Ramelin’s Orc’s Head Peninsula, 8 miles per hex
The second earliest map I have of Jose’s is this wonderful composite of the Orc’s Head Peninsula area. This one is even more complete than his earlier Frisland excerpt. As I understand it, his project underwent various stages of evolution and redrawing over an extended period, culminating in his unveiling of a great many maps. That this is an example of his early mapping shows the extent that he completed before going public — which he did not do until later in 2015.
As well as expertly combining the original source maps, Jose took things a step further, adding in new details of his own. His genius lies in his ability to match his new creations in style with the features around them — especially the labels — and we can already see a few present even in this early map. To list a few examples: Cay’s previously unnamed forests are now Loo Cay Forest and Cay’ee Forest; Herath’s largely undetailed southern province is now the Duchy of Hizou, complete with four new named settlements (Miradh, Adeth, Hallaveh, and Kurfeh); and the Orclands have lots of new lairs, as well as a few new named features.
It is this talent for seamlessly augmenting the original designs that defines Jose’s work in Mystara.
Fan-made Map by Jose Ignacio Ramos Lomelin (July 2015)
This is an original map created by one of Mystara’s excellent fan cartographers. For more information on the cartographer, including a gallery of all their maps, see also Appendix M: Mappers of Mystara.
Sources
- The Voyage of the Princess Ark Part 30: Web of the Wizard-King, Dragon 183 (July 1992)
- The Voyage of the Princess Ark Part 32: Silence of the lizards, Dragon 185 (September 1992)
- The Voyage of the Princess Ark Part 33: Lords of shade and hue, Dragon 186 (October 1992)
- The Voyage of the Princess Ark Part 35: The return home, Dragon 188 (December 1992)
- The Known World Grimoire: The sting and the sun, Dragon 192 (April 1993)
- The Known World Grimoire: A new definition of bad: the orcs of the Dark Jungle and their master, Dragon 196 (August 1993)
- Savage Coast Orc’s Head (1996)
Fan Sources
References
- All of Jose’s maps at the Atlas of Mystara
- Jose’s entry in Appendix M: Mappers of Mystara (upcoming)
- Jose’s author page at the Vaults of Pandius
Chronological Analysis
This is a fan-made map. It was created in July 2015, although it was not shared until much later. The updated Atlas version of this map is not yet available. See also Appendix C for annual chronological snapshots of the area. For the full context of this map in Mystara’s publication history, see the upcoming Let’s Map Mystara 2015.
Note: This map appears to have been unpublished until I posted it here. It appeared in whole and in part in various other later maps that were published. For Additions and Revisions, please see:
- Ramelin’s Colony of the Horn, 8 miles per hex (February 2016)
- Ramelin’s Herath, 8 miles per hex (February 2016)
- Ramelin’s Jibarú, 8 miles per hex (February 2016)
- Ramelin’s Nimmur, 8 miles per hex (November 2015)
- Ramelin’s Orc’s Head Orclands, 8 miles per hex (November 2015)
- Ramelin’s Reptilian Kingdoms, 8 miles per hex (November 2015)
- Ramelin’s Wallara, 8 miles per hex (February 2016)
Hex Art & Fonts
- Fonts — Bell MT (major geographic and all water labels), Bell Centennial (all other labels), Feinen (titling).
- Hex Art — Ramelin Mystara standard.
Revised 29th August 2023 — rewrote the map overview, adding examples of Jose’s new labels.
Revised 9th February 2026 — moved Chronological Analysis to later child maps, since this one was unreleased until much later.
