(08-29-2016, 04:30 PM)Unnamed Mercenary Wrote:(08-29-2016, 01:51 PM)Stardust Wrote: Summons... where do they come from and are they coming willingly? How close to the DnD/FR lore is it?
There are a few different forms of "summons" in FFXIV. I'll go a little bit into each one, which should help in looking for the right lore for the ones you're interested in!
There are:
- Carbuncles - Aetherial beings summoned by Arcanists. The jewel and geometries used determine their skills and actions. Emerald Carbuncle, Topaz Carbuncle, Ruby, etc. They're basically a small split of the caster's aether and their autonomy is dependent on the caster.
- Primals - Typically what you'd see as the named summons in previous Final Fantasy games. Ifrit, Ramuh, Shiva, Garuda, Titan, Leviathan, etc. These are thoughts and ideas given form. Typically, they're the god of a Beast Tribe and are worshipped. They're fully aetherial beings as well, but unlike a carbuncle, there is no single caster. They are summoned with crystals and faith/prayer and once being brought into being, seek out aether and followers to maintain their forms.Â
- Eikons - Garlean term for Primals taken from the Allags. There are however, Elder Primals (also called Eikons) who may or may not have ever been summoned to begin with. Little is known about them.
- Primal-Egi - The essence of  a primal given form by a single caster using the Allagan summoning arts. In order  to summon the egi of a primal, the caster needs to have been "washed over" with their essence in order to give it form. Unlike Primals, they carry no will of their own and like carbuncles, are only as autonomous as the caster allows.
- Faeries - An artificial Scholar companion used to give the Scholar access  to Succor (healing magic used by the Elementals). We currently know of the Eos and Selene stances, but there could be more.Â
Excellent answer, thanks.
