Big Book of Mythology (Yokai Edition)

Nobusuma

Translation: Wild quilt

Other names: Tobikura (flying warehouse)

Type: Animal

Preference: Shiga (Omi Province)

Habitat: Forests and mountains

Diet: Blood (mostly), fire, nuts, fruits, and berries

Danger zone: Yellow (Hostile) or Green (Cautious)

❤❤❤❤❤

About:
Who knew bats in Japan are scary? Nobusuma are bats that can transform into flying squirrels when they become old enough.

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Appearance:
A bat that lives to a very old age develops magical powers and changes into a yokai known as a nobusuma. They look almost identical to musasabi, or Japanese giant flying squirrels, although they are much more dangerous.

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Behavior/Interaction:
This yokai eat fruits, nuts, and berries, but likes drinking blood the most. They do this by swooping down on unsuspecting passengers and cling onto their faces, then drink the blood from there (ouch!). If they're not feeding, they'll just swoop down and blow out/eat their fire, then fly away with a "gaa gaa!" cry.

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Abilities:
• Transformation: Can transform once it gets to old age

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Target(s):
Anyone

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Escape plan:
Who knows?

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Origin story:
While nobusuma are born from long-lived bats, the transformation does not stop there. Once a nobusuma reaches very old age, it transforms again, either into a yamachichi or a momonjii.

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NOPE rating:
4/5