About this image

I sincerely apologize for the extended wait on this next file update for Areth...
So many new additions and improvements!

My image of Valorwind was so popular (my second highest rated image on the Nexus, in fact!) that I decided to use it as a guide in my reimagination of this central part of the realm. This revamped "Heartland" has been the area in which I have spent the most time developing.. The road in this image is actually one of two branches coming out of Tyrendar -- this one extending southeast towards Lake Evenia -- yes, I brought the lake back! -- and forking east to the mountain village previously shown. The opposite road goes southwest towards the Lake and forks west towards the arid Colovian Highlands-like border region of the Zamorrean Desert. The actual realm of Zamorr will remain locked until I am able to obtain proper desert resources for its construction in the distant future..

Note: The Zamorrean border region replaces the swamp region seen in the current build. I did not feel like the swamp area suited the warm "enchanted" atmosphere seen throughout the rest of the realm -- I'm sure others will agree that the transition in mood was quite abrupt. However, I do aim to preserve those assets for a properly themed area in the future.

The Heartland was created as a way of making travel between settlements more interesting, and acts as a kind of 'overworld', much like Hyrule Field in the Legend of Zelda, for example. It is an extensive and lightly wooded area with winding roads and valleys - a healthy medium between closed and open map design.