Editing Familiar (section)

== Chronology==
===Antecedents===
Long, long ago, boon companions like those granted by the [[Forest Ribbon Trail]] preceded familiar relationships. A significant journey, rather than a ritual, creating the link.<ref name=":3">“Lovely,” Mrs. Durocher said.  “We have so many this year.  This spirit isn’t a familiar, is it?”<br><br>“A boon companion,” Avery said.  “I was under the impression they were similar.  At least based on what little I’ve heard of familiars.”<br><br>“They are.  In old, old days, they preceded familiar relationships.  Bonds forged not with a ritual, but a journey of necessity,” Mrs. Durocher said. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/08/29 Excerpt] from [[Leaving a Mark 4.4]]</ref> Powerful [[Others]] serving as domineering patrons, as with [[Wild Practitioner]]s, also served as proto-familiar relationships; as did more aggressive long-term bonds where the Other subverted, attacked, or possessed the [[human]] trying to deal with them.<ref name=":4">'''Tyranny''' on the part of the practitioner, who holds the power and controls their other half. The familiar may be feeble, chosen for that reason, but its power is not the goal.  This is the old way, but not the oldest, exactly.  Discussed further in chapter two.<br>[...]<br>'''Subverted''' practitioner-familiar relationships are ones where the familiar controls the relationship.  The result of choosing a motivated Other with a great deal of power, the subverted relationship is, essentially, the end of the practitioner’s free life, and any freedom they are granted is at the Other’s whim.  The benefit, if it can be called that, is to have more power at one’s fingertips, but such power isn’t even necessarily at the practitioner’s disposal.  This relationship defined the pre-Famulus era.  Touched on in the next chapter.<br>[...]<br>For much of human history, the benefits that Aloysius and Walter now enjoy were not possible, and most relationships between practitioner and Other were patronage, with the Other handing out limited power at a disproportionate cost, or subverted bonds, where the Other tied themselves to the practitioner in what was ultimately a parasitic or domineering role.<br><br>Parallels can be drawn to possession, where there is a link, albeit a very short one, and the Other occupies the body of a [[practitioner]], an [[aware]], or an [[innocent]].  This was the closest convention, and many deals with Others were seen as doomed ones.  The earliest relationships were made between strong practitioners and the weakest Others, and served to insulate the practitioner against the possibility of being strongarmed into other deals.<br><br>As civilization sprawled and the most dangerous Others were dealt with, the nature of a master-familiar relationship took comfortable hold, and other possibilities arose, such as the parallel arrangement, or the careful proportionate dynamic.  These would often happen out of necessity, knowledge was handed down, and they saw more common use. - Excerpt from [[Famulus]], quoted in Bonus Material: [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/10/29 Famulus Text]</ref><ref name=":6" />

===Origins===
According to ''[[Famulus]]'', the first examples of the Familiar ritual post-date the [[Seal of Solomon]], in a period where Others were viewed as lower than animals, who were below humans, who were below God.<ref name=":5">In old traditions, in the post-Solomon reformations, God was arranged 
above king, who was arranged above lord, above man, who ruled over animal, who were declared above Other.  We know this redefinition of the anno Domini provenance was in part an effort to redefine the realm of man and mark out borders on a cultural and linguistic front.  Put in simpler words, mankind, in order to both survive and thrive, declared a new order of things and placed Other at the lowest point.  The familiar relationship originated in an era where this was the common mindset among men both practitioner and innocent, and the traditions established then include the translation of Other to the nearest step in the chain, in what was often viewed as ‘raising them up’ to be animals, close but still subservient to man.  In this, the tradition of giving them mortality through animal forms was established early on. - Excerpt from [[Famulus]], quoted in Bonus Material: [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/10/29 Famulus Text]</ref> Others were seen as dangerous, and the first Familiar bargains were only struck with the least of them, who could be safely controlled.<ref name=":4" /> However an [[Miss|alternate perspective]] claims that Familiar bargains were first conceived of by Others as a way to have an equitable relationship with humans, possibly pre-Solomon, and were subverted by humans as a tool of domination.<ref>“To try to formalize deals.  To hitch their wagons to that of humanity, by striking deals that would establish them as Patrons.  They teach their secret knowledge and ways of manipulating the world, in exchange for servitude… until mankind begins sharing that knowledge in ways few Others can stay ahead of, on paper and in tomes.  Knowledge, instead of being taught from patron Other to Practitioner, becomes something kept in families.  Others try to formalize a kind of equality, such as the familiar bond, and to make firm agreements about oaths, lies, and declarations, out of fear of being tricked again.  But these things become their own weapon that humans wield.  Humans sprawl, they work with concerted effort, and they establish and mutate patterns.  [...] The Seal of Solomon, as it exists now, was essentially intended as one last concession.  Or it was meant to be the last.  A binding that would not be mutated further, that would be universal enough that it could be trusted by the Other, instead of having hooks and more traps attached to it.  And as part of it, there was a deal that practitioners would manage the affairs of Others but select, powerful Others would have some say over the movements and dealings of Practitioners.  Lords and judges.  Roles above all other things.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/10/24 Excerpt] from [[Back Away 5.d]]</ref>

Traditional Familiar bonds were domineering, with the Other firmly in the subordinate role to the Practitioner. However, they have grown much more varied over time.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

===Modern Era===
Over the 19th and 20th centuries, interest soared in carefully chosen complementary Familiar bargains, with both Other and Practitioner covering for each other's weaknesses. Originally a product of desperation, these came to be seen by many as the most admirable type.<ref>'''Parallel''' relationships are somewhere between proportionate and casual, and strike their balance by having practitioner and Other as opposites or as matched roles, where each has their field of dominion.  A learned practitioner who is poor in a fight may choose an Other that is aggressive and comfortable with killing, or a practitioner comfortable with industry and the urban may choose a familiar of the natural world.  Both can grow with some confidence they will not occlude the other, both gain some familiarity with the other’s ‘world’, and they may cover one another’s weaknesses.  As a drawback, however, translations of power are rarely easy, and even drawing on one another’s power may be costly.  Careful selection of Other is critical, for reasons that should be obvious.  Originally a result of necessity, looked down on by some, the parallel relationship has seen a surge of interest since the early 1800s, redoubled in the mid 1900s, and in many circles today, the selection of an especially good match may be something of a status symbol.  Touched on in chapter four.  - Excerpt from [[Famulus]], quoted in Bonus Material: [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/10/29 Famulus Text]</ref>

Around the late 2010s, it became increasingly common for young practitioners to choose Others that with whom they were friendly as Familiars, rather than focusing on practical considerations. Many viewed this as dangerous, however.<ref>'''Casual''' practitioner-familiar relationships are dangerous to the point of irresponsibility, but have seen some growing popularity among young practitioners as of the writing of this (2018) edition.  The familiar is chosen not for power or purpose, but for affinity with the practitioner.  The benefit, of course, is that one enjoys an easy friend and bond.  Do not undertake such a relationship with an Other thinking it may be easier or may allow one to ignore some of the warnings and restrictions.  Just the opposite.  If one does not mind the dangers and pitfalls, the Other will, oft to one’s detriment. - Excerpt from [[Famulus]], quoted in Bonus Material: [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/10/29 Famulus Text]</ref>

{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Basic Information]]
[[Category:Rituals]]
[[Category:Familiars]]