Real World Cultures in Mystara - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Real World Cultures in Mystara

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
katana_one
Jun 17, 2004 18:41:51 Ok, I know I've seen it before but I can't find it right now.

Can anyone point me toward a compiled list of Mystaran cultures and the real world cultures that inspired them?

Specifically, I am looking for the real world culture the Jennites are based on.
#2
spellweaver
Jun 18, 2004 4:31:15 The old expert boxed set had some notes on what real-world cultures the nations in the known world are based on or similar to. I believe the Hollow World boxed set refers to the Jennites as a kind of Mongols - but what the difference then is between a Jennite and an Ethengarian I do not know?

Of the top of my head the list goes something like this:

Karameikos - medieval Europe / Balkan
Ylaruam - Arabian desert states
Glantri - mix of many cultures including Scottish, Germanic, French, Dutch, Italian and British
Ierendi - some kind of Hawaiian setting
Alfheim - just woodelves
Rockhome - just dwarves
Northern Reaches - Vikings
Five Shires - just halflings
Minrothad Guilds - Dutch colonialism
Thar / Broken Lands - humanoids
Darokin - Italian renaissance city states
Ethengar - Mongol hordes
Shadowelves - just shadowelves
Athruagin clans - various South and North American Indian cultures
Thyatis - Roman or Byzantine Empire
Alphatia - Atlantis

:-) Jesper
#3
katana_one
Jun 18, 2004 7:19:10 No, the Jennites are based on something else - one of the middle-eastern region's nomadic horse cultures, I think. I just can't find the reference where I originally saw it.
#4
Cthulhudrew
Jun 18, 2004 10:43:00 The Jennites were based on the Scythians- a horseman-type culture of eastern european/asian descent. Circa Greek era (can't think offhand when that was- 500-300 BC or thereabouts?)

I think it's mentioned in the Hollow World DM's Guide.
#5
Cthulhudrew
Jun 18, 2004 10:51:58 Looks like I was a little bit off- seems the Scythians were 7th century BC. Anyway, here are some links for more about the Scythians:

The Scythians

Scythians

The Horses of the Scythians

Where did the Scythians come from?

Scythian Pantheon

Scythian Vocabulary and Names
#6
katana_one
Jun 18, 2004 11:51:23 Yes, yes! That's it. Thanks drew.
#7
havard
Jun 18, 2004 17:11:48 Some other Mystaran Cultures and RW counterparts

Nithia = Egypt
Antalians = Vikings (kinda)
Kogolor = Swiss, Bavarians
Krugel = Mexicans?
Milenians =Greek, Greco-Romans
Traldar = Greek
Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities)

There are alot more aswell...

Havard
#8
spellweaver
Jun 19, 2004 5:43:02
Originally posted by havard
Some other Mystaran Cultures and RW counterparts

Nithia = Egypt
Antalians = Vikings (kinda)
Kogolor = Swiss, Bavarians
Krugel = Mexicans?
Milenians =Greek, Greco-Romans
Traldar = Greek
Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities)

There are alot more aswell...

Havard

Let ud not forget the

Azcans = Aztecs
Oltecs = Incas or Mayas
Neathar = stone age wandering tribesmen

:-) Jesper
#9
zombiegleemax
Jun 19, 2004 18:16:28 Sind = India.
Heldann = According to the Cyclopedia, Mediaeval Iceland (the Freeholds, not the Knights).
Ochalea = China.
Pearl Islands = Africa.
Belcadiz Elves = Spain.
Savage Coast = Spain (Tortles?), England (Rakastas) and France (Lupin).

Originally posted by havard

Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities)

Interesting you should mention that - since I am thinking for a long time about the Shadowelf-Alfheim conflict as a good metaphore for the Israeli-Palestinian one: Two cultures, closely akin to each other, fighting on the same territory which they both feel is their long-lost homeland. And there seems to be no solution ahead.

I just can't seem to decide which side symbolizes which.

But then again - I guess that is part of the tragedy.
#10
Goldrak
Jun 19, 2004 18:30:20
Originally posted by havard
Some other Mystaran Cultures and RW counterparts

Traldar = Greek

Havard

Perhaps i'm mistaken but i always envisioned the Traldar as Romanians...
#11
Cthulhudrew
Jun 19, 2004 19:44:35
Originally posted by Lost Woodrake
Interesting you should mention that - since I am thinking for a long time about the Shadowelf-Alfheim conflict as a good metaphore for the Israeli-Palestinian one: Two cultures, closely akin to each other, fighting on the same territory which they both feel is their long-lost homeland. And there seems to be no solution ahead.

This is an interesting parallel that I've seen brought up before, but one that seems a bit flawed (insofar as being a direct correlation). The Shadowelves, when they lived on the surface, lived more in the Broken Lands region, rather than the Alfheim region. Also, the Canolbarth didn't exist when the SE lived on the surface, but was only created by the Alfheim elves when they moved there. Not to mention that the SE have lived underground for nearly 2 millenia now. It doesn't seem to me that they have any real claim on Alfheim whatsoever.

All of which isn't to say they might not feel as if they do, but to me it certainly seems pretty cut and dried as to which group has the right to live there and which doesn't.
#12
spellweaver
Jun 20, 2004 7:19:19
Originally posted by Goldrak
Perhaps i'm mistaken but i always envisioned the Traldar as Romanians...

The Traldar in the Hollow World are decendants of the Milenian Empire, which resembles Ancient Greece. The Traldar themselves have a bronze age society I believe.

The Known World Traladarans of Karameikos are more gypsy-Romanian in their culture, that is true.

:-) Jesper
#13
Hugin
Jun 20, 2004 13:01:07
by Spellweaver
The Known World Traladarans of Karameikos are more gypsy-Romanian in their culture, that is true.

I've always had the impression that the Traladarans were like the Baltic states; don't recall off-hand where I got that from though. The Darine (gypsies) from the Vaults of Pandius fills the role of the the Romanian gypsies perfectly. One of the players in our game plays an estranged Darine rogue who's now searching out his roots.
#14
zombiegleemax
Jun 20, 2004 16:14:59
Originally posted by Cthulhudrew
This is an interesting parallel that I've seen brought up before, but one that seems a bit flawed (insofar as being a direct correlation).

Indeed. I only meant it as a metaphore. I'm quite sure that nobody based the Shadowelves on Israel.
I think what was brilliant in GAZ13 is that it suddenly gave you a whole different narrative (several, actually) to the story you thought you knew. This is true, of course, of the whole GAZ project - but this one took the whole idea several steps ahead (including self-contradicting narratives in the same Gaz itself). In this respect, GAZ13 is the masterpiece of the series.

Anyways, mainly becuase of this quality (and not the "facts") I found it interesting in relation to Israel/Palestine. Another story of war-of-narratives.
#15
spellweaver
Jun 20, 2004 17:34:38
Originally posted by Hugin
I've always had the impression that the Traladarans were like the Baltic states;

Maybe you're right but I always identified Karameikos with Transylvania - werewolves, vampires, dark forests, old women reading tea leaves, people named Boris and Mikhail and stuff like that.

Never read about the Darine, are they canon or just fan-contributions to the Vault?

:-) Jesper
#16
havard
Jun 21, 2004 5:57:16
Originally posted by Spellweaver
Maybe you're right but I always identified Karameikos with Transylvania - werewolves, vampires, dark forests, old women reading tea leaves, people named Boris and Mikhail and stuff like that.

Never read about the Darine, are they canon or just fan-contributions to the Vault?

Traladarans seem to be a mix of various eastern european cultures. They seem to be mainly slavic, with heavy russian influence (especially in B10), but as you point out, elements associated with Romania and Hungary also seem to apply. Names like Sulescu also contribute to this.

The Darine are non canon Mystaran Gypsies. They are related to the Traladarans.

Havard
#17
zombiegleemax
Jul 07, 2004 16:56:08 Traldar Lineages IMC

Traldar = Achaean Greeks

HW Milenians = Classical Greeks (Athenian)

Davanian Milenians = Anatolian/Selucid Greeks

Traladarans = Slavs/Romanians (Slavic in the hills, Romanian in the valleys and along the seacoast).

Viseri (non-Canon) = The peoples of the City States on the Savage Coast, cousins of the valley/seacoast Traladarans of Karameikos.

Minrothians (non-Canon) = My Minrothians are Traldar descended, with a strong Thyatian and Nithian element.

Boldavians (non-Canon) = The Boldavians are a mix of hill and valley Traladarans heavily mixed with Flaemish bloodlines.

Darine (non-Canon) = Gypsies

Thyatians = Latins/Byzantines

Amancerians (non-Canon) = Middle Age/Renaissance Italians (native to the Shadow Coast)

Alatians = Medieval/Renaissance Greeks

Minaeans = Greco-Roman Moors (pre-Islamic Mauretanians and Numidians)
#18
rimx
Sep 15, 2004 2:26:41 This is mostly from memory, so I could be wrong.

Vilaverde and Texeiras-Portugal in the 1500s and 1600s
Torreon-Classic 1500s Spain
Narvaez-Spain under the inquisition
Saragon-Moorish Spain
Almarron-Latin America country with unstable government
Gargona-
Guadalante-Argentina/Pampas
Cimmaron County-Texas/Old West
Robrenn-medieval Celts
Eusdria-Norse
Renardy-Renaissance France
Bellayne-Elizabethan England
Wallara-Aboriginal Australia
Jibaru-Amazonia
Colony of the Horn-Australian penal colonies
Nimmur-Babylonia?
Hule-Ottoman Empire
Slagovich and other city states-Eastern Europe
Yavdlom-West African/Brazilian

Atruaghin Clans-Native American
-Turtle Clan-North West
-Tiger Clan-Aztec
-Horse clan-Midwest
-Bear Clan-South West/Pueblo
-Elk clan-East/Iroquois

Glantri
-Aalban-Germany
-Belcadiz-Spanish Elves
-Bergdhoven-Falnders/Low Countries
-Boldavia-Transylvania
-Bramyra-Mongolian
-Erewan-Traditonal Elves
-Fenswick-English
-Klantyre-Scottish
-Krondahar-Turkish/Central Asia
-New Kolland-Humanoid Roman
-Morlay-Malinbois-French(with werewolves)
-Nouvelle Averoigne-France
-Caurenze-Renaissance Italy(with medici family and the like)

Rockhome-Switzerland?(Just a guess, don't have the Gaz, but the mountian country looks similar, and they stayed neutral during the Warth of the Immortals)
Pearl Islands-Polynesia
#19
zombiegleemax
Sep 18, 2004 13:42:15 Wow. This is all very impressing. Although I can't really see why you think of Hule as the Ottoman Empire. Furthermore, isn't Krondahar as Mongolian as Bramyra?

Rockhome-Switzerland?(Just a guess, don't have the Gaz, but the mountian country looks similar, and they stayed neutral during the Warth of the Immortals)

I'm not sure about this one. Rockhome is much "darker" and has a more underground feeling to it. Although the neautrality thing is an intersting connection.
Besides, I don't think that demi-human cultures (with the exception of Belcadiz) have Real-World parallels. (Alfheim does have something German in it, now that I think of it).

Good Work!
#20
agathokles
Sep 20, 2004 5:40:44
Robrenn-medieval Celts
Eusdria-Norse
Slagovich and other city states-Eastern Europe
Yavdlom-West African/Brazilian

Actually, Robrenn is more like I century BC Gaul -- it is based on ``Asterix''.
Eusdria seems to be more continental german (perhaps Frankish) then norse.
The Traladaran City-State were specifically based on the Balkans' nations.
Yavdlom is definitely african rather than brazilian (Texeiras, however, includes ``Dominion of Tanaka'', which could be modeled on Brazil).
#21
zombiegleemax
Nov 28, 2004 16:29:43
Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities)

Sudden thought:
Isn't Rafiel the ONLY Mystaran immortal whose name is of Hebrew origins?
Coincidence? Or are the Shadow Elves really the Jews of Mystara?
#22
katana_one
Nov 28, 2004 17:19:30
The Traldar in the Hollow World are decendants of the Milenian Empire, which resembles Ancient Greece.

You have that backwards. The Milenian Empire was founded by King Milen - a Traldar king who fled with his people from the Traldar lands during the Beastman Invasion.
#23
jeff-heikkinen
Feb 23, 2005 2:35:51 Working a bit of necromancy on this thread...

I have been assured that a lot of Darokin's names and costuming conventions, at least, are Dutch.

The Makai always reminded me of the Maori, though I can't point to anything specific that would give me that impression.

It would make sense for the Balkans-ish Traladar to be descended from the main Greek culture, Katana-One's point about it being the other way around in the canon materials notwithstanding; that would simply follow the real-world pattern.
#24
katana_one
Feb 23, 2005 11:47:46
It would make sense for the Balkans-ish Traladar to be descended from the main Greek culture, Katana-One's point about it being the other way around in the canon materials notwithstanding; that would simply follow the real-world pattern.

There is no reason (especially in a fantasy world) that the "Balkan-ish" Traldar and the Milenians could not both have descended from the same Traladaran culture - the Milenians broke off from the Traladara during the beginning of the Beast-Man invasion and developed their culture independently of the Traladara (who eventually became the Traldar). Again, canon supports this.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 katana_one Jun 17, 2004 18:41:51	Ok, I know I've seen it before but I can't find it right now. Can anyone point me toward a compiled list of Mystaran cultures and the real world cultures that inspired them? Specifically, I am looking for the real world culture the Jennites are based on.
#2 spellweaver Jun 18, 2004 4:31:15	The old expert boxed set had some notes on what real-world cultures the nations in the known world are based on or similar to. I believe the Hollow World boxed set refers to the Jennites as a kind of Mongols - but what the difference then is between a Jennite and an Ethengarian I do not know? Of the top of my head the list goes something like this: Karameikos - medieval Europe / Balkan Ylaruam - Arabian desert states Glantri - mix of many cultures including Scottish, Germanic, French, Dutch, Italian and British Ierendi - some kind of Hawaiian setting Alfheim - just woodelves Rockhome - just dwarves Northern Reaches - Vikings Five Shires - just halflings Minrothad Guilds - Dutch colonialism Thar / Broken Lands - humanoids Darokin - Italian renaissance city states Ethengar - Mongol hordes Shadowelves - just shadowelves Athruagin clans - various South and North American Indian cultures Thyatis - Roman or Byzantine Empire Alphatia - Atlantis :-) Jesper
#3 katana_one Jun 18, 2004 7:19:10	No, the Jennites are based on something else - one of the middle-eastern region's nomadic horse cultures, I think. I just can't find the reference where I originally saw it.
#4 Cthulhudrew Jun 18, 2004 10:43:00	The Jennites were based on the Scythians- a horseman-type culture of eastern european/asian descent. Circa Greek era (can't think offhand when that was- 500-300 BC or thereabouts?) I think it's mentioned in the Hollow World DM's Guide.
#5 Cthulhudrew Jun 18, 2004 10:51:58	Looks like I was a little bit off- seems the Scythians were 7th century BC. Anyway, here are some links for more about the Scythians: The Scythians Scythians The Horses of the Scythians Where did the Scythians come from? Scythian Pantheon Scythian Vocabulary and Names
#6 katana_one Jun 18, 2004 11:51:23	Yes, yes! That's it. Thanks drew.
#7 havard Jun 18, 2004 17:11:48	Some other Mystaran Cultures and RW counterparts Nithia = Egypt Antalians = Vikings (kinda) Kogolor = Swiss, Bavarians Krugel = Mexicans? Milenians =Greek, Greco-Romans Traldar = Greek Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities) There are alot more aswell... Havard
#8 spellweaver Jun 19, 2004 5:43:02	Originally posted by havard Some other Mystaran Cultures and RW counterparts Nithia = Egypt Antalians = Vikings (kinda) Kogolor = Swiss, Bavarians Krugel = Mexicans? Milenians =Greek, Greco-Romans Traldar = Greek Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities) There are alot more aswell... Havard Let ud not forget the Azcans = Aztecs Oltecs = Incas or Mayas Neathar = stone age wandering tribesmen :-) Jesper
#9 zombiegleemax Jun 19, 2004 18:16:28	Sind = India. Heldann = According to the Cyclopedia, Mediaeval Iceland (the Freeholds, not the Knights). Ochalea = China. Pearl Islands = Africa. Belcadiz Elves = Spain. Savage Coast = Spain (Tortles?), England (Rakastas) and France (Lupin). Originally posted by havard Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities) Interesting you should mention that - since I am thinking for a long time about the Shadowelf-Alfheim conflict as a good metaphore for the Israeli-Palestinian one: Two cultures, closely akin to each other, fighting on the same territory which they both feel is their long-lost homeland. And there seems to be no solution ahead. I just can't seem to decide which side symbolizes which. But then again - I guess that is part of the tragedy.
#10 Goldrak Jun 19, 2004 18:30:20	Originally posted by havard Some other Mystaran Cultures and RW counterparts Traldar = Greek Havard Perhaps i'm mistaken but i always envisioned the Traldar as Romanians...
#11 Cthulhudrew Jun 19, 2004 19:44:35	Originally posted by Lost Woodrake Interesting you should mention that - since I am thinking for a long time about the Shadowelf-Alfheim conflict as a good metaphore for the Israeli-Palestinian one: Two cultures, closely akin to each other, fighting on the same territory which they both feel is their long-lost homeland. And there seems to be no solution ahead. This is an interesting parallel that I've seen brought up before, but one that seems a bit flawed (insofar as being a direct correlation). The Shadowelves, when they lived on the surface, lived more in the Broken Lands region, rather than the Alfheim region. Also, the Canolbarth didn't exist when the SE lived on the surface, but was only created by the Alfheim elves when they moved there. Not to mention that the SE have lived underground for nearly 2 millenia now. It doesn't seem to me that they have any real claim on Alfheim whatsoever. All of which isn't to say they might not feel as if they do, but to me it certainly seems pretty cut and dried as to which group has the right to live there and which doesn't.
#12 spellweaver Jun 20, 2004 7:19:19	Originally posted by Goldrak Perhaps i'm mistaken but i always envisioned the Traldar as Romanians... The Traldar in the Hollow World are decendants of the Milenian Empire, which resembles Ancient Greece. The Traldar themselves have a bronze age society I believe. The Known World Traladarans of Karameikos are more gypsy-Romanian in their culture, that is true. :-) Jesper
#13 Hugin Jun 20, 2004 13:01:07	by Spellweaver The Known World Traladarans of Karameikos are more gypsy-Romanian in their culture, that is true. I've always had the impression that the Traladarans were like the Baltic states; don't recall off-hand where I got that from though. The Darine (gypsies) from the Vaults of Pandius fills the role of the the Romanian gypsies perfectly. One of the players in our game plays an estranged Darine rogue who's now searching out his roots.
#14 zombiegleemax Jun 20, 2004 16:14:59	Originally posted by Cthulhudrew This is an interesting parallel that I've seen brought up before, but one that seems a bit flawed (insofar as being a direct correlation). Indeed. I only meant it as a metaphore. I'm quite sure that nobody based the Shadowelves on Israel. I think what was brilliant in GAZ13 is that it suddenly gave you a whole different narrative (several, actually) to the story you thought you knew. This is true, of course, of the whole GAZ project - but this one took the whole idea several steps ahead (including self-contradicting narratives in the same Gaz itself). In this respect, GAZ13 is the masterpiece of the series. Anyways, mainly becuase of this quality (and not the "facts") I found it interesting in relation to Israel/Palestine. Another story of war-of-narratives.
#15 spellweaver Jun 20, 2004 17:34:38	Originally posted by Hugin I've always had the impression that the Traladarans were like the Baltic states; Maybe you're right but I always identified Karameikos with Transylvania - werewolves, vampires, dark forests, old women reading tea leaves, people named Boris and Mikhail and stuff like that. Never read about the Darine, are they canon or just fan-contributions to the Vault? :-) Jesper
#16 havard Jun 21, 2004 5:57:16	Originally posted by Spellweaver Maybe you're right but I always identified Karameikos with Transylvania - werewolves, vampires, dark forests, old women reading tea leaves, people named Boris and Mikhail and stuff like that. Never read about the Darine, are they canon or just fan-contributions to the Vault? Traladarans seem to be a mix of various eastern european cultures. They seem to be mainly slavic, with heavy russian influence (especially in B10), but as you point out, elements associated with Romania and Hungary also seem to apply. Names like Sulescu also contribute to this. The Darine are non canon Mystaran Gypsies. They are related to the Traladarans. Havard
#17 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 16:56:08	Traldar Lineages IMC Traldar = Achaean Greeks HW Milenians = Classical Greeks (Athenian) Davanian Milenians = Anatolian/Selucid Greeks Traladarans = Slavs/Romanians (Slavic in the hills, Romanian in the valleys and along the seacoast). Viseri (non-Canon) = The peoples of the City States on the Savage Coast, cousins of the valley/seacoast Traladarans of Karameikos. Minrothians (non-Canon) = My Minrothians are Traldar descended, with a strong Thyatian and Nithian element. Boldavians (non-Canon) = The Boldavians are a mix of hill and valley Traladarans heavily mixed with Flaemish bloodlines. Darine (non-Canon) = Gypsies Thyatians = Latins/Byzantines Amancerians (non-Canon) = Middle Age/Renaissance Italians (native to the Shadow Coast) Alatians = Medieval/Renaissance Greeks Minaeans = Greco-Roman Moors (pre-Islamic Mauretanians and Numidians)
#18 rimx Sep 15, 2004 2:26:41	This is mostly from memory, so I could be wrong. Vilaverde and Texeiras-Portugal in the 1500s and 1600s Torreon-Classic 1500s Spain Narvaez-Spain under the inquisition Saragon-Moorish Spain Almarron-Latin America country with unstable government Gargona- Guadalante-Argentina/Pampas Cimmaron County-Texas/Old West Robrenn-medieval Celts Eusdria-Norse Renardy-Renaissance France Bellayne-Elizabethan England Wallara-Aboriginal Australia Jibaru-Amazonia Colony of the Horn-Australian penal colonies Nimmur-Babylonia? Hule-Ottoman Empire Slagovich and other city states-Eastern Europe Yavdlom-West African/Brazilian Atruaghin Clans-Native American -Turtle Clan-North West -Tiger Clan-Aztec -Horse clan-Midwest -Bear Clan-South West/Pueblo -Elk clan-East/Iroquois Glantri -Aalban-Germany -Belcadiz-Spanish Elves -Bergdhoven-Falnders/Low Countries -Boldavia-Transylvania -Bramyra-Mongolian -Erewan-Traditonal Elves -Fenswick-English -Klantyre-Scottish -Krondahar-Turkish/Central Asia -New Kolland-Humanoid Roman -Morlay-Malinbois-French(with werewolves) -Nouvelle Averoigne-France -Caurenze-Renaissance Italy(with medici family and the like) Rockhome-Switzerland?(Just a guess, don't have the Gaz, but the mountian country looks similar, and they stayed neutral during the Warth of the Immortals) Pearl Islands-Polynesia
#19 zombiegleemax Sep 18, 2004 13:42:15	Wow. This is all very impressing. Although I can't really see why you think of Hule as the Ottoman Empire. Furthermore, isn't Krondahar as Mongolian as Bramyra? Rockhome-Switzerland?(Just a guess, don't have the Gaz, but the mountian country looks similar, and they stayed neutral during the Warth of the Immortals) I'm not sure about this one. Rockhome is much "darker" and has a more underground feeling to it. Although the neautrality thing is an intersting connection. Besides, I don't think that demi-human cultures (with the exception of Belcadiz) have Real-World parallels. (Alfheim does have something German in it, now that I think of it). Good Work!
#20 agathokles Sep 20, 2004 5:40:44	Robrenn-medieval Celts Eusdria-Norse Slagovich and other city states-Eastern Europe Yavdlom-West African/Brazilian Actually, Robrenn is more like I century BC Gaul -- it is based on ``Asterix''. Eusdria seems to be more continental german (perhaps Frankish) then norse. The Traladaran City-State were specifically based on the Balkans' nations. Yavdlom is definitely african rather than brazilian (Texeiras, however, includes ``Dominion of Tanaka'', which could be modeled on Brazil).
#21 zombiegleemax Nov 28, 2004 16:29:43	Shadowelves = Israeli (at least some similarities) Sudden thought: Isn't Rafiel the ONLY Mystaran immortal whose name is of Hebrew origins? Coincidence? Or are the Shadow Elves really the Jews of Mystara?
#22 katana_one Nov 28, 2004 17:19:30	The Traldar in the Hollow World are decendants of the Milenian Empire, which resembles Ancient Greece. You have that backwards. The Milenian Empire was founded by King Milen - a Traldar king who fled with his people from the Traldar lands during the Beastman Invasion.
#23 jeff-heikkinen Feb 23, 2005 2:35:51	Working a bit of necromancy on this thread... I have been assured that a lot of Darokin's names and costuming conventions, at least, are Dutch. The Makai always reminded me of the Maori, though I can't point to anything specific that would give me that impression. It would make sense for the Balkans-ish Traladar to be descended from the main Greek culture, Katana-One's point about it being the other way around in the canon materials notwithstanding; that would simply follow the real-world pattern.
#24 katana_one Feb 23, 2005 11:47:46	It would make sense for the Balkans-ish Traladar to be descended from the main Greek culture, Katana-One's point about it being the other way around in the canon materials notwithstanding; that would simply follow the real-world pattern. There is no reason (especially in a fantasy world) that the "Balkan-ish" Traldar and the Milenians could not both have descended from the same Traladaran culture - the Milenians broke off from the Traladara during the beginning of the Beast-Man invasion and developed their culture independently of the Traladara (who eventually became the Traldar). Again, canon supports this.