A Map of Velantis (Draft)

This is a very, very, VERY rough draft of a map of Velantis that is a placeholder until I can convert this to Wonderdraft and sketch it out with its cartography tools. 

I’ve known for a while what I want the city to look like—it’s a peninsula, it’s squeezed between the sea and the mountains, it’s a walled city with three tiers, there are a handful of weird landmarks scattered across the peninsula.

I’m still debating on place names, so everything is a rough placeholder (none of these names are going to transfer into the game itself). With that in mind, here’s a brief guide to the main setting of the game.

Outer Wall

Fishing and Farming – exactly what it says on the tin. This is where the city gets its food supply. Primarily uses the West Harbour.

Prison – Velantis’ high security prison is located on a isle off the coast. Why they need so much space, no one knows.

Crescent Isle – Overlooks the South Harbour. Home to ancient ruins that date back to before the Astrandium (over 3000 years). Said to be cursed. Sometimes the Isle is cloaked in mist, which makes navigating into the harbour difficult.

South Harbour – Main harbour. Guarded by twin statues of the twins who were said to have founded the city over 1000 years ago.

Lower Tier

Industrial District – Factories, artisans, crafters. Large Arcanists’ Guild presence here. Also houses the Faran Quarter, which is home to many Faran humans and dwarves who were displaced after political upheaval in Farandor about 200-300 years ago.

Lower Market – large commercial district. Direct access to the South Harbour.

Entertainment District – follows one of the rivers. Pretty area, lots of gardens and walkways. Home to theatre, art galleries, museums, and other such things. Large Melusine quarter located near the lake. Mel’s theatre company works from here.

Crystalis – A giant spire formed from pure crystal that lodged itself partially in the lake. Is a tourist attraction and has a museum. Crystal dates back to the Astrandium and is the focus of major study from the University of Velantis. It is one of six identical crystals found scattered across the world.

Old Woods – Creepy. Old. What goes in doesn’t come out. Leave it alone.

Undercity – a deep, unnatural rift in the land, now home to Velantis’ slums. It is nearly impossible to see the sky from the bottom. The lake above flows down a waterfall and feeds the channel that cuts through the bottom of the Undercity.

Second Tier

It is illegal to travel through the second and third tiers while armed.

Manor District – Home to wealthy merchants and the Velantian elite.

Upper Market – Commercial and Financial district for the Velantian elite.

University – The University of Velantis is one of the oldest academies in Rhesainia. The entrance exams are rigorous and those who study often go on to become influential individuals not just within Velantis, but the Arathian Empire. Those who pass the entrance exams study for free, so theoretically anyone from any background can become a student. However, only the wealthy tend to be able to afford the demanding study it takes to pass the exams, so the system is still rigged.

Meissandium – The largest and most influential temple for the Meissandic religion. Home to their religious leaders. The temple is located on an island in the middle of a lake.

Manor Isle – Vacation homes and villas for the city’s elite.

Third Tier

Diradan Tower – Home to the Council of Mages and the headquarters of the Guild of Mages. Part of the tower overlooks a large dammed lake that flows into the Undercity.

Palace District – Ancestral home to the Velantian royal family, now home to House Anaxas. The complex is built into the surrounding mountains and has lakes, grassy hills, gardens and waterfalls.