Etairos


 * Note: “Etairos” is both a singular and a plural noun.

Etairos are not purely physical creatures. They are spirit familiars that bear the shapes of ordinary animals. They are not a living species in themselves and do not breed. For instance, there are plenty of spirit birds, but you will never find spirit eggs.

These companion spirits were once living animals who had a strong bond with humans during their lifetime. When the human and animal die at once (often violently or tragically), their souls intermingle and form a single entity. They will take the form of the animal while maintaining the intellect of the human. They also maintain the same degree of emotional and moral complexity, though their own emotions and those of their living partners tend to meld together over time. They do not speak, but they can understand language and concepts fluently. They are even known to understand languages that they did not know in life.

Since these familiars are spirits that did not pass on, they are sometimes referred to as “Veil-Walkers,” the Veil being the boundary between the physical and spirit realms. They have to bond to a physical being in order to maintain a hold on the physical realm. The longer a spirit is unbonded, the more they fade, until they finally disappear.

Etairos can take many forms. The most common ones are cats, dogs, birds, and rodents. They are almost always smaller animals, since the larger the animal is, the harder it is for it to sustain a link to the physical realm. One of the largest and most famous familiars was Ral Korgar’s partner, which was a silver bear.

Etairos have a kind of smoky appearance and are usually white or silver, though some are almost black. Bonded familiars tend to look more solid than unbonded ones, though they are often still somewhat translucent. Bonded familiars also tend to be more tangible. An unbonded spirit will feel more like a mist that your hand will pass straight through. A bonded familiar will feel more like an ordinary animal (i.e. birds will have feathers, cats will have fur, etc.), and they can interact more with the physical world. They are cool to the touch.

Etairos are much more likely to bond with individuals they were close to. In addition to having the benefit of personal preference, this also strengthens the Etairos’s link to their partner and consequently to the physical realm. Familiars who know their partners well are able to communicate with them effortlessly and easily act in sync.

Etairos can only bond with people who knew them in life. And while many Etairos will pass on when their living partner dies, this is not necessarily always the case. They can bond to another partner afterwards, but once there is no longer anyone alive who remembers them, the Etairos will inevitably fade.

Many people are mistrustful of spirit familiars, as they believe they are similar creatures to the Dark Veils, though this may be pure superstition. Etairos can be found all throughout Fiadhach.