Ever Noticed that Randland kinda looks like england?

[Pope Trevor]

If you imagine that the Blight is Scotland, the Spine of the World is The Channel....

Well, maybe that is streching it a little bit, but i have found many similarities between Randland and England (beside the general shape)

1. It is isolated (mountains to north and east, ocean to south and west), almost like an island

2. King Arthur Hawkwing=King Arthur?

3. Caemlyn= Camelot. First, the name is similar. it is also the last reminants of Hawkwing's empire. Besides that some of the characters are similar to Arthurian Legand
Galad=Sir Gahalad, knight of the round table
Gawyn=Sir Gwain, knight of the round table
Thom Merrlin=Merlyn

4.White Tower=Tower of London. The main keep of the Tower of London is called the White Tower....

[balefire]

Originally posted by Pope Trevor
If you imagine that the Blight is Scotland, the Spine of the World is The Channel....

Well, maybe that is streching it a little bit, but i have found many similarities between Randland and England (beside the general shape)

1. It is isolated (mountains to north and east, ocean to south and west), almost like an island

2. King Arthur Hawkwing=King Arthur?

3. Caemlyn= Camelot. First, the name is similar. it is also the last reminants of Hawkwing's empire. Besides that some of the characters are similar to Arthurian Legand
Galad=Sir Gahalad, knight of the round table
Gawyn=Sir Gwain, knight of the round table
Thom Merrlin=Merlyn

4.White Tower=Tower of London. The main keep of the Tower of London is called the White Tower....

Typical of fantasy stories. The author takes threads off the real world & weaves them into Illusion. Notice that the names of the stedding are very Chinese, & the expressions used by the Seanchan eg. Death of Ten Thousand Tears are like Chinese. And they have kaf which is coffee. And names like Sanche & Sharif are Spanish & Arabic respectively. Seanchan is so like the Irish Seanchas, although I don't know what it means....Simon, care to shed some light? A sangreal is something off Arthurian legend, but can't remember what. Hmm, I bet some other people can add more to this list...

[Aragorn]

The Blight is Scotland? Feh. Everybody knows that Randland represents North America and that the blight is Canada.

They produce trollocs like Ulk, right? Yeah, I thought so.

[LaughingTurtle]

BUWAHAHAHAHAHAH

Good one Aragorn!:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[QuirkyTemplate]

Score!

[Pope Trevor]

Hey, ya better watch yourself with those Canadian comments....

[Jacob]

I think that PART of Randland (or "the Westlands" as it's officially been named. Bah!) is abit like England. Andor has struck me as inspired by England e.g. Or Maybe I should say inspired by Great Britain. The West of Andor (including the Two Rivers) would be something like Scottland and Wales then, I guess, not really a part of Andor ("England")...except as lines on a map, which Queens tend to seriously. The gold mined from the Mountains of Mist = Scottlands Black Gold (oil) then? :)

[magatsu17]

Andor did alway's remind me of old england. And I don't think a person has read the wheel of time and not compared Arthur Hawkwing to Kind Arthur. The Seachan do seem a little Asian inspired.

For a long time I wonder who inspired the Aiel. Then I saw Shaka Zulu on TV. I knew immediatly that they where the ispiration for the Aiel. They had they had spears, shields, and they ran every where they went. I thought it was so cool.

[Pope Trevor]

I don't know anything about the Zulus, but i have heard the Aiel compared to various African tribes, but i don't know any of the details of these comparisions....

I did notice a couple of things that could link the Aiel to the French. although that makes almost no sense, cause we all know that the suck at war, when the Aiel kick ass.

1. The first Aiel that the is in the story is named Gaul. Gaul is an old name for France.
2. After Mat is attacked by Aiel in his camp, he orders his men to dig a ditch and build a palisade around the camp every night. this is the same stratagey that Julius Ceasar used to defeat the Gauls and conqure France. Although this could be conecting Mat to Julius Ceaser, which kinda makes sense....

[QuirkyTemplate]

Aiel always seemed to be a little too much like the Freemen from Dune. Know what I'm talkin' bout?

But compared to modern day, Aiel are definitally the Sihks(sp?). Man, Sihks are hardcore. I'm pretty sure they're the ones that only use knives, but they are soooo deadly. They stormed bunkers with swords, but they had the lowest casualty rate in the entire war. That's nuts man.

[Elin]

Two more Aiel connections (I think I read both of these somewhere else, so don't give me credit for them):

1. The tribes of Israel - there were twelve of them, and then I think there was a thirteenth separate one of priests. This is like the Aiel tribes, and then the Jenn Aiel.

2. Native Americans - the sweat lodges, and then the names: "Brothers of the Eagle", "Stone Dogs" and so on. Sounds a lot like Indian names.

[magatsu17]

The Zulu's are African tribes. That's why when I saw them i know they where based on them. But it seem like every culture int he wheel of time is based on virious parts form various culture. I'm not the only person who think the Aiel code of honor is very similar to the samurai code of honor.

[QuirkyTemplate]

Didn't RJ say that he pretty much ripped pieces of culture from around the globe, and slapped them into his story? It does make it feel more realistic ... or more like a whole new world. Know what I mean?

[Jacob]

Originally posted by Elin
Two more Aiel connections (I think I read both of these somewhere else, so don't give me credit for them):

1. The tribes of Israel - there were twelve of them, and then I think there was a thirteenth separate one of priests. This is like the Aiel tribes, and then the Jenn Aiel.

2. Native Americans - the sweat lodges, and then the names: "Brothers of the Eagle", "Stone Dogs" and so on. Sounds a lot like Indian names.

!. Yea, and there is also "the lost tribe of Israel". Though in truth, I know little more than the name and that I think there is something about the matter in the Bible. Wendy told me abit about once in a discussion but I can't remember :-(.

2. RJ mentioned something about the Apache being one of the inspirations for the Aiel. And others, mentioned (can't remember) and unmentioned (RJ didn't clarify).

Basically, all writers has to take inspiration from somewhere. Sometimes they know where the inspiration comes from exactly, but quite often, they don't as imagination is often something mixed up and blended from all our experiences and knowlege. I think that we can thank RJ's great experiences and knowlege for the richness of the books and the world. And RJ's great mind for blending it all together so well in his imagination, of course. RJ would be a guy that you could have really interestion (non wot) discussion with, I think.

[QuirkyTemplate]

RJ would be a guy that you could have really interestion (non wot) discussion with, I think.

I heard that he is a little ... looney. Ya know, from Vietnam. Do you know if there's any truth in that?

[ShadowReaver]

Originally posted by Pope Trevor
Thom Merrlin=Merlyn
DUDE!!!!! ok now i'm more sure than ever that Thom has some greater significance in the story than just an ex-court bard. . .and i mean beyond the whole saving Moiraine bit too. . . .methinks he might be a gentled male channeler. . .or perhaps he is something else entirely. . . .maybe he's the Creator :)

[QuirkyTemplate]

Thom is so friggin cool man!

They need to have Thom kill off Faile. THAT would be somethin' eh?

[balefire]

Originally posted by QuirkyTemplate
They need to have Thom kill off Faile. THAT would be somethin' eh?

Unfortunately, no, unless she happens to be a Darkfriend (most unlikely, if you ask me). Given a choice though, I prefer Berelain the Bitch to be balefired. At least Faile isn't a slut like that Mayene wench.

[Ulk]

yeah but Faile isnt good for anything. if she dies, Perrin will turn into this badass guy looking for vengeance, which will be good for TG

[balefire]

Originally posted by Ulk
yeah but Faile isnt good for anything. if she dies, Perrin will turn into this badass guy looking for vengeance, which will be good for TG

Faile may have her uses, simply because of her position, just like Morgase, even though she's abdicated for Elayne. Political figures don't just drop out of sight, they still have some influence while they still live. Of course, the usefulness of Faile's death also must be taken in account....
~muses on how good it would be for Perrin & Tarmon Gaidon if the Falcon falls from the sky~

But still, I want the Bloody Bitch Berelain to be balefired!!!

[flyingdutchman]

amen!

~hips~

Could somboby please stop this room from swirling? i wanna get some sleep!

[Ulk]

dude, Berelain is the greatest woman in the series! she's hot! and whorey!

[balefire]

Originally posted by Ulk
dude, Berelain is the greatest woman in the series!
I think Moiraine should qualify for the title of greatest woman in the series. To pin that onto Berelain is to drag the title through Trolloc dung.

Originally posted by Ulk
she's hot!

With the flames of lust, you mean.

Originally posted by Ulk
and whorey!

Flaming right about that. She's the Queen of Whoredom.

[Pope Trevor]

Yeah, hot whores are cool.

There should be more of them in the books

[Jacob]

Originally posted by Pope Trevor
Yeah, hot whores are cool.

There should be more of them in the books

May I suggest reading George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice And Fire series? It's really good. But...no whores in WOT. WOT is abit like those old movies where you see two people kiss passionately in the bedchamber...and then the scene fades. We all KNOW what is (supposedly) happening after the scene has faded out on us, of course, but it's not shown. We know of things that we never see in WOT too, but it's not directly shown. I like it that way, I want WOT to keep being like an old move in that respect. ~nods~

[Ulk]

Yeah i say keep WOT like that since thats the way it started and the way i've come to like it.. but i also like martin's stuff cos it shows what the world is really like, doesnt cover it up for the kiddies.

ps martin owns jordan :D

[Pope Trevor]

Disclamer: First off, I'd like to say I am very drunk, and if you don't understant what I mean to say in a post, i'll try to explain it sometime, when I'm sober and i actual understand what i mean to say. If anybody is offended by what i write, I am truly sorry, I don't mean to offend. I only mean to piss people off enough to argue.

When I said there should be more hot whores, I mean't in life in general, not that there should be explicied sex scenes. I can really do without those in WOT.

I remebered another WOT similarity to the real world though.,..

Whitecloaks= Spanish Inquesition

[LaughingTurtle]

Jeez, i think all the *people who say they drink/are drunk a lot* should like put that disclaimer in their sig cough, cough -Ulk, FDM, and pope-cough...cause like, whenever are you sober here....once in a blue moon...

;) :p

[flyingdutchman]

HAAHAAAAA!
i've cought you off guard LT!
in this thread you are seperated from your petty little friends, and pope and I have declared war on your Liege-lord!

~makes as if to storm at LT, then looks over his shoulder to see if Pope is with him~

[Ulk]

dude, i'm never drunk when OL.. getting drunk takes WAY too much effort to waste when coming OL.. i dunno what the fuck those two are doing.

~watches FDM charge with smirk on face~

[LaughingTurtle]

*sigh, don't you people know a joke when you see one....SMILIES PEOPLE, look at the SMILIES!!!! Did you happen to see the ;) :p , cause if you did, you should have known that i was only joshing you, but apparently you didn't....Stop having those one handed parties...cause you're going blind i say, blind!! :eek: :p

Oh, and FDM, bring it, i dare yah...

[flyingdutchman]

Sorry LT, I'll have to take a raincheck on that one.
I got bored with this enemy of the state thing, so I went and had a beer with Ulk to make up. Come on over, I'll buy you one.

[LaughingTurtle]

I do believe that i'll take you up on that offer

~~goes off with FDM~~

[Ulk]

Originally posted by LaughingTurtle
*sigh, don't you people know a joke when you see one....SMILIES PEOPLE, look at the SMILIES!!!! Did you happen to see the ;) :p , cause if you did, you should have known that i was only joshing you, but apparently you didn't....Stop having those one handed parties...cause you're going blind i say, blind!! :eek: :p

Oh, and FDM, bring it, i dare yah...

you talking to me? i wasnt taking offense, i was pointing out that i'm not drunk when OL.... A-HOLE!

[LaughingTurtle]

I was actually talking to all the drunks in general. But since you reminded me....Ulk's AN A-HOLE!!
:p

[flyingdutchman]

Hey!
What's wrong with drunks?:confused:

At least we fully exploit our lives! Nowadays, you either die of longcancer, a hart disease or a defected liver. I'll take the liver!

Besides, there is a whole uiniverse out there waiting to be explored! Pink elephants, little green men, wonderful deleriums and a free ride on the carrousel every evening!

Plus you never get stuck with a boring job,
or an irritating wife.

But there are plenty of forwards around on the web that elaborate on this point.

so I propose a toast to drunks everywhere! Proost

[Ulk]

~clink~
although i'll have a wife soon, and a rather boring job.. umm.. whatever!

OWWW, that hurt me you a-hole! (directed at LT)

[LaughingTurtle]

Right back at 'cha Ulk 'ol buddy 'ol pal...you A-Hole!

[wingo]

Hmm. gotta love th old thread. Just to clarify the whol lost tribe thing (here goes my whole grade school education at Jewish day school).
OKay there are twelve sons of Jacob, who was renamed Isreal making it the twelve tribes of Isreal. These were:
Reuben, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Shimon, Zvulun, Asher, Gad, Yisachsar, Levi, Joseph, & Benjamin.
Aaron and Moses were a levi, and in the desert they were made into the ones who serve in the temple, with Aaron's sons being the Kohenim. When the land was divided up once they got to Isreal, it was divided up among twelve tribes with the levites getting cities in each section but no land of themselves. How then were their twelve sections? The sons of Joseph, Minashe, and Ephraim each got some land (actually Minashe got two halves one on each side of the Jordan making 13 divisions but ignore that). So under Saul, David and Solomon all these alnds were united. When Soloman's son (blanking on name) took over the kingdoms split into Judah (judah and binyamin) and Isreal (the other ten tribes). The northern kingdom (Israel) was captured first and these were exiled and these are the ten "lost tribes". The other two were conquered later and exhiled as well. Today almost any Jew knows what category they fall into (either Kohen, Levi or Israel). So i guess then yes their are twelve tribes (the twelves sons) and one priest hood(Kohens). You can i guess think of it in terms of the twelve kids minus Joseph and plus his two kids (12-1+2 = 13 :D ) So that is what I learned going to a Jewish Day school. Ya Me!

[GWINNA]

ACtualy if you look at the world map, Seachan is America's and rand is mostly europe with slight diffrences.

[Warder Trained]

Randland proper is actually pretty remniscent of Europe.

You have the Atlantic to the west and the Mediterranean to the south. You've got Illian as Italy. Aside from the general shape and placement of the seas and oceans, you also have the steppe barbarians (or in this case the desert savages) ready to busrt in from the east.

Aside from the stuff he simply makes up, Jordan seems to draw his places from other bits of real geography/peoples.

Tar Valon as a small area serving as the heart of Aes Sedai power and a central trading point always struck me as a mix of the Vatican in spirit and old Constantinople in place.

Andor, of course, is a mix of England and Camelot, with longbows and the name of the capital (Caemlyn, anyone?) clinching it.

Oh, and I wouldn't mind the Domani being French. They're cute.

[Johan]

It would seem you lot got to the artur hawkwing theories before me then. bugger.

ah well, i can but add more weight to the theory, as there still seems to be a couple of points that havent been picked up

Artur PAENDRAG tanrill, hawkwing's birth name is incredibly similar to Arthur PENDRAGON, or King Arthur

to be summoned by a HORN, when Britains Even more similarities are drawn with King Arthurs death, where on his tomb was written Arthur, the Once and future King. They believed that he and his soldiers had not passed from the world for ever but lay sleeping, Tel'aran'rhoid anyone?, in a secret cave. When Britains need was greatest they would be awoken with, and i feel this clinches it, a HORN call, whereupon they would gallop forth on warhorses to save their country.

and with the Andor England connection:
two symbols of Andor are a rose and a lion. The very same are national symbols of England, check out the england football squad badge, cricket team badge and rugby squad badge. Also red and white are the counrtys colours as are Englands.

[Kolo al'Jaden]

I think Randland looks like Denmark