New to the game. Explain this to me, please?

[Hyndrays]

So I'm relatively new to PF. I've played about 7 games (PFS).
I've been bouncing around trying to figure what to play so I will enjoy the game. I'm looking at doing Magus next.

One of their Arcana grants them a familiar. Do I just take that at level 3, and then pick off the familiar list? (I really like the sound of that Greensting Scorpion).

On another note, I just completed the Quest for Perfection. The last chronicle sheet of the 3 says as long as I have the 3 chronicle sheets for that series (which I do), it adds the Axebeak as a Mount/Companion that I may choose.
If I buy the Axebeak as a mount for 1500, will it apply in combat like it did when we were fighting the boss in the last scenario (Rider was attacking, but so was the bird)?

If so, does that mean I can buy the Axebeak as a combat mount and later also take the familiar?

[chbgraphicarts]

When you take an Arcana that grants a familiar, you gain that familiar then, usually.

I say "usually" because you MAY work it out with your DM that it doesn't just "appear", or it doesn't simply show up off-screen (during the assumed Downtime between sessions), and instead it shows up in the game itself, allowing you to roleplay gaining it. Think of Momo just randomly appearing one episode, instead of having Aang find him in the Southern Air Temple on-screen.

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As for the Axe-Beak, the rider and mount can both attack - a Mount or Companion are extra "characters" which act on your initiative.

However, be aware that Mounts or Companions are usually better utilized by classes which are designed with them in mind - Rangers, Cavaliers, Paladins, Druids, and Hunters mostly. A few other Archetypes for other classes grant Mounts or Companions, but primarily those're the five classes which do.

Also, realize that there's a huge difference between a random "ride on this animal's back" mount and a Cavalier's or Paladin's "this is my partner" Mount. Those kinds of Mounts are very powerful, and gain feats and stat boosts that a normal riding animal doesn't get.

And, yes, you may always have a Mount/Companion, even if you have a Familiar.

[chbgraphicarts]

Also remember that Mounts and Companions are actually the same thing, mechanically.

A Mount uses the Druid's Animal Companion class feature as a means of progression, just as any other class' Animal Companion does, and you may only have one Animal Companion at a time.

That's not to say you can't OWN a warhorse, and still have a Wolf Companion plus a Ferret Familiar; it's just that the creature you're riding on won't be considered a Mount as the Cavalier or Paladin describe them - your Wolf will be your sole Companion while your Familiar is something else entirely.