14
\$\begingroup\$

I am currently reading through Rime of the Frostmaiden, a book only released in English. I have also acquired the free adventure Prisoner 13 from D&D Beyond, also in English. Both of these talk about a prison called Revel's End located at the northern shore of Icewind Dale. Me and my players are however playing in German. Reading in English is not a problem for me, I would however like to translate this name to German for all of us, were we to play one of these adventures.

It is quite a complicated name for a non-native speaker. Therefore I am looking for any official translation for the name of this prison.

If I understand correctly Revel's End is a relatively new addition to the lore of the Forgotten Realms and has only appeared in three official products, that I know of:

  • Icewind Dale - Rime of the Frostmaiden (available only in English)
  • The D&D Movie Honor Among Thieves (available in English and German)
  • Keys from the Golden Vault (available in English and German)

I have re-watched the first couple of minutes of the D&D movie which take place in Revel's End, but I was unable to find any mention of the prison's name in there and I do not own Keys of the Golden Vault in any language. Online I could find translations for many places in Icewind Dale, such as the Three Lakes or the Ten Towns, but not Revel's End. There is also this translator on a German site, it sadly doesn't include Revel's End either.

I even found this German description of Keys of the Golden Vault on D&D Beyond that mentions the prison as "Revel's End", i.e. untranslated. Which is frankly hard to believe for me. Is there really no German name for it?

\$\endgroup\$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
15
\$\begingroup\$

Schlussmitlustig

The German Translation for Revel's End is "Schlussmitlustig". I found it looking through German review videos of Keys of the Golden Vault, it can be see on top of the map here.

The name is a portmanteau of the phrase "Schluss mit lustig!" which translates to "The Party is over!" or literally "It's the end of (being) funny!". In that regard it is a far more humorous name, than the gloomy "Revel's End", so one might have to adjust their game's tone a bit, if they plan to use the translated name.

This means the untranslated version on D&D Beyond is actually a mistake, as the name is in fact translated inside the book. Perhaps it was released before the book was fully translated?

\$\endgroup\$
5
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ A revel is a party or a celebration. Lustig comes across into English in different ways depending on the context. (I remember this song from my youth: Lustig, lustig, tra la la la la! Bald ist Nikolausabend da, ~ Jolly, jolly, tra la la la la! Saint Nicholas Eve will soon be here! Saint Nicholas Eve will soon be here!) ~ Your German term might be "end of joy" or "end of Jolliness" rather than "the end of the party" ~ a "revel" is 3. boisterous festivity; merrymaking; revelry-an occasion of merrymaking or boisterous festivity; celebration But I think you are close enough. \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Commented May 25 at 21:03
  • \$\begingroup\$ And I think that "It's the end of being fun" or "the end of having fun" is what you were aiming for. Well done! 😁 \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Commented May 25 at 21:04
  • \$\begingroup\$ @KorvinStarmast Are you saying the German name is not as humorous as it seems to me and can actually be understood in a serious tone aswell? \$\endgroup\$
    – TreeSpawned
    Commented May 25 at 21:24
  • \$\begingroup\$ @KorvinStarmast I got my translation from dict.cc/?s=Schluss+mit+lustig \$\endgroup\$
    – TreeSpawned
    Commented May 25 at 21:25
  • 6
    \$\begingroup\$ I think you nailed it with "the party is over" because that is literally what "revel's end" means: the end of the party. Well played, in either case! 😁 \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Commented May 25 at 22:01

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .