Dearest friend
Today I send you a copy of this interesting piece. It was found in one of the vaults on the south side of the valley, but a first glance makes me think it's a bit older... most likely hanging on some nobles wall for several years. This depiction of our home seems to have been based on older maps from that semi stable period, somewhere between the empire and the invasion of the elders (Remember last spring; your talk at the conference?). Or maybe before that, when they stopped using the empire roads.
No matter the exact period, it obviously must have been made in the central plains, and I still think that is where the empire originated, and not at Eienkami as you stubbornly proclaim every time we meet. And yes I do see that the eternal city is as always larger and shifted to be closer to the centre of the landmass, just as on all maps. I still have the usual reservations. These depictions are never contemporary, and you know damn well that there's never been any archeological evidence from before the invasion on this silly claim of yours and those other centralistic fools.
Anyway, what I found most interesting is the distinction of empire vs the rest of the world, look closely at the Cities! As usually the Western seafarers are lumped together, and large cities and communities are simply omitted, whereas the northern parts are mostly matching our current views of the period (I like the completely different barbarians of the isles in the west and the northern peninsular riders being lumped together tho, a clear sign of a time where the empire remnants didn't fight each other, and had time to worry about external incursions).
But look at the northern parts of the Oshanis (just south of the Folly). They are actually noted as being empire cities! Remember how our old Professor would insist on those two? This is the first record of those cities once possibly belonging to the empire, and maybe with this evidence we can convince the council of a permit, and possibly even an allowance! (One can dream...)
As a side note this map also shows the Free cities and the Tibflovians belonging to the same culture. Obviously we need to be careful with southern descriptions on a map stemming from one the successor states (as you see, prominently that oh so 'mystical' Edaicien / Appoter story again), but I think this might also help your agitating 'colleague' from the isles with his quest for connections between those two (especially that road on the southern tip).
Sincerely, your old school accomplice
Asimten