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Description
One of my favorite yokai from Japanese folklore, the Kappa are a race of river sprites/imps said to be the size of a small child but having strength enough to drag a fully grown horse into the rivers and lakes to drown it. Mischievous, sometimes malevolent, the Kappa do have two weaknesses. One, they are extremely polite. And should you greet one with a deep bow, it will return the gesture. This leads to its second weakness. When the water in its head spills out, the Kappa loses its strength and becomes vulnerable. Those who think to spare the Kappa can then make it vow to never harm anyone again and even share its knowledge (it's said they taught the art of bone setting to humans, for example).

Created on Canson sketch paper using 2B and Prismacolor Ebony pencils.

Description
One of my favorite yokai from Japanese folklore, the Kappa are a race of river sprites/imps said to be the size of a small child but having strength enough to drag a fully grown horse into the rivers and lakes to drown it. Mischievous, sometimes malevolent, the Kappa do have two weaknesses. One, they are extremely polite. And should you greet one with a deep bow, it will return the gesture. This leads to its second weakness. When the water in its head spills out, the Kappa loses its strength and becomes vulnerable. Those who think to spare the Kappa can then make it vow to never harm anyone again and even share its knowledge (it's said they taught the art of bone setting to humans, for example).

Created on Canson sketch paper using 2B and Prismacolor Ebony pencils.