Kawauso
Kawauso means “River Otter.” And remember everything I said about Kitsune? It all applies here. Kawauso are what happens when a river otter lives to an advanced age – it gains shapeshifting powers. Some of them are tricksters, some benevolent, and some vicious. Sound familiar? Well, Yokai exist in categories – different kinds of Oni, or Tsukumogami, or other such creatures. And many animals follow the Kitsune pattern.
Kawauso have a few things unique to them, such as their love of fish and sake, or their penchant to mimic sounds and voices to freak people out. And rather than disguising themselves as somebody’s bride (though they do that sometimes), they usually turn into small beggar children, and try to buy booze. If someone asks who they are, Kawauso panic and blow their whole cover. You know, like normal kids trying to buy booze. Another favorite activity of theirs is to snuff out lights and lanterns and leave travelers in the dark. It’s all fun and games until somebody gets mugged.
Featured on Life In Plastic: nerditis.com/2014/06/20/life-in-plastic-special-the-night...
Kawauso
Kawauso means “River Otter.” And remember everything I said about Kitsune? It all applies here. Kawauso are what happens when a river otter lives to an advanced age – it gains shapeshifting powers. Some of them are tricksters, some benevolent, and some vicious. Sound familiar? Well, Yokai exist in categories – different kinds of Oni, or Tsukumogami, or other such creatures. And many animals follow the Kitsune pattern.
Kawauso have a few things unique to them, such as their love of fish and sake, or their penchant to mimic sounds and voices to freak people out. And rather than disguising themselves as somebody’s bride (though they do that sometimes), they usually turn into small beggar children, and try to buy booze. If someone asks who they are, Kawauso panic and blow their whole cover. You know, like normal kids trying to buy booze. Another favorite activity of theirs is to snuff out lights and lanterns and leave travelers in the dark. It’s all fun and games until somebody gets mugged.
Featured on Life In Plastic: nerditis.com/2014/06/20/life-in-plastic-special-the-night...