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The Black Loch: The Collected Free Versions - Also, news about the next big project.
🕑 Added 2022-11-25 15:38:23 +0000 UTCI compiled all the free versions of the Black Loch maps and tokens, which you can download here. The image above is something I made to post on reddit. I think it explains what the Black Loch is pretty well.
I also wanted to talk about what I'm working on now. A while back, I discussed the next big project I had planned: a series of islands. I finally have a plan for the first island and I want to see what you all think.
There will be two civilizations on the island. The first will be wild elves, or "wood elves," if you prefer. I haven't decided on the second, but I'd love to hear your suggestions if you have any. In the lore, the two civilizations will be in conflict.
The wild elves will be transitioning from a nomadic, tribal society into a more unified, settled one and will have a more primitive architectural style, inspired by Iron Age Celtic structures. The map I'm working on now is based on a crannog, which is a dwelling built on an artificial island in a lake, usually surrounded by a wooden palisade. Here's a good example of a crannog.
The crannog I'm drawing is a little more elaborate than that, with a whole village spread across two islands connected by a bridge. Other locations for the elves might include a broch-- a Scottish style of Iron Age towerhouse-- and a tree fortress based on Oakenhold, which would serve as their capital. I drew Oakenhold years ago and it's the only map I've ever considered redrawing. I think it would fit in very well here.
I'll go into more details when I post the crannog, but nothing is set in stone yet. Before it is, I want to show you the first map and give everyone a chance to let me know if you like it and want me to run with it or if you aren't that into the concept. If you like it, we'll do the Celtic wild elves. If you don't, I'll figure out something else.
If you've got any ideas for what the other civilization might be, let me know in a comment or a message. I said before that I wanted to give you more input on this project and I thought I'd do that by letting you take the wheel on one civilization while I do the other. Call it an experiment in collaborative worldbuilding.
Okay, I'm gonna get back to work on the crannog. If you've got any thoughts on any of this so far, positive or negative, I'd love to hear them!
Comments
Milby's Maps
I didn't draw maps of Demonstone or Azitri Island, I just wanted to give the islands names. I don't have a discord, but I've been thinking about starting one lately, so there may be one before too long. If I decide to start one, I'll put up a post about it.
Tyler Teece
Hey, I had two questions, One about this specifically and another in general. I was looking around for the map that corresponds to "Demonstone" or "Azitri Island" I think I looked everywhere but I was wondering if I missed it. The other is there a discord for this community? I would love to join if so
Milby's Maps
Sorry for the late reply, I just got back from my holiday trip. It's my pleasure, good luck with the campaign!
KoonFox
thank you sooooooo much for posting this collection! i'm steering my whole underdark campaign into a version of the black loch!
Milby's Maps
The missionaries fleeing persecution is brilliant! That'd make them even more sympathetic.
Milby's Maps
That's mostly what I had in mind. I figured the newcomers might be the reason why the wild elves' culture was beginning to unify and settle, since they might need to band together against the threat.
Silas
One option for the second civilisation could be a non-local civilisation. So an outpost of an empire based beyond the island chain.
jondowner
Yeah I think there could be a lot of nuance there, as well as multiple angles for potential conflict between the two groups. Just spitballing ideas, to ensure the missionaries get some sympathy they could either be from a clearly-benevolent faith like you say or a newer sect fleeing persecution from a less than benevolent establishment. And for the elves, the missionaries would essentially be an invading force, upsetting centuries of carefully-maintained balance on the island.
Milby's Maps
Or, to go with the dragonborn idea, maybe they're the last survivors of the ancient empire that lies in ruins elsewhere? Maybe they came to the island to get away from whatever happened to their home?
Milby's Maps
Also, what if the missionaries were from a good society with a benevolent deity? It could create a situation where there's a conflict, but nobody is the clear good guy or bad guy.
Milby's Maps
What would an advanced lizardfolk civilization look like? Do you have any thoughts on that? I imagine it as an advanced version of an Incan/Aztec/Mayan culture, but I'm not really sure what that would be like.
Milby's Maps
I hadn't thought of that, but I really like the idea of making it a religious-based conflict! Or at least adding a religious dimension to it.
Milby's Maps
I could see maybe aquatic elves, since that would allow for some buildings on land. I think adding aquatic kingdoms to the setting would be cool.
Milby's Maps
I love the idea of an island covered in the ancient ruins of a dead civilization and I've been thinking about something along those lines, but I think it needs its own island.
Milby's Maps
I hadn't really thought of that, but having the wild elves be the advanced people would definitely be a cool direction to go with it.
jondowner
Perhaps the other civilization is a sort of monastic/missionary group spreading their distant faith across the islands?
ComradeDoose
What about merfolk, taking up the role of merrow and other aquatic creatures from celtic folklore? They could be upset that the elves are moving away from their "perfect" wild and natural way of life, and trying to break down every aspect of civilization the elves are building up?
Rob Spirko
Ooo. Now I'm imagining a capital city/island that's now a haunted ruin after some doom came to it.
Rob Spirko
Yes, the Celt/Roman trope is strong, but I agree resisting it would be more original. The downside to tribal lizardfolk is that everything's tribal now. (Oops! All tribal! )And contrast is good. Maybe a culture of advanced lizardfolk or dragonborn in decline? Maybe they had extensive holdings on a number of islands and that could be a thru line. Like, they lost their good navigators (think about what almost happened with Oceanic cultures and navigation). Couldve been through cultural disregard, could've been deliberate malfeasance. Could be a bit of both. But it sets it up so there are still scattered across the world some ruins, some maintained towns/keeps, in whatever architecture you'd like to draw a fair amount of. Just a thought.
Philip Mayhew
The temptation to do highly civilized, perhaps Roman, dwarves in juxtaposition is real, but I think it would be more interesting/unique if the newly civilizing wild elves are the *more* civilized of the two. Maybe tribal lizardfolk or something.
