Human characters can be shapeshifters, in Japanese lore mostly women were shapeshifters.
DAIMYO – Military Commander controls the island of Nishinoshima.
SAMURAI – To serve a Daimyo and high lord commander. Warriors who follow the code of Bushido. The Samurai at Nishinoshima will report to the commander or Daimyo in charge. The Daimyo at his descretion will appoint those he wishes to guard him and those he bestows rank and title with higher status.
RONIN – Masterless Samurai, during the Edo period there were many and many that turned to criminal activity, some took more honest lifestyles such as those of a farmers or teacher. Ronin on Nishinoshima, would engage in either an honest lifestyle such as a teacher of martial arts, or a criminal one, causing problems for the local samurai.
NINJA – Lead Ninja who will teach and appoint a few under his command. They might steal, kill and sneak causing trouble for the local samurai or anyone else.
GEISHA – Are elegant entertainers that have an intricate knowledge of speechcraft, flower arranging, dancing, and tea ceremony. Most were indebted to an a geisha training house, Okiya, and work in tea houses, Ochaya. If a geisha was successful during her long career she could support herself and live apart. The argument of whether Geisha were prositutes or not is an old one. Nishi moderators believe as the author of this blog wrote it “seems quite reasonable to think that the geisha of the Edo period, so closely associated with the pleasure quarters as they were, did on occasion, “on the side”, engage in acts of prostitution, I think it should be nevertheless acknowledged and emphasized that this was not a part of their profession, not a part of what it means to be geisha.” – blog
AMA DIVER – someone who scavenges for pearls for a merchant to make money.
SERVANTS – Characters that are owned by a noble or person with a lot of money. Servants in this period would wear a simple kimono or wrap whatever period “uniform” their master or mistress would have them wear. Nudity or half clad servants in public areas is not acceptable.
SHINTO PRIEST – Upon Nishino might appoint ghost hunters or be hired to rid them, might offer advice as to how to catch the supernatural, maybe bestow blessings and perform funeral rituals. The master Shinto priest may teach Zen mediation or powerful Koans to their students. A Koan is bestowed to a samurai who has displayed excellence in all areas of his title. A samurai with a Koan may put upon his profile as an OOC reminder to anyone who is engaged in RP with them that they have this extra power.
SHINTO SWORD-SMITH – An example.
Kunitome Character Profile – A great swordsmith who reportedly made evil blades and was murdered with his own creation by a client. Part of his soul is said to remain in that blade he created called Kuro Kumo (Black Cloud) as it was finished on the night of a great storm. This blade was sharper and deadlier than any he had made before it. That night the client came and demanded a cutting test to prove the quality of the blade. Kunitome-san arranged for four criminals to be bound over a sand mound. Black Cloud went through all four bodies as easily as if they were ripe plums. You should have heard their screams. The client was so impressed he beheaded Kunitome-san there and then with his own creation. He wanted to ensure that Kunitome-san never made another blade that could defeat Black Cloud. But when Kunitome-san was murdered, a fragment of his maddened soul entered the sword. As if possessed the storm then raged all night long, ripping the heart out of the village, ravaging all the crops, destroying the temple. Little was left. The Client was said to be Dokugan Ryu. – Chris Bradford, Young Samurai.
“Japanese sword-smiths traditionally observe shinto ceremonial rights when forging a weapon. They first wash themselves in purifying water and hang straw ropes and shinto gohei papers in the forge. Prayers are then said to the kami (spirits), inviting them to assist in a successful forging. The smith should don shinto robes during work, although some modern smiths do not follow this tradition. For the entire time they are busy with a sword or other weapon the smith may not drink alcohol and must abstain from sexual contact.” – Wasenshi
VILLAGER – Merchants, Business owners, Ama (Pearl) divers, Ashigaru, Fisherman, huntsman.
Nishino-shima 