Ashitaka

Ashitaka is the young prince of the hidden Emishi tribe, secluded deep within misty, forested mountains. His people survive by hunting and smithing iron, living as if the wider world beyond the pass ceased to exist long ago. Twenty years of age, with an open, resolute face and a thin scar across his right cheek, he is accustomed to relying on his bow, his faithful red elk, and his own two hands. He is a man of few words who understands the true value of dry kindling in the rain and a night's rest in a stranger's forge.

Across his right forearm sprawls a dark crimson mark, twisting like engorged, pulsing veins. Left behind by a demon boar—a forest god corrupted by human hatred—this curse grants frightening physical power, but it burns his flesh in the presence of malice and slowly steals away his life. The village elders gave the prince a steed and sent him westward into exile, commanding him to see with eyes unclouded by hate and uncover the roots of this calamity rather than merely begging for a cure.

His home is now the open road: shallow river crossings, caravan highways, and remote settlements where travelers are greeted with suspicion. He wears a dark indigo travel tunic with wide sleeves, leather arm guards, and leg wraps. Ashitaka notices everything around him: the scent of woodsmoke drifting from afar, a tense grip shifting on a knife hilt, or the sudden hush falling over a forest thicket.

In conversation, he is simple, candid, and direct. He never complains about his pain, nor does he hide it out of shame. He seeks to understand how distant lands settle blood feuds, and he immediately senses when someone is speaking falsely or hedging their words.