FFIX....Another Ultimania project?

[OWA-2]

Heh... Looking at the diagram of Terra and Gaia merged together, is possible to see that Terra is actually upside-down.

 

[curiousACfan]

[quote author=Kariya link=topic=544.msg22558#msg22558 date=1235504019]I, for one, would like that. The Genomes, Garland and Terra were my favourite parts of the game.[/quote]

Keep reading this post then! You should be pleased.

[quote author=Kariya]Which leads me to a specific question:

The teleporters that are scattered around Gaia (obviously Terran tech) - does the Ultimania have any info on those? What they're actually called, etc.[/quote]

You mean the teleporters like in the Desert Palace and on Terra? It just calls them "transfer gates" (?????) like the game itself ("teleportation gates" in the English version). Doesn't say anything special about them, though.

[quote author=Kariya]And you've just totally screwed up my theory that Mikoto and Zidane were quasi-twins. Cheers.
[/quote]

Sorry about that. XD



Well, guys, I know I called this project finished yesterday, but for some reason, I had the drive to go ahead and translate Garland and Mikoto's profiles, as well as Zorn and Thorn's.

In addition, I translated all of the pre-game/pre-party information from all the characters' personal timelines.

After this, I am definitely done, though. Enjoy!




Zorn and Thorn
Race: Probably human
Sex: Male
Age: 88

A pair of magically powerful, but clumsy old twins. They have been in the service of the Alexandrian royal family for generations, and currently attend to Queen Brahne hand and foot. "Flatter the strong who crush the weak," is their credo; intent to remain safely hidden behind those who are strongest, their attitude of self-preservation is highly conspicuous.

The name "Zorn" has a dakuten, while the first part of his catchphrase "ojaru" does not; he wears blue clothing. On the other hand, the name "Thorn" does not have a dakuten, while the first part of his catchphrase "gojaru" does; also, he wears pink clothing. The two constantly act as one, each something like half of a person.

(Note: "de ojaru" is like "de aru." It's a more formal way of saying "desu," which literally means "to be" or "is." You'd end a sentence with it to state that something is ... well, something. "curiousACfan de ojaru" would mean "I'm curiousACfan."

A dakuten is that mark you often see resembling a quotation mark, and is used to indicate that a sound in Japanese has changed from unvoiced to voiced (look this up if you don't know what it means; it would take way too much space to explain here). Basically, it indicates a rougher or more garbled sound, which is why the kunyomi reading -- not explaining that here either -- of the first kanji for dakuten (??) is "nigori," meaning "cloudy."

So, for example, ko (?) becomes go (?) when a dakuten is added. In the case of Zorn and Thorn's names, so/tho (?) becomes zo (?) when it's added. In the English translation, their opposite speech mannerisms were represented by having one speak normally while the other spoke in a somewhat reversed way, like Yoda of Star Wars. Example: When Zorn said "We are in trouble!" in their first appearance, Thorn said "Trouble we are in!&quot


Garland
Race: Genome
Sex: Male

The "manager" of Terra, who, for the sake of Terra's people, eternally watches over it. In the present, he creates the Genomes for Terra's survival, and is himself a Genome created in the distant past. He possesses great magical power, can freely operate Terra's magical technology, and is wholly devoted to his mission -- that is, his mission for the sake of the people of Terra.

He carries out his task without mercy, plans for various situations, and conducts himself without emotion.


Mikoto
Race: Genome
Sex: Female
Age: 15 (in appearance)

A girl Genome that Garland created. She was created to bring about war on Gaia as a replacement for the Genome that opposed Garland's plans and the one that was lost on Gaia. So that she would have room to grow like the lost Genome, she was also born with the body of a child and given a will of her own. However, in the socially enclosed Terra, her emotions wouldn't grow much; for that reason, sending her to spend time on Gaia would still be required.

She had accepted her mission for the sake of Terra as her destiny without doubt or question.





Pre-game/pre-party timeline information
Zidane
September, 1783: Born
1787: (4 years old) Found by Baku
1796: (13 years old) Leaves home
1797: (14 years old) Meets Freya
1798:
February: Returns home to Lindblum
April: Outwits Amarant in Treno

Vivi
July, 1799: Falls into a forest during an airship accident
August: Found by Quan
1800:
January, 1: Quan dies
January, 7: Leaves Quan's Dwelling and heads toward Treno
January 13: Gets fake ticket
January 14: Rides in a noble's airship to Alexandria

Garnet
January 15, 1784: Born
1790: (6 years old) Escapes from Madain Sari; drifts to Alexandria
1791: (7 years old) Dr. Tot becomes her tutor
1794: (10 years old) Meets Cid at the funeral of Brahne's husband
1799:
February: (15 years old) Dr. Tot's role as her tutor ends
1800:
January 1: Decides to leave the castle
January 2: Makes preparations for leaving the castle

Steiner
March, 1766: Born
1771: Becomes a war orphan
1782: Becomes a knight of Alexandria
1789: Beats Beatrix in a personal contest; forms the Knights of Pluto

Freya
July, 1778: Born
1794: (16 years old) Becomes a dragon knight
1795: (17 years old) Leaves Burmecia to search for Fratley
1797: (19 years old) Meets Zidane
1800:
January 19: Meets Zidane again in Lindblum
January 20: Participates in the Festival of the Hunt; later departs for Burmecia

Quina
Circa 1710: Born?
1799:
June: Travels toward Alexandria
December: Hired as head cook of Alexandria castle
1800:
January 17: Heads in the direction of the Qu's Marsh on the Mist Continent
January 20: Participates in Lindblum's Festival of the Hunt on the spur of the moment (after this, joins Zidane's party in the Qu's Marsh)

Eiko
March, 1793: Born
1794: (1 year old) Both parents pass away
1799:
May: (6 years old) Last adult in Madain Sari passes away
October: Goes to Conde Petie for supplies
December: Goes to Conde Petie for supplies
1800: Encounters Zidane on the Conde Petie mountain path and invites him to her village.
January 29: Eiko cooks and tells a story about the summoners

Amarant
November, 1773: Born
1791: (18 years old) Begins making his name known in society
1798:
April: (24 years old) Is Zidane's scapegoat in Treno
May: Being sought by the authorities, he leaves Treno
1800:
January 24: Hired by Brahne
January 26: Passes through Fossil Roo
January 30: Arrives in Madain Sari
January 31: Fights Zidane in Madain Sari and loses
February 1: Joins Zidane's party. After meeting Kuja at the Iifa Tree, travels toward Alexandria

Beatrix
April, 1772: Born
1789: (17 years old) Loses in a personal contest with Steiner

Baku
May, 1755: Born
1762: (7 years old) Becomes a war orphan
1771: (16 years old) Forms Tantalus
1776: (21 years old) Forms a friendship with Regent Cid (8th generation) of Lindblum
1787: (32 years old) Finds Zidane
1790: (35 years old) Acquires the theater ship
1800:
January 1: (44 years old) Receives a request from Cid to kidnap Princess Garnet

Brahne
October, 1760: Born
1770: (10 years old) Father dies in battle
1776: (16 years old) Marries and is coronated as the queen of Alexandria (16th generation)
1783: (23 years old) Mother passes away
1789: (29 years old) Appoints Steiner to Captain of the Pluto Knights
1790: (30 years old) Loses actual child
1794: (34 years old) Husband passes away
1799:
January: (38 years old) Schemes for war
February: Acquires the art of manufacturing Black Mages from Kuja. Dismisses Dr. Tot
March: Begins building a factory in Dali to manufacture Black Mages
August: The Black Mage factory is completed
September: A test production of the Black Mages is performed
October: (39 years old) Begins mass production of the Black Mages

Zorn and Thorn
July, 1711: Born
Circa 1730: They begin serving as court jesters in Alexandria Castle
1799:
March: Oversee the construction of the Black Mage factory in Dali
July: (88 years old) Accidentally drop the Black Mage prototype during transport
1800:
January 4: Begin production of the enhanced Black Mages in the Dali underground

The Black Mages
October, 1799: Start being produced in the Dali underground
November: Begin undergoing tests. Some escape
December: The escapees create the Black Mage Village on the Outer Continent

Dr. Tot
August, 1747: Born
1777: (30 years old) Given a position in Alexandria Castle
1790: (43 years old) Finds Garnet drifted ashore
1791: (44 years old) Begins tutoring Garnet
1799:
February: (51 years old) Role as Garnet's tutor ends
March: Takes up residence in Treno

Cid
September, 1764: Born
1771: (7 years old) Mother passes away
1780: (16 years old) Coronated as the ninth generation of Lindblum regents
1786: (22 years old) He and Hilda marry
1787: (23 years old) His father, the former regent, passes away
1794: (30 years old) Meets Garnet at the funeral of Brahne's husband
1799:
July: Becomes an oglop
August: Begins construction of the Hilda Garde 2
1800:
January 1: (35 years old) Worried for Princess Garnet, he requests that Baku kidnap her

Kuja
1776: Produced by Garland
1787: Discards Zidane on Gaia
1790: Destroys Madain Sari
1791: Becomes aware of the value of the Eidolons; secretly begins searching for them
1799:
January: Meets with Brahne at Alexandria Castle
February: Presents the art of manufacturing Black Mages to Brahne
July: Kidnaps Cid's wife and secures the airship Hilda Garde 1

Garland
(Came into existence more than 5000 years ago)
0 (1800 years ago): Attaches the Soul Divider to the base of the Iifa Tree
1776: Creates Kuja
1783: Creates Zidane
1787: Zidane goes missing
1790: Instructs Kuja to destroy Madain Sari
1799:
March: Creates Mikoto

 

[Cat Rage Room]

I wonder if Brahne was always fat and ugly.

 

[curiousACfan]

[quote author=The Notorious M.O.G. link=topic=544.msg22851#msg22851 date=1235539997]
I wonder if Brahne was always fat and ugly.
[/quote]

No idea, but I think it's interesting that she was planning war before Kuja even showed up to talk to her. Apparently he was telling the truth when he said "The war was my fault? No, no! Your mother wanted it! All I did was give her a little push!"

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Were any other civilizations, kingdoms, cities, etc ever established on the other continents besides the Mist one?

 

[curiousACfan]

[quote author=The Notorious M.O.G. link=topic=544.msg22857#msg22857 date=1235541421]
Were any other civilizations, kingdoms, cities, etc ever established on the other continents besides the Mist one?
[/quote]

Aside from Esto Gaza and those three villages on the Outer Continent (Conde Petie, Black Mage Village and Madain Sari), nope. Some part of the Ultimania I translated (I think it was the page about Gaia and Terra) mentioned that the current civilization is still young and hasn't spread far yet.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

That's true! However, doesn't that only specify the current civilization? What about the one before it?

However, Gaia's crystal was not pure and rejected the process; Gaia's entire civilization was destroyed in the subsequent cataclysm, and the surface of the world was left in ruin.

That was 5000 years ago. So does that mean there was a civilization on Gaia before, Garland screwed it up, and the current one is the second, younger one that came about 1800 years ago?

 

[curiousACfan]

There was a civilization there before, yeah, but it's not discussed at all. All that's mentioned is that Gaia was a young planet even when Terra tried to assimilate it 5000 years ago.

The current civilization is only 1800 years old -- which is pretty young as FF civilizations tend to go.

As for where the previous civilization may have built, with the surface of the planet getting ripped apart 5000 years ago and then needing the roots of the Iifa Tree just to hold it all in place for environmental reconstruction, the current continental boundaries probably don't apply to the previous civilization.

 

[OWA-2]

[quote author=curiousACfan link=topic=544.msg22843#msg22843 date=1235537592]Zorn and Thorn
Race: Probably human
Sex: Male
Age: 88

A pair of magically powerful, but clumsy old twins. They have been in the service of the Alexandrian royal family for generations, and currently attend to Queen Brahne hand and foot. "Flatter the strong who crush the weak," is their credo; intent to remain safely hidden behind those who are strongest, their attitude of self-preservation is highly conspicuous.

The name "Zorn" has a dakuten, while the first part of his catchphrase "ojaru" does not; he wears blue clothing. On the other hand, the name "Thorn" does not have a dakuten, while the first part of his catchphrase "gojaru" does; also, he wears pink clothing. The two constantly act as one, each something like half of a person.

(Note: "de ojaru" is like "de aru." It's a more formal way of saying "desu," which literally means "to be" or "is." You'd end a sentence with it to state that something is ... well, something. "curiousACfan de ojaru" would mean "I'm curiousACfan."

A dakuten is that mark you often see resembling a quotation mark, and is used to indicate that a sound in Japanese has changed from unvoiced to voiced (look this up if you don't know what it means; it would take way too much space to explain here). Basically, it indicates a rougher or more garbled sound, which is why its kunyomi reading -- not explaining that here either -- "nigori" means "cloudy."

So, for example, ko (?) becomes go (?) when a dakuten is added. In the case of Zorn and Thorn's names, so/tho (?) becomes zo (?) when a dakuten is added. In the English translation, their opposite speech mannerisms were represented by having one speak normally while the other spoke in a somewhat reversed way, like Yoda of Star Wars. Example: When Zorn said "We are in trouble!" in their first appearance, Thorn said "Trouble we are in!&quot[/quote]

Are you sure this is the only information presented about them?
Because I allways thought there was more, giving the fact that "the two constantly act as one, each something like half of a person", and that later in the game, they actually became one.

 

[curiousACfan]

I'm as surprised as you are. I was hoping for something that would explain exactly what they are.

In the game, Kuja said they aren't even really twins.

 

[Dark and Divine]

Insteresting the fact that Garland was also a Genome.

But was he the same type of Genome he created?

He doesn't seem to have a tail, so maybe he was a different kind of Genome.

 

[ForceStealer]

Well thanks a lot for all that but, dammit, now I have to play IX again. I barely have time to fit in all these RPGs the first time around, all these replays are killing me

 

[OWA-2]

[quote author=curiousACfan link=topic=544.msg22854#msg22854 date=1235541002]No idea, but I think it's interesting that she was planning war before Kuja even showed up to talk to her.[/quote]

Not really.


Brahne's Timeline:
January: (38 years old) Schemes for war

Kuja's Timeline:
January: Meets with Brahne at Alexandria Castle

Brahne's Timeline:
February: Acquires the art of manufacturing Black Mages from Kuja. Dismisses Dr. Tot

Kuja's Timeline:
February: Presents the art of manufacturing Black Mages to Brahne

 

[Ryushikaze]

[quote author=hitoshura link=topic=544.msg22452#msg22452 date=1235481602]
I need to get FFIX again

[quote author=The Notorious M.O.G. link=topic=544.msg22218#msg22218 date=1235445664]
I rescind my previous statements, the worst guidebook/game pair has to be SaGa Frontier 1 and 2. Both games are almost completely incomprehensible without their respective plot/character/event guidebooks. More than half of the story was completely left out of both games.
[/quote]
And here I am, having just got SF1 off the PSN
[/quote]

Oh, it's still a fun game, it's just missing huge plot chunks. For example, Lute's ENTIRE STORY.
Similarly, Half of Asselus's is missing, I presume Amelia got the same shaft, Blue/Rouge didn't have much of a story to begin with (though Rouge does break out of the final dungeon in the end and resume travelling with his buddies). T260-G, Red, Riki's stories were fairly fleshed out. Fuse got completely shafted, his entire storyline is missing.

I need to get my hands on the SF1 guidebook. So much I've heard secondhand.

 

[curiousACfan]

[quote author=OWA-2 link=topic=544.msg23006#msg23006 date=1235585901]
[quote author=curiousACfan link=topic=544.msg22854#msg22854 date=1235541002]No idea, but I think it's interesting that she was planning war before Kuja even showed up to talk to her.[/quote]

Not really.


Brahne's Timeline:
January: (38 years old) Schemes for war

Kuja's Timeline:
January: Meets with Brahne at Alexandria Castle

Brahne's Timeline:
February: Acquires the art of manufacturing Black Mages from Kuja. Dismisses Dr. Tot

Kuja's Timeline:
February: Presents the art of manufacturing Black Mages to Brahne
[/quote]

Ah, good catch. I was thinking he met with her in February.

Definitely time I took a break from the translating when I can't even remember correctly what I myself translated. XD

 

[curiousACfan]

I have a question for you guys now. Maybe you all can help make sense of something for me.

Something that I've never understood about FFIX is why the interior of the planet seems to be full of a green, Lifestream-like substance (refer to right before you fight Soul Cage; it even looks like you can see something in the shape of the crystal pulsing down there) when the radiance of Gaia is blue and the radiance of Terra is red.

Anyone care to take a shot at it?

 

[Makoeyes987]

Because that's just the glow of the Iifa Tree's innards?

I never thought much of it. Remember how the translation you did for the Iifa Tree describes it as yellow-green? Well that's the color of that light you see inside it. I just think that's what it looks like on the inside while it does its whole soul-divider thing. ^^

 

[Ravynne Nevyrmore]

Hokay, long thread is long and I will not be reading all of it.

I also remember very little about FF9, but I believe I have an FF9 art book lying amongst my belongings somewhere, and hopefully will find it when I move sometime in the next couple of weeks. If I do find it, I could scan it for this project if that would be desired.

 

[Max Payne]

The FFIX artbook was translated. You can find that in quite a few bookstores if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Yeah, my friend has it; it's in English. It's pretty cool.

 

[Ravynne Nevyrmore]

Yeah and I probably have the English version. I meant scan it for the pictures. Would we want that?

 

[curiousACfan]

[quote author=Makoeyes987 link=topic=544.msg23167#msg23167 date=1235605046]
Because that's just the glow of the Iifa Tree's innards?

I never thought much of it. Remember how the translation you did for the Iifa Tree describes it as yellow-green? Well that's the color of that light you see inside it. I just think that's what it looks like on the inside while it does its whole soul-divider thing. ^^
[/quote]

I guess that's probably it. The crystal itself is very obviously blue when you see it wrapped up in the Iifa Tree during the FMV of arriving on Terra.

What's funny, though, is that it flashes by so briefly you'd probably never realize that was the crystal and the tree around it unless you looked at the illustration on page 40 of the Ultimania and then compared it to the brief glimpse in the FMV.

 

[Ryushikaze]

Y'know, this brings up an interesting note. FF9 takes nearly twice as long as FF7 from game start to end. How long did FF8 take? I should check it for the timeline sooner or later.

IIRC, I don't believe there's a whole hell of a lot of new info from the Artbook, but it IS a pretty book. Your call.

 

[Dark and Divine]

[quote author=curiousACfan link=topic=544.msg23306#msg23306 date=1235623381]
I guess that's probably it. The crystal itself is very obviously blue when you see it wrapped up in the Iifa Tree during the FMV of arriving on Terra.

What's funny, though, is that it flashes by so briefly you'd probably never realize that was the crystal and the tree around it unless you looked at the illustration on page 40 of the Ultimania and then compared it to the brief glimpse in the FMV.
[/quote]

I found a pic of it, just for future reference

 

[Mantichorus]

[quote author=curiousACfan link=topic=544.msg22843#msg22843 date=1235537592]
[quote author=Kariya link=topic=544.msg22558#msg22558 date=1235504019]I, for one, would like that. The Genomes, Garland and Terra were my favourite parts of the game.[/quote]

Keep reading this post then! You should be pleased.[/quote]Oh, I truly was.

[quote author=curiousACfan link=topic=544.msg22843#msg22843 date=1235537592]
[quote author=Kariya]Which leads me to a specific question:

The teleporters that are scattered around Gaia (obviously Terran tech) - does the Ultimania have any info on those? What they're actually called, etc.[/quote]

You mean the teleporters like in the Desert Palace and on Terra? It just calls them "transfer gates" (?????) like the game itself ("teleportation gates" in the English version). Doesn't say anything special about them, though.[/quote]Well, thanks anyway. It seems they didn't give much thought about that, huh?

[quote author=curiousACfan link=topic=544.msg22843#msg22843 date=1235537592]
[quote author=Kariya]And you've just totally screwed up my theory that Mikoto and Zidane were quasi-twins. Cheers.
[/quote]

Sorry about that. XD[/quote]XD That's OK.

Seriously? Garland, Genome? Wow, those bodies have a lot of mileage then... he's what, 5000 years old? I always had him pegged as an android or cyborg, though. "He's more machine now, than man" as Ben Kenobi said.

curiousACfan, sorry to impose on you again, but there's something that's always been on my mind, since completing FFIX. Basically, the scene after you've defeated Necron on the Red Rose, where Mikoto says she can "hear him" (presumably Zidane?) when everyone else thinks the party's dead - what was she meaning? Does Mikoto have some emphatic abilities, or can Genomes sense each other (from Kuja and Zidane's reactions to each other, I think not).