[theBSDude]

This thread is for questions about the ES universe that don't relate to the story. For an example, here's my question.

When is Nanashi from? Meaning, what time period did she come from, like, compared to us.
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TheBSDude, dubbed 'BS' by Asa and nicknamed 'Thebes.'
Keeper of the Tristam, The Amazing Non-Emo Vampire!(tm) and a Massive List of Webcomics.

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[Tinalles]

We know her father is a samurai. So she has to have come from a time period when there were samurai. That's a pretty big swath of time.

I like to think that Nanashi might have been trained to use a naginata, because that weapon developed for use by the samurai class and is traditionally associated with Japanese women. Also, in some traditions, learning the naginata also requires the student to learn at least the basics of using a sword, so as to better understand how to use the naginata against a swordsman. That would give Nanashi some basis for her skill with the siderean swords. You can read more than you're ever likely to want to know about the history of the naginata here. The first page of that, by the way, includes accounts of a couple of really tough (but possibly fictional) Japanese warrior women from the late 12th/early 13th centuries. Nanashi could easily be a contemporary of theirs. Or, indeed, one of them.
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[thespaceinvader]

I wonder if we can't age her by the names she's given people...

Fellucca, in particular, is named after one of the moons from World of Warcrack, IIRC. Which puts her firmly... About now, really.
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Keeper of Tristram's rings, and Felucca's very expressive ears.

[Ravenna]

I would point out that I believe the Lady has already told us that Nanashi's weapons training doesn't begin until AFTER she and her father apparently left Japan. I'm fairly sure the Lady mentions she travels through India and China and other countries.

I said on Forum V.1, but I don't think 12/13th century Japan is very likely because of Japan's foreign relations and civil wars back then. If she had been trained in Japan and in those times to fight as she does, I think it more likely she was an entertainer than nobility. The 12th century was the end of the Heian era, where women going through a wonderful period of flourishing literature, but I don't remember hearing about self-defense or combative training. Certainly not for nobility living close to or in the capital.

Kung-fu techniques don't leave monasteries until the 15th century, after the Ming crackdown.

I would point out that the 'Samurai Code' was a lot like the 'Pirate Code' - it was more like a set of guidelines. A lot of the images of samurai that we tend to get in the West are slightly romanticised Meiji literature (which looked back on samurai in the same way the Victorians looked back on chivalry) and post-war period dramas and films.

It is very possible that Japan had women warriors during its history, but each situation tends to be unique, trying to place them to a specific time period where 'it's easier for there to be women warriors here!' is very difficult. Women warriors weren't discussed in my history class, I will admit. But the earliest example of the naginata in Tin's article sites women living in Echigo and other extremely removed provinces, which would have been extremely atypical given how removed from they were from what was considered Japanese noble society.

In my own opinion, I'd say that Nanashi is most likely to be from just before the fall of the Tokugawa. There was more illicit trade activity with foreign powers, and there would be more chance of her learning these techniques while traveling.
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[Tinalles]

"Felucca" is also a word in Arabic -- it refers to a type of small boat used in Egypt to sail up and down the Nile. Here's a pic. Kind of jaunty and self-confident, aren't they? Just like our purple girl with the wings.

And there was a lot of trade between India and Egypt, across the Red Sea, starting in late antiquity and going through, well, now. So If Nanashi made it as far as India, she might have met and talked with an Egyptian sailor, and picked up the word there.

The Tokugawa period would be a good origin time, too. Lots of interesting stuff going on then.

But really, Lady Yates is the only one who could answer this question for sure. I don't know that she's picked a particular period yet. It would probably be a good idea, though. Nanashi's the only character who has fully intact memories of her pre-Earthsong life (excepting her name). So knowing when and where exactly she came from would be helpful for developing the character. Pick a time and place, do a little reading on it, and then Nanashi can occasionally refer to her past. It would deepen the character a good bit.
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[thespaceinvader]

I know - in the previous forum's name discussion thread, i suggested that as the source of her name, and teh Lady told me otherwise
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Keeper of Tristram's rings, and Felucca's very expressive ears.

[TheBritishInvasion]

My random Earthsong question: I remember the Lady once saying that Beluosus infected the soulstones of the Mandragora by coating them in his own element, I can't remember if that was in the original or the redux, so first of all I'd like to know that.

Second, if their soulstones are coated in Beluosus' element, does that mean they can touch his manifest stone?
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[YatesOfYore]

Sorry! I keep thinking that I've replied to the questions here and I haven't.

As for what time period Nanashi is from, I generally defer to Ravenna on this issue, as she knows oodles more about Japanese history than myself. So if both she and Tin agree on the Tokugawa period, then so be it!

The name Felucca I actually got from a really old game named Ultima. THere's a moon in it named Felucca. Little did I know that it's also a word for an arabic sailboat at the time ( I have since been on one as well!)

As for soulstone infection, that is indeed still how Bel does it. A thin coating that he can "activate" and cause the conflicting resonance between the two elements to create an immense pain the host. This doesn't give them an ability to touch his manifest stone though - it would cause that same pain, but to a much greater (and crispier) degree.
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[Tyris]

*put two and two together*
So... that might mean Willow is immune to infection (not to the coating, but to the pain), depending on whether she can touch anybody's manifest stone or just Earthsong's...
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Keeper of Nanashi's ghostly blue visage and Felucca's hypothetical ejecting nose-cone.

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[spellingmistax]

I have a question about the ES universe. How can everyone understand each other? What about the language barrier?

For example how can a human, (whose home planet has multiple languages) talk/communicate to an entirely different species without any problems? (translation, slang, etc)

Any theories? Explanations? I know the reason (so The Lady can tell the story) but I would like an in universe mechanic.
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"He gave you a life and you should cherish that treasure." - Benny

while Udina asked the usual inane civilian things that came about while under attack: "What's happening? Who is shooting at us? I'm squishy and not wearing armor and I'm a liability, get me to safety, etc.
dubbed Anthrax by Asa
Spellingmistax = mistax = ax = anthrax

[Tamir]

Earthsong (and Bel) translates all of their speech into Estrellian, the language of the planets. ^_^

Wait, I can do better than that...

[spellingmistax]

Thanks, sorry about the thread necromancy, I thought I had read all the relevant info and posts before I posted that question. Looks like I didn’t
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"He gave you a life and you should cherish that treasure." - Benny

while Udina asked the usual inane civilian things that came about while under attack: "What's happening? Who is shooting at us? I'm squishy and not wearing armor and I'm a liability, get me to safety, etc.
dubbed Anthrax by Asa
Spellingmistax = mistax = ax = anthrax

[Tamir]

Don't feel bad about it. How will we learn if we don't ask? =) Besides, we're more or less okay with necromancy around here, as long as it's relevant.

[Asa]

No no, necromancy only applies to pointless threads, when the gap is more than normal. Five days doesn't count as necromancy. Five WEEKS is different, if it's for a thread like, say, "OMG Twilight is amazing!!!1!!!1"*


*Thank G-d we don't actually have a thread like that.
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[spellingmistax]

And so began the training of the noob
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"He gave you a life and you should cherish that treasure." - Benny

while Udina asked the usual inane civilian things that came about while under attack: "What's happening? Who is shooting at us? I'm squishy and not wearing armor and I'm a liability, get me to safety, etc.
dubbed Anthrax by Asa
Spellingmistax = mistax = ax = anthrax