Oriental Adventures into 5E Part Two: Hengeyokai

Continuing my conversation of the 1985 Oriental Adventures into D&D 5th Edition, here are the Hengeyokai. I am currently preparing to GM a campaign set in an original Asian-inspired setting.

Hengeyokai from Stonehaven Miniatures

L to R: Male Fox Ranger/Rogue, Bluebird Rogue, Sparrow Bard & Female Fox Assassin 

HENGEYOKAI

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Hengeyokai are intelligent, shape-shifting animals. The ability to change is natural to hengeyokai. The are not lycanthropes and do not have the weakness and resistances of lycanthropes. In a sense, Hengeyokai are animals who become human, rather than humans who become animals.

Hengeyokai have three forms that they can assume. The first is a normal animal of their type, the second is a bipedal animal and the third is a human form. In human form, the hengeyokai retains some characteristic of their animal form. A hengeyokai crane for example, might be exceptionally long-legged. A hengeyokai rat might have a long nose.  Their bipedal form is their most natural

Hengeyokai typically do not have their own kingdoms and settlements, and live in a variety of places depending on their type. Rats might live in the lower reaches and poorer parts of cities, while monkeys might be found as hermits in a forest. Humans are generally suspicious of hengeyokai, even those that they know to be traditionally good.

HENGEYOKAI TRAITS

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Your Hengeyokai character has a variety of characteristics in common with all other Hengeyokai, and other traits based on your animal type.

Ability Score Increase: Your ability scores increase depending on the animal form.

Age. Hengeyokai mature at the same rate as humans and have roughly the same lifespans with some variations among animal types.

Size. In human form, hengeyokai are Medium.  

Alignment. The majority of Hengeyokai are chaotic or neutral. Certain animal types have a tendency to good or evil, and this might form an important part of your background.

Speed. Your base walking speed in human form is 30 feet.

Type. You are of the Monstrosity type.

Darkvision. In animal and bipedal form, you have superior vision in the dark. You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if you were in bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot identify color in the darkness, only shades of grey. In human form, you lack darkvision.

Attracts Suspicion. In bipedal form, all Charisma checks with humans are made at a disadvantage.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Hengeyokai, Common and Spirit Folk. In animal form, you can understand any language you already know, though you can only speak in hengeyokai. In bipedal form, you can speak any language you know, including human and animal languages. In human form, you cannot speak to animals but can understand their communication.

Shifting. As an action, you may shift into a different form.  This ability is limited, however. The number of times a hengeyokai can change forms in one day equals his class level. A first level character who is a hengeyokai can change from human to animal form on one day, and must remain in that form until the next day. He could then change into the human or bipedal form. Changing requires one complete round during which a hengeyokai must maintain concentration. Armor, clothing and equipment do not change with the hengeyokai, although most are retained and usable in the human and bipedal forms.

Animal Form. When in animal form, a hengeyokai is virtually indistinguishable from a normal animal. Since the form is natural and not an illusion, spells that reveal illusions will not detect a hengeyokai. In animal form, hengeyokai cannot wear armor or use weapons. Hengeyokai spell casters cannot cast any spells while in animal form.

The hengeyokai has fewer hit points while in animal form than in either of his other forms. In animal form, the hengeyokai only has half their current hit points (rounded up). Hit points lost in one form are carried over to another form. For example,  a hengeyokai with 25 hit points in human form will have 13 in animal form. If the character is wounded and loses 5 hit points, he will have 20 upon returning to human or bipedal form.

When a hengeyokai reaches 0 hit points in any form, they must make death saving throws as per the PH. Shifting to another form will not regain hit points in such a state.

Bipedal Form. In this form, the hengeyokai appears as a humanoid animal. He stands on hind legs at roughly the same height as his human form. The front paws (or wings, fins, etc.) change into hands capable of gripping and using equipment. The rest of the body retains the general shape and appearance of the animal, including fur, feathers, tail and other characteristic features.

Creature	Attack/Damage	AC	Move	Ability Scores
Carp	-		Swim 30	+2 WI, +1 CON
Cat	1-3/slashing	12	Move 40, Climb 30	+2 DEX, +1 CHR
Crab	1-3	11	Move 20, Swim 20	+2 STR, +1 CON
Crane	-		Move 10, Fly 40	+2 WIS, +1 CHR
Dog	1-3/piercing	12	Move 40	+2 CON, +1 STR
Drake	-		Move 20, Fly 40, Swim 20	+2 CHR, +1 CON
Fox	bite, +1 to hit  (1d4-1) piercing	12	Move 40	+2 INT, +1 CHR
Hare		12	Move 40	+2 WIS, +1 DEX
Monkey	bite, +1 to hit (1d4-1)  piercing	12	Move 30, Climb 30	+2 DEX, +1 INT
Raccoon Dog	bite, +2 to hit (1d4-1)  piercing	10	Move 20, Climb 20	+2 STR, +1 DEX
Rat	bite, +0 to hit, 1 piercing	10	Move 20	+2 CON, +1 INT
Sparrow	+3 to hit, 1 piercing	12	Move 10, Fly 40	+2 CHR, +1 DEX

Damage. Listings are given for animals with natural weapons (teeth or claws). Natural weapons can only be used when the hengeyokai is in animal form, now when the character is in human or bipedal form.

Armor Class (AC) only applies to the animal form, not to the bipedal or human form. It cannot be increased by armor or shields.

Move indicates the character’s speed in animal form and the types

Modifications indicates the changes to a character’s ability scores based on the type of creature chosen.

Hare. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has Advantage on Perception checks that involve hearing.

Monkey. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has a prehensile tail that can manipulate and lift small object. It cannot be used to directly attack.

Raccoon Dog. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has Advantage on perception checks that rely on smell.

Rat. In animal and bipedal form, the hengeyokai has advantage on perception (smell) checks.

Sparrow. In bipedal and human form, the hengeyokai is proficient in Musical Instrument (Voice). In both bipedal and human form, their tendency is to be a Small size.

Oriental Adventures into 5th Edition: Korobokuru

     Oriental Adventures came in 1985 at the tail end of the 1st edition/AD&D era. Released as a hardcover, it introduced many concepts such as skill proficiency, comeliness, and honor. Of course, the real draw was new classes such ninja, samurai and wu jen. Other classes, such as barbarian and monk were repurposed to better fit the new setting. To an 11 or 12 year old who grew up on Kung Fu Theater every Saturday afternoon, this was a prize. From the classic cover to an Asian bestiary, this is an AD&D collector's essential..
       The setting of Kaan-Tur was initially meant to be the Oriental end of a generic European medieval world, probably Greyhawk. In 1987, it was specifically stated to be in the Forgotten Realms. A later edition of Oriental Adventures (for 3E) would place the story in Rokugon, of Legend of the Five Rings Fame. A good book, but one that was at cross purposes with itself. Many of the races and classes it contained were not a part of the setting the book described, and so the book never worked to a coherent whole.
The original Oriental Adventures contained only three non-human player character races, all of which I will adapt in the coming weeks.  First, the dwarves of Kara-tur:

KOROBOKURU

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The Korobukuru are a race of eastern dwarves who make their home deep in the jungle, on snowy mountains or in remote forests.  They rarely venture outside of their villages, and avoid contact with humans and other intelligent races.

Dwarf monk from Reaper Miniatures

Standing about 4 feet tall, the Korobokuru are nonetheless stout and powerful. Their long, hairy arms and slightly bowed legs and sparse beards give them a comical appearance to many humans. Nonetheless, they are extremely strong and hardy
Korobokuru live in small settlements where they farm, hunt and work at simple crafts. They are often considered primitive by settled and more advanced peoples, though the korobokuru’s pugnacious and boastful nature will not tolerate insults. Korobokuru adventurers who travel outside of their villages are most often barbarians, but might also include rangers and druids.  

KOROBOKURU NAMES

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Names are very important in Korobokuru culture. In addition to the clan name, parents give children a name or nickname at an early age. Upon reaching adulthood, another name is taken, which is mostly kept secret. Only very close family members or companions are told this secret name.

Male Names. Akihi, Horohoro, Isonash, Koshaman, Menkakush, Mici, Nupur, Pasekur, Resak, Takhaka,

Female Names. Api, Hotene, Katekemat, Kateyui, Mina, Oki, Opere, Nupeki, Pirka, Saki, Toitoi, Umoshmatek,

Clan Names. Hakket, Jomo, Kapo, Karafuto, Niputay, Ponape, Yezo,

KOROBOKURU TRAITS

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Your Korobokuru character has a variety of characteristics in common with all other Korobokuru.

Ability Score Increase: Your Constitution Score increases by 2 and your Strength increases by 1.

Age. Korobokuru mature at the same rate as humans, but they are considered young until they are 50 years of age. On average, they live about 350 years, although rare ascetics among them may live much longer.

Size. Korobokuru stand between 3 ½ to 4 ½ feet tall and average about 125 lbs. Your size is Small.

Alignment. The majority of Korobokuru are chaotic or neutral, especially in their relations with outsiders.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Type. You are of the humanoid type.

Darkvision. Accustomed to the dark forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in the dark. You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if you were in bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You cannot identify color in the darkness, only shades of grey.

Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison and you have resistance to poison damage.

Hardy. You have advantage on all Strength and Constitution saves against magic.

Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.  

Languages. You can speak Korobokuru, Trade and Hengeyokai.

Close to the Wild. You have proficiency in the Nature skill. If attempting to identify plants and animals of your clan's native area, you have Advantage on skill checks.

Oriental Adventures for AD & D at rpgnow.com

Conversion notes: This is basically a 5th edition hill dwarf with a few changes. They have the nature proficiency instead of a tool proficiency. A couple of gnomish traits (small size and magical resistance) replace the armor and weapon proficiencies and bonuses. The names are borrowed and adapted from Ainu names. Korobokuru are a part of Ainu folklore and the Ainu thought the dwarves were the previous inhabitants of their northern islands. 

Goblin Villagers

My painting project for the week were these goblins from Rebel Minis from their Dark Hold line. They are 20mm to the top of the head. The sculptor is Bobby Jackson, and as you can see, the poses, character and expression is excellent. The casting is also top quality. Very little clean up required, and all are single piece figures.

I will possibly make use of them in a Frostgrave warband. They would certainly be very good low level minions for an unscrupulous wizard.

Order Rebel Minis

Into the Woods

One of the many things I like about Reaper's variety is its focus on a variety of "worlds" within typical RPG fantasy, such as aquatic, subterranean and of course, the forest.

From the first Reaper Bones is this Not-Ent, officially titled Spirit of the Forest. It is a large figure, but it could stand to be a bit bigger; another 2 cm and I could picture a couple of halflings riding on its shoulders. Maybe in Bones III we can get some proper giant tree men.

From Reaper II, are these centaurs.  The sculpts are very nice, but the female centaur's spear shows one of the primary weakensses of the Bones line: thin weapons or extensions. Despite several treatments in boiling water and cold water, the spear returned a warped form. Oh well, maybe it is a spear made from a naturally crooked branch. 

The sylph and dryad below are also from Reaper II.

 My daughter so liked the Sylph mini that she wanted to play one in our D&D 5E game. She's 10, and not likely to abuse or exploit the flying rules, so we went with it.  Using the DM Guide, I created this race using the Aaracokra as template.  Their flying has been reduced to fluttering basically, but that is to justify their numerous other abilities from Fey ancestry.

SYLPH

The Sylph are spirits of the air from the fae world. They are happiest soaring on the wind above mountains and hills.

APPEARANCE

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As winged beings, slyphs resemble fairies and pixies, however they approach the size of small humans. Both males and females average about five feet tall, without much extreme variation. They are much more slender than humans or even elves, weighing about 80 to 110 pounds. Their gossamer wings are thin and graceful, and are capable of carrying the sylphs aloft over short distances. Slyphs skin coloration spans the same range as humans, but also includes tones with a copperish or silverish sheen. Hair coloration is also similar to humans in addition to bright reds, greens and blues.

ATTITUDE

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Sylphs make their homes at high altitudes where they can be close to the wind. Nonetheless, they are also curious about the world below them and will periodically travel far from their home. They are most wary of humans, for it is greedy humans who often try to capture and rip them their wings from them. Though they do not understand why Dwarves so prefer the subterranean world, they recognize the natural goodness of their society. Orcs and other goblinoids are even more distrusted but rarely sought out by the sylphs.  But as individualists themselves, the sylphs know that all people are unique and not bound by their racial tendencies.

CREATURES OF THE WIND

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Sylphs live atop mountains and remote highlands where they can soar on the winds. Contact with settled races is rare, but they will find companions among woodland creatures and air elementals especially elves, eladrin and aarakocra.

SYLPH TRAITS

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The sylph has a number of natural abilities as a fey born creature.

Ability Score Increases. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma increases by 1.

Age. While not quite as long lived as elves, sylvans can live for several centuries.

Alignment.  As an isolated nature loving race, sylphs favor neutral alignments, and evil slyphs are rare but not unheard of.

Size. Sylphs are usually about 4 ½ to a little over five feet tall, and weigh around 80 to 100 pounds.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight. You have a flying speed of 30 feet, and can fly for a maximum of 3 rounds before alighting. They can glide at a rate of 20 feet horizontal and 5 feet on the vertical as long as distance and air currents can provide. Sylph cannot fly is wearing Medium or Heavy armor.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Sylvan.

Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey born. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.