Familiars

A Familiar is a type of quasi-divine creature, aligned with a deity. They fall in the category of Divine Vassals although many also act as Proxies if they are affiliated to a patron divine power.

Appearance

Familiars can appear in any insect, bird, reptile, mammal, or amphibian form native to the plane of the master they are sent to serve on behalf of their deity. In rare instances they can also take on the form of an elemental force, such as fire, water, smoke, ice, etc.

All familiars have a "true" form that they revert to on their home plane.

Humanoid Familiars

Some special type of familiars are also able to take on the shape of a small humanoid figure. Notable familiars of this kind are Imps, Quasits, Baltir and the like.

Purpose

All familiars have a specific purpose, which is to provide aid and advice to the servant of the Deity to which they are assigned. It is this purpose that makes an "Imp", for example, a "familiar". Imps, Quasits and the like can exist on their home plane without being familiars - in those cases they are merely denizens of that plane without specific purpose.