Does a mage have to have a familiar?

Jimbono1 is my favourite.

Just before I fall asleep, I like to pretend it's just a public feat so Pigeon can succeed in politics and save the world from poverty... with his unicorn and shining armour and Excalibur.

Change Ride skill into Speak Language!

Jimbono1 is my favourite.

But it is pointless discussing it because it will likely never happen.

Jimbono1 is my favourite.

Not to mention the issues of Skill Dump: Speak Language as somehow you go from 5 or less languages known to: "Hi, call me the universal translator!"

That's partially why I go by the +5 ranks of base lore too. It actually costs something. And at least that "Lore" you can say is somewhat invested in languages. In the case of Lore:Religion, it may even double up. A Bahumutan studying his religion will undoubtedly come across the Draconic language and eventually have understand more and more of it, just like a follower of Grazz't will undoubtedly come across Demonic, and at some point just need to understand the language to learn the deeper philosophies of his master.

But the same can be said about Lore: Arcane. A Sorcerer gaining lore about ancient elven magics will likely learn a bit of elven, or a wizard seeking to learn the arts of the shadows may delve into the lore of the city of Shade and brush up on Loross.

So while Lore isn't specifically for Language(and therefore you can't just go 1 point lore = 1 language), it is in some cases integral to the actual knowledge itself. Thus, at a certain amount, it can be said that another language is possible to gain from that much studying of knowledge. And for me, that amount is 5.

Bottom line is, D&D does languages pretty terribly on just about all counts... the PnP rules work as a guideline if you need one, but the fewer languages the better.

I always thought that the number of languages a character was able to learn was the natural race-related languages, plus the permanent intelligence modifier(maximum of 5).

Correct me if I'm wrong though.

I think goodly Drow can start at the Shrine of Eilistraee too, but I'm not totally sure.

SAND GOLEM
Huge Construct
Hit Dice: 18d10+40 (139 hp)
Initiative: –1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), burrow 20 ft. (sand and earth
only)
Armor Class: 23 (–2 size, –1 Dex, +16 natural), touch 7,
fl at-footed 23
Base Attack/Grapple: +13/+27
Attack: Slam +17 melee (3d8+6 plus stifl e)
Full Attack: 2 slams +17 melee (3d8+6 plus stifl e)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: Brownout, stifl e
Special Qualities: Construct traits, damage reduction
5/adamantine and bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft.,
immunity to magic, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +6
Abilities: Str 23, Dex 8, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1
Skills: —
Feats: —
Environment: Warm deserts
Organization: Solitary or gang (2–4)
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 19–36 HD (Huge); 37–54 HD
(Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —

This hulking automaton looks like an abstract sculpture of a human, molded in magically fused sand. Its feet disappear into the ground, and a cloud of dust surrounds it.

A sand golem is the creation of a walker in the waste (see page 89), set to patrol the desert endlessly. Sand golems are massive things, weighing 5,000 pounds or more. Sand golems seem to be a part of the earth. They can move readily through sand and loose soil at their burrow speed, and they can do so indefi nitely, since they have no need to breathe.
When fashioned, a sand golem is keyed to a set of magic amulets, usually in the shape of scarabs or scorpions. Henceforth, it regards the wearer of an amulet as its master, obeying that person’s commands without fail. The wearer of an amulet can call the sand golem from any distance, and it will come as long as it is on the same plane, no matter how long this might take.
A sand golem cannot speak, although it can emit a dry hissing like the approach of a duststorm.

COMBAT
A sand golem’s master can command it if the golem is within 60 feet and can see and hear its master. If uncommanded, a sand golem usually follows its last instruction to the best of its ability, although if attacked it returns the attack. Its master can give the golem a simple command to govern its actions in her absence, such as “Remain in this area and attack all creatures that enter.” Its creator can order a sand golem to obey the commands of another person (usually a member of the Dusty Conclave; see page 63), but she can always resume control over the golem by commanding it, at will, to obey her alone.
A sand golem attacks with its fi sts, pummeling its opponents. Its Armor Class is relatively low, and its ability to resist damage is less than that of other golems, but it draws strength from the fury of a desert storm.
Brownout (Ex): The dust cloud that surrounds a sand golem produces a constant condition of brownout, a common side effect of sandstorms (see page 16 for details on sandstorms). Creatures within 10 feet of a sand golem take a –4 penalty on Dexterity-based skill checks, as well as Search, Spot, and any other checks that rely on vision. These effects end when the creature leaves the 10-foot area around a golem.
Stifle (Ex): When a sand golem strikes a living creature, some of the shapesand that forms its body forces its way into its opponent’s mouth and nose, causing that creature to suffocate. The opponent must make an immediate DC 10 Constitution check, repeated each round with the DC increasing by 1 for each previous check, until it can clear the sand from its lungs. A stifled creature can clearing the sand from its blocked airways by spending a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. When the opponent fails a Constitution check, it begins to suffocate (see page 304 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide).
Immunity to Magic (Ex): A sand golem has immunity to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.
An earthquake spell cast directly on a sand golem stops it from moving on its next turn and deals 3d12 points of damage.
A vitrify spell (see page 125) does not actually change the sand golem’s structure but negates its damage reduction and immunity to magic for 1 round.
A blast of sand or flaywind burst spell restores 1 hit point for every 3 points of damage it would otherwise deal. (A sand golem caught in a supernatural flaywind also benefits from this effect.) A fuse sand spell restores all of a sand golem’s lost hit points.

CONSTRUCTION
Only the Dusty Conclave of walkers in the waste has the hidden knowledge of sand golem creation.
A sand golem’s body must be formed from a mass of shapesand (see page 25) having a volume of 1,000 cubic feet (equivalent to a 10-foot cube), and treated with volcanic ash and precious powders worth at least 2,000 gp. Creating the body requires a DC 15 Craft (sculpting) check.
CL 14th; Craft Construct (see page 303 of the Monster Manual), awaken sand, fuse sand (see page 116), geas/quest, caster must be at least 14th level; Price 50,000 gp; Cost 27,000 gp + 920 XP.

SAND GOLEM AMULETS
Members of the Dusty Conclave share a set of amulets and can use any of the sand golems an individual walker has created. The walkers in the waste are in contact with one another and are aware of any member’s
use of an amulet. If a sand golem’s amulet is destroyed, the golem no longer follows instructions except from its creator, and only if that creator is within 60 feet. If the wearer dies but the amulet is intact, the golem becomes inactive until a new person wears the amulet.

Hey there,

I was just reading a bit about the Nether scrolls and was wondering about them. Do they currently exist in faerun?