0/0

    Kuchisake-Onna 口裂け女

    Medium humanoid (yokai), chaotic evil

    Armor Class 14

    Hit Points 84 (13d8 + 26)

    Speed 40 ft.

    STR 12 (+1) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 14 (+2) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 12 (+1) · CHA 14 (+2)

    Saving Throws Dex +7, Cha +5

    Skills Deception +5, Perception +4, Stealth +7

    Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks (optional)

    Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

    Languages Yokai Speech, Common (or local dialect)

    Challenge 6

    Traits

    Horrifying Grin. Kuchisake-Onna can magically alter her face to appear normal, hiding her slit mouth. A creature that sees her true face for the first time must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of Kuchisake-Onna’s next turn. On a success, that creature is immune to Horrifying Grin for 24 hours.

    Blinding Speed (Recharge 5-6). Once per encounter, Kuchisake-Onna can double her movement speed until the end of her turn and ignore opportunity attacks during that movement, representing a sudden burst of impossible quickness.

    Deceptive Beauty. Kuchisake-Onna has advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks when covering the lower half of her face (e.g., with a surgical mask, fan, or scarf).

    Actions

    Multiattack. Kuchisake-Onna makes two attacks: one with Scissors and one Bite, or two Scissors attacks.

    Scissors (or Knife). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

    Hit: 9 (1d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) psychic damage, as the victim’s horror magnifies the pain.

    Bite (Slit Mouth). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

    Hit: 11 (2d4 + 6) piercing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned until the end of its next turn, due to the ghastly infection and terror inflicted by her fangs.

    Am I Pretty? (Frightful Ensnarement) (Recharge 5-6). Kuchisake-Onna singles out one creature within 10 feet, unveiling her hideously slit mouth and asking in a haunting tone, “Am I pretty?” That target must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target becomes ensnared by dread for 1 minute. While ensnared in this way:

    • The target cannot make hostile actions against Kuchisake-Onna and feels compelled to respond politely or non-insultingly. This is less an appreciation of her looks and more a desperate attempt to appease the terrifying figure.

    • If the target attempts to move more than 10 feet away from her in a single turn, it must succeed on another DC 14 Wisdom save or remain rooted in place, stammering in confused fear.

    • The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

    • The effect also ends if Kuchisake-Onna or her allies damage the target in any way.

    Bonus Actions

    Face Slash (1/Short Rest). When Kuchisake-Onna hits a creature with her Scissors, she can attempt a swift, precise slash across the mouth. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or receive a lasting facial wound. Until healed by magic or a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check, the creature takes a -1 penalty on Charisma-based checks, and has disadvantage on Charisma (Performance) checks, as the wound is disturbing to onlookers.

    Reactions

    Sudden Dodge. When Kuchisake-Onna would take damage from a melee attack, she can reduce it by half if she can see the attacker and is not incapacitated, as she darts aside with uncanny grace.

    Lair or Environmental Effects (Optional)

    If Kuchisake-Onna haunts an urban neighborhood, she may create mild illusions at initiative count 20 (losing ties):

    Flickering Streetlights. A 15-foot radius area of dim light flickers wildly, imposing disadvantage on ranged attacks passing through that zone until initiative count 20 of the next round.

    Footstep Echoes. Each hostile creature in a 20-foot radius must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check or lose track of Kuchisake-Onna’s precise location, imposing disadvantage on the first attack they make against her before the end of their turn.

    Behavior & Lore

    Answers to “Am I pretty?” rarely appease her. Evasive or cunning replies might buy time.

    Often singles out travelers walking alone. Child victims are common in folklore, but adult loners can also become prey.

    She relies on surprise, illusions of normalcy, and horrifying revelations of her slit mouth.

    Lore

    Vengeful spirit asking about her beauty, revealing a grotesque slit mouth.

    Few Japanese legends have sown more panic among schoolchildren than Kuchisake-Onna. At one point, the fear escalated to such extremes that children in some areas were sent home in groups for their safety, terrified of encountering her on the way to or from school. So pervasive is this tale that there are few in Japan who have not heard at least a whisper of the slit-mouthed woman, reputed to stalk children and unsuspecting passersby, armed with a knife or a pair of scissors.

    The legend even sparked a real incident: in Himeji, a 25-year-old woman dressed as Kuchisake-Onna and began scaring people with a blade. She was arrested for violating local weapon laws.

    From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 110 · Fern Flower Press