Nanoha - Q&A

[bhl88]

Dammit I thought she has a sword (which would be cool looking)...

[Tiresias]

What was the origin for the name of Signum's sword? I tried to google it but I don't even know the proper spelling(Levantine? Laevantine? Levantein?)

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

What was the origin for the name of Signum's sword? I tried to google it but I don't even know the proper spelling(Levantine? Laevantine? Levantein?)

It was originally the name of an obscure weapon from Norse mythology.

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

It was originally the name of an obscure weapon from Norse mythology.

Thank you. While we're at it, does the other Wolkies devices had any reference too?

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Thank you. While we're at it, does the other Wolkies devices had any reference too?

Apart from their literal meanings in German ("Count Iron" and "Clear Wind"), I don't know of any. I suspected that there was some German politician known as the "Iron Count", but the closest I found was Otto von Bismark, a.k.a. the Iron Chancellor, who was made a count in 1865. But that would be a stretch, no? ^^;

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Apart from their literal meanings in German ("Count Iron" and "Clear Wind"), I don't know of any. I suspected that there was some German politician known as the "Iron Count", but the closest I found was Otto von Bismark, a.k.a. the Iron Chancellor, who was made a count in 1865. But that would be a stretch, no? ^^;

Gratuitous German then, I guess? Just like Raising Heart?

New one: I think it was mentioned once that Mid-Childa once had the now-banned weapons and almost destroyed itself in a war, hence all those ruins used for training. When did that happened, and what was it called?

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Gratuitous German then, I guess? Just like Raising Heart?

Yes, exactly. Except that German in Nanoha is considerably better (semantically and grammatically) than English, as far as I can assess. Maybe because it was first introduced in season two, or maybe because it's far less prominent.

New one: I think it was mentioned once that Mid-Childa once had the now-banned weapons and almost destroyed itself in a war, hence all those ruins used for training. When did that happened, and what was it called?

I always assumed those ruins were from the Saint King Unification War, the one when Belkans tried to rebuild their empire and fought pretty much the entire multiverse at once until Olivie said bollocks. Back then, everyone and their mother used mass-based weapons, so if Mid-Childa was populated back then, it probably became a battlefield at one point or another.

Said war is described briefly in the SSX booklet, and more is presumably coming in ViVid.

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Yes, exactly. Except that German in Nanoha is considerably better (semantically and grammatically) than English, as far as I can assess. Maybe because it was first introduced in season two, or maybe because it's far less prominent.

Or maybe because Graf Eisen's voice actor once lived in Germany for a while...

I always assumed those ruins were from the Saint King Unification War, the one when Belkans tried to rebuild their empire and fought pretty much the entire multiverse at once until Olivie said bollocks. Back then, everyone and their mother used mass-based weapons, so if Mid-Childa was populated back then, it probably became a battlefield at one point or another.

I guess I've misinterpreted the history all this time....

Said war is described briefly in the SSX booklet, and more is presumably coming in ViVid.

I wouldn't put much faith in that if I were you; they've been teasing us with Ix since chapter 2 but there's yet to be any focus on her. Besides, Belka's dark history probably wouldn't fit with Vivid's tamer story...

Question: Does the TSAB refers to the government body as a whole, or just it's armed force? And was TSAB the original Japanese term? I got the feeling that it may have actually been Space-time Administration Bureau instead

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Or maybe because Graf Eisen's voice actor once lived in Germany for a while...

Wasn't RH's actress a native English speaker, too?

I wouldn't put much faith in that if I were you; they've been teasing us with Ix since chapter 2 but there's yet to be any focus on her. Besides, Belka's dark history probably wouldn't fit with Vivid's tamer story...

It's still possible, if they use the war as a backdrop for Olivie and Ingvalt's relationship...

Question: Does the TSAB refers to the government body as a whole, or just it's armed force? And was TSAB the original Japanese term? I got the feeling that it may have actually been Space-time Administration Bureau instead

I would have to consult the Japanese Nanoha wiki on whether TSAB is the official spelling, but the official runes for its name are 時空管理局, where "時空" stands for "space-time" (as it is indeed usually rendered in English). Also judging by the TSAB coat of arms in Strikers, "管理局" indeed stands for "Administration Bureau". But I guess STAB for an organization name just wasn't heroic enough...

[Bananoha]

Originally Posted by RadiantBeam

Soundtrack related question, does anyone know the name of the score that plays when Zest is speaking to Regius in StrikerS episode 24?

Pretty sure it's Uso ni shinaide kudasai/嘘にしないでください from StrikerS Sound Track StS Plus Vol.3~ /late

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Wasn't RH's actress a native English speaker, too?

She was actually an English high school teacher in Australia.

I would have to consult the Japanese Nanoha wiki on whether TSAB is the official spelling, but the official runes for its name are 時空管理局, where "時空" stands for "space-time" (as it is indeed usually rendered in English). Also judging by the TSAB coat of arms in Strikers, "管理局" indeed stands for "Administration Bureau". But I guess STAB for an organization name just wasn't heroic enough...

My vote is for not STAB because SAME TYPE ATTACK BONUS would only really apply to people like Fate and Signum, riiiiight.

It doesn't say anything about a "TSAB" — the only official thing is "Administrative Bureau". Actually, looking at this thing is kind of funny.

Administrative bureau
綴りは公式ページから。直訳すると「管理する部局」であり、「時空」の意味はない。

The Japanese seem to be looking at the English and saying how there's no real significance to the "space-time" part.

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Bananoha

She was actually an English high school teacher in Australia.

Which makes phrases like "I can be shot" ever more suspicious...

It doesn't say anything about a "TSAB" — the only official thing is "Administrative Bureau". Actually, looking at this thing is kind of funny.The Japanese seem to be looking at the English and saying how there's no real significance to the "space-time" part.

Fascinating. Then where did the "Jikuu" part come from? I remember encountering it on that very wiki... Or did you mean that "Space Time" part is only included in the Japanese name but never in the official English one? ^^;

[Bananoha]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Which makes phrases like "I can be shot" ever more suspicious...

Maybe they were going for Engrish moe. Or maybe she had little to no say in the matter.

Fascinating. Then where did the "Jikuu" part come from? I remember encountering it on that very wiki... Or did you mean that "Space Time" part is only included in the Japanese name but never in the official English one? ^^;

Quite the latter.

Heck, it's still on Administrative bureau on the emblem thing for it.

[RadiantBeam]

Originally Posted by Bananoha

Pretty sure it's Uso ni shinaide kudasai/嘘にしないでください from StrikerS Sound Track StS Plus Vol.3~ /late

Thanks. Doesn't sound like a track I'd find on Youtube. Any idea where I can track it down?

[NorthernFallout]

^Hit me up in a PM and we shall sort that out.

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Wasn't RH's actress a native English speaker, too?

Perhaps that's actually the problem? RH's actress was Australian, but GE's was Japanese, he just happened to spent some time in Germany. Trying to say to the writers that the grammar was wrong was probably too much hassle for Donna Burke

Story-wise, the device-makers probably should have ask Linith for weapons-naming. She's at least honest about it; it's not her fault that Bardiche has ceased to become, well, a Bardiche , since Fate's the one with big-friggin laser blade fetish. I swear, it's like she's compensating for something

It's still possible, if they use the war as a backdrop for Olivie and Ingvalt's relationship...

We'll see to that , though, I don't expect much detail when it's just a back drop for a romance. The tragedy it caused, perhaps, but the chronology? Meh, Tsuzuki didn't even bother to make a clear command structure for the current government...

[...] But I guess STAB for an organization name just wasn't heroic enough...

Originally Posted by Bananoha

My vote is for not STAB because SAME TYPE ATTACK BONUS would only really apply to people like Fate and Signum, riiiiight.

It doesn't say anything about a "TSAB" — the only official thing is "Administrative Bureau". Actually, looking at this thing is kind of funny.The Japanese seem to be looking at the English and saying how there's no real significance to the "space-time" part.

AWww, I actually think it sounds badass...

So the space-time bit was just to make it sci-fi-(ish)?

Anyway, how about my first question: Does the TSAB refers to the government body as a whole, or just it's armed force?

[Moczo]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Anyway, how about my first question: Does the TSAB refers to the government body as a whole, or just it's armed force?

Is there a difference? I think the entire TSAB is the military; they're not actually the government of their member worlds, they're a police force sponsored by the governments of their member worlds.

I think. This is just the impression I got, so if I'm wrong somebody correct me...

[al103]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

I always assumed those ruins were from the Saint King Unification War, the one when Belkans tried to rebuild their empire and fought pretty much the entire multiverse at once until Olivie said bollocks. Back then, everyone and their mother used mass-based weapons, so if Mid-Childa was populated back then, it probably became a battlefield at one point or another.

Actually it never was clearly stated WHAT that wars was... but to me it seems more likely that it was civil war/Belcan factions war and not war against others.

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Story-wise, the device-makers probably should have ask Linith for weapons-naming. She's at least honest about it; it's not her fault that Bardiche has ceased to become, well, a Bardiche , since Fate's the one with big-friggin laser blade fetish. I swear, it's like she's compensating for something

Hmm, you may be onto something there. Fate's transition to laser sword fetishist began about the same time as she was made into a sub befriended by Nanoha...

Originally Posted by al103

Actually it never was clearly stated WHAT that wars was... but to me it seems more likely that it was civil war/Belcan factions war and not war against others.

Well, considering that most of the known universe was part of the Belkan Empire, it was both a civil war and a war of conquest, depending on whose side you are on: the Belkans fought to bring their rebellious subjects back in line, whereas breakaway worlds fought the invaders for their freedom.

Also, from the Japanese wiki (bottom of the page):

Spoiler for Runes...:

ベルカの実質的な消滅により古代ベルカ戦争が終結、ベルカの地は汚染により数百年経てもなお人の住めぬ土地 となる。
何らかの質量兵器の発動あるいは暴走によるものとされるが確証はない。
ゆりかごを保有する聖王家が周辺世界に散ってなお再起を図ろうとした他国を制し、ベルカ統一を計る。(聖王 統一戦争)
戦乱の最中にゆりかごは消失し、聖王家も途絶える。
生き残った国は現住していた世界を統治し、ベルカ正統を名乗ることをやめる。
この時期、古代ベルカ式の魔法や武装もほぼ絶滅する。

I am no expert but Google translates the sentence in bold font as something along the lines of Belkans planning a grand comeback and dominating other countries, using the Cradle as their new HQ...

[Arkeus]

Originally Posted by Koveras Alvane

Well, considering that most of the known universe was part of the Belkan Empire, it was both a civil war and a war of conquest, depending on whose side you are on: the Belkans fought to bring their rebellious subjects back in line, whereas breakaway worlds fought the invaders for their freedom.

Also, from the Japanese wiki (bottom of the page):

Spoiler for Runes...:

ベルカの実質的な消滅により古代ベルカ戦争が終結、ベルカの地は汚染により数百年経てもなお人の住めぬ土地 となる。
何らかの質量兵器の発動あるいは暴走によるものとされるが確証はない。
ゆりかごを保有する聖王家が周辺世界に散ってなお再起を図ろうとした他国を制し、ベルカ統一を計る。(聖王 統一戦争)
戦乱の最中にゆりかごは消失し、聖王家も途絶える。
生き残った国は現住していた世界を統治し、ベルカ正統を名乗ることをやめる。
この時期、古代ベルカ式の魔法や武装もほぼ絶滅する。

I am no expert but Google translates the sentence in bold font as something along the lines of Belkans planning a grand comeback and dominating other countries, using the Cradle as their new HQ...

I am pretty sure the Belkan were never 'united' to begin with, so...

In fact, i think if the 'belkan' weren't more like saying 'earthers', with a US King and a Congo King and...

What Olivie did, iirc, was working toward stopping that never-stopping war that destroyed their world, and didn't stop even then.

[Koveras Alvane]

Originally Posted by Arkeus

I am pretty sure the Belkan were never 'united' to begin with, so...

In fact, i think if the 'belkan' weren't more like saying 'earthers', with a US King and a Congo King and...

What Olivie did, iirc, was working toward stopping that never-stopping war that destroyed their world, and didn't stop even then.

Well, the entry for the Warring Ages on the same page says something about Belkans expanding their territory by invading other countries (presumably on their own homeworld) and worlds. Looks like an empire to me. Of course, when Belka itself was lost, the empire probably fell apart and the never-ending reunification war began, which Olivie stopped by getting herself killed and hiding away the Cradle.