Allusions

Throughout the lands of Tibia, NPCs, locations, literature, and lore refer and pay homage to other works, literary and otherwise. Some of these allusions are simple references to famous pieces, while others are based more extensively on external sources.

Tibia contains many references to bones, and the game's very name is one of them. While these relations are not necessarily allusions because they do not refer to literary or similar works, these somewhat self-referential mentions of bones and other body parts are often found throughout the Tibian lands. The islands of Fibula and Calcanea, the landforms of Mount Sternum and Femor Hills, Villa Scapula and even the city of Thais reference these body structures along with the event creature Bones.

Bones represent just a small portion of references. Elsewhere in the world, allusions to literary works and life are found in many contexts. Some allusions may simply serve as inspirations or passing references, while others are nearly direct derivations of these famous works.

Brands
Many Shopkeeper NPCs take their names and goods from worldwide retailers. This trend is most noticeable on the island of Rookgaard, where nearly every shopkeeper's name bears a startling similarity to a real-life store. In the city of Venore, the famous Venorean Fashion Warehouse is home to many clothing designers whose names are similar to real-life fashion designers. While other cities have their own inspirations regarding NPCs, these two have clear and strong allusions to their respective themes.

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Famous and Historical People
As many RPGs do, Tibia makes references to historical and contemporary people in a variety of ways. Some Guard NPCs, for example, share their names with fitting celebrities, while some more historical and famous scientists and explorers were alive under similar names and shared their knowledge in some of Tibia's many books. Some other allusions are only mentioned briefly in quotes, but the strength of these connections makes these references clear to those who know to look for them - connections like the desert city of Ankrahmun, to Tutankhamun, the most famous of Egyptian pharaohs.

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Literature and Mythology
Like many roleplaying games, Tibia has strong ties to fantasy literature and classic mythology. The beginners' island, Rookgaard, has strong ties to Norse lore and mythology. The island's name is similar to the realms of Midgard and Asgard, a claim further supported by the presence of a bridge guard and the the Norse-named Cipfried.

J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and associated anthologies, the quintessential sources of modern fantasy inspiration, are featured prominently three of Tibia's earliest and largest cities. The names of the NPCs in Ab'Dendriel and Thais might look familiar to players with a knowledge of Tolkien's lore. The dwarven city of Kazordoon similarly bears a remarkable resemblance to the famous Khazad-dûm, the city ruled by Durin, the king of the Dwarfs.

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J.R.R. Tolkien Lore
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Comic Books
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Film and Television
Many creatures and NPCs seem to be fans of the silver screen. Dwarfs, in particular, are movie buffs, with different creatures quoting famous lines and the Kazordoon Library being home to many parodies of James Bond films. While many references to film and television are in the form of quotes, some are manifested in creatures and NPCs as embodiments of their respective allusions.

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James Bond Films
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Music and Art
Tibia isn't all that dull! While there may not be sound, certain elements of the game try to capture the essence of their favorite real-life songs and artwork. From famous singers disguised as simple shopkeepers to famous bands performing at the local tavern, the music scene on Tibia isn't as empty as it is silent. Top

Other Games
Although Tibia was originally greatly inspired by the Ultima series, it has managed to reference a few other popular games, mainly in passing references, but sometimes with dedications of whole areas of the game. Top

Places, Organizations, and Constructs
It is often said that art imitates life. As such, several areas and organizations in Tibia show strong resemblances to real-life counterparts. Top