From:	Ed Matuskey <MATUSKEY@***.EDU>
Subject:	Why are you so defensive? Could be be experiencing some deeply
Date:	Wed, 14 Apr 1993 14:25:10 -0700

Not so fast, Jason: I'm not going to let Raven off the hook that easily.
Summoning elementals (oh, no! I'm starting to compartmentalize my answers!)
There is a reason it's called a binding ritual: you are not getting an
elementals willing cooperation, you are yanking him/her/it from its home
dimension, and forcing it into servitude. Of course you're going to strip
it of its greater abilities. A point Huth brought up to me: when you
summon an elemental, you're only getting a part of the spirit, and binding
it to you for services. The rest of it, the part that has the greater power,
is left behind on the metaplane from whence it originated. When an elemental
frees itself, it either returns to its home, or pulls the rest of itself
to our plane of existence, forming the powerful free spirit.
Allies
Allies are more powerful, because you've sacrificed some of yourself to
get more of it across. "Ally" is a misleading term: it still tries to
escape its master whenever the conjurer takes a deadly wound. Hardly the
actions of a true friend.
Sorry, Jason, you'll have to do better before Raven's conscience is clear.
-Ed
-Highlander
Ready to take on all comers