Duchies Coastline

[Provost]

While perusing my atlas, I recently discovered that the Aleutian Islands end in a group called the 'Near Islands'. In fact, the entire coastline of Alaska looks very much like the Six Duchies upside down. How peculiar.

['thul]

its not exactly like, but there are certainly serious similarities...

here's a comparison, with stretched a bit vertically, but otherwise unaltered...

Spoiler

These beings have on occasion wondered if they could make some decent fantasy maps through reversing the height field on a model of the earth...

[Farseer]

Yes, Provost, I think that Robin has herself said that it looks like Alaska and was even asked about it in an interview or two somewhere (maybe even recently and I likely posted it! ). I don't think it was a conscious decision on her part as she freely admits that maps aren't her thing, and may have been just the interpretation on the part of the artist or the way the sketch turned out when Robin did her bit of a drawing for the artist. Given that Robin lived in Alaska for some time, I guess it makes sense regardless. I don't want to put words in her mouth though so I will try and locate the link/s etc for you...though it will have to wait until I've had a camp as it's now 2:12 am here.

Great spotting!

[KekPafrany]

Woww, it fits. Nice catch.

[Valarya]

Yeah, definitely a neat catch!!! I wonder how often Robin saw an upside-down version map of Alaska in her years living there.

[Provost]

This is all highly questionable, but do you think it's possible that the Out Islands (which we don't have a map for) might follow the same general curve island as the Aleutians?

[Farseer]

I don't want to put words in her mouth though so I will try and locate the link/s etc for you...though it will have to wait until I've had a camp as it's now 2:12 am here.

I have searched and searched and SEARCHED for these link/s here in thePlenty but can't locate them. Sorry...but I will keep trying. Not even an internet search has brought up anything.

As for your theory, the Out Islands of my imagination could never match up with something on our world map. I have my reasons but will have to find those links too!

Of course, maps are not one of Robin's strong points so maybe she did fashion them as you mention when she first started planning...at least until they became 'the God Runes'. I'll be back sooner with this one as I have an idea where connections to it all may lurk!

[Farseer]

Here in the Maps thread, as well as other threads that I am yet to find (!), I have outlined my reasons for believing that the Out Islands are meant to be something 'more' when seen from the air.

Provost, if you haven't seen this Maps thread before, you may be interested in the map featured there as well. I still have to get back to the thread to contribute some more myself...

['thul]

it could be the other way around... instead of the islands being shaped after some runes, the runes be shaped after the islands...

[Mervi]

One pretty cool (and sort of recent) interview where she talks about the 6D/Alaska connection is here. Spoilers for the stories in the Inheritance collection, especially "Cut"!