Imagine you have a cat. Or take a convenient cat as an example. Forget how you got it. Remember instead the night you stoked a brass brazier well with charcoal, burned those herbs, and the beast sauntered in hours later, trailing magic behind it, and spoke your name.
The magic that binds it to you likely binds its form. How might you adjust either? Perhaps by binding many spirits into one form.
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Elixirs rendered from the bodies of other casters' familiars could instill their essence.
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Certain powers might reward (or punish) you through your bond.
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It may be part of your arcane studies; a way to enhance your servitor's capacities.
So, when that happens, by whatever means, roll 2d6 based on the essence of the infusion.
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1-3 is a cosmetic change, causing that many of the suggested alterations.
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4-5 is a new ability for the familiar, as well as all the cosmetic changes.
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6 is a spell the familiar can cast once per day, as well as the best case for the new ability and all the cosmetic changes.
Bat
| 1-3
| Large, complex ears; weird nose; beady, black eyes.
| Webbing on limbs; fine-furred pelt; ammonia odor.
|
| 4
| Blindsight.
| Webbed wings and clumsy flight.
|
| 5
| Blindsight.
| Webbed wings and graceful flight.
|
| 6
| detect invisibility
| darkness
|
Cat
| 1-3
| Reflective eyes; purrs; slitted pupils.
| Fangs; retractable claws; paces.
|
| 4
| Darkvision.
| Can make a melee attack for 1 point of damage.
|
| 5
| Darkvision.
| Can make a melee attack with dagger-like damage.
|
| 6
| detect magic
| feather fall
|
Crow or raven
| 1-3
| Long, black beak; glinting eyes; screeching call.
| Patches of black feathers; scaly, clawed feet; hops.
|
| 4
| Speaks one language.
| Black feathered wings and clumsy flight.
|
| 5
| Speaks two languages.
| Black feathered wings and graceful flight.
|
| 6
| comprehend languages
| reduce |
Owl
| 1-3
| Short, hooked beak; huge, yellow eyes; hoots.
| Coughs up remains of food; patches of dark feathers; rotates head all the way round.
|
| 4
| Darkvision.
| Dark feathered wings and clumsy flight.
|
| 5
| Darkvision.
| Dark feathered wings and graceful flight.
|
| 6
| identify
| invisibility
|
Snake
| 1-3
| Flickering, forked tongue; slitted pupils; long fangs.
| Patches of scales; bands of colored patterns; slithers.
|
| 4
| Venomous bite, with irritating effects.
| Long, sinuous body is difficult to grab and can wriggle through tiny spaces.
|
| 5
| Venomous bite, with debilitating effects.
| Long, sinuous body is difficult to grab and can wriggle through tiny spaces.
|
| 6
| ray of enfeeblement
| rope trick
|
Toad or frog
| 1-3
| Bulging eyes; croaks; licks eyes.
| Patches of warty skin; hairless chest bulges with breath; flat, webbed feet.
|
| 4
| Sticky, retractable tongue. 5 feet long, somehow.
| Swims.
|
| 5
| Sticky, retractable tongue. 10 feet long, somehow.
| Can breathe water and air equally well. Swims.
|
| 6
| magic mouth
| jump
|
Fiend
| 1-3
| Eyes glow; horns; smiles.
| Body glints like a hot coal; shimmering aura of heat and fumes; sheds ash.
|
| 4
| Speaks one language. Needle teeth.
| Resists damage from fire and cold.
|
| 5
| Speaks two languages. Needle teeth.
| Immune to damage from fire and cold.
|
| 6
| friends
| burning hands
|
Fey
| 1-3
| Antennae; pupils vanish; musky breath.
| Sprouts patches of leaves, moss, or flowers; quick movement is blurred; sheds fine, glittering dust.
|
| 4
| Speaks one language. Sings beautifully.
| Gossamer wings and graceful flight.
|
| 5
| Speaks two languages. Sings beautifully.
| Gossamer wings and perfect flight.
|
| 6
| charm person
| dancing lights
|
Eldritch
| 1-3
| Grows this many additional eyes.
| Flesh becomes spongy; takes a moment to show up when you look at it; casts no shadow.
|
| 4
| Speaks one language. Whispers and drools.
| Resists damage from non-magical weapons.
|
| 5
| Speaks two languages. Whispers and drools.
| Immune to damage from non-magical weapons.
|
| 6
| unseen servant
| fog cloud
|
Some considerations:
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