| Gremlin | |
|---|---|
 Nothing relieves stress quite like a bit of destruction and sabotage... | |
| Information | |
| Alternate Names/Spellings | |
| Origins | |
| Alignment | Chaotic Neutral, Chaotic Evil, Chaotic Good |
| Element | |
| Species | Goblinoid |
| Appearance | Large-eared, diminutive Goblinoid, often scaly, clawed or furry |
Also Called[]
- (f) Femlin
Origins[]
The Gremlin is one of a race of creatures, the story for whom have origins in the mythology, legend and folklore of the World War II era. In particular, stories of their exploits were spread widely in the English military aviation field.
With the passage of time, Gremlins became a scapegoat for any mishaps that would occur within the aviation field and similar mechanical and manufacturing fields.
There is a dispute as to the origin of the racial name "Gremlin"; some believe it derives from a portmanteau of Grimm's Fairy Tales and Fremlin (an English brand of beer); others suggest the name is far older than that, being derived from the Old English word "gremian", meaning "to vex".
Appearance[]
Often, Gremlins are mistaken for Imps or diminutive Goblins. Their stature tends to range from less than one-foot-tall to the size of a small human child. Often, Gremlins are thin, with heads and mouths often disproportionately large for their small frames. The large ears of a Gremlin tend to point, but a small minority have unpointed ears.
Skin color for Gremlins can vary all across the color spectrum. There are a number of Gremlins with fur, scales, perhaps wings and/or tails, though the majority lack these features.
Gremlin eye color can vary across the color spectrum, and a number are known to lack pupils. Interestingly, while most appear to be explicitly Goblinoid in appearance, some Gremlins have features that more resemble an exaggeration of human facial traits.
The reason for this is unknown, but believed to be an adaptation to elicit sympathy, reducing the chances of a Gremlin coming to harm, when they encounter humans angry with their "handiwork".
Behavior[]
Gremlins are notoriously given to mischief and destruction. This may range from curiosity and playfulness (ie dismantling machinery, stealing objects they enjoy or find interesting, misplacing items and other pranks), to acts of jealousy and malice (ie sabotaging critical machinery to endanger lives).
Some believe that the Gremlin tendency toward destroying flying machines lies in the fact that they were once, themselves capable of flying (some Gremlins retain vestigial wings to this day). After losing the ability to fly, for reasons unknown, the Gremlins are believed to be jealous of any creature capable of flight.
Their long-held jealousy of flying things, paired with their innate curiosity has since extended the Gremlins' mischievous tendencies toward machinery and technology in general.
In addition to their mechanical proclivity, Gremlins are highly gregarious creatures, especially among others of their kind. Seeing a single Gremlin almost guarantees that numerous others are scurrying about, either playing or plotting mischief.
Affection is very open among Gremlins; the raising of young is a communal effort among Gremlins, and they highly value play as a way to teach survival and strategic skill.
These traits, combined with their chatty and often flighty nature, tends to endear Gremlins to other larger humanoid species (as long as those Gremlins stay far away from their belongings).
Abilities[]
- Altitude Affinity- the ability to psychically access benefits in relation to high elevations.
- Hunger Resistance- the ability to endure, to a degree, the effects of hunger.
- Natural Fur- the ability to make use of the growth of animal hair.
- Natural Tail- the ability to make use of a tail.
- Natural Weapons- the ability to make use of damaging physical features.
- Natural Claws- the ability to make use of a set of sharp claws.
- Natural Fangs- the ability to make use of a set of sharp fangs.
- Natural Wings- the presence of (flightless) wings.
- Scaly Skin- the ability to make use of horny, bony, plated skin coverings.
- Superhuman Size (Smallness)- the condition of being physically smaller than human norms.
- Superhuman Strength- the ability to exert physical force beyond human norms.
- Thirst Resistance- the ability to endure, to a degree, the effects of thirst.
Weaknesses[]
- Curiosity- Gremlins are a very hands-on species; that which catches their eye, they are tempted to touch, play with and likely dismantle.
- Flight Envy- Gremlins are especially envious of machines and creatures that can fly; if a flying thing is large enough to bear their weight, they will be heavily tempted to hitch a ride, but also to tamper with its parts.