the journey
project
2024
year
world-building
category
storytelling
designed for
about the project
“The Journey: Descent into Darkness” is a self-initiated project designed to explore the future of digital storytelling. It moves beyond a static comic format to create an immersive, explorable world. The core of the project was to fuse a hand-drawn, atmospheric art style with interactive web technology to build a deep narrative experience. By using parallax scrolling as a central mechanic, the user's journey through the site becomes a literal descent into the world's lore. This case study demonstrates how to build a captivating digital world that sparks curiosity and creates a strong emotional connection with an audience.
the story
Thirty years ago, a glowing runestone was unearthed deep within the gorge of Gjöll, sparking an era of discovery and ambition. As people mined the stones and unlocked their powers, the gorge retaliated: monstrous beings, the Frostwalkers, emerged from the shadows. In a desperate act of survival, the villagers built the Eternal Flame, a protective beacon fueled by sacrifice and bravery. Today, only a few remain, bound by duty to maintain the flame. When a distress signal disrupts the fragile peace, young Annika chooses to descend into the gorge, uncovering dangers that threaten to consume everything left behind.
living
Life at the edge of the Gjöll Gorge is harsh and cold. Wooden shelters cling to the cliffs, reinforced against constant winds. Survival depends on hunting frost beasts and harvesting from the deep. Fires are sacred and never allowed to die. Children learn early to navigate ice storms and recognize the signs of lurking dangers. Despite the hardship, the community remains proud — and quietly afraid of what lies beneath the frozen dark.
mining
Once, massive machines tore through the cliffs of Gjöll, harvesting rune-infused stone that powered the entire settlement. But when the Frost Walkers surged from the deep, the miners fled, leaving equipment behind. Now, rune-mining is strictly forbidden. Only the Guardians of the Eternal Flame are allowed to descend — sworn protectors who maintain the flame’s light. What lies abandoned below is unknown, shrouded in frost, silence, and echoes of greed.
runes
The Rune Stones are ancient fragments embedded with elemental power — their glow once guided miners, warmed homes, and fueled various machines. Though mining is now forbidden, a few Rune Stones remain in the village, used as protective charms or tools to support daily life. Some believe the Frost Walkers are drawn to these relics — not just by instinct, but revenge. Rumors say they guard the stones, seeking to reclaim what was stolen from deep within the gorge.
The Eternal Flame burns atop a stone spire deep within the gorge. It was built long ago to keep the Frost Walkers at bay. Though it’s far below the settlement, its glow can be seen from above. Powered by forgotten runes, the flame pulses with ancient energy. It usually holds the creatures back — only a few smaller ones make it past. But lately, it flickers. If it dies, the dark may rise.
annika
A compelling world needs a relatable anchor. Annika was designed to be that anchor—the user's eyes and hands within the world of Gjöll. Her design is a direct reflection of the lore: practical, weathered gear fused with subtle runic technology. Creating a believable character is key to making a fictional world feel inhabited and real. She is not just a drawing, but the emotional entry point that makes the user care about the story's outcome.
process
This project was a month-long exploration into the fusion of narrative, illustration, and web development. The process began with building the world's foundation—the story, the characters, and the visual rules. This initial storyboard served as the blueprint for the technical implementation. The final interactive experience was then built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with a focus on creating a seamless and atmospheric parallax scroll that brought the hand-drawn assets to life.