After three months of collective exploration and two months of systematic documentation, I've attempted to create a comprehensive map of Ethel. This is version 1 - it will need revision as we learn more.
Central District (HIGH CONFIDENCE)
This is the core of the city, where geography is most consistent across visits. Major features:
- The Great Plaza: Circular open space, paved with pale stone. The spiral fountain at center.
- The Library-Cathedral: Massive structure on the uphill side. Curved walls, impossible interior space.
- Government Buildings: Flanking the plaza. Where the Keepers enter and exit.
- The Ammonite Plaza: Smaller square downhill from Great Plaza. Location of the statue.
- Temple Row: Path leading up the mountain, lined with smaller temples and shrines.
Market District (MEDIUM CONFIDENCE)
Southeast of the center, toward the coast. More variable than the central district but generally consistent:
- The Covered Market: Large hall with high arched ceiling. Central trading space.
- Specialty Streets: Narrower lanes for specific trades. Glassworkers, weavers, etc.
- Fish Market: Near the waterfront. The strange catches from the Folded Ocean.
- Festival Square: Open area where celebrations spill out from the center.
Coastal District (MEDIUM CONFIDENCE)
Along the waterfront, south and east of the market:
- The Docks: Where ships from "across the Folded Ocean" supposedly arrive.
- Warehouse District: Storage for trade goods. Less populated.
- The Coastal Temple: A shrine specifically dedicated to the sea. Different from central temples.
- The Cliffs: Rocky areas below the city. Tunnel entrances reported here.
Residential Districts (LOW CONFIDENCE)
Multiple areas of housing, but geography varies significantly between visits:
- Upper Residential: On the mountain slopes above the center. Wealthier, larger homes.
- Lower Residential: Between market and coast. Denser, more varied.
- The Quarters: Different named sections I haven't fully mapped.
Mountain Areas (LOW CONFIDENCE)
Above the central district, continuing up the mountainside:
- Temple Row continues upward
- Higher shrines become more private, less accessible
- Reports of a "peak temple" but no one has reached it reliably
Periphery (VERY LOW CONFIDENCE)
The edges of Ethel are where things get strange:
- Geography becomes inconsistent between dreamers
- Easy to "slip out" of Ethel into personal dreamspace
- Some areas may exist only for certain visitors
- Boundaries may vary by time period
The Tunnels (UNKNOWN)
Entrances scattered throughout the city. Interior geography does not map to exterior location. Marked with ??? on the map because we don't understand them.
What This Map Shows
The map has a legend indicating confidence levels. Solid lines are high confidence; dashed lines are medium; dotted lines are low; question marks indicate unknown.
You'll notice the map is clearest in the center and becomes increasingly uncertain toward the edges. This isn't just lack of data - it reflects something real about Ethel. The center is more fixed, more stable, more "real." The periphery is more dream-like, more subject to individual interpretation.
Request for Feedback
Please review this map against your own experiences. Where does it match? Where does it differ? What's missing?
We need to do this collaboratively. No single person visits enough of the city to map it alone.