Cool map Mongoose. I like the layout and the fact you only used a couple of different symbols (and didn't go overboard). Also, nice backstory.

Here are some suggestions:
- place some single trees near the forest to suggest the forest is thinning there (and encroaching).
- change the black border of the lake to the green border of the land/sea.
- add an effect to some of the symbols, like the cities. A glow for example. You might also want to place a little grey or brown contour below each city.
- Northen territories it says on your map: spelling error?
- Smoothen the border between the green lands and desert a bit. Oh, and in the player handout the difference between sea and desert is lost I think.

I am interested to see any more maps you might do.