HOME | DD

Description

This is another map from my TRPG games. This is probably the most intricate and complex map I’ve done as I brought the subject matter to a small, detailed island and tried to give a level of depth to the map to show the different terrain and various buildings. Sadly, my group left the island before I could finish it, so they always got to see it in various levels of inking. Since I had some time over the holidays without my normal digital art setup, I decided to finally finish it. As with all my maps they are done by hand with pens and ink.

Ildor
Geography
The isle of Ildor has a highly complex geography. The small island is dominated by a massive tree which sits on the eastern side surrounded by the ruins of some great city. This tree continuously glows golden light causing the island to be visible for miles around and also causing the island itself to be bathed continuously in pseudo sunlight. Plants grow large on the island and most of it is dominated by dense thick jungles.

The island itself is surrounded by massive cliffs with no natural harbors. Instead, the only harbor lies within the center of the island. A complex set of large caves connect the sea outside to the center. These caves are large enough for ships to pass through though the passage is still dangerous to any but the most experienced crews.

History
The early history of Ildor has been completely lost. Only the massive ruins that dot the landscape offer any indication of who once lived upon the island. These great round towers each plastered white and tipped with circular domes of aquamarine rock and a spire of gold dot the island. The manner of their construction has been completely lost to time as they are near indestructible and show no signs of wear either inside or out despite having existed for thousands of years. At the base of the great tree lies the ruins of a great city. Some of which has now fallen into the sea, but for the most part is also still intact. The ruins are dangerous though and are filled with minor demons. If the demons were the downfall of the old civilization or just moved in later has been lost to time.

Many years later the island was rediscovered by the Crusade of the Knot. The crusaders pushed most of the demons out of the land and established the island as a travel point as they spread across the world of Almein. Over time though their influence waned and now only a single abbey still exists from those times.

In recent years the island was rediscovered and repopulated by pirates. Many shapeshifters, having been driven to the fringes of society after the Great Shapeshifter War have turned to criminal behavior including piracy. The difficulty of entering the island as well as its natural resources have made it a perfect location as the home of piracy on the world of Almein.

Locations
Olðistin
Olðistin is the most populated place on the island. The town was founded by Olðis Cherk, a werelion and a pirate, who wished to settle down after a particularly brutal failed raid decimated his crew. The town is now run by his son who is more interested in having a stable place for shapeshifters to live than having a complete lawless pirate haven. Still, its start as the former has veins that run deep, and the town tries to straddle the lawless pirates and trying to keep a stable society.

Nerþit
Nerþit is the last remaining settlement from the days of the Crusade of the Knot. This small abbey is still run by the descendants of the original crusaders who settled upon the island. They along with the pirates have a truce and trade quite a bit of resources. The abbey is also the primary brewer of ale upon the island and supply the pirates with a large supply of it.

Serþir
Serþir is home to the remains of a southern abbey. It isn’t known exactly why the southern abbey disappeared. It is said that one day just everyone was dead. The place is now thought to be cursed and has been abandoned.

Meþel
The valley of Meþel is generally not entered by the islanders unless they really must. The misty valley and surrounding mountains have become the home to a mighty dragon who isn’t very fond of visitors and is quick to show anyone who enters how much he is displeased by their intrusion.

Gorþin

The peoples of Gorþin are an odd bunch. Their settlement is quite recent, and it is said they have carved deep into the island to create a network of tunnels to reach their settlement on a rocky shelf below the main island. They tend to not like visitors and the most contact anyone ever has with them is when they come up to Olðistin to trade supplies every few weeks. Rumor has it that they are a cult performing dark rituals, but no one has the courage to check if the rumors are true.

Smeðæc
There isn’t much left at Smeðæc except a few dilapidated buildings. At some point a bunch of dwarves tried settling down in those heights, but now only one is left: a crusty old master blacksmith who spends his days living in solitude. Every once in a while, someone goes up there to bring him supplies in hopes that he will craft something for them. Most end their journey in disappointment, but occasionally he gains the spark of inspiration to make something amazing.

Sheshels Kom
Sheshel is a great minotaur who came to the island for the goal of hunting the great beasts that stalk the jungle as trophies. What they found is that the demons that inhabit the ruins made for much more interesting game. He and his hunters established a small camp on the southeastern side of the island after those in Olðistin were worried that they would cause the demons to leave the ruins and ransack the town.

Kiðers Kæp
No one knows what really happens in Kiðers Kæp. It is said that people have heard screams of horror in the night emanating from the ancient tower that Kiðer, a gnome, and his assistant, Liss, a sphinx, have chosen to make home.

Description

This is another map from my TRPG games. This is probably the most intricate and complex map I’ve done as I brought the subject matter to a small, detailed island and tried to give a level of depth to the map to show the different terrain and various buildings. Sadly, my group left the island before I could finish it, so they always got to see it in various levels of inking. Since I had some time over the holidays without my normal digital art setup, I decided to finally finish it. As with all my maps they are done by hand with pens and ink.

Ildor
Geography
The isle of Ildor has a highly complex geography. The small island is dominated by a massive tree which sits on the eastern side surrounded by the ruins of some great city. This tree continuously glows golden light causing the island to be visible for miles around and also causing the island itself to be bathed continuously in pseudo sunlight. Plants grow large on the island and most of it is dominated by dense thick jungles.

The island itself is surrounded by massive cliffs with no natural harbors. Instead, the only harbor lies within the center of the island. A complex set of large caves connect the sea outside to the center. These caves are large enough for ships to pass through though the passage is still dangerous to any but the most experienced crews.

History
The early history of Ildor has been completely lost. Only the massive ruins that dot the landscape offer any indication of who once lived upon the island. These great round towers each plastered white and tipped with circular domes of aquamarine rock and a spire of gold dot the island. The manner of their construction has been completely lost to time as they are near indestructible and show no signs of wear either inside or out despite having existed for thousands of years. At the base of the great tree lies the ruins of a great city. Some of which has now fallen into the sea, but for the most part is also still intact. The ruins are dangerous though and are filled with minor demons. If the demons were the downfall of the old civilization or just moved in later has been lost to time.

Many years later the island was rediscovered by the Crusade of the Knot. The crusaders pushed most of the demons out of the land and established the island as a travel point as they spread across the world of Almein. Over time though their influence waned and now only a single abbey still exists from those times.

In recent years the island was rediscovered and repopulated by pirates. Many shapeshifters, having been driven to the fringes of society after the Great Shapeshifter War have turned to criminal behavior including piracy. The difficulty of entering the island as well as its natural resources have made it a perfect location as the home of piracy on the world of Almein.

Locations
Olðistin
Olðistin is the most populated place on the island. The town was founded by Olðis Cherk, a werelion and a pirate, who wished to settle down after a particularly brutal failed raid decimated his crew. The town is now run by his son who is more interested in having a stable place for shapeshifters to live than having a complete lawless pirate haven. Still, its start as the former has veins that run deep, and the town tries to straddle the lawless pirates and trying to keep a stable society.

Nerþit
Nerþit is the last remaining settlement from the days of the Crusade of the Knot. This small abbey is still run by the descendants of the original crusaders who settled upon the island. They along with the pirates have a truce and trade quite a bit of resources. The abbey is also the primary brewer of ale upon the island and supply the pirates with a large supply of it.

Serþir
Serþir is home to the remains of a southern abbey. It isn’t known exactly why the southern abbey disappeared. It is said that one day just everyone was dead. The place is now thought to be cursed and has been abandoned.

Meþel
The valley of Meþel is generally not entered by the islanders unless they really must. The misty valley and surrounding mountains have become the home to a mighty dragon who isn’t very fond of visitors and is quick to show anyone who enters how much he is displeased by their intrusion.

Gorþin

The peoples of Gorþin are an odd bunch. Their settlement is quite recent, and it is said they have carved deep into the island to create a network of tunnels to reach their settlement on a rocky shelf below the main island. They tend to not like visitors and the most contact anyone ever has with them is when they come up to Olðistin to trade supplies every few weeks. Rumor has it that they are a cult performing dark rituals, but no one has the courage to check if the rumors are true.

Smeðæc
There isn’t much left at Smeðæc except a few dilapidated buildings. At some point a bunch of dwarves tried settling down in those heights, but now only one is left: a crusty old master blacksmith who spends his days living in solitude. Every once in a while, someone goes up there to bring him supplies in hopes that he will craft something for them. Most end their journey in disappointment, but occasionally he gains the spark of inspiration to make something amazing.

Sheshels Kom
Sheshel is a great minotaur who came to the island for the goal of hunting the great beasts that stalk the jungle as trophies. What they found is that the demons that inhabit the ruins made for much more interesting game. He and his hunters established a small camp on the southeastern side of the island after those in Olðistin were worried that they would cause the demons to leave the ruins and ransack the town.

Kiðers Kæp
No one knows what really happens in Kiðers Kæp. It is said that people have heard screams of horror in the night emanating from the ancient tower that Kiðer, a gnome, and his assistant, Liss, a sphinx, have chosen to make home.