Legacy of the Gods

The Legacy of the Gods (神々の遺産, kamigami no isan) is a concept in Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention. It refers to the collective artifacts left behind by the civilization of the Ancients (i.e., the ancient people) of Rune.

Some characters in Prompt use the term 古代人のいさん (kodaijin no isan, "Legacy of the Ancients") in place of "Legacy of the Gods" to express the same idea.

The English localization of Shining Force uses the term "Legacy of the Ancients" to refer specifically to Dark Dragon.

In-Game Context

Chapter 2

The Spirit of the Spring of Memory in Manarina alludes to the nature of the Legacy of the Gods in Chapter 2. The reference to "civilization" in Japanese is ブンメイ (bunmei) and denotes in particular the material achievements and products of a civilization. The typical expression of bunmei is 文明 in kanji, but it is always written in katakana in the game.

Spirit of the Spring of Memory
マックス・・・　あなたを　まっていました　いまからいうことを　よくきくのです	Max . . . I have been waiting for you. Listen well to what I have now to tell you.
あなたたちが神々とよぶのは　はるかむかし　このちにくらしていた　古代人のことです	Those whom you call Gods are the ancient people who inhabited this land long ago.
神々のいさんが　恐ろしいものだと　いわれていますが　それもまちがい　それは　古代人のブンメイのことです	The Legacy of the Gods is said to be a dreadful thing, but that is wrong. It is the civilization of the Ancients.
しかし　そこにふういんされたものは　たいへん　恐ろしいものなのです	But that which is sealed is an immensely terrible thing.
いま　ある者が　悪しき心をもって　そのふういんを　とこうとしています	And now there is one who has an evil heart who seeks to break the seal.
マックス　あなたは　それを　とめなければならないのです	Max, it is absolutely imperative that you stop this.

The ending narration text for Chapter 2 repeats the reference to "civilization."

In contrast, the English localization states: “The legacy of the Ancients is still a mystery. Will they ever solve it?”

Translated Narration
シャイニング・フォースと　名づけられたマックスたちは　ほろびのむらシェードをあとにした	Max and his friends, now named the Shining Force, left the ruined village of Shade.
バルバロイたちをあんないやくに　バストークへとむかうのだった	Barbaroi and his companion acted as guides as the party moved toward Bastork.
きおくの泉のせいれいによって　あかされた　神々のいさん・・　古代人のブンメイとは	The Spirit of the Spring of Memory had borne a revelation. The Legacy of the Gods . . . was the civilization of the Ancients.
これからの旅によって　すべてのなぞめいたものが　ひとつにかさなっていくのだった	Every mystery would fall into place from this point forward in their journey.

Chapter 7

Man in Prompt in the East Room of the Building with Musashi's Message
古代人のいさん・・・それは　ブンメイのことを　いっているのだ	The Legacy of the Ancients . . . That’s said to be a reference to their civilization.
だが　そのブンメイは　黒き竜のてによって　ほろぼされた　・・・かなしいことだな	But, their civilization was destroyed at the hands of the Black Dragon . . . What a sad situation.

Shining Setting and Story Directory

Locations
Endias[disputed]	Storm	Stormsang・Ancient Temple
	Rune	Guardiana・ Altarone・Yurt・Runefaust
	Parmecia	Granseal・Ark Valley
	Valleria	Crantor・Shieldia・Runevale
Erd	Tatsumi	St. Luminous
	Alfheim	Astoria・Lombardia
World Concepts
Constructs		Legacy of the Gods・Metaphaluna
Metaphysics		Magic・Great Intention