Gremblins

## CDD Monster Database - Gremblins

### Physical characteristics

Gremblins are type of small humanoidal monsters coming in wide range of body shapes.

No matter the shape they take, all gremblins are quiet dexterous and fast but lack physical strength and durability, with few noticable exceptions.

Main characteristic distinguishing them from other creatures of this type is defaced mask, usually with scribblings or carvings. Masks themselves come in different styles and quality from average to exquisite designs. Styles can: include ball masks, opera masks and other types. Few reports mention rare cases of gas masks or similar equipment.

Reports confirm that in reality so called "mask" is the face of the creature as destruction of it is usually fatal. Gremblins have no problem seeing even if they don't have visible means for it. Many girls sustained injuries unaware that gremblins like to bite their victims when disarmed, masks usually open horizontally revealing multiple rows of deforms teeth. In most situation masks dissolves with destruction of monster, but in rare cases they might remain.

Those artefacts sometimes are taken as trophies. CDD advise every girl and agent to return them for research purposes.

**Warning!** CDD strongly advise against wearing those masks. There are few known cases where such action caused contact wound for the wearer. Effects on the magic girls are unknown if any.

### Behaviour

Gremblins appear in large groups ranging from 10 to 20 creatures, some reports mention even more numerous groups. Usual gremblin pack is organised around single individual referred to as "Gremblin Boss/King". What interesting is that unlike other leader type creatures gremblin boss is distinguished from his lessers only by more sophisticated "mask decoration", King seems to be commanding the pack with screeches and screams. Unlike the normal gremblins those creatures are really durable and much stronger, posing real danger in direct fight.

Many reports mentions gremblin packs following larger more dangerous creatures. There are many theories about this behaviour, either they do that for protection or some instinct urge them to do that untill they encounter different group creatures or desired breach point.

In case of encounterind different monster group they try to herd them together, such attempts have varying degree of success. Some girls mention cases of gremblin packs being attacked and scatterd by monsters provoked by those actions, in case of success the monster herd can pose real threat with the support from pack of gremblin herders.

In fight gremblins prefer to swarm and overwhelm girls with their numbers, what disturbing is their intelligence in this regard. Instead of openly attacking they use others monsters as bait to weaken or distract magic girls then launching an ambush. Other indicator of some level of intelligence is their ability to use tools usually scavenged from dumpsters wielded as improvised weapons.

True danger lies in their tendency to search for hard to access areas and causing breaches with salvaged tools. It seems when they prepare the breach other monsters act as decoys or sentries to prevent the interruption. It is unknown if other monsters instinctively act this way or simply wander around the place the pack left them. Many reports mention the Boss sacrificing part of the pack to slow down any attempt by magic girls to prevent the breach.

Reports mention that gremblins seems to have strong urge to tormenting their victims, there are known cases where they stopped their assault to mock or laugh at the wounded civilians letting them get away. This tendency might be the reason why they prefere to use the scavenged tools as weapons instead of more dangerous bites.

Few teams managed to easily wipe out packs by feigning serious injury, this caused them to cease assault to mock them and celebrate "victory" with dance dropping their guard down around still transformed girls.

There are also indication gremblins get strongly attached to their scavenged belongings. Few civilians that managed to disarm gremblins during breach mention that creature got very agitated trying to reclaim their tool/weapon. Those tantrums can be dangerous as angry gremblin often try to bite and might cause contact wound, CDD advise civilians in such situation to throw away the weapon as creature will ignore them chasing their lost property. There's also report mentioning that gremblins interrupted their assault on tool store. Getting distracted by better quality equipment, they seemed to be fascinated by brand new tools they could use in place of scavenged ones.