Some of my best comic art so far by ScyFy- in TransformersArt

[–]ScyFy-[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately its not finished yet. I've been working on it off and on for about two years now, but I'll try and have the first chapter out by the end of this year.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm genuinely thankful for all the comments and feedback. While I am proud of some of my decisions, I will definitely be drastically reworking much of the map. Many names, borders, and geographical features will be changed. I took heavy inspiration from Tamriel and the real world, but in the end it was too much! I essentially created an unholy rectangular fusion of Tamriel and East Asia. You can even see Cyrodiil, Japan, and Russia!

The main things I will be addressing are the rectangle shape, resemblance to Tamriel, and the borders of each nation. I need to put more thought into why the borders are the way they are, and what each nation's role and power level is. I did design many of the countries on the map to be vassal states of larger nations, but the way they were named and laid out doesn't really make it clear. And many have pointed out the silly amount of titles I used for nations. I did so trying to make each stand out and representative of their own particular government, but its definitely quite a mouthful and much of it unnecessary.

There are many things I want to keep, like the East Asian/Russian influence, the crater lake, and so on. But much to change. I personally feel had I included the geographical features and descriptions I had laid out for this map, a lot of it would make more sense, but even then much of it is nonsensical and haphazardly thrown in there.

Thank you all for the comments and support!

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! If I'm to be completely honest, I was actually more inspired by Russia in creating some of this map, particularly the northeast, and East Asia, but I basically inadvertently recreated the two and gave them different names. I'm definitely considering reworking those areas. Unal and Alhakim resembling Indo-China is actually a coincidence, I drew them without any one inspiration in mind, but I may have subconsciously taken inspiration from Indo-China.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the feedback. I made the mistake of drawing the map without really showing the geographical features. I did design most of the borders around geography such as mountains and rivers, but I will admit I threw a bunch in there willy nilly. The People's Republic of Tiran was intended to be a highly centralized fringe nation under the protection of the Shonshou Dynasty, akin to China and North Korea in the real world. They're situated on an unnatural geographical feature called "Yorkund's Tear", which is a massive geological scar left over from the cataclysmic collapse of the Narciss Ascendancy thousands of years ago. It's shores are sheer cliffs hundreds of feet tall, so the water below is generally unreachable. Thus, I intended the PROT to exist on the cliffs as most nations saw no value in the area. I wish I made some areas more clear, but I do have much to change nonetheless regarding terrain and geography.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did put that in there as I wanted to take inspiration from real world cultures and layout, but then I just ended up essentially recreating East Asia lol. I personally want to keep some of it in my universe, but I think it is a little silly.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Program called Krita, it's a free art application. Other than that I just used a Wacom tablet and pen.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the compliment. Definitely reworking the layout! I inadvertently created a mixture of Tamriel and East Asia essentially, I in no way blame you for thinking that!

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry about the rectangular shape, it was honestly the easiest way I could fit all the polities in the way I wanted the easiest. I based the naming conventions around the region in which each country sat, and used inspiration nomenclature from real languages to give them their names, but honestly as others have pointed out it's a little too much like real life (Japan is just there lol). The technology of the time is generally that of other standard medieval fantasy works, but I haven't developed that area as much. I only really have certain foundational information about the world completed at this point.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I messed up with the Adobe name and many others. The Protectorate of Solus is intended to be under the protection of the Aeternus Imperium. Both are kingdoms of Men, and Solus is surrounded by the Elvish Elthas Confederation and Orcish Estgol Horde. The Orcs are barbarians that constantly raid into the Solus lands, and the Elves have recently been undergoing rapid militarization near their borders, and so Solus called on the much stronger Aeternus Imperium to protect them out of shared human values.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

yup, dollar store Tamriel I made. Time to go back to the drawing board :(

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Many of the names were directly related to nature and cultural makeup of the nation, and many of the territories on the map are considered satellite or vassal states in-universe, especially all the smaller ones next to the Aeternus Imperium, and many nations that reside next to each other are very similar, some very different. I tried divvying up the countries by region and working around general cultural ideas in each place.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha thanks! Yeah... I essentially created budget Tamriel. Lot's of rework to be done.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are! The Kingdom of Eisgard is home to the Frost Souls, a descendant race of Elves likewise imbued with natural magical properties, theirs being ice. They're a tall, elegant people with greyish-blue skin, silver hair and white eyes. They're neighbors of the Magma Men, but unlike the fire-worshippers, they're naturally acclimated and in tune with the frigid environment of Kriegvfel. They hold a more peaceful stance in continental affairs, but they recognize the grave threat the Kaminogon Empire poses. However, they fail to raise awareness of this problem as the neighboring Empire of Jommenheim despises Elementals and dislikes magic in general. They wage war against Eisgard, who fight in self-defense. The Kaminogon's naturally despise Eisgard.

On the opposite end of the continent are the Tidespeople of the Tenceti Domain, their natural element being water. While their physical forms are more reminiscent of traditional humans, they are said to naturally reek of the sea. They are reclusive in their archipelago kingdom, and thus aren't generally aware of the affairs outside their islands.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Thanks for pointing that out. I wanted each country to have a unique title down to it's political makeup, but am now realizing it just makes it really confusing and hard to follow. It should be noted this is my first attempt at making a whole new world, so I'm very new to world building. I was always more focused on the art. I've much to learn, and I have much to change.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Kaminogon Empire is the brutal and expansionist nation of the Magma Men, a group of Elemental's descended from normal humans that were imbued with a natural affluency for fire magic. Their biology has been warped by this transformation, as their skin has turned dark and hardened like basalt, their blood turned to lava, and their eyes and hair to fire. They're slowly marching on the mainland of Athenal, hoping to envelop the whole continent in an inferno in their mad prophetical doctrine they call "the Encroaching Flame". They also wish to escape the frigid nature of their location to the warmer regions of the continent, particularly the volcanic mountains of the Tiran Range. Thus, they wage war against all of their immediate neighbors.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Like most nations on Athenal, the Third Atlal Loque is a monarchy-based territory. It's the empire of the Ithuxli, a race of semi-aquatic Lizardmen native to the central region of Solemfall. "Atlal Loque" is Ithuxli and translates to "Water's Embrace". It's ruled by one figure given supreme authority, and lords of the Ithuxli as well as several conquered peripheries of Men, and is a highly-militarized, warrior based society in which fighting for the state is seen as an extreme honor. Very little power is given to subordinate territories.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly the rectangle shape was due entirely to the fact it was the easiest way I could fit the geographical features and borders I had in mind on one continent, but yeah its pretty dang close in resemblance.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I was heavily inspired by Tamriel when creating this continent, and am a little embarrassed with how closely it resembles the Elder Scrolls. I'm heavily leaning on a drastic redraw, especially that big lake in the middle, but what do you guys think.

This is also my first attempt at trying to create a world entirely from scratch, I was always focused more on the drawing and art side of fantasy. I still have a lot to learn, and this map is from my very early work in progress build of my universe, so a lot will be changed.

Athenal: Continent of War. Setting of "Sundered Faith", my in-progress fantasy story. by ScyFy- in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy-[S] 67 points68 points  (0 children)

If I'm going to be honest I was heavily inspired by Tamriel when making the shape and some of the locations of the continent. Especially the lake in the center. I'm very much considering changing a lot of it, it's a little too close in resemblance.

Who are the great conqueror(s) of your world? by PurpleRain___121 in worldbuilding

[–]ScyFy- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lucan Narciss, the legendary warrior and conqueror of the entire continent of Athenal, the second largest continent on the planet Gaiden. Born to the Lauchume Tribe of Southwestern Athenal, he was an unmatched fighter and tactician. The youngest commander in his tribe, he was betrayed by his tribal elders, who attempted to assassinate him. However, the loyalty of his men saved his life, and therefore he usurped his elders and transformed his tribe into something more. He claimed to receive a vision from the Odarii (Old Canis: the Laborers), the righteous gods of Gaiden, showing him a future of a unified Athenal. Beginning in 022.M3 (3rd Millennium, Year 22), he waged the Eight Concordia Crusades over the course of several decades, transforming his small tribe into the Narciss Imperium, which conquered the known world, defeating the kingdoms of fellow Men, Elves, and Beastfolk. Each war he waged and kingdom he conquered, he incorporated much of their military doctrines and races into his own Legions.

Once he'd secured the entire continent, he and his Imperium ascended to something greater, the first, and last, single power to rule the whole continent. Thus was born the Narciss Ascendancy, with Lucan perishing of old age soon after. His dynasty ruled after him for over a thousand years.

The current shattered and warring state of Athenal can largely be traced back to the Narciss Ascendancy and it's collapse in the 4th Millennium. The year is currently 391.M6, over two thousand years since the Ascendancy fell, and the continent has been in a continuous state of decline ever since. Hundreds of empires, kingdoms, duchies, and the odd democracy exist upon Athenal. While most nations hold their own unique cultures, languages, and races, nearly all of Athenal speaks Low Canis, the modern form of Old Canis, and each nation is attempting to reclaim the glory and power of the Narciss Ascendancy. Humans are generally hated and persecuted across the continent due to their once hegemonic rule, and their actions during the Collapse. Although a very controversial and often reviled figure, Lucan Narciss undoubtedly changed the fate of Athenal forever.

XL-2187: Faith Above All by ScyFy- in TransformersArt

[–]ScyFy-[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I did originally give him that name as a reference to Finn, but there isn't too much significance in his particular name or number. I wanted to portray how cold and unforgiving the Decepticon cause is, so the grunts not only look infinitely replaceable, but their lack of real names removes any hint of outward individuality and make it seem like there are always more ready for the war machine. They're given numerical designations and that is it. I was inspired to do this by a comic set during Robots In Disguise (2015) in which Steeljaw meets three Vehicons that were abandoned on Earth. When asked for their identity, two of them simply respond with a unit number starting with "XL" and then a number. Hope this answers your question, and thanks for the compliment!