The Empire of the Rising Sun (3.5e Campaign Setting)/Bestiary
Overview
As with several other sections, this one will probably be short. Why? Well, new, Japanese-themed monsters was another thing that Oriental Adventures did right. Most of the new beasties that they introduced were based on myths and legends from ancient Japan, and many had Japanese names even if they weren't authentic legends.
Because of this, it is highly recommended that you get Oriental Adventures if you want to throw crazy legendary creatures at them like Oni and Hebi-no-Onna. And some of the Shadowlands Oni, while created for a Rokugan campaign, are all unique, creepy monsters that could easily crawl out of Jigoku.
However, you do not need Oriental Adventures, and even if you have it, you don't have to constantly throw Eastern creatures at them. Because of the way the history of the Empire works, it's almost like the future of any other DnD society. So while you might encounter a raging, three-eyed oni, it's plausible and possible for the PCs to run into a more classic DnD creature (like a Displacer Beast). In fact, it's possible to run a campaign without Oriental Adventures and any of its monsters, but I don't recommend it.
New Names for Old Monsters
Japanese folklore already has a lot of monsters, including several hundred that were illustrated. While many of these monsters are unique to Japan, many of them have equivalents in the Monster Manuals. Below is a list of traditional Japanese monsters that were created already, with their Monster Manual names in parenthesis, as well as some variant rules to make them more authentic.
- Tsukumogami: Tsukumogami can be one of two things: Animated objects or intelligent items. In folkloric terms, they are items, objects, and artifacts that have reached their 100th birthday and thus becomes alive and aware. Magic items and regular items become intelligent, and things that cannot become intelligent items instead become animated objects. Animated Objects are considered to have an intelligence score of whatever is appropriate for the item (a sophisticated musical instrument will be more intelligent then an animated stirrup). Some tsukumogami also take class levels.
- Kumo (Aranea): Kumo are shape-shifting animals (henge), similar to kitsune, that go from spider to human form, and a form in between. They are often portrayed in a bad light, even though they hail from Chikushudo, not Jigoku.
- Jikininki (Ghoul): Jikininki are spirits of greedy, selfish, or impetuous individuals with an immense craving for human flesh. Well, some of them are. Jikininki have a tendency to Ghoul Fever around and turn some of those who try and stop them into jikininki (usually these people are Majo-Kari).
- Ningyo (Merfolk): Ningyo are a race of red-hair merfolk. The only difference from the Merfolk in the Monster Manuel is that ningyo are often spellcasters.
- Garegosu no Bakemono (Fiendish Giant Octopus): This demonic octopus is often summoned by servants of Jigoku. In addition to its normal abilities, it gains the Feed ability, similar to that of a barghest: when it devours a humanoid corpse, it gains 1 HD per HD of the victim. This destroys the body and prevents any sort of ressurection that requires part of the corpse.
New Monsters
Links to any new, Eastern themed monsters that I create.
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