Yokai

A Wanyudo yokai.

**Yokai** are a type of spiritual being and phenomena that only occur in the Far East. Due to collective belief and collection of Focus in the Far East, Shuukyo, a demi-plane called Jigoku was formed, acting as a realm of spirits and devils that the yokai inhabit and form within. Occassionally, due to the perplexing nature of the demi-plane, portals will open that allow yokai to travel through and cause chaos and terror in the nations of the Far East. This phenomena is caused by the "rubbing" of the fabric between Rosenwelt and Jigoku when an individual dies and their Focus returns to a nearby Focus current, and as such, yokai incursions tend to occur most often around sites of significant tragedy and loss of life, like battlefields and destroyed towns. Yokai are also capable of being "summoned" into the realm via Maho, a form of blood magic.

## Description

Yokai encapsulate multiple different forms and types of creature. However, they are notably spirits who hail from the realm of Jigoku. Many yokai are dangerous, however some are only mischevious or entirely harmless to most humanoids. Despite this, many samurai and other Far East warriors and priests are tasked with hunting down yokai when not at war.

### Types of Yokai

* Obake are the lowest caste of yokai. They are shapeshifters that, while in their natural form, appear similar to raccoon dogs with human faces. However, they are capable of shapeshifting into humanoid forms. Obake go on to cause chaos in their humanoid forms by committing crimes like theft and murder.
* Kasa-obake are similar to obake, however instead of shapeshifting into people they shapeshift into objects. Naturally, they appear as strange, triangular prisms with a single chicken-like leg that allows them to hop around, and a cyclopian eyeball. Kasa-obake are known for abducting humanoids into Jigoku.
* Tengu are a mischevious type of yokai that resemble humanoids with red skin and long, birdlike noses. While being tricksters they are not inherently dangerous or attempt to harm or kill people, but they are known to be fierce protectors of forests and mountains and are sometimes even venerated as protectors.
* Rokurokubi are a type of yokai that resemble female humans, however with immensely long necks that crane for upwards of 20 feet and are able to detach and fly. They are relatively harmless, however are known for posessing a signficant amount of magical knowledge, sometimes being called the witches of the yokai. In a vicinity of a few hundred meters, those who sleep near a rokurokubi will experience strange dreams.
* Kappa are a type of aquatic yokai, that appear like humanoid children mixed with turtles. They are known for attacking and drowning children and elderly people near rivers and lakes, and in groups will target healthy adults. However, their violence can be stemmed, by feeding them cucumbers.
* Kamaitachi are a small type of yokai appearing like a ferret with scythe blades instead of front paws. Less chaotic and more mischevious than most yokai, they whip up dust devils and cause small inconveniences to villages like damaging crops or stealing farming tools, and are more of a supernatural pest than a threat.
* Tsurara are a type of yokai that appear like beautiful human women. They appear in villages and towns, typically during winter time, to seduce the village locals with supernatural powers and take them to Jigoku.
* Onryo are a type of yokai that occur when a humanoid is killed in Jigoku, typically after being abducted by a yokai. They are a vengeful spirit that resembles how they appeared in life, however pale and deathlike, as if they are a walking corpse. They are near mindless, aggressive, and zombie-like, often operating in large hordes. Unlike some yokai, like onis, onryo are incorporeal.
* Oni are a type of yokai and are the most motivated of the spirits. Many oni have escaped Jigoku and formed tribes that roam the Far East causing chaos and destruction. Tall, bulky, with ashen to red skin and dangerous, violent temperments, oni are destructive and often raid settlements that are undefended. They understand that they more destruction they cause, the more the veil weakens, and the more oni they can pull out of Jigoku. Sometimes, when an oni and a humanoid have a child, a Half-Oni is produced.
* Wanyudo are yokai that resemble oxcart wheels with human faces in the middle, that are on fire. They often act as ambushers, breaking out of small portals and attacking travellers on the road, blocking their escape with rings of fire. They are particularly fond of consuming infants, and if an infant is offered to them they will often let the rest of their quarry free.
* Konobo refers to a singular yokai, often considered the "King of the Yokai." They are known for possessing an uncanny ability to control or otherwise convince other yokai to do their bidding. Their physical form has never been witnessed, however yokai understand and treat Konobo as if they were a deity, often worshipping and offering sacrifices to them as such.

## Combat

Yokai encapsulate numerous different combat styles depending on the actual type of yokai at hand. For example, oni are extremely destructive and violent, preferring direct combat and battles. However, obake are much more cowardly and stealthy and attack sneakily.

## Habitat

Yokai are native to the demi-plane of Jigoku, a spiritual realm held together by fervent belief in the religion of Shuukyo. This plane mimics the realm of Rosenwelt quite closely, however only "copies" the Far East. This copy, however, is dark, dingy, foggy, and nearly in shades of solely grey. Any buildings that are mirrored are often collapsed, dilapidated, and infested by minor yokai. When yokai incursions occur, the yokai will spill out from portals between Jigoku and Rosenwelt, and cause chaos and destruction.