The Pearl Islands as Mystara’s Mythic Japan

This is a big deviation from the published canon of Mystara, perhaps more than what I have done with Ierendi. The Pearl Islands, as described in Dawn of the Emperors, are based on Polynesia and other south Pacific islands. This is nice but I find it not particularly inspiring - maybe this is a bit harsh. But there is also a longing in me for samurai, ninjas and fighting monks. The Pearl Islands seem like a suitable place to place these in Mystara. And with Ochalea being based on mythic China right next door the old rivalry and interaction between the two can be a source of tension and adventure. 

Political Overview

The Pearl Islands are still subjects of the Emperor of Thyatis and they contribute troops and money to their imperial overlord. There was originally an Emperor of the Pearl Islands but he was slain during an invasion by Thyatian troops. The Pearl Islands are now ruled by the Shogun, traditionally the second-in-command to the Emperor, and these days the governor of the Pearl Islands on behalf of the Emperor of Thyatis.

The Pearl Islands other major international relationship is with Ochalea to the west. The Pearl Islanders have a rivalry but also engage in trade, diplomacy and some cultural mixing. The Pearl Islanders sometimes view the Ochaleans as weak, cowardly and underhand while the Ochaleans view the Pearl Islanders as aggressive, arrogant pirates obsessed with so-called honour. 

The Pearl Islands are feudal and hierarchical, with the Shogun ruling over his senior nobles the Daimyo who in turn rule over the samurai, the Pearl Island equivalent of knights, The Pearl Islands is a militaristic nation, with great emphasis on loyalty, obedience, discipline and honour. This makes them perhaps similar to the Heldannic Order, very lawful but not always benevolent. Women will find the Pearl Islands to be quite male-dominated, with most positions of power held by men. Players are welcome to have female characters in the Pearl Islands - there are no specific rules to say otherwise but there may be a certain amount of prejudice and old-fashioned attitudes from NPCs.  

These daimyo do not always get on with each other, and even occasionally rise up against the Shogun if great grievances or great ambition come to the fore. Civil war and internal conflicts are almost regular occurrences in the Pearl islands, so every nobleman will hold both a fortress and a body of troops including an elite core of samurai to defend his lands.    

The Pearl Islands have their own language, Gengo, which they use when not dealing with outsiders. Many of the better educated residents have a good grasp of Thyatian Common, though the peasants usually just stick to Gengo. In Gengo the Pearl Islands are known as Paru-Shoto. 

Character Types in the Pearl Islands

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Samurai are the elite fighters of the Pearl Island nobility. They are famous for their Katanas (masterwork bastard swords) and their stylish lacquered armour (the equivalent of banded armour). Samurai place great store in honour, courage and loyalty. Those who fail these principles may become ronin, outcast samurai, left to find a living as mercenaries or bandits, or else commit ritual suicide. 

Bushi are the ordinary fighters, the rank and file warriors of the Pearl Islands. They still follow Bushido (Way of the Warrior) that Samurai follow, though perhaps with less fervour. 

Ninja are thieves that focus on stealth, surprise and subterfuge. They are famed and feared as assassins and commandos, dressed in their classic black garb with black hoods and masks to hide in the shadows as best as possible. 

Yakuza are thieves that function more as organised criminal groups, relying less on stealth and more on intimidation. Their code of honour is more similar to a mafia mobster than of a knight, with loyalty and respect being most prized.  

Sohei are the clerics of the Pearl Islands. They sometimes follow immortals but are more likely to follow the philosophies of Law, Chaos or Neutrality. 

Monks are based on the Mystic Class, wise philosophers and experts at unarmed combat. They are nearly always Lawful in alignment. 

Majutsu-shi are the mages of the Pearl Islands, often viewed with suspicion and not always welcome in society. 

There are very few demihumans native to the Pearl Islands - nearly all have travelled from overseas. 

At the moment I do not intend to have special rules for Pearl Island characters that might affect combat or level advancement - the differences are principally in attitude and appearance. 

Revised geography and map of Pearl Islands

Based on this map by Thorfin Tait on the Vaults of Pandius (which in turn is based on a map from the Dawn of the Emperors boxed set) I have revised the map to fit the new culture here. 

Note that in some cases the Thyatian names still remain but with the Gengo names underneath. 

This map shows the major cities but not minor settlements as there are too many to be clear on a map this scale. These large cities are the power bases of the most influential and powerful daimyo. The city of Kaiko, known to Thyatians as Seagirt, is the capital and the domain of the Shogun - it has a population of 20,000 in the city itself and another 60,000 in the surrounding countryside.  The map may also miss out on small islands less than a hex (24 miles) in size.

The Pearl Islands are generally subtropical in climate, with lush forests that can seem like jungles and fertile river plains. The main island Nuarito has a volcanically active mountain range which splits the island diagonally. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are all natural hazards here, and every few decades the lands are rocked by some sort of geological event that could be a disaster.