25 June 2025

Håvard’s Shadowdeep

Although this map is labelled “2008”, it seems that Håvard didn’t post it until much later, in 2016 — and then it was in the editorial forums for Threshold Magazine. This may well be the first time for it to be posted publicly.

I asked Håvard about the date, and he explained that he often draws up maps while discussing a topic, but that sometimes the conversation moves on before he can share them. In these cases, he then feels less inclined to post his maps. This is likely just such a map.

Still, it’s a fascinating map, and absolutely worth sharing. In what would later become known as his signature style, Håvard brought together disparate references for underground realms and denizens, and compiled them all in this map. This is doubly relevant when we consider the history of the term, “Shadowdeep”.

For those who don’t already know, there was never an official term for Mystara’s underworld. In fact, the various nations also lacked names, with Shadow Elf Territories being a particularly egregious example. Håvard solved this back in 2004, when he proposed the name “Shadowdeep” in a post at the old Wizard’s Mystara Message Board. Similarly, he came up with Gwaithallen as the Shadow Elves’ name for their own nation.

Since then, fans have come up with a variety of ideas for the Shadowdeep, and the name has stuck — to the point that it’s not uncommon for some of us to forget that this wasn’t always the name for this region!

For more information on the Shadowdeep, see Threshold #14 (January 2017). It was during preparations for this issue that Håvard shared this map with Threshold’s editorial team.

Fan-made Map by Håvard (September 2016)

*The Shadowdeep by Håvard, September 2016*

This is an original map created by one of Mystara’s excellent fan cartographers. For more information on the cartographer, including a gallery of all their maps, see also Appendix M: Mappers of Mystara.

Sources

GAZ10 The Orcs of Thar (1989) (PDF at DriveThruRPG)
- Lower Broken Lands, 8 miles per hex
GAZ13 The Shadow Elves (1990) (PDF at DriveThruRPG)
- Shadow Elves Territories, 8 miles per hex
And others…

Fan Sources

Rockhome discussion thread at the MMB, preserved at the Vaults of Pandius (June 2004)
- Post #4 is where Håvard originally proposed the name, “Shadowdeep”.

References

All of Håvard’s maps at the Atlas of Mystara
Håvard’s entry in Appendix M: Mappers of Mystara (upcoming)
Håvard’s author page at the Vaults of Pandius

Chronological Analysis

This is a fan-made map. It was published in September 2016. The updated Atlas version of this map is not yet available. See also Appendix C for annual chronological snapshots of the area. For the full context of this map in Mystara’s publication history, see the upcoming Let’s Map Mystara 2016.

The following lists are from the Let’s Map Mystara project. Additions are new features, introduced in this map. Revisions are changes to previously-introduced features. Hex Art & Fonts track design elements. Finally, Textual Additions are potential features found in the related text. In most cases, the Atlas adopts these textual additions into updated and chronological maps.

Under Construction! Please check back again soon for updates.