Choose a Relic
Choose a Relic is the first step in the Relic-based Approach to Evolution Seed creation as part of the INDX Project in the SparkQuest Metagame. The selection of a Relic or set of Relics and its/their story is the central way that missions are created for each Chapter of a SparkQuest Book.
Choose a Relic starts with building a query that you can use in a search engine or at the library.
The query is build by adding terms using the process below:
Pick a descriptor
Start your query by choosing one of the following words:
- famous — Relics that are popular or well known
- rare — Relics that are less known, surprising, or recent discoveries
- important — Relics that are critical historical or cultural links
- representative — Relics that are common or widespread
Example so far: famous
What kind of object?
Next, pick one or more terms from the chart below:
| Layer | Relic Type | Search Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Civilization | structure | structure, building, architecture, city, monument |
| Culture (People) | artifact | artifact, craft, product |
| Ecology | specimen | animal, plant, creature, mythic creature |
| Geography | feature | geographic feature |
Example so far: famous artifacts
Which CRADLE?
Which CRADLE are you currently working on? Each Chapters only has missions from one CRADLE, so the current Chapter determines the CRADLE. You can choose any term or group of terms from the chart below in the column of your CRADLE. Synonyms are other names for the land of the CRADLE. Included terms are regions, lands, and features closely connected to or heavily influenced by that CRADLE.
| CRADLE1 | CRADLE2 | CRADLE3 | CRADLE4 | CRADLE5 | CRADLE6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Mesopotamia | Egypt | Indus Valley | Yellow River | Mesoamerica | Andean |
| Synonyms | Fertile Crescent, Persia, Babylon, Sumer | Mizraim, Kemet, North Africa | Sarasvati-Sindhu | Huanghe, North China Plain | Nahua, Mexica, Aztecs | Inca, Chavin, Moche, Nazca, Wari, Tiwanaku, Chimu, Caral-Supe |
| Included | Middle East, Arabian Desert, Arabian Peninsula, Levant, Caucasus, Europe, Mediterranean, Asia Minor | Kush, Nubia, Africa, Great Rift Valley, Congo, Serengeti, Horn of Africa, Saharra | Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, Himalayas, | China, Mongolia, East Asia, Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, Japan | North America, Latin America, The Caribbean, Baja, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, Gulf of Mexico | South America, The Amazon. Andes, Pampas, Atacama Desert, Southern Cone, Llanos, Gran Chaco |
Example so far: famous artifacts Persia
Getting more specific
You might have enough for your query at this point, or you might want to narrow it down some more with a few more terms.
- Time Period — you can use terms for a time period like medieval, ancient, modern, or classic, a specific age like “Bronze Age” or “Cretaceous Period” or a time like “1800s” or “seventeenth century”.
- Class of Object — the object types above are really broad. Add words to narrow down the object according to your interest and add a category word. For example, if “animals” is too broad, pick “birds” or “mammals” instead. To think of words to narrow down: first, think of the layer, then think of categories of the things that make up the layer. For example, “Politics” is an important part of all Civilizations, and “military” is a category within Politics.
- Location — add a place name to the search like a city, region, or natural feature.
Example so far: famous military artifacts Persia Bronze Age
Now that you have your query, you’re ready for an internet search or trip to your library. Once you have an object or set of objects to use as a Relic(s), you’re ready to go to the next step and Research Story.