Xurmaks Nest

[Absinth]

Okay, since I'm asking lots of questions in the tutorial threads, I'd like to show you one of the maps I've done using all the great techniques and tricks I learned while reading the boards.

This one was done using GIMP. One of the goals of this map was to make it look more realistic than my earlier maps (which can be viewed in my gallery) while keeping the hand drawn outlines. Well, I'm quite pleased with it, when comparing it to my initial goal. I'm sorry that I didn't open up a WIP thread, but believe me, it's better this way... I guess reading about my weird trial and error ways of juggeling layers, masks and far, far stranger things would rob you off your sanity. No saving throw.
If I manage to develop some kind of routine in designing maps and finally get a glimpse of what I am actually doing there, I might be able to write it up.
On the other hand, there are far more superior mappers on here, but if there are any questions on how I did certain things, I'll answer as best as I can.

Am I pleased with it? Well, it seems to be a step in the right direction I guess. Alas, the sea doesn't look like sea. It could drift in space and it wouldn't look any different. How could this be improved?

So, the second and more disturbing question: What is this thing? It looks colourful, but what the hell is this thing the strange german guy uploaded and is rambling about?
Is it some kind of beaver's lodge? Ahem, yes, it is...
But in this case, the lodge isn't made out of chopped off trees, but of real saling ships, that were collected by a mad god of the deep seas over eons...
That's the beaver, if you'd like to see it this way.
This is the place where missing ships go in the world our games take place in. It's the center of a bermuda triangle-like region ruled by said mad god and his equally mad minions.
The whole structure is huge. It is several hundred feet high and the countless ship wrecks are merged together in a way, that creates a mad, M.C. Escher-like dungeon filled with hungry aquatic things and secrets better left forgotten. A terrible, insane god is hiding there and it will be better to not cross its path on the quest for a certain scientist that set sail to this forsaken place long ago. A certain undead scientist...