Creatures Of The Shadowlands
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:01 pm
Creatures Of The Shadowlands
The most common Shadowlands creatures, such as goblins, skeletons, and zombies. These are the monstrosities most likely to be encountered, particularly in significant numbers. However, they are just a few of the many types of creatures samurai could confront in the Shadowlands, some of them quite bizarre and all of them extremely dangerous
Living Skeletons
Little more than tattered flesh, bleached bones, and an undying hatred for all that is right and good in the world, a skeletal bushi is a terrifying opponent.
Bog Hags
Bog hags are superlative infiltrators who are among the more likely types of Shadowlands horrors to be encountered in the Empire. In their true form, bog hags are loathsome creatures with leathery greenish skin, ragged nails, and jagged teeth. They are, how-ever, capable of using the flayed skin of a person they have killed as a disguise, enclosing themselves within it and taking on the appearance of the unfortunate victim. They typically live in swamps and waterways, preying upon those who venture near such places alone. Bog hags possess preternatural regeneration, and they sometimes practice mahō.
Because bog hags are difficult to detect, groups such as Bloodspeaker cells may make deals with them, using them to infiltrate Rokugani society in return for providing an ongoing supply of victims.
Shadowlands Goblin
Lithe and bestial, goblins are individually of little con-sequence, but hordes of them can fling themselves at the Wall in numbers sufficient to pose a major threat.
Oni
Of all the horrors to stalk forth from the Shadowlands, the demonic creatures called oni are by far the most powerful and dangerous. With twisted horns, razor-sharp teeth, and enormous talons on their hands and feet, these bestial creatures resemble the very Hells in which they dwell. Fortunately, they are only able to enter Ningen-dō of their own volition through the Festering Pit. Unfortunately, there is another way for oni to come to Ningen-dō that is far more insidious: invitation by misguided or evil mortals. Only when they are slain do their souls return to Meido, although the powerful ones are able to make their way back to Jigoku itself to be reborn.
Undead
Rokugani funerary rites involve cremation, and for good reason. Despite the costs it entails, this is afforded even to the lowliest members of society—for in Rokugan, the dead do not sleep soundly, and ancient stories tell of the days when cults of mahō-tsukai wandered the land backed by vast armies of the hungering dead
Gashadokuro
A Gashadokuro is an enormous skeleton composed of the melded bones of the unburied dead, said to be as much as fifteen times the height of a human. Early in the Empire’s history, before strict provisions were made to recover, cremate, and properly dispose of all human remains, gashadokuro would arise at the sites of battles and rampage until they were destroyed. They are now very rare, thankfully. Occasionally, a gashadokuro is found prowling the Shadowlands, a remnant, perhaps, of the ancient past conflict. Time does not seem to have lessen such a creature’s prodigious strength, however, and Crab patrols generally give it a wide berth until they can gather sufficient forces to attack
Harionago
Harionago appear as beautiful women with long, flowing hair. Unfortunately, their hair is tipped with poisonous, barbed thorns that can quickly ensnare and kill a human, whom they then consume. Nevertheless, they would be relatively easy to avoid, if not for a cunning ability to disguise themselves as lost Crab scouts or other travelers. They then attempt to get close to an intended quarry, ideally isolating them from any companions before attacking. Occasionally, these beings infiltrate the Empire, making them a possible threat even far inside the Kaiu Wall
Kyōrinrin
Illustrative of the Taint’s ability to corrupt nearly anything, a kyōrinrin is a being composed of scrolls, origami, or essentially anything else made of paper. Given their nature, they may not appear particularly dangerous. This is deceptive, however, as the power motivating kyōrinrin is a strong one, and they can bind, blind, or even smother their foes. The paper that composes them can be torn or burned, but they are tenacious and continue to attack, usually until they are completely destroyed.
Penanggalan
Penanggalan outwardly appear to be normal humans. Indeed, during the day, they go about their business in Rokugan as farmers, artisans, or even samurai. Patrols in the Shadowlands sometimes encounter them posing as lost merchants or scouts. At night, however, they reveal their true nature: their head and internal organs detach from their body and become capable of flying about. In this horrific form, they seek out their victims, usually individuals who are isolated or alone.
When they attack, they do so swiftly, strangling their victims with their dangling viscera and then draining them of their blood. Because their entrails become engorged, they have difficulty squeezing themselves back into the shell of their body, so they spend several days digesting their meal, soaking themselves in vinegar to speed the process. They take great care to hide their bodies away until their food is completely consumed; many believe this is because if the penanggalan’s body is destroyed in the meantime, the creature itself will weaken and die. Because penanggalan thrive on secrecy, one is unlikely to attack a party of samurai unless it can arrange for one of them to be alone and takes them by surprise. If confronted, penanggalan are likely to flee, but they are fierce fighters if cornered. Some are even capable of using mahō, making them truly dangerous opponents
Ravenous Shadowlands Ogre
Ogres are huge, violent creatures from the Shadowlands that can also be found north of the Wall. Once intelligent beings, long ago they were twisted into little more than beasts that live only to kill and devour anything they can catch
Revenant
A revenant is a powerful undead servant, a creature that retains some intelligence and knowledge from its former life. If the mahō-tsukai who creates it wishes, they can supply a revenant with an onikage mount and even a group of animated dead that are ordered to obey the revenant’s command. Such revenants can act as champions for the mahō-tsukai, but the practitioner should be certain of the revenant’s loyalty before bestowing such power.
Tsumunagi
Also known as “blood eels,” these foul creatures are found in ponds and waterways throughout the Shadowlands. They latch onto their prey with wickedly barbed hooks, bite exposed flesh with their jagged teeth, and proceed to drain the unfortunate victim’s blood with the aid of saliva that prevents coagulation.
Undead Horror
Formed from unholy assemblages of multiple corps-es, undead horrors are one of the most terrifying creatures to be found in the Shadowlands. Even more unsettling, these huge monstrosities are said to have been seen in Rokugan during the dark days of Iuchiban’s Bloodspeakers—and perhaps some linger in defiled wells or forgotten caverns.
Wanyūdō
A wanyūdō has the bizarre form of the flaming wheel of an oxcart, with a screaming human head for its hub. It rolls with preternatural speed across virtually any terrain, including water, attempting to wrench the soul from any mortal being it encounters. Each is said to be the tortured ghost of someone who was an oppressive tyrant while alive. It is a terrifying foe, especially when encountered outside of the Shadowlands
Fudoshi
Many of the older trees near the lake are entwined with these masses of entangling vines, which also appear in other Shadowlands locations along with other foliage or in patches along the ground. They appear sessile, but when disturbed they suddenly leap out to ensnare and envelop their prey. The crushing death that follows is long and torturous.
Dark Moto Bushi
The warriors who followed Moto Tsume into the Shadowlands are now as horrid as their surroundings. Their forms are as corrupted as their souls, having tak-en on aspects of spiked bone or diseased skin, and their armor can be as misshapen as their flesh. They fight with disciplined order and powerful kata, some still using their ancestral Ujik weapons. Worse, having fallen completely to the Taint despite their honor and courage, the Dark Moto are terrible reminders that no one is immune to such a fate
Moto Tsume
The pride of Moto Tsume, the leader of the Dark Moto, led to a disastrous fall. He and his forces were utterly defeated and corrupted in the Shadowlands, but he remains his warriors’ leader hundreds of years lat-er. Now a being swelled with terrible power, Tsume ensures his warriors continually train and develop their martial skills, for he knows there will soon come a time when the Dark Moto shall be fully unleashed against the Emerald Empire
Onikage
The pride of Moto Tsume, the leader of the Dark Moto, led to a disastrous fall. He and his forces were utterly defeated and corrupted in the Shadowlands, but he remains his warriors’ leader hundreds of years lat-er. Now a being swelled with terrible power, Tsume ensures his warriors continually train and develop their martial skills, for he knows there will soon come a time when the Dark Moto shall be fully unleashed against the Emerald Empire
Dark Moto Onikage
Dark Moto onikage are elite demonic mounts formed from the Unicorn steeds of the Moto. Like their riders, they are corrupted and terrible in appearance, with reptilian hides and crimson eyes
Skull-Cleaving Oni
Whereas most oni seek dominion, the skull-cleaving oni believes in Fu Leng’s inherent authority and divinity in a twisted reflection of Rokugani veneration of the Dark Kami’s siblings. As such, it prefers to proselytize its faith to others and try to win them over to the service of Fu Leng. Of course, being an oni, its ideas of persuasion do not always match Rokugani norms. While it may debate theology or argue for the benefits of embracing the Taint if given the chance, it also tries more forceful means of persuasion. Those who let their guard down may have jade stolen from them so that the Taint seeps in whether willingly accepted or not, or the oni may offer a defeated foe one last chance to “repent” before claiming their skull. Ultimately, the skull-cleaving oni doesn’t care if its converts are sincere in their worship, as long as they offer it.
Obsidian Bone Oni
Fragments of one of the most massive horrors of Jigoku, obsidian bone oni are rarely seen far from the Festering Pit. Legend has it that not long after the creation of the Festering Pit, a monster of inestimable size attempted to force its way through into the Mortal Realm, but the effort shattered the being, sundering it into lesser horrors. Even these beasts were too large and horrific to maintain a presence in Ningen-dō, and so cunning servitors of Fu Leng drove massive spikes of Pit-forged obsidian into the bodies of these monsters. These obsidian bones sustain the oni, but at a terrible price: the flames of Jigoku burn constantly within their bodies, driving them to new heights of desperation and cruelty. Due to their shortsighted nature, they rarely approach the Wall, but sometimes warlords of the Lost or other oni enslave obsidian bone oni to make them part of their armies.
Goblin Accursed Priest
Goblins, or bakemono, usually only have power in numbers. Those singular goblins who achieve great power for themselves often do so by calling on the favor of Fu Leng, especially in order to become priests of their foul Kami. As accursed priests, they command cowering min-ions, but they know that one day they may be betrayed and sacrificed, just as they did to rise to their position.
The Obsidian Flower
Called many names across the ages—the Obsidian Flow-er, the High Priest of Fu Leng, the Demon Bride—this ancient entity was once a human. Whispers say she was born to a powerful lineage in the third century of the Empire, and witnessed firsthand the callous turns of the court. Wretched cruelties befell people around her in service of nothing more than petty human ambition, and she grew to believe Rokugan’s ruling caste was incurably corrupt—and that the founding Kami had forsaken their followers. Her desire became nothing less than to sweep the table clean. She stole a Black Scroll from the Yogo family and journeyed into the Shadowlands. There, she used the unspeakable knowledge within the scroll to become a twisted, demonic conduit. Now, within the Tomb, she waits and plans, whispering to Fu Leng as she slowly shifts pieces across the vast board of time. Over centuries, she has maneuvered humans into positions where their frail-ties might someday bring about the end of the Empire
Crab Gaki
These ghostly samurai remember only the sense of duty from their life, the need to follow orders, and the pride achieved by victory. They hunger for these things and have been waiting near the tomb for the opportunity to prove themselves. The last order these gaki remember was to drive evil into the Tomb, so they attack all who approach. Travelers who wear the Crab mon and are sufficiently brave may be able to pass, but once they find the horrors awaiting them, may regret their action
Fallen Scholar
No one knows how many fallen scholars walk amidst the endless stacks of books, scrolls, and other inscribed works in the Lost Library. It is rare to see the same one more than once, and their appearance is as unsettling as their environment. Some wear garb not seen since the First Wall was constructed or speak languages only gaijin would recognize. The knowledge the kansen offered drew them down this path, and the promised secrets within the Lost Library became their obsession. Whether to gather personal power or to learn more about their enemies in the Shadowlands in order to better combat their evil, they rarely appreciate any who would disturb their studies.
The Maw
Oni lords stand apart from other oni, being far mightier and more willful. Moreover, they bear the name of whatever foolish mortal surrendered their identity in exchange for fleeting power, giving them a lasting link to the Mortal Realm. The oni lord known as the Maw is such a being.
It undoubtedly had a name, but that has been lost to time. This did not prevent it from plaguing the Empire, however. It emerged from the deep Shadowlands as a massive creature of vast power and malign will. Following it marched an army of a size and ferocity not seen since the days of Fu Leng. This was no mindless horde flinging itself wildly against the Empire. The Maw led its forces with a ruthless cunning that easily matched that of any human general before or since.
Monsters in the Emerald Empire
The Shadowlands are not the only place that horrific creatures can be found in Rokugan. Some of these beings are Tainted creatures such as penanggalan, that slip out of the Shadowlands through cunning or force. Others have been stranded after major incursions have been driven back.
However, not all of these creatures are the vile servants of Fu Leng. Tribes of mountain goblins, ogres that wander the high peaks, restless spirits on abandoned battlefields, and even ancient and demonic beings that lurk within forbidding swamps—all of the can be found lurking at the outskirts of civilization.
Many of these are not Tainted, but just because they are not in the thrall of the Fallen Kami does not mean they cannot be dangerous (nor do most Rokugani take the time to discern the difference).
The most common Shadowlands creatures, such as goblins, skeletons, and zombies. These are the monstrosities most likely to be encountered, particularly in significant numbers. However, they are just a few of the many types of creatures samurai could confront in the Shadowlands, some of them quite bizarre and all of them extremely dangerous
Living Skeletons
Little more than tattered flesh, bleached bones, and an undying hatred for all that is right and good in the world, a skeletal bushi is a terrifying opponent.
Bog Hags
Bog hags are superlative infiltrators who are among the more likely types of Shadowlands horrors to be encountered in the Empire. In their true form, bog hags are loathsome creatures with leathery greenish skin, ragged nails, and jagged teeth. They are, how-ever, capable of using the flayed skin of a person they have killed as a disguise, enclosing themselves within it and taking on the appearance of the unfortunate victim. They typically live in swamps and waterways, preying upon those who venture near such places alone. Bog hags possess preternatural regeneration, and they sometimes practice mahō.
Because bog hags are difficult to detect, groups such as Bloodspeaker cells may make deals with them, using them to infiltrate Rokugani society in return for providing an ongoing supply of victims.
Shadowlands Goblin
Lithe and bestial, goblins are individually of little con-sequence, but hordes of them can fling themselves at the Wall in numbers sufficient to pose a major threat.
Oni
Of all the horrors to stalk forth from the Shadowlands, the demonic creatures called oni are by far the most powerful and dangerous. With twisted horns, razor-sharp teeth, and enormous talons on their hands and feet, these bestial creatures resemble the very Hells in which they dwell. Fortunately, they are only able to enter Ningen-dō of their own volition through the Festering Pit. Unfortunately, there is another way for oni to come to Ningen-dō that is far more insidious: invitation by misguided or evil mortals. Only when they are slain do their souls return to Meido, although the powerful ones are able to make their way back to Jigoku itself to be reborn.
Undead
Rokugani funerary rites involve cremation, and for good reason. Despite the costs it entails, this is afforded even to the lowliest members of society—for in Rokugan, the dead do not sleep soundly, and ancient stories tell of the days when cults of mahō-tsukai wandered the land backed by vast armies of the hungering dead
Gashadokuro
A Gashadokuro is an enormous skeleton composed of the melded bones of the unburied dead, said to be as much as fifteen times the height of a human. Early in the Empire’s history, before strict provisions were made to recover, cremate, and properly dispose of all human remains, gashadokuro would arise at the sites of battles and rampage until they were destroyed. They are now very rare, thankfully. Occasionally, a gashadokuro is found prowling the Shadowlands, a remnant, perhaps, of the ancient past conflict. Time does not seem to have lessen such a creature’s prodigious strength, however, and Crab patrols generally give it a wide berth until they can gather sufficient forces to attack
Harionago
Harionago appear as beautiful women with long, flowing hair. Unfortunately, their hair is tipped with poisonous, barbed thorns that can quickly ensnare and kill a human, whom they then consume. Nevertheless, they would be relatively easy to avoid, if not for a cunning ability to disguise themselves as lost Crab scouts or other travelers. They then attempt to get close to an intended quarry, ideally isolating them from any companions before attacking. Occasionally, these beings infiltrate the Empire, making them a possible threat even far inside the Kaiu Wall
Kyōrinrin
Illustrative of the Taint’s ability to corrupt nearly anything, a kyōrinrin is a being composed of scrolls, origami, or essentially anything else made of paper. Given their nature, they may not appear particularly dangerous. This is deceptive, however, as the power motivating kyōrinrin is a strong one, and they can bind, blind, or even smother their foes. The paper that composes them can be torn or burned, but they are tenacious and continue to attack, usually until they are completely destroyed.
Penanggalan
Penanggalan outwardly appear to be normal humans. Indeed, during the day, they go about their business in Rokugan as farmers, artisans, or even samurai. Patrols in the Shadowlands sometimes encounter them posing as lost merchants or scouts. At night, however, they reveal their true nature: their head and internal organs detach from their body and become capable of flying about. In this horrific form, they seek out their victims, usually individuals who are isolated or alone.
When they attack, they do so swiftly, strangling their victims with their dangling viscera and then draining them of their blood. Because their entrails become engorged, they have difficulty squeezing themselves back into the shell of their body, so they spend several days digesting their meal, soaking themselves in vinegar to speed the process. They take great care to hide their bodies away until their food is completely consumed; many believe this is because if the penanggalan’s body is destroyed in the meantime, the creature itself will weaken and die. Because penanggalan thrive on secrecy, one is unlikely to attack a party of samurai unless it can arrange for one of them to be alone and takes them by surprise. If confronted, penanggalan are likely to flee, but they are fierce fighters if cornered. Some are even capable of using mahō, making them truly dangerous opponents
Ravenous Shadowlands Ogre
Ogres are huge, violent creatures from the Shadowlands that can also be found north of the Wall. Once intelligent beings, long ago they were twisted into little more than beasts that live only to kill and devour anything they can catch
Revenant
A revenant is a powerful undead servant, a creature that retains some intelligence and knowledge from its former life. If the mahō-tsukai who creates it wishes, they can supply a revenant with an onikage mount and even a group of animated dead that are ordered to obey the revenant’s command. Such revenants can act as champions for the mahō-tsukai, but the practitioner should be certain of the revenant’s loyalty before bestowing such power.
Tsumunagi
Also known as “blood eels,” these foul creatures are found in ponds and waterways throughout the Shadowlands. They latch onto their prey with wickedly barbed hooks, bite exposed flesh with their jagged teeth, and proceed to drain the unfortunate victim’s blood with the aid of saliva that prevents coagulation.
Undead Horror
Formed from unholy assemblages of multiple corps-es, undead horrors are one of the most terrifying creatures to be found in the Shadowlands. Even more unsettling, these huge monstrosities are said to have been seen in Rokugan during the dark days of Iuchiban’s Bloodspeakers—and perhaps some linger in defiled wells or forgotten caverns.
Wanyūdō
A wanyūdō has the bizarre form of the flaming wheel of an oxcart, with a screaming human head for its hub. It rolls with preternatural speed across virtually any terrain, including water, attempting to wrench the soul from any mortal being it encounters. Each is said to be the tortured ghost of someone who was an oppressive tyrant while alive. It is a terrifying foe, especially when encountered outside of the Shadowlands
Fudoshi
Many of the older trees near the lake are entwined with these masses of entangling vines, which also appear in other Shadowlands locations along with other foliage or in patches along the ground. They appear sessile, but when disturbed they suddenly leap out to ensnare and envelop their prey. The crushing death that follows is long and torturous.
Dark Moto Bushi
The warriors who followed Moto Tsume into the Shadowlands are now as horrid as their surroundings. Their forms are as corrupted as their souls, having tak-en on aspects of spiked bone or diseased skin, and their armor can be as misshapen as their flesh. They fight with disciplined order and powerful kata, some still using their ancestral Ujik weapons. Worse, having fallen completely to the Taint despite their honor and courage, the Dark Moto are terrible reminders that no one is immune to such a fate
Moto Tsume
The pride of Moto Tsume, the leader of the Dark Moto, led to a disastrous fall. He and his forces were utterly defeated and corrupted in the Shadowlands, but he remains his warriors’ leader hundreds of years lat-er. Now a being swelled with terrible power, Tsume ensures his warriors continually train and develop their martial skills, for he knows there will soon come a time when the Dark Moto shall be fully unleashed against the Emerald Empire
Onikage
The pride of Moto Tsume, the leader of the Dark Moto, led to a disastrous fall. He and his forces were utterly defeated and corrupted in the Shadowlands, but he remains his warriors’ leader hundreds of years lat-er. Now a being swelled with terrible power, Tsume ensures his warriors continually train and develop their martial skills, for he knows there will soon come a time when the Dark Moto shall be fully unleashed against the Emerald Empire
Dark Moto Onikage
Dark Moto onikage are elite demonic mounts formed from the Unicorn steeds of the Moto. Like their riders, they are corrupted and terrible in appearance, with reptilian hides and crimson eyes
Skull-Cleaving Oni
Whereas most oni seek dominion, the skull-cleaving oni believes in Fu Leng’s inherent authority and divinity in a twisted reflection of Rokugani veneration of the Dark Kami’s siblings. As such, it prefers to proselytize its faith to others and try to win them over to the service of Fu Leng. Of course, being an oni, its ideas of persuasion do not always match Rokugani norms. While it may debate theology or argue for the benefits of embracing the Taint if given the chance, it also tries more forceful means of persuasion. Those who let their guard down may have jade stolen from them so that the Taint seeps in whether willingly accepted or not, or the oni may offer a defeated foe one last chance to “repent” before claiming their skull. Ultimately, the skull-cleaving oni doesn’t care if its converts are sincere in their worship, as long as they offer it.
Obsidian Bone Oni
Fragments of one of the most massive horrors of Jigoku, obsidian bone oni are rarely seen far from the Festering Pit. Legend has it that not long after the creation of the Festering Pit, a monster of inestimable size attempted to force its way through into the Mortal Realm, but the effort shattered the being, sundering it into lesser horrors. Even these beasts were too large and horrific to maintain a presence in Ningen-dō, and so cunning servitors of Fu Leng drove massive spikes of Pit-forged obsidian into the bodies of these monsters. These obsidian bones sustain the oni, but at a terrible price: the flames of Jigoku burn constantly within their bodies, driving them to new heights of desperation and cruelty. Due to their shortsighted nature, they rarely approach the Wall, but sometimes warlords of the Lost or other oni enslave obsidian bone oni to make them part of their armies.
Goblin Accursed Priest
Goblins, or bakemono, usually only have power in numbers. Those singular goblins who achieve great power for themselves often do so by calling on the favor of Fu Leng, especially in order to become priests of their foul Kami. As accursed priests, they command cowering min-ions, but they know that one day they may be betrayed and sacrificed, just as they did to rise to their position.
The Obsidian Flower
Called many names across the ages—the Obsidian Flow-er, the High Priest of Fu Leng, the Demon Bride—this ancient entity was once a human. Whispers say she was born to a powerful lineage in the third century of the Empire, and witnessed firsthand the callous turns of the court. Wretched cruelties befell people around her in service of nothing more than petty human ambition, and she grew to believe Rokugan’s ruling caste was incurably corrupt—and that the founding Kami had forsaken their followers. Her desire became nothing less than to sweep the table clean. She stole a Black Scroll from the Yogo family and journeyed into the Shadowlands. There, she used the unspeakable knowledge within the scroll to become a twisted, demonic conduit. Now, within the Tomb, she waits and plans, whispering to Fu Leng as she slowly shifts pieces across the vast board of time. Over centuries, she has maneuvered humans into positions where their frail-ties might someday bring about the end of the Empire
Crab Gaki
These ghostly samurai remember only the sense of duty from their life, the need to follow orders, and the pride achieved by victory. They hunger for these things and have been waiting near the tomb for the opportunity to prove themselves. The last order these gaki remember was to drive evil into the Tomb, so they attack all who approach. Travelers who wear the Crab mon and are sufficiently brave may be able to pass, but once they find the horrors awaiting them, may regret their action
Fallen Scholar
No one knows how many fallen scholars walk amidst the endless stacks of books, scrolls, and other inscribed works in the Lost Library. It is rare to see the same one more than once, and their appearance is as unsettling as their environment. Some wear garb not seen since the First Wall was constructed or speak languages only gaijin would recognize. The knowledge the kansen offered drew them down this path, and the promised secrets within the Lost Library became their obsession. Whether to gather personal power or to learn more about their enemies in the Shadowlands in order to better combat their evil, they rarely appreciate any who would disturb their studies.
The Maw
Oni lords stand apart from other oni, being far mightier and more willful. Moreover, they bear the name of whatever foolish mortal surrendered their identity in exchange for fleeting power, giving them a lasting link to the Mortal Realm. The oni lord known as the Maw is such a being.
It undoubtedly had a name, but that has been lost to time. This did not prevent it from plaguing the Empire, however. It emerged from the deep Shadowlands as a massive creature of vast power and malign will. Following it marched an army of a size and ferocity not seen since the days of Fu Leng. This was no mindless horde flinging itself wildly against the Empire. The Maw led its forces with a ruthless cunning that easily matched that of any human general before or since.
Monsters in the Emerald Empire
The Shadowlands are not the only place that horrific creatures can be found in Rokugan. Some of these beings are Tainted creatures such as penanggalan, that slip out of the Shadowlands through cunning or force. Others have been stranded after major incursions have been driven back.
However, not all of these creatures are the vile servants of Fu Leng. Tribes of mountain goblins, ogres that wander the high peaks, restless spirits on abandoned battlefields, and even ancient and demonic beings that lurk within forbidding swamps—all of the can be found lurking at the outskirts of civilization.
Many of these are not Tainted, but just because they are not in the thrall of the Fallen Kami does not mean they cannot be dangerous (nor do most Rokugani take the time to discern the difference).