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Version: Book 7

Imani C.

Overview​

Imani C. is an Obsidian Butterfly crawler and a decisive tactical leader who coordinated the defense of Station 36 during the Floor 4 endgame. She remains a key ally of Carl's group and was active through the end of Floor 5.

First Appearance​

Book 3, Chapter 1

Known Aliases​

  • Crawler #12,329,440
  • Obsidian Butterfly (race name)

Description​

  • Race: Obsidian Butterfly
  • Class: Fire Spiritualist
  • Level 24 at first contact on Floor 4
  • Has ethereal butterfly wings that brush nearby allies, granting a +Constitution buff lasting ten minutes (resets on each brush)
  • Practical, decisive, and direct in command situations

Role in the Story So Far​

Imani was first contacted on Floor 4 as a leader among the crawlers trapped on the Iron Tangle. She led the defense of Station 36 during the Krakaren crisis, coordinating over a hundred crawlers against Krakaren and ghoul waves. She worked alongside Elle McGibbons and Li Jun during the endgame defense.

On Floor 5, Imani and Elle were placed in a bubble with a tropical zone, sheltering on floating islands made of lashed-together boats in a cargo ship hold while dealing with hailstorms and high-level fish monsters. When the Maggie My / Chris Andrews 2 parasite situation arose, Imani insisted Carl do everything possible to save Chris rather than simply expelling the parasite to the sixth floor. She remained active and coordinating with Carl through the final quadrant assault at the end of Floor 5.

On Floor 6, Imani became guildmaster of the crawler guild formed by Carl's broader group. She continued coordinating dungeon intelligence, routing discoveries through the guild using the same system pioneered on the Iron Tangle.

On Floor 8, Imani and Elle started at the Great Wolf Lodge in the western US. During Faction Wars, Imani traded her alien totem card for a mothman and a reverse tooth fairy card, reshaping her squad. She was active in the Part III Havana endgame and was at one point trapped alongside a crawler named Tran. She also provided Katia with the drug cure (Travis Priest antidote) during the withdrawal period.

On Floor 9 (Book 7), Imani is active in the dungeon. She is seen hovering over a wounded veteran in chapter 24. She removes Carl's toe ring while he is unconscious — to prevent Shi Maria (the spider tattoo on his chest) from using it to act through him. A "Several Days Earlier" dream chapter reveals her interior life: she was a nurse who left Detroit (her family blamed her for leaving), moved to a small town seeking peace, and carries overwhelming guilt. She is in love with a crawler named Chris (Crawford, or Chris Andrews 2) and loves his "simplicity and quiet kindness." She is always the youngest person in charge but never wanted that role.

Known Relationships​

Appearances​

  • Book 3, Chapters 1–34
  • Book 4, Chapters 1, 25, 32
  • Book 5, Chapters 8, 9, 11, 16, 20, 21, 35, 36, 52, 55
  • Book 6, multiple chapters