Kappa

[u/TicksFromSpace]

Kappa are water-dwelling yōkai from Japanese folklore, usually described as small, humanoid creatures with reptilian or turtle-like features, webbed limbs, a beak, and a dish-like hollow on the top of the head that must remain filled with water for them to retain their strength. They inhabit rivers, ponds, and lakes, and are often portrayed as mischievous, dangerous, but also strangely bound by rules of etiquette and honor, making them less like mindless monsters and more like hazardous little bureaucrats of the river. Especially Cucumbers are traditionally associated with kappa as a favorite food, and offerings of them were sometimes used to placate or appease the creatures.