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Imp log: Glacier imp

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Description

While it seems to be the only imp species with two different well-established common names, both names are inaccurate - the vast majority of tundra imps actually inhabit taiga forests. They are also the biggest imp species, with a standing height that can reach the height of an adult orc in some cases. Considering their preferred habitat, it is no surprise that these imps are pretty resourceful and not picky about food, which includes berries, fungi, seeds, roots, fermented conifer needles, and compared to other imp species, a pretty high amount of vertebrate meat. They are said to be pretty aggressive and will consider humanoids, other goblinoids and even members of rivalling colonies as food, but that highly varies between cultures.
Due to their large size and the cold climate being unfavourable for developing extensive gliding membranes, tundra imps lack the ability to glide, but it won't stop them from climbing trees, which is mostly done for having a better lookout, to collect food or to set up traps. Dwellings are usually dug into the ground, where they have more space and are safe from the cold and forest fires alike. Their food stockpiles are particularly impressive, dug into permafrost to prevent spoiling.
There are two distinct races present, the bigger, more common spruce race and the smaller larch race, which inhabits the light taiga in Eastern Kushur and is capable of hibernating throught the coldest months.
Due to the unforgiving environment, most tundra imps are nomads or less commonly vagrants, with residents being very rare and usually present in the vicinity of large rivers and assimilated individuals being present predominantly among orc cultures. 
A pretty unique trait of this species is their set of natural vocalisations, which sound like whetting, ticking and low creaking, and unlike in other imp species, is used akin to a morse code for long-distance communication. While they use regular speech in other situations, these sounds are often used in their vocabulary and often carry over into their spoken human languages, which makes tundra imps probably have the most unsettling voices.
Tundra imps usually interact little with humans, but have very colourful relationships to orcs, which they share their environment with. Tundra-dwelling populations are usually on friendly terms with the boreal humanoids and will readily cooperate, while forest dweller relationships are more variable, ranging from friendly to hostile. Relations to northern striped and spotted imp populations are similar. Some cultures have an interesting relationship to sootlings, where the tiny goblins are given a bigger variety of food in exchange for conifer seeds.

If you want to know more or think there is something missing in the description, ask away. I will add more to the text then.
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Comments5
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PeteriDish's avatar
what a pair of mischievous little faces! :D