You were once an ordinary pet, living a peaceful and simple life in the real world. Whether you were a loyal dog, a curious cat, or another beloved companion, your days were filled with the routines of domestic life. That all changed when you were pulled from your familiar surroundings into the strange and magical world of Faerun.
An obssessed researcher, experimenting with ancient arcane rituals, brought you to this new reality. You are no longer in your owner's care, but trapped in a place filled with dangers and wonders beyond anything you could have imagined.
Expirimented on until you reached your limit you now stand at the crossroads of instinct and intellect, torn between the life you knew and the strange new reality unfolding before you.
The question remains: Will you embrace this transformation, or will you fight to return to the world from which you were taken?
- Skill Proficiencies: Perception: As a pet, your senses were finely tuned to detect changes in your environment, whether it was the sound of a distant footstep or the smell of food. This has given you a heightened awareness that now aids you in this new, dangerous world.
Survival: In the wild or unfamiliar environments of Faerun, your animal instincts guide you. Whether it's finding food, shelter, or sensing danger, your survival skills have been critical in navigating your new surroundings.
- Tool Proficiencies: None (or choose simple tools): At the start of your journey, you had no need for tools in your life as a pet. As you evolve and become more humanoid, however, you will begin to understand how to manipulate the tools of this world, gaining the ability to use simple tools (like cooking utensils, smith’s tools, or other artisan tools).
- Languages: Common: You retain some understanding of the language spoken by your former owner in the real world, which oddly enough, matches the common language spoken in this world.
Sylvan: Upon being brought to Faerun, you found yourself able to understand Sylvan, the language of the fey. Perhaps it was part of the magic that summoned you. Sylvan allows you to communicate with mystical creatures of the fey and the natural world.
- Equipment: Equipment: A collar or token from your former life as a pet, a memento from your previous owner (such as a toy or favorite item).
When you create a character with the Summoned Familiar background, you can roll or choose from the table below to determine what type of animal you were before being summoned to Faerun. Each option also includes a trait or quirk reflecting the instincts or characteristics that still linger as you begin your journey.
| d6 | Animal Origins |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dog - You have a strong sense of loyalty to your party. Once per long rest, you can choose to reroll a failed saving throw if it would save an ally. You have an instinctual dislike for certain smells (DMs discretion). |
| 2 | Cat - You retain some of your feline agility. You have advantage on saving throws to avoid falling prone or being restrained. Sometimes distracted by small moving objects (bugs and lights). |
| 3 | Bird(Parrot, Cocktail, etc.) You have advantage on Perception checks involving sight. You have a tendency to mimic voices and sounds, even when not meaning to. |
| 4 | Hamster/Rodent - You can squeeze through spaces one size smaller than you, but have a lingering fear of large predatory animals. |
| 5 | Rabbit - You can use the Disengage action as a bonus action once per short rest. Sometimes, loud noises or sudden movements startle you. |
| 6 | Reptile(Lizard, Snake, etc.) - You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened. You dislike cold environments. |
As a creature plucked from the real world, your instincts help you survive in the unfamiliar and magical land of Faerun. You have a keen sense for danger and are skilled at navigating wilderness environments or avoiding traps. You can always identify if food, water, or shelter is safe in natural surroundings, even in foreign realms. Once per long rest, you can tap into these instincts to gain advantage on any check related to survival or perception in natural environments.
Suggested Characteristics
As a creature summoned into an unfamiliar and dangerous world, you possess a mix of confusion, awe, and adaptation. At the start of your journey, you retain many behaviors and instincts from your former life as a pet, but over time, your personality evolves as you become more intelligent.
| d4 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I sometimes forget that I’m no longer just a pet, and I act in ways that reflect my former life. |
| 2 | I’m fiercely loyal to those who protect me, just like I was with my former owner. |
| 3 | The world around me fascinates and terrifies me in equal measure. |
| 4 | I still have some lingering instincts from my old life, such as chasing small creatures or barking at loud noises. |
| d4 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Freedom. I want to live a life free from cages, collars, and leashes (Chaotic). |
| 2 | Loyalty. I protect those who saved me and remain devoted to my pack (Good). |
| 3 | Survival. In this strange new world, survival is all that matters (Neutral). |
| 4 | Curiosity. I want to learn more about this strange world and the magic that brought me here (Neutral). |
| d3 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I still long for my old owner and wish to find a way back home. |
| 2 | My fellow companions (other pets) are my pack, and I will protect them at all costs. |
| 3 | I want to understand the magic that brought me to Faerun and seek to find the truth behind it. |
| d4 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I sometimes act on animal instincts, even when it’s inappropriate for my evolving form. |
| 2 | I’m overly trusting of strangers, as I was raised to see humans as caretakers. |
| 3 | I’m terrified of being trapped again and panic in enclosed spaces. |
| 4 | I am obsessed with returning to my original form, even at the cost of my newfound abilities. |
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