Bogeyman Yokai

**Bogeyman Yokai** are a variation of the Cryptid Yokai who are nightmaric creatures of bedtime stories.

## Physical Appearance

Bogeyman Yokai don't have a specific appearance. They're an amorphous being that has no specific appearance. In many cases, it has no set appearance, but is simply a non-specific embodiment of terror. Because of this, Bogeyman Yokai can have any form including a monstrous form.

## Description

Bogeyman Yokai are the embodiment of terror. Nobody knows their true appearance. So it varies from household to household. The Bogeyman often targets children, either to simply scare them or for some other nefarious purpose, they are primarily designed to enforce social norms and behavior, as well as keep children from doing things that are dangerous - for example the medieval Bugbear was a scary bear that lurked near the edge of woods to deter children from entering woods (which were home to wild animals and criminals), river-hags were invented to keep children from playing near water and drowning, likewise trolls and goblins became a common tactic to stop children playing in marshes or abandoned ruins.. tales of the kelpie and other water-horses prevented children disturbing both wild horses and horses that belonged to nobles (who would likely take vengeance on those who dared disturb their prized equines).

## Abilities

Here are the abilities that Bogeyman Yokai can have in their arsenal:

* Curse Inducement
* Darkness Manipulation
	+ Animated Shadow
	+ Shadow Generation
		- Light Absorption
* Enhanced Condition
* Fear Embodiment
	+ Fear Aura
	+ Fear and Night Empowerment
	+ Fear Form/Nemesis Form
	+ Fear Manipulation
		- Fear Augmentation
		- Fear Detection
		- Fear Inducement
		- Fear Perception
	+ Nightmare Manipulation
	+ Phobia Intuition
* Shapeshifting
	+ Darkness Mimicry
	+ Monster Physiology
		- Natural Weaponry
			* Claw Retraction
	+ Vapor Mimicry
* Spirit Physiology (type of spiritual being)
	+ Haunting
	+ Invisibility
	+ Non-Physical Interaction
	+ Psionics
		- Dream Walking
		- Extrasensory Perception
		- Hallucination Solidification
		- Illusion Manipulation
		- Telekinesis
		- Teleportation

* Tormentor
* Vapor Manipulation
	+ Fog Generation

## Pop Culture

The Bogeyman have appeared in scary stories. While still practice the tradition of scary stories and monsters to keep children away from dangerous areas the practice of using bogeymen to force children into "good behavior" is no longer seen as socially acceptable and has fallen out of favor in many places - nevertheless the bogeyman itself is a powerful icon that has spread across almost every culture on Earth and thus survives as a deep-rooted part of human imagination.

## Variations

### Cryptid Yokai

Bogeyman are a type of cryptid. People know the stories of the bogeyman but the appearance of one varies between cultures. Taking on many forms that look very different from one another.

## Life in the Hidden World

Bogeyman Yokai are the embodiment of fear. They have very unique forms from one another. They don't have a specific form like other Yokai who has a specific appearance. Being part of the Dream World, these yokai would appear under the bed or in the closet of children's bedrooms. While some would only scare children for fun, others has malicious intent with children. Some Bogeyman Yokai can become a subspecies of oni. Their bodies are said to be just as soft as that of a teddy bear. They have a habit of hugging those who are going through extreme sadness. These type of yokai are perfect consolers as they will heal the person's sadness away. Instead of scaring them like what Bogeyman Yokai usually does.

## Symbolism

Bogeyman can be used metaphorically to denote a person or thing of which someone has an irrational fear. Parents often say that if their child is naughty, the bogeyman will get them, in an effort to make them behave.