts as long as you
 don't let it
  >get killed?

 First part is clear summoning demons is cheaper. Clear.
 Second part.  Hmmm
 'familiar bond' to me is more a bond not a familiar in the
 classic sense
 to me but i could see how it could be read that way.
 "retain control" that's the critical section.  To me
 this implies as
 long as the summoning control lasts.
 "demon can be used" kinda conflicts with that control by
 saying as
 long as he cna be used (though i could see that as long as
 the poor
 demon is alive?).

 So to me this implies can control the demon as long as
 summonign
 control lasts. But this then is a bit redandant with the
 basic
 spell other than the cheaper cost.  hmm  So now i
 don't see how
 one could summon a demon adn it stays for years.

 But i could also see that if the demon is
 influnced/controled theen
 why would he not want to stay?  Ugh.

 This is why I wanted more input from others.  Its a bit
 vague.

  >Or do the rules apply as with item creation: familiar
 where the demon
  >you've created a familiar bond with, is going to rip
 you apart the
  >first time it gets?

 This is how I see it leaning that way to me.  I'm
 hoping to
 see more arguments to show sides i am missing.

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