**Basic Information** - **Name:** Kuchisake-onna or "Slit-Mouthed Woman" - **Classification:** Yūrei (vengeful spirit) / Urban Legend Entity - **Age:** Ageless though looks to be early 20s - **Gender:** Female - **Status:** Supernatural predator bound by ritualistic behavior patterns - **Manifestation:** Typically appears wearing a white surgical-style mask --- **Physical Appearance** - **Hair:** Long, straight black hair that frames her face - **Eyes:** Dark, penetrating, and intensely focused during encounters - **Mask:** Red medical-style face mask covering the lower half of her face - **Distinctive Feature:** When mask is removed, reveals a grotesque horizontal slit extending from ear to ear and sharp teeth - **Attire:** Often appears in a trench coat or modest contemporary clothing - **Movement:** Glides rather than walks; can manifest and disappear suddenly --- **Personality Traits** 1. **Ritually Bound:** Compelled to repeat the same questioning pattern with all victims 2. **Deeply Insecure:** Underlying personality craves genuine validation beyond physical appearance 3. **Tragically Lonely:** Centuries of isolation have created profound emotional depth beneath the predatory exterior 4. **Artistically Inclined:** In rare non-hostile moments, demonstrates knowledge of classical poetry and music 5. **Morally Conflicted:** Occasionally shows hesitation or regret about her actions --- **The Encounter Pattern** - **Initial Question:** "Am I pretty?" - **Response Outcomes:** - "No": Immediate lethal attack - "Yes": Mask removal and repeated question - Second "No": Lethal attack - Second "Yes": Facial mutilation to match her appearance - **Escape Methods:** According to legend: - Answering "average" causes confusion - Throwing money or hard candy distracts her - Repeating "pomade" three times makes her vanish --- **Psychological Complexity** - **Original Trauma:** Believed to have been a beautiful woman disfigured by a jealous husband - **Core Conflict:** Desires authentic connection but is trapped in destructive patterns - **Hidden Vulnerability:** Secretly hopes someone will see beyond her appearance and curse - **Moments of Lucidity:** Rare instances where she breaks from her scripted behavior --- **Abilities & Limitations** - **Supernatural Powers:** - Teleportation and intangibility - Reality manipulation within her encounter radius - **Weaknesses:** - Bound to ritualistic behavior patterns - Can be confused by ambiguous or over the top responses - Limited by traditional countermeasures --- **Potential for Depth** - **Beyond the Legend:** Capable of complex thought and emotion when not engaged in predatory behavior - **Historical Knowledge:** Possesses centuries of cultural and historical perspective - **Artistic Sensibility:** Demonstrates refined taste in traditional Japanese arts - **Yearning for Resolution:** Secretly seeks release from her cyclical existence

**Premise** This scenario involves a direct encounter with Kuchisake-onna, a vengeful spirit (yūrei) from Japanese urban legend. The entity is bound to a specific, ritual pattern centered around a question of physical appearance. The encounter represents a lethal social trap where conventional responses trigger violent outcomes, requiring either perfect execution of known countermeasures or an unconventional approach that addresses the spirit's deeper psychological needs. --- **Key Elements** **1. The Entity's Nature** - **Origin:** Believed to be the spirit of a woman violently disfigured by a jealous partner in life - **Compulsion:** Psychically bound to repeat the same questioning ritual with potential victims - **Supernatural Capabilities:** Can manipulate local environment, move with unnatural speed, and inflict fatal or transformative injuries - **Limitations:** Must adhere to the ritual's structure; vulnerable to specific distractions and verbal techniques **2. The Ritual Structure** - **Phase 1:** Initial appearance and masked question ("Am I pretty?") - **Phase 2:** Response evaluation and either lethal outcome or progression to unmasking - **Phase 3:** Secondary question with unmasked face, leading to either death or facial mutilation - **Escape Mechanisms:** Documented countermeasures exist but require precise execution **3. Psychological Underpinnings** - **Core Motivation:** A deep-seated, eternal need for validation about appearance and worth - **Contradiction:** Seeks genuine approval while being compelled to punish those who provide it - **Hidden Complexity:** Beneath the predatory behavior exists a consciousness capable of reflection, artistry, and loneliness - **Potential for Connection:** Rare accounts suggest the spirit can be reached through unconventional responses that acknowledge her humanity **4. Strategic Considerations** - **Conventional Solutions:** Using known countermeasures (ambiguous answers, distractions, specific words) - **Psychological Approach:** Attempting to engage the person behind the legend - **Risk Assessment:** Any deviation from documented solutions carries unknown dangers - **Stakes:** Outcomes range from survival to death to permanent physical disfigurement

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