I am a level 9 druid with a velociraptor animal companion. I just leveled up so I have new spells now. Thanks to my other post on Rule's Questions,"Help with Spells" I know now what will happen. I want to make my velociraptor a magical beast. I could with the spell Awaken. Using this spell will give him human intelligence. So he'll be able to speak common language and possibly another I choose, he'll have an alignment, he might be able to use items like a sword(or if that's too big a dagger) along with his natural moves. The only downside is that he won't stay my companion, he might leave but because it says that he will perform tasks for me, it might stay, or I could use my leadership feat. Would this all be worth it or would it work?
I can't change his intelligence or it won't work, it has to stay a 2.
|
From the animal companion rules:
Skills
This lists the animal's total skill ranks. Animal companions can assign skill ranks to any skill listed under Animal Skills. If an animal companion increases its Intelligence to 10 or higher, it gains bonus skill ranks as normal. Animal companions with an Intelligence of 3 or higher can purchase ranks in any skill. An animal companion cannot have more ranks in a skill than it has Hit Dice.
|
Note the bolded text..
AwakenSchool transmutation; Level druid 5
Casting Time 24 hours
Components V, S, M (herbs and oils worth 2,000 gp), DF
Range touch
Target animal or tree touched
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
You awaken a tree or animal to human-like sentience. To succeed, you must make a Will save (DC 10 + the animal's current HD, or the HD the tree will have once awakened). The awakened animal or tree is friendly toward you. You have no special empathy or connection with a creature you awaken, although it serves you in specific tasks or endeavors if you communicate your desires to it. If you cast awaken again, any previously awakened creatures remain friendly to you, but they no longer undertake tasks for you unless it is in their best interests.
An awakened tree has characteristics as if it were an animated object, except that it gains the plant type and its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores are each 3d6. An awakened plant gains the ability to move its limbs, roots, vines, creepers, and so forth, and it has senses similar to a human's.
An awakened animal gets 3d6 Intelligence, +1d3 Charisma, and +2 HD. Its type becomes magical beast (augmented animal). An awakened animal can't serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount.
An awakened tree or animal can speak one language that you know, plus one additional language that you know per point of Intelligence bonus (if any). This spell does not function on an animal or plant with an Intelligence greater than 2.
You CAN up your critters int to 3 or even higher and have it stay your companion. (this is spelled out in the animal companion section, as well as reiterated in the blog post on the subject) Just not with the awaken spell.
Is it a good risk to try and use this spell?
If yuo cast Awaken on an animal companion, it STOPS being your animal companion.
So.. you can cast it.. but its pretty much a no- win.
afterall.. once its intelligent and not bound to you, all you are to it is a free meal. At best it will go back home to found (and lead) the Veli kingdom.