Compilation Document 2.15.2014.Docx
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS WORLDBUILDING WPI Interactive Qualifying Project Researched and created by Pat Roughan (Rowan) Peter Lepper Advised and reviewed by Brian Moriarty, IMGD Abstract This project, created by Pat Roughan and Peter Lepper, is a research-based Interactive Qualifying Project at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The goal of this document is to demonstrate the use of focused research into existing religions as the basis for creating an imaginary culture with its own belief systems. This original research examined the histories, beliefs, and practices of Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Agnosticism, Ignosticism, Discordianism, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Using this research, a fictional world was generated through the creation of countries and their religious beliefs. This document shows the effects of research on inspiration and realism in fictional works. Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Terms in this Document .............................................................................................................. 1 3. Research and Development......................................................................................................... 3 4. The Studied Religions ................................................................................................................. 7 A. Religious Research and the Reslys Region ............................................................................ 7 1. Buddhism ............................................................................................................................ 7 2. Confucianism ...................................................................................................................... 9 3. Hinduism ............................................................................................................................. 9 4. Taoism ............................................................................................................................... 10 5. Zoroastrianism ...................................................................................................................11 6. Agnosticism and Ignosticism .............................................................................................11 7. Other Inspirations.............................................................................................................. 12 B. Religious Research and Fjellgard ......................................................................................... 13 1. Christianity ........................................................................................................................ 13 2. Judaism ............................................................................................................................. 14 3. Other Inspirations.............................................................................................................. 15 5. Primary Source Documents ...................................................................................................... 16 A. Reslys Region Documents ................................................................................................... 16 1. Excerpt from “The Wheels Collective: A Scribe’s Journey through Avenyaw” ............... 16 B. Fjellgard Documents ............................................................................................................ 23 1. Tattered journal recovered from the ruins of an Aleksandronite temple-fortress ............. 23 2. Excerpt from ‘Myths and Legends of the World’ ............................................................. 27 3. Personal Correspondence .................................................................................................. 28 6. Background Information: Regions ............................................................................................ 30 A. The East: RESLYS ............................................................................................................... 30 1. Bothi .................................................................................................................................. 31 2. Resalgade .......................................................................................................................... 36 3. Naguor............................................................................................................................... 40 4. Avenyaw ............................................................................................................................ 44 5. Sain ................................................................................................................................... 48 6. Ellenaid ............................................................................................................................. 52 7. Qualia ................................................................................................................................ 56 8. Desmis............................................................................................................................... 59 B. The West: FJELLGARD ...................................................................................................... 61 1. Westenjal ........................................................................................................................... 62 2. West Nordenbach .............................................................................................................. 65 6. Background Information: Religions ......................................................................................... 68 A. Reslys Religions ................................................................................................................... 68 1. Cyclasmus ......................................................................................................................... 68 2. Trebutois ........................................................................................................................... 86 B. Fjellgard Religions ............................................................................................................. 104 1. Luvica ............................................................................................................................. 104 2. Stronism .......................................................................................................................... 105 7. Works Cited ..............................................................................................................................110 8. World Background and Ways of the Reslys Region ................................................................112 A. PowerPoints of Information and References ......................................................................112 9. Notes on World Religions ....................................................................................................... 120 10. Background on Fjellgard’s Religions and Regions ............................................................... 137 1. Introduction For this IQP, students Pat Roughan (Rowan) and Peter Lepper created a document on the background of a fictional world using inspirations and influences from the development of real- world religions and their effects on culture. Unlike the real world, this fictional world is imbued with undeniable magic. This magic, or energy, exists somewhat like air, and flows through all living things. Some persons have found ways to harness the energy, using it for feats impossible in our reality. This energy’s existence is mysterious and its source unknown to the persons in the world, creating a backbone for their religious beliefs. 2. Terms in this Document Some of the terminology used in this document refers to our fictional world and its elements. Here, these unfamiliar terms are briefly defined for better understanding of the following material. Additional detail is provided in the Background sections. • Energy: The catch-all term for the abundant “magic” power that exists in the world. Its source and reasons for existing, if any, are unknown, inspiring many different beliefs. • Fjellgard Region: Three adjacent countries in the far north-west, Fjellgard is considered by many to be inhospitable due to the low temperatures and mountainous terrain. • Reslys Region: A series of countries on a large continent and its surrounding islands, existing southeast of Fjellgard. • Avenyaw: The oldest of the countries in the Reslys Region, though its power and expanse have been severely diminished in recent eras, allowing the other countries to arise. Most of its area is filled with an expansive desert, and a majority of its citizens are travelers and merchants. • Resalgade: Once a tyrannical empire of the region, it has lost its hold on the other countries and is relaxing its oppressive ways in the new era. It still remains the most militaristic areas of the region. 1 • Bothi: Known as the Intellectual Capital of the World, its citizens are mainly scholars, doctors, and other highly educated professions, with the pursuit of knowledge being its primary goal. • Naguor: One of the island countries, it is a place focused on the research of energy and its effect on various technologies. • Sain: One of the most energy-fuelled countries