I can see this suggest you've made could be a good "Attraction" indeed, it sounds fun and would invite more people over to the DoL side. So I thought up a quick response that took me around 30mins to do, something more concrete is always good ... DoL Gathering is strong but is steadily crumbling apart, if something isn't done soon to enforce it it will fall soon enough. Here's my suggestion about this:
[*There are two types I suggest; be it separate or both together]
1) A quest become available each few ranks 1-50.
2) New Locations Achievements; approach a trees, rocks, waters.
(Here's an Example)
Dol; Botanist 1 of 3; Rank1 - At R1 Botanist, Grade 1 Trees
*It's right there that the adventure should begin* . . . Call It "Seen a Mysterious Figure Atop an Tree": you see something at your very first gathering adventurer, on the first day as a Botanist. You wonder what that was as you make your way back to Gridania"
(Same with the other two DoL)
DoL; Miner 2 of 3; Rank1 - At R1 Miner, Grade 1 Mines, "Seen a Mysterious Figure In a Underground Hole": It's your very first day as a Fisher and you encounter something while gathering. You wonder what that was as you make you way back to Ul'dah."
DoL; Fisher 3 of 3; Rank1 - At R1 Fisher, Grade 1 Waters,"Seen a Mysterious Figure Swimming in the Water" it's your very first day as a Fisher and you encounter something while gathering. You wonder what that as you make your way back to Limsa Lominsa"
and so on
at R5 "You here a Voice"
at R10 "Talk to it using Echo"
at R15 "Call Me Friend"
at R20 "Follow me my Friend"
........and it continues
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my only problem is I don't like the term "Familiars" or "Pets" as they're seen as a lesser form of companions, I personally like "Gathering Companion" as it sounds more like "Path Companion".