Communicating with a Familiar

[Stagliano]

I am playing in a mostly realistic Fantasy Hero campaign. Mostly realistic at least regarding how humans interact with animals. (I.e. animals don't talk.)

 

My priestess, Berika, has an owl familiar, Flamebreast. I would like Flamebreast to be able to scout for danger along the path ahead. I thought of Clairsentience. But I would also like for Berika to be able to tell Flamebreast instructions like, "go back and see what's behind that boulder." How would I accomplish that given the fact that even if the two of them were standing face-to-face, Flamebreast would not be able to comprehend Berika's words. What game element, along with Clairsentience would allow that ability?

 

Thanks Fellow Heroes.

[Armory]

I would buy it as a Follower, and rule that the Perk itself covers communication to the familiar; e.g., the owl would understand what Berika tells it simply because she's paid points for a Follower.  For it to speak to her, I'd say that you'd need Telepathy or Mind Link.  Maybe limit those to emotions or images only, since you said animals can't use language.  OTOH that pretty much brings us back to Clairsentience.

[Ninja-Bear]

I believe telepathy is a classic way to go. Perhaps with visible, in this case it would be audible, I. E. Spoken words.

[L. Marcus]

A Persistent Mind Link and Near-Human Intelligence, bought by the familiar.

[dsatow]

You could also do10d6 mind control, telepathic, limited class (owls only), incantations, eye contact required.  62 active, 22 real.

 

You would need to stare into the owls eyes (owl needs to be within 8m) and you "talk" to the owl.  The owl then goes and obeys.  A side effect of this build is that it will allow you to control any owl.

 

To be honest, any of these ideas could work, just depends on your GM.

[massey]

Purchase the Clairsentience so that it has a mobile perception point. Now you can move it around where you want. Simply declare that you are looking through your familiar's eyes. That's the special effect. The familiar goes where you want it to go because you paid for Clairsentience.

[Mister E]

Danger Sense?

[bigdamnhero]

The ~ranger in my current FH game bought it as Mind Link; the fact that his falcon has Animal INT as a Complication limits the amount & type of information he gets back from the bird. He also uses Animal Handler to get the bird to follow his directions. His intent is to eventually buy that up to genuine Clairvoyance so he can see through the bird’s eyes. (The cost difference isn’t actually that large, but he wants it to develop narratively.)

[Ninja-Bear]

Using Massey’s suggestion, you could put RSR on it (INT) and say that a blown roll means you or the bird didn’t understand what was asked.

[bigdamnhero]

Using Massey’s suggestion, you could put RSR on it (INT) and say that a blown roll means you or the bird didn’t understand what was asked.

I might use Animal Handler instead of straight INT, but a solid idea either way.

[iamlibertarian]

Rather than Clairsentience I like the idea of Psychic Bond and giving the familiar a few extra points of INT.  This INT could be built up a little at a time with CP, as part of the growth of the bond between the character and the familiar.