Golden Compass' Dæmons (3.5e Variant Rule)

The soul is physically manifested in the form of an animal, called a dæmon. It has a separate identity from its respective human, despite being an integral part of the person (i.e. they are one entity, in two bodies).

"The worst breach of etiquette imaginable" is for a human to touch another person's dæmon (even in battle, it is said, most soldiers would never touch an enemy's dæmon), though exceptions can be made (for example, between lovers). The physical handling of a dæmon causes vulnerability and weakness in the person whose dæmon is being touched.

However, dæmons can touch other dæmons freely; interactions between dæmons usually accentuate and illuminate the relationships between the characters.

A child's dæmon has no fixed form, and may change form according to whim and circumstance. As children resolve their mature personalities (approximately the age of puberty), their dæmons "settle" into a form which tends to be reflective of the person's personality characteristics.

When a person dies, their dæmon appears to fade away, like "atoms of smoke." Likewise, if a dæmon is killed, their human dies.

Generally, a person and his or her dæmon must stay within a short distance of each other. Forcibly separating a person from his or her dæmon causes unimaginable physical and emotional pain for both entities, often causing death; however, some cultures have mastered techniques that allow the dæmon to gain wider mobility. Ritualistic ordeals that involve leaving their dæmon for a time as they embark on a spiritual quest may allow this. After rejoining their dæmon they have gained the ability to separate from them. They retain their intimate bond with their dæmon; the only change is in the distance they can travel apart from each other.

Demon Empathy: The person has 100% empathy with his/her dæmon. Any damage the dæmon takes, the person also takes. If the dæmon is killed then the person also dies.

Dæmon Form: The dæmon takes a form representing the characters personality. As a child this form may freely change, they may only change into any creature that is smaller than the person though. An adults form is chosen from from the list below.

These have the same current hit points as their master. They have all other of the base stats as the creature.

Dæmon Bond: A person and his/her dæmon must stay within a short distance of each other (20ft). If the dæmon gets forcedly separated from the person, the person must make a will save (DC20) else die. If the person makes the will save they instead lose 2 of each ability score.

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