Assirra: The Land Of Hope

[jtougas]

Dalym Ler'rak found that he couldn't catch his breath. His ship and the six others of this expedition had spotted land. They had sailed for 3 months upon a rough and angry ocean to reach this place. He was the expedition leader and, although he would never had admitted it aloud he had begun to have doubts that they would reach their destination. The Queen had reluctantly agreed to finance the expedition in return for new lands to help ease the overcrowding in the Old Kingdom. Ler'rak was not at all concerned with any of the political reasons or of the queens lust for new lands to claim. He was only concerned with seeing a land that no other had ever seen. He stood on the deck of the Windsinger and peered out across the sea. He could just make out the shapes of mountains rising into the sky. He could see a blur of green that at this distance made up the shape of the new land. He would be the first to step foot on this new land, He would smell and hear and even taste it for the first time. He had even picked a name for it as soon as he saw it then only a light green blur on the horizon. He would name it Assira in the old language it meant "Land of Hope" and Dalym Ler'rak was filled with hope for the promise of this new land.....

Ever have one of those moments when you know you should be working on something else but you just need the distraction of doing something a little random? This is the result of that moment. I was experimenting with Wilbur last night and came up with a pretty neat height field. Of course once I had it I had to do SOMETHING with it. I dug around in my files and found Torq's awesome mountain tutorial and away I went. I tend to do these types of maps in a very "texture heavy" style. There are a lot of layers and layer styles and adjustment layers and what not to get to this point.(This was done in GIMP) I think it looks pretty good. I'll probably label it (at some point) and use arsheesh's great Map Border Tut to finish it off. As always feedback is requested and appreciated

untitled new land.jpg

[Bogie]

Excellent textures and colors

[arsheesh]

Looking very good so far. I immediately recognized the Torq influence too.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh

[damonjynx]

Awesome 'start'. It's very evocative. I can easily imagine, growing, thriving communities at some point built around the estuaries and the river.

Once the current inhabitants have been tamed of course...

[Ourea]

I really adore maps with saturated color. This one looks so lush and beautiful; the textures are amazing. The marshland? is amazing. I always love seeing how people manage to pull it off, because I sure can't. I think I might like to see a bit more detail out of the rivers, but all in all this map is gorgeous and I can't wait to see its completion.

[jtougas]

Dalym Ler'rak Stumbled through the hip high water and felt his feet hit sharp rock. he didn't mind the pain he only felt the exhilaration of stepping foot on Assina the land he had known was here. He had begged and gambled and risked all he had to come here to prove that it was real. To prove that there was something besides endless ocean beyond the borders of the Old Kingdom. He knelt in the shining sand of the shoreline and let the sun beam down upon him like the loving touch of the gods. He stood and whispered. "I name this land Assina, The Land of Hope and I claim it for no crown" He knew that his rebellion was going to be short lived. Already his assistant was stumbling ashore with the Queens banner which Ler'rak was supposed to shove into the sand and claim this land for her majesty. The thought disgusted him. How could someone claim anything this beautiful? This pure. The thought of the old queen and her sycophants turning this land into another resource sickened him. He knew there was little he could do about it but he was determined to enjoy the peace and purity for as long as he was able....

Excellent textures and colors

Thanks

Looking very good so far. I immediately recognized the Torq influence too.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh

Thanks my friend. Torq's mountains are the ones that I get the best most consistent results from

Awesome 'start'. It's very evocative. I can easily imagine, growing, thriving communities at some point built around the estuaries and the river.

Once the current inhabitants have been tamed of course...

Thanks. And of course....

I really adore maps with saturated color. This one looks so lush and beautiful; the textures are amazing. The marshland? is amazing. I always love seeing how people manage to pull it off, because I sure can't. I think I might like to see a bit more detail out of the rivers, but all in all this map is gorgeous and I can't wait to see its completion.

Thanks so much. It is really a matter of finding the right colors and textures to depict what you see. It's all just trial and error. Give it a try !!



Did a little more texture work to this as well as some lighting. I think I'm done with the physical construction of this. If I follow the timeline in my story blurb there won't be much labeling as this land is newly discovered.... Hmm something to think about...

Assira.jpg

[jtougas]

The construction of the camp was well under way. Dalym Ler'rak had commanded that no trees be felled. the men of the expedition looked at him as if he had spoke the words of the mad. To them perhaps he had. They had brought "Merhas" the strong and weather resistant tents of the nomads of their homeland. He allowed his men to gather wood fallen by natural means to build with and for fires. He would not allow them to spoil the pristine beauty and purity of this land. He knew there was nothing he could do once the expedition ended and the Queen began to send colonists here, but for now he could protect this land.....

Added a frame (or frames depending on how you look at it) and some text. I only added the one label but I am thinking of doing a "future" version of this with cities and towns. I think this is pretty much done and it was a fun little project. As always feedback is requested and appreciated

Assira 1.jpg

[priggs]

Oooo, gorgeous. And the frame takes it to a whole other level. I love the shimmering blue water. It contrasts beautifully with the browns and greens of the land.

[jtougas]

Oooo, gorgeous. And the frame takes it to a whole other level. I love the shimmering blue water. It contrasts beautifully with the browns and greens of the land.

Thank you very much.

[Nefari]

Beautiful palette choice.