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