Tikvah (or Ximi/Batbayar, depending on how deep you’ve delved) presents a fusion of the Iberian Peninsula and Anatolia, highlighting specific regions in each act. The epilogue unfolds in another era, portraying a more primitive view. Dag is a Babylonian-inspired with Egyptian elements, adopting a broader perspective, while Anker reflects clear Ancient Greek influences with its councils and assemblies, focusing heavily on popular participation. The nomadic or semi-nomadic tribal culture draws heavily from Mongolian heritage, especially evident in the epilogue and the initial encounter with the Bo tribe at the end of Act 1. Here, elements are deeply mixed and extrapolated to provoke cultural clashes, detaching many elements from their sources, like the Riva clergy, creating a web of influence and military orders detached from religion. This evolution of mercenaries into a permanent military force reflects a late-stage rise of national armies fueled by global prosperity, where the structural costs and upkeep are not concerns for the power centers due to sustained stability and political cohesion among mercenaries. Tikvah and Amal, however, face crisis, while the rest of the world remains stable. It’s only when Siham approaches Amal and makes contact with Solveig that the gravity of the situation becomes evident. Until then, the world appears relatively safe.
The idea behind this cultural clash is to explore power dynamics. For example, the Romans categorized entire civilizations under Barbarian label (e.g., Vandals, Franks, Huns, and Germans) because they viewed themselves as the next cultural stage, a human progress incarnate. On the other hand, ‘barbarians,’ contrasting with Roman urbanization, leaned towards autonomy linked to a deep sense of community maintained by traditions and a more warlike disposition. Dag explores what such a culture might look like if there were no foreign resistance betweens "barbarians", wholeheartedly embracing modernity. Dag blend the ingenuity of arts and engineering with nature, with a freedom that could even be seen as vulgar at times. This playful tension is mirrored in how the imperials refer to all republicans as 'rebels,' both for abandoning their roots and for considering that all rebellions are for the same reasons, yet Anker's magisterium is distinct from Amal’s—different peoples with distinct cultures and reasons for being opposition. But within the conflict, it’s up to the player to discern these differences from Bomani’s leadership and how Theron governs his army during the siege, offering contrasts through their alliances.
Thanks for joining the experience. I hope it’s been enriching at some point. Wishing you a prosperous day! ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
P.S: Since you introduced me to Gloomy Sunday, which I didn't know about, I'll introduce you to something that you probably don't know about but carries a symbolism that I believe you might like.