Aug 14, 2016

A bit later than intended, but I’m finally posting that map I promised.  Those of you who’ve been following the project for a while probably remember this one, but since there’s been quite a few new followers over the past two week I decided to share this one again.

Forgive the poor quality, I’m not the best map maker.  This is Pentaz’ homeland, or rather what lies above it, and thus is the starting point of his journey in Exile, Magus.

Known best on the mainland as the home to the reclusive dwarven nation of Thierdenvolgenlund, it was not always so.  Its original inhabitants where goblins and their troll masters.  The surface and closest caves were reserved for the goblins, whereas the trolls dwelt entirely in the cavern complexes beneath the island down to mid-depth.  The deepest depths were the uncontested abode of horrors which even the monstrous trolls dared not challenge.

This balance changed with the coming of the dwarves loyal to the Thierden family nearly 10 millenia ago.  They were quick to claim the island for themselves, both the surface and the caverns.  Both goblins and trolls were quickly pushed down into the depths, with the goblins being entirely eradicated within a few decades.  The trolls lasted longer, but after over a century of warfare they were forced to flee into the depths they had previously feared.  The dwarves presumed their troll enemies to be extinct as well for over 500 years until the trolls returned to harry them.  Their absence had turned them into an even more savage people than before, as survival amid the horrors of the deepest depths had forced them to both become more physically powerful and more fully turn to the worship of their god and supposed creator, Father Death.  The war between dwarves and trolls has continued intermittently ever since.

The dwarves have continued pushing forward, albeit slowly since the return of the trolls.  Their settlements are built into existing caverns, following the natural formations as a foundation and guideline for their carving out of homes and other structures.  They have only one restriction to their delving:  none can dig into or settle beneath Father Mountain, the highest peak in the known world which rests at the center of the isle.

While surface dwellers assume them to be two separate islands, they are actually a single landmass.  The channel between is strewn with rocky outcroppings, the peaks of underwater mountains with caverns running throughout to connect the two parts of the island.  Few dwarves live under the channel or eastern portion, so that this region has become the primary area settled by the trolls once they started returning to mid-depth caverns and above.

I hope you enjoyed that little bit of history from the world of Exile, Magus.  I plan to continue telling you a bit more about the background as the campaign progresses.  As always, thanks for your time and support.  Keep reading and (hopefully) enjoying.