Bakemonos are the “goblins” of the Shadowfell. They are small, powerfully muscled humanoids with the intelligence and the temperament of vicious attack dogs. The bulk of the race is most like hounds whose leashes are held by Shadowfell ogres. A few (those gifted with extraordinary intelligence) become skilled warriors and can use armor and weapons to lead their kin as warlords.
The average bakemono is about 4 feet tall, 150 pounds, and rippling with powerful muscles.
How do bakemonos fight?
Most bakemonos are too stupid to use weapons, and they really have little need for them. They leap into attack like bulldogs, clenching their jaws around anything they can catch and raking with their filthy claws. They attack in packs, throwing themselves on their victims without fear or strategy.
Bakemonos originally appeared in Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition’s Oriental Adventures. This is an update for Fifth Edition.
Bakemono
Medium humanoid (goblinoid), chaotic evil
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2)
Speed 30 ft.
Abilities Str 14 (+2), Dex 10 (+0), Con 12 (+1), Int 3 (-4), Wis 11 (+0), Cha 7 (-2)
Skills Perception +2
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Bakemono
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Fearless. The bakemono has advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Primal Ferocity. The bakemono has advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws, and when it attacks with a melee weapon that uses Strength it gains +2 bonus to its damage rolls (included in the attack).
Actions
Multiattack. The bakemono makes one attack with its bite. If that attack hits, the bakemono can make one claw attack against the same target.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Bakemono Warlord
Medium humanoid (goblinoid), chaotic evil
Armor Class 15 (scale mail)
Hit Points 39 (6d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft.
Abilities Str 16 (+3), Dex 12 (+1), Con 14 (+2), Int 5 (-3), Wis 11 (+0), Cha 9 (-1)
Skills Perception +2
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Bakemono
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Fearless. The bakemono has advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Frenzy. As a bonus action, the bakemono can make a single melee attack.
Primal Ferocity. The bakemono has advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws, and when it attacks with a melee weapon that uses Strength it gains +2 bonus to its damage rolls (included in the attack).
Actions
Multiattack. The bakemono makes two attacks with its battleaxe.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Battleaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+ 5) slashing damage or 10 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage when wielded with two hands.
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My players are currently in a pseudo-Asian setting (Shou in Forgotten Realms), so I’m sure to whip up some more monsters from the old Oriental Adventures handbook.
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The first appearance of the Bakemono was 1e, in the original Oriental Adventures, NOT 3e, where it was re-invented to fit into the Shadowlands mythos. The traditional view is closer to the western view of Goblins and their mythological kin.
Ironically, this is the closest I think I’ve seen someone come since that dreadful re-invention for L5R. I think the problem is with the lack of “types”. Because Bakemono are shapeshifters in Japanese mythology, or at least change significantly as they grow older (and therefor more powerful.) The traditional bakemono has no set form, they are mishmashes of animal and human features.
I own the Kara-tur MM update from 2e, The bakemono from that edition are less like the savages of L5r, and more like what you’d expect a yokai goblin to look like. look at the pictures on the FR wiki for Bakemono and you’ll get my drift. Compare the 3e and the 2e art.
Bakemono are things that have been corrupted into their current form.