Massada

[Sapiento]

Map done for writer Monica Lee Kennedy. The novel is available here.

Done in PS

[- Max -]

I like it Especially the soft color scheme, well done.

[Chick]

I'm afraid I hate this map, beautiful as it is drawn, because the lack of an outlet for a lake of that size just screams WRONG at me. That one problem just ruins the map, because it's like a big blot, once you see it, you can't see anything else.

[Mateus090985]

Another beautifull map!

[Caenwyr]

I'm afraid I hate this map, beautiful as it is drawn, because the lack of an outlet for a lake of that size just screams WRONG at me. That one problem just ruins the map, because it's like a big blot, once you see it, you can't see anything else.

There ARE lakes that don't have an outlet. They're rare, but they do exist. These endorheic lakes (as they're called) can be found in arid regions, in case evaporation compensates the influx by rivers completely. If it doesn't, the valley will eventually fill up to the brim and flow over. There's also a type of pseudo-endorheic basin, where no overground river exits the lake, but where (part of) the water is evacuated underground. So it's possible this Lake Ziel is in fact (pseudo) endorheic, but only in an arid climate or in case of a massive natural tunnel system (enough to carry the combined discharge of all the rivers flowing into the lake).

What bothers me more is the fact that *not a single river* flows into the sea - assuming that's what the blue blot on the left side of the map is.

And then there's the rivers Branio / Pearia, the real monster(s) in this map. Are they two rivers (one having its source in Conch, the other being the outflux of Lake Ziel, which in this case ISN'T an endorheic basin), both flowing into "Salt Lake" (which in this case IS endorheic)? Or is it in fact one river that passes through Salt Lake and flows INTO Lake Ziel? That would make more sense, since the latter is a more likely candidate to be an endorheic lake. But what about the course of that river! How many rivers do you know that basically make a 360° circle before meeting their mouth? That's just... weird!

Maybe there's an in-story explanation, I don't know, but I'm not a big fan of the rivers.

On the bright side, I like the subdued tones of this map, the mountains look great and the labels are nicely done. Mixed review!

[J.Edward]

I could be wrong but I think Perideta is a glaciar... ?
Maybe there is some story to all this. I'm sure it's the author's idea and not Sap's.
Many authors do have some rather strange ideas behind their story worlds and geography.

[Sapiento]

Thank you all!
The blue on the left side is an ice desert, I putted it on a slight elevation.
As Caenwyr said, lakes without outlets are not impossible. As for the rest - may be implausible or not, but not impossible. The map follows the sketch of the client and I'm sure she had good reasons for it.

[Sapiento]

....Many authors do have some rather strange ideas behind their story worlds and geography.

Quite true.

[arsheesh]

Nice work. The mountains look great.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh

[Chick]

Thank you all!
The blue on the left side is an ice desert, I putted it on a slight elevation.
As Caenwyr said, lakes without outlets are not impossible. As for the rest - may be implausible or not, but not impossible. The map follows the sketch of the client and I'm sure she had good reasons for it.

What Caenwyr said is true, endorheic lakes exist, but ONLY in desert and very arid regions. This map doesn't look like a big desert to me.