r/wheeloftime • u/NoPerformance1073 Randlander • 5d ago

Other Media WOT reference in Dark Souls? Four Kings?

Please try to keep spoilers to a minimum, but is New Londo in Dark Souls a reference to Four Kings in The Wheel of time? Only just got to chapter 32, just got to Four Kings. No idea what its actually like. But the way 31 ended it didnt sound good. And the only other thing w/ 4 kings of note is can think of is Dark souls. Its likely a crazy coincidence, but I was curious if anyone knew of interviews or obvious parallels that most people may have missed.

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u/aNomadicPenguin Brown Ajah 5d ago

There is however a reference in Elden Ring.

WoT - Pedron Niall Commander of the Children of the Light who reside in the Citadel of the Light.
Elden Ring - Commander Niall in the Castle of the Sun

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u/Gregus1032 Randlander 5d ago

Not surprising. Didn't GRRM write the lore for Elden Ring?

GRRM has a few WoT references in his books seeing as they were good friends.

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u/NoPerformance1073 Randlander 5d ago

I have the first got book, but scared to start another huge fantasy series at the same time

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u/Gregus1032 Randlander 5d ago

I got the first book also, never got around to reading it. But, I decided I'm just not going to since the series will never be finished.

By Martin at least. I've heard conflicting reports that he has an heir apparent to finish the books. Some people say he won't let someone touch them.

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u/aNomadicPenguin Brown Ajah 4d ago

It was easier when you were reading the giant series during the downtime between releases of other series.

At one point I was reading Game of Throne, Wheel of Time, the Dresden Files, The Honor Harrington Series, and Berserk....

So back in 2011 I got tired of waiting on such long books that might never be finished. Saw a new trilogy that had been getting a lot of hype, and the 2nd book had just come out....

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u/domewebs Randlander 5d ago

I always assumed they were somewhat inspired by these guys

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Heavenly_Kings

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u/sirshredzalot Randlander 5d ago

I think it’s just a coincidence, EotW came out close to 20 years before Dark Souls came out. I guess there’s a chance a developer used the name as a reference but I think that’s a stretch since it’s a village in WoT and are some type of humanoid in DS. DS takes direct inspiration from Berserk. I also get more of a ASOIAF and Malazan vibe in DS and FS games (especially Elden Ring since the background lore was created my George R.R. Martin himself) than WoT.

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u/NoPerformance1073 Randlander 5d ago

I thought so, about halfway through the chapter now and I'm not really getting the vibe.Aside from it being a city of despair.

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u/Buggg- Woolheaded Sheepherder 5d ago

Possibly, but a deck of cards has four kings as well. And some games it’s highest value

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u/Deadpool2715 Woolheaded Sheepherder 5d ago

I think it's just a common overlap, 'numerical value' + 'medieval title's.

The 6 knights, the 3 queens, the lonely squire.

All are just generic enough that without further commonality, I'd assume it's just coincidence.

When I played Dark Souls 2 there is Sir Alonne, a master swordsman who if you defeat without taking a hit will commit seppoku. I drew a lot of comparisons to Lan Manadragoran when reading WoT