Oni (Race)

Origin, Creation, and Definition

Oni have been around since the first wicked being died, for a dead being may become an Oni in Hell, if they can prove their wickedness. His True Name lost to time, The Oni Pokkuri. Pokkuri was a truly wicked being in life, and sought out other fresh souls in Hell to become Oni and other Devils like him, as all Oni are Devils but not all Devils are Oni. Pokkuri created a clan of Oni in hell, as the only way for one to become an Oni is by turning an already dead soul into an Oni. Pokkuri found that using pure wicked energy, they could send Oni to the Earth to spread wickedness, so their victims would go to Hell as Oni, too.

Pokkuri’s ultimate goal was to turn Earth into a living Hell. One day, Oni will, in theory, conquer the Earth and enslave its people, torturing every last one of them, allied to no one but their own race. This would be impossible, however, if they simply slaughtered everyone they met. If they did this, goodly and vengeful people would seek out The Oni and eliminate them, sending them back to Hell. Pokkuri knew that The Oni would have to be self-conscious, careful, and manipulative, but also strong and brutish enough to make a dominating presence, in order to one day destroy all goodwill.

So Pokkuri made sure that The Oni identified as Devils. As Devils, all Oni are lawful by nature, unlike chaotic demons. By definition, madmen cannot become Oni, as the chaos is an inefficient source of suffering. An Oni’s purpose is to spread wickedness in people, and chaotic destruction may simply cause people to swear against chaos and step into the light as a Paladin may. Instead, systematic and calculated destruction of a person’s goodwill by showing them the power in evil, and destroying all sources of goodness can spread wickedness efficiently.

That being said, an Oni is still ultimately a brutish hellspawn, who resents unconditional goodwill and has a distaste for most life. An Oni will unsheath their unbridled hellish fury from their casing of self-preservation if they are insulted or pressured, if they have the capacity to crush the opposition.

HOWEVER. If an Oni is ever confronted against their work to spread wickedness, they are to immediately back down unless they have the power to eliminate the confrontation. An Oni’s purpose is not to create conflict. An Oni’s purpose is to spread wickedness efficiently, but opposition to wickedness creates unity against The Oni, and can inhibit the spread of evil, and may even spell the downfall of All Oni. Many a clan has been destroyed through their own reputation of malice. If necessary, Oni will apologize for their actions, if it benefits Oni as a whole and ensures their survival. Also, Oni have the right to excommunicate other Oni if they show signs of chaos and unnecessary wickedness if it upsets others. Only when there are enough Oni to destroy all potential opposition would all lawful pretenses be tossed aside for conquest and domination.

Unfortunately, Oni have a tremendous weakness. Without obvious landmarks, Oni have very little sense of direction. Some believe that this is common amongst Oni due to the frequent and disorienting trip to Hell and back, causing an Oni’s mind to become garbled. Others believe that Oni must sacrifice wisdom and hippocampus functionality to gain the strength synonymous with being an Oni. Some claim it is their nomadic nature, others say that they’re just that stupid. Regardless, this is the reason that very few Oni are ever found together, as separation from their clan means they are lost forever. This condition has caused Oni to band together with other Realms and Units, so they can utilize the shield wall of their allies to know where their enemies are. They usually do this in exchange for food, alcohol, promises of a convert, and/or some amount of homage, as Oni are generally proud creatures.

Defining Wickedness

Wickedness, to an Oni, is the polar opposite of goodwill. Granted they may do favors for those they respect, but generally will not show goodwill to another unless it benefits them in some way. Oni believe that unconditional goodwill to other creatures is foolish, as it can unknowingly turn a proud warrior into a servant. That being said, Oni generally do not just show malice to everyone they meet, as that would cause unnecessary conflict and create a united opposition.

However, Oni desire to be evil at the extreme, but from experience they know that being overly wicked and pillaging every village and town in sight will spell their downfall when the kingdom's army comes to destroy them. As such, there are many basic rules on how much wickedness is permitted:

1. Always avoid unnecessary conflict with strangers, as anyone may become an Oni some day.

2. Never respect anyone unconditionally. Everyone must earn their respect, by title, skill, or otherwise.

3. Do not murder, especially if the murder would create a vengeful opposition against The Oni. An exception of this rule is to send a wicked soul to Hell so they may become an Oni there.

4. If someone asks you for a favor, you may refuse, unless you can use the favor to eliminate goodwill. Ex. (Most mercenary work is permittable, but fetching water is out of the question)

5. Always attempt to spread wickedness, as counter to goodwill, unless such an attempt would hinder relations of Oni to another group.

6. Always honor those who can beat you in combat, for they may be able to teach you to become better.

7. Always honor those who come to you for help, as they are courageous, and may become Oni.

8. If a guest is in your camp belittles or annoys you, warn them that more nuisance will result in their destruction, and follow through if needed.

9. Do not attempt to force sexual relations unless s/he shows interest and consents.

10. Do not steal, unless the owner would not be upset by their loss.

11. While pillaging or destroying a settlement, all tenets may be disregarded.

Names and Summoning

Oni usually change names or gain an Oni Nickname after they become an Oni. An Oni name is usually a Japanese sound effect, such as bashi, ban, or gishi. Typically names that indicate a strike, such as "crunch" or "smash" are encouraged. Other names that mean "menacing" or "woosh" are also encouraged. Most Oni are also fond of writing either in Japanese or using all capital letters in their writing. This is largely due to their heritage, and Japanese script has no lowercase or uppercase.

Some Fiends can be summoned from Hell if their True Name is spoken with such an intention. The True Name of an Oni is typically their name before they became an Oni. Most Green and Blue Oni can be summoned by simply speaking the name, with some focus and homage to The Oni. Surprisingly, accidental summonings of Green and Blue Oni can occur. If enough emotion is attached to one's words, and the True Name of an Oni is spoken, An Oni may respond by being summoned directly from Hell. Red Oni and Grey Oni would need a ritual that endear them, and beg for their help. Even then, they can refuse a summoning, in a rejection of goodwill. If an Oni is not in Hell and their True Name is spoken, most Oni will respond by making their presence known and approaching the speaker of their True Name.

Language

Oni do not often speak with a monster dialect, unless they were a monster in their past life. Their language and mannerisms are often defined by their former lives. That being said, many Oni aspire to speak with proper grammar and learn multiple languages so as to spread the word of the Oni most efficiently. Some Oni speak Japanese as an attempt to either pay homage to their ancestry or confuse their enemies with foreign languages. That being said, it is not known if Japan was the island of Oni origin. Most Oni names are written in katakana, or Japanese kanji, as most names are actually Japanese words.

Combat

Oni traditionally wield polearms, specifically The Tetsubo and Naginata. However, Oni have been known to use other aggressive fighting styles like Spear and Florentine. Very few Oni wield shields, as an Oni’s priority is not to live, but to create suffering.

Relations with Other Races

Oni as a whole do not hate any race more than any other, besides any race that is inherently filled with too much goodwill, and is too hard to corrupt, or is inherently too chaotic. Oni can create peaceable treaties and relations with other races, units, and realms, as it allows for corrupting individuals within those groups, and can keep Oni from getting lost.

Some Oni respect Ogres almost unconditionally. This is because Jari, the first Oni of the new land was trained by Ogres. Jari never had the chance to repay The Ogres for his training in great weapon fighting. The magnitude of respect to Ogres differs between Oni, from indifference, to helping wounded Ogres, to swearing loyalty to a respectable Ogre tribe.

Appearance and Rank

All (non-pink) Oni have horns, which can come in many forms. Some have horns that curl on the sides of their heads, Others have horns that point forward on the forehead, and some have 4 or more horns that all point backwards.

Oni can come in five colors: Pink, green, blue, red, and grey, all Oni rise in rank in that order. Pink Oni are not true Oni. They are wannabe Oni that have not yet gone to hell, but claim they will become an Oni in death. In other words, they are Oni on probation. It should be noted that non-pinkies can still become Oni.

Green Oni are the youngest Oni. To become a Green Oni, and as a Pink Oni or another race, must present themselves to The Hell Council in death. They will be accepted by the Hell Council if they can prove their wickedness, swear their life to spreading it lawfully, and swear to fighting using only offensive fighting style.

Blue Oni are the Oni that have proven themselves as competent in combat. They have selected a fighting style they are proficient in, such as reds, spears, two-sticking, etc.. In order to become a Blue Oni, a Green Oni must kill a consenting Red Oni before other Oni witnesses as a trial, using their proficient fighting style. There is no time limit, nor life limit, but The Green Oni must kill The Red Oni in one life. Afterwards, The Red Oni will paint the challenger blue, and they may rise. One may start as a Blue Oni and skip the rank of Green Oni if they have already proven proficiency with weapons. However, one must still kill a Red Oni.

A Red Oni is an Elite Oni, and must pass a series of trials, including a Strength Trial, Combat Trial, Wicked Trial, Law Trial, and finally, they must overcome any Oni’s biggest weakness: Sense of Direction. The details of these trials are detailed below.

Finally, a Red Oni can become a Grey Oni, which is the highest rank of all Oni. A Grey Oni symbolizes wisdom, and the ability to be a mentor to other younger Oni. Becoming a Grey Oni is usually synonymous with leadership, much like an elder. One becomes a Grey Oni after having converted numerous creatures to Oni and teaching them the way of The Oni, mentoring them on their path. A Red Oni can be nominated by other Oni on merit. Afterwards, a ceremony must be held where The Oni in question does not speak, but other Oni and even non-Oni speak for the merits of The Oni in question, speaking of accomplishments, leadership ability, and virtues. Afterwards, a vote will be held, where all Oni present must vote unanimously for the ascension of The Oni in question to be changed from Red to Grey.

Red Oni Trials

All trials may be decided by a council of Oni and must occur at an event, and otherwise do not have strict regulations. The Strength and Combat trial prove an Oni’s ability to destroy, as destruction is often necessary to rid the world of goodwill and spread wickedness. The Wicked Trial simply consists of spreading wickedness in the form of converting someone from nothing to a Pink or Green Oni. The Law Trial is arguably the most brutal trial of all. The purpose of this trial is to tempt The Oni in question to turn chaotic. This is typically done by forcing The Oni to suffer, and desire vengeance through violence. Some forms of “torture” are insulting The Oni, questioning their honor, or using the honorific ~chan at the end of The Oni’s name, as using ~chan at the end of their name indicates they are cute and childish, unlike a brutal and terrifying Oni. If the Oni lashes out at their torturers, The Oni fails.

Finally, the cruelest of all the trials, is overcoming their greatest weakness: Sense of Direction. This trial is the only trial that must be performed as described, and is rigid in its requirements. The Oni in question must be taken to an event they have never been to before with a bag or blindfold over their face. The Oni must then be dropped off in a random location, and then left alone for sufficient time for the other Oni to return to their camp. The Oni may be accompanied by other Oni, but cannot help The Oni in question with directions. The Oni can only ask for directions in exchange for telling people of the lore of Oni, such as their desire to spread wickedness, and their lack of sense of direction.

Historical Speculation

Some historians that are fascinated with Oni believe that Oni are actually the spirits of ancient Samurai.

During a long period of time, Japan, a distant island country, was heavily fragmented. Military power was the core of power during this period and Japan, and Samurai were extremely valuable as Warriors and Generals, and were idolized in popular culture. They were a proud race, and had to follow The Bushido Code, which highlighted loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honor. They were honored by the entire social class, and were extremely prestigious.

However, as Japan fell under a single power and was united, peace slowly emerged, and The Samurai was slowly made obsolete. Samurai fell to the level of lowly mercenaries for merchants and farming families. Many Samurai fell into poverty, as peace was so thoroughly encouraged. However, some Samurai went honorless, and began faking conflicts in order to keep themselves useful. Some burned down crops to create the illusion of bandit wars, some started raiding merchants along major roads, and some conspired with other Samurai to fake a conflict, force townspeople to pay them taxes for their "services," and continue to falsify battle reports to encourage the commonfolk to pay the Samurai for nothing.

As these Samurai were eventually caught, or simply died of old age, it has been theorized that many of their souls went to Hell, and turned to Oni. It would explain their lawful nature, their predisposition to Japanese weapons, Japanese script, and other things. None of this can be confirmed as many Hell Oni have forgotten their origins over time.

People

Jari The Oni (See his lore under "Persons" for more information)

Kree

Oni Shiro

Musings and Factoids of Jari The Blue

I have been seen as a "Back-Stabber" on the battlefield, and accused as such off the field. This, I feel the need to explain. When I have the opportunity, and it is reasonable, I always prefer to fight my opponents when they are facing me, and not distracted. This way, I can learn as much as I can from my opponent, and s/he can learn just as much from me. However, I have been the subject of many back-stabs myself, on and off the field, as it is an extremely efficient and safe way to dispatch myself. As such, when the only goal is to win a large-scale battle, my endeavors must be put aside, and only then is back-stabbing entirely allowed. Similarly, my opinion on armor is the same. One should avoid wearing armor when attempting to improve oneself. Otherwise, in the event of a battle of honor or other high-stakes combat, armor should be encouraged, to ensure success.

All Oni bleed a viscous black fluid, sometimes known as Nightmare Fuel. All, friends and foe, are warned not to consume it. In contact with the ground, it is known to sink down into the earth, into Hell.

Unbeknownst to many, time in Hell travels at different speeds for different creatures. Tortured souls experience time at an extremely slow pace, 1/50 to 1/00 the speed. However, Oni usually experience time in Hell faster than time on the surface world. I, for instance, experienced 72 hours in hell to be about 4 weeks on the surface world.

Oni cannot truly experience Love or Joy. The closest thing to Joy an Oni can experience is the euphoric satisfaction of corrupting someone or something. As a result, some of the older Oni, like myself, have developed what is known as an "Oni Grin." Some Oni, forgetting which social cues call for smiles and frowns, simply default to an ear-to-ear grin for all emotional responses, including the ones we can register.

Oni Grins can even occur during moments of intense rage and incredible sadness, which some see as a defense mechanism so nobody truly knows how an Oni feels. Personally, I just do it because it's fun, and makes the bad things more tolerable.

I typically speak very slowly, loudly, and over-enunciate my words. I do this to ensure that I am not misunderstood when I speak, both of Oni lore and fighting technique, but also to attract the attention of the curious and bored. The more people know me, the more likely potential Oni will make themselves known to me. While I will encourage other Oni to do the same, it is not necessary, as not all Oni are as socially comfortable as me.