Obscure inspiration for your campaign

Last week I read Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. Without giving anything away, it's a science fiction novel about Earth-that-will-be, where the stars have 'gone out' and all of our satellites have crashed. More than that, it's an exploration of human nature over a period of about 50-60 years as we face our own mortality as a species. Overall, Spin is a good book and I suggest you read it, whether you're a fan of sci-fi or not.

However, it wasn't Wilson's story that gave me the inspiration to scribble a page full of notes for my campaign setting (Shroud Isle); it was his vocabulary. The chapter title ars moriendi (literally the Art of Dying in latin) refers to two related texts penned in the 15th century by middle-ages Christians. The book provides advice for those who are dying, procedures to follow, and protocols, with the purpose of helping its audience die "well," according to then-current Christian belief.

Interesting stuff. As often, I wondered how I could use this information for D&D. Once I read about the third chapter of ars moriendi, which outlines the seven questions to ask a dying man to bring him to redemption, it was easy to settle on an ancient, intelligent beast that has lived on Shroud Isle since forever. This creature can only be defeated if it is first asked 7 questions, in the proper order. Those questions, rewritten by me to fit the setting while maintaining the wonderful cadence and rhythm of olde religious texts, could be provided to my PCs long before they meet the beast. Hopefully by that time they have figured out what needs to be done, and I'm already relishing the rounds when each PC, on his/her initiative, steps forward and asks his/her question before striking at the creature, which I think I've settled on being a corrupted member of the highly advanced civilization that used to live here--one of the last of his race.

And, of course, I could go on.

This kind of wildfire inspiration often ignites when I learn something new, and the end point is often miles from where I started, but it's always a fun journey.

Where do you get your inspiration for creative gaming sessions? Has something as simple as a new word brought you to create a monster, a dungeon, an adventure, or a campaign around it? Please share any stories you feel are relevent.