Familiars
By Heron
Singular: Familiar
Plural: Familiars Group: Tangent of Familiars Communication - Mindspeech Size Ranges – Any natural or mythical animal Colorations – Unlimited; some rank traits Naming Convention – They choose their own name (no restrictions) |
General Information
No soul is truly whole on its own, or so contend the Familiars. They are fragments of being, pieces of souls looking for completion in the humanoids they bond. Each kind of Familiar represents a shard of the human experience, and each Familiar is a specific part of its bonded’s soul, although they tend to be independent individuals with their own personalities fleshed out around the traits they embody. For whatever else they are, and whatever else they do or do not have in common, for every Familiar is mostly a unique creature, the one trait they all share is that their true forms are intensely private experiences. Nobody who is not their bonded or, perhaps, a mate, is allowed to see them as the eight-dimensional wavelengths of light and telepathic energy that they truly are. Given how reticent they are about sharing their true forms, it is perhaps no surprise that they put up a facade with which to interface with the world. A disguise, like a name, which is as true as it isn’t. They can take the form of any animal, normal or mythical, though their size, coloration, physical oddities, and mannerisms will always set them apart from whatever creatures they have chosen to emulate. A Spirit who chooses to take on the form of a dragon, for example, will only be as long as a human forearm and might have butterfly wings instead of proper dragon’s wings. Barring the Beacon, who is exclusively female, all Familiar ranks are gender-neutral. Even the “lords” may be female as equally as male. All Familiars, being as intelligent as humanoids if not more intelligent than humanoids, mindspeak with full diction and perfect clarity and grammar. Mating Information Any Familiar seeking to mate will head off into the wilds for privacy, emitting a telepathic wavelength all the while that will signify to all Familiars in the area, bonded or wild, that there is a mate to be had. The courtship dance varies by individual. Some Familiars like to play word games, others enjoy making suitors compete against one another physically, still others make it about dancing or poetry or music. Familiars are an eccentric lot, and what one finds effective will not work for all. Eventually, the instigator of the chase will choose the most impressive suitor or possibly suitors, and they will find somewhere even more private where they can drop their animalistic disguises and mingle energies. Given that Familiars are not naturally physical creatures at all, any two Familiars may breed and produce offspring, regardless of apparent gender identity. Beacons produce up to fifteen young, Meridians and Guardians up to ten, and the common ranks may create up to five offspring. Bonding Information Familiars are extremely picky about hopeful candidates. They firmly believe, and this may even be true, that they are the souls of their bonds, long-lost fragments that need to return home. As such, they will never settle. They find the correct soul with whom to bond or they flee into the wilds to keep looking. They never settle, and they never surrender the search if they are not immediately satisfied. No gifts or flattery will sway their opinions, though they are not opposed to conversation even from the ‘wrong’ candidates. Once they have found the right soul, however, they introduce themselves by name -- they choose their own -- and will move through their new bond, sharing self with soul. They will be in their permanent animal form once they come out the other side. Ranks Beacon 5* The undisputed queens of Familiar-kind, Beacons are the largest, measuring somewhat taller, broader, or possibly longer than whatever shape they take. Their animal forms carry the most intricate patterning and the greatest variety of colors, though their eyes are always luminescent gold. They represent experiences of spiritual growth and enlightenment, and they bring a sense of quiet peace to their bonds, the kind of meditative clarity and focus that is so rare to find on one’s own. Guardian 3* The warriors of Familiar-kind and the larger of the two lord ranks, Guardians are nearly the size of Beacons: long, bulky and broad for their height and infinitely dense no matter what animal form they choose to take on. They tend towards, but are not restricted to, brash colors like gold and crimson and bright blue and searing orange, and their eyes are always fire-orange. They stand out, never content to fade into the background. Their patterns are simple, but tend to be eye-searing. Guardians represent war-like emotions of protectiveness and the desire for combat, as well as pride and eagerness for a good fight. Meridian 3* Quietest of all Familiars, Meridians are the smaller of the lords, slender and lithe rather than bulky. Their patterns and colors tend to be subtle and desaturated, and they bear the least outstanding whimsical additions to their creature bodies. Their eyes are always a steady, unwavering silver. Meridians represent balance, moderation, and a careful lack of extremes. Extremes are dangerous, after all, and it’s always good to have some outside perspective. Sorrow for every joy and joy for every sorrow, as well as objectivity in the face of intense situations. Angel 1* Gentle and loving, Angels are the kindest of the Familiars. Noticeably smaller than the royals, Angels stand a little shorter and a little slenderer than their mundane animal counterpart and are colored in soft hues and timid patterns that often evoke feathering even if they are not in any sort of bird shape. Their eyes are always shining pale blue. Sweet and affectionate, Angels are the representation of whatever good sits within every soul, even if they have to work hard and search endlessly to find it. They are compassion, they are kindness, they are empathy, and they are acts of spontaneous generosity. Fiend 1* Calculating and cruel, Fiends stand about the same size as Angels, patterned in jagged sharp edges and dark, ominous colors. Their crimson eyes burn with tangible malevolence and their creature forms, no matter what shape they deign to take, will always have extra spines, stingers, or barbs, making whatever form they take into a living weapon. There is nothing gentle about Fiends, nor are they ever kind. The best one can hope for is for a Fiend to represent temptation rather than outright sadism, though most take their most intense delights from causing pain in others. They are the worst reaches of the soul brought to life in vivid, gory color. Spirit 1* The most playful of Familiars, Sprits are usually somewhat smaller than their final form's mundane counterpart, often brightly colored and garishly patterned. Their eyes are always a vivid purple, and their bodies sport the most whimsical additions -- frills, webbing, antennae, extra tails, ridges, so forth. Spirit Familiars represent the joys of life, the zeal, the gusto, the absolutes of enjoyment and indulgence. They are also tricksters on occasion, prone to playing pranks to liven up the mood and ensure that nothing is ever taken too seriously. Scholar 1* Introverted and quiet, Scholars are the smallest familiars, trending towards spindly in build, all limbs with no substantial bulk to speak of. They are drab in color and dull in pattern, physically uninteresting and visually boring, but for their deep green eyes. What makes them fascinating is not how they look, but instead what lies beneath, as Scholars are the intelligence of the soul, the heart of sapience and the greatest reaches of intellectual achievement. They are love of learning and knowledge known, they are the pursuit of information and the drive to suss out an answer for every secret. |