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.

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.

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

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

Here is the second of three monasteries I am mapping with Ricko. The description, written by Ricko, follows below.

The Sacred Path of Hei Shan Si

Toggle: CLOUDS layer to reveal/hide clouds

Toggle: VEGETATION - TREE CANOPY layer to reveal/hide the treetops

The Sacred Path of Hei Shan Si

In the heart of the Black Mountains and surrounded by the Ancient Forest, amidst peaks that touch the sky, stands the Hei Shan Si Monastery (Temple of the Black Mountain), a sanctuary of spiritual peace in contrast to the chaos of the surrounding region. Founded by an anonymous sage, the temple is said to have been built with the help of divine forces, its black walls harmonizing with the eternal shadows of the mountains.

The Challenging Path

The road to Hei Shan Si is a test in itself. It begins in the fertile valleys, and ends at the final stop in the village of Yuan Lin Zhen, passing through the living heart of the forest, steep cliffs and narrow trails that wind dangerously through the mountains. Incessant rain, dense fog and biting winds are constant companions of travelers. Worn rope bridges span unfathomable chasms, and legends tell of guardian spirits who punish those who disrespect them.

Beauty in the Wild

The temple sits on a plateau surrounded by stunning, untamed nature. Crystal-clear waterfalls feed rivers below, and flower gardens spring up naturally among the rocks. Rare birds soar overhead, their bright colors contrasting with the granite gray of the mountains. At dawn, the monastery seems to float amidst golden clouds, a sight that inspires reverence and humility.

Life at the Monastery

The monks and nuns who inhabit Hei Shan Si are few but dedicated. They live austere lives, cultivating the land and eating simple meals. They spend their days studying ancient spiritual texts, meditating on the edge of cliffs, and practicing rituals that are believed to purify the spirit and bring them closer to enlightenment.

Spiritual Ascension

Hei Shan Si is known for its unique teachings that combine philosophy, meditation, and the pursuit of balance with nature. The monks believe that the body and mind must be challenged in order to achieve enlightenment. In addition to their spiritual practices, they undertake rigorous physical exercises, such as climbing cliffs or meditating beneath icy waterfalls.

This place is not only a spiritual refuge, but a symbol of resilience and harmony in a land of turmoil. For the few who can overcome the hardships of the path and the shadows of their own hearts, the temple offers the promise of unparalleled peace and a glimpse of what it means to truly transcend the material world.

I love the Tolkien font -- I use it a lot with my maps designed with Mike Schley's styles. Seems to fit really well in that style. You're right, though: doesn't work as well for small text.

But actually, I was thinking of the runes like Sue used in the brass inlays in Marine Dungeons:

I discovered that FontSpace.com has a "Commercial" filter that allows you to limit the search/browse results to just the fonts that allow for commercial re-use:

There are some pretty elvish script fonts there, too. I am a little wary, though. Some seem to be based on Tolkien's elvish script, and while the person who designed it for FontSpace may have granted permission to use what they designed, I'm not entirely convinced that Tolkien's estate would agree.