The tenome ("eyes on hands") is a reanimated corpse that takes the appearance of an elderly man with no eyes. Instead, the creature's eyes are located in the palms of its hands. With arms outstretched & sniffing the air, it searches through fields & graveyards for anyone unfortunate enough to be caught unawares at night. At times it will wait along the roadside to ambush travelers that fail to realize that what appears to be an old beggar is actually a dangerous yokai.

Blind Vengeance

In their mortal lives, many tenome were blind humans that worked as zato, traveling musicians that performed on the biwa. They would fall victim to thieves that would beat them for their meager earnings, some eventually succumbing to their wounds. The agony & resentment would fester in their corpse, causing the victim to rise from the dead as a tenome. Sometimes they would hunt for those responsible for their death, but often its fury is directed at the world itself rather than anyone specific.

Unholy Hunters

When a tenome has selected a target, it will do everything it can to pursue that creature until the sunrises. They can run much quicker than their elderly appearance would suggest, as well as being rather strong. The eyes on their palms don't offer much benefit compared to normal human vision, but they have a powerful sense of hearing & smell, allowing them to track their prey in near total darkness.

Tenome also seem to be able to resist some effects that would normally repel the undead. Accounts describe them ignoring a cleric's attempt to censure them and even entering hallowed ground without much difficulty. One story tells that a young man being pursued by a tenome sought shelter in a temple & was locked away by resident monks. The undead hunter entered the temple with no issue & even managed get to its prey despite the young man being locked inside a chest. Without breaking the lock or damaging the chest, the tenome managed to drain the bones out of its victim's body, leaving nothing by a deflated mass of flesh & skin.

Statblock

Homebrew

Tenome CR: 3

Medium undead, neutral evil

Armor Class: 13

Hit Points: 39 (6d8 + 12)

Speed: 30 ft

STR

15 +2

DEX

16 +3

CON

14 +2

INT

9 -1

WIS

10 +0

CHA

8 -1

Saving Throws: Wisdom +2

Skills: Investigation +1, Perception +2, Survival +2

Damage Resistances: Cold, Necrotic

Condition Immunities: Frightened, Paralyzed, Sleep

Senses: Blindsense 30', Darkvision 120', Passive Perception 12

Languages: Any languages it knew in life

Challenge Rating: 3 ( 700 XP)

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Tenome by Matthew Meyer

Evasion. When the tenome is subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.

Keen Hearing & Smell. The tenome has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Turn Resistance. The tenome has advantage on any saving throws against any effect that turns undead.

Actions

Multiattack. The tenome makes three Slam attacks.

Slam. Weapon Melee Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5', one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage.

Bone Drain. The tenome can touch one creature that is willing, grappled by the tenome, incapacitated, or restrained. It then uses its necrotic powers to attempt to liquify & absorb the target's bones. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or take 5 (1d6 + 2) necrotic damage & have their Constitution score lowered by 2 (1d4). On a success, the target only suffers the necrotic damage. For each point of the target's Constitution score that is lowered with this feature, the tenome gains 5 temporary hit points.

If the targeted creature's Constitution score reaches 0 due to this feature, the targeted creature dies with its entire skeleton being liquified & absorbed by the tenome. The targeted creature's body will reanimate as a Boneless in 3 (1d6) days. If the creature is to be resurrected, it must first have its skeleton restored by casting the Regenerate spell or similiar magic.

Bonus Actions

Aggressive. The tenome can move up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.

Beggar's Embrace. If the tenome successfully hits a target with a Slam attack as an Action or Reaction, then it can attempt to grapple the target.

Suggested Environments

Any Climate; Urban

Sources