Mapping Tirgelan

[Rochnan]

So here's a little story about being overly ambitious:

Quite some time ago I had an idea for a one-shot Dungeons and Dragons campaign. It was all about a city which had come under siege.
So I started with a general story I wanted to tell. Then it needed characters, so I made some. And then I drew a small map sketch to get an idea for what would happen where. Then some more characters popped up. Then some history behind the city. Some more characters. Street names. Shops. Shopkeepers. Alleyways. Caves. Houses. Their gardens. A guild. A second guild...this was getting out of hand.

But not out of hand enough.

Why not make a full map for the city? Okay.
But what would be the history behind it? That would inform the design, make it more grounded, and also make for a neat second map I could make!
Oooh, but what if we go back in time one more step? Three times the groundedness and history. Yeah!
Okay, okay, okay. But what if we go back even further?
How much further?
How about iron age far?
Heck yes!

...

So here I am. And here is the first in a line of hopefully many, many maps:

Tirgelan - The Story Circle web.jpg

Somewhere on the continent of Tirgelan lies the Broken Mountain.
Once a year druids, wizards and other scholars of magic make a pilgrimage to the stone circle to exchange stories, learn and experiment in the ways of magic. It's all centered around the eight stone monoliths, each larger than life and towering over everything nearby. They're studied, memorised, written down and recited. And at the end of the day beds are set up in the nearby caves where the stones are dreamed about.
It's a week long festival, a celebration of the wondrous, and everyone leaves wiser for it.

But some drunken bugger started writing his own magical theories on the cavern walls.

[Arimel]

This looks like a great start! I can't wait to see the rest of the progression!

[ChickPea]

Haha, you've certainly got a project on your hands!!

This looks great, I love the colours, and I love the whole concept of the druid festival.

Patiently waiting for more....!

[Rochnan]

Arimel, thank you very much And here's the next phase: the first actual buildings!

Haha ChickPea, I certainly do!

Tirgelan - The Building Site web.jpg

This is little farther down the mountain from the previous map, and a few years later time-wise.

The yearly festival the wizards and druids held at the Story Circle has gotten bigger and bigger. Previously, there was enough room in the caves for everyone to sleep, but a new tradition has formed: engraving the walls with the latest spells and findings to pass them on to new generations.
Of course, sleeping in the noise is no good, so it was decided to pool some gold and build lodgings.

And so, the first buildings of the city were build.

[kacey]

This is so awesome! I love the style and the way you do the water is just stunning, great job... I’m excited to see what else you can come up with.

[Bogie]

Very cool style, well done!!

[Arimel]

I like how the buildings are mid-construction in this one. Helps to show how it is evolving over time, not just a finished product.

[Rochnan]

This is so awesome! I love the style and the way you do the water is just stunning, great job... I’m excited to see what else you can come up with.

Thanks Kacey! The style is something subtly evolving as I'm still new to it (I'm currently stuck trying to find a way to draw cattail in this style.) I'm really glad you like it, as that means I'm doing things right

Very cool style, well done!!

Thank you Bogie!

I like how the buildings are mid-construction in this one. Helps to show how it is evolving over time, not just a finished product.

Arimel, that's good to hear! I was a little afraid that it'd look silly.

[Kellerica]

I've already stated how much I love this style of yours, and it works wonders here too. Something that makes me want to come back to it again and again. Not sure if I can rep you, but I'll try.

Edit: Nope, out of rep - I'll be back.

[Weery]

Wow! What a great map and fantastic, original style!