History
The Ainu are a people with a cultural and racial background which is different from that of the ethnic Japanese. They have been populating Hokkaido, northern Tohoku, the Kurile Islands and Sakhalin, but today only a small population remains mainly in Hokkaido.
According to one of several theories, the Ainu are descendants of Mongoloid migrants who entered the Japanese islands before the Jomon period. They were later displaced and assimilated, when the ethnic Japanese expanded their territory northernwards.
In the Meiji Period (1868-1912), the Ainu received the status of "former aboriginals", but suffered under official discrimination for some years. In 1997, a new law was passed which provides funds for the research and promotion of Ainu culture.

Heroes
The Ainu heroes are Oyna, the Ainu shaman. Oyna are armed with bows and arrows, and have an advantage against myth units. Oyna pray at Nuasasan to get favor.

Mythology
Major Gods
Kamuy-The divine creator and lord of the heavens. His improvements help your Oyna.
God Power-Kumonryu-Transform one of your Oyna into a Kumonryu, a powerful demigod hero unit.
Bonuses-Oyna are available in the Archaic Age.
It is free to build Nuasasan, the Ainu altar.
All units are better against heroes.
Mythic Tech-Tamasai-Oyna cost less food.
Myth Unit-Water Wagtail-Kamuy's personal bird, flying scout with no attack.
God Path-Kunnepet or Atkamuy
Yukara or Eshpa
Aionina or Chep

Chup-The Sun Goddess. Was originally the moon goddess, but grew so sick of humanities' nocternal escapades she switched places with her husband. Her improvements help your economy.
God Power-Hope-Increases the morale of your human soldiers, making them fight better.
Bonuses-All units have no favor cost, and lowered gold and wood costs.
All units have higher food costs.
Villagers are much, much more effective at gathering food.
Mythic Techs-Chimara-All techs have lower gold and wood costs, and higher food costs.
God Path-Atkamuy or Kik-ni
Shinda or Yukara
Chep or Epirkia

Pakor-The Plague god. His improvements help your human soldiers.
God Power-Pox-Infects a unit with pox, slowly draining away it's life.
Bonuses-All human soldiers do poison damage when they attack.
Upgrading human soldiers is cheaper.
Enemy buildings built near allied buildings will crumble slowly and collapse.
Mythic Techs-Venom Upgades all human soldiers to Scorpion human soldiers (i.e. Scorpion Ishikari) in the Mythic Age.
God Path-Kik-ni or Kunnepet
Yukara or Eshpa
Epirkia or Aionina

Classical Age
Kunnepet-"Lady Wolf". The Goddess of the wolves, her improvements help your villagers.
God Power-Wolf Pack-Summons a wolf pack which patrols your cities, defending your villagers.
Myth Unit-Wolfling-A half-human half-wolf myth unit that howls, boosting that stats of units around it.
Mythic Techs-Toytayokpe-A magical sickle which allows villagers to farm faster.
Shittap-A magical shovel which allows villagers to mine faster.
Areuwematapurip-A magical axe which allows villagers to chop wood faster.

Atkamuy-The flying squirrel god. His improvements help your infantry.
God Power-Thief-Cast on an enemy building to steal a random amount of resources from the owner of the building.
Myth Unit-Chironnup-The tricksters in Ainu culture. They take the form of foxes.
Mythic Techs-Blessed Attush-Increases the armor of your infantry.
Pine Retarpe-Armor upgrades for infantry are cheaper.
Chikarkarpe-Infantry have higher hitpoints.

Kik-ni-The God of War. His improvements help your buildings.
God Power-Foresight-Cast on a group of human soldiers to upgrade them to their next level (i.e. Heavy Kuril become Champion Kuril and Emush become Medium Emush).
Myth Unit-Koro-pok-guru-The dwarves in Ainu mythology. Wields a pickaxe and has a bonus against buildings.
Mythic Techs-Crystal Tunnels-Upgrades Koro-pok-guru to Koro-pok-kamui, which have higher armor and hitpoints.
Shiso-Buildings have higher hitpoints.
Harkiso-Houses cost less.
Iyoykir-Free guard dogs will appear at houses when they are destroyed.

Heroic Age
Yukara-The goddess of song and dance. Her improvements help your economy.
God Power-Laziness-Cast on enemy units to make them lie down and sleep for a minute.
Myth Unit-Isapa-The divine salmon. A marine myth unit that beats it's tail against enemy ships to sink them.

Myth Unit-Sacred Otter-The messengers of Yukara. An amphibious myth unit that can carry relics in it's mouth.
Mythic Techs-Shintoko-The sacred drums makes villagers work faster.
Hessa Ho-The poudning dance increases villager farming rate.
Rimse-The dance parade increases your villager speed.
Hekurisarari-The tray passing dance increases your villagers hitpoints.

Eshpa-The owl god and the lord of poisons. His improvements bless your human soldiers.
God Power-Night-The map goes dark, and only your units can see. All enemy units' LoS is reduced to 1. Lasts for ten minutes.
Myth Unit-Sarorun-The Crane of the Gods. A magical bird which can heal allies and attack with it's beak.
Mythic Techs-Blackened Feathers-Upgrades Sarorun to Midnight Sarorun, which have greater attack.
Mekuragumo-Eshpa lends your infantry the poison Mekuragumo, increasing their attack.
Surku-Eshpa tips your archers' arrows in aconite poison, increasing their attack.
Stingray Poison-Your cavalry lace their blades with Stingray Poison, increasing their attack.
Poisons Master(Only available if you worship Pakor)-All human soldiers do more poison damage.
(Historical Note-Poisons were an important part of Ainu society, with the recipies passing from generation to generation. Poisoning was considered an art more than it was a crime.)

Shinda-"Feeder". The fertility goddess of food. Her improvements help your farms.
God Power-Fields-Summons a few farms to aid you.
Myth Unit-Botan-The Princes of all Plants. Giant flowers which devour enemies.

Mythic Techs-Nisu & Iyutani-Villagers carry more food per load.
Muymuy-Villagers farm faster.
Ichasei-Farms are cheaper and faster to build.
Oystershell Inlay-All eco-techs are cheaper.

Mythic Age
Aionina-The god of the Ainu people. His improvements help your Oyna.
God Power-Iwakte-Banishes all myth units on the map, including your own.
Myth Unit-Fumpe-The devil whale. A great beast of the sea, can swallow enemy ships whole.

Myth Unit-Byakko-Spirit cats. Byakko can become invisible for about a minute at a time.

Mythic Techs-Inau-Magical sticks which increase the range of Oyna.
Nusa-Magical arrows which increase the attack of your Oyna.
Hopunire-Gives your Oyna the ability to heal.
Iyomante-A ceremony which makes your Oyna better against myth units.

Chep-The moon god. Was originally the sun god, but he switched places with his wife. His improvements help your Ishikari and Mounted Ishikari.
God Power-Island-Creates an island in the middle of a body of water.
Myth Unit-Sanikiri-The King of the Bears. A giant bear creature the size of a whole island. Can trample enemies beneath its mighty paws.

Mythic Techs-Sapanpe-Increases the speed of Mounted Ishikari.
Matanpushi-Increases the hitpoints of Ishikari.
Ninkari-Ishikari & Mounted Ishikari have greater attack.
Maidari-Mounted Ishikari & Ishikari regenerate hitpoints.

Epirkia-The Water-Ouzel god of the sea. His improvements help your ships.
God Power-Whirlpool-Creates a whirlpool which sucks enemies into it, damages them, and then spits them out. Can be created on land or water.
Myth Unit-Seiryu-The dragon of Ainu folklore. Breathes great clouds of steam which damage enemies.

Mythic Techs-Ainumoshir-Funka are faster and have higher armor.
Stone Feathers-Rawomap have greater range and a bonus against docks.
Eyes of the Ouzel-Epirkia lends your ships his eyes, giving them greater LoS.
Helmkamuy-Your Marek are faster and have a greater range.

Units
Economic Units-
Emishi-The Ainu villager unit. Trained at the Town Center.
Ezo Caravan-A caravan pulled by a trained deer. Trained at the Market.
Guard Dog-Trained attack dogs. Trained at the House.
Guard Bear-A bear trained to attack. Trained at the House.

Heroes-
Oyna-The Ainu shaman. Trained at the Temple and Nuasasan.

Military-
Utari-The basic Ainu infantry. Fights with a club. Trained at the Kotan.
Kuril-The basic archer unit. Trained at the Kotan.
Emush-A spear-wielding anti-cavalry unit. Trained at the Kotan.
Ishikari-The knights of Ainu society. Trained at the Pukamuy.
Mounted Ishikari-The mounted knights of Ainu society. Trained at the Pukamuy.
Ku-Ainu longbowmen. Trained at the Pukamuy.
Amappo-Ainu version of a ballista. Trained at the Pukamuy.