HWE Waira

Name: Waira

Alias: regional corruption of 'Kowai', which means 'scary', Ground Otoroshi, Forest Chimera

Alignment: True Neutral to Neutral Good (Neutral 'Easy')

Rank: 1-2 Kaijin/Megafauna

Race: Yokai

 

Size:

Height- 5-7 ft at the shoulder

Weight - 1500- 2000 lbs

Length- 10-14 ft long

 

* Waira are one of the few Yokai that is sexually dimorphic. Males are  usually of earthy hues like brown or even green. They also tend to have wings and fur to traverse steep mountain crags. Females on the other hand have no wings and are predominately a deep red. They have hide that is somewhat like a toad but more leathery and thick. They otherwise share the same characteristics of having a bovine body, long legs that end in a single, large sickle like claw and a head that looks like a predatory cross between cow and toad. Females are generally larger than males.

 

Powers:

 

Vermin Hunter - A Waira's typical diet consists of all manner of small animals, usually of the destructively burrowing kind like mice, moles and rabbits. They use their large sturdy claws to dig them up and snap up the fleeing prey with their large, fat, sticky tongues. They don't normally seek them out but if a human with bad ode enters their territory  or encounters them the will treat them just like they do all vermin and promptly eat them. The creatures are generally large enough and heavy enough to flatten and claw a human to death before swallowing them whole. Generally if a person 'acts like a rat', they get eaten like one in short order. Males differ by swooping down and hooking prey directly from above or by digging them out of holes in rock walls.

 

Threat Display - Waira can open their mouths wide and bulge out their throats, making a sound that's a disturbing mix of cow's moo and a toad's croak. This instills a psychological feeling of fear in humans and most Yokai that it doesn't want to deal with. Those who are caught doing something they shouldn't (like trespassing or stealing) will become petrified and made a meal of. Those that aren't are usually scared away so badly they forget their encounter via a mild case of amnesia. Hence why many believe this Yokai is rare.

 

Shrine Guardian - Waira enjoy setting up their territories in the deep forests and high mountains that border a temple or shrine of Oriental Faith. They keep the grounds clear of vermin and miscreants, even human ones. A Shrine so guarded will enjoy greater prosperity and some moderate protection from the Waira's presence keeping troublesome elements away from the shrine and keeping the pest population down.

 

Weaknesses:

 

Enigma Resistance - A Waira's threat display is not enough to deter something that is bigger and has a higher Enigma quantity than it does. Those like Enigma Sensitive's are unnerved but otherwise not affected by the Waira's threat display. It may still pick a fight with such things if it doesn't like them and it's not completely out matched.

 

Taking It Easy - Waira will not chase prey or an intruder too far before it goes back to minding its business. You can feasibly flee from a Waira if it hasn't shocked you with a Threat Display first.

 

Virtue - Waira do not eat who they consider a 'just' person. They can taste 'guilt' and thus will not bother those who do not have such a tainted conscious.

 

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Day 18: Pest Eaters and Shrine Keepers

 

Kaitheros was certain that today he would cover one of the most important topics that could be shared with Ruki concerning Yokai. The one time when all Yokai, no matter their breed, creed or need, would band together like a flood. This 'flood' had leaders and the sooner Ruki learned of them the better. However, as he turned to greet his Miko, he immediately noticed that there a strong current of actual anger today, rather than the exhausted panic of yesterday.

 

"Do I even want to know what happened today?" Kaitheros probed.

 

"I can't believe they actually did that! To the Ryukami Shrine of all places!" Ruki  ranted. The degree of actual fury several iota's stronger than the fish bucket prank nearly a week ago.

 

"More mischief I'm guessing."

 

"They vandalized the shrine!" She exclaimed. "They painted all sorts of nasty things on as many flat surfaces on possible! They even drew reptile penises on my door!" The Miko was in frustrated hysterics at this point.

 

"Oh MY~" Kaitheros replied dryly. "Were you able to make out the grievance that may have provoked the vandalism?"

 

"Well...yeah." She quieted for a moment to compose her thoughts into something coherent. "Apparently I've been spending 'too much time' with you and not enough time being among the people. I'm pretty sure it was that farmer who lost his wife last year and has been too drunk to manage his fields properly. The sudden rains rotted them out last I heard. I know its him because I remember him being really drunk and spouting all sorts of nasty things about you and me before they shoved him back inside and out of earshot. I thought that would be a single incident but this morning I wake up to find drunken sloppy ink written all over the place!"

 

"Do I even want to hazard a guess as to the content of these messages he so kindly left on your doorstep?"

 

"Bunch of gross things like saying I'm a lizard fucker and stuff  like that. Half of it was barely legible because the brush was unsteady, that's how I know it was the town drunk....and the smashed sake gourd  near one of the lantern posts." Ruki pouted. Kaitheros noticed that something was still eating at her and pressed deeper.

 

"Those are petty and often satirical shreds of gossip Ruki. I've heard that particular joke about kaiju and human interspecies relations more times than I care to remember. It gets a little more amusing each time due to how utterly ridiculous it is. It always sounded like something out of a Edo Period 'red room'. However, I feel that there was something more upsetting than that wasn't there."

 

Ruki hesitated for moment before slumping her shoulders and nodding.

 

"Can't get anything past you can I? Yeah there was something else. A good part of it were jabs at me 'not being human'." The Miko admitted.

 

"And do you believe that?" Kaitheros asked seriously.

 

"No...but-" The hesitation returned.

 

"But nothing. You are among the most human  people I have come to know Ruki. Even among your ancestors you are remarkably grounded and you care enough to feel; strongly and honestly about the things that matter. From the day I met you to know, that hasn't changed. A drunk man's bitterness won't change that." Kaitheros interjected firmly.

 

"Doesn't change the fact the shrine looks like a alleyway dumpster now. A 'drunk man's bitterness' certainly did a lot there." She muttered.

 

"Could be worse little Miko, you could be cleaning up the remains of a body instead." He teased with a slight growl.

 

"You wouldn't think of actually-!"

 

"No, no...I'm not THAT petty. Though if he had actually hurt you that would be a different story." Kaithero's tone interchanging between dry wit and grim promise within a single breath. "But there was a time when Shrines were truly well respected and feared places. And not just because the clergy lived there."

 

"Did my ancestors and older shrines have guardian Shikigami or something like that?"

 

"Some did, but it wasn't the go-to measure for dealing with miscreants, thieves and other -I apologize in advance- human garbage and even most bothersome Yokai. The usual response to a shrine or temple being invaded by things and people that mean it harm would actually be other Yokai."

 

"I thought Yokai can't come on holy ground?" Ruki questioned, confused.

 

"Most wouldn't dream of it but there are certain Yokai, two in particular, that would have prevented someone like that Drunk from ever setting more than a few feet within the grounds of the shrine. One is a more natural sort of inhabitant that lairs around and hunts on the grounds of the shrine. The other is of vital importance to our discussion and often lairs on the roof and atop the tori gate of a shrine. Dealing with threats both above and below as it were."

 

"What kind of Yokai are those? Are they good Yokai?"

 

"About as good as they tend to get, being that they actively protect shrines. The first one we should discuss is the uncommon but often considered rare Waira."

 

"...That sounds a lot like...no that can't be right. What dialect is that?"

 

"It is a warped interpretation of the word 'scary' yes. The Waira are to be honest, very scary...to anything smaller than them." The theropod chuckled.

 

"So they'd be no problem to you."

 

"Oh certainly not, though watching them 'puff puff' at me has always been a source of amusement." Kaitheros answered with a toothy grin, eyes closed in an expression of pure gloating superiority.

 

"I'm already feeling sorry for them." Ruki giggled a little. "So what is a 'Waira'?"

 

"A Waira is strange creature around the size of a large cow and somewhat built like one. Along with elements of toad and perhaps dog if you squint hard enough. They are quite ugly though many of your Ancestors found them cute for some reason." Kaitheros sighed, remembering the squeals of joy whenever the creatures appeared on the shrine grounds.

 

"So...it's so ugly it's 'ugly cute'? It's not slimy is it?"

 

"No they aren't slimy. Their hide is actually rather tough and leathery, covered in warts and tiny osiderms that give it a bumpy texture. Most notably it has large cup like ears, large eyes and its feet end in a single large claw of strength akin to steel that they use to dig for their favorite prey."

 

"Drunks hiding in empty sake barrels?"

 

"Small pests and vermin. Particularly mice, moles and rabbits. The kind of things that wreck havoc on  shrine and its grounds and gardens. They use their powerful claws to dig out these vermin and snap them up with a fat stick tongue before chewing the creature like cud and swallowing the entire carcass whole."

 

"Oh lovely, they're bunny eating cows. Just what I need at my shrine." Ruki sighed.

 

"That's not all they eat."

 

"Oh of course not. What's a Yokai that doesn't eat people in some way?"

 

"Not much of a Yokai." He admitted. "However the Waira is a rather picky eater as it only eats those it senses are 'guilty'."

 

"Guilty? Like they have a dirty conscious or something?"

 

"Generally those who enter their territory with ill intentions. Their soul and the ode it projects can be tasted and smelled by a Waira. A good analogy would be that if someone enters the shrine 'like a rat' then they are devoured as such by the Waira."

 

"How would it catch someone? I mean, it's basically a really ugly cow with hooks for feet. Wouldn't they just get tipped over?"

 

"You've obviously never seen a stampede of cattle before because something that big and that heavy can run down a man in nearly no time at all. With its hook like feet and toothy elastic jaws it's more than a match for the average human. That is, if a the human can run away at all."

 

"So it's got a trick to eat people huh."

 

"That is does. Waira can expand their throat and flash their mouths at prey and would be predators, making an awful sound akin to a drowning triceratops."

 

"Sounds like a typical threat display."

 

"Indeed it is Ruki. One that is has a strong psychological impact on humans and lesser Yokai that see it. If a wicked person or Yokai is confronted with it, they will freeze in shock. Allowing the Waira to trot up to its paralyzed prey and devour them. Those who are not guilty but still not an Enigma Sensitive like yourself are driven into a panic laden flight from the Waira that is so traumatic it induces a short term amnesia in the victim. All they remember is entering the shrine's property and being terrified by something. A lack of verifiable accounts is the reason why Waira are considered rare when they were actually just uncommon. They make their territories in deep forests and high mountains surrounding a shrine or temple. They feed on the small game and vermin that are there, keeping their numbers down and driving them away from the Shrine itself which goes quite a ways toward keeping a shrine secure and habitable."

 

"Cool! So these things only need bad people right? Though it probably doesn't make a distinction between vandals and...really bad people."

 

"It wouldn't. If you mean harm to the shrine or the occupants through violence, destruction or theft than the Waira sees you as food. It is hardly a threat to a Miko like you however which is why your ancestors adored the silly things."

 

"Sounds simple enough. Maybe put out a sign saying 'guilty people will be eaten by Waira' and we're good." Ruki surmised.

 

"There's more." Kaitheros added.

 

"What, do they leave mountains of flaming cow patties all over the shrine grounds that I'd have to pick up? Because I don't need more work to do. Really." Ruki insisted.

 

"We'll see about that last point." Kaitheros teased. "But Waira are notable as one of the few species of Yokai that are truly and utterly sexually dimorphic."

 

"Wow really? So which one is wrinkly one with the wars?"

 

"That would be the female. They are often a deep red in color and are slightly larger than their male counterparts. Necessary for being a ground based predator. The Male on the other hand is covered in earthy brown or even green fur and has wings."

 

"Hold on, the male can FLY?!"

 

"It's rather clumsy at it but it can swoop down and impale rodents on its claw like hooves and dig vermin out of holes in cliff sides. The Males usually congregate in the mountainous areas while the Females take the forests, ploughing through the underbrush for burrows. Wherever the location a Waira will find a way to settle itself at a shrine dedicated to Oriental faith. depending on the shrine and the amount of wilderness around it, a whole herd of Waira can live there. Males tend to do courtship flights during the mating season. Among Yokai they are one of the few species I actually found useful. Though unlike an Okuri-Inu they have their limits."

 

"So they can't scare off every other Yokai?"

 

"There is always a bigger fish. Or a bigger Yokai in this case. Anything larger than a Waira can probably make the creature lunch in short order. It's also worth mentioning that Waira are actually rather lazy. They enjoy 'taking it easy' and if a human manages to run out of their territory before they can be scared into submission the Waira won't chase them outside of the Shrine. It will turn back and continue its business like nothing ever happened. Chasing prey beyond the shrine's borders is 'uneasy' and Waira don't like doing things that are uneasy."

 

"My kind of Yokai, I like them already." Ruki joked.

 

"Now the second type of shrine lairing Yokai is one of great importance. For it is a leader amongst Yokai and spiritual Yokai flock to it."

 

"Oooh so it's a like a shrine's guardian angel or something right?"

 

"If that angel had a face like a bull mastiff and hair that nearly obscured its entire body. It's time I taught you about The Otoroshi."

 

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Mr. Uneasy Human gives us your sweet sweet! Now is okay.