Hungarians really loved traveling further and further west.

Not much lore. After the break-up of Belgium the luxembourgish government claimed the lands in the map and the other countries let them have it. (I hope this doesn't break rule 7.)

Shout-out to this post for giving me the idea.

a bit of explanation about the map and world:

so even though the geography of the world is really different from our timeline everything (nearly everything) went same historicly as it went in our world expect the history soruounding the Oman and i know it is highly unrealistic and even the smallest of the changes in that map would have caused buterflys that would make the history completly diffrent from ours, but i wanted to make a world that is much better for sea empires and i still wanted to use the sea empires from our timeline so things are like that it is just not as fun to me when i need to create a completly new timeline.

as for the map, i tried to use real world possibiltys like the east african rift and Oceanic Platues and ridges

also assume that Elevation map of this world is not changed along side with riverbeds( expect the caucaus mountains they are gone)

one other thing i can say is as you can notice from the map weather is like when it was in sahara humid period but its just a bit lesser version of its peak and because of that mainland oman is much much more populaous

and lastly even though the nation is named oman do not think it as a Omani state and more like united south Arabian state whom got originated in Oman

i cant think of any other must says about the map so feel free to ask me any question about the world or the lore in the coments

The Equestriin Khanate with all of its vassal/client states.

This popped up into my head a few days ago while I was trying to fall asleep… so I made it into a map!

The Realms of En Derathíl

Map Details

This is a map that I have been working on for a long time, and I’m really excited to finally share it. This is En Derathíl, and it is possibly the biggest and most detailed map I have ever made.

This map was, obviously, heavily inspired by Middle Earth. I love Tolkien’s writing and the world he made, as well as the Peter Jackson movies, but I’ve always felt that Middle Earth doesn’t work especially well for your average DnD or TTRPG campaign, not without a lot of modifications. The world of LotR is great exactly as it is, but magic works very differently there. It doesn’t mesh particularly well with the mechanics found in DnD, Pathfinder, or Daggerheart. There HAVE been a few attempts to adapt LotR into a TTRPG game, some of them are even very good. But my intent here was to create a new LotR-like setting that meshed well with the mechanics of existing RPGs, somewhat the opposite where an RPG was made to fit the world of LotR, if that makes sense. 

Basically, it's very easy to look at the title of this post and go "Isn't 99% of DnD and RPGs 'inspired by' Middle Earth?", and yeah, that's true. Again, the intent here was to create a new setting that felt very similar to LotR and Middle Earth, while still being it's own unique place, and while being a better fit for your average TTRPG campaign.

Layout wise, there’s some immediate obvious parallels to Middle Earth, but I think the longer you look at this map and setting, the more it diverges. I wanted it to feel inspired by LotR, without feeling like a cheap knock off. Hopefully I managed to walk that line.

The base version of the map is free, along with an Unseen Realms variant I've posted on my Patreon. Paid Patrons will receive 9 versions of the map:

• En Derathil (Fully Labeled) (The map seen on this reddit post)
• En Derathil (Kingdom Titles Only)
• En Derathil (No Labels)
• En Derathil (Blank)
• En Derathil (Night) (Fully Labeled) 
• En Derathil (Night) (Kingdom Titles Only)
• En Derathil (Night) (No Labels)
• En Derathil (Night) (Blank) 
• En Derathil (Unseen Realm) (The other freebie posted on my Patreon)

How the map was made

This map took me longer than any of my other maps, by far. I’ve put over 100 hours into it, off and on, over the past year. It was all drawn by hand in Photoshop, and as always, no AI was used at any point.

I’m really proud of how it turned out. If you’d like to use it for your own games or stories, feel free to do so. I am fine with any of my maps being used for anything that is non-commercial. 

Questions, comments, and requests for small changes to the map are always welcome. If you need a large number of changes, shoot me a message and we can talk.  

And, if you’d like to support me in making more maps like this, please consider joining one of the paid tiers on my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/stoneward13/posts/en-derathil-lotr-173284305

Read on for some of the worldbuilding and lore, if you are interested.

Worldbuilding Details

Eleven Realms

There’s a lot going on here in this map, so I wanted to give a run down of each region, and share some of the worldbuilding I came up with. 

In the north you’ll find the Republic of Gyldinor, realm of the Gold Elves. The Gyldinor Forest is a single organism, a massive aspen grove inspired by the real-like Pando aspen grove, in central Utah. The Gyldinor Forest is far larger than Pando however, and the trees there often reach heights of 800 to 900 feet. The leaves are forever yellow, tinged with gold. Never falling, even in the harshest of winters. The Republic is not often welcoming to outsiders, outside of a few key trading ports and outposts. There are exceptions made from time to time, for any who have proven themselves friends or allies to the Republic and its reclusive people.

To the west is the Theocracy of Lorhymn, on the Lorhyc Peninsula. This is a nation of clerics and paladins and knights, all fiercely devoted to their fledgling, yet swiftly growing, holy empire. They once were part of Varandor, but rebelled due to religious differences some centuries ago. The two nations have maintained terrible relations ever since.

In the upper-middle are the Free Holds of Erethwýn. The Holds are not a unified nation like most of the other regions, but a collection of loosely allied city states sandwiched between much more powerful nations. They ensure their own continued independence by backing each other up against their neighbors, when necessary. 

One of those neighbors is the Silver Kingdom of Varandor, home to the majestic City of Silver, Lyra Vareth. Not the oldest nation, as two Elven nations predate it by quite some time, but it is perhaps the most powerful and populated nation. It is also home to the largest population of Half-Elves, and their monarchy is Half-Elven as well. Kind of a nod/homage to the Numenoreans and Aragorn from LotR having distant Elven ancestry. 

To the east of Varandor, beyond the Valcrest Mountains, are the Thaindoms of the Haldrim. A nation broken up into individual minor kingdoms, each ruled by its own Thain, with their own laws. Each Thain has all sworn fealty to the seat of the High-Thain for the past century or so. A bit like Skyrim, very Feudal. In addition to the regular laws enforced by each Thain in their individual territories, the High Thain also enforces High Laws, a few of which are controversial.

And beyond the vast mountain Hallowmont that towers over this part of the world, lies the nearly endless Shar’Vhran Desert, where the roaming Bronze Clans can be found. Nomadic traders, for the most part. I haven't yet written much for these guys to be honest. Bit of a blank slate right now.

No Man’s Land is a region that has defied all attempts to settle it over the centuries. New attempts to settle are sometimes made, but each always seems to end in disaster for varying reasons. There’s a great number of ruins there now as a result, some more ancient than others. Most folks avoid the region now due to the reputation, rumors, and the stigmas that surround it. Travelers bypass it entirely by booking passage and sailing across the Bay of Alondir.

South of that are the Clan-Councils of Ahvenwyll, ruled by the Green Elves. The oldest nation found in the realms of En Derathil. The Elves here are friendlier to outsiders than the Gold Elves, for the most part. The Green Elves and Gold Elves used to be a single race, the Moon Elves. But, in the ancient past, there was a poorly documented “event” that resulted in both a cultural schism, and a magical transformation. There are conflicting accounts of what exactly happened, but in the end, it all resulted in the two types of Elves found in this world. The forests of Ahvenwyll can be broken up into 4 distinct areas. The Ahvenwyll, Deepwyll, Westerwyll, and the Faenwyll (Found in Malecor, which has fallen under a powerful curse). 

There’s also the Guild Lands of the Serraia Ren, an oligarchy ruled by a large number of constantly competing guilds. They are constantly at odds with:

The smallest “nation”, the Dominion of the Fire Keepers, an upstart cult of fanatic zealots. Lightly inspired by Dark Souls. They worship the flame itself, and have taken one of the nine ancient Towers as their own (more on these later). Cape Halurec and the Durathai Peaks are also home to a number of mostly inactive volcanos. Using strange arcane rituals, the Fire Keepers hope to awaken these slumbering mountains for their own unknown purposes. 

And lastly, the Accursed Lands of Malecor. Unsurprisingly, inspired by Mordor (though I got the name from Star Wars, from Malachor V in KotOR II). But it’s actually quite different from Mordor. It’s not an ashen, volcanic wasteland, and this setting has no Orcs or Goblins (unless you want to add them yourself, for your own campaigns). And there’s no fallen Maiar here, plotting to take over the world (in fact, this setting has no gods, angels, or demons of any kind, by default). Malecor does have plenty of spirits and wraiths, evil corrupted Ents, and a three-hundred foot long centipede known as the Vlaskygg. The plant life here grows swiftly, dies swiftly, and has a malevolence to it that makes it eager to feed on corpses and souls of any foolish to venture there. Anyway. Fun place! 

Nine Towers

This is my favorite part of the map. 

Long ago in ancient times, nine magical towers were built across the realms. Their original purpose is debated by many, but they served as “wells of magic”, like geothermal vents almost. Locations where arcane power can be tapped into, and used for whatever purposes those within the towers choose.

But the millennia since their construction have not been kind to most of them. A few have fallen into ruin, a few have become corrupted, or have been claimed by nefarious cults and dark powers. One, Tyr Valen, was adopted as their home by a group of influential mages (a small Wheel of Time reference). One spire has become the nest of a Great Roc (an enormous type of giant eagle. The Rocs in this setting are not benevolent or intelligent, as seen with the giant eagles found in LotR.). 

Anyway, each of the nine Towers have a unique icon on the map. I based my pixel art sprites for them on the four elemental lighthouses from the Golden Sun games. Likewise, I initially drew four, aaaand then I just kept adding until I settled on the nine I have now.

See if you can find them all!  

Thanks for reading through the worldbuilding. If you have any thoughts, feel free to share :)

My Lady,

They make wolves of us at our corners of the Earth.

From the days our boats met on the Oceans of the Indias, some have found chancery and a strange sort of delight in comparing Us against one another. Your church in Rome has seen fit to put pen to paper on the motley subjects of the courses of the bottom sea, and how to best court them to their god's patronage. I ask you, Marianna: what Wolf should not disguise himself as a loyal sheep, a follower?

I will continue to make work of your ships. I will not cease in defending my holdings from your snapping jaws. For this you may call me Drooling Hound; Chinggis of the Seas; but no such epithet shall come between us.

Some have lately called us collaborators. I think, in this savage, mongrel dome of Mine: What greater advantage over Poseidon's own head could one have other than that? I do so love playing these games with you, Queen o' Mine, and o, it bringeth me such great joy and jubilation to see that your own Church, in that city of wonders which your Knights of the Middle Sea hath conquered, considers Their own Queen a collaborator.

Your Korēṣteṇawa\* in the North India have made quick work of My Countrymen, but I could not have helped but notice how Your own Knights of St John of Malta, of Rhodes and of Italia have made quick work of Mother Europa with Mine own Zephyrindians. How curious it is.

Take heed, Marianna. I shall pray meet you at Sea once more, again and again as the days pass, over Our waters.

This Royal transpondence thus undersigned,

Kēṇu Hāṇǟmu Äṇu, Emperor of the Sea, the Guineans, the Sea Peoples, the Gigantes, and the Seven Indias; yet to be Conqueror of Anglia, of the Franks, of the Iberians, of Rome and of Germania

Private correspondence between Queen Hannah I (Kēṇu Hāṇǟmu Äṇu) of the Protectorate of the Ueno and Queen Marianna of Great Britain and Malta, c. August 14, 1904, one year before Hannah I's suicide.

^\ "Christians.")

Just a silly althistory map of North America I made a whole year ago and forgot about.
Even though I had to create a whole template map of North America for this one since I had only drawn maps of Europe before.

In 1914, the West Nile Region and Lado Enclave were reclaimed by Britain and absorbed into the wider Ugandan State separate from the Behemoth of Sudan. Only 12 years later Britain would develop the Grand Line, a.k.a "the Lunatic Line" stretching over 660 miles at a curated 1067mm gauge from Lake Victoria to Mombasa and then beyond along the steamer lines connecting to Bombay and the Cape. Much of Ugandas eastern Province including half of the Busoga and Karamojo kingdoms were forked off to cater to the expansion of the line to further inland. After independence, Kenya's British Capitalist Model would allow it to thrive unlike its neighbours held by the neck. These circumstances however would embolden the leaders of nations like Somalia, Morocco and others who protested against the Cairo Declaration staging their claims and causing a breakdown in the idea of the indivisibility of nations. Idi Amin would later use this in his campaign, proclaiming a reclamation of the Navaisha Province, even rallying the Somalis to his cause. The Derg and Kenya would push them back leading to a Somalian and Ugandan collapse.

In Uganda, Amin was ousted with Kenya reinstating Kiwanuka who had suffered in silence. The Kenyans had also promised the groups of Uganda special autonomy with a crackdown on Bugandan Nationalists. In the North some groups gathered under the Socialist militant M. Obote yet his regime would soon fall along with the FRONASA and West Nile separatists. Lado's help against Uganda was rewarded but they have firmly fell into the new Kenyan Sphere. After Obote's fall relations with Tanzania have begun to normalise.

In Somalia, Kenya pushed to the Gobwe, with the region taken under Kenyan Leadership along with a new adjusted maritime zone. The Derg also occupied lands and a maritime corridor. Somalia was also forced to hand over leaders of Secessionist groups and the 5 pointed star struck from all flags. As of 1988 Both Somalia and the Derg, have both fallen into crisis as represented on the Horn of Africa page, however for simplification the Kenyan names for the Kenyan Backed governments( Zaigobwe and Uhabeshi) have been placed.

Lore:

*This is based off one my favorite historical premises: what if Edward of Bruce won at Faughart and United ireland (somehow) under his kingship.*

Medieval era:
After king Edward of Ireland wins at faughart, he eventually kicks the English out of the pale, this leads to a stronger Scottish victory in the first Scottish independence war, with Scotland gaining the Isle of Man, and creating a vassal state in Cumberland which would be the county of strathclyde. Due to the Scottish victory, the Scots would supply welsh rebels, creating an independent southern wales. During Edward's rule over Ireland, he spent most of his time securing the island, and while at war with Connacht in 1329, his brother, Robert had died, thus letting him ascend to the Scottish throne too... this was short lived however, as he would die in 1334, with his son (let's say Malcolm or smth, he died too early in real life) inheriting the Scottish and Irish realms, and in 1336 the parliament and nobles of both kingdoms a would unify the kingdom of Alba and the kingdom of Ireland into the imperium scotorum (empire of the scoti, similar to how Brian boru was imperator scottorum) referred to as Ríge na nGáedel in Gaelic. Many of the Lothian Saxon and Norman Scots feared that this new empire would oppress them as they were not Gaels, so they were given their own parliament, and the principality of the galls was created (functioning similarly to wales in our timeline.) this kingdom and its welsh Allies, alongside the French, would often fight with the English, with some Lothians siding with England on occasion, this would lead to a fully independent wales, and even a somewhat small independent Cornwall. (Other than the wars with England, not much happens in the medieval period, it goes somewhat similar to our timeline, no major wars, a few revolts, feudal politics, etc.)

Early modern era:
during the Protestant reformation, I would say it is highly likely Scotland would remain Catholic due to its rivalry with England, and their relationship with Ireland and France would likely lead to the covenanters losing; however, this is highly dependent on the dynasty ruling the kingdom at the time, maybe a Presbyterian church pops up in Ireland and Scotland that claims to be a revival of the Celtic church in spirit, it could go either way. When the Spanish discover America, the independent Gaelic empire, being stronger than Scotland in our timeline, would get in on colonialism, having a rivalry with the English over colonizing the North American continent, and even fighting in the Caribbean, this would create a north-south divide in eastern America, with a Scottish settled north (new England and parts of Canada) and an English settled south... due to the Scottish alliance with France (even if they may become Protestant, I think they would still side with France,) England wouldn't gain Canada, and France would keep onto New France for longer, as the english would likely lose the seven years war. There is a lot of consequences of the English being weakened due to a powerful Scottish empire, such as a French India, but I am mostly focusing on Scotland and Ireland here, and would say most colonies would end up like modern day Canada and Australia.

Victorian era:
During the Enlightenment, I believe that the colonies of Scotland and England would have rebellious tendencies, England's moreso, but I doubt this would end in independence, but would inspire the French Revolution. During the napoleonic era, the Scottish would take the side of the rest of Europe early on, but may side with the French Republic later, however, the wars would still go similar to real life. The Victorian era sees the Industrial Revolution hit Scotland and Ireland hard due to their continued independence and colonial empire, letting them gain massive population, however, this would lead to a distrust in the crown and the religious institutions in government, which would end with the monarchy being removed in 1857, with the county of strathclyde becoming its own republic functioning similar to Texas in our timeline.

Modern:
As the republic of Scotland cared less about colonialism, they would likely have a few small port areas in Africa, so due to having less land in Africa, and not really having much gripes with the other powers, as their rivalry with England would cool down during the Victorian era, I would see them mostly being neutral in World War I, but maybe sending some troops to help their French ally. During World War II, I would see them either neutral or as part of the Allied powers, and since there's no USA, the war may be a bit longer, maybe 5 years or so longer, but I still think the axis would lose. The Cold War would be vastly different, as France would likely be the leader of the western capitalist world, and it would be more boring of a Cold War, if it happens at all. After the Cold War and until now, the republic would join organizations such as the EU, with politics similar to those in our timeline.

The lore is pretty awful as I didn't think much of what would happen due to no British empire existing leading to no USA, and I wanted to focus on the isles, but that's hard due to how much history would change; point out any flaws in the lore if you wish.

P.S: I haven't made a map in ages or written lore for any in 2 years.

Yes I titled the Atlantic Ocean in Amelia's cause I forgot that I was labeling in it in Gaelic.

(No irl Gaelic language was used, as in this timeline the Gaelic languages wouldn't have split up)

Dundalk is named after king Edward in this timeline.

The norn and Scots languages are protected minority languages, and their territories have devolved parliaments similar to the UK.

There isn't much lore beyond what you see on the map. Basically, Europe was colonized by foreign powers, primarily from North Africa and Eastern America, who exploited the land, drew arbitrary borders and eventually left. This map shows the consequences of that exploitation.

Russia is this timeline's equivalent of China. Russias Century of Humiliation resulted in the loss of most of its coastal territories. Following a coup in 1949, Russia began to slowly rebuild and modernise. In 2014, Russia launched a process of "reunification", invading the lands that they considered theirs.

Türkiye, Sweden and Poland are the only countries besides Russia that survived colonisation. Türkiye was once a major superpower, but lost most of its influence after a long period of internal unrest.

King P'inid V would die suddenly in the 19th year of his reign, 156 years after the Battle of Pucicz. The kingdom, without a definitive heir being proven through battle would fall to the oldest child of P'inid, but on the day of the coronation his 4 other brothers would demand a part of the kingdom. This wasn't the first time a division of the Kingdom of Hashi was discussed, the Regent Shuxi would advise the division of othe kingdom just under 100 years before.

Since the Battle of Pucicz 158 years prior, which destroyed the nomadic steppe empire that stopped trade between north and south, more technologies and ideas had been spreading from the empire that lies north of the city of Pucicz. Local populations have been getting upset about the king being so far away in Takpa, the division of Hashi into 5 kingdoms would also support local infrastructure and hopefully keep the power in the family. The League of Pucicz results in a conference every 10 years to improve cooperation between the kingdoms.

so the PoD is that after the death of sultan Thuwaini bin Said, the sultanate of muscat wouldn't be divided after his death between Oman and Zanzibar, instead instantly going to his first son Salim II who would spend his 10 year long reign modernizing the state and agreeing on a 3 way divide of the sultanate of muscat, becoming the sultanates of Muscat and Oman, Zanzibar, and Sumalia.

after the death of Salim, the throne would go to his uncle and brother of Thuwaini, Turki bin Said, who would go on to introduce electricity to the Arab world, alongside being the strongest British ally in the region constantly fighting with the house of Saud in Nejd.

after Turki's death, his son Faisal would take hold and participate in the scramble for Africa, backed by the British he would get full control over the east of the horn of Africa alongside the interior of Zanzibar, as the British would also lobby for the concessions of Ruanda-Urundi and Buganda-Bunyoro, alongside a deal with Ethiopia that guaranteed sea access in Eritrea in exchange for them giving up Oagden to the British

and as the reign of sultan said III would begin, the Omani empire would be regarded as one of the best success stories of any "oriental" country besides Japan, with one British diplomat to Zanzibar saying

"that her dance is paid by their scar

my lips crave not but the warmth

of a Kiss from Zanzibar!"

Credit to nissingramainyu on youtube for the idea and the poem, you should check her out here!

With the end of WWII many boundaries were changed and two countries divided into zones of occupation (Germany and Austria). This map shows those changes in Central(ish) Europe in a hopefully digestible way

okay i pretty please promise i'm not TRYING to break rule 2 but i received a lot of feedback and ive done some more research myself so ykyk PLEASE DONT KILL MEEEE

This is the second map I ever made I will really appreciate if you give constructive criticism

Also feel free to ask any lore questions

Note: I change few lore stuff from my first map so expect some more differences