Re: Thread ressurection!
Perhaps the high-level bureaucrats and court advisors are shapeshifting Oni? (You wanted Oni as villains in this campaign, right?)
At the advice of a court wizard with ulterior motives, a very harsh system was put in place, and nobility was replaced with beureacracy. This ushered less heridary leaders into power and created a class of eunuchs close to the imperial throne. Soon, the emperor becomes a puppet. Soon, rebellion begins, fragmenting the kingdom into three states.
Perhaps the high-level bureaucrats and court advisors are shapeshifting Oni? (You wanted Oni as villains in this campaign, right?)