OK ... go ahead and dismiss what I suggested above. But then that begs the question ... what is the point of a familiar that cannot 'converse' with it's 'partner'???

Just asking <weg>

I read that discussion thread, Nep, and the thing most of the comments miss is that the familiar is not an animal. In the very first message they mention that it is a spirit (celestial, fey or other), but then they continue on talking about the limitations of an actual animal, such as a Raven being able to mimic speech but not talk yet it being very intelligent.

That misses the point entirely. A Familiar is NOT an animal. It is a completely different creature who has simply taken on a common form. Discussing whether a normal Raven is intelligent or can speak is meaningless. It is what it can understand and then communicate telepathically to its Wizard.

For example, if Davroar changed into a Bear he would lose the ability to speak because a Bear does not have the physically complex vocal chords required to do more than growl. However, if he was standing among the party he does not lose the ability to understand what others are saying when they speak simply because he is in Bear form. If he could communicate telepathically there would be no reason people could not speak to him in Common and he replied telepathically.

That is what I am wondering whether a Familiar could do.

If it does not understand common, and there is a magical "Universal Translator" that allows Jaliera to communicate with it telepathically, even though they don't speak a common language, then fine. But the fact it "looks" like an Owl means very little.

Since it can understand Jaliera's telepathic communication it is, by definition, intelligent enough to understand communication and meaning. The question really (to me) simply comes down to a language thing.

As a different example, if Jaliera were to cast the Tongues spell on the familiar it should be able to talk to anyone (the spell description pretty clearly states it works on any creature), which supports the idea that it may be nothing more than a language thing.

(OOC - BTW guys, this is the kind of discussion that Nep and my FTF group could argue over during a game session for hours.)

Great to have you back!

It's been a while.. but looking at easing back into DL world.
Please sign me up for the next regular and next triple yahtzee game. (1 each)

LOL. I would say that there's a chance it speaks Fey "owl" language, not the same language that a fairy speaks. We'll stick with the ruling that it can only take telepathic commands from Jaliera and let her see and hear through it's eyes and ears.

Turn 4 Results



Scores after current round


And eclaasse extends her lead!

If it is a few spirit in the form of an owl, I would say that it at least understands 'fey'. If there is a direct 'mental' connection between the two, I would say that thoughts is thoughts. But that is just me <weg>

I would say no. It circumvents the limits that the 100 feet distance is all about. And if we're talking about an owl, what language does it speak? Even a fey owl?

DnD Beyond forum discussion on the matter

BTW, there are many other similar discussion and all agree.

Jaliera

She gets Whisper to fly around the room scouting. She has an arrow nocked in readiness.

<Bern>

He remained in the hall, bow at the ready, protecting the passageway while the others were 'checking out things in the rooms.

Zhuirentel Elendaril

She waits in the hallway as the others check on the room. She seems a bit more relaxed and casual than some of the others.

DM
The bear pushes open the doors and walks into the next area and looks about. Luminmorn follows with Sildar, both with weapons drawn, but there is only silence. They move to the burned out structure that the Forge of Spells was in and open the door. It is still there, intact, unharmed as far as they can tell.

Luminmorn says after looking at the artifact "It would seem that if the doppleganger and his associates were here, they did little more than use the Forge. We will need a better way to guard it."