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The Tano People (Human - Tanagoro variant)

by Marc Saindon

They are the Black people of Yasuko. Mystara is a fantasy setting, the land seems to be named after the famous Black samurai Yasuke (mixed in with Yamato), the country is located in proto-Africa... so it's a bit of a nod. Note that Japan has a small minority (the Ainu), who are very distinct from the rest of the population (they have more caucasian features than asian ones), so having a distinct minority among humans in an imaginary Japan isn't that far-fetched.

The Tano are culturally Yasukan, and possibly related to Pearl Islanders in the distant past, although the culture they share with other Yasukans (the descendants of Ochalean refugees and the Rakastas) is more important to them than skin color. The Tano often form small fishing villages and self-reliant communities, but Tano people are found throughout the Yasukan caste system (Yasukan culture and one station's in life prevails over skin color). They are perhaps less than 10% of Yasuko's human population.

Notes:
Yasuke
Ainu people
Meaning of tano in Japanese

(Image from: https://www.deviantart.com/saintz144/art/Anime-979503161)