Familiar is a term for any creature that is used as a servant,[1] assistant,[2] or guardian by a magic user.[3][4][5][6] Most familiars are summoned creatures such as Daedra,[7][3][1] or artificially created beings like golems.[4][8] Familiars can be used to perform a variety of tasks, such as serving as basic assistants or test subjects,[9] some are used for more advanced tasks such as serving as vendors.[2] Many others are used for assisting in combat,[3][7] guarding important locations,[10] or even protecting against the spells of their master's enemies.[9] Some familiars are treated more like pets than assistants.[11][12]:315
Types of FamiliarsEdit
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.[3][13][14] A flaming variation can also be summoned by more skilled mages.[3]
Common lesser Daedra used as familiars include Scamps,[7][15] Banekin,[16] and Elemental Atronachs.[17][18] Scamps are most commonly used for simple tasks like gruntwork,[19] 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.[2] Atronachs were among the first Daedra used as familiars by Clan Direnni during the early development of Conjuration magic.[1]
Imps are another common type of familiar,[4] they were often used as such by the Mages Guild.[9][20][21] They are occasionally used as guardians of important vaults, such as in Frostcrag Spire.[10] They have been subject to cruel experimentation by their masters, and have been known to go rogue in response.[9][20] Gremlins are another small intelligent species who were used as familiars by the Mages Guild.[22]
Animals are quite popular as familiars. Witches often use black cats as familiars.[11][23] Mages in Morrowind, such as those of the Shad Astula Academy, have utilized conjured familiars in the forms of kwama, guar, kagouti, and pigs.[24] Other animals used as familiars include nighthawks, bears, and frostbite spiders.[25][26][12]:315
Notable FamiliarsEdit
- The Crow is a being known as a Luminary, who was born from the essence of Ulfsild the Evergreen, and served as her familiar.[27]
- Skakmat is a Dragon who served as the familiar of the renowned mystic Nulfaga, the Dowager Queen of Daggerfall.[28]
GalleryEdit
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Familiar (Skyrim)
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Familiar (Legends)
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Flaming Familiar (Skyrim)
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Skakmat, Nulfaga's Dragon Familiar (Daggerfall)
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An Imp Familiar (Oblivion)
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Lis, Gabriella's Frostbite Spider Familiar (Skyrim)
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A Scamp Familiar (ESO)
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A Banekin Familiar (ESO)
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A Magma Familiar (ESO)
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The Crow, Ulfsild's Luminary Familiar (ESO)
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A Conjured Guar Familiar (ESO)
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A Witch's Infernal Familiar (ESO)
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See AlsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c The Origins of Conjuration
- ^ a b c Caal: Assistant Chronicler — Firaldil
- ^ a b c d e Conjure Familiar and Flaming Familiar spells in Skyrim
- ^ a b c Daggerfall User's Guide - description of Imps
- ^ Warlock greetings in Arena
- ^ Fools' Ebony — Frincheps
- ^ a b c Summon Unstable Familiar and Summon Volatile Familiar skills in ESO
- ^ Familiar Slayer achievement description in ESO
- ^ a b c d The Loose Pet Imp quest in Daggerfall
- ^ a b Vault Guardians from the Wizard's Tower DLC for Oblivion
- ^ a b Witch's Infernal Familiar pet in ESO
- ^ a b The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Prima Official Game Guide — David Hodgson
- ^ Conjurer's Spirit and Familiar cards in Legends
- ^ Where Magical Paths Meet — Warlock Aldaale
- ^ Caal in ESO
- ^ Valeyn's Familiar in ESO
- ^ Frostcrag Spire Memoirs — Taris Rendil, Arch-Mage
- ^ Flame Atronach Familiars, Frost Atronach Familiars, and Storm Atronach Familiars from the Wizard's Tower DLC for Oblivion
- ^ Zagrugh's Journal — Zagrugh
- ^ a b Rogue Imp quest in Daggerfall
- ^ Sparky in Oblivion
- ^ Kotaro's dialogue in Redguard
- ^ Soki's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Conjured Familiars in ESO
- ^ The Real Barenziah — Anonymous
- ^ Icerage Bear mount description in ESO
- ^ The Crow's dialogue in ESO
- ^ The Daggerfall Chronicles Narrative