Lunar The Silver Star: Characters Lunar I & II artbook Lunar I chapter translation Taken from the Lunar I & II artbook, pgs. 120-135. As always, forgive me if this document has been translated previously. Let us open with the ceremonial Recounting of the Changed Names: Alex -> Arhes Luna -> Luhna Nash -> Nasch Kyle -> Killy Dyne -> Dain Fresca -> Pilya Tempest -> Temzin Laike -> Laeik Might -> Maight Taben -> Batanen Lemia -> Remilia Vane -> Vheen the Grindery -> Machine Mountain Any explanation or commentary by me, the translator, is in brackets. Translation by R. Capowski at RACapowski@sceneryrecalled.com, 7/21/10. Lunar is copyright GameArts, XSEED, Ubisoft, Working Designs, etc., etc.; this document is not affiliated with any of them. pgs. 120-121 LUNAR THE SILVER STAR: CHARACTERS Arhes, the boy who chases after Luhna, dreaming of becoming a Dragonmaster all the while. And the people, enemies, and comrades he meets along the way on his arduous journey... Here, we take a shot at giving some love to the Lunar I cast. All the characters of Lunar I were designed by Toshiyuki Kubooka. pg. 122 LUNAR I PARTY CHARACTERS ARHES Lunar I Party Characters Arhes Noah The Boy Who Became a Dragonmaster A simple boy born and raised in the backwater village of Burg. This village was also once the hometown of Dragonmaster Dain, and Arhes longs so deeply to become a Dragonmaster that, until he departs on his adventure, he visits Dain's grave every day. And so, on his journey to rescue Luhna from the Magic Emperor, he takes his first steps, one at a time, down the path toward becoming a Dragonmaster... [caption on Arhes full-length cel art] The concepts for his fashion were derived from my own fond recollections of growing up in a sleepy little out-of-the-way village. I'm a Hokkaido boy (laughs). Thus, fur and folk art became the basis for Lunar design. (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [note on sketch of Arhes's pack] Do you have any ideas in mind for his pack (or the harp)? [note on sketch of Burg village backdrop that appears in Mega-CD opening] Yuu's village [Note: I assume this is an early version of Arhes's name ("yuu" in straight katakana); it's used in a later sketch as well. The creator interview in the book states that there was some fluctuation regarding Arhes's name, but it concerned how closely it resembled the word "earth" - anything approaching "Yuu" wasn't referenced. It could be a placeholder "name," never meant to be a real one - short for "eiyuu" ("hero"), maybe?] landscape Satou [Hajime Satou, probably] take 8 [Perhaps planned to be the eighth image in the opening, though it's not in the finished sequence.] We'll include the parents' graves here, but the spring will end up moved near the bottom. [Again, I don't know what the deal is with "parents' graves"; perhaps Arhes's parents died or Dain was Arhes's father in an early draft. The graveless sketch, minus some detail, matches what we see in the finished OP.] pg. 123 [caption on a sketch of Arhes practicing swordfighting] Rough sketch of a copyrighted image we didn't use. [captions on a full-body image of Arhes as Dragonmaster] We worked hard to give the armor as much of an otherworldly feel as possible, but I regret making it out of dragon fur - drawing it is a horrendous pain. (Toshiyuki Kubooka) In his village days, Arhes was renowned as a harpist, but he really had the soul of a Dragonmaster. Clad in the dragon equipment he received from the Four Dragons, Arhes's eyes are filled with a dauntless confidence. [caption on a sketch of Arhes with a train on the Dragonmaster helmet] I was told that the decorative tassel on the helmet looked too girly, so, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I removed it. (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [notes on torso-up sketch of Arhes] Dragonmaster Yuu [See note above.] Etchings (on the shallow side) on the breastplate in close-ups - moon patterns make the shadows and highlights the same color as the breastplate (I'll leave to patterns up to you) [on top of etchings] highlighted [on bottom of etchings] shadowed pg. 124 LUHNA Lunar I Party Characters Luhna Noah The Avatar of the Goddess Althena Raised as a Human, Her Memories Sealed Away The girl Luhna was abandoned as a baby and taken in by Arhes's parents; the two children have been brought up together ever since. She's actually the reincarnated form of Althena, raised as a human with her memories sealed away. Her talented voice brings about disaster, however, as she is kidnapped by the Magic Emperor - but the incident causes her memories as Althena to be awakened. [caption on full-body image of Luhna] The patterns on the skirt are lost onscreen. (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [caption on sketch of Lunar 1 charas as a rock band] Rough sketch of a copyrighted image we didn't use. [caption on a couple early chara-design sketches for Luhna] When you look at the early concepts for Luhna, her character seems, to a slight degree, even more subdued than it is now. I'd almost say she looked like Mia. After a few reincarnations [they mean in production, not in canon], she adopted the cheerful image she has now. Does it seem to you like her costume came from somewhere around Switzerland? [notes on doe-eyes prototype sketch of Luhna] - pendant - embroidery on the fabric - talisman [notes on sketch of angry Luhna] stitches on leather part of chest in close-ups [notes on sketch of Luhna laughing "kyaha! (heart)"] Suzuki-sama, pixel artist-sama; I haven't decided on the pattern for the scarf. Please make it like this --> [pointing to indistinct Lunar rune-like line pattern on scarf in sketch] pg. 125 [caption on opening sketch of Luhna] From the opening cutscene continuity sheets. [caption on sketches of dancing, smug Luhna] I got the image for Luhna's scarf from a pretty girl at the dentist I was going to at the time. Even though I subsequently made the patterned cloth and the scarf all one style, it's still been a pain to draw. (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [caption to the left of dark Luhna] In the form Luhna assumes after being kidnapped by the Magic Emperor, she seems like a different person. The costume is bad enough, but her beautiful features are like those of a marionette. It gives the character a strange charm. [caption below dark Luhna] Looking at it now, this design seems outrageous to me. It seems like I wasn't thinking about anything but the sex appeal of a bad girl (laughs). (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [note on opening sketch of Luhna] movement on the bangs [notes on sketch of Luhna's skirt on the opposite page] <-- one more line than before; please add to previous [pointing to hem of pointed cloth Luhna wears over back of skirt] [notes on pic of Luhna looking down, front of skirt laced closed] look with the front closed [notes on top of dark Luhna] Evil Luna eyes are (heavily) lidded eyeshadow on her eyelids (color trace?) ["Color trace" ("irotoresu") refers to a digital imaging technique that changes the color of a drawing's lines.] no highlighting on her eyes. It'd be good if we gave them a three-dimensional feel in close-ups through color gradation or something. [note on "hidden" metal part on the back of dark Luhna's helmet] hidden part (hair comes out from the hole) [note on back of dark Luhna's leggings] highlighted pg. 126 MIA Mia Ausa The Girl Who Would Be Guildmistress - Attack Magics a Specialty As the daughter of Remilia Ausa, one of the former Four Heroes, Mia is said to be next in line for the Guildmistress's seat. Despite her quiet personality, she's a strong girl with exceptional magic power, boasting not only an excellent command of earth/wind/fire/water elemental magic but, eventually, even the ability to use spiritual magic. Despite this, she herself claims to have no confidence in her abilities - jumping the gun a bit, don't you think, Mia?! [caption on full-body portion of Mia] Mia was my favorite character. To differentiate her to an extent from the heroine Luhna, we made her personality a bit more mature. (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [captions on initial sketches of Mia with Luhna-like sidecurls] Mia also in initial concepts had clothing that emphasized her waist, but in view of her withdrawn personality, it seems, we ended up giving her loose clothing. [note on back of Mia's dress] hood [voice balloon on crying Mia] "Mother...!" pg. 127 NASCH Nasch Rumack Nasch, the Narcissistic and Ever-So-Slightly Snobby Apprentice Mage A boy mage (well, apprentice) who's had a gift for magic ever since he was very young; his abilities have been recognized by Ghaleon, and so he's begun to adopt a self-confident, elitist attitude as of late. At heart, however, he is a coward. He's somewhat prone to snobbery in both his comments and attitude, but deep down, he's a good kid. He's long held an unrequited love for Mia, but it seems like that finally might bear fruit. [caption on full-body image of Nasch] He strikes a snobby, foppish image. He proved unexpectedly popular with the girls - probably because of that weird haristyle (laughs). (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [caption on prototype image of Nasch without his cowlick] Initially, Nasch had a bishounen look, like so. The design was rejected, though - probably because he came across as even more of an intolerable jerk than he is now. He looks like he'd cop an attitude even with Mia. [note on headshot sketches of Nasch] "manga" hairstyle (make it appropriately stylish) [note on sketches of Nasch's tunic] fabric in front and back tied at waist with a koshihimo [a thin, lightweight sash used to hold kimono in place - http://www.chuu.com/shop/item/00019721] [notes on full-body bishounen prototype Nasch] high hem on robe - stops at waist sleeves are rolled up too - dashing guy relatively simple [notes on headshots of bishounen prototype Nasch] closer to this should be a little bit more childish, maybe? eyes a little sanpaku [meaning, the white below the iris is slightly visible] pg. 128 JESSICA Lunar I Party Characters Jessica Alkirk The Catgirl Who Wants to Become a Priest, The Tomboy with a Father Complex The only daughter of Mel, the governor of the city-state of Meribia. She's best friends with Mia, perhaps due to both of their parents being of the Four Heroes. Her mother died when she was very young, and her father has doted on her utterly ever since. She acts like a proper lady in front of Mel, but she's actually an incorrigible tomboy. She indeed does, though, have a gentle side inherited from her mother. Killy is a childhood friend of hers, and she harbors romantic feelings for him. [caption near headshots of Jessica] She's supposed to be half-human and half-beastman, but she seems almost wholly human. I really liked her hood. (Toshiyuki Kubooka) [voice balloon on Jessica headshot] "Yes, Father." pg. 129 KILLY Killy The Mountain-Dwelling Robin Hood Who Controls the Nanzas Barrier As a child, he was rescued by Governor Mel; Mel's taken a shine to him ever since, and he eventually entrusted the Nanzas Barrier to his care. He's a scoundrel who loves wine, women, and brawling - going so far as to crow that he's captured the heart of every woman in the world. He has the strength to back up his ego, though - a real Robin Hood of the mountains. [note on Killy's earring] earring on right ear only RAMUS Lunar I Party Characters Ramus Farmine The Pampered Young Master Who Dreams of Wealth - and Hides an Apparent Knack for Commerce [Note: the text here refers to Ramus as a "botchan," the pampered young son of a upper-class family. This might be also be a reference to Ramus's haircut - what is called a "bowl cut" in the U.S. is referred to as a "botchan cut" in Japan. Well, *I* thought it was interesting.] Ramus, like Arhes, comes from Burg village. He's the son of the village elder, and he gives his father nothing but trouble. When he lands a shop in Meribia, he displays a prodigious talent for commerce, and in a single generation, he builds such a huge business empire that it is still standing by the time of Lunar II - though you'd never guess it from that darling face of his. [You probably already know this, but Ramus is visually based on the story writer, Kei Shigema.] [voice balloon on sketch of crying Ramus] "I am NOT fat~~~!" pg. 130 NALL Lunar I Party Characters Nall Leave the Saving to Him - the White Dragon Child Raised Together with Arhes Nall was brought up together with Arhes and Luhna. He and Arhes have a strong bond - they're not only brothers but best friends. In the game, he's in charge of saving and battle formation; you could call him Lunar's mascot character. He himself doesn't know what he is - but he subsequently proves to be a white dragon. [SFX balloon on flying Nall] ::flap flap:: [notes on sketches of lizard-like prototype Nall] seems almost like a lizard doesn't put his front feet down the way they are DRAGONMASTER DAIN Dragonmaster Dain Arhes's Idol, the Previous Dragonmaster The man who long ago set out on an adventure with Ghaleon, Remilia, Mel, and others, during which he inherited the mantle of the Dragonmaster and restored peace to the world. A native of Burg, his grave has a special place on the outskirts of the village. It seems, however, that it is indeed not his final resting place after all... [The notes on the sketch of the unproduced cel art aren't all legible. The one near Dain reads, "I'm not Nemo." (The Captain Nemo from Nadia: the Secret of Blue Water looks just like TSS Dyne here.) The one in the background denoted the background is "blank" (meaning, the shaded areas are blank); the one over Arhes says "Allow me to introduce my companions." The one in the box is partially erased, but what's left reads "Maybe we should/there should be [erased], I don't know." The one next to Mia denotes that she's laughing softly. The one below Arhes reads, "Our might assembled once again!" or "Back together at last!"] pg. 131 PILYA Lunar I Party Characters Pilya Pilya of the Prairie Folk, Temzin's Young Wife In the game, we see little of Pilya beyond her falling victim to the epidemic and waiting for her husband to return. She really, though, is a strong, valiant woman. [Gee, if you'd cared to have worked this into the game, guys, it would have provided a bit of balance to Silver Star's tendency to portray women as helpless damsels and tiresome nags.] She has a violent temper as well, and the intensity with which she loves her husband Temzin is keenly felt even through the screen. Lithe, agile, and packing a whip - truly a woman sent from heaven. [note on sketch of Pilya's jacket] can be worn either open or closed - whichever you want [voice balloon on sketch of Pilya with lips pursed] Ohh... [voice balloon on sketch of Pilya laughing] Hee hee... (heart) TEMZIN Lunar I Party Characters Temzin Boy from the Distinctive Culture of the Prairie Folk To exterminate the prairie epidemic, this boy of the prairie folk has traveled from faraway Tamuroo. Even though he's all of fifteen, he's already a married man - perhaps due to his position as son of the village chief. For the sake of his people, he is uncompromising in his principles, a steadfast straight arrow - and, in battle, a man of considerable skill. [Could someone please explain to me why, in the sketches, Temzin is looking all rueful while thinking of angry Killy?] pg. 132 LAEIK Laeik (Dain) Wherever You Go, There He Is: The Old Man Who's Really Dain You meet the old man Laiek on many different occasions; from the very start of the adventure, it seems as if he's anticipating Arhes's movements. He's an eccentric man who travels the world with nothing but his clothes on his back - and his formidable strength. But to think that he was Dain...... Then what the heck how Arhes been visiting his grave in Burg all this time for!? MAIGHT Maight Farn The Curmudgeon Who Likes His Research Better Than His Three Squares a Day A stubborn old codger who built a tower, his so-called "research lab," in the middle of nowhere and there spends day and night absorbed in his airship research. He's treated as a weirdo in Lunar, where magic is considered the answer to all problems. Perhaps because of this, blunty put, he hates people. Naturally, he does not look kindly upon Arhes and his friends, either. Despite this, however, he might in truth be a rather lonely person... [note on hand towel] towel for hands on hip BATANEN Batanen The Inventor Who Has Lent His Powers to the Magic Emperor in Search of Vengeance Originally, Batanen was conducting research into steam engines. Like Maight, though, he was regarded as crazy by society, treated as an outcast - and so he grew to hate them right back. With a vengeful heart, he decided to devote his powers to the Magic Emperor's service. And at last, he has completed his masterpiece - that which we know as Machine Mountain. Such marvelous ingenuity! [voice balloon on headshot of Batanen] Bwa ha ha! Maight, you fool... pg. 133 MEL Mel de Alkirk A Heroic Man with a Passion for Justice, Now Meribia's Governor [Incidentally, why is Mel's last name "de Alkirk" while Jessica's is simply "Alkirk"? Is this some sort of inversion of the Latin tradition, where it's the spouse's surname that has the "de" appended instead of one's maiden name, and it's the men who do it instead of the women? (Lunar always was a matriarchal society.) And Jessica has only "Alkirk," being her mother's blood descendant. OK, mystery solved. We can all go home now. Well, not *now*; there's still more document ahead.] One of the former Four Heroes. Long ago, he terrorized the seas around Meribia, but he married human royalty and is currently the governor of the Meribian city-state. His only daughter, Jessica, is the apple of his eye - but he is also known to take a shine to young fellows who show a good dose of manly initiative [not that way]. [note on sketch of Mel's cape] cape is tied back with rope tasuki [Note: this refers to the two straps that go over Mel's shoulders and under his arms in most any pic you'll see of him, which serve the purpose of holding his cape back. A tasuki is a cord used to tie back the long, drooping sleeves of a kimono to prevent them from getting in the way. There's an excellent demonstration of this in the YouTube video "How to Tie a Tasuki": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7K8d6li9jA. Note that Mel's tasuki also crisscross in the back, as in the finished product in the video.] REMILIA Remilia Ausa The Current Guildmistress of Vheen, Possessor of Outstanding Magic Power One of the former Four Heroes. She was no match for the witch Xenobia, but the woman nevertheless holds claim to a first-class magic power. [Well, c'mon; I doubt she got a chance at a fair fight.] She is the currently head of the Magic Guild that oversees the world's magic. She never got an opportunity in the game to demonstrate her true power, but you can get a clear sense of it through the abilities of her daughter, Mia. XENOBIA Xenobia The Tattooed Witch Who Leads the Magic Race on the Frontier The female chief of the magic race who has thrown her support behind to the Magic Emperor, perhaps in part due to her despise of Althena, who expelled the magic race to the lands of the Frontier. For some reason, she has tattoos all over her body. Her magic power is truly a force with which to be reckoned - it even surpasses Remilia's. [caption on full-body sketch of Xenobia] I was allowed to design this character purely to indulge my own interests...in the adult world, apparently? pgs. 134-135 LUNAR I LAST BOSS GHALEON Ghaleon The Man with Two Faces - the Magic Emperor and the Premier of Vheen One of the former Four Heroes. He is currently the most powerful wizard in the world - his might surpasses even that of Dragonmaster Dain at his peak. He currently works as the premier of the Magic Guild of Vheen, where he mentors the next generation. The Magic Guild itself is actually in the palm of his hand. He in truth has a twisted personality, and behind his calm and collected mask churn grand ambitions. [caption on full-body pic of the Magic Emperor from the back] The Magic Emperor, the final boss. His true identity, however, is Ghaleon. Shrouded in a grim helmet, scattering villages, his face is that of evil itself. Yet in his keep, Machine Mountain, lies a beautiful floating garden... [caption on prototype Ghaleon sketches] Ghaleon thought that magic power was everything. He bitterly recalls not being able to surpass Dain in any respect in the Four Heroes days and cannot comprehend Dain so easily throwing it all away for Althena's sake. [This paragraph is a carnival of meh.] Perhaps that is why he wanted to build a world where power was allocated according to magical ability. [note on full-body pic of the Magic Emperor from the front] Ghaleon, Minister of Magic [his original title, I presume] [note on sketch of Ghaleon's Eye of Sauron-like original pupils] attention: eyes [label on prototype Ghaleon sketches] Ghaleon [note on cape on first prototype Ghaleon sketch] can also be worn as a hood [voice non-balloon on prototype Ghaleon headshot] "Hm, hm, hm..."