Homebrew Ao Oni (Blue Oni) Species Details

In their natural form, Oni look like demonic Ogres though are slightly smaller in stature. They have skin that varies between hues of red, blue and white, and dark colored eyes with shining white pupils. They have long wild hair that is usually black or grey; however, pure white hair is not an uncommon sight, especially among the Pale Oni.

They have a pair of short ivory horns protruding out of their forehead that grow longer as they age and their teeth and claws are jet black. The length of their horns is something Oni take pride in, to the point that even the most disheveled Oni are known to polish their horns on a daily basis.

While Oni commonly take the form of other humanoid species to blend in, some Oni who live in harmony with other races, tend to take on hybrid forms, still appearing to be part of their host race, except with their horns protruding from their forehead, proudly visible to all.

History

At one time, the Oni guarded locations where the Spirit World overlapped with the Material Plane. Years on the Material Plane, however, corrupted some of the Oni splintering them into the three sub-races. The Oni corrupted by the material pleasures of the world became the Red Oni. The Oni corrupted by the power and knowledge of the world became the Blue Oni. The Oni that remained guard, resisting the temptations became the White Oni.

Society

Most Oni live solitary lives in the wilderness, only interacting with other Oni in annual revels. These revels are massive in size, sometimes containing up to two hundred Oni and the Oni are drawn to them like moths to a candle, usually sensing the event weeks in advance. Violence is forbidden during these revels, and those that violate this rule have their horns sawed short and are cast out in exile.

It is not uncommon for Oni to live among other races, whether secretly or not, due to their shapeshifting power, however, they are mostly shunned from all but the most accepting settlements in their true forms until they prove themselves to the inhabitants. Even after they are accepted, Oni rarely revert to their true form, preferring to take on their hybrid appearance to keep others at ease, out of kindness... or for their own personal benefit.

Oni Names

Oni names are granted at their first revel if they are Blue or Red Oni. Sometimes, the names are from a famous Oni, or a powerful adversary, but often they are just words of meaning fused together in a drunken stupor.

Ao Oni (Blue Oni) Traits

Yokai Resistance

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma and Intelligence score increases by 1

Age

Oni reach maturity about the same time as humans do, however, their aging slows down drastically after that. Most live to about 400.

Alignment

Most oni are naturally evil their heightened temptations to the things of the Material Plane, usually drives them to steal, fight and manipulate to get what they want. The raucous red oni, are the most interested in simple pleasures such as drink, dance and fighting, and tend to be more slanted toward chaotic than their colder and calculating cousins, blue oni, who tend to be more lawful. Pale oni are closer to the spiritual world than the rest of their kin and continue to try and keep balance in between the spirit world and the material plane, staying lawful neutral. In some cases, a red or blue oni can overcome his or her natural tendencies and dedicate his or her life to good. Most of these oni keep strict moral codes to keep their wild nature at check.

Size

Oni are big, reaching heights from six to over seven foot by maturity and are about 300-400 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Darkvision

 As a creature of the night, you are very good at seeing in the dark. 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 color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Shapechanger

As an action, you can polymorph into any humanoid of your size that you have seen, or back into your true form. This lasts for 1 hour, before you return to your true form. However, your equipment does not change with you. If you die, you revert to your natural appearance. You retain all of your normal statistics while in this form. You may use this feature once before you must complete a long rest.

Powerful Build

You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Yokai Resistance

Thanks to the energy of the yokai, you have resistance to poison damage and advantage on saving throws against becoming charmed

Language

You can speak, read and write, Common and Giant and Abyssal

Oni Magic

Blue oni can muster the innate magic within themselves which gets stronger as they grow in power. You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell once and need to finish a long rest before you can cast it again. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.