Imp

### Overview

Imps are minor demons found in Naraka. In its natural state, an imp resembles a diminutive red-skinned humanoid with a barbed tail, small horns, and leathery bat-like wings. Their horns which can range from conical and stubby, to extravagant ram horns. In literature, they are often described as "*craven, fawning weaklings who obey stronger creatures without question.*"

### Abilities and Roles

Imps are created from a larva in Naraka. They were created to spread evil, and can be found either running errands for their infernal masters, spying on rivals, or misleading and waylaying mortals. They are immune to fire and poison, and have the ability to shapeshift into small beasts like rats or spiders. They have a strong resistance to magic, and may absorb the arcane energy used in spells against them to fortify themselves. Imps have the power to turn invisible at will. Imps have the ability to see in total darkness, even magical darkness. They are a minor component of demon armies, serving mainly as scouts, messengers or reconnaissance units, as they have limited relative battlefield prowess. However a group of imps attacking in unison can occasionally overwhelm a single foe.

They are often summoned to Aeglion by sorcerors, and can be found in the service to mortal spellcasters. With their ability to become invisible and their penchant for skulduggery, they can find employment as informants, advisors or spies with those who can tolerate their company. Imps feed off the energy of malicious souls and arcane energy while above ground. In actuality, an imp works to deliver souls to Naraka, assuring that its master’s soul faces damnation upon death. Consequently, an imp urges its master to acts of evil, knowing the soul is a prize the imp might ultimately claim.

   The imp can form a telepathic bond with its willing master. While the two are bonded, the master can sense what the imp senses as long as they are close to each other. There has been documentation that the master may share the imp's magical resistance and vision in the dark whilst in such a bond. If its master violates the terms of the contract, the imp can end the telepathic bond.

An imp will proudly serve an evil master of any kind, but it can't be relied on to carry out tasks with any speed or efficiency. Imps can display an unusual loyalty to their masters, and an imp can be quite dangerous if its master is threatened. An imp usually strikes while invisible, attacking with its poison stinger. Their barbed tail can deliver a toxin that saps the will of its victim. Spellcasters tend to be particularly vulnerable due to their high store of arcane energy which the imp can feed off. Imps may cast minor offensive spells, primarily fire-based.

### Liberated imps

Occasionally an imp will find itself masterless, and for whatever reason does not or cannot return to its home plane. Such 'liberated imps' tend to be mischievous rather than evil, and are the subject of many common fairy tales. They are fond of pranks and misleading people. A generous rationale for this behaviour is that imps can feel lonely, and this is their way of attracting the attention of people. Most often, the target of their attention becomes irritated by such tomfoolery and spurns the imp. Imps who reside in Naraka do not have names, however, imps in servitude to mortal masters or those who have liberated themselves will give themselves names.