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Summons
Topic Started: Feb 11 2009, 05:24 PM (335 Views)
aerisbolt
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Beautiful Paradox
Okay so this may seem very random but I was fanfic writing and the subject I am on right now is Summons. As I was writing a question came in my head, exactly how do the summons exist in the world of FFVII, if everything returns to the lifestream when it dies and then loose form over time....how do the summons still exist in the form they do and where are they summoned from?

I mean they are suppose to be creatures and gods and goddesses from another time period right...they are considered dead right?

Or are they supernatural beings that are in some ways seperate to the planet?

Because if they were so powerful, enough to want to be used by humans, why would they allow their power to be used at humans beacon call if they still lived in the here and now.

Or is the reason they still have power and still in their original form because they were some how bound by scientists to a materia that thus became known as the summon materia?



Probably thinking way to much about this, but hey it is what I do so if anyone would like to humor me and try to answer these questions I would really appreciate it. :blush:
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Anastar
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To touch the light I see in your eyes...
Interesting question, aerisbolt. I've tried looking through the web, and I don't find a good answer for it. There's tons of web pages listing the names of all the summon materia, but none really explain how it works. The best explanation I've found is this, which is just talking about materia in general:

The energy from which Materia forms originates in the Lifestream, a river of spiritual energy coursing through the now dying Planet in Final Fantasy VII. Aside from this energy's application in the creation of materia, it can also be drawn out of the earth to be harnessed as a source of electrical energy called Mako Energy.

This states that materia holds the spirit energy of the Lifestream. Sephiroth explains materia further to Cloud when they get to the Mako fountain near Nibelheim:

(Sephiroth comes to the fountain.)
Sephiroth "Materia. When you condense Mako energy, materia is produced."
"It's very rare to be able to see materia in its natural state."
(Cloud walks to the fountain.)
Cloud "By the way... Why is it that when you use materia you can also use magic too?"
Sephiroth "You were in SOLDIER and didn't even know that?"
"...the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients is held in the materia."
"Anyone with this knowledge can freely use the powers of the Land and the Planet. That knowledge interacts between ourselves and the planet calling up magic..... or so they say."
Cloud "Magic...... a mysterious power."


From what Sephiroth says, the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients is held in the materia as well as the "powers of the Land and the Planet".

From what's said here, it sounds like either the memory or the actual spirit of summoned creatures actually called forth by summon materia.

If you use fire or lightning materia, you are calling forth the spirit energy of the Planet to materialize as fire or lightning.

In our own world, atoms are the basic building blocks of ordinary matter. Certain types of atoms hold an electrical charge. Atoms combine to form different molecules and elements, which can also hold an electrical charge. This is similar to the Lifestream - energy which makes up different forms of matter.

So sometimes the energy combines to form fire, sometimes it combines to form ice, sometimes it combines to form lightning. Sometimes it combines to form a life form, such as a person or a plant or an animal.

Materia works the same way. It holds atoms (or spirit energy) that combine to form an element like fire, or life form like Bahamut.

At least, that's the way I understand it. :dunno:
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Alan Bates
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That one guy
Okay. Pure speculation here, but here goes.

Materia is crystallized mako enegery.

Mako energy is what makes up the lifestream.

When you use materia, you're using some of the lifestreams energy.


If a strong presence in the lifestream where to hold on to it's own identity for a long enough time, it could eventually crystallize and be called back to life for certain periods of time.

Or as personalities breakdown and merge, it would be possible for a fragment of that personality to eventually become a summon, to the point where when you call them back with the materia made out of a portion of them, you're not calling the whole thing, which would explain why they only briefly appear perform an action or two and then vanish.

Just an idea mind you.


Of course we all know you're only asking this so you can go and write a story with an Aeris summon materia. :P
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aerisbolt
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Beautiful Paradox
Wow, thank you Anastar and Alan Bates...wonderful answers! That does put it clearer in my head now thank you.

On a side note...Aerith summon materia? That IS an interesting concept, but it seems you thought of it first Alan :lol:

Sadly my idea was much more lame, to have two characters from FFVII discussing summons as a conversation piece...wow so lame compared to your idea. In my defense it would have taken place in my very own thought up Summon Theme Park (a new section of the Gold Saucer) which I did have some fun with. I ended up abandoning the conversation idea, but now that I have these great answers maybe I can do a hybrid idea down the road...and maybe if I ever attempt a different FF fanfic your summon idea would be fascinating to use (with proper credit to you of course :P )

In any case thanks again, I do think summons are an interesting subject for any of the FF games but VII especially. The one that is the most fascinating to me is the Knights of the Round, that is an real world fantasy story which they obviously brought into FFVII's world...would love to know why they chose that story to bring into Gaia's world.

Okay seriously enough rambling on my part..sorry about that...I am done now. :blush:
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