I know this is an old thread, but it seems like one worth raising up from the dead.
So, I just beat the game a few minutes ago. Great stuff! It was my first Wadjet Eye game (own Gemini Rue now, so looking forward to that!).
Amul and Reno are interesting, mysterious figures. I thought it might be interesting to discuss them in more depth. Amul seems to be British. He seems to be the face of the Eleven Foundation. Well, as much of a "face" as secret organization can have.
Reno is very mysterious. I happen to be studying Japanese, but her dialog is vague at best. It's interesting, though.
When the detective first encounters Reno and she gives him the crane, nothing of importance is really said. She obviously says "hello." As the detective is about to walk away, she says "wait a moment," and then gives him the origami crane. No big deal here if you don't know Japanese.
In the second encounter, she is seemingly ignored by the group whenever she speaks up, but let's see the translation:
[speaking of Antevorta]
Amul: It's only illegal until it isn't.
Ray: What's that supposed to mean?
Reno: Yamero ("Stop").Amul: Antevorta isn't a pressing matter at the moment.
[when Detective Bennett shows Amul that he has proof of the Tortoise Security break-in]
Amul: Well, Tortoise knows his stuff, I'll give him that.
Reno: Huh [not translated]Amul: I know, I know.
Amul: If you need to know more than that, then you aren't the right men for the job.
Detective: Reassuring.
[baby cries]
Reno: Hanashi ha koko made da (something like "The conversation ends here").Amul: Let's wrap it up, lads.
Reno seems to be the one calling the shots and Amul is just doing what he's told. Every time she speaks, Amul is reacting in some way, although I don't think this is obvious to someone who doesn't know Japanese. When she says "Stop," he stops talking about Antevorta and changes the subject. When she says the conversation is over, Amul ends it.
Furthermore, Japanese has different levels of formality built into the language. Reno is talking in informal language, so Reno and Amul are at best equals and it is likely that Reno is "above" Amul. Amul talks like a big shot, but he's just Reno's tool. Is Reno
the Eleven Foundation, or just a member of it? I'm inclined to think the latter. Whatever it is, I don't think Amul is an influential part of it. He just does what he's told.
Also, what's the baby doing there? I can't figure it out, but the baby has to be important. Two traditional Japanese songs are listed in the credits. I couldn't find much info about the first one, but the second one is a lullaby about listening to your parents and how you can accomplish anything if you try. It includes the interesting line "Although the stars in the sky are countable,
the teachings of my parents are not." Counting the stars is not just poetry for the Eleven Foundation. They collect unfathomable information. Since it's a lullaby, it seems to be directed to the baby. This page has a translation of the lyrics and a bit of history.
http://mickmc.tripod.com/HTMLSoundsOfOkinawa-Tinsagu-nu_hana.htmlOne last bit: Reno has no last name (or maybe no first name?) listed in the credits. Her character is just "Reno."
