Wednesday, April 10, 2013

'I' is for 'Imps'



‘I’ is for ‘Imps,’ proud owners of the previous empire before the Human Age. Diminutive by conqueror-species standards, they are about crotch-height on a human. They began their existences in The Cracks far out west beyond The Uncanny Valley, where they were collected by gremlins as popular pets. Gremlins bred the imps mercilessly, crafting races without mouths, eyes or many of the internal organs the typical biological organism considers comfortable. Today, the surviving breeds of imps often require repeated surgery in order to successfully eat food.

After the gremlins destroyed themselves in a selfless effort at defining hubris, the imps seized their remaining technology for personal conquest. They had the additional benefit of naturally enchanted bones, particularly horns, which manifest in them not unlike acne and tumors in other species, and enable amazing feats of conjuration. They may be one tenth the body of a triclops, but they can shoot lightning at him, and this levels the playing field. 

Their feats of magic climbed in scale until they attempted to summon their transcendent ancestors, a tribe most people refer to as “demons.” The summoning went very successfully if your goals are to set half the world on fire. The Apocalypse of Demons sapped most people’s sympathy for any slavery the gremlins put imps through, which imps consider insensitive, because it cost them their empire. Post-empire, imps spend most of their time screwing each other over, since cooperating went so poorly.

15 comments:

  1. I find it unfortunate that the imps, who were once marginalized, later on became the marginalizers. But sometimes that happens.

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  2. I had some difficulty understanding your last sentence. Just the same, if co-operation goes badly I can well understand deciding against it. Probably permanently.

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  3. PS: How are you, your mother and your grandmother? Improving steadily I hope.

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  4. Poor Imps. I have to say, I think they're my favourite dominating species so far. I can't help but admire their tenacity.

    Rinelle Grey

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  5. This is an interesting version of Imps! Nice. So you do have magic as well in your world! I like it!

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  6. John, I am listing you over at my blog for a Very Inspiring Blogger award. I have not gone live yet for today, but I will be in a few minutes.
    Also: As always, you have inspired me today with your piece here on Imps!
    jean yates#atozchallenge

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  7. I was wondering about magic as well. I haven't done a lot of reading about Imps, but I enjoy your version and history. You write very cleverly. I was feeling a little sorry for the imps... until they set half the world on fire... LOL

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  8. Wow. Imps sound like an interesting creature to behold!

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  9. Loved that closing sentence! From the Cracks to Empire to the Cracks again, huh? Sounds like the arc of some unwise lottery winners.

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  10. This sounds like the summary of a very long story.

    Damyanti @Daily(w)rite
    Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge
    AZ blogs on Social Media

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  11. Sounds like they're going to kill each other off one way or another!

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  12. The last line is a lesson that a lot of humans have learned, too.

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  13. Absolutely love the line "The summoning went very successfully if your goals are to set half the world on fire." Your humor, as always, is delightful.

    What struck me most about these guys is my complete and totaly inability to imagine what the heck they look like. Crotch height, covered in tumor-like horns, shooting freakin' lightin bolts around? Can't picture it. I request an artist's rendering at some point.

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  14. Those little imps! I'm especially interested in the mutant ones.

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  15. I hadn't thought about imps until I read this post. Now I'm thinking about using them in a Rogue Mission episode. Thanks for the inspiration!

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