Imps

Curious creatures, Imps. The only species from the Labyrinth that, thus far, has been domesticated in a handful of instances. Though difficult, it isn't impossible by any means. They are by far the friendliest of the creatures from that dark place, ironic considering their habit of burning everything down when defensive.

— Atennus Tresmenne, in "Species Known and Unknown"

Basic Information

Anatomy

Imps are quite similar to their original forms, being various species of bats, but hold several key differences that make them a clear separate species. With their inflated size comes incredibly muscular shoulders, torsos, and hands at the ends of their wings. Their legs have formed into proper digitigrade structures ending in similar claws and long toes designed to grasp and climb. Between their new musculature and claws, they are far superior hunters and more agile climbers. Even capable of running over short distances, though their wings can still get in the way of such movements.

Biological Traits

Imps are remarkably agile, excellent climbers, and uncharacteristically strong for their small size. Despite this, they are not so physically powerful that it daunts their size like many corrupted and tainted creatures are. Though the corruption does run within their veins, it is not nearly as potent as it is for other creatures. This is due to the fact their species was created during the first age, and then abandoned by the Daemon. With no fresh source of tainted blood, and gaining many of their foods from the surface instead of the depths of the Labyrinth, Imps evolved away from their corruption.
Though this still grants them physical power comparable to a full-grown man, monstrous for their size, it isn't nearly as potent as proper tainted creatures. Still, they make for frightening enemies not due to their agility, strength, nor even their numbers. Instead they are feared for their natural, instinctual ability to use natural magic at will. Capable of augmenting themselves with mana to empower themselves under moments of duress and a hunt, as well as cloaking their bodies in flames. They are even able to release these flames in projectiles and teach one another basic spells due to their higher intellect.
Domesticated Imps have even been seen learning other spells beyond fire, this appears to simply be their natural focus. How this is done is unknown, but it is theorized that they are capable of learning and evolving to the point of true sapience, much akin to simians in the deep jungles of the south.
Imps are not telepathic, but they are empathically linked to their current ruler. This means that they feed on the same emotions that the ruler releases, if they are territorial, defensive and enraged then so too is the entire colony. If the ruler is calm, so too are individuals. This is not omnipotent, however as when pulled more then a few hundred feet from a ruler the link appears to break. This causes the Imp no ill-effects, and will instead continue functioning on its own as per normal.
They are even capable of basic communication verbally, as they have been found speaking basic sentences and instructions to one another using the black tongue of the Daevata. Having appeared to heard the language, and mimicked it to learn. Even attempting to trade with humans on occasion using this tongue and trying to use body and sign language to get across an exchange of valuables found by a colony, for food from farmers. Seeming capable of understanding trade and friendship is more valuable than simply preying on the humans and invoking a town's wrath.
Imps have incredibly sensitive ears. Due to this, high-frequency sounds and loud noises can be quite effective against them should you anger a nest.

Genetics and Reproduction

Imps live in what many call colony under a unique society where either a queen, or king can rule. It doesn't matter which and instead is simply the oldest and strongest Imp in the colony. They then retain breeding rights with their preferred mates, and the others are expected to breed as they wish between their own rankings. A female will go into heat once a month, before requiring up to four months for the fetus to grow. After this point they will give birth to one, to two kits. During the period of her pregnancy, females are left to protect the colony nest with the ruling Imp while non-pregnant females and males hunt and forage for food.

Growth Rate & Stages

After birth, kits tend to take up to a week before their eyes open and they are able to do anything aside cling to their mother's bodies. At this point they will begin exploring the nest, learning and watching as they grow. Eventually, after a month, they will begin joining on hunts. They will reach full maturity and stop growing at around a year of age.

Ecology and Habitats

Though they are often found within the Labyrinth, this is not always the case for Imps. Due to their ability to survive and even actively hunt during the day, they are the only known corrupted species to actively live on the surface in select areas. Though these colony's tend to stay small, they will take residence in caves, abandoned buildings, and so forth on the surface much as bats do.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Though primarily carnivores, Imp are technically omnivorous as they will eat fruits from time to time. They are also found eating many flowers, seeking the nectar within them.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Imps are highly social, engaging one another in complex hierarchies based around their ruler. These ranks are based purely on the ability of the Imp in question, be it their physical size, intellect, magical ability or some other factor. Those that are able to beat others, in whatever way it is done, are then able to claim higher rank within the colony. They are highly sensitive to emotions, both of their own kind and of other species. This allows them to communicate and understand one another far more easily than many other species.
Grooming one another, exchange of food and protection for one another, even raising one another's kits is all quite common. Orders from those of higher rank within the colony is generally followed without question, and if not then a fight will quickly initiate to decide the winner of the argument. Some advanced colonies will even use limited language to break out into arguments, or, the opposite. Using it to settle a fight before it begins.

Domestication

Though rare, there are instances of Imps being domesticated by humans. They are also known for being domesticated by some Daevata clans that use them as scouts for their hunts, similar to how humans use hawks. The domestication by humans is rare, but some villages have begun to trade with the Imp colonies. Thus allowing the creatures to integrate slowly into human society, learning more and even speaking basic languages of their human counterparts. The line is blurred, often having them viewed as somewhere between friends and pets due to the difference in intelligence being obvious, but still so close to their human counterparts.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The vocal cords of Imps are sought after for their use in creating incredibly strong bowstrings. This is a difficult process as the cords must be carefully stretched to reach the appropriate length from their, comparatively, small size. Their hides are considered quality leather due to their thickness and soft fur, and most importantly the material's incredible resistance to heat. Most sought after however, is their guano, and the black tar-like substance they can excrete from their mouths. The guano being an important ingredient to make some of the most powerful alchemical explosives in the world. While the tar-like substance is capable of hardening into material stronger than steel when exposed to flame, but otherwise becomes as malleable as soft clay.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Generally focused in abandoned villages, buildings, cave networks, tunnels, some deep jungles and forests. They are also quite common on the upper-floors of the Labyrinth.

Average Intelligence

Though they have not quite reached the point of developing their own culture and rituals, they have begun to use basic language and are able to perform basic drawing and writing. They are highly social and curious creatures, and though they are not excessively intelligent in terms of mathematics and high theoretical or philosophical concepts they do understand emotional and social ones. Similarly they are able to understand the use of tools, and mimic their use, even mimic the process to try and create their own variants of such. Due to this, they are often compared to advanced simians in intellect on average, with some outliers being theorized to have the same potential as humans.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Their eyes have grown, expanding to allow superior night-vision but, unique to other corrupted creatures they have sacrificed much of their individual power to instead lack the normal weaknesses toward sunlight. Their eyes are fully capable of functioning in the light due to this, and they have excellent vision during the day. In return, they are near blind at night but hold exceptionally high senses of smell and hearing that allow them to hunt and traverse the darkness with ease. They also retain their ability to echolocate, which comes in the form of high-pitch clicking of their barbed tongues against their teeth.

Lifespan

60 Years

Average Height

13"

Average Weight

10 lbs

Average Length

24"

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Most Imps are browns, blacks, blues and greys. But there are some rare colonies that have red-tinged coats as well.