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Fantasy Origins: A Journey to the Source of Imagination

When we grip a game controller or open a thick fantasy novel, elements like magic, dragons, and status screens exist as “matters of course.” However, these elements were not born from nothing.

The massive tree of modern fantasy stands upon a rich soil—centuries of historical accumulation known as “Origins.” In this category, we delve into these strata to explore where the “embers” of the imaginary worlds we love first ignited.

1. The Primal Stratum: Ancient Myths and Epics

The beginning of every story lies in the imagination of ancient people who attempted to interpret the fury of nature, birth, aging, sickness, and death as “Narratives.” *Norse Mythology : The World Tree Yggdrasil, Elves, Dwarves, and the final day, Ragnarok. The direct source of inspiration for The Lord of the Rings. Greek Mythology : The thunder of Zeus, the curse of Medusa, and the trials of Heracles. The definition of the “Monster” began here. Oriental Fantasy : Sun Wukong from Journey to the Westor the magical tools (Baopei) ofFengshen Yanyi. A system of “Extraordinary Abilities” through Qi and Immortality, distinct from the West.

2. The Traditional Stratum: Medieval Legends and Chivalry

An era where Christianity and folk traditions intertwined, and magic shifted from “Technique” to “Destiny.” *Arthurian Legend : The holy sword Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the wizard Merlin. The skeleton of orthodox fantasy was completed here. *Knights Templar : Historical reality became the spice of “Secret Societies” and “Conspiracy Theories,” giving depth and shadow to narratives. *Atlantis : The ultimate “Lost Civilization” that serves as the blueprint for high-tech precursors in fantasy settings.

3. The Bestiary Stratum: Evolution of the Monstrous

How the things that go bump in the night were classified and redefined for the modern age. *Monster Evolution : Tracking the transition from vague localized folk horrors to standardized global icons. *Goblins & Kobolds : The tragic (and practical) fall of earth spirits into the role of “Level 1 experience points.” *Unexpected Origins : The true, heavy cultural weight behind Zombies and Golems that was lost in translation to entertainment. *Femme Fatale : The dangerous beauty of Sirens, Succubi, and the archetype of “Destiny leading to Ruin.”

4. The Refinement Stratum: Modern Literature and Cosmic horror

An era where storytelling was elevated by individual authors into the intellectual pursuit of “World-Building.” *Tolkien’s Legacy : Races, languages, and history. He provided the blueprint for constructing fantasy as a “Reality.” *Cosmic Horror & Cthulhu : Incomprehensible high-dimensional terror. Rewriting magic from a “Miracle” to “Madness.” *Sword and Sorcery : The grit and brawn of Conan the Barbarian, focusing on individual survival and prehistoric magic.

5. The Revolutionary Stratum: Games and Quantification

An era where stories transformed into “Experiences,” and the world was described through the new magic of numbers. *Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) : The progenitor of all modern gaming, fixing imagination through “Rules” and “Dice.” Sanity System : The cruel yet brilliant invention of quantifying mental trauma and psychological attrition. Roots of CRPG : WizardryandUltima. The endless labyrinths drawn upon the canvas of the computer.

6. The Mystery Stratum: Voids in History

Real-world enigmas that provide the “Gaps” where fantasy finds its most fertile ground. *Historical Mysteries : Count St. Germain, the Voynich Manuscript, and the Iron Mask—real-world templates for immortals and forbidden knowledge.

What Lies Beyond the Origin?

Tracing these origins is not merely an accumulation of knowledge.

“Why is fire magic red?” “Why can’t a vampire enter a house without an invitation?” By understanding these reasons, the next time you encounter a story, that world will resonate more vividly, more deeply, in your heart.

Come, let us gather the fragments of legend sleeping at the bottom of the abyss.

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Sanity System: The War of Attrition of 'Reason'

In games dealing with fantasy or horror, if HP (Hit Points) represents physical vitality, Sanity Points (SAN Values) are the last bulwark preventing the collapse of the mind. This system, established by the TRPG Call of Cthulhu, went beyond a mere “status ailment” and brilliantly translated the essence of Cosmic Horror into a game experience. 1. The Risk of Knowing: The Cruel Trade-off with Mythos Knowledge The most original and cruel point of the Sanity System is its irreversible structure: “the more knowledge you gain, the closer you get to madness.

Historical Mysteries: Seeds of Fantasy in the 'Gaps' of Records

History is a collection of “fragments” compiled by victors and recorders. Explanable contradictions, persons who vanished into thin air, and undecipherable artifacts existing between those official records—these Historical Mysteries provide fantasy and mystery writers with the most luxurious canvas for their own interpretations and “What Ifs.” 1. Count St. Germain: The Prototype of the “Immortal” Wanderer Count St. Germain, who appeared like a comet in 18th-century European high society, became the perfect template for the “Immortal Alchemist” or “Time Traveler” in modern fiction.

Great Old Ones: Blasphemous 'Masters' from the Stars

The core of the Cthulhu Mythos is the existence of the Great Old Ones . They are fundamentally different from “gods” or “demons” in traditional religions. They reside beyond the horizon of good and evil, possessing high civilizations and immense magical (or scientific) power, yet their mental structure has zero compatibility with humans. To them, humanity is not even an object of rule, but mere insects crawling at the edge of their vision.

Creation of Cosmic Terror: Cthulhu Mythos

In modern horror and fantasy, the name Cthulhu Mythos has become synonymous with unavoidable terror. This collection of stories created by the early 20th-century author H.P. Lovecraft shattered classical fears such as “dualism of good and evil” or “demons that harm humans.” What lies there is an overwhelming Universal Indifference that does not have enmity toward humans, but simply “does not consider humans even as dust.” 1. Cosmic Horror: The Boundary Between Understanding and Despair The essence of the Cthulhu Mythos lies in the philosophy of Cosmic Horror (Universal Terror) flowing behind the stories.

Cosmic Horror: The Ultimate Despair of Universal Indifference

In modern society, the word “horror” often brings to mind bloodthirsty killers, vengeful ghosts, or soul-tempting demons. However, Cosmic Horror (Universal Terror) depicts a despair of a completely different dimension. Established by H.P. Lovecraft, this genre shatters the illusion that humanity is the protagonist of the universe and thrusts us into the cold truth that we are “utterly insignificant existences.” 1. Universal Indifference: Terror of the “Void” Without Enmity At the core of Cosmic Horror is the philosophy that **“the universe has no interest in humanity.

Femme Fatale: The Genealogy of Beauty and Despair

Meaning “Woman of Destiny” in French, the Femme Fatale possesses overwhelming beauty and intelligence, instantly captivating every man she meets. However, at the end of that passion, ruin always awaits. Loss of social status, loss of wealth, or the end of life itself. The Femme Fatale in fantasy plays the role of the “Supreme Trial” that blocks the hero’s path or leads them to destruction. 1. Primordial Song: Sirens and the Temptation of Death The oldest form of the Femme Fatale dates back to the Sirens of Greek mythology.

Unexpected Origins: The Lost 'Truth' of Zombies and Golems

In fantasy works, “Zombies” are synonyms for enemies to be defeated, and “Golems” are loyal guardians. However, the original meanings these monsters held are extremely contrasting and carry heavy historical and religious backgrounds compared to the impressions we receive today. We unwrap their “True Origins,” lost in the process of being consumed as entertainment. 1. Zombie: The “Eternal Slave” Who Was Denied Death The modern Zombie (post-Romero) is a corpse infected by a virus, losing reason and eating people.

The Evolution of Monsters: From Folk Horrors to Global Icons

In the world of fantasy, monsters like Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies are treated as beings with “Common Traits (weaknesses and behaviors)” without need for explanation. However, they didn’t exist in their perfected forms from the start. Through centuries of folklore, 19th-century Gothic novels, 20th-century film, and 21st-century games, they have been sublimated from “Formless Horrors” to “Immortal Icons.” 1. Primordial Chaos: Localized, “Undefined Terror” Once, monsters were just another name for the “Inexplicable Absurdities (death, disease, natural disasters)” unique to a specific land.

Goblins & Kobolds: From Earth Spirits to the Definition of 'Weakest'

In modern fantasy RPGs, Goblins and Kobolds have become synonymous with “Trash Monsters” that novice adventurers cross swords with first. However, if you look back at their history, you’ll find a rich lore of earth spirits who were closely involved with humans—sometimes helping, sometimes feared. The story of why they were stripped of their divinity and mystery and pushed into supporting roles is also proof of how fantasy has evolved from “Myth” to “Game.

Chimera & Hydra: The Morphology of the Aberrant and the Infinite

Among the monsters that color fantasy, the Chimera and Hydra are symbols of the “Absurd” that challenges the very form of life. Synthesizing existing creatures or abnormally multiplying their parts—these methods of monster construction created by Greek mythology remain the “Scriptures” of all creature design to this day. 1. Chimera: The “Aesthetics of Synthesis” and its Breakdown The Chimera was the first to define the terror of “Combining things that cannot coexist” in mythology.