Burning Ainu???

[jayhad]

Since I am learning so much about the Heian Era, I have another question: what is the period's opinion and status of the Ainu? Can Ainu be player characters? What type of lifepaths would they have?

[luke]

Ainu were considered barbarians and not "Japanese." We didn't do any other research into them so, other than that, you're on your own.

[Justin in Oz]

From what I recall, They were hairy and worshipped bears. As time went on they were more and more restricted to the north.

[Andy K]

Yeah, there's nothing but rumors on the Ainu in that era. In fact, there's very little information outside of Kyoto in that era.

Ainu would definitely be hagure/outsider, but other than that it's totally up to you.

-Andy

[Pheel]

Sure, you could figure out some cool "barbarian" lifepaths.

Or if you were going for a non-historic, crrrazy Mononoke Hime fantasy campaign, and would dust off the elves. Yes, Luke. Your favorite bunnies. The elves.

Why? GRIEF. These islands use to be theirs. Every year, they're pushed farther North. It's a war of attrition, and they are doomed, and they know it.

Here's how I'd change them:
1) make them Hairy (character trait)
2) give them a whopping penalty when dealing with civilized Nihonese.
3) restrict them from the Exarch lifepaths, the martial lifepaths, the citadel lifepaths (don't have my book in front of me) -- in essence, really sticking to just "wood elves" -- the small forest communities...
4) stone age tech -- lose any metalworking

RE. immortality and wonder, since I'm positing a fantasy Nihon, and not one even remotely historically accurate, WTF not? If you're dealing with only one character -- the Ainu sent by his people to plead with the Emperor to grants his people a respite -- then it's easy for the GM and other players to veto an Ainu elf that's too powerful. And a campaign of Ainu, abandoned by their gods, fighting a doomed battle against greater forces and metal weapons -- hell, if I was a GM, I'd say, Sure, you can be elvish Ainu. Ain't like it's going to do you any good.

Heh heh heh, the Old Witch said.

[luke]

Or, if you want to see it from the Nipponese perspective, hand the Ainu player a Yama-Bito.
:)

[Pheel]

Or, if you want to see it from the Nipponese perspective, hand the Ainu player a Yama-Bito.
:)

<Holds up his hand, volunteering.>