Homebrew Mythology
Today’s Blog Post is dedicated to the memory of Leonard John Biallas, Doctor of Sacred Theology, and the immeasurable impact he had on those around him, including his students. Though his name has passed into myth, his legend will continue to live on.
Myths Contain Meaning
This was the opening line to one of my favorite college courses about Mythology taught by distinguished professor Leonard J. Biallas who recently passed away at the age of 82. This article is my way of thanking him for the profound effect his teaching had on my life. I only took one course with Professor Biallas, but his teachings left a mark upon my academic career and my story-telling journey. In the course, he asked us if myths were true and he explained that myths were a way of explaining the magical world around oneself and trying to extract personal truths from a seemingly chaotic world. Were they objectively true? Perhaps not. But could we learn from them, extract meaning, and truly grow from them? Absolutely. I took this course at a very interesting time in my life when I was just getting into running my own campaigns in D&D and building my homebrew world of Crucible. I was truly enthralled by Professor Biallas’s course; so much so that I incorporated ideas and concepts that I learned from taking this class (including origin myths, the creation of the world, the axis mundi, and the origin of humans) into the beginning of my homebrew world.
Origin Myths:
Myths are used to explain the unexplainable and a way for man to know the unknowable. The most common type of myth is an origin myth or how something came into being. This can be used to explain simple things such as why the sky is blue or things as complex as the origin of the universe. Myths in and of themselves are stories told by storytellers. The Greek myths were originally an oral tradition passed down from generation to generation. Like the ancient Greeks (or any other culture really) we as Game Masters and as players are engaging in a form of storytelling and of myth-weaving. We get to see our myths live, grow, change and take form. It is the closest thing to pure magic that I have ever experienced and it is what keeps me coming back to RPGs time after time. But what can we as storytellers learn from our ancient predecessors? How can we use mythology to make our stories better? Now that is a question. My best answer is fairly simple. . .start at the beginning.
Creation of the World:
Consider how your world was made and by whom. Was it created by primordial titans or by benevolent gods? A world where nature rules would be a very different one than one tamed by the gods for their creations. Was the world there before the gods or did the gods make the world? If so, how did they make the world? Perhaps it was formed from an alloy of metals and then melted in some form of celestial kiln? Denizens of this world might regard this metal with an otherworldly reverence. What of otherworldly planes? Why do they exist and who inhabits them? Are they friendly? Are they even known? A denizen of this world might be in for quite the surprise when they encounter their first otherworldly being if they did not know that other realms exist. It would make sense that an otherworldly being may need to begin conversations with “we come in peace” or “be not afraid.” In my homebrew world, ancient unknowable primordial beings were created first as creation coalesced. They used a powerful artifact known as the Font of Creation to create their servants. Later the gods destroyed them and harnessed the Font of Creation to create the first humanoids.
Origin of Human(oids):
After creating your world, consider the origin of its people. Were they formed by the gods or were they here already? Who was made first? Perhaps it was the elves and dwarves blessed with longevity and the magic of creation? Or perhaps it was humans but due to some forgotten hubris, mankind’s previous longevity was cut short by the gods themselves? Or perhaps a non-traditional species such as Lizardfolk, Firbolg, Triton or even Warforged were the original creation. The choice is yours! The big questions are why are there so many different types of sentient beings, where did they all come from, and why are they all still here? In my homebrew world Crucible, the Warforged were created and given sentience to fight off the forces of darkness and the undead scourge. They still exist today, yet many still lay dormant.
Axis Mundi:
One of my favorite myth archetypes is that of the Axis Mundi, or the World Pillar, which is the bridge between heaven and earth (and sometimes the underworld and beyond.) Real world examples of this myth include Mount Olympus from Ancient Greek Mythology, the Tower of Babel from Judeo-Christian tradition , Yiggdrasil from Norse Mythology, or the River Styx from Dante’s Divine Comedy. As you are building your world, consider the physical connection between the material world and that of the celestial. Is [or perhaps was] there a physical connection such as a mountain or a temple or bridge? In the world of Crucible, the Axis Mundi is an invisible staircase that spirals up from atop the highest peak in the world. Each step is a challenge worthy of a hero. At the end of the staircase lies the realm of the gods.
Final Note:
As you are working on your origin myths, consider how well-known they are throughout the land and if they are true, partially true, partially false, or misleading altogether. Have they been misinterpreted over the years? Has the original meaning been lost to all but a select few? Is this myth a part of some great cosmic misunderstanding or cover-up? What would happen if everyone knew the truth of the myth?
As I’ve discussed in previous blog posts, the world around us is filled with resources that can provide inspiration for storytelling. Myths are one of those resources. I recently re-ordered Professor Biallas’s books as a memento and as a thanks for all the lessons. If you are looking for a place to begin researching myths, I highly recommend starting with these. In conclusion, I would like to once again dedicate this article to a wonderful teacher and encourage all of you Game Masters, players, and storytellers to use the world of myth as inspiration for your own worldbuilding because, after all, the best Game Masters are not just those who teach, but those who continue to seek knowledge, growth, and learning.
Take Heart!
Karington Hess
Game Master and Founder of Open Heart Games
