Editing Tsukumogami

'''Tsukumogami''' is a Japanese term that, like [[Hengeyokai]], refers to a specific sub-set of monsters native to Japanese beliefs. In this case, it refers to the Japanese equivalent of [[Animated Object]]s; ordinary household objects that soak up spiritual energy through long years of use and either love or neglect, until eventually after about a century they awaken and become sapient monsters. There are many, ''many'' different varieties of tsukumogami, ranging from shy and lonely friend-seekers to playful tricksters to malicious murderers.

Perhaps the two most famous breeds of tsukumogami are the Chochin-obake, a paper-lantern brought to life as a cyclopean, floating pseudo-head that can spit fire, and the Kasa-obake (or Karakasa-obake), a one-eyed, long-tongued umbrella that hops about on a single foot and likes to scare the wits out of people for fun.

Naturally, in a /tg/ setting, tsukumogami are perfect for adding some unique flavor to your [[Oriental Adventures]] campaign.

==List of Tsukumogami==
The list of tsukumogami is huge, especially given the vast array of alternate names, but here are some more well-known examples:
* Karakasa-obake: A paper umbrella with one eye, an oily tongue, and one (or rarely two) legs that it madly hops about on. A playful trickster that loves to spook people.
* Chochin-obake: A ball-shaped paper-lantern that sprouts a mouth and at least one eye, some times gaining limbs. Like the Karakasa-obake, it's a playful trickster.
* Bakezori: Neglected sandals that turned into silly little yokai who love to run around at night making noises.
* Hone-karakasa: An umbrella that was swept up in a strong wind, turning it into a flying, fish-like umbrella spirit. It loves to ride strong winds, and sighting one indicates a bad storm is coming.
* Shami-choro: A shamishen that once belonged to a master, now able to move about and play itself. Loves to play music, but is too shy to do so in front of an audience.
* Koto-furunushi: A koto that is now able to move about and play itself. Loves to play music, but is too shy to do so in front of an audience.
* Biwa Bokuboku: An animated biwa that disguises itself as a human and plays in the street for money. Often found alongside shami-choro and/or koto-furunushi.
* Mokumokuren: When the shoji (paper sliding doors & walls of traditional Japan) of a house are ill-cared for, they may animate as this yokai, which manifests as staring eyeballs that fill every hole in the paper. Harmless, but creepy, and often work with other yokai.
* Ittan-Momen: An animated sheet of cloth that flies through the air at night, looking for victims to strangle; one of the rare malevolent tsukumogami.
* Jatai: A jealous and murderous obi (kimono sash) that likes to strangle men at night.
* Shogorō: A shōgo (Buddhist bowl-shaped gong, used for religious services) that has come to life as a turtle-like yokai. Harmless but annoying, it likes to creep about at night, sporadically ringing its brazen shell with its hammer-like tail to amuse itself.
* Hahakigami: A ceremonial evil-cleansing broom that has come to life as its own spirit. Actually considered good luck, as they are believed to ward against evil, see off unwelcome guests, and help women give birth safely.
* Waniguchi: A Shinto shrine bell that has come to life as a small, crocodile-like creature. Like Shogoro, it's basically harmless.
* Yama oroshi: A ill-kept traditional grater that has come to life as a porcupine-like little humanoid. Can make a nuisance of itself by preying on vegetables.
* Kura Yarō: A [[samurai]] saddle that comes to life due to the death of its master whilst riding. Pugnacious and loyal, they roam the site where their master die, picking fights with anyone who trespasses.
* Abumiguchi: A [[samurai]] stirrup that comes to life due to the death of its master. A sad, lonely thing, they haunt the place where their master fell, hoping for his return.
* Kyōrinrin: The embodiment of an abandoned library of tomes and scrolls, come to life as an imposing, draconic priest made of scrolls. It scolds those who allow such valuable knowledge to fall into disuse.
* Suzuri no tamashii: An inkstone which has been used to copy one or more stories so many times that it can bring the story to life, creating sounds out of nothing and forming tiny illusory copies of people, places and events from its ink.
* Seto Taishō: A rowdy, pugnacious spirit that manifests from the broken crockery and utensils of the kitchen, which makes a nuisance of itself by wildly fighting and partying through the night.
* Shiro Uneri: An overused dishcloth that comes to life as a ragged, moldy, mildewed dragon-shape. Sometimes known to commit murder, but mostly a mischievous nuisance.

==Pathfinder==
In [[Pathfinder]], the 5th bestiary added Tsukumogami as a "super-template", a template that could be added to animated objects to make them feel more like the mystical object spirits of Japanese tradition. As well as the template, three sample tsukumogami were provided; Boroboroton (an animated blanket desperate for companionship), Koto-Furunishi (an animated koto that loves to play its music, but is too shy to do so in front of an audience), and the infamous Kasa-Obake

“Tsukumogami” is an acquired template that can be added to any animated object (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A tsukumogami retains all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Challenge Rating: Base creature’s CR + 2.

Alignment: Any.

Type: The creature’s type changes to outsider (kami, native). Tsukumogami have good Reflex and Will saves, so increase the base creature’s Reflex and Will saves to 2 + 1/2 its Hit Dice + the relevant ability modifier.

Armor Class: A tsukumogami’s natural armor bonus increases by 2.

Hit Dice: Retain the base creature’s construct bonus hit points from size (if any). As outsiders, tsukumogami gain bonus hit points from high Constitution scores.

Spell-Like Abilities: Tsukumogami gain spell-like abilities based on their size, usable at will. The caster level is equal to the tsukumogami’s Hit Dice.

Size Abilities

Tiny+ Decrepit disguise (self only), ghost sound, mending, quintessence (self only)

Small+ Invisibility (self only), ventriloquism

Medium+ Levitate, silent image

Large+ Fly, make whole

Huge+ Obscure object (self only), shrink item (self only, no volume limit)

Gargantuan+ Animate objects (each casting ends any previous castings)

Colossal Sympathy (self only)

Special Qualities and Defensive Abilities: Because it grows additional features such as a tongue, arms, or legs, a tsukumogami gains the additional attack animated object quality without spending Construction Points, and all its attacks increase their damage dice by one step. A tsukumogami can gain 10 bonus hit points as an additional option costing 1 CP. It gains the freeze special quality. As kami, tsukumogami gain immunity to petrification and polymorph effects; resist acid 10, electricity 10, and fire 10; telepathy 100 feet; fast healing 5; merge with ward; and ward. Though a tsukumogami loses its construct type, it keeps its hardness, low-light vision, and all its construct immunities. It can still be affected by spells that affect objects or constructs. A tsukumogami is always merged with its ward, and unlike most kami, it forms an amalgam with its ward, so it can move and communicate while merged.

Ability Scores: A tsukumogami has a 15 Intelligence, 17 Wisdom, and 14 Charisma. A Medium tsukumogami receives a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Dexterity, and a Constitution score of 19. These ability scores are adjusted for size.

Skills: A tsukumogami has a number of skill points per racial Hit Die equal to 6 + its Intelligence modifier. Its racial class skills are the base outsider class skills plus Disguise, Knowledge (history), Perform (any one), and Sleight of Hand.

==Monstergirls==
{{Monstergirls}}

Given Japan practically invented the idea of anthropomorphizing monsters as sexy females, it should be no surprise that tsukumogami proliferate amongst their ranks. Whilst often they look more girl than monster, more inventive artists have striven to come up with unique portrayals of them.

The [[Monster Girl Encyclopedia]] is currently home to three such monstergirls; the Chochin-Obake, the Karakasa-Obake, and the Ittan-Momen.

<center>
<gallery>
File:MGE Chochin-Obake.jpg
File:MGE Ittan-Momen.jpg
File:MGE Karakasa-obake.jpg
</gallery>
</center>

[[Category: Monsters]] [[Category: Pathfinder]]