Ice Cavern in Nilfæheim (commission)

[Gamerprinter]

This was one of two maps I did as a recent commission for Jason Sonia, author/publisher of the Rhune setting of Viking Stormpunk. While these two maps will eventually be published, they will initially be used in Jason's home game. This is the Temple of Isa, cut within a glacier, located on the Nordic outer plane, Nilfæheim. In the side chambers Runic circles of summoning in the orange glowing letters. In that chamber to the bottom center is the altar chamber with a Runic binding circle surrounding that glob of ice - frozen inside is a sleeping Frost Giant. When I asked about that giant, this is what Jason stated... "The giant in the adventure is actually a mythic level offspring of one of the Thrall Lords (evil giant gods). He was locked away by the Old Gods (Vanir meets Æssir) for being an ass. The PCs are trying to stop his evil lieutenant from awakening him".

As always, I sketch out the interior within Xara using vector lines to match the rough draft sent to me, which I print out in large format (22" x 48"). Then I throw on a sheet of transparent bond paper on top, and sketch all the linework by hand. I digitally scan this with my large format 36" wide roll-type color digital scanner (yeah, I'm spoiled). I import the TIF file, apply a Merge Layer transparency effect so all the white becomes transparent and all the black becomes 100% solid. I trace out the shapes of the walls and the interior details and great beveled shapes with drop shadow, which are placed below linework to imply changes in depth.

For the final I reduced the total image to 10 inches tall, and exported this as a layered 300 dpi, PSD file which the publisher required for final page layout.

Enjoy!

GP

[Steve Paluch]

very cool !

[Greg]

Nice layout and strong linework. You've really captured those icy tones well GamerPrinter, so even as the weather warms up, you're making me feel cold!