Aldwyns Academy - More about Familiars
Aldwyns Academy
Orientation Packet
Facts about Familiars
When a familiar choses a wizard, a bond is formed that only death can break. This bond enables the familiar to share in the intelligence of the wizard, and allows the wizard to share in the special abilities of the familiar. Increased speed, greater endurance, better night vision are among some of the benefits which can result from the bond.
More importantly, the familiar bond enables the two to communicate, mind-to-mind, not verbally, even over great distance. Just as some pet owners come to resemble their pets, so some wizards come to resemble their familiar. A wizard with a cat familiar, for example, may develop a habit of cleanliness and desire to nap in sunlit circles; while his familiar may demonstrate a love of books and begin to resemble some physical aspect of his wizard. This is NOTHING to worry about. You will NOT transform into something half-animal/ half-human, no matter WHAT the older students tell you.
Caring for a familiar is rather different from caring for an ordinary pet, in part because of the familiar bond. Although the bond forms instantly at the Ceremony of Choosing, it needs to be strengthened and developed. One hour of each day is set aside as time spent with your familiar, playing with him/her, grooming him/her, hunting, sunning, swimming, walking. This is the MINIMUM time required. Learn to listen to your familiar, it will inform you of its needs. A happy familiar is a helpful familiar.
(from: A Practical Guide to Wizardry;
compiled by Archmage Lowadar, Headmaster, Aldwyns Academy;
text by Susan J. Morris, Historian, Aldwyn's Academy;
published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Mirrorstone; 2008
visit the website at http://www.mirrorstonebooks.com )
Orientation Packet
Facts about Familiars
When a familiar choses a wizard, a bond is formed that only death can break. This bond enables the familiar to share in the intelligence of the wizard, and allows the wizard to share in the special abilities of the familiar. Increased speed, greater endurance, better night vision are among some of the benefits which can result from the bond.
More importantly, the familiar bond enables the two to communicate, mind-to-mind, not verbally, even over great distance. Just as some pet owners come to resemble their pets, so some wizards come to resemble their familiar. A wizard with a cat familiar, for example, may develop a habit of cleanliness and desire to nap in sunlit circles; while his familiar may demonstrate a love of books and begin to resemble some physical aspect of his wizard. This is NOTHING to worry about. You will NOT transform into something half-animal/ half-human, no matter WHAT the older students tell you.
Caring for a familiar is rather different from caring for an ordinary pet, in part because of the familiar bond. Although the bond forms instantly at the Ceremony of Choosing, it needs to be strengthened and developed. One hour of each day is set aside as time spent with your familiar, playing with him/her, grooming him/her, hunting, sunning, swimming, walking. This is the MINIMUM time required. Learn to listen to your familiar, it will inform you of its needs. A happy familiar is a helpful familiar.
(from: A Practical Guide to Wizardry;
compiled by Archmage Lowadar, Headmaster, Aldwyns Academy;
text by Susan J. Morris, Historian, Aldwyn's Academy;
published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Mirrorstone; 2008
visit the website at http://www.mirrorstonebooks.com )