By Jade Hammons (sidhe@ionet.net) (23 October 1995)
Oni are the red faced, tusked demon goblins of Japanese legends, portrayed as the villianous trickster in many kabuki. (Note: The Mask worn in the music Video 'Devil Inside' by INXS is a Traditional Kabuki Oni Mask.) The Oni are spoken of as everything from the wise hermit in the mountian, to terrifying mountain goblins, to Ogre Magi, to dark and sorcerous demons. Oni would seem odd in their actions and beliefs to the average western Kithain.
Oni do not see themselves as Fae, they would be confused at first by the strange customs of the westerners Seelie and Unseelie courts. Oni are usually cast into the traditional role of the boogeyman, and accept this role wholeheartedly. The Oni, like all of their culture, believe in true balance and roles assigned by the Gods. If it is an Oni's role to laugh maniacally and eat small children, so be it, if he is to be the emissary of the buddha on the mountaintop, that too, is fine. The Oni would find the conflict between coutrs a children's game, and not truly worth acknowledging. If the foolish westerners seek to find reasons for what they are, so be it, it is much more honorable to simply be.
The Oni are organized into a loose, caste-like, hierarchy , with a 'Demon Emperor' at it's head. Oni do have two legacies however, One is their goblin legacy, which corresponds best to with the Seelie legacy of westerners. The other is their Demon legacy. When in the guise of a demon, it is the Oni's duty to defy the good Kami's and Buddha, and to distract men from their paths of enlightenment. Goblins are much easier on the humans about them, often appearing in the guise of Buddha or a prophet to assist the mortal on their own road.
The major religions have two views of Oni, and many of the Oni, that choose to follow one or the other, share these views about themselves. To the Shinto, the Oni are Angry Kami, needing to be sated and calmed, given what they need to quell the anger within their sould. Buddhist Oni believe themselves to be powerful spirits, but not as powerful as Kami, who only need enlightenment, and are not angry at all. It is said that Oni that find enlightenment, whether upon a path, or by quelling their spiritual anger, ascend to a place beside Buddha and become immortal, becoming the eastern version of the Siochain.
Appearance: Oni are by and large, tall and very ugly. They have an uncanny resemblance to a red-skinned, fanged, caricaturized Occidental, accounting for the Japanese fear of the early westerners. Oni have what is refered to as 'butter breath,' the breath of one who eats too much red meat. It is noticable to even westerners, and particularly foul to vegetarians or cultures that eat non-fatty meats, like fish. Most Oni have unusually large tusk-like fangs.
Seemings: Childling Oni are often referred to as Saru, or Monkey Goblins. Saru are fond of sweets and sake, and often pretend to be Kami (Spirit Gods). The Saru are fond of causing luck or unluck to befall those they play with, and demand outrageous things from others.
Wilders Oni begin to lose much of their hair, and their skin begins to turn brick red. At this point their horns begin to grow larger, and their fangtusks become noticable.
Grumps prefer the traditional tiger skins of their ancestors, and expand their knowledge of glamour, becoming Magi. At this age, their Oni fraility is most noticeable and hardest to hide, often manifesting as extra eyes, lack of facial features, tails, horns, or other bizarre apparitions.
Lifestyles: Oni are often travellers, and prefer to live inside of mountains. Their tricks grow darker and more complex as they age, and legends of the Ogre Magi atop the mountains are often told to small children.
Affinity: Nature
Fluid Visage: The Oni are very good with Illusions and are able to spend glamour to change their appearance for one scene. They must still remain humanoid, but there are few other restrictions. This is only an illusion however and auspex may pierce it, as per Mask of a thousand faces, but Sluagh have no advantage over Oni. Oni may not botch subterfuge rolls. Non-enchanted mortals may 'disbelieve' this illusion if they have reason to.
Smooth Stride: The Oni are legendary for their stealth. Oni gain an automatic success on stealth or stealth related rolls (like pickpocketing). In addition, they may not botch these rolls.
Cursed Appearance: In their mortal seeming, Oni always have something about their appearance that sets them away from normal. It has a tendency to change as they age, and may even change with their legacies, or for no apparent reasons. It is easiest to hide when they are Childlings, it may be a monkey's prehensile tail, or strange looking toenails. By the time they reach Grump age, they may have a third eye, or long black talons, or no facial features at all. This acts as a 1 die social penalty when dealing with most humans, that increases to 2 dice when they reach grump age. This has no effect on social test to scare or frighten someone.
Quote: "Yes little man, I will teach you fire magic... hold this torch."
Eshu: Strange travellers with their stories. We enjoy their infrequent visits and their wild stories of the west..
Pooka: Hengoyokai... the shapeshifters. Little animals full of lies, lying to themselves to become human. Cunning and shrewd they are. Especially the Kitsune. But the Nezumi and Kumo are wily in their own ways. (Nezumi - Ratkin, Kumo - Anasasi)
Other Western Kithain: The Eshu speak of them, but they travel not to our land. They are welcome, but not invited. Place would be made in my home were one to need it, but I would not invite them in unless they asked.
Note: As a general aside, concerning the mention of shifters in the Pooka entry. I found it interesting the mentions of 'Shadow Lords' in the same stories. Huge Black Mastiff Shapechangers known as Inu. What is odd you ask? Well, mastiff aren't pets, just watchdogs. They aren't allowed inside because they would dirty the mats. They rarely take the form of men, especially samurai because they lack the self-confidence. They more often choose the forms of pretty girls who are lost, needing protection, and succor, especially when it is raining. :) Also Kumo are most likely Hatar Spiders, flesheatting and treacherous, but Nezumi are your standard Ratkin. ;)