Category:Warlock's Pets

Demons are powerful creatures, but they have an innate sense of hierarchy. Those of the lesser order are naturally submissive to those of the higher. It is possible for a mortal with skill in the darker aspects of the arcane to supplant a demon’s loyalty. A demon stolen in this way is a warlock’s fel companion.

At 1st level, the warlock may choose a darkhound or imp as her fel companion. She must sacrifice a 1st-level spell slot to do so. She can regain the spell slot only if she permanently abandons the fel companion. No mental bond exists between master and servant, but a fel companion understands any language that the warlock speaks.

Dismissal and Abandonment
A warlock may dismiss a fel companion into Hell, the Abyss, or the Twisting Nether as a swift action. (see Warlock for more information). The warlock can undertake a ritual of summoning to bring it back, which requires 10 rounds of concentration, at the end of which the fel companion appears in any square adjacent to the warlock. Performing a ritual of summoning provokes attacks of opportunity, and if the warlock takes damage during the attempt he must attempt a Concentration check (DC 10 + damage dealt) or fail. A fel companion reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, or one that is more than 50 feet away from its master for longer than 5 minutes, is forcibly dismissed; the warlock cannot recall it for 24 hours. After this time, the warlock can recall the creature with the ritual described above, and the companion has full hit points. A warlock may also permanently abandon a fel companion, which allows him to regain his spell slot or choose a new companion. A warlock may abandon a fel companion (as a free action) that is already dismissed, but abandoning a fel companion does not automatically dismiss it. An abandoned demon holds no loyalty toward its old master, and may attack the warlock if they meet again.

Alternative Fel Companions
As a warlock gains levels, he may replace a fel companion he abandoned with a more powerful demon. Doing so requires the warlock to sacrifice more spellcasting power. This information is presented on Table A–1: The Warlock’s Fel Companion.
 * Demon: Which demon the fel companion is.
 * Warlock Level: The master’s level in the warlock archetype.
 * Advancement Adjustment: When determining the companion’s advancement features (see below), subtract this number from the warlock’s class level.
 * Level of Spell Slot Sacrificed: The warlock must sacrifice a spell slot of this level in order to retain the companion. The only way the warlock may regain this spell slot is to abandon the companion permanently, as described above.

Multiple Companions
At 1st level, a warlock may have a single fel companion, but at levels 6, 12, and 18 a warlock may choose a new demon to add to his cadre. The demon that requires the highest-level spell slot is the warlock’s primary companion (if there’s a tie, choose one). Each other demon is a secondary companion and requires a spell slot 1 level lower than that listed on Table A–1.

Only one fel companion may accompany the warlock at a time, while the others remain in the Twisting Nether, Hell, or the Abyss. Starting a ritual of summoning automatically dismisses the warlock’s current fel companion.

Obtaining a new fel companion requires a ceremony of binding. Performing the ceremony requires 24 hours and uses up magic materials that cost 200 gp per level of spell slot used. At the end of the ceremony, the demon tests the warlock. This test may be combat, a battle of wills, or some kind of contest (GM’s discretion). If the warlock suitably impresses the demon, it joins the warlock as a loyal fel companion. If not impressed, it likely becomes annoyed (at best) or vengeful (at worst).

Advancement
As a warlock gains levels, he may choose to improve his fel companion, at the cost of additional spellcasting power, as shown on Table A–2: Fel Companion Advancement. Adjusted Warlock Level: The warlock’s level in the warlock class, modified by the demon’s advancement adjustment from Table A–1. Bonus HD and Spell Slot Adjustment: Extra 8-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Stamina modifier, asnormal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the fel companion’s base attack bonus, special attack save DCs,and base save bonuses. A fel companion’s base attack bonus is equal to its total HD. Save DCs for special attacks are equal to 10 + 1/2 the companion’s total Hit Dice + its appropriate ability score modifier. A fel companion has good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the demon’s HD). A fel companion gains additional size, skill points, and feats for bonus HD as normal when advancing its racial Hit Dice. (See Chapter 3: Improving Monsters for more information.) Each bonus HD the companion gains also has the drawback of adding 1 to the level of the spell slot the warlock must sacrifice to retain it as a companion. Special: The fel companion increases its ability scores (warlock’s choice of which ones) and gains special abilities called companion powers, described below.

Companion Powers
As a fel companion’s bond with a warlock grows, its master may use a demonic grimoire to teach it new abilities. Instructing a demon with a grimoire requires 8 to 48 hours of reading and reciting incantations in Infernal. The grimoires providing the abilities listed below are relatively easy for a warlock with reasonable connections to acquire (without significant cost), though tales speak of other rare and more powerful grimoires. Unless otherwise noted, a fel companion can learn each power only once.
 * Ability Enhancement (Ex): The fel companion gains a +4 enhancement bonus to one ability score. A fel companion can gain this ability up to six times (i.e., once for each ability).
 * Aura of Suffering (Su) (voidwalker only): Any enemy that begins its turn within 10 feet of the voidwalker is affected by its tormenting strike ability as though the voidwalker had struck it in melee.
 * Blood Pact (Su): The warlock and all allies (not including the fel companion) within 30 feet of the fel companion gain a +2 enhancement bonus to Stamina.
 * Damage Reduction (Ex): The fel companion gains damage reduction 5/good or 5/truesilver (your choice). If the fel demon already has damage reduction, you may instead add 5 to its existing damage reduction.
 * Fel Strike (Su): The fel companion gains the fel strike ability if it did not already have it.
 * Improved Firebolt (Ex) (imp only): The imp’s lesser firebolt ability becomes firebolt. An imp of 6 or more Hit Dice may gain this ability a second time, improving its ability again to greater firebolt.
 * Invisibility (Sp) (succubus only): The succubus can use invisibility as a spell-like ability at will. She can use this ability only on herself. Caster level 7th.
 * Paranoia (Su): The warlock and all allies (not including the fel companion) within 30 feet of the fel companion gain a +4 enhancement bonus on Spot and Sense Motive checks.
 * Spell Lock (Su): Three times per day, the fel companion may attempt to counterspell any spell as if casting greater dispel magic (caster level equals the warlock’s class level –2). As with any counterspell attempt, this ability requires the felhound to ready an action. If a caster foiled in this way attempts to cast the same spell again within the next 1d4 rounds, it fails automatically, as if countered again.
 * Spell Resistance (Su): The fel companion gains spell resistance equal to 10 + 1/2 the warlock’s class level. If the creature already has spell resistance, this ability replaces it, but you may add 1/2 the companion’s outsider Hit Dice to the above total.