Summoning Engine

The Summoning Engine in the Lady's Chapel in Castle Sturmvoraus, Sturmhalten

The Summoning Engine was apparently a device originally designed and built by Lucrezia Mongfish but re-built by Lady Vrin after Loremistress Milvistle destroyed the original. It was meant to "overwrite" or "imprint" a copy of Lucrezia's consciousness and personality into the mind of another. It was kept in its own chapel in Sturmhalten Castle until a revived Lucrezia, anticipating Klaus's interference, had her Geisterdamen take the machine ✣ with them when they left Sturmhalten for parts unknown.

Prince Aaronev Wilhelm Sturmvoraus apparently assisted the Geisterdamen in collecting young girls and women as test subjects for the machine, in hopes that one of them would turn out to be a suitable host for Lucrezia. All of these victims seem to have been killed or left in a vegetative state ✣ .

At one point, Lucrezia, while in the body of Agatha remarks ✣ that there were errors in the reconstruction of the device by Wilhelm and the Geisterdamen, which might explain why it didn't work on subjects other than Agatha. The novels suggest the original device was designed specifically for Agatha. Once Lucrezia was present, however, she was able to improve the device to the extent that it was able to download a copy of Lucrezia into an advanced Clank brain.

One thing that was not expected was that Agatha's original personality would be able to fight back against the superimposed Lucrezia personality. This may be due to imperfections in the device's reconstruction, or Agatha's inherent strength of mind, but no one can say for certain.

The device does not appear to grant the possessor any memories of the possessed victim; while Agatha was possessed, the superimposed personality showed no hint of expecting to have access to her memories (and several times asked questions about, or displayed ignorance of, things Agatha would obviously know, without any hint of irritation or confusion at having to do this), implying that this lack is part of their usual function and not due to imperfections in the device's reconstruction.

Lucrezia has her own theories on the subject ✣ of Agatha's resistance, and the revelation she can take information from the Lucrezia personality. However, her mother's persona seems to influence her emotionally in turn ✣ .

Later, Lucrezia refers to it as a "beacon engine" ✣ and refers to her numerous copies as callings. At the same time, it is stated that she expanded the parameters of the device, potentially meaning there are more Lucrezias around now.

The copies have a mutual registry code that involves blinking and other facial tics to identify themselves, as observed by Tarvek.

Lucrezia's Secret Lab

Lucrezia's secret laboratory in Castle Heterodyne has an early Summoning Engine that she uses to attempt copying her consciousness to Zola. Lucrezia's comments suggest that the Engines have two functions - the Beacon, which summons Lucrezia's essentia, and the mind transfer/download.

Shining Brotherhood

The Shining Brotherhood used what Tarvek recognizes as a modified Summoning Engine ✣ , source unknown, as part of their Summoning Ceremony.

Lunevka

While it is not directly referred to by name, Lucrezia-in-Anevka had Francisia Monahan install a miniature Summoning Engine apparatus in her clank body.