Nausicaa

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind vol. 1 by Hayao Miyazaki

Description

Nausicaa's world is a wasteland and her people are survivors on the edge of that wasteland. At some point the world suffered a terrible apocalyptic event that left much destroyed and the forests became mutated into dangerous places for dangerous creatures. Nausicaa represents one of the forces left on earth who seek to change the order of things. In the meantime, however, she must pilot her people's gunship in a pointless war, fight off the Princess Kushana who seeks something that Nausicaa is hiding, and deal with intelligent giant insects.

This was originally published in Japan as a manga, and has made it to the United States as both a DVD and as a translated work.

Character classes

Princess

Nausicaa leads the people in the Valley of the Wind.

Psychic

It's not clear if it's psychic in nature, but Nausicaa can communicate with the creatures and others.

Warrior

Nausicaa has been trained to duel and fight in hand to hand combat.

Wind Rider

She can ride a skyboard and pilot a gunship like an ace.

 

Abilities

Swordsmanship

In her battle vs. the Princess Koshana, Nausicaa lands a killing blow that fails to kill. Princess Koshana should have died.

Wind-riding

Nausicaa can fly a gunship or Mehve (a kind of skyboard) into combat with both evolved bugs and other ships.

Psychic communication

Bugs and forests communicate with her and Nausicaa communicates back. At key moments Nausicaa can project her thoughts to people as well.

Command

Her people obey her commands without question.

 

Equipment

Worm-flute

Played to calm the nerves of rampaging creatures, particularly the Ohmu.

Strobe Grenades

Thrown at gigantic Ohmu and other creatures to frighten them away.

Gunship

The ancient ship has been flown by every leader of the Valley of the Wind and is made of durable technology that allows it to last the generations.

Mehve

A skyboard. Nausicaa steps on it and rides it by using a control bar while wielding her weapons in her free hand.

Ohmu shell blade

A weapon that can cut through ceramic armor made from the discarded shell of a gigantic insect.

Chiko nuts

Restorative nuts useful for long journeys or weakened moments.

 

Allies

Master Yupa

Traveler and master swordsman, Master Yupa is also advisor to Nausicaa and her father.

Teto

A squirrel-fox found by Master Yupa and taken up as a pet by Nausicaa.

Asbel from Pejitei

He can repair damaged weapons and he is one goal of Nausicaa's quest.

 

Enemies

Ohmu

Gigantic shelled insects with 13 eyes.

Land grubs

Insects that can eat through a plane's hull.

Kurotawa

Military advisor to Princess Kushana

Princess Kushana

Princess and warrior, Princess Kushana goes to battle in full armor.

Exploration

Sea of Corruption

The after-effects of a gigantic radioactive world war, a mutated forest extends across much of the world. Inside the Sea of Corruption, gigantic insects thrive and mankind dare not enter for fear of death.

 

Quests

Deliver the stone to Rastel's brother

Nausicaa discovers a mechanical stone on the body of a dead girl and promises to return it to her brother.

Fight for the empire in the war

The people of the Valley of the Wind are under obligation to fight for Torumekia.

Heal the lands

Nausicaa studies the plants in hopes of understanding how and why they

Escape the forest bottom

Her gunship crashes to the heart of the sea of corruption. With spores all around, Nausicaa must escape or risk being destroyed.

 

Credits

The cover is from Miyazaki's cover from volume 1 in the series.

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