A Fallen Wolf's Den

DnD Map - the Seasonal Seas (WIP)

Main Premise:

I started as a new DM going "f*ck it!" I'm not wasting another year worldbuilding and never starting, here's a town, I'm new at DMing, be patient-let's do this.

Our DnD game is about to hit our 4 year anniversary on May 29th, two veteran players saying it's the best game they've ever been in, (beyond generous of them!). Most of the game has taken place in the place called Two-Towns, the dead center of the map, but now they're traveling out. I don’t know how to categorize the vibe of our game. Trying to make it believable as in cause and effect vs realistic, there’s some dark things, but not grimdark. It ends up being 97% roleplay with some combat stuff.

Image Context: Each spring the spirits return to the mortal realm bringing the Seasonal Seas - a massive continent sized flooding that lasts until the fall. Traveling the day after is ill-advised as the waters are settling creating terrible storms, tsunamis and squalls. Once it passes the seas are open for travel!

Under the waves however, the land remains healthy. Animals, plants, monsters and so on are undisturbed by this annual event. Those who cannot are guided to safety by spirits arriving early leading to an increase of creatures on certain islands.

Each island’s map places them in the most “important” location, the center, the top, or whatever. This shows the location of other islands rather than exact distance. For ships trade routes are memorized by a form of Wayfinding. Another method of island travel are living vehicles called Rail-Runners (giant mechanical magic train creatures).

The areas beyond the paths are highly dangerous leaving a large majority of the Seas unexplored. Towards the middle of fall the seas are pulled back and then winter comes turning things into a frozen landscape.

Other note stuff: