Homunculus

"The homunculus are handy, though I much prefer to use Manikin. We had to learn to use chariots before carts, though, so I can't hold their rudimentary nature against them."
~Archmage Dulacar, of the Brass Tower

Basic Information

Anatomy

Homunculi are vaguely winged humanoid, but combine the features of a bat, a human, a scorpion, and a cat.

Genetics and Reproduction

Homunculi are always artificially constructed, almost always on purpose.
There are several methods for creating them, the most common is the following ritual:
Inject the blood of the intended master into an unfertilized egg, such as that of a chicken or an alligator.
Then inject issue from any source into the egg, and seal up the hold in the shell with candle wax. After a month, the egg should hatch into a slimy blob, which will grow over another month into a fully functional homunculus. This ritual has a 5% chance of success. A potion exists that makes that chance go up to 65%, and the Create Homunculus spell is 100% likely to create a homunculus instantly.

Growth Rate & Stages

Homunculi spend one month as an egg, and one month as a sluglike jelly as it grows into its adult form.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Homunculi feed on dream energy - specifically the dream energy of their masters.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Homunculi are used as servants of practitioners of magic and Folk Magic. They deliver messages, collect ingredients, and spy on enemies.

Average Intelligence

Homunculi know everything that their master knew at the time of their creation, and their telepathic link with their master means that they are unlikely to fall behind.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Darkvision

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Homunculi are typically a Human technology, and are typically linked to humans.

Lifespan

7-13 years.

Average Height

6-12 inches

Average Weight

1-5 lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Homunculi are naturally red-brown to gray, but enterprising people have figured out that introducing dyes into the blood used in their creation can effect their adult coloration.