Japanese folklore
Hurt/Subdue-3, Expose-3, Purify-3, Appease-4

A cannibal witch of the mountains, feigning hospitality before devouring travelers. Yamauba is a powerful, enigmatic mountain crone who can appear kindly but transforms into a terrifying figure to punish the unwary or disrespectful.

Yamauba is said to live in mountain huts or caves, offering shelter and aid to travelers before revealing her monstrous nature. Sometimes depicted with a mouth hidden within her hair, she embodies the duality of nurturing and menace found in wild nature. She is feared and respected as a force both of cruelty and ancient power.

• Mountain crone with long wild hair and bark-like skin
• Feigns kindness to lure victims
• Cannibalistic and dangerous once revealed
• Wields powerful mountain magic and curses
• Represents nature’s cruel and nurturing duality

• Offers shelter or food to weary travelers, creating the False Hospitality story tag.
• Appears as a kindly old woman, gaining False Friend-2 status.
• Whispers lullabies or riddles, creating the Ensnaring Words story tag.

• Transforms into monstrous form, inflicting Terrified-3 on victims.
• Strikes with cursed claws or mountain magic, causing Wounded-3.
• Captures prey for consumption, applying Devoured-4 or Subdued-3.

• Mouth in the Hair: May open a hidden demonic mouth in her hair to swallow or curse.
• Mountain Power: Gains strength in mountain terrain, increasing damage and resistance.
• Dual Nature: Can choose to aid or punish, sometimes switching unexpectedly between kindness and cruelty.

• Escalation: Initial kindness and shelter → whispered enchantments → terrifying transformation → violent attack and consumption.
• Tactics: Deceptive and tactical; lures victims into a false sense of security before attacking. Uses mountain magic to control surroundings.
• Counters: Respecting mountain spirits and refusing hospitality can avoid conflict. Sacred charms and rituals may banish or weaken her.

• Look: An old woman with wild, tangled hair, bark-like skin, sometimes showing monstrous features when angered.
• Tell: Soft lullabies in the dark, sudden cold in mountain air, disappearing footprints near her hut.