Below

Some images from Below, a piece of interactive fiction written by Chris Gardiner and illustrated by me.

Below is a story-driven, dungeon-delving RPG card game you can play in your browser. It combines the old-school delights of exploration, looting treasure and subterranean peril with rich storytelling. In Below, your life in the world above is as important as your adventures beneath it. Only a fool risks their life for a fistful of gold – but would you do it to protect your family? To drive the invaders from your home? For revenge?

Below draws on the sources that inspired the grand tradition of dungeons in gaming. The grim halls of Moria. Beowulf’s grisly battle in Grendel’s lair. Theseus daring the Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Knossos. Le Guin’s Tombs of Atuan.

Red-handed icon, from Below

Grey-smocked Ghosts, illustration from Below

Giant, illustration from Below

Skull, illustration from Below

Wooden raven, illustration from Below

Shield, illustration from Below

Key, illustration from Below

Autumn, illustration from Below

Spring, illustration from Below

Shield, dexign, illustration from Below

Ruby, illustration from Below

Eye in the Dark, illustration from Below

Bell, illustration from Below

Sea-King’sProw, illustration from Below

The Backwards Dead, illustration from Below

Candle, illustration from Below

Candle, illustration rom Below

Rusty sword, illustration from Below

Sword, illustration from Below

Iron-bound Door, illustration from Below

Statue of a Sea-King, illustration from Below

Cloister, illustration from Below

Moon, illustration from Below

Knife, illustration from Below

Cow Parsley, illustration from Below

Henge, illustration from Below

Trothwight, illustration from Below

Night wood, illustration from Below

Wood, illustration from Below

Gallows, illustration from Below

Axe, illustration from Below

Hand, illustration from Below

Eye, illustration from Below

Sunset, illustration from Below

Maypole, illustration from Below

Statue of a Sea-King, illustration from Below

Tower stairs, illustration from Below

The pit, illustration from Below

Bull-god, illustration from Below

Hart, illustration from Below

Wolf-Lord, illustration from Below

Concept art for Below

Sea-King Statue, illustration from Below

Concept art for Below

Fear, illustration from Below

Grass, illustration from Below

Blood, illustration from Below

Mirror, illustration from Below

Amphisbaena, illustration from Below

Manticore, illustration from Below

Watched, illustration from Below

Unused Lost icon, illustration from Below

Weary, illustration from Below

Dread, illustration from Below

Cursed, illustration from Below

Lost icon, illustration from Below

Dark, illustration from Below

Hurt, illustration from Below

Menaces, illustration from Below

The Sea-King’s Grave, illustration from Below

The Sunken Tower, illustration from Below

Starry night, illustration from Below

Seascape, illustration from Below

The Isles of Fire, illustration from Below