TEARAI-ONI
Lore
Legends speak of a colossal yokai whose name literally translates to "the Demon Who Washes His Hands." Referred to as Tearai-oni, he is sometimes linked to the mighty giant Daitaro-bo of Japanese mythology, said to dwell in the Shikoku region. Accounts describe him as an immense figure capable of stepping over mountains more than three ri (about seven miles) tall. Some tales credit him with shaping the island's terrain-he could cross vast distances in just a few strides.
In certain narratives, Tearai-oni created mountain ranges by hauling enormous slabs of stone. After a long day of labor, he would wade into rivers to wash his hands, bracing his feet against the mountains on either side. Whenever he felt weary and lay down to rest, the sheer weight of his body pressed deep depressions into the earth-depressions that later filled with water to become lakes.
Despite the presence of the word "oni" in his name (a term usually associated with demons), Tearai-oni is not especially malicious. Instead, his defining trait is a powerful compulsion to wash his hands. There are no records of intentional aggression on his part-yet naturally, people could be harmed if this massive being happened to stroll by.
A careless footstep might crush an unwary traveler, or resting against a mountain could send rocks tumbling below. When a creature of such size passes through, any manner of hazard may arise.
