Yōkai

The Abral Island's Strange Sightings

Yōkai, 妖怪, are a broad classification of magical and supernatural creatures and phenomena, particularly around the Abral Archipelago region. They are not all monsters, ghosts, demons, or spirits, but instead it serves as an umbrella term for most magical occurrences in and around the Abrals.

Origins of the Term

The term yōkai originates from the Ancient Era, before even most historical records in the Abral region. Since neither the Kamejin residing there nor the native Tainuki are generally very magically adept, and the islands were fairly isolated from the rest of the magical world for most of their early history, any strange phenomena seemed to be something beyond mortal understanding and capabilities. The term yōkai eventually came into being to describe these unexplainable happenings, creatures, and sightings.
While the term, theoretically, can be used for these occurences anywhere in the world, its roots in Kamejin and Tainuki culture and Abral history means it is best used only for monsters, spirits, and other non-natural happenings in the Abral Archipelago only.
Some of these phenomena, however, are completely unique to the Abral region, such as tsukumogami and the strange omens like Yosuzume and Ichimokuren.

The Yōkai Collection

There is a long account by a Tainuki scholar named Kariya Tomoharu, called the Yōkai Collection, which details every known Yōkai at the time of the book's writing.
It is the most complete record of yōkai, as it delves into theorized origins, first-hand accounts, historical records passed down from generations, and even some sightings from Tomoharu herself.
The Yōkai Collection has served as an inspiration for most global scholarship on magical phenomena, despite the book's insistence that yōkai are something altogether different.

Examples

Below, some of the more famous yōkai of the Abrals will be listed. Though hardly a comprehensive list, it will serve to show some examples of what a yōkai actually is, and how broad the definition can be.

Gashadokuro by Jarhed

Gashadokuro

Gashadokuro are a type of yōkai whose origins lie in the fires of Hell, as they are a type of Devil, or at least some kind of infernal creature that was made by Satanael to reside with Devils.
It is known that the region around Eastern Elone has a strong connection with Hell, as is demonstrated with many Jihdi traditions honoring the Devils that come to visit them. Gashadokuro are, most likely, another part of this phenomena where something attracts Devils to the region of Eastern Elone.
They are found only at night, around former battlefields and gravesites. Gashadokuro are wild, infernal creatures that will attack any mortal they see.
Though difficult to see in the dark, they are best identified by a noise made by the rattling of their bones, for they are only bones. A noise that gives them their name: "gachi, gachi."

Hanako

The spirit of a young girl, one of the earliest legends of a ghost in Totania, Hanako haunts the toilets around the town of Yahashina.
It is said that she was a student killed while hiding in a bathroom stall from soldiers during a war.
Now, in Yahashina, all must ask before entering the bathroom if Hanako is in there. If she replies "Yes" then they must wait until she leaves to go. If one does not wait, she will drag them into the toilet and drown them.

Funayūrei

Another ghostly yōkai, funayūre are said to be the vengeful spirits of those who died at sea. They carry an eerie mist with them, wearing white robes and trying to sink ships they go near. They carry buckets, filling the ships with water, or try to grab the ships and either drag them down or steer them to dangerous waters like the Great Dip.

Yosuzume

A yōkai that resemble dark birds, yosuzume hide as the leaves of cherry blossom trees and, at night, blacken and detach from branches, swirling around those that enter their forests. They do not harm those near them, but they can cause them to lose track of time or the circumstances of why they entered into the forest. They are omens of ill things to come, and if one sees yosuzume it is best to run, for something bad is coming.
They are said to only be dispelled one when surrounded by them calls out "chi, chi, chi."

Kazenbō

Atop the mountains near Okugata, a strange apparition appears. A monk surrounded by flames, known as kazenbō, it is said that once there was a monk who made a pilgrimage to the hot springs, but who was struck down by Izanagi himself from the sun for betraying his oaths. Others say that kazenbō lit himself aflame to atone for something he did. He is a harmless apparition, which some consider to just be a mirage.

Masegaki Miyoshi and the Three Betrayed

Another vengeful spirit, Masegaki Miyoshi is one of three spirits who were all betrayed in a distant period of Kamejin history. Miyoshi is said to be a floating head that floats over public figures who carry the ire of the public in the Abral Islands. If an emperor is unpopular, Masegako Miyoshi appears over their heads.

Ōnagi Jūshirō and the head of Masegaki Miyoshi by Jarhed

Miyoshi was a lord of a small region in the Abral Islands, under the powerful lord of Yugatari. He set out to fulfill a mission and defeat invading forces for that lord, but after he was victorious, he received word that the lord of Yugatari had burned down Miyoshi's home. Miyoshi marched on Yugatari, but was captured by his second-in-command and brought to Yugatari, only his head remaining.
The other two betrayed spirits are known as Kaihotsu Kan'ichi and Kawabayashi Toshihito, the former said to have turned into a bright red cloud that hovers over battlefields, and the latter said to inhabit every droplet of water in the river that flows beside Minahidaka. Both were betrayed by the same lord of Yugatari, Ōnagi Jūshirō, who has since been known as the Snake of Yugatari. Due to the reputation of Jūshirō, the three vengeful spirits are folk heroes, not hated despite their gruesome fates and terrifying new forms.

Hone Karakasa

A tsukumogami, or item inhabited by a spirit, the hone karakasa is a paper umbrella made of bones. They are given life by rain, soaring through storms and swooping up anyone and anything that gets in their way.
Tsukumogami often come about because the item they inhabit has been around for a great many years, though there is no understanding of how this happens, as it doesn't seem to happen anywhere else in the world. Are these the souls of the dead? Has a god created these souls? Or did it come about naturally from the item?

Hannya

A type of demon that comes from the Void, Hannya are exclusively female, and said to be jealous and evil creatures that summon monsters to attack those they feel envy towards. Hannya have horns and sharp teeth, sometimes even with more snakelike bodies, and it is best to avoid a Hannya.
However, if one can get near enough to a Hannya without being seen, Hannya are incredibly wise and can answer any question. But being seen carries the rest of jealousy, and jealousy carries the risk of death.
The Hannya mask is a popular one around the Abral Islands, as it is said to ward off Hannya from killing you. They would not be jealous of themselves, after all.

King Yama by Jarhed

King Enma

Known outside of the Abrals as King Yama, this is an angel, the throne bearer angel (or head angel) of the God of Strength, Leigong. Many say that King Enma is the strongest of the Angels, and in the Abrals it is said he would visit on occasion and train warriors, including the famed Sword Saint responsible for the consolidation of the Abral Islands under one culture.
As a yōkai, Enma was said to challenge those he met to tests of strength to see how worthy they were of his attention. Some even claimed he would try to kill those who failed, but this is unlikely.

Ichimokuren

A black dragon, Ichimokuren has a serpentine body and one singular eye. He is said to only fly over the Abrals, but never lands. He carries clouds with him, appearing as the storms roll in and disappears as they fade away. Some think he is a manifestation of bad weather, while others believe him to be a supernatural being with weather magic.

Wani

Blue, aquatic dragons, Wani are said to coexist with the Eastern Nereids beneath the seas in the Abral Sea. Some say they are the only civilized nation of Dragons, as they have an entire political hierarchy and kingdom alongside the Nereids, but others fear what this nation could do if it ever decides to expand.