January 12, 2012

Wintertown

"Wintertown leant on a hillside facing east, protected from the fierce, cold winds blowing from the mountains. One fateful day the Regime came and gripped in its evil clutches both homes and people: cold and darkness snuffed out the flame of hope and love. Citizens lurk through the narrow alleys swept by the cold northern winds, trying not to draw on themselves the cruel attentions of the Soldiers. Fables are staging their resistance, working in the shadows to allow the return of Spring..."

We decided to give Wintertown a little darker connotation. The Land is after all in the middle of a Conflict and the soldiers of Winter are strongly present in every corner. The traces of war are all around the country: tanks, ruined and bombed houses, lights turned off or just shyly on. Fables can barely walk in the dark alleys without being intercepted. And everything is covered by a sinister and soft snow. Wintertown's architecture is clearly inspired by the Northern European countries: Bruges, Amsterdam, for example, without their canals. Everything is supposed to have a Flemish taste, with a “World War II touch”. I have observed Avercamp's and Bruegel paintings for a long time, in order to find the right architecture. The great job done by Hide on the board will reflect exactly these narrative cues.
Jocularis