HERE BE CRYPTIDS
A closer look at everything to do with the Here Be Cryptids Universe.
THE CHALLENGE
While studying at Miami University, I was tasked with creating my own unique story world. I needed to create characters, locations, lore, organizations, and every other small detail that makes a world truly feel alive.
THE SOLUTION
Luckily, I already had an idea for a world that fused the elements of monster-hunting games and the folklore of American cryptids. Naturally, this story would take place in America, but not any old America. I researched different cryptid lore and combined it with some of my own ideas to create a unique, near-future America where cryptid hunting has become a popular career. Some places have been overrun by cryptids, while in others humans have encroached on cryptid territory. Places like Florida have been wiped off the map due to sea monsters and different organizations with different goals slowly crop up across the country. This world is full of potential for future stories in various forms of media.
THE SIMPLE STORY
The first simple story I designed for the Here Be Cryptids world follows a young boy named Cash whose father had been abducted by a never before seen cryptid. Cash obsesses over finding his father, so much so that he becomes an expert on all things cryptid. Unfortunately, the incident that resulted in his father's kidnapping also resulted in a terrible fear of cryptids being instilled within Cash. As he learns more and more about cryptids, he gains a reputation. Cash is noticed by Basil Ambrose, the CEO of Hunters United, and Ambrose recruits him to investigate mysterious cryptid sightings across America.
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Cash journeys with Ambrose, a Nomad hunter named Dell, the up-and-coming hunter Tucker, and Luca, a girl who spends most of her time learning from cryptids. The group must explore deep into the wilderness to uncover the secrets behind these new, dangerous cryptids that are showing up all over the country.
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View the simple story design document here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DEAB-FZ03AvRu0SfJCaasbfZcjlw8_F8tweK8LENUaQ/edit?usp=sharing
THE CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE GAME
After designing the story world and simple story of Here Be Cryptids, I was tasked with creating a product based in this world that could be sold. I loved the idea of allowing players to take the wheel and explore some areas of this alternate West Virginia I had designed, so I developed a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Game. This game features nine different hunts in three different locations across West Virginia. After completing a successful hunt, players are rewarded with cryptid materials that are promptly crafted into weapons, armor, and talismans for them to use.
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Check out the game here: https://gono109.itch.io/here-be-cryptids-a-twine-game
THE EXTENDED UNIVERSE
After developing the simple story and the CYOA game, I wanted to continue fleshing out the world, and what better way to do that than to create lore! The Hunter Vault is a collection of 14 artifacts from this world that tell four different stories through their descriptions. I designed the Hunter Vault project as a hunter journal that I could add to as time went on to continue filling out the story world.
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Check out the Hunter Vault here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12aVeJ-S5ZTQisEMw3MuhUvJj0brwCl9B/view?usp=sharing