CharactersStorys

Translator's Helpers

This page is intended to help Translators to figure out, how a character should be translated. Sometimes, you need some information about a figure, a race or a plot, that might influence the translation. Campaign designers may define their intention of a character and every translators may include his/her realization in his/her language (e.g. look for the "German" remarks in THoT). In case you are not the author of a campaign, please state where you got the background information from.

Campaign designers: Please supply us mere translators with the flavor of your campaign to keep the high standard in all languages. This page may be understood as OOC-Counterpart of WesnothFigures.

Characters that do not appear repeatedly in the campaign are excluded from the character list. If they are important for translation purposes, feel free to add them.

Some campaigns have a wiki-presentations of their dialogues - started in 2009, a few details might change in future reworks of the po-files, but the overall story and characters should not have changed. Therefore, those pages are a good start to get a "feeling" for the characters.

A page containing helpful shell scripts, e.g. to extract the speaker+text out of the po-file may be found here.

Northern Rebirth

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Descriptions are taken from http://www.wesnoth.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=120380#p120380

Translators should sign in at CampaignNorthernRebirth

Tallin

Description: The typical hero steryotype, and also the main character of this campaign. He originally starts out as a peasant but over the course of the campaign Hamel trains him up and he switches over to being a lieutenant. He is young - between 20 and 30, and has all that usual hero stuff around him - brave, intelligent, good looking, blah blah blah."

In German: An educated but not very "upperclass" language in the beginning, but starting to be much more "noble" when courting Eryssa.

Hamel

Description: An very wise, tough grizzled veteran Dwarvish Lord who till recently has been trapped in the caves of Knalga fighting an unending war with undead, trolls and orcs.

In English: He has a strong Scottish accent ( "In English-language folklore, the Scottish share many characteristics with fantasy dwarves. Both are tough, dour, canny mountain folk who are good at engineering and hold grudges forever; the similarity even makes sense to a Scot. This is why a Scots accent “feels right” for a dwarf.") (http://www.catb.org/~esr/wesnoth/campaign-design-howto.html#toc5)

In German: Dwarves are speaking "medieval", as no accent fits the "dwarf"-description above. It somehow fits in the German knight tradition, especially holding grudges forever :).

Camerin

Description: A very powerful but crazy Arch/Great mage who loves to blow things up.

Father Morvin

(Name was changed from "Marcus" during Version 1.6)

Description: A wise experienced White Mage (Mage of Light) missionary who - until recently has been a prisoner to an Ancient Lich. He has traveled a lot, knows many people and has much experience on different lands.

Eryssa

(Name was changed from "Anita" during Version 1.6)

Description: A beautiful, virtuous, brave, but at times snobbish and stuck up, elvish princess (Elvish Sorceress). Her father holds a high position with the north elves and she has been captured and held for ransom by the orcs.

Elenia

Description: Eryssas wild older sister. Elenia is a beautiful elvish Druid who had a strong desire to see the world and set off on her own. She was eventually captured and held prisoner by an Ancient Lich.

Hidel

Description: An elderly elvish marshal who is Eryssa's (Anita's) longtime guardian and mentor. Although he is very wise, he is at times inflicted with the typical elvish snobbishness and superiority issues. He was sent by Eryssa's father to rescue her from the orcs.

Sisal

Description: A lady elvish avenger, Hidel's second in command. She is brave and ferocious and will fight to the death if necessary.

Rakshas

Description: A powerful Orcish Sovereign that likes being called, "The Master". He has thrashed enough orcish Warlords into servitude that he poses as a serious threat to the entire northlands. He has a large imagination and delusions of grandeur and when combined with his power, makes him a foe to be reckoned with.

Malifor

Description: A powerful ancient lich with more delusions of grandeur. He wields vast power over any creature that has died and has been resurrecting the long dead defenders of Knalga to carve out an underground empire for himself.

Sister Theta

Description: The dedicated wife of Father Marcus (white mage of course). She does not quite fit the profile of a saintly subdued holy lady however, as she is very spirited and takes great pleasure in blowing evil creatures to pieces as well as occasional theatrical displays of drama.

Stalrag

Description: A Dwarvish Lord who is the leader of the Shinsplitters - a tribe of Dwarvish Ulfserkers (same guy from HttT, in the scenario Hostile Mountains). He has a long standing feud with the mages/liches Ro'Arthian and Ro'Sarthian (see below).

Ro'Arthian

Description: A Great Mage that refuesed to die and reincarnated as an Ancient Lich instead. He and Ro'Sarthian are powerful liches that have the ability to control gryphyons, ogres and trolls. Although he and and his brother are good at heart they have no qualms about using dark and evil means to achieve their ends.

Ro'Sarthian

Description: The brother and side kick of Ro'Arthian. He was an Arch Mage until he was killed and reincarnated as a Demi-Lich. Pretty much the same profile as his brother.

Abhai

A ghost of a former Lord drawn into half-life by Malifor. May be especially important in the "dark tallin"-path of NR, that, unfortunately, is still under construction.

The Hammer of Thursagan

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Descriptions from http://www.catb.org/~esr/wesnoth/thot.html

About noble titles in the Northern Alliance [1]

Cave-related special vocabular in 13 languages [2]

Translators should sign in at CampaignTheHammerofThursagan

Aiglondur

Description: A dwarf, the guard captain of the Eastern Gate. Young, intelligent, related to the clan chieftain. Dwarven society doesn't have a noble class as such, but Aiglondur is from one of its leading families and will have war-gear of the best quality. If weapons are in the portrait, his will be your standard Dwarvish double-bitted axe. Great-nephew of Lord Hamel and Captain of the east Gate. Unusual diplomatic type of dwarf.

Angarthing

Description: A junior loremaster. Young but self-conscious about being an authority figure; will dress to look older than his actual age. Very intelligent and rigidly honorable. Should be sagelike or priestly in appearance with an especially long beard. If weapons are in the portrait, he uses a bolas and a morningstar — neither of them heavy as he is not a line fighter (he will wear only partial or light armor).

In German: I let him cite "Stabreime" from time to time to introduce an old fashioned feeling. In the beginning (in Hamels court) he will stumble over the rimes but in the end he gained full authority. The biggest problem was to translate "I am a Witness" as there is no German equivalent having both flavors of jurisprudence and religion. I decided for introducing "Der Fels" -> "Ich bin Skalde - ich bin der Fels", as the mountain/rock is something set in stone.

Ratheln

Description: Mage, sarcastic. A human mage and teacher of magic. A scholar but a very tough and experienced one — not someone to cross lightly. Good at heart but gruff and a bit irascible.

Perrin

Description: The master of a school of magic. Wise and kindly. An Albus Dumbledore in Wesnoth, basically.

Ollin

Description: Human peasant, refugee.

In German: He may sound like a bondman/villain using a lot the term "Herr", which sounds VERY servile and is not used any more nowadays but in posh haberdashers.

Dulcatulos

Description: The dwarfish captain of Kal Kartha's guard at the West Gate, a good dwarf unknowingly working for an evil master. Aiglondur's counterpart, but a few years older and not as intelligent. Dwarvish soldier, battling through the ranks to become Captain, not born to be one.

Karrag

Description: An evil dwarf-lord who uses a mask and spells of illusion to conceal the fact that he has in fact become a lich. The wrongness in this portrait should be much clearer.

Pelias

Description: A human knight who serves effectively as a royal courier, even if Tallin doesn't have the title of king.

Elurin

Description: An Elvish Rider of high rank.

Marth Tak

Description: An allied orcish chieftain, member of the Northern Alliance

An Orcish Incursion

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Translators should sign in at CampaignAnOrcishIncursion

Heir to the Throne

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Translators should sign in at CampaignHeirtotheThrone

Sceptre of Fire

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Dialogue

Translators should sign in at CampaignSeptreOfFire

The Rise of Wesnoth

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Dialogues

Lady Jessene

(had been changed from "Jessica" to "Jessene" during 1.6)

Minister Edren

(had been changed from "Edmond" to "Edren" during 1.6)

Under the Burning Sun

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Dialogue

Translators should sign in at CampaignBurningSuns

Descent into Darkness

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Dialogue

Translators should sign in at CampaignDescentintoDarkness

Liberty

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Translators should sign in at CampaignLiberty

Son of the Black Eye

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Translators should sign in at CampaignSonoftheBlackEye.

Descriptions are taken from the art contributors discussion boards.

Kapou'e

Description: He is an young orkish Chief, more intelligent than his fellow orks, but as ruthless as they are. A natural leader.

In German: For the Orks in general, I tried to stick to main clauses and tried to avoid subordinate clauses. So, I aimed for ominous "Indianer"-mystery-style-sentences (like "Wer Krieg sät, wird Krieg ernten"). Of course, orcs are not "noble savages" (like Karl May's Winnetou), but the rest fits the "Böser Indianer"-stereotype (tribes, fighting each other, physical strength as important social attribute, brutality) from Karl May. Anyhow, this should not be overdone :).

Grüü

Grüü is a young troll who decides to join Kapoue's quest.

In German, he uses a simplified and often wrong grammar that fits his simple approaches to reality, e.g. shown by Grüü in the scenario "Back home": "Of course. Squash elves, squash undead, squash dwarves, squash humans. Squash them all, very good plan!". He seems sometimes a little bit childish and simple, so the terms "tut/tun" and "kaputt" are used a lot.

Howgarth III

Description: "Big, fairly pot-bellied, but powerful. Bearded, something of a wild man. [..] Wielding a big greatsword or claymore. Possibly leather armour, or leather-with-plates - fairly simple. He's Northern Alliance, which (depending on which version of the history you're working from) means he's from a relatively poor group descended from slaves, and fairly far from civilisation." [3] "Howgarth. I was aiming for a slightly wild look, a bruiser rather than a thinker." [4]

Shan Taum

Description: "Arrogant, but smart orc with leadership qualities - opponent of Kapou'e and his late father; uses an offending and arrogant language."

Vraurk

A smart goblin rider, who favors evasive maneuvers over battles and is a counselor to Kapou'e.

Al'Brock

Description: "Flar'Tar came out tall and relatively skinny. I'd like Al'Brock to be short and dumpy, just for contrasting purposes =D" [5] "He looks like the 'GET OFF MOI LAAAAND' type =D" [6]

The South Gard

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Description: Derived from the story - feel free to add your impression

Deoran

Description: Young, of noble birth - therefore he may appear a bit naiv in the beginning and may use a higher type of language - anyhow, he is a soldier at least by heart.

Sir Gerrick

Description: Deorans mentor. An officer and hero - rather by deeds than birth; speaking blunt, if needed.

Urza Afalas

Description: An outlaw-leader forced into the forests longing to return to civilization, even with lying. Somehow a normal person having a peasant's cunning.

Ethiliel

Description: A big-headed female elf, disciple of Mebrin. Becoming more and more self-reliant and shakes off the elfish racist arrogance while living through its foul outcomes (Mal M'Brin, Itheldens War)

Minister Hylas

Description: A white priest - high language.

In German: There seems to be no good translation for the term "minister". Neither "Vikar", "Pfarrer", "Pastor", "Prediger" works properly imaging a fighting priest. I went for "Vater" / "Bruder" and put it terminological close to moncs.

Jarek

Description: A cavalry soldier.

Urza Mathin

Description: An outlaw-leader without the brain of Urza Afalas.

Queen Xeila

Description: Queen of a Naga-clan, hostile and speaking "snakish" with interfering "Hss"-sounds.

In German: The "Hss"-sounds translate quite nice by lisping - but go for "Harry-Potter-Parselmouth" rather than "Terry-Pratchetts-Igor".

Mal M'Brin

Description: An elfish mage gone rogue and undead.

Ithelden

Description: Elfish marshal, waging the "righteous war" against the humans.

Eliomir

Description: Elfish ranger, helping Sir Gerrick.

Eastern Invasion

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Dialogue

Translators should sign in at CampaignEasternInvasion

Legends of Wesmere

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Two Brothers

Storyline, Walkthrough and more

Dialogue

Delfador's Memoirs

Storyline, Walkthrough and more Dialogue

In German: My primary goal was to create some sort of medieval sounding German without truly using the language of the german middle ages (middle high german). I tried to use so called "Archaismen" (words not or almost not used anymore) and played with the syntax; e.g. the genitive had been used a lot more in the middle ages than it is used today.

Delfador

In German: As for Delfador, in the beginning he hast just finished his apprenticeship and still is unsure of his powers and abilities. In time and through the hardships he has to undergo, he gains in self-confidence which is reflected by the way he expresses himself. Furthermore his education and literacy shows up in his phrasing and diction.

Methor

In German: He is teacher and good friend to Delfador and you can see this in his conversation with him. Towards other people he shows is wisom gained by a lifetime as a magician.

Iliah-Malal

In German: He thinks of himself as being without any boundaries and limits and that there exists nobody who has the power to stop him on his way. In his conversations with other beings you can see his inhumane age and his arrogance. He is very well spoken but depreciatory towards people he thinks are unworthy of his attention.

Leollyn

Description: Leollyn is a good man - honest, intelligent, loyal to his king, and a friend of Delfador's mentor Methor. He takes Delfador under his wing at court. He doesn't watch his back, though, and will be murdered by a conniving rival. I imagine a man in healthy middle age with a benign, open expression, someone who would both inspire trust and deserve it. I see him wearing simpler clothing than would be normal for a man with the kind of court position he has, well-made but unostentatious. (http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=24805&start=0)

Kalenz

In German: He's one of the oldest of the Elves and bears the weight and wisdom of ages. He has very refined manners and knows how to deal with different kind of people. Both vocabulary and syntax are sophisticated.

Dead Water

Descriptions are derived from the story. Feel free to add your impressions.

In German, I felt the need to introduce some more vocabulary related to the sea; mainly, I used Gwabbo for this purpose.

Kai Krellis

Kai Krellis is the son of the King of the merfolk, who succeeds to the crown while being a child.

In German, I change the writing to "Cai", as Kai is a common Christian name in German. But changing it to "Cai" looks old fashioned and it still sounds as an abbreviation to "Kaiser" (which is "Emperor" in German). So it fits quite nice.

Cylanna

A mermaid priestess and a counselor to Kai Krellis. Should speak a high language.

Gwabbo

A veteran of the merfolk fighters and a counselor to Kai Krellis.

In German I added some "nautical wording" and go for a little north-german dialect as this one is related to the sea.

Growloff

A weired person that tames sea monsters and argues resembling "Hagrid" from "Harry Potter".

Tyegëa

A mermaid high-priestess and the unknown grandmother to Kai Krellis. She is a bit unpredictable.

In German I gave her a snobby attitude. Discussing with Cylanna, I tried to assume that they both still remember having a long lasting tiff (tendency "mother-in-law", or "elder sister").

See Also

• ProseStyle
• MainlineCampaigns
• RaceDescriptions-backstory
• History_of_Factions_and_Races
• Races
• TranslatorShellscript