
Royal Scribe
Royal Scribe
About
- Username
- Royal Scribe
- Joined
- Visits
- 8,381
- Last Active
- Roles
- Member
- Points
- 3,084
- Birthday
- February 5, 1968
- Location
- San Francisco, California
- Real Name
- Kevin
- Rank
- Mapmaker
- Badges
- 16
Reactions
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[WIP] Adnati - Birdseye Continental
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The Lands of Strauvuvrorr
I know Sue is swamped with work for CC4, but this last image inspires me to once again plug for a Spectrum Overlands expansion, maybe ones that includes demi-human (elven, dwarven, orcish) settlement symbols. Probably something that works as a stand-alone but is compatible with Spectrum Overland, so folks can use it even if they don’t have older annuals. (Maybe part of CC4?) Similarly, a demi-human annual compatible with Darklands City would be so great.
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Missing Fill and Castles Failure
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Looking for Symbols
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[WIP] The Mad Tea Party
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De Rust + Alyssa Faden clouds
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[WIP] Elves v. Dark Empire
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[WIP] Community Atlas: Kumarikandam - SE Tiantang Region
Here is the third of the three monasteries that I collaborated with @Ricko on for the Atlas. This is Zhao Guong Si, and it is located here (circled in the upper right corner):
There are a bunch of FCW files to submit because in addition to the monastery's grounds, we also go inside (and below) the temple, as well as in two "dungeons." I will post each discrete location separately in this thread.
First, the city map for the Zhao Guong Si monastery.
Toggle: CLOUDS layer to hide/reveal the clouds.
Description
Zhao Guang Si
The Temple of the Morning Glow
Situated in a hidden valley where the morning mist never quite dissipates, Zhao Guang Si (Temple of the Morning Glow) is a place where deceptive beauty hides a dark core. Despite its poetic name, the temple is synonymous with silent death and lethal precision. Here, under the first rays of dawn, apprentices learn the art of killing. The morning glow symbolizes the last moment many see before their silent and ordered death.
The Dark Environment
The temple, with its angular and austere architecture, is surrounded by twisted trees and a river of dark waters that flows silently like clotted blood. The black stone walls are decorated with murals depicting stories of betrayal, revenge and glory gained by force. The only constant sound is the echo of calculated footsteps in the cold corridors. Lanterns covered with red veils create a blood-red glow, making the environment even more somber and oppressive. Life and Training
Those who come to Zhao Guang Si are desperate, rejected, or ambitious, seeking a new identity. Under the watchful eye of their masters, known as the Shadows of Dawn, the apprentices undergo intense and cruel training.
• Physical Training: They climb cliffs without ropes, traverse fields filled with deadly traps, and duel to exhaustion, all to strengthen their bodies and reflexes.
• Mental Training: They are taught to hide emotions, manipulate the minds of their targets, and plan assassinations with surgical precision.
• Practice of Forbidden Magic: The temple houses ancient grimoires containing magics that grant temporary invisibility, silencing voices, and even cursing the senses. These spells demand sacrifices, often blood, making the price of power high.
The Bond with the Emperor
Although few would admit it, rumors persist that the temple has deep ties to the imperial throne. Men of the Emperor’s Personal Guard, known for their lethality and unquestioning loyalty, are said to have received secret training at Zhao Guang Si. Some claim that the emperor himself is the temple’s greatest patron, using its resources to eliminate rivals and consolidate power.
Legends and Intrigues
The temple is shrouded in dark tales:
• The Ritual of the Scarlet Mist: It is said that an assassin can sacrifice his soul to merge with the shadows, becoming invincible for a night. But few return from this ritual unharmed.
• The Echo of the Morning Glow: Legend has it that those who hear a whisper at dawn are marked for death by a blade that will emerge from the temple.
• The Faceless Master: A mysterious leader who never reveals his identity rules the temple. Some say he is an ancient spirit who has ruled the place for centuries.
A Haven of Questionable Morality
Zhao Guang Si is not just a temple; it is a training ground, a storehouse of forbidden knowledge, and a center for the trade of death. Those who enter rarely leave, but for those who survive the rigorous training, life outside the shadows becomes irrelevant.
In the dim light of dawn, under the treacherous glow of morning, Zhao Guang Si molds assassins, manipulates destinies, and remains a dark pillar in the region's balance of power.
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Can CAD files be imported?
Holy smokes, it worked! (Once I read the PDF mapping guide to figure out that the Dracula Dossier maps are created under Floorplans and not Dungeons, that is.) These CAD files are .DWG files, and CC3 was able to import without any problems. Now I have to decide if this is the venue I want to use, and whether it would be easier to delete the stuff I don't need from the CAD import, or started from scratch drawing over a bitmap. Anyway, very excited to have new (for me) options to play with.
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Hey Everybody!
Hi Ryan,
Welcome! I see that your hometown was chosen as the inspiration for Mayberry because it was where Andy Griffith grew up. Very cool.
I also started with Fractal Terrains. It took me a while to get my head around how FT and CC3 do and do not interact with one another. I finally started watching some of the older tutorials, and it was watching Joe Sweeney's that Ricko recommends above where things really start to click for me. Before that, I was trying to teach myself using the PDFs and I wasn't really absorbing it.
Joe Sweeney has some videos that show how to use Fractal Terrains, and here are some more from ProFantasy from a few years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuhB_LXr3Sg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khNR-BBPSRo
There are some others that show how to take what you've built in Fractal Terrains and then elaborate on them in CC3. They're a bit advanced, though, but if you want to take a peek, here is one from early 2024:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd78fcQc1YA
(The beginning covers taking part of a continent from FT to CC3.)
But don't get intimidated if it seems like a lot. I started with Joe Sweeney's, then watched some of Remy Monsen's that were about specific techniques and tools, and then graduated to the ProFantasy's "Live" sessions. The Lives are great, and I always learn something new from every one, but you never know (unless it's the main focus on the session) what techniques you'll learn from them. I'd recommend getting a good foundation from the other videos first.
And also, this forum is very welcoming, and we are all happy to answer any questions you have.