Scifi & Fantasy Fiction Cartography: Stonehaven

These posts feature digital artwork of a fantasy world map created in Wonderdraft. All maps and stories are original creations of Ed R White.

Welcome to Stonehaven, a featured town in the Ethereal Seals fantasy world. Renowned for its league of skilled stonemasons and gem crafters, Stonehaven is the birthplace of ancient relics and monumental architecture. From war machines and agricultural tools to cutting-edge crystal technology, this town serves as a hub of innovation and craftsmanship.

Nestled in the northern Winterwall Mountains, Stonehaven endures a harsh climate with frigid winters and brief summers. The surrounding foothills are home to Direclaw bears, Winterwall giants, and ghost wolves, creating a natural barrier that deters invading kingdoms and bandits. Night temperatures often plunge below freezing.

Hardened by these conditions, Stonehaven’s residents boast robust physiques. They employ advanced technology to thrive, cultivating crops in green crystalline domes that safeguard harvests through the bitter winter. True to its name, the Emerald Fields sparkle like verdant gems scattered across the mountain landscape when viewed from an airship above.

Tal’lord Lorefar rules from Stonehaven Keep, supported by an assembly of masons chosen from among the citizens. This council convenes annually to deliberate on key issues such as the Ethi Mines’ production, crop yields, and military operations, which are headquartered in the Bulwark fortress. To the north, the Shale Fort serves as an additional garrison.

Strategically placed watchtowers throughout the region serve multiple purposes as garrisons, warehouses, and local town halls. Minor officials use these towers to address regional concerns. The Garnet Tower focuses on agricultural support for the Emerald Fields, while the Topaz Tower primarily aids miners in the northwest.

The Serpent’s Tail River, regulated by a series of dams, serves as a vital trade route, facilitating the flow of goods in and out of Stonehaven. As a key agricultural hub within the Fertile Crescent, the town’s docks and warehouses bustle with activity, replenished with fresh supplies weekly. Visitors are drawn to Stonehaven not only for its bustling trade but also for its renowned Ethi Mines—vast caverns teeming with magma and glittering gemstones.

Natural attractions like Gemwater Lake and Sapphire Grove offer serene swimming spots and rare medicinal herbs, thanks to the mineral-rich mountain springs. In winter, cold water plunges combined with steaming saunas near the Ethi Mines provide a revitalizing experience for both body and spirit.

Creating this map was a lot of fun! Although Stonehaven doesn’t make its debut until the second book in the Ethereal Seals series, it plays a significant role in the first book. It’s also the place where the protagonist, Pepper Slyhart, once dreamed of apprenticing as a crystalsmith—a dream tragically derailed when imperial soldiers killed her mother.

In book two, the characters finally journey to Stonehaven, where political intrigue and key story developments unfold.

Thanks for reading!