Category: Work-In-Progress

Here’s a section of the city that should give you an idea of what the map looks like right now. Most of the background and terrain is done and what’s left to color is mainly details like furnishings and so forth. From here on, I’m going to start finishing up the map a few islands at a time and post them as I go.  I’ll probably start with the islands in the bottom-right and work my way around. Once it’s all done, I’ll post the complete city.

I should have the first few islands done within the week. Let me know what you think so far!

Here’s the entire ground level of Vayl’s Firth, assembled and ready to color. This took a bit longer than I expected because, as it turns out, drawing three billion trees, bushes and crops takes a while. In any case, it’s done and I’m ready to start coloring this thing.

Well, I’m gonna get to it. Hope you like how the city looks so far! If you have any questions or thoughts about it, let me know.

This is officially the last of the city drawn! I can’t really say “It’s done,” because I still need to scan all of this, touch up the drawings, put them all together and color everything, but drawing the city– the biggest part of the job– is done.

Well, I’ve got a long day of scanning ahead, so I’m gonna get started on that. Once that’s done, I’ll put them all into a single image and post a picture for you. Hope you like it so far!

The founding of Vayl’s Firth has become something of a legend among the people of the city. Almost 1000 years ago, a wizard named Vayl killed a giant serpent that lived in the mouth of the River Ophidias, enabling settlers to move in and found a city in his name. The independent settlement had its own laws, which did not acknowledge any families as noblility and had no hereditary titles. Vayl himself had two children, but passed down his chain of office– along with rulership of the city– to a wealthy trader instead. This tradition has continued ever since.

Here’s the thing, though. The chain of office is cursed. Vayl, a powerful wizard, stored his soul and consciousness in it and empowered it to take over the body of anyone who wears it. So, they’re all Vayl. Every ruler of the city for a thousand years has put on the chain of office and was immediately possessed by Vayl. Only a few people know about this and they’re smart enough to stay quiet. Vayl was a wizard of legendary ability a millenium ago and god only knows how powerful he is today.

There are only two more parts of the city left to draw: the magic island, which is almost done, and the little island on the bottom-right of the map. I should have them both finished in a day or two.

All right, I’ll be back with those soon. If you’ve got any questions or thoughts about the lore, let me know!

Here are a couple more parts of the city finished. I’ve got the palace about halfway drawn and I should have the whole thing finished before long.

The great market is the town’s main marketplace, with a variety of shops and vendor stalls and a cistern in the center. The manor is the home of one of the city’s powerful merchant families, who are allegedly involved in piracy, smuggling and other forms of maritime naughtiness. Allegedly.

All right, I’m gonna get back to finishing up the palace. Let me know what you think!

Most parts of the city only have a single floor, but the wealthy district has an upper level. Most of the buildings here are houses, but there’s a shrine, an amphitheater and a library as well.

The city has a name now, by the way: Vayl’s Firth. Vayl was the guy who founded the city long ago and still has a major impact on how it’s run. I’ll talk more about him later.

With this done, there are only four more parts of the city to draw: the Great Market, the manor, the palace and the mages’ island. The palace will be fairly large and will have at least 3 levels, but the rest will be pretty quick. I suspect I’ll have them all finished by around the end of the month. After that, all that’s left to do is color it.

Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll be back with more before long!

This is all small stuff, but there’s a lot of it. The fort is the one in the center of the map. It’s more of a fortification rather than a fortress, but it’s a small island and that’s about all you can fit on it. I imagine it being a bit like the Torre Scola.

The admiralty is the island marked “navy.” It’s got facilities to administer and resupply the city’s fleet.

The barracks is where the city’s men-at-arms live. They also serve as the town watch, so the jail is there as well. It also protects the main entrance to the harbor.

And finally, there are all the outlying buildings on the mainland. These are mostly farmhouses, a stable, a loggers’ camp and a sawmill. Couple of sheds in there, too. Nothing super exciting.

With that done, there’s not too much left. I’m going to start with the wealthy island next. That and the palace are the only big parts left to draw, so I’d say we’re in the homestretch at this point.

Well, I’d better get back to it. I’d love to know what you think so far and, if you’ve got any questions, let me know!

Here are two more of the larger islands. The only big parts left are the wealthy district and the palace. Everything else should be pretty quick. I’m going to draw the farms and a couple other smaller parts next, like the admiralty base (marked “Navy” above) and the barracks.

Also, there’s a little island to the left of the shipyards and I haven’t decided what I want to do with it yet. I’m thinking there might be flooded tunnels running underneath it, but I’m not sure. If you’ve got any ideas, let me know.

Anyway, I’m gonna get back to it. Let me know what you think so far!

Here are the drawings of the first three islands of the river delta city megaproject (which I really need to come up with a proper name for). These are three of the smaller islands, but they seemed like a good place to start. I’ll be drawing the trade harbor next.

Most of the islands will only have a single level, but a few will have multiple floors, like the palace, the forts, the wealthy district, the manor and a few others. This should help to make the map a bit easier to use. I’ll probably still draw a roof level for the whole map, though.

Anyway, I’m gonna get back to work. Let me know what you think so far! And if you’ve got any ideas on a name for this city, I’d love to hear them.