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

[QuentinGeorge]

In the 5e reinterpretation of Ravenloft

Spoiler

the Darklord

Harkon Lukas and his family are black. He also changed from being a

Spoiler

wolfwere not human at base, non-lycanthrope

to a

Spoiler

loup garou werewolf.

They also took away his monocle.
View attachment 255916

You sorta wonder what’s the point of even keeping the name. Sigh.

 

[Voadam]

In 5e Ravenloft Valachan has changed in a number of ways including going from forest to jungle/rain forest, a new darklord, and its description of the local population. They are now described as predominately humans with dark hair and a range of warm brown skin tones. It states that some names take inspiration from Mesoamerican languages. The two villages are Shuara and Oselo. The new map shows the location of the wreck of the Helbenik and the wreck of the Rotwald.

The new darklord is supposed to be a native, but the art portrays her a bit more White than I was expecting from the description.

 

[Voadam]

5e Ravenloft also adds the Domains of the Kingdom of Kalakeri and the nearby small island chain that contains the Ashram of Niranjan. Both are India themed domains. Sri Raji and the Steaming Lands are said to be prior names of Kalakeri and Kalakeri includes an incarnation of Sri Raji's Arijani.

 

[Dungeonosophy]

I didn't notice either back in the 80s when I read the original trilogy. Not being an immediate member of the main group and not showing up on the novel or module covers it is easy for a later description to get lost in the shuffle.

Looking into his Wiki article etc, it turns out that Theros Ironfeld is from a fishing village on the coast of Nordmaar. So he's a Nordman. The wiki article for the Nordmen says the Nordmen "can range from pale blonde to reddish-brown. Some darker skin tones are dominant throughout the coastal zones, however one's appearance counts for little in Nordmaar."

That's interesting. Coastal Nordmen are basically ~Black Scandinavians. So I'll place Theros Ironfeld and the Coastal Nordmen under the "Black European" section.

 

[Dungeonosophy]

Still working to get the new suggestions into the chart. I love the new findings -- keep 'em comin'!

Latest update:

A bunch of ~African DRAGON magazine articles:

• "Arms & Armor of Africa" by Michael J. Varhola, DRAGON 189(p20), AD&D2e
• "The Priests of Africa" by Michael John Wybo II, DRAGON 209(p16), AD&D2e
• "Gaming the Dark Continent" [sic!] by Roger E. Moore, DRAGON 122(p27), AD&D1e
• "Out of Africa" by Charles R. Saunders, DRAGON 122(p22), AD&D1e
• "An African Genesis" by Brady English, DRAGON 191(p32), AD&D2e
• "The Deities of Africa" by Michael John Wybo II, DRAGON 215(p48), AD&D2e
• "Mythos of Africa in Dungeons & Dragons" by Jerome Arkenberg, DRAGON 27(p39), OD&D
• "Mythic Races of Africa" by Michael John Wybo II, DRAGON 202(p46), AD&D2e
• "Real Warriors Ride Elephants" by Michael John Wybo II, DRAGON 195(p26), AD&D2e
• "Arms & Armor of Africa" by Michael J. Varhola, DRAGON 189(p20), AD&D2e
• "Magic From the Gods" by Michael John Wybo II, DRAGON 200(p14), AD&D2e

An OD&D ~Aboriginal Australian DRAGON mag article:

• "The Mythos of Australia In Dungeons & Dragons" by Jerome Arkenberg, DRAGON 19 (p14), for OD&D

Expanded the entry on the Principality of Krondahar in the World of Mystara, and listed its details in both the South Asian and Central Asian sections, since it's a blend of Indian+Mongolian = ~Mughal.

Central Asian:

• The Principality of Krondahar in Glantri (~Mughal = blended ~Mongolian + ~Indian; The illustration of Khan Jherek Virayana (GAZ2 p.30) has a ~Mongolian aesthetic. The title "khan" is ~Mongolian, but was also used by the ~Mughals in India. The double "aa" in the name of city of Braastar is ~Mongolian, cf. Ulaan Baatar. But other aspects of Krondahar are Indian: Virayana and Singhabad (see the South Asian section for sources). In-world, the Krondaharians are of Ethengarian (~Mongolian) origin.)

South Asian:

• The Principality of Krondahar in Glantri (~Mughal = blended ~Indian + ~Mongolian; their capital Singhabad, is the name of a village in West Bengal, the "last railway station in India"; Virayana is the name of an Ayruvedic author. But other aspects are ~Mongolian (see the Central Asian section): the name Braastar, the illustration of Khan Jherek Virayana, the title "khan" is ~Mongolian, but was also used by the ~Mughals in India. In-world, the Krondaharians are of Ethengarian (~Mongolian) origin.)

Two motifs from Blackmoor:

• Afrotropical:
  • The settlement of Windhoek is named after Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.
• Middle Eastern:
  • Kerman Peaks (< the city of Kermanshah, Iran, which is mostly Kurdish speaking)

 

[Voadam]

Looking into his Wiki article etc, it turns out that Theros Ironfeld is from a fishing village on the coast of Nordmaar. So he's a Nordman. The wiki article for the Nordmen says the Nordmen "can range from pale blonde to reddish-brown. Some darker skin tones are dominant throughout the coastal zones, however one's appearance counts for little in Nordmaar."

That's interesting. Coastal Nordmen are basically ~Black Scandinavians. So I'll place Theros Ironfeld and the Coastal Nordmen under the "Black European" section.

Not sure that the Dragonlance Nordmen are basically fantasy Scandinavians. They have the physical looks and the name meaning people of the north but that seems to be it. Ansalon is in the southern hemisphere. Nordmaar is the northernmost point on the continent, it includes the most tropical part of the continent, steamy jungles where the civilized Nordmen live under the single rule of the Nordmaar king, and more arid areas subject to their "close cousins" the nomadic horse barbarians who serve the Khan of the Southern Wastes.

The names of the Nordmen tribes in the wiki are not particularly Norse:

• Cuichtalic
• Netzalic
• Topotlic
• Xocnalic

The nearby Minotaurs of the Blood Sea are the ones I remember being known for naval piracy and raiding in the setting. Nordmaar is not known for its trade either.

 

[Dungeonosophy]

Not sure that the Dragonlance Nordmen are basically fantasy Scandinavians. They have the physical looks and the name meaning people of the north but that seems to be it. Ansalon is in the southern hemisphere. Nordmaar is the northernmost point on the continent, it includes the most tropical part of the continent, steamy jungles where the civilized Nordmen live under the single rule of the Nordmaar king, and more arid areas subject to their "close cousins" the nomadic horse barbarians who serve the Khan of the Southern Wastes.

The names of the Nordmen tribes in the wiki are not particularly Norse:

• Cuichtalic
• Netzalic
• Topotlic
• Xocnalic

The nearby Minotaurs of the Blood Sea are the ones I remember being known for naval piracy and raiding in the setting. Nordmaar is not known for its trade either.

For Krynn (but also for some of the other worlds) there’s always a caveat that motifs are especially blended. I’m not actually saying the Nordmen are outright Norsemen. They’re Norsemen in a jungle clime with Aztec names. Whose coastal folk are Black. And whose Horse Barbarian cousins are Turko-Mongolic khans. And whose culture is sifted through the Krynnish aesthetic and mythology (no Odin and Aesir!).

A cultural entry means different things depending on which world it’s from. For Mystara, it often means a close parallel. For Oerth, a more blended parallel. For Krynn, even more blended, to the extent that it’s only one of several “source motifs” for that culture, covering only a single aspect.

When I post the Norse-Germanic section, you’ll see that spectrum too:
-Mystara’s Northern Reaches. Very close parallel to earthly Norse.
-Oerth’s Snow & Ice Barbarians are more fantastic.
-As are Toril’s Uthgardt Barbarians.
-And even moreso, Krynn’s Nordmen.
-If there are any Norse/Viking motifs in Eberron, I imagine they are even more effervescent.

The listing of Krynnish Nordmen under ~Norse-Germanic doesn’t mean they are as parallel as the other worlds’ Norsemen analogues.

Same applies to all the sections on the chart.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

For Krynn (but also for some of the other worlds) there’s always a caveat that motifs are especially blended. I’m not actually saying the Nordmen are outright Norsemen. They’re Norsemen in a jungle clime with Aztec names. Whose coastal folk are Black. And whose Horse Barbarian cousins are Turkish-Mongolic khans. And whose culture is sifted through the Krynnish aesthetic and mythology (no Odin and Aesir!).

A cultural entry means different things depending on which world it’s from. For Mystara, it often means a close parallel. For Oerth, a more blended parallel. For Krynn, even more blended, to the extent that it’s only one of several “source motifs” for that culture, covering only a single aspect.

When I post the Norse-Germanic section, you’ll see that spectrum too:
-Mystara’s Northern Reaches. Very close parallel to earthly Norse.
-Oerth’s Snow & Ice Barbarians are more fantastic.
-As are Toril’s Uthgardt Barbarians.
-And even moreso, Krynn’s Nordmen.

The listing of Krynnish Nordmen under ~Norse-Germanic doesn’t mean they are as parallel as the other worlds’ Norsemen analogues.

Same applies to all the sections on the chart.

The closest analogies in Krynn are Istar = Papal States, and maybe Solamnia = USA

 

[Dungeonosophy]

The closest analogies in Krynn are Istar = Papal States, and maybe Solamnia = USA

Well you may be right, and I see what you mean, but those kind of parallels are so culturally removed and hard to “prove” in regard to designers’ intent, that it’s kinda hard for me to imagine including, say, Solamnia in my upcoming “Anglo North American” section, alongside New Waterdeep and Mystara’s County of Cimmarron (which the designer explicitly said is based on Texas).

Knights of Solamnia are very similar to the fate of the Knights Templar though.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Krynn is very much influenced by Mormon theology and histography, and that’s informed a lot of the cultural aspects of it.

 

[Voadam]

Krynn is very much influenced by Mormon theology and histography, and that’s informed a lot of the cultural aspects of it.

I've heard that asserted before but I am not sure in which ways are meant. Can you provide some examples? I don't really see Outer Darkness analogues or how the three types of balanced Gods match up to Mormon theological concepts. The closest I can think of would be Discs of Mishakal echoing golden plates, maybe some emphasis on tribes.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

I've heard that asserted before but I am not sure in which ways are meant. Can you provide some examples? I don't really see Outer Darkness analogues or how the three types of balanced Gods match up to Mormon theological concepts. The closest I can think of would be Discs of Mishakal echoing golden plates, maybe some emphasis on tribes.

The disks are one bit, but there’s much more.

Ok, so first thing is familiarising yourself with the concept of the “Great Apostasy”, a strain of anti-Catholicism prevalent in certain strains of Protestantism, especially the sects that would spread in the early US and give rise to Mormonism. Basically Istar is the Catholic Church as viewed through the lens of such beliefs. It is notable in Dragonlance how the Plainsmen are key in the restoration of the “true faith”, just as the Native Americans are key to the story in the Book of Mormon.

The Seekers in the Dragonlance chronicles are basically representations of new age fads and popular 19th century fads like theosophy.

 

[Dungeonosophy]

Update:

After conversations on the Mystara Piazza messageboard, I looked more closely at the Pearl Islanders of Mystara, and realized that my initial attribution of an Afro-Caribbean culture was mistaken. I'd mistakenly thought the "black explorers" with the "Rake" class was an Afro-Caribbean swashbuckler motif. I hadn't recently or closely looked at the source materials till now.

Here's the new entry:

~Oceanic / Pacific Islands:

In Mystara:

• The Pearl Islands (~Papua New Guinea, specifically the culture of the Motu, an Austronesian people in PNG). In Dawn of the Emperors, the Pearl Islanders are said to be "black explorers" with "skin black" from "far-away Tangor" (~Africa). On p.79, the illustration of a Pearl Islander couple has an Austronesian aesthetic. So "black" + Austronesian = ~Melanesian. The text mentions the "Pearl Islander kilt" as clothing. The names appear to be fantastic quasi-Austronesian: Nuar (said to mean: Nu = "Western" + Ar "Home"), Tuar, Kuir, Puir, Dwar, Mt. Morimoru, Nurokidu. The name Morimoru is evocative of "Hiri Motu", a relatively well-known language that used to be the lingua franca of the Port Moresby area, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Hiri Motu is a pidgin language based on the local Austronesian Motu language of the Motu people, one of the indigenous peoples of the capital region. The names "Nuar" and "Tuar" have a slight similarity with "Papua" (the /ua/ wordshape), and the word "Nu" (meaning 'western') is like "New" in "Papua New Guinea. Seagirt, the capital of the Pearl Islands, could be something like Port Moresby. In DotE, the Pearl Islands are the home of the "Rake" PC class (charisma-based rogues).

 

[Dungeonosophy]

Update:
Added a Celtic section. Beginning to add in the European cultures. Feel free to note any Celtic sources I missed. There are probably a lot of Celtic monsters in D&D.

~Celtic (~Gaulish, ~Welsh, ~Cornish, ~Breton, ~Irish, ~Scottish):

• In Oerth: Some aspects of the ancient Flan, such as the druids of the Old Faith and the bards of the Old Lore. The ancient Flan Kingdom of Caerdiralor has a ~Welsh name (caer = "fortress"). Yet other aspects of the Flan are Black/"Hamitic"[sic!], American Indian ("Arapahi"), and Cossack ("ataman").
• In Ærth: Hibernia (~Ireland). WotC reportedly owns Gygax's Ærth setting.
• In Mystara:
  • The Principality of Klantyre in Glantri and their Kaelic language (~Scotland and ~Gaelic language)
  • The Province of Redstone in the Thyatian Empire (~Ireland)
  • The Kingdom of Robrenn on the Savage Coast (~Gaul)
  • The Carnax Orcs (~Iron Age Continental Celts / Gauls) The word "carnyx" is an ancient Celtic horn, and comes from a Gaulish rootword. See: Carnyx - Wikipedia
  • The Cassivellonis Orcs (~Catuvellauni, an Ancient Brittonic tribe: Catuvellauni - Wikipedia)
  • The Pyctis Goblins (~Picts of North Britain, and/or the Pictones of Poitiers, France). In traditional legends, the Picts of Britain founded Poitiers (the city of the Pictones tribe) on their way to Britain. Pictones - Wikipedia
  • The Thratian Hinterlanders (~tribal Welsh, with some ~Irish motifs)
• In Toril:
  • The Ffolk of the Moonshae Isles (~blended Welsh+Scottish+Irish). "Ffolk" is parallel to the Celtic term toutā, Irish tuath: Reconstructionroto-Celtic/toutā - Wiktionary ; To give only a few examples of the blended ~Celtic names: the capital, Caer Callidyrr is ~Welsh (caer = "fortress"). "Moray" is a province in Scotland. "O'Roarke" is an Irish name.
  • Irish migrants to Toril from Earth: "Over the course of the planet of Toril's history, there were waves of planar immigrants that came from a 'rugged land' [Ireland] on another world with a culture tied to nature, the sea, and [...] greater god. These brought their own societies and the worship of the Celtic gods, such as Herne and Oghma. One wave settled in the kingdom of Bakar, in the city of Medinat Muskawoon. There they constructed temples to the Celtic gods, such as Dunatis. While another, later wave of planar immigrants from the same rugged land would settle around the time of the rise of Netheril."
  • The Celtic pantheon in Toril: Celtic pantheon
• In Ravenloft: The Forlorn domain (~Scottish Gaelic, with Welsh motifs). The Forfarian language is ~Scottish Gaelic; see: Forfarian (Language) - Mistipedia ; The Darklord's name, Tristan ApBlanc, is partly ~Welsh (the prefix "ap" means "son of"): Tristan - Wikipedia ; ap - Wiktionary
  • The Celtic pantheon in Ravenloft is reported to be worshipped by the Forfarians and Tepestani. They were also known to have centers of worship in Avonleigh, Nidala, Shadowborn Manor, the Shadowlands, and Viktal. Celtic pantheon
• "The celtic kingdom of Pellham", the mini-setting of the AD&D1e adventures: C4: To Find a King (1985) and C5: The Bane of Llywelyn (1985)
• In D&D Earth: HR3: Celts Campaign Sourcebook for AD&D2e
• In Planescape and the Planes of Existence: AD&D1e Celtic Pantheon, AD&D2e Celtic Pantheon, 3e Celtic Pantheon, 5e Celtic Pantheon
• DRAGON magazine:
  • "The Return of Conan Maol" by Paul K. Johnstone, #24(p33), fiction
  • "Cu Chulainn" by Roger E. Moore, #81(p40), AD&D1e
  • "The Deryni" by Arthur Collins, #78(p34), AD&D1e
  • "Bazaar of the Bizarre: Celtic Magical Items" by Steve Stewart, #207(p17), AD&D2e
  • "Tuatha De Danaan" by Robin Emrys Atkinson, #65(p47), AD&D1e
  • "Pooka" by Michael Fountain, #60(p66), AD&D1e
  • "The Celtic Warrior" by Kieran Turley, #330(p89), D&D3e
  • "The Wild Hunt" by William L. Christensen, #342(p88), D&D3e
• Monsters:
  • Banshee (~Irish): Banshee - Wikipedia
  • Kelpie (~Scottish): Kelpie - Wikipedia
  • Leprechaun (~Irish): Leprechaun - Wikipedia
  • Korred (~Breton): Korrigan - Wikipedia
  • Pooka, from Mystara (~Irish and ~Welsh): Púca - Wikipedia
  • Sidhe, from Mystara (~Irish): Aos Sí - Wikipedia (sidhe)

 

[Dungeonosophy]

The disks are one bit, but there’s much more.

Latter-day Saints / Mormon culture doesn't fit into the chart as it currently exists. It might fit in the Anglo North American section once I get that rolling. I would limit myself to the most salient and non-controversial parallels, such as the Disks of Mishakal.

Just to add: there is also a subtle Christian/Biblical (i.e. Mormon) influence in such names as "Chronicles", "Zeboim", and "Habbakuk."

Books of Chronicles - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Habakkuk - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Zeboim (Hebrew Bible) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

These are also ~Hebrew influences. Which should probably be a section in itself, or within the Middle Eastern cultural section.

 

[TwiceBorn2]

The disks are one bit, but there’s much more.

Ok, so first thing is familiarising yourself with the concept of the “Great Apostasy”, a strain of anti-Catholicism prevalent in certain strains of Protestantism, especially the sects that would spread in the early US and give rise to Mormonism. Basically Istar is the Catholic Church as viewed through the lens of such beliefs. It is notable in Dragonlance how the Plainsmen are key in the restoration of the “true faith”, just as the Native Americans are key to the story in the Book of Mormon.

The Seekers in the Dragonlance chronicles are basically representations of new age fads and popular 19th century fads like theosophy.

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Dungeonosophy]

Updates: I really delved into the sources of the Himalayan analogues in Toril. I discovered there are two or three different "Tibets" in the Forgotten Realms (Tabot, Ra-Khati, and Khazari), with two different Dalai Lama analogues: the "Dalai Lama" of Ra-Khati and the "High Lord of Oceans" of Tabot.

~Indigenous North American:

• The ruined Flan city of Tostenhca (~the ancient Tolteca culture of Aztec legend). Called "Skrellingshald" by the Frost Barbarians. "Skrelling" is the name for Flannae people in the Cold Tongue of the Frost Barbarians (< Old Norse Skræling).

~Himalayan:

• In Toril:
  • Tabot (~Tibet). The Tabotan language =~Tibetan. The leader of Tabot is the High Lord of Oceans. (In Tibetan, "Dalai Lama" means "Ocean Master.")
  • Ra-Khati (~Tibet). Ra-Khati follows the Padhran religion. The leader of Ra-Khati the Dalai Lama (!)
    • Note: Tabot and Ra-Khati are redundant parallels of Tibet, developed by two different TSR design teams. Tabot and the Path of Enlightenment were developed by the Kara-Tur designers. Ra-Khati and the Padhran religion were developed by the Hordelands designers. The Kingdom of Khazari appears to be yet another standalone ~Tibetan parallel, since it has its own Red Mountain and Yellow Mountain sects, though more blended with other motifs.
  • The Kingdom of Khazari (~blended Tibetan/Balti/Inner Mongolian/Bhutanese/Chinese). Monk leaders are called "lamas", which are a Tibetan word; the capital city of Skarou/Skardu < the city of Skardu, in Gilgit-Baltisan, Pakistan (the name "Skardu" is from the Balti Tibetic language); the city of Alashan < the Alashan Mountains in Inner Mongolia; the Khazari word tsampo "barley meal" < Tibetan tsampa "barley meal"; the town of Hsiliang is ~Chinese; the Khazari ruler has a partly ~Chinese name: Ogandi Tsipiang.
    • The Red Mountain sect of the Khazari Phadhran religion =~ the Red Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
    • The Yellow Mountain sect of Khazari Padhran religion =~ the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
  • The ruined Kingdom of Guge (~the real-world ancient Kingdom of Guge in western Tibet)
  • The Yak Folk / Yak-Men of the World Pillar Mountains. The word "yak" is from the Tibetan language.
  • Phuthan (~Bhutan). Its capital city is named "Bhutan." The Phutanese language =~Bhutanese.
  • The monastery-fortresses of Punakha Dzong and Luntse Dzong. The word "dzong" is a Bhutanese word for monastery-fortress.

 

[Voadam]

The Knorr of Jakandor are a mix of Native American, Celtic, and Norse influences.

 

[Voadam]

Kara Tur as a full setting boxed set as opposed to the 2 pages from the back of 1e Oriental Adventures is deep and rich with fantasy East and Southeast Asian analogue kingdoms/empires. OA talks about a few obvious analogues (4 specifically I believe) but the boxed set covers a lot.

 

[Voadam]

Tepest is another fairly strong Ravenloft Celtic themed domain, particularly as portrayed in later 2e materials. In the module set there they worship the Celtic pantheon and have an inquisition against fey stuff.