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Royal Scribe

Royal Scribe

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Royal Scribe
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Birthday
February 5, 1968
Location
San Francisco, California
Real Name
Kevin
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Mapmaker
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16

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  • [WIP] Zhao Guang Si monastery

    And here's the temple's basement. Here, monks who have passed their initiation tests live (there are above-ground barracks for the trainees, but only a fraction of them survive the training). While senior monks are entombed in the crypts when they pass away, trainees and more junior monks are cremated, and their remains are kept in urns in the columbarium. The ritual room includes a teleportation portal that can take senior monks to the "Trial of the Elements" dungeon, and this is where the initiates who have survived that trial appear at the end.

    Oh, but wait, there's more: two secret passageways that connect to a secret escape route (revealed by unchecking the SECRET layer). One route is accessed through one of the sarcophagi that conceals stairs that descend (love that symbol, always need a reason to include it).

    More to come in a bit...

    LoopysueRicko
  • [WIP] Zhao Guang Si monastery

    Here are the five above-ground levels of the temple. As the description notes, the lanterns are covered with a red gauze (except in the library), which gives everything an ominous red glow.

    First Floor

    Second Floor

    (Most of it is a balcony overlooking the statue on the first floor.)

    Third Floor

    Fourth Floor

    Fifth Floor


    MonsenMaidhc O CasainRickoJuanpi
  • [WIP] Zhao Guang Si monastery

    I wanted to share and get feedback on the third of three monasteries that @Ricko and I have been collaborating on. This is the only one where I have also mapped interior parts of the monastery.

    For context, here is the description that Ricko wrote:

    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.

    And here is the exterior:

    I will post the interior maps as follow-up comments in this thread.

    RickoMonsenMaidhc O CasainJuanpi
  • Aphrodite's Hidden Grotto

    In honor of the day, I whipped together a quick shrine to everyone's favorite goddess of love, Aphrodite -- accessible through an underwater teleportation portal guarded by a pair of beguiled sharks.


    MonsenDon Anderson Jr.LoopysueCalibreseycyrusLoreleiQuentenJuanpi
  • [WIP] Community Atlas: Kumarikandam - SE Tiantang Region

    Oh, apologies! Can you use this FCW instead? There's one more toggle:

    TOGGLE: "SHADOWS" layer to reveal/hide cliff shadows.



    LoopysueRickoQuentenCalibreRyan ThomasJuanpiFrosty