Forget the mundane spellcasting for summoning a familiar. True Familiar Witchcraft delves into the mystical and ritualistic, offering a far more compelling and thematic approach. Inspired by folklore and ancient practices, this method transforms the acquisition of a familiar into a significant event, deeply entwined with the witch’s craft.
To initiate this potent ritual, one must already possess the innate ability to wield magic. Ideally conducted within a coven, though solitary practitioners with arcane talent can also undertake it, the process begins with a quest for suitable components. Seek out two creatures, small enough to be confined within a brass cauldron. This vessel becomes the crucible of transformation. A drop of your own blood, willingly offered, acts as the binding agent, forging a mystical link between the witch and the emerging familiar.
With the chosen animals placed within the cauldron, seal it shut, and kindle a fire beneath. Employ charcoal, fragrant herbs, sacred incense, and animal fat to fuel the flames, infusing the ritual with potent energies. Now, patience is paramount. Allow the cauldron to simmer for a duration of 1d6 x 10 minutes, or 2d6 dungeon turns in the depths of the underworld. Rituals performed under the silvery glow of a full moon or on the auspicious fifth day of the fifth month are blessed, halving the waiting time.
As the appointed time concludes, carefully lift the lid. Within the cauldron’s depths, a struggle will have played out. Only one creature will have survived, emerging transformed – your new familiar, forged in the crucible of familiar witchcraft. A coin flip can decide the victor, or let fate guide your hand.
The triumphant animal is forever changed, a chimera bearing traits of both its former self and the vanquished creature. Imagine a sleek black cat with a venomous scorpion’s tail, or a keen-eyed hawk possessing the bulging eyes of a toad. Perhaps a nimble lizard with bat-like wings, or a cunning weasel graced with the sucker-covered tentacle of an octopus. The precise amalgamation is a collaborative creation. The player whose character performs the ritual holds the ultimate say, guided by suggestions and imaginative input from fellow players, ensuring each familiar witchcraft creation is unique and memorable. Embrace this ritual, and let your familiar be a testament to the potent magic you command.
