It is unwise to summon a creature without knowing the intricacies of their existence.
Therefore, we ask you familiarize yourself with their information before attempting to summon one of your own.
As of yet, researchers have been unable to pinpoint an exact date of origin. Due to their nature of being a creature born of a summoning ritual, the spiritual makes dating rather difficult. There are, however, two main theories for their initial creation as a species.
One group of thought regards the spiritual as omnipresent, thus Imps must have existed from the beginning of time with the origins of gods and the universe. This is a more biblical approach as opposed to a researched hypothesis. Nevertheless, it is considered a valid conclusion regarding the subject matter.
The other group of thought considers the way Imps are summoned. Given the fact that they are summoned by sewing a fabric-based vessel they must have been created post the invention of fabric. The date itself is convoluted with what the definition of fabric is, as Imps have successfully animated both leather and leaf-based vessels. Further research is needed to pinpoint an exact date, but with the type of vessel narrowed down and a window at which beings would be capable of sewing they are convinced they will be able to pinpoint an exact date in the near future.
Imps are not born naturally, instead they are summoned by crafting a vessel. Vessels are small, fabric forms sewn into relatively simple shapes. Often these fabric forms consist of scraps as it is said repurposing old materials creates a better chance for an Imp soul to take over the vessel.
Often regarded as a type of familiar, Imps are very loyal to their creators and may possess skills reflective of their design. Given their size they do not possess strong skills, which makes them more useful as a companion rather than a protector.
Imps do not age in vessel or mind. This makes dating their vessel an easy way to determine their age, however it is not a foolproof test. There are two factors to consider when determining the age of an Imp. The vessel’s age and the spirit’s age.
The vessel’s age determines when the Imp’s spirit claimed the vessel as their body. At the point a spirit takes over a vessel, the vessel stops ageing, acting as a preservative for whatever materials were used to create them.
The spirit’s age, also known as the Imp’s soul, is much more complicated to pinpoint. Some argue that Imp souls were created at the birth of the universe and others argue that Imp souls are created specific to a vessel.
For the sake of simplicity, and the common hypothesis that an Imp’s soul can possess a new vessel if their original vessel is destroyed, researchers tend to give official birthdates to Imps based on skills. As far as researchers can tell, no two Imps have ever been recorded at the same time possessing the same skill. Therefore, once a new Imp is born it is protocol to submit the date of birth and skill to the Imp Database. Researchers will then check to see if the skill has been recorded previously, if not the Imp is given the birth date submitted. If the skill was previously recorded the Imp is considered a reincarnation of a previous entry and will include a link to the original. The original entry will also be investigated.
Imp skills are not particularly useful nor are they particularly strong. While skills are said to be reflected in design choices for a vessel, the uselessness and overall gamble makes designing vessels for a particular goal a rare but not extinct hobby.
It is possible to end up with a dramatically useful skill as there are an infinite number of things an Imp can choose to attach themselves too. Although, in general, skills tend to align more with mundane situations than anything dramatic.
Examples of skills include glowing in the dark, always being able to cook the perfect soft-boiled egg, or being able to pick perfectly ripe fruit.