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A random map to try out the new Annual Hand-drawn Fantasy.

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Here is the proof, 2 months and around 8 kilos.😅

Terror Time ☠️

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The mighty Tiang Long Du and its more than 500,000 inhabitants.

Tian Long Du - Capital of the Heavenly Dragon

Tiang Long Du, the capital of the River and Sea Autonomous Region, stands as a monument to resilience and ambition. Situated where the vast sea meets a mighty river, its foundation is a legend of blood, betrayal, and dark magic.

The Creation

Centuries ago, the region where Tiang Long Du stands was a disputed territory between rival clans and ancient creatures. The place was considered cursed, home to spirits and monsters. Despite this, the land was strategically valuable, offering access to both maritime trade and riverine riches.

It was the ambitious warrior Ji Wenzhao, leader of a fragmented faction, who decided to defy fate. He used forbidden magic to overcome the powerful dragon that inhabited the place, sealing its spirit in a statue. The ritual drained the soul of the powerful animal and also the vitality of its allies, giving rise to the fortress that would become the King's palace.

Battles for Supremacy

The founding of Tiang Long Du did not bring immediate peace. Situated on the fertile plains between the Great Mae—as its residents call it—and the Sea of ​​Storms, the city attracted the greed of rival clans and warlords. Ji Wenzhao, the city’s founder and leader, faced a coalition of enemies determined to seize the region’s riches.

The Fields of Blood

For years, the plains surrounding the city became a battlefield. One of the largest and most decisive battles took place in what is now the city of Bai He Xiang, a prosperous agricultural settlement. The armies under Ji Wenzhao's command were constantly outnumbered. Despite his skill as a strategist, his enemies' allies threatened to surround Tiang Long Du and annihilate it before the city could establish itself as a regional power.

Faced with imminent defeat, Ji Wenzhao resorted to a desperate act: a dark pact with the imprisoned spirit of the Dragon Shenlong, the beast he had defeated and subdued during the founding of the city.

The Pact with the Imprisoned Dragon

During the founding of Tiang Long Du, Ji Wenzhao had faced the legendary Dragon Shenlong, guardian of the region's waters and fertile lands. After an epic battle, he destroyed the dragon's body, but could not extinguish its spiritual essence. Instead, he imprisoned the dragon's spirit in a stone statue, forcing it to bestow prosperity upon the city.

At the height of the conflict, Ji Wenzhao returned to the site of his imprisonment and proposed a dark pact. He offered his soul, the blood of his fallen soldiers, and the promise that each generation of his bloodline would suffer a curse. In exchange, the dragon ceded its destructive power, allowing Ji Wenzhao to call upon his fury to destroy his enemies.

The Battle of Bloody Twilight

The following night, during the Battle of Bloody Twilight, Ji Wenzhao led his troops in a final assault on the region that is now Bai He Xiang. Under the cover of a red moon, he summoned the black waters of the river, which rose up like gigantic serpents, swallowing the opposing armies. The waves, filled with the evil power of the dragon, swept men, horses, and weapons to the bottom of the river.

Annihilation and Bribery

While half of his enemies were being destroyed by supernatural forces, Ji Wenzhao used another trick: he bribed the leaders of the most influential clans, promising them lands and positions of power in Tiang Long Du. Those who accepted the deal were absorbed into the city's political structure, while those who refused disappeared.

The Mark of Victory and the Eternal Curse

With the complete destruction of his enemies and dominion over the surrounding lands, Ji Wenzhao established Tiang Long Du as the capital of the River and Sea Autonomous Region. However, the price of the pact soon became apparent. The spirit of the imprisoned dragon demanded its offering: relentless storms began to ravage the city, and the rising tides brought the wreckage and bodies of those who had perished in the river, now undead and thirsting for human beings.

The spirit of the Dragon Shenlong still whispers through the waters, his imprisoned fury shaping the treacherous tides and storms that ravage the entire region. Bai He Xiang and other coastal cities have prospered, but their inhabitants fear the stormy nights when the distant roars of the dragon seem to echo across the coast.

This victory secured Ji Wenzhao's monarchy, but it also sealed a legacy of shadows and curses that still lingers over the lineage of rulers, whose lives are cut short by the dragon's vengeance.

The Eternal Monarchy

After Ji Wenzhao’s death, his lineage was maintained through political alliances and ruthless control. The dynasty adopted the title of Sons of the Black Dragon, claiming a divine right granted by the spirit of the powerful entity. It is said that the statue only awakens to the true heirs, devouring the impostors.

To protect their power, the emperors created the Eyes of the Tide, an order of spies and assassins trained to eliminate dissent and stop revolts before they even begin.

The monarchy also maintains its position with dark rituals performed in the King’s Palace, the great castle whose towers control the waters of Lake Baibum. These rituals include the sacrifice of political prisoners and even members of the court itself, fueling an energy that keeps the city standing, even in times of crisis.

The City Today

Tiang Long Du is a city of stark contrasts, where opulence and poverty coexist in close proximity. Its ornate walls symbolize the power and glory of the ruling elite. Vibrant markets display exotic products, the fruits of a trade often rooted in exploitation and dark magic, in a relentless pursuit of wealth.

At the same time, the Canals of Lament, on the outskirts, reveal the price of this opulence. Labyrinths of narrow, dark passages shelter a marginalized class, trapped in poverty. There, desperate residents live alongside thieves and soul merchants, willing to do anything to survive another day.

We could sum it up as a microcosm of inequality. The elite monopolize power and resources, masking their exploitation with the glitter of the market and the grandeur of the walled city. Meanwhile, the masses live on the margins, sacrificing their humanity to sustain a system that oppresses them. Dark magic, both in the suburbs and in the palaces, is the perfect metaphor for a corrupt and predatory economy, where the success of the few is built on the ruin of the many.

Legends and Stories

. The Curse of the Guardian of Shenlong: The statue of the river, said to protect the city, sometimes glows with a ghostly light. Some believe it is a warning that the spirit is displeased, while others see an opportunity to reclaim its blessing.

. The Spirits of Shipwreck: On the great river and along the northern coast, locals and travelers report seeing ghostly sailors sailing on wreckage. These spirits are rumored to guard treasures, but attempting to plunder them can incur their wrath.

. The Spirit of the Miserable Old Man: In the Canals of Lament, locals tell of an old beggar who offers passage to those who wish to escape poverty. However, the price of passage is the memory of a loved one. Those who accept can never remember the person they have lost, but feel an eternal emptiness.

. The Breathing Wall: Some swear that the walls of Tiang Long Du breathe. Night watchmen report low, rhythmic sounds, like a sleeping creature. Legend has it that the city is alive, and that when the rulers fall, the walls will close forever, trapping everyone.

. The Wheel of Dark Fortune: On the gambling street, there is a gambling wheel controlled by a spirit named Huan Jing. Legend has it that by spinning it, gamblers can win immense riches or lose everything, including their identity. Many winners mysteriously disappear shortly after receiving their fortunes.

. The Wandering Monk: On the outskirts of the city, a faceless monk is seen wandering. He offers cryptic advice and disappears at sunrise. He is said to be a manifestation of karma, come to punish or bless.

Character Suggestion:

Gui Yan - Gui Yan cares for the bodies and souls of the dead. She runs the city's morgue and exorcism temple, maintaining a balance between life and death.

Boian - An alchemist who works in a secluded tower, surrounded by bizarre experiments. He has an eccentric personality and a smile that mixes genius and madness. His goal is to discover the key to immortality... or at least to prolong his own life.

Tan Mo - A street magician who has lost the memory of his own name and history. He creates fascinating illusions, but his personality is always changing, sometimes being a charlatan, other times a hero in search of a purpose.

Guo Zhi - A local nobleman who keeps a large harem of women and is constantly seen in questionable places. He thinks he is very charming and is known for telling silly jokes about his own escapism and "human weaknesses".

Ling Shuang - An expert archer with a dark history, known for never missing her target. Her eerie calm belies a life of sadness and regret, but she is amused by others' attempts to challenge her abilities.

Xue Lan - A mysterious woman with powers of illusion who offers simple wishes for sky-high prices. She laughs at people's hopes and is always amused by her clients' requests, often altering them in unexpected ways.

For comparison purposes only.

We see the original raw image exported from CC3, and above the image quickly processed (2.30 minutes) in a simple image editing program.

From the beginning i wish to give the map a nocturnal appearance, Adobe lightroom help me achieve this goal.

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Detail of city landscape using Mike Schley overland Style.

Draw turned to Sepia on Lightroom

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