Yokai

Lore & Background

Throughout history, powerful Onmyoji and warriors have fought to contain them, often sealing them away in spirit stones or banishing them to the Spirit Realm. However, the constant warfare of the Sengoku period provides a fertile breeding ground for their creation. The Battle of Sekigahara, manipulated by the villain Kelley, became a focal point for Yokai corruption, as his machinations unleashed widespread chaos and turned entire provinces into nightmarish landscapes where the laws of physics bend to the will of these demons.

Reader's Guide

The Yokai are not a unified faction with councils or leaders in the traditional sense, but rather a chaotic force of nature and emotion. They exist as individuals or hordes, driven by an instinctual need to consume Ki to sustain their twisted forms. Some, like powerful Oni lords such as Shuten-doji or Tamamo-no-Mae, possess high intelligence and can manipulate human politics to further their own ends, often serving as the hidden masters behind the Sengoku conflicts.

Their role in the conflict is that of the ultimate obstacle. They corrupt the land, making it impossible for humans to live or farm, effectively forcing warlords to fight over shrinking territories. Warriors known as Ashigaru and Onmyoji are tasked with hunting them down, often using specialized weapons imbued with spirit energy. The struggle against Yokai defines the era, as every victory is temporary; as long as human conflict continues, new Yokai will be born from the resulting pain.

Did You Know?

• Many powerful Yokai were originally humans who made pacts with demons or succumbed to overwhelming negative emotions.
• Yokai can often manipulate the environment, creating illusions or altering terrain to confuse their prey.
• Some Yokai possess the ability to shapeshift into human forms to infiltrate villages and courts undetected.
• Spirit Stones are naturally occurring crystallized Amrita, not crafted from Yokai remains, and are used by warriors to harness its power.