Sunekosuri 脛擦り

Tiny fey, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural agility)

Hit Points 18 (4d4 + 8)

Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR 5 (−3) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 14 (+2) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 12 (+1) · CHA 14 (+2)

Saving Throws Dex +6

Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +3, Stealth +8

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13

Languages understands Common and Sylvan but can’t speak

Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Traits

Shadow Blend. While in dim light or darkness, the sunekosuri has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks, and creatures that rely on darkvision to see it do so with disadvantage.

Slippery Form. The sunekosuri can move through the space of a Medium or larger creature, and that space counts as difficult terrain for it. It may not end its turn in a creature’s space.

Feed on Frustration. When a creature within 30 feet of the sunekosuri audibly curses, shouts in anger, or otherwise shows obvious frustration, the sunekosuri regains 5 hit points (no action required, once per round).

Actions

Multiattack. The sunekosuri makes two Shin Rub attacks.

Shin Rub. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone and take an additional 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage from the tumble.

Muddy Trip (Recharge 5–6). The sunekosuri kicks up a swirl of rain-soaked muck in a 10-foot radius centered on itself. Each creature in the area must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage, is knocked prone, and its speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn’t knocked prone. The area becomes difficult terrain until the start of the sunekosuri’s next turn.

Reactions

Nimble Dodge. When a creature the sunekosuri can see misses it with an attack, the sunekosuri may move up to 15 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.

Lore

Small, mischievous spirits that rub against people’s legs on dark roads.

Sunekosuri (脛擦り) literally means “the one who rubs against your shins.” The spirit’s trademark is small-scale but persistent mischief. On dark, mostly rainy nights it slips up to a passerby’s legs and begins rubbing against the shins, trying to make the victim stumble—ideally into a puddle. If the traveler ends up soaked and muddy, mission accomplished one hundred percent. The creature is not out to cause serious physical harm; what it really wants is an emotional flare-up. A shout, a burst of anger, even grumbled complaints feed the yokai’s power. Once it gets that reaction, the spirit vanishes just as quickly as it appeared.

Legends describe it as a tiny animal, puppy-like in shape—quick, seemingly harmless, even cute. But any attempt to pet or grab it ends in failure: the moment hands close around it, the creature squirms free and is back underfoot. Some stories call it “the leg-toppler,” stressing that a tumble can leave scrapes or a bloody nose, especially for children or exhausted travelers.

From Yokai Bestiary 5E, Book Two, p. 92 · Fern Flower Press