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====== Familiars ======
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A **Familiar** is a magical companion created through Ritual Magic. Unlike pets or summoned creatures, familiars are **non-combat spiritual extensions** of the character, offering narrative depth, passive bonuses, and opportunities for rich character expression.

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===== 🧿 What Is a Familiar? =====

Familiars are:
  * **Non-combatants**
  * Bound to a single character
  * Created via a specific **Create Familiar Ritual**
  * Visibly represented in-game

They reflect the caster’s class, magical affinity, or personality, and should be represented by a **prop, token, costume piece, or visible marker**.

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===== 🔮 Obtaining a Familiar =====

To gain a familiar, you must:
  * Successfully complete the **Create Familiar Ritual**
  * Provide the required components
  * Be assisted by a **Ritual Marshal**
  * Have the **Ritual Magic skill** needed to cast the scroll

Familiars are **bound to one character**, and this bond continues from game to game unless broken by:
  * Dispel magic
  * Character death
  * Specific ritual interference

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===== 🎭 Representing a Familiar =====

All familiars must be visibly represented. Options include:
  * A small plush, puppet, or magical token
  * Costume pieces (e.g., a glowing gem, arcane brooch)
  * An approved player or NPC acting as the familiar

Familiars may have a name, appearance, or personality but cannot speak unless enhanced through rituals.

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===== 🌟 Roles of a Familiar =====

**1. Character Enhancement**  
  * May grant minor, GM-approved effects such as:
    - Bonus spell uses
    - Minor resistances
    - Ritual support
  * Effects are passive and thematic—**not mechanical power-ups**

**2. Narrative Anchor**  
  * Can emote, gesture, or respond to character mood  
  * May sense magical danger or amplify dramatic moments  
  * Useful as a symbolic or emotional tether

**3. World Interaction**  
  * May assist in rituals, alchemy labs, or scene flavor  
  * Cannot act without the bonded player present  
  * Can roleplay delivering messages, sensing magic, or reacting to relics

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===== 🧬 Augmenting a Familiar =====

Familiars may be enhanced through advanced rituals or storyline milestones.

Possible augmentations (requires GM or Ritual Marshal approval):
  * Limited communication (one-word phrases, emotional cues)
  * Visual transformations (glowing eyes, wings, elemental features)
  * Additional resistances or passive traits

Augmentations **require components**, **ritual casting**, and often **roleplay justification**.

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===== 🚫 Familiar Limitations =====

  * **Non-combatant** – Cannot deal or absorb damage or block spells
  * **Not autonomous** – Cannot act independently of their player
  * **Passive-only** – No active mechanics unless approved via augmentation
  * **Loss & Regrowth** – Familiars can be destroyed by magical trauma or failure and may be restored only through roleplay and effort

Treat the loss of a Familiar as a significant **narrative event**, not a reset button.

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===== Related Sections =====
  * [[operations:public:interactive_rulebook:core:ritual_magic|Ritual Magic]]
  * [[operations:public:interactive_rulebook:core:magic|Magic & Spellcasting]]
  * [[operations:public:interactive_rulebook:core:conditions_and_effects|Status Effects]]

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**Volaire LARP** – //Your magic has a face. It watches, follows, and remembers.//