For game 2, I'm decided against the image edits, to keep things simpler for me, because the locations were irregular and too close to the AI and magic sites, and to implement my freelancer concept (see description in next post).
In addition to the subterranean lake in which R'lyeh's cap will be located, I'm creating 5 other underground lake (sea) provinces located in the 4 corners of the map and the former central magic site which will keep obstructions to the land game to a minimum. These 4 corner lakes will be connected to the central lake via underground streams/tunnels, but not to each other and not to R'lyeh's cap. See image below:
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IMPERATOR·CAESAR·LVCIVS·SEPTIMIVS·SEVERVS·PERTINAX·AVGVSTVS·PIVS
Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, and scorn all other men.
-Emperor Septimius Severus, to his sons shortly before his death, quoted in Dio Cassius (77.15.2).