[3.5] Emulating the Miniature Handbook Healer

[Ryuuk]

The Healer's namesake can be done by any other divine caster, likely more effectively, but the one class feature that caught my eye was it's companion.

At 8th they get a Unicorn, but at 16th they can change it to a Couatl. I like the idea of a Couatl companion, but I'm wondering if there's any way of getting it without going pure Healer for 16 levels.

Assuming an ECL of 17, is there any way to get a plumed serpent to follow you around?

[hamishspence]

Leadership? It's the equivalent of a 16th level cohort.

You could homebrew up a Celestial Cohort feat that's an exact copy of the Dragon one in Draconomicon (only with Speak Language-Celestial instead of Speak Language-Draconic) that allows you to treat it as 3 levels lower for cohort purposes.

[Rannil]

Exalted Companion and a nice DM? Exalted Companion does give you an unicorn, at 8 level like a healer, you could say you would be able to get a Couatl at the same level a healer does, although it's not RAW.

[Thinker]

Exalted Companion seems like your best bet.

[Glimbur]

Planar Ally or Planar Binding can get it for you for a while.

[PId6]

Planar Ally or Planar Binding can get it for you for a while.
This. Also, Gate + Mindrape/Dominate Monster can get you nearly anything.

[Flickerdart]

Improved Familiar and Polymorph can get you a Couatl for a short time each day, but one without the SLAs, pathetic spellcasting or telepathy.