wethecreature
New member
Minecraft Username: wethecreature
Activity Level: I am a member of the lore team and am on Discord regularly! I'm on the Minecraft server on a semi-regular basis to check in and look around.
List previous Warns/Bans: N/A
List previous Yokai Applications (if any):
Oshika | 雄鹿
[HIBIKI-SAN | 顔泥棒]
Noppera-bō Homebrew - Greater Spirit
Note: I felt like she was Greater Spirit material, but if her power level is more like an Elder Spirit's I can edit this.
Lore:
Skin & Ink - [750]
____________
The Emperor sat upon the Chrysanthemum Throne, watching as the shadows of the dancers painted the paper walls of the room, their movements flowing in synchronization like ripples in water. As the dance concluded, they lined up and fell into deep bows.
Among them was Hibiki-san, one of the court’s many seasoned initiates, her long black hair tied up in a neat bun. She was known not just for her beauty, but for her grace as well. She was an adept dancer and a captivating performer, an entertainer of the imperial court for five years now. Yet still, the Emperor took notice only of the dancers beside her.
As the applause faded, Hibiki-san retreated to her quarters down one of the palace’s dimly lit halls. Her home was a narrow, dark room with tatami mat flooring and a small bed. Next to the bed sat a nightstand, and from its drawer she removed a slip of paper, an inkstick, an inkstone, and a brush. She spat into the basin of the inkstone, lifting the stick and grinding it into the liquid until her saliva had become foamy black. Dipping the brush in, she began to paint kanji onto the paper with the same peaceful flow as her dance.
Hibiki-san had wandered the halls of ancient libraries, shrines, and palaces. Over time, she uncovered the layers of Japan’s occult tradition, peeling them back and seeing their workings. In turn, she used her knowledge for novel purposes: the practices of a witch. And now, she was constructing a charm in her favor.
Tonight, the Emperor was holding a grand contest. All his dancers would bring their best, and the one who performed the most beautifully would be gifted an imperial relic of the majesty’s choosing. There was one more thing Hibiki-san was known for: her conniving nature. Born to a peasant family, she had learned early that her grace alone was not enough to lift her from the muck. Her path to the palace was paved with manipulation and desire- desire for power. And if she was most skilled at anything, it was getting what she sought.
However, she was outmatched this time. The Emperor already had his eyes on another dancer, who carried far better form than her. She would not claim the relic, nor her place in the imperial court if she did not sway him in her direction. As the ink set on the paper, the air grew tense- taut like it could be sliced with a dull knife.
Lifting the charm carefully, Hibiki-san crept through the halls like a phantom, passing past the Emperor’s sleeping quarters and into his dressing room. Approaching the kimono he wore for the court’s feasts, she took a pair of scissors from her sleeve, making a precise incision along the inner lining. She slid the charm inside and then sealed the hole with a small pin.
As dinner concluded that night, the contestants stepped up before the throne. While the other dancers danced like velvet, Hibiki-san danced like paper. Yet still, the Emperor’s gaze was trained on her, almost hypnotically so. And of course, it was met with everyone’s surprise when she was called up to accept the imperial gift.
The Emperor drew forth a beautiful box, and inside was a golden kimono, gleaming with blessed light. One of the lord’s advisors, a Buddhist monk, noticed the strange trance of his master, but failed to conceal his recognition of Hibiki-san’s hex. She quickly took the kimono and left to her quarters with a bow. Seeing that it wouldn’t be long until she was caught, she packed her things, shoveling her tools into a straw basket.
Slipping into the holy kimono (her final sacrilege), she fled the palace into the city below. In hopes of leaving the city at dawn, she found rest in a small inn just outside the imperial district. That night, the divine imperial house sought retribution, and by morning, they had found it.
At dawn, Hibiki-san woke up, unable to see or breathe. She reached up, tugging the skin of her face to find it smooth and empty- she was faceless.
Stripped of all she’d worked for, she rose again with ire. It is said that still, she strives for power, stealing the faces of those whose lives can bring her into control. Remember... not everyone is as they seem.
____________
The Ōdamatsu Case - [1374]
____________
[Last Name, First Name]
Dear ███████████ ████,
Prefectural police had been receiving reports regarding cases like Ōdamatsu (absences or disappearances followed by abnormal behavior) for nearly four years prior to 1983, and the occurrences were managed solely by local authorities.
Following a long pause in 1981, the pattern resurfaced again in 1982 in Ōdamatsu. A college student claimed her mother, who had returned from a solo vacation to Osaka, had begun acting erratic and unrecognizable. That winter, the girl stabbed her mother fatally, and was sent to a psychiatric facility in Kyoto.
Observing consistencies in this case and several others, the National Police Agency dispatched Investigator Shishido Izanagi and myself to Ōdamatsu in 1983. The disturbing results of that investigation led to the establishment of a permanent initiative.
I am forwarding these case files and several others as we believe that a missing person involved in the original investigation, presumed dead, has recently taken up residence in your city.
Sincerely, Ida Hitomi
Investigator, National Police Agency
Criminal Affairs Bureau
____________
Note: The intention is that her lore could be interacted with through investigators or reoccurring faces.
____________
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Strengths:
Face Stealing - Hibiki-san has the ability to steal the faces of other corporeal beings, especially humans. With this, she is able to take on their identities. However, she has a limitation- to take a face, it must be through a spiritually-sealed deal. Hibiki-san will make deals with mortals, and their end of it may entail a clause that involves surrendering their identity (either as punishment for breaking the deal, which she will encourage, or as the deal*). Stealing a face without a proper deal is dangerous, often resulting in the destruction of the stolen form.
+
*Face Swapping - At her most merciful, Hibiki-san is willing to assist a mortal in leaving their current identity behind, and gifting them a new face. However, this is not without a price. There's always a bargain, after all.
Occult Knowledge - Once a human witch, Hibiki-san knows well the world of the occult, including blessings, curses, and charms (among other things).
Levitation - Hibiki-san has the ability to detach from the ground, levitating short distances. At times, she can move through the air large distances, though this drains her energy.
Weaknesses:
Imperial Relics - Hibiki-san's punishment was twofold. A divine retribution and a royal binding- she was not only stripped of her face, but also cursed with two weaknesses. The first of these is susceptibility to imperial relics. She is weakened greatly by relics connected to the imperial family or its disciples.
Noble Blood - Those bearing the blood of Japanese nobility hold a unique power over her: to cash in on a debt with Hibiki-san, another curse for her betrayal of the imperial house. This can be used to compel her in a variety of directions- to escape her, have her steal another's face, or give you a new identity.
Separation from Kimono - The legendary kimono that was "gifted" to her by the Emperor was once blessed, but has since been warped by its wearer's corruption. It seems to give her some sort of spiritual power, though its true nature is unclear. When detached from it, her abilities are limited vastly.
Soul-Death Mechanics:
Even in death, no spirits are immortal. All spirits are at risk of being shelved, consumed, banished, or put to peace. I completely understand that Soul-Death is possible for my yōkai and will keep this in mind. Hibiki-san is weakened by holy relics, especially ones of imperial origin, which have the power to damage (or even destroy) her. She is repelled by positive spiritual energy and spiritual purity, which means that blessed objects like omamori and ofuda can weaken her.
Curse & Blessing Methods
Hibiki-san's curses and blessings are rarely on the soul. She has performed hexes and charms to bend wills in her favor, but her most vicious and merciful acts are the ones she makes in hopes for a face. When she takes a face, it's an injury most cannot recover from, for the witch plans for contingencies- she would never leave alive a victim she planned to become. However, in the rare case that she does not plan to use one's face as her own, one has a short window of opportunity to find a new one. How? That would be their mystery. Perhaps Hibiki-san would grant them a new one for a favor, or another spirit may bless them with a fresh start.
Although rare, when she is merciful, Hibiki-san may be willing to bless someone with a new face, though likely at the cost of not only their own face, but something else (a possession, act, or otherwise) that benefits her. A new face gifted by Hibiki-san will fuse with the skin, and is almost impossible to remove without spiritual intervention.
Warding & Invoking Methods
Warding:
Hibiki-san is warded by blessed objects or spiritual purity, including charms, holy grounds, and blessed souls. Although she can manifest near these things, she is weakened and far easier to harm. Some folklorists claim that Hibiki-san can be warded off with specific kanji characters, noting old imagery of imperial advisors with kanji painted on their face or carved into jewelry near the face. A written blessing, perhaps?
Invoking:
Hibiki-san appears deliberately, attracted to negative spiritual energy or emotional instability that could be manipulated for a deal. While her appearances are chosen, she can be called out to with offerings of theatre masks and a request for her presence. In the rarest of cases, an individual possessing noble blood may command her presence, summoning her. Though, this is discouraged.
Yokai Description:
Alignment:
Malevolent
Role:
The Face Stealer
Hibiki-san's form changes with each face, like a catalog in constant motion. However, she does have a true form: a faceless woman wearing a golden imperial kimono, with long, graying black hair. Sometimes, she wields a kabuki mask, covering the empty slate where a feigned smile once sat- or others, a fan, its paper covering her blank skin in between each movement. If she takes a face without a deal, she may run the risk of... ruining the face's form, as seen in the images below.
Hibiki-san's demeanor is that of a performer, fluid and theatrical, laced with a cautious sense of vanity. Her image and power matter greatly, and that is where her manipulation seems focused: power, reputation, control. Though Hibiki-san has a playful edge and may speak casually, she never strays from her focus on taking what she wants.
The Face Stealer's collection carries faces of all kinds, from cheerleaders to governors. While her stealing may appear indiscriminate, she takes a liking to a specific type of face: one that moves her up.
Art/Image References:
She didn't make a deal.
She got a makeover.
Disclaimer: She will not be taking this form (unless you prefer that)
[ART BY TAIZE]
Do you understand that with acceptance, your spirit is forever at risk of SOUL-DEATH?
Yes.
Please provide proof of your eligibility for a spirit role.
For example, a death certificate, “Trusted Player” tag, Lore Team, or an Admin rank.
I'm on lore team!
Activity Level: I am a member of the lore team and am on Discord regularly! I'm on the Minecraft server on a semi-regular basis to check in and look around.
List previous Warns/Bans: N/A
List previous Yokai Applications (if any):
Oshika | 雄鹿
[HIBIKI-SAN | 顔泥棒]
Noppera-bō Homebrew - Greater Spirit
Note: I felt like she was Greater Spirit material, but if her power level is more like an Elder Spirit's I can edit this.
Lore:
Skin & Ink - [750]
____________
The Emperor sat upon the Chrysanthemum Throne, watching as the shadows of the dancers painted the paper walls of the room, their movements flowing in synchronization like ripples in water. As the dance concluded, they lined up and fell into deep bows.
Among them was Hibiki-san, one of the court’s many seasoned initiates, her long black hair tied up in a neat bun. She was known not just for her beauty, but for her grace as well. She was an adept dancer and a captivating performer, an entertainer of the imperial court for five years now. Yet still, the Emperor took notice only of the dancers beside her.
As the applause faded, Hibiki-san retreated to her quarters down one of the palace’s dimly lit halls. Her home was a narrow, dark room with tatami mat flooring and a small bed. Next to the bed sat a nightstand, and from its drawer she removed a slip of paper, an inkstick, an inkstone, and a brush. She spat into the basin of the inkstone, lifting the stick and grinding it into the liquid until her saliva had become foamy black. Dipping the brush in, she began to paint kanji onto the paper with the same peaceful flow as her dance.
Hibiki-san had wandered the halls of ancient libraries, shrines, and palaces. Over time, she uncovered the layers of Japan’s occult tradition, peeling them back and seeing their workings. In turn, she used her knowledge for novel purposes: the practices of a witch. And now, she was constructing a charm in her favor.
Tonight, the Emperor was holding a grand contest. All his dancers would bring their best, and the one who performed the most beautifully would be gifted an imperial relic of the majesty’s choosing. There was one more thing Hibiki-san was known for: her conniving nature. Born to a peasant family, she had learned early that her grace alone was not enough to lift her from the muck. Her path to the palace was paved with manipulation and desire- desire for power. And if she was most skilled at anything, it was getting what she sought.
However, she was outmatched this time. The Emperor already had his eyes on another dancer, who carried far better form than her. She would not claim the relic, nor her place in the imperial court if she did not sway him in her direction. As the ink set on the paper, the air grew tense- taut like it could be sliced with a dull knife.
Lifting the charm carefully, Hibiki-san crept through the halls like a phantom, passing past the Emperor’s sleeping quarters and into his dressing room. Approaching the kimono he wore for the court’s feasts, she took a pair of scissors from her sleeve, making a precise incision along the inner lining. She slid the charm inside and then sealed the hole with a small pin.
As dinner concluded that night, the contestants stepped up before the throne. While the other dancers danced like velvet, Hibiki-san danced like paper. Yet still, the Emperor’s gaze was trained on her, almost hypnotically so. And of course, it was met with everyone’s surprise when she was called up to accept the imperial gift.
The Emperor drew forth a beautiful box, and inside was a golden kimono, gleaming with blessed light. One of the lord’s advisors, a Buddhist monk, noticed the strange trance of his master, but failed to conceal his recognition of Hibiki-san’s hex. She quickly took the kimono and left to her quarters with a bow. Seeing that it wouldn’t be long until she was caught, she packed her things, shoveling her tools into a straw basket.
Slipping into the holy kimono (her final sacrilege), she fled the palace into the city below. In hopes of leaving the city at dawn, she found rest in a small inn just outside the imperial district. That night, the divine imperial house sought retribution, and by morning, they had found it.
At dawn, Hibiki-san woke up, unable to see or breathe. She reached up, tugging the skin of her face to find it smooth and empty- she was faceless.
Stripped of all she’d worked for, she rose again with ire. It is said that still, she strives for power, stealing the faces of those whose lives can bring her into control. Remember... not everyone is as they seem.
____________
The Ōdamatsu Case - [1374]
____________
[Last Name, First Name]
Dear ███████████ ████,
Prefectural police had been receiving reports regarding cases like Ōdamatsu (absences or disappearances followed by abnormal behavior) for nearly four years prior to 1983, and the occurrences were managed solely by local authorities.
Following a long pause in 1981, the pattern resurfaced again in 1982 in Ōdamatsu. A college student claimed her mother, who had returned from a solo vacation to Osaka, had begun acting erratic and unrecognizable. That winter, the girl stabbed her mother fatally, and was sent to a psychiatric facility in Kyoto.
Observing consistencies in this case and several others, the National Police Agency dispatched Investigator Shishido Izanagi and myself to Ōdamatsu in 1983. The disturbing results of that investigation led to the establishment of a permanent initiative.
I am forwarding these case files and several others as we believe that a missing person involved in the original investigation, presumed dead, has recently taken up residence in your city.
Sincerely, Ida Hitomi
Investigator, National Police Agency
Criminal Affairs Bureau
____________
Note: The intention is that her lore could be interacted with through investigators or reoccurring faces.
____________
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Strengths:
Face Stealing - Hibiki-san has the ability to steal the faces of other corporeal beings, especially humans. With this, she is able to take on their identities. However, she has a limitation- to take a face, it must be through a spiritually-sealed deal. Hibiki-san will make deals with mortals, and their end of it may entail a clause that involves surrendering their identity (either as punishment for breaking the deal, which she will encourage, or as the deal*). Stealing a face without a proper deal is dangerous, often resulting in the destruction of the stolen form.
+
*Face Swapping - At her most merciful, Hibiki-san is willing to assist a mortal in leaving their current identity behind, and gifting them a new face. However, this is not without a price. There's always a bargain, after all.
Occult Knowledge - Once a human witch, Hibiki-san knows well the world of the occult, including blessings, curses, and charms (among other things).
Levitation - Hibiki-san has the ability to detach from the ground, levitating short distances. At times, she can move through the air large distances, though this drains her energy.
Weaknesses:
Imperial Relics - Hibiki-san's punishment was twofold. A divine retribution and a royal binding- she was not only stripped of her face, but also cursed with two weaknesses. The first of these is susceptibility to imperial relics. She is weakened greatly by relics connected to the imperial family or its disciples.
Noble Blood - Those bearing the blood of Japanese nobility hold a unique power over her: to cash in on a debt with Hibiki-san, another curse for her betrayal of the imperial house. This can be used to compel her in a variety of directions- to escape her, have her steal another's face, or give you a new identity.
Separation from Kimono - The legendary kimono that was "gifted" to her by the Emperor was once blessed, but has since been warped by its wearer's corruption. It seems to give her some sort of spiritual power, though its true nature is unclear. When detached from it, her abilities are limited vastly.
Soul-Death Mechanics:
Even in death, no spirits are immortal. All spirits are at risk of being shelved, consumed, banished, or put to peace. I completely understand that Soul-Death is possible for my yōkai and will keep this in mind. Hibiki-san is weakened by holy relics, especially ones of imperial origin, which have the power to damage (or even destroy) her. She is repelled by positive spiritual energy and spiritual purity, which means that blessed objects like omamori and ofuda can weaken her.
Curse & Blessing Methods
Hibiki-san's curses and blessings are rarely on the soul. She has performed hexes and charms to bend wills in her favor, but her most vicious and merciful acts are the ones she makes in hopes for a face. When she takes a face, it's an injury most cannot recover from, for the witch plans for contingencies- she would never leave alive a victim she planned to become. However, in the rare case that she does not plan to use one's face as her own, one has a short window of opportunity to find a new one. How? That would be their mystery. Perhaps Hibiki-san would grant them a new one for a favor, or another spirit may bless them with a fresh start.
Although rare, when she is merciful, Hibiki-san may be willing to bless someone with a new face, though likely at the cost of not only their own face, but something else (a possession, act, or otherwise) that benefits her. A new face gifted by Hibiki-san will fuse with the skin, and is almost impossible to remove without spiritual intervention.
Warding & Invoking Methods
Warding:
Hibiki-san is warded by blessed objects or spiritual purity, including charms, holy grounds, and blessed souls. Although she can manifest near these things, she is weakened and far easier to harm. Some folklorists claim that Hibiki-san can be warded off with specific kanji characters, noting old imagery of imperial advisors with kanji painted on their face or carved into jewelry near the face. A written blessing, perhaps?
Invoking:
Hibiki-san appears deliberately, attracted to negative spiritual energy or emotional instability that could be manipulated for a deal. While her appearances are chosen, she can be called out to with offerings of theatre masks and a request for her presence. In the rarest of cases, an individual possessing noble blood may command her presence, summoning her. Though, this is discouraged.
Yokai Description:
Alignment:
Malevolent
Role:
The Face Stealer
Hibiki-san's form changes with each face, like a catalog in constant motion. However, she does have a true form: a faceless woman wearing a golden imperial kimono, with long, graying black hair. Sometimes, she wields a kabuki mask, covering the empty slate where a feigned smile once sat- or others, a fan, its paper covering her blank skin in between each movement. If she takes a face without a deal, she may run the risk of... ruining the face's form, as seen in the images below.
Hibiki-san's demeanor is that of a performer, fluid and theatrical, laced with a cautious sense of vanity. Her image and power matter greatly, and that is where her manipulation seems focused: power, reputation, control. Though Hibiki-san has a playful edge and may speak casually, she never strays from her focus on taking what she wants.
The Face Stealer's collection carries faces of all kinds, from cheerleaders to governors. While her stealing may appear indiscriminate, she takes a liking to a specific type of face: one that moves her up.
Art/Image References:
She didn't make a deal.
She got a makeover.
Disclaimer: She will not be taking this form (unless you prefer that)
[ART BY TAIZE]
Do you understand that with acceptance, your spirit is forever at risk of SOUL-DEATH?
Yes.
Please provide proof of your eligibility for a spirit role.
For example, a death certificate, “Trusted Player” tag, Lore Team, or an Admin rank.
I'm on lore team!
Thank you to zacizach, _ImHere4You_, and Taize for helping me with brainstorming and Taize for all the scrumptious art!
Thank you for reading my application!
Thank you for reading my application!
Last edited: