Drawing Out
From Summoner
The core expression of what is to be a Summoner is the act of Drawing Out. Within a Summoner's Ego are infinite ways to express it. By reaching deep into himself and pulling out one of those aspects, masks, or personae, he invests that concept with his own Id, giving it life. For just a moment, they are one, and act upon the World with full reality.
The first Drawing Out is an event that many Summoners throughout history have tried to replicate, for one simple reason: You can get anything, depending on the stimuli of the situation and the nature of the caller's Ego. Something hardens within the Ego once the Drawing Out is first performed, however, limiting them to a finite number of Alter Selves.
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System
Drawing Out requires an Intelligence + Presence + Ego roll as an instant action. Success calls out the Alter Self for the duration of that action, in which the Alter Self may immediately act. An exceptional success brings out the Alter Self in a wave of exultant Ego, granted the Alter Self a +2 for any rolls it may perform.
The Drawing Out can also be forced with a single point of Id. Doing so makes the Drawing Out reflexive, granting the Summoner the ability to act in unison with the Alter Self. By continually making rolls or spending Id, the Alter Self's material form can be maintained on a round-by-round basis, but most prefer to call them out as needed and let them retreat back into Twilight. There are ways that many demons can interfere with or harm the Alter Self, and it must heal its own wounds in Twilight.
The Alter Self is only visible to Summoners, demons, and beings who can perceive Twilight. That is, that's normally the cause. Within Fractures or the realm of the Mirror, the Alter Self is as visible and tangible as any other force.
Due to the duality of nature between a Summoner and his Alter Self, it is also privy to any appropriate Physical Merits, to the limits of its anatomy.
Through the Inner Eye
Just because Alter Selves are usually invisible to mortal perceptions, this does not mean that mortals are unaware. In fact, when an Alter Self is drawn out, most mortals are put on edge or on guard, feeling as if the Summoner is 'doing something', though they are often at a loss to describe what. When fire rains, concrete cracks, or the world itself seems to warp, however, their lower (or perhaps higher) brain takes over and reacts appropriately.
While mortals generally lack a means of harming Twilight beings, treat any interaction with the physical world as if the targets could perceive them normally. Their Defense still applies, and they may use a Dodge action if appropriate. They are rarely, if ever, surprised, unless an effect specifically causes surprise to be a factor or the subject is unaware of the Summoner's presence as well.
The echoes of a Drawing Out are left on the minds of only the weakest wills. Ironically, it is those with the least Willpower who have the clearest view of the actions of a Summoner. When an Alter Self is drawn out, compare the Ego of the Summoner to the Willpower of the subject. If the Summoner's Ego is higher, the subject can clearly see and remember the Alter Self. Those who have been Devoured are often keenly aware of an unnatural world, if the Mirror is roiling with danger. Those with a greater Willpower simply do not acknowledge the being, and are certain that any supernatural activity is the direct act of the Summoner. In a sense, this is true, after all.
Affinity
A Summoner gains +2 to draw out any Alter Self with an Arcanum for which they share an affinity.
More on Alter Selves
Switching Selves
A Summoner can only be fully attuned to a single Alter Self, gaining the Boon for that Alter Self's arcanum. To switch over to another, the Summoner must briefly meditate. See The Unconscious for rules on delving into a waking dream. If the Summoner needs to get access in a hurry, however, the Summoner may spend a point of Willpower and begin an extended roll of Resolve + Composure + Ego. Each roll represents a turn's struggle, and the switch is complete once the Summoner gathers the eight successes needed to sink deep into his sleeping self. This focus does not sacrifice the Summoner's Defense, but he can do little else during this focused meditation.
A Summoner cannot benefit from the Boon of an Alter Self they do not have an Affinity towards. As such, it is usually unnecessary to fully attune to one.
