The fantasy setting evokes images and feelings of a time from antiquity, when heroes and villains would clash swords and invoke powerful magic as they embark upon an epic quest or journey. It hearkens back to the origins of history in stories that have become the mythology of entire cultures. Typical themes encompass powerful and terrifying magic, ancient and medieval lifestyles, valiant heroism in the face of insurmountable tyranny, and great or treacherous journeys into unusual and foreign lands. These key elements form the fundamental backbone of most fantasy stories.
 

Since the origins of history, fantasy has captured the imagination of the world and refused to let go. In the distant past, where many things were misunderstood or interpreted using the knowledge of the time, fantastical tales and stories offered a means to explain observations and experiences. Upon reflection, and with hindsight, these perceptions and stories may come across as quaint views of a less civilised and primitive society. But despite this, they have remained a relevant part of modernity, inspiring great tales and stories, as well as the pursuits of scholars, who revisit ancient interpretations with a modern lens hoping to learn about our history, values and beliefs.

The fantasy setting, perhaps more than any other, speaks to our primal nature to explore and experience the unusual and exciting. In a time where many of the world’s great mysteries have been unveiled or demystified through science and technology, this yearning to return to the wonder and mystery of the past continues to grow.