Imp

Imps are tiny, bat-like creatures with a penchant for trickery, pranks, jokes and general mischievousness. They sabotage, steal, sully and shock as a matter of course, finding life to be boring without an endless parade of surprises. As such, they tend to be jovial creatures capable of finding the humor in even dreary situations. Of course, not everyone appreciates being the butt of an imp's jokes and it should come as no surprise that many people's first reaction to an imp is to smack them.
Imps seem to be built for this, as their bodies are incredibly durable despite their tiny size. While far from immortal, imps can fly away from the consequences of their japes most of the time. And if everything did go horribly wrong, it would make for a hilarious story if nothing else.
That being said, imps are more than willing to fight back if they feel threatened, turning their usual buffoonery into surprisingly effective combat tricks. They are well aware they are lacking in strength and instead uses a combination of deception, sleight-of-hand and magic to turn the tables on those who would hurt them.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Imps have a chiropteran body with a roughly bipedal build, with two legs and two arms with leathery patagia connecting to their body allowing them to fly. They are capable of moving on both their feet and all fours, though tend to be faster in the latter case. Sharp teeth give them a natural way to incapacitate prey. The body of an imp is remarkably durable, especially considering their usually small size. Damage simply seems to be minimized and even catastrophic impacts seem to only cause minimal damage. Experimentation has shown, however, that many small sources of harm is more effective at overcoming this feature than any single large source could. Imps have an inherent talent with occult magic and seem to naturally favor disciplines that allow them to debilitate targets, shrinking being a favorite.

Genetics and Reproduction

Imps reproduce through sexual intercourse. Once impregnated, the female imp carries the young, usually two to three of them, to term. Like the adults, even unborn imps are tough and female imps rarely let anything but the most late-stage pregnancy get in the way of their fun.

Growth Rate & Stages

Young imps grow rapidly and are considered adult in their fourth or fifth year.

Ecology and Habitats

Imps prefer to roos in hard to reach places and have a preferences for large trees, caverns, abandoned houses and other such places. Imps prey on small animals, such as many common insects and small rodents, which keeps their populations in check. they are also fond of fruit and help spread seeds through their leavings, which also serve as good fertilizer.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Imps are omnivores. They forage and hunt over wide areas. When their territories overlap with that of other species, they often also pilfer food from them.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Imps live in large groups, which of often quite egalitarian. Some imps rise to prominence for their deeds and accomplishments, but the only imps they lead are those willing to go along with their schemes. Arguments are often settled through competitions such as duels of insults or prank wars.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Imps are a common species and found in multiple spheres

Average Intelligence

Imps are sapient and about as intelligent as your average human

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Imps have eyes, ears and a nose. Their ears especially are capable of tracking things via echolocations. As long as they can hear, they do not need to see.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Imp names are often light and playful sounding. They also tend to be slightly difficult to pronounce, an endless source of amusement for the imps.

Scientific Name

Stultus Saeva

Lifespan

60 years

Average Height

0.4 - 0.45 meters

Average Weight

1 - 1.5 kilo