HOME | DD
Panthaleon β A map of Borczeg
#celtic #conlang #conscript #fantasy #fantasylandscape #fantasymap #map #mesopotamia #norse #religion #slavic #viking #world #worldbuilding #mapmaking #fantasyreligion #old #celticknot
Published: 2015-03-06 18:26:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 8890; Favourites: 83; Downloads: 44
Redirect to original
Description
This map drawn on a rabbit hide is one of the very few existing documents that show the entire world of Borczeg. Most of the hide is however covered with runic inscriptions that describe the origin of the world and the Ancestral Heroes.The inscription translates as follows:
In the void of space stands the oak Dathingur. It grew from a droplet of light that fell onto a piece of frozen darkness. The droplet sprouted and grew for an eternity until it became Dathingur.
Everything living and lifeless came from this droplet and this piece of ice.Β
In the branches of Dathingur grow a vast number of worlds, like apples. Some of them are maggoty, some are sweet. Borczeg is the name of our world.
In Dathingur's tree crown live the Skjures and watch all the worlds. [The skjures are spirits that take the shape of magpies]
They come to our world to take with them those who have lived a worthy life.
The ancestral heroes live forever in Dathingur's branches and guard and look after Borczeg.
Take them as your examples and live a worthy life.
The six depicted characters represent the most widely known heroes:
Limthe with the knot
Oreg with the antlers
Inde with the single eye
Czarn with the snake
Sdradomir with the cauldron
Aiwig with the key.
This is the sister piece to this map of Taesawesh:Β
Like with its sibling, making this involved heaps of historical research and endless (okay, about twenty) hours creating the conlang and the conscript.
Also, no rabbits were harmed in making this. As always it's only regular paper, dyed with tea.
Related content
Comments: 24
It's a convoluted mess with slavic and germanic influences, especially Polish. It has three numera (singular - one person, dual - two persons, plural - many persons) and 6 cases (Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative, Instrumentalis and Vocative). Also, there are at least two exceptions to every rule. The writing system is something between the Glagolitic alphabet and Ogham. It was a nightmare to create and I doubt I'll write any more of it
π: 0 β©: 1
I have a conlang to its also very Germanic and Slavic inspired by German Icelandic Russian Hebrew and little Danish and my first version of it. I would gladly post some of it in fact you can see some of it in my post a time of old and a land of far away
π: 0 β©: 0
Lovely <3 Did you draw them in ink? Or is that coloured pencil?
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you very much! Β It's drawn with ink.
π: 0 β©: 0
Thanks, I am glad you like it!
π: 0 β©: 0
Hey, most rabbits are lucky to get charms made out of their feet, this one would not have died in vain 
In all seriousness, I really love when people use unconventional and irregular map shapes. It's easy to forget that paper was once such a precious commodity that we couldn't be choosy about what you'd have to write on.
π: 0 β©: 1
I figured that paper is a relatively new invention and a celtic civilisation wouldn't use parchment or hide. It turned out much better than expected! I'll see if I can build on that.
π: 0 β©: 0
This looks great! 
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks! I wanted a style that looks familiar yet unique. I didn't want anybody to look at this and think "Look, a viking map!" The language I constructed myself and it's similar to Polish and other Slavic languages. The text explains the creation myth and the basics of the religion of this world. I'll put a more complete text into the description.
π: 0 β©: 1
Cool! 
How long you've been constructing your conworld, and what kind of a world is it?
π: 0 β©: 1
I got the idea... maybe two years ago? I've been working on it ever so often. The basic idea is that the world is flat and there are people living on both sides. (this is the other side: pathosglasbeard.deviantart.com⦠). Borczeg has a slavic/celtic culture and a very tolerant and individualistic society. However, life there is short and hard. Taesawesh is inspired by Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. They are very civilised and educated, but their religion and society are very restrictive. Individual wishes are always put second. At the moment, the two worlds know nothing of each other.
π: 0 β©: 1
Wow, this looks really, really great! Can you tell me how exactly do you dye the paper? I'd like to use something like that! It's much cooler than printed maps, no matter how greatly drawn!
π: 0 β©: 1
It's simple really. I just take a regular piece of white paper and then "paint" it with a tea bag from both sides. If you let it dry while lying on a flat surface, it the paper doesn't curl very much. But if you hang it up to dry it isn't that bad either, and it doesn't take as long to dry. You can also take a basin and fill it with tea and then soak the paper in it for a while. The longer you leave it in, the darker it gets. I use regular black tea, but you can also take coffee. That's basically it! I suggest you just go ahead and experiment with it. I've been making pieces like this for almost two years now and even I some times discover new tricks.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks for the tip, I'll certainly try something!
π: 0 β©: 0
Thanks a lot! My main inspiration were the Norse Younger Futhark runes and the Glagolitic alphabet, an old slavig writing system.
π: 0 β©: 0