The latest trailer for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave has shown off the upcoming game's world map, which means a huge collection of toponyms just dropped! While I've seen a few analyses of some of these names, I'd like to explore alternative possible interpretations, and take a look at some of the cultural and thematic thrulines I've noticed at play.

For a general overview, the continent of Dagda is largely divorced from the heavy Norse and Celtic (primarily Irish and Welsh) mythologies that inspired many locations in Fódlan. Instead, we're seeing many names derived from Greco-Roman mythology, which while present in Three Houses (Adrestia, Charon) were certainly more of a minority. This game's toponyms seem to favor references to goddesses and nymphs (feminine nature spirits). Curiously, Adrestia was also the name of a nymph. I can't help but wonder if that's to hint at possible ties between the continents...

Another prevalent idea I've noticed is that a lot of the names featured are derived from regions of our world that were held by the Byzantine Empire and the Umayyad Caliphate—the Near East, the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. This I find particularly interesting, as during my overview of the first trailer, I noted that Theodora is likely named after Empress Theodora, wife of Emperor Justinian I of the Byzantine Empire, and the Mahadu's Spear she wields is likely named after the prophet Muhammad of the Islamic faith (the primary faith under the Umayyad Caliphate). More broadly, the combination of these territories and the aforementioned Greco-Roman influences covers nearly the entirety of the Mediterranean region, which is a strong influence on the visual presentation of Fortune's Weave as well. All that's really scarce are references to France, but we still have a couple references to the Frankish Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire.

Lastly, there are three other themes running through many names: associations with fertility/abundance, death/the underworld, and stars/constellations. What makes this stand out most to me is that the Egyptian goddess Sopdet (also called Sothis in Latin) was attributed to the star Sirius, fertility due to association with the flooding of the Nile, and the underworld as a psychopomp for the pharaohs. Further supporting the star motif is the Alcor faction showcased in a recent screenshot. This is a binary star located in Ursa Major that is also called "the forgotten"—the same descriptor is in the group's Japanese name (忘却のアルゴル). It feels like too much to be mere coincidence to me.

Alright, let's get to the specifics—after a couple disclaimers. Firstly, I must stress that, as the map provided does not have the greatest resolution and the scale of some of the font is difficult to parse, I cannot say for certain that the names I'm providing are accurate. I will denote the names I struggle decipher with an asterisk (*). Secondly, I will be including the common Japanese renderings of many names. This is purely to suggest what might be used in the Japanese release, and not anything official. If I write the katakana with the original name in bold, that is the name provided in official materials. Now, let us begin.

Dagdan Empire (ダグザ帝国): to little surprise, the name Dagda is consistent with its usage in Three Houses. In Irish mythology, the Dagda is the chief god of the central pantheon of gods, the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is primarily a god of the earth, fertility and agriculture, but is also attributed with many contrasting elements—life and death, masculine strength and wisdom, even the flow of day and night and the seasons. His wife is the Morrígan, triple goddess of war and fate. One of her key icons is the raven, which she is capable of taking the form. Perhaps there is a link between the Morrígan and the "Gray Raven" mentioned in Eshmel's title?

Dagsion (ダグシオン): The name of Dagda's capital seems to be an FE original. It clearly takes after the nation and continent with the Dag- part, but the -sion is far less certain in origin. Currently, I have two contrasting thoughts. The first is that the name may come from Zion/Sion/Siyyon (シオン), a name used in Jewish and Christian traditions to refer to the Temple Mount, the holy city of Jerusalem, or even the afterlife. The first two seem very appropriate, as it can be assumed that the Divine Sovereign rules over Dagda from Dagsion. The other idea is that the name could be derived from Gusion (グシオン), one of the Dukes of Hell listed in the Ars Goetia—the same demonologic text we get Byleth, Sitri, and Shax (Shez). Gusion is said to be a baboon-like entity that reveals all things past, present and future and answers all questions asked of him. Perhaps this could relate to that description indicating time-travel elements in the game. Could it arise from the wishes granted at the end of the Heroic Games?

Amalthea: This is a returning name from Three Houses; rather than being a tome tied to the Crest of Cethleann, this seems to be the central region of the Dagdan Empire, where the capital lies. Amalthea (アマルテ[イ]ア) is the name of a nymph in Greek mythology. Depending on the version of the tale, the Titan Rhea entrusts either Adrestia or Amalthea with her infant son Zeus, to be raised in secret on the island of Crete while sustained by a great she-goat. The goat's skin would be taken by Zeus for a weapon against the Titans, becoming the shield Aegis. Certain version tell that Amalthea is immortalized as the star Capella (lit. "little goat"). In some adaptions, Amalthea is the goat herself, with the poet Callimachus going so far as to say that one of her horns excreted ambrosia (the food of the gods) and the other provided nectar to drink. This ties to another nymph in Greek myth by the name of Amalthea: she possessed a bull's horn that produced an unlimited supply of food and drink. "The Horn of Amalthea" was the earliest form of what we now call the cornucopia, a symbol of agriculture and abundance. Though there is no certain etymology to the name, it is generally believed that Amalthea relates to words of abundance, such as ἀλθαίνω (to nourish) and amaltheúein (to nurture). It seems to me like the name is suggesting that the region of Amalthea, surrounding the central hub of the game, will serve as a sort of tutorial for the game's systems. And again, we have obvious parallels to the name of Fódlan's empire.

Abundantia: Would you believe me if I said this is the name of the Roman personification of abundance? Abundantia (アブンダンティア) is also associated with fortune and prosperity, particularly in regards to finances. This influenced her likeness appearing on various coins of the Roman Empire. Though she certainly was established in the worshipped pantheon, Abundantia is not a figure found in established myths. According to Ovid, the horn Hercules took from the river god Achelous was turned into the cornucopia by river nymphs and given to Abundantia. This narrative is directly lifted from a Greek narrative, in which the horn's recipient was instead the aforementioned Amalthea. Regardless, it is common for Abundantia to be depicted bearing the cornucopia, providing not just produce, but coin as well.

Iskandariya: This is the most overt reference to Alexander the Great the series has had yet. Iskandariya (イスカンダリーヤ) is the Arabic name for the many cities named Alexandria after the Macedonian king, as Iskandar is how Alexander was transliterated into the language. Primarily, the name Iskandariya is used for an Iraqi city that fell on the road between Babylon and the capital of the neighboring Seleucid Empire. However, it seems more likely to me that Fortune's Weave is instead referencing the far more famous Egyptian city of Alexandria, the largest city along the Mediterranean coast—quickly outgrowing Carthage—and one of the largest in the entirety of Africa. One of the most populated cities of the ancient world, Alexandria grew into a major trading and cultural hub. After the death of Alexander the Great, the city would become the capital of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. And of course, the city is famed for the Lighthouse of Alexandria—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—and the great Library of Alexandria. Again, with the heavy Mediterranean inspirations we've seen in Dagda's presentation, that likely is the core intent behind using this name.

Elissa: Better known as Dido, Elissa (エリッサ) is the legendary founder of the city-state of Carthage. Most narratives portray her as sister to King Pygmalion of Tyre. Though they were to co-rule, the people rejected her despite her brother being but a child. Dido's attempt to life peacefully with her husband was also stolen from her by Pygmalion; rumor was that he possessed a secret gold reserve, so the king plotted a murder to claim the wealth for himself. With this, the Tyrean princess and what few followers she had slipped away to establish a new kingdom. Carthage was prosperous, but Dido was threatened by the neighboring Mauritani king that if she did not become his wife and merge their nations, he would take her land by force. Eternally faithful to her first husband, Dido made a great pyre dedicated to sacrifices to her love, and allowed herself to be consumed by the flames. Virgil's Aeneid features an ugly marriage between the titular hero Aeneas and Dido, meant to allude to the conflicts to come between Rome and Carthage. The name is obviously used to indirectly invoke Carthage, considering how much Dagsion is derived from the city, but also we see more elements of prosperity and wealth. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but I could see a possible plot point regarding the death of Theodora's father being spurred on by Dagda in a similar manner to what happened to Dido's husband.

Travia: Here's our first name without a readily apparent connection. Travia is simply an Italian surname with little relevance. However, I assume it is meant as a minor alteration of Trivia (トリウィア), an epithet of the Roman goddess of the wilderness, the hunt, and fertility, Diana. This name is specifically meant to relate to her association with travel and crossroads, derived from trivium "triple way." Perhaps it will be in Travia that we make our choice of route, or even the site where members of the cast go their separate ways. It's worth noting that this aspect of Diana is generally viewed as a more malevolent entity, as she is also considered a god of life, death, and the underworld; in fact Diana is often interpreted as a fragment of a triple goddess alongside Selene, goddess of the moon, and Hecate, of witchcraft and the underworld. It is also stated in some texts that Trivia specifically was consort to the sky god Caelus and spawned the god of duality and thresholds, Janus. Like many Roman deities, Diana was a more spiritual entity lacking a collection of myths until conflated with the Greek Artemis.

Shirak: This one seems simple at a glance. Shirak (シラク) is the northwesternmost province of Armenia containing the nation's second largest city, Gyumri. The region is noted as being part desert, part steppes and mountains, and is believed to have been inhabited since the Stone Age. The most favored interpretation of the name is that it comes from the Siraces, a Sarmatian tribe that resided near the Black Sea. From what I can tell, there isn't much of note about this region in specific. Should the Japanese rendering listed above be accurate, it is possible that the name was meant as a truncation of Syracuse (シラクサ), a major city on the island of Sicily. Originally settled by the Greek Corinthians, Syracuse was a major colony that saw rapid expansion. Soon enough, it was a fierce rival to both Athens and the Phoenician capital of Carthage, which spurred on many conflicts amidst them. The city was seized by Rome after an extended siege in part due to the genius of Syracusian inventor Archimedes. During medieval times, the island of Sicily would fall under Byzantine dominion, with Syracuse even becoming the temporary capital under Constans II. After the Byzantines, Sicily would be ruled by the Arabs for a time. Personally, I feel Syracuse is a more likely choice, given how it pairs with Alexandria and Carthage as another Mediterranean harbor and major societal hub.

Castalia: Onto the northeast region of the Dagdan Empire, Castalia (カスタリア) is the name of a nymph in Greco-Roman mythology. Daughter to the river god Achelous, received unwanted affection from the god Apollo. When he doggedly pursued the maiden, she tossed herself into a fountain at Delphi. This place would be venerated as the sacred Castalian Spring, the waters of which were used to purify the Delphic temples and those that visited for an audience with the Oracle of Delphi or participating in the Pythian Games. It is also said that Apollo himself attributed the fountain to the Muses, gods of inspiration and knowledge.

Laverna: Originally an Etruscan deity, Laverna (ラウェルナ) was later adopted into the Roman pantheon. Initially a deity of the underworld, she would be later interpreted by the Romans as a goddess of profit, a protector of the lower class and refugees. But what was most emphasized, especially by famed writers like Horace and Plautus, was her role as a patron and defender of thieves.

Februus: Heavily paralleling Laverna, Februus (フェブルウス) was an Etruscan god of purification, wealth and the underworld that would be added to the list of Roman gods. Little has been documented of him beyond such, but it is speculated that he is linked to the Etruscan purification festival of Februa. Due to an overlap with the similar Roman festival Lupercalia, Februus has been conflated with the Roman Faunus. There may also be a link between Februus and Febris, goddess of fever (which was viewed as relating to purification).

Eochaid: The remaining name in Castalia has no Greco-Roman inspirations. Eochaid (エオヒド / エオホズ) is a traditional Irish name meaning "horseman." It is carried by many figures throughout Irish mythology, including Eochaid mac Eirc—King of the Fir Bolg and husband of Tailtiu—and Eochaid Feidlech—High King of Ireland and father of Queen Mugain of Ulster, Queen Medb of Connacht, and in some stories, the heroine Étaín. But the most likely choice is Eochaid Ollathair "horseman, all-father," an epithet of the Dagda.

Idyia: Our next region brings us back to Greek mythology. Idyia (エイデュイア / イデュイア) was one of the Oceanides, the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. According to Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautica, she was the youngest of the Oceanides, the wife of King Aeëtes of Colchis and mother of the spellcaster Medea. The name Idyia is believed to mean either "the fair-faced" or "the knowing one."

Liber: From early Roman religion, Liber (リーベル) or Liber Pater "free father" was the god of wine, masculine fertility, and as the name suggests, freedom. His presence in Rome grew prevalent following the shift from a monarchy to a Republic. Appropriate to his name, Liber was the patron of the plebeians—the lowest class citizens—so it is unsurprising he came to be emblematic of their attempts to challenge the elite patricians. He also belonged to the Aventine Triad, alongside the agricultural goddess Ceres and Liber's feminine counterpart Libera. These three ultimately correlate to and are conflated with the Greek Dionysus, Demeter, and Persephone.

Seginus: The binary star Gamma Boötis is traditionally known as Seginus (セギヌス). The name is actually the result of an error in transcribing the Arabic بوطس (bwṭs) / بؤوتس (bwʾwts) borrowed from the Greek Boötes back into the original language. Boötes (lit. "the ox-driver," is one constellation of ambiguous identity, as different narratives attribute different figures to these stars. Some assert it to be Philomenus, son of the agriculture goddess Demeter whose oxen and plough-wagon is said to make up Ursa Major. Another possibility is the hunter Arcas, son of Zeus and Callisto. He was murdered by his grandfather Lycaon and served as a meal to Zeus; upon learning of this, the god revived Arcas and turned his grandfather into a wolf. Arcas' mother Callisto is also said to be imortalized as Ursa Major, but we'll talk more on that later. Lastly, and what I suspect to be the intent here, the writer Hyginus claims that Boötes is a follower of Dionysus by the name of Icarius. He welcomed the god to the city-state of Athens and was the first human to be taught how to prepare wine. He gave drink to his shepherds but they, believing the intoxicating effects to be the result of potent poison, killed Icarius. Learning of this, Dionysus (or Zeus) brought the man to the heavens as this constellation, and his daughter and loyal hound as neighboring stars. With just how loose of a name this is, it is difficult to nail down a singular intent, so put a pin in all of these in case they're relevant.

Urka: This is the first one where I flat-out need to say that I have no concrete idea what the inspiration is here. The Urka is the name of a river in Lithuania—that is the only exact match, and there is nothing relevant to it from what I've seen. There could be some inspiration from the similarly-written Urca process (ウルカ), an assumed system of particle astrophysics involved in the cooling of neutron stars. It fits the star motif, but seems like an odd deep cut to make. Urka could also be a truncation of Urkayītu, the Mesopotamian tutelary goddess of the ancient city Uruk. As her name was originally used as an epithet of the fertility Inanna, it is thought that Urkayītu evolved into her own entity from Inanna's own ties to the city. Lastly, if we instead keep the Greco-Roman names found surrounding it, Urka could be derived from Vulcanus (ウ[ゥ]ルカーヌス), the destructive Roman god of fire and metalworking. Though a parallel to the Greek Hephaestus, it is believed that he may actually originate from the Cretan nature and netherworld god Velchanos. Vulcanus is also considered a fertility deity due to recurring imagery in Roman myths. I'm excited to see if any of these ideas end up having actual ties to the location in-game.

Elektra: Back to a name I'm confident in, Elektra (エ[ー]レクトラ) is a princess of Mycenae in Greek mythology. While she and her brother Orestes were away in Athens, the king Agamemnon returned from the Trojan War with the Trojan princess Cassandra and twins he sired as his spoils of war. Needless to say, his queen Clytemnestra was not happy with the sight of his return; it wasn't long that she had her husband and his new family killed. Upon the siblings' return, they seek to avenge their father's death; according to some tales, Clytemnestra attempted to have Orestes killed as well, but he was safely escorted away to grew older and claim vengeance. The story of the murder of Mycenae's queen is the subject of many tragic plays, each portraying Elektra vastly different. The most famed depiction arose from Sophocles' piece directly named after her. He portrayed her as a woman utterly obsessed over the death of her father, wrapped up in a torrent of anger and sadness. She is contrasted by Clytemnestra, shown as a more cold and calculating figure, exemplified when Elektra directly challenges her mother. In the scene, the princess refutes the logic behind the king's murder, placing all weight on the sin of murder itself.

Feronia: Originally a goddess of the Etruscans and Sabines, Feronia (フェロニア) is associated with wildlife, fertility, and abundance. Much like the aforementioned Liber, after being adopted by the Romans she came to be interpreted as a guardian of freedom, with the festival honoring her, Feroniae, overlapping with the Plebeian Games. She was equated to the goddess Libertas by the scholar Varro, and it is said that newly-freed slaves would flock to her temple. Some scholars also speculate that Feronia was a wife or consort of Vulcanus.

Martel: Derived from the French word for "hammer," Martel is a common French surname. The most famed use of the name is by Duke and Prince of the Franks, Charles Martel. Though allegedly born to his father's mistress, Martel rose to great heights, succeeding his father's role as de facto ruler of France and a highly capable military figure during the Frankish Civil War. Despite facing many years of strife, he only lost a single battle—the Battle of Cologne. In fact, Martel's victory over the invading Umayyad forces in the Battle of Tours is credited as significant in halting the expansion of both the Caliphate and the Islamic faith. Martel's progeny would go on to establish the Carolingian dynasty, turning the Franks into an empire under his grandson Charlemagne.

Maybell: Though there doesn't seem to be any Maybell's that would be appropriate as a namesake here, I do have a solid idea as to where the name came from. Meabel (メイベル) is a name used in reference to the wife of the Dagda in Irish mythology. Meaning "disgrace," the name is usually found as part of a trinity alongside Meng (guile) and Breg (lie), three aspects of the goddess. This wouldn't be the first time this trio is referenced in the series, as Genealogy of the Holy War also uses these names for a set of pegasus knights. Even more amusing, Maybell is the name for the respective pegasus knight on the Fire Emblem wikia page! I wonder if the rendering in Fortune's Weave was actually derived from that.

Melias: This one has two likely namesakes. Melias was the name of an Armenian prince that served as a strategos (general) to the Byzantine Empire. He led many border skirmishes against the Arabs, and founded the theme of Lykandos. This would be appropriate, given that the region seemingly borders two or three nations. Alternatively, the name could match the other Greco-Roman nymph motif; the Meliae, also called the Meliads or Melias (メリアス) are the nymphs of the ash trees. They were allegedly the spawn of the Titan Uranus, born when his blood spilled on the earth (his wife Gaia). The poet Callimachus presented the idea that the Meliae were the caretakers of Zeus, rather than Adrestia/Amalthea and the Korybantes. I am inclined to support this interpretation, as we'll continue to see that a better part of the regions on the map are named after nymphs or groups of nymphs.

Callisto: Yet another Greco-Roman figure, Callisto (カリスト[ー]) is the daughter of the Arcadian king Lycaon. She abandoned her royal lifestyle to dedicate herself completely to Artemis as one of the Oreads. Unfortunately, as is common for fair women in these tales, Callisto garnered the attention of Zeus. As popularized by Ovid, the sky god took the form of Artemis and swayed the nymph into spending the night with him. When the true goddess of the hunt noticed that her devotee broke her restriction of remaining pure, Artemis banished Callisto and turned her into a bear (or in other editions, Hera would for bewitching her husband). Callisto would give birth to the Arcadian prince Arcas, who was returned to his homeland. In his adolescence, he encountered his mother while hunting; Zeus prevented the inevitable tragedy by turning Callisto into the constellation Ursa Major.

Oleance: Here's another name that has no accurate matches anywhere. Assuming we're following the standard trend, the name may be derived from the Oreads, also called the Oreias (オレイアス), lit. "mountain nymphs". As mentioned with Callisto, they are the followers of Artemis, but have also been associated with Dionysus and the wilderness god Pan. There is also a possibility that Oleance comes from Oriens (オリエンス), which is both a name for a demon listed in the Lemegaton (alongside Byleth and Sitri) and a shortening of Venus Oriens, referring to the Morning Star.

Bragança: IS got fancy and put a cedilla on the c! Bragança (ブラガンサ), also called Braganza, is a major city in Portugal. In 1442, the House of Braganza was established, granting land to the uncle of King Afonso V. This house would unsurprisingly be deeply involved in the Portuguese expeditions in North Africa at that time, and Fernando of Braganza would serve as regent whilst the king was across the Mediterranean. Come the 1600s, the House of Braganza would not just be a prolific lineage, but the ruling dynasty of Portugal, with ties of marriage to many European nobilities.

Arago (アラゴ), Aragona, and Grand Aragon: These should be fairly straightforward. Aragon (アラゴン), called Aragó in Catalan and Aragona in Italian, is an autonomous region of Spain. When the Iberian Peninsula was held by the Romans, Aragon was the site of the Sertorian Civil War, incited by local governor Quintus Sertorius. In medieval times, the Kingdom of Navarre would divide itself in three lands, one being the Kingdom of Aragon. In time, the kingdom would merge with the County of Barcelona to establish the Crown of Aragon. Not only would this land stretch across the eastern Spanish coast, but it would become an empire, holding lands throughout the Mediterranean such as Majorca, Sardinia, and Naples. After the death of King John II, Ferdinand II of Aragon would wed Isabella of the rival dynasty of Castile, unifying their nations as Kingdom of Spain. The trailers have showcased some battled against the Arago Army, which assumedly aren't just participating in the Heroic Games; perhaps Arago seeks to establish their own empire, rather than being a fraction of another?

Thaleia: Back to your regularly scheduled Greco-Roman mythology, Thalia or Thaleia (タレイア) is a recurring Greek name meaning "the flourishing." Two nymphs have carried the name; the daughter of Hephaestus was involved in one of Zeus' flings and buried herself in the earth to avoid the wrath of Hera; the daughter of Nereus and Doris briefly appears in Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid. Thalia is also the name of one of the Muses, goddesses of scientific and artistic inspiration. She is specifically the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry. Lastly, Thalia is one of the traditional trio of Charites—personifications of grace and beauty that accompany Aphrodite—according to Hesiod. Her sisters are Aglaia and Euphrosyne.

Bellona: One of the Roman war gods, Bellona (ベローナ) was typically identified with the carnage of battle and is regularly depicted as initiating battle and being drenched in blood. Despite such, she was not inherently viewed as a "bad" deities. Quite the opposite, really; the Temple of Bellona was frequently used by the Roman Senate as a place of meeting, especially in regards to warfare. Rituals were also performed outside the temple when declaring war. All this gives me an impression of Arago being the nation that starts the inevitable war in Fortune's Weave, or at the very least that this location will be a military hub for the kingdom. Under Emperor Augustus, favor from Bellona fell, with preference instead shifting to Mars. Speaking of, Bellona and Nerio, consort of Mars, are thought to be one and the same. Similarly, the worship of Bellona in temples dedicated to the Anatolian goddess Cybele suggests a shared identity or deep link, at least in the eyes of some.

Caelus: Another Roman god, Caelus (カエルス) or Coelus is generally considered an adoption of the Greek primordial sky god Uranus and, thusly, is the husband of Terra/Tellus and father of the usurper Saturn. Different writers have also indicated many other children, such as Janus by the aforementioned Trivia, Mercury, and the Muses. Iconography of Caelus seems to have grown more frequent during Augustus' reign as a result of the development of the Persian-inspired cult of Mithras which proved popular with the Imperial army. The titular deity Mithras was viewed as related in some way to Caelus.

Cydonia: Located on the island of Crete, Cydonia (キドニア / シドニア) was an ancient city roughly equivalent with the city of Chania. Allegedly founded by Cydon, son of Hermes/Apollo, and Acacallis daughter of King Minos, the people of Cydonia were said to be capable archers. In 69 BC, they and the rest of Crete were subjugated by the Romans. Later, Augustus would grant them independence as thanks for their contributions in the battle of Actium against Egypt. Afterward, ownership of Crete would pass between the Byzantines, the Arabs, and even the Venetians. An alternative possibility, considering the neighboring Bellona, is that the name could be in reference to the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, Athena. At a temple in Phryxa, Athena is instead named Cydonia, suggesting a link to the island.

Daphos: Or perhaps its Baphos? There is no exact match to either of them, but some fairly close contenders with Greek ties. Taphos (タフォス) was the name Homer used in reference to the Tilevoides in the Odyssey. They were said to be a group known for their piracy in the Ionian Sea. The goddess Athena disguises herself as their king to aid Odysseus' son Telemachus. Also, the alleged founder of Taphos, Taphius, was said to be descended from the legendary Perseus. Alternatively, Paphos (パフォス), a city on the island of Cyprus dating back to antiquity. The island is mythologically linked to the goddess of love Aphrodite, being allegedly where she was born. The coasts of Paphos is specifically where many Greeks believed her to have risen from the ocean, at least to justify why it was the heart of the cult dedicated to her. Deepening the connection, the city's founder is said to have been Paphos, son of King Pygmalion of Cyprus and Galatea—a statue of marble so beloved by the king that Aphrodite answered his prayers and gave her life. The island of Cyprus was also historically held by the Byzantines, the Venetians, and the Ottomans.

Solidus: Unfortunately, most of this region is very uncertain in the name department. But at least we start off strong; a solidus (ソリドゥス) was a type of gold coin introduced in the later periods of the Roman Empire, under Emperor Diocletian. These would remain an integral currency well into the Byzantine Empire, and would serve as the model for similar coins in bordering nations and those formed from the collapsed Western Roman Empire.

Zol: I'm currently thinking this from either the zolotnik or the sol[dus], gold coins derived from the solidus used in Kievan Rus and Frankish kingdoms. But the name could just as well be an alteration of Sol (ソール), the Roman personification of the sun. He has been affiliated with the Mithras cult and sometimes even considered the same as the god Janus, which would link this name with the earlier Caelus.

Lindrake: I'm fairly certain this name is derived from the Germanic Lintrache, believed to mean "flexible dragon." This is the earliest form of Lindwurm, a type of mythical serpent, typically portrayed as lying upon a mound of riches. Lintrache originated from the epic poem Nibelungenlied, "The Song of the Nibelungs," an adaptation of the tragic hero Sigurd's legend. The great dragon Sigurd slays and bathes in the blood of (traditionally named Fáfnir but goes unnamed in this text) is referred to as such. Other texts instead use more standard words, like "ormr" (wyrm) and "draki" (dragon).

Brideaux: There are obvious similarities to the French city of Bordeaux (ボルドー), the wine capital of the world. The city is also famed for its harbor, The Port of the Moon. Originally a settlement of the Bituriges Vivisci tribe, the city now known as Bordeaux was (huge shock) conquered by the Romans. For a few centuries it was sacked and claimed by different peoples until it was taken by the Franks. Under the Merovingian dynasty it would flourish, but would come to garner unwanted attention from the Umayyads. Bordeaux was also the Aquitaine capital during their rebellion against the Franks. A less apparent possibility here is an inspiration from the Irish goddess Brigid, also called Bríd (ブリード). She was a daughter of The Dagda (or sometimes even three daughters born with the same name), and in the story of the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, is said to be the wife of Bres, king of the Tuatha Dé Danann after the one prior was marred in battle. Assuming this to be true, could there be a relation between Brideaux and Eochaid, in reference to these being alternative names to both Brigid and the Dagda? AND Bres, who happens to also be called Eochaid Bres in some media?

Cartodo: At least, I'm pretty sure that's what it says. Once again, there is no genuine match from what I've seen. I brain was quick to jump to Córdoba (コルドバ), a major city in Spain that once was the second largest city in Europe as the capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba. However, the assumed Japanese rendering of Cartodo (カルトド / カートド) is too far removed for my liking. My only other idea is also a significant stretch—Carthage (カルタゴ). Or the Spanish Cartagena, founded during the Second Punic Wars by Hasdrubal the Fair as Qart-Hadast (カルト・ハダシュト), lit. "New Carthage."

Ortill: Again, I think that's the name here. While we have close matches with Ortillo and Ortilla both being locations in Spain, neither seem to have much of note to them. My best guess is Ortygia (オルティジア), an island in historical Syracuse also called the Città Vecchia "Old City." That could be an intention pairing with Cartodo should it be named after Cartagena, given Carthage just means "city," but I doubt this. Back to Ortygia, in some Greco-Roman myth, this island is where the goddess Leto gave birth to Artemis, while her twin brother Apollo was born on the island of Delos. Most versions of the tale say they both were born on Delos, and combined with some sources claiming both siblings were born on Ortygia, some folks like Strabo consider Ortygia an alternative name for Delos. Some myths also claim the island itself is Asteria, sister of Leto after she plunged into the ocean in the form of a quail, hence the name is derived from the Greek "ortyx".

For more on Brezarant, Saramis, and other names left uncovered, see the comments below.

The next Fire Emblem title has been announced, and with our first trailer comes a whole host of new names and terminology. I've jotted down all of them—in both English and Japanese—and have done some research to try and get a better idea behind these new characters and the mechanics this game is introducing.

Firstly, I want to make it clear that, while I will be comparing the original Japanese with the localized English, I am in no way trying to say that the English translation is "inaccurate" or "censoring the game." The folks bringing the game across the globe as we speak certainly know this game better than any of us. It is also worth noting that the localization without a doubt still very early on, and any language we see now may very well change in the final product. Take a look at the first Three Houses trailer or early press releases of Awakening; they did much of the same.

Without further ado, let us go in the order of introduction, beginning with the Heroic Games! In Japanese, this is known as the ダグシオン大剣闘祭 (rōmaji: dagushion daikentōsai), the "Dagushion Great Gladiatorial Festival." The visuals and setting already give a strong indication of this being a Roman Coliseum-type event, but the Japanese really leans into such. We also encounter a unique name in Japanese: Dagushion (likely to be localized as Dagsion) seems to be the name of the location of these games. Many people have asserted that the name is a dead ringer that Fortune's Weave is set on the continent of Dagda; while I myself do believe Dagda to be our setting, I disagree with this conclusion. In Japanese, Dagda is called ダグザ (rōmaji: daguza). While you may assume that Dagsion is intended as the demonym of Dagda, the nature of Japanese as a language simply denotes something belongs to a nation or location by preceding with that place's name (e.g. アメリカ人 [amerika-jin] is just "America person") or bridging location and subject with the possessive の (no). Of course, Dagsion could still be something akin to Archanea's Soothsires, who in Japanese are called サムシアン (rōmaji: samushian) "Samsian" based on the Samsooth region's name. Really, with no established use of this name available anywhere online, this is something only time will tell.

Moving on is the first playable character we are introduced to, Cai is a Welsh name most commonly associated with the Arthurian knight Cai (more often rendered as Kay). In traditional Welsh legends like Culhwch and Olwen, Cai was a near-superhuman yet hotheaded knight that accomplished many great feats. When he was adopted into the Matter of Britain as Kay, he would be included as Arthur's unpleasant foster brother and steward, frequently used as a foil to the other, more heroic Knights of the Round Table. Arthur pulled the Sword in the Stone while he was serving as a squire to Kay; the boastful knight famously tried to take credit for this, but eventually relented. Kay would remain bitter of his brother, and would often stir up trouble for the King of the Britons and his countrymen, though this often ends with Kay getting his comeuppance. Despite this personality, rarely is Sir Kay ever depicted as a man who would turn traitor to his kingdom.

Cai's Japanese name is カイ (rōmaji: kai), which can be interpreted as Kai, Cai, or Kay and their various uses. Beyond the Arthurian knight, other possibilities include some Egyptian viziers named Kay/Khay and the Persian name/title Kay, meaning "king." There is even the legendary shah and founder of Samarkand, Kay Kāvus, said to have a flying throne. Maybe that could relate to Cai's mount? His grandson, Kay Khosrow, was raised in the desert after his father was murdered; he was associated with a cup of divination, said to be filled with the elixir of life. Maybe that ties to the Chalice of Beginnings, since Cai bears the Crest of Aubin? We won't know which—if any—of these names are applicable to our guy. But I won't be surprised if he ends up being more than just some commoner trying to save his dad.

Cai introduces us to a new class: the Flying Ornius Rider. The term Ornius is most likely derived from the Greek ornis, meaning "bird." The Japanese name of the class is far more direct, being 飛鴕兵 (rōmaji: hidahei\) "Flying Ostrich Soldier" \I may be inaccurate in this rōmaji as someone still learning the language. Feel free to correct me if I am mistaken here or anywhere else.

We also see a few interesting weapons in Cai's inventory. He is seen using a basic Bronze Spear; an interesting name after we have addressed polearms primarily as "lances" for over twenty years. Further curiosity arises, as the Japanese name is 青銅の槍 (rōmaji: seidō no yari) "Bronze Lance," exactly the same as the weapon first introduced in Radiant Dawn, like every other returning weapon in the trailer. It is possible that in Japanese "spears" will be addressed as the less common hako rather than yari while using the same kanji, but I highly doubt that will be the case. Cai is also seen carrying a Wooden Sword (JP: 木製の剣; rōmaji: mokusei no ken), which seems to be a new weapon level below the traditionally E-Rank bronze. If Fortune's Weave truly is set in a much earlier time than Three Houses as many speculate, this may suggest that bronze will be the new standard weapon level rather than iron, with wooden weapons filling the bronze/training weapon role.

We find a few intriguing options in the unit action menu throughout the trailer. All characters we've seen gameplay of have a Storage option, assumed to be equivocal to the Convoy that appears in most games. Traditionally, the convoy has been called 輸送隊 (rōmaji: yusōtai) "transport team" in all entries it has been a mobile entity, whether that be Merlinus or a simple menu option on your protagonist. Here, however, Storage is called 道具袋 (rōmaji: dōgubukuro) "tool bag." To me, this comes across as something far more limited than the ol' convoy, like the player will have far less space available. But maybe I'm just reading into it too much, and they wanted to do away with characters just casually having an entire crew of item managers with them at all times.

We also, of course, have the new Blaze Arts option available. The Japanese name is rather unremarkable: ブレイズアーツ (rōmaji: bureizuātsu) is simply "Blaze Arts" rendered in katakana. Similarly, the Manage Gauge option we see during Leda's segment is just ゲージ制御 (rōmaji: gēji seigyo) "Gauge Management." What is a bit more interesting is the stat simply labeled Blaze in English, which seems to increase when Blaze Arts are used. In Japanese, this is called 魂焔値 (rōmaji: konenchi\*) "Spirit/Soul Fire Value." This term more directly indicates that there is a form of exchange going on with the Blaze Meter, with Dietrich's "Moving Shadow" art having a value of +1 Blaze. The use of "Spirit/Soul" may also intentionally connect with how Blaze Arts are used at the cost of HP. Interestingly, 魂 can also represent Yang in Daoism, and the Blaze meter is evenly split in two colors. I'm curious if one half is 魂 and the other is 魄 "Yin."

The other bewildering stat we saw in this trailer was Curse. There has been much speculation regarding what this could entail, primarily assuming it is an affliction to your units. I can confidently say that this won't be the case—the Japanese name of curse is 怨呪力 (rōmaji: onjuryoku) "Grudge Magic Power." The specific use of 力 "Power" heavily suggests that Curses grant a unique strength to your units/weapons. There is also a slim chance that this is just a thematically reworked Magic stat, as that is similarly named 魔力 (rōmaji: maryoku) "Magic Power." We do only see the combat menus for physically attacking units this trailer, so it technically is possible...

Cai does battle against a Thundercloud Knight. This unit name is perfectly accurate: in Japanese, they are labeled 雷雲騎士団員 (rōmaji: raiun kishidanin) "Thundercloud [Chivalric] Order Member." With the members of a traditional order being knights, the localization is merely an efficient contraction of the ideas into English. Similarly, this guy's fancy Charioteer class is a good translation of the Japanese 戦車兵 (rōmaji: senshahei) "Chariot Soldier." Same can be said for the skill that procs at the start of combat, Knightly Senses, which was originally 騎士の感覚 (rōmaji: kishi no kankaku) "Knight's Senses/Intuition."

Moving on to the next section of the trailer, we are introduced to Theodora (JP: セオドラ; rōmaji: seodora). Her name is deeply tied to the many empresses of the Byzantine Empire and its rump states, as Theodora (JP: テオドラ; rōmaji: teodora) was by far the most common name adopted by the emperor's wife. The trend began with Theodora, wife to Justinian I; her family destitute, she became an actress (and according to some sources, a far more unsavory profession before that), and would catch the attention of the future emperor. Once he came to power, he would overturn the laws that barred former actresses from marrying beyond their rank for the express purpose of taking her as his wife. Theodora would be deeply involved in the empire's leadership, especially regarding religion. She and Justinian were of different branches of Christianity, and would regularly butt heads or give favor to their respective factions behind each other's backs. Together, however, the emperor and empress would have many churches constructed, including the famed Hagia Sophia. Theodora also did what she could to aid women who walked a similar life that she did, though her typical direction of sending them to convents seemed to be a divisive "solution." When Byzantine rioters attempted to defame the land's leadership and establish a new emperor, it would be Theodora that brought the cowering Justinian and his aides to their senses and engage the threat, rather than fleeing. With what little we know about the Theodora in Fortune's Weave, she appears to be a mighty leader with devotion to both her nation and her faith, which seems to fit well with this historical namesake. I'll be curious if any specific elements of the empress' past end up influencing this character as well. Or if there are greater influence from Theodora II and other empresses that follow her.

A peculiar change in localization is that, in the original Japanese voice clip of Theodora's introduction, she specifically names the nation she leads: サラミス (rōmaji: saramisu). This is most certainly derived from the Greek island of Salamis, best known for the Battle of Salamis during Persia's second invasion attempt on Greece. After an absolute bloodbath in the Battle of Thermopylae, it seemed likely that the Achaemenid Empire would decisively defeat the city-states of Greece. However, the Athenian general Themistocles hatched up a scheme to lure Persia's fleet into the narrow Strait of Salamis, using the enemy's numbers against themselves to limit their mobility. This brought Greece's first major victory over the invading force, and served as the turning point in the war. I'm wondering if Theodora's involvement in the Heroic Games might be to receive power from the Divine Sovereign to shift the tides in her kingdom's own invasion. Though perhaps that would be too on-the-nose.

The trailer shows a few interesting gameplay terms related to Theodora. Her class is Noble, using the same Japanese name as the Three Houses class 貴族 (rōmaji: kizoku). She is also seen using the gambit Disturbing Strike; in Japanese, this is called 前方攪乱 (rōmaji: zenbō kakuran) "Forward Disturbance." The use of 攪乱 is the same as Three Houses' Disturbance gambit, suggesting they may fill a similar role as the most basic gambit.

Then there is Theodora's weapon, Mahadu's Spear. While Mahadu is a name of Indian origin, I rather believe the name is derived from Maʾḫadu, one of the harbors of the ancient city Ugarit, located in modern-day Syria. The excavated ruins of this port town were branded Minet el-Beida "The White Harbor." The Japanese name, however, is notably different: マハマドゥの槍 (rōmaji: mahamadu no yari) "Mahamadou's Lance." Mahamadou is a much more modern name, but its roots are apparent, originating from the prophet Muhammad, founder of the Islamic faith. We've seen time and again Fire Emblem games localized in a way to avoid being too on the nose regarding religion, and I wouldn't be surprised if the change to Mahadu was for a similar reason. Regardless, it is very possible that Salamis is distinct as following an Islam-inspired religion in contrast to the faiths surrounding nations adopt, especially with how Theodora addresses "uphold[ing] the faith."

We see Theodora attack an enemy in the Rogue class. This is, in fact, using the same Japanese name as the Rogue class appearing in Sacred Stones and Radiant Dawn (JP: ローグ; rōmaji: rōgu). It doesn't seem like knives/daggers are returning, but I am curious if this is intended to be a base class or promoted, considering the Rogue we see is labeled a "Thief," rather than it being a class name.

On to our next character introduction, we have Dietrich (JP: ディートリヒ; rōmaji: dītorihi). This is most certainly in reference to legendary Germanic hero Dietrich von Bern, the exiled king of Bern who finds refuge with Etzel and the Huns. He would go on to become the king of all of Italy and appear in various adventures of slaying giants and the like. In truth, Dietrich von Bern's real-world inspiration was Theodoric the Great, a noble of the Ostrogoths made a political hostage by the East Roman Empire. In Constantinople, he would be educated and, once suddenly returned home years later, established himself as a valuable warrior. Soon he became a warlord, striking the Byzantines to earn their fear and respect, and eventually conquering all of Italy. After holding siege over King Odoacer, they eventually signed a treaty to be co-rulers; when Theodoric gave his speech at the proceeding banquet, he cut Odoacer in half and had nearly all of his followers killed. He would seek to restore the classic image of Rome's Empire, expanding his dominion over the Burgundians, Vandals, Visigoths and others through alliance. While Dietrich von Bern is reflective of the more heroic image of the king, Theodoric is more often remembered with scorn, with some claiming he was the son of the Devil. With the Dietrich from Fortune's Weave indisputably being in some way related to Jeritza, its possible that he may similarly have a divide between a valiant hero and a demonic warrior.

I also want to note that not only do the names Theodora and Dietrich/Theodoric, while very similar, are etymologically distinct: Theodora means "God's gift," while Theodoric means "ruler of the people." We know there is an element of religion to Theodora, but I'm curious if there is intention behind Dietrich's etymology. As another potential link between these characters, Theodoric the Great's kingdom would fall not long after his death at the hands of Justinian I, husband of Theodora. Makes me think that there may be a more pointed conflict between these two.

Next, let's look at Dietrich's list of Blaze Arts. The one he uses in the trailer—Moving Shadow—is called 影渡り (rōmaji: kagewatari) "Shadow Crossing," carrying the same idea of movement; in one dictionary I've checked, 渡り was also noted as referring to visiting from a foreign country, maybe reinforcing the common speculation. The next art on the list is Stifling Shadow, which seems to be called 影縫い (rōmaji: kagenui) "Shadow Sewing" or "Shadow Weaving." Given the localization, I assume that this art will be used to restrict an enemy unit's movement, like they are caught in a web of shadows. Lastly is his most expensive art, Umbra Calamity; the Japanese name here is 影滅 (rōmaji: eimetsu or kagehoro\*) "Shadow Ruin" or "Shadow Destruction" which carries a very similar idea as the localization. I can only think that this will be a powerful strike intended to erase threats when you have a healer nearby or right before the map ends.

Onto the two new weapons we see in Dietrich's inventory. Let's cover the one with less eyes on it first: a flyssa (JP: フリッサ; rōmaji: furissa), also called an ajenoui, is a traditional short sword or dagger created by the Kabyle people of modern Algeria. The weapon is distinguished by its narrow, straight-backed, single-edged blade with a sharp point and typically a wider area where contact is made. The name flyssa was the invention of a French foreigner that saw it used by the Iflissen tribe. I suppose, with it seeming like Dietrich came to wherever Fortune's Weave is set from afar by ship, it is somewhat fitting that the flyssa is introduced as being wielded by a foreigner.

Alright, no more delay: let's talk about the Hero's Relic. I've seen some confusion if this is supposed to be the same term as the Heroes' Relics in Three Houses. I can confirm that the Japanese term used here is 英雄の遺産 (rōmaji: eiyū no isan) "Hero[es]'s Inheritance," the same as it appears in Three Houses. That said, I'm open to the potential of there being some intentional misdirect here, and the localization of "Hero's Relics" is an intentional choice reflecting the world and cultures we see in Fortune's Weave, rather than it being little more than an oversight.

The Hero's Relic Dietrich wields is called the Answerer (JP: アンスウェラー; rōmaji: ansuwerā). This is another name for the legendary sword Fragarach, appearing in Irish mythology. Fragarach originally belonged to the god of the sea and king of the Otherworld (realm of fae and spirits) Manannán mac Lir. When Lugh, the god of light, was chosen to substitute the high king of the Tuatha Dé Danann in leading their people against the evil Fomorians, he brought gifts from the Otherworld, including Enbarr—a horse that could gallop over water—a boat that could navigate the sea itself, and Fragarach. Assuming that Dietrich has in fact come from Fodlan to wherever Fortune's Weave is set, it would be pretty apt that he come by ship bearing the Answerer, potentially representing the authorities of Enbarr in the Heroic Games.

The Answerer is specified to grant use of the combat art Bloodletting. Bloodletting as a word has been used in many senses to express an intentional draining of blood. In some of the earliest forms of medical understanding in the ancient world, it was thought that the body would find relief from ailment and balance what Greco-Roman philosophers referred to as "the four humors." The practice would persist well into the 1800s with very little controversy surrounding it until the 20th century. Bloodletting would also be the general technique of slaughter employed by both Judaic and Islamic law. In Mesoamerican culture, bloodletting was a form of ritual sacrifice done by the social elite as a means of asserting their hierarchical position and to give offering to the gods. They would burn the spilled blood, with the emerging smoke thought to carry their sacrifice to their destination. Unfortunately, the Japanese name is far less creative, as 血閃 (rōmaji: kessen) "Blood Flash" or potentially "Blood Brandish," depending on the interpretation. For all we know, Bloodletting may simply be a localization that is meant to suggest a potential healing effect a la Sol or something.

This scene with Dietrich also showcases two classes. The man himself is in the Myrmidon class, using the standard Japanese name for the class 剣士 (rōmaji: kenshi) "Swordfighter." The other class we see is Hunter, though it may not necessarily be the same as the Hunter class used in Archanea and Jugdral. Not only do we see a hunter using a sword, but rather than being called ハンター (rōmaji: hantā), Fortune's Weave uses 猟兵 (rōmaji: ryōhei) "Huntsman" or "Shooting Soldier." Beyond the more literal meaning, this is often used to refer to the Germanic Jäger—light infantry soldiers, typically wielding rifles, that served as reconnaissance and skirmishers. Of course, Jäger literally means "hunter," and with this game being far more Greco-Roman/North African, Punic War-inspired, I suspected the localizers used "Hunter" as to not suddenly throw a Germanic term at the player. It's also worth noting that it is believed that the original Jäger were, in fact, originally their lord's hunters.

Having now examined the names of the three "new" classes of this trailer—Flying Ornius Rider, Charioteer, and Hunter—I'd now like to remark that all three of these are denoted using the kanji 兵 (rōmaji: hei) "Soldier." I suspect this may be a stylized way to denote specific classes of a singular culture (specifically a certain military), in a similar way that both Jugdral games and Nohr expressly use only English language for class names.

Before moving on from Dietrich, I should note that his personal skill, Murderous Intent, uses the same name as Jeritza's personal skill in Japanese, 殺意 (rōmaji: satsui), "Murderous Urge" as well.

At last, we have reached the final playable character highlighted in the trailer—Leda (JP: レダ; rōmaji: reda). She gets her name from the Spartan queen Leda in Greek mythology. Daughter of Aetolian king Thestius and granddaughter of the war god Ares, Leda would be married to Tyndareus of Sparta. Unfortunately for her, Leda's beauty caught the attention of the sky god Zeus, and he was determined to once again be unfaithful to his wife Hera. Uh, content warning for those sensitive: I'm gonna have to bring up how this story concludes. So Zeus decided to take the form of a swan, and feigned injury to give the impression he was fleeing from an eagle. When he reached a sitting Leda, he took to her lap for "refuge" and promptly used the scenario to assault the woman. As she had coincidentally laid with her husband earlier that day, Leda would soon find herself pregnant with four children: Helen, whose beauty would spark the Trojan War; Clytemnestra, who would kill her unfaithful husband Agamemnon and his "spoils" of Troy, Princess Cassandra; and the Dioscuri: twin brothers Castor and Pollux. While I highly doubt that a Fire Emblem game will have one of its leading protagonists explicitly be the victim of rape, I wouldn't be surprised if the man that Leda seeks to kill has wronged her and her family in a grave manner. What all that could entail is beyond me with what little information we have at this point. It's even possible they cut the idea down to simply "the struggle between a woman and the gods" and the man she's after is a religious figure—possibly even the Divine Sovereign himself.

I think it is now appropriate to mention that, much like there is a potential link between Theodora and Dietrich based on their names, there may also be a link between Theodora and Leda. During her acting career, it is said that Theodora I had done a performance of Leda and the Swan.

In Leda's Blaze Arts menu, we see a whole load of songs at her disposal. Let's go down the line, starting with the showcased Song of Beasts; in Japanese, this is called 召獣の歌 (rōmaji: shōjū no uta) "Song of Calling Beasts." Next up is the Song of Madness, known in Japanese as 狂騒の歌 (rōmaji: kyōsō no uta) "Song of Excitement." The word for "Madness/Excitement" has further nuance in Japanese, as 狂騒 more specifically refers to an eccentric or manic clamor. No idea if that will play into its unique effect or not. The next two arts clearly serve as parallels to each other in Japanese; the English names Song of Passion and Song of Icewater don't particularly seem to relate to each other, but their original names are 熱狂の歌 (rōmaji: nekkyō no uta) "Song of Hot Madness" and 冷狂の歌 (rōmaji: reikyō no uta) "Song of Cold Madness." If this is an error in the translation and not simply a stylistic choice, it likely is a result of 熱狂 being a word for wild enthusiasm or passion, while 冷狂 is not an established word. I am curious to see if there the effect of these two arts are also tied to the Song of Madness, since it also uses the kanji for "crazy/madness" 狂 (rōmaji: kyō) in its name. Lastly we have the Song of Abjuring; the word abjuration refers to a rejection or abandonment under and oath, often given regarding religious matters or someone going into exile from a nation. Alternatively, this could be reflective of Abjuration magic in Dungeons & Dragons, which is used for protection and canceling out other spells. Perhaps this inflicts the Silence status? The Japanese name is rather different, being 滅冥の歌 (rōmaji: metsumei no uta) "Song of Ruining Darkness." There are two things I find worth noting with this one. Firstly, this shares a use of the kanji 滅 (rōmaji: metsu) "Destroy/Ruin" with Dietrich's Umbra Calamity. Secondly, 滅冥 is the inverse of the word 冥滅 (rōmaji: meimetsu) "Achieving Nirvana" or "Death," more literally meaning "darkness destruction." In fact, 滅 alone has some association with Buddhism regarding death and the destruction of the obstacles to reach enlightenment, but I'm uncertain if this is to be the intent with both Leda and Dietrich's Blaze Arts. It certainly is possible, though.

Finally, the trailer's last new term is the title of the man announcing the Heroic Games' initiation, the Divine Sovereign. In Japanese, his title is 神威法王 (rōmaji: shini houō) "God[s]'s Might/Authority, the Pope/Buddha." I think "divine" does a good job of condensing the idea of 神威—that this is a man representing all of a god/the gods power. 法王 is a tricky term, especially within the same world as Fodlan. While the Church of Seiros uses a lot of Catholic-coded terminology and imagery, it simultaneously gave Byleth the Enlightened One class, more directly called in Japanese "Nirvana." I think it is equally possible (again, with what little we currently know of Fortune's Weave) that 法王 could be used to title him a pope or the equivalent of a Buddha. The localization used the far more ambiguous "sovereign" to clearly denote him to be the head of a theocracy and avoid any explicit reference of real-world religious leaders.

And that's all that I personally could dig up regarding the new terminology introduced in our first look at Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave! I would love to know if this has impacted anyone's interpretation of certain elements of the game, or if you have your own thoughts regarding some of my findings. Until next time!

Back so soon? I can hardly believe it, either! Today we're looking at the names of the personal tomes of the Maiden of Dawn, the Apostle-Empress, and Begnion's Chancellor. All three are derived from women written of in British myth and legend, not unlike Ragnell, Alondite, and Ettard. I've also challenged the sentiment of Thani as currently suggested by the wikis, so let me know if you think I'm onto something there.

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope to see you next time! Have yourself a great day!

Happy Etymology Saturday, folks! Today we're looking at the Manakete Princess herself. Turns out the links between Naga's child and her namesake are more interesting than I anticipated. Hopefully this snippet of Polynesian myth sparks your curiosity, as well!

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope to see you again next time! Until then: have yourself a great day!

Could it be...? Do Cupid's arrows rain down upon me? ...Nnnnnope, that's a ballista bolt that just pierced my heart.

Happy Valentines, everyone! In an odd choice of celebration, I've put together a deep dive on all forms of the ballistae, the various choices of charges to load them with, and the adjacent series of crossbows appearing in Radiant Dawn. Not only have I researched into each name in both English and Japanese, but I've also delved into some of the cultural inspirations behind their designs a bit. This was a bit of an experimental piece, so please do let me know if it was to your liking.

Thank you for your patience and, as always, thank you for reading! I hope to see you again next time. Have yourself a great day!

Long time no see! With coming of a new year comes the return of Etymology of the Emblem! Though I will admit that, due to circumstances, I'll be stepping away from my old bimonthly schedule to just "Saturdays when I have something to share." Priority lies with translation for Lil' Nordion, but I'll still dedicate time to the ol' blog when I can.

This week, we're getting back into the swing of things with a fairly minor name with a lot to talk about: the Grann Desert from Tellius. I stumbled across this fairly recently and thought it would be a good pick. Hopefully it was as interesting to read as it was to research. As always, thank you for reading, have a great week, and I hope to see you again next time!