Xykon's Familiar

[Inhuman Bot]

Let's look at the facts. Xykon is a lich. He has access to the BOVD. He has no Familiar.
As anyone who has the BOVD or dragon #336 knows there is a feat called
betrayal of the spirit linked. Heres what it is:

Betrayal of the spirit linked
A being of pure malice and darkness has seduced you to the commiy ultimate treachery: you have murdered your own familiar. Now a twisted undead mockery takes it's place.
Prequisets: able to cast animate dead, required sacrifice.
Sacrifice: you must kill your own familiar and animate it as either a zombie or a skeleton (your choice). Since your dark patron has intervined you suffer no ill effects. Even if you repent and attempt to summon a new familiar only another undead answears your call.
Benefits: Your familiar gains either the zombie or the skeleton template. it no longer gives you its benifits: Such as +3 on listen checks for a bat) or the ability to talk to/dominate it's own kind. However it gets DR 5? bludgeoning if it's a skeleton or DR 5/ slashing if its a zombie.

When Xykon decided to become a Lich why did he not select this feat? anyone have any ideas?

[Artega]

For all we know, he could very well have the feat. But remember, like V, it is completely possible he simply just forgot about his familiar completly.

Hell, if I were an epic-level lich, I'd probably forget about some bag of bones I could summon on occasion. I've got an army of Hobgoblins in any case.

[Alfryd]

Tzeentz called, by the way, he's sick of having your hos bunking at his place over the weekend.
It interferes with his lack-of-schedule.


However it gets DR 5? bludgeoning if it's a skeleton or DR 5/ slashing if its a zombie.
The familiar or the master?

[mockingbyrd7]

He probably does have a familiar. But considering V, an intelligent, organized, resourceful wizard, hardly ever remembers Blackwing, and since Xykon probably has a severe undiagnosed case of short-term memory loss (hell, maybe long term too) he would never, ever remember it. He may not have remembered his familiar 40 years (he became a lich 30 years ago) and Redcloak may not even know he has one. For all we know, he has a familiar named Zixcuvibinum, and the thought "Zixcuvibinum" has never crossed Xykon's mind and so the familiar doesn't appear.

[doublewju]

Or maybe, he's simply to dumb :smallbiggrin:

[PirateMonk]

People, what's so hard to understand about this: SORCERERS IN OOTS DON'T HAVE FAMILIARS.

It's been true for all three sorcerers we've met.

[Holy_Knight]

Here's another possibility: Could Xykon's familiar be the Monster in the Darkness?

[PirateMonk]

Here's another possibility: Could Xykon's familiar be the Monster in the Darkness?

Interesting... not particularly likely, but interesting.

[Khoran]

Xykon has access to suplement. And due to his inability to remember things like Familiars, he may, for all we know be a Metamagic Sorcerer out of PHBII.

[Jefepato]

I don't recall this being in the BoVD.

And I assume Xykon didn't take this feat because it sucks.

[Inhuman Bot]

The familiar or the master?

the familiar. Mostly good ideas. Though if Xykon had a familiar it would be pretty powerful, unless he multiclassed. ( which would make no sense)

[Jefepato]

However it gets DR 5? bludgeoning if it's a skeleton or DR 5/ slashing if its a zombie.

Actually, you have this part wrong now that I look at Dragon #336. The actual feat is better (it grants the DR to the master, but only while within arm's reach), but still not worth it.

[Morty]

Do you honestly belive Xykon to remember about his familiar if he's got one? Familiar isn't really useful, especially for really powerful caster like Xykon, so Xykon just forgot about it. He's got mentality of spoiled child, so he generally tends to forget about things one minute after seeing it.

[mockingbyrd7]

Actually, you have this part wrong now that I look at Dragon #336. The actual feat is better (it grants the DR to the master, but only while within arm's reach), but still not worth it.

You have Dragon #336 available off-hand?

GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Just kidding, lol

[basilisk 89]

Do you honestly belive Xykon to remember about his familiar if he's got one? Familiar isn't really useful, especially for really powerful caster like Xykon, so Xykon just forgot about it. He's got mentality of spoiled child, so he generally tends to forget about things one minute after seeing it.

:xykon: That's not true. I remember that Blue Pommel guy just fine. He had this sword, and, uh, well, um...

[Jefepato]

You have Dragon #336 available off-hand?

GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Just kidding, lol

Why would you follow an obviously-true statement with "just kidding?"

[Drakron]

Let me see ... will I waste a feat so I can get a zombie/skeleton familiar?

I DO NOT THINK SO!

Look familiars are kinda like those things we got as a class feature but we never get around to use it because its ... well kinda useless (players usually pick then for the skill bonus when they bother with actually selecting one), V attitude towards his familiar is very like most players have.

[Corwin Weber]

Ok.... outside of a vague attempt at an absolutely moronic level of roleplaying of an 'evil' character....

Good godless why would anybody take this feat?!?!?!?!?!?

[Deuce]

So, is there a feat that lets him take a goblin cleric as a familiar?

[Fireball.Man.Guy.]

Why do we think h e has access to BOVD?

[Daedo daShoegod]

Does anyone realize that it takes 100 gp to summon a familiar... That's right having a familiar is optional (you don't automatically get it)

[PlasticSoldier]

Why do we think h e has access to BOVD?

He needs it to summon huecuva and EoFF and we saw it when redcloak was summoning them.

[Jefepato]

Does anyone realize that it takes 100 gp to summon a familiar... That's right having a familiar is optional (you don't automatically get it)

And many players never do. Familiar have their uses, but I find them to be more risk than they're worth 95% of the time.

[EyethatBinds]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that Xykon has most metamegaic and item creation feats and doesn't see the need for anything else. This would lead some to conclude that he has no use for a familiar and would hardly want to waste his feats that should go to blowing stuff up to get a very slightly better useless animal. Xykon might have the metamagic specialist option from the 2nd PHB but since he, like most of the characters in the comic, does not have an actual character sheet it would be pure speculation to claim that he even has that. Lastly Xykon wouldn't bother with a familiar undead or otherwise it would just cramp his style and whine a lot.

[mockingbyrd7]

Why would you follow an obviously-true statement with "just kidding?"

I like to be mean, without people actually thinking I'm mean.

Just kidding.

[Borris]

Xykon has access to suplement. And due to his inability to remember things like Familiars, he may, for all we know be a Metamagic Sorcerer out of PHBII.

That's exactly what I thought. have you noticed how it still takes him only one speech bubble to cast a maximized magic missile?

[Rad]

That's exactly what I thought. have you noticed how it still takes him only one speech bubble to cast a maximized magic missile?

LOL! :smallbiggrin:

[dehro]

http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/fs11/300W/i/2006/182/9/d/Death_of_Rats_by_HappyHappyCLEM.jpg

I will say no more

[Whoracle]

I hereby present you with the AWESOMENESS(tm)-AWARD.

That is the single best idea for Xykons familiar there is.

*snh snh snh*

[Callix]

Xykon pulls out a pretty quick Maximised Magic Missile against Soon. I'd say he has the Metamagic Specialist variant. Otherwise, Soon just would've smote him again, and he'd probably have lost the spell.

[Jefepato]

Xykon pulls out a pretty quick Maximised Magic Missile against Soon. I'd say he has the Metamagic Specialist variant. Otherwise, Soon just would've smote him again, and he'd probably have lost the spell.

Metamagicking a 1-action spell is a full-round action, not a 1-round casting time. Soon would have no more ability to interrupt him than normal.

[truemane]

I think he probably traded in that Class Feature in exchange for the Look (Really) Badass in Non-Magical Crown Class Feature.

[the_tick_rules]

i think he just has the feat maximize. Maybe his familiar died, things around xykon have a tendency to die.

[Jaysyn]

http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/fs11/300W/i/2006/182/9/d/Death_of_Rats_by_HappyHappyCLEM.jpg

I will say no more

That's the Death of Rats from Discworld isn't it?

[EldritchExMachina]

Yes it is. I agree that Xykon almost assuredly wouldn't have a familiar because it seems like another responsibility. Specifically one that could bit him in the rump. Xykon seems to abhor responsibility, and I can't imagine him actually taking up one that he'd have to look after or suffer.

[Thanatos 51-50]

:xykon: Framiliar? People actually summon those things?

[Twilight Jack]

I believe that Xykon does have a familiar, he just can't ever be bothered to remember its existence, so we've never seen it.

[Lavidor]

:xykon:: Familiar? What the hell is that? Hey, Redcloak, what's a familiar?
:redcloak:: :sigh: It's a creature you summon which gives you benefits, but if it dies you lose XP.
:xykon:: Right. Do I have one?
:redcloak:: I don't think so.
:xykon:: I'll just make you my familiwhatever then.
:redcloak:: :sigh: If you say so master.

I could totally see a duologue like that.

[Roupe]

I think he didnt get one , since he was planning to die (to become Lich)

:xykon: Familar, yes you seem Familiar
:redcloak: No, Im not a Familiar
:xykon: So we dont Know eachother? Who are you then?
:redcloak: *sigh*No We do know eachother
:xykon: Why did you say you werent familiar then? Are you, you?

[TheNovak]

http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/fs11/300W/i/2006/182/9/d/Death_of_Rats_by_HappyHappyCLEM.jpg

I will say no more

You win the Internets.

[Derivious]

Here's what I think of the fate of the familiar...
:thog: thog like bony bird! *pets the undead bird*

[Inhuman Bot]

Why do we think he has access to BOVD?

I dont know which strip it was offhand, (if your refering to xykon, if your talking about me then the point is moot) redcloak had a BOVD lieing on the ground. Why would he take this feat? lets see............................HE"S A FRIGGIN COMIC VILLIAN! IT DOESNT MATTER IF YOU WOULD TAKE THIS FEAT! (again note "villian" and "comic book" as he could have nothing better to do with his feats). Also, Familiars, such as fire elementals (a skeleton elemental? dont bother I know it's a contradiction) or basilisks (it's a feat from ebberon, I think) can be quite useful.