No chapter until tomorrow, just figured that I would post this for those who are interested in these sorts of visual aids.

I made this map for use as reference material when planning and writing Risen.

For those who are interested in some additional details, read the spoiler below. Keep in mind that a few worldbuilding details about each nation will be mentioned that have not yet come up in the story at this time; if you do not wish to read those, please do not open the spoiler.

Some helpful aids for navigating the map:

The story begins at the location marked with red text: Ancelas, now known as Reaper's Grave.

In the hundreds of years following Eran's death, the world changed drastically; new lines were drawn, both on a humanitarian and a geographic scale.

Under the heel of supervillains and superheroes alike, the powerless of the world felt helpless.

Slowly, inevitably, Rothel burned to ashes. Innocents died, cities collapsed, countries were ruined. Creatures mutated, mountains crumbled, and hope was lost.

Rothel was dying.

Finally, a new hero arrived, one who would change the world: The Great Hero Azel.

In the years that followed, the map was separated into ten different nations, with the outskirts of these nations standing as a sort of no man's land. Each nation was founded by a single Savior; one of ten different heroes that had been chosen by Azel and empowered with her own ability, Marking them forever. By undergoing specific rituals to mirror these Marks, the formerly powerless may form a connection to an individual Savior's Mark, gaining access to the Savior's own superpower - along with the potential to gain up to four other, more limited abilities over time - in return for small tithes of life each time. All the while, natural superhumans have become a dying breed.

A price that much of humanity is more than willing to pay.

Anything to keep their Saviors alive.

Anything to keep their god-heroes breathing.

Anything to not be powerless again.

Noumenon: The nation of Neladrie, Savior of Souls. Her Mark grants the ability to raise the dead by lending a corpse one's own life force. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. Noumenonians employ their tireless undead for many a laborious task.

Incantarin: The nation of Anu, Savior of Invention. His Mark grants the ability to infuse materials with near-magical Concepts; certain materials and people have greater affinities for particular Concepts than others. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. The people of Incantarin take great pride in their innovative nature.

Dawn: The nation of Enryn, Savior of Flames. His Mark grants the ability to both produce and become near-impervious to fire. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. Dawn's populace have a slight pyromaniac bent as a result.

Thespia: The nation of Kiriel, Savior of Minds. Her Mark grants the ability to to touch minds with another, whether for good or ill. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. Some Thespians may go their entire life without vocally speaking a word.

Habitus: The nation of Urin, Savior of Might. His Mark grants the ability to take on random characteristics from creatures. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. The people of Habitus live closely with nature, a life more primitive than most.

Exia: The nation of Loki, Savior of Mischief. His Mark grants the ability to siphon small amounts of luck from others, though there are clear limits. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. Exians are disliked by many due to their oftentimes troublesome nature.

Chrona: The nation of Amiel, Savior of Time. Her Mark grants the ability to reset one's condition and position in space minimally, transporting to where it had been in the not-so-distant past; it is closer to a reset than proper time travel. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. The people of Chrona are known for their reckless antics.

Concordat: The nation of Zeri, Savior of Contracts. His Mark grants the ability to make supernaturally binding agreements between two parties. Concordatans are renowned the world over as lawyers and businessmen.

Wayfaren: The nation of Lapha, Savior of Travel. His Mark grants the ability to pull oneself and others through alternate dimensions, warping distances by doing so. All potential additional conduits related to this ability in some manner. Wayfaren is unique in that it has territories all across Rothel.

The Veil: The nation of Inath, former Savior of Seals, otherwise known as the Suborned Savior, is the source of the Veil - a curtain of light from which there is no escape. The current status of the nation's people is unknown.