Oni
Information
Name	Oni, Oginin, Onin
Created by	damedanbo
Ancestors	Roke, the World Frog
World	Funkplanet
Species status	Closed

Oni_

Oni, also called the Oginin, and Onin in certain dialects, are a species of demon- or spirit-like humanoids who reside in the swamps, forests, caves, and mountains. Composed of a variety of peoples with diverse and unique physical characteristics, Oni also occupy a wide and diverse range of territory and adapt well to new locations.

The most prominent type of Oni is the forest variety. With varying body types, skin tones, appearances and abilities, the horned forest Oni make up the majority of the population. Oni have impressive strength and live abnormally long lives.

With the ability to hibernate in a non-responsive “dormant” state, Oni can sleep for years, even centuries at a time. Dormant Oni can often be found in deep caves or ancient forests, covered in moss and new plant growth. It is not necessarily taboo to kill, eat, or maim a dormant or hibernating Oni, but it is considered cowardly.

Oni have no problem with hunting and eating other sentient species, but are fond of fae and small creatures as they “look like children” and are therefore “good luck.”

Physical Traits_

The physical characteristics of Oni vary widely. The typical Oni adult is 6-10 feet tall, though they can reach heights of 12 feet, in rare cases. Children are smaller, though not as small as fae after “birth.” Many Oni are white, blue, green or red in color, but Oni with “human” skin tones in darker shades also exist. Metachrosis, witnessed in less than one in a thousand Oni children, is possible. This results in Oni who can turn their skin shades of pink or other “unnatural” colors, or camouflage themselves and disappear into their environment.

Oni are proud of their horns and arms. It is common for Oni to have 4 to 8 arms growing from their sides and back, although there are children born with only 2, or with an odd number of arms. An extra odd-numbered arm will usually fall off before maturity is reached. Few Oni have less than 2 horns, and they may grow as many as 6. There are folktales of Oni with one hundred arms or one hundred horns, which are told to children and adolescents to inspire strength in them.

All Oni grow tails, one or two, in varying styles. Some Oni are blessed with amphibious tails which assist in swimming and navigation. Others grow simpler tails. Regardless of shape, the tail is always hairless, and extends from the base of the spine.

Black or dark brown is the most common hair color seen in Oni culture. The fad of dying ones hair has never caught on among Oni, and the only Oni with varying hair colors are the elderly or those born with hair in shades of white or red.

Oni teeth are sharp, sturdy, and will regrow if pulled or knocked out. No Oni is above using teeth in a fight against a rival or enemy, or even a friend.

Oni sexual characteristics, like most of their physical traits, vary. Oni are not assigned a gender at birth based on genitalia (see Sexuality and Gender) though differing genitalia are apparent between two members of the same population; a binary cis identifying male Oni from the plains and a binary cis identifying female Oni from the plains will have differing genitalia, while a binary cis female from the plains and a binary cis female from the mountains may have different genitals. In addition, intersex births and entirely divergent genitals are somewhat common. Overall, Oni are “not concerned” with genitals or sex characteristics.

Habitat and Ecology_

Oni live primarily in the forests, jungles, swamps, plains, mountains, and caves of the world. They are highly adaptive, and it is possible for Oni to transplant themselves into a new environment, though they prefer warm or tepid weather to low temperatures.

Oni build their own houses out of available supplies. They are resilient, digging into the land to survive harsh conditions and food shortages.

Oni that reside on mountains or in caves are in a tricky position. With less access to supplies, they must build from lumber hauled across the plains, or subsist on the land, exposed to the elements. Mountain Oni are hardy, less affected by cold temperatures and hunger, and are generally hailed as “stronger.” Cave Oni and Mountain Oni intersect in many ways, though the majority of so-called “Cave” Oni are actually dormant. Living Cave Oni are known for their fishing and mining skills, and are blessed by blind amphibians in their waters.

Jungle and Swamp Oni, exposed to high humidity and temperatures, are exposed to a variety of diseases not seen in most other Oni; therefore, they are considered stronger in the face of pestilence. Jungle Oni build their houses in the canopy, traversing a network of precariously strung bridges and platforms to get around their communities without disturbing the wildlife below; Swamp Oni may do the same, though they also build their homes on the water, on floating platforms or boats. Jungle and Swamp Oni have greater access to frogs than most other Oni.

Plains Oni are resilient. Hunting, gathering, and gardening for their survival, they are praised for their long-distance speed and specialized hunting abilities. Plains Oni rarely live above ground, but rather in sod houses or “hill houses,” built into the dirt and covered in growing grass.

Forest Oni build their houses out of wood, most commonly on the ground within the forests. They hunt and very occasionally garden, and are the third most wealthy in terms of frogs per acre.

The six common types of western Oni interact with each other while travelling, in cities, and occasionally to build more diverse harems. All Oni are derived from the same ancestral grounds in the far east of the continent.

Spirituality_

Most Oni are unsure what happens to them after death. Some believe in “re-life” or reincarnation, and that their dead friends will be reborn as frogs or newts to bless them in the next life. Others believe that no Oni spirit leaves the current cycle, and that dead Oni are still around as spirits, interacting with a different level of the world. Most believe it is possible for an Oni spirit to leave and return to a body; hibernating Oni are suspected to be devoid of spirit, and some Oni build shanties or slanted roofs over dormant Oni to offer protection to the body until the spirit returns. Some Oni claim to have left their original bodies to enter another unused body, but this has never been proven.

Oni do not practice religion in a strictly traditional fashion; they pray to idols and frogs, and sometimes to strong figures in their history. All Oni know of magic, and many of them can use it in one way or another. Oni magic is largely considered “unrefined” but overwhelmingly powerful in its natural form.

Culture_

Oni Culture varies between habitats, communities, harems, and families. Though all Oni come from the same ancestry, and most Oni share the same basic stories of creation and origin, their mythos has been shown to adapt to their locality and personal belief. Oni history is not well recorded, though they believe the earth to have appeared around 8,000 years before when they emerged as a species, despite evidence of early fae that says otherwise.

Forest Oni follow old customs and retell the creation myths most similarly to the old Oni, while other Oni have adapted the stories to their situations. Plains Oni believe in the great fire, which scorched the plains of the world and was only stopped by the first salamander, who crawled out of the first stream to smother the blaze with its belly, a story adapted from the original, wherein the first salamander brought fire to the Oni and taught them to create it when it spat up two stones.

Swamp Oni believe alligators to be the cousins of the first frog, who went against the way of the world and were transformed into beasts. Most Oni see earthquakes and tremors as the bellowing of the World Frog as it searches for a mate-- the World Frog, of course, being the frog whose vocal sac contains the planet. The universe is merely a pond full of frogs containing other planets, to them.

Of course, there are exceptions, and not all Oni believe in their origin myths, but the stories are considered important, especially for teaching children lessons.

Frog Worship_

It’s no secret that Oni worship frogs. They see the creatures not only as bringers of good luck and triumph in battle, but as symbols of childhood and innocence, due to their similarities in birthing and development. Frogs are powerful and wise creatures, the closest thing Oni have to gods, and all Oni will go to great lengths to find particularly large or powerful frogs, please wild frogs, and gain their favor. Many small shanty shrines are erected throughout Oni territory to protect and house the amphibians, and Oni children will often bring the frogs of these shrines bugs to eat or nice rocks to sleep on. Powerful frogs can be traded for land and goods, however, Oni respect frogs as living beings and would never force a frog to go anywhere it doesn’t want to go.

Toads and other amphibians are usually considered “close enough” and are on the receiving end of Oni respect as well. Newts, or “long frogs” are revered for their regenerative abilities, and it is believed that a blessing from a newt will aid in healing an injured Oni, especially one who has lost an arm, horn, or tail. Legs aren’t as important. Salamaders (“water frogs”) are prayed to during times of drought for protection against fire; axolotls (“frilled frogs”) for their beauty, toads for their size, caecilians (long frogs) are revered for their secrecy, diplocaulus (war frogs) for their strength, and giant salamanders, though extinct, are still prayed to for their godliness. All amphibians are loved, but different families and communities may pray to specific amphibians the most.

Poaching_

Despite their strength and size, Oni are not always the top of the food chain. Other species, and occasionally even other Oni who sell on the black market are not above using Oni for parts. Oni horn, full of magic and strength, fetches a high price, especially larger, more intricate horns. Oni tails are typically used as trophies, synonymous to a stuffed head mounted on the wall, and very occasionally, arms show up on the black market, which people claim to have various uses in medicine. Eyes and teeth are also scavenged for cuisine and trophies or magic, respectively. Crushed Oni bones can also fetch a high price.

Dormant Oni and Oni children are in particular danger of being picked over for parts. Kidnapped Oni youth are not particularly useful for anything, but Oni are still wary of outsiders (besides fae) who might seek to do their young harm. Many of the species will also go out of their way to defend dormant Oni from poachers, hiding them under moss and rock, or protecting them with spells. Children are encouraged to attack non-Oni, or even Oni they aren’t familiar with.

Justice_

The Oni justice system is simple and straightforward, usually settled by a mediating third party who encourages the two parties to fight it out and go their separate ways. Theft of possession or land is dealt with in this way; the stronger Oni is rightfully allowed to keep the item or land, while the weaker Oni should go home without causing a fuss. Very rarely, the two parties may agree to settle without fighting, and split the difference.

Cases of murder are generally looked over or given a slap on the wrist, as no Oni is worried about death. However, cases of rape, abuse, kidnapping or child abuse, while incredibly rare, are dealt with appropriately: The perpetrator, brought before their community, is subject to torture, death, and torment at the hands of his fellow Oni. Torture and torment may sound redundant, but this means that after being tortured and put to death, the Oni’s spirit will continue to suffer pain and anguish, unable to find peace. The body is then disassembled to prevent the spirit’s return, and destroyed or put up as a warning to others.

Fighting and War_

Oni love to fight, and do it often. Even adult couples will battle each other occasionally, for fun or to settle minor disputes. Oni rarely go to war in the modern day, though they have had to in the past to defend their territory from the other species, or opposing Oni forces. Rivaling Oni families may gather their allies to attempt to seize land or destroy their targeted community. Their targets will meet them halfway, where they’ll settle the dispute in battle.

Several times throughout history, enemy families from different parts of the world have unified under a single commander to defend Oni land as a whole. In their early years, Oni have gone to war against Hircwn (affectionately called “long dogs”) over territory, and Meermin (“fish girls”) over an invasion.

Oni war parties have no ranks, aside from their commander. It is the job and pleasure of adult Oni to choose to join a war. There is no shame in sitting out a battle or choosing not to fight. It is considered just as important that some Oni stay home to maintain their communities, appease the frogs, and care for the young and old.

Reproduction_

The Oni of Funkplanet are unique in the method of which they give birth. Live birth never occurs; instead, Oni give birth to jelly covered embryos, not unlike frogspawn—but singular. The embryo is placed in water immediately after delivery, at which point it begins to slowly develop into an Oni child. This can take years. Oni children are rare to come by, due to their long developmental period, and as such it is incredibly taboo to allow harm to befall a child, even that of your enemy. The Nakai family has seven children, and so they are considered lucky, blessed by the frogs, even.

After months, years, occasionally decades of waiting, an Oni emerges from the water and jelly, as a full formed child. At this point, the embryo will have been passed around between families for safekeeping. When the child emerges, she is raised among whichever family has her at the time, until it is time for her to return to her biological family.

Occasionally, the Oni emerges incorrectly formed, with an odd number of arms, or too many horns, eyes, or tails. It’s no biggie, though. All Oni children are beloved. If the arm, tail, or other limb falls off the child later, it is kept and given to the child’s first host family.

Sexuality and Gender_

Though Oni recognize a gender binary, few of them follow it. Most Oni are referred to with a variety of pronouns, depending on their preference or the preference of the person speaking to them. The individual being referred to is deferred to for preference first. Some Oni may appear to present more “feminine” or “masculine” but rarely do they consider themselves strictly male or female. Nonbinary Oni make up a considerable part of the population, and binary Oni are considered no more correct or incorrect than their nonbinary counterparts.

Few Oni consider themselves strictly cisgender, as gender is a difficult concept to unravel anyway, and Oni are not philosophists. Children are especially fluid in gender and presentation, and experiment wildly with personal pronouns, though this is not to say that adult Oni cannot be fluid or question their own genders.

Sex is a part of Oni life second to fighting, and while reproduction is a goal for the species as a whole, it is not the only part. Sex for pleasure is smiled upon, and sex with an individual of the same or simliar gender, or an individual with the same genitalia is seen as a normal part of life. Couples of any orientation, polyamorous groupings, and even casual sexual encounters are neither shameful nor viewed as “lesser,” though it should be noted that Oni do not typically feel shame in general.

Sex between Oni can be very similar to human sex, though genitalia differs wildly. (See Physical Traits.) Oni cannot reproduce asexually, and ovulation appears to come at random.

Life stages_

The unborn Oni is like a tadpole, inhuman in appearance, loosely formed. It moves and absorbs information while within its jelly egg, waiting for its limbs and organs to form. When the body is sufficiently grown, the young Oni emerges from its egg with a juvenile understanding of movement, and language. The newly born Oni must remain in the water a while longer, until it is able to survive on its own on the land. Newborn Oni absorb through their skin until they are a few years old, and it is important for them to remain wet at first, for their health and development.

Young Oni live with whichever family they happen to be born with. During her youth, an Oni child will grow up communicaly raised by adjacent families, until it is time for her to return to her biological family. She will be accompanied by an entourage to her birth family’s home, where she will remain until she is old enough to form her first harem. Oni do not attend school, but are taught about the world by their families and communities.

Oni harems are non-sexual and non-romantic in nature, though such relationships can bloom from a harem situation. Rather, it is a mutually beneficial polyarchal group of young Oni brought together from various families and areas to work on local, interfamilial, and worldwide problems. Different harems mingle and debate with one another freely, and one Oni can be in many harems, while running his own.

Older adult Oni leave most politics and land allotments to the young. By the time adults are old enough to lay eggs, they will have disbanded their harem and settled down with one, or several other Oni to create a family. This is not true for everyone, of course; there are plenty of adult Oni who live alone, out of choice, or necessity. As Oni are raised communally, it is not uncommon for various adult friends to also live with each other, or for travellers to join a family for a while before moving on.

Elderly Oni are nearly as rare as children. Due to their longevity and good health, Oni aging is a slow process, and most Oni will die of sustained injuries before they begin to go grey. Elders can remain with their children’s families, though many of them choose to hibernate indefinitely.

Diet_

Oni are omnivores, feeding off of meat, fish, insects, and plants throughout their lives. Oni poliwags feed strictly off of freshwater plant matter; once the newly born Oni is able to survive out of the water, a diet of bugs begins. Oni continue to eat bugs throughout their lifetime, but will begin to eat fresh meat and harvested vegetables as children, when their teeth develop. Oni see a healthy diet as one composed of primarily fresh meat, cooked or raw.

Rice has become a staple grain for many Oni, and wild vegetables, fruit and roots make up the rest of their diet. Some Oni farm, using harvested seeds or seeds brought from the cities to the wild, and trade their crops for rice or ekasa, traditional Oni liquor.

Fashion, Technology, and Modernization_

Oni fashion and technology, though adapted to varying regions, has not differed much in the past 5,000 years. Compared to the advanced meermin and hircwn, Oni are very much still living in the past in most cases. Very few Oni have electricity or modern luxuries, such as indoor plumbing. Rarely do Oni enter cities, multicultural or otherwise, and those that do experience culture shock as they try to learn about all the “new” things at once. City-going Oni have over time brought certain luxuries back to their communities in the wilds of the planet, including candies and sweets, scented candles, shoes, and scissors. Most electronic appliances and devices would be useless to bring to their families without any electricity to charge them. Magically powered devices, however, fascinate the Oni. Assuming that they’re able to read, or understand common language, it is possible to access the planet’s internet through magic, opening communities up to a new world of knowledge.

Oni clothing, handmade by hand-harvested and -spun thread, is styled after traditional Japanese attire. City-going Oni do sometimes bring back durable “modern” clothes, which can be altered to fit on the Oni’s many arms. Many Oni also go naked, when the climate allows, as there is no concept of physical shame in their culture. Loincloths are the closest Oni come to undergarments.

Oni and Other Species_

Oni and Fae

Oni are overwhelmingly fond of the concept of fae, though only the ancestors of Oni and eldest fae might have interacted in ancient mythological times. Fae are an isolationist prey species, focused on maintaining the balance and health of the planet. There are few creatures left large enough to kill and eat them, but being prey for so long has created a hermit culture.

Fae and Oni’s ancestors were likely tolerant of each other at best during the pre-Oni time. Oni refer to the fae as simply oko, or “revered child.”

Oni and Hircwn

Oni have had problems with Hircwn in the past, but are currently under treaty with them and free trade is common between the two species. Hircwn are, deep-down, afraid of being slaughtered by the Oni, and do their best to uphold the treaty for as long as possible. Oni call the Hircwn “yagani uni” or “long dogs,” in reference to their appearances.

Oni and Gods

Despite the Gods being literal Gods, Oni do not think of them as creators or rulers of the planet; rather, they are “strong beings” born at the moment of the First Croak.

Demigods are known as imakana but are only spoken of in stories of the first strong imaka beings. Half-Oni demigods likely exist, but are stripped of half their power for the sake of harmony in the world; in other words, an Oni demigod can be as powerful as an Oni or as powerful as a demigod, but not both.

Oni and Meermin

Oni are largely afraid of the Meermin. They have long avoided the ocean for this reason, and are even nervous around large bodies of freshwater. Oni believe that when the World Frog first croaked, the poliwags of their ancestors were thrown into the sea by the resulting tremor, and devoured by the early Meermin. The tadpoles that escaped were forced to climb the cliffs back to the Oni’s ancestral home, settling safely in their pond again---but the memory of being hunted and eaten by the Meermin remains in the Oni’s collective DNA. The Meermin are called anakako, fish girls.

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