Oni

An oni

An oni (鬼) is a type of demon or yōkai in Japanese folkore. They are typically associated with negative traits and are believed to engage in acts such as murder and cannibalism. Most oni are portrayed as hulking figures with one or more horns growing out of their heads and massive teeth, and possess supernatural powers, including the ability to disguise themselves as humans. Female oni are sometimes referred to as yama-uba.

During the Heian period (794 – 1185), oni were often depicted in Japanese literature as terrifying monsters that ate people. This has cemented their place in Japanese culture as a type of stock villains featured in many works of art, literature, and theatre.

History

In 1725, the Japanese Templar and samurai Shimazu Saito wore an oni mask during her mission to investigate leads to an Isu site in Macau, which she ended up abandoning after joining the Zhang Wei Union.

Later, while attempting to retrieve a Piece of Eden shaped like a crescent amulet from a monk in Manila, Saito and the British Assassin Edward Kenway witnessed the monk using the amulet's powers to resurrect his acolytes, causing Saito to compare them to oni. During the same fight, the monk used the amulet to conjure an illusion of an oni that attacked Saito, though the samurai was able to defeat the apparition after Edward helped her understand that it was not real.

In 2020, the Assassin Layla Hassan installed an Animus modification while reliving Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories to include a digital model of an armor pack stylized after an oni.

Gallery

• 
  Shimazu Saito's oni mask
• 
  The oni armor pack

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first appearance) (Animus mod)
• Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Blade of Aizu (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple