Hello,
working on the translation, I tried to find a place for Oran, which led to me taking a closer look at the map. This led me to the conclusion that the map is not only imprecise (which is good), but misleading or contradicting the text.

To give Oran a better place (not only on the map, but in terms of relationships to other cultures), I started to draw a cultural r-map of Near. Obviously, Ammeni is the big spider in the middle. It trades with Maldor, feeds on Zaru, has spun it's web to catch Khale, and even has a few strands reaching out to Qek. Between the other cultures, there is possibly some trade, and more likely only historical relationships apart from the fact that Absolon united all the cultures under one banner.

The misleading part is placing Khale on that peninsula. Directly south of that is a swamp area, so I'd think that swamp part is the Zaru delta, and the peninsula is something akin to ancient Zaru mainland (where the insurgent Zaru live in the ancient villages made of clay and bamboo).

I'd put Khale west of the Zaru delta, as the double-lined areas seem to be large areas of woodsland (would be in line with Qek, which is all jungle).

Now, Oran was described in the threads as something in the north and west of Qek. This would put Oran west of the roots of the worlds and north of the wound of heaven. Should I just assume the map is incorrect and say the steppes of Oran are north west of Qek, but still on this side of the mountain ranges, or don't you care at all?

I'll better break out discussion of Oran place relationship wise into another topic later.

Harald,

I read your interpretation, and while the map is as intended (the land of the Zaru isn't noted, but it is that swampy area), I like your interpretation better, honestly. It's very nice.

Oran, though, is west of Ammeni and Maldor, in the hill-lands.

Clinton,

I am delighted by your answer! Placing Oran in the hills makes a great deal of sense.

Thanks!

Regards,
    Harald

Contact me if you want the map from the Finnish version - we redrew it and included Oran, among other places. No idea if Clinton likes the Finnish map, but he hasn't actively condemned it either. In our map Oran is immediately south of the jungles of Qek, at the end of the that tooth bay whatsitsname.

Eero,

I'm sure I've seen the Finnish map, but I can't recall it. Could you send me a copy, or post a link?

- Clinton

It's in the book, man. Surely we did sent you your author's copies last fall, and I didn't just utterly fail in that regard? I'll send the map to you both today.

Eero,

Duh. Of course. And yes, I have my author's copies.

- Clinton