Seventh Sanctum
Encyclopedia
Seventh Sanctum is a website run by Steven Savage (also known as XWayfarer, or simply X). It is a collection of generators for creating random names, items, and even full descriptions of characters. There are generators for everything from spells and pirate ship names, to entire story plots and characters. Many of the generators are oriented towards science fiction
, fantasy
and anime
, and are directed towards artists, writers, and role-playing game
rs. It is arguably one of the largest collections of random generators on the internet focused on (mostly) serious creativity enhancement.
often sounded randomly generated. Site expanded continuously.
2000-2001: The site moved from JavaScript
to PHP
.
2004 - Site moved to top-level of domain.
2005 - First random contest started.
, but moved to PHP
in 2001 as more complex generators were introduced. Examples of current and former code are available at the site. The site author encourages other generator developers to use the code available.
It is almost entirely graphics-free, using only regular web pages and CSS
for presentation.
or DSFs. These are small, cute but evil cats with brilliant green eyes and black or navy blue fur. They supposedly constrict one's writing ability with the aid of a Writer's Block.
The forum members are also now engaged in a communal world building project and are creating a planet (named Xothu) from scratch with some standard fantasy races (such as dwarves) but also new races as well, such as lilithians (a highly intelligent and dominating race) and jellicles (a race of cat-like humanoids possessing magical power).
The community also invented a fictional history of the Sanctum, explaining what happened to the previous six. Supposedly, the First Sanctum was created four thousand years before present day somewhere in the Mediterranean. It was destroyed after a scholar stepped into the garden and "gave the gods the big finger". The Second Sanctum was built in Northern Greece and was later torn down, the blocks being used to build a new stadium for the Romans to watch fights. The Third Sanctum was constructed by the Romans, but was short-lived.
The Fourth Sanctum was built c.1066 in southern England by a French noble. No explanation is given for its destruction, but only rubble remains. The Fifth Sanctum was more of an organization than a location, founded in Antwerp in 1242. They planned to destroy the Fourth Wall, but their plans were cut short and their complexes burnt while the members scattered. The Sixth Sanctum was founded in 1875 and was a beautiful building. It was stripped and demolished after no bills were paid for quite some time.
There is also a suggestion that the Eighth Sanctum members went back in time to set up the First Sanctum, thus causing a paradox.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, and are directed towards artists, writers, and role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
rs. It is arguably one of the largest collections of random generators on the internet focused on (mostly) serious creativity enhancement.
History of the Website
1999 - Site created as subsite of domain. Incorporated past JavaScript generator for Superhero Names, and one for anime attacks. Initially spawned after commentary that attacks in animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
often sounded randomly generated. Site expanded continuously.
2000-2001: The site moved from JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
to PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
.
2004 - Site moved to top-level of domain.
2005 - First random contest started.
Generators
There are over a hundred and forty generators which fall into the following seventeen categories. There are also examples from each category.- AnimeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
/MangaMangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
- including "CatgirlCatgirlA catgirl is a female character with cat traits, such as cat ears, a cat tail, or other feline characteristics on an otherwise human body. Catgirls are found in various fiction genres, and in particular Japanese anime and manga where they are more commonly referred to as Neko or Nekomimi , in...
Generator" and "Battle AuraAura (paranormal)In parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice, an aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object . The depiction of such an aura often connotes a person of particular power or holiness. Sometimes, however, it is said that all living things and all objects...
Generator" - Art - including "SwordSwordA sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
Generator" and "DragonDragonA dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
Description Generator" - Beings - including "AlienExtraterrestrial life in popular cultureIn popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
Race Generator" and "Legendary Creature Generator" - Characters - including "DeityDeityA deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
Generator" and "Super NinjaNinjaA or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
Generator" - Combat - including "Fantasy Military Unit Generator" and "WrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
Move Generator" - Darkness/EvilEvilEvil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
- including "VampireVampireVampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
Namer" and "Dark Ritual Generator" - Equipment - including "Quest Item Generator" and "Currency Generator"
- HumourHumourHumour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
- including "Wacky Class Generator" and "Evil Animal Minion Generator" - MagicMagic (paranormal)Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
- including "Magic Item Generator" and "Outer Plane Generator" - Media/FandomFandomFandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
- including "Crossover Generator" and "DigimonDigimon, short for , is a Japanese media franchise encompassing digital toys, anime, manga and video games. The franchise's eponymous creatures are monsters of various forms living in a "Digital World", a parallel universe that originated from Earth's various communication networks.-Conception and...
Generator" - Names - including "Weird Name Generator" and "GreekGreeksThe Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
Namer" - Organizations - including "Government Title Generator" and "Sentai Team Name Generator"
- Setting - including "Landscape Generator" and "Tavern Generator"
- Superheroes/SentaiSentaiin Japanese language is a word for a military unit and may be literally translated as "squadron", "task force", "group" or "wing". The terms "regiment" and "flotilla", while sometimes used as translations of Sentai, are also used to refer to larger formations....
- including "Silly Superhero Name Generator" and "Sentai Story Generator" - Skills/Abilities/Traits - including "MoodMood (psychology)A mood is a relatively long lasting emotional state. Moods differ from emotions in that they are less specific, less intense, and less likely to be triggered by a particular stimulus or event....
Generator" and "Anime Power Generator" - Technology - including "IT Department Generator" and "Space Phenomena Generator"
- Writing - including "Quick Story Idea Generator" and "What-if-inator"
Technology
Originally the Sanctum was written in JavaScriptJavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
, but moved to PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
in 2001 as more complex generators were introduced. Examples of current and former code are available at the site. The site author encourages other generator developers to use the code available.
It is almost entirely graphics-free, using only regular web pages and CSS
Cascading Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation semantics of a document written in a markup language...
for presentation.
Community
Part of the Sanctum, as it is known to users (or "sanctumites"), centres on the forum, where users of the generators gather to talk. Most of the users are of a creative bent, be they poets, writers or artists. A great deal of users are also players of role-playing games. The forum even has a running joke, and refers on a semi-regular basis to demonic stuffed felinesFélines
Félines may refer to the following places in France:* Félines, Ardèche, a commune in the department of Ardèche* Félines, Haute-Loire, a commune in the department of Hérault* Félines-Minervois, a commune in the department of Hérault...
or DSFs. These are small, cute but evil cats with brilliant green eyes and black or navy blue fur. They supposedly constrict one's writing ability with the aid of a Writer's Block.
The forum members are also now engaged in a communal world building project and are creating a planet (named Xothu) from scratch with some standard fantasy races (such as dwarves) but also new races as well, such as lilithians (a highly intelligent and dominating race) and jellicles (a race of cat-like humanoids possessing magical power).
The community also invented a fictional history of the Sanctum, explaining what happened to the previous six. Supposedly, the First Sanctum was created four thousand years before present day somewhere in the Mediterranean. It was destroyed after a scholar stepped into the garden and "gave the gods the big finger". The Second Sanctum was built in Northern Greece and was later torn down, the blocks being used to build a new stadium for the Romans to watch fights. The Third Sanctum was constructed by the Romans, but was short-lived.
The Fourth Sanctum was built c.1066 in southern England by a French noble. No explanation is given for its destruction, but only rubble remains. The Fifth Sanctum was more of an organization than a location, founded in Antwerp in 1242. They planned to destroy the Fourth Wall, but their plans were cut short and their complexes burnt while the members scattered. The Sixth Sanctum was founded in 1875 and was a beautiful building. It was stripped and demolished after no bills were paid for quite some time.
There is also a suggestion that the Eighth Sanctum members went back in time to set up the First Sanctum, thus causing a paradox.