September 2007 Entry: The Glass Journal

[Amonite]

"The few maps I have found of the Glass Ocean leave much to be desired. While preparing for my journey, which shall officially begin at Lemis Keep, I have purchased several of the cheaper maps one can get from any trader. All promise riches if one only follows their ‘real’ treasure map. The map I have copied here purports to show two routes, via land and sea, to the best lightning grounds. It also shows the fabled Shale-Table Key, which I am convinced must exist. I am also convinced that anyone following such a shoddy excuse for a map will likely meet with an untimely end."



Note: The typed text may not always match the journal tex, due to limited space in the journal and accidental typos on the computer.

[ravells]

Seriously beautiful idea and execution!

Superb!

Ravs

[Ishmayl]

This is awesome! I can't wait to see more.

[Amonite]

DAY 4
I arrived at Lemis Keep ahead of schedule, so have taken the opportunity to scout the area while my airship takes on fresh supplies. Lemis is an inspiring place, much of it built from the crimson stones common to the region. Surprisingly, Lemis Keep itself is white. It was made not of rock from the blood cliffs, but from white stone hauled in from Copperhead and the knucklebones. More intriguing, however, is the famed glass cathedral of Lemis Keep. It was built centuries ago during the Lawless Age, and the Keep was later built around it. How so much desert Glass was amassed remains a mystery, but standing inside the rose tinted cathedral lends itself to a beautiful inner peace and tranquility.


NOTE: Drawing maps on the computer is far harder than by hand! But I do like how this one turned out Since the glass ocean sand is pink (well, fingernail pink) I figured there was room for some strange geology in the area. So I put lots and lots of reddish, somewhat crystalline stone in the Lemis region. And, since the cliffs are blood red, I added in a reflection onto the sea. So sailors in the area braving the trecherous rocky shoreline would call it the Blood Sea, both due to the danger and to its wine-like color. In contrast to the red walls and towers of the area, Lemis Keep itself is white. Sand would be imported from the edges of the glass desert to fill the arena, but its magically properties quickly leech out once away from the Glass Ocean. (Otherwise, I assume people would just collect the sand and make glass elsewhere)

And, because I spent forever on this map and its hard to see in the journal page, I will post a bigger version here...

[Venardhi]

My only complaints would be the illegible diary entries, and the consistency between drawings. The first and last particiularly don't look much like they belong in a traveller's diary. For something like this I would lean towards minimalism. What tools would this man have at his disposal, what style of map or illustration would he make? A little color is good, but that latest one looks like exactly what it is, a digital painting.

Good stuff though, don't take me too harshly, I'm just a negative nancy and a perfectionist. . . which is why I never finish stuff.

[Amonite]

I figure she has her paint kit with her - I would. I was thinking of going with hand doing the labels on the map, but I rather like being able to read labels. And I would assume, being a cartographer, that her handwriting on at least maps would be much finer. I was going to just zoom in on the pictures, and only leave a little of the journal text visable for entries, but I forgot about that this time. In the future, I probably will, and then just type the journal entry. Because yah, its really hard to handwrite text in Photoshop Elements. If I had time, I would finish up the pictures in Project Dogwaffle, which is my paint program of choice. But, if I actually want to finish the journal, I need to save time *pout* I forgot to put in my compass and directions scale on the last one too...*fret*

Anyways, as far as the color ones go, I will likely put in an entry explaining the actual process of her map making later. What I had in mind was the world being a blend of science and magic, was that she could create the map elsewhere and then magically 'imprint' the map onto her journal page. (It would be the same process for other images, such as the first painting of the glass ocean) I will probably start doing some actual hand maps as the journal continues, because its easier and the result is prettier - but I am half doing this project to get used to my pen tablet ^.^ I do want to do at least one actual ink map on parchment though, so that one at least should be more realistic

[ravells]

The evolving story of it has me utterly hooked. This is the best WIP I've ever seen, because it's a story and a wip worked into one.

ravs