Post by Gaea on Jan 29, 2017 0:32:57 GMT -8
Beings born as much of magic as mere flesh, youkai are a varied and widespread group spread throughout much of the Outer Reaches. Rather than a single unified race, as the Celestials and Abyssals, 'youkai' is a catch-all term for all the various tribes, species, and groups of non-human, non-dragon races on Elibe. On academic level, they bear many similarities to Celestials and Abyssals - creatures with a strong and innate attunement to the magic of their natural plane of existence - but youkai are as natural to Elibe as humanity, perhaps more so, and thus are often afforded special rights compared to outsiders. Sometimes more crudely referred to as "demihumans." Many are capable of interbeeding with humans, but are usually self-sustaining species in their own right rather than dependent on ties with humanity.
The below list is NOT an exhaustive compilation of every species or tribe of youkai to have ever existed and should not be taken as such - feel free to make your own, original or drawn from any real-world mythology, whether japanese, scandinavian, or native american. At the same time, feel free to play with the details a bit - you can totally be a permanently angry satyr, a nymph who looks like a crusty old crone, or a waifu elemental.
Kitsune
Demihumans who generally appear entirely human save for fox ears and tails. Tending to live in small families or clans rather than gathering together, most kitsune are highly individualistic. As a species they are remarkably long lived, easily capable of living for 500-1000 years or sometimes even longer. Tails are often used as a measure of lifespan and power - a kitsune normally starts with a single tail and grows one more for each century of life. Nine-tailed foxes, typically known as kyuubi, are to be feared for their incredible power. Certain subsets of the overall "fox people" race may vary in details; kumiho/gumiho may subsist on the hearts or livers of those they seduce, while the húli jīng are often said to be auspicious omens, though most humans, especially inside the Divide, will only see an inhuman creature and not understand the specifics. Still, kitsune are one of the more commonly seen and relatively accepted youkai races inside the Divide by relative standards due to their seemingly human appearance and tendency towards attractiveness.
Jorōgumo
Also known as Arachne. An exclusively female race of (generally) beautiful women who are capable of extruding six or eight monstrous arachnid legs from their backs, and sometimes transforming into gigantic spiders. While parasitic in that they require males of other races to sustain their species, Jorōgumo are not especially dangerous, at least by the standards of youkai - though the unnerving arachnid legs waving behind them and a string of legends depicting them as mate-eating monsters has left them with a fairly poor reputation. However, these youkai do tend to be emotional creatures and - whether as a racial tendency or in reaction to views on their race - usually react EXTREMELY badly to betrayal of any kind.
Oni
A well known and often feared race; phenomenal strength mixed with tough hides and often inhuman characteristics like brightly colored skin, fangs, or tusks. While most legends depict them as violent, stupid, and heavy drinkers, much like the Cyclops they somewhat resemble, in practice there are of course a wide spectrum of oni - good natured drunkards, brutal and obsessive monster-slaying warriors, stalwart guardians of knowledge, and those who have gone feral or simply rejected humanity entirely, sometimes joining up with Cyclops for some purpose. Female oni differ little from their male counterparts save in appearance, generally possessing the same prodigious strength.
Jiangshi
A particular type of undead - well preserved corpses can occasionally regain some form of life through possession by spirits of magic or a strongly lingering will. Believed to be limited to those who refined their spirits so thoroughly in life that not even death could weaken their will, jiangshi are extremely rare. No longer bound by the needs of the flesh, they feed off of the life force of their victims directly rather than drinking blood or consuming flesh, and are incapable of reproduction. Needless to say they are generally seen as being akin to Revenants and other mindless undead, but it is up to the individual exactly how they act - some choose to merely feed off of animals and monsters, preserving their humanity, while others embrace their inhuman state and drain the life from anything they can overcome.
Nymph
A wide variety of entirely female youkai who generally embody some form of natural life; a nymph may be linked to a specific tree (in which case they are known as a Dryad), to the ocean in general (Nereids or Sirens), to the wind (Aurae), to a sacred grove rather than an individual tree (Alseides), so on and so forth. Needless to say their exact nature, abilities, and description varies heavily based on their origin, but by and large they are good natured and free, sometimes even childlike in mind if not in body. Those who have experience with the outside world can often pass themselves off as simply being human with a predilection for one specific type of magic, but always subtly embody their element much as elementals do, though with a more human take.
Satyr
Also known as Fauns. A male-only species of monsters; seemingly human men from the waist up, but goat-legged from the waist down. Living life in the wild and usually leery of civilization, they have a reputation for being generally harmless, playing tricks on or sometimes guiding humans back to civilization. Often associated with drink and song, most human perception of them is fairly positive albeit distrustful. However, some satyrs are significantly more territorial and believe that humanity is desecrating nature as it grows in number and power. Most experienced adventurers know better than to take anything a satyr says at face value at first meeting, but they are generally loyal and honest companions once trust is earned.
Salamander
Not to be confused with the dragons that they resemble, salamanders are a separate and much smaller scale race of demihumans who bear strongly reptilian traits, more so than the average dragon in fact - it is common for hands to end in claws rather than fingers, ditto for their legs, and most bear a large and occasionally prehensile tail, some permanently alight in flame that burns brighter as their emotions peak. Some even bear either a second pair of reptilian ears or have no human ears at all, or may even have reddish tinted skin. They are known as a warrior race, and for good reason - both male and female, most members of the species are proficient in at least one weapon and many are capable of firebreathing, and their tribes often prize strength among all else. This also extends to mating rituals, both within their kind and extending to other races; most have little interest in those they can defeat, but a GREAT deal of interest in those stronger than them... which can be flattering or extremely annoying depending on how persistent your new would-be waifu is on having an immediate marriage or wanting a sparring match every god damn day until she finally beats you.
Fae
Tiny humanoids with intricately detailed wings who generally only reach 3-8 inches in height. Despite their diminutive size, the fae are a wickedly intelligent race with a well defined and regimented society, headed by (slightly) less tiny Kings and Queens, though there are countless fairies who buck the demands of their culture to wander Elibe - not always a good idea when the average book is a deadly threat, and fairies are not known for their common sense at the best of times. While many have a fairly childish outlook on life, only those who have dealt with the fae can recognize how cruel children can be, and the fae are no exception. That said, most are fairly harmless and VERY few wish any real harm on humans, simply not understanding the effects of their play. More mature and intelligent fairies are generally outcasts among their kind, less interested in the joyous games that many partake in than in the pursuit of knowledge... though many overestimate their own maturity.
Fair Folk
While many humans believe that fae/fairies and the Fair Folk are one and the same, nothing could be further from the truth. The Fair Folks are eldritch monstrosities who literally feed on the hopes and dreams of intelligent beings, dragging victims into pocket realms where cause and effect disassociate and reality truly becomes stranger than fiction. Varying wildly in appearance and sometimes capable of temporarily assuming a humanoid form, the Fair Folk are in no way human, among the most alien beings on Elibe on par with Mogalls.
Elementals
Where nymphs are feminine embodiments of some aspect of life, Elementals are a much wider range of beings who are tied specifically to a natural element around which they congregate, often in ritualistic tribes or clans. Fire elementals can often be found around volcanoes and sometimes deserts, for example, while Earth elementals are most commonly found underground or in mountains. While they can appear as anything from living flame to humanoid figures forged from flame, very few assume actual genders and even fewer still are capable of breeding with another species - almost all elementals are formed from and return to their natural element.
---------
Note: Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, etc. as per D&D and similar do not exist. You can totally have a short bearded guy who uses axes or a tall thin chick with pointy ears who uses a bow, but humans and dragon are the two non-youkai 'races' on Elibe.
The below list is NOT an exhaustive compilation of every species or tribe of youkai to have ever existed and should not be taken as such - feel free to make your own, original or drawn from any real-world mythology, whether japanese, scandinavian, or native american. At the same time, feel free to play with the details a bit - you can totally be a permanently angry satyr, a nymph who looks like a crusty old crone, or a waifu elemental.
Kitsune
Demihumans who generally appear entirely human save for fox ears and tails. Tending to live in small families or clans rather than gathering together, most kitsune are highly individualistic. As a species they are remarkably long lived, easily capable of living for 500-1000 years or sometimes even longer. Tails are often used as a measure of lifespan and power - a kitsune normally starts with a single tail and grows one more for each century of life. Nine-tailed foxes, typically known as kyuubi, are to be feared for their incredible power. Certain subsets of the overall "fox people" race may vary in details; kumiho/gumiho may subsist on the hearts or livers of those they seduce, while the húli jīng are often said to be auspicious omens, though most humans, especially inside the Divide, will only see an inhuman creature and not understand the specifics. Still, kitsune are one of the more commonly seen and relatively accepted youkai races inside the Divide by relative standards due to their seemingly human appearance and tendency towards attractiveness.
Jorōgumo
Also known as Arachne. An exclusively female race of (generally) beautiful women who are capable of extruding six or eight monstrous arachnid legs from their backs, and sometimes transforming into gigantic spiders. While parasitic in that they require males of other races to sustain their species, Jorōgumo are not especially dangerous, at least by the standards of youkai - though the unnerving arachnid legs waving behind them and a string of legends depicting them as mate-eating monsters has left them with a fairly poor reputation. However, these youkai do tend to be emotional creatures and - whether as a racial tendency or in reaction to views on their race - usually react EXTREMELY badly to betrayal of any kind.
Oni
A well known and often feared race; phenomenal strength mixed with tough hides and often inhuman characteristics like brightly colored skin, fangs, or tusks. While most legends depict them as violent, stupid, and heavy drinkers, much like the Cyclops they somewhat resemble, in practice there are of course a wide spectrum of oni - good natured drunkards, brutal and obsessive monster-slaying warriors, stalwart guardians of knowledge, and those who have gone feral or simply rejected humanity entirely, sometimes joining up with Cyclops for some purpose. Female oni differ little from their male counterparts save in appearance, generally possessing the same prodigious strength.
Jiangshi
A particular type of undead - well preserved corpses can occasionally regain some form of life through possession by spirits of magic or a strongly lingering will. Believed to be limited to those who refined their spirits so thoroughly in life that not even death could weaken their will, jiangshi are extremely rare. No longer bound by the needs of the flesh, they feed off of the life force of their victims directly rather than drinking blood or consuming flesh, and are incapable of reproduction. Needless to say they are generally seen as being akin to Revenants and other mindless undead, but it is up to the individual exactly how they act - some choose to merely feed off of animals and monsters, preserving their humanity, while others embrace their inhuman state and drain the life from anything they can overcome.
Nymph
A wide variety of entirely female youkai who generally embody some form of natural life; a nymph may be linked to a specific tree (in which case they are known as a Dryad), to the ocean in general (Nereids or Sirens), to the wind (Aurae), to a sacred grove rather than an individual tree (Alseides), so on and so forth. Needless to say their exact nature, abilities, and description varies heavily based on their origin, but by and large they are good natured and free, sometimes even childlike in mind if not in body. Those who have experience with the outside world can often pass themselves off as simply being human with a predilection for one specific type of magic, but always subtly embody their element much as elementals do, though with a more human take.
Satyr
Also known as Fauns. A male-only species of monsters; seemingly human men from the waist up, but goat-legged from the waist down. Living life in the wild and usually leery of civilization, they have a reputation for being generally harmless, playing tricks on or sometimes guiding humans back to civilization. Often associated with drink and song, most human perception of them is fairly positive albeit distrustful. However, some satyrs are significantly more territorial and believe that humanity is desecrating nature as it grows in number and power. Most experienced adventurers know better than to take anything a satyr says at face value at first meeting, but they are generally loyal and honest companions once trust is earned.
Salamander
Not to be confused with the dragons that they resemble, salamanders are a separate and much smaller scale race of demihumans who bear strongly reptilian traits, more so than the average dragon in fact - it is common for hands to end in claws rather than fingers, ditto for their legs, and most bear a large and occasionally prehensile tail, some permanently alight in flame that burns brighter as their emotions peak. Some even bear either a second pair of reptilian ears or have no human ears at all, or may even have reddish tinted skin. They are known as a warrior race, and for good reason - both male and female, most members of the species are proficient in at least one weapon and many are capable of firebreathing, and their tribes often prize strength among all else. This also extends to mating rituals, both within their kind and extending to other races; most have little interest in those they can defeat, but a GREAT deal of interest in those stronger than them... which can be flattering or extremely annoying depending on how persistent your new would-be waifu is on having an immediate marriage or wanting a sparring match every god damn day until she finally beats you.
Fae
Tiny humanoids with intricately detailed wings who generally only reach 3-8 inches in height. Despite their diminutive size, the fae are a wickedly intelligent race with a well defined and regimented society, headed by (slightly) less tiny Kings and Queens, though there are countless fairies who buck the demands of their culture to wander Elibe - not always a good idea when the average book is a deadly threat, and fairies are not known for their common sense at the best of times. While many have a fairly childish outlook on life, only those who have dealt with the fae can recognize how cruel children can be, and the fae are no exception. That said, most are fairly harmless and VERY few wish any real harm on humans, simply not understanding the effects of their play. More mature and intelligent fairies are generally outcasts among their kind, less interested in the joyous games that many partake in than in the pursuit of knowledge... though many overestimate their own maturity.
Fair Folk
While many humans believe that fae/fairies and the Fair Folk are one and the same, nothing could be further from the truth. The Fair Folks are eldritch monstrosities who literally feed on the hopes and dreams of intelligent beings, dragging victims into pocket realms where cause and effect disassociate and reality truly becomes stranger than fiction. Varying wildly in appearance and sometimes capable of temporarily assuming a humanoid form, the Fair Folk are in no way human, among the most alien beings on Elibe on par with Mogalls.
Elementals
Where nymphs are feminine embodiments of some aspect of life, Elementals are a much wider range of beings who are tied specifically to a natural element around which they congregate, often in ritualistic tribes or clans. Fire elementals can often be found around volcanoes and sometimes deserts, for example, while Earth elementals are most commonly found underground or in mountains. While they can appear as anything from living flame to humanoid figures forged from flame, very few assume actual genders and even fewer still are capable of breeding with another species - almost all elementals are formed from and return to their natural element.
---------
Note: Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, etc. as per D&D and similar do not exist. You can totally have a short bearded guy who uses axes or a tall thin chick with pointy ears who uses a bow, but humans and dragon are the two non-youkai 'races' on Elibe.
