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[Radiant Citadel] A chart of parallel Earth cultures and motifs across the D&D Multiverse
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<blockquote data-quote="Dungeonosophy" data-source="post: 8714488" data-attributes="member: 6688049"><p>Update: Among other things, I really delved into the sources of Malatra, the Living Jungle. Additions:</p><p></p><p><strong>~Afro-Caribbean:</strong></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In Toril:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Given the explicitly African cultural sources for Malatra, there's a slight chance that the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010713121822/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/lj/race_butu.asp" target="_blank">"Butu" kobold race</a> was somehow named after <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/butu#Jamaican_Creole" target="_blank">the Jamaican Creole word <em>butu</em> ('an uncouth, stupid person'</a>), which itself comes from the Akan language of West Africa: <em>butu</em> ('to overturn, to stoop down).</li> </ul></li> </ul><p><strong>~Afrotropical:</strong></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In Toril:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">~African aspects of Malatra, the Living Jungle: The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010617002449/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/writing_guides.asp" target="_blank">Living Jungle Writer's Guidelines</a> state: <em>"The Living Jungle setting and its inhabitants are inspired in large part by<strong> African and Asian cultures</strong>, inhabitants, legends, geography, and animals. But you’ll also find elements of <strong>other jungle cultures</strong> in the adventures, and of course there are some parts of the Living Jungle which are almost pure fantasy."</em> [...]<em> "For inspiration, read books on <strong>early African and Asian cultures</strong>, 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--<strong>the Living Jungle is not historically accurate, nor is it meant to be a strictly actual depiction of real-world cultures</strong>." [...] "Feel free to include elements of any real-world culture as well as your own imaginary additions to the setting when writing your tournament. <strong>African, Asian, South American, and Polynesian culture</strong>, myths, legends, geography, flora, and fauna would all provide excellent inspiration for your adventure. When in doubt, <strong>keep Africa and Asia foremost in mind</strong>, and <strong>try to blend two or more cultures </strong>when creating a new part of the setting."</em><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The katanga PC race is the name for hengeyokai in Malatra. This name is from Katanga, a region in Congo, in Central Africa.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010712122703/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/stories_014.asp" target="_blank">Impala katanga</a> has a ~Zulu connection, since the word "impala" is from Zulu.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010712122703/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/stories_014.asp" target="_blank">Ostrich katanga</a> has an ~African connection, since ostriches are endemic to large parts of Africa.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010712124338/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/tribes.asp#tribepick" target="_blank">Nubari / Ancients</a> may be inspired by the ancient Nubians, the southern neighbors of the ancient Egyptians.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Simbara tribe of Nubari, the "People of the Lion" are named after the Swahili word for lion: <em>simba</em>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">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!]</li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><p><strong>~Indigenous South American:</strong></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In Toril:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010712122703/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/stories_014.asp" target="_blank">Caiman Katangas</a> (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.</li> </ul></li> </ul><p><strong>~South Asian:</strong></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In Toril:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Tirumala" target="_blank">The Holy City of Tirumala</a> in the Beastlands (northwest of the Shining Lands). A rakshasa city. In the real world, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirumala" target="_blank">Tirumala is a city in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh</a>. The language of earthly Tirumala is Telugu, a Dravidian language. (~<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_people" target="_blank">Telugu</a> rakshasas)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Kuong Kingdom in Malatra is ~Burmese/Thai, but worships the AD&D Vedic Pantheon, which they call the "Lords of Creation."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Other ~Vedic facets in Malatra:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dinosaurs in Malatra are called "garudas", and the spell <em>wyvern watch</em> is called <em>garuda watch</em>. (<a href="http://xn--garuda%20watch-kb3h4a/" target="_blank">source</a>) And there is a 3e <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010617000105/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/stories_017.asp" target="_blank">Garuda Rider prestige class</a>. These are from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garuda" target="_blank">Garuda</a>, the steed of Vishnu in Vedic myth.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Rudra tribe of the Nubari is likely named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudra" target="_blank">Rudra, the Rigvedic deity</a>.</li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><p><strong>~Southeast Asian:</strong></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In Toril:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Lidahan people of the Shao Mountains in southern Kara-Tur (~Indonesian). In <em>OA6: Ronin's Challenge</em>, there's a Lidahan Word List which is entirely in Indonesian.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">~Southeast Asian aspects of Malatra / The Jungle Lands (DRAGON mag #315 says: <em>"the Jungle Lands use names from <strong>Burma or Thailand</strong>.</em>" The following three cultures are included in that article):<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Purang hill country</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">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.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Kuong Kingdom. The Kuong Kingdom worships the AD&D Vedic Pantheon, which they call the "Lords of Creation."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Other cultures from the Living Jungle (~African and ~Asian foremost + "other jungle cultures"): The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010617002449/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/writing_guides.asp" target="_blank">Living Jungle Writer's Guidelines</a> state: <em>"The Living Jungle setting and its inhabitants are inspired in large part by<strong> African and Asian cultures</strong>, inhabitants, legends, geography, and animals. But you’ll also find elements of <strong>other jungle cultures</strong> in the adventures, and of course there are some parts of the Living Jungle which are almost pure fantasy."</em> [...]<em> "For inspiration, read books on <strong>early African and Asian cultures</strong>, 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--<strong>the Living Jungle is not historically accurate, nor is it meant to be a strictly actual depiction of real-world cultures</strong>." [...] "Feel free to include elements of any real-world culture as well as your own imaginary additions to the setting when writing your tournament. <strong>African, Asian, South American, and Polynesian culture</strong>, myths, legends, geography, flora, and fauna would all provide excellent inspiration for your adventure. When in doubt, <strong>keep Africa and Asia foremost in mind</strong>, and <strong>try to blend two or more cultures </strong>when creating a new part of the setting."</em><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Pangolin Katanga have a ~Malay connection, since the name for the animal "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin" target="_blank">pangolin</a>" comes from the Old Malay word <em>pengguling</em>, meaning "one who rolls up."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">For the "katanga" and "Nubari" PC races, see the African section.</li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Island Kingdoms: (DRAGON mag #315 says "the Island Kingdoms use names from the Philippines or Indonesia.")<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">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).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">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).</li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dungeonosophy, post: 8714488, member: 6688049"] Update: Among other things, I really delved into the sources of Malatra, the Living Jungle. Additions: [B]~Afro-Caribbean:[/B] [LIST] [*]In Toril: [LIST] [*]Given the explicitly African cultural sources for Malatra, there's a slight chance that the [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010713121822/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/lj/race_butu.asp']"Butu" kobold race[/URL] was somehow named after [URL='https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/butu#Jamaican_Creole']the Jamaican Creole word [I]butu[/I] ('an uncouth, stupid person'[/URL]), which itself comes from the Akan language of West Africa: [I]butu[/I] ('to overturn, to stoop down). [/LIST] [/LIST] [B]~Afrotropical:[/B] [LIST] [*]In Toril: [LIST] [*]~African aspects of Malatra, the Living Jungle: The [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010617002449/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/writing_guides.asp']Living Jungle Writer's Guidelines[/URL] state: [I]"The Living Jungle setting and its inhabitants are inspired in large part by[B] African and Asian cultures[/B], inhabitants, legends, geography, and animals. But you’ll also find elements of [B]other jungle cultures[/B] in the adventures, and of course there are some parts of the Living Jungle which are almost pure fantasy."[/I] [...][I] "For inspiration, read books on [B]early African and Asian cultures[/B], 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--[B]the Living Jungle is not historically accurate, nor is it meant to be a strictly actual depiction of real-world cultures[/B]." [...] "Feel free to include elements of any real-world culture as well as your own imaginary additions to the setting when writing your tournament. [B]African, Asian, South American, and Polynesian culture[/B], myths, legends, geography, flora, and fauna would all provide excellent inspiration for your adventure. When in doubt, [B]keep Africa and Asia foremost in mind[/B], and [B]try to blend two or more cultures [/B]when creating a new part of the setting."[/I] [LIST] [*]The katanga PC race is the name for hengeyokai in Malatra. This name is from Katanga, a region in Congo, in Central Africa. [LIST] [*]The [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010712122703/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/stories_014.asp']Impala katanga[/URL] has a ~Zulu connection, since the word "impala" is from Zulu. [*]The [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010712122703/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/stories_014.asp']Ostrich katanga[/URL] has an ~African connection, since ostriches are endemic to large parts of Africa. [/LIST] [*]The [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010712124338/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/tribes.asp#tribepick']Nubari / Ancients[/URL] may be inspired by the ancient Nubians, the southern neighbors of the ancient Egyptians. [LIST] [*]The Simbara tribe of Nubari, the "People of the Lion" are named after the Swahili word for lion: [I]simba[/I]. [*]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!] [/LIST] [/LIST] [/LIST] [/LIST] [B]~Indigenous South American:[/B] [LIST] [*]In Toril: [LIST] [*]The [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010712122703/http://www.wizards.com/RPGA/LJ/stories_014.asp']Caiman Katangas[/URL] (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. [/LIST] [/LIST] [B]~South Asian:[/B] [LIST] [*]In Toril: [LIST] [*][URL='https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Tirumala']The Holy City of Tirumala[/URL] in the Beastlands (northwest of the Shining Lands). A rakshasa city. In the real world, [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirumala']Tirumala is a city in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh[/URL]. The language of earthly Tirumala is Telugu, a Dravidian language. (~[URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_people']Telugu[/URL] rakshasas) [*]The Kuong Kingdom in Malatra is ~Burmese/Thai, but worships the AD&D Vedic Pantheon, which they call the "Lords of Creation." [*]Other ~Vedic facets in Malatra: [LIST] [*]Dinosaurs in Malatra are called "garudas", and the spell [I]wyvern watch[/I] is called [I]garuda watch[/I]. ([URL='http://xn--garuda%20watch-kb3h4a/']source[/URL]) And there is a 3e [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010617000105/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/stories_017.asp']Garuda Rider prestige class[/URL]. These are from [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garuda']Garuda[/URL], the steed of Vishnu in Vedic myth. [*]The Rudra tribe of the Nubari is likely named after [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudra']Rudra, the Rigvedic deity[/URL]. [/LIST] [/LIST] [/LIST] [B]~Southeast Asian:[/B] [LIST] [*]In Toril: [LIST] [*]The Lidahan people of the Shao Mountains in southern Kara-Tur (~Indonesian). In [I]OA6: Ronin's Challenge[/I], there's a Lidahan Word List which is entirely in Indonesian. [*]~Southeast Asian aspects of Malatra / The Jungle Lands (DRAGON mag #315 says: [I]"the Jungle Lands use names from [B]Burma or Thailand[/B].[/I]" The following three cultures are included in that article): [LIST] [*]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 [URL='https://web.archive.org/web/20010617002449/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/writing_guides.asp']Living Jungle Writer's Guidelines[/URL] state: [I]"The Living Jungle setting and its inhabitants are inspired in large part by[B] African and Asian cultures[/B], inhabitants, legends, geography, and animals. But you’ll also find elements of [B]other jungle cultures[/B] in the adventures, and of course there are some parts of the Living Jungle which are almost pure fantasy."[/I] [...][I] "For inspiration, read books on [B]early African and Asian cultures[/B], 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--[B]the Living Jungle is not historically accurate, nor is it meant to be a strictly actual depiction of real-world cultures[/B]." [...] "Feel free to include elements of any real-world culture as well as your own imaginary additions to the setting when writing your tournament. [B]African, Asian, South American, and Polynesian culture[/B], myths, legends, geography, flora, and fauna would all provide excellent inspiration for your adventure. When in doubt, [B]keep Africa and Asia foremost in mind[/B], and [B]try to blend two or more cultures [/B]when creating a new part of the setting."[/I] [LIST] [*]The Pangolin Katanga have a ~Malay connection, since the name for the animal "[URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin']pangolin[/URL]" comes from the Old Malay word [I]pengguling[/I], meaning "one who rolls up." [*]For the "katanga" and "Nubari" PC races, see the African section. [/LIST] [/LIST] [*]The Island Kingdoms: (DRAGON mag #315 says "the Island Kingdoms use names from the Philippines or Indonesia.") [LIST] [*]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). [/LIST] [/LIST] [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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