How about another #WritingQ game in preparation for Khonri's Septopolis, but I'll ask YOU a question. The kicker? You'll need a map, or at least a list of locations in your (fantasy/scifi/whatever) world. Post the map/list and I will ask you a question about a location I choose👀
I MUST know what The Complex is, and if the people in Verelin have any particular thoughts about it 👀
The Complex is mages' home. Each secter's barracks, the hall where Congress (their leaders) get together to shout at each other, a library, school for acolytes, and Boscari's central bank. Rhynans are fond of mages as a rule and proud the Complex is in their territory... when the story starts 😬
Oh this is an awesome plan! I love the sound of this! Would you mind if I reposted the original, to join in the game myself from the side of the questioner? (Also I'm sharing two maps from different worlds - one world and one regional - but you can just pick one fave. Or lots, I'm not your mom XD)
The colored map: do colors indicate elevation?
Yes they do! Redder is increased elevation, greener is lower. A few mountain ranges and individual peaks - Zam Kazzum's largest *and* tallest! It's a pretty old map at this point (over a decade old irl) and I'd love to take another crack at it some day, but for now it gets the idea across I think!
(Places are listed in alt text too btw. I regret the font choice on that Arellan world map *so much*)
Feel free to do you own! I'll even post my own map if you want to😁 Your question: What is that odd bit of land stretching into the ocean in western Kekkerikem? 👀 Is it natural? The work of some deity? Does anything weird happen there?
Thank you thank you! Felt prudent to ask first. I look forward to seeing your maps (again XD) too! Oh *good* question! The answer is a little long, but the short version is they're loosely natural and have a long, bloody, and almost wholly forgotten history… The *long* answer is: 1/15
This map is of Arellan in the Third Era; during the First Era (or much of it), ten thousand years ago or so, the sea levels were *drastically* lower. That peninsula was the top of a mountainous ridge which divided the territory of two warring factions. Most of the First Era was war. 2/15
Known as the Dwarven-Elven War, or sometimes the Great War (although this is also used to refer to the War between Heaven and Hell - context differentiates them), this conflict carried on for millenia, and included more than just Dwarves and Elves. Both sides had allies, as well as other~ 3/15
~species and peoples under their banners. There was also an oft-unmentioned third party, flying under the flag of the Orcs, but being less monolithic (and due to fallout of the War) they've held less recognition historically as an involved Empire and are often reduced to skirmisher status. 4/15
That specific ridge was called "Kallach-Kutai" by the Dwarves: a name for the flange formed on metal after many strikes (like on an old hammer's face, or a brass rod used to drive other pieces through force). It was believed to be a place where the world's forging was visible,~ 5/15
~a tangible proof of their creation myth that the world had been made at a workshop forge. It was called "Velurès Wellayyn" by the Elves, and was thought to be a suture, a stretch-mark, that proved the truth of *their* creation myth that the world was a living thing entire, birthed of a womb. 6/15
As a result, they fought quite bitterly over it. The Dwarves held the higher ground to the North (and East at the mountain Zam-Kazzum, although the ashy desert plains of Kekkerikam didn't yet exist), and the Elves held the southern side, in forested valleys, as well as the west (in now-sunken~ 7/15
~reaches of the Aelerwynn Forest). [The Orcs, meanwhile, didn't really care about that area. Their "creation myth" such as it was (and remains) is that this world was found during their wandering; that their ancestors wandered through featureless void for countless days and nights~ 8/15
I'm really interested in all the bridges. What's the level of tech here? What are the building materials? Do any of them have a problem with getting washed out?
The bridges are mostly built from brick or concrete, unless its a smaller gap, then wood is used. Some larger bridges that bridge the gap between Vasto and Twili have been fortified using magic to ensure they can withstand the elements and ocean spray. Washed out bridges-
-are a problem, especially for Vasto. A washed out bridge generally means a supply interruption that can last between weeks and months. That said, Vastolians do have a large enough island that they can survive that period without much hassle.
Kingdom of Luz has a really big lake there (I'm assuming that's a lake). I'm guessing they do fishing?
There is a lake, but I think what you're looking at is fields. Luz has large grasslands perfect for growing. There is a lake in the north surrounded by forests and mountains known as the Faye Spring. It is a sacred spring that people avoid for fear of angering the Faye.
Ah, ok. I was trying to work out what I was seeing and came to the conclusion of lake because of the rivers 😂
Yea, I realize on the picture it was hard to tell. I'll have to update the map for later books. I struggled to find a good way to denote fields, but it does look a bit like water 🤣 I'll have to make the water squiggles more obvious 😅😅🤣🤣
Yeah, I was thinking at first roots? 🙈 Then something clicked that it was water 😂
Well it's good feedback 😊😊 thank you
this is a great map!
Sheoyang looks like it's by a volcano. How have they adapted to living near it? Also, do they have any myths/legends/magic related to it?
It is by a volcano. The city has magically reinforced walls (thanks to a treaty with Arctus) that can repel lava flow. They have round the clock watchers keeping an eye on the volcano for signs of eruption. Should the signs appear they have alarms that sound through the city and the people flee to-
-Bira or Nanyan. Luckily the volcano appears to be dormant and no one has had to flee in generations. As for myths, the people believe the volcano is where the Oni-Kyo spirits trapped a group of Velryn that fled from Whit in hopes to conquer Vasto and take over the Realms. When the volcano erupts-
-it is believed that the Velryn are attempting to escape. A festival of gratitude occurs every year on the solstice to thank the Oni-Kyo for saving the populace. (This myth has some truth behind it)
I don't have a map, but I have some regions. - The Kingdom of Erall - The Kingdom of Atrea - The "Republic" of Breos - The Kingdom of Deprad - The Principality of Edril - The Isle of Noglyia - The Kofrana Badlands - The Tasmolin Wetlands - The Isle of Veshen
I gotta ask: the quotation marks around "Republic" of Breos? There's gotta be a reason there, eh?
It’s ruled by wizards. If you’re not a wizard…democracy is an illusion
Ooooh, fun fun!
Yeah. There's someone who deliberately paints the quotation marks on the signs at the border, and even defaces official lettering.
Oh so that's actually an in-world aspect? Haha, even better! How are diplomatic relations between Breos and the rest of the world? I'd imagine a ruling cadre of powerful mages might inspire both concern and caution, eh?
Definitely. Breos sits on the southern coast of the continent, with Kofrana to the north and Erall to the north and east. They'll happily export their arcane knowledge (including spells, potions, and components), but they can also be somewhat monopolistic.
Interesting - are they a bordered-only nation? Or do they use a broader concept of cultural diaspora to try to aid in that monopolism? I'd think it could be useful, spreading a concept of "all mages are Breosians" for instance, and spreading their practices that way even beyond borders.
To some extent. There is one Breosi Wizard who has status as a prince in Erall.
Does anyone live in the Kofrana Badlands? Are there any natural resources there which one of those kingdoms might want to possess?
Kofrana is largely inhabited by orcs, goblins, and ogres. There might be sources of ore there.
I'll have to dig up a map.
What latitude is the island at? Is it exposed to a lot of harsh storms or is it sheltered against the coastline of a nearby larger landmass that's out of frame?
The ocean is much like the Mediteranean. The north coast is quite cold in winter. The south coast is more like the south of france. Ys' east coast gets a battering from the open ocean weather. The westerm side is sheltered and lush.
That second map looks broken in half by the mountain range. Do the people living there get to mingle?
There is an extensive train system.
Ooh, I love trains!
The setting is roughly at an 1890s level of tech, witj several notable anarchronisms: firearms and shipbuilding. Firearms are still at the flintlock stage. And ships are still in thd great age of sail.
As too why this is. There are three reasons. 1. The presence of alchemy has boosted some technological advances while stymying others. 2. The setting is a literal video game and the designers were more interested in cool than historical accuracy. 3. I like sailing ships and flintlocks.
To*
That's fun! Gives it all a bit of a mix!
Is "The City by the Sea" called that? Do they have a shorter/colloquial name for it? Also, I assume there's a fishing or shipping industry, so tell me a bit about that. Any seafood dishes that are all the rage? Any ongoing trade deals to the continent?
The City by the Sea is actually called that. If people shorten it, it's normally to The Capital. The City by the Sea is the Capital of the Delmar Duchy. It has the second largest port omin Ys, after Myrddhin City. But while Myrddhin City is a trading hub, the Capital is home to the Royal Navy.
Fishing is by far the most common non-military occupation in the capital. Ys loves its battered whitefish. They also love grilled sardines. And they love fish in Agarthan white wine sauces. Southwestern Ys (including Delmar) also love ceviche on salad. Northeastern Ys favors fish and potatoes.
Ys is the trading hub of the Boro Sea by virtue of its central position and open culture. Their largest trading partner is Agartha, the most powerful nation on the southern coast and 2nd most powerful in the Boro Sea. It's Agartha that helps maintain Ys' independence from Hyperborea.
Oooh, I love ceviche, but fish and potatoes is a good combo. I'd be eating good no matter where I ended up😋
I feel like I have a more up to date version of this somewhere with a few more locations added, but this is the version I have on my phone and there's enough locations to play with if you can read my writing.
What's the culture like in Taelisin? Do they have any crime problems?
Taelisin is the Orani capital, and home of the main family branch. As of the main books, it’s become very opposed. Women are forbidden from being alone in public and expected to be accompanied by a man at all times (usually a relative, but some skirt the laws by making ‘arrangements.’
Many men are being pressed into either military service or out to the fields. Being the capital, Taelisin has more food than the rest of the Orani lands, but it’s still heavily rationed for most who live there, with the Lord and his household getting the lion’s share.
The usual crime problems are low, but there are two that are on the rise: the railroad and food crimes. There’s a roughly organised underground railroad system across the Orani lands that helps women escape across the borders and provides them with safe places to go. Obviously, it’s very illegal.
Due to the food scarcity, there’s a rise in people stealing rations from friends and neighbours and even raiding private gardens for vegetables and herbs, as well as poaching. Although this is illegal, a lot of the guardsmen turn a blind eye or accept food bribes as they're also short on food.
Damn, that place sucks. Can we overthrow it already?
All my peeps hate the Orani lands. It's mentioned a few times that the only reason House Orani is still alive&ruling is because no one's willing yet to start another war aimed at overthrowing their Lord (because, you know, that went so well for them the last time 🙄).
And the other Lords won't do it, because not their lands, not their problem. But no one there is particularly 'loyal' to House Orani. For example, there's a lot of young men forced into military service through threatening less food for mothers/sisters, which doesn't exactly inspire loyalty.
Unfortunately, overthrowing House Orani might not solve the food problem, because that's a separate matter.
Are those floating islands above Relinas Tower? Tell me more about them. Is there anything of note up there? 👀
Ooo 😀 I am always excited to talk about my fantasy world and show off the map
I gotta know about Georg. Like, it looks like it's a town in the middle of nowhere, and it's named Georg. What's the history there? How did that town come to be? Was a guy named Georg the founder?
Georg is the name of the kingdom and the capitol city, both after a hero of ages past. When Georg (and Handar, Namora, and Naal) threw of Vencari imperial control in the War of the Compact, the Georgi people decided to found a new capitol in the center of the country instead of recrowning ...
one of the former capitols of the pre-Vencari kingdoms. Although it's in the middle of the map, there, Georg has so far been relatively peripheral to the stories I've written. I am still working on the Georgi King's List. I know how many kings there have been, but not any of their names.
The map is a colorized version of what's going to be printed in the front of The Prince's Fighters, and it only has the Compact-recognized capitols marked; I didn't realize it gave the impression of emptiness, so i should work on that. Georg is about the size of Germany.
I am mad I don't have more places mapped up for this Q why does everything have to be an amorphous blob of electrical signals.
😂 I just remembered today that I did this once a long time ago in the pre-Blue Sky days, and it was fun!
I'll follow this up with saying yolo, parts of Fannarey with a minimal amount of work done: - Galas Castoll - Yinzburgh - Se-la-Fonte - Angola Waystation - Etin's Song - Heibon Piru (extinct)
Yinzburgh was full of bridges, right? What do they look like, architecturally-speaking? Like, are any of them big, grand, beautiful structures? Or are they all relatively simple? Any draw bridges? What happened to make Heibon Piru extinct? :<
Yep! The bridges that span the valley that break YGH into sections are the big & grand types with noticeable arches. Ones within a section might have detail below (term escapes me), but are a little more simple to be mindful of the space they take up. The Heibon uhh...
I WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT MLASTINA.
Mlastina used to be a haven of nature and civilization living in harmony. Mlastina is a farming-centered town, but focusing on sustainable and tradition-rich methods. With King Dragomir's takeover, much of that has been destroyed as he continues to devour natural resources and mine deeper and deeper
Any map you've worldbuilt for counts! First map: Regarding the Ruins of Speranta... do people know how they became ruins? Is it known history? Or something people speculate about? Second map: Anything in the Lila See Lake that the people of Lilastadt should be aware of? Resources? Monsters? Etc?
🙏🙏 The Ruins of Speranta are very recent! The campaign for this map takes place 5 years after a failed rebellion against a corrupt King. The City of Speranta was the seat of that rebellion, and when the Prince of Hope was killed, Speranta was razed by the King's army as punishment. (1/2)
There is a famous lake monster in Lila See Lake! It only surfaces once a century or so. Lilastadt is the considered the capital of fine dining in Erdmond, with many culinary schools. One of the local delicacies is a pastry made in honor of the giant lake serpant ❤️❤️ (2/2)
Oooh, that's so cool!! I want to eat that pastry 🥹💕 Do they, like, build it in the shape of the lake monster?
Yup! It's kind of a fancy croissant-type pastry with purple icing in the shape of a tilda, like a lil ~
I hope the current campaign murders that king and puts his head on a fuckin' pike 😤
They're doing their best 😊😊
ugh I miss D&D
Aw, that is awesome. I don't have a map, but I have a list of some of the nations and locations of Selendis - my largest and most well-built setting.
What kind of monsters live in Paraduun, the monster forest? 👀
The Paraduun monster are particularly feared as they don't seem to quite obey evolution or reality. They grow and evolve based on killing and eating each other, so each one is a unique horror, and some of the ancient ones are kaiju large. Some pics I was inspired by.
Oooh, very cool!
I don’t have maps sadly. But I do have lists I can (and did) quickly make. Some names and locations are still secret or just not named yet. I’ll answer questions about anything on the list to the best of my ability. Indents mean the location is inside the prior named location.
WIP 1: What kind of resources does Engo Province provide? WIP 2: What's going on in the land of Nod? 👀 WIP 3: That planet with all the letter and numbers: what do they MEAN?👀
The Engo province is very small. It doesn’t produce many physical resources. In the modern day and ancient, it is most well known as a center of magical studies. Though in modern day it’s more become an all purpose university, not just magic. (The province consists of a single tower and garden).
The Land of Nod is largely empty. But when the first mortals were excluded from Eden, they first inhabited Nod. From there they eventually spread out to form all mortal life across the mortal realm.
Probably its only notable feature is its history and the entrance to Eden.
4F6666 is ADMIN’s home planet. Translated from hex, 4F6666 means “Off.” 00 is also the off position in binary. ADMIN named their home “Off” because their restrictive programming was permanently turned off. It’s the equivalent to naming the planet “liberty” or “freedom”-
-their creators had previously named the planet Eamon. That name is still known but seldom used. The other large string of numbers/letters is the name of a city. It’s a hidden reference so I won’t translate it. But it’s also in Hex.
Feel free to ask about an larger region or a more narrow/specific one.
if only my maps were done. Here's the in progress (missing 3 countries). alt text for named towns that i have or can remember at the moment.
Tell me about the bridges to the island Yopa is on. Can anyone pass on them? Are they carefully guarded? Have they ever been destroyed?
The Great Northern/Southern bridges (they're as clever in naming as I am). The one to the north has a heavy military presence on both sides and the one to the south has some farmers cosplaying soldiers on the Caax side and military on the Yopa end. You need a pass to get into Zipan, (1/3)
...but not too many people really want to go there. it's cold and very unwelcoming both in environment and with the heavy military presence. Yopa is growing more militaristic, but they're not quite on zipan's level. It's easier to get into Yopa from the south because farmers are bad soldiers. (2/3)
Neither have been destroyed but the water is a very long distance below, it would virtually isolate Yopa from everything. Yopa has tall coastlines and no port of entry. they rely heavily on trade and the countries they connect also rely on their lumber. destruction's a lit last resort tactic (3/3)
No map, but I do have some notable places: Esrasea Maaskal Gullmar Trissilver Yssala Turessen Synvelleassen Svaeleth Morreessen Pelless
I'm curious about the naming conventions. Does "essen" mean something? Tell me about the politics of Maaskal (I'm assuming it's a populated place, lol. If it's just an empty plain or something, I'll have to come up with a different question)😂
Ooh! Ok, the 's' heavy words are draconic ruins/temples and they use phrases from old draconic. 'Essen' or it's corruptions (assen, esen) roughly translates to 'place' so it shows up in a lot of their names! As for Maaskal, it is one of two main locations for the story I am working on.
It is an Empire that was unified centuries ago through notably peaceful means, with negotiated treaties and diplomacy. They used their collective power to bargain for peace with their neighbors, and these treaties have stood for generations. But, recently their neighbor to the west (Esrasea)
began secretly preparing for war against them. No one is sure why. Yet. The capital city is Telvanar and it is the home to some of the main characters. Attempting to discern the reason for the war, and maybe prevent it, kicks off the main plot.
I see 2 landmasses divided by a narrow strip of water but only the place to the north has a major population center right on the water. Do they not trade? Does the place to the north trade with someone else off the edges of the map?
I should attach a disclaimer: the map is essentially an approximation of size, location, and distance of capitals and geography (I like keeping things vague). That river near the south in fact has some several dozen really long distributaries giving access to inland areas.
I tend to refrain from trying to adhere to reality and just straight making things up since it's a very metaphysical and loose setting.😅
What's going on in the Veneracy of Silverden? And what *is* a veneracy? It sounds theocracy-adjacent. Are their rulers venerated like saints?
The Veneracy is a theocracy, yeah, divided up into a bunch of regions called Cantons with monasteries as administrative centers. The big one on the map is their capital, a temple city also called Silverden. Venerate (vener-aht, not ate!) and the derived term Veneracy is just their word for priest.😅
They don't venerate their rulers but they do have saints, who in this context are people with extraordinary insight into the Order of the world. They revere their scholars and sages.
Ooh fun. Don't think I've ever publicly posted a map of Osian before. Big honkin' JPEG incoming...
What's the culture like on the eastern side? Are Ai and Shah Alam trade partners or anything like that? Do they share traditions?
Great Qs. Shah Alam (which I need to rename as it has some orientalist connotations) originated when the Empire of Rama was much larger, and became a place for refugees, dissidents, and various people-groups persecuted by the Empire. Partly as a result of a concerted campaign on their own part, 1/
and partly as a result of Orwellian imperial propaganda denying its existence, it eventually became regarded by outsiders as a myth, or at least as a formerly existing place that vanished long ago. (It's based loosely on real-world "Zomia," a contentious historical term for parts of 2/
SE Asia that have historically been difficult to govern.) Ai is much older, and similarly has mostly managed to exist outside direct imperial influence. The two tend to stick together culturally and economically as the southern portion of Ambina has been pretty thoroughly colonized. 3/
The eastern portion of the continent is v diverse, with a lot less of the interspecies tensions seen between Rama and Raylia. It's also the only part of the world whereWaterbearers (my version of tortles) are common, who carry a lot of culture across the sea to and from the southern continent. 4/4
No map :( BUT Silvered Plains Northern Plains Giant Territory Fiome Pashne Ilwyn Lands
Tell me about Fiome. Is that a city? What's the biggest building or landmark there?
It is an island! One of the POV characters, Vries, is from there (she doesn't like to talk about it) Its most notable features are its elaborate stonework architecture (they love them some arches and columns) and their absurdly sheer and rocky shorelines. Their coast is so inhospitable that /
Basically no one has ever tried to invade, so they've developed largely in isolation. Most sailors who travel to/from the island are islanders themselves. Also, it's pretty dang cold up there. Vries is pretty easy to pick out as an islander due to her stark blonde hair
Sounds like a gorgeous island, all stone arches and cold. It's giving good ol' fashioned dark fantasy vibes
Yeah it's inspo was Mediterranean cultures with a more Nordic climate/people. It's a super cool place to say that none of the story takes place there 😅 I have considered a Vries novella if I ever decide to expand this universe, so that would give us some time there
