D&D 5E [Radiant Citadel] A chart of parallel Earth cultures and motifs across the D&D Multiverse

Dungeonosophy

Dungeonosophy

Legend
Voadam said:
The Knorr of Jakandor are a mix of Native American, Celtic, and Norse influences.
Click to expand...
I've started to look into Jakandor. I do see some Indigenous American motifs (e.g. 'ghost shirt' spell), though it looks to be pretty blended and removed from direct sources. I'll aim to sift through it. A general "indigenous/tribal/barbarian" vibe doesn't "count" for the chart. But you're right, there are some motifs to be gleaned.

At a quick glance, the other culture on the island has a fair number of Egyptian motifs.
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Dungeonosophy

Dungeonosophy

Legend
Update: Among other things, I really delved into the sources of Malatra, the Living Jungle. Additions:

~Afro-Caribbean:
~Afrotropical:
  • In Toril:
    • ~African aspects of Malatra, the Living Jungle: The Living Jungle Writer's Guidelines state: "The Living Jungle setting and its inhabitants are inspired in large part by African and Asian cultures, inhabitants, legends, geography, and animals. But you’ll also find elements of other jungle cultures in the adventures, and of course there are some parts of the Living Jungle which are almost pure fantasy." [...] "For inspiration, read books on early African and Asian cultures, visit a museum, watch films, or even just browse a few encyclopedia entries. Any realistic element you add to an adventure is sure to heighten the excitement surrounding magic or monsters when those elements of an adventure appear. But remember--the Living Jungle is not historically accurate, nor is it meant to be a strictly actual depiction of real-world cultures." [...] "Feel free to include elements of any real-world culture as well as your own imaginary additions to the setting when writing your tournament. African, Asian, South American, and Polynesian culture, myths, legends, geography, flora, and fauna would all provide excellent inspiration for your adventure. When in doubt, keep Africa and Asia foremost in mind, and try to blend two or more cultures when creating a new part of the setting."
      • The katanga PC race is the name for hengeyokai in Malatra. This name is from Katanga, a region in Congo, in Central Africa.
        • The Impala katanga has a ~Zulu connection, since the word "impala" is from Zulu.
        • The Ostrich katanga has an ~African connection, since ostriches are endemic to large parts of Africa.
      • The Nubari / Ancients may be inspired by the ancient Nubians, the southern neighbors of the ancient Egyptians.
        • The Simbara tribe of Nubari, the "People of the Lion" are named after the Swahili word for lion: simba.
        • The "Bagoomba" tribe of Nubari is likely somehow inspired by the Anglo pop cultural pseudo-African word "magoomba" which is attributed various pseudo meanings. [sic!]
~Indigenous South American:
  • In Toril:
    • The Caiman Katangas (shapeshifters) of Malatra have a connection with ~South America, since caiman are endemic to South America, and word 'caiman' comes from the Galibi Carib language of South America.
~South Asian:
~Southeast Asian:
  • In Toril:
    • The Lidahan people of the Shao Mountains in southern Kara-Tur (~Indonesian). In OA6: Ronin's Challenge, there's a Lidahan Word List which is entirely in Indonesian.
    • ~Southeast Asian aspects of Malatra / The Jungle Lands (DRAGON mag #315 says: "the Jungle Lands use names from Burma or Thailand." The following three cultures are included in that article):
      • The Purang hill country
      • The Kingdom of Laothan, including the Seng people. The name "Laothan" suggests a blend of ~Lao+Thai. The Thai and Lao languages are closely related.
      • Kuong Kingdom. The Kuong Kingdom worships the AD&D Vedic Pantheon, which they call the "Lords of Creation."
      • Other cultures from the Living Jungle (~African and ~Asian foremost + "other jungle cultures"): The Living Jungle Writer's Guidelines state: "The Living Jungle setting and its inhabitants are inspired in large part by African and Asian cultures, inhabitants, legends, geography, and animals. But you’ll also find elements of other jungle cultures in the adventures, and of course there are some parts of the Living Jungle which are almost pure fantasy." [...] "For inspiration, read books on early African and Asian cultures, visit a museum, watch films, or even just browse a few encyclopedia entries. Any realistic element you add to an adventure is sure to heighten the excitement surrounding magic or monsters when those elements of an adventure appear. But remember--the Living Jungle is not historically accurate, nor is it meant to be a strictly actual depiction of real-world cultures." [...] "Feel free to include elements of any real-world culture as well as your own imaginary additions to the setting when writing your tournament. African, Asian, South American, and Polynesian culture, myths, legends, geography, flora, and fauna would all provide excellent inspiration for your adventure. When in doubt, keep Africa and Asia foremost in mind, and try to blend two or more cultures when creating a new part of the setting."
        • The Pangolin Katanga have a ~Malay connection, since the name for the animal "pangolin" comes from the Old Malay word pengguling, meaning "one who rolls up."
        • For the "katanga" and "Nubari" PC races, see the African section.
    • The Island Kingdoms: (DRAGON mag #315 says "the Island Kingdoms use names from the Philippines or Indonesia.")
      • The island nation of Bawa and the Bawani/Bavanese people and language. (~ Java, Indonesia) The different spellings are akin to the difference between "Java" (the English spelling) and "Jawa" (the native Indonesian spelling).
      • The island nation of Bertan/Bertran and the Bertanese people and language. Given that Bawa is more clearly ~Indonesian/Javanese, Bertan could be ~Filipino (the other cultural option mentioned in DRAGON #315).
 
Last edited:

Paul Farquhar

Paul Farquhar

Legend
You haven't mentioned Exandria, but I came across this comment on the wiki: "The culture and architecture of Marquet's cities is broadly inspired by 12th-century Turkey, and its outlying villages are reminiscent of early Palestine."
Link: Marquet

Marquet does feature in Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep, which is an official WotC adventure.
 

Dungeonosophy

Dungeonosophy

Legend
Paul Farquhar said:
You haven't mentioned Exandria, but I came across this comment on the wiki: "The culture and architecture of Marquet's cities is broadly inspired by 12th-century Turkey, and its outlying villages are reminiscent of early Palestine."
Link: Marquet

Marquet does feature in Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep, which is an official WotC adventure.
Click to expand...
I’d decided not to include examples from IP that WotC doesn’t own (Lankhmar, Conan, etc). But I might make an exception for Exandria since it’s so current.

I know almost nothing about Exandria, so if you find additional firm examples like that, let me know.
 

Dungeonosophy

Dungeonosophy

Legend
Update:

I put placeholders for the other earthly cultures.
I started to fill out the Finnish, Mesopotamian, and Norse:

~Finnish:
  • In Toril:
    • The mages of the ancient Imaskar Empire sought to revitalize their population by opening two great gates to another world (D&D Earth), then kidnapping from it numerous humans (Ancient Finns) to serve as their slaves. See: Finnish pantheon
    • The Finnish Pantheon in Toril: Mielikki and Loviatar are Finnish deities who are also members of the Faerunian Pantheon. Untamo and Kiputytto formerly had a small presence in Toril.
    • Based on its wordshape and location in the Cold Lands, the land of Vaasa may have initially had a Finnish motif. "Vaasa" is a real-world city in Finland. Though, if so, this seems to have not been carried forward by later designers.
  • In Planescape and the Planes of Existence: The AD&D1e Finnish Mythos in Deities & Demigods.
~Mesopotamian (~Sumerian and ~Akkadian/Babylonian):
  • In Oerth: Ishtarland in Western Oerik
  • In Mystara:
    • Nimmur
    • Enduks of Eshu
    • Alphatia is a blended fantasy culture, but one of its primary symbols is a lammasu, as seen on the cover of the Alphatian booklets in Dawn of the Emperors.
  • In Toril: Unther (pre-Spellplague)
  • In Planescape and the Planes of Existence: the AD&D1e Babylonian Mythos & Sumerian Mythos
  • The Babylonian deities from 2e Return to the Keep on the Borderland.
  • Monsters:
    • lammasu
    • scorpion-folk
    • shedu
~Norse / Ancient Germanic / Asgardian:
  • In Blackmoor:
    • The Skandaharians of the Skandaharian Sea.
  • In Oerth:
    • The Frost Barbarians (Kingdom of Fruztii), the Ice Barbarians (Kingdom of Cruski), and the Snow Barbarians (Kingdom of Schnai). They speak the Fruz language, also known as the Cold Tongue. Their physical appearance and gods are different than real-world Norse.
  • In Mystara:
    • The Northern Reaches / Northlands of the Kingdom of Vestland, the Kingdom of Ostland, and Jarldoms of Soderfjord. They speak the Antalian (~Old Norse) language.
    • The Heldannic Freeholds (~Icelandic Commonwealth) prior to being conquered by the Heldannic Order (~Teutonic Knights).
    • The Kingdom of Eusdria in the Savage Coast (~Frankish realm)
    • BECMI Immortals of Mystara: Frey and Freyja, Loki, Odin, Thor, and Wayland
  • In Toril:
    • The Northlanders / Northmen of the Moonshae Isles are analogous to the Danish and Norwegian vikings in Wales (the Black Heathens), Scotland (the Lordship of the Isles), and Ireland (the Ostmen).
      • Norland is an island in the Moonshaes which is inhabited and ruled primarily by Northlanders.
    • The Uthgardt Barbarians are primarily, but not solely ~Norse and ~Anglo-Saxon inspired. The name "Wulfgar" means "wolf-spear" in Old English. The Uthgardt speak the Bothii language.
    • The Norse Pantheon and Toril: Tyr is the one Norse god who is a member of the Faerunian Pantheon.
  • In Krynn:
    • The Nordmen of Nordmaar. As with most Krynnish cultures, the Nordmen are a blend of earthly archetypes. Their name and physical appearance (of the inland Nordmen) are ~Norse-like; yet their tribal names are ~Aztec; and the biome is jungle. The coastal Nordmen are Black; such as Theros Ironfeld who was born in a Nordmaar fishing village. Human coloration is not a factor in Nordman identity.
    • The Ice Barbarians / Ice Folk of Icereach appear to be partially Norse inspired.
  • In Aebrynis (Birthright): The Rjurik people
  • In D&D Earth: HR1: Vikings Campaign Sourcebook, AD&D2e Historical Reference series.
  • In Spelljammer:
    • The World of Thoric, a world of asteroid fields inhabited by 1.5 billion "space vikings" who worship Hordent, a manifestation of Thor.
    • "Bloody Vikings..." adventure in SJA2: Skull & Crossbones. Erik Bloodaxe, a viking from a groundling world, compels a shipwrecked wizard from Toril to outfit his drakkar with a spelljamming helm.
    • The drakkar and longship spelljammers.
  • In Planescape and the Planes of Existence:
    • The AD&D1e Norse Mythos
    • The AD&D 2e Norse Mythology
    • The D&D3e Asgardian Pantheon
    • The D&D5E Norse Pantheon
  • Monsters:
 
Last edited:

Dungeonosophy

Dungeonosophy

Legend
Update: Egypt!

~Ancient Egyptian / Pharaonic:
  • In Oerth: Erypt in Western Oerik
  • In Ærth: Ægypt. (WotC reportedly owns the rights to Gygax's world of Ærth. Gygax redid Ægypt as "Khemit" in his d20 Necropolis module.)
  • In Mystara:
    • Arypt, in the original Master Set world map of "Pangaea/Urt"
    • The Kingdom of Thothia on the Isle of Dawn. (Spider-worshipping ~Egyptians.)
    • The Hutaakans of the Lost Valley (~Egyptian jackal-folk)
    • There are relics of Nithian culture (such as pyramids) in the Emirates of Ylaruam, though overlaid with ~Arab culture.
    • The Valley of Hutaaka in the Hollow World (more ~Egyptian jackal-folk!)
    • The Kingdom of Nithia in the Hollow World (culturally preserved ~Egyptians)
    • Tracy Hickman's Desert of Desolation has ~Ancient Egyptian motifs (e.g. pyramids). GAZ2 suggested placing it in Ylaruam.
  • In the Kingdom of Ghyr (the unplaced homeland of the LJN Action Figures) and in Fantasy Forest: Nightshade the Lich / Skeleton-King is dressed in Egyptian gear. As seen in the Lich PVC figure and in a couple of the Fantasy Forest gamebooks.
  • In Toril:
    • Mulhorand
    • In Toril, the Egyptian Pantheon is known as the Mulhorandi Pantheon. The Mulan people are Ancient Egyptians from D&D Earth, who were captured by the Imaskari and brought to Toril.
    • Tracy Hickman's Desert of Desolation has ~Egyptian motifs (e.g. pyramids). It was retroactively placed in the Plains of Purple Dust.
  • In Jakandor (a mini-setting of the 2e Odyssey product line): The Charonti nation has several Egyptian motifs, such as worship of the god "Thanhotep."
  • In Magic: The Gathering / D&D Plane Shift: The Plane of Amonkhet.
  • In Spelljammer:
    • Flying Pyramid Ships. Constructed by a (reportedly) now-vanished human culture which followed the Egyptian pantheon.
    • The Dark Pharaoh
    • Ptah in Spelljammer: Ptah is worshipped in nearly every crystal sphere.
    • The Temple of Ptah on the Rock of Bral
    • In Cluster Space: the Varan worship the god Seltaine, a local aspect of Set. (It's not clear to what extent the Varan have other Egyptian cultural motifs.)
  • In Planescape and the Planes of Existence:
    • The OD&D Egyptian Mythos
    • The AD&D1e Egyptian Mythos
    • The AD&D2e Egyptian Mythology
    • The D&D3e Pharaonic Pantheon
    • The D&D5e Egyptian Pantheon
 

Dungeonosophy

Dungeonosophy

Legend
Update: Started the Eastern European section...

~Eastern European (~Slavonic, ~Eastern Orthodox/Byzantine Greek, ~Romani, ~Romanian, ~Hungarian, ~Albanian, ~Caucasus): [placeholder]
  • In Oerth:
    • The Stonefist Barbarians (~Slavonic)
    • Ataman (~Cossack) title among the Flan
    • The Rhenee (~Romani)
  • In Mystara:
    • The Traladarans, the native culture of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. (~Eastern Europe; Transylvania for the horror-themed aspects)
    • The Thyatians are explicitly (though only partially) inspired by ~Byzantine/Greek Orthodox culture. (Along with ~Ancient Roman.)
    • The Principality of Boldavia in Glantri (~Transylvania). Though the overarching motif is "Gothic/Transylvania", there are also specific motifs: (See my research here.)
    • The City-States:
      • [list each culture]
    • The Goat-Men of Kavaja:
      • [list each culture]
    • The Dominion of Vyolstograd and the Dominion of Stamtral in Norwold, from module CM4: Earthshaker! (~Russian)
  • In Toril:
    • The Raumtheran Language Group= ~Slavic+Albanian. Source: DRAGON Annual #4 "Speaking in Tongues."
      • Halardrim language (extinct)
      • Rasallesian
      • Allesian (Ashane, Golden Allesian)
      • Sossic
    • Rashemen (~Russia). The Rashemi language has some aesthetically ~Slavic elements: e.g. cheznitznia 'shapeshifter'; domovoi 'house spirits' ; dvorovoi 'evil spirits'; nydeshka 'blunt sword' ; polevik 'a kind of dwarf' ; volodni 'Pine Folk.'
    • Cossacks are a partial inspiration for Murghom. (Source: Rich Baker)
  • In Ravenloft:
    • Barovia (~Transylvania)
    • Nova Vaasa
    • Vorostokov
    • Vistani (~Romani)
  • In Aebrynis (Birthright): The Vos people. Their name "Vos" is evocative of "Rus/Ros", the original name of Russia.
    • Vosgaard appears to equivalent to "Rosgrad."
  • James Wyatt's Petroyeska campaign setting. Bits of James' settings appeared in DRAGON magazine during the 3e era.
  • In Magic: The Gathering:
    • The Plane of Innistrad. (~Transylvania / Gothic Eastern Europe+German motifs)
    • The Plane of Ravnica (~Slavic high magic cityscape)
  • In Planescape and the Planes of Existence:
    • [was a Slavic pantheon published?]
  • Also: "The Taltos" (~Hungarian shaman PC class) by Tom Moldvay, DRAGON #247(p38), AD&D2e
  • Monsters:
 

Dungeonosophy

Dungeonosophy

Legend
Update - a suprising number of entries for Israelite / Jewish cultural motifs:

~Ancient Hebrew / Israelite / Jewish Culture:
  • In Oerth:
    • Baalzephon is a pit fiend. Its name means "Lord of the North" in Hebrew.
  • In Mystara:
    • The Magiocracy of Herath in the Savage Coast. The Herathian proper names are from the ~Hebrew language. (As seen on this map of eastern Herath.) Some have pointed out the uncomfortable design choice of using a secretive shapeshifting spider-people (araneas) to represent Jewish culture. Given the nearby Spanish and Portuguese motifs also on the Savage Coast, there appear to be parallels with, at best, the Marrano "crypto-Jews" who hid their Jewish culture in secrecy, while appearing to participate in outward Iberian Catholic soceity. Or at worst, a careless association with the era of fearful superstitions which the Jews endured within medieval Christendom. [sic!]
    • The Dream Land of Smyslvych, the setting of two Israeli-designed official D&D modules: (link to cover photos)
      • HCM1: Lunar Women
      • HCM2: Living Statues War
    • Hebrew-language BECMI product list. Many BECMI products were translated into Hebrew.
    • In CM7: The Tree of Life by Bruce Heard. The four regions of the Elven Land (Atziluth, Beriah, Ietzirah, Asiah) are directly named after the four worlds of creation in Jewish Kabbalah. Four Worlds - Wikipedia ; CM7 states these words are the archaic names of the four elements. This is not their meaning in Hebrew (they mean something like "emanation", "creation", "formation" and "doing"), although it is possible that in some kabbalistic schemes the four worlds also parallel the elements. Also, the "Tree of Life" (etz chaim) is the name of an important 16th-century kabbalistic work: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etz_Chaim_(book)
    • Sister Rebecca the Adept, an iconic NPC from the Moldvay Basic Set, has a Hebrew name. Rebecca is the Vulgate (Latin) form of biblical Rebekah, from Hebrew רִבְקָה‎ (Rivka, “enchantingly beautiful, captivating, snare”). Rebecca - Wiktionary
  • In Toril:
    • The Sartani crab-giants in Zakhara. "Sartan" is Hebrew for crab: סרטן - Wiktionary ; whereas Arabic is "saratan." However, "sartan" appears to be the Midani word for crab, since it appears in another context as Jazayir al-Sartan (Isles of the Crab).
  • In Krynn: Biblical Hebrew motifs via Jeff Grubb (see "Jeff Grubb on the Gods of Krynn"), and probably reinforced by Tracy Hickman's Latter-day Saints (Mormon) culture. Jeff Grubb says: "Several of the names are biblical in origin, and taken from a book called 'Everyone in the Bible' by the Reverend William P. Barker, who was also the minister of my church when I was growing up[.]" Jeffs other comments on the Hebrew origin of names in Krynn:
    • Chemosh: "In the real world the supposed god of the Ammonites in the Bible. In First and Second Kings, Solomon erected an altar to him at Jerusalem, and Josiah destroyed it. (Later note I’ve discovered hooks him up with the biblical Moloch)"
    • Chislev: "The name Chislev evolved out of Kislev, the name for the ninth month of the Jewish year."
    • Kiri-Jolith: "Partially manufactured (Kiri), partially inspired by Joelah, a son of Jeroham from First Chronicles."
    • Gilean: "Originally Gilead the Book. As in ”Is there no balm in Gilead?” (Book of Jeremiah)."
    • Habbakuk: "In the real world, Habakkuk (note the single ”b” and the third ”k” ) was a prophet in the Bible (one of the ”eight minor prophets” ). His book is a collection of oracles delivered against the backdrop of the Babylonian threat to Judah in c.600 B.C. Interestingly enough, the original Habakkuk was a bard, a temple singer. His book was on the subject of why a good god would allow the evil Babylonians to exist and thrive."
    • Mishakal: "The name comes from the story of the fiery furnace from the Book of Daniel – Meshach, Shadrach, and Obendigo."
    • Sargonnas: "Sargon was the King of Babylon in the book of Isaiah."
    • Shinare: "Again, may have been inspired by biblical names, but was likely pure invention."
    • Sirrion: "The name started with a wizard character in my early campaign named Simon, metamorphed to Simeon (one of the leaders of the twelve tribes of Isreal), then jumped the track entirely when the m turned into a double-r ( and occasionally a single-r as well)."
    • Zeboim: "Influenced by bliblical names such as Zebidiah and Zebulon." Note: Zeboim was a city destroyed by fire and brimstone.
    • Zivilyn: "May have been inspired by a real bibical name, but could not tell you at this stage."
    • Also: the title of the Dragonlance Chronicles themselves, likely from the Book of Chronicles in Hebrew scripture.
  • In Planescape and the Planes of Existence:
 

Levistus's_Leviathan

Levistus's_Leviathan

5e Freelancer
Dungeonosophy said:
I’d decided not to include examples from IP that WotC doesn’t own (Lankhmar, Conan, etc). But I might make an exception for Exandria since it’s so current.

I know almost nothing about Exandria, so if you find additional firm examples like that, let me know.
Click to expand...
I don't watch Critical Role, but Explorer's Guide to Wildemount is probably my favorite book in 5e so far. From what I've gathered through reading the book, the main cultural inspirations of it are:
  • Dwendalian Empire: Holy Roman Empire combined with England. They have a monarchy, an official religion, German-based naming patterns, and a rigid caste system. The Cerberus Assembly is more similar to the American Cabinet than the Aulic Council, but the inspiration is still there.
  • Kryn Dynasty: Their main religion (the Luxon) is inspired by Hinduism and Buddhism (because of Nirvana-style reincarnation), but most other ties are loose.
  • Clovis Concord: Greek. The Clovis Concord is a tropical coastal country made up of a bunch of city-states that form a trade confederation. The Revelry has a bit of inspiration from Caribbean-style piracy and the Ki'Nau (the indigenous people of the islands on the Menagerie Coast) are definitely inspired by Pacific Islanders.
 

Yaarel

Yaarel

He Mage
Dungeonosophy said:
Update - a suprising number of entries for Israelite / Jewish cultural motifs:

~Ancient Hebrew / Israelite / Jewish Culture:
  • In Oerth:
    • Baalzephon is a pit fiend. Its name means "Lord of the North" in Hebrew.
  • In Mystara:
    • The Magiocracy of Herath in the Savage Coast. The Herathian proper names are from the ~Hebrew language. (As seen on this map of eastern Herath.) Some have pointed out the uncomfortable design choice of using a secretive shapeshifting spider-people (araneas) to represent Jewish culture. Given the nearby Spanish and Portuguese motifs also on the Savage Coast, there appear to be parallels with, at best, the Marrano "crypto-Jews" who hid their Jewish culture in secrecy, while appearing to participate in outward Iberian Catholic soceity. Or at worst, a careless association with the era of fearful superstitions which the Jews endured within medieval Christendom. [sic!]
    • The Dream Land of Smyslvych, the setting of two Israeli-designed official D&D modules: (link to cover photos)
      • HCM1: Lunar Women
      • HCM2: Living Statues War
    • Hebrew-language BECMI product list. Many BECMI products were translated into Hebrew.
    • In CM7: The Tree of Life by Bruce Heard. The four regions of the Elven Land (Atziluth, Beriah, Ietzirah, Asiah) are directly named after the four worlds of creation in Jewish Kabbalah. Four Worlds - Wikipedia ; CM7 states these words are the archaic names of the four elements. This is not their meaning in Hebrew (they mean something like "emanation", "creation", "formation" and "doing"), although it is possible that in some kabbalistic schemes the four worlds also parallel the elements. Also, the "Tree of Life" (etz chaim) is the name of an important 16th-century kabbalistic work: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etz_Chaim_(book)
    • Sister Rebecca the Adept, an iconic NPC from the Moldvay Basic Set, has a Hebrew name. Rebecca is the Vulgate (Latin) form of biblical Rebekah, from Hebrew רִבְקָה‎ (Rivka, “enchantingly beautiful, captivating, snare”). Rebecca - Wiktionary
  • In Toril:
    • The Sartani crab-giants in Zakhara. "Sartan" is Hebrew for crab: סרטן - Wiktionary ; whereas Arabic is "saratan." However, "sartan" appears to be the Midani word for crab, since it appears in another context as Jazayir al-Sartan (Isles of the Crab).
  • In Krynn: Biblical Hebrew motifs via Jeff Grubb (see "Jeff Grubb on the Gods of Krynn"), and probably reinforced by Tracy Hickman's Latter-day Saints (Mormon) culture. Jeff Grubb says: "Several of the names are biblical in origin, and taken from a book called 'Everyone in the Bible' by the Reverend William P. Barker, who was also the minister of my church when I was growing up[.]" Jeffs other comments on the Hebrew origin of names in Krynn:
    • Chemosh: "In the real world the supposed god of the Ammonites in the Bible. In First and Second Kings, Solomon erected an altar to him at Jerusalem, and Josiah destroyed it. (Later note I’ve discovered hooks him up with the biblical Moloch)"
    • Chislev: "The name Chislev evolved out of Kislev, the name for the ninth month of the Jewish year."
    • Kiri-Jolith: "Partially manufactured (Kiri), partially inspired by Joelah, a son of Jeroham from First Chronicles."
    • Gilean: "Originally Gilead the Book. As in ”Is there no balm in Gilead?” (Book of Jeremiah)."
    • Habbakuk: "In the real world, Habakkuk (note the single ”b” and the third ”k” ) was a prophet in the Bible (one of the ”eight minor prophets” ). His book is a collection of oracles delivered against the backdrop of the Babylonian threat to Judah in c.600 B.C. Interestingly enough, the original Habakkuk was a bard, a temple singer. His book was on the subject of why a good god would allow the evil Babylonians to exist and thrive."
    • Mishakal: "The name comes from the story of the fiery furnace from the Book of Daniel – Meshach, Shadrach, and Obendigo."
    • Sargonnas: "Sargon was the King of Babylon in the book of Isaiah."
    • Shinare: "Again, may have been inspired by biblical names, but was likely pure invention."
    • Sirrion: "The name started with a wizard character in my early campaign named Simon, metamorphed to Simeon (one of the leaders of the twelve tribes of Isreal), then jumped the track entirely when the m turned into a double-r ( and occasionally a single-r as well)."
    • Zeboim: "Influenced by bliblical names such as Zebidiah and Zebulon." Note: Zeboim was a city destroyed by fire and brimstone.
    • Zivilyn: "May have been inspired by a real bibical name, but could not tell you at this stage."
    • Also: the title of the Dragonlance Chronicles themselves, likely from the Book of Chronicles in Hebrew scripture.
  • In Planescape and the Planes of Existence:
Click to expand...
In Oerth

• Erypt = Egypt + Arabia

• Gulf of Ra = Nile

• Yam Suf = Red Sea

East from Erypt is the "Yam Suf" strait, namely the parting of the Red Sea. The island NE of Yam Suf is Israel.

• Island beyond Yam Suf = Israel
 
Last edited:

Similar Threads

D
D&D General Does Earth (or at least a fantasy version of it) have a crystal sphere and exist in the D&D Cosmology?
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
53
Views
4K
Mirtek
M
E
D&D General Who would you pick as the most iconic deities in the D&D game?
2 3 4 5
Replies
48
Views
3K
R_J_K75
R_J_K75
B
Vecna: Eve of Ruin Adventure -- An “Off the Rails” Adventure for D&D's Anniversary
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
133
Views
12K
Sorcerers Apprentice
Sorcerers Apprentice
S
D&D 5E Reinventing The Vedic Pantheon
Replies
0
Views
1K
Storyteller Hero
S
Dungeonosophy
  • Locked
D&D General PETITION: Acknowledge Hasbro's hurtful content (Black orcs, Asian yellow orcs, Native American red orcs)—through an Amendatory Bundle [+ thread]
20 21 22 23 24
Replies
233
Views
29K
Morrus
Morrus
Remove ads

Top