S'liss
S’lisses are three-headed imps; there are two kinds of S’liss in West Virginia: a fire imp, known as a Blazing S’liss, and a tri-imp (having three different essences), known as a Tri-S’liss. Though differing in nature, each shares several similarities; these S’lisses have short, stubby horns, slitted eyes, rotund bodies, wings, and smooth skin. As all imps, they have short lives filled with violence and destruction, living only for a year or two. S’lisses reproduce through cursing organisms; those who fall victim to the fae’s evil, death-magic have their bodies bulge and erupt after a few days; when the form ruptures, tiny imps are spewed into the world. Young S’lisses are less than 1 cm. tall and may be eaten by carnivorous fae and animals. For both kinds of West Virginian S’liss, it takes 3 months to grow to their full size. S’lisses eat other fae, insects, tadpoles, and eggs smaller than themselves. Imps are not visible to any creature, aside from fae.
Death Comes in Threes: Tri-S’liss
The three heads of Tri-S’lisses are poison (left), pestilence (middle), and beast (right). Each head has its own neck and individuality but shares one body. The three minds cooperate excellently, with the left doing most of the long-term thinking, the right acting on instinct, and the middle controlling both arms and legs; yet, the heads move out of sync at times and may argue or annoy one another. If one of the heads is destroyed, the remaining two take over the third’s duties. As S’liss blood quickly coagulates, it is nearly impossible for them to bleed out. If one head falls ill or is weakened/damaged, the other two may try to remove it from the torso—ensuring that the infirmity is not spread and they are not hindered by the third’s failing. If two heads are removed, the third has difficulty functioning on its own.
The poisonous head is a splotchy, sickly purple color with blank, white eyes and pale horns. The pestilent head is a pink, fleshy hue covered in red sores, pus-filled abrasions, and severe rashes; its horns are black, as are its pupils. The beastly head is covered in thick, bristly fur, has a mouthful of sharp, formidable teeth, and a bear-ish snout; its eyes are bright yellow and its horns are slightly longer and thinner than its brothers’, being a dark, brown tone.
The main portion of the Tri-S’liss’ body intertwines the hues and textures of each head. Together, the Tri-S’liss vomits poison, delivers malignant bites, transfers a variety of airborne illnesses (some innocuous, others fatal), releases pheromones that cause those within its vicinity to be filled with rage and aggression, and slashes at adversaries with bacteria-laden claws. Though this fae most often moves on all fours like an animal, it may take to the skies for an offense; however, its wings are weak and unable to support its body for more than 15 minutes.
Tri-S’lisses live for an additional 3 months once maturity is reached. Before they die, they curse a large mammal, like a bear; upon the animal’s death, up to ten imps may emerge from the creature’s carcass. Once the S’liss feels death draw near, it casts a final spell on a nearby creature; with the exertion, it dies. The targeted organism will cause those near it to become ill, especially if said creature is eaten; when the animal dies, it releases a noxious cloud that causes nausea, among other unpleasant symptoms.
Up in Flames: Blazing S’liss
Blazing S’lisses have one head with three faces; each has a separate brain, eyes, nose, and mouth, but shares all else in the body. Residing so near, the trio can communicate without physically speaking and they feel more connected than other S’lisses. This imp has a multi-colored, speckled hide, each separate face having a dominant pattern: red, yellow, or white. This fire imp spits balls of burning, acidic saliva, or a steady stream of flames like a dragon; the temperature of the breath depends on the mouth it came from (white being the hottest, red the coolest).
Like other fire imps, blazing S’liss exist to burn down buildings, forests, and anything else around them. They reach maturity after one week but only live for 40 days. These fae curse aquatic creatures; these breeding grounds are targeted as the youths that grow inside them are easily combustible, exploding if exposed to too much air too soon, or too warm of temperatures. The cursed creatures live until the next summer, appearing mostly normal, except that they have distended bellies. Once summer arrives, five imps burst out of the animals’ flesh; the newborns consume the creature’s body, then begin wreaking havoc on the environment. They grow to be 6 - 7 in. tall.
Not all flames they ignite burn well, nor do many turn into great blazes; for the most part, their spells are unsuccessful. Blazing S’liss are usually content with at least singing skin or blackening food—if worse cannot be enacted.
After the fire imps have cast their reproductive curse (see Death Comes in Threes, paragraph four), they go out in a final blaze—usually within a large structure or old forest—leaving a small pile of ash and burnt flora behind. The imp may decide to possess the body of a hen instead, creating Devil Birds; however, they still die soon afterward.