Lore:Familiar

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A Conjurer and their Familiars (Legends)
"I heard an imp familiar escaped from the Mages Guild. They say that a wizard that loses his familiar is vulnerable to his enemies' spells."
—A citizen of the Iliac Bay region[1]

Familiar is a term for any creature that is used as a servant,[2] assistant,[3] or guardian by a magic user.[4][5][6][7] Most familiars are summoned creatures such as Daedra,[8][4][2] or artificially created beings like golems.[5][9] Familiars can be used to perform a variety of tasks, such as serving as basic assistants or test subjects,[1] some are used for more advanced tasks such as serving as vendors.[3] Many others are used for assisting in combat,[4][8] guarding important locations,[10] or even protecting against the spells of their master's enemies.[1] Some familiars are treated more like pets than assistants.[11][12]:315

Types of Familiars[edit]

One of the most common forms of familiar is a specific type of conjured wolf spirit, that is synonymous with the name. They are summoned to assist their masters in combat or to help pick up scents.[4][13][14] A flaming variation can also be summoned by more skilled mages.[4]

The Atronach Altar of Frostcrag Spire (Oblivion)

Common lesser Daedra used as familiars include Scamps,[8][15] Banekin,[16] Clannfear,[17]:159 and various Elemental Daedra.[18][19] Scamps are most commonly used for simple tasks like gruntwork,[20] but some could be entrusted with more complex tasks. One Scamp familiar was even granted full membership in the Mages Guild, serving as an assistant chronicler and merchant.[3] Atronachs were among the first Daedra used as familiars by Clan Direnni during the early development of Conjuration magic.[2] The Atronach Altar of Frostcrag Spire can be used to summon and bind Flame, Frost, and Storm Atronachs as permanent familiars.[19][18]

Imps are another common type of familiar,[5][21] they were often used as such by the Mages Guild.[1][22][23] They are occasionally used by powerful wizards as vault guardians,[10] similarly to homonculi and trolls.[24][25] Imp familiars have been subject to cruel experimentation by their masters, and have been known to go rogue in response.[1][22] Gremlins are another small intelligent species who were used as familiars by the Mages Guild.[26]

Animals are quite popular as familiars. Witches often use black cats as familiars.[11][27] Mages in Morrowind, such as those of the Shad Astula Academy, have utilized conjured familiars in the forms of kwama, guar, kagouti, and pigs.[28] Other animals used as familiars include nighthawks,[29] bears,[30] scuttlers,[17]:102 mudcrabs,[17]:88 and frostbite spiders.[12]:315

Notable Familiars[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • Familiar (Skyrim)

  • Familiar (Legends)

  • Flaming Familiar (Skyrim)

  • Skakmat, Nulfaga's Dragon Familiar (Daggerfall)

  • An Imp Familiar (Oblivion)

  • Lis, Gabriella's Frostbite Spider Familiar (Skyrim)

  • A Scamp Familiar (ESO)

  • A Volatile Scamp Familiar (ESO)

  • An Unstable Clannfear Familiar (ESO)

  • A Banekin Familiar (ESO)

  • A Magma Familiar (ESO)

  • The Crow, Ulfsild's Luminary Familiar (ESO)

  • A Conjured Guar Familiar (ESO)

  • A Witch's Infernal Familiar (ESO)

  • "Soulbug Familiar" from the 2011 Skyrim Game Jam

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e The Loose Pet Imp quest in Daggerfall
  2. ^ a b c The Origins of Conjuration
  3. ^ a b c Caal: Assistant Chronicler — Firaldil
  4. ^ a b c d e Conjure Familiar and Flaming Familiar spells in Skyrim
  5. ^ a b c Daggerfall User's Guide - description of Imps
  6. ^ Warlock greetings in Arena
  7. ^ Fools' Ebony — Frincheps
  8. ^ a b c Summon Unstable Familiar and Summon Volatile Familiar skills in ESO
  9. ^ Familiar Slayer achievement description in ESO
  10. ^ a b Vault Guardians from the Wizard's Tower DLC for Oblivion
  11. ^ a b Witch's Infernal Familiar pet in ESO
  12. ^ a b The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Prima Official Game Guide — David Hodgson
  13. ^ Conjurer's Spirit and Familiar cards in Legends
  14. ^ Where Magical Paths Meet — Warlock Aldaale
  15. ^ Caal in ESO
  16. ^ Valeyn's Familiar in ESO
  17. ^ a b c Kyne's Challenge: A Hunter's Companion — David S. J. Hodgson
  18. ^ a b Frostcrag Spire Memoirs — Taris Rendil, Arch-Mage
  19. ^ a b Flame Atronach Familiars, Frost Atronach Familiars, and Storm Atronach Familiars from the Wizard's Tower DLC for Oblivion
  20. ^ Zagrugh's Journal — Zagrugh
  21. ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: The Summerset Isles: Auridon — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  22. ^ a b Rogue Imp quest in Daggerfall
  23. ^ Sparky in Oblivion
  24. ^ Arena Player's Guide description of Homonculi
  25. ^ Arena Player's Guide description of Trolls
  26. ^ Kotaro's dialogue in Redguard
  27. ^ Soki's dialogue in ESO
  28. ^ Conjured Familiars in ESO
  29. ^ The Real Barenziah — Anonymous
  30. ^ Icerage Bear mount description in ESO
  31. ^ The Crow's dialogue in ESO
  32. ^ The Daggerfall Chronicles Narrative
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