So, as I was writing, I realized I didn't have a great idea of how the world outside Ydris looked. I knew that Korlisse was to the east and Erasteen was up north, but I couldn't grasp how they looked. In Rarity, I named some towns in Erasteen in a couple of chapters, as well as towns in Shaad, and I couldn't picture them in my mind. Shaad was across the sea. Anouria was far to the south. But then what? So I spent yesterday and today drawing maps! Let's just say that I'm tired of making triangles for mountains, and I now understand the history of all the wars that have been fought in that world. No, I'm not the type of author who has a world built in its entirety before the writing starts. The more information I have, the harder time I have actually writing. Some of my best plotted out chapters were ones I struggled to write. Like, for a year. So, here we are.
Ydris broke off from Erasteen because, well, they're kind of jerks. Evidently, it's pretty swampy. And cold. Erasteen wants Ydris back so they can have some nice farmland with no swamps. Constant turmoil.
Korlisse is landlocked because of impassable mountains. They have a lot of rivers and a great big lake, but they want port access. Ydris has that. Anouria does too and are happy to help them out, but evidently, Ydris is where it's at.
Anourians are chill. They have what they need and are happy to trade with others.
Shaad has very little erable land. Their peninsula is essentially Korlisse light when it comes to mountains. Except instead of being land locked, they're limited to the coasts. They want whatever land they can get. Ydris is ripe for farming.
So that concludes today's history lesson. Enjoy the map!
Andrea.
