I, faithful chronicler of Scar and the other Knights of the Shroud, am pleased to be able to share this map with you, the curious public of their posterity. Of course, no proper discussion about maps can take place without the insights of the Heralding Guild, so I have included their comments here. Mind, they are rather fond of pointing out their own expertise, and reminding others of their lack thereof, so, as the saying goes, their comments should be taken with a few grains of salt:
In these times, cartography is generally an imprecise science, and most maps are riddled with inaccuracies, whether from lack of reputable on-site reasearch, or from artistic license or vanity, or from any one of a variety of cartographical conspiracies. So, details shown on the maps may turn out to be quite different when one arrives at the location the map depicts. Towns may have different names, rivers may run in different directions, forests or shorelines may have have moved their borders, &c, &c.
The map above most resembles the type used by merchants and mariners, showing general geographical features and the most notable cities and towns. However, it lacks the level of detail necessary to be truely useful to either group. Proper mariners’ maps have great detail regarding relative location of port cities, while proper merchants’ maps often have some notation regarding distance between towns and cities, measured in days travel by horse, but this map omits many hundred such sites and details.
The map maker appears to have attempted to show the entire imperial region, which has forced him to leave out essential information in order that a minimum of features may be depicted. Also note that no political boundaries have been included, and while we concede the warring dukes and barons force boundary changes often, a map of this scale ought to have shown at least a general indication of ducal teritories.
In conclusion, we of the Heralding Guild conclude this map is a nearly useless failure.
