Map Challenge #1: Decathros

[Moonlake]

Glad to know, as a loyal follower of this concept when it first came out, I quickly grew disenchanted cos there's too much populating the forums where things are hard to read as opposed to being actual submissions. Really, I would be happy to read some of the overviews as actual subs (some of the contents are really fascinating) but just not when they are posted in the forum (I have difficulty reading long submissions as is, not to mention them being in forum as opposed to main site). Remind me to dig through all Decanthros subs again one of these days.....

[Fiendrunner]

There is a legend which runs rampant through all the lands. This fable tells of ten great beings - some say they are gods; others that they are something greater and created even the gods themselves. Regardless, the tale states that these eldrich creatures wrote into existence the world itself! Omnipotent and omniscient, the great scribes etched out the fate of man and god alike. this is just a fairy tale of course, and nobody truly believes this. Nonetheless, the lands are named after these creatures:
Decathros; Land of the Ten Authors

Greetings, fellow Strolenites! I would like to post a challenge/exercise which any and everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in. Using my... InCREDible artistic talent with mediums such as cheap blue pens and MSPaint, I have created a fairly vague fantasy-style map. Unfortunately, there is no fantasy world in which to give this map soul.

As such, it falls on you all to create the world. You may choose one area on the map to claim as your own, and fill in as much information about the area as you desire. Preferrably, you would fill in the information in sections defined by the areas of the main citadel.

Click the picture to enlarge it!

Small graphic upgrade courtesy of Strolen.




Larger Resolutions
Large Map with Borders and Labels
Large Map with only Borders
Large Map with no Borders or Labels

1 - Low elevation Coastal area.. Cold, especially far north and on the northern island. Has some woodland to the west. Some snow. neighbours area 2 to the east (by sea), area 6 to the southeast, area 5 to the south and area 3 to the southwest (by sea).

2 - Island area inside a large bay. Two large islands and four smaller. Cold climate; at the mercy of the sea. Neighbours area 1 to the west, and area 6 to the south.

3 - Low elevation coastal area, with mountainous terrain to the three northern stretches of land. some woodland to the south and two islands in its territory to the southwest. Cool to moderate climate. Neighbours area 4 to the south (by sea), area 1 to the northeast (by sea) and area 5 to the east.

4 - Low to mid elevation, warm coastal area. Some hilly areas especially towards the eastern mountain range. Two woodland/forested areas, one by the coast to the southwest and one to the northeast, merging with the forested part of area 5. Neighbours are area 3 to the north(by sea), area 5 to the northeast and possibly area 8 to the east via treacherous mountains.

5 - Mid-elevation temperate area, heavily forested through much of the region. Two mountain ranges meet with a small break in the south-eastern area, creating a passage inland. Neighbours area 1 to the north, area 3 to the west, area 4 to the southwest, area 6 to the northeast, area 10 to the east and area 8 to the southeast.

6 - Low elevation, temperate coastal area. A long, coastal stretch inside a bay. On a clear day, the islands of area 2 are visible off the shore. To the south run the edge of a mountain range. Some woodland to the east. Neighbours Area 7 to the east, area 10 to the south, area 5 to the west, area 1 to the northwest and area 2 to the north (by sea).

7 - A high elevation, swampy area. Some streams are fed to neighbouring areas by this swampland. Access to area 7 is largely restricted to winding paths meandering between areas 6 and 9. Neighbours area 6 to the west, area 10 to the south-west and area 9 to the south.

8 - A mid-elevation, hot and fairly humid area thanks to several rivers which flow from the mountains within area 4. Contains scattered farmland, some foresting to the northwest and bordering a desert to the north. Neighbours area 4 to the west via mountains, area 5 to the northwest and area 9 to the north.

9 - mid-elevation. Hot, Dry. A large desert caused by rain-shadow; much of the rain from the seas is released in area 10, leaving very little moisture to get through. Neighbours with area 8 to the south, area 10 to the northwest and area 7 to the northeast.

10 - Wild, rocky and mountainous area. The snow-capped Area 10 is the origination of several rivers which feed the lands below. Neighbours area 6 to the north, area 7 to the northeast, area 9 to the south and area 5 to the west.

11 - Frozen, northern wasteland, Low elevation. Several, small mountains lie in the midst of the icy land. Neighbours areas 7 and 6 to the south, and area 2 by sea to the west.

12 - High elevation area sloping down to low to the south. Hot, semi-arid climate dispite it's high elevation. A jutting mountain spikes up to the skies in the midst of area 12. Volcanic activity. Neighbours area 7 to the northwest, area 9 down mountains to the west, and area 13 to the southwest.

13 - Low to mid elevation area, warm, humid climate. Two large lakes lie within this area. A rainforest lies to the west. Neighbours area 12 to the northeast, area 9 and 8 to the north, and area 14 to the west.

14 - High elevation area. A large plateau atop the mountain range lies here; not quite high enough to cause much snow, nevertheless it has a cool climate with heavy rain. Overlooks area 13 to the east, and area 4 to the northwest.

New areas available on new map.  Start in top right with the purple borders in the cold northern wastes and move clockwise through those without names.

15 - Purple - Frozen, norther wasteland at low elevation continued. The mountains start as more as you move east and to the south the area quickly turns into hilly forests and low level mountains. Neighbors area 11 (red) and 7 (green) to the west and area 12 (yellow) to the south.

16 - Blue (bottom right with lake) - Low to mid elevations with mountains in the south, this area has a large sea and summer temperatures that rise with the humidity. Neighbors are area 12 in the north and 13 and 17 to the west.

17 - Green - Severe climate shifts between the summer and winter. The land has much rock and desert type area while interspersed with a lot of resilient green vegetation. Neighbors are 16 to the east, 13 to the north and 18 to the west.

18 - Pink - North is a lowly hilled plains area while the south starts to feel like desert similar to 17. Neighbors are 17 to the east, 13 to the north and has 19 across the small seas.

19 - Light Blue - Many craggy mountains are the prominent feature as you move SW out of the heavy rain area of the north. Neighbors are 18 to the east, 14 to the north and 20 to the west.

20 - Orangeish on bottom left- A long peninsula, it is heavy with mountains and crags. The islands have low to mid elevation and get plenty of rain. Neighbors are 14 to the north and 19 to the east.

To reserve an area on the map simply post a reply saying which numbered area you would like to work on and then post it. once you have done this, you can edit that post at your leisure and add information to it. This is so we don't have multiple people writing up the same area.
Edit your post as you see fit, and do it at your own pace; it's not a race! if you haven't finished putting down information in an area, just slap an (in work) thingy on the end of it.


You may only pick one area, and when writing about areas that aren't yours, try to keep it general and vague, so that the people who have reserved that other area aren't really restricted with what you have written.

When filling in your area, try to keep the information fairly summarised and within the space of a few paragraphs. If you have a great idea that needs to be expanded, make a submission on the main page and link to it!

Now, if you're having trouble understanding what i'm trying to ask of you here, give me a day or two and I will start it off by choosing my own section to fill in.

This can be as long or short a term exercise as you like; fill it in as time allows or as you get some thoughts. The purpose of this exercise is to get creative juices flowing, and to help everyone come up with some interesting tidbits of information. Ideally, it would be a catalyst for a few new submissions.

PROGRESS
Area 1 Claimed! Name: Kelevest Author:Valadaar
Area 2 Claimed! Name: The Spiked Sea Author: Axlerowes
Area 3 Claimed! Name: Vartanadel Author:Strolen
Area 4 Claimed! Name: Hypoten Author: caesar193
Area 5 Claimed! Name: Zhelezo Author: Dossta
Area 6 Claimed! Name: Voskinsar Author:Murometz
Area 7 Claimed! Name: Swynmoor Author:Dozus
Area 8 Claimed! Name: Skaldevale Author:Shadoweagle
Area 9 Claimed! Name: Domain of Thres'ka Author:MysticMoon
Area 10 Claimed! Name: Kazan Mountains Author: Scrasamax
Area 11 Claimed! Name: Twyrlandir Author: Echomirage
Area 12 Claimed!! Name: Zuch Thechi'ua Author: Wulfhere
Area 13 Claimed!! Name: Idaina-hugrland Author: young0ne2
Area 14 Claimed!! Name: Hesurach, the Longest Land Author: Forganthus
Area 15 Purple Claimed!! Name: Unnamed Author: Michael Jotne Slayer
Area 16 Blue Claimed!! Name: Unnamed Author: Mourngrymn
Area 16 Green Claimed!! Name: Unnamed Author: Mythirion
Area 18 Pink Claimed!  Name: something that hasn't been done a million times already. Author: Gossamer
Area 19 Pink Claimed!  Name: Azillera Author: Cheka Man, Modred11
Area 20 Orange Claimed!  Name: Unnamed Author: Maggot

EDIT[/u]
I hereby add a clause to Decathros!

The following clause deals with inactivity and lack of expansion on land.

Should a claim be made upon a zone, that zone is the exclusive right of he or she who initiated the claim.
The claim remains the exclusive right of the claimer for:
 (1) A period of ONE month from claim date for unexpanded land (Hereby defined as any zone which has no or very minor/summarized updates made upon it) OR
 (2) A period of THREE months from the last update of expanded land (Hereby defined as any zone with which has significant improvements made upon it).

To extend the ownership of land by One month (in the case of unexpanded land) or THREE months (In the case of expanded land), a claimer must simply make a post in this thread stating their intention.

I would like to take Area 17 if it is still available?

[axlerowes]

I think it is free.

But perhaps we could have a purging of the undeveloped regions? 

[Strolen]

Per the standing rules, you can claim pretty much any land and start creating on it. If it has sat for a month, it is free game.

I don't think a purge or maintenance is needed, just stake a secondary claim the territory you want to work and do your thing. If the person comes back, will be collaboration. Shouldn't be a problem, has happened to a few of them already. Creative is creative is creative. Even if it doesn't match what the original author was thinking...who cares. Alternate history? Call it a fork of the current land? Still good creative stuff going on and that is the point.

That being said, I am working on Vartanadel which should give me 3 more months to add the expansions I am working on. Wouldn't care if people did stuff to it. I am doing my thing and may or may not use something they added. The beauty of the entire thing.

So, go for it Fiendrunner!!!

[Cheka Man]

I want to develop 19B as soon as rl lets me.

[Strolen]

Punch RL in the balls and run for Decathros!!!

I found all my notes on my land but haven't gotten anywhere. It is a conspiracy against us I tell you!

[Wulfhere]

Has someone taken over Area 12 since I left it untended?

[valadaar]

At this point, I'd say none have strong claims. I have been thinking about this a bit recently.

[Strolen]

Don't touch my stuff.



That said, if you have an idea...on ANYTHING...there will be only joy!!! Don't worry about it, write it!!

[Wulfhere]

There I was, filled with elaborate plans to overwrite Strolen's work.  Such plans, all ruined now...