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SHIROKINUKATSUKAMI

The final monster to be converted from 1e AD&D Oriental Adventures. 2e and 3e had some other unique monsters as well, but not too many more.  Will get to these at some point as well.


SHIROKINUKATSUKAMI

Large fey (yokai), lawful good
Armor Class 18 Natural Armor
Hit Points 175 (27d8 + 54)
Speed 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
STR      DEX     CON     INT      WIS     CHA
16 (+3) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 19 (+4) 20 (+5) 23 (+6)
Saving Throws INT +9, WIS +10, CHA +11
Skills Insight +10, Intimidation +11, Perception +10, Persuasion +11
Damage Immunities cold, poison
Damage Resistances Fire, Radiant; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Condition Immunities Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 20
Languages All
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. The shirokinukatsukami’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 19, +11 to hit with spell attacks). The shirokinukatsukami can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

Flyby. The shirokinukatsukami doesn’t provoke an opportunity attack when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

Magic Resistance. The shirokinukatsukami has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Regeneration. The shirokinukatsukami regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point left.

ACTIONS

Multiattack. The shirokinukatsukami makes two attacks with its Purple Paws.

Purple Paws. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d4 + 4) slashing damage plus 27 (6d8) radiant damage. If the target is a creature it is grappled (Escape DC 19). While grappling a target the shirokinukatsukami looses its Purple Paw attack.

Goring Tusks. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one grappled target. Hit: 42 (7d10 + 4) piercing damage.

Rake. A target grappled by the shirokinukatsukami automatically takes 9 (2d4+4) slashing damage at the start of the shirokinukatsukami turn.

REACTION

Rake. As a reaction to first grappling a target the shirokinukatsukami may use its rake attack.

DESCRIPTION

shirokin
AD&D 2e, (c) TSR

A powerful and kindly greater spirit, the shirokinukatsukami is a nemesis of evil and a protector of worthy humans.

Also known as the Eater of Dreams, the appearance of the shirokinukatsukami is perhaps the most bizarre of any spirit creature. It has the thick body of a horse, standing on the oversized legs of a tiger. Fine brown or golden hair covers its body, accented with bold, bright patterns in a variety of colors. Its face is that of a lion, complete with a thick mane of coarse hair. But it has the eyes of a human, the trunk and tusks of an elephant, and the tail of a cow. In addition, it has the arms of an ape, ending in tiger’s paws that are equipped with long, purple talons.

The shirokinukatsukami speaks the languages of all humans, humanoids, animals, and spirits. It also speaks the language of the Celestial Court. Its laugh, which frequently punctuates its conversation, resembles the cawing of a crow.

Combat

This greater spirit is a fearless, skilled, and courteous fighter. Unless ambushed, it precedes its attacks with a polite offer: the spirit creature informs its potential victims of the foolishness of their actions, and gives them the opportunity to withdraw. At times, the shirokinukatsukami may offer its opponents an alternative course of action. For instance, a shirokinukatsukami might suggest that an evil spirit take refuge in a temple and ask the Celestial Court for mercy, in order to change its evil, criminal ways.

If an opponent attacks a shirokinukatsukami, or assaults a human protected by the strange creature, the shirokinukatsukami fights without mercy. It attacks with its front paws and its goring tusks. If both paws score a hit, it rakes its victims with its rear paws.

Habitat/Society

The shirokinukatsukami is a staunch enemy of evil spirits and often arrives at night in the homes of humans who are tormented by such spirits. Though humans can petition the spirit creature for aid, usually by praying to the full moon or leaving offerings of flowers and gifts on a window sill, it is sometimes sent by the Celestial Emperor to specifically protect some deserving or noted person. For those who have successfully beseeched its aid or who have been selected by the Celestial Emperor for special protection, the shirokinukatsukami enters through a window at night, usually invisible or in smoke form. Slipping into the bed chamber, it takes a position at the head of the bed, guarding over its charge. During the night, it uses its powers to destroy or drive away any encroaching evil spirits, leaving at the first light of dawn. The shirokinukatsukami is never seen during the daytime.

The shirokinukatsukami has no permanent lair. Instead, it roams the world and the Celestial lands searching for evil spirits. It is quite likely that no more than four shirokinukatsukami exist.

Ecology

This spirit creature gains sustenance from the dreams of a human it deems worthy of its protection. The shirokinukatsukami can freely enter the human’s dreams, while still maintaining its vigilance against evil spirits. Such activity has no ill effect on the human whatsoever; if the human experiences a dream where a shirokinukatsukami is dancing, gardening, or engaging in some other recreational activity, he knows that his dreams have been visited by a friendly shirokinukatsukami.


Banner Art: “Shirokinukatsukami” by Richard Sardinha, (c) WOTC

Posted in 5e, Dungeons & Dragons, Monstrous Compendium, Oriental Adventures

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