What are the real world influences on the races of Tamriel?

[Brahmin]

I do not understand what you find 'indian' about them.... enlighten me pls.

although one form of vishnu is of a creature similar to khajeet

Spoiler:

[S13Kuro]

I just draw towards Mongolia because of the fact that a few of the elven races have asian feels to me. Truth is there are probably elements absorbed from various places and cultures that form what we see in game in any one race. The Khajiit language has some similarities to Mongolian I think, from the brief look I had, they seem to have distinct uses of certain letters not really common in more Western based languages. Also having punctuation in names here and there. Their general look I think draws slightly from it too. When I think of Mongols I have images of those dudes with the mustaches that go down past their mouths and beyond their face, which is something the Khajiit seem to be able to have also. But then again I think they could very well have some Middle Eastern influences too. The fact they dwell in a desert is a significant link.

[Anonymous98223]

But the fact that there lions seems to imediatly point to the fact that they have african influence.

[Brahmin]

I see what you mean by the mongolian moustache and the related look.....

Lions are physically capable of living all throught lower asia from west asia to south asia.
They were hunted to extinction in those regions.

Gir for example is in india, and its the last stronghold of the asiatic lion.

[Anonymous98223]

there culture and buildings resmemble african tribal ( all of there clan mother stuff)and egyptians(there gods, and moon worship resembles egyptian sun worship), there langauge also seems to be a mix of egyptians influence,i guess mongol of what u say is true, and fantasy. And there environment is described as being a desert and the way the infernal city describes some of seems to be savannah like. And how the khajiit were once a bunch of many kingdoms, and then united into two under manes and then agian united into one, remninds me greatly of egypt and how they were once a group of thousands of kingdoms who united into two Lower and Upper kingdoms under the pharoahs(manes) and then eventaully united into one under one pharoah/mane.

[Brahmin]

Agreed but what did you find 'indian' about khajeet still eludes me.

[Anonymous98223]

i cant describe it, there just a feel to them thats indian

[S13Kuro]

They don't really closely follow the appearance of any particular big cat, but I think I'd say they're more jaguar/leopard if anything. Although yeah if you make them a bit chunkier looking they can resemble a lion. Looks as if we'll be able to play around with the fur and colouration of them a lot more in Skyrim so prob be able to give them any big cat look.

If they don't really draw from any one species, then anywhere big cats dwell could be given as somewhat of a link. The tiger in Asia for example. But they're everywhere in the end, cougars in America, lions in Africa, other ones up in Europe.

I'm not saying I can't see an Egyptian/African influence. If anything it's probably their culture's closest real world counterpart. I just think that because a fair few of the other races borrow from Asian cultures, and because TES' countries are in such close proximity I think it makes sense they'd have similarities, or draw from other Asian sources. Not forgetting that India is in Asia, so it could very well be that they borrow from India as well as other areas not far off. If you're looking for a link to Indian culture, what about the headwear that seems to be an option at character creation for the cats this time round? They're jeweled and almost replicate the bindi (the dots on the forehead often seen). Sorry if referring to it in a generic way is offensive to anyone btw. I read somewhere recently that the Khajiit like to adorn themselves with jewels, I'm guessing as a sign of wealth or success, I can't remember now, but that could be something drawing from the Indians. The architecture of India isn't far off what I'd imagine the Khajiiti stuff to be too. The the climate is similar to that of Elsweyr I think, hotter than the average etc.

[Anonymous98223]

yeah both the egyptians and indians had a obssesison with jewerly and stuff. And the art in the Pocket Guide resembles a lion to me, and the mane is deffinitly seems to be described as a male lion. and the reg khajiit in genreal resemble female lions. But your right they have many other cat influences. In oblivion they reminded me of mountian lions and the Skyrim screenshots resemble a varaity of cats

[Brahmin]

Hm , I think all persian, egyptian and indian were crazy for jewelery. (in short all ancient civilizations)

I think their weapons were also jeweled.


Arabia etc experience much higher temps than india , that are accentuated by desert like environment.


skyrim khajet reminds me of eurasian lynx.

[S13Kuro]

they're definitely a sexy looking cat this time around.

[Brahmin]

the one with bow looks dangerous.

[S13Kuro]

I think it's the last preset in those images released. Charcoal grey one with black markings. I like. Totally gonna make a big, bad, beasty cat at some stage. He'll be gruff and take 5fit from less than no one. But calm and wise. Yes. He will destroy entire bands of... bandits, and then write about such exploits eloquently in a diary which will one day be a best seller.

[Anonymous98223]

This might be off topic, but it relates to culture. So i think that if they where to be anywhere in the TES worl Gypsies would be in High Rock, seeing how it resembles medieval.fantasy europe and thats where most gypsies lived. And cuz i jus watched the Hunchback of Noisterdam (the disney movie, dont mock me) and it seems like that would take place in High Rock.

[Brahmin]

that could make sense if gypsies are considered some type of elves (mer). I had read somewhere that bretons had some elven ancestors, explaining their affinity to magika etc.



where is the cat which has jewels similar to bindi ? I cant find a single picture , kuro ?

[BretonMage]

Hey guys!

This is my first post, and I hope to get to know you all better. I actually joined purely to respond to this as I saw it on a google search. Here is my take:

MAN

Bretons: English; this is because they are half-elves. The ancient celts were known for being "magical folk", not to mention the Druids. The interbreeding between Celts, Saxons, and Normans brought about the British, just as the interbreeding of Aldmer and Nedes produced the Bretons.

Nords: Scandinavians, Northern Germans, and Northern Slavs (Poles, Russians, Czechs, etc.)

Redguards: North Africans

Imperials: Romans, modern day Mediterranean peoples (incl. Southern France)

MER

Altmer: Based on the mythical Atlantian Race

Dunmer: Romanians, Hungarians, etc. (Great civilizations that were conquered and many of the people became emigrants [Think Grey Quarter of Windhelm], Gypsies] Even Dunmer architecture and religion seems to follow Ancient Romani principles and styles.

Bosmer: Irish/Welsh (Archers, Clan-Folk, tied to the land, oppressed)

Orsimer: Mongols/Huns

Dwemer: Babylonians (Rational, Engineering, Scientists, Philosophers, Star-Gazers, "Heretics")

Ayleids: Etruscans (oppressed the early Imperials (Romans), Underground cities reference the burial practices of the Etruscans.)

BEAST

Argonians: South American or Latino in general, perhaps Native American

Khajiit: Bedouins (alternate religion, desert homeland, trading caravans)

Hope you enjoyed the theories!

[Anonymous98223]

Wlecome, and i agree with you for the most part. However i feel that the Bretons represent France too. I strongy agree with your Celtic referance. I can imagine stories like King Arthur and Merlin happening in High Rock. The Fable video games, Disneys Hunchback of Noisterdam and Beauty nad the beast fit my perception of it. I also can imagine and ancient High Rock being like Ancient Greece. They have a "Mount Olympus" of sorts, are a bunch of city states, and have influenced Cyrodiil much like the Greeks influenced the Romans.

Redgaurds: Seem to have Muslim and Persian influence also and things like Aladin,Sinbad, and the Prince of Persia video games represent my idea of it.

I can see some Egyptian, and Indian influences in both the Khajiit and the Dunmer and the Aylied resymbol Egypt in many ways.

The Dwemer seem to be assyrian and mesopotamian to me.

Also if your going to discuss culture on here I might recremend discussing on what the idea of the TES cultures resmeble and not nesicariley what you see in the game because you have to understand that when Beth makes thier games there ideas of them change( Skyrim probably would have looked like Bruma at the time of Obivion but doesent now, dosent mean that there cant be settlements like Bruma in Skyrim just means that Beth. didnt have the time to incorprate them same gos for the looks of the legions in Morrowind and then them in Oblivion) and the games are limited to technology while the ideas of the provinces arent. There are very few people in the Imperial City in Oblivion when there probably would be thousands if it where real.

[LauZ]

mmm We should think two things: Names and Culture and Aspect.

The Kajiit race sounds mongolian to me... (Also is like cat-jit) and jaljia is the word for "idiom" if I remmember and sounds like a "Ji"
Also the little moustache of the Mongolians, their sharp eyes, BOWS and hunting are resembled on the kajiit.

The Argonians are really simple to understand. You may know about the reptilian gods (or people) of egypt, wearing many jewells (Actually, they tame cocodrilos these days) and you may say "oh they are egyptian" but the another fact is the weather.
The South-American weather where I live is just like the Black Marsh (Tropical, see wikipedia) full of dangerous animals and horrible insects. AAAlso, there are many roads made by the... Incas to link all of his territory (thanks to the slaves mostly) just like when The Empire failed to do the same thing on Black Marsh. Many others things that the Incas Achieve like super-modern crops, well constructed roads, potable water systems (Centuryes before XVI) and others are presented like fails on the LORE.

That is the end of the "Real influences of the beast of Tamriel"

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Khajiit means "desert-walker", so maybe Arabs or something?

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Khajiit means "desert-walker", so maybe Arabs or something?

Or maybe Khajiit?

Yeah there's superficial resemblances and clear influences from real life cultures but they're seriously their own thing in a lot of ways. For instance you'd think the Imperials are Roman superficially, but if you look deeper into their culture there's a lot of Japanese and Chinese influences as well. (The cultural and genetic offerings of the Akaviri are the "Japanese" and the spinning of moth silk and other cultural mores are the "Chinese" type influences.)

You'll find Arab and Persian influences in Redguards and Khajiit, but also in Dunmer - and you'll also find some of those Gypsie/Romani traits in the Dunmer...as well as the Japanese ones.

See what I mean? The real life cultural influences seem spread out. Even the Nords have more influences besides just Vikings. In pop culture Angles, Saxons, various types of Goths, Danes, etc. are all interchangeable especially in American fiction but in real life those were very diverse groups, and the Nords seem to combine many of those cultural traits and more.

[LauZ]

I wonder if Bethesda do this on purpose or not, or we are just creating more troubles...

An the "desert-walker" sounds more to a "steppe-walker" I still like my idea

[Berzerker]

Imperials:Roman
Nords: viking
Orcs:Nomad
Redguards: African or Persian
Breton:celtic Europeon
Elves: Asianish

[LauZ]

Asianish? what what? a new languaje?
Well, the elven race change since Arena. Well, alll the races look the same that time, just diferent skin collors, let's say Daggerfall. I guess we have to focus on the draws of Skyrim.

[Anonymous98223]

I think that the Elves are mainly fantasy and influenced by things like LOTR rather than Asia.

[OblivionDuruza]

To a degree that's true, but the TES Mer are very different from the standard LOTR-esque Elves.

Bosmer for starters, are short. They're also known for only eating meat, while most LOTR inspired Elves tend to be the opposite, leaning to less meat and more plant.

Altmer are more typical, they're tall, mystical, beautiful and powerful, but they aren't as 'prefect' as LOTR Elves.

Dunmer are a whole class unto themselves. They do embody the traditional LOTR-esque Elf in terms of their prowess with the Blade, Bow and Magic, but their culture, House system and Ashlander culture are all unique intriguing.

I think Bethesda has done a good job splitting the traditional LOTR elf and adding their own falir to their Mer, as they have with most all of their races, by drawing on a number of influences.

In Morrowind as a game in particular, there are a lot of Asain influences. Japanese style Orcish armour, Altmer wielding Katanas , etc. Less so in other games, but there was at one time a noticeable Asian theme in the game world, particularly in terms of Mer.