Oni, Yuemo
Image © Terry Oakes
[The Fighting Fantasy line started out as vaguely medieval European, as is typical for post D&D fantasy, but as the line expanded, it explored other regions and had other themes. Which of course meant there was a fantasy Japan. Several of the monsters from books set in “The Isles of the Dawn” are genuine Japanese folkloric monsters, and others are original. Like this carp man here. I figured that the vaguely Japanese theming was a good excuse to make it an oni, and to fill in a CR gap among my original oni.
Delightfully, when doing research for this entry (mostly double checking to see if there were any humanoid carp in Japanese folklore, I found Koijarus, a toy-only kaiju with a remarkably similar design]
Oni, Yuemo CR 7 LE Outsider (native) This creature resembles an oversized humanoid with the head of a carp. Its scales form a coat of mail, and its arms end not in hands, but in blade-like fins.
A yuemo is an oni, the aquatic equivalent of an ogre mage. They mimic and oftentimes command merrow, having multiple families of the aquatic giants under their command. A yuemo may act to coordinate merrow raiding into a targeted operation rather than targets of opportunity, and the presence of a single yuemo can make an entire region dangerous. Although they are clever at manipulating their merrow cronies, most yuemo prefer solitude and tranquility, lairing in pristine mountain ponds or near waterfalls.
A yuemo in its natural form is built for combat—they don’t even have opposable digits for manipulating tools. They have instead fins reinforced with razor sharp scales which they use like swords. If they are fighting in conjunction with merrow, they make sure to set up flanking or other tactical advantages. Yuemo are preternaturally lucky, able to withstand physical and magical attacks with ease. They are smart enough to flee a losing battle, turning into water and flowing away to hide and regenerate. This tactic gives them an aura of invincibility, as them dissolving into water and later returning is seen as death and rebirth by merrow (and many adventurers besides).
Yuemo come in many colors. The default appearance is a dull muddy brown, but as shapeshifters, yuemo can choose the hue of their scales. Many choose vivid patterns of blotches and spots in multiple colors, resembling fancy koi. A yuemo stands about 12 feet tall.
