Would you mind ranting about the ancient inokabes! As much as you want! I just want to know the difference and any interesting lore!! Nomnom
No problem! Here's some lore about both normal and ancient inokabes:
Inokabes are descendants of an ancient species of yokai that were larger, about the size of the average horse (these will be called primal inokabes for future reference).
Their size meant that they tended to eat a lot, and that lead to having the habit of resting in rather inconvenient places while their bodies digest and process their meals. Eventually, they ended up garnering a reputation for generally getting in the way, and because of this, we’re seen as “malicious” yokai who got in the way for the fun of it, rather than the actual reason.
Because of this, when yokai moved underground, only the smaller, quicker versions of this species have really thrived, and now they often require less physical food, and instead soak up mystic energies from the world around them while they sleep.
What I’m calling “ancient” inokabes are just smaller versions of the primal inokabes who managed to find places underground to sleep, and because of this their bodies have “absorbed” way more mystic energy than normal, causing them to grow to at least the size of the average wolf… (with exceptions, as we now see).
Because of their yokai heritage, domesticated inokabes still tend to happen to nap in rather annoyingly inconvenient places— stretched out across hallways, directly in the middle of kitchens, right outside doors after dark, etc. And unfortunately it’s a quality that will not go away, so if you own an inokabe please make sure that you watch your step! Especially if you have a little guy or a pup!
