FIFTH EDITION FAMILIARS AND ANIMAL COMPANIONS - CHAPTER 2 - BARBARIAN FAMILIARS & SPECIAL MOUNTS

Oct 5, 2026

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This text provides rules and narrative context for “Castles & Crusades” fifth edition familiar mechanics, focusing on Chapter 2: Barbarian FAMILIARS & Special MOUNTS. It begins with a dramatic scene of Mace hunting the feared Iyan bird, preparing and honoring its spirit, and then explains barbarian motivations for companion creatures tied to tribal animal naming. It outlines the Barbarian Path at third level, where bonding with a totem spirit grants a familiar to aid and guide journeys.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

CHAPTER 2

BARBARIAN FAMILIARS & SPECIAL MOUNTS

BARBARIAN FAMILIARS

PATH OF THE TOTEM FAMILIAR (BARBARIAN PATH)

FIFTH EDITION FAMILIARSAND ANIMAL COMPANIONS EditEd and ConvErtEd for fifth Edition: Jason vEy orginal tExt: CasEy ChristoffErson, Justin BaCon, tommy rutlEdgE, Josh huBBEll, lanCE hawvErmilE, lukE Johnson, stEphEn vogEl and davE ZEnZE Cover art, interior art, logos, logo designs, and layout by Peter “20 dollar” bradley and Jason Walton Troll Lord Games 1818 North Taylor, \#143, Little Rock, AR, 72207 email at [troll@trolllord.com](troll@trolllord.com) on the web [at www.trolllord.com](at www.trolllord.com) or [www.castlesandcrusades.com](www.castlesandcrusades.com) ©2016 Troll Lord Games. All Rights Reserved. Castles & Crusades®, C&C, Castle Keeper, SIEGE engine™, Troll Lord Games, and the Castles & Crusades, SIEGE engine, and Troll Lord Games logos are Trademarks ofTroll Lord Games. All Rights Reserved CHAPTER 2 BARBARIAN FAMILIARS & SPECIAL MOUNTS M ace’s fingertips gripped at tiny holds in thenearly sheer rock-face. His arms burned from the exertion of the climb. A hundred feet below him lay the rubble filled valley where his clan made their home. Fifty feet above him was the nest of the Iyan bird, a frightening beast of nightmares whose call was known to paralyze the most stouthearted warriors of the clan in fear. The bird’s claws were strong as the ore-witch’s steel, capable of hauling a full-grown man from the ground up to its lair to be torn to pieces by its razor sharp beak. With a grunt Mace hauled himself over the edge of the rock lip, within mere yards ofthe crack in the rock-face where the nest lay. It was empty. The shaman’s words were correct, it was not mating season, and no eggs lay within the nest. The young had recently departed to make their own nests, and the Iyan bird would return alone with its prey. Mace crawled into the nest with his wickedly sharp glaive and waited. He had blackened the glaive’s blade in the shaman’s fire to hide its keen glint from alerting his quarry. Once in the nest, Mace found several feet of shed scales and some branches to hide himself beneath. As the sun began to set, Mace heard the beating of wings just before a blast of air from the beast’s leathery flapping brought his prey into view. He felt his heart leap into his throat as he gazed upon the magnificent creature, both feared and respected by his people. The mighty Iyan bird was more than a beast to be slain, it was a creature to be honored in death and bound to Mace as a spirit to aid him in his journeys and show itself as a symbol of the might of his people. The featherless Iyan bird swooped into land, a large red deer grasped in its talons. Mace arose suddenly from his hiding place within the nest, his glaive extended before him, and struck the beast a mighty blow. The deer dropped from its claws onto the edge of the cliff and its bright eyes registered shock as it lashed out cruelly at its attacker with its talons, leaving large gashes down Mace’s chest and shredding the hardened leather armor he wore before he again chopped down upon its featherless body with the short-hefted glaive. The creature let out an ear splitting howl and writhed about attempting to bite Mace’s head off. The Iyan bird’s jaws snapped open and closed inches from his face as he twisted the blade lodged deep within the beast, and in moments it was dead. Mace collapsed upon the creature and let out arasping sigh – surely several of his ribs had been cracked. After he took his rest for many minutes, Mace began to carefully prepare the beast’s body. He prayed to his primal gods to show the creature’s spirit that he was but a respectful hunter, even as it had been, and to convince it to come when he called it to his side to join him in battle against his enemies. He skinned and prepared the beast’s leathery hide, thinking what a fine replacement it would make for his own tattered garment, and worked methodically to salt and preserve its flesh to share with his people. Its bones he carefully dried in the sun of the

FAQs

What is the significance of the Iyan bird to Mace?

The Iyan bird is both feared and respected. Mace honors it in death, prepares its body, and tries to call its spirit to aid him on his journeys.

Why do barbarians seek companion creatures or fantastic familiars?

Barbarians often live at the fringes of civilization where links to wild beasts are common. Their tribal clans and kingdoms are frequently named after animals living alongside them.

What happens when a Barbarian chooses the Path at third level?

The Barbarian may bond with a totem spirit, gaining a familiar in the process to aid and guide him on his journeys.

Oct 5, 2026

Upload by jay