Sparky

Sparkies, as purely magical beings, feed on esoteric things like concepts, memories, but most deliciously the impulses of other sentient creatures.   No two sparkies are exactly alike - what might be palatable for one might be toxic to another, while a third still might not recognize the concept that affects the other two. Generally, however, a sparky prefers to feed on the emotions of sapient creatures, whether those tend to be positive emotions like joy and pride or negative emotions like grief or anger. They do this passively, only requiring small the small quantities of latent magic given off by creatures to sustain themselves, but still prefer to surround themselves with ample supply and variety of food.

While every sparky is unique given the circumstances of their creation, they follow a similar behavioral pattern. sparkies usually gravitate toward communities or larger population centers of mortals and constantly interact directly with them to elicit emotions they enjoy immersing themselves in. They also have the ability to possess inanimate objects and control them to a small degree. They use this ability indirectly interact with mortals, further cultivating their desired emotional intake. They are generally tricksters, and enjoy playing and pranking anyone and everything in front and around them.   Sometimes, for reasons that aren't entirely understood, a large number of sparkies can combine and form a Spirit, which has a greater level of sapience and the ability to interact with the world more completely than a single sparky ever could. Some researchers postulate that it has to do with the density and availability of magic in the overlying region of the Otherworld. Some spiritual leaders believe that the sparkies seek companionship they can only find with each other, and that their deep rooted bonds draw them together to spend eternity with one another. Some myths even suggest that they combine because too many of them try to share the same physical space, and so they're smooshed together to form one being.

Some individuals and organizations have the ability to control sparkies, but they can also be influenced by strong emotions that they favor, such as training an animal to do anything. In practice, their domestication is commonly observed in their use as supplemental livestock that can power machinery or as pets that entertain children. Villages typically have one to three pieces of old machinery that are powered almost entirely by sparkies (allowing farmers to significantly improve their yields or for an ancient amenity to be used as a tourist attraction) while towns and cities often employ a mix of regularly operating machines and sparky driven equipment, such as personal vehicles or local communication networks.   They are typically safe to be around as they are rarely aggressive. When they are, they are usually more of a nuisance than a threat. Difficult sparkies are typically banished, outcast, or ignored when possible. The lack of emotion and impulses from being isolated deprives the sparky of its main food source, causing it to burn itself for sustenance until it eventually fades away painlessly. If this method isn't feasible, an Exorcist is often called out to handle the problem.

Due to only having existed for two generations, sparkies aren't entirely understood and thus are shrouded in local mythology. While larger communities often view sparkies as rodents, smaller communities often venerate them and attribute them with fortune (good or ill), as well as weather, divination, and monsters activity. Though no conclusive evidence has been discovered to prove these claims, many who hold such beliefs argue that it is safer to assume they're correct because the consequences of being wrong could be disastrous, or that their belief is what grants sparkies their supernatural abilities.   Due to these beliefs, several rituals and festivals have arisen around the honor and veneration of sparkies and spirits alike. While the specific nature of activities differ based on region and local view of sparkies, common elements of of these beliefs include:  

Tribute or sacrifice, often of a sentimental item

Ritual consumption of food or drink

Heightened emotions (positive or negative)

Integration of sparkies into the general population