Ao Bozu 青坊主

Medium fey (shapechanger), chaotic evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 45 (10d8)

Speed 30 ft.

STR 8 (−1) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 10 (+0) · INT 12 (+1) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +5

Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Stealth +4

Damage Resistances necrotic, psychic

Condition Immunities frightened

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages Common, Sylvan, telepathy 60 ft.

Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Traits

Shapechanger. As an action, Ao Bozu can polymorph into a fox. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed.

Melancholic Aura. A creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of Ao Bozu must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls until the start of its next turn. A creature that succeeds on the save is immune to this aura for 24 hours.

True Name Foil. If a creature within 30 feet speaks the words “I recognize you, kitsune!” as an action, Ao Bozu must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. While frightened in this way, it cannot use reactions, and the target of its Melancholic Aura gains advantage on the saving throw. Ao Bozu can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Actions

Long-Arm Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) psychic damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be Cursed with Despair for 1 minute. While cursed, the target takes 2 (1d4) psychic damage at the start of each of its turns and can’t take reactions. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the curse on itself on a success.

Melancholy Gaze (Recharge 5–6). Ao Bozu targets one creature it can see within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or take 10 (3d6) psychic damage and be paralyzed with despair until the end of Ao Bozu’s next turn. On a successful save, the creature takes half the damage and isn’t paralyzed.

Bonus Actions

Sudden Step (1/Day). Ao Bozu magically teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.

Reactions

Echo of Hopelessness. When Ao Bozu takes damage from a creature it can see within 30 feet, it can force that creature to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 4 (1d8) psychic damage.

Lore

The “Blue Monk,” a mountain prowler who ambushes travelers.

Ao Bozu (青坊主) is a yokai whose name blends bozu, meaning “monk,” with ao, literally “blue” but also a metaphor for immaturity, pallor, or inexperience. The color therefore carries a second meaning: the apparition may be physically bluish, or it may be a monk who never reached spiritual maturity and thus became a dangerous spirit. Japanese artists often paint Ao Bozu as a one-eyed priest standing beside a hut; in local demonology, having only one eye is linked to curses or divinity. Folklore descriptions swing from a giant shadow of a monk in blue robes to a tiny novice; some areas say he has an unnaturally long arm for grabbing people, others that his whole body is deep blue.

Start digging into regional sources and you’ll find the name Ao Bozu applied to several entirely different beings. Around Fukushima, Gifu, and Hiroshima the “monk” usually turns out to be a prank-loving tanuki that mastered a cleric disguise—probably after growing bored of his favorite kettle trick. In that gag someone finds a handsome teapot in the woods; later it sprouts legs and starts dancing around the house, terrifying everyone until they realize it’s a tanuki. Taking priestly form is simply an older raccoon-dog’s upgrade: instead of bounding through the house, he now pops up as a one-eyed monk for laughs.

From Yokai Bestiary 5E, Book Two, p. 8 · Fern Flower Press