Concerning Familiars

Most animals who choose to work with practitioners consider the name 'familiar' a bit derogatory due to the servant or domesticated connotations of the word. They would prefer, in general, to be considered merely friends of their respective magic user. The realtionship is, however, a bit more complicated than a mere friendship.

A certain sort of bond exists between a practitioner and animal. There is no formal ceremony or such that creates this relationship; only a mutual acceptance on the part of both parties is necessary. This does not, however, mean that the bond is easily dissolvable; regardless of any falling out the animal and practitioner might have, it is usually active until either of the two dies. (In the case of cats, who, as was earlier explained, have an availible nine incarnations, this usually refers to their final death. Cats, however, seem to have more control over the status of their bond: for more information, see "Concerning Cats".) As a practitioner can only bond with one animal at a time, it is very much desirable to maintain a feeling of mutual affection between user and animal. This is, however, rarely a problem.

The extent and specifics of the bond varies from species to species. In general, however, such a relationship usually benefits the animal in question in two ways: first, the animal receives a significant boost in sentience. The animal's memory is improved, oftentimes beyond that of its partner, and its cognative abilities usually rise to rival that of a human's. Some have linked this increase of intelligence to the added ability of 'speaking' to the bonded practitioner, but this is likely more a matter of the mental relationship rather than any previous inability to reason. Animals are almost always unable to communicate 'verbally' with anyone other than their bonded magic user.

Second, in nearly all cases save for that of cats, the animal's lifespan generally doubles. (Cats, due to their already unusual lifespan tendencies, are unaffected in this matter.) Though it is currently uncertain what causes this, it is suspected that these animals are able to absorb residual magical energies and apply them to their own wellbeing. This has no effect on the magical stores of a practitioner.

Another more debated side-effect is that of animal magic. Although all animals have their own brand of magic, there are few in this age who instinctively remember it. While bonded to a practitioner, however, these abilities quickly return and can be invaluble tools. Generally, these abilities have to do with magically enhancing the dominant senses of the creature. An almost universal ability, however, is 'sliding' (also sometimes called 'phasing' or 'going between'). This refers to the odd ability of animals, particularily felines and rodents, to get into and out of places the should not be able to.

Though much research has been done into this ability, few concrete facts have been discovered; it is suspected that it may involve dimensional manipulation. This ability allows creatures to travel through locked doors and windows, closed wards, walls, etc, without disturbing the state of these barriers. The action leaves almost no reside, making the creature seem to have suddenly appeared where it should not. There are limits to this, of course; a wall is much more difficult to get through than a door, and a locked door moreso than merely a shut door. Mesh barriers are easier to travel through than solid ones. Inexperienced animals should not be expected to move through locked objects until both the animal and the practitioner feels confident with the animal's abilities.

Through different spells, a practitioner can link into the senses of their bonded animal. This, combined with sliding, allows a bonded creature to be a particularily effective spy. Be warned, however, that many serious practitioners may be able to key wards to disallow sliding into an area, and the experience of a rejected sliding can be very unpleasant to both animal and magic user.