Youkai

Youkai (or Yōkai) (妖怪--ghost, phantom, strange apparition) are supernatural monsters native to Yomi (not to be confused with other supernatural creature native to Kuniumi). The word Youkai is made up of the kanji for "bewitching; attractive; calamity" and "apparition; mystery; suspicious". They can also be called ayakashi (妖), mononoke (物の怪), or mamono (魔物). Youkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them (very rare). Often they possess animal features (such as the Kappa, which is similar to a turtle, or the Tengu which has wings), other times they can appear mostly human, some look like inanimate objects, and others still have no discernible shape. Youkai usually have a spiritual supernatural power, with shape-shifting being one of the most common. Youkai that have the ability to shapeshift are called obake.

Since the Tenpenchii, many Youkai have come to inhabit the world of Kuniumi on a more permanent basis, though the vast majority remain in Yomi, or near Abyssal Fissures.

For a general idea of known Youkai and their abilities, see the below. For more ideas of various possible Youkai, go here (but check with staff first before introducing them).

Animals
All Youkai animals possess some kind of enchanting, bewitching, or shape-shifting magic, even if not stated below.

Bake-Danuki / Tanuki (Racoon Dogs)
Largely considered the most skilled of shape-shifters, the Bake-Danuki are mischievous Youkai that shape-shift as the situation demands to make fools of their quarry. In many instances, this is largely harmless, but Bake-Danuki can do a lot of damage to one's reputation. There are many stories of Bake-Danuki causing Samurai to embarrass their daimyo so thoroughly, said samurai is either ordered to commit seppuku at worst, or exiled at best. Those that don't take themselves too seriously, however, or "get" the Bake-Danuki sense of humor, might find a friend in the creature. Might.

Kitsune (Foxes)
One of the more complicated Youkai, there are a variety of Kitsune. The most common classifications are the zenko (善狐, literally good foxes), which are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with the Lantern Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes. On the other hand, the yako (野狐, literally field foxes, also called nogitsune) tend to be mischievous or even malicious. Local traditions add further types. For example, a ninko is an invisible fox spirit that human beings can only perceive when it possesses them.

For the most part, all Kitsune share similar attributes. Namely, the older and more wise a Kitsune becomes, the more tails it has, and the more powerful it is. Even normal foxes are said to become Kitsune if they live long enough. All Kitsune are known for their intelligence, magical powers, and ability to shape-shift (usually into attractive women). The more mischievous a Kitsune, the more it is likely to tempt a person into a compromising (often dangerous) position, possess them, or even drain their life force.

Hebi (Snakes)
These Youkai are said to take the shape of giant snakes, sometimes with a human head, a swollen belly, or a chimeric assembly of other animal parts. Other times they appear as misty ghost-like humanoids, or simply normal humans where they may keep their snake pupils and forked tongues, or share some other physical element in common with their original reptilian form, like the need to use external warmth, or hibernating in winter/cold temperatures.

Generally speaking, all Hebi are elusive and rare, and don't typically bother humanity outside of the occasional need to feed or simply scaring people out of their wits. When stirred to anger, however, Hebi can be exceedingly dangerous, fascinating with their gaze, or poisoning with their bite.

Mujina (Badgers)
An uncommon Youkai occasionally confused with the Bake-Danuki, Mujina are badgers that also shape-shift for mischievous purposes, usually to deceive humans with the intent to scare, panic, or confuse. A favorite tactic of the Mujina is to transform into young boys in kimono who sing songs for no other purpose than to bewilder when they are caught and run away. Mujina are very convincing with their human disguises and often live amongst humans for a time (until they are caught).

Bakeneko / Nekomata (Cats)
The distinction between these two variety of Youkai often blurs, with the former being more mischievous than malicious and the latter being more malicious than anything else, particularly towards its masters. Both are considered a menace. The abilities attributed to both are various, but include shapeshifting into humans, learning human languages, cursing humans, manipulating dead people like puppets, possessing humans, summoning ghostly fireballs (that burn just as well), and the ability to eat anything (even their masters or deadly poisons). The list goes on.

Bakeneko are known for their propensity to satire humans, dancing around as them with towels on their heads, or generally being difficult (even deadly). Nekomata (or the split-tail cat) actively attempt to blackmail their masters, masquerade as poltergeists, and generally disdain humanity and do whatever necessary to enslave (or at worst, destroy) their masters (or whoever else they feel like). It said a cat is known to be close to becoming one of these Youkai when it has a long tail, or begins to walk about on its hind legs (or is especially old).

Tsuchigumo, Jorōgumo, and Umigumo (Spiders)
Spider Youkai are particularly straightforward.


 * Tsuchigumo have odd appearances, such as having the face of an Oni, a body of a tiger, arms and legs of a spider, while wearing a giant outfit in a poor attempt to cover itself. Strictly speaking, Tsuchigumo live in mountains, catch travelers with webbing, and eat them. Sometimes they shape-shift to lure travelers to their doom. Often times they are not so subtle.
 * Jorōgumo are more subtle, taking form of attractive women to lure humans into a shack or other enclosed area, enchant them with music, and then cocoon them in web to be eaten at the spider's leisure.
 * Umigumo are effectively Tsuchigumo that live near the ocean.

Inugami (Dogs)
This kind of Youkai is usually summoned and bound as a familiar, though they are known to exist in the wild as well. They are creatures of powerful emotion (usually vengeance or rage) and quite adept at possessing the weak-willed or emotionally unstable. When summoned, they are often used to kidnap and murder, and if not those, the intent is rarely benevolent, as only dark magics can summon an Inugami. They are loyal, however, and happily perform whatever tasks are assigned to them so long as they are treated well.

Kappa
River imps. This Youkai is typically depicted as roughly humanoid in form and about the size of a child. Its scaly reptilian skin ranges in color from green to yellow or blue. Kappa are known to inhabit ponds and rivers, and have various features to aid them in this environment, such as webbed hands and feet. They are usually seen as mischievous troublemakers or tricksters. Their pranks range from the relatively innocent, such as loudly passing gas or looking up women's kimonos, to the malevolent, such as utilizing their impressive wrestling skills to drown people and animals (to drink their blood, eat their liver, or even consume their soul), kidnap children, and molest whomever they find attractive.

While extremely dangerous and deadly at their worst, Kappa are one of the few Youkai that are rarely antagonistic outright, and since they can understand the speech of humans, respond very well to being bribed for favors (such as irrigating land, protection, or collecting fish).

Oni
See Oni.

Tengu
These are birds of prey that vary in their temperament from fierce harbingers of war, to protective (but violent) creatures of particular mountains or forests. They are known as master martial artists (and even patrons and teachers to some), and are practitioners of the Shugendō arts. Many consider them Susanoo's representation in Yomi, as they are prone to intense vanity, pride, and conceit, and often have various wind and storm magics at their disposal (as well as magics that cause madness). Other abilities include shape-shifting, ventriloquism, teleportation, and dreamwalking.

Perhaps ironically, the Tengu are also Youkai particularly prone to applying mischief to those they feel are arrogant or vainglorious, especially when their target willfully misuses knowledge or authority to gain power or position.

Tsukumogami
This is a very bizarre class of Youkai comprised of ordinary household items (notable examples include lanterns and umbrellas) that come to life when infused with a substantial amount of Fuhai. Others say that the Kami inhabiting the items are given souls after 100 years of faithful service. Whatever the case, the utensils are typically prone to pranks, and if particularly poorly-treated, band together to take (sometimes deadly) revenge upon their owners.

Human Transformations
Humans who are exposed to Fuhai for too long without being purified (and without dying) are mutated into this variety of Youkai. The possibilities are endless, but anecdotally, there are stories of people who can elongate their necks, voracious mouths on the back of the head, corpse-like appearances, and so on. These creatures are not necessarily malicious (but often are, due to the nature of Fuhai), but are often driven to malicious acts anyways by humans who are terrified of what they represent and attempt to kill or chase them off.

Yūrei (Ghosts)

 * Funayūrei: The ghosts of those who died at sea. These ghosts are sometimes depicted as scaly fish-like humanoids and some may even have a form similar to that of a mermaid or merman.
 * Gaki: Hungry ghosts. Often ghoulish humanoids with distended bellies and thin necks. Typically souls in a hell cycle of reincarnation, cursed by the Abyssal Court with an insatiable hunger for something repugnant or humiliating (such as rotting flesh or feces) to the even more bizarre.
 * Goryō: Vengeful ghosts of the aristocratic class, especially those who were martyred.
 * Jikininki: A human-form ghost (that is, an apparently living human) cursed to feast upon corpses by the Abyssal Court, usually after a selfish life.
 * Onryō: Vengeful ghosts who come back from Yomi to avenge a wrong done to them during their lifetime.
 * Samurai Ghosts: The ghosts of fallen warriors who are unable to pass on for a variety of reasons. They are usually violent, but exceptions have been noted.
 * Seductress Ghosts: The ghost of a woman or man who initiates a post-death love affair with a living human. These usually do not end well.
 * Ubume: A mother ghost who died in childbirth, or died leaving young children behind. This Yūrei returns to care for her children, often bringing them sweets. The ghosts roam the full spectra from quiet love to vengeful protector.
 * Zashiki-warashi: The ghosts of children, often mischievous rather than dangerous.