Record of Lodoss War

Record of Lodoss War was created in 1986 by Group SNE as a Dungeons & Dragons "replay" serialized in the Japanese magazine Comptiq from September 1986 to September 1989 issues, though they also used the setting with other systems such as Tunnels & Trolls and RuneQuest. • (April 1988 (Kadokawa Bunko) / August 1994 (Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko)) • (February 1989) • (January 1990) • (June 1990) • (February 1991) • (November 1991) • (March 1993) • (February 1995) • (July 1995 / September 1998) The first volume forms the basis for the first eight episodes of the Record of Lodoss War original video animation (OVA) series, as well as both Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch manga series (by Yoshihiko Ochi and Tomomasa Takuma, respectively). The second was also adapted in manga form by Ayumi Saito, and as a four-CD audio drama. The final five episodes of the OVA series are loosely based on the story told across the third and fourth novels and, having caught up with the ongoing novelization at that point, feature an original ending. The Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight TV series is a more faithful adaptation of volumes three to four and six to seven, with the manga drawn by Masato Natsumoto also adapting from volumes six and seven. The first of two collections of short stories was adapted into the ''Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit's Tale'' manga series by Setsuko Yoneyama. Mizuno later went on to pen other series of novels: an adaptation of prequel replays (1994 to 2002, five volumes and an extra volume, illustrated by Akihiro Yamada) and sequel novels (1993 to 1996, four volumes, illustrated by Satoshi Urushihara, part of Legend of Crystania setting) and (1998 to 2006, six volumes and a prelude volume, illustrated by Izubuchi (first editions of the prelude and the first novel) and Haruhiko Mikimoto); Legend of Lodoss story was also adapted into the Record of Lodoss War: The Lady of Pharis manga series by Yamada and Legend of Crystania was adapted into a radio drama, a manga by Akira Himekawa, an anime film, and OVA series. In 2019, he released a novel sequel . The novel takes place 100 years after the events of the original series, with Deedlit as the lead protagonist. It is illustrated by Hidari and was adapted into a manga by Atsushi Suzumi. Legend of Lodoss • (August 1994) • (July 1996) • (November 1996) (Two short stories, later included in Eternal Returner) • (April 1997) • (March 1998) • (December 1999) (Four short stories) • (October 2002) Record of Lodoss War Next Generation • (May 1998) (Later included in Inheritors of the Flame) • (August 1998 / July 2001) • (May 1999 / June 2002) • (March 2001) • (November 2001) • (October 2004) • (October 2005) • (November 2006) ==Plot==

Record of Lodoss War recounts the adventures of a youth by the name of Parn, the son of a dishonored knight. Part of his motivation for adventuring is to find out what happened to his father and to restore his family's honor. Despite his inexperience, Parn is considered the leader, who is accompanied by his childhood best friend Etoh, his friend and sometimes advisor Slayn (and later by Slayn's lover Leylia), and his newfound mentor Ghim. They are accompanied by Parn's romantic interest, the high elf Deedlit, who comes from the Forest of No Return seeking an answer to her people's isolationism and an end to what she sees as a slow march to extinction; and a thief named Woodchuck. Throughout the series, Parn comes into contact with friends and foes alike. His allies include King Kashue, King Fahn, Shiris, and Orson; his enemies include Emperor Beld, Ashram, and the evil necromancer Wagnard. Volume two jumps forward by two years and sees Parn and Deedlit participate in a civil war in Flaim on the side of King Kashue. It was adapted into a manga and an audio drama with the cast of the OVA. Volumes three to seven, all but volume five adapted into the anime Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, continue the adventures of Parn for the first eight episodes, but then focus on Spark and his adventures to complete a quest tasked onto him to protect Neese, the daughter of Slayn and Leylia. He is accompanied by his own cast of friends in the form of Leaf, Garrack, Greevus, Aldo, and Ryna. The television series shares similarities with the plot of the OVA, such as Wagnard seeking to kidnap Neese in order to use her as a reagent for the resurrection of Naneel, a priestess and the avatar of Kardis who was slain by Leylia's mother, the high priestess Neese a short time after the battle with the demonic god. Leylia was the reincarnation of Naneel, but when she lost her virginity she was no longer capable of being the doorway or reagent needed to unseal Naneel. Spark and his fiancé Neese remain the protagonists of the Record of Lodoss War Next Generation series and become the rulers of Marmo after Ashram's group vacates the island. The Legend of Crystania setting places the former villain Ashram into the seat of a would-be hero who is placed under a spell by an "animal god" of Crystania. One of the prominent characters is Pirotess, his dark elven lover, as she tries to find a way to free him from the clutches of the spell and restore him to his living self. ==Other media==

Video games Role-playing games: • 1988 Record of Lodoss War: Haiiro no Majo (PC 98, PC 88 (1989), MSX (1990), X68000 (1991), FM Towns (1994), Windows 95) • 1991 Record of Lodoss War II: Goshiki no Maryu (PC 98, X68000 (1992), FM Towns (1994), Windows 95) • 1992 Record of Lodoss War (PC Engine) • 1994 Record of Lodoss War II (PC Engine) • 1994 Record of Lodoss War: Eiyū Sensō (Mega-CD) • 1995 Record of Lodoss War (SFC), translated by fans in 2014 • 2000 Record of Lodoss War: Advent of Cardice (Dreamcast), released in English • 2021 Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (Windows and consoles), 2D Metroidvania, released in English Other video games: • 1989 Record of Lodoss War: Fukujindzuke (PC 98, MSX (1990), X68000 (1991)), fandisc of Haiiro no Majo • 1992 Record of Lodoss War: Fukujindzuke 2 (PC 98), fandisc of Goshiki no Maryu • 1993 Record of Lodoss War: Fukujindzuke 3 (PC 98), fandisc of Goshiki no Maryu and Sword World PC • 1998 Record of Lodoss War: Eiyū Kishiden (Game Boy Color) Compilations: • 2004 PC-9801 Game Revival Collection (Windows), compilation of 15 emulated games, among them Haiiro no Majo, Goshiki no Maryu and Sword World PC • 2022 Record of Lodoss War Chronicle (Windows), compilation of the nine Lodoss and Sword World games for PC 98 and SFC Online games: • 2012 Record of Lodoss War: Successor of the Legend (browser), trading cards game, closed beta released in 2012, shut down in 2014 • 2016 Record of Lodoss War Online (Windows), MMORPG, released in English in 2017, shut down in 2019 in English and in 2024 in South Korea and Japan Music Albums • 1989 Arrange Sound from Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch (VDR-28071) • 1990 Record of Lodoss War Original Soundtrack Vol. I (VICL-00051 and SLP-85) • 1990 Record of Lodoss War Original Soundtrack Vol. II (VICL-00114) • 1991 Record of Lodoss War Original Soundtrack Vol. III (VICL-00267) • 1992 Symphonic House from Record of Lodoss War II Arrange Sound (VICL-8060) • 1993 '''''Record of Lodoss War: Minstrels' Memory of Lodoss''''' (VICL-8090) • 1995 LODOSS (VICL-624) • 1996 Record of Lodoss War Original Soundtrack (VICL-2164) • 1998 Welcome to Lodoss Island! Adventure Drama Music Collection (KICA-400) • 1998 Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 (VICL-60243) • 1998 Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight Original Soundtrack Vol. 2 (VICL-60244) • 1998 Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight Original Soundtrack Vol. 3 (VICL-60246) • 2021 Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth Original Soundtrack (LWDIWL-001) Singles • 1990 Kaze no Fantasia / Adèsso e Fortuna ~Honō to Eien~ (VIDL-19) • 1991 ODYSSEY (VIDL-42) • 1992 Kaze to Tori to Sora (VIDL-87) • 1992 KNIGHT OF LODOSS ~Kaze no Uta~ (VIDL-84) • 1994 Kaze no Hane / Honō no Ragurima (VIDL-10585) • 1998 Kiseki no Umi (VIDL-30202) • 1998 Hikari no Suashi (VIDL-30203) Books on tape From 1989 to 1993 six were released. On 31 August 1992, the first five books were released on CD as part of the Record of Lodoss War Special CD Package, which also included a soundtrack Record of Lodoss War Sound Collection. On 22 September 1993, a soundtrack for the books, ''Record of Lodoss War: Mistrel's Memory of Lodoss'', composed by Yoshiyuki Ito and sung by Masumi Itō, was released on CD. • 1989 , side story of the first novel • 1989 , side story of the third novel • 1990 , side story of the third novel, and an episode featuring the mage and magic beast tamer Elena of Alania. Later adapted to a chapter in Inheritors of the Flame • 1991 , later adapted to a chapter in ''Deedlit's Tale'' • 1993 , later adapted to a chapter in ''Deedlit's Tale'' • 1993 , later adapted to a chapter in ''Deedlit's Tale'' Role-playing games • 1989 • 1991 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1998 – supplemental material for Sword World RPG • 2018 – 30th anniversary revised edition • 2019 Anime • 1990 , 13 episode OVA produced by Madhouse • 1998 , 27 episode TV series produced by AIC • 1998 , short parodic movie produced by AIC and released as part of a double feature with Maze Bakunetsu Jikū: Tenpen Kyōi no Giant • 2014 , 13 episode parodic TV series produced by Studio Deen and Studio Hibari In North America, the original OVA series and the TV series had both been released through Central Park Media on VHS and on DVD. The OVA and TV series were slated for a Blu-ray release through Media Blasters, but they had dropped all plans to re-release the series. On April 14, 2017, Funimation announced their license to both the OVA series and the Chronicles of the Heroic Knight TV series for the United States. Subsequently, they released the OVA on both Blu-ray and DVD and the TV series on DVD in one set on July 18, 2017. Manga • 1991 , two volumes, art by Akihiro Yamada, released in English by CPM Manga • 1993 , two volumes, art by Ayumi Saito • 1994 , three volumes, art by Yoshihiko Ochi, released in English by CPM Manga • 1995 , three volumes, four panel parodic manga, art by Hyakuyashiki Rei, first two volumes released in English by CPM Manga • 1997 , six volumes, art by Masato Natsumoto, released in English by CPM Manga • 1998 , two volumes, art by Setsuko Yoneyama, released in English by CPM Manga • 2013 , three volumes, art by Tomomasa Takuma • 2019 , three volumes, art by Atsushi Suzumi, released in English by Udon Entertainment, the first and third volumes of the English edition featured a Barnes & Noble exclusive cover Audio dramas • 1995 , released in four CD collections. Based on the plot of the second novel which was once supposed to become a second OVA series, but that project was put on hold. • 1998 • 2013 ==Related media==

• ''', a series of RPGs and novels adapted to film, OVAs, manga and a video game, that focus on Crystania, the land to which Ashram and Pirotess migrated after the Lodoss'' series. • Rune Soldier, a more comedic series from the same creator set in the same world as Record of Lodoss War, but on the Alecrast continent. The third series of Rune Soldier novels crossed over with Record of Lodoss War and featured Parn and Deedlit. ==Reception==

The novel series has sold over 10 million copies in Japan. Australian magazine Hyper reviewed Chronicles of the Heroic Knight in 1999. They rated it 8.5 out of 10. ==References==