Obelisk Translation

[Kimira]

<div></div>I was in the Obelisk of Lost Souls the other day, and I noticed that above the entrance there is a bunch of writing. Now, I know some of you like to translate things, so I figured maybe you would like to translate this, and I'd be very appreciative if you did. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  BTW I suck at formatting.<img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d22/snowbrdr093/obeliskrunes.jpg"><div></div>

[Xti]

beware of dog <span>:smileyindifferent:</span><div></div>

[Kindayr]

<DIV>Looks Druziac, the one language my computer somehow deleted lol...</DIV>

[Meleania]

Good luck ^.^<div></div>

[SageGaspar]

I was wondering if anyone got a chance to look at this. I've never translated anything before but I looked through all the fonts pretty exhaustively and couldn't find one that they matched up to. I was thinking of trying to go through and substitude in alphabet letters to make it a cryptogram but it's hard telling the letters apart for me, and where words begin and end. It could just be gibberish, dunno.Also there's another inscription on the base of the huge doors that slide up and down in the big hallways. Couldn't see well enough to check if it was the same one.<div></div>

[Methriln]

yea the letters seemed kinda blured together

[Cusashorn]

<DIV>He doesn't have the texture graphics set to "Maximum". That why they are slightly blurry.</DIV>

[SageGaspar]

<div><blockquote><hr>Cusashorn wrote:<div>He doesn't have the texture graphics set to "Maximum". That why they are slightly blurry.</div><hr></blockquote>I went in and maxed textures and it was still pretty hard to make out. Was easier to read off his picture than my screen, hehe. They don't have the resolution to be able to zoom in close.</div>

[Cusashorn]

<DIV>Did you try holding a lightsource up to it to brighten it up perhaps?</DIV>

[Trepan]

I've tried several times to get a good screen shot of that carving but nothing I've done has produced an image that was clear enough to identify the runes.   I think the texture was designed for distance viewing not close scrutiny.   That said, however, I too hope someone gets a shot that we can translate.  I don't care if its a carry-out menu for a Thulian restaurant, I want to know what it says!<div></div>

[SageGaspar]

Yeah, the texture, even on max resolution with light shining on it, is clearer at range than close-up. It gets very pixellated if you zoom in too far.<div></div>

[Decipio243]

<img src="http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/778/obeliskrunesbright4vf.jpg"> Brightened it all up, and sharpened it up, but honestly dont think it helps. <div></div>

[ElnAckom]

I've been doing a crazy amount of translating lately and having a blast doing it. I'll head to Obelisk tonight, set my graphics up, and post the results of my find shortly.<div></div>

[ElnAckom]

<div></div>The language is Orcish. I have begun translating the tablet in its entirety and will post the results as soon as they are complete. The image is flippped horizontally and rotated 180 degrees from standard Orcish text. After translating the first line, I think it's a flame against someone, probably an inside designer joke. I'll try to get it done rapidly.Edit: Yep. Definitely a flame. Maybe good natured. The translation includes the name of a former artist with SOE that worked on EQ2 who is now with Sigil Games. It also has something to say about the translator... and I'm not flattered by what it says so far. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> This is pretty funny though! Complete translation graphics coming shortly.<div></div><p>Message Edited by ElnAckom on <span class=date_text>05-26-2006</span> <span class=time_text>11:43 PM</span>

[ElnAckom]

The translation is complete... and I suppose in the end, whomever wrote this was right! Christian is, coincidentally, a former EQ2 designer and now works at Sigil Games. I wonder if he knows about this...<img src="http://www.thefallenlegion.org/sespics/obelisk.jpg">The image of this tablet appears repeatedly throughout the Obelisk of Lost Souls. The image above is flipped on the horizontal axis to read as standard Orcish text. However, in the panel above the entrance, it is also flipped 180 degrees to further confound the linguist.Why this is in Orcish, lore will have to rationalize... unless of course no one is interested in the fact that now, officially, according to IN-GAME LORE... Sesketh is officially even more of a butthugging moose jockey (improper spelling and all) than an authentic EQ2 game designer.WOW. Any designer wanna weigh in on this one? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Glad to have been of service, everybody.<div></div>

[teddyboy4]

<div><blockquote><hr>ElnAckom wrote:The translation is complete... and I suppose in the end, whomever wrote this was right! Christian is, coincidentally, a former EQ2 designer and now works at Sigil Games. I wonder if he knows about this...<img src="http://www.thefallenlegion.org/sespics/obelisk.jpg">The image of this tablet appears repeatedly throughout the Obelisk of Lost Souls. The image above is flipped on the horizontal axis to read as standard Orcish text. However, in the panel above the entrance, it is also flipped 180 degrees to further confound the linguist.Why this is in Orcish, lore will have to rationalize... unless of course no one is interested in the fact that now, officially, according to IN-GAME LORE... Sesketh is officially even more of a butthugging moose jockey (improper spelling and all) than an authentic EQ2 game designer.WOW. Any designer wanna weigh in on this one? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Glad to have been of service, everybody.<div></div><hr></blockquote>ROFLMAOThat's really funny. It's also kind of neat b/c it gives us a glimpse into the minds of one of the Devs as he was creating the game. Seems he was a bit bored and was typing this all out on impulse straight from his thoughts. Christain was probably sitting right next to him when he was typing this as work on EQ2 started a good bit before Brad left to form Sigil. LOL, I really enjoy stuff like this, especially since it directly mentions the methods he is using to make it harder for someone to decipherGood show Hoarghm.....and of course Sesketh for the wonderful job of translating</div>

[SageGaspar]

<div><blockquote><hr>ElnAckom wrote:Why this is in Orcish, lore will have to rationalize... unless of course no one is interested in the fact that now, officially, according to IN-GAME LORE... Sesketh is officially even more of a butthugging moose jockey (improper spelling and all) than an authentic EQ2 game designer.WOW. Any designer wanna weigh in on this one? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Glad to have been of service, everybody.<div></div><hr></blockquote>Haha, and you're an even bigger hugger apparently <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I wonder if those ones on the bottom of the doors are the same text. And also if someone's been chewing his fingernails waiting to see if this got discovered after people started translating stuff <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[andersonim]

lol wow! who would have known.....

[Kazora]

 perhaps vhalen would like to weigh in on this one <span>:smileywink:</span>and ibsnark<div></div>

[Snarks]

haha nice, there has to be more out there <div></div>

[SageGaspar]

I'll try and check the doors to see if they have the same message, hehe. Would be interested. I'm pretty sure it was the same language though so it might very well be the same text.<div></div>

[Kyriel]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ElnAckom wrote:<BR>The translation is complete... and I suppose in the end, whomever wrote this was right! <FONT size=5><FONT color=#ffff00>Christian is, coincidentally, a former EQ2 designer and now works at Sigil Games. I wonder if he knows about this...</FONT><BR></FONT><BR><IMG src="http://www.thefallenlegion.org/sespics/obelisk.jpg"><BR><BR>The image of this tablet appears repeatedly throughout the Obelisk of Lost Souls. The image above is flipped on the horizontal axis to read as standard Orcish text. However, in the panel above the entrance, it is also flipped 180 degrees to further confound the linguist.<BR><BR>Why this is in Orcish, lore will have to rationalize... unless of course no one is interested in the fact that now, officially, according to IN-GAME LORE... Sesketh is officially even more of a butthugging moose jockey (improper spelling and all) than an authentic EQ2 game designer.<BR><BR>WOW. Any designer wanna weigh in on this one? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Glad to have been of service, everybody.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>OMG LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!</P> <P>YEP!</P> <P><A href="http://www.sigilgames.com/team/christianakesson.html" target=_blank>http://www.sigilgames.com/team/christianakesson.html</A></P> <P> </P> <P><SPAN class=postbody>Hey forum mods etc... Please please pelase PLEASE give ElnAckom the forum title of "<STRONG>Hugger Torch</STRONG>"  ^_~</SPAN></P> <P> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P><p>Message Edited by Zemfira on <span class=date_text>05-27-2006</span> <span class=time_text>05:01 AM</span>

[ElnAckom]

LOL, Svet!! Okay, now that I would humbly accept. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I can save you the trip to the Obelisk, everyone: Yes, the door panels are the same. It appears to be one unified texture used throughout the complex. The scrolls are a little disappointing: They do not appear to be written in any language at all, even closely inspected at obscenely high graphics settings.I'm still crackin' on those shield runes for ya, S. I'm bound and determined to get 'em!<i>Sesketh the Hugger Torch</i><div></div>

[ElnAckom]

For other reference for those curious, as I continue to post other translations onto this thread:<a href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=zones&message.id=13992&jump=true#M13992" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=zones&message.id=13992&jump=true#M13992</a><div></div>

[Kyriel]

<DIV>Or they should give you the surname "The Hugger Torch" in game.. that'd totally be awsome ^_^</DIV>

[kyth]

    You are by far way to cool. I love in game lore.  Having this stuff translated is way to awsome.  And i love the message....I guess it is good to be a game dev eh? =p<div></div>

[Kyriel]

<DIV>ok , do these!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The thingy by the tombstone in east freeport</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/niluvani/EQ2_000878.jpg"></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>and the thingy in maj dul by the blades captain dude</DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/niluvani/EQ2_000879.jpg"></DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[ElnAckom]

The Obelisk of the Law reads:"The Shedding of Blood is Forbidden Within the Walls of the City.""The Law of the Token is Unbreakable""A Tax of All Sales Must be Distributed to the Poor.""Need Before Greed."At first glance, I think the cogs - which exist both in Freeport and Qeynos - are written in Halasian. I'll check it out here.

[ElnAckom]

The cog, viewed as in the image provided by Svetlana, is arguably either Lucanic script or Halasian nordic. Both rune sets are very similar. My supposition is that carved Lucanic text would resemble the more angular Halasian.Top line: R Z WBottom line: L M CInitials?<div></div>

[Kyriel]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ElnAckom wrote:<BR><BR><BR>Top line: R Z W<BR><BR>Bottom line: L M C<BR><BR>Initials?<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>lame! ... woulda been cool if it said "the end" concidering therse a tombstone right there</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P>I like your services sesk... super fast ^_~<BR></P>

[Fald]

I've been trying to translate the text on the body of the golems in RoV(and probably everywhere), and I have some questions.Can I load the fonts to like Microsoft word? How?Are the only 25 letters to each language or is each one different?(trying to translate from Normal Human to English)Okay thanks, if I can't figure it out on my own, I'll probably post some screenies here so someone more skilled can do it...And my bet is on "Made in Taiwan" <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Fald]

Okay I figured out myself, thanks to StaAk for posting <a target="_blank" href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=12526#M12526">this </a>.Okay so here's what it looks like(kinda hard to read due the shape of the golem):<img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c148/Senran/EQ2_000001.jpg">So it's common human language, here's how I translated it:Chest area: THE 1Belly area: PUZZLE1USTI was kinda dissapointed it wasen't "Made in Taiwan" or something...Im not sure if the D-kinda signs were from the numerals, so here's some pics of the sign:<img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c148/Senran/EQ2_000029.jpg"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c148/Senran/OmgtehD.jpg">So what do ya all think?My first translation thingy...<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Kyriel]

<DIV>we are all becoming norrathian de-coders.... SOE should put ina quest like the davinchi code, so we have to de-code stuff like this ^_~</DIV>

[ElnAckom]

The D-shaped glyph is precisely that, a D. The bottom line therefore reads "PUZZLEDUST." The top third rune is an A, making the golem's name "THAD" from what I see at a glance. No confirmation first-hand observation yet, but all in all looks pretty good.<div></div>

[ElnAckom]

Google is wonderful. It is Thad Puzzledust: <a href="http://www.puzzledust.com/Galleries.htm" target=_blank>http://www.puzzledust.com/Galleries.htm</a><div></div>

[Fald]

Well meh, close enough anyway...It was kinda hard to make sense out of it, since it's kind of an irregular surface for text,but you could get it even from my lousy screenie!<img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Well thanks for the correction anyway. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Fald]

I checked the Puzzledust thing, and seems that he is another developer who has moved to sigil! I smell an conspiracy! Maybe they all knew they were gonna go to sigil, and they left a little something behind! Aha! This must be it! Okay I'll just shut up now...:smileyindifferent:

[Pudaan]

SOE are vanguard fanboi's.But this translating is awesome, even if its random dev jibberish.<div></div>

[kyth]

    a few original eq2 devs went to sigil.  Grass is greener?  i dont know but i think they left a mess of some thing that the current team is dealing with.<div></div>

[Kyriel]

<DIV>[expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] those butt huggin moose jockies...</DIV>

[TheManInTheBox]

<div></div><div><blockquote><hr>ElnAckom wrote:The translation is complete... and I suppose in the end, whomever wrote this was right! Christian is, coincidentally, a former EQ2 designer and now works at Sigil Games. I wonder if he knows about this...<img src="http://www.thefallenlegion.org/sespics/obelisk.jpg">The image of this tablet appears repeatedly throughout the Obelisk of Lost Souls. The image above is flipped on the horizontal axis to read as standard Orcish text. However, in the panel above the entrance, it is also flipped 180 degrees to further confound the linguist.Why this is in Orcish, lore will have to rationalize... unless of course no one is interested in the fact that now, officially, according to IN-GAME LORE... Sesketh is officially even more of a butthugging moose jockey (improper spelling and all) than an authentic EQ2 game designer.WOW. Any designer wanna weigh in on this one? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Glad to have been of service, everybody.<div></div><hr></blockquote><span></span><font face="Comic Sans MS">Dev flames in-game. Whats next? Moorgard was here or Blackguard was here?</font> <span>:smileytongue:</span></div><p>Message Edited by TheManInTheBox on <span class=date_text>05-29-2006</span> <span class=time_text>08:23 PM</span>

[Methriln]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Zemfira wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> ElnAckom wrote:<BR>The translation is complete... and I suppose in the end, whomever wrote this was right! <FONT size=5><FONT color=#ffff00>Christian is, coincidentally, a former EQ2 designer and now works at Sigil Games. I wonder if he knows about this...</FONT><BR></FONT><BR><IMG src="http://www.thefallenlegion.org/sespics/obelisk.jpg"><BR><BR>The image of this tablet appears repeatedly throughout the Obelisk of Lost Souls. The image above is flipped on the horizontal axis to read as standard Orcish text. However, in the panel above the entrance, it is also flipped 180 degrees to further confound the linguist.<BR><BR>Why this is in Orcish, lore will have to rationalize... unless of course no one is interested in the fact that now, officially, according to IN-GAME LORE... Sesketh is officially even more of a butthugging moose jockey (improper spelling and all) than an authentic EQ2 game designer.<BR><BR>WOW. Any designer wanna weigh in on this one? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Glad to have been of service, everybody.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>OMG LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!</P> <P>YEP!</P> <P><A href="http://www.sigilgames.com/team/christianakesson.html" target=_blank>http://www.sigilgames.com/team/christianakesson.html</A></P> <P> </P> <P><SPAN class=postbody>Hey forum mods etc... Please please pelase PLEASE give ElnAckom the forum title of "<STRONG>Hugger Torch</STRONG>"  ^_~</SPAN></P> <P> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P> <P>Message Edited by Zemfira on <SPAN class=date_text>05-27-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>05:01 AM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>o man that was as good laugh LOL

[Croakus]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Pudaan20 wrote:<BR>SOE are vanguard fanboi's.<BR><BR>But this translating is awesome, even if its random dev jibberish.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I believe they are now referred to as Vanboi's

[Lings]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Croakus wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Pudaan20 wrote:<BR>SOE are vanguard fanboi's.<BR><BR>But this translating is awesome, even if its random dev jibberish.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I believe they are now referred to as Vanboi's<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>lol :smileyvery-happy:</P> <P>so, is there anything else to translate?</P> oh, and how do you do all that? some kind of program? or a special font? where could I get it?

[Ragnaphore]

<DIV>"Top line: R Z W" : could be Rallos Zek the Warlord, no idea about the bottom line.<BR></DIV>

[ElnAckom]

Translation How-To:I've been asked to put up a comprehensive translation site, and I'll probably do that at some point, but for now, without posting any images of the languages (which outside of this forum might tread perilously close to copyright issues, and I frankly don't want any drama in my life this month), here's the basic primer:1. The fonts are located in your Sony / EverQuest 2 / UI / Fonts folder. Double clicking them on nearly every Windows system will open a sample screen that includes the alphabet in uppercase and lowercase, as well as the number characters.2. If you want to install these fonts for use on your system - which I do - then you do that in the Control Panel -> Fonts control screen. Navigate to the above listed directory, select all, install, poof. Restart any apps that use these fonts.3. For me, I simply put the graphic to translate on the screen, open a blank Word document, select Insert -> Symbol, select the appropriate font, and double click each one into the document. When I'm done, I select the text and simply translate it into Arial or some other English-appearing text.4. None of the materials I have been asked to translate to date have been anything other than English phrases written with EQ2-universe symbol systems, so no actual grammatical transliteration or anything of the sort is required.It's not all that complicated, or all that amazing, or even all that intuitive... but it was nice to keep up the appearance of brilliance on my part for a short while. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> LOL! I'm a professional music educator for those that know me, and so I'm pretty good with symbol systems. (Obviously.) This has been a great exercise for me, and a lot of fun.I'm happy to continue interpreting anything else you throw at me, and I'll probably find a few things of my own. I'm still working on unlocking the icons that wrap around Bonemire cloud stations, which are the same symbols used throughout Lavastorm, Solusek Ro, and in the stairs outside Halls of Fate. Weird symbols, haven't gotten 'em yet.Good translating!<div></div>

[Nocturnal Aby]

It seems to me that the language would most likely be dragon, have you tried that?

[ElnAckom]

I have, but I've not found any positive correlations between the runes and the known Draconic icon language. Dragon uses a very complicated set of glyphs, granted, but I haven't found any positive matches. I'll keep at it.<div></div>

[Nocturnal Aby]

Although less likely (imho) could also try the language of the birds, Volerant, or something like that.

[SageGaspar]

I think Volant actually reuses one of the other character sets, Troll or something if I recall correctly.I don't know if anyone's looked at this yet but I think I might try the tapestry in the Qeynos Mage Tower and the glyphs that pop up on the pyramid spells tonight (not sure if they're actual norrathian language though).<div></div>

[CodeKill]

<DIV>Svetlana is so Hot....hehehehe</DIV>

[Themaginator]

HEY BAD NECRO BAD! <img src="http://my.opera.com/bhtooefr/homes/albums/29110/thumbs/necropost.jpg_thumb.jpg"><div></div>

[DragonMaster2385]

<p>edit: nm, I missread</p>

[Thoronve]

<cite>Sesketh@Everfrost wrote:</cite><blockquote>The cog, viewed as in the image provided by Svetlana, is arguably either Lucanic script or Halasian nordic. Both rune sets are very similar. My supposition is that carved Lucanic text would resemble the more angular Halasian. Top line: R Z W Bottom line: L M C Initials? <p></blockquote> </p><p>Just found this post, so excuse my tardiness....</p><p>That item looks very like a widget that USED to be stuck on the back of the Clock in QH (It was removed when the tree replaced the clock at the last Frostfell event, as it stuck out from it, and never put back). As part of a player written quest from last year, I used that as the final culmination of my quest. When I found it I translated it, but I got a different answer... Although I could have been wrong.</p><p>However, I was pretty sure it came out as:</p><p>R A W</p><p>G O C</p><p>...which had me puzzled until I realised that Gnomes don't always do things quite right (miscalibrated etc) We are used to see textures that have been flipped - What if the gnome had flipped the text? and then it MADE SENSE!</p><p>WAR COG !</p><p>It looks like a cog doesn't it...?</p><p> Just my tuppence worth...</p><p>Thoronve</p>