Credits to Revangel93 on DeviantArt for the image.
Xannic Familiars
Legends of the golden-era of the Crusaders of Xan tell of lions that fought alongside the Patron’s Chosen in their wars against the ancient dragon-kin. Mighty in appearance and mighty in strength, these grandiose creatures struck down Dragaar’s kin alongside the legions of Xan. With the golden-era passed and the great wars over, the lions remained in legend and story, eventually fading from memory. However, with forces of Daemons and Chaos still plaguing the realm of the Descendants, the Lord of Sunlight has saw it fit to unveil legend to be fact; history to become the present. Once again, the Xannic Familiars of old shall fight alongside the stalwart defenders of the four Brother’s descendants against the Betrayer’s legions of Chaos.
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The Xannic Familiars are creatures of Mist, Xan’s boon, gifted by the Patron to his Holy Crusaders in their fight against the Betrayer and his forces of Chaos. Taking the form of a lion, these creatures are summoned by the Paladin to control for the use of combat. For the Crusade, and by the Crusade are the Familiars to be wielded, effective as the Mists against the likes of Chaos and Dragon-kin. No Creature of Chaos shall be sparred the wrath of the Lord of Sunlight through the claws of the Xannic Familiars.
Image does not belong to me. Could not find the artist to give credit to. ;3
-=-=-The Familiars as they are; Summoning-=-=-
The summoning of a Xannic familiar is quite unlike most all spells that the Paladins possess, able to be mastered by both Vindicator and Wyrmstalker alike. It’s one of the most taxing abilities of Xan’s boon, requiring a large amount of energy over time and complete focus. In addition, while summoning the lion, the Paladin is forbidden to move from the place which they began the summon, else it backfire and the Familiar crumble to scattered Mist.
To begin to summon a Xannic Familiar, the Paladin must first bring forth the Mists, and continue to feed the creation of the Familiar’s form. It is up to the Paladin’s skill in control of the Mists as to the size and strength of the Familiar, though one with advanced skill in creating a Xannic Familiar may evoke any size of the lion within the size of the average lion. The exact role-play process of the summoning is left up to the flare of the summoner, though said process must keep to existing server lore on Xan’s Mists.
As mentioned above, summoning a Xannic Familiar is one, if not the most, taxing ability of the Paladins. Even the most adept wielder of the Mists would find themselves exhausted after the first time creating and controlling the lion. However, with practice the process would become easier. As with all of a Paladin’s spells that must be sustained, the summoner would find himself constantly drained of energy as they command the Familiar. The amount of energy is determined by the size of the lion and how often it moves as a result of commands. Exhaustion is common with this ability, and a Paladin will face the same consequences of not releasing the Mists as they would at any other time, including bodily soreness and unconsciousness. Should the summoner pass out from the taxation of the Familiar, it would immediately crumble and fade from solid form back into scattered Mists.
-=-=-The abilities of the Familiars, weapons of the Crusaders-=-=-
Claws of Xan; The most basic of all the abilities of the Xannic Familiar, the Claws of Xan is, by definition, the combat ability of the Xannic-creature. The Paladin who summoned the Familiar may command the lion, by voice or by gesture, to maul a target. The Familiar would behave much as a lion would in combat style, predominantly using its claw and fangs for conflict. Both would damage the target as iron weaponry would, effective as the Mists are against tainted beings and Dragon-kin. (Refer to Paladin lore) When a command to assault a Descendant, the Familiar will disperse peacefully, simply refusing the command.
-=-=-The killing of a Familiar; Vitality and Cessation-=-=-
Despite the renown of the strength of a Xannic Familiar, the lions made of Xan’s Mists are not invincible. Much akin to the Vindicator shield, the Familiar may be damaged by physical attack. Like the Vindicator shield, fire and non-physical attacks do not damage the lion. While the it is impossible to maim the lion, each assault breaks apart the bond between the Mists that hold its form together. While a Familiar’s limbs cannot be removed, the places where joints exist on a normal lion are more susceptible to attack, as are weak points such as the stomach. When the bond is completely broken, the solid form of the lion crumbles, fading into scattered Mist on the breeze.
-=-=-Redlines-=-=-
The Paladin must have full and uninterrupted concentration to summon a Xannic Familiar.
The paladin must maintain concentration while controlling the Familiar, else it crumble and fade into Xan's realm.
Distraction will cause it to fail and crumble into scattered Mist.
The Xannic Familiar, while used for combat, cannot be summoned while combat is actively occuring. For example, the Familiar would fail to be summoned if an opponent was in the process of striking at the Paladin.
A Paladin must be tier three, or have had an approved Xan Diety MA for two months before learning how to summon a Xannic Familiar.
The Paladin cannot move while summoning the Familiar, else the summoning fails.
The Paladin may battle while they are controlling a Xannic Familiar. However, if they lose focus on the Familiar it will disperse.
A Xannic Familiar would not attack a Descendant. If it is asked to, the familiar would simply disperse and return to Xan’s realm.
The Xannic Familiar cannot be damaged by non-physical attacks, such as fire.
The Xannic Familiar is more susceptible to attack at joints and soft spots, such as the stomach.
A Paladin must use a minimum of four emotes to summon a Xannic Familiar. Note, four emotes means more than ‘Vindicator Billy Bob summons the Mists.’ ‘He then wills the Mists into the shape of a lion.’ ‘The Mist-lion would begin to quiver, the power of Xan filling it.’ ‘Finally, Billy Bob would complete the summon, the Xannic Familiar now his to command.’
The Lion cannot be used as a Mount.
Credits:
Thanks to...
@Izier Vincrute for the idea and co-writing the lore with me
@Delmodan for feedback
@Brotherhood of Golden Lion because we are number one.
Shoutout to our homie @Xan, without him none of this would be possible
Paladin and Xan Lore:
https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/150981-%E2%9C%93-the-herald-of-order-the-mists-of-xan-re-write/
https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/150744-xan-the-herald-of-order-aengul/
https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/163916-updated-paladin-guide/
Feedback is greatly appreciated!