Editing Mephit (section)

==Planescape==
[[File:Mephit MM 2e.png|right|300px]]
The [[Planescape]] setting had a thing for Mephits, expanding their numbers hugely. There is literally at least one mephit breed native to every single Elemental, Paraelemental and Quasielemental Plane you can think of. Except the Plane of Vacuum/Void, and even then, that's not certain.

In fact, Planescape's original lore is that whilst [[Cryonax]] is the only true [[Archomental]] of a Paraelemental/Quasielemental plane, unusually powerful mephits actually fill a similar role on all the others.

In Planescape lore, there's actually an established form of code language involving sending mephits to people you don't like, where the type(s) of mephit sent and the number of them sent conveys different responses or information. For obvious reasons, you only send mephits to rivals, enemies and other people you just don't like.

* '''Air''': The gift of an air mephit indicates that the sender intends to either ambush the recipient or politically betray them. Naturally, these are usually timed to arrive after the plot is already in motion.
<gallery>
air mephit Dragon 421.png|4e
</gallery>
* '''Ash''': These mephits are normally only sent to get the last word in, as they indicate a very strong and very rude refusal to correspond with the recipient anymore. They signal the recipient is no longer seen as being worth talking to.
* '''Dust''': Receiving a Dust Mephit is a subtle threat, typically indicating that the giver has recognized some plot you are holding against him.
<gallery>
Dust Mephit 2e.gif|2e
Seamusxanthuszanus Uncaged.jpg
Dust mephit Dragon 421.png|4e
Dust Mephit 5e.png|5e
Dust mephit KM4.png|PF 1e
Dust Mephit PF 2e.png|PF 2e
</gallery>
* '''Earth''': Indicating a strong refusal to concede to demands, sending an Earth Mephit to somebody is a very firm declaration of "NO!"
<gallery>
earth mephit Dragon 421.png|4e
</gallery>
* '''Fire''': These mephits indicate displeasure with some recent action of the recipient's, with the number sent indicating just how mad the sender is.
<gallery>
Fire Mephit 1e.png|1e
Fire Mephit 2e.png|2e
Fire Mephit 4e.png|4e
Fire Mephit PF 1e.jpg|PF 1e
</gallery>
* '''Ice''': These mephits indicate that the recipient is now officially forbidden from entering the home of the sender, with the number of Ice Mephits sent roughly indicating just how harshly they will be punished if they try.
<gallery>
Ice mephit WD 56.jpg|Fiend Factory
Ice Mephit 1e.png|1e
Ice Mephit 2e.gif|2e
Ice mephit FF 2e.jpg
ice mephit Dragon 421.png|4e
Ice Mephit 5e.png|5e
Ice Mephit PF 1e.jpg|PF 1e
Ice Mephit PF 2e.png|PF 2e
</gallery>
* '''Lightning''': Serving as a simultaneous warning and boast, the gift of a Lightning Mephit cautions the recipient to reconsider their tactics against the sender, as the sender has acquired some hidden ally who can swing things in their favor. These mephits are often, but not always, a bluff.
<gallery>
Lightning Mephit.png|2e
</gallery>
* '''Magma/Lava''': One of these mephits is only sent in response to the sender having recently bested the recipient in some intellectual or diplomatic challenge. Basically, it's the sender's way of gloating.
<gallery>
Magma Mephit 1e.png|1e
Lava mephit FF 2e.jpg|2e
magma mephit Dragon 421.png|4e
Magma Mephit 5e.png|5e
</gallery>
* '''Mineral''': An exception to the general rule of mephit code, the gift of a Mineral Mephit indicates that the sender is willing to compromise on something and is asking for more direct communication to be opened.
* '''Mist''': Getting one of these indicates that someone close to you is an assassin, but the mephit itself almost never knows who. Given the usual audience for mephit codes, it's typically intended to inspire paranoia.
<gallery>
Mist Mephit 1e.png|1e
Mist mephit FF 2e.jpg|2e
mist mephit Dragon 421.png|4e
</gallery>
* '''Ooze''': These mephits are intended as sarcastic gifts, and basically serve as a way for the sender to say that the recipient is a weakling.
<gallery>
Ooze Mephit.png|3e
Ooze Mephit PF 2e.png|PF 2e
</gallery>
* '''Radiant''': Like the Mineral Mephits, these are an exception to the generally hostile nature of the mephit code. The gift of a Radiant Mephit is essentially like receiving a white flag; it indicates that the sender wants to declare a truce.
* '''Salt''': As the most unpleasant of all mephits, sending somebody a Salt Mephit serves as a declaration of open warfare between sender and recipient.
<gallery>
Salt Mephit.png|3e
</gallery>
* '''Smoke''': Similar in nature to Salt Mephits, but less extreme; the gift of a Smoke Mephit is a sign of insolence and contempt, and is usually used to declare a vendetta.
<gallery>
Smoke Mephit 1e.png|1e
Smoke Mephit 2e.gif|2e
Smoke mephit FF 2e.jpg
Smoke Mephit 5e.png|5e
</gallery>
* '''Steam''': Serving as opposite of the Earth Mephit, the gift of a Steam Mephit indicates that the sender is agreeing to some request of the recipient. There is, however, a connotation of gloating — it serves as a way to say "yes, but I told you so!"
<gallery>
Steam Mephit 1e.png|1e
Steam Mephit 2e.gif|2e
steam mephit Dragon 421.png|4e
Steam Mephit 5e.png|5e
</gallery>
* '''Void''': As mentioned above, the Plane of Void (or Vacuum, depending on where you look) has no native mephits, so "to get a Void Mephit" means to never get a reply.
* '''Water''': Serving as formal answer to an Air Mephit, the gift of a Water Mephit indicates a sarcastic congratulation on a failed attempt by the recipient to trap or plot against the sender.
<gallery>
Water Mephit 3e.png|3e
Water Mephit 4e.png|4e
Water Mephit PF 2e.png|PF 2e
</gallery>