What real life continent or land is Kunark based on?
 

I'm a huge fan of the Iksar Empire and I wanted to know what real life continent or land this Kunark is based on where the Iksar live. This is the wiki description for Kunark.

"Kunark is a continent introduced in EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark. It is home to the Iksar.

Kunark is a continent of ancient ruins and hostile lands. Records tell tale of empires lost to time, their ruined cities and hidden tombs still filled with treasures. The evil hand of Cazic-Thule touched this land and spawned the Iksar, a powerful reptilian race. Once the predominant force, they now strive to rise from the ashes and reclaim their glory. The creatures in Kunark are quite formidable and regard all as invaders. Only the elven outpost of Firiona Vie offers safe haven for adventurers. This is no place for the weak."

Based on this description, what culture or land do you think this Kunark or Cabilis could be based on? There's gotta be something. Lake of Ill Omen sounds very biblical and ancient for example but I can't grasp what they based the Iksar aesthetics on exactly. Anyone got a clue?

All I know is that Brad McQuaid created Kunark years before EverQuest - it was part of his tabletop RPGs lore.

Purely based off of aesthetics of some of the Iksar armor, the weapons they use, and some of the architecture, its eastern Asian based; Japan/China/etc.

However, its a fantasy game, I doubt other than some of the aesthetics its largely based to reflect IRL location. Especially when you consider most of the rest of the world(before and after kunark) dont have any other easily identifiable "Oh this is 100% x country/society"

Odus is Japan, Antonica is the Americas (and a bit of the middle east thrown in), Faydwer is Europe, Kunark is like a combo of Africa/Southeast Asia/Australia, and Velious is Antarctica.

Nebraska

LoIO almost certainly was lifted from or inspired by Zelda. Koi was EQ's version of the catfish, and although the equivalent to a "ring of stones" is in TD, Koi was spawned in LoIO for GM events.

https://zelda.fandom.com/wiki/Lake_of_Ill_Omen

It’s exotic and mysterious. For me it is a mishmash of the following vibes:

A mix of Central and South America, Oz and the Malay archipelago as well as the far east.

Yes, i remember running my camel train across the strzeleki desert wondering if the rhinos would attack me. :)

NVM, they prolly escaped from the zoo.

I can understand why some people would say is Asian-esque because of City of Mist, but every time I run through Kunark and see all of the giant statues, pillars, columns, aqueducts I can't help but imagine that who ever created this land was deeply inspired by the fall of the Roman Empire.

I've also always assumed Kithicor Forest was based off of Teutoburg Forest.

Perhaps just a mishmash of Empires in general?

Edit: now I imagine Warlord Rile and his fearsome army as a fleet of Iksar Redcoats in an East India style organisation, like in the Pirates of the Caribbean, accents and all haha