Escape from the Haunted Lands

By Uri Kurlianchik Plot by Charles Rice Artwork: Jason Walton, Joseph Wigfield Edited by Paul King Layout by David Jarvis Playtested by Paula Rice, Edward Lennon, Corey Hodges escape from the haunted lands

“To ignore tradition is foolhardy; to anger the dead guerrilla tactics. Another important weapon in Haru’s by not providing for them tempts fate; to be in a place arsenal was his wife, Etsu, who was blessed with where others have died subjects you to forces beyond an ability to speak with the kami, the spirits of the your control. Avoidance, care, ritual, respect, tradition. earth and heaven, making the very land aid him in his These are your bywords.” righteous war. -The Rule of the Dead This war raged for more than a decade but just when it seemed that Shunichi was about to leave Welcome to legendary Japan, a land of unhappy ghosts Haru alone, disaster struck. and mischievous spirits, of cannibal demons and merciful kami. A place where honor is more important One of Haru’s senior retainers, a man so than gold and where one’s skill with sword and etiquette despicably treacherous that even his allies is the only thing that stands between glorious victory won’t speak his name, referring to him and shameful defeat. as Faithless instead, opened his trusting master’s castle gates to Shunichi’s host and “The Escape from the Haunted Lands” is the first thus brought about his master’s ultimate defeat. chapter in the “Haunted Lands” Adventure Path, a 10- As the Shunichi warriors swarmed in, slaughtering installment campaign designed to lead the characters the unprepared defenders, Etsu called down a terrible on a wonderful journey through the fabled lands of curse upon her husband’s land, merging it with Yomi, ancient Japan and latter Koryo in a quest to avenge the shadowy land of the dead, and making it useless for their master’s death and restore his son and heir to his Shunichi. rightful place. Seeing that all was lost, Haru ordered his youngest and This adventure is intended to serve as a tutorial to most promising retainers to smuggle his son away Japanese adventuring in general and as such contains from his cursed domains in hopes that he would many iconic encounters taken straight from traditional be able to return one day and reclaim the lands Japanese folktales and kaidans (ghost stories). Also, the of his father from the dark forces and treachery “Seven Tales of Old Japan” at the end of this adventure that laid them to waste.After giving his son and is designed to give both the DM and the players a retainers (the PCs) his last orders, he charged glimpse into Japan’s rich and fascinating folklore by with what remained of the Komatsu army at the retelling some of Japan’s best-known and loved stories. confused Sasaki forces, creating a diversion that enabled his son to escape from the burning castle and Adventure dying an honorable warrior’s death in the process.

Background become. During their escape they will encounter many Adventure supernatural beings from which they will learn that the Our story began in 13th century Japan where a greedy only way to leave the cursed land is with the aid of one and powerful daimyo named Sasaki Shunichi made Synopsis of the local kami, who can be contacted through a series war on his honorable neighbor daimyo Komatsu Haru, The adventure begins as the PCs flee from the of magical portals called torri. in order to take his blessed lands and enslave his hard- burning and bewitched castle of the Komatsu clan. working subjects. Many bloody battles where fought Unfortunately, even the greatest kami are capricious After breaking through the siege and fleeing to the between the rivals but all were indecisive – despite the creatures at best and their help comes at a price… countryside they must confront various threats both numerical superiority of Shunichi’s army, it was no natural and otherworldly while looking for some match to Haru’s brave samurai warriors and ingenious way to escape from the haunted land their home has

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hours spent in the Haunted Lands, every living creature Prologue: Chapter I: must make a DC 13 Will save or begin to decompose. Every additional failure deteriorates the character to the Betrayal! A Curse Islands in the next step of putrescence (see table below), while every Is Laid Upon the remove disease or remove curse cast on the character Land. Sea of Death improves his condition by one step. This chapter details the features of the land and the The Six Steps of Putrescence: The Daimyo’s Last curse and presents ten area-based encounters the PCs Step Effect1 Order: can experience while exploring their homeland, now a Unclean -2 to saving throws strange and terrifying place. Start the adventure by reading or paraphrasing the Rank -2 Cha following: Features of Putrid -2 Con After running madly from the flames and screams of Rotten -4 Con, -4 Cha your dying kinsmen for more than half a day, you can the Haunted Decayed -4 Str, -4 Dex finally stop for a moment to catch your breath. It was 2 not cowardice that caused you to leave your noble Land Decomposed Walking dead master’s side at his direst hour but his own orders that 1 – All effects are cumulative you save his young heir, the brave but rash samurai Before the curse, the Komatsu domain was a beautiful region of lush bamboo groves filled with game and 2 – Subject to any spell or ability that affects undead Komatsu Taro, and avenge his death at the hands of his and/or evil outsiders. ancestral enemies. crystal-clear rivers teeming with fish. Dozens of shrines dedicated to the kami of the land dotted this small Two names ring in your ears, replacing the fear and domain, reflecting the piety of its reverent and ancient For every day a characters spends in Rotten or worse humiliation with rage and hatred – Sasaki Shunichi, people. All this changed, however when Faithless he must make a DC 13+days spent in this, or worse, your master’s greedy neighbor whose foul plans and betrayed his noble master and brought disaster upon the stage or suffer 1d6 points of Wisdom damage due to dishonorable machinations caused much pain and land. the unspeakable horror of rotting while still alive. This misery to your clan and master, and Faithless, a vile Wisdom damage heals at the rate of one per day. traitor whom you once considered a friend but now Seeing that her beloved homeland was about to fall into won’t even honor by uttering his name. Ultimately, it her enemies’ hands, Etsu called upon the oni to take it… The Unclarity of was his greed and jealousy and not Sasaki’s might that and they did. Death brought down the Komatsu clan. Now the land is one with the dark underworld Yomi Yomi is a dark and shady land of grey tones and But the two got little from their victory for as the Sasaki where the dead rot forever and powerful oni roam the uncertainty. The Haunted Lands are perpetually dark hordes swarmed over Komatsu castle’s formidable eternal darkness in hunt of trespassers. This terrible and starless and covered in a thick hissing fog (like a wall, your master’s wife, Etsu called a terrible curse curse cannot be removed by any mundane method and fog cloud spell cast by a 20th level sorcerer). upon the land, making sure that no one will have manifests in the following ways: it, rather than to see it exploited by your ancestral The Mists of The Eater of enemies. Unfortunately, both cravens did not personally Dreams participate in the siege and escaped the curse Putrescence unscathed. Now, with your new master at your side, Humans in the Haunted Lands begin to rot just as if The massive outburst of magic caused by Etsu’s curse and your enemies’ hated visages before your eyes you they were already dead unless the purity of their souls awakened a beneficial spirit called Baku. Each night the are ready to start your journey towards vengeances and can shrug off this foul curse. Once per twenty-four Baku visits the sleeping PCs and feasts on their dreams restoration of your beloved homeland. or nightmares.

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PCs that gained 2 or more Honor points that day are Area 1 : The Hungry For more details on Kazumi and on how to put the two cleansed from their fears and doubts and awaken Gaki (EL 2) ghosts to rest see Area 2 – The Kind Ubume. blessed (like bless cast by a 16th level cleric) while Read or paraphrase the following: Kenta, ghost male outcast child Com 1: CR 2; Small those that lost 2 or more Honor points awaken full of undead [augmented humanoid (human), incorporeal]; doubt and fear (like bane cast by a 16th level cleric). If A small child with a bulging stomach and dark, deep-set HD 1d12; hp 6; Init +1; Spd. Fly 30 ft. (perfect); AC the PCs attack or offend the Baku, it flees tearfully into eyes approaches you, completely naked save for a white 12 (incorporeal), touch 12, flat-footed 11; Base Atk the night, never to be seen again. For more details on loincloth. The moment he lays his hungry eyes upon +0; Grp -7; Atk/ Full Atk incorporeal touch +3 melee the Baku see pg. 31 in the Campaign Guide. you his face brightens up and he begins to run in your (draining touch); Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; SA draining In addition, characters blessed by the Baku direction, stumbling along the way, while holding his touch, manifestation; SQ outcast traits, rejuvenation, automatically succeed on their saving throw that day hands in front of him as if about to hug someone. turn resistance +4; Honor 5; SV Fort +0, Ref +1, Will against the mists of putrescence (see above). Characters This “child” is a gaki (ravenous ghost) named Kenta, -1; Str 6, Dex 12, Con –, Int 5, Wis 9, Cha 11. cursed by the Baku receive their normal daily saving who died of hunger and cold after his mother went out Skills and Feats: Hide +12, Listen +13, Spot +9, throw against the mists but take a –1 penalty to this to bring some firewood and never returned. He is not Search +5; Alertness. saving throw for each time they have been cursed by the inherently evil but the belief that he was abandoned Baku (total). by his mother, combined with the cold and hunger he Draining Touch (Su): If Kenta hits a living target endured before his death, drove him mad. He thinks with his incorporeal touch attack he drains 1d4 points The Curse of the of Wisdom. On each such successful attack, Kenta he’s still alive and wants to find a new mother because heals 5 points of damage to himself. Against ethereal Hyakuhei his doesn’t love him anymore. opponents, he adds his Strength modifier to attack Yomi is the land of the ever-rotting dead, death means Unless somehow stopped, he’ll run at the most rolls only. Against nonethereal opponents, he adds his nothing there. Any person who dies in the Haunted charismatic female of the group (or male, if no females Dexterity modifier to attack rolls only. Lands immediately animates as a Hyakuhei (see pg. 33 are present) and hug her crying “mommy” joyfully, Manifestation (Su): Kenta dwells on the Ethereal in the Campaign Guide for more details) and continues at which point the hugged character will experience a Plane and, as an ethereal creature, he cannot affect or to fight on his master’s side. Presently, there are far terrible wave of cold and fatigue and suffer 1d4 points be affected by anything in the material world. When more Hyakuhei loyal to Komatsu than to Sasaki, which of Wisdom damage. After that, unless destroyed, Kenta Kenta manifests, he partly enters the Material Plane means that the Sasaki forces are far more busy fighting will accompany that character everywhere, referring to and becomes visible but incorporeal on the Material for their lives against relentless hordes of lumbering her as “dear mother” and constantly beggaring her with Plane. He can be harmed only by other incorporeal corpses than looking for the PCs and their allies. demands of food and games. Every time his demands creatures, magic weapons, or spells, with a 50% chance are met, the “new mother” suffers another 1d4 points of The Endless to ignore any damage from a corporeal source. He can temporary Wisdom damage. Border of Despair pass through solid objects at will, and his own attacks If attacked or simply forcefully avoided, Kenta pass through armor. Kenta always moves silently. He Yomi is the final resting place of spirits and mortals will simply collapse to the ground and start crying remains partially on the Ethereal Plane, where he is not alike. Once there, you are trapped forever. It is hysterically “nobody loves me, not even Kazumi!” incorporeal. Kenta can be attacked by opponents on impossible to leave the Haunted Lands via any mundane If the group manages to befriend the child and make either the Material Plane or the Ethereal Plane. means; anyone who tries to cross the border simply gets him talk rationally (Diplomacy DC 25) he’ll tell that his When Kenta is not manifested and is on the Ethereal lost in the dark and wanders back to a random spot in mother left to gather firewood by the river and never Plane, his spells cannot affect targets on the Material the Haunted Lands. The only way to leave the land is returned because she is a bad mother and doesn’t love Plane, but they work normally against ethereal targets. by passing through a torii of a willing kami (for more him. This is basically true only his mother didn’t return When Kenta manifests, his spells continue to affect details see Chapter II: Areas 5,7 and 8). not because she doesn’t love him but because she fell ethereal targets and can affect targets on the Material into the river and drowned. Plane normally unless the spells rely on touch. Kenta’s touch spells don’t work on nonethereal targets.

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Kenta has two home planes, the Material Plane and the what happened. Reunited in death, the son and mother This azukiarai is responsible for the death of poor Ethereal Plane. It is not considered extraplanar when on will happily pass into true Yomi and stop haunting the Kazumi and, indirectly, her son’s (see Area 1 and 2, either of these planes. land. respectively, for skills and feats) and will cause many more deaths unless slain by the PCs. Area 2 – The Kind Helping the two reunite in the afterlife is a Grand Benevolence virtue. Development: If brought to less than a quarter of his Ubume (EL 3): hp, the azukiarai will beg the PCs to spare him in return Kazumi, ghost female outcast Com 2: CR 3; Medium for a small treasure he hides under the foul and corpse- Read or paraphrase the following: undead [augmented humanoid (human), incorporeal]; strewn bottom of the river. Accepting his surrender A plain but pleasant looking young woman in a water- HD 2d12; hp 13; Init +1; Spd. Fly 30 ft. (perfect); AC is a Major Injustice transgression as it is obvious that soaked kimono wanders around a meager hut while 12 (incorporeal), touch 12, flat-footed 10; Base Atk +0; this will result in the loss of many more innocent lives. waving a small covered basket and yelling “Kenta! Grp +0; Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; SA frightful moan, Finding the treasure (Search DC 25) but not touching it Kenta!” in a sad and worried voice. manifestation; SQ outcast traits, rejuvenation, turn because it is unclean is a Minor Loyalty virtue. resistance +4; Honor 12; SV Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +1; This woman is Kenta’s (see Area 1 – The Hungry Gaki Str 11, Dex 12, Con –, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 13. Treasure: the azukiarai’s ill-gained treasure consists for more details) hapless mother Kazumi who drowned mostly of hopelessly rotten equipment and clothing on her way back home. Her love for her son was so Skills and Feats: Hide +9, Listen +9, Profession carried by his hapless victims at the time of their death. strong however, that she rose from the dead in the shape (herbalist) +9, Spot +9, Search +7; Alertness, Dodge, The following items, however, survived in perfect shape of a pathetic ghost called Ubume. But when she came Skill Focus [Profession (herbalist)] (although they are covered in scum and bits of putrid back home to look after her son he was already dead Frightful Moan (Su): Kazumi can emit a frightful moan flesh): from cold and hunger. Believing himself abandoned by as a standard action. All living creatures within 30-foot • 367 toraisen his mother, he rose as a hungry ghost called Gaki and spread must succeed on a DC 12 Will save or become wandered off to look for someone who will take care of panicked 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic necromantic mind- • Sealed katana-zutsu with masterwork wakizashi inside him. Both don’t know that they are dead. affecting fear effect. A creature that successfully saves • Sharkskin armor Unlike the malevolent ghost of her son, Kazumi is against the moan cannot be affected by Kazumi’s moan pitiful but quite harmless. When she spots the PCs she for 24 hours. • Buddha sculpture (worth 5 toraisen). runs to them screaming: “My poor children, you must Azukiarai: CR 3; Medium Fey; HD 4d6+11; hp 25; Init be so hungry! Here let me give you something nice…” Area 3 – The +0; Spd 20 ft. Swim 20 ft.; AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed and tries to hand each a candy from her basket. If any Murderous Azukiarai 13; Base Atk +5; Grp +5; Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft ;Atk/ character accepts her gifts they immediately turn into (EL 3): Full Atk Futamata-yari +5 melee (1d8+4); SA entangle, mud or dry leaves, which causes the poor woman to grim grasp; SQ amphibious, aura of ill-fated steps, burst into tears and moan “Oh merciful Amaterasu, why Read or paraphrase the following: haunt, slippery; Honor 0; SV: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +5; am I so cursed?!” A strange singing comes from the river, accompanied Str 16, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 11. If approached gently and shown sympathy, she will tell by the sound of washing beans. It says, in a gruff and Skills: Balance +7, Bluff +7, Escape Artist +11, Listen how she went to bring some wood to keep her son warm low voice: “Will I grind my azuki beans, or will I get a +8, Swim +18; Toughness, Dodge person to eat? shoki shoki!” but fell into the river on her way back and by the time Equipment: Futamata-yari she returned home her son left her and she was “cursed The source of the sound is a strange water spirit by some foul oni”. Now she can’t leave her home and called azukiarai (see appendix for more details). It Area 4 – Shrine of every time she tries to hand candies to “poor children” looks like a short but stout man with bluish skin and a Inari (EL 5): (she considers just about any passerby a child) they turn disproportionally large balding head. Its features are into mud or dry leaves and scare them away. grotesque and disgusting with a huge mouth full of Read or paraphrase the following: The only way to put the miserable Ubume to rest is to crooked and rotten teeth, a thin dark green moustache Half a dozen vermillion torii mark the entrance to reunite her with her son and explain to both of them and large and bulging yellow eyes that never blink. the shrine of the popular kami of rice, fertility and

5 escape from the haunted lands foxes. The shrine itself is a graceful crimson building These spells are cast as a sorcerer with 4 HD (save DC Development: Shukketsu doesn’t care much about decorated with masterful sculptures of humanoid foxes 12). anything but fox killing and will not fight the PCs except in self-defense or if the group includes kitsune or called kitsune. Modest offerings of rice and cakes lie on Alternate Form (Ex): Go-Han can, as a standard action, the floor, serving as the dinner of a large white fox. is accompanied by foxes (familiars, animal companions, assume the shape of a fox. This ability functions as a etc…). Inari is the most loved, if not powerful, kami in Japan. polymorph spell cast on itself (caster level 15th), except Since both conflicting sides worship her and hope to that Go-Han does not regain hit points for changing If approached peacefully, he’ll invite the PCs for some receive her boon, the building is stuffed with offerings form. Go-Han can remain in its alternate form until it fox stew and tell them the story of his life: since early that serve to feed the copious fox population of the area. chooses to return to its natural form. childhood, foxes watched him with evil and cunning eyes. Every time he tried something they were always Development: Inari will communicate with the PCs via Go-Han can also assume the form of a fox with nine there to trip him – they bankrupted his businesses, her messenger, the white fox with nine tails (in fact a tails and brilliantly colored fur (silver, black, white, red, scared away his sweethearts, stole what few possessions polymorphed kitsune) who lives in the shrine and serves or blue). This form is functionally identical to a normal he had and spread foul rumors about him that made as its caretaker and protector. The kitsune, whose name fox, except that the Go-Han can speak and cast spells him an outcast. He’ll “reasonably” explain that the only is Go-Han, says that he will let them leave the Haunted with somatic components by flicking its tails. thing left to him is to kill those who ruined his life, not Lands and even reward them if they slay a murderous Spirit Subtype: As a spirit, Go-Han gains a +4 racial only to avenge himself and restore his lost honor but outcast called Shukketsu (see Area 5 – The Shameful bonus against all enchantment effects except those of also to make sure that no one suffers the same way he Fox Killer for more details). If the PCs accomplish this other spirits. did. task he’ll stay true to his word – the torii of the shrine will become a gateway to outside of the Haunted Lands Area 5 The Shameful Needless to say, this “biography” is purely imagined, as – is the foxes’ malice. and the PCs will be blessed with good luck (+1 to all Fox Hunter (EL 4): saving throws). This blessing lasts for a week, or until Killing Shukketsu is neither an honorable nor the PCs lose Honor Points, whichever comes first. Read or paraphrase the following: a dishonorable act. However, since his many Go-Han, male kitsune Yamabushi 3: CR 4; Medium A small and shabby hut made from crudely cut bamboo transgressions against foxes angered their patron kami, Fey (Spirit); HD 1d6 plus 4d8; hp 21; Init +5; Spd poles and fox skins stands in the forest. Its narrow and Inrai, she will grant the PCs her blessing and enable 40 ft.; AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +2; short entrance is decorated with fox heads and paws them to pass through her torii (see Area 4 – Shrine Grp +3; Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; Atk jo staff +7 melee and is smeared with reddish-brown gore. of Inari for more details) in return for his death and destruction of his hut. (1d4+1), Full Atk jo staff +5 melee (1d4+1) and jo staff This hut is the home of the notorious fox-hunter and +5 melee (1d4); SQ Alternate form, evasion, kitsune infidel Shukketsu, infamous for his habit of hunting Tactics: Shukketsu fights without style or grace but traits, stoic reserve; SA spell-like abilities; Honor 77; and torturing foxes, which are considered to be sacred with the power and clarity of true madness. He flails SV Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +5; Str 13, Dex 16, Con 11, animals to Inari, the kami that bring good luck and his huge woodcutter’s axe about him wildly with Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 12. wealth. Hated and despised by all, Shukketsu lives terrible strength while screaming hysterically “Die, fox Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Disguise +4, Hide +10, a lonely life, intent solely to kill as many foxes as servants!” The potency of his madness is so great that Knowledge (nature) +4, Knowledge (Religion) +7 possible – he wears their hide, eats their flesh, drinks he will ignore any pain or wounds until brought to -10 Listen +5, Move Silently +10, Search +4, Spot +5, their blood and uses their body-parts as macabre hp. Whether he’ll rise as a ghost or some other undead Survival +6; Alertness, Iron Will, Jojutsu, Poise, Two decorations. Except for being an irreverent outcast, to further torture the PCs and foxkind after his death is Weapon Fighting. Shukketsu is also totally insane, he considers it his life’s up to the DM. purpose to take vengeance against the treacherous foxes Equipment: masterwork jo staff, ashigaru armor. Shukketsu, male outcast Warrior 5: CR 4; Medium who are supposed to bring success to people and yet Humanoid (Human); HD 5d8+5; hp 27; Init +1; Spd 20 Spell-like Abilities (Sp): 1/day—animal friendship, skipped over him. ft.; AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +5; Grp dancing lights, entangle, ghost sound, pass without +8; Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; Atk/ Full Atk greataxe +8 trace, silent image, speak with animals (canines only). melee (1d12+4/X3); SQ Outcast traits; Honor 4; SV

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Fort +5, Ref +2, Will -2; Str 17, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 6, Although Kodama can’t help the PCs leave the Haunted Spirit Subtype: As a spirit, Kodama gains a +4 racial Wis 5, Cha 7. Lands she can refer them to her “good friend” Inari, bonus against all enchantment effects except those of Skills and Feats: Craft (Leatherworking) +5, Listen -1, kami of the foxes, and show them the safest and shortest other spirits. passage to Inari’s “home” (see Area 4 – Shrine of Inari Spot -1; Alertness, Diehard, Endurance. Tree Dependent (Su): Kodama is mystically bound to for more details). Equipment: Greataxe, fox hide armor her bamboo grove and must never stray more than 300 Kodama uses the same stats as a dryad but has the Spirit yards from it. If she does, she will become ill and die Area 6 – The Sacred subtype. within 4d6 hours. Grove: Development: If the PCs enter the grove, Kodama will Wild Empathy (Ex): This power works like the druid’s Read or paraphrase the following: soon manifest before them and beg them to slay the wild empathy class feature, except that Kodama has a “tainted” tree that appeared in her grove, promising +6 racial bonus on the check. This calm and beautiful bamboo grove seems them great wealth and power in return. Needless to say, completely unaffected by Etsu’s dreadful curse. The the minor kami can’t really offer anything to the PCs Area 6B – Jinmenju (EL bamboo on the banks of the river look like emerald and won’t respect her end of the bargain. If the PCs 7): velvet, and the willows along the edge of the waters are sense her lies, she will attempt to seduce or even charm shaking out their soft tassels. Exactly in the middle of the apparent leader of the group with lewd promises of The “human-faced tree” is a shrewd jinmenju whose the grove, a lone and powerful tree stands out among “otherworldly pleasures”. Unlike the previous offers, huge branches block out the sun and thirsty roots suck the gentle bamboo shoots like a dark and fearsome that she can deliver… all the water, making it a threat for the Sacred Grove giant among fragile grass leaves. But what is most and Kodama. The two lead a constant war, but because disturbing about this tree is not its size and girth, but If the PCs start cutting down bamboos or try to set the they are trees, it isn’t particularly fast or furious. the fact that instead of fruit it grows severed human grove on fire she will manifest and attack them, fighting Nevertheless, the two never lose an opportunity to heads. Despite their seemingly terrible predicament, all to the death since she will die anyway if her grove is manipulate people and animals into hurting the other these heads smile broadly or even laugh from time to destroyed. one. PCs who succeed in a DC 25 Knowledge (Nature) time. Kodama: CR 3; Medium fey (Spirit); HD 4d6; hp 14; or DC 20 Knowledge (arcane) will recognize the The reason this grove is unaffected by the powerful Init +4; Spd. 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 13; jinmenju for what it is and know about its powers and curse is because it is populated by two potent spirit Base Atk +2; Grp +2; Atk/ Full Atk dagger +6 melee nature. creatures capable to fend off the darkness and decay of (1d4/19-20) or mwk longbow +7 ranged (1d8/X3); SA Development: The jinmenju is more than willing to Yomi. Unfortunately, they are locked in a struggle of Spell-like abilities; SQ damage reduction 5/cold iron, answer any question the PCs have, provided they rid their own that leaves them little time to care for their tree dependent, wild empathy; Honor 35; SV Fort +3, him of the “annoying weed” that grows around him, surroundings. Ref +8, Will +6; Str 10, Dex 19, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 15, scratching his roots and drinking his water. Of course, Cha 18. he will neglect to mention the fact that this “annoying Area 6A – Kodama (EL Skills and Feats: Escape Artist +11, Handle Animal weed” is, in fact, a kami who lived in the grove long 3): +11, Hide +11, Knowledge (nature) +11, Listen +9, before the jinmenju caught his first soul. If they catch Move Silently +11, Ride +6, Spot +9, Survival +9, Use his bluff, he will offer them ten answers in return for The kami of this grove is called Kodama and when Rope +4 (+6 with bindings); Great Fortitude, Weapon this service. she chooses to manifest, she looks like a young and Finesse attractive woman in a green silken kimono and a pale Attacking the jinmenju is a very bad idea at this level. face with an innocent but wise expression. She doesn’t Spell-like abilities: at will – entangle (DC 13), speak The GM should feel free to remind it to the players if care much about being worshiped and her only demand with plants, tree shape; 3/ day – charm person (DC 13), they attempt this nigh-suicidal endeavor. from passersby is that they don’t cut down her trees and deep slumber (DC 15), tree stride; 1/ day – suggestion don’t soil her river. (DC 15). Caster level 6th. The save DCs are Wisdom- based.

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Jinmenju: CR 7; Huge Plant; HS 14d8+98; hp 161; Offerings of food, burning candles and even exquisitely The weapons will not pursue thieves outside the shrine Init +0; Spd 0 ft.; AC 12, touch 3, flat-footed 12;Space/ fashioned weapons lie on the clean floor. under any circumstances. Reach 15 ft./ 15 f ft.; SA Absorb soul, spell-like The kami who lives in this shrine is the embodiment Katana: hp 5; hardness 10; init +4; Spd Fly 90 ft.; AC abilities; SQ Damage reduction 10/ slashing, plant of the spirits of Komatsu clan warriors and nobles 14; Atk +6 melee (1d10/19-20). traits; Honor 51; who stayed in the world of the living to look after Naginata: hp 10; hardness 5; init +6; Spd Fly 90 ft.; AC SV Fort +16, Ref +4, Will +4; Str –, Dex – , Con 25, Int their descendants. Just like the clan it looks after, the 17; Atk +6 melee (1d10/X3). 20, Wis 11, Cha 15. Komatsu Kami is stern, just and proud, always willing Tanto: hp 2; hardness 10; init +8; Spd Fly 90 ft.; AC Skills and Feats: Knowledge (all types) +24; Education to aid the worthy and smite the dishonest. 21; Atk +6 melee (1d4/19-20). (all) The Komatsu Kami communicates by scribing flaming Area 8 Shrine of Absorb Soul (Su): Any living creature with 0 or fewer hieroglyphs in the air and automatically addresses the – hit points in contact with the jinmenju’s roots must PCs if Taro is with them, dead or alive. Amaterasu (EL 0): succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save each round or die Development: If approached in the proper respectable Read or paraphrase the following: instantly. Creatures that die this way lose their souls and form, the kami will tell the PCs of an ancient graveyard as such cannot be raised, resurrected or reincarnated polluted and soiled by a group of dishonest goblins This large and impressive shrine is built from timber so long as the jinmenju lives. Destroying the jinmenju who must pay for this transgression with their lives. and colorful rice paper decorated with delicate images releases all souls it absorbed. However, killing the culprits is not enough and it will of the sun kami Amaterasu and her adventures in not allow the PCs to leave the Haunted Land until ancient times. A sturdy torii made from powerful logs A week after the soul has been absorbed, the jinmenju and curved wooden frames the entrance to this major grows a head identical to the victim’s. the graveyard is restored to its former state and the exhumed corpses are reburied with all the proper rituals. shrine. Although appearing capable of independent speech and If the PCs accomplish this task, the kami will bless Amaterasu is the most important kami in the Shinto thought, this head in fact serves only as another mouth religion and is known for her kindness and concern for and pair of eyes for the jinmenju and dies as soon as it them with courage, the quality it deems most important in a warrior. As long as the PCs are fighting for a just the fate of humanity. She will gladly aid the PCs in their touches the ground. However, if stolen and kept from noble quest to escape the Haunted Lands and avenge coming into contact with earth or sand, such a head will and noble cause in the service of their nation, clan or families they will receive a +4 morale bonus to Will Faithless and Sasaki’s treachery but unfortunately, live for a week and answer three questions honestly for all her power and glory she is rather cowardly and before it perishes. saves against fear and fatigue effects. This blessing lasts for a week, or until the PCs lose Honor Points, won’t appear in the dark. Spell-like abilities: 1/ week – control weather; 3/ day whichever comes first. Therefore, in order to plead their cause before the – command plants, plant growth, spike stones, summon Trap: All the weapons on the floor are of the highest goddess the PCs will have to expel the darkness and swarm (spiders only); at will – entangle. Caster level evil of the Haunted Lands at least for a short while 14th. quality but stealing them is such a shameful and sacrilegious act that even the invading Sasaki army which will cause the holy mirror at the far end of the Area 7 – Shrine of the didn’t dare touch these masterful and expensive blades. shrine to shine with Amateraus’s radiant image, who Komatsu Kami (EL 5): Yet should the PCs be so dishonorable as to try to take will gladly open her torii and bless the PCs with health the sacred weapons (a Severe Rudeness transgression) and peace (as the aid spell cast by a 20th level cleric). Read or paraphrase the following: losing honor is not the only problem they will have to Ways of expelling the darkness include casting daylight This modest shrine resembles a hut with one wall worry about. The weapons are infused with the essence or twenty light spells, lighting at least twenty torches replaced by a white, unassuming torii. The inside walls of the kami which causes them to animate and attack inside the temple or anything that will spread an are lined with long shelves, each bearing dozens of any individual who attempts to steal them. equalent amount of light. Note that burning down the tablets with the names of a noble warriors who gave Obviously, destroying the weapons renders them useless highly flammable shrine is extremely disrespectful their life in service of the Komatsu clan. and guarantees the eternal hatred of the Komatsu Kami (Severe Rudeness transgression) and will only anger and any member of the Komatsu clan. Amaterasu, no matter how much light it spreads…

8 escape from the haunted lands

Area 9 – The They will constantly shift their positions so as to PC who succeed on Heal or Knowledge (Nature) DC Desecrated Graveyard confuse their enemies and avoid melee as long as 25 check will recognize the “pleasant smell” as human possible. While the PCs are busy chasing his minions, flesh. If the PCs make a great deal of noise the Aka- (EL 3): the leader of the group will attempt to recognize weaker Oni’s wife (see below) will come out to investigate. Read or paraphrase the following: members and bring them down with his stolen katana If the PCs enter the cave, read or paraphrase the before escaping into the shadows once again. following, omitting the aka-oni’s wife if already slain: A group of loathsome creatures looking like miniature humans with grotesquely exaggerated features and If two or more goblins are killed the others attempt to This crude natural cave is dimly lit by a large fire used bright blue skin made camp in the old graveyard. flee into the forest while shouting curses and profanities to roast some kind of pale meat. The open flames fill Presently, they are busy pushing a freshly dug corpse at the PCs. the cave with choking smoke and long shadows that into a large campfire and shattering moss-covered Goblin Chief, male goblin Ronin 3: CR 2; Small dance over primitive and disturbing images of senseless tombstone with heavy clubs while laughing insanely in Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD 3d8; hp 13; Init +1; Spd 30 violence and depravity performed by colorful horned high-pitched voices. One of the creatures, a larger and ft.; AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +3; Grp demons on defenseless humans and animals. nastier specimen with dark blue skin and three eyes, +2; Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; Atk/ Full Atk mwk. katana Two women stand in the room, the first is a starving- carries a dirty katana of excellent workmanship which +9 melee (1d10+3) or aikuchi +5 ranged (1d3+2); SQ looking peasant girl and the other is a fat and ugly he shamefully drags on the ground while shouting and Darkvision 60 ft.; Honor 1; SV Fort +3, Ref +4, Will ogress with red skin and horns who angrily waves a kicking the others. +0. Str 14, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9. gigantic iron bar as easily as if it were a toy. This small goblin gang was attracted by the curse and Skills and Feats: Bluff +5, Hide +11, Listen -1, This is the home of the aka-oni (see Chapter II: the prospects of robbing lone ashigaru and samurai Move Silently +11, Ride +5, Spot -1; Banter B, Brute, Encounter 8 - Aka-Oni for more details) and the two fleeing from Komatsu castle. They decided to settle in Footwork, Kenjitsu B, Weapon Focus (Katana) B. women are his slave and his wife, respectively. the graveyard because of the abundance of rotten flesh Equipment: masterwork katana, 2 small aikuchi, Development: The girl’s name is Eihi and she is the (their favorite food) and tombstones, which they plan to kawara armor, 27 toraisen. daughter of Elder Sakura (see Chapter II: Encounter 4 use as building material. Goblin (7): CR 1/3; Small Humanoid (Goblinoid); HD - Fleeing Peasents for more details), left for dead after The three-eyed leader of the group holds it together 1d8; hp 7, 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14, their small group was attacked by the aka-oni a few through fear and intimidation and should he die or flee, touch 12, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +1; Grp -3; Space/ days ago. Returning her safely to her family is a Major the gang will break and scatter. Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; Atk/ Full Atk club +1 melee (1d6) or Benevolence virtue. Development: Defeating the goblins is a Moderate stone +2 ranged (1d3); SQ Darkvision 60 ft.; Honor 6; The aka-oni’s wife is as dumb as him but less sure of Courage virtue and restoring the graveyard by cleaning SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will -1. Str 11, Dex 13, Con 11, Int her battle-prowess, which will cause her to attack any it and burying the exhumed corpses is a Major 10, Wis 9, Cha 6. intruders outright and not stop for parley unless brought Benevolence virtue that grants the PCs the blessing of Skills and Feats: Hide +5, Listen +2, Move Silently to 10 or less hp, in which case she will beg for mercy, the Komatsu Kami and enables them to pass through its +5, Ride +5, Spot +2; Improved Initiative. offering the PCs her husband’s treasure in return for torii (see Area 7 - Shrine of the Komatsu Kami for more sparing her miserable life. details). Equipment: club, kawara armor, 1d8 toraisen. Treasure: mixed with human bones and bloody pieces However, if the goblin leader survived he will reclaim Area 10 – The Aka- of cloth and leather is the small fortune the aka-oni the graveyard and desecrate it again as soon as the PCs Oni’s Cave (EL 3): amassed after years of waylaying travelers who passed leave the area, forcing them to deal with him, and any too near to their cave. This treasure includes: surviving goblins, once again. Read or paraphrase the following: • Masterwork daito Tactics: If the goblins spot the approaching PCs (-2 to A dark and ominous passage is crudely cut in the edge • Do-maro armor Spot and Listen checks due to the bright fire and noise) of a hill. From inside comes the pleasant smell of they hide beyond tombstones and throw rocks and roasted and spiced meat. • Climber’s kit bones at the PCs.

9 escape from the haunted lands

• 50’ silk rope melee (3d6+7); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SQ Darkvision to the divine power that washed over the land. Given sentience by Yomi itself, these animals are very attuned • Small mirror 60 ft., low-light vision; Honor 10; SV Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +2; Str 20, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 7. to Honor and piety and their initial reaction depends • 3 bloodstones (worth 50 toraisen each) mainly on those factors. Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Listen +2, Spot +2; • 749 toraisen Toughness, Weapon Focus (greatclub) When you roll this encounter choose an appropriate animal from those presented below: All items are filthy and damaged but can be used after Possessions: huge tetsubo, tiger loincloth and apron some minor cleaning and mending. (worth 40 toraisen) Silver Fox: CR 2; Medium magical beast (augmented The Aka-Oni’s Wife: CR 4; Large Giant; HD 4d8+15; animal); HD 4d8+8; hp 36; Init +2; Spd 50 ft.; AC 14, hp 35; Init +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed touch 12, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +2;Grp +4; Atk/Full 14; Base Atk/Grp +3/+14; Atk/ Full Atk huge tetsubo +8 ChapterII: Bite +5 melee (1d6+1); Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.; SA trip; SQ low-light vision, scent; Honor 50; SV Fort +6, Ref Other +6, Will +2; Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 14. Travelers in Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Listen +4, Move Silently +3, Spot +4, Survival +1 (+4 racial bonus when tracking the Haunted with scent); Track, Weapon Focus (bite). Lands Trip (Ex): When Silver Fox hits with its bite attack, it can attempt to trip the target (+1 check modifier) The turmoil and chaos brought about by the war as a free action that does not provoke an attack of has caused many people and creatures to leave opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent can’t react their homes and normal way of life and start to trip Silver Fox. adventures of their own – some of them undead driven by the desire to complete at death what Foxes are the sacred animals of Inari (see Chapter they failed to accomplish in life, while others I: Shrine of Inari for more detail) and are basically are ordinary people forced to take to the roads to honest and honorable creatures, although often prone escape the war and the curse. to mischief and harmless pranks. If the average Honor Rating of the group is 40 or higher Silver Fox will be An encounter occurs every six hours, roll 2d4 willing to answer, to the best of her knowledge, one to determine the creature encountered. Note question per Honor Point gained during the adventure that encounters marked by an asterisk (*) can by the most occur only once. Feel free to change encounter Encounters honorable frequency or ignore the die results and just pick 2d4 Encounter EL member of interesting encounters manually if you feel that the group. this will be more appropriate to the pace and 2 Talking Animals* Var Unfortunately, atmosphere of the game. 3 Sasaki Deserters 2 being a sly and playful creature Encounter 2 – 4 Fleeing Peasants* 2 Talking Animals (EL 5 Yomi Dead 3 her answers are always Var) 6 Komatsu Soldiers 3 somewhat 7 Komatsu Hyakuhei 5 One of the few positive side effects of Etsu’s cryptic and curse is the “awakening” of certain animals due 8 Aka-Oni* 4 partial. If, on

10 escape from the haunted lands the other hand the group’s average Honor Rating is 3, Wis 12, Cha 9. SV Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +1; Str 7, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 39 or lower, or the group only lost Honor Points so Skills and Feats: Balance +12, Climb +10, Escape 6, Wis 10, Cha 5. far, Silver Fox will pretend to be a messenger of Inari, Artist +4, Hide +10, Listen +5, Spot +5; Agile, Weapon Skills and Feats: Climb +11, Hide +11, Jump –2, Spot sending the PCs on a “divine mission” which is nothing Finesse +4; Weapon Finesse but a prank that is likely to get the group seriously hurt What Cheeky Monkey lacks in cunning or intelligence or embarrassed. Examples of both can be found below: Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 12, initial and he makes up with sheer vitality and enthusiasm. He secondary damage 1d4 Str. What happened to the land? speaks in an impossibly fast rate, jumps from branch to branch with supernatural ease and is constantly on the Web (Ex): Blue Spider can throw a web eight times Don’t you see? A woman cried and all hell broke loose! per day. This is similar to an attack with a net but has (Etsu’s curse) lookout for anything unusual. Cheeky Monkey fancies himself a great martial artist and is always happy to a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment How do we get out of the Haunted Lands? demonstrate some of his (utterly useless) moves to of 10 feet, and is effective against Medium or smaller targets. An entangled creature can escape with a That’s simple! Walk through the gate that leads anyone who would watch. successful DC 12 Escape Artist check or burst it with a nowhere, but only with the owner’s permission. (torri) If the PCs treat the little but proud animal kindly, DC 16 Strength check. How do we get to the shrine of Inari? possibly offering him some tasty snacks or admiring his “impressive” martial-arts technique, he may join Blue Spider’s “home” web is a sheet of sticky webbing What a silly question?! Just follow the directions of them. Surprisingly, Cheeky Monkey is as an excellent 20 feet square. Approaching creatures must succeed your stomach! (there is a rice field by the shrine of spy and a loyal ally in battle despite his tendency on a DC 20 Spot check to notice a web; otherwise Inari) to draw unwanted attention to the group with his they stumble into it and become trapped as though by Where is Sasaki/ Faithless? constant stream of offbeat remarks and silly acrobatic a successful web attack. Each 5-foot section has 6 hit maneuvers. points give, and sheet webs have damage reduction Why would a fox get involved in politics? Look for them 5/—. on the other side. (both of them are outside the Haunted If angered, or if the group’s average Honor Rating Lands) is 15 or lower, the monkey will attack by throwing The Blue Spider can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any How can we serve Inari? / What can we do for you? rocks and sticks from bamboo tops while screaming random insults. When attacking with these improvised creature touching its web. Kill the killer of the killers of vermin. (see Area 5 – The projectiles Cheeky Monkey uses a +2 ranged attack Tremorsense (Ex): Blue Spider can detect and pinpoint Shameful Fox Hunter for more details) bonus and deals 1d6 points of damage. any creature or object within 60 feet in contact with the Cheeky Monkey: CR 1; Tiny Magical Beast Blue Spider: CR 2; Small magical beast (augmented ground, or within any range in contact with the spider’s (Augmented animal); HD 3d8; hp 12; Init +2;Spd: 30 Vermin); HD 3d8; hp 13; Init +3; Speed: 30 ft. (6 webs. ft. (6 squares), climb 30 ft.; AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed squares), climb 20 ft.; AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 11; Blue Spider is a somber and aloof being with a burning 12; Base Atk/Grp +2/-10; Atk/ Full Atk Bite +6 melee Base Atk/Grp +2/-6; Atk/ Full Bite +6 melee (1d4–2 hatred for all warm-blooded creatures, especially those (1d3-4); Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.; SQ low-light vision; plus poison); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA poison, web; of a just and honorable character. However, accepting Honor 20; SV: Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 3, Dex 15, SQ darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., vermin traits; its physical limitations, it tries to use cunning and Con 10, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 5 Str 3, Dex 15, Con 10, Int treachery to achieve that Mission Explanation which his modest strength can’t. As soon as it Fetch me the tallest leaf from the tallest bamboo in the grove and I will The 60-feet-tall bamboo will break under the PCs’ weight, sending them spots the PCs, it humbly turn it into a mighty arrow. tumbling down to the hard ground below. comes out to greet them, Walk over the swamp with Inari’s blessing until you find an old witch The PCs will sink in the swamp normally and won’t be able to wash its offering his assistance that will lead you out of the Haunted Lands. stink from their cloth no matter how hard they try. in leaving the Haunted Replace your swords with these sticks. They will turn into formidable The sticks are simple pieces of wood that can’t be even used as clubs. Lands, claiming to know weapons at your greatest hour of need the location of a secret

11 escape from the haunted lands passage less than a two days’ walk away. recklessly with their long spears, not bothering to often summoned by Haru to entertain young Taru and employ any wise tactics or safety measures. the two are on very good (although unequal) terms. If the PCs accept this deadly guest to their midst, the Blue Spider will immediately start to act against them Sasaki Soldier (3), male farmer Ashigaru 1: CR 1; Presently the Tanikawa family numbers 3 men by secretly dripping his poison into their food, bringing Medium humanoid (Human); HD 1d10+2; hp 9,7,6; Init (including Sakura), 4 women and 6 children. Another wandering monsters (pick any appropriate creature from +0; Spd. 20 ft.; AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14; Base member of the group, a young woman named Eihi, Chapter III in the Campaign Guide) to attack the group Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk/ Full Atk yari +3 melee (1d8+2) was kidnapped a few days ago by an aka-oni (see under the pretence of scouting ahead and constantly or o-yumi +1 (+3 vs. armored opponents) ranged (1d8); Encounter 8 – Aka-Oni for more details) sowing fear and doubt in the PCs’ hearts. At the end of SQ Farmer traits; Honor 15; SV Fort +4, Ref +0, Will and is believed dead by her grieving the second day it will lead the group into his web and +0; Str 13, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 9. relatives. However, the aka-oni didn’t devour her but kept her as his slave in reveal his murderous treachery just as the PCs are stuck Skills and Feats: Profession (Farming) +7; Endurance, his filthy cave where the PCs may yet and helpless. Toughness, Weapon Focus (Yari). locate and rescue her (Area 10 Being a cowardly and dishonorable creature, however, Equipment: yari, o-yumi, 20 pointed arrows, haramaki. – The Aka-Oni’s Cave). the Blue Spider will flee at the first sight of his own blood… Encounter 4 – Fleeing Development: As soon as Peasants (EL 2): Sakura spots Taro he will Encounter 3 – Sasaki immediately prostrate Deserters (EL 2): Read or paraphrase the following: himself on the ground and beg for the well-armed Read or paraphrase the following: A pair of powerful oxen driven by a white-bearded elder in simple peasant’s clothing pulls a massive PCs to escort him and his A group of four soldiers in Sasaki uniform marches wooden cart filled with bags of rice and jugs of water. family out of the Haunted wearily through the dark forest, looking around with A small group of younger peasants follow it solemnly. Lands. Although traveling fear mixed with shame. They are armed with long The men look wearily around and fearfully clutch with the slow and meek spears and light crossbows and wear dented leather agricultural tools as if they were weapons. The women Tanikawa family will hinder scale mails smeared with gore. carry crying babes in their arms or sing soothing songs the PCs and put even more These men are cowards who ran away from their to their scared children. master’s side as soon as the curse fell on the land. This small group of peasants is the Knowing that they have dishonored themselves and last remnant of the honorable their families forever they plan to leave the province Tanikawa family that refused to and start a career as robbers and marauders. leave their ancestral lands despite Development: The current aim of these soldiers is to the war. Etsu’s curse and Haro’s escape from the Haunted Lands and they won’t hassle death, however, scared them so the PCs, unless the latter openly carry great wealth. If much that they decided to flee any recognizes Taro (Int DC 15), however, they will the domain, only to find out that attack immediately and fight to the death since they it was impossible to leave it via (mistakenly) believe that the capture or killing of their mundane methods. master’s arch-enemy’s son will earn them a pardon, and The family elder, Sakura is famed maybe even a handsome reward. throughout the entire region Tactics: Poorly experienced and undisciplined, the (Reputation 9) for his knowledge of deserters simply charge at the group and stab them all things marvelous and his exquisite storytelling ability. He was

12 escape from the haunted lands pressure and responsibly on their shoulders, it is the Will, Skill Focus (Perform). Despite their terrific appearance these pitiful walking right and honorable thing to do. Depending on the foes Equipment: kiseru, diary. corpses are quite harmless unless attacked or offended. the PCs defeat in protection of the family they will gain All they want is to go back to the “sane and normal” a Benevolence virtue ranging from Minor to Major as Encounter 5 – Yomi place they call home – Yomi. Although their appearance long as they truly fight to defend the peasants and not Dead (EL 3): may suggest otherwise, the Yomi dead are not ghosts just slay random enemies. cursed to wander the land of the living until some Sakura’s magnificent knowledge of history and folklore Read or paraphrase the following: condition is fulfilled, but rather simply the souls of the can aid the PCs in dealing with the more unusual A pitiful figure with bluish-green skin and dressed in a dead drawn back into the world of the living by Etsu’s denizens of the Haunted Lands or, at the very least white burial kimono wanders around aimlessly while terrible curse. entertain them. Every night, before everyone goes to mumbling to itself an unclear but tragic-sounding Development: If a Yomi dead spots the PCs it will sleep, Sakura will tell a random story to amuse the PCs monologue. Its thin hands dangle lifelessly by its approach them, declare its name in the proper and and his family and divert them from the horrors at hand. sides and it seems that its fragile body is supported honorable fashion and ask the PCs if they know any Slaughtering the family is both a Severe Cruelty and by something other than its legs. A horrible stench of way it can return to Yomi as this world is abhorrent a Severe Injustice transgression and will probably rotten flesh surrounds this awkward creature. to it. If the PCs treat it well, it may share some of its provoke Taro to attack the PCs in defense of his loyal wisdom with them (pick a random tale from Chapter subjects. III) before leaving them to seek for others who might help. Unfortunately, the only way to help those poor Peasants (6), male and female farmer Commoner 1: CR souls is by undoing Etsu’s curse, which is outside the 1/2; Medium humanoid (Human); HD 1d4+1; hp 5; Init scope of this adventure. +0; Spd. 30 ft.; AC 10, touch 10, flat-footed 10; Base Atk +0; Grp +0; Atk/ Full Atk scythe +1 melee (1d8); If destroyed, the Yomi dead rises within 1d6 minutes SQ Farmer traits; Honor 31-40; SV Fort +1, Ref +0, without any recollection of its previous deaths. Will +0; Str 11, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 11. Yomi Dead: CR 1; Medium Undead; HD 2d12+3; hp Skills and Feats: Profession (Farming) +7; Endurance, 16; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 13, touch 11, flat-footed 12; Skill Focus (Farming). Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Space/ Reach 5 ft./ 5 ft.; Atk/ Full Atk Slam +2 (1d4+1); SQ: Stench, Wisdom of the Equipment: Scythe or kama, 1d10 shichusen. Dead; Honor 10-50;SV Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +4; Str 13, Elder Tanikawa Sakura, male farmer Commoner Dex 13, Con –, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 3. 4: CR 3; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 4d4-6; hp Skills and Feats: Toughness. 5; Init -3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 7, touch 7, flat-footed 7; Base Atk +0; Grp +0; Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; Atk/ Full Atk Encounter 6 – Komatsu kiseru +1 melee (1d4-2); SQ Farmer traits.; Honor 71; Soldiers (EL 2): SV Fort -1, Ref -2, Will +5. Str 7, Dex 5, Con 6, Int 13, Wis 15, Cha 17. Read or paraphrase the following: Skills and Feats: Knowledge (religion) +9, Perform A group of four soldiers in Kommatsu uniform marches (Noh) +13, Profession (Farming) +9; Endurance, Iron wearily through the dark forest, looking around with fear mixed with shame. They are armed with long spears and light crossbows and wear dented leather scale mails smeared with gore. One of the soldiers seems to be badly wounded and needs help from his friends to walk.

13 escape from the haunted lands

Theses soldiers fought valiantly for their master to the are jerky and unnatural and their rigid faces are devoid maximum of 25. For example, a unit of 10 hyakuhei has very last moment but seeing their castle going down of any expression despite their bleeding wound. a DC of 17, while a unit of 20 has a DC of 19. in flames, along with their beloved daimyo broke their These unfortunate creatures are Komatsu warriors Encounter 8 Aka-Oni courage and made them to flee rather than die at their killed after Etsu cast her curse on the land, making it – master’s side. impossible for the souls of the deceased to go to the (EL 4): The wounded soldier has a spear shard in his stomach real underworld, Yomi. Instead their souls remained Read or paraphrase the following: and will die unless given proper medical treatment (he in their tattered corpses and are now driven by only a This towering and brawny creature has mostly human is currently at -6 hp but stable and is being carried by single sentiment – winning the war they lost due to foul features but his skin is blood-red and a pair of short his comrades). treachery. ivory horns grow from his wild mane of black, unkempt Development: The Komatsu soldiers are tired, hungry Development: These brave warriors’ loyalty and honor hair. He wears nothing but a loincloth of tigerskin and and scared. Their initial attitude toward the group did not die along with their bodies and they would is armed by a gigantic iron bar that most humans would is unfriendly and they may even attack if they feel never hurt their new master, Komatsu Taro, under find impossible to lift, let alone wield. threatened or mocked for their cowardice. However, any circumstances. The PCs, on the other hand, can This physically imposing but dimwitted ogre believes a successful DC 25 Diplomacy (15 if the PCs aid the easily become the targets of their wrath if they are himself to be the most powerful and cunning warrior wounded solider) check reminds them who they are seen brandishing Sasaki equipment, armor or regalia. in all Japan and emerged from his dark cave (Area 10) and what is their duty. After that they will accompany However, as soon as the PCs cast away the offending in order to prove it to the rest of the world by killing, Taro and abide his every command until slain or items the hyakuhei will cease their relentless attack raping and robbing everyone he meets. Fortunately, he released (although a new Diplomacy check is needed and proceed with their self-appointed mission to kill all is as arrogant as he is stupid, which might aid the PCs to keep them from routing every time a member of the Sasaki soldiers in the Haunted Lands. immensely in ridding the region of this menace. group falls or some malevolent supernatural being is The only way to release these wretches from their Development: Unless the PCs manage to avoid him, the encountered.) misery is to lift the curse from the land, otherwise they aka-oni will approach openly to the PCs and begin to Komatsu Soldier (4), male farmer Ashigaru 1: CR 1; simply continue to roam the Haunted Lands and fight brag about his great power and superiority to humans, Medium humanoid (Human); HD 1d10+2; hp 12,8,4; with Sasaki Hyakuhei, both sides unable to win because of how he takes everything he likes to his “rich cave in Init +0; Spd. 20 ft.; AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14; they are already dead. the south.” He ends by asking to perform any physical Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk/ Full Atk yari +3 melee Hyakuhei (6): CR 2; Medium Undead; HD 3d12+3; hp challenge the PCs choose to show how really superior (1d8+2) or o-yumi +1 (+3 vs. armored opponents) 22; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17; he is. After he performs the given challenge (whether ranged (1d8); SQ Farmer traits; Honor 45; SV Fort +4, Base Atk/Grp +1/+2; Atk/ Full Atk Katana +2 melee successfully or not) he will attack the PCs mercilessly Ref +0, Will +0; Str 13, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 11, (1d10+1) or tetsubo +2 melee (1d8+1) or yari +2 melee and fight to the death. However, there are many ways Cha 9. (1d8+1); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA Fear aura; SQ in which the PCs can exploit the aka-oni’s offer to hurt, Skills and Feats: Profession (Farming) +7; Endurance, Darkvision 60 ft., resistance to cold and fire 10, undead weaken or even slay him. The deadlier the challenge Toughness, Weapon Focus (Yari). traits; Honor 0; SV Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +3; Str 13, the more flattery and smooth talk the PCs will have to Dex 12, Con -, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 11 Equipment: yari, o-yumi, 20 pointed arrows, haramaki. employ in order to convince the aka-oni to perform it. Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Hide +7, Jump +7, Listen For example: Encounter 7 – Komatsu +6, Ride +7, Spot +6; Martial Weapon Proficiency (all), Hyakuhei (EL 5): Improved Initiative, Toughness Challenge Diplomacy DC Read or paraphrase the following: Fear Aura (Su): Anyone within 5 feet of a hyakuhei Break a rock with his head 10 is affected by the aura of fear that surrounds it. Those Drink poison from vial 15 A group of terribly maimed soldiers armed with within the area of effect must make a Will save or Swallow a dagger 20 shattered spears and notched swords slowly shambles be paralyzed with fear for one round. The DC of this towards some unknown destination. Their movements save is 15, plus 1 per 5 hyakuhei within 50 feet, to a

14 escape from the haunted lands

Even if the PCs fail to exploit this opportunity their which the average party level of your group deviates Amaterasu Goddess of the Sun (hopefully) superior wit and intelligence should balance from 1 and increase by 50% or 100% the amount of Komatsu Kami God of War the odds against the aka-oni’s brute force. non-intelligent monsters in every encounter. Make sure Jinmenju Undead Treant Aka-oni: CR 4; Large Giant; HD 4d8+15; hp 35; Init to adjust treasure and skill check DCs to reflect the +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base increased EL. Kodama Dryad Atk/Grp +3/+14; Atk/ Full Atk huge tetsubo +10 melee Adapting the Hyakuhei Zombies (3d6+10); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SQ Darkvision 60 Adventure: Aka-Oni Ogre ft., low-light vision; Honor 10; SV Fort +7, Ref +2, Will Kawara Leather Armor -1; Str 24, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 7, Cha 7. “Escape from Haunted Land” is meant to be ran as an Shark Skin Mwk. Leather Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Listen +2, Spot +2; introduction to the “Haunted Lands” Adventure Path Ashigaru Armor Studded Leather Toughness, Weapon Focus (greatclub) but can work equally well as an introduction to any Japanese campaign by simply changing the reason how Do-Maro Breastplate Possessions: huge tetsubo, tiger loincloth (worth 20 the PCs came to be in the Haunted Lands the first place. Katana Bastard Sword toraisen). It can also be adapted for a non-Japanese campaign in Yari Short Spear Concluding the one of the following ways: Futama-Yari Trident Adventure: Hey look! A red ogre! – As the PCs are going through Aikuchi Dagger As the PCs step through the kami’s torri they find some gloomy and foreboding swamp or forest, possibly O-Yumi Light Crossbow on another quest, they lose their way in the darkness themselves outside the Haunted Lands, right by the Torasian Gold Pieces province’s eastern border. Walking back into the lands and wind in a strange new land that they can’t escape is as impossible (and even more foolhardy) as trying to from until they performed a set number of good deeds walk out of it. or served the local gods somehow. The reasons for this can vary from some sort of a divine jest or punishment Chapter III: If you ran this adventure as part of the Haunted Lands to a freak planar conjunction. Adventure Path than the second installment, the Black Seven Tales Ronin, takes off right after Escape from Haunted Lands Samu-what?! – Fantasy players should be used to ends. Otherwise, if you ran it as a stand-alone or as a encountering strange and mystical creatures, so red of Old Japan prelude to your own Japanese campaign, you may have monsters with horns or the walking dead should come the PCs transferred to any location in ancient Japan, as little or no surprise to them. What may surprise them During their escape from the Haunted Lands, the where, undoubtedly, they will have many more exciting are the names and flavor. Therefore, in order to fit the PCs will meet many creatures that will tell them tales adventures, ample opportunities to perform many great adventure to a more western-styled fantasy campaign, and stories, ranging from the sorrowful rumblings of and honorable deeds and face deadly and fantastic conduct the following changes: tormented ghosts brought to this world by Etsu’s curse adversaries. Japanese Term Western Term to the happy tales of friendly travelers seeking to lift the PC’s spirits in this hard and difficult time. Scaling the Daimyo Baron These stories serve a double purpose: on the one hand Samurai Paladin Adventure: to give the GM and the players a taste of Japanese Ashigaru Conscript “Escape from the Haunted Land” is designed for a folklore (which they are most encouraged to explore group of four 1st-level characters, but it can be adapted Azukiari Nymph further through the bibliography presented at the end of for use by 2nd to 4th level groups by performing the Lesser Kami Nature Spirit the adventure) and to give the PCs vital clues needed to escape from the Haunted Lands and survive in following steps: Adjust hostile NPC character levels Greater Kami Deity up or down as appropriate by a number equal to that legendary Japan in general. Inari God of Luck

15 escape from the haunted lands

When choosing a tale, make sure to pick an appropriate always, but they cried at the steps of his porch, unable However, after a lavish and impressive wedding came one; it doesn’t make any sense for a condemned ever- to enter the house. the much expected wedding night, but when Iemon’s rotting spirit to tell the happy fairy tale of the fox and Night after night she returned, begging Ogiwara to new wife lifted her veil what stared back at Iemon was the raccoon and it certainly isn’t fun to hear the same remove the ofuda so that they may be lovers again. not her lovely face but Oiwa’s horrible visage. Insane story three times in a row from unrelated people! Slowly, the lonely old man’s resistance slipped away, with fear and rage the murderous ronin immediately and one night he left his house to join his beloved. loped off his already dead wife’s head with his razor- 1.The Peony sharp katana. Then, before he had time to catch his The next morning, he was nowhere to be found. breath, Kohei, all blue and dripping water, peered Lantern His friends looked far and wide, until the neighbor through the door and was also quickly cut down by suggested they search the cemetery. At long last, they Iemon. But, for his great terror, the massacred bodies Many years ago, a samurai named Ogiwara Shinnojo, found the graves of Otsuyu and her maid, emblazoned that lay at his feet were none other than his new wife a widower, sat on his porch, watching the day fade into with the same peony pattern. Opening the crypts, no and father-in-law. night. To his surprise, a beautiful young woman and one was surprised to see the corpse of Ogiwara, still her maid, who was carrying a lantern emblazoned with passionately entwined with his skeletal lover. Realizing that he’ll be hanged for the murders, Iemon a peony, walked near. The pair paused to speak with decided to run for the mountains where he planned to Ogiwara, and he found the young woman’s name to be 2. Tokaido hide from the law and the slain samurai’s relatives. All Otsuyu. An instant attachment was formed, and Otsuyu he found in the mountains, however, were further terror promised to return the following night, at the same time. Yotsuya and suffering. From that night onward, always at dusk, she would As soon as he went fishing, instead of fish his hook Many years ago, there was a ronin named Iemon who arrive with her maid, carrying the same Peony Lantern. caught the bloated corpses of the murdered Oiwa and was married to a beautiful but delicate lady named Ogiwara and Otsuyu rapidly progressed in their affair, Kohei. Aghast with the ominous sight, he fled to his Oiwa. In order to support his wife and young child, and she took to sleeping with him, always leaving lonely cabin but as soon as he began to relax, the ropes Iemon was forced to work as an oilpaper-umbrella before dawn. This relationship continued for some time, and vines turned into constricting snakes and the smoke maker; a boring and unprofitable job that made him and both were happy. from the fireplace transformed into long black threads, resent his loving wife. not unlike Oiwa’s ruined hair. These terrible apparitions However, a suspicious neighbor, wondering at One of Iemon’s customers was the granddaughter of a attacked Iemon, who only managed to escape by Ogiwara’s new habit of staying awake all night and rich and powerful samurai. The young noblewoman fell frantically hacking and slashing at the nightmarish sleeping the day away, hid outside his house, peeking in love with the handsome pauper and the two decided attackers. But with this escape came no peace for no through a small hole in the wooden wall in order to to marry, she out of love and he out of greed. In order matter to where he ran, Iemon was constantly haunted observe the old man’s nighttime endeavors. Much to to clear the path for this marriage, Iemon and the girl’s by Oiwa’s ruined face. his surprise, he uncovered the samurai passionately grandfather decided to murder Oiwa by switching her entwined with a skeleton that had only scarce, clinging Running like a madman from the vengeful ghosts, usual medicine with a terrible poison that disfigured bits of rotting flesh and cobweb-infested long black hair. Iemon didn’t notice where he was going until he ran the poor girl, causing her hair to fall out and her eyes to Half-mad, the neighbor fled screaming from the scene. into the murdered samurai’s son who slew Iemon with droop grotesquely. one clean strike, thus avenging all the murders and The next day he confronted Ogiwara, bringing with So great was her despair at this horrible defacement, finally letting all the victims of Iemon’s evil to rest in him a Buddhist priest who warned of the danger facing that she killed herself after a single glance at the mirror. peace. his soul. One cannot dally with the dead. Ogiwara The next day Iemon had a faithful servant called Kobote took this to heart, and vowed to free himself from the Kohei executed under false charges of theft. Nailing spell of Otsuyu. With the priest’s help, he surrounded 3. The Kappa s both corpses to the opposite sides of a door, he flung the ’ his house with ofuda, strips of paper upon which are bodies to river and thought himself rid of his past and Letter written Buddhist sutras, offering protection from the ready for a new life of wealth and comfort. supernatural. That night, Otsuyu and her maid came as Many years ago, there was a fisherman who stopped

16 escape from the haunted lands to rest by the river bank on his way to Kogawa. As he “Very well then, let’s meet tonight at the place where great laughter, Amaterasu emerged from the cave and lay resting, he heard strange whispers and the sound the river meets the lake.” caught sight of her glorious and radiant reflection in the mirror. As she was lured out to gaze at her own beauty, of footsteps over water. “How weird,” the fisherman That night, the fisherman took his boat and sailed to the world was again lit by the sun. In order to prevent thought to himself, “there must be kappa living in this the lake where he waited to see what will happen. her from hiding again, a large and strong man ran to the river.” Not giving it another thought the fisherman Suddenly, not less than a thousand kappa jumped from cave and pushed the rock away. fell asleep only to be awakened just after midnight by the water and each threw a single fish at the fisherman’s two young men who addressed him thus: “Forgive us, feet. That man later became the first sumo warrior and sumo honorable fisherman, what is your destination?” matches were held ever since in his honor. When morning came, the fisherman went to the market, The fisherman was surprised but answered “Kogawa.” sold all this fish and became a wealthy man. The bird perch on which the cock set became the first “Marvelous!” the young men beamed with pleasure, torii gate – a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. “could you do us a favor and pass a letter to our friend 4. The Story And as to Susanowo, the good kami decided that he who lives in Kogawa? He’ll be waiting for you by the ought to be punished. They ordered him to give them all shore.” of Amaterasu his possessions as compensation and cut off his beard and his claws before throwing him out of heaven to The entire episode seemed very suspicious to the Many years ago, Amaterasu and her evil brother wander the earth forever. fisherman but he agreed to pass the letter and went back Susanowo held a contest over who would rule the to sleep. world. In the morning, as the fisherman sailed to Kogawa, The sun kami Amaterasu was the most important kami 5. The Tale of curiosity began to gnaw at him. Could it be that these in the Japanese pantheon and was credited with such Tokyo young men were kappa in disguise and that the slender significant gifts as the cultivation of rice and wheat, the scroll he carried was a kappa letter? In that case, even use of silkworms and the art of looming but Susanowo, Many years ago, there lived a young girl called Tokyo. if he looked at the letter he would have seen nothing the storm kami, was the more powerful of the two, just Tokyo was the daughter of a noble samurai called Oribe because a human who looks at such a letter sees only a as the raging storm is stronger than the gentle sun. blank page. Shima who displeased the emperor and for that was Although Amaterasu rightfully won that contest, her banished from the court to a bleak group of islands By midday, the curiosity became unbearable and the more aggressive and violent brother declared his victory known as Oki Islands. Tokyo was allowed to stay at the fisherman opened the letter which, unsurprisingly, was and as a celebration began to wreck terrible havoc on emperor’s court but her love for her father was so great completely empty. Without any hesitation, he dipped earth. The terrified Amaterasu fled to a cave from his that she determined to find him, despite all the dangers it into the river water and when he pulled it out it read fury, thereby casting the world into darkness. The forces involved. “We didn’t succeed. Now you try.” of evil were delighted, as their strength grew tenfold in She sold all her property in order to pay for the passage “What is the meaning of this? Unclear…” the fisherman the eternal night. The good kami begged Amaterasu to but was only able to get as far as Akasaki since no one pondered and stopped by a field where he squeezed return but she refused. In order to make her come out dared to sail to the dark and cursed place where her some pumpkins and used their juice to write on a white they found the cock, whose crow precedes the dawn and father lived in exile. Tokyo was very sad but didn’t page “Reward the bearer of this message.” made a mirror strung with jewels. Then, after setting the despair and sailed herself to the faraway islands on a Next day, the fisherman reached Kogawa. As soon as cock and the mirror outside Amaterasu’s hiding place, boat she bought with what little remained of her money. they asked the kami Ame-No-Uzume, the kami of the he docked, a young man came and said that he came for Once there, she spent the night sleeping on the shore the letter. The fisherman handed him the letter and the dawn, to dance to an upturned tub. The cock began to crow and the kami began to dance, her feet creating and rose early in the morning to look for her beloved young man looked at him, very puzzled, and said “are father. Soon, she encountered an old fisherman and you sure this isn’t some sort of a mistake?” a frenzied drumming noise. Eventually the kami was carried away by the ecstasy of her dance and removed asked him if he knew where her father lived. He said he “I don’t know anything,” the fisherman lied, “I was her clothes whereupon all the kami began to laugh. didn’t and warned her against asking anyone else as it merely asked to pass this letter.” Unable to contain her curiosity for the cause of such a might cost her her life. Heeding his advice, the young

17 escape from the haunted lands woman wandered all over the island, always listening to and then the palanquin in which the honorable daimyo people’s conversations but never directly asking about 6. The Fox and was riding. The fox was so overwhelmed with this her father’s whereabouts. the Raccoon impressive spectacle that he ran over to the daimyo’s One evening she found a Buddhist shrine and fell asleep palanquin without even thinking to change into human on the floor after spending all night preying and begging Many years ago, the fox and the raccoon met while form or show any signs of proper respect. “Raccoon! the merciful Buddha to aid her in her journey. However, taking a morning stroll in the bamboo grove. After Raccoon!” he cried, “you have beaten me!” However, she was awakened before morning by the heartbreaking exchanging polite greetings, the fox mumbled, as if to the procession was not an illusion by the raccoon but sobs of a young girl. Going outside to investigate, she himself, “I wonder who is the better shapeshifter among really the daimyo on his way to an important meeting saw a priest dragging a young girl towards the edge us…” with the shogun. And so, one of the samurai decided to of the cliffs, obviously intent on pushing her into the The raccoon said nothing but pressed his finger to teach the insolent beast proper manners and the fox was roaring waves. his little furry chest. “So,” the fox replied with mock beaten indeed, and severely. Not believing her eyes, Tokyo ran to the priest and offence, “you think you are the best transformer?” demanded that he stopped immediately and explained “That’s right” replied the raccoon and offered that the 7. The Aka- why he wanted to murder the poor girl. The priest, two have a shapeshifting contest, to which the fox Oni s Game now crying himself, told her that he was forced to readily agreed as he already had some mischief on his ’ sacrifice a young girl every year to appease the evil cunning mind. Many years ago, a young gambler was on his way to kami Okuninushi or the later would send terrible storms Later that day, the raccoon passed by a small roadside Kyoto when suddenly a huge aka-oni emerged from the that will cause many fishermen to parish at sea. Tokyo statue of Jizo, the bodhisattva defender of unborn bushes and blocked his path with a great iron bar called offered to replace the girl, saying that she was so children’s souls, and decided to eat by its soothing tetsubo. “Let’s play a game,” the brute said in a harsh unhappy without her father that her life meant nothing shadow. He took out a rice cake, put it by the statue and and loud voice that made the gambler’s very bones anyway. Then, without hesitation, she jumped from the lowered his head in prayer. But when he opened his tremble, “tell me, what is the thing you are most afraid cliff and into the frigid water, armed with nothing but eyes, the rice cake was gone. How strange! Thinking of.” her dagger and her faith in the merciful Buddha. about it, he wondered if maybe he forgot to take out the The gambler thought about it, and then, trying to sound At the bottom of the ocean, Tokyo noticed a majestic rice cake in the first place. So, very carefully, he put scared and sincere, replied “gold, O great one, my cave, inside of which she found a statue of the emperor another rice cake in front of the statue of Jizo. Again, greatest fear is to be showered with gold.” The aka-oni, who have banished her father. Her first instinct was he prayed and again, when he opened his eyes the rice on the other hand, replied honestly; “the thing I am to destroy the hated image but she decided against cake was gone. Completely at a loss, the raccoon put most afraid of is rice, but you’ll never be able to use it and, showing proper respect, tied the heavy statue one more rice cake in front of Jizo, began to pray but it on me because I have this!” and with that the ogre to her back and began to swim back. Just as she was suddenly raised his head very quickly, just in time to see raised his pouch and spilled hundreds of golden coins about to leave the cave, she was confronted by a giant the Jizo statue with a half-eaten rice cake in one hand. on the young gambler’s head. Seeing that the human serpentine creature. But before he could devour her she What had been Jizo just seconds before turned back didn’t look even slightly fearful, the aka-oni screamed bravely attacked him and managed to blind it, making it to its usual form, the fox, who said, barely containing with terrible rage “what?! You dared to trick me?! defenseless and easy to slay. his laughter, “now it’s your turn, friend raccoon.” The Prepare to die puny human!” and prepared to smash the Soon word of her heroic deed spread throughout the raccoon swallowed the little that was left of his last rice gambler with his huge iron bar. island and later, entire Japan. The emperor, suddenly cake before answering. “About noon tomorrow, I’ll Quickly, before the aka-oni had a chance to bring his finding himself cured of a mysterious disease that change into the daimyo of this land and come by here.” heavy weapon into action, the young gambler threw a tormented him for a long time was able to link the two Next day, the fox was waiting there and exactly at noon handful of riceballs that he carried in his pocket at the events and ordered the release and pardon of Oribe he saw the daimyo’s procession coming toward him; aka-oni’s face. The powerful creature suddenly dropped Shima and Tokyo, who returned home basked in fortune first came the sweepers yelling “Down! Everybody his weapon, gave a terrible shriek and fled wailing back and glory. down!” After that, came two rows of haughty samurai, into the forest, leaving his tetsubo and gold behind.

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Content with his swiftness and shrewdness, the This creature looks like a short but stout man with young gambler gathered the aka-oni’s gold, strung the bluish skin and a disproportionally large balding head. powerful weapon to his back and went on to Kyoto, a Appendix B: Its features are grotesque and disgusting with a huge rich and happy man. mouth full of crooked and rotten teeth, a thin dark green moustache and large bulging yellow eyes that never New Monsters: blink. It holds a viciously barbed spear in its muscular Appendix A: hands and grins wickedly from ear to ear. Azukiarai Sages say that every time a drowning man screams for help and his voice is unheard an azukiarai is born into Medium Fey NPCs: the world. Hit Dice: 4d6+11 (25) Azukiarai are foul spirits that haunt rivers, ponds and Komatsu Taru, male warrior Samurai 3: CR 3; Initiative: +0 lakes. These creatures feed on the flesh of the drowned Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 3d12+3; hp 24; Init and have a terrible power to make anyone approaching Speed: 20 ft. Swim 20 ft. +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10; Base their territory slip and fall into the water, where the Atk +3; Grp +5; Space/ Reach: 5 ft/ 5 ft; Atk/ Full Atk Armor Class: 13 (+3 Natural), touch 10, flat-footed 13 unlucky victim is entangled in weeds and semi- mwk. katana +8 melee (1d10+4); SQ Bushido Resolve Base Attack/ Grapple: +2/+5 animated corpses until he drowns. +3, bushido vengeance +3, warrior traits.; Honor 67; Most azukiarai are sadistic and completely devoid of SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +1. Str 15, Dex 13, Con 13, Attack: Futamata-yari +5 melee (1d8+4) any sense of honor or loyalty, making them hated by all Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 12. Full Attack: Futamata-yari +5 melee (1d8+4) men, beasts and kami. Skills and Feats: Intimidate +9; Kenjitsu, Power Space/ Reach: 5 ft./ 5 ft. Combat Attack, Two-Handed Strike, Weapon Focus (katana). Special Attacks: Entangle, grim grasp An azukiarai is a cowardly and treacherous opponent Equipment: Masterwork Katana, masterwork Special Qualities: Amphibious, aura of ill-fated steps, that prefers to watch how its victims struggle for air wakizashi, silk kimono haunt, slippery from a safe spot rather than giving them a clean and Komatsu Taru is the sole son and heir of the late daimyo Saves: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +5 honorable death. Since it cannot leave its haunt it Komatsu Haru, sworn to avenge his father’s death and does its best to avoid more powerful victims and only reclaim his ancestral lands and titles. Although none Abilities: Str 16, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 9, Wis 13, Cha 11 physically fights if pinned or cornered. doubts his honor and loyalty to the Komatsu clan, many Skills: Balance +7, Bluff +7, Escape Artist +11, Listen Entangle (Sp): An azukiarai can cast entangle once per fear that he would make a poor daimyo as he is fierce, +8, Swim +18 HD per day. Caster level is equal to the azukiarai’s HD. reckless and impatient – excellent qualities on the Feats: Toughness, Dodge battlefield but terrible drawbacks in the treacherous and Grim grasp (Su): Once per day an azukiarai can animate sophisticated imperial politics. Environment: Any freshwater aquatic 2d6 fully-submerged skeletons within his haunt. These have the statistics of normal skeletons of the appropriate Of course, no one dares to point out these concerns in Organization: Solitary size but are immobile and can only employ grapple front of Taru as that will surely lead to a swift death Challenge Rating: 3 attacks. at the end of his katana. Once angered, he is almost impossible to calm. Treasure: Double Standard Amphibious (Ex): Azukiarai can survive indefinitely both on land and in water as long as they don’t leave Taru is a young man with a powerful athletic built and Honor: 0 their haunt. a hard, piercing gaze most find uncomfortable. His hair Advancement: 5-8 HD (Medium) Aura if ill-fated steps (Su): Any living creature that is long and unkempt and his jaw is covered in slight Level Adjustment: +2 growth as he swore not to shave or cut his hair until his moves by the azukiarai’s haunt must make a DC 15 parents are avenged and his clan’s honor is restored. Reflex save for every 5 feet moved or fall into the water

19 escape from the haunted lands and sink like a rock (irregardless of his Swim bonus) Abilities: Str 13, Dex 13, Con –, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 3 cannot be affected by the same Yomi dead’s stench for until he touches bottom, after which he may attempt 24 hours. A delay poison or neutralize poison spells Skills: None normal Swim checks to escape the azukiarai’s haunt. removes the effect from a sickened creature. Creatures Creatures that fail in this saving throw can never be Feats: Toughness with immunity to poison are unaffected and creatures affected by the same azukiarai’s aura of ill-fated steps Environment: Yomi or the Haunted Lands resistant to poison receive their normal bonus on their again. saving throws. The save DC is charisma-based. Organization: Any Haunt (Su): Azukiarai are bound to specific haunts and Wisdom of the Dead (Ex): The dead are wise and have can’t leave them. Should an azukiarai ever leave his Challenge Rating: 1 much to teach the living. Although the Yomi dead don’t haunt willingly or by force he’ll lose all his abilities and Treasure: None remember their previous life, about 10% of them can begin to dissolve, expiring and turning into disgusting Honor: Any recollect specific experiences that were so powerful scum within 1d4 rounds unless he manages to return to that even death and the mists of Yomi couldn’t erase his haunt. A typical haunt is a 60-feet-radius semicircle Advancement: None them. Any time a Yomi dead shares such an experience by the shore (including dry ground 10 feet into land). Level Adjustment: – with a living creature with Int 6 or higher, that creature The more powerful and experienced the azukiarai is, the gains an experience award ranging from 100 to 400 xp This creature looks like a normal human save that its greater is its haunt. (1d4X100). This experience is given to every member skin is peeled and badly decomposed and its tormented of the listening group rather than shared among them. Slippery (Ex): The azukiarai’s body is covered in eyes are covered in a disgusting creamy films. A disgusting slime that makes it difficult to grapple horrible stanch surrounds it as it shambles on half-rotten Jinmenju or snare. Webs, magical or otherwise don’t affect legs to some unknown destination. azukiarai, and they usually can wriggle free from most Huge Plant The Yomi dead are the inhabitants of the Japanese other forms of confinement. underworld, a polluted and shadowy place where the Hit Dice: 14d8+98 (161) Skills: Azukiarai have a +8 racial bonus to Swim and dead rot forever and terrible monsters prowl and look Initiative: -5 Escape Artist checks. for intruders to devour. Yet the Yomi dead are not evil and many are all too happy to share their hidden Speed: 0 ft. Yomi Dead wisdom with any who would listen (and bear their Armor Class: 12 (-2 size, -5 Dex, +9 natural), touch 3, Medium Undead terrible stench.) flat-footed 12 Hit Dice: 2d12+3 (16) Yomi dead don’t remember their previous life and most Base Attack/ Grapple: +10/ NA don’t even know that there is such a thing as “life”. For Attack: None Initiative: +2 them Yomi is the only world and their “life” is perfectly Speed: 30 ft. normal. Full Attack: None Armor Class: 13 (+1 Dex, +2 Natural), touch 11, flat- Combat Space/ Reach: 15 ft./ 15 f ft. footed 12 Being already dead, Yomi dead lack any motivation Special Attacks: Absorb soul, spell-like abilities Base Attack/ Grapple: +1/+2 to fight. Those who do usually haunt the living world Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/ slashing, Attack: Slam +2 (1d4+1) in other forms such as Hyakuhei, Gaki, Jikininki and plant traits so forth... If forced to fight they simply slam their Saves: Fort +16, Ref +4, Will +4 Full Attack: Slam +2 (1d4+1) opponents half-heartedly, not really caring about the Space/ Reach: 5 ft./ 5 ft. outcome of the combat. Abilities: Str –, Dex – , Con 25, Int 20, Wis 11, Cha 15 Special Attacks: – Stench (Ex): Yomi dead are in a constant state of decay Skills: Knowledge (all types) +24 and smell as such. Living creatures within 10 feet must Special Qualities: Stanch, Wisdom of the Dead Feats: Education (all) succeed on a DC 13 Fortitude save or be sickened Saves: Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +4 for 1d6 minutes. A creature that successfully saves

20 escape from the haunted lands

Environment: Temperate Forests hit points in contact with the jinmenju’s roots must Organization: Solitary succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save each round or die instantly. Creatures that die this way lose their souls and Challenge Rating: 7 as such cannot be raised, resurrected or reincarnated Treasure: None so long as the jinmenju lives. Destroying the jinmenju releases all souls it absorbed. Honor: 50-80 A week after the soul has been absorbed, the jinmenju Advancement: 15-21 (Huge) grows a head identical to the victim’s. Although This tall and majestic tree would have been a beautiful appearing as capable of independent speech and sight if not for its grotesque “fruit” – detached human thought, this head in fact serves only as another mouth heads of all ages and genders that smile politely or and pair of eyes for the jinmenju and dies as soon as it laugh heartily as they lead a quite conversation on a touches the ground. However, if stolen and kept from thousand enthralling subjects. coming into contact with earth or sand, such a head will When a soul or a spirit gets stuck in the branches of a live for a week and answer three questions truthfully tree on its way to Yomi this tree becomes a jinmenju; a before it perishes. strange plant that absorbs souls and grows living human Spell-like abilities: 1/ week – control weather; 3/ day heads just as normal trees absorb water and dirt and – command plants, plant growth, spike stones, summon grow fruit. Another strange feature of the jinmenju are swarm (spiders only); at will – entangle. Caster level its huge network of roots that resemble a spider web 14th. some 60 feet across. Since a jinmenju have access to all the knowledge and experience of the myriad souls they absorbed, they Bibliography: are among the wisest and most erudite creatures in the world. Unfortunately, always hungry for more souls to sustain them, these creatures often demands a dire price Storm, Rachel. The Encyclopedia of Eastern Mythology. in return for the priceless knowledge they hold. London: Lorenz Book. 1999. In remote and primitive areas, jinmenju are worshipped Riabovoy, E.A. Aukumo: 50 Japanese Tales of Wonders like gods by backward barbarian tribes. These jinmenju and Ghosts. Moscow: Natalis. 2003. are especially wise and powerful because they receive Yei, Theodora Ozaki. Japanese Fairy Tales. Tokyo. a constant supply of fresh souls from their fanatic 1908. minions. Hearn, Lafcadio. KWAIDAN: Stories and Studies of Combat Strange Things. Tokyo. 1904. Jinmenju are usually honorable and fair and generally Davisson, Zack. “Tales of Ghostly Japan”, Japanzine, do not seek to absorb souls through violence. Some, 2007. however, may consider that a direly wounded or sick person is better off dead anyway and try to murder http://www.seekjapan.jp/article-1/766/ him using their spell-like abilities or, if present, loyal Tales+of+Ghostly+Japan cultists. Absorb Soul (Su): Any living creature with 0 or fewer

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