#fairly certain that's the world's thinnest blanket on top of wood

[hoforwonho]

I can fix him

[maggiewritesthings-blog]

                            ‘WHAT IF’ WORLD BUILDING

                               THE KINGDOM OF LORULE                           PROVINCES & MAJOR VILLAGES

Those of us Legend of Zelda fans out there (and specifically those who played ALBW) might be interested in ‘what if’ Lorule was more developed? What if we had distinct towns, regions, and history behind Lorule-- like Hyrule has? What if Lorule was a kingdom part of a bigger land mass-- like we know Hyrule is? What if we could make this strange and cryptic dark world deeper and more fascinating to us as players?

Wonder no more! I am here to share some world building ideas. Note that these are not fact or any kind of official material, but they are inspired by and based on the canon lore and design of the game material.

This is a speculative country map for Lorule, with provinces and important towns. You might notice that some of the names are reminiscent of Termina, and that was intentional. Given how much ALBW shared themes, atmosphere, and hints of Termina (*cough* Majora’s Mask on the wall *cough*), I thought it would be fun to harken back to the N64 game with similar names and themes.

The provinces are labeled on the map: Skull Woods, Lorule Fields, Southern Swamp (Misery Mire), The Ancient Lands, and Snowhead. These regions each have different important villages, land marks, and geographical features to them that are numbered.

Feel free to borrow and use ideas from this map and worldbuilding in your own creative works. A simple credit or shout out will be appreciated!

SKULL WOODS (light green represents navigable wood, where houses can be built and roads between towns are. Dark green represents the truly haunted, too dangerous parts which are not suitable for human settlement). This region is most known for its hunting meats, pigs, mushrooms, and wood working industry.

Shahnesse– a small village deep in Skull Woods that is built around the forest itself. Trees and plants pay no mind to human settlement.  This is the town deepest in the wood, and thusly the one most notorious for haunted encounters. This town is known as the breeding ground for a certain type of butterfly which is an omen of death.

Myrtle Village– Fairly deep in the wood, this town is known for its pink petaled myrtle trees that live in the town. They over grow the town, and keep the whole village covered in a blanket of delicate petals and leaves. One of the last remaining noble families of Lorule lives in this town, in a large estate house that is covered in vines.

Rowan Oak Town– The biggest Skull Woods town, and the one furthest to the border. Being in the thinnest trees, this town has more space to grow and has become an outpost for trade and travel. They take products from the other skull Woods towns and work towards exporting them to other regions.

Skull Ruins– This is the formal name for the cursed ruins that Link traveled through on his journey. It is deep in Skull Woods and inhabited by many dangerous animals and monsters.

SNOWHEAD A regions divided up by steep mountains, cliffs, and rivers that originate from its peaks, then flow down into deep ravines throughout the rest of the country. The river lines are the markings for crevasses and plunging cliffs in the kingdom outside the mountains. his region is known for its sheep and goat products as well as their mining and glass products.

Glasse Town– named for one of its best industries, this town is high in the mountains and near a river. This enables it to a good industry of forges and mills for textiles, metal works, and especially, blowing glass. This town is nearest to the royal estate that is further north.

Kripya Keep “Snowhead Summit”– this is the royal estate that is higher up in the mountain region. The Lorian Royal family does not really own much land outside the central castle, but this is the secondary estate.  Kripya is a small castle built into the side of a mountain. It is usually very cold, but peaceful and well kept. A year long staff stays there to maintain the grounds, and the royal family will only visit at their own discretion. The Royal Family owns land in Snowhead because this province houses most of the remaining nobles families.

Volkyr– A village in the lower mountain reaches. With the mountains not as steep, this town has been able to grow. It is home to a noble family’s estate and supports a large sheep and goat herding industry.

Iata– Another village that is home to a noble family’s estate. This is the lowest Snowhead village, and thusly the warmest. It has the best access to road and resources, and is another big travel and trading outpost. Farming and shepherding is big here, as their weather makes things easier for growing crops.

Fjorlig– A smaller village in the mountain reaches. This is a very mining centric town, build into the mountains themselves and run by mines and forge fires. No noble family, this town is just very necessary as an outpost for metal production and mining.

Ice Ruins– These are the ruins of what once was a temple in the mountain. Link traveled through these ruins on his journey. The Ice Ruins lie between the Northen and Sourthern Jaatin Rivers. The segment of mountain between these rivers is commonly called “Death Mountain.”

Myethe– This village is home to another noble family’s estate, though these nobles are rather low on the feudal system of hierarchy. Given the title out of obligation when a third born prince insisted on marrying a common born girl one hundred years ago, the noble family is often shunned. Their village produces lots of mining and metals, and is advantageous in being closer to the Bay for transport.

THE ANCIENT LANDS– No towns, no castle, no anything, the Ancient Lands are highly feared. This province is home to a valley over taken by streams and ivy and dark magic. It is said that this was the original home of the Lorian Royal Family, many millenia ago when they were known as the Valley Tribe, and they lived in the maze-like structures of the dark shadows. Now it is a place isolated from civilization, though some members of the mask cult will attempt making pilgrimages to this province to become one of the monsters haunting it.

TURTLE BAY The smallest province in Lorule, the Bay region is still very necessary. Its waters are very murky and heavy in sediment, but this is the only region that can still fish on a level that would produce food for the kingdom. The catches have been getting bigger and the water clearer, though, since the Triforce has returned.

Mahi Town– A small town on the outskirts of the province. Mahi Town participates in a lot of fishing and helps to transport goods to and from Myethe. They have some wooded area closer to the mountains, and so some woodworking is done in this town. Minor ship building and repair.

Kilpako– The bigger village in the Turtle Bay region. Major sea fishing industry, as well as some ship building with wood imported from the Skull Woods region. This village used to have a noble estate in it, but the noble family died out with Hilda’s father, and in an earthquake, the

Turtle Rock– The dangerous and ancient ruins that lie in the bay itself. Said to be on top of an underwater volcano, which makes the bay water so warm year round. This is another place Link traveled on his journey.

SOUTHERN SWAMP “Misery Mire” This region is commonly referred to as the Misery Mire, because of the illusion and toxins in the swampy water. This land is a not-so-inhabited region. It produces some food through fishing and foraging in the freshwater delta, and it used to be home to a great noble family in its ancient palace. Now it is sparsely inhabited.

Swamp Palace– The ruins of the old noble family which once inhabited this province. It is now in disrepair and flooded, after its noble family died out. Link traveled through these ruins on his journey.

The many spread out and tiny towns in the region. Settlements are very small and scattered throughout the marshes and swamps. The people who live here are dedicated to their land, but are seen as weird and creepy by the other provinces. They aren’t seen well by others, and are often questioned for what they will land will not eat in times of famine.

The River Delta– this is the heart of the swamp region, this river delta is the source of shrimp, lobsters, clams, crabs, crayfish, alligator, frogs, and myriad other scummy animals to eat. The river delta produces the most fertile land, but this has unfortunately caused the land it fertilizes to become over run with poisonous flowers, thorns, infectious vines, and mist said to make you see your worst demons. The Misery Mire itself.

LORULE FIELDS This area is the center of Lorule. It is a plainsy- region with lots of space, the biggest villages, and home to the royal family. This region farms cows, pigs, and crops. But it suffers from hard soil and difficulty in producing good harvests.

Thieves’ Town– Originally founded as Lorule Town, this is the biggest town in the whole kingdom. This town is huge on businesses, its pretty much the capital city of the kingdom. It was founded to provide centralized housing and industry for the people of Lorule, but has since then become controlled and overrun by the Thieves’ Guild. It is a center for Lorian industry, but also a center for crime, prostitution, and seedy business.

Horou Village– This small village is a travel outpost between the swamp regions. The swamp dwellers bring their goods and hunting catches here for trade and exporting to other towns. Horou has surrounding farms and fields in the lower region and as the best production (not saying much) as it can get some fertile run off from the mire.

Khile Town– The town on the hill, this small settlement is another traveling and trading outpost which runs business between the Bay area and the rest of the kingdom. They too have lots of farm and field land surrounding its central location, but doesn’t produce as much food. Lots of cows in this region.

Onjette Town– Being northern most, Onjette runs trade and transport from Skull Woods, Snowhead, and the main Lorule Fields region. They don’t have many crop regions surrounding it, but farm a lot of pigs and cattle using the dry grass.

Lorule Castle– The castle itself sits on a parcel of land surrounding by deep ravines. There are rivers far down below, but the cheer cliffs offer a strong natural defense for the castle. The castle itself does not occupy the entire parcel, the rest of the land is a small farming area dedicated to keeping the castle’s staff, guard, and royal family fed. It also holds some fine royal gardens.