The Known World of Mahdran
FarsightX3
Traveler
Enter the known world of Mahdran, the first map of my MMORPG game world. It's actually a revamp of an older version I did last year. I redid the north, made some edits on the south. I believe this is my true final rendering of the map. I am hopeful folks will understand this is not a traditional map as it highlights each zone in the game world, thus rendering it 'patchy'. I hope I have conveyed a realistic world with a blend of fantasy for adventures from all reaches to explore.
*I just realized I wrote a crap load of lore, if one does read this, I really appreciate it, if not, I understand! At least comment on the map
-LORE SYNOPSES-
The Age of Dominance was an infinite time of warfare, discord and affliction. During the apex of this age, Faragon Seserax conquered the four Kingdoms and claimed himself as the Empire King of the Realm. Faragon extinguished seven prominent noble houses during his reign. House Thane met their fate when the Seseraxian armies sieged the acclaimed Rhothane, the impenetrable castle on top of the highest bluff of the Iron Key. In the thick of Faragon’s reign, birthed The Crusades against Faragon’s authority. Twelve Lords, Great and Banner and Knightly had a clandestine operation to overthrow and extinguish the line of Seserax to eradicate his strangle on the realm.
These twelve Lords included House Wyk, Exard, Penagan, Vaulk, Dane, Warrick, Nimberal (Elven), Omber, Fontane, Vostrum, Ironwind and Raynehart. They all trekked hastily and carefully through the wilderness to reach their destination as they had to relinquish their royal garb and flags. Tristane Wyk a righteous man of the Divine believed his purpose was to assemble these Lords. Tristane gathered each Houses sigil and melted it down into one mold of metal and called it the Knightstone. (What the game will be called).
Faithful and confident, Tristane spoke a prayer about their sacrifice to humble themselves and their will to forfeit their wealth and stature to save the realm. A crystallized light pierced the stone from the heavens and an audible voice spoke, “thy will be done” and the Knightstone began to have a transparent crystallized hue around and inside the metal. During the cold winter night in 501 Age of Dominance, the Knights of the Divin’rah was birthed out of faith to the Divine to end Faragon Seserax. The Crusades lasted for 200 years and found victory at the hand of Hemnar of House Wyk.
This is the official map of the known world of Mahdran, after the 700 years of the Age of Dominance. Cartography by High Sage, Jachus Dane. Today, in the Age of Tranquility the Knights of the Divin'rah are the prestigious heroes that guard the realm from ever experience total dominion of evil. While House Seserax gained control of the realm, a shadowy faction called the Shar has been conspiring between the shadows, integrating themselves in every facet of the realm. For they do not fight with blade but with schemes and demonic power. A man of devout mercy and great honor, Seridan Wyk, grandsom of Hemnar Wyk now leads the Knights of the Divin'rah against Vainspire's Cabal, the faction known as the Shar and are ready blot them from history.
-PLAYABLE RACES-
Man - Men have the greatest number in the realm. Men are considered to have royal blood due for being first in creation. Thus, their power of ruling lands. They control most of the castles and cities. In the dawn of time, Man would dwell in the Caelum, a perfect garden where three rivers met until a whisper from the deceiver, Vainspire, told them they can become like the Divine and all they have to do is wander beyond the Caelum. Ever since, Man has been in endless strife because of the inner war they face within themselves. For Man, life isn't black or white, it's grey. - Man can start in the King seat of the north, Kael'Tristin in the Kings Reach or they can start in the shifting sands of the King seat of the south, Taldeum in the Naji Desert.
Elves - Elves are the second greatest in number and also have royal blood as they were second in creation. Elves are born with an arrogance that their beauty reigns over all. Their vanity is what causes the realm to be in debt. Elves build wondrous cities with pristine architecture as they favor marble stone over their barbaric counterparts, the Man. Elves will only dwell on massive land mesa's and rests their cities and castles on the cliffs edge to provoke that they're indeed the champion race of the realm. - Elves can start in the pristine marbled city of Felthine that dwells in the crisp Morning Shade.
Korelon - During the Century of Magic, in the Age of Kings, Arcanum Crystals would sprout from the ground during every Full Moon and would last for a fortnight until the next New Moon. It's believed that these Arcanum Crystals attuned Man and Elves to Magic. Through rigorous study from the Sage Guild, "The Erudites", they have ciphered that Magic is merely the residue left from Creation. The Elves of Felthine would welcome all who were attuned to magic to study at their Lyceum. Adepts would break away into a lost tower in the south of the Morning Shade called the Vission. The door had a magical riddle on it in ancient tongue. No one was able to crack the code, however, studying at the Vission gave the adepts great power. After months of studying there, the pigment of their skin started to change into an arcanic brown. They would brand their skin in magical hues to represent the guild of magic they were practicing. As their magical attunement heightened, they would get addicted to the magical frequency of the ancient tower. Thus, the Korelon race was born out of pure magic. They wear robes and always cowl their faces with a hood. (Think Darth Maul like face paint) - Korelons can start at the Vission, in the south Morning Shade.
Crypt Elves - During the Age of Judges, Necromancy was forbidden in the realm as it lead to a dark and sinister path to forge a relationship with the Deceiver and Dark Lord of the Abyss, Vainspire. Zenovas, an Elf who hailed from Cambethiel had an acute mind for magic and wanted to be revered in all magical guilds. He knew his life would be extinguished if his study of Necromancy was exposed. Zenovas would flee to the Eth'gara Mountains, south of the Rimewood to practice the dark arts. During the end of the Summer month, Zenovas was trekking home, he saw his beloved city hurling smoke into the sky. Cambethiel, a city where the bond between Man and Elves were strong was in ashes and ruin. In shear rage, Zenovas blasted out a spell of Necromancy. As Zenovas knee's hit the ground from fatigue, the Elves of Cambethiel rose to their feet and uttered, "yes master." A fortnight later, Zenovas was captured and brought to the Table of Petitions in front of the Council of Koehaith who sanctioned against Necromancy. Zenovas was hanged for his crime. Crypt Elves were born but left without a feeling of acceptance. Crypt Elves are dressed with charcoal to black ash like skin with their banshee white to silver hair. They were considered outsiders until the Twin Kings of Kael'Tristin accepted them into their Kingdom. - Crypt Elves can start in the King seat of the North, Kael'Tristin.
Jakarium - The Jakarium are an ancient race that is said to dwell outside of the Caelum before the creation of Man and the Elves. Through tales, the Jakarium are celestial like beings that helped the Divine build the foundations of the world. Great architecture were forged from their stone hands. They were suppose to ascend back into the celestial heavens with the Divine but they rebelled after their lustful desires of the flesh. The Divine granted them a harsher curse than the one bestowed on Man and Elves. Every generation of the Jakarium for 6,000 years will forget their celestial secrets and cannot interpret their ancient tongue, thus dwindling their power of the forbidden secrets of the world. Their time is running out and the Jakarium's on their last generation. The Jakarium have stone-like skin with selective hue's representing the different foundations of the world they built. After the 17th generation, the Jakarium who wandered outside of their gates had forgotten their celestial tongue and could not enter their home of the Tectrum Vallis. They found refuge in Taldeum. The Jakarium of Tectrum Vallis have a hint of canary yellow to their stone like skin. It's said that there are Crimson Jakarium to the east, Greyish Blue Jakarium to the North and Dark Green Jakarium to the south. - The Jakarium start in Taldeum with the race of Man.
- LEGEND -
Orange = Capital of the Realm
Dark Blue = Starting Cities
Light Blue = Friendly Cities
White = Wilderness
Yellow = Dungeons
Green = Raid Campaigns
Purple = World Wonders
Brown = Seas, Mountains & Lakes
*Rivers: I understand the Rivers don't make sense for the Cothtrak Gorge, but that was "magically" developed or at least is what the people believe. It's also believed to be the location of where the Caelum was before the Whisper. If you like my rivers, I took the initiative to design them using the Lake tool to give it a more realistic feel.
If you wish to see an older version of this map, I did post it last year, you can view it here: http://forum.profantasy.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=5988&page=1#Item_7
***If you wish to zoom in and see a higher resolution of the world, simply click the image then click the image again after it takes you to a new page.***
*I just realized I wrote a crap load of lore, if one does read this, I really appreciate it, if not, I understand! At least comment on the map
-LORE SYNOPSES-
The Age of Dominance was an infinite time of warfare, discord and affliction. During the apex of this age, Faragon Seserax conquered the four Kingdoms and claimed himself as the Empire King of the Realm. Faragon extinguished seven prominent noble houses during his reign. House Thane met their fate when the Seseraxian armies sieged the acclaimed Rhothane, the impenetrable castle on top of the highest bluff of the Iron Key. In the thick of Faragon’s reign, birthed The Crusades against Faragon’s authority. Twelve Lords, Great and Banner and Knightly had a clandestine operation to overthrow and extinguish the line of Seserax to eradicate his strangle on the realm.
These twelve Lords included House Wyk, Exard, Penagan, Vaulk, Dane, Warrick, Nimberal (Elven), Omber, Fontane, Vostrum, Ironwind and Raynehart. They all trekked hastily and carefully through the wilderness to reach their destination as they had to relinquish their royal garb and flags. Tristane Wyk a righteous man of the Divine believed his purpose was to assemble these Lords. Tristane gathered each Houses sigil and melted it down into one mold of metal and called it the Knightstone. (What the game will be called).
Faithful and confident, Tristane spoke a prayer about their sacrifice to humble themselves and their will to forfeit their wealth and stature to save the realm. A crystallized light pierced the stone from the heavens and an audible voice spoke, “thy will be done” and the Knightstone began to have a transparent crystallized hue around and inside the metal. During the cold winter night in 501 Age of Dominance, the Knights of the Divin’rah was birthed out of faith to the Divine to end Faragon Seserax. The Crusades lasted for 200 years and found victory at the hand of Hemnar of House Wyk.
This is the official map of the known world of Mahdran, after the 700 years of the Age of Dominance. Cartography by High Sage, Jachus Dane. Today, in the Age of Tranquility the Knights of the Divin'rah are the prestigious heroes that guard the realm from ever experience total dominion of evil. While House Seserax gained control of the realm, a shadowy faction called the Shar has been conspiring between the shadows, integrating themselves in every facet of the realm. For they do not fight with blade but with schemes and demonic power. A man of devout mercy and great honor, Seridan Wyk, grandsom of Hemnar Wyk now leads the Knights of the Divin'rah against Vainspire's Cabal, the faction known as the Shar and are ready blot them from history.
-PLAYABLE RACES-
Man - Men have the greatest number in the realm. Men are considered to have royal blood due for being first in creation. Thus, their power of ruling lands. They control most of the castles and cities. In the dawn of time, Man would dwell in the Caelum, a perfect garden where three rivers met until a whisper from the deceiver, Vainspire, told them they can become like the Divine and all they have to do is wander beyond the Caelum. Ever since, Man has been in endless strife because of the inner war they face within themselves. For Man, life isn't black or white, it's grey. - Man can start in the King seat of the north, Kael'Tristin in the Kings Reach or they can start in the shifting sands of the King seat of the south, Taldeum in the Naji Desert.
Elves - Elves are the second greatest in number and also have royal blood as they were second in creation. Elves are born with an arrogance that their beauty reigns over all. Their vanity is what causes the realm to be in debt. Elves build wondrous cities with pristine architecture as they favor marble stone over their barbaric counterparts, the Man. Elves will only dwell on massive land mesa's and rests their cities and castles on the cliffs edge to provoke that they're indeed the champion race of the realm. - Elves can start in the pristine marbled city of Felthine that dwells in the crisp Morning Shade.
Korelon - During the Century of Magic, in the Age of Kings, Arcanum Crystals would sprout from the ground during every Full Moon and would last for a fortnight until the next New Moon. It's believed that these Arcanum Crystals attuned Man and Elves to Magic. Through rigorous study from the Sage Guild, "The Erudites", they have ciphered that Magic is merely the residue left from Creation. The Elves of Felthine would welcome all who were attuned to magic to study at their Lyceum. Adepts would break away into a lost tower in the south of the Morning Shade called the Vission. The door had a magical riddle on it in ancient tongue. No one was able to crack the code, however, studying at the Vission gave the adepts great power. After months of studying there, the pigment of their skin started to change into an arcanic brown. They would brand their skin in magical hues to represent the guild of magic they were practicing. As their magical attunement heightened, they would get addicted to the magical frequency of the ancient tower. Thus, the Korelon race was born out of pure magic. They wear robes and always cowl their faces with a hood. (Think Darth Maul like face paint) - Korelons can start at the Vission, in the south Morning Shade.
Crypt Elves - During the Age of Judges, Necromancy was forbidden in the realm as it lead to a dark and sinister path to forge a relationship with the Deceiver and Dark Lord of the Abyss, Vainspire. Zenovas, an Elf who hailed from Cambethiel had an acute mind for magic and wanted to be revered in all magical guilds. He knew his life would be extinguished if his study of Necromancy was exposed. Zenovas would flee to the Eth'gara Mountains, south of the Rimewood to practice the dark arts. During the end of the Summer month, Zenovas was trekking home, he saw his beloved city hurling smoke into the sky. Cambethiel, a city where the bond between Man and Elves were strong was in ashes and ruin. In shear rage, Zenovas blasted out a spell of Necromancy. As Zenovas knee's hit the ground from fatigue, the Elves of Cambethiel rose to their feet and uttered, "yes master." A fortnight later, Zenovas was captured and brought to the Table of Petitions in front of the Council of Koehaith who sanctioned against Necromancy. Zenovas was hanged for his crime. Crypt Elves were born but left without a feeling of acceptance. Crypt Elves are dressed with charcoal to black ash like skin with their banshee white to silver hair. They were considered outsiders until the Twin Kings of Kael'Tristin accepted them into their Kingdom. - Crypt Elves can start in the King seat of the North, Kael'Tristin.
Jakarium - The Jakarium are an ancient race that is said to dwell outside of the Caelum before the creation of Man and the Elves. Through tales, the Jakarium are celestial like beings that helped the Divine build the foundations of the world. Great architecture were forged from their stone hands. They were suppose to ascend back into the celestial heavens with the Divine but they rebelled after their lustful desires of the flesh. The Divine granted them a harsher curse than the one bestowed on Man and Elves. Every generation of the Jakarium for 6,000 years will forget their celestial secrets and cannot interpret their ancient tongue, thus dwindling their power of the forbidden secrets of the world. Their time is running out and the Jakarium's on their last generation. The Jakarium have stone-like skin with selective hue's representing the different foundations of the world they built. After the 17th generation, the Jakarium who wandered outside of their gates had forgotten their celestial tongue and could not enter their home of the Tectrum Vallis. They found refuge in Taldeum. The Jakarium of Tectrum Vallis have a hint of canary yellow to their stone like skin. It's said that there are Crimson Jakarium to the east, Greyish Blue Jakarium to the North and Dark Green Jakarium to the south. - The Jakarium start in Taldeum with the race of Man.
- LEGEND -
Orange = Capital of the Realm
Dark Blue = Starting Cities
Light Blue = Friendly Cities
White = Wilderness
Yellow = Dungeons
Green = Raid Campaigns
Purple = World Wonders
Brown = Seas, Mountains & Lakes
*Rivers: I understand the Rivers don't make sense for the Cothtrak Gorge, but that was "magically" developed or at least is what the people believe. It's also believed to be the location of where the Caelum was before the Whisper. If you like my rivers, I took the initiative to design them using the Lake tool to give it a more realistic feel.
If you wish to see an older version of this map, I did post it last year, you can view it here: http://forum.profantasy.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=5988&page=1#Item_7
***If you wish to zoom in and see a higher resolution of the world, simply click the image then click the image again after it takes you to a new page.***
Comments
I especially like the Tectrum Vallis and the stones with the magic power globes in them.
The Thundering Plains with the clouds and lighting are pretty cool.
I love it when people write some of the history/background for a map. It helps it come into context and brings it alive.
When I read the words "Crypt Elves", an evil haunting laugh echoes in my mind - Bwaaa, ha, ha!
Never say final map though. With practice, you can really polish this up and make it something truly special. I am looking forward to seeing more of your work.
;-)
I viewed the whole in its context, as you recommended, and this sounds pretty awesome.
What platform are you developing this on? I notice that some of the races start in the same places - are these alliances in the game? I can see the starting cities in the West, and how you may progress eastward as you level up - unlocking new cities, raids, etc., as you go?
I'm hoping I'm getting this right because - as far as the map's concerned - it'll do the job admirably.
Great stuff, man!
DMG
I must confess that you and JimP have been a heavy influence on my current naming conventions for my maps. I love how you name things.
As I've told you before, I love your maps. They are pure fantasy and remind me of the NES video game Dragon Warrior. Best game I ever playd. LOL
Great map! I'm glad to see you on the forum again.
@Shessar -- Nice to see you again as well! I liked your Scar map a lot by the way! Very creative! Thanks, I try to name things as creatively as I can. I'll have to check out JimP's naming convention. Haha, my map graphics don't reflect desired in game art direction. Yeah my maps are pure fantasy. Zone based fantasy haha.
@Pixelkitteh -- Thank you for taking a moment of your day to read my lore! When I share my game ideas and lore, Crypt Elves are the most popular for players. I've had that idea for 15 years or so. What points of interest intrigue you the most to explore?
Then that plane didn't get used much, and now in 2016-17, there are large crowds there, meeting up for dungeon delving, raids, etc.
Its a crossroads of sorts. All character races can meet there and the guards don't attack them.
My niche market for my mmo game world is for the Everquest veteran, other old school mmo players and new school mmo players who are seeking Community, Variety, Immersion and Challenge.
Does my MMORPG world map intrigue you to explore? Any particular zones of interest?
As for zones, I fell for one years ago, the name sounded nice and quiet. It wasn't.
When your game comes out, let me know. I'll give it a try.