Eidolons

Overview

Eidolons are conscious beings drawn from memories, myths, tales, or human history, materialized through Alteration. They are reflections in reality of separate beings — the Oneiroi — whose true place of existence is in The Empyrean. When summoned, these “thought-forms” are colored by the imagination of the person who has called them forth.

Nature

Eidolons are not mere projections — on many occasions, they have acted on their own initiative, with personal ambitions exceeding the mere will of those who summoned them. The Oneiroi can also visit humans through their dreams, and over the years, humans and Oneiroi have forged deep bonds.

Summoning Requirements

To summon an Eidolon, an Alterer requires sufficient Mana and sufficient knowledge about the entity they wish to manifest. The more thoroughly an Alterer understands a subject — whether from study, personal experience, or intimate familiarity — the more accurately they can summon it. The loss and recovery of cultural knowledge therefore directly affects the range of Eidolons available to summoners (see Knowledge Dependency).

Manifestation Properties

The same Eidolon can be materialized multiple times, simultaneously and in different locations, taking on different appearances depending on the vision of its summoner. For example, Phileas Fogg manifests in a methodical, mechanical form when summoned by Axiom (who emphasize his clockwork precision), but appears as a boundary-defying adventurer when summoned by Bravos (who emphasize his spirit of exploration).

Summoning Living People

Living individuals can also be summoned as Eidolons, provided the summoner knows them well enough. Kojo Oduro summoned Gault as an Eidolon for training while they were separated during the Rediscovery Endeavor, and Sierra summoned her apprentice Aberdeen as an Eidolon during the City of Scholars expedition. In both cases, the summoned Eidolon retains familiar personality traits and behaviors.

Behavioral Patterns

Eidolons tend to be predictable, often repeating the same patterns as dictated by their stories and legends. This predictability can be exploited by those who understand the source material. The Hare Eidolon, for instance, consistently displays the overconfidence from its fable, making its behavior anticipatable despite its speed.

Advanced Capabilities

The Qorgan has developed methods to materialize Eidolons that are completely undetectable to the average mortal, even to those with the sharpest Irises. These undetectable Eidolons are used for espionage purposes.

Vulnerabilities

The Oblivion, an affliction first documented in 393 AC at the City of Scholars, can sever an Alterer’s connection to their Eidolons entirely, causing them to forget the existence of beings they had always been able to summon.

Relationships

• Alteration: Technique used to materialize Eidolons
• Mana: Energy required for summoning
• Oneiroi: The true beings in the Empyrean of which Eidolons are reflections
• The Empyrean: Realm where Oneiroi truly exist
• The Veil: Barrier between reality and the Empyrean
• Irises: Magical sight that can identify Eidolons by their Aether-Quintessence-Mana composition
• Qorgan: Organization that developed undetectable Eidolon materialization
• Oblivion: Affliction that severs Alterers’ connection to Eidolons
• Rediscovery Endeavor: Initiative partly aimed at reclaiming lost stories to expand available Eidolons