The Oni
The Oni is a mysterious entity that has been plaguing Kaswink and her family for generations.
It was apparently "defeated" by Kaswink's grandfather, but in doing so it actually caused him to carry a curse. This Curse would force whoever it is bound to to transform into an Oni and wreak havoc, a rather ironic curse. It slowly develops over time to become worse and worse until the person that is cursed succumbs to the Oni Transformation fully and cannot control their actions anymore. This happened to Kaswink's ancestors as each generation would eventually become the monster they vanquished until the town they inhabited and protected drove them away or killed them.
Kaswink is the most recent member to carry this curse and she hopes to put a stop to it once and for all. She traveled into the Spirit World hoping to find a shaman to help her find this Oni and everyone seems to have been pointing her towards Simol's Village.
Chittering Spirit Knowledge Her curse was referenced by the Chittering Spirit as someone that has to be defeated in order for the Cycle to be restored, and she was also informed the following when asking about how to find the one that has a hold of her. The information provided was apparently "Cursed Knowledge" as attempting to share it causes pain much like the Chittering Spirit's name. "You have already found the one that has a hold of your heart. You have a piece of them in a jar, a bullfrog, and a hag that is a friend of the forest. It has many forms and many personas. Be careful when you seek it out, and know that my General is hungry for power beyond its normal means... power that only I should have or be capable of having." He was also mentioned in some Cursed Knowledge provided to Hysteria: "The one you seek is no longer herself, she is a hag in service to Simol, the Hag Empress. Her form is just a ...persona created by The Oni."
Spalsis Knowledge The Oni was also referenced by Spalsis when DAN Wildcloak was looking for information about The Spiraling Gate and their brother, Steve. "Beware The Oni, young Wildcloak. His machinations are unknowable as they lie in madness. His only master is the one that chitters, the one you cannot say and that I will not say out of polite upbringing for your sake. He can take any form, this Oni, and he has many servants. Not all of the servants are bad, some fight him for their blood, and some will act kind to gain your favor. If you ever wish to enter the Spiral to save your brother or to save this Land from the Stability that disrupts its flow, please do not hesitate to ask, I will be here to guide you into its vortex, and I will do what I can to keep you safe within its madness." The "one that chitters" is likely referring to the Chittering Spirit. This same Spirit referred to the Oni as one of its "Generals" when providing Cursed Knowledge to Kaswink. It is possible that the Chittering Spirit is losing control over this Oni as it is fine with informing you to kill him to restore the cycle and suggested that, in the same Cursed Knowledge, "know that my General is hungry for power beyond its normal means... power that only I should have or be capable of having."
Simol and Croak More information about the Oni was revealed by Kaswink after leaving Simol's Village. She explained that The Oni and Simol are one and the same, or that Simol is at least a piece of The Oni. She also suggested that The Oni should be attacked at its source, but that it may not reveal itself until Kaswink is "ready", according to Simol. She also provided the insight that this Oni feeds on suffering, that it lives to create more suffering to be fed off of... While fighting the Whendigo, it was discovered that Croak is cursed in much the same way as Kaswink...though it seemed as though Kaswink was almost offended by his presence, perhaps there is more to this than initially met the eye. It was later revealed that Croak was just a piece of the Oni, a puppet created as part of a cruel deal made between them. The real Croak was found beneath The Daytime Village of Aotri.
On Daulok 22, 308, Hysteria had a vision. They described their vision given to them by the Whydigo after the Spiritual Travelers were attacked by another Jester. A vision of their Patron chained to a wall and being tortured by someone with a mask that had three horns. The description seemed to match what Croak had given regarding the person that tricked and tortured him, and Kaswink made this connection while also positing that "Maybe the Usurper did to your Patron what he did to Croak. Chained Him up, took His place, left a body double under His control." Perhaps this "Usurper" is no more than a piece of The Oni.
Defeat On Daulok 23, 308, The Oni attacked the Spiritual Travelers using a variety of different spiral critters until he appeared in person. His attacks were mostly focused on Kaswink, and he even took the form of her grandfather, Crudge. He also became DAN's brother, Steve, before focusing his energy on the trio of halflings. He eventually transformed into a much larger, smoke and spiral based form before finally being defeated with a killing bow provided by DAN. In his death throws, the Oni killed Kaswink. There is some worry that he is not truly dead, and it is currently unknown whether or not he will return. Shortly after his death, the sky began to turn dark from a point that seemed to originate in the northwest, the same direction that the snow elves and the Usurper were going. It is also the same direction that Kaswink reported the old man she saw after the gate explosion to be in. This darkness stopped right at the edge of the clearing that the travelers were fighting in, and the Chittering Spirit revealed itself long enough to provide some information and an explanation. “You must leave this place. Return to your base for now…I have slowed its growth to a crawl, but it is still growing. You must rest now, Travelers, and then make your way to the center. My efforts will destroy me, scatter this form to the Spiraling Dark, and so I would leave you with one last bit of very Painful Knowledge. Farewell.” “Those that are trapped: perhaps literally in a dungeon, spiritually in a situation from their past, in a form that is not their own, maybe mentally in other ways…they’re all prisoners. They all give him power to some degree. Think of the clouds that parted when you freed Croak, or when Ilven was saved, or when you defeated the brewer’s Torment. Think of what might lie beyond the clouds and why the Oni might want them covering the sky. There are words I wish to tell you, but they cannot be repeated even by me… you must find my Creator. He knows what the Oni has planned. He knows what is happening to the world right now, and He is trapped beneath His Throne. Take this Knowledge, and another gift with it: The Spiraling Darkness beyond me contains…everything in the Spirit World that has been consumed by it. It is dangerous, Travelers, and you would do well to Know what is out there. This means that I too will be everywhere within, and my Knowledge of Myself could help you in your journey.”
Chittering Spirit Knowledge Her curse was referenced by the Chittering Spirit as someone that has to be defeated in order for the Cycle to be restored, and she was also informed the following when asking about how to find the one that has a hold of her. The information provided was apparently "Cursed Knowledge" as attempting to share it causes pain much like the Chittering Spirit's name. "You have already found the one that has a hold of your heart. You have a piece of them in a jar, a bullfrog, and a hag that is a friend of the forest. It has many forms and many personas. Be careful when you seek it out, and know that my General is hungry for power beyond its normal means... power that only I should have or be capable of having." He was also mentioned in some Cursed Knowledge provided to Hysteria: "The one you seek is no longer herself, she is a hag in service to Simol, the Hag Empress. Her form is just a ...persona created by The Oni."
Spalsis Knowledge The Oni was also referenced by Spalsis when DAN Wildcloak was looking for information about The Spiraling Gate and their brother, Steve. "Beware The Oni, young Wildcloak. His machinations are unknowable as they lie in madness. His only master is the one that chitters, the one you cannot say and that I will not say out of polite upbringing for your sake. He can take any form, this Oni, and he has many servants. Not all of the servants are bad, some fight him for their blood, and some will act kind to gain your favor. If you ever wish to enter the Spiral to save your brother or to save this Land from the Stability that disrupts its flow, please do not hesitate to ask, I will be here to guide you into its vortex, and I will do what I can to keep you safe within its madness." The "one that chitters" is likely referring to the Chittering Spirit. This same Spirit referred to the Oni as one of its "Generals" when providing Cursed Knowledge to Kaswink. It is possible that the Chittering Spirit is losing control over this Oni as it is fine with informing you to kill him to restore the cycle and suggested that, in the same Cursed Knowledge, "know that my General is hungry for power beyond its normal means... power that only I should have or be capable of having."
Simol and Croak More information about the Oni was revealed by Kaswink after leaving Simol's Village. She explained that The Oni and Simol are one and the same, or that Simol is at least a piece of The Oni. She also suggested that The Oni should be attacked at its source, but that it may not reveal itself until Kaswink is "ready", according to Simol. She also provided the insight that this Oni feeds on suffering, that it lives to create more suffering to be fed off of... While fighting the Whendigo, it was discovered that Croak is cursed in much the same way as Kaswink...though it seemed as though Kaswink was almost offended by his presence, perhaps there is more to this than initially met the eye. It was later revealed that Croak was just a piece of the Oni, a puppet created as part of a cruel deal made between them. The real Croak was found beneath The Daytime Village of Aotri.
On Daulok 22, 308, Hysteria had a vision. They described their vision given to them by the Whydigo after the Spiritual Travelers were attacked by another Jester. A vision of their Patron chained to a wall and being tortured by someone with a mask that had three horns. The description seemed to match what Croak had given regarding the person that tricked and tortured him, and Kaswink made this connection while also positing that "Maybe the Usurper did to your Patron what he did to Croak. Chained Him up, took His place, left a body double under His control." Perhaps this "Usurper" is no more than a piece of The Oni.
Defeat On Daulok 23, 308, The Oni attacked the Spiritual Travelers using a variety of different spiral critters until he appeared in person. His attacks were mostly focused on Kaswink, and he even took the form of her grandfather, Crudge. He also became DAN's brother, Steve, before focusing his energy on the trio of halflings. He eventually transformed into a much larger, smoke and spiral based form before finally being defeated with a killing bow provided by DAN. In his death throws, the Oni killed Kaswink. There is some worry that he is not truly dead, and it is currently unknown whether or not he will return. Shortly after his death, the sky began to turn dark from a point that seemed to originate in the northwest, the same direction that the snow elves and the Usurper were going. It is also the same direction that Kaswink reported the old man she saw after the gate explosion to be in. This darkness stopped right at the edge of the clearing that the travelers were fighting in, and the Chittering Spirit revealed itself long enough to provide some information and an explanation. “You must leave this place. Return to your base for now…I have slowed its growth to a crawl, but it is still growing. You must rest now, Travelers, and then make your way to the center. My efforts will destroy me, scatter this form to the Spiraling Dark, and so I would leave you with one last bit of very Painful Knowledge. Farewell.” “Those that are trapped: perhaps literally in a dungeon, spiritually in a situation from their past, in a form that is not their own, maybe mentally in other ways…they’re all prisoners. They all give him power to some degree. Think of the clouds that parted when you freed Croak, or when Ilven was saved, or when you defeated the brewer’s Torment. Think of what might lie beyond the clouds and why the Oni might want them covering the sky. There are words I wish to tell you, but they cannot be repeated even by me… you must find my Creator. He knows what the Oni has planned. He knows what is happening to the world right now, and He is trapped beneath His Throne. Take this Knowledge, and another gift with it: The Spiraling Darkness beyond me contains…everything in the Spirit World that has been consumed by it. It is dangerous, Travelers, and you would do well to Know what is out there. This means that I too will be everywhere within, and my Knowledge of Myself could help you in your journey.”
Physical Description
Body Features
The only physical description for the Oni that is known by the Spiritual Travelers is that he apparently has three horns and a rather gruesome appearance judging by Kaswink's hybrid form.
Simol notably also has three horns, and Croak was described as having three spots of peeling paint on his Toy Form when the group was battling The Spirit of Christmas.
After recovering from his thousands of years of imprisonment, Croak explained that the Oni takes on many forms. He apparently first accepted the Oni's deal while the Oni was disguised as "some lady in chains or something", but The Oni also took on the forms of Croak's family members to reenact their deaths and torment the poor eadarling.
Croak stated that one of The Oni's favored forms appeared to be "a tall, muscular figure that always wore a white porcelain mask."
If the The Gates Special Edition Chess Set chess pieces are of any clue, then The Oni's true form may be a L'huine of indeterminate gender wearing heavy armor with three horns sticking out from the torso. Their mask is kept on the end of a stick and their weapon of choice is a glaive.
In combat, and just in general, The Oni has many forms. This includes various animals and even other fae or people. It first faught the Spiritual Travelers as a set of three horns made of smoke and spirals with red and black shadows.
It also took the form of a Spiral Demon, described as "A horrific visage attached to a long, tubular body lined with spikes. Fractaling spirals make up most of its form, and it has a pair of wings that look to be made of smoke and shadows. Its mouth goes too far up its face, with fangs clearly visible and bits of its skin stretching over otherwise torn flesh. Acid drips from its teeth, and it has four eyes that have pupils and irises that are split into three halves. It attacks the nearest person before flying up into the darkness.”
Later, as a Spiral Horror, described as "It looks at first like just some amorphous mass, but it soon begins to take shape as a robe with hands reaching out of sleeves. Three …eyes? Can be seen at the center of three prominent spirals where a head would be. The eyes just look like pinpoints of yellow light. Smoke and red shadows billow out of this spirit’s cloak, and spiral-like tendrils reach out towards you all.”
In combat, and just in general, The Oni has many forms. This includes various animals and even other fae or people. It first faught the Spiritual Travelers as a set of three horns made of smoke and spirals with red and black shadows.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Hysteria's Knowledge
At the DINER in The Night City of Dorchar, Hysteria explained some information about the Oni's history after Croak reealed that he apparently preferred to wear a mask that was similar to Hysteria's own. Hysteria stumbled over the information a little bit due to it being forcibly given to them after dying, but the gist of it all was that the Oni was once some super ancient elven ancestor (L’huine) but betrayed his people for more power. He gained power by spending it, creating madness, curses, and so on and preventing the elven people from learning the truth about their past."My people do not know hope, it's a foreign concept for us as we are aware that the universe does have an end. We are aware that having hope leads to problems as hopeful pursuits can lead to discoveries that could be the death of our race, and that having hope long ago nearly caused that very thing. I, like many of my people, were led to believe that we were betrayed in this hopeful pursuit of knowledge and to be closer to the spirits that we believe govern our lives. Though, I have recently come to understand that this is not the case. The "fae" that we were told betrayed us actually provided the knowledge without issue, but one of my genetic ancestors used that knowledge to betray these not-elf people and lead their descendents to believe the lie we have been taught for thousands of years. Long ago there were these not-elves that I mentioned. Like the elves of today, they believed in the ten Smrtohnya that govern our daily lives. These Smrtohnya are like forces of nature, beings that may have created us or our world or are merely pieces of the world, but they don't guarantee an afterlife or anything hopeful really beyond the one life we are given. Religious leaders for the different Smrtohnya also existed. They took on titles and masks that stripped them of their identity. The Necromancer, for example, served Skorumpovaný and had followers that did the same. The Collector had followers that served Chamtivost, The Psychic had followers that served Voda and so on. These ancient people, according to the information forced upon me, built a city that existed in multiple different worlds at once, and it was their gate to the land of these Smrtohnya.
They entered this Spirit World and sought out their respective spirits that they prayed to. In order to navigate this land, however, they needed guidance. This guidance came from different sources: The first was a being made of shadow that warned them not to trust anything they found here, and the other was a being referred to as "the Chittering Spirit" a massive centipede that agreed to part with crucial knowledge in exchange for information from their own world. The ancestral not-elves agreed to this deal. Their religious leaders began work on constructing Gates with this new knowledge that led to different layers of the spirit world which embodied the different Smrtohnya. They named these Gates after concepts related to their Spirits: The Rotting Gate, The Untethered Gate, The Burning Gate, The Coiling Gate and so on. Within these different layers of the Spirit World, they were able to feel a much closer connection to the Smrtohnya that they worshipped. One of these religious leaders was a bit different than the others. He apparently went by the name of The Oni and wanted more from the Chittering Spirit. He saw his own Smrtohnya, Cievka, within this Spirit and would learn that he was correct. This spirit was, thematically enough, a convolusion of location (layer in the spirit world), entrance (The Coiling Gate), and spirit (The Oni believed them to be Cievka). His followers struck a new deal with the Chittering Spirit, which the spirit accepted, and they made their way into their own layer of the spirit world.
The truth that was revealed to me is that this Oni was the one that truly betrayed these ancient people, not the spirit. His desire for power was what began to change these people into something different, and why my ancestors had to escape the Spirit World looking the way we do today. Their freedom was guaranteed by the shadow that they first met in this land, and they were able to escape back to the material plane thanks to it. The Oni desired more. More Power, more Knowledge, more Madness... more Tricks and Pain. He gained power by spending it: reaching out into the material plane to give pieces of himself to mortals. Their madness was his wisdom, their suffering was his strength, and on and on... His lies would strengthen and weaken the Elves for millennia to come. His propaganda would slow our progress but "keep us safe". His orders would prevent the truth from being gained."
Bits and Pieces
An indeterminate amount of time ago, The Oni was a L'huine Priest, leader of those that would seak Cievka, Smrtohnya of Coils. He ventured into the Spirit World with his followers for reasons that are largely unknown right now, but it can be assumed he was looking to be closer to this spirit for some reason. His path led him to find a Chittering Spirit and, like many L'huine, to find a man made of shadows. He was provided a warning to be wary of certain spirits as not all of them will be friendly, and that some might even try to trick him. He took this warning to heart, but would eventually use it to trick elves into believing it was the spirits that betrayed them rather than himself. This would lead to the development of Jesters who followed The Patron and took his word as law. At an unknown point in time, this "Patron" was replaced with the one that would be known as The Usurper. The Patron's genuine attempts to keep elves safe and away from the Spirit World would instead lead them into the very place that would likely be their demise. It's unclear why The Oni has planned this, or if it is even the extent of his plan, but it is definitely a result of his machinations. The "Patron" that he abducted and replaced was once Vsevolodrik, half of Ulunor and Ar'en'el's long lost love. She has been crying ever since, and the tears seem to stain her light with an oily darkness...one that has been seen in visions and witnessed personally by Kaswink as she died. It's possible that these tears are a part of The Oni's plan, though it is unclear to what end. In his death, the Chittering Spirit appeared before the travelers to provide a warning of the Spiraling Dark that had been created. Its verbiage seemed to suggest that The Oni's plans are still continuing despite his demise, and that only its creator, trapped beneath His thrown, can shine light on what is to come.
Associated With
Croak
Simol
Kaswink
Hysteria
DAN Wildcloak
Ar'en'el
Vsevolodrik
The Usurper
Croak
Simol
Kaswink
Hysteria
DAN Wildcloak
Ar'en'el
Vsevolodrik
The Usurper
Current Status
Deceased
Species
Date of Death
Daulok 23, 308
Children
Sex
Male
Eyes
Red, split down the middle and shifted
Hair
white/silver
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
pale
Height
11 ft
Belief/Deity
Cievka
Related Plots
Related Reports
- Session 43: "When am I?" thought the Caterpillar
- Session 59: "Why are We Here?" thought the Adventurers.
- Session 60: Revelations and Convolutions
- Session 61: Of These Many Faces, Yours Will Be My Favorite
- Session 62: A Battle Won; an Ally Lost
- Session 63: A World of Darkness
- Session 77: And The Usurper was Removed from the Stolen Throne
- Session 81: Reaching Floor 3
Ruled Locations
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