Familiarby

Familiarby is a term used in fantasy fiction and role-playing contexts to describe the structured bond between a practitioner and a familiar. The concept covers the rituals, practices, and social contexts surrounding the formation and maintenance of the partnership, as well as the expectations placed on both sides. Although popular in gaming settings, familiarby also appears in folklore-inspired literature as a narrative device to explore trust and companionship.

In most depictions, a familiar is an animal, spirit, or sentient entity that shares a channel of magic with the practitioner. Familiarby involves ceremonies or rites—oaths, alignment rituals, or training regimes—that formalize the bond and sometimes unlock magical abilities, enhanced perception, or channeling power. The strength of the bond can influence spellcasting, sensing, and problem-solving capabilities.

Culturally, familiarby may serve as a mark of apprenticeship, guild affiliation, or social status within the fantasy setting. Some narratives portray strict regulations governing who may form a bond, while others emphasize mutual consent and autonomy. Story-driven uses include quest motivations, conflicts over bond control, and character development through the evolution of the bond.

Scholarly treatment of familiarby treats it as a narrative metaphor for trust and interdependence between user and tool, and as a device for exploring power dynamics. See also familiar; witchcraft; familiar spirit.