The following system in the game is currently very limited; it can only handle a certain number of independent creatures following you at once, and more than that simply get left behind, even when they are linked and chained properly. The easiest way to see this in action is to pick a class that can learn find familiar, then have each of your companions learn it as well - most can if you pick the right subclass. When everyone has a familiar out, no more than five creatures/characters will follow; the rest will just stand still and be left behind.
