Nothra (April '20 Lite Challenge Map)

[jshoer]

Hi everyone,

I did a little more work and finished off my map from the April/May 2020 Lite Challenge ("Map a Magical Place"). I'd had the idea for a land of huge, jutting crystals for a while, and I thought this challenge was perfect for what became Nothra!

It's all 0.1/ 0.03 Copic Multiliner, then watercolor pencils which I finally - after the challenge ended - painted. Here's the finished product:



I had some ideas of the crystals being sources of power for the inhabitants, and maybe allowing the various cities to communicate with each other. But maybe this is just lingering inspiration from The Dark Crystal - which is why this kingdom is named not-Thra!

As a view into my process, here is also the linework alone and the version colored in pencil but not yet painted (which ended up as my challenge entry).

[Rochnan]

I like the map (and the name )

Different regions seem to have different crystals. Do they work/communicate differently? Does the crystal correspond with a dialect/language? So many questions!

[Ilanthar]

Nice work! Nice pun for the name, I didn't notice
I like your bent mountain range in particular on this one.

[tilt]

very nice work

[Kellerica]

Cute as hell! Love the agates of the desert region.

[jshoer]

I like the map (and the name )

Different regions seem to have different crystals. Do they work/communicate differently? Does the crystal correspond with a dialect/language? So many questions!

Glad you like it! Yes, I went to some effort to try and make different types of crystals in different regions. Certainly there would be regional variations in culture, but I didn't plot out specifically what the differences are and how they break down - I just suggested that they would exist.

Nice work! Nice pun for the name, I didn't notice
I like your bent mountain range in particular on this one.

Thanks for helping me with those mountains.

very nice work

Thanks for the rep!

Cute as hell! Love the agates of the desert region.

Aww, thank you! I like those crystals the best, too. It's funny, they're the ones I did most "sketchily." But they look great, and they go really well with the windswept dunes. I find drawing often works like that for me.