ANIME AND MANGA CHARACTER ADAPTATIONS
PRINCE ASHITAKA
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 13/35 STR 3 12-/16- Lift 151.6 kg/3200 kg; 2 1/2d6/7d6 HTH Damage [3] 18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 21 CON 24 13- 12 BODY 4 11- 15 INT 5 12- PER Roll 12-/14- 15 EGO 10 12- ECV: 5 15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 18 COM 4 13- 6 PD 3 Total: 6 PD (0 rPD) 5 ED 1 Total: 5 ED (0 rED) 4 SPD 12 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 7 REC 0 42 END 0 30 STUN 0 Total Characteristic Cost: 95 Movement: Running: 8"/16" Leaping: 2"/4" Swimming: 3"/6" Cost Powers & Skills Curse Of Nago-no-kami 13 1) Cursed STR: +22 STR, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); No Conscious Control (Ashitaka can use this STR at will, but can't control the result; -1), No Figured Characteristics (-1/2) 7 2) Inhuman Vitality: +10 BODY; Only To Stave Off Point Of Death (-2) 20 3) Inhuman Vitality: Physical Damage Reduction, Resistant, 50%; STUN Only (-1/2) 24 Bow: HKA 2d6 (2d6+1 / 3d6 w/STR), Ranged (+1/2), 24 Recoverable Charges (+3/4); OAF (-1), Required Hands Two-Handed (-1/2), Real Weapon (-1/4), [24 rc] 16 Sword: HKA 1d6+1 (2d6 / 2 1/2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) plus +1 with OCV; OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) plus Range Based On STR (+1/4) for up to 20 Active Points of HKA; 1 Recoverable Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1), [1 rc] 7 Arrow Cutting: Missile Deflection (Arrows, Slings, Etc.), Adjacent Hex (+1/2); OAF (-1) 4 Fast On His Feet: Running +2" (8" total), END 1 1 Strong Swimmer: Swimming +1" (3" total), END 1 2 Sharp Senses: +2 PER with Normal Sight 2 Sharp Ears: +4 versus Range Modifier for Normal Hearing Perks 15 Follower: Yakkul the Red Elk (75-point base) Talents 37 Sharp Senses: Danger Sense (general area, any danger, Function as a Sense) 12-/14- Skills 16 Weapons Skills: +2 with All Combat 12 Archery Skill: +6 OCV with Bow 10 +4 OCV with Arrow Cutting; OAF (sword; -1) 12 Penalty Skill Levels: +8 vs. Range Modifier with Bow 3 Breakfall 13- 3 Climbing 13- 5 Concealment 13- 2 KS: Customs Of The Eshibi People 11- 1 KS: Forest Spirits 8- 0 Language: Japanese (idiomatic; literate) 5 Paramedics 13- 5 Riding 14- 4 Survival (Temperate/Subtropical, Mountain) 12- 0 TF: Equines 3 Tracking 12- 3 WF: Blades, Bows, Thrown Sword 232 Total Powers & Skills Cost 327 Total Character Cost 150+ Disadvantages 5 Distinctive Features: Emishi (barbarian/outsider) (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses; Not Distinctive In Some Cultures) 10 Distinctive Features: Scarring And Infection On Hand/Body (Easily Concealed; Always Noticed and Causes Major Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 20 Normal Characteristic Maxima No Age Restriction 10 Physical Limitation: Cursed (Infrequently, Greatly Impairing) 15 Psychological Limitation: Loves San (a.k.a. Princess Mononoke) (Common, Strong) 10 Psychological Limitation: Reluctance To Kill/Do Harm (Common, Moderate) 15 Psychological Limitation: Wishes To Remain Neutral (Common, Strong) 92 Experience 327 Total Disadvantage Points
Background/History: Prince Ashitaka is the hero of Hayao Miyazaki's epic anime Mononoke-hime (Princess Mononoke). His story runs something like this:
Prince Ashitaka, a member of the royal house of the Emishi people, fought and killed a demon before it razed the village of his people. Before dying, the creature grabbed Ashitaka's arm, burning him terribly. As it died, the demon was revealed to be a great boar, an animal god from lands far to the west. Before dying, the god, Nago, cursed Ashitaka, informing him that he would die, consumed by hate and anger, as Nago died.
A iron ball was found amid the boar's bones, and Ashitaka volunteered to leave his people, and journey to the west to find out how the boar had died. As the Emishi were a people effectively under siege from the rest of Japan, Ashitaka's leaving meant he could never return. He was exiled from his own lands, and for all intents and purposes was dead to his people. Cutting his hair (a sign of death in Japan), Ashitaka mounted his steed, the red elk Yakkul, and went forth to "...see with eyes unclouded by hate."
Heading to the west, Ashitaka eventually came across Iron Town, run by the Lady Eboshi. He also encountered the "Princess Mononoke," San, finding her both savage and beautiful. Caught in a war between humans wishing to build a better life for themselves, and animal gods savagely defending their lands, Prince Ashitaka tries to mediate a settlement, only to find that nether side will listen to reason. And to make matters worse, Nago's curse is slowly killing him, leaving him with less and less time to act.
Naturally, this synopsis only covers the first half or so of the film. Watch the whole thing to see how it ends.
Personality/Motivation: Ashitaka's main desire is to remain neutral in the conflict between San, Lady Eboshi, and Lord Asano (who wants Iron Town for his own). He wants to mediate the war and find a way to resolve the situation peacefully. He has seen what hatred can do (to both the gods of the forest and to himself), and doesn't wish for others to share his fate. In addition, Ashitaka is reluctant to engage in conflict and battle (mainly do to the effects of his curse). He warns off attacking samurai several times before fighting back, prevents the people of Iron Town from killing San, and then keeps San and Lady Eboshi from killing each other. However, if forced to fight, he does not hold back—as numerous samurai find out to their regret.
Quote: "[I have come] to see with eyes unclouded by hate."
Powers/Tactics: First and foremost, Ashitaka is an archer, and a highly skilled one at that. Early on in the film he is seen to shoot an arrow into the eye of a charging giant boar—while riding at full gallop on the back of red elk. He is no slouch with his sword either, and holds off San's assault, cuts arrows out of the air, and hurls his sword into Lady Eboshi's rifle to spoil her aim.
In addition to his military prowess, Ashitaka is a skilled tracker, and can survive quite well alone in the woods. Life in the mountains of northern Honshu has made him strong and hardy (hence his 21 CON), allowing him to be a strong swimmer and a virtually tireless runner. He is also gifted with extremely sharp eyesight, and is quite capable of spotting distant objects with ease. His senses are so acute that he can hear San approaching the walls of Iron Town while inside the stockade.
Killing Naro the boar god left Ashitaka cursed. This curse is one of rage and hate, and will slowly consume Ashitaka, eventually killing him. Until then, it gives him great strength, as demonstrated when he pushes open the gate to Iron Town (which takes 10 men to lift) with one hand. In battle, his strength also has a more direct effect, as several times he is seen firing arrows that strike with such force they sever limbs and heads. However, Ashitaka's strength comes and goes. At one point he is exhausted from carrying a man on his back up a mountain trail, and late in the film cannot lift the corpse of a giant boar. Yet, he curls up the blade of Gonzo's no-dachi with one hand, rips up a section of roofing timber and hurls it a great distance, and catches an arrow in mid-flight.
The curse also makes him unnaturally resistant to damage. At one point a hand cannon fires a ball that punches right through his body. Ashitaka is staggered slightly, but does not fall, and continues walking even while bleeding profusely.
Appearance: Ashitaka is of average height, even a little short, with a thin (but strong build) and shoulder-length black hair. He is very handsome, and more than one lady of Iron Town found him to be highly attractive. Ashitaka dresses in short leather boots, off-white trousers (with dark blue wrappings around the lower legs), a pale blue tunic, dark blue kote (sleeves), and a red hood. Over this he wears a straw rain-cape, and dark brown riding "chaps." His equipment consists of a short, straight sword, a bow, arrows, and a small pouch with traveling gear.
Nago's curse takes the form of a mottled red and purple "infection" that covers Ashitaka's left arm. It grows slowly, and at times causes his arm to swell and pulse. At one point, a dark blue aura appeared around his arm, as did a thick cluster of writhing non-corporeal "tentacles."
Designer's Notes: Princess Mononoke takes place in a mythical Japan during the Muromachi Era admist the Onin War (1467-1477). It was a time of great change for Japan, before the more strict social structure of Tokugawa was established. Although many elements are familiar (such as the samurai, chopsticks, and the kimonos worn by most characters), other things are pure fantasy (Yakkul the red elk, the guns and cannon used by Lady Eboshi, the various spirits and gods). Interestingly, the Emishi people are real, but were absorbed in the late 800s,and did not survive into the 1460s.
Ashitaka's bow was built as an HKA to allow him to use his great strength with it. Although the bow could have been built as a flat 4d6 RKA, making it an HKA and giving his STR score "Limited Conscious Control" allows a GM to vary the intensity of each shot, based on such factors as Ashitaka's current mood, and his needs.
Yakkul is the equivalent of a Riding Horse as seen in the Hero Bestiary. He is very agile, very loyal, and very intelligent. Yakkul is quite fearless as well, and faces the wolf gods (and the Forest God/Nightwalker) without flinching.
Pre- and post-movie Ashitaka's remove the Curse of Nago-no-kami powers and disadvantages. A pre-movie Ashitaka has the perk "Prince of the Emishi" people. The post-movie version should have a two contacts, one with San, one with Lady Eboshi. A post-movie Ashitaka might also have gained a Reputation.
(Prince Ashitaka created by Hayao Miyazaki, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
Prince Ashitaka's Hero Designer File
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