OVA
Description
Karura, known originally as Karurauatsururei, is a formidable warrior from the Utawarerumono series with a background marked by loss and a fierce commitment to personal freedom. She was once the princess of Rarumanionu (also known as Na Tunk), a kingdom ruled by the Giriyagina clan, a race known for its superior strength. After her family was overthrown by the Shakukoporu and a puppet leader was installed, her people were annihilated, leaving Karura and her younger brother, Derihourai, as the last surviving Giriyaginas. She was imprisoned and eventually sold into slavery. Demonstrating her immense power, she escaped by breaking her chains during a storm at sea and slaughtering her captors with her bare hands before being discovered by soldiers from the village of Tuskuru.
Personality-wise, Karura is primarily known for her easygoing, assertive, and shameless nature. She has a deep fondness for sake, often drinking it casually even on the battlefield, and possesses a superhuman tolerance for alcohol. She enjoys pulling pranks and teasing others, with the warrior Touka being a frequent target of her affectionate mockery. She is also openly flirtatious, particularly with Hakuoro, though she does so in a way that is more playful than serious. Despite her relaxed demeanor, she can be secretive and fiercely independent, hiding a well of inner strength and a complex past. The iron collar she perpetually wears, left over from her enslavement, serves as a personal symbol of her past weakness and her vow to live freely.
Karura's primary motivation is the pursuit of a simple, free life, having deliberately forsaken her royal heritage and the name associated with it. However, her actions often reveal a deep-seated sense of loyalty and responsibility. Her role in the story begins when she is brought to Hakuoro, the leader of Tuskuru, after being found shipwrecked. Rather than being treated as a prisoner, she is given a chance to prove herself, which she does by fighting Hakuoro's general to a standstill. She subsequently becomes a key warrior in his army, acting as a nearly unstoppable shock troop on the battlefield. During a slave revolt in her former homeland, she swears everlasting devotion and fealty to Hakuoro, a sacred vow that is a contract with Witsuarunemitea, implying her awareness of his true nature. After Hakuoro is sealed away, she leaves Tuskuru to become a wandering mercenary alongside Touka.
Her key relationships are central to her character arc. With Hakuoro, she shares a deep bond born of mutual respect; he is the only person to whom she has ever sworn true loyalty, and she cares for him deeply. She also plays a significant role as a guardian to Kuon, the daughter of Hakuoro. Karura was one of the people who raised the child, though she famously prefers to be called "big sister" instead of "mother," a label that incurs her severe displeasure. In later appearances, she runs an inn in the capital of Yamato with Touka, using it as a front to gather intelligence on the government while continuing to watch over Kuon from a distance.
Karura possesses superhuman strength, a trait of her Giriyagina lineage, which allows her to accomplish impossible feats. Her most notable ability is wielding a massive, incredibly heavy sword that no other character can even lift off the ground. Despite the weapon's size, she handles it with grace and devastating effectiveness, using it to plow through enemy troops. Her prowess is such that she is known to defeat dozens of soldiers with her bare hands, and the enormous sword itself is said to act as a limiter on her true speed. Her physical endurance is equally remarkable; she has been known to continue fighting even after being grievously wounded, such as being impaled through both arms.
Personality-wise, Karura is primarily known for her easygoing, assertive, and shameless nature. She has a deep fondness for sake, often drinking it casually even on the battlefield, and possesses a superhuman tolerance for alcohol. She enjoys pulling pranks and teasing others, with the warrior Touka being a frequent target of her affectionate mockery. She is also openly flirtatious, particularly with Hakuoro, though she does so in a way that is more playful than serious. Despite her relaxed demeanor, she can be secretive and fiercely independent, hiding a well of inner strength and a complex past. The iron collar she perpetually wears, left over from her enslavement, serves as a personal symbol of her past weakness and her vow to live freely.
Karura's primary motivation is the pursuit of a simple, free life, having deliberately forsaken her royal heritage and the name associated with it. However, her actions often reveal a deep-seated sense of loyalty and responsibility. Her role in the story begins when she is brought to Hakuoro, the leader of Tuskuru, after being found shipwrecked. Rather than being treated as a prisoner, she is given a chance to prove herself, which she does by fighting Hakuoro's general to a standstill. She subsequently becomes a key warrior in his army, acting as a nearly unstoppable shock troop on the battlefield. During a slave revolt in her former homeland, she swears everlasting devotion and fealty to Hakuoro, a sacred vow that is a contract with Witsuarunemitea, implying her awareness of his true nature. After Hakuoro is sealed away, she leaves Tuskuru to become a wandering mercenary alongside Touka.
Her key relationships are central to her character arc. With Hakuoro, she shares a deep bond born of mutual respect; he is the only person to whom she has ever sworn true loyalty, and she cares for him deeply. She also plays a significant role as a guardian to Kuon, the daughter of Hakuoro. Karura was one of the people who raised the child, though she famously prefers to be called "big sister" instead of "mother," a label that incurs her severe displeasure. In later appearances, she runs an inn in the capital of Yamato with Touka, using it as a front to gather intelligence on the government while continuing to watch over Kuon from a distance.
Karura possesses superhuman strength, a trait of her Giriyagina lineage, which allows her to accomplish impossible feats. Her most notable ability is wielding a massive, incredibly heavy sword that no other character can even lift off the ground. Despite the weapon's size, she handles it with grace and devastating effectiveness, using it to plow through enemy troops. Her prowess is such that she is known to defeat dozens of soldiers with her bare hands, and the enormous sword itself is said to act as a limiter on her true speed. Her physical endurance is equally remarkable; she has been known to continue fighting even after being grievously wounded, such as being impaled through both arms.