Ostwyc, the Lion City (finished)

[Caenwyr]

Hi all! So here's my most recent map detailing part of my conworld. For a map of the entire region, check this one. Ostwyc, the city depicted here, can be found in the eastern half of that regional map--it is the capital of the Princedom of Cilydd. It was done in a style similar to my earlier Ganador map.

Ostwyc is a really old city, one of the first there ever were actually. Villages were still a new and exciting concept in most of the world when the first stone was laid for Ostwyc's first citadel (now ruined, see #59 on the map). This seed of the city was planted in a narrow valley overlooking the East Cilydd plains, an easily defensible position. The city gradually overgrew its walls and spread out along both sides of a long, narrow lake. The entrance to the valley is guarded by a large hill, more like a granite fist pushing up from the valley floor. A fortress was built on top and two walls were strung between either side of the valley and the walls of the fortress, with massive fortifications ensuring the safety of the city. Over the centuries, Ostwyc has built and maintained a whole network of guard towers in the surrounding country side, both in the plains and the mountains that surround it. Each is fitted with a very well equipped garrison, excellently trained and always at the ready. Because of all these precautions, Cilydd has never had its walls broken during all the centuries of its existence, and it is probably the only city of respectable age that can claim so.

Despite its forbidding appearance from the outside, Ostwyc is actually a very pleasant city to live in. Most houses are pastel coloured and have real glass windows, the streets are clean, beggars are few and most seem actually pretty well-fed. There are parks strewn throughout the city, statues of old heroes, libraries, museums and temples, and entertainment for all layers of society. Small ferries move across the lake continuously, and at night, the thousands of lights from the city and the bobbing lanterns of the ferries create a starscape with no equal on the glittering surface of the lake.



Like many of the maps where I am my own client (as opposed to commissions), I spent an absolutely crazy amount of time getting things just the way I like them. I mean, I spent 12 hours on the underlying terrain alone! If you want to follow the evolution of the map from sketch to finish, feel free to check out the WIP thread here.

[Falconius]

A fantastic job, the map looks great. Well done!

[Tonquani]

An absolutely marvellous creation Caenwyr. I have probably spent hours over the last few months zoomed in looking at all the little details! Well done!

[QED42]

Turned out really great, I loved following the WIP of this one!

[Voolf]

A beast is complete. Congratz finishing it. It was a long journay and it turned out excellent, though... i would probably hate to live is such a big city, i am more of a simple village guy

[ChickPea]

This is a pretty amazing map. You did a fantastic job and it looks great.

[bkh1914]

A fantastic map and the level of detail is amazing.
I really enjoyed following the WIP and seeing this map unfold.

[MistyBeee]

An insane amount of work, Caenwyr ! I love how the town is getting into the mountains.
I think I'll buy #103, close the inn and install some beehives in the backyard...

[J.Edward]

You did such a great job with this one Pieter
I love seeing the new things you get into.

Edit - drats, must spread rep. I'll be back
Done.

[Ilanthar]

Great map, with a lot of details, planning and efforts. An excellent work!