a Demonathon Adventure
New Summoner
You tell Sage that you're a new summoner, and that you appear to have lost your demon somewhere along the way.
"Don't worry about that," she says, smiling. "Uncontracted demons don't like to come near circles unless they've been summoned. Sometimes it's like showing up to jury duty: you do it, but you don't want to."
You're not sure if you follow the analogy, and her demons all shrug when you look at them for confirmation.
"Well, this is a bit of an unusual year," she says, giving you a sorry look. "I mean, usually we have a big circle already prepared, and last year we experimented with Alfie's machine which worked great." She gestured to the mechanical parts. "Only problem is that Alfie's goblin's built this, and they're overworked trying to get the exhibition in order. So I, uh, I don't know how to build the machine."
Your heart pounds. Does that mean you won't be able to make a contract? But you came all this way!
Sage sighs and waves off whatever it that she's thinking. "Nevermind Alfie's machine. We can do this the old fashioned way. It's better anyway."
You ask how you're going to do that since there doesn't seem to be enough people for a summoning circle. You had read many, many times that these summoning events required a lot of energy, and if there were a lot of people then each of you only gave a tiny amount necessary. The circle would drain you otherwise.
"Oh, that's easy," she said, smirking. "I've got a dozen contracted demons! They can help us summon your demon."
Her demons all nod and toss the things in their hands into a pile in the corner. They all get to work, scribbling runes and drawing a small circle around the two of you. You can feel a tingly sensation in your skin like static electricity, and the feeling grows to a buzz as the demons set up more and more.
Sage puts out her hands and asks you to hold hers. You do, but you ask, once again, how this is going to work. You thought there needed to be a bonfire in the middle of the circle. Your demon has to appear here somehow...
"Oh, when I said old fashioned, I meant very old fashioned!" she says, almost too excited. "It's not as dramatic, but it's a lot of fun!"
The chameleon jumps off Sage's shoulder and takes a spot on the line of the circle. The other demons follow. You feel energized, like you could run a hundred miles and not be tired! Sage starts to chant something in a language you don't understand. More of that static-buzz surrounds you. You notice Sage's long black hair is floating and spreading out, sparking with a kind of ziiiip every few moments. It almost hurts to keep holding onto Sage's hands, but her grip is firm. The lights around you flicker wildly and the demons are snarling and hissing as if overtaken by something feral.
"Say the name of your demon," she says, smiling at you. She looks wild and unnatural, like perhaps she was on the verge of being possessed by something.
You say the name.
The lights snuff out completely and the static.
Two dim lights appear in front of you, and for a moment you don't understand what has happened. Sage's eyes are glowing in a kind of faint blue-ish white color.
She blinks and looks around. "I was not expecting this," you hear her say, but it's your demon's voice. "Sage is full of surprises." Sage - or, your demon, rather - looks at you. "If you wish to make a contract with me, then we shall attempt a bargain. I will grant you one wish in exchange for something I desire. However, I first must deem you worthy of this wish."
You nod. You were expecting this, and you have no problem at all proving your worth to your demon.
"Very well," they say. "As it is our holiday, I will spend time with you around the cabinet of curiosities. I'm sure we will meet many strange guests who would be happy to help you prove yourself." They breathe in a deep lungful of air. "I shall meet you in the start of the exhibition. I shouldn't stay in Sage too much longer."
Sage exhales and the lights slowly come back to their full strength. One of her larger demons quickly comes over and steadies Sage as she takes in her surroundings again.
"Well, that was fun," she says, grinning like a fool. "Did it work?"
You give her an incredulous look and nod. Did she really just let herself get possessed so you could make a contract attempt with your demon??
"Well," she said, hands on her hips. "I suppose this will have to be the way it's done until Alfie's goblins can rest up and make the machine work. You'll have to come back down here to finalize your contract at the end of the month." She winks at you. "I have faith in you!"
You ask if she'll be fine, and she brushes off your question. The big demon looks and you and nods solemnly. "We will take care of our friend. Don't fret." The other demons agree in their many different tones. "Go find your demon. Good luck."
