synopsis

category

project

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IP Development

worldbuilding

concept design

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KING

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King is a personal worldbuilding project that reimagines the legend of King Arthur through its Celtic roots, blending historical inspiration with dark fantasy. Conceived as a cinematic action-adventure in the spirit of modern mythological games, the project explores themes of decay, fading belief, and the death of myth.

Arthur is no longer a young king of glory, but an old man standing at the threshold of Avalon. Sent back for one final journey, he must protect his land from ancient beings fighting for survival as humanity drifts further away from myth and magic.

At its core, King explores a tragic paradox: to save his people, Arthur must destroy the very myths that once gave meaning to his kingdom—including himself.

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How can the Arthurian legend be reimagined through its early Celtic roots while exploring the inevitable death of myth?

core challenge

design pillars

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rooted in celtic myth

The world draws from the early Celtic origins of the Arthurian legend, replacing familiar medieval imagery with Britain's pre-Christian folklore, symbolism, and mythology.

Cinematic establishing shot of 2 small figures walking on top of a giant tree root, concept art for king

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a world losing its magic

Magic is not gone - it is fading. Every environment, creature, and ruin reflects a world caught between the physical world and a disappearing mythological one.

A surreal underground cavern with a pool of water reflecting an abstract circular pattern. The cavern walls are jagged and textured, with stalactites and stalagmites, creating a mysterious atmosphere, concept art for King

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price of salvation

Arthur's journey is defined by contradiction. Saving humanity requires destroying the very myths that shaped its identity, turning every battle into an act of irreversible loss.

A long wide shot of a boat swimming towards a red magical gate, key art for King.

core references

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A collection of historical artifacts, ancient weapons, religious sculptures, and scenic photos of castles, coastlines, and underwater creatures including an octopus and a cuttlefish, core references for Belief

sketches/exploration

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When exploring ideas, I move fluidly between different techniques such as sketching, speed painting, 3D blockouts with overpainting, and VR sketching. The choice of medium depends on the needs of the idea, allowing me to stay flexible and quickly translate concepts into clear visual directions without overworking them. Beyond purely visual exploration, I also study camera angles for cinematic potential, break down specific design elements, and develop spatial overviews of locations to inform gameplay flow, player paths, and environmental storytelling early in the process.

Lineart illustration of two variations of a celtic king , wearing crowns and ornate shoulder capes, holding swords, with detailed border design, concept art for King
Lineart diagram of a detailed sword with decorative patterns, thorns, and auxiliary parts, including a hilt, pommel, blade, and design sketches, including different design variations, prop concept art for King
Concept art for a medieval king with crown and cape, surrounded by detailed sketches of swords, a dagger, and design elements for armor and weapon decoration, prop concept art for King
A surreal digital artwork depicting a vast, otherworldly landscape with atmospheric scenes. The top panel shows a figure standing on a platform before a swirling, cloud-like formation in a mysterious environment. The middle panel features intricate, abstract designs resembling a skull-shaped formation amidst a dense, textured landscape. The bottom panel reveals a glowing, circular pool of water surrounded by jagged rocks and mist, with a large textured mushroom-shaped structure overhead, illuminated by eerie, diffuse lighting.
A surreal digital art scene with mythical creatures and abstract landscapes in shades of pink, purple, and blue, featuring a horse-like creature with a lion's face, fantastical animals, and a moonlit beach setting.
A detailed architectural sketch on paper showing design plans for community village structures, including arches, bridges, and buildings, measurements, and colorful sketches of individual components and elevations, sketches for King Project
Architectural model of a landscape design with tiered rock formations, trees, and a central resting area, labeled 'Lady in the Lake' with notes indicating the direction of the flow, level overview concept for King Project
Design sketches and 3D renderings of a domed architectural structure with sculptures and ornamental details, labeled with notes on construction and decorative elements, concept art of King
Image of a lush green landscape with waterfalls and a monument of three statues at the bottom. The view is from an aerial perspective, showcasing waterfalls cascading down cliffs surrounded by greenery, environment sketch for King
a gigantic ornmaneted entrance into a mountain at the ground of the shore, concept art for King
A surreal digital artwork of a beach scene with a large glowing red moon in the sky. The sky is filled with vibrant pink, purple, and blue colors, and abstract patterns. The beach has large driftwood, and a figure wearing a dark cloak and white head covering stands facing the moon, with rocks and reflections in the shallow water.
A person wearing armor and a cloak walking towards a large, ancient, carved stone doorway with intricate patterns, inside a mysterious, dimly lit structure, concept art for King
A sketch of a reimagination of the lady of the lake with multiple limbs and a mechanical appearance, sitting on a rock in a misty body of water surrounded by rocks and land, concept art for King
A surreal digital artwork depicting a dark, ominous landscape with a large, twisted tree-like structure with black, glossy leaves on a rocky island. The sky is cloudy and foggy, with shadowy figures in the distance.

finals

A person standing in front of a large, ornate, domed building surrounded by water and trees, with a misty, overcast sky.

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old King Arthur with a muscular build and long red hair. He wears a crown and a blue cape with gold patterns. He holds a large, ornate sword in his right hand and stands on rocky terrain against a dark, key character art for King
ornate Excalibur with wooden wovings laid out on a light surface with a decorative border and partial instructions and diagrams below, concept art for King
Old King Arthur in armor with a sword, along with sketches and notes of the warrior's design and measurements, concept art for King project
a cinematic wide shot of the lady of the lake confronting king arthur in a moody misty night scene, key art for King
3D turnaround of the lady of the lake design, creature concept art for King project
3D turnaround of King Arthur design, character concept art for King project
A rugged mountain landscape with steep peaks partially shrouded in clouds and fog, featuring green slopes and rocky terrain, environment concept art for King.

AREN DUST

VIRTUALITY

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