Find Familiar

(Conjuration/Summoning)

This spell enables the caster to attempt to summon a familiar to act as his
aide and companion. Familiars are typically small creatures, such as cats, frogs,
ferrets, crows, hawks, snakes, owls, ravens, toads, weasels, or even mice. A
creature acting as a familiar can benefit a wizard, conveying its sensory powers
to its master, conversing with him, and serving as a guard/scout/spy as well.
A wizard can have only one familiar at a time, however, and he has no control
over what sort of creature answers the summoning, if any at all come.

The creature is always more intelligent than others of its type (typically by
2 or 3 Intelligence points), and its bond with the wizard confers upon it an
exceptionally long life. The wizard receives the heightened senses of his
familiar, which grants the wizard a +1 bonus to all surprise die rolls. Normal
familiars have 2-4 hit points plus 1 hit point per caster level, and an Armor Class of
7 (due to size, speed, etc.).

The wizard has an empathic link with the familiar and can issue it mental
commands at a distance of up to 1 mile. Note that empathic responses from the
familiar are generally fairly basic–while able to communicate simple thoughts,
these are often overwhelmed by instinctual responses. Thus, a ferret familiar
spying on a band of orcs in the woods might lose its train of thought upon sighting
a mouse. Certainly its communications to its master would be tinged with fear
of the “big ones” it was spying on! The caster cannot see through the familiar’s
eyes.

If separated from the caster, the familiar loses 1 hit point each day, and
dies if reduced to 0 hit points. When the familiar is in physical contact with its
wizard, it gains the wizard’s saving throws against special attacks. If a
special attack would normally cause damage, the familiar suffers no damage if the
saving throw is successful and half damage if the saving throw is failed. If the
familiar dies, the wizard must successfully roll an immediate system shock
check or die. Even if he survives this check, the wizard loses 1 point from his
Constitution when the familiar dies.

The power of the conjuration is such that it can be attempted but once per
year. When the wizard decides to find a familiar, he must load a brass brazier
with charcoal. When this is burning well, he adds 1,000 gp worth of incense and
herbs. The spell incantation is then begun and must be continued until the
familiar comes or the casting time is finished. The DM secretly determines all
results. Note that most familiars are not inherently magical, nor does a dispel magic spell send them away.

Deliberate mistreatment, failure to feed and care for the familiar, or
continuous unreasonable demands have adverse effects on the familiar’s relationship
with its master. Purposely arranging the death of one’s own familiar incurs great
disfavor from certain powerful entities, with dire results.

* The DM can substitute other small animals suitable to the area.

Table of Contents