Voyagers and Kings - map of Thallica

[MummaCandy]

I originally wanted to post this as part of a blog-series, but I still haven't been able to post 5 threads. Anyways, the bother is only slight (damned spammers) and I still get to share my work with the community.

This map is the first in a series of 5 and all combined maps will (eventually) chart the entire continent of Orphalian. Want to know more? Read here!



The map is not entirely complete (yet), I find the lack of detail slightly bothering but I haven't been able to come up with something to my taste as of yet. However, I will update the thread as soon as I finish the map 100%.

And I might also add that the map is copyrighted... Don't know if that goes to say, I am new to the Cartographers Guild and I'm enjoying it thoroughly!

Thallica Map 1. V & K.png


Orphalia was once a seafaring nation, who turned to the mining the minerals of the earth, fueling a thirst for industry that has altered the landscape in the South beyond all recognition. In the Province of Phaellica, the once glorious city of Coranon is long forgotten, replaced by the black industrial city called New Mondian, the iron-clad centre of a vast industrial nation where the people live a life of the serf to the industrial machinery of the Counsel, an impenetrable secret elite society of rulers led by the mysterious Loremaster who no one has ever seen.

The rulers have developed a hegemony stemming from the will and knowledge of The Archait, the lawmaker. In Coranonian society there is only one Archait who is unknown, hidden from the public eye, and his or her will is enforced through the various offices of The Counsel of Archaitian Lore.

In the working townships, democracy doesn’t exist. Society continues a kind of Feudalism where the Lords, or Masters as they are called, are an educated elite, a ‘system’ that keeps nations productive and peaceful, but at what price? Commerce is reduced to Counsel-run factories, people working according to the schedules made by the Maistors, put into practice by the corrupt Enforcers who are known locally as the Bludgermen, intimidating people to make an independent living of the Counsel, a practice the Counsel unofficially encourages.

[Jayharchitect]

I really like the crispness and the tone. I kind of really like that it is "incomplete" it feels like it is a drawn map that someone would have on their table plotting out a great campaign.

One thing that jumped out to me, the way the District border is shaded, almost makes it look like it is the edge of an ocean or lake... like the District is lower than the areas around it.

[MummaCandy]

Thank you Jayharchitect, I wanted it to look not fantasy and not victorian, but something in between.

[Francissimo]

Very nice style, lovely fonts and soft colors, the form in the sea fits really well with the map too!

[Ilanthar]

Very nice map with a consistent style. I would just add a border to the districts and maybe lower the shade or bevel of the prefecture's border.

[snodsy]

Really nice map, not sure if you need to underline New Mondain, since it's already a larger font. Really nice use of font and size here.

[Son_of_Orion]

I've always been a sucker for the whole old-timey sepia parchment look. This map mixes brilliantly with that!

[Robulous]

Great looking map! I'll echo what Snodsy says, the underlining on what I assume is the capital city is a bit jarring. In fact that bold font for your city labels looks rather too modern and out of keeping with the cursive font for your regions.

Also "Capitol Company" is crashing over its dot