Uncharted Horizon

Maps from the end of the world

Hey! Do you get lost without a map?

I’ve made vague references to the locations involved in both Besnowed and Significatorius.

By now, it should be clear that they take place in the southern hemisphere, with the former being in Antarctica and the latter being in the southern tip of South America.

That can, however, be a bit hard to conceptualize, so I thought I’d make a quick map to outline just where and what I’m talking about.

To help ground the settings of Besnowed and Significatorius, here’s a rough map that highlights a few key locations in both stories:

• Veranum — The stone walled city that acts as a mirror into the past throughout Besnowed.

• Oshovia — The main city in Significatorius. I won’t reveal more details than its relative location for now.

• “The Strait” — Better known as the Drake Passage, the stretch of water that separates Antarctica from South America.

Local Names

And to really round it out, I wanted to zoom in on the main setting rather than the broad location.

As I’ve mentioned, I adapted Argentina’s Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia into a holiday I call Vindem. Each major celebration acting as a reflection of the traditions of the festival, the real life geography, and the world I’ve built.

As a part of that transformation, I’ve also given them new names:

• Benedictio Fructuum (Blessing of the Harvest) — Ushpashun

• Via Alba (The White Path) — Oshovia

• Carrus Exornatus (The Parade of Chariots) — Magal Town

• Actus Centralis (The Grand Performance) — Oshovia

And with that, I want to take another trip into the southern sea.

Distress Call

“Did you hear that!?” I pointed up to where the sound was coming from. A mechanical beast soaring through the clouds.

“Yep.” The captain was tired of playing the role of mentor by then. We were set to head back home, but the winds and currents worked against us.

That was half the risk when traveling even to the edge of the strait.

No man could conquer such power.

Yet another reason to hold faith in Her Flame.

“Should we call it in?” I asked.

“Calm down, boy.” His voice was harsh but hushed as the sound passed overhead. An angel or an engine that shouldn’t be there.

“Are those fighter jets?” Naivety slipped through my lips.

“They’re not local.” His eyes grew heavy as he further dimmed any remaining lights he could find on deck. “And they’re coming from…”

“Those islands?” I scratched my head and he shushed my words. We hid in the dark like that for a good hour. The sound of planes flying overhead, back and forth searching for something.

We heard a few bigger explosions, but luckily none of them close to the boat.

“Go ahead and call it in, boy.” The captain rubbed his beard, but the terror in his eyes pierced the wooden hull. We would not be sleeping that night.

“This is…” I started making the distress call but our signal was being jammed. Our only hope lied in prayer for calmer waters and a miraculous safe route home.

Lost Bearings

The geography of Significatorius could be argued to be as much a character as anything else. Between my adaptation of Argentina’s Vendimia into the fictional Vindem and transforming Ushuaia into Oshovia, every location holds meaning that is easily lost between the lines on the map.

I’ll likely work with my sister to have a hand-drawn map — something along the lines of what I did for Maneus and Rhean. But I thought these broad outlines would be interesting with the insights they provide.

Especially as I finish up the second rough draft and need to drum up interest in this new story of mine.

A few of you already responded, but if you’re interested in being one of the early readers, or if you just want to help shape how this strange world evolves, let me know.

Your insights could help steer the story through its rougher waters.

Until next time.

—JMB