Yokai

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In this Thread Staff will list everything about each Yokai aka Demons.

What is a Yokai?
Yōkai (妖怪) are creatures and phenomena of Japanese folklore including spirits, monsters, and just about all things supernatural. The word is derived from the kanji 妖 (yō in this context) meaning attractive, bewitching, or calamity, and 怪 (kai in this context) meaning mystery or wonder. There is much debate as to what constitutes Yōkai in Japanese tradition, as it is a broad and vague term with no real English translation, but most creatures and phenomena in the supernatural realm constitute yōkai in Japanese folklore. This includes ghosts, deities, demons, transformed animal spirits, spirit possession (think Tale of Genji), and just general strange phenomena. Some yōkai even supernaturally appear to forewarn of doom or impending events. The yōkai Amabie (アマビエ) is one example of such a creature.


In Elyasia, Yokai are just another name for Demons.

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Yokai of the animal variety

Fox demons - These intriguing entities, resembling foxes, possess distinctive features such as elegant fox-like ears and multiple tails that sway gracefully. Furthermore, they possess the remarkable ability to transform into a fox animal form at will, allowing them to navigate their surroundings with agility and stealth. This shapeshifting capability enhances their mystical allure, making them both enigmatic and fascinating beings in their realm.
Can be found: the southern regions of Elyasia.
Powers: Primarily Foxfire and plants, although it varies based on the fox.
Other:In Elyasia, foxes can have between 1 and 9 tails, although having 9 tails is quite rare and signifies great age and power. Each tail represents a century of life and mastery of magic. Fox demons are known for their cunning intelligence and often serve as advisors or tricksters. They can create illusions to confuse enemies and are particularly adept at enchantment magic. Some clans of fox demons are guardians of ancient shrines and forests, while others prefer to live among humans, sometimes taking human mates

Dog Demons/Daiyokai - These powerful yokai possess canine characteristics including pointed ears atop their heads, elongated fangs, and facial markings that signify their lineage. They typically appear mostly human with elegant features, long flowing hair, and regal bearing that commands respect. In their true form, they can transform into massive spectral dogs with glowing eyes and imposing presence.
Can be found: Anywhere
Powers: Exceptional speed, strength, and combat prowess. Higher-ranking daiyokai possess energy whips, powerful claws that secrete poison, and the ability to manifest energy weapons.
Other: Dog demon society is strictly hierarchical with powerful bloodlines dominating territories. They value honor, strength, and conquest above all else. The most powerful daiyokai can live for thousands of years and are often skilled strategists who command legions of lesser yokai. Their keen sense of smell allows them to track enemies across vast distances. Some clans have hereditary weapons that can only be wielded by those of their bloodline, which grow in power as the wielder matures. (Consider Sesshomaru, Mathias, and Toga.)

Wolf demon - More rugged and wild than their dog demon cousins, wolf yokai feature sharp fangs, pointed ears, and often have fur accents around their shoulders or wrists. Their eyes reflect light in darkness, giving them an eerie glow. They maintain human form most of the time but can transform into large wolves when necessary.
Can be found: Northern Territories of Elyasia.
Powers: Enhanced speed, heightened senses, pack telepathy, and extraordinary endurance. Some can manipulate earth and stone elements.
Other: Wolves and foxes aren't particularly fond of one another.

Cat demons - Feline yokai with slit pupils, retractable claws, and cat-like ears that twitch with emotion. They move with fluid grace and possess extraordinary balance and agility. Some have distinctive fur patterns that manifest as markings on their skin or hair coloration.
Can be found: Anywhere
Powers: Night vision, enhanced reflexes, and the ability to manipulate emotions through purring or visual mesmerism. Higher-ranking cat demons can bend light to create illusions or become temporarily invisible.
Other: This category of yokai includes various sub-races, such as Panther Demons and Tiger Demons, among others. They also have a difficult relationship with Daiyokai.

Raven/Crows demons - These avian yokai combine human and crow features, with prominent beaks or exceptionally long noses, and magnificent black feathered wings sprouting from their backs. Their skin ranges from normal human tones to deep red, and they often have wild, untamed hair. Tengu warriors typically stand taller than humans and carry decorative fans or staffs that channel their wind powers.
Can be found: Throughout Elyasia, particularly in the northern regions.
Powers: Wind manipulation, flight, superior swordsmanship, and the ability to create powerful gusts that can uproot trees.
Other: Raven society is highly hierarchical, with elder Great Raven governing their mountain territories. They are known to be proud and territorial but respect those who show proper reverence for nature. Some ravens serve as mountain guardians, while others become wandering sword-masters who occasionally take promising humans as disciples. They are particularly hostile toward those who desecrate sacred places.

Herons - These elegant bird yokai have striking appearances with tall, slender builds and graceful movements. In human form, they maintain pure white hair, golden or amber eyes, and can manifest feathered wings from their backs. Their fingers are slightly elongated with a subtle webbing between them.
Can be found: the southern regions of Elyasia.
Powers: Weather prediction, water purification, and limited flight abilities. The most powerful can summon cleansing rain or call upon mist to obscure large areas.
Other: They are quite uncommon. Heron demons are viewed as symbols of purity and are often sought out for their healing knowledge and wisdom. They build their communities on stilted structures over water and serve as guardians of the boundary between water and land. They are known to be patient observers who speak seldom but meaningfully. Their society prizes grace, wisdom, and the preservation of ancient knowledge. Heron demons perform elaborate mating dances during specific lunar phases and can live for several hundred years. They maintain an oral tradition of prophecies and weather patterns that spans millennia.

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Elemental yokai:

Fire Demons - These intense yokai embody the destructive and passionate nature of flames, recognizable by their fiery aura and burning eyes that shift in color from amber to deep crimson. Their skin often bears flame-like markings that glow when they channel their powers, and their hair may appear to smolder or flicker like living fire. Many fire demons have naturally higher body temperatures and leave scorched footprints when emotionally agitated.
Can be found: Volcanic regions and geothermal areas of Elyasia, particularly around mountain ranges with active fire vents.
Powers: Pyrokinesis, heat manipulation, immunity to fire damage, and the ability to infuse weapons with flame properties. Advanced fire demons can transform their bodies partially or wholly into living flame.
Other: Fire demons possess volatile temperaments and value strength through adversity. Their culture emphasizes constant self-improvement through rigorous training and meditation to master their destructive nature. Many bear flame-resistant tattoos that help channel and control their powers. Their settlements feature architecture resistant to extreme heat, often incorporating obsidian and other volcanic materials.

Ice Maidens/Ice Demons - These serene yokai appear with pale blue or white skin and hair that often contains crystalline ice formations. Their eyes range from icy blue to silver, and their breath condenses even in warm environments. Ice maidens specifically are known for their ethereal beauty and the frozen tears that crystallize into valuable gems when they cry.
Can be found: Northern tundras and mountain peaks of Elyasia where snow never fully melts.
Powers: Cryokinesis, cold resistance, creation of ice structures and weapons, and the ability to freeze objects or opponents with a touch. Some can induce hibernation states or preserve items indefinitely in ice. There tears and blood can be turned into crystals.
Other: Ice demon society is typically segregated, with ice maidens living in isolated female-only communities high in the mountains. They reproduce asexually once every century, though some do leave their enclaves to mate with other yokai. Their civilization values emotional control and detachment, believing passion leads to melting their core power. Their architecture features intricate ice palaces that never thaw, preserved by ancestral magic passed through generations.

Water Demons/Mermaids - These fluid beings have glistening skin with subtle scales that catch light like rippling water. In their humanoid form, they display webbed fingers, gill-like markings on their necks, and hair that moves as if underwater regardless of surroundings. True mermaids possess the ability to transform their legs into powerful fish tails when submerged.
Can be found: lakes and major river systems throughout Elyasia.
Powers: Hydrokinesis, underwater breathing, communication with aquatic life, and extraordinary swimming speed. Higher-level water demons can control water pressure and temperature or even extract moisture from the air in desperate situations.
Other: Water demon culture is as fluid as their element, with different tribes adapting to their specific bodies of water. Ocean-dwelling mermaids form the largest communities with complex social hierarchies based on depth tolerance and swimming speed. Freshwater yokai tend to be more solitary or form small family pods. They are natural diplomats who often mediate between land-dwelling yokai factions. Their underwater palaces feature living coral and bioluminescent organisms they cultivate for light and beauty.​

Darkness Demons - Uncommon and enigmatic, these entities hailing from the mysterious domain of Shadows are rarely encountered. Their elusive nature has resulted in a scarcity of information about them, as they seldom choose to reveal themselves to the world. This rarity adds to the intrigue surrounding their existence, leaving many questions unanswered and fostering an air of mystery that captivates those who seek to understand the depths of their realm.
Can be found: Deep caverns, ancient ruins, and primordial forests where sunlight rarely penetrates. (They are original from Shadow Realm)
Powers: Shadow manipulation, night vision, the ability to travel through connected shadows, and inducing primal fear in their enemies. Advanced darkness demons can temporarily blind opponents or create fields of absolute darkness.
Other: Contrary to common assumption, darkness demons aren't inherently evil, though they do tend toward solitude and secrecy. Their culture revolves around the collection and protection of forgotten knowledge, with many serving as guardians of ancient tombs and sealed evils too dangerous for the light of day. They venerate the night sky and celestial bodies, with special reverence for new moons. Their rare settlements exist in twilight environments where shadows and light create complex patterns they consider sacred texts.

Time Demons - Among the rarest yokai, time demons have an otherworldly appearance with features that seem to shift subtly as if never fully settled in the present moment. Their eyes contain clock-like pupils that rotate slowly, and their skin bears markings resembling ancient timekeeping symbols. They often appear slightly transparent, as if not fully anchored to the current timeline.
Can be found: Unknown
Powers: Limited temporal manipulation, perfect memory of past events, glimpses of possible futures, and the ability to age or restore objects through touch. The most powerful can create bubbles where time flows differently or temporarily freeze local time.
Other: Time demons exist partially outside normal temporal flow, making them seem detached or distracted in conversation as they simultaneously perceive multiple timeframes. They rarely form communities but do maintain a loosely connected network to prevent temporal paradoxes. Many serve as record keepers or observers of history, taking a neutral stance in most conflicts to maintain the proper flow of time. They are bound by strict self-imposed rules about temporal interference, believing that major alterations to the timeline would threaten their own existence.