Post by M'thack-kir on Apr 24, 2017 17:37:22 GMT 10
Figured seeing as at least some of you will be encountering a Nezumi and spending a good deal of time with him, it would be best to provide an outline of what has happened to the Nezumi since the time of Iweko.
Thankfully it's short, and vague, because Nezumi memory is terrible, and most of them can't remember what happened more than a month ago (fear not, I took Precise Memory to negate this personally):
-some Nezumi tribes stayed as they were, but were kicked off planet along with the gaijin. They weren't relocated as carefully as said gaijin, though, as most were met with distrust and distaste. Several were left to die on inhospitable rocks, and not checked up on, so whether or not they still survive is unknown. They certainly don't have the capacity to traverse space on their own.
-all of the other Nezumi followed the command of a Transcendent, scary evolved god-beings that they are, which was to band together with the Burnt-Crane (i.e. The Phoenix), shortly after space exploration was made possible. The reason the Phoenix were chosen has never explicitly been stated by anyone outside of this tribe, and it is possible not even the Phoenix Elemental Masters know (more like they didn't bother to ask, because who cares? Free allies who can allow them to study Yume-do and taint immunity at the mere cost of some of their obsolete equipment and ships! Yes please!). Suffice to say, the few Nezumi seen by anyone in this era, if asked, identify as being of the Burnt-Crane Tribe. Typically they travel alone or in pairs, but are never more numerous than that.
-the Nezumi, unlike say the Naga, do not have a planet or system which they have been permitted to call home. That sucks.
Nezumi on the whole are still treated with distrust, and perhaps distaste, for the stigma of them spreading disease and eating waste or stealing property is all Rokugan has ever really known about them, and therefore that's what the history books teach of them.
As an aside, it should be noted when your character meets Kiru for the first time that he is particularly well-groomed, perhaps to the point of obsession, so he certainly doesn't appear to follow the stereotype you were educated about. He also speaks perfect Rokugani with two caveats:
1) he still repeats a word to emphasise their importance.
2) he will never use pronouns, but names. On this, it should be noted that there is a difference between English and Japanese, which Rokugani is heavily based on: in English, we substitute pronouns instead of names all the time, especially when directly addressing someone. E.g., "Can you please hand me that pistol?" as opposed to "Can Jon please hand me that pistol?" (The latter makes it seem like Jon isn't in the room, let alone being addressed!)
In Japanese, the words for "you" (there are different words for different degrees of formality) is not often used when being polite (or not with friends or people you don't give a shit about). Instead, their name is used. So, "Can Jon please hand me that pistol?" is how the question would sound if translated to English.
The reason for taking the time to explain that is because whilst it will seem bizarre to us that Kiru will always refrain from using pronouns, it will sound normal to Rokugani characters (except for the fact that he never says "I" or "Me", either, but his own name. THAT is weird.).
Finally, the fact he doesn't use honorifics will also seem a bit weird, but is intentional, not me the player being ignorant of them. If your character wants to ask or call him on it in game, please do so <3
If you have any queries on Nezumi culture etc., please post here :3
Thankfully it's short, and vague, because Nezumi memory is terrible, and most of them can't remember what happened more than a month ago (fear not, I took Precise Memory to negate this personally):
-some Nezumi tribes stayed as they were, but were kicked off planet along with the gaijin. They weren't relocated as carefully as said gaijin, though, as most were met with distrust and distaste. Several were left to die on inhospitable rocks, and not checked up on, so whether or not they still survive is unknown. They certainly don't have the capacity to traverse space on their own.
-all of the other Nezumi followed the command of a Transcendent, scary evolved god-beings that they are, which was to band together with the Burnt-Crane (i.e. The Phoenix), shortly after space exploration was made possible. The reason the Phoenix were chosen has never explicitly been stated by anyone outside of this tribe, and it is possible not even the Phoenix Elemental Masters know (more like they didn't bother to ask, because who cares? Free allies who can allow them to study Yume-do and taint immunity at the mere cost of some of their obsolete equipment and ships! Yes please!). Suffice to say, the few Nezumi seen by anyone in this era, if asked, identify as being of the Burnt-Crane Tribe. Typically they travel alone or in pairs, but are never more numerous than that.
-the Nezumi, unlike say the Naga, do not have a planet or system which they have been permitted to call home. That sucks.
Nezumi on the whole are still treated with distrust, and perhaps distaste, for the stigma of them spreading disease and eating waste or stealing property is all Rokugan has ever really known about them, and therefore that's what the history books teach of them.
As an aside, it should be noted when your character meets Kiru for the first time that he is particularly well-groomed, perhaps to the point of obsession, so he certainly doesn't appear to follow the stereotype you were educated about. He also speaks perfect Rokugani with two caveats:
1) he still repeats a word to emphasise their importance.
2) he will never use pronouns, but names. On this, it should be noted that there is a difference between English and Japanese, which Rokugani is heavily based on: in English, we substitute pronouns instead of names all the time, especially when directly addressing someone. E.g., "Can you please hand me that pistol?" as opposed to "Can Jon please hand me that pistol?" (The latter makes it seem like Jon isn't in the room, let alone being addressed!)
In Japanese, the words for "you" (there are different words for different degrees of formality) is not often used when being polite (or not with friends or people you don't give a shit about). Instead, their name is used. So, "Can Jon please hand me that pistol?" is how the question would sound if translated to English.
The reason for taking the time to explain that is because whilst it will seem bizarre to us that Kiru will always refrain from using pronouns, it will sound normal to Rokugani characters (except for the fact that he never says "I" or "Me", either, but his own name. THAT is weird.).
Finally, the fact he doesn't use honorifics will also seem a bit weird, but is intentional, not me the player being ignorant of them. If your character wants to ask or call him on it in game, please do so <3
If you have any queries on Nezumi culture etc., please post here :3
