For the lack of a better title, I decided to choose that. Belonging to the first kingdom to lose to the demonic invasion, an talented but apprentice mage heads off to try and get the remaining human realms to band together in their time of need. The apprentice soon realizes that rather than trying to destroy the foe of man together, they are intent upon preying on each other in this time of strife ... and a teenager isn't going to convince them to stop.
Deciding that perhaps the enemy armies and the mortal realms need a little more force to convince them, this mage decides to do something idiotic: beat a powerful dragon into submission, make it their familiar, and use that to assist in their quest and convince them to stop being stupid.
Even master wizards usually make cats and other lesser beings into their familiars, granting them human form in return for their service and required loyalty. Taking on a dragon or other great beast successfully as one ... would be considered lucky at best.
We'd start right after the mage had forced the poor beast to be their pet/companion/champion and forced them into a human form.
A mage can approach a beast of any level (cat, dragon, ect.) and offer it servitude or beat it into submission. Upon gaining them and forming this relationship, the former beast gains additional sentiency (Still maintaining some of their animal attitudes, for example a dragon being proud) and a mortal form along with more quickly healing wounds (As a result of leftover magic the mage has acting on them constantly).
As part of their bond, rewards/punishments from a master tend to feel more intense than from others. Petting can be euphoric from them, while more of a mild annoyance from others. This is the primary reason most familiars aren't hell bent on killing their masters from day 1.
The Mage However: -Can summon the familiar to their side for any reason, unless the familiar is currently in danger themselves. -Can 'hold' the beast back from using powers, harming another, or transforming into their natural form. However, a particularly angry familiar can take control of themselves, and with a wounded mage this is even easier. Bigger and more powerful familiars are harder to influence, however. -If they are close, the mage eventually starts gaining the ability to have an idea of what their familiar is feeling even at far distances. It's not mind reading, but with context they could likely have an idea about what's going on in their heads.
Think we need long CSs, or you just want to post the pictures in the CS section and hop in the action?