Ask English Localization Lead Kate Cwynar Lore & Localization Questions

We're excited to announce that one of our special guests for Fan Festival 2023 in Las Vegas will be English Localization Lead Kathryn Cwynar! She’ll be hosting a panel regarding lore & localization, so now is your chance to pose the burning question you always wanted to ask about how magic happens in the development of FFXIV!

Question Topic
Ask any questions you may have regarding the myriad settings of Endwalker, the localization process, or any general questions you may have for Kate!

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* We will be gathering questions until June 12, 2023.

Hello Kate! Just one question here that's been on my mind for a while.

After the Ishgardian Restoration initiative was completed, there came a location in the Firmament called 'Saint Roelle's Dais'.
There doesn't appear to be any information about this person via the lore books nor anything mentioned about them in-game.

So, who is this mystery saint of Ishgard?

Thank you so very much to allow me the opportunity to ask this question that has been itching at me for years.

Are the Auri race truly originated as a type of homunculus? Because their dragon like features aren't from dragons and they never descended from them.

I remember they were created, but what was the reason again? And how did they become their own people afterwards?

Oops I think that was two questions, sorry for being greedy but I am hungry for the knowledge.

Helo Kate! Please ignore the petluant manchild from the abusive post and have a nice laugh while pointing at their message.

Is there some sort of specific guideline when deciding to reference real wolrd cultures / civilizations in game? Some easy are ofc locations or dishes, but personally I found it fascinating that the tribe quests seem to take elements from different cultures, like the Ixali having (I belive?) Nahuatl / Aztec sounding names, or the Vanu Vanu dance emotes being similar to some Maori dances.

Hi Kate!
I’ve been curious about how long the ancients used to live on average? Since they choose when to return to the star, how long do they stay in general? Is it by the order of hundreds or thousands of years?

What is the explanation for the physiological differences between the native Garleans? For example, we have the taller Garleans such as Zenos, Gaius, Nero and Maxima, but also the shorter Garleans such as Cid, Jullus and Licinia.

Hi Kate!

In regards to the process of creating a pact as a Reaper, I was hoping you could clarify/go in to more detail about that pact and the Voidsent in question, specifically:

Is the Voidsent pulled here to the Source to inhabit the Reaper's Avatar as part of the Pact a Reaper makes? Or does the Pact channel their power/our tribute between the two worlds via the Avatar without the Voidsent actually being on the Source in any true capacity? Orcus' possession of Drusilla's grandfather in the Job quests made this a confusing point for me.

Would you be able to explain the paradox created when the Ascian Emmerololth appeared in a cutscene during the 2.x patches? The Isle of Val disappeared right after 2.0, which we find out later is what put an end to the Ascian Emmerololth. However, she appears in a later cutscene with the rest of the Ascians. Is this just a case of an unintentional plot hole?

Hello Kate!

You may not be able to answer this question but I’ll go on and ask it anyway! Earlier last year there was a very long broadcast that functioned as a similar Q&A. In it, Yoship mentioned that Gaia’s story isn’t exactly over yet. Have we gotten closer to seeing her? And if we have, if she were to become an important role in MSQ would Eden become mandatory for MSQ Progression like the crystal tower raid series?

The all-important question: How did young Hesphaistos lose his eyebrows? Were they singed off by an experiment with fire gone wrong?

Do we know when the Raen first left their ancestral homeland? I love their nomadic lifestyle and seeing them in places like Werlyt and Thavnair, and it would be interesting to know how far back they might appear in other cultures!

Hi Kate! Are you taking questions about minor side characters? My favorite has always been Esugen Oronir, the cook from the Steppe--how's he doing these days? Is he still hanging with Mauci?

During the quest "In From The Cold", Fandaniel used the same soul extraction technology that Aulus mal Asina used against us in Ala Mhigo. Given the tremendous implications this technology has, what will become of that research?

Thank you for the chance to ask questions! o/

We learned in Endwalker that when a soul passes into the Aetherial Sea, it slowly loses its memories from its past life, and eventually is reborn as a new person. How long, on average, does that process take? (The recent Anabeseios boss, Kokytos, seems to imply it could take quite a while...?)

Hello Kate,
My question is the following: How did the Tempering of Zodiark affect the Ancient and subsequently the Ascians? From what we learn up to the Shadowbringers post-patch, Zodiark Tempering seems very puzzling and I wonder if it is possible to clarify how it worked?

Hello Kate! Thank you so much for everything you do for the game. It’s such an amazing opportunity to have you answer so many thought-provoking questions. See you at Fanfest!

My question is in regards to the characters affiliated with the Warring Triad Quests, Shadowbringers Role Quests, and later on — The Void Quests: Unukalhai and Cyella.

Back in Patch 6.1, if the player has completed those specific quests, Y’shtola mentions them both when speaking about the Thirteenth and its previous inhabitants. In Patch 6.2, both Unukalhai and Cyella have specific dialogue when the player mentions speaking of their travels to the void (Cyella even comments that she knew about Zero and how they were both memoriates!)

Will the Void Quests ever have a chance to continue its storyline and possibly have another mention/tie-in to the events happening in MSQ in regards to the Thirteenth Shard? The questline has not updated since Patch 5.4 and with everything that’s been happening, it would be the perfect addition to expand upon this!

- Signed, an Unukalhai and Cyella fan

Hello Kate,

I would like to know more about the geography of Eorzea before the fourth umbral calamity. It is said that it completely changed the face of the regions, but in what proportions exactly? For example, did the fourth umbral calamity destroy places dating from before the Allag period? Is the fourth umbral calamity also the cause of the oceanic fracture of the Ridorana lighthouse, considering that the earthquake affected the entire planet and not Eorzea alone?

Thank you for your answers

Can you share anything about Urianger’s parents?

Did Lahabrea's soul ever truly return to the aetherial sea? We know auracite traps an Ascian's soul, but he had an interesting and complicated journey between Thordan and Nidhogg's eyes... after the moving scenes in Anabaseios, I wonder if he ever eventually made it to the aetherial sea too.

Hiya Kate! My favorite npc character is Pipin Tarupin so of course I must ask about my boi.

In Tataru's ongoing sidequest Tataru's Grand Endeavour, it is mentioned that Pipin and Tataru have a past together where they confided in one another their past living circumstances and how they overcame them...which feels like some pretty close touchy conversation!

How close were Tataru and Pipin as kids? What other fun stories are they hiding from us about their relationship!? Considering Pipin was stuck in the Bloodsands throughout his entire teenage years...

Hello!

I've always had this floating around in my head but, given the similarities between the races, flora/fauna, cross-over event in XIV, and general world similarities, what are the chances that one of the reflections could be Vana'diel?

Does the Garlean language exist in any spoken or written forms? We've only ever really seen it in the names of places and the like, so I'm curious if it was ever spoken as a main language at any point in Garlemald's history.

Now that Garlemald isn't so much of a threat, can we please know if Biggs' and Wedge's families are ok!! And also what their real names are!? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zhexos

or any general questions you may have for Kate! [/SIZE]

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Does this coat make me look fat?

https://img2.finalfantasyxiv.com/f/8...l0_640x873.jpg

Thank you so much for the opportunity, Kate!
I had an inquiry about both the Aitiascope and Palace of the Dead as narrative anchors for FFXIV's worldbuilding. They are quite similar, in housing lost souls that haven't returned to the star, and we even see familiar key NPCs in both zones.

Though, I was wondering: is there some sort of connection between both zones? I understand we haven't had much to explore with the Twelveswood, but it'd be great to have some confirmation as this curious region has remained shrouded in mystery.

Endwalker's themes have explored the depths of a soul and the experiences tied to morality, so I'm excited to see what more can be said about the realms that transcend both!

This is a question pertaining to Myths of the Realm. After meeting Nophica, I am curious to learn more about common religious practices in the Twelveswood or if there's anything you can say regarding the relationship between Nophica and the Elementals.

Hello Kate, here’s more of a silly question for you because it’d be nice to know your thoughts about this topic.

A few weeks ago (timed from this forum post), there was a question asked on the Korean FFXIV’s Letter from the Producer Live Q&A stream regarding Au Ra Limbal Rings. It started quite a stir across social media.

Here is the post/fan translation:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...9/IMG_2037.jpg

What are your thoughts about this and do you personally believe this to be something that is considered lore-compliant?

Thank you for the opportunity!

During the Save The Queen storyline, we learn about the scientist Sicinius mal Vellutus, who worked under Aulus mal Asina in the XIIth Legion's Resonatorium. Is there a reason why Sicinius and Aulus look so much alike?

Thanks for taking this question, it has been on my head for some time now.
So, Elidibus sends us to Elpis in Endwalker, during our stay we meet Venat and apparently tell her EVERYTHING so that she can act upon the future and "prevent" the final days, but here's what's been bothering me.

1.- For the WoL to BE there in Elpis it needs that the G'raha from "the original timeline" travels through "time and space" to the first so that he can prevent the WoL and friends from dying to the Black Rose. Do we tell this to Venat as well? And if we do, how does she go down this path exactly? Does she willingly lets us die to the Black Rose so that in the events from Shadowbringers happen again?

2.-If it's not a "closed loop" how exactly did the events in Elpis play out without us there since we couldn't have possibly went there if the Black Rose killed us in the "OG" timeline?

3.-Are there any plans to probably visit the "originalt timeline" in some way (ie: An Ultimate/Minstrel's Ballad/Sidequest) considering Meteion is still there?

4.-How big are the reflections? I know now that each one has its own moon, but how far is it? Are they supposed to be entire universes or does it only include our planet and the moon? If someone from "The First" and from the source travelled to Ultima Thule's location would they meet there or each reflection has it's own version of Ultima Thule?

Thanks

Hi, Kate! I've got a few Q's, pls forgive me :')

Lore question: As someone with a backgrounds in Classics, I admire the amount of work that's been put into translating Roman and Byzantine politics/culture (including details later found in the Russian Empire/USSR) to a fantasy setting like Garlemald. Are there any plans to give players a deeper look into the interpersonal dynamics of the Garlean imperial family and the role they played in influencing Garlean society?

Why does Vrtra speak with the common "english" accent when in dragon form but "fakes" a "Thavnair Accent" when inhabiting Varshahn EVEN when he's not in close proximity to the people of Thavnair (i.e: When we're in the 13th)? :confused:

Craft question: I noticed that from late-Stormblood onward, some of the more stylized EN localization choices began to be eschewed in favor of language more accessible to modern speakers (fewer instances of your cheeky "mayhaps", "pray", "must needs be", etc). As much as I enjoy the charm of the ASOIAF-like language quirks, I think the change has worked in the game's favor. What factors played a part in moving in this direction?

(apologies if this has been asked in the past! couldn't find an answer online, but that doesn't mean it's not out there)

And a final craft question: What's the localization process like for using real-world foreign languages? (I'm specifically thinking of all the Greek used for the Ancients--who decides names/spelling? The spelling for 'Hephaistos' is a good example; I think most English-speakers are more familiar with the Latinized 'Hephaestus', so I'm curious how the team arrives at these decisions!)

In Eureka Pyros, there's an aetheryte location known as the Dragon Star Observatory; however, we learn in the AST quests that Sharlayan astrology doesn't concern itself with the Dragonstar that Ishgardian astrology was so fixated on. Was there a reason that Sharlayan would construct an observatory on the Isle of Val for the specific study of it?

One more question if I may, and I know most likely this has to do with marketing or budgeting rather than localization or maybe it hasbeen answered already but..


Would there ever be a possibility of a Spanish and/or Portuguese localization of the game?

. Is it due to logistics? Too many different regional variants? Aqcuisitive power in countries that speak those languages? Not having those languages available in-house? (I recall yoshi-P mentioned around the launch of HW than due to the nature of the game having frequent updates, adding a new language meant it couldn't be delegated to an external company)

I find it interesting that there are French and German localizations, when far more ppl in the world speak Spanish or Portuguese than those languages

Hello Kate!

I noticed in the Codex entry for Zodiark, it is stated that Elidibus created a reflection himself to continue his duty. This seems to echo what is written in "Ere Our Curtain Falls," where he remained in Zodiark as His heart. However, in previous interviews it was stated that he separated himself from Zodiark or "fell" from Him, which makes more sense logistically. If Elidibus was still in Zodiark when Hydaelyn dealt her final blow, why was he not sundered along with Zodiark Himself, who was stated to be sundered?

When is the isle spring going to get replaced with the PvP style one. There's little point in having to keep refreshing it to get "infinite" sprint when it should just be a toggle on / off

I agree, it'd be great, but considering the amount of text it'd be quite the task.

Dear Kate,

If you were an Ancient, what kind of concept would you be responsible for? Do you think it would be approved by the Bureau of the Architect? Please draw us a picture.

Love from Balmung

I noticed that the Garlean flag and the symbols and designs we see in Elpis are very similar. I assume this was because Emet-Selch was the one who designed it. Does it have the same meaning?