The Legacy of Aramitama Yurei

Random Encounters
The Legacy of Aramitama Yurei
(Bonus Oriental Adventures Encounters)
By Scott Brocius and Mark A. Jindra

Yurei's Siangham

Yurei's siangham is made of cold iron with strips of inlaid jade, with one of the strips being thicker than the others. Aramitama Yurei, a monk/sorcerer, created it to house the oni he bound. He chose the siangham for the form as a reminder of his misguided days spent as a monk. As a weapon, it is a +2 siangham of silent moves, but its true power lies in its special ability. Only someone who knows the proper mental command can use this ability, though Yurei never gave the secret to anyone.

This item was Yurei's last defense, and it was responsible for several wild tales about him. Yurei produced several copies of this siangham to deter the inevitable number of thieves looking for it. The majority of these also had enhancements so they would appear to detection-based spells as the original.

Once per day, the wielder of this siangham can call forth the oni bound within. The oni follows the directions of the wielder and can stay a number of rounds equal to the character level of the wielder plus 3 (maximum 15 rounds). Calling the oni is a standard action and is considered a summoning for rules on countering or protections.

CL 18th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wondrous Item, binding,greater planar binding, silence, special*; Price: 113,306; Cost 59,306 gp + 4,320 XP.

*Special: Must know the details of a unique outsider.

Hsing Tung No Oni
Unique Oni, Large Outsider (Evil, Shadowlands)
Hit Dice: 18d8+108 (189 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares), fly 60 ft. (clumsy)
Armor Class: 20 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +18/+32
Attack: Tetsubo (greatclub) +28 melee (2d8+15/19-20)
Full Attack: Tetsubo (greatclub) +28/+23/+18/+13 melee (2d8+15/19-20)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/holy, darkvision 60 ft., oni traits, outsider traits, regeneration 5
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +12, Will +11
Abilities: Str 31, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 15, Wis 11, Cha 18
Skills: Balance +3,Bluff +25, Concentration +27, Diplomacy +6, Disguise +25(+27 acting), Hide +18, Intimidate +27, Jump +12, Listen +21, Move Silently +22, Sleight of Hand +24, Spot +21, Tumble +22
Feats: Great Ki Shout, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (tetsubo), Improved Overrun, Ki Shout, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (tetsubo)
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always chaotic evil

This is a spirit captured and bound by Yurei.

His normal appearance is that of a 10-foot-tall, winged humanoid with three eyes and two pairs of horns. His skin is pale green and his nails and horns are jet black. He wears a simple loincloth so that his many writhing and shifting tattoos can be seen. He is armed with a tetsubo (greatclub).

When he was not bound, he enjoyed taking the form of innocents to lure the unsuspecting into a trap for his next meal.

Combat

He is under constant torment while contained within the siangham, and this is reflected when he is released. His attacks are more ferocious than those normally associated with his kind, since he feels he can lessen his suffering by inflicting it upon others. His attacks focus more on his physical skills rather than his mental ones. He uses his invisibility to great effect and flies if he has room. Otherwise, he just pounds his opponents to death.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): At will -- fire breath (9d8; DC 19), invisibility (free action), wall of fire, and teleport without error. Caster level 18th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Oni Traits: Hsing Tung possesses the following traits common to oni.

Immunities (Ex):He is immune to poison.

Resistances (Ex):He has cold, fire, and acid resistance 10.

Alternate Form (Su): He can assume any humanoid form of Small to Large size as a standard action. This is similar to the polymorph spell, but it allows only humanoid forms. When using this ability, he gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks.

Telepathy (Su):He can communicate telepathically with any creature within 100 feet that has a language.

Outsider Traits: Hsing Tung cannot be raised, reincarnated, or resurrected (though a limited wish,wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore life). Darkvision 60 ft.

Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal damage.

DM Note: If using the Rokugan campaign setting, add Shadowlands as a subtype. Its Taint score is 9.

Bringing the Parts Together

Should the party encounter Yurei at a point in his life after he has created the siangham, they might become embroiled in either side of a struggle where Yurei was involved. Yurei and the Oni would make formidable foes and even greater allies.

Coming in Part 3 of the Legacy of Aramitama Yurei

Aramitama Yurei's kimono was to be his crowning achievement, but nobody ever knew of its existence. For those who do find it, they may find the answers to Yurei's demise.

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