Familiars are super natural beings that assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic. In some cases familiars are attracted to practitioners of their own accord, but the most effective way to acquire a familiar is to bind a minor demon (or spirit) to an animal. As part of such a binding, a sympathetic link is created between the bound familiar and the witch (or warlock).

Familiars take on the characteristics of the animal to which they are bound, allowing certain enhancements to a witches practice depending on the animal.

Binding a Familiar

A familiar is summoned and bound to an animal using a Rite of Binding as described in the book, Witchcraft: Circle Magic. Both the witch and a tamed animal of the desired type (Cat, Owl or Toad) must stand in the Circle when the Rite is performed. If the Rite is successful the animal will be inhabited by the familiar entity with the effects listed below.

Common Effects

Because the animal is inhabited by a supernatural creature it is far stronger than a normal creature of the same type. Familiars all have 50 life points and 5 points of armor.

All familiar types share a sympathetic link with the witch to which they are bound. Should the witch (or warlock) be damaged, a small portion of this damage (1%) will be sent to familiar instead of the player. If the familiar is nearby, the amount of damage redirected will be significantly higher (10%).

The bidirectional nature of this link means that if the familiar "dies" so too will the witch.

If a familiar is "killed" or their witch dies, the familiar will merely be dismissed as described below. A dismissed familiar can be summoned using a Rite of Summoning.

Cat Familiar

Cat familiars require a tamed ocelot to be present in the Rite of Binding. A cat familiar allows a witch to master the art of curses and curse removal. All curses cast by such a witch will be stronger, yielding more debilitating effects and being harder for other witches to remove. Likewise, such witches will find it easier to remove curses from players.

Witches with a cat familiar can also perform the Curse of Corrupt Poppet, allowing them to destroy Voodoo Protection Poppets unless the player has a Poppet protection poppet.

Finally, a cat familiar imparts the knowledge to prepare the Brew of Cursed Leaping in a kettle.

Owl Familiar

Owl familiars require a tamed Owl to be present in the Rite of Binding. An Owl familiar allows a witch to master the use of an Enchanted Broom, allowing better deceleration, acceleration and top speed (this stacks with the Infused Brew of Soaring).

Witches with an Owl familiar are able to prepare the Brew of Bodega in a kettle.

Toad Familiar

Toad familiars require a tamed toad to be present in the Rite of Binding. An toad familiar allows a witch to master brewing and the use of brews. When such a witch prepares brews, there is a 5% chance (cumulative to the bonuses from wearing witches clothing) that an extra brew will be produced.