Two Tales of One City

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Published on Saturday, 10 December 2011 23:17

Written by Gorak

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Covered by decades of dust, there are two conflicting accounts of Tibiantis in the Carlin Congress Hall Library; one titled Tibiantis and the other Tibiantis: Fact and Fiction. This essay will explore the claims of both essays and demonstrate how one should approach such books in a critical manner.

First of all, the allusion of Tibiantis to the mythical island of Atlantis should be made clear. While pictographic versions of Atlantis may vary, one often used is a circular representation like that found in Beachcoming’s article “Plato’s Atlantis before Plato.” (see pictures below) Both Atlantis and Yalahar appear to have a central circular area with other areas radiating outwards and are both surrounded by an ocean. This seems to be one of the main points the anonymous author of Tibiantis: Fact and Fiction tries to make:

The city [Yalahar] itself is huge, and also extended its borders beyond the land into the sea, and judging from what can be found there, was most definitely at some point in its past a city that was home to great wonders, whose inhabitants were in possession of great knowledge.

 

Atlantis

Yalahar

The author proceeds with due diligence by pointing out some inconsistencies with this explanation, and points to other possible origins of Tibiantis in a cataclysmic event in the north, or the Shattered Isles.

On the other hand, the author of Tibiantis believes that the island exists somewhere between Carlin and Thais and that “only the highest tip of the highest mountain of the isle remained as a tiny island.” Looking at historical and current maps, this island could only be that of the Isle of Solitude shown on our map here. Affectionately referred to as Gamemaster (GM) Island, this is where voluntary gamemasters and representatives from CIP would often meet. This lends credence to the author of Tibiantis since they claim that:

However, they [the citizens of Tibiantis]  grew complacent and self satisfied, forgetting that everything they were and everything they had built up had been done only because they were favoured of the Gods. Eventually, they forgot their Gods, believing instead that they were the masters of the world. The Gods were saddened as they watched those who had made them so proud turn their backs upon them, and turned their eyes from them.

Perhaps this relates to the corruption of some voluntary gamemasters, and CIPs decision to remove them from the game? The author goes on to state that:

The versions of the legend vary - some claim the isle is inhabited by diabolic creatures ensuring Tibiantis may never rise again and others state that benevolent messengers of the Gods live there and mourn for the lost children and warn others of the fate that threatens those who forget their Gods.

“Benevolent messengers” certainly does seem like a gamemaster;  the “Gods,” the creators of the game; and the “lost children,” those that disobey the rules of the gods and warn others to follow the rules.

Unfortunately, the publication dates of these books are unknown at this point. It is quite possible that Tibiantis was written before Yalahar was discovered, and therefore at the time would be the most plausible account of Tibiantis. Perhaps the author of Tibiantis: Fact and Fiction did not have the opportunity to explore the Isle of Solitude and therefore rejected it’s existence as myth.  Regardless, it is clear that both authors have made valid, while contradictory, points. Only through these two tales of one city may we glimpse at the historical fact…. or fiction.

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References:

Anonymous, Tibiantis

Anonymous, Tibiantis: Fact and Fiction

Beachcoming, “Plato’s Atlantis before Plato,” 5 December 2010

Wikipedia, “Atlantis”

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