Homebrew Yokai Species Details

The Yokai are a pacifist race of fae-like beings that hails from Nihon Island, a large island in northwestern Pingjing De. They live in small communities of no more than a few hundred people. These villages all have good relations with one another, and it is common for members of one village to visit another for several days at a time.

Because they live so close to the natural world, both physically and spiritually, Yokai have a limited ability to communicate with animals. A Yokai village is often populated with just as many animals as Yokai.
Unlike the communities of other races, Yokai communities allow animals to roam free, since they see animals as fellow beings instead of resources. Yokai that travel outside of Nihon Island often find it unusual, even offensive, that animals are locked up in cages.

Because Yokai are pacifists, violence is strictly prohibited. Anyone that shows violent tendancies is brought to a "Redemption Circle", where they must face their peers and see what their actions have done or could do. This is effective, and it quells the few violent Yokai that do arise.
It is extremely rare for this method to fail, but when it does, the violent Yokai is promptly banished from Nihon Island, and the news travels surprisingly quickly that that Yokai cannot be trusted. The most famous Yokai to be expelled from Nihon Island was Kusunoki Masashige, who went on to found the Sundarian Empire.

Yokai are herbivores, but they aren't opposed to other races eating meat. They see it as part of the natural order of things that this happens. It still disturbs them, of course, but they don't oppose them.

When creating a Yokai character, try to think of why they left Nihon Island. Maybe they were expelled, or maybe they felt wanderlust and wanted to discover what existed outside of Nihon Island.

Yokai Traits

Yokai are incredibly close with nature, and their racial traits reflect that. They would make good Druids or Rangers.

Natural Spokesperson

You can cast Speak With Animals. You regain the ability to do so with this feature when you finish a short or long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast Speak With Plants, and you regain the ability to do so with this feature when you finish a long rest.

Cantrip

You learn one additional cantrip from the druid spell list. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.

Languages

As a Yokai, you know Common and Yokai.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Darkvision

Since you are accustomed to places where light might not always reach, be it the forest floor or in murky waters, your vision can pierce dark conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of gray.