Welcome to Week Two of our Kingmaker theme, where we continue to flesh out the lands, power, and places of the Barony of Estantia. Bit by bit, the blank spaces on our sandbox map are being filled, and this week brings some big, story-rich locations to the table.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🗺️ This Week’s Maps (3 Total!)
🏰 Palerock Castle (5 Levels!)
The centrepiece of this release is Palerock Castle, a massive five-level castle map and the ancestral seat of the Baron of Estantia. Ancient, imposing, and built to dominate both land and river, it’s the kind of stronghold your players might aspire to rule one day as they carve out their own kingdoms. Perfect for political intrigue, sieges, or high-level play.
⚖️ Gibbets Cross
Next up is Gibbets Cross, a grim crossroads map complete with a hanging cage, ideal for ambushes, tense encounters, or making an example of those who misbehave.
🌲 Hunters in the Deep Forest
Finally, we have a forest campsite map, showing a band of hunters operating deep within thick woodland. This map is perfect for wilderness encounters, tracking quests, or hidden dangers lurking just beyond the firelight.
Every release brings us closer to a fully realized sandbox, a living region your players can explore, influence, and ultimately rule if they so chose.
If you enjoy these maps and want to support the project, consider joining the Patreon. Your support keeps the maps coming and helps us keep expanding Estantia, one location at a time.
As always, thank you for being part of the journey and happy mapping adventuring! 🗺️✨
Cheers!
George - RC
----------------------------------------------------
PS. The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place for creatives. With the surge of GenAI, huge corporations stealing our work and the prevalence of AI slop in every corner of the internet, your continued support for human made art is all the more important. So Thank you very much for you support :D.
----------------------------------------------------
None of the artwork released on this Patreon may be included in an GenAI datasets or be altered by GenAI programs for use in any context without our express permission, which you most certainly do not have!
Variations
2026-02-12 22:00:09 +0000 UTC
View Post
Today marks the first release for our new theme: Kingmaker, and I’m very excited to finally get this in front of your ball shaped eye doodads!
Much like the sandbox nature of Kingmaker itself, all of our maps this month will be focused on fleshing out one specific region, the Barony of Estania. Rather than hopping all over the place, we’re digging deep and building something you can truly live in with your players.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🗺️ The Barony of Estania - Part of our Fallen Kingdom Setting
At 60 miles wide and 40 miles high, Estania is a big region, and we’re cramming it full of everything you’ll need to run long-term adventures, political intrigue, wilderness exploration, and messy local drama.
Below you’ll find a preview of the region map as it currently stands, but for now, let’s focus on the main event: today’s releases.
🏘️ This Week’s Maps
The Town of Roserun
A small but vital market town whose wooden bridge is the only reliable crossing of the River Ere for hundreds of miles. Control Roserun, and you control trade, travel, and trouble.
The Doctor’s House
Home of a well-to-do local doctor in the heart of Roserun, who definitely isn’t secretly a necromancer....absolutely not....for sure. Nothing to see here.
Note: I also made quite a bit of progress on mapping out Roserun Fort, but sadly three maps this week is all you’re getting out of me, but keep an eye out for that one later! 😉
The Duelling Stone
About 5 miles outside Roserun, an ancient standing stone sits atop a low hill. Placed there by persons unknown, for purposes long forgotten, but now used by locals as a place to settle grudges at the point of a sword.
📦 GM Packs – Early Preview
In my 2026 Roadmap post last week, I talked about wanting to introduce GM Packs as a way to add more value and utility to the Patreon.
To give you a rough idea of what that might look like, I’ve included a PDF in Master Cartographer's Rewards folder.
This is very much substance over style for now, but it should give you a clear sense of what I’m thinking in terms of contents and usefulness.
👉 Please let me know what you think! Feedback at this stage is hugely helpful.
The Plan for Estania
Also included is our rough working plan for the Barony of Estania. You’ll see annotations all over the map with suggested Points of Interest:
Red – Maps that still need to be made
Green – Maps we already have in the archive
Orange – Maps releasing today
As you can see, it’s already looking pretty full—but I want more ideas.
Drop suggestions in the comments below or hop over to our Discord, where we’ve got a dedicated channel just for this project.
❤️ Want More?
If you’re enjoying this direction and want to see Estania grow into a fully realized sandbox you can run straight from the page:
👉 Consider signing up or upgrading your pledge
Your support directly makes projects like this possible—and helps keep the maps coming at a frankly irresponsible pace.
As always, thank you for being here, and welcome to Kingmaker. 👑
Cheers!
George - RC
----------------------------------------------------
PS. The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place for creatives. With the surge of GenAI, huge corporations stealing our work and the prevalence of AI slop in every corner of the internet, your continued support for human made art is all the more important. So Thank you very much for you support :D.
----------------------------------------------------
None of the artwork released on this Patreon may be included in an GenAI datasets or be altered by GenAI programs for use in any context without our express permission, which you most certainly do not have!
Variations
2026-02-05 21:59:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
New to The Reclusive Cartographer? Read this first.
Welcome, and thank you for supporting The Reclusive Cartographer!
If you’ve just joined, the amount of content here can feel a little overwhelming at first. This post is here to help you get started fast!
Below is a simple way to get started and a few recommended downloads that work in almost any campaign.
It's a bit of a long post so if you are looking for a specific answer use Ctrl/Command+F to jump to:
What is this Patreon is best for?
What should I download first?
How do I find the map I want?
How do I download Foundry scenes?
How Can I Suggest Future Content?
Once you have read this post I recommend heading over to our Cartographer's Archive as there is a lot more to see :D.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step 1: What This Patreon Is Best For
The RC Patreon is built to help you:
Our releases are designed to be system agnostic, so we can cover all bases, regardless of what system you play, everything here is plug-and-play.
Step 2: What should I Download First? (Recommended Starter Set)
If you only grab a few things today, start with these, its a curated collection of maps just to wet your whistle so to speak!
Download the RC Starter Pack - 2026
⭐ 1. Ismouth Town - Settlement Map
Perfect for:
⭐ 2. The Jolly Otter - Tavern Map
(The name alone sparks joy :D)
Perfect for:
⭐ 3. The Old Barrow
Ideal for:
👉 Look for: ruins, crypts, keeps, caves or lairs
⭐ 4. Pasture Road
Great for:
If any of these spark ideas, you’re using this Patreon correctly 😉
Step 3: How Do I Find A Map I Want?
We are currently in the process of upgrading our archive to allow for easier browsing and download. We hope to have this live by March 2026.
In the meantime here are a few tips for navigating the archive:
The Master Archive
Use tags to jump to specific biomes or map types
Check collection posts when available, they group older content by theme
Don’t feel like you need to download everything at once, we are well into the thousands of maps stage now so take your time!
This Patreon is a toolbox, not homework.
Step 4: Downloading What You Want
Once you know what map you are after, jump over to the Master Downloads page where you will find all of the files for your tier.
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
Similarly to step 3, we are working on a '1 click download' for our maps to streamline this whole process, also to be rolled out in March 2026.
After downloading the map files you'll find the following folders labelled like this:
72dpi files - perfect for digital games and for online platforms such as Roll20
300dpi files - high res files that are great for printing
WebP files - optimised files for Foundry VTT - Note: these are not the prebuilt files, for those look at Step 5!
Note: Folders for older maps will be labelled: Roll20, HighRes and Foundry respectively. Rest assured the files are the same.
Step 5: How do I download Foundry scenes? - Master Cartographers and Above
For those of you that use Foundry VTT, we have over 100 scenes, prebuilt with walls and lights etc, ready to drop straight into your games.
If you jump over to the Foundry Archive page you'll find all of the Manifest URLs, all you need to do from there is to copy and paste the URL you want into the Install Module section of Foundry and it will download ready for you to use!
Step 6: How Can I Suggest Future Content?
Patron feedback matters here.
You’ll regularly see polls asking about:
If you ever think:
“I wish there was a map for....”
There’s a good chance other patrons do too.
Dropping a comment on our Patreon posts is a good way but the best way is to join our Discord Community, we are always lurking our there so come and say hi! :D
One Last Thing ❤️
If you ever feel lost, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start that’s on me, not you.
This post exists so you can jump in confidently and start using the maps right away.
Thanks again for being here, and I hope these maps make your next session easier (and more memorable).
– R
2026-02-02 14:00:26 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi team!
I'm slightly late with sorting the poll this month so cast your vote quickly so i can get to work :D
This month I thought we would take our inspiration from the excellent folks over at Pazio and their Pathfinder Adventure Paths!
Having consulted you fine folks on Discord I have a list of the top tier Adventures to choose from. Rather than focusing on creating maps FOR these adventures (though im sure we will do some of that too) we will use them to INSPIRE our own map making efforts.
Happy Voting!
Cheers
G
2026-02-01 09:48:33 +0000 UTC
View Post
Quick note for patrons:
You might notice that this post has been charged. That was intentional, I realised yesterday that our big release on January 23rd https://www.patreon.com/posts/week-3-celtic-148928676 was accidentally not charged, so this post simply brings us back in sync as the fourth charge for January.
You won’t be charged more than you normally are overall, this just balances things out.
Thanks as always for your support!
– RC
Hey everyone!
I wanted to take a moment to share where The Reclusive Cartographer is heading over the next year, not just in terms of maps, but in how this Patreon works for you as: DMs, worldbuilders....legends, take your pick!
This page has been going for six years now, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. Over time the output has grown a lot (more maps, more styles, even animated maps), but I want to make sure one thing stays true:
Supporting this Patreon should make your games easier, faster, and more fun to run.
So over the coming months, I’ll be making some improvements to how content is delivered, organised, and expanded, without taking away anything you already enjoy.
Here’s what you can expect.
More Structure, Less Guesswork
You’ll have noticed recently that a lot of our maps are connected.
Instead of standalone releases, maps will increasingly come in focused sets, things like:
Cities and buildings that belong together - such as our recent release of Dun Caerwyn and The Sacred Oak / High King Branoc’s Hall
Dungeons with supporting locations - such as the King's Cairn and Cairn Exterior
Regions you can drop straight into a campaign - look no further than the Isle of Falrenn for that one :)
We will be continuing to do this going forward and you’ll usually know ahead of time what kind of locations are coming, so you can plan around them.
DM Packs (New!)
Alongside maps, I’ll be introducing DM Packs tied to each major release.
These are designed to save prep time and spark ideas, and may include:
Plot hooks and adventure seeds
NPCs or factions connected to the map
Encounter ideas or room themes
Suggested level ranges
Nothing too heavy, just practical, usable material you can grab and run with.
A Better Experience for New Patrons
If you’re new (or thinking of joining), I’m also improving the onboarding experience:
A clear “Start Here” post
A curated set of recommended maps
Easier ways to find the most useful content quickly
The biggest part of this will be a complete overhaul of the RC website! To long have we squeaked by with the simple site I built in WIX. We have a web boffin working on a completely new site as we speak with 2 main aims:
You see a make you like, you press one button and its yours! That is the plan!
Making Better Use of the Back Catalogue
Over the years, this Patreon has built up a huge archive.
Rather than letting that sit unused, I’ll be:
Creating curated collections of older maps
Highlighting maps for common needs (starter towns, taverns, dungeons, etc.)
If you’ve been around a while, you may rediscover things you missed.
If you’re newer, this will make catching up much easier.
Your Voice Really Matters
Polls, feedback, and suggestions aren’t going anywhere, in fact, they’ll matter more.
You’ll continue to help shape:
This Patreon works best when it feels collaborative, not one-way.
Thank You ❤️
Whether you’re a long-time patron, a new supporter, or following along for free, thank you.
My aim with these changes isn’t to overhaul everything overnight, but to make this Patreon clearer, stronger, and more useful for the people who rely on it for their games.
As always, feedback is welcome so please comment on this post with anymore suggestions you might have. I’m really excited about what we’re building next :D
Cheers!
George – RC
2026-01-30 22:00:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
Greetings human shaped persons!
This is our fourth and final release for this month’s Celtic Folks theme, and to close it out we’re pulling everything together into a single, cohesive Celtic-inspired regional map.
We also have another battlemap to add to your collection: The Fairy Court, check that out below!
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
The Isle of Falrenn
What began life as a slightly mangled echo of Ireland from our world has now taken on a life of its own, now a land of clawing mists, trickster fey, and towering, terrifying giants.
📜 Lore Dump
The mysterious island of Falrenn lies to the north-west of the lands of Noctis, a place of wild forests, bog-choked lowlands, and ancient stone-marked hills. Mists creep in from the sea and cling stubbornly to the land, hiding forgotten paths and older dangers.
The peoples of Falrenn are often dismissed as savages by outsiders, their tribal existence misunderstood. In truth, the isle is home to a complex web of family, tribe, and chief, bound together by oath, blood, and tradition older than any crown.
⚔️ The Seven Tribes of Falrenn
The Maelvar
The smallest of the tribes, the Maelvar live along the coast, surviving through fishing and whaling, their lives tied to the tides and storms.
The Aeslinga
Once the most powerful tribe on Falrenn, their fall began with the folly of King Caelwyn “the Moonmarked”, a tale still whispered in warning.
The Cernathi
Pastoral herders who roam the rolling hills of eastern Falrenn, moving their livestock with the seasons and the land’s slow rhythms.
The Belenor
A reclusive western tribe whose druids maintain one of the strongest connections to the raw forces of nature on the isle.
The Dunmorach
The current hegemons of Falrenn. From their fortified hillforts and secluded valleys, High King Brannoc exacts tribute from many of the other tribes.
The Moirach
Dwellers of the marshlands beneath the Mountains of Mor. Their harsh lives are marked by ritual raiding and human sacrifice to the giants of Ard Gorm, whom they worship as gods.
The Frodari
Refusing to kneel to the giants, the Frodari chose defiance instead. Their warlike culture produced the legendary giant slayers of the Talbane Clan.
✨ The Fey of Falrenn
Thanks to its remoteness and sparse population, Falrenn has become a sanctuary for ancient fey beings. Vast forests, untouched by human hands, are guarded by powerful spirits rarely seen elsewhere in the world. They hold little love for humankind, and they protect their lands fiercely.
⛵ The Arrival of Outsiders
Twenty years ago, Falrenn’s isolation was broken when settlers from Havvarlan sailed upriver and founded the town of Vargheim, displacing local peoples in the process.
Plagued by lycanthropes and monstrous wolves from the eastern reaches of the Forest of Druinmor, the settlement has grown slowly, stubbornly refusing to die. Its long-term impact on Falrenn remains uncertain.
🗺️ What This Regional Map Includes
This map brings together every location featured this month, including:
The Fairy Court
Deep within the Laughing Woods is said to reside the Court of the Fairies, a sacred and magical place where the fey denizens of Falrenn congregate to hear rulings, meet out justice, settle disputes and scheme against their enemies.
Jump over to LegendKeeper!
To tie it all together, we’ve also spent a couple of hours today adding all locations and their corresponding lore into our Fallen Kingdom Project on LegendKeeper — be sure to check it out to see how everything interlocks and evolves 😄
📣 What’s Next?
👉 Download the map, dive into the lore, and tell us which tribe or location you’re most excited to use in your games.
🗳️ A poll for next month’s map theme goes live tomorrow, so keep an eye out and make your voice heard!
As always, thank you for supporting The Reclusive Cartographer — your support makes ambitious projects like Falrenn possible.
Cheers!
George
----------------------------------------------------
PS. The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place for creatives. With the surge of GenAI, huge corporations stealing our work and the prevalence of AI slop in every corner of the internet, your continued support for human made art is all the more important. So Thank you very much for you support :D.
----------------------------------------------------
None of the artwork released on this Patreon may be included in an GenAI datasets or be altered by GenAI programs for use in any context without our express permisson, which you most certainly do not have!
2026-01-29 19:00:14 +0000 UTC
View Post
Well hello there!
This week on The Reclusive Cartographer, we’re diving headlong into the world of giants, a theme that has been super popular in Celtic lore for centuries. Giants have always loomed large in folklore, and we’ve gone deep into their domain this week, creating three sprawling maps, each with a dozen or more variants for your adventures!
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
Caer Bonserth - 13 Variants
First up is Caer Bonserth, a massive fortified hillfort perched on the edge of wind-battered cliffs, home to the legendary giant-slayers
The story of Caer Bonserth is rooted in the legend of the great hero, rumoured to be half giant himself, Bran the Mighty. Sung of by skalds across Fálrenn, Bran is said to have slain the colossal giant Maelgor Blood-Eye upon the wind-battered cliffs where the fortress now stands. There, with bare hands and godlike strength, he set the first cyclopean stones in place as the clans watched in awe. In its earliest days, Caer Bonserth was conceived as a refuge, a last bastion to which the people fled when giants came thundering down from the high moors. Yet as generations passed and the raids never ceased, mere survival hardened into resolve. Beneath ancient standing stones, warriors swore solemn oaths to hunt the giants rather than hide from them.
Thus was the Talbane Clan forged. New halls and huts were raised to house the growing band of slayers, and with timber scarce in the bleak land, the fortress took on its grim aspect. Walls were fashioned from the bleached bones of fallen giants, rib and skull bound with iron and rune-carved stone, so that Caer Bonserth itself became both shield and warning. To all who approach, it proclaims a single, defiant truth: here, even giants may die.
Caolán’s Stones - 10 Variants
Next, Caolán’s Stones lies deep within the forest of Druinmor, where young hunters of the Talbane Clan undergo a sacred rite of passage
Caolán’s Stones lie deep within the old forest of Druinmor, a narrow procession of weathered monoliths set in twin lines that lead to a worn stone archway, raised in the elder age to honour Caolán (pronounced: "Kway-lawn"), ancient god of the hunt and judge of worthy prey. Before the stones runs Caolán’s Run, a fast, cold stream said to reveal one's true self. Those who cross it feel their senses sharpen and their resolve hardened, while the unworthy are plagued by doubt and fear. For generations, the Talbane Clan has brought their young here in silence, sending each alone across the stream and between the stones as a rite of passage. Those who pass beneath the arch return as sworn giant-slayers; those who do not are believed to have been claimed by Caolán himself, transformed into beasts and taken into the forest to hunt, or be hunted, forever.
Giant's Fell Ravine - 12 variants
Finally, we have Giantsfell Ravine, a chilling testament to the fate of the feared:
The path known as Giantsfell Ravine is worthy of the name, containing as it does, the bones of the once feared, Donnach Man-Eater, his body pierced by colossal missiles of some long forgotten weapon. Time and moss have claimed his bones, but the hardy folk of the region still say his voice can be heard when the winds blow just right. Travelers leave small offerings at his skull out of fear as they pass through, lest Donnach’s restless spirit one day rise with the hills that birthed him.
Something to consider...
Over the years, what we’ve been able to release here has grown in ways we couldn’t have imagined. At the beginning, it was just four maps per month, but now we bring you 10–12 maps each month, often with dozens of variants, all for the same price! While the wider world seems full of shrinkflation and “enshittification,” here at RC we’ve been able to grow thanks to you, our incredible patrons. Your support gives us the resources to create, expand, and experiment and for that, we can’t thank you enough!
Join us today!
If you’ve been enjoying the Celtic theme (or want to dive into giants, ancient rites, and epic forests), now’s the perfect time to sign up and join us—every map, every variant, every legend is made possible by you. Let’s keep building worlds together.
Enjoy!
George - RC
----------------------------------------------------
PS. The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place for creatives. With the surge of GenAI, huge corporations stealing our work and the prevalence of AI slop in every corner of the internet, your continued support for human made art is all the more important. So Thank you very much for you support :D.
----------------------------------------------------
None of the artwork released on this Patreon may be included in an GenAI datasets or be altered by GenAI programs for use in any context without our express permission, which you most certainly do not have!
2026-01-23 15:00:25 +0000 UTC
View Post
Greetings Adventurers!
This month we’re diving deep into the mists of Celtic myth with three brand-new maps to spark your adventures!
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
1️⃣ The King’s Cairn 11 Variants
Step into the underground tomb of the cursed King Caelwyn “the Moonmarked”. Not only does this dungeon hold his body and treasures, but it also hides a secret portal to the Feywilds.
We went a little overboard on the lore for this chap in Discord, so here’s a full dump for your reading pleasure:
King Caelwyn Moonmarked
King Caelwyn was once the High King of the island (we’re open to Celtic-sounding name suggestions!) uniting the tribes through war. But as his power grew, so did his fear of death. Desperate for immortality, he offered his gold to the fairies.
The Fairy Folk (or perhaps a trickster god we’ll invent?) saw the darkness in his heart. They tricked him: build a great cairn beneath an old hill and place the final stone under the Harvest Moon, they said, and his reward would come.
When the last stone was set, the moon burned him like silver fire, scarring his flesh and marking him forever. Humiliated and enraged, he turned on the fairies, burning groves and breaking sacred places.
In time, King Caelwyn died, cursed and broken. His followers buried him within the cairn he had built, sealing the tomb to only open beneath the same Harvest Moon. Yet they didn’t know the final trick: the cairn itself hid the gate he sought. Now, the Moonmarked King is forever bound, guarding the threshold to the Feywild, trapped at the edge of the land he longed to destroy.
2️⃣ The Cairn Exterior 11 Variants
Complete with delicate white flowers, perfect for recreating a somber funeral scene à la Theodred from Lord of the Rings. Singing optional—but highly recommended for atmosphere! 🎵
3️⃣ The Fairy Circle 12 Variants
A mystical clearing, glowing with enchantment and secrets, ready to inspire your magical encounters.
✨ Dive into Celtic myth, explore hidden portals, and bring your tales of heroes and trickster fairies to life.
Sign up on Patreon today to grab these three maps and more mystical content. Let the adventure begin! 🌿
Cheers!
George
----------------------------------------------------
PS. The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place for creatives. With the surge of GenAI, huge coporations stealing our work and the prevalence of AI slop in every corner of the internet, your continued suuport for human made art is all the more important. So Thank you very much for you support :D.
----------------------------------------------------
None of the artwork released on this Patreon may be included in an GenAI datasets or be altered by GenAI programs for use in any context without our express permisson, which you most certainly do not have!
2026-01-15 23:43:38 +0000 UTC
View Post
Welcome to our first major release of 2026!
And what a release!
Kicking things off, we have the Hillfort of Dun Caerwyn — Fort of the Blessed Hill. Inspired by Maiden Castle here in the UK, this imposing edifice dominates the surrounding lands.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
Dun Caerwyn - 12 Variants
Perched within a vast valley, Dun Caerwyn sits at the heart of our new Ireland-inspired regional map, which I’m currently working on (see the WIP below 👀).
Dun Caerwyn is the capital of the Dunmorach Tribe and the seat of High King Branoc “White Stag”, ruler of the surrounding lands and a figure steeped in myth and legend.
And, in true Reclusive Cartographer fashion, I haven’t stopped at just a single settlement map.
Alongside the hillfort itself, you’ll also find detailed maps of key points of interest within the city, including:
High King Branoc’s Hall - 13 Variants
the political and ceremonial heart of the tribe
The Sacred Oak - 10 variants
A place of ancient power and spiritual importance lying within the city walls
Whether you’re building a Celtic-inspired campaign, expanding an existing world, or want to muck about in a hillfort, Dun Caerwyn is designed to drop straight into your game!
If you like what you see and want access to this release and everything else that’s coming this month, consider signing up to the Patreon. Your support directly helps me keep creating detailed, hand-crafted maps like this ❤️
Cheers!
George
----------------------------------------------------
PS. The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place for creatives. With the surge of GenAI, huge coporations stealing our work and the prevalence of AI slop in every corner of the internet, your continued suuport for human made art is all the more important. So Thank you very much for you support :D.
----------------------------------------------------
None of the artwork released on this Patreon may be included in an GenAI datasets or be altered by GenAI programs for use in any context without our express permisson, which you most certainly do not have!
2026-01-08 17:00:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi all,
Many of you may have already seen via our Discord, but last night there was an earthquake in the TTRPG artist community. If you can spare five minutes I want to explain what happened last night, what has happened since, what my stance is and what we are going to do about it.
Note : There is a very good chance that what happened last night was designed to spark outrage for marketing purposes. With that in mind I might be planning right into their hands but I can't stay silent on this issue.
What Happened?
A popular creator BaileyWiki, released an AI tool called BatlGrid, basically it is designed to place AI slop over pre-existing maps for the purposes of creating variants.
If it was solely for his own content that is one thing but he was actively encouraging the uploading and distribution of the copyrighted content of other creators.
They even billed their 'tool' as a great way to imitate other creators work and style, mentioning Tom Cartos by name.
As for myself, our map the flying castle , and god knows how many others, featured prominently on the website and promo video without my permission, until I forced him to take them down! See the image here:
Rest assured, this is not a tool to empower creators but to steal from them. He offered vague promises of profit shares and guardrails but its all BS. He would profit while artists have their work butchered.
What happened since?
Unsurprisingly, the outrage from the artist community was huge. BW's discord was flooded with people (both creators and members of the wider community) complaining, clearly exhausted by yet another instance of GenAI slop inflitrating this community.
The pressure seems to have worked, with BW removing the references to other creator's work and (at least for now) disabling the ability of users to upload third party content to BatlGrid.
We will need to be vigilant however, as I am sure this is not the last we will hear of this.
My stance on AI
I want to start by saying that I do not judge anyone that uses AI for in their personal life. I understand that is can be useful, but that it is applications like BatlGrid that are toxic and morally bankrupt.
I have made no secret of my dislike for GenAI over the years, particularly in creative spaces. I, like many of you I'm sure, am frankly exhausted by the constant pushing of AI into every aspect of our lives.
With that in mind I would like to make may feelings very clear.
I hate what AI is doing to creative spaces. I hate what AI is doing to our ability to create and to think critically. I hate how AI is drowning out the product of genuine passion and hard work with low quality slop on social media platforms.
Yes, AI is here to stay. Yes, you can't put the genie back in the bottle and yes, AI is very powerful.
But human made content will always be better.
It might sounds silly considering i draw maps for a living, but I pour my passion and soul into my work.
I have indepth discussions with you wonderful folks here and on Discord about the reasoning and purpose behind many of the aspects of my maps. I lay awake in bed thinking 'maybe the bandit leader needs a toilet adding to their room'. :D
My work is deliberate, and thought out. To have my work and those of other creators pulled apart by AI slop machine and reconstituted as something it was never meant to be is heartbreaking.
My worry for the future is people won't learn things anymore. They won't develop passions if everything is just handed to them, they will miss out on the journey.
I had never drawn anything in my adult life until 6 years ago when I started drawing (terrible) maps for my private games, but that struggle to be better has sparked a life long passion and a whole new career for me!
How will we move forward?
We at RC will be doubling down on human made content.
AI has never been part of our artistic process and never will be but this is going to extend to everyone we work with.
The fantastic adventures that ShadowSteelStudio has been writing for us if a great example of the human made content we want to encourage.
Creators are really hurting at the moment so I'm also going to explore the idea of hiring artists to create scenary art for us as a way of investing in this wonderful community.
All of our releases will also come with a disclaimer specifically prohibiting the training of AI models or any third party manipulation of our artwork without consent. I fully appreciate that this will do nothing to ward off tech bros, but that doesn't mean it doesn't needs to be said!
I will also be including the No AI logo along with my watermark on all public/preview images.
And Finally....
I want to thank everyone in our Discord server last night for their kind words and support. I was honestly so furious when I first saw what had happened that I was shaking, but you wonderful folks really helped me calm down.
This is an amazing community and while many of you will not share my hatred of GenAI, you can appreciate how this blow, and many other over the last few years, has affected creatives like myself.
Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments but please keep things civil. This topic can be very divisive so lets remember that we are all friends here :)
Here's hoping that 2026 gets better from here!
Thanks for everything!
Cheers
George - The Reclusive Cartographer.
2026-01-06 13:11:40 +0000 UTC
View Post
I’m kicking off the year with something special for you all — a brand-new adventure!
🛡️ Forged Anew II: Enemies Below is available now for Master Cartographer tier patrons and above. Find the Download Links at the bottom of this post.
⚒️ Forged Anew II: Enemies Below
This is the second installment in our dwarf-focused Forged Anew series, and it dives deep beneath the stone into familiar ground… Khaz-Narak.
Built to pair perfectly with the Khaz-Narak map released a few months ago, Enemies Below throws your party straight into the aftermath of hard-won victory — and the dangers that lurk beneath it.
Adventure Summary
The party are part of an expedition sent from the port of Hurak-Durm, tasked with recovering powerful magic items to help break a siege by green-skins. Fresh from defeating a tenacious orc force and reclaiming access to the dwarven city of Khaz-Narak, celebrations ring through the halls… briefly.
Those celebrations are violently interrupted.
A renewed green-skin assault forces the party to sweep the lower levels of the city to fully secure it. Along the way, they are also charged with locating Glimmer, an incredibly rare, gem-like substance that forms at planar intersections and fuels the greatest dwarven rune-forges.
Pursuing routed enemies through rough tunnels, the party witnesses those same foes being violently swept from an earthen bridge spanning an ominous chasm. The fiery creature responsible is clearly not native to Khaz-Narak. To continue deeper, the party must defeat it and press onward into the city’s depths.
Eventually, they reach a sealed vault containing the most closely guarded secrets of the Ironvein Clan, recently driven from the city. Within lie lost histories, sacred forging techniques, caches of glimmer — and a defiled temple harboring an unstable planar rift.
Whatever is on the other side is already trying to get through.
The party must hold the line, defeat whatever emerges, and seal the rift to ensure the future safety of Khaz-Narak.
🗺️ Foundry Support
The fully walled and lit Foundry module for Khaz-Narak has already been released — you can find it now in the Foundry Archive, ready to drop straight into your game.
👉 Call to Action
If you’re already at Master Cartographer, download it today and delve beneath the mountain.
If you’re not, now’s the perfect time to upgrade and start 2026 with a fully realized dwarven adventure, complete with maps, lore, and planar danger.
As always, thank you for your incredible support — here’s to another year of maps, adventures, and unforgettable tables.
— The Reclusive Cartographer 🗺️⚒️
Download the Enemies Below Adventure HERE
2026-01-01 08:00:14 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey team me again!
We need to vote on the theme for January. This month i thought we could take inspiration from ancient civilisations and warrior societies from our own past.
Happy voting!
G
2025-12-30 22:28:59 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey all!
Today marks our final release of the year, and also the last entry in our current theme: Everyday Maps for Exploration. It felt only right to close things out by covering another absolute TTRPG staple—underground caves and tunnels.
This month alone has been a huge one. We’ve already released:
And today, we’re heading beneath the surface.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🕯️ Underground Caves & Tunnels – Special Release
Today’s drop is a little bit special. All patrons, regardless of tier, will have access to three large cave maps, all built using 55 brand-new tile assets created specifically for this release. These caves are perfect for hidden lairs, forgotten passages, monster dens, or winding underdark journeys.
Grab the tiles from the Asset Vault55
🗺️ Asset Access by Tier
Journeyman Surveyors and above get full access to all 55 cave tile assets, find them in the Assets Vault letting you jump straight into building your own custom dungeons and tunnel networks.
Master Cartographers and above will receive:
Additional map variants
Access to our new Foundry VTT module, with the cave tiles already mapped out, complete with walls and lighting, so you can drop them into your game and play immediately.
👉 Expect the Foundry module within the next week!
The tiles are split into 3 main catagories:
Caves - Both blank caves that can be filled with your own props and purpose built ones like a campsite cave.
Transitions tiles - Moving from a cave enviroment to a different one such as a forest or man made dungeon. The idea being that all future modular dungeon releases could follow a simalar format so they all flow together seamlessly
Cave Tunnels - The twists and turns just waiting to be explored
Misc. - A mixture of holes and pillar that you can use to create obstacles and covers for your players.
This is the most extensive Modular project we have done so far so I would love to hear what you think, particualrly if you have any additions you would like us to tackle.
❤️ Thank You
As this year comes to a close, I just want to say thank you. Your support,whether you’ve been here from the start or joined us recently, has made it possible to keep expanding the map library, experimenting with new assets, and pushing quality higher every month.
If you enjoy these maps and assets and want to support future themes, releases, and tools, consider joining the Patreon or upgrading your tier to unlock even more content.
Here’s to a fantastic year of adventures—and many more maps to come.
Thank you all for the continued support,
– The Reclusive Cartographer
2025-12-30 19:15:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi all!
Seasons greetings from The Reclusive Cartographer!
I hope where ever you are in the world that you have a wonderful time with friends, family and far too much food :)
As a little bonus for everyone that supports our work here, I have created a Yule time variant of one of our latest maps: Briarbarrow Hamlet, that I am making FREE to all!
Grab it HERE
On top of this, there will be one more release this month on 30th December to round out our current theme: Everyday Maps for Exploration, so keep an eye out for that!
Another Great Collab with James'RPGArt
The fantastic folks over at JamesRPGArt have created some awesome scenary art to go with this map. I have added the artwork to all patreon download folders but paid members can also download it from a link at the bottom of this post.
Make sure to also check them out on Patreon if you haven't already, their work is amazing!
A Massive Thank You
Finally, I just wanted to say thank you so much for your continued support this year. Its go secret that with the cost of living crisis, wars, and political and economic chaos in many places, the world is feeling like a pretty uncertain and scary place right now.
It is at this time of year when I try to focus on the positive things, and this community is one of them! Your continued support really is amazing and I appreciate it so much!
We have done some great things together over the last 5 years or so and will continue to do so in the future. We have lots of plans for the New Year that are already in motion so keep an eye out for updates coming very soon.
Happy Holidays.
Cheers
George - The Relusive Cartographer
James RPG Art - Download HERE
2025-12-24 09:00:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
Greeting adventuers!
Welcome to Week 3 of this month’s theme: Everyday Maps for Exploration 🗺️
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve already built up a huge collection of campsite battlemaps and a trio of hamlet-sized settlements designed to slot seamlessly into your ongoing campaigns. This week, we’re tackling one of the true staples of tabletop roleplaying…
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🏚️ Ruins
Few locations spark curiosity (and paranoia) quite like places long abandoned. This release includes three ruined locations!
🏰 Ruined Castle - 13 Variants
A once-foreboding stronghold, now shattered by time, war, or something far worse.
Ways you could use it:
The lair of a fallen knight order turned undead or corrupted
A strategic vantage point that still holds military value
The final stand of a long-dead ruler whose secrets remain buried
A dungeon above ground, filled with collapsed halls, broken towers, and unstable floors
🌊 Crumbling Stone Ruin in a Lake - 16 Variants
A lonely stone structure slowly being reclaimed by water and nature.
Ways you could use it:
An ancient shrine to a forgotten god, now partially submerged
A ritual site that only becomes accessible during a drought or eclipse
The hideout of a reclusive spellcaster or lake-dwelling monster
🏚️ Ruined Village - 11 Variants
A small cluster of abandoned homes, silent and unsettling.
Ways you could use it:
The aftermath of a curse, plague, or extraplanar incursion
A village that isn’t as abandoned as it looks
A temporary refuge that slowly reveals why everyone fled
🔜 Coming Next Week…
For the final release of 2025, we’ll be heading underground with a brand new set of cave and cavern battlemaps. Expect tight passages, yawning chasms, and perfect terrain for ambushes, monsters, and lost treasures.
❤️ Support the Project
If you’re enjoying these maps and want to keep seeing new locations every week, consider signing up on Patreon. Your support directly funds the time and tools needed to keep expanding this library of plug-and-play battlemaps for your games.
👉 Join the Patreon to get access to this release (and everything else!)
As always, thank you for supporting The Reclusive Cartographer — and happy adventuring!
Cheers!
George - RC
2025-12-18 14:00:24 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey everyone!
This is our second major release in this month’s theme: Everyday Maps for Exploration.
Last week, we dropped a huge collection of campsite maps, today, we’re following up with another highly requested set of maps: Hamlets!
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
These are three fully built, purpose-driven settlements, each with complete interiors, ready to drop straight into your sessions.
These hamlets are designed to be:
🔹 Quest hubs
🔹 Locations for investigation
🔹 Staging grounds for pitched battles
🔹 Or even the start of a player-run base
Each one has its own flavor and narrative potential:
🏘️ Briarbarrow - 13 Variants
A small hamlet nestled beside a gentle stream, protected by a simple palisade.
Perfect for a tense bandit showdown, a frontier mystery, or a safe resting point that might not be as secure as it appears.
🍺 Crosshearth - 13 Variants
Built astride an important crossroads and watched over by the crumbling remains of an old tower.
Its modest tavern is a natural gathering place but perhaps the locals are whispering about restless spectres haunting the ruin above…
⚓ Greypier - 13 Variants
Once a bustling depot, now a quieter wharfside hamlet with storehouses, a smithy, and a working dock.
Ideal for trade-focused adventures, smuggling plots, or a sudden threat rising from upriver.
All three locations are crafted to slide seamlessly into your world while offering rich storytelling hooks for any campaign.
If you enjoy this kind of content—and want access to high-quality maps every month—now’s a perfect time to join us on Patreon. Your support helps keep The Reclusive Cartographer creating bigger and better worlds for your table.
👉 Sign up today and start exploring!
Variants
2025-12-12 11:00:17 +0000 UTC
View Post
Well Hello Adventurers,
I’m thrilled to kick off this month with an absolutely massive release — one of our biggest bundles ever!
Over on our Discord, I asked what kinds of everyday, practical maps you’d love to have ready in your GM toolkit and Campsite Maps came up quite a few times!
Perfect for long rests, ambushes, wilderness encounters, or those moments when your players suddenly declare, “We camp here.” 😅
I’ve created five core camping environments, each packed with variants so you can drop them into any campaign:
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🌳 Forest Camp
🪨 Cave Camp
🏖️ Beach Camp
🏜️ Desert Camp
⛰️ Mountain Camp
Each comes with tons of seasonal and weather variants to fit any mood or encounter setup.
And for each environment, you’ll get four map versions so you can scale your scene to any party size:
Clean Map
Small Camp
Large Camp
Fortified Camp
From a humble adventuring band to a military-style encampment, you’re totally covered.
📦 In Total: 186 Maps!
Yes — 186 maps in just the first week!
Perfect for exploration-heavy sessions, travel arcs, survival campaigns, or any GM who loves being prepared for the unexpected.
❤️ Enjoying the Work? Join the Patreon!
If you’re not already a patron, now is the perfect time to jump in and get access to this enormous batch of maps (and everything else I release this month). Your support keeps the map-making magic alive and helps me continue creating bigger and better content.
👉 Join here and get it all: www.patreon.com/thereclusivecartographer
Thanks so much for being here — happy adventuring, and may your long rests be peaceful (unless you want them not to be). 😄
Cheers
George - RC
2025-12-04 17:00:16 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi all!
Master Cartographers and above can now dive into the opening chapter of our brand-new trilogy, Watery Graves, a tale of ghostly mysteries, kraken-haunted seas, and the desperate search for a long-lost relic.
Find the download link at the bottom of this post
For centuries, ships near Eredia have been plagued by a kraken in the deep and now it has awakened again! With no defences against such a threat, the Council of the Veiled turns to legend, the forgotten Sceptre of the Kraken.
Your party begins at the abandoned Tower of the Sceptre, where ancient spirits linger. Their investigation uncovers the restless ghost of a long-dead sailor, who reveals the ship that once carried the artefact: the Grey Maiden.
The council’s ancient shipwreck records point to the Maiden’s resting place, but the wreck has shifted over the centuries. After tracking it down, your players discover it eerily preserved… and guarded.
Shark swarms and skalvari warriors, humanoid sharks touched by elemental power created exclsuively for this adventure, attack upon entry. Once defeated, a captured skalvari, Ulsharra Storm-Fin, reveals the truth.
A sea hag, Mother Murkwell, now rules these waters. She forced the skalvari to guard the wreck and deliver any interlopers to her. Ulsharra knows the path to the hag’s lair… and the confrontation waiting within.
This adventure uses many of November’s map releases, including:
• City of Eredia
• The Tower of the Sceptre
• The Wreck of the Grey Maiden
If you’re not yet a patron, now’s a fantastic time to join!
This month’s theme, Everyday Maps for Exploration, won the community poll, so expect a month filled with practical, flexible, and adventure-ready maps perfect for any campaign.
🗺️ Join us and start exploring: unlock this adventure and everything else we’ve released!
Download the adventure here!
Enjoy!
Thanks
G
2025-12-01 18:02:23 +0000 UTC
View Post
Adventurers, grab your tankards—because today we’re bringing you a free bonus map from the city of Eredia!
You can never have too many tavern maps on hand, especially when your players inevitably decide that the best possible time for a bar brawl is… right now.
Free Download
The Bear and Lion Tavern is one of the key locales in our latest city map, Eredia, and now you can drop it straight into your campaign.
This is all part of our ongoing effort to not only deliver full city maps, but also provide fully mapped-out locations within the city. For Eredia, we’ve already completed:
And we’re not done, next up, we’re mapping the Harbourfront as part of our upcoming adventure Watery Graves. Keep an eye out; that one’s going to be a big one.
We’re also incredibly fortunate to be collaborating once again with the talented James' RPG Art, who created the stunning scene art for our ghost ship, The Grey Maiden. If you haven’t checked out his work yet, you absolutely should!
You'll find the files in the download folder for The Grey Maiden on your rewards pages!
If you love getting high-quality maps, bonus content, and early access to everything we make, consider joining the Patreon—it’s the best way to support ongoing projects like these and get tons of extra goodies.
👉 Sign up today and start expanding your world!
Collaboration Details
Cartographer: The Reclusive Cartographer
The Reclusive Cartographer creates content that you can drop straight into your campaigns, give your players a little more inspiration, and to help bring your adventures to life!
Here you will find maps for Encounters, Dungeons, Settlements and whole Regions; everything you will ever need.
Scene Artist/Animator: James RPG Art
James' RPG Art makes animated scenes to help players visualise environments and add immersion and tone to your games.
He has created over 300 scenes from official WotC adventures and many unique locations that are often found in a D&D adventure.
He releases 4 new locations each month for his patrons.
2025-11-30 15:00:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
The holiday season will soon be upon us and its time to vote for our Monthly Theme Poll!
Considering we still have some great suggestions from our Discord last month, I have taken some of the more popular ones that didn't win to give them another chance :)
Cheers!
G
2025-11-28 15:09:17 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey folks!
We’re closing out the month with two atmospheric locations steeped in ancient power, dark magic, and forgotten worship.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🧜♀️ Sea Hag Lair
Descend into the stinking caves and flooded caverns of the truly diabolical witch, Mother Murkwell. Perched atop a throne of warped driftwood, she surrounds herself with, foul and half-finished experiments, the plunder of a thousand sunken ships and the bloated, waterlogged remains of drowned sailors.
Perfect for a climactic encounter, a cursed bargain, or a mystery waiting to be dredged from the deep.
🌩️ Sea Shrine — Altar of Velisara
Far out in a storm-lashed sea stands a rocky altar dedicated to Velisara, Primordial Goddess of Sea and Sky.
This sacred site has been revered by countless peoples and civilizations across the ages.
But the real question is… who worships there now?
A haunting, mythic location ideal for prophecy, sacrifice, or ancient revelations.
⚓ Part of Our Upcoming Adventure
Both of these maps — along with the others released this month — will feature in our upcoming adventure Watery Graves.
Keep an eye out for previews and announcements soon!
🌟 Final Major Release of the Month
Thank you all for another incredible month of support.
📢 Be sure to vote in the poll for next month’s theme when it goes live — your choices shape the worlds we build.
And if you haven’t already…
💬 Join our community Discord!
Share maps, swap adventure ideas, get early feedback, and hang out with fellow worldbuilders.
See you in the depths,
— The Reclusive Cartographer
2025-11-27 18:00:13 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi team!
Our Basement Dungeons Vol1 release from a couple of months ago has been fully converted and is now available in the Foundry Archive
You can also grab the link quickly from here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jfjhumrcwkzy70ye6ywnu/module.json?rlkey=9fbqhuuus5ets8h1k6li56pdb&dl=1
Let me know if you have any issues and enjoy exploring!!
Cheers
G
2025-11-24 16:55:21 +0000 UTC
View Post
Adventurers, brace yourselves!
Our latest maps dive deeper into the tragic legend of Eredia and the cursed vessel that helped doom it.
This month’s theme, Ancient Powers & Lost Eras, began with the once-great City of Eredia, followed by the haunted Tower of the Specter and now, we set sail into the past.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🌑 The Grey Maiden — 4-Deck Ghost Ship Map - 11 Variants
Once the pride of the Eredian Fleet, famed for its unmatched speed, the Grey Maiden belonged to the noble House Baelorian. But in the desperate final days of the Fall of Galdoria, its captain made a doomed choice—stealing the sacred Specter of the Tides, an artifact that kept a might Kraken at bay.
Now, this glowing ghost ship to said to eternally roams the seas.
🌊 The Wreck of the Grey Maiden — Underwater Battlemap - 7 Variants
The Specter’s absence awakened the Kraken. A tidal wave shattered Eredia, and the Grey Maiden was dragged into the abyss where it remains, broken and rotting… yet not at rest.
This underwater battlemap brings the ship to life as she lies today:
⚔️ Upcoming Adventure Tie-In
These maps will feature in our upcoming adventure where your party descends into the depths in search of the Specter—only to discover the souls of the Grey Maiden’s crew remain bound, cursed for the captain's sacrilege.
And if the heroes dare claim the relic?
The ocean may tremble as the ghost ship rises once more to reclaim what is hers…
🕯️ Even in death, the Grey Maiden hunts.
🚢 Join the Crew!
If you’re not already a patron—this is the perfect time to come aboard!
You’ll get:
All current month’s content
Access to past map packs (based on tier)
The upcoming adventure module
Exclusive behind-the-scenes lore and asset drops
👉 Set sail with us on Patreon and claim the Grey Maiden for your table!
Your support keeps these cursed legends alive. ⚓
Cheers!
George - RC
2025-11-20 21:39:57 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi all!
Welcome to our second release in our November Theme: Ancient Powers & Lost Eras!
Rising from the mouth of Eredia’s harbor, the Tower of the Sceptre once stood as the proud heart of the city’s magical defense. Built to house the Sceptre of the Deep, a powerful artifact linked to a vast crystal atop the tower, it drew in and pacified the terrifying Kraken known as the Great One Eye, an ancient being that haunted the surrounding depths.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
In its prime, the tower was home to the Deepwater Watch, an order of mages and warriors sworn to protect both the Septer and the city itself. But during the city’s fall, greed and desperation took hold. The nobles, believing they could escape by sea under the Septer’s protection, stole it from the tower. They were wrong.
The cataclysm that followed shattered Eredia’s defenses and unleashed the Great One Eye’s fury. The tower was broken, the harbor swallowed by the sea, and the once-proud Watch scattered to the winds. Today, the Tower of the Septre stands as a cursed relic, shunned by sailors and whispered of in taverns as a place where the sea still remembers.
This map release ties directly to our City of Eredia map from last week—and together, they’ll form the foundation of an upcoming adventure module we’re writing, where your players will hunt the lost Septer and face the awakening of the Great One Eye once more.
⚓ Premium Members get the full map pack: gridded and ungridded versions, night variants, lore notes, and Foundry VTT-optimized files.
👉 If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your pledge, now’s the perfect time—this month’s releases will all interconnect into a full adventure arc exploring the rise and ruin of Eredia.
Join us as we dive beneath the waves and uncover the echoes of the Deep.
Cheers!
George - RC
Variants
2025-11-13 18:00:13 +0000 UTC
View Post
This month we’re diving deep into forgotten ages, ancient magics, and powers best left undisturbed. And there are few places in our Fallen Kingdom setting that embody that theme more than Eredia — a city that once glittered with wealth and wonder before sinking (quite literally) into ruin and shadow.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
You can find the full story over on the LegendKeeper article, but here’s a brief glimpse of what awaits:
⚜️ The Rise
Long before the unification of kingdoms, Eredia stood as a royal capital — The Gateway to the South. Its markets overflowed with exotic goods, masterwork crafts, and the scent of foreign spices carried on warm sea winds. For a time, it was the crown jewel of trade and artistry across the realm.
🐙 The Kraken
But prosperity came at a cost. A monstrous Kraken, The Great One-Eye, began preying upon the city’s ships. Salvation came through the Arcane College, whose scholars forged a scepter to bind the beast’s will — holding it fast with a single, eternal gaze from the tower above the harbor.
☠️ The Fall
When the Kingdom of Galdoria collapsed, Eredia’s fortunes drowned with it. A Plague of Undeath ravaged the land, famine and despair followed, and the city’s nobles fled with the Kraken Scepter — abandoning their people. Their betrayal summoned a storm that shattered their fleet and consumed the lower city beneath the waves.
🕯 The Betrayed
Those left behind were denied even death. Transformed into sentient undead, they turned from their gods and found solace in Nyxa, the Sleeper, entering long trances to escape their torment. Now Eredia endures as a twilight theocracy, ruled by the Council of the Veiled — calm, haunted, and eternal.
This map release includes 14 variants of Eredia — from storm-lashed ruins to moonlit stillness.
What's to come...
Over the next few weeks, our resident adventure writer MykeMyke and I will be expanding on this fallen city with adventure maps that explore the lingering power of the Kraken and the ancient magic that binds it.
File Format Update
To make things clearer going forward, I’ve renamed the reward folders as follows:
300dpi — Print-quality maps
72dpi — Roll20-optimized maps
WebP — Foundry-ready files
This should help avoid confusion between optimized files and full modules with lighting and walls.
🌊 Join us on Patreon to get access to all 14 variants of Eredia, future connected releases, and the full archive of the Fallen Kingdom setting.
🔗 Become a patron today and explore the city of Eredia
Cheers!
George - The Reclusive Cartographer
Variants
2025-11-06 19:00:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
Adventurers, the time has come to face the darkness one final time in Glowing Embers.
In this exclusive final chapter of our Reclaiming the Light adventure series, your party must race against time to stop a ritual that could plunge the entire world into eternal shadow.
By now, your heroes have:
Explored a mysterious lighthouse and uncovered the goblin tribe lurking beneath its foundations.
Discovered a gateway to the Shadow Realm and the sinister hand of a dark elf cult working from the shadows.
Crossed the Umbra, delving deep into the Midnight Chambers to uncover the Cult of the Shattered Sun’s true ambitions.
(In case you missed it here is Part I / Part II)
Available exclusively for Master Cartographers and above.
If you’ve been following the story — or if you’ve been waiting for the complete trilogy — now is the perfect time to join as a paid member or upgrade your tier to unlock the full Reclaiming the Light adventure series and bring your players to the thrilling conclusion they’ve been waiting for.
In Part III, the journey ends where it all began — in the Temple of the Shattered Sun itself. The cult’s final ritual has begun, and only your party stands between the world and the coming shadow.
This climactic adventure includes:
🗺️ The Temple of the Shattered Sun map
⚔️ A high-stakes race against time
🌘 Epic final encounters and narrative closure for the series
Grab the adventure and maps from HERE
👉 Join or upgrade today and reclaim the light before it’s lost forever:
patreon.com/thereclusivecartographer
2025-11-01 07:00:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi team!
As many of you will know, last month we released a huge map of the Dwarven Hold, Khjaz Narak. Well thanks to the fantastic work of one of your fellow patrons, Sig The Tech Priest, the full map is now available in the Foundry Archive
You can also grab the link quickly from here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zydhom3gbw180fgm66nd3/module.json?rlkey=pgi97xf6ww3v48pix56klnuk1&dl=1
Let me know if you have any issues and enjoy exploring!!
Cheers
G
2025-10-31 13:30:40 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hi! me again
Yesterday on the discord I asked for theme suggestions and boy did I get some. I've distilled dozens down to just 8.
Happy voting!
2025-10-30 19:34:56 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey everyone!
Today marks our fourth and final big release of the month — and it’s a huge one!
Many of you will know that when I release a settlement map, I like to go a step further and include maps of key locations within it. Well, today is no different.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🗺️ The City of Helmguard - 10 Variants
The capital of Souvarria and ancestral seat of the Dunwulf Clan, Helmguard stands proudly at a crucial crossing of the great River Helm. This mighty city shields the southern lands from the raiding warbands that roam the wartorn lands of Havarrlan.
🌲 Halls of Wudumaere - 12 Variants
The second map takes us to the Halls of Wudumære, headquarters of a sisterhood of huntresses who roam the hinterlands of Souvarria. Their creed is simple: hunt the monsters that stalk the forests, and protect the people from the dark things that stir beyond the borders. They are devotees of Wudumære, Goddess of the Deep Forest — and their hall is both sanctuary and shrine.
🦁 White Mane Lodge - 12 Variants
Our final location is the White Mane Lodge, a warriors’ lodge built around an ancient stone keep that once guarded the bridge before the city itself grew up around it. This is the ancestral home of an order of elite warriors descended from the huscarl’s of King Elfred “The Lion” Dunwulf, founder of both Helmguard and Souvarria. The White Manes fight in the old style — with great axes and shields — and service in their ranks is hereditary, passed down from parent to child.
All of these locations — their maps, lore, and context — have been added to our ever-growing setting, The Fallen Kingdom. You can explore them all right now on our Legend Keeper page HERE.
If you enjoy diving into these worlds, consider joining as a patron. Your support directly funds the creation of these maps and helps expand the Fallen Kingdom with new lore, new locations, and new adventures every month.
Thank you all so much for being part of this journey — Helmguard stands because of you!
— The Reclusive Cartographer 🗺️
2025-10-30 19:00:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey everyone!
As many of you already know, our shared community setting — The Fallen Kingdom — has been slowly evolving for a couple of years now… but in recent months, it has truly taken center stage as the official Reclusive Cartographer setting. Most of our releases , past, present, and future, have finally taken their rightful place within this vast, connected world.
Today marks a major milestone in that journey.
Patreon Rewards
Initiate Mapmaker ($1) / Journeyman Surveyors ($3) / Master Cartographers ($5)
🗺️ A Map Years in the Making
We’ve had iterations of a world map floating around before, but this one is a little different.
This map represents hundreds of hours of work, painstakingly weaving together countless smaller regional maps you’ve already adventured through, plus brand new areas never before seen. The end result?
✅ A sprawling continent covering 1.6 million sq. miles (roughly comparable to Western + Central Europe!)
✅ A massive high-resolution print-ready version — scaled to A1 just so it can physically fit on a page
✅ A true home for all our adventures, cities, dungeons, and stories
📚 Now Live on LegendKeeper
To make exploration even better:
The map has been fully uploaded to LegendKeeper ✅
We’ve begun placing lore & location markers ✅
Major cities and released battle maps are being prioritized ✅
Over time, the goal is to have every location — every ruin, trading post, haunted valley, and hidden realm — become an interactive part of the world.
Find your LK page HERE
🚩 A New Era for the Patreon
This is the moment, the turning point, where all our creative work connects into one grand living setting. From now on, every release finds its place in the world, expanding the map and deepening the experience for gms and players alike.
There has never been a better time to join the Patreon — especially as a Premium Member, where you get the full high-res maps, the lore access, and all the exclusive releases that bring The Fallen Kingdom to life.
Thank you — truly — for helping build this world together. Every comment, download, adventure, and idea has shaped this map. And there’s still so much more waiting to be uncovered.
🔥 The Fallen Kingdom is officially on the map.
Now it’s time to explore it.
Enjoy!
— RC
2025-10-23 16:00:23 +0000 UTC
View Post