Vinculum

Vinculum is the bond or connection between a human thaumaturge and their prime elemental. This bonds gives a human mastery over the elemental and means that it will accept instructions only from that person. Vinculum generally grows stronger over time, with experienced thaumaturges able to easily command their primus.

Vinculum is established during the summoning process; without vinculum being established, the summoning does not hold and the elemental will escape. Although vinculum is a thaumaturgical discipline which can be taught, it requires a strength of will as well as technical ability.

Student magisters are only capable of vinculum with one elemental. The first elemental they summon usually becomes their primus, the main conduit for their thaumaturgical ability. Initially a primus is just like any other elemental, but over time they become intimately bonded with the thaumaturge so that a ligation eventually forms, so that the bond of mastery becomes a physical bond.

The Test of Vinculum was a formal, public test for graduating thaumaturgical students at the Rasian Academy. The student would ascend the library tower and attempt to summon and bind their primus, usually the first time they have been permitted to summon a wild elemental..