The Pathfinder version of the Harionago is Undead. While I keep finding the term "ghoulish" thrown around with regard to the folkloric version, I can't find any reference to the yokai actually being undead; it just devours people. Do you have any more solid details (recognizing of course that folklore often doesn't categorize so cleanly)?
Not really. As far as I can tell, the hari-onago doesn't have an established origin story. Like a lot of yokai, it exists in the form of a scary story told about it. The undead claim is by comparison--since a lot of yurei appear as women with long hair, the hari-onago might as well be a specialized version.
A prime example of a being you don't want to run into during a lone walk at night. Powerful and fast, supposedly you can only get away if you are both quick and have your home nearby...and if your home is secure enough to keep her out.
[The hari-onago is yet another yokai that was statted by myself and Paizo separately. See their version here. There’s is a much higher CR than mine, so the two could probably comfortably co-exist within a campaign. Just call one “harionna” or something]
Hari-onago
CR 2 NE Undead
This beautiful pale-skinned woman grins playfully behind her well-manicured hand. Her hair is long and flows nearly to the ground, each strand ending in a tiny barb.
Hari-onago are the undead shades of women whose vanity led to the ruin of their lives and the lives of others. They retain their beauty even in undeath—what signs of decay they express are subtle and typically concealed with makeup and perfumes. Hari-onago are more social than the typical undead creature and live within human societies, the better to attract attention. Hari-onago crave constant flattery and praise and delight in their appearances causing jealousy and infidelity. Those who are foolish enough to succumb to their charms are strung along on promises for months before being brutally slaughtered.
In combat, hari-onago fight with sharpened nails and their deadly barbed hair. This hair is used to ensnare and torment victims. The results of a hari-onago attack are gruesome to behold, and often interpreted as the handiwork of a mortal maniac. Hari-onago are infuriated by laughter, interpreting it as being aimed at them regardless of its true intentions, and may lash out violently at a laughing man regardless of the setting or consequences. Hari-onago sometimes live together and form acting companies, geisha houses or other social groups in which to spin their deceitful webs. These hari-onago publicly act friendly to one another, but scheme constantly to gain an advantage over their “sisters”. A hari-onago conforms to the dimensions of a human woman, and always wears her hair long.
Hari-onago CR 2
XP 600
CE Medium undead
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +8
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +5
Immune undead traits
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +4 (1d3+1), hair lash +2 (1d6 plus entangle)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with hair lash)
Statistics
Str 13, Dex 15, Con ̶, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Multiattack, Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +9, Disguise +12, Perception +8, Sense Motive +8, Stealth +8; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +4 Disguise
Languages Common, Elven
Ecology
Environment urban
Organization solitary, pair or clique (3-6)
Treasure double standard
Special Abilities
Hair Lash (Ex) Any creature struck by a hari-onago’s hair lash becomes entangled and cannot move outside of the hari-onago’s reach. A creature can escape by succeeding a DC 12 Escape Artist check or a DC 16 Strength check as a standard action, but takes 1d6 damage regardless of the check’s success. A hari-onago cannot use its hair lash attack when it has a target entangled, and can only entangle creatures of Large or smaller size. The escape DC is Strength based, and includes a racial +4 bonus for the Strength check DC.
[So, this is a bit of an odd one. Namely, there's already a harionago in Pathfinder. So, what gives?
The Year of Yokai project has been long in gestation, longer than the Bestiary 4, in which the official Pathfinder harionago appears, has been out. So consider this an exercise in parallel development. If you want to use both critters, rename one of them a "hareonna" and you'll be good.]
Hari-onago
This beautiful pale-skinned woman grins playfully behind her well-manicured hand. Her hair is long and flows nearly to the ground, each strand ending in a tiny barb.
Hari-onago are the undead shades of women whose vanity led to the ruin of their lives and the lives of others. They retain their beauty even in undeath—what signs of decay they express are subtle and typically concealed with makeup and perfumes. Hari-onago are more social than the typical undead creature and live within human societies, the better to attract attention. Hari-onago crave constant flattery and praise and delight in their appearances causing jealousy and infidelity. Those who are foolish enough to succumb to their charms are strung along on promises for months before being brutally slaughtered.
In combat, hari-onago fight with sharpened nails and their deadly barbed hair. This hair is used to ensnare and torment victims. The results of a hari-onago attack are gruesome to behold, and often interpreted as the handiwork of a mortal maniac. Hari-onago are infuriated by laughter, interpreting it as being aimed at them regardless of its true intentions, and may lash out violently at a laughing man regardless of the setting or consequences. Hari-onago sometimes live together and form acting companies, geisha houses or other social groups in which to spin their deceitful webs. These hari-onago publicly act friendly to one another, but scheme constantly to gain an advantage over their “sisters”. A hari-onago conforms to the dimensions of a human woman, and always wears her hair long.
Hari-onago CR 2
XP 600
CE Medium undead
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +8
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +5
Immune undead traits
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +4 (1d3+1), hair lash +2 (1d6 plus entangle)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with hair lash)
Statistics
Str 13, Dex 15, Con ̶, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Multiattack, Weapon Finesse
Skills Bluff +9, Disguise +12, Perception +8, Sense Motive +8, Stealth +8; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +4 Disguise
Languages Common, Elven
Ecology
Environment urban
Organization solitary, pair or clique (3-6)
Treasure double standard
Special Abilities
Hair Lash (Ex) Any creature struck by a hari-onago’s hair lash becomes entangled and cannot move outside of the hari-onago’s reach. A creature can escape by succeeding a DC 12 Escape Artist check or a DC 16 Strength check as a standard action, but takes 1d6 damage regardless of the check’s success. A hari-onago cannot use its hair lash attack when it has a target entangled, and can only entangle creatures of Large or smaller size. The escape DC is Strength based, and includes a racial +4 bonus for the Strength check DC.
I'm actually really in the mood to talk about Japanese mythology...and since my yokai articles have been so popular, I see no reason not to write about another! Today we'll be talking about the ghoulish Hari-onago!
Similarly to the Futakuchi-onna, the Hari-onago is characterized by a very monstrous head of hair, and the appearance of a beautiful young woman. However, unlike the Futakuchi-onna, whose head of hair acts out of its own malicious intent, the Hari-onago is said to be in full control. But what's so special about the Hari-onago's hair you might ask?
Hari-onago is translated literally as "barbed woman", which sums up this yokai quite nicely. Each strand of their long, flowing hair is barbed with thorns, ending in a sharp hook. Wandering the roads of the countryside, (particularly the ones located in the Ehime prefecture) the Hari-onago seeks out her favorite victim: young men.
If you are a young man, and happen to be walking along the Japanese countryside one evening, be wary of the Hari-onago. She will laugh cruelly at you, but this is only a ruse; a lure to get you to return the gesture. If you also laugh, the Hari-onago will pounce; cutting you to ribbons with her tentacle-like hairs after she catches hold of you with them. Preeeetty gruesome.
The best thing to do is ignore her, or simply to walk away...but beware! This yokai has also been known to give chase. But do not despair! One story tells of a young man that was able to elude the vicious barbs of the Hari-onago by fleeing indoors, slamming a wooden door behind him.Though the door was left in miserable shape afterwards, wood seems to do well enough in absorbing the Hari-onago's slices.
