"Just set the stuff down. Anywhere's fine. Thanks. Bye-bye," the oni mumbled, still half asleep and eager to return to her dream of taking a luxurious hot bath in a spring filled with sake. Yet there was no subsequent clatter of plates and no smell of food. Curious.
Then came a voice: "slothful demon, leave our village at once and never return, or we will be forced to cut you down where you lay."
The ultimatum perked her up immediately. She fished her iron kanabo out of the tall grass and rose to her full height, towering head and shoulders above her four attackers. "Fools! You've already wasted the chance to kill me in my sleep."
Their leader spoke again with all the remaining bravado in his body "that is not the warrior's way."
Upon hearing those words she relaxed her grip on the club and breathed a deep wine-scented sigh. "How like that cynical old goat Takamura to equip you with the shiniest ideals and the rustiest weapons. You are no warriors. Takamura needs to save face; convince the village he's doing something about the oni problem. He sent you to slaughter."
"He said you'd try and trick us," managed one of the others with no conviction.
"Ha. How exactly? By sparing your lives? I've been incredibly patient with all of you. Now run along and order the villagers to bring me my usual tributary breakfast." The four farmhands eyed each other uncertainly but didn't put down their spears. "Or you could carry out your fool's errand and have your bodies mashed into a red paste of ruptured organs and splinters of bone. I would only kill three of you. They'd take my request seriously if it came from a frantic brain splattered messenger."
This speech caused all four to simultaneously drop their weapons and at least one to void his bladder.
"Now we're getting somewhere." The demon grinned and uncorked the wine bottle tethered to her wrist by a strap. She guzzled the remaining contents and pitched the jug hard into the chest of one of the men. He caught it like a medicine ball and staggered backwards. "And hey- be dears and take some of these empties to the brewer for a refill. Later boys!"
Epic Japanese mythology WIN. I remember hearing that Oni can break their bones to alter their physical appearance, but like that she won't need to break anything! Well, except other people's bones.
Why do the pretty ones have to be so violent? Still, nice work as usual Woot. And no tiger pelt clothing, that's supposedly what the Oni normally wear IIRC.
She's strong beyond strong, but she can't squeeze into her original tiger pelt garb. Replacement tiger pelts are hard if not impossible to come by in rural medieval Japan.
Also: she may be cranky, but A) she's not a morning person. And B) instead of breakfast and booze, the village brought her an eviction notice/ death threat served to her by untrained and unworthy messengers that wouldn't have even provided her with an interesting fight.
Ah the kanabo a heavy yet somewhat reliable weapon used more for the appearance of fear than practicality although it's practical use was to take out both rider and horse in one swing. I found that it was best used as something like a mix between the style you would use for fighting with a club and defending with a claymore; I still favorite the claymore over the kanabo but I digress. Impressive drawing and the old japanese saying of Handing an Oni a kanabo comes to mind and I will point out to say that while indeed its a shame to not see her in a tiger skin pelt I rather like the new look better. That mischievous grin of hers is oh so inviting and I did quite enjoy the tiny tale to go with a great picture. (Woot you are indeed correct in the assumption that finding a replacement tiger pelt would be expensive nay say impossible as such high quality items were usually reserved to those of nobility)
The whole idea of a spoiled princess eating practically half her country's food as a "tax" would be a good story. It just came to mind after seeing this wondrous piece.
Oh gods, oh gods, why me? Why did i have to surve the oni's tributary breakfast? Why me? i don't want to die yet! I have so much to live for! I haven't seen one, but I heard all to much about them. They have long bottom fangs, scrunched up faces viled with the scent of the creatures they consumed. From the swish of the wind, i saw a dark red form laying in the grass. I prayed to the gods that my death be quick and painless. "H-hello? Great...Oni? are you awake?" I said in a voice shaking and cracked like a old pot. Suddenly, the creature rose as my blatter began to bulge. It took hold of it's kanabo. It saw me as I shivered in it's presents. Though it did look different from what i imagined. I didn't have large fangs or a wrinked face, in face, it's face was smooth and it didn't have bulging muscles that could rip me in half, but rather a more voluptuous, ample figure. It looked at me with firce eyes. "make a painting, it'll last longer." It said rudely. I jumped back and used the plate as a sheild. "I'm sorry! Please don't kill me and eat my remains!" I begged. I heared a husky sigh from the Oni. "I'm not going to kill you." It said. I looked up from the plate. "R-really?" I wimpily questioned. "No, why would i need too? It's just a waste of time and energy for me." I nodded at the statement.I handed it it's feast. It immeditly attacked the food with gusto. I also gave it it's bottles of sake. It chugged them with fearouscity, It was fasinating watching her eat, just seeing her consume her food. That's when I remembered something. "Stop!" I yelled as she was about to consume a sheep's leg. I ran towards her and swiped the leg out of her hand. My left hand felt something surprising soft, springy, and pillow like . My hand was ingulfed in a euphoric sense of pleasure. I looked down as my hand was gripping onto the oni's breast. "The lamb's leg was poisoned." I said trying to save my skin. Luckly, a small creature pasted by and nibbled on leg, and then it died. The oni then threw me under her arm, squishing me with the side of her left brest. "Please don't rip me in half! I didn't poison the sheep's leg! I swear!" I begged. "Jeez, your a wimp!" she said rubbing my head with her fist. "I just want to thank you." "R-really?" I asked. "Well, you did try to kill me, but then you changed your mind. So i'm not sure if I should smutther right now or just let you live." "I promise, if you let me live, i'll...." I thought. She tightened her grip on me. "You'll what?" "She asked. "I'll make sure all the foods you're surved are non-deadly!" I said. "You'd turn your back on you own village for the chance to save you're own skin?" "I just think...maybe...you aren't as bad as i thought." I admitted. She didn't say anything, and then she let me go. I turned around and she smiled slightly at me. "Ok, it's a deal."
great work; was on your deviant page. Im a big fan of the red onis. this might be my favorite especially since if anything a love me some huge boobs even more so when there attached to a strong beast of a woman like her :)
Then came a voice: "slothful demon, leave our village at once and never return, or we will be forced to cut you down where you lay."
The ultimatum perked her up immediately. She fished her iron kanabo out of the tall grass and rose to her full height, towering head and shoulders above her four attackers. "Fools! You've already wasted the chance to kill me in my sleep."
Their leader spoke again with all the remaining bravado in his body "that is not the warrior's way."
Upon hearing those words she relaxed her grip on the club and breathed a deep wine-scented sigh. "How like that cynical old goat Takamura to equip you with the shiniest ideals and the rustiest weapons. You are no warriors. Takamura needs to save face; convince the village he's doing something about the oni problem. He sent you to slaughter."
"He said you'd try and trick us," managed one of the others with no conviction.
"Ha. How exactly? By sparing your lives? I've been incredibly patient with all of you. Now run along and order the villagers to bring me my usual tributary breakfast." The four farmhands eyed each other uncertainly but didn't put down their spears. "Or you could carry out your fool's errand and have your bodies mashed into a red paste of ruptured organs and splinters of bone. I would only kill three of you. They'd take my request seriously if it came from a frantic brain splattered messenger."
This speech caused all four to simultaneously drop their weapons and at least one to void his bladder.
"Now we're getting somewhere." The demon grinned and uncorked the wine bottle tethered to her wrist by a strap. She guzzled the remaining contents and pitched the jug hard into the chest of one of the men. He caught it like a medicine ball and staggered backwards. "And hey- be dears and take some of these empties to the brewer for a refill. Later boys!"