The Nightmare of The Five Emotions is a dark and infamous event in the history of the Y’azi Peninsula, where the five Oni servants of Yokai the Blood-King—each representing a powerful negative emotion—ambushed The Sunsations and Master Orochi Agatsu, pulling them into a nightmarish dreamscape where the Oni's powers were amplified and unleashed in terrifying unison.
The encounter began when the Unknown discovered the gruesome sight of a slain Y'azi dragonborn scout near the gates of the Temple of Raijin. The scout's body was marked with two arrows, each piercing his eyes, with one arrow bearing a crude note wrapped around the shaft. The note was inscribed with the many-spoked wheel, a known symbol of the Unknown. Before the monks could react, a dark, foreboding energy began to envelop the area, and the Sunsations—along with Master Orochi Agatsu—were suddenly dragged into a nightmarish dreamscape created by the Oni.
The Oni’s ambush transported the Sunsations and Orochi Agatsu into a dream realm—a twisted, surreal landscape made up of chained floating islands that hovered over an infinite cosmos. The islands, dark and foreboding, floated aimlessly in an endless void, while distant stars twinkled against the black expanse. The only sounds that broke the silence were the faint clinking of chains and the occasional crackle of demonic energy. In this dream realm, the Oni’s powers were far greater, amplified by the vastness of the cosmos that served as their battleground.
Each Oni were embellished with kanji symbols for their respective emotions glowing red in their eyes, a representation of their dark essence. Together, they attacked in unison, unleashing the full force of their demonic arts upon their foes.
Each Oni represented a powerful negative emotion, which they wielded with devastating effect:
1. Oni of Anger (怒)
- The Oni of Anger had blazing red eyes with the kanji for “Anger” (怒) glowing fiercely within them. He attacked with brutal force, his strikes imbued with explosive rage. Every blow he landed spread anger like a contagious flame, causing allies to lash out against each other in a berserker frenzy.
2. Oni of Envy (嫉)
- With piercing green eyes bearing the kanji for “Envy” (嫉), the Oni of Envy drained power from those he envied, leeching the strength of the Sunsations and turning their own abilities against them. His presence sowed discord, causing the party to resent one another's strengths and grow weaker as a result.
3. Oni of Sorrow (悲)
- The **Oni of Sorrow** was draped in an aura of despair, his dark blue eyes bearing the kanji for “Sorrow” (悲). He wielded emotional exhaustion like a weapon, forcing his victims to relive their most painful memories, sapping their will to fight and slowing their movements. His demonic arts created a thick fog of melancholy that suffocated hope.
4. Oni of Despair (絶望)
- The Oni of Despair had hollow, void-like eyes with the kanji for “Despair” (絶望) etched into their dark depths. His attacks induced paralyzing fear and hopelessness, trapping the Sunsations in illusions of failure and isolation. His powers created mental prisons, leaving his enemies frozen in terror.
5. Oni of Hatred (憎)
- The most dangerous of the five, the Oni of Hatred had deep black eyes with the kanji for “Hatred” (憎) burning inside them like coals. He thrived on conflict and discord, spreading malice and turning allies against one another. His demonic powers grew as the other Oni weakened, feeding off their demise.
In this dream realm, the Sunsations and Master Orochi Agatsu fought desperately against the combined might of the Oni. Each demon wielded their respective emotional powers with devastating efficiency, creating a chaotic battlefield that tore at both the body and mind of their enemies. As the Oni struck in unison, they attempted to overwhelm the Sunsations with sheer emotional torment.
Despite being outmatched in this twisted dreamscape, the Sunsations and Orochi Agatsu held strong, using their training and sheer determination to break through the emotional onslaught. One by one, the Oni were defeated, their forms dissolving into dark energy as their bodies collapsed in the dream realm.
As each of the Oni fell, their dark essence was absorbed by the Oni of Hatred, growing his strength exponentially. With his newfound power, the Oni of Hatred stood before the exhausted Sunsations, his eyes blazing with fury and the combined emotions of his fallen brethren. Though weakened from the battle, Master Orochi Agatsu managed to summon an illusory dragon representing Raijin, which forced him to retreat.
Before disappearing from the dream realm, the Oni of Hatred issued a dire threat to the Sunsations and Orochi Agatsu:
"You may have defeated us today, but this is far from over. The winds of chaos are rising, and our master—Yokai—will return. When he does, the world will know true despair. Prepare yourselves, for we shall meet again."
With this ominous warning, the Oni of Hatred vanished, leaving the party behind in the floating islands of the dream realm.
The Sunsations and Orochi Agatsu were soon pulled back into the physical realm, shaken but victorious. The dream ambush had been a grueling test of both their emotional and physical resilience, and the warnings of Yokai’s return left an unsettling sense of foreboding.
The ambush became a pivotal moment in their journey, revealing just how powerful and relentless Yokai’s forces were. The Sunsations now knew that the Blood-King's return was inevitable, and the Oni’s growing influence was a threat that would soon engulf the realms if left unchecked.