Katawaguruma 片輪車

Large fiend (undead), chaotic evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 78 (12d10 + 12)

Speed 60 ft. (hover)

STR 18 (+4) · DEX 15 (+2) · CON 13 (+1) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 15 (+2)

Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +5, Cha +5

Skills Intimidation +5, Perception +5, Stealth +5

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks

Damage Immunities fire, poison

Condition Immunities charmed, poisoned, prone

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Infernal, understands Celestial but can’t speak

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Traits

Blazing Wheel. Katawaguruma always hovers a few inches above the ground. She can enter a hostile creature’s space and stop there; she can’t be grappled or knocked prone.

Hellfire Aura. A creature that touches Katawaguruma or hits her with a melee attack while within 5 feet takes 3 (1d6) fire damage.

Dreadful Visage. The first time a creature sees Katawaguruma each day, it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of her for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Actions

Multiattack. Katawaguruma makes two Wheel Slash attacks. She can replace one attack with Curse of the Crippling Wheel if it is available.

Wheel Slash. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d10 + 7) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) fire damage. If Katawaguruma moved at least 20 feet straight toward the target this turn, the attack deals an extra 7 (2d6) fire damage.

Curse of the Crippling Wheel (Recharge 5–6). Katawaguruma targets one creature she can see within 30 feet that has looked upon her flaming form this turn. The target must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure it is cursed; while cursed it takes 7 (2d6) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns and can’t regain hit points. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the curse on itself on a success. The curse also ends if remove curse or comparable magic is cast on the target.

Hellfire Rush (Recharge 5–6). Katawaguruma surges forward in a 30-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in the line must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (5d8) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. Katawaguruma can then move up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Bonus Actions

Infernal Momentum. Katawaguruma moves up to 20 feet. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

Reactions

Blazing Reprisal. When Katawaguruma is dealt fire damage, she halves the damage against her and releases a burst of cinders. Each creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 5 (2d4) fire damage.

Lore

A woman turned into a rolling wheel with a grinning face, chasing those who wronged her.

Katawaguruma is a yokai whose name is written with the characters 片輪車 and literally translates as “Crippling wheel.” She is viewed as the female counterpart to the better-known Wanyudo. In Japanese demonology she combines the traits of a hellish messenger and a vengeful onryo spirit: legend says she is the soul of a woman whose sins or unbridled rage turned her into a ghost after death. The creature takes the form of a flaming one-bladed cartwheel to which a woman’s body is chained. Every appearance is filled with stifling heat and the reek of smoke, creating the impression of a ruthless courier from hell.

According to myth, Katawaguruma dwells in the Underworld but from time to time rolls into the human realm to hunt for “unclean souls.” The demon is especially sensitive to curiosity: the moment a traveler or villager looks at the blazing wheel, a curse falls upon them. The most famous story comes from the old province of Omi, where this spirit terrorized a village so thoroughly that no one dared go out—or even peer outside—after dusk. One inquisitive woman, however, could not resist and cracked her door open as the spirit passed by. Katawaguruma noticed and cried out, “Instead of staring at me, you’d better watch your children!” In that instant the children in the house vanished.

From Yokai Bestiary 5E, Book Two, p. 52 · Fern Flower Press