Yama Oni | Chieftain | |
FREQUENCY: | Uncommon | Uncommon |
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: | Mountains | Mountains |
ARMOUR CLASS: | 5* | 2* |
MOVE: | 12 | 12 |
HIT DICE: | 5 | 8 |
THACO: | 14* | 10* |
NO. OF ATTACKS: | 1 | 1 |
DAMAGE: | 6-20 (2D8+4) | 6-21 (2D8+5)* |
SPECIAL ATTACKS: | Shuryudans | Shuryudans |
SPECIAL DEFENCES: | Nil | Nil |
MAGIC RESISTENCE: | Nil | Nil |
INTELLIGENCE: | Average to High | High |
ALIGNMENT: | Lawful Evil | Lawful Evil |
SIZE: | L | L |
SAVING THROW: | F5 | F8 |
The Yama Oni are fearsome creatures who dwell within some of the tallest and most majestic mountains of the world. Many refer to these evil creatures as Mountain Ogres or Mountain Demons. Frequently Yama Oni will venture down from their mountain homes to pillage and enslave the nearby humanoid settlements, causing terror to those they meet.
A fully grown Yama Oni stands between 8 to 9 feet tall, and weighs between 350 to 450 lbs, with the males of the species being taller and heavier than the females (males average 8'-9" and females average 8'-3"). The skin colouring of a Yama Oni varies from a bluish-grey to a dark grey in colour.
Yama Oni have similar patterns of hair growth as human, with males being able to grow facial hair. Yama Oni are born with dark brown or black hair, but as a Yama Oni approaches their middle years their hair starts to grey (roughly half of the males will develop receding hairlines at this time). Yama Oni females tend to wear their hair long, and males often tie their hair back in simple topknots.
A Yama Oni reaches adulthood at 20 years, and they could live up to 160 years. Yama Oni have infravision up to 120 feet in total darkness.
Yama Oni live in secluded villages deep within the mountains. A typically Yama Oni village will be built into the side of a mountain, with over half of the village located underground.
The part of the village above ground will typically be surrounded by a walls. Within the walls will be training halls, forges, houses, barracks for the slaves and barns for the livestock.
The below ground areas of the village will consist of a vast network of tunnels connecting to mines (where Dwarf slaves mine for precious metals), underground wells, slave barracks (for dwarf slaves), secrete chambers containing hordes of wealth (obtained from the raids) and living quarters for the Yama Oni (Yama Oni feel equally as comfortable living underground as they do above ground).
Each village will have between 120 to 210 (1D10 x 10 + 110) adult Yama Oni. 1 out of every 10 adults (10%) will be an Elite 6 HD Warrior, with an AC of 3 (superior armour) and a THACO of 13. In addition to the adult population, there will be a child/juvenile Yama Oni for every 4 adults in the village (see Yama Oni Child/Juvenile Table).
Every village is led by a 8 HD Chieftain. The Chieftain will have the best weapons and armour (reflected by an AC of 2) in the village. The Chieftain will be armed with a +1 magical weapon (reflecting in the THACO of 10 and the bonus to damage) and have a 50% chance of having +1 magical armour. The Chieftain will have 2 to 4 (D3 +1) Lieutenants, each having 7 HD (AC 3, THACO 12, SAVE F7). Each Lieutenant will have a 50% chance of being armed with a +1 magical weapon (naginata).
In addition to the Chieftain, each village will have a 7 HD Head Priest (AC 3, THACO 12, SAVE C7), who has the spell casting abilities of a Level 7 Cleric. There is a 75% chanced the Head Priest will be equipped with a magical item (D100: 1-25 = nil; 26-65 = Clerical Rod; 66-85 = Ring; 86-00 = Amulet), and a 75% to be armed with a +1 magical weapon (tetsubo).
Assisting the Head Priest will be 1 to 3 (D3) Priests (AC 5, HD 5, THACO 14, SAVE C5) who have the spelling casting abilities of a Level 5 Cleric. Each of the Priests will have a 50% chanced to be equipped with a magical item (D100: 1-50 = nil; 51-75 = 1-3 Potions; 76-90 = +1 Magical Weapon; 91-00 = Clerical Rod).
Yama Oni detest doing physical labour and raising livestock as they see this type of work as being beneath them. Therefore, Yama Oni are dependant on a large population of slaves to perform these tasks. Each Yama Oni village will have between 230 to 500 (3D10 x 10 + 200) slaves. While dwarves are the preferred choice of slaves (dwarves are hardy and hard working folk), the actual demographics of the population of slaves is a reflect of the demographics of the neighbouring humanoid communities.
Yama Oni obtain their slaves through raids and pillaging, through trade with evil humanoids and through the slave population reproducing. In fact, it is common for a village to have up to 40% of the slave population being 2nd or 3rd generation slaves.
The Yama Oni views their slaves as livestock, and made no differentiation between their humanoid slaves and cattle in their villages. The Yama Oni are not cruel slave masters, and will treat their slaves humanly as long as they are obedient. However, as soon as a slave becomes rebellious, the slave will quickly find their way into the stew pot.
It is common practice for Yama Oni to use their slaves as currency in trade or as gifts to other Yama Oni villages. For instance, slaves are often used as dowry when a Chieftain's daughter is arranged to be married to Chieftain's son from another Yama Oni village.
Marriage among the Yama Oni are typically arranged and Chieftains will use marriage as a means of forging alliances with other Yama Oni villages.
A Yama Oni village will have alliances and trading networks established with other Yama Oni villages. Even though Yama Oni villages are self-sufficient with their mines, slaves and livestock, trading relationship between the villages are very important as it allows for a better distribution of resources and strengthens the alliances between the villages.
The below table could be used to randomly generate juvenile and children Yama Oni. The statics for Damage represents the unarmed damage the Yama Oni child/juvenile will do. Yama Oni children who are less than 8 years of age are non-combatants, and youths who are 16 years old will start to develop their Expectational Strength abilities, which is reflected in the bonuses to THACO and Damage scores.
D20 | Age (years) | HD | THACO | SAVE | Damage |
1-3 | 0-2 (toddler) | 1-4 hp | - | F0 | Nil |
4-8 | 3-7 (child) | 1-1 HD | - | F0 | Nil |
9-12 | 8-11 (child) | 1 HD | 20 | F1 | 1-3 (D3) |
13-14 | 12-13 (youth) | 1+1 HD | 19 | F1 | 1-4 (D4) |
15-16 | 14-15 (youth) | 2 HD | 19 | F2 | 1-6 (D6) |
17-18 | 16-17 (youth)* | 3 HD | 17 | F3 | 3-8 (D6 +2) |
19-20 | 18-19 (youth)** | 4 HD | 15 | F4 | 5-10 (D6 +4) |
* The Yama Oni will have the equivalent strength of a STR 18, which grants a +1 bonus to hit, and +2 bonus to damage.
** The Yama Oni will have the equivalent strength of a STR 18/90, which grants a +2 bonus to hit, and +4 bonus to damage.
Yama Oni tend to have an arrogant and self-centred view of themselves, and their place in the world. Despite these traits, Yama Oni work well together, and are able to launch coordinated attacks. However, their ultimate goal behind their cooperation is for individual gains and selfish motives.
Yama Oni speak their own language and the common tongue of the region. 40% of Yama Oni will speak a third language and 10% will be able to speak a fourth language.
Due to their large size and natural strength, Yama Oni are naturally built for combat. Yama Oni have the equivalent strength of a STR 18/90; therefore they gain a +2 bonus to hit and +4 bonus to damage (this is reflected in their THACO and damage values).
Yama Oni also possess an uncanny ability to remain hidden in their natural environment (mountains). When a Yama Oni remains hidden in their natural environment they have a 90% chance to remain undetected.
Yama Oni's preferred method of attack is to launch surprise attacks. At the start of combat, Yama Oni will throw their Shuryudan (see description below) at their enemy creating confusion among the ranks. Next, the Yama Oni will attack swiftly, cutting their enemies apart with their Naginatas.
While Yama Oni detest physical labour, the spend long hours crafting weapons and armour (this is seen as a noble and dignified pursuit by the Yama Oni). Yama Oni are able to create fine weapons and armour, which they use for battle.
Yama Oni build their suits of armour from lacquered metal and hardened leather. The suits are armour used by the common warriors are simpler in design and offer less protection than those used by the elite warriors and chieftains. This is reflected in the different Armour Class values in the statistics.
Below are some of the weapons commonly used by the Yama Oni.
Naginata*. The Naginata is a pole arm with a long curved bladed on the end of it. The blade is between 4 to 5 feet in length. The Naginata is the weapon of choice for most Yama Oni. The Naginata does 2D8** points of slashing damage (plus the Yama Oni's strength bonus).
Tetsubo*. The Tetsubo is a large two-handed war club, and is used by the Yama Oni Priests. The Tetsubo does 2D6** points worth of budging damage (plus the Yama Oni's strength bonus).
Daikyu*. The Daikyu is a longbow that is 10 feet in length. An arrow fired from the Daikyu does 1D12** points of piercing damage.
* The weapons are designed for a large sized creature and are too large and awkward to be used by a medium sized creature.
** The damage reflects the damage caused by the large sized version of the weapon. The version of the weapon used by medium sized creatures will do less damage.
One of the unique weapons constructed by the Yama Oni are the Shuryudans. Shuryudans are ranged weapons that take the form of hollowed clay balls. Within each of the balls is a mixture powder that produces a specific effect (see below). A Shuryudan is roughly the size of a chicken's egg. A Yama Oni will throw the Shuryudan at their enemies, and they are able to throw each Shuryudan up to 60 feet (this distance is a reflection of their exceptional strength score).
When throwing a Shuryudan, the first thing to do is to select a target point for where you want the Shuryudan to land. The target point will have an AC of 10*. If the roll is a hit, then the Shuryudan will land on the target point. If the roll is a miss, then do the following:
* The AC of the target point could be modified to reflect easier or more difficult target points. For instance, if a creature is throwing a Shuryudan downhill the AC of the target point will increase (making it easier to hit) to reflect an easier area to hit.
Each of the Shuryudan will have one of the following effects:
Every Yama Oni will carry a bag of Shuryudan. Each bag will contain between 5 to 8 (D4 +4) Shuryudans.