Synergist (Witch Archetype)
I’ve said in the past that a concept that Pathfinder, or most other systems, don’t really touch on is the idea of fusion, that is to say, characters that gain power by merging their own with another, either another player character or an NPC ally associated with them. This is primarily because characters combining together is incredibly hard to handle without being either broken as heck or woefully underwhelming. (Either they’re super strong, or you basically lose a set of actions in that turn, usually.)
Now, we’ve briefly discussed familiars merging with their masters before (The nature-bonded magus in particular), but today we’re looking at something special, a witch that can merge their familiar with their own body not only to protect the vulnerable creature from hostility, but also to empower themselves!
In this state, the witch takes on animal traits associated with their familiar, not only in terms of appearance, but also their power set, making for a diverse selection of possibilities.
I can imagine that common patrons that grant this particular magical skillset might include patrons of animals, the moon, transformation, and other nature-y areas of focus, though if you can make it work for you, pick any patron you like!
When they merge, the familiar grants various abilities based on its species and the mastery of their master, initially only granting sensory blessings. However, at later levels, the witch becomes even more like their familiar, gaining various movement methods and special abilities associated with the familiar’s species. Flight is hard for them to do at first, but they eventually master that as well. However, it is worth noting that they don’t gain additional defenses from this, so sadly familiars whose primary appeal is their armor, such as turtles and the like, are perhaps not the best choice. Additionally, some of the most powerful abilities that they can gain (since these abilities are drawn from the beast shape spells) are really only achievable with various magical beast Improved Familiars.
While this archetype is extremely simple in mechanics, you can do a lot with the right familiar and build. Need an aquatic witch that is good at swimming? A scorpion-themed witch with her own poisonous sting? (Note that while the spell does use beast shape, you’re not specifically limited to familiars of the animal type) All of these are possible, just remember you miss out on a lot of hexes for a build with this archetype.
By merging into one being, the familiar and witch share a closer understanding than most others, becoming a singular being and sharing their thoughts and emotions. This could, however, also mean that they share a more intimate relationship with their patron too, communicating their thoughts and desires to the witch when so bonded.
Called a tengu enchantress by some, and a fiend of Pazuzu by others, Imaniera is actually neither, a reclusive elven witch with a raven familiar, she often merges with the bird while out and about, soaring through the air as she gathers her herbs to sell.
Baerkpa’s Ruin is all that remains of the great industrial city of Gonnord, which was destroyed by nature’s wrath. Now, it is a rusted out place where rust monsters and goblins and worse dwell amongst the crumbling walls and abandoned derelicts of iron. The goblins in particular revere an aspect of decay within, and their sages can merge with the various vermin they take as familiars.
A lethal assassin for hire, the witch known as Blue-Kiss is infamous for her iconic method of killing. By merging with her blue-ring octopus familiar (normally kept in an aquarium ball), she can deliver a lethal bite with her poison.
