For those who are interested... I've finally gotten around to making a map in photoshop of my world (at the present). The original image is quite large (8MB) and capable of being printed as a 28x20 inch picture. *dies* Let me know if you want to see it
I hope to make a more detailed map of each country in the future. (I already have for South Ashta -- that's why it have more details than the rest of the map )
I'll label a few of the major landmarks and cities and upload that soon.

The large, dark-green spots are forests FYI. The strips of green in Zara are valleys of trees.


This map is subject to change at any time!

Wow Vili, I love that map! The colors are so vibrant!

Wow, that's a great map!

eruheran

Do the different fonts represent different cultures? Cool map, btw.

Kind of, more like different grouped areas, like; group Zara, group Ashta, group Reginon....

Thank you
Yeah... I increased the saturation on the image the original picture isn't quite as vibrant.

I went around labeling

Major Landmarks:
The Mountains of Hokotanama
The Mouth of Natorii
Baruk-Hashad
T'nega Mountains
Janga Mountains
The Three Wise-men
The Valley of Kings
The Great Mountains
The Great Silver Sea
Elestra's Mirror
El-Rosa's Lamp Post

Lakes:
Elestra's Mirror
Lake Ellnu
Shaeto
Piq
Border Lake
The Lake of Atlena
Idena's Heart
The Great Silver Sea
Rebbonah Ittich
Teg
Hup
Re
Cri
Cut
Valitt
Lirp
Sca
Khetanoto Ai

Forests:
Forest of the Silver Trees
Moonlit Trees
Saylon Forest
Woods of Yaelae
Hadris Forest
Forest of Eh-Shule
Forest of Namina
Forest of Hammana
Swamp Forest
Black Forest
Forest of the Desert Wind
Elestra's Forest
Fire Trees
The Woods of Raetin'nator
Chulna Forest

Valleys of Trees:
The Valley of Kings
Squir
Tith Vatteh
Yetteh
Vatteh Ot Craet Vuniz
Keet Vatteh
Vatteh Ot Vitt
Hoveh Ot Tek Vatteh
Green
Northern Valley

Mountain Ranges and Mountains:
Hokotanama (Traebedotch, The Valley North, Malickavaedor)
Janga Mountains (Desrae)
The Great Mountains (Intell, Roqu)
Titoneh's Arm (The Finger's of Titoneh, Soui Mountains)
Chomech's Heart of Stone
El-Rosa's Lamp Post
T'nega Mountains
Baruk-Hashad - Dormant Volcano

Major Cities:
Tenin
TalizoreTovKineth
Desramoth
Alameare
LigrarenNabatae

I second Eruheran and Airianna's comments. Great work!

The forest of Silver trees sounds like a pretty place to visit. Can I come sometime? I also like your compass.

Nice map. The geography, especially the rivers, lakes, forests, and mountains, is well done.

I'm sorry, but I must ask (At the risk of sounding slightly geeky). What version of Photoshop do you use, and how did you come up with the background for these maps? Also, do you have a drawing tablet perchance or is this done with a mouse?

eruheran

I welcome fellow geeks

Photoshop version: CS4
The Backgrounds: I used the patterns provided in photoshop. (I also added a stock image, but you can't really see it )
Tablet: Yes! *hugs tablet* (we've been parted for too long)

*Starting Photo-shop thread in General Discussion* Hehe, jk. Let's just not get off topic. *cougheruherancough*

*cough* I will stay on topic. I think the map is amazing

*hurried whisper* CS4? That's awesome! =) Having a graphics tablet is also awesome...I really need to get one of them... *end hurried whisper*



eruheran

P.S. Wait, isn't it on-topic if we're technically discussing how the map was made?

I don't see how CS4 is related to Ashta. But if Vilisse agrees, more power to ya.

Wow. That's really good.

Since I didn't have a better idea of where to post this. Here are three pictures I speed painted in CS4 today. Sorry about the last two, they're kind of light
The pictures are of the falls of Kerodell near Idena's Heart, forming where the river (Shuleh) from Lake of Atlena meets Idena's Heart (see picture 001).

At/In these falls there is the city of Decanterus (the city of Idena). There dwell the Worish (the Water). The followers of Idena. The Worish are the boat builders of the Ashtain people (see picture 002).
Behind the falls of Kerodell is the city of Decanterus. Caves lit by strange rocks (Kistil) are shapped into rooms and buildings. In the largest lower cave is the ship yard. A pool filled cavern where the Worish build their ships. The entire ceiling is covered by a "plate" of Kistil that lights up the cavern like day, but by a strange teal light.
The exit from this cavern is called the Gate of Nalya. Outside of this gate are two pillars, shaped like Idena (or how they imagine her to look). Two strong beams (or rope) stretch from the uplifted hands of the statues through the waterfall to the cave behind (see picture 003). When a ship is prepared to leave, a sheet/cloth of Isha (a stone turned into metal and forged into a cloth) slides out along the beams and breaks the path of the falls (see picture 002 again).


So that explains these pictures. I'll post more about the Worish in the other forum

Good pictures. The last two didn't seem too light to me.

Wow...that last one's pretty amazing. =)

eruheran

I like the waterfall.

I like them too. They are beautiful!

Thanks guys!
Those are my first speed paints.




And now.... I have another map for ya'll but probably not the map you're thinking of. This will be a city map!

May I present: LigrarenNabatae!

The city of Kirs and and Ashtains, LigrarenNabatae was built in the desert of the Endless Sands, The Great Silver Sea or ChinkChampiaAgarathNabatae. LigrarenNabatae means Shining Sea in the language of the Ashtains.
The city was built by Ashtains when they fled from the Burgansies and Duvat. It was ruled for many years by Ashtains kings, the last being El-Nahmah. Years after his death, the city was reclaimed by Ligra and his son Atanair.

Durring the reign of the Ashtains:
Both Ashtains and Duvat lived in the city (because the Ashtains ruled over the Duvat of the Desert for many years). But the races kept separate and didn't associate with each other much. The Ashtain all lived within the city's second/inner walls. Only Ashtains were allowed to be palace guards. Duvat were allowed to join the army though.

The city was supposed to resemble the star Elestra (see this topic for the tale of Elestra). It's not quite star-like in looks, but it's close. The actual shape of the city is the symbol of the Ashtain family's crest, the ones who lived/ruled there.

The symbol includes the white outline of a Dragle on the field of azure. One large star (representing Attensie) hovers near the Dragle's mouth. 11 smaller stars extend from the large one (they represent the E'shawnti). There is one black star clutched between the Dragle's front claws (this star represents Natorii, how he fell, and also his lordship of darkness). The crest itself is more detailed than this, but I don't have it all figured out yet.
This is also used as the banner of LigrarenNabatae (instead of a flag, they have a banner). Remove the top 'point' and attach it to a long pole (with a crass bar) and you have their banner. The poles/wood used to hang/hold the banner are always made from the wood of the Silver Trees from North Ashta (through trading, the Ashtains were able to obtain some).


If you have any questions about the details of the map let me know

I like the map on two levels: First, it's an excellent map. Second, the design of the city is well done. How did you come up with the city layout?

I second Jonathan's questions and opinions. Nice work! It's very well developed.

hm...nothing really specific

I knew I wanted it to be different from most city shapes. So I started there. It started as a diamond shape, seemed to small, and so I added the four outer areas, that's when I actually decided that it was supposed to resemble Elestra. I knew the palace would be the most protected, thus it got the middle of the city. I didn't think of ti until after I had done it, but the four points with the barracks' were more vulnerable. Thus the barracks' there. The library is within the palace walls because the Ashtains held learned to be very important. All Ashtains received schooling, but not all Duvat.
I'm not sure why I made it symmetrical, it seemed to go with the whole star thing and it wasn't until after I was done that I realized it would make a cool symbol

I guess in all, it was really just thinking of what made sense (it seems to be a habit of mine) it made sense for them to has the library inside the palace, to have market places inside the city, to have multiple barracks, to have small town squares for people to gather or sell things in...

I thought it was really well designed and easy to follow, which is something my maps lack.

Say hello to another city map!

Desramoth


Desramoth is the capital city of the Burgansies (I'll post about them in the forum later ) It was built in the shadow of the Janga mountains. The Dwarves built it and still defend it, but the Burgansies live in it and rule over it.
The Burgansies are lovers of learning, thats why the center of the city is filled with libraries and such.
Desramoth was inhabited by the Burgansies until they decided to exodus West Zara. Once they left, the Dwarves took over the city. Libraries were turned into training spots, more barracks, and fighting schools.

There is more on the city, but that will be posted in Culture

Wow Villi, you are quite the map maker, aren't you?

They're quite fun to make and they help me describe the layout of my cities

Yes, I can see how helpful it would be to create maps.

Villi--I love your maps. =) Especially your city maps--which are very motivating to get working on my city map. Maybe I'll do that today. Meh, probably not. =) But still, I really like your map, and I felt the urge to say--that's a LOT of libraries! =) I would fit in nicely there, I think.

eruheran

Nicely done! I especially like the last one.