Hunt for the Lost Cryptocubes

Uncountable years ago, Earth was invaded by the alien species Groong’hat. They came hard, without warning. In just a few days everything was destroyed. Books were burnt. Computers broken. Mankind slaughtered.

Only a few survived, and went into hiding. Our knowledge and culture was utterly destroyed, the world was in ruins. Brave men and women saved nodes of the CLOSE Protocol blockchain, the greatest storage of art, science and information ever created.

The nodes were encrypted in powerful Cryptocubes, and hidden from the monsters in places indicated on hand drawn maps. Now one of the maps has fallen into your hands, but rumours say the aliens have got the scent of where the Cryptocubes are…

Invasion of the Worm Men

(More illustrations in the post)

I’ve created an NFT card collecting adventure game.

“You, The Gate Keeper, look up at the sky. It is red tonight, red like blood. You haven’t seen this colour in the skies for decades. It can’t be good.

It is getting darker, and you light your lantern. You are the one who guards the gate, who makes sure people get through safely. Your profession has deep roots, back to the days when you would have guarded the gate against enemies. Monsters and people with bad intentions. Those days are gone. Now you live happily in peace, and you have for generations. You are at peace with all your neighbours, there are no monsters and crime is almost unheard of. These are golden ages, and you don’t want it to change.

You don’t like the colour in the sky.

A lady comes by with her little son.

“Goo’evening!” You nod politely.

“Good evening, sir.” She turns around, looks up towards the horizon. “Doesn’t it have a strange glow today, sir?” She looks worried. (more)

Trolls and Sorcery

(More illustrations in the post)

I’ve created four more NFTs over at paras.id, and written two fresh new stories.

One is based on three troll illustrations created for this blog earlier, adapted to the Paras format and retouched quite a bit before being minted. The story is based on the three earlier stories, taking and adding quite a bit, making it a totally new fictionspawn folklore tale.

The second story is based on a new illustration (the featured one), and is called Unfolded Sorcery. It’s a story about the volatility of life.

The illustrations, links to the stories and more information can be found in the post.

Crypto Art and Stories

(More illustrations in the post)

I’m sorry I haven’t been publishing here lately, I’ve been too busy moving house and… (tataraaaa) making crypto art! I was invited to publish over at Paras.id, a crypto art collectible card platform where you can sell unique copies of your artwork. Amazing stuff, new and refreshing.

So far I’ve published four cards, two of them with a fresh new story (which, avoiding cross posting I’m only publishing over there).

Here are the images, the first two some of you might remember from before, they are old illustrations retouched and adapted for the Paras format of 64×89.

The second two (they’re not actually published in this order, but to make things easier) are brand new, original illustrations with two new stories I published in the publication-section on the site.

The first one is a story of a magic forest, where a glow beast is being born, or rather created. It glows so strong, the forest is set on fire. It flies up towards the sky while Skyward and Root, two little creatures of the woods, runs for their lives.

It’s called Clearing of New Beginnings, or Birth of the Glow Beast which is the card’s name, and can be read here.

The second one… (more)

Green Mist

-Ah, finally some fresh air! Feels good, doesn’t it?

George and Fabian had driven out into the Rocky Desert to get away from it all for the day. People rarely went out here. They were all alone, and it felt good.

-What’s that? George pointed towards a facility further ahead.

-It looks like some kind of factory…

The gate was closed, but there was a pile of barrels and wooden boxes stacked up the wall a bit to the left. They climbed up to have a look.

-They seem to have left in a hurry.

There were things thrown around, rubbish, tools. Some big silos at the far end. A greenish smoke emerged from one of them.

-Let’s go have a look! George jumped down from the wall on the other side.

-Damn! That stinks! Fabian held his nose, peering towards the silos. A red lamp was flashing on a panel. George pushed some buttons.

-I don’t know if that’s a good idea…

Something opened in the biggest silo. Green smoke came pouring out. George backed away, contemplating his work.

Fabian started coughing.

-Let’s get out of here!

They ran towards the car. The mist got denser.

-I can’t breath! George’s coughs were threatening to choke him.

-We need to get higher up! Run!

Behind them the smoke crept up the hillside like an animal.

-Damn! Look!

There was something rising in the middle of the sea of green smoke, just where the factory were. A head. A face emerged… (click image for more)

Carried Away

The shop had all kinds of things. Toys, tools, jugs and mugs. Masks from far away, colourful clothes, gadgets of all sorts.

There, behind a basket full of cones and torches, something caught Ild’s attention. Two strange sticks with a little ball on the end of each one. The little balls emitted a green light.

The shop keeper looked at him with interest him as he walked closer.

-I see they have chosen you,

He had only one eye and a big scar across his face. He lacked several teeth as well, probably for other reasons. He grinned, but it was no friendly grin.

-Excuse me?

-They’ve found you.

-Wouldn’t that be rather I’ve found them?

-Whatever you say, the shop keeper said. -They’re yours, no charge.

He didn’t look like the kind of man who would give away things for free.

-What are they for? Ild sent him a sceptical glare.

-They summon things, finds things. Leads the way.

There was a long silence. Ild was about to speak to break the tension, when the man continued in a sudden, fierce tone.

-Take them! Get out of here!

Ild grabbed the sticks, looking confused at the man behind the desk. This was all very strange, but he was intrigued by the two sticks, the strange words, even the way the shop keeper acted.

-Er… Thank you.

The shop keeper laughed when he walked out of the alley. He could hear his laughter stronger and stronger as he walked down the road, as if it was following him.

He got home, looking at his new, glowing sticks. He liked them a lot. He waved them around a bit in the semi darkness, making lines and circles.

A greenish cloud appeared, shining, like northern lights, like stars. There was a face, first diffuse, unclear. Then solid, still floating.

-Come with me.

-W…Where to?

-To the lost city of balloons and wonders.To the city of Tor’ar.

They walked. They walked for a long time, up in the mountains, between high walls. They walked on paths no one had walked in a long time, paths long forgotten.

Balloons could be seen in the skies. A valley appeared, deep like an abyss, rocky, infertile.

-Here we are.

The other side was far away, the abyss was deep and wide. Ild sat down to rest. The hologram kept staring at the other side, waiting. Ild fell asleep.

He woke up by the sound of metal hitting rock. An anchor had touched the ground in front of him.

-Hop on! We don’t have all day!

A balloon was waiting for them. The driver had a vest on, and short pants. His one eye was sparkling a glow Ild knew from before. A scar across his face. (more)