June 2018 Challenge: The Cliff of Medölinn

[aeshnidae]

I have much respect for your world building, it's very impressive! I love the idea of a ribbon map. I'm sure however the map guides you, the end result will be beautiful!

[MistyBeee]

Ultra quick post before the end of the weekend... I just can't believe how fast those last days passed !

You can add me to the list of the guilders who want to know more about your world.
And of course, this is already great !

Thanks a lot Ilanthar ! No doubt with time you'll see more maps from my world, and maybe I'll share a little about it if I feel brave enough

I have much respect for your world building, it's very impressive! I love the idea of a ribbon map. I'm sure however the map guides you, the end result will be beautiful!

thank you Aeshnidae ! I started building my world 18 years ago now with the guy who became my husband later on the road, probably... partly because of our common world, because it was such an adventure !
The ribbon maps are a curiosity from England that I saw once in a documentary and stayed in my mind for years. And... we'll see if the map is good at the end. In any case, you know I'll do my best ^^'

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But... are we really the 24th already ? I feel it will be a dense week...
So, some progress here ! I think I'm done with the background : I don't want much details than that, except maybe a sliiiight shading later
Added some shadows & details to the "cuts", hoping they're understandable, and drew a title box. It will be fun to fulfill it with this shape...
And obviously, tiny details here and there, because it's always a tiny details affair !

### Latest WIP ###
FalaiseDeMusä_WIP03_by_MistyBeee.jpg

Now it's time to decide if I go to the labels and other in-map things, or if I start the border and ornaments or if I go for the labels and pictograms... Any preference, guys ?

[aeshnidae]

I vote labels and pictograms! I love how this is coming together.

I'll have to do some reading up on ribbon maps. Apparently they existed in the US, mostly for the Mississippi River and a few other major rivers, but have basically disappeared. The US Library of Congress only has one (also available elsewhere as a reprint), and the LOC usually has everything.

[MistyBeee]

Oh, yes, I saw a Mississipi ribbon map somewhere on the Internet a while ago when I was searching for reference about a map I drew for a county there. This one was quite fun : a "real" paper ribbon (not a "drawn" one), that could be rolled in a small cylinder

So here is the map with some big additions (spent a lonnnnng evening and a few more on it...), including the labels and pictograms

The labels and title caused an unexpected concern... As you know, this map is a part of my personal fantasy world and I was reluctant to make it in English because most of the names are difficult to translate and I hate the idea to put mistakes on this map (I'm very picky in French for spelling and grammar ^^), but I'm not fond of the idea of putting a map in French since most of you don't speak it so... I made the (weird) choice to make the map impossible to understand for both English and French speaking persons ^^.
The alphabet used is the mylean and the langage is a primitive version of oneirian that is still used in Thard. The mylean is an old thardian alphabet coming from antique magical writing. So the title in English should be something like "A map of the main and most magical Pictograms from the Cliff of Medölinn between the Kingdom of Thard and the Principality of Musä", and the last line, "Beee-Alaconten" means, of course, "Beee cartographer" as usual
The letters in mylean often have a slight magical irradiance, meaning it's possible to read them even in the dark or if you're blind, if you're accustomed to feel the magic with your fingers. That's partly why the thardian devlelopped an art and taste for flourishes : by distorting the letters, the words are less magical, so less dangerous (they were fed up with constant fires caused by the word "fire" written in mylean with a too big accuracy : the magic comes into the ink, so into the paper and whooosh, fire. Bad experience, and tons of knowlege lost, unfortunately, but Thard is never lucky).
The pictograms on the little flags on the map are simplified versions of the real pictograms (for the same reason than above : always dangerous to write them, and here especially because we don't remember the signification of most of the symbols), but sufficient to guide you if you want to experiment the popular visit to the cliff (inescapable if you travel in Musä). If you're brave enough, you can also climb one of the rare stairs and contemplate the cursed black desert of thard, but please be careful and never put your foot on the last step !
Now... the map turned in something pretty experimental, so I had fun with the compass which are pretty unusual : I needed a square to balance the flags, and compass to make the cliff "cuts" more understandable.
What else... hmm... The coat of arms ? The left one represents the pictogram of the old and main royal family (it's not a common symbol on Thard to be honest, since an usurper is on the throne, but I'm a staunch supporter of the old lineage), the right one represent a common resource in Musä : the musän crystal. It's a pretty common crystal that forms quickly but is really fragile. You can mill it to produce a brilliant dust appreciated by bards : when put in the fire, it colors it, which is a good effect when telling a story
Well, well... it sounds I'm becoming talkative about the world now I work on it every day, so ask if you want some details

### Latest WIP ###
FalaiseDeMusä_WIP04_by_MistyBeee.jpg

[Weery]

Really impressive levels of detail in your world building project Beee. I appreciate the insight and was marveling at the ingenious compass use before I read your explanation. Love the pictograms as well. And the script, too.

Just a really great job all round

[Adfor]

Good lord Misty, I don't think any of us stand a chance with your unbridled imagination! This whole idea is masterfully creative, and you may just have my vote.

[LizardInk]

Honestly I don't know how you do it!! Everything about this is stunning; I had not even heard of ribbon maps till now. I particularly love your script, which is lovely and unique. The map is overall an ingenious mind-bender, for sure!

[kacey]

It looks great MistyBee, I have no idea what any of it means but it just looks so neat that I couldn't stop staring at it. And I have to apologize I only just noticed you're earlier response now and the world map is phenomenal I really love the style... I hope we will get to see more from this world in the future.

[MistyBeee]

Really impressive levels of detail in your world building project Beee. I appreciate the insight and was marveling at the ingenious compass use before I read your explanation. Love the pictograms as well. And the script, too.
Just a really great job all round

Aww, thanks Weery ! I'm especially glad you mentioned the compass, as they were pretty expeimental, so I'm happy to read the idea works

Good lord Misty, I don't think any of us stand a chance with your unbridled imagination! This whole idea is masterfully creative, and you may just have my vote.

Thanks a lot, Adfor ! I'm afraid my imagination often caused a lot of troubles, especially in my childhood, so I'm happy I can use it better now !

Honestly I don't know how you do it!! Everything about this is stunning; I had not even heard of ribbon maps till now. I particularly love your script, which is lovely and unique. The map is overall an ingenious mind-bender, for sure!

Hehe, thank you Lizard ! I'm glad if I learned you something with the ribbon maps ! ^^

It looks great MistyBee, I have no idea what any of it means but it just looks so neat that I couldn't stop staring at it. And I have to apologize I only just noticed you're earlier response now and the world map is phenomenal I really love the style... I hope we will get to see more from this world in the future.

I'm pretty sure the occasion will happen again to draw something for this world, and to be honest it was a huge pleasure for me to be able to work on it : I definitely don't have enough hours in a day !
Anyway, thanks for the kind words ! I hope you'll love the final version too

[MistyBeee]

Already time for the final version ! I'm really sorry for the lack of WIP posts this time, but I worked on the map with a few big working sessions and my process was really messy this time, so probably not useful for anyone : it sounds I'm more strucutred when I work for a commission than for my own purpose !

New additions are mostly the ornamental borders.
The top corner focuses on Thard : one of the local lore tells the country was created by the snake Muldö, father of the dragons, so I had some fun to draw the sons of Muldö there, playing with the other items. The crown obviously refers to the throne battle between the current queen usurper and the old lineage, while the knife is a famous weapon and the object of some dark tales you can listen from the locals. Let me just tell you if you see a guy with this knife in his belt, it's maybe a good idea to be polite and friendly.
The bottom corner is about Musä, country of the bards, showing a lute and the common crystal you can found there. The flowers mainly reminds it's a fertile country, and I let you guess why I added a bee...
A few minor illustrations too : a traditional thardian ship (just because I love drawing ships ^^) and a beetle. The beetles are extremely common on the cliff, and because of the magic you can often find some of them showing a pictogram on their wings. This one shows the pictogram "imme", which means "door" : a pretty innocent one
And... well... added minor details too : some light, some fun with hatches... You know... Just expressing my usual horror vacui...

So I really hope you'll enjoy the final version, guys !

### Latest WIP ###
FalaiseDeMusä_by_MistyBeee.jpg