Regional map: a recently settled land

[Fabrice]

Here is my first completed map, realised with CC3. The symbols are from the Fantasy Overland symbol set from ProFantasy. The "Terra Incognita" legend was hand-calligraphed (original size: A4), scanned, and imported on the map after receiving a glow effect.

For more details, please refer to this thread: http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=4233

As for the backstory: a recently colonised continent, largely unexplored beyond the eastern montain ranges. The various settlements belong to different realms from beyond the sea, including a collection of keeps under the dominion of an independant knightly order (think: teutonic knights).

No explorer venturing beyond the montains was ever seen again and so would-be explorers are rare ; therefore the local lords try to keep the age of exploration alive by giving each sentenced convict the choice between execution or setting out to the unknown with a mission to seize lands and resources in the name of his liege.

The city of VilleFranche (FreeTown) may be independent from other realms, its inhabitants are actually prisoners in anything but name, having settled there as they lacked the courage to enter the Terrra Incognita, but unable to return to their homelands on pain of death. A bleak city whose economy is based on preying upon the never-ending flow of newcomers.