Homebrew Yōni-Kai Lineage (BOD) Species Details

The familiar man stood before him, a haunting reminder of the warrior he had slain many years ago. Yet, something was amiss. The ominous presence that emerged under the gentle raindrops was more than human—it was demonic. His skin bore a haunting blue hue, his teeth sharp as fangs that dared not align. With hair as white as moonlight and claws as lethal as knives, the creature exuded a primal danger.

But it was not these physical traits that stirred fear in the fighter's heart. No, it was the demon's eyes—golden rings of hatred glowing from abyssal darkness. As the sinister figure drew near, it bellowed with a voice like thunder, "I have finally found you!"

— Clarisa Valentine,  Holy Knight XIII

 

Demonic Metamorphosis 

When a humanoid passes away, it is crucial that their departure is free from intense negative emotions; otherwise, they risk returning as a Yōni-Kai. Souls left unsatisfied with their afterlife may be tempted by an Oni, who strikes a dark bargain with the soul to prevent its peaceful transition. Through a forbidden ritual involving the infusion of the Oni's own blood into the deceased body, the Oni revives the individual, albeit in a twisted form. The resurrected being undergoes a remarkable transformation, sprouting horns, claws, and fangs, and sporting skin tones of blue, purple, red, white, or green, with eyes shimmering in unearthly hues. This reincarnation also bestows upon the soul a newfound affinity and mastery over magic.

Tormented Existence 

Upon being resurrected by the cursing Oni, the unfortunate soul recalls only fragmented memories from its past life, specifically those tied to individuals who inflicted immense grief or pain upon it, devoid of any context. These recollections may take various forms—a lover's betrayal, a friend's betrayal, or the loss of a loved one due to a family member's action. These memories, deeply rooted in negative emotions, become a relentless source of torment for the Yōni-Kai, potentially haunting them indefinitely. Conversely, all other memories associated with positive emotions remain inaccessible, sealed off behind a mental barrier of amnesia. While Yōni-Kai are free to navigate their new existence as they please, they are perpetually plagued by emotional and mental anguish stemming from their fractured memories, forever grappling with elusive meanings and unanswered questions.

 Unattainable Closure 

Upon their revival, Yōni-Kai are burdened with intense negative emotions stemming from their deaths and fragmented memories. Many are driven to seek out and eliminate the individuals tied to their painful recollections in an effort to find solace. It remains unclear whether this pursuit brings any true relief or if these Yōni-Kai have descended into madness. Conversely, some Yōni-Kai opt to seek understanding rather than vengeance. They strive to unravel the identities of those haunting figures from their past, delving into the reasons behind their anguish. For these individuals, comprehending the source of their pain holds significant importance and may potentially offer insights into their past lives, potentially piercing through the amnesic barrier. Ultimately, the primary aim of a Yōni-Kai, aside from honoring their pact with the Oni, is to attain a semblance of normalcy and closure. However, these aspirations perpetually remain just out of reach, elusive despite their relentless pursuit.

Demonic Bonding

In exchange for the transformation into a Yōni-Kai, an Oni always strikes a deal with the soul seeking resurrection. Devoid of benevolence, an Oni demands something of equal value for its ritualistic services, with the specific request varying based on the nature of the Oni involved. Requests might range from the Yōni-Kai eliminating a figure from its past, securing a specific artifact, or fulfilling a mysterious favor to be disclosed at a later time. Collaborate with your Dungeon Master to devise a compelling rationale for why the Oni sought to transform you, as each Oni's motivations are unique and open to interpretation.

Mistaken Identity 

The majority, if not all, Yōni-Kai are often misunderstood as Oni, demons, devils, or even tieflings, which leads them to experience prejudice and fear from other races, particularly humans. In order to navigate this hostile environment, they resort to employing magic, donning masks, or cloaking themselves to conceal their true identities.

 

Stormrider Chronicles (pages 67-68)

As a lone traveler wandering through unknown lands, my curiosity was piqued when my drake and I stumbled upon the enigmatic society of the Yōni-Kai clans hidden from reaches of large kingdoms and cities. Intrigued by their unique culture and customs, I decided to observe and study their way of life from a distance, taking notes on their traditions, hierarchies, and interactions with outsiders.

The more I learned about the Yōni-Kai clans, the more I marveled at their resilience in the face of prejudice and persecution from other races. Their strong sense of kinship, honor, and respect for tradition resonated with me, sparking a desire to immerse myself fully in their society.

Driven by a thirst for knowledge and understanding, I approached the leaders of a Yōni-Kai clan, expressing my interest in joining their ranks. Despite initial skepticism and wariness, they eventually welcomed me into their midst, intrigued by my respectful attitude and willingness to learn.

As I integrated into the Yōni-Kai clan, I experienced firsthand the complexities and challenges of their way of life. Building relationships with my newfound brethren, I gained a deeper appreciation for their values and customs, forging bonds that transcended our differences.

Through my interactions with the Yōni-Kai clans, I came to see them not as demons or devils, but as a proud and resilient people with a rich cultural heritage. My time among them taught me valuable lessons about acceptance, empathy, and the power of unity in the face of adversity. I was able to learn that each and every single one of them has a tragic story to tell and how they all became what they are. I had no idea that such an evil ritual existed, nor did I ever think I'd be able to live amongst the dead in such a way. 

Leaving the Yōni-Kai clans was bittersweet, but I departed with a renewed sense of purpose and a newfound respect for the strength and resilience of these misunderstood beings. My journey among the Yōni-Kai clans had transformed me, shaping my beliefs and perspectives in ways I could have never imagined. Ido plan to return one day, and I've vented my concern for them, however the leader himself has requested that I do not bring help upon my next visit but instead, understanding.

    -- Kaelin Stormrider

 

Yōni-Kai Origin

What tragic circumstances led to your demise and who is responsible for the overwhelming emotions that keep your soul restless? Roll the dice or select from the options in the Yōni-Kai Origins table to uncover what compelled your character to strike a pact with an Oni. You can work with your DM to come up with a reasonable origin for your character.

d6	Origin
1	Slain by a trusted friend who betrayed your faith, driving you to seek vengeance from beyond the grave.
2	Wrongly accused and unjustly executed, you now yearn to clear your name before finding peace in the afterlife.
3	Sacrificed against your will by your own tribe for a ritual, now you're seeking to guide them swiftly to the afterlife.
4	Meeting an untimely end in an accident while professing your love, leaving you with unfinished business and a longing to complete that moment.
5	The scion of a tyrannical royal family, their downfall paved by rebellion, fueling your quest for understanding and closure.
6	A destitute orphan, your life cut short by a cruel monarch, motivating your desire for him to suffer the anguish he caused you.

 

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Yōni-Kai Lineage (BOD) Traits

Darkvision, Enchanted Ichor, Enigmatic Intellect, Ancestral Legacy, Claws

Ancestral Legacy

 If you replace a race with this lineage, you can keep the following elements of that race: any skill proficiencies you gained from it and any climbing, flying, or swimming speed you gained from it.

• If you don't keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation, you gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Ability Score Increase

 Increase one ability score by 2 and one ability score by 1. If you are replacing your race with this lineage, replace any Ability Score increase you previously had with this.

Size

The Yōni-Kai are known for their imposing and intimidating presence, so the transformation may result in a slight increase in height for the individual. The new height range, normally, for someone transformed into a Yōni-Kai would typically be between 5 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 2 inches, depending on their original height and the extent of their transformation.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your Oni blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 30 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Enigmatic Intellect

You gain proficiency in the Arcana and History  skill.

Claws

Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Giant and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. If you are replacing your race with this lineage, you retain any languages you had and gain no new languages.

Enchanted Ichor

To go with your new body you have also gained innate magical abilities that can help you in various ways:

• You can cast Disguise Self 
• You can use your bonus action to see through Illusion Spells 1st level or lower for 1 minute.
• You can use your bonus action see through magical darkness up to 10 feet for 1 minute.

You are only allowed to use one of these abilities at a time. Once one of the abilities have been used you are not allowed to use this feature again until you finish a long rest.