[Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen] Youkai: Separating Fact from Myth by Talon Indra

((Chronicle: Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen

Venue: Mage: The Awakening

Chronicle Storyteller: Jerad Sayler

Authored by Alanna Keith))

Youkai: 

Separating Fact from Myth

By Talon Indra

What they are:

Trying to come up with a concise, manageable definition for youkai is difficult - it is like trying to describe what animals are to someone who has no idea.  There are many different kinds of animals - insects, amphibians, mammals, birds, reptiles, arachnids, fish, crustaceans... the same is true of youkai.  To the Japanese, youkai is a term that is (mistakenly) applied to almost any supernatural entity, creature, or phenomena beyond normal human understanding.  Bakemono, obake, etc... are also used as a broad brush to name things that are *weird*. 

To help correct this common misconception that a youkai can be anything and everything weird under the sun (or moon), we are going to list some defining traits and tell you what youkai definitely are not.

Defining Traits:

Youkai Aura

All youkai have an aura, not to be confused with the natural energy aura that all living, spirit, and many undead things emanate (which youkai also possess).  This youkai aura is directly representative of a youkai’s power and is also reflective of its true nature.  The youkai aura emanates from the youkai like a strange mist, smoke, or miasma.  It is invisible to natural visual perception and to many magical sights, however it often gives off a distinct smell and a variety of emotional effects.

Sometimes settling near the floor, like smoke from a fire, sometimes filling a whole room like a fog, the exact characteristics of the aura varies depending on the type of youkai.  An aura can permeate an entire area, helping to keep intruders out and mark territory, getting stronger as the distance to its source decreases.

Many auras, especially those associated with evil youkai are poisonous miasmas, unsafe to enter without safety precautions.  The vile stench of these auras are usually a good warning sign.

With the right perception or sights, other supernatural creatures, whether they be vampires, werewolves, mages, hunters, etc, will be able to see the aura.  Mages need active Spirit or Prime sights to see a youkai aura.  Unless the youkai has an association with Death, Death sights will not perceive the aura.

True Form

All youkai have a true form, unique to the species and individual.  This true form, like the youkai aura, is highly representative of the youkai’s power, often gaining in size and complexity as power increases or as the youkai ages.  Although youkai can be powerful no matter what their form, the true form is the ultimate expression of raw power.  Although many youkai have the ability to change their form or shapeshift, and typically do so to smaller, more physically useful forms, weaker youkai tend to remain in their true form, or something closely approximating it (ex. umbrella youkai). 

A youkai can be compelled to return to its true form by certain magical spells or religious rituals.

What they are not:

Japanese terms:

Akuma – Youkai are not akuma.  The connotation for the word akuma is typically what westerners would normally think of as an evil demon.  Although youkai can be evil, youkai are not akuma.

Oni – Oni are more like a Japanese ogre.  They have very specific physical attributes and traits – bipedal, red skin, horns.

Yuurei - Yuurei is strictly used to describe ghosts, typically those ghosts whose human counterparts had either unfinished business or an unpleasant death.

Other Terms:

Changing Breeds – The supernatural beings known collectively as ‘Changing Breeds’ have formed close bonds with the soul of a natural animal.  Although these are shapeshifters, and many of their abilities are supernatural, they are not youkai.

Demons – As noted above with akuma, youkai are not demons.

Ghosts – Ghosts are the remnants of living things that are now dead.  Youkai are not ghosts – although some may be ghostlike in appearance and ability, they are not dead.

Shapeshifters – While youkai may shift shape, not all youkai are able to do so.  Shapeshifting may be a common ability, but it is not a defining trait.

Spirits – Youkai, unlike spirits, are not primary ephemeral entities, and do not usually reside in the Shadow.  A good many of them exist as physical entities, however, some may also have the ability to be ephemeral.  Many youkai do primarily reside in and interact with the physical world.  There are, however, rumors of entire youkai villages residing in the spirit world, perhaps as a way to distance themselves from the ever expanding humankind.  Although youkai and spirits are distinctly separate beings, there are a few similarities (the need for essence), leading to the theory that perhaps they are distantly related.

Werewolves – Werewolves are specific supernatural creatures that are part wolf, part human, and have ties to both the spirit and real worlds.  Although there are wolf youkai, they are distinctly separate creatures and have no spirit ties.

Evil – Youkai are not typically evil – they are much like humans and can be good, evil, mischievous, and anything in-between.