Marcus Moore's Atlas of Idessa
#2 of Markus Moore's Atlas of Idessa
Decided to have some fun for myself and do a little world building exercise for Summon This. I figured some maps and a little blurb about each of these places might let readers have a better idea of what is happening where. I may eventually try and do a full world map, but that will probably take some time. Maps were all built with Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator.
(Sorry, trying to get the embedded images to work. The different sections are now links as well, in case the embeds mess up.)
Marcus Moore's Atlas of Idessa
You've got your sword strapped to your hip, money in your pocket, and adventure in mind! But where to start? Our world is an amazing place, full of unbelievable sights, exciting new experiences, and mysterious peoples. Unfortunately is is also full of its own share of dangers! With that in mind I have created this atlas to help educate budding new adventurers, like yourself, as you take your first steps out into the world. Remember, the most useful took you have to stay alive is what is in your head! So let's get started.
An up and coming power in the world, Pastock has humble roots as little more than a mining colony. Early explorers into the valley found vast quantities of galena ore, so abundant you could practically scrape it off the ground! The silver and coal mines of the valley created enormous wealth for its residents. The industrious citizens built a mighty citadel to protect their claims to the valley, and quickly carved out a city-state that was willing to take all challengers. Over the generations that castle turned into a fortified town, and then grew into a populous city. Pastock soon subsumed its neighbors, and the city-state became a fledgling country. Unfortunately the gradual growth, and perhaps a certain lack of creativity, has led to a rather confusing naming scheme. The city, the valley, and the country are all called Pastock! But not to worry, the residents will be happy to correct you if you confuse the three. The entrepreneurial spirit that drove the miners to forge a living in the frozen northern valley still lives on in its citizens. As veins of silver ran dry around the valley, Pastock turned its focus to other endeavors. Today the valley is famous for its foundries and distilleries, crafting the best cannons and whiskey that money can buy.
As a destination, the city has only grown more exciting in recent years. Increased trade has brought new vitality to the nation, and there have been all sorts of exciting happenings in the past decade. There are even rumors that the city is host to its very own resident dragon! The people there can be gruff with outsiders, but once you earn their trust and respect, Pastonians are happy to treat you as if you are family. The valley holds a number of wondrous sights. To the north, hidden in the foothills of the majestic Nortosk Range, is The Frostmire, a magnificent primordial cavern of natural beauty. To the east, along the higher stretches of the river, are countless cascading waterfalls and idyllic stretches of untouched wilderness. Remember to bundle up, Pastock can be deadly cold in the winter!
*I regret to inform readers, that as of the most recent edition of this atlas, I can no longer recommend Pastock as a destination. The valley has been gifted a terrible new feature, the Dragon's Pit. There, the transformed hero, Johnathan Wright, fell in battle against a demonic host. The city was saved with his sacrifice, but it is currently in the grips of starvation and civil unrest. Though I have all confidence that Pastock will one day recover, it is unlikely to be a place welcoming to adventurers at the moment.
The Blazing Coast certainly lives up to its name. If Pastock is the land of ice, this stretch of sun-beaten desert is the land of fire. Don't let the heat stop you though! This country is one of the most prosperous and free nations in the world! Ruled by the mysterious dragon, Queen Lililethan, The Blazing Coast was formed seemingly overnight from bands of roaming desert nomads. It may seem a bizarre place to most visitors: there are no noble families or disparate classes. Instead all government positions are filled by election, the candidates chosen from among qualified citizens. Even the queen herself rules by popular vote! However bizarre this method of governance may seem to foreigners, it seems to be working. The average citizen in the capitol of Wake is healthier and happier than nearly anywhere else I've been. While visiting in the height of summer is also the height of madness, the temperature stays mild enough through the rest of the year that you can enjoy the pristine white beaches even in the middle of winter. The sandstone architecture of the capitol is a sight to behold, and if you are lucky you may even catch a glimpse of the Queen. I myself had the pleasure of a brief conversation with Queen Lililethan, and although I must admit to a certain degree of fear facing an elder dragon, she was nothing but polite, and even offered suggestions as to what to include in this atlas!
Travel to and from this country is cheap and unregulated. Freedom of movement is a right that its citizens hold dear, and as a major shipping center of the world, passage to Wake is among the most affordable I've seen. I would highly recommend investing in some local garb and a jar of sun-cream; even in the winter the scorching daylight can burn your skin in a surprisingly short time! It is also worth noting that those of tender heart might not be suited for this destination; the locals often wear very little garb, and even the women have the scandalous habit of roaming topless in public!
The Supreme Confederation of the Sovereign Elders
What a mouthful! The nation of dragons is as reclusive as it is amazing. I have only managed passage here once, as part of a larger delegation. My time there was highly restricted, and I'm afraid much of what I write here is based primarily on observation and conjecture. This nation sits on a jagged volcanic island. As far as I know, no man alive knows the actual route to this place by sea or land. All visitors are either flown in, or transported directly by powerful magic! The capitol, Syrsarun, is built down into the tallest peaks of this range. These subterranean cities are marvels to behold, although the extreme restrictions will keep visitors from seeing much of the inner workings of dragon society. There are no roads between the different districts of this city, instead the land is filled by primal temperate rainforests. If your host is not willing to take you between the mountain districts, you will be limited to whichever peak you arrive at.
The extremely structured nature of society here is immediately evident, with practically every minute of every day scheduled and accounted for. From what best I can tell, each of the clans here is ruled by the eldest matriarch of that clan, and each clan is, as the name says, sovereign. Much of society is arranged on these matrilineal lines. Authority is based on age, and should you find yourself face to face with any particularly large dragons or dragonesses, you would do well to follow their instructions carefully. Still, despite the unusual nature of this place, if you are ever fortunate enough to be offered a chance to visit it is worth every moment. The unimaginably large complexes of chambers and corridors buried into the hard rock of the mountains seem to stretch on forever underground, and every inch of the place is painted and decorated with lively murals. Any of the terraces scattered around the exterior will offer fresh and pristine vistas, and visitors may even get a chance to ride, or be carried by, a dragon! There are few experiences in the world as exhilarating as flying!