Stiltsguard Fortress
Stiltsguard Fortress is a narrative concept developed from an original short story written earlier. Presented here are selected keyframe concept artworks, created to visualize pivotal moments from that story.
Starting at the end
Rodric and Edmund stood at a crossroads. Framed for a crime they didn't commit, they had two choices: face hanging or join the "Brotherhood of Stiltsguard Fortress." The decision was clear, they would serve the kingdom, hoping to clear their names. Leaving behind civilization, they reached the edge of Darkwood Forest, where withered trees gave way to a black sand beach.
Whispers on the Horizon
The black sand beach stretched before them as faint outlines of Stiltsguard Fortress emerged through the fog. Edmund led the way, navigating cautiously through the water, where depths were unpredictable and the terrain treacherous.
The Arrival
Rodric and Edmund arrived at a sprawling maze of houses perched on tall stilts. There were no gates or walls, just creaking, dilapidated structures swaying in the wind, the sharp scent of mist mixing with the stench of rotting wood. The distant crash of waves echoed through the air. Two guards in plain robes met them, leading them past murmurs of hostility to a small stable, where a couple of weary horses stood, reserved for messengers.
Confined
Following the guards' directions, Rodric and Edmund climbed shaky stairways to a narrow paths. The alley-like ramp was flanked by tightly packed, creaking houses, their rotting wooden planks held together by layers of old and fraying ropes. Tools and crates lay abandoned, untouched for ages, as if time itself had stopped. Only the flickering oil lamps offered a faint glimmer of life.
All hope has been lost
The sun had set, and darkness wrapped around the fortress. A guard grumbled, “This is the way, fog and cold, always. Stay by the fire to endure it.” Nearby, guards huddled by smoky fires. One muttered, “The king’s mad, monsters in the sea? Nonsense! We’ve watched for years, and nothing stirs. It’s all meaningless.” Rodric gazed toward the sea, seeing only emptiness. Sensing his unease, Edmund whispered, “Don’t worry, Rodric. We’ll find our way out of this, one way or another.”
The Stiltsguard Fortress
We have reached the final chapter of the tale, and my personal project comes to its close. For Rodric and Edmund, this is the darkest of hours and the only path remaining is the ascent. I hold hope, that they shall rise, fighting their way through adversity, to prove their innocence, escape this forsaken stronghold, and reclaim the honor they have lost. Last keyframe concept art from my personal project “Stiltsguard Fortress,” which tells a simple yet profound story about a journey undertaken by two friends.