Imps

### What exactly are imps?

Imps, known for thier distinct reptilian appearance, forked tongues, sharp-edged teeth, and petite stature, are the lowest ranking within the hierarchy of Hell's demons. Due to said ranking, they are often considered as the least to be respected within the realm, to the point where they are known as a "servitude" species.

## Appearance:

The "Maley" Clan:

Recorded to be the first clan of imps to have existed, they are distinguished by thier shorter horns, signature markings, small wings, and (both long and short) tufts of hair. Like most imps, they have a arrow-shaped tail thats half the size of thier bodies, which can be maneuvered similar to that of an extra arm or a leg due to the muscle structures of both the base and tip.

The "Juka" Clan:

Having evolved to survive within greater heights, Jukas are noted to have much larger wings than that of thier ancestors, along with (for reasons that are unknown) having both a lack and or the complete absence of hair upon thier heads, along with thier horns (on average) being recorded to be longer in length, along with being more hardened in material.

## Abilities

1. Eyes that can glow within the dark due to the prevalence of luciferin, when in oxidation with the enzyme luciferase from within thier vitreous, grants them the ability to hunt easier at night, along with having better chances at being able to avoid predators.
2. Imps (along with other hellspawns) have the ability to create heat within thier bodies using a "Martla" gland found beside thier stomach that connects to thier throat, which contains phosphine, this chemical creating a fiery reaction when a imp breathes oxygen into the Martla (the amount of "fire power" depending on how much oxygen is consumed), which causes the chemical to react to said oxygen, creating fire within the gland (the edge of the gland having an opening which enlarges whenever a imp is pushing out fire, and closes when they are regularly breathing) the fire breathed out through the throat at high speeds out of the mouth, which gives them the ability to, you guessed it, breathe **fire**!
3. Imps are fire-based demons, meaning that thier bodies have a resistance to all types of heat, including fire.
4. Imps, like all demons, are immortal since they are within the afterlife of Hell.
5. Their wings (depending on the size) grant Imps the ability to fly, Jukas being able to fly high into the skies, while Maleys (due to being land roaming) have wings that can only fly to certain distances, the wings themselves being able to retract and detract whenever needed.
6. Though not as much as most demons, they posses physical strength greater than that of a human.
7. ???

## DIET:

Imp are a majority omnivorous species, but in some cultures (such as Jukas) have a heavier emphasis on meat from other creatures.

They tend to be both farming and scavenging creatures, and due to thier resistance to heat, can consume plants that are otherwise considered "too hot" for most demons but are otherwise harmless to all imps.

## CULTURE:

### The "Maley" Clan:

##### The Maley Clan (Maley clan (may- lei))  are the first imp tribe recorded to have existed, who believe in both caution and balance as their main ways of life. The clan itself making a living within the desert lands to avoid most predators, including the infamous exterminators, who are the royal guards that are meant to get rid of a certain amount of demons at every start of the year to prevent overpopulation.

Maleys are settlers who live off the land they have, leading to a farm-based life with a mostly vegetarian diet due to their relationship with animals and wildlife reflecting upon their purist attitudes, being kindred towards both creatures of land and sea, revolving most of thier time in both prayer towards "The Great One" (thier god) and or just... surviving. (alot) Only consuming other creatures at rare occurrences such as certain celebrations and or risk of starvation, some even taking this mentality to extreme lengths towards both themselves and other clan members.

Living a life of solitude with the intention of surviving in harmony with thier people, they tend to be skeptical of other intelligent species however, to the point where for thousands of years they havent had a single willing contact with them. Despite this, if they were to have contact that is found to be harmless, they would adorn thier visitors in any kind of offering that they can find.

Making them the “tree huggers” of the imp species.

## The Juka Clan:

The Juka (Blitzo’s Clan. (Pronounced: Juo-ka) who are known for thier direct descendancy from Maleys, but despite this, have a culture entirely separate from the desire for discretion and isolation.

Considered once to be the "party animals" of the imp kind, they were seen as playful, celebratory, and having a strong sense of community. Due to this, they had close connections to various species and clans, with a heavy emphasis on festive behaviors and playing harmless pranks on both other species to gain thier trust, and or eachother within both casual settings and or rituals.

But due to over half of the population being taken into servitude, that sense of celebration has since been lost to time.

## Behaviors (Instincts):

Imps have a smaller structure and though stronger than the average human, lack of physical strength compared to other species.

Because of this, they tend to stay within packs in order to keep most predators at bay.

While also to keep themselves in a social setting due to thier sensitive hearts (from a common birth defect shared among imps) causing them to be prone to both separation anxiety, and or depression whenever isolated from the others of thier kind for extended amounts of time.

When encountering a mate, they exhibit a "ride or die" type of relationship, many of them being known to have two or three mates at a time.

While the leader of a pack (The "Chuka" of an imp clan, which can be both a woman, a man, and or non-gender conforming as Imps have little to no belief in power separation by gender.) have the ability to have over nine mates if they so choose.

Based on thier ancestry being from that of a succubi and a cat (and various other species depending on the location) Imps behaviors are the equivalent of a lizard, a chihuahua, a cat, along with any behaviors that are picked up from thier ancestries.

Because of this, they have the ability to crawl upon walls by spitting out a clinging substance on thier hands (in which they clean off after they are done), purr, "meow" (these can range from "MERRRRRARRR!" for Jukas, "MEIYU!" for Maleys.), and hiss along with many MANY other cat-like behaviors.

Imps also being able to both howl and even having a sound similar to that of a dog's bark which from a foreign perspective, sounds like they are yelling "HEYYAYYAYAYEY!" in a verbose "barking" tone whenever in the sight of danger.

Imps themselves having the ability to make both animalistic sounds and speak various languages.

In recent studies, it has been recorded that when feeling extreme positive emotions, the pupils of thier eyes draw apart, only to come back into position once they are within a more calmed state, the reasoning behind this phenomena within the studies of demonic species being unknown.

Like most living, breathing creatures, they have the need to reproduce sexually with one another in order for thier kind to thrive.

Being intersex, (having both a penis and a vaginal area) along with all other demons, this in itself being considered as a "easy" task due to the high accessibility of reproduction, the call of choosing being "NYAAAOOOO!" in order to call to a mate.

This not being only useful for reproducing however, as within the wild, they were known to have intercourse with thier partner(s) more than three times a day (at times even publicly due to thier indifferent nature with nudity. Especially since... both cultures dont wear much clothes in the first place.) using a stretchy substance known as a Mita (might-a) from tree sap to cover thier nether regions in case of birth control.

But because of so many of them being kidnapped and or exterminated by Lucifer's guards, it's come to a point where the act of sexual gratification and or consistency has become a thing of the past.

**(For now... but let's get back to the main details shall we?)**

Their reproductive glands (for the most part) being the same structure, so how do they differentiate eachother by sex you might ask?

The answer? **They dont.**

Instead, they separate only by gender identity (both cis and or gender non-conforming), some even having no gender at all.

(Within this headcannon: Due to this, whether they have dark hair or not, thick lines or thin lines on horns, is entirely randomized.)

Them all having the ability to lactate, so they tend to raise eachother's younglings whilst feeding them with thier teats. (But not to worry! As they are required to clean all eight once they are finished.)

Most demons (not just imps) wearing a special covering to cover thier lower teats, the shape of it being that of a loose corset.

**(This section (along with the others) will be continued in later books, so stay tuned for Book 2!)**

## History:

From generation to generation, to even a dynasty, it is common knowledge within the Imp community that Jukas and Maleys were once together as a single clan, but we're separated due to conflict.

The cause of the conflict itself? **No one knows...**