Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series [UPDATED 20AUG2013]

[Sandman0077]

Hello all! Deployment is winding down, and with my extra free time I have been constructing a basic layout of the Book of Mudora, which first appeared in 'A Link to the Past' in the video game series.

What is it you ask? It's main purpose in 'A Link to the Past' is to help Link translate the ancient Hyrule language found throughout the game.

The different pictures of what the book looks like:

The book includes the Creation of Earth, History of Hyrule, Legends, Myths, and Prophecies of the Hero of Time.

So with that being said, I want to make a version of my own. I know there are a few people that make replicas of them, but they are only filled with 10 or 20 pages of writing, and then the remainder of the pages are blank. The covers are not very accurate, and they are just darn tiny!

I already know how to bound a hard cover book, I've done a few before while researching my Book of Eli Bible build, so that's not an issue. I will be typing out the text in OpenOffice and converting them using the Hylian fonts I've downloaded. Then I will hand trace the writings onto the actual paper I'm using for the book, to give it a more real, handwritten appearance. The font will change according to which era/timeline the text is. Example being that Skyward Sword uses Ancient Hylian, where are Ocarina of Time uses a more modern Hylian text.

The next post will be the book's overview showing the different sections I'm including in the book.

I will be leaving 2 or 3 blank pages between some of the sections so more can be included later, because as I see it, it is a recurring item through the Zelda time line, therefore it is passed down throughout history, with it's current owner adding their own experiences, maps, and tales into it's pages.

So I ask all you Zelda fans to check my book overview and give me feedback on parts that you see incorrect and anything you see missing/want to see added!

I may do a LIMITED run of these, but I haven't decided yet. Each book will take me several weeks, if not a couple of months to write the text and draw the maps. So this will be a long running thread hopefully! I will also be posting different styles of the writing technique so I can get full feedback from other true fans about how they would like to see it or how they think it should be done. So please leave me feedback!

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

The book dimensions will be around 5" wide and 6" long, with roughly 200 pages, depending on how many pages I can fill with the following information. The 'Tales' portion will be based on the games, not so much a synopsis as much as a Mythified version of the storylines.

The Book is divided into 3 parts, or 'Books', similar to how a bible has different books like Genesis and such in one book.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Book I: CREATION

Chapter I: The Three Goddesses and the Creation of the Earth
Chapter II: The Goddess Hylia


Book II: HISTORY OF HYRULE

Chapter I: The Royal Family
Section I: History of the Royal Family

Chapter II: The Sacred Objects
Section I: The Triforce
Section II: The Goddess's Harp
Section III: The Goddess Sword/Master Sword
Section IV: The Light Force
Section V: The Picori Blade
Section VI:The Ocarina of Time
Section VII: The Mirror of Twilight
Section VIII: The Baton/Wand of Wind

Chapter III: The Races of Hyrule
Section I: Hylians
Section II: Gerudo
Section III: Goron
Section IV: Deku
Section V: Kokiri
Section VI: Sheikah
Section VII: Zora
Section VIII: Human

Chapter IV: The Creatures of Hyrule

Chapter V: The Languages of Hyrule

Chapter VI: Events
Section I: War of the Bound Chest (Prior to The Minish Cap)
Section II: Time Splits

Part I: Timeline 1: The Dark World and the Hero's Descendants. (Hero defeats Ganon, Child Era)
Event I: The Interloper War (Prior to Majora's Mask)
Event II: Twilight Invasion of Hyrule (Twilight Princess)

Part II: Timeline 2: The Hero of Wind and A New World. (Hero defeats Ganon, Adult Era)
Event I: The Great Flood (Wind Waker)

Part II: Timeline 3: Hyrule's decline and the Last Hero. (Hero is defeated, Ganon takes over Hyrule.)
Event I: The War of Imprisionment (Prior to A Link to the Past)
Event II: The Great Cataclysm (A Link to the Past)


Book III: THE PROPHECIES AND TALES OF HYRULE

Chapter I: Tales
Tale I: Skyward Sword
Tale II: The Minish Cap
Tale III: Four Swords
Tale IV: Ocarina of Time
Tale V: Marjora's Mask
Tale VI: Twilight Princess
Tale VII: Four Swords Adventure
Tale VIII: The Wind Waker
Tale IX: Phantom Hourglass
Tale X: Spririt Tracks
Tale XI: A Link to the Past
Tale XII: Oracle of Seasons
Tale XIII: Oracle of Ages
Tale XIV: Link's Awakening
Tale XV: The Legend of Zelda
tale XVI: Adventure of Link

Chapter II: Prophecies
Prophecy I: Prophecy of the Great Cataclysm
Prophecy II:
Prophecy III:
Prophecy IV:
Prophecy V:
Prophecy VI:
Prophecy VII:
Prophecy VIII:

 

[Malphas]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

Great something else I want. Looking forward to this one.

 

[Wes R]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

I'll be watching this one. A Link To the Past is still my favorite game in the series. Has the 2 different Zelda timelines had any effect in the book during the games?

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

I'll be watching this one. A Link To the Past is still my favorite game in the series. Has the 2 different Zelda timelines had any effect in the book during the games?

I think you are asking if the book has changed throughout the different timelines? If not, please elaborate on your question.

That being said, the only time (to my knowledge) that the book has been an item used and/or it's contents spoken of is in 'A Link to the Past', both video game and comic (haven't gotten a chance to play 'Skyward Sword', but I heard it was in the game and there are pictures of someone holding it).

When it appears in the other games is it just as a table piece, or a 'sacred book' is talked about. Not a lot to go on, but it is said to have the History of Hyrule in it, so I'm taking that all the way. It's a lot of pages to fill, so I'm kinda just going with it.

In regards to the different timelines, you mention 2, and there are actually 3. The timeline splits after Ocarina of Time:

Timeline 1. Hero defeats Ganon, adult Link stays with Zelda in the future.
Timeline 2. Hero defeats Ganon, adult Link returns to his original time as a child.
Timeline 3. Hero is killed by Ganon, Hyrule is destroyed, etc.

Some time ago Nintendo released an official timeline (FINALLY!) It can give you a better idea of the different timelines:

http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-post-images/iclht4.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1325103546611

So theoretically, there were from that point on 3 different Books of Mudora, each going on to be written in about the current events in each seperate timeline.

I have three possible solutions to the 3 book issue:

1. Maybe the owner of the book could have been able to travel through dimensions and time and written about all of them, much like people travel to different realms in the games.
2. Maybe the three Goddesses had the power to travel between dimensions and time and tell the owners of the 3 separate books about what was happening in the other time lines.
3. Maybe the book I'm making contains the fictional stories that someone made up i.e. made up tales for the hero's from each timeline as children's stories.

Does that sound crazy? Would I be better off making 3 different ones?

 

[drknotter]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

Oh man. I am totaly keeping my eye on this. Link to the Past is my favorite game of all time, hands down. I would love to own something like this. In addition to all the lore that you're aming on including, what do you think about including some pages on translating the Hylian? I'm imagining something similar to Tokien, but maybe not quite as detailed. Then again, I guess it wouldn't make sense to contain English translations in a book that's supposed to be completely in Hylian.

As for the three separate timelines, I like including all three in one book. The book is supposed to be magical, so why not let it extend across different timelines? Plus I think it'd be nicer to have the complete story of Link, in all his incarnations.

Subscribed.

 

[Wes R]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

I wish they'd go back to the art style of the Link to the past timeline. The book including all 3 timelines would be an interesting one. Nintendo sure made a mess of things though. There's a book coming out on Amazon that is the official history of Hyrule and it's fairly cheap. Not sure if it would help when it comes out or not. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia: Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma, Patrick Thorpe, Akira Himekawa: 9781616550417: Amazon.com: Books

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

In addition to all the lore that you're aming on including, what do you think about including some pages on translating the Hylian? I'm imagining something similar to Tokien, but maybe not quite as detailed. Then again, I guess it wouldn't make sense to contain English translations in a book that's supposed to be completely in Hylian.

Here is the issue with that. The original Book of Mudora contained translations for the Ancient Hylian language. The Hylian languages throughout the games has all been based on Japanese (as LoZ is made is Japan), save for Twilight Princess which was based on the English language. As I don't speak a word of Japanese, the entire book will be based on the English translations.

That being said, at each area that changes to a different version of Hylian, I will be including a page with the letters in alphabetical order, so you can use that as a guide for translating it. What do you guys think about that?

There's a book coming out on Amazon that is the official history of Hyrule and it's fairly cheap. Not sure if it would help when it comes out or not. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia: Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma, Patrick Thorpe, Akira Himekawa: 9781616550417: Amazon.com: Books

Already preordered my friend

*UPDATE*

I have finished rewording the main events and battles section, sacred items, and races. Starting on the Creation section today.

Another question for you guys. I am putting the races of Hyrule in there, but should I also do the races of enemies? Like Moblins, Stalfos, etc? I'm afraid if I start including enemies, then I'll have to include the boss's from each temple and such. Which is fine with me, the more the merrier, I just want other fans opinions about what they feel should be in the book and what shouldn't.

Also, I've included the Goddess Sword in the Sacred Items section. It was forged by the Goddess Hylia and then infused with powers to become the Master Sword. So I think it should be in there.

Feedback please!

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

Ok SO the complete listing of all the creatures and enemies in the Zelda universe is ridiculously long. I have close to 50 from just the first 2 games alone, so I'm thinking I will only do the most recurring ones such as Moblins, Keese, Stalfos, etc. I plan to do basic drawings of each Sacred Item, races, etc, and drawing 100+ pictures is going to take just too darn long.

Here is the list of creatures/enemies I'm currently including. If you see others that deserve to be on the list, then let me know, but I took the most recurring/recognizable ones from the different video games. I won't be including the bosses, mini bosses, and Armored Statues/Knights because they wouldn't be well known except by Link because he's been in the dungeons/temples/etc. These are what common folk and the occasional ruins explorer may have run into or heard about :

ChuChu
Deku Baba
Dodongo
Floormaster/Wallmaster
Keese
Leever
Lizalfos
Like Like
Moblin
Octorok
Peahat
Poe
ReDead
Skulltula
Stalfos
Tektite
Wizzrobe

 

[drknotter]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

Here is the issue with that. The original Book of Mudora contained translations for the Ancient Hylian language. The Hylian languages throughout the games has all been based on Japanese (as LoZ is made is Japan), save for Twilight Princess which was based on the English language. As I don't speak a word of Japanese, the entire book will be based on the English translations.

That being said, at each area that changes to a different version of Hylian, I will be including a page with the letters in alphabetical order, so you can use that as a guide for translating it. What do you guys think about that?

So when you say the book will be based on the English translations, does that mean it will all be done in the Twilight Princess language? Or will you use the Japanese-based languages as if they were English? Also, I think the Skyward Sword language is also English based, also.

 

[drknotter]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

Ok SO the complete listing of all the creatures and enemies in the Zelda universe is ridiculously long. I have close to 50 from just the first 2 games alone, so I'm thinking I will only do the most recurring ones such as Moblins, Keese, Stalfos, etc. I plan to do basic drawings of each Sacred Item, races, etc, and drawing 100+ pictures is going to take just too darn long.

Here is the list of creatures/enemies I'm currently including. If you see others that deserve to be on the list, then let me know, but I took the most recurring/recognizable ones from the different video games. I won't be including the bosses, mini bosses, and Armored Statues/Knights because they wouldn't be well known except by Link because he's been in the dungeons/temples/etc. These are what common folk and the occasional ruins explorer may have run into or heard about :

ChuChu
Deku Baba
Dodongo
Floormaster/Wallmaster
Keese
Leever
Lizalfos
Like Like
Moblin
Octorok
Peahat
Poe
ReDead
Skulltula
Stalfos
Tektite
Wizzrobe

How long is ridiculously long? I think it'd be great to include everything, just for completeness' sake. I understand if you don't feel up to it though. Maybe you could enlist some help? I'd be willing to try to fill in some of the book, as long as you could give me specific items to work on.

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

So when you say the book will be based on the English translations, does that mean it will all be done in the Twilight Princess language? Or will you use the Japanese-based languages as if they were English? Also, I think the Skyward Sword language is also English based, also.

Sorry, I was in a rush and wasn't clearing explaining myself. I will be using the different variations of Hylian seen throughout the series, but the text will be written in the English Language format instead of the original Japanese. Meaning that if you can read English, then you will be able to translate it using the included alphabet translations.

People find it hard to translate symbols from the game, but what they don't realize is that the games are made in Japanese, so all of the Hylian seen in the games except a couple like you and I mentioned are translations of Japanese. If you translate the letters, the words won't make sense because the translations are for Hylian to Japanese.

I will be using the English to Hylian format with the text.

How long is ridiculously long? I think it'd be great to include everything, just for completeness' sake. I understand if you don't feel up to it though. Maybe you could enlist some help? I'd be willing to try to fill in some of the book, as long as you could give me specific items to work on.

I have no problem including all of the different creatures throughout the series. That's why I posted this thread during the planning and organizing phase because I want other fans opinions about what they would want in it. So I will add all of the creatures I can find. When I did my initial listing, I excluded creatures that were similar to another such as the ChuChus and Blobs. They are practically the same, and there isn't much information about the differences except the games they appear in. Stuff like that.
I'll finish that list tomorrow. Not sure if I'll post it on the book overview post because it will be a MASSIVE list. We shall see.

 

[berger]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

MAN this sounds awesome! but INCREDIBLY complex and time consuming. i hope you actually finish it!

the way your making it sound, the entire book wont be readable without translating it all first?

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

Time consuming? Absolutely, which is why I'm only going to be doing 5 or 10 pages a day. The actually binding and leather covering won't take long. Just have to wait on the glues to dry.

And yes, the entire book will be in Hylian, so if you want to read it you will have to translate it. HOWEVER if I do a run, I'm considering including all the text files in order so you can real that instead. The book is just going to sit in the display case, so I have no plans of ever reading it. It's just for looks.

*UPDATE*

Finished the descriptions for 62 enemies today. Only 3 games in so far lol.

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

*UPDATE*

Completed the Goddess Hylia section. Also with the Enemies section, I felt that a lot of them were being redundant like the Bit, Bot, Zol, and ChuChu, which are all ooz type monsters. So when it comes to creatures that are alike or are just different varieties of the same one, I'll be doing the most popular/easily recognizable ones and including info in them about the different variations. I'm also excluding creatures like Crows, Foxes, Crabs, etc. I'm sure those don't need their own page.

 

[drknotter]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

It looks like you're making great progress! Would you be willing to post some of the pages you've completed so far? I'd really like to see them! opcorn

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

It looks like you're making great progress! Would you be willing to post some of the pages you've completed so far? I'd really like to see them! opcorn

Sure, I can throw some up tomorrow. I'm playing around with two different ways of laying out the text. I suppose I could see what you guys think about them.

*UPDATE*

Halfway done with the Enemies section. Then I think I'll move onto the Tales section.

Still deciding on the type of paper I want to use. It will be a worn version of the book, so I'm considering using a parchment colored paper to speed along the aging process, and thicker than normal printer paper (like 74lbs journal paper). The only issue with that is it will be hard to trace the text through the thicker paper. I'm not sure how the printed text will show through using a tracing box (I have one for tracing designs for leather work, never used it on non-printer paper).

That will have to wait until I get home.

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

*UPDATE*

Here are the example pages I was taking about. I'm leaning more to the style of the left, and using the style on the right for alphabets and such.

Either way it's a work in progress. I'm also considering 'squaring away' the edges of text, as in making the letters perfectly in columns up and down with no spaces.

 

[Sandman0077]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series

*UPDATE*

Here is what I decided on. A couple pages of the Goddess Hylia section in Ancient Hylian so you all can see.

Feedback?

 

[drknotter]

Re: Book of Mudora from Legend of Zelda series [SAMPLE PAGES ADDED 12JAN2012]

I like it, very clean. Are there going to be images interspersed? For some reason, I was thinking like the opening to Wind Waker, where it had a pictoriaal representation of the story along with the text. That might be more work than it's worth though. Just a thought.