Noppera-Bo のっぺら坊

Medium fey (shapechanger, yokai), typically chaotic neutral

Armor Class 13

Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)

Speed 30 ft.

STR 13 (+1) · DEX 16 (+3) · CON 12 (+1) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 18 (+4)

Skills Deception +7, Perception +5, Performance +7, Stealth +6

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered (optional, depending on how tricky you want the Noppera-bo to be)

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Sylvan, Yokai Speech

Challenge 5

Traits

Shapechanger. The Noppera-bo can use its action to polymorph into a Medium humanoid, appearing with a fully detailed face, or back into its true form (a faceless humanoid). Its statistics, other than its appearance, are the same in each form.

Faceless Terror (Fright Aura). Any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the Noppera-bo’s true (faceless) form must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the start of its next turn. On a successful save, a creature is immune to this aura for the next 24 hours.

Mirthful Menace. The Noppera-bo isn’t inherently violent and generally tries to scare or confuse rather than kill. If reduced below half its hit points, it may attempt to flee or surrender, using illusions or trickery to cover its escape.

Actions

Multiattack. The Noppera-bo makes two Unarmed Strike attacks or one Unarmed Strike and uses Faceless Revelation if available.

Unarmed Strike (Humanoid Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage.

Unarmed Strike (Faceless Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) psychic damage instead of bludgeoning damage, as the Noppera-bo’s touch imparts a moment of primal dread rather than physical force.

Faceless Revelation (Recharge 5 - 6). The Noppera-bo wipes its hand across its face, revealing a smooth, featureless visage to one creature within 30 feet that can see it. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. While frightened, the creature must use its movement to try to move as far away from the Noppera-bo as possible. The frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Bonus Actions

Fade into the Crowd (1/Day). In any area with multiple humanoids (for example, a busy street or tavern), the Noppera-bo can magically blend in. It casts misdirection on itself (no components needed) and gains advantage on Stealth checks until the start of its next turn, as it briefly assumes a mundane face and attire matching its surroundings.

Reactions

Illusory Mask. When the Noppera-bo is targeted by an attack it can see, it can impose disadvantage on the attack roll by momentarily showing the attacker the face of a loved one, a horrifying visage, or nothing at all. The attacker must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the attack roll is made with disadvantage. If the save succeeds, the attacker is immune to Illusory Mask for 24 hours.

Tactics & Behavior

A typical Nopperapon’s first goal is to terrify or bewilder targets. It may vanish after delivering a final shock.

Several Nopperapon might collaborate for maximum psychological impact—first appearing as normal people, then revealing faceless forms in sequence.

Though it enjoys delivering shocks, the Nopperapon rarely persists against determined foes. A calm or witty response may entirely defuse its tricks.

Lore

Ghostly apparition with a smooth face, frightening victims at night.

At a glance, the Noppera-bo appears to be an ordinary human, until the victim notices a crucial detail: its face is completely smooth no eyes, no nose, no mouth. Although these yokai do not inflict physical harm, they terrify adventurers with their sudden, ghostly “vanishing face.”

One of the earliest known stories comes from Kyoto, involving a merchant who was returning home late at night over the Kiyomizu Bridge. There he saw a young woman standing by the railing, crying. Feeling concerned, he asked why she was upset. When she turned around, the dim moonlight revealed that her face was utterly blank. Panicking, the merchant fled and, upon reaching a nearby teahouse, frantically told the proprietor what he had witnessed. The teahouse owner listened intently, then asked if the woman’s face had looked “something like this?”—at which point his own features disappeared, becoming a smooth void. The merchant lost consciousness, and when he came to, the bridge lay silent and deserted. No one could confirm anything had happened at all.

From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 20 · Fern Flower Press