t was with a mixture of awe and respect that I entered the gates of that great city of mages known as Tulla. Never before had I been surrounded by such a feeling of raw power, for within Tulla all is magickal. My acquaintance Naph'Tha, the esteemed Master of Elemental Fire, managed to spirit me into Tulla, that I might partake of the great tomes of knowledge stored within its immense libraries. I am forever in her debt for my stealthy admittance, for I learned many things while immersed in Tulla's priceless collection of knowledge, and rare is it that a visitor is even allowed into Tulla, let alone given the opportunity that I was given.

For this particular essay however, I will continue my documentation on the creatures of Arcanum. Today, we will discuss a creature that mayhap you have seen perched upon the shoulder of certain magickal personages. Yes, it is the summoned familiar of which I speak.

Small and dragon-like in appearance, they sit with their tails coiled possessively around the neck of their masters. Their razor sharp talons can leave significant marks upon the flesh, which is why mages well versed in art of Summoning can often be distinguished by their robes, which are heavily padded at the shoulder. Perched thusly, with wings folded at rest and eyes mere slits, the familiars can give the false impression that they are a subdued and genteel species. This is most certainly not the case. Familiars are always on the alert, merely awaiting the chance to prove their loyalty to their masters by unleashing their razor sharp talons, knife-like teeth, scorching breath and, in the higher lineages, powerful magickal spells upon an enemy. Quick, agile and serpent like in movements, a powerful familiar can hold its own against enemies more than 10 times its size.

I learned much of the beasts during my stay in Tulla, for I was fortunate enough to observe many of these creatures in action and found that their masters were quite willing to speak to me at length of their prowess. Firstly, I would like to disabuse you of the notion that all familiars are created equal. It was explained to me that when a mage focuses their energies to summon a familiar, the resultant creature is of a weaker or stronger lineage dependent upon the power of the mage that brought it into being. There appear to be four distinct lineages, each producing stronger, more intelligent creatures than the last. I was also informed that once summoned, the creature is bound to its master for the remainder of its life.

Through my conversations in Tulla, and actual observations I have made in my travels, I have come to understand that certain mages, often those of more questionable moral practices, who can often summon only familiars of the Underling and Familiar lineages, tend to view their familiars as mere objects, not true beings. As a result of such thinking, it is not uncommon for these mages to place wagers upon their summoned companions, entering them into vicious battles. Sometimes a familiar is pit against another of its kind, other times against a summoned elemental or similar beast, all in the name of sport and profit. The battles I have witnessed were a breathtaking sight to behold, full of savagery and raw magickal power, yet I must avow that the death shriek of an Underling will chill you to the bone, and make you wonder if what these mages do is sport, or mere barbarism.

On the other hand, most of the mages of Tulla, especially those capable of summoning a Slasher or Blood Claw are quite possessive of their familiars, often giving them pet names and taking great steps to ensure that they are comfortable and well cared for. Rare, or perhaps more accurately, desperate, is the Tullan trained mage who would allow his familiar, no matter the lineage, to participate in a wagered match.

Where a familiar exists before it is summoned has been a matter of much debate in Tulla, and I was unable to deduce a precise answer during my studies. Some believe that the creatures are fashioned from the mages very essence, others that a separate plane exists and is home to the beasts until they are summoned to their masters. Further, while perusing an ancient tome in the great library, I found a passage that spoke specifically of the familiars, stating simply that they were a great gift, bestowed upon a mage by Halcyon, god of the sky, to those he deems worthy. Wherever they originate, the summoned familiar is a most amazing work of magick, and certainly one of Arcanum's most awe-inspiring creatures.