Ask English Localization Lead Kate Cwynar Lore & Localization Questions

[Iscah]

The current lore for Hrothgar claims that the rarely seen women are revered as "queens" and there seems to be a Queen for each small tribe of Hrothgar...

Uh... make that red-marked Q a lower-case "q" if you pick this question. It is an annoying battle against the phone autocorrect to stop it from capitalising things that don't always need capitalising, and I swear it goes and switches things again after I've already reversed it once.

[SannaR]

When we first hear about the early signs of the original Final Days and what happened right before Khalzahl transformed into a Blasphemy we get told there was a sound or a keening coming from the direction of deep within the planet. What was this sound and what role if any did it have in both Final Days?

[SannaR]

Now that you finally threw a bone to those who kept asking about the Heart of Sabik could you please finally tell us what the presence at Silver Tear Lake is? We were told many a year ago we'd get told what it was soon, but that was back during Stormblood.

[radelgirl]

What happened to the memory crystals that we gave to Elidibus? Did he keep them or did we take them back?

[glitteringcosmos]

There are certain times where the English localization doesn't line up with the Japanese (for example, in 5.3, the title card switching from "Crystal Exarch" to "G'raha Tia" in the post-SOS cutscene, or Urianger calling out to Moenbryda in Trusts upon defeat). What prompts the decision to make these differences, and what prompts the decisions to go back and retcon them so that they DO line up (for example, changing the minion description of the Wind-Up Moenbryda)? For the former examples, would you consider going back to make those line up?

[glitteringcosmos]

How was Thancred able to channel his aether into the crystal in 5.3, teleport using the experimental aetheryte to Thavnair, and go invisible in Garlemald? This confused me because as far as we know, Thancred is still unable to use magic, but we have these random instances of him being able to do things he otherwise shouldn't be able to. We also never got an explanation as to how his eye went back to normal, so if you could clear that up I'd appreciate it!

[glitteringcosmos]

With the aetherial currents returning to normal after Zodiark's death and no more Ascians to cause Calamities, will the climates of zones thrown into extremes, like parts of Central Shroud and all of Coerthas, ever revert to what it once was? Will we ever see a green Ishgard again? Also, will we ever see the First's climate and landmasses restored, or will that occur over so long a period it's not feasible to expect it within the lifetime of our current WoL?

[lvl39nerd]

Hello Kate and the entire Lore and Localization Team!

First of all, thank you for all your great and wonderful work throughout the years. Having seen just HOW MUCH you are translating every patch, I hope you get *some* rest in between So thank you all

To my question:

Now that we've gotten a look at the whole planet and even got some glimpses of the other continents we haven't visited yet, there is still something that feels missing:

Nearly every time the continent to the west is mentioned, it's called "New World" and we only have a few mentions of the name "Mamook". Is that the official name for the whole continent, just a region or only used by some people?

What is the "real" name of the New World?

[radelgirl]

Did Lahabrea have a special relationship with Igeyorhm before the sundering?

[lvl39nerd]

On a completely different but still the same note:

Now that the threat of the Garlean Empire has largely passed (and we've started to help rebuild Garlemald and help its citizenry), will we ever go back to the original three city states and deal with their government?

Will Ul'dah finally be freed of the Monetarists? (Unlikely, but we also thought Tempering couldn't be cured)

But more importantly: What about the Galadion Accord? Will we see Merlwyb retire as the Admiral and what will happen with the pirate factions in Limsa now that their "common enemy" has been defeated? Will Limsa turn itself into a true Merchant Republic?

Thanks again for your amazing work and don't forget to Pray Destroy the Walking Sands