Hi people of this lovely sub! A few days ago, my map got cross-posted here, and I received a ton of helpful comments on how to mend my sad attempts at Icelandic grammar! Here is an updated version! The end goal would be for the place names to be in Old Norse, so they might still look a little strange to the modern Icelandic speaker. However, they should be way better than my previous attempts! Thanks again to everyone that helped!
Here is the worldbuilding for my story this map is for, if anyone is curious:
The island is a fantasy Norse Realm set within Yggdrasil, the World Tree. The island is called Villheim. It’s based heavily on Iceland but also Norway and the Faroe Islands. Anyone with Norse heritage can end up there if they have the means to travel in Yggdrasil.
Here are the real-life places the spots on the map are based off of:
– Ásagil is based on Stuðlagil Canyon
– Íshellar is based on the Vatnajökull glacier and its ice caves
– Svartisandr is based on Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
– Trǫllavellir is based on Eldhraun. In my version, the mounds are trolls turned to stone after a battle with Lava Elves
– Konungsfjall is based on two volcanoes, Þríhnúkagígur and Fagradalsfjall. The volcano on my map is home to Lava Elves
– Hverir is based on Hrunalaug
– Sjóvættalón is based on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach. In my map, it is home to sea spirits, such as the daughters of Rán, nykr (horse water spirits), and selkies
– Erin’s Waterfall (no Norse name for this one for plot reasons) is based on Svartifoss and Seljalandsfoss
– Álfaskógr (and the forests in general) are based on forests in Norway, as I need forests for plot reasons (Forest Elves) but Iceland doesn’t have much as far as trees
– Gullá is based on a phenomenon that happens in Iceland where there is a yellow river due to volcanic activity (I’m not sure if there’s actually a proper name for the phenomenon, but it looks awfully cool!)
– Skaðatár is based on the cluster of glaciers up in that region and is home to Skaði, the winter and ski goddess
– Drekavík and Týsheimr are based a bit on Reykjavík and in my story, this is home to Týr the war god and his group of raiders
– Iðunnartré is a tree that harbors the goddess Iðunn’s golden apples of youth
– Rauðihólmr is an iceberg that a hólmganga takes place on, causing the ice to turn red with the blood of the loser. Each night, the iceberg goes under, taking any body there under as well and donating the soul to Rán, the sea goddess. The English-speakers of the island call it the “Red Table.”
– Svappalundr is a mushroom grove where Nisser (gnomes) live
– Hamhylepnabýr is a village where Norse shapeshifters (hamhylepur) live, and in my version, they shapeshift into their fylgjur
Looks great!
The size of the forest you included on the map makes it truly high fantasy. I wish the island had such a mighty stock of old growth.
12 comments
Hi people of this lovely sub! A few days ago, my map got cross-posted here, and I received a ton of helpful comments on how to mend my sad attempts at Icelandic grammar! Here is an updated version! The end goal would be for the place names to be in Old Norse, so they might still look a little strange to the modern Icelandic speaker. However, they should be way better than my previous attempts! Thanks again to everyone that helped!
Here is the worldbuilding for my story this map is for, if anyone is curious:
The island is a fantasy Norse Realm set within Yggdrasil, the World Tree. The island is called Villheim. It’s based heavily on Iceland but also Norway and the Faroe Islands. Anyone with Norse heritage can end up there if they have the means to travel in Yggdrasil.
Here are the real-life places the spots on the map are based off of:
– Ásagil is based on Stuðlagil Canyon
– Íshellar is based on the Vatnajökull glacier and its ice caves
– Svartisandr is based on Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
– Trǫllavellir is based on Eldhraun. In my version, the mounds are trolls turned to stone after a battle with Lava Elves
– Konungsfjall is based on two volcanoes, Þríhnúkagígur and Fagradalsfjall. The volcano on my map is home to Lava Elves
– Hverir is based on Hrunalaug
– Sjóvættalón is based on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach. In my map, it is home to sea spirits, such as the daughters of Rán, nykr (horse water spirits), and selkies
– Erin’s Waterfall (no Norse name for this one for plot reasons) is based on Svartifoss and Seljalandsfoss
– Álfaskógr (and the forests in general) are based on forests in Norway, as I need forests for plot reasons (Forest Elves) but Iceland doesn’t have much as far as trees
– Gullá is based on a phenomenon that happens in Iceland where there is a yellow river due to volcanic activity (I’m not sure if there’s actually a proper name for the phenomenon, but it looks awfully cool!)
– Skaðatár is based on the cluster of glaciers up in that region and is home to Skaði, the winter and ski goddess
– Drekavík and Týsheimr are based a bit on Reykjavík and in my story, this is home to Týr the war god and his group of raiders
– Iðunnartré is a tree that harbors the goddess Iðunn’s golden apples of youth
– Rauðihólmr is an iceberg that a hólmganga takes place on, causing the ice to turn red with the blood of the loser. Each night, the iceberg goes under, taking any body there under as well and donating the soul to Rán, the sea goddess. The English-speakers of the island call it the “Red Table.”
– Svappalundr is a mushroom grove where Nisser (gnomes) live
– Hamhylepnabýr is a village where Norse shapeshifters (hamhylepur) live, and in my version, they shapeshift into their fylgjur
Looks great!
The size of the forest you included on the map makes it truly high fantasy. I wish the island had such a mighty stock of old growth.
Massive improvements! Great job.
Would love to see the 4 [guardian spirits](https://www.stjornarradid.is/library/03-Verkefni/Stjornskipan-og-Thjodartakn/Skjaldarmerki%20%C3%AD%20JPG%20skj%C3%A1mi%C3%B0lar.jpg) of iceland on the map
Giant vulture to the North
Giant to the south
Dragon to the east
Giant bull to the west
[Here is the story if you are interesed](https://www.government.is/topics/governance-and-national-symbols/icelandic-coat-of-arms/)
it’s under Guardian spirits
Very cool
excellent!
Ég á heima í SVEPPALUNDI
It is lovely
This is amazing! I can easily see it being the map for a fantasy RPG!
Fuck yeah I live in Mordor
Awesome work! Would love to run a dnd campaign on it
Wow. It’s gorgeous! I wanna play inside that works.