How can another character make an animal handling check to make a homunculus a companions for other party members?

Question

I plan to give the party an opportunity to find a homonculus in a defeated necromancer lair and possibly make it their animal companion if they wish to.

The druid characters could probably make the animal handling checks easily. However, other characters could also be interested in the companion.

Is there an official mechanic (other than the help action) allowing Character A (with strong animal handling skill) to help character B (not as strong with the skill than A) to bond with an animal to make it a companion and train it?

If not, how would you implement a rule to do so and explain it narratively (not just "the Character A rolls for you")?

Answer 1

Frame Challenge: Animal Handling is not what you need, and "animal companion" is not the way you should look at it.

A homunculus is a construct with int 10. It's not an animal, and even if it was, animal handling wouldn't really apply. Also, "animal companion" is a class feature that sorcerers don't get. Still, that's not to say that you can't or shouldn't let your sorcerer try to acquire a friend. It's just that you need to look at it somewhat differently. After all, homunculi are made to serve. So how do you approach this?

• Arcana check: It's a construct in the lab of an arcane caster. Perhaps it's a broken homunculus, or one that otherwise has some sort of serious issue. Perhaps a high enough arcana check could help. Perhaps there's a book on homunculi somewhere in the dungeon that could make that check easier. (The book has the answer in it, but you still need to make a reasonably easy arcana check just to read and understand the book.) All of this is very easily justifiable in any of a wide variety of variations if the party is adventuring through the lab of a guy who was making homunculi in the first place.

• Diplomacy check: it's a creature with int 10. Perhaps it was mistreated, or otherwise feels no loyalty. Perhaps it wants a master, but only one that will treat it well. Diplomacy promises and bribes might convince it that you'd be that master.

• Bluff check: as above, but you're willing to lie. Probably won't hang around as long (he'll leave once he realizes you were lying) but convincing him to join up in the first place might be easier.

...and hey! All three of those are things that Sorcerers tend to actually be good at.