(Homebrew by MontyGlu, available for free on DMsGuild)
Any adventurer seeking a barchoba can find them in the hallowed temples of battle honored gods, and perched on the shoulders of powerful war mages. With long slender ears, amber limbs, and the faint glow of the celestial realms emanating from their fur, this tiny celestial inspires awe and resolve even in the frailest of combatants.
Gaze of Potential. Barchobas are particular about the company they keep. Even overbearing kindness won’t win a barchoba over, and often a barchoba will gravitate towards meek and quiet mages who focus on their goals. Barchobas tend to gravitate towards young mages with strong pursuits, individuals who may have already been noticed by another divine creature, or one whose goals and aspirations align with the finicky celestial. Many war gods cast down barchobas to the material planes to act as allies in an upcoming battle or guide a soldier to their fate.
War Mage’s Companion. It is rare to find a barchoba not acting as a familiar to a war mage or divine warlock. Barchobas naturally gravitate to those with the talent for magic and who lack a familiar. Stubborn, the barchoba will follow a spell caster until they either accept them or until they find another talented mage who is more open to a partnership. A barchoba will often try to prove itself to a potential companion by sharing gifts of loose coin, small trinkets or spell components to earn attention.
Weapons Formed of Loyalty. Once contracted as a familiar, the barchoba is loyal and dutiful, and after its mage’s death will assume the form of a weapon to avenge them or upkeep their values. These weapons gain the moniker of “War Mage’s Vengeance” and last for 7 strikes before the barchoba breaks free of the blade and is reborn again through battle. Once reborn, the barchoba resumes its pursuit of finding an appropriate companion. Usually, it will stay close to its wielder in hopes of finding a potential war mage, but will sometimes settle for other magical talents if they prove themselves competent.
Variant: Barchoba Familiar
Those of divine destiny or dedication to good and justice can easily befriend and start a contract with a dedicated barchoba. The barchoba will expect the best of its master and will always support the caster in the pursuit of honor and destiny. In return, it acts as a dutiful and dedicated companion. Barchobas despise acts of intentional cruelty or evil and will be hesitant to serve a creature that partakes in needless violence.
Familiar. The barchoba can serve another creature as its familiar, forming a telepathic bond with its willing master, provided the master is either a 5th level caster with at least one evocation spell, a Wizard that has taken the War Magic Arcane Tradition, or a Celestial Warlock. While the two are bonded, the master can sense what the barchoba senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other. While acting as a familiar, the barchoba’s War Celestials Sacrifice extends to a range of 60ft for its master alone. If the contracted master dies, the barchoba will immediatly re-summon in an un-occupied space, transformed into a War Mage’s Vengeance weapon. If its master commits unspeakable violence towards innocent creatures or performs acts of intentional evil or tyranny the barchoba will end its service as a familiar, ending the telepathic bond.