#puzzlestory

[raldyfox]

How Unfortunate

As the man gazes his sight above, he reminisces the sky with It's shades of blues turning dark.

A sigh escapes his lips as he continue forward at a leisure pace, nor fast or slow.

His eyes goes downwards showing eyes from sleepless nights. His back hunched, and the suit hooked on his arm slightly kisses the ground.

He murmured under his breath, you can faintly hear complaints after complaints aimed to possibly the culprit of his disheveled appearance.

Finally finishing his gibberish he turns his head casually, noticing that he's the only one causing the sounds of footsteps.

It registers, he paused at his tracks, but move again as if that stop was just a flick of imagination. His exterior is as usual, tired and impassive, but the same can't be said to the man’s eyes darting frantically on every directions.

The street’s quietness and the man’s state gave a delicate air, that a gentle breeze and a lamps flicker can even make the already anxious (though not obvious) man, show more outside.

Step..

Step.

Step..

His body twitches, pace goes fast to slow constantly. Finally as if the man decided something he closed his eyes, opens them again. Calmer pupils showed and the steps were more close to the original.

The aura became more lazy, less strained. Almost covering from his previous actions.

Almost.

A hooded entity enters, walking oppositely to where it came from. Only the build gave away the entity's gender, a male. He wore a long leathery coat, every outfit were only colored black. His face, or rather his eyes were covered by his hat, shaded just like the rest. It's a wonder how he hasn't even broken a sweat from the warm night.

The man froze, sensing the ominous presence. His breath hitched, eyes widen as he secretly took a glance of the hooded person. His head goes down unnaturally, not even resuming the walk, and reluctant to even take a slide step.

Step..

Step..

Step..

Cold sweat began to form, his breath circulates like heartbeats. Sweat dripping from the forehead to the man's jaws at a fast rate.

The man's eyes were covered by his hair, his hand clutches where the heart is, perhaps an attempt to calm his state.

The hooded man didn't batted an eyelid, walking casually as if a man breaking down was of a normal occurrence.

Step..

Step..

Step..

The man did everything, from trying to raise his head and foot, to coughing out a noise. anything to snap out of his state, his body ignored his commands.

Step..

Step..

Step..

The hooded person was nearing, closer and closer by inch to inch.

The man stopped his attempts, maybe giving up.

Step..

Step..

Step..

The hooded man was now there, side by side with the man and stopped.

He leaned close to the man's face, closing in to his ears.

He spoke at a low pitch, but it was as clear. He whispered;

“My condolences.“

The man's shoulders turned rigid and tensed.

The hooded man left, his steps were more quieter.

A moment passed, he let out a breath, barely acknowledging that he was holding one. The man's legs wiggled. He used the wall right next to him and propped himself with his side, struggling to keep himself steady.

He breathed, in and out continuously.

He spoke under his breath, none of the words were understandable. His eyes morphed slowly, the already open wide turned impossibly big. He turns--

A crack echoed on the street.

The man's body limped, falling like a ragdoll. Bones cracking were heard, loud and clear.

Red liquid came out, oozing smells like coppers.

No one noticed until the next day.

••••••••••

Question.

How did the man died? Why was no one there?

Hint: Superpowers exist.

[stevelarder]

Behold! The latest (in both senses of the word, thanks to me) contribution to @jack_fallows Cryptogram series, 'The Stone Leaves'. Cryptogram Puzzle Post is a monthly illustrated puzzle story. Each envelope contains a bundle of interlinking puzzles, codes, ciphers, riddles, spells and illusions inspired by witchcraft and alchemy. The digital version needs one small tweak and then the fine folks at @footprintworkerscoop will be printing it next week. I had loads of fun drawing this cover and Jack Fallows once again took it to another level with the colours. Just look! #cryptograms #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzlebox #puzzlestory #illustration #art #alchemy #occultart #occult #witchcraft #witch #puzzlesubscription #monkey #zine https://www.instagram.com/p/BxmOHXvJ01J/?igshid=1vsmif1jcj5nm

[jj666lust]

Back to when I met you

I walked with you after class.

It was dark, and I pretended to be interested in Clarinne’s stories. You should know one thing, I got close to her to get to you, now I finally understand. 

First it was her, it didn’t work. Then Susanna came. Even though you hate her now, I am really thankful to her, and to me. 

When I first met Susanna, she tried really hard, and she annoyed me. I faked niceness again. I am glad, very much indeed. Glad that I did a good job with her, because next thing I know you are really close to her. It took me a while to remember who you were because your hair was so different.

No more bleached blonde. 

***************

I need to collect myself before I continue the tale about Susana, You, Me, and Fashion School.

[escaperoomdotcom]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒🔥 . When Beth👧was 10 years old, her brother Sam was🧒was double her age. . Now, Beth is 50 years old🧓. . How old is Sam?🤔 . 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 your answers below👇. . 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 ❤️ and 𝐓𝐚𝐠 3 friends who love solving such puzzles. . . To know more visit: Escape Room ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #riddlesofinstagram #riddleoftheweek #riddletime #riddlesoftheday #brainbooster #riddlebox #challenge #brainteasers #brainteaser #escaperooms #puzzlegame #solve #puzzletime #puzzlebox #puzzlestory #ilovepuzzles #riddlemethat #braingames #brainstrain #logicalreasoning #whodunit #riddleroom #mindyourlogic #dailypuzzle #canyousolvethis #riddlesdailyyy #smart #questionsthatneedanswers #answerthequestion #puzzlepic

[nadyakrishnaputri]

skenario terburuk.

rasanya seperti sedang membaca novel tapi sudah lebih dahulu membuka halaman paling belakang.

di sini aku seolah-olah tahu ke mana kita akan menuju dan aku sedih akan hal itu.

ya, skenario akhirnya bercerita bahwa kamu beranjak dari hari-hariku.

kamu tak akan tahu aku akan sangat begitu kehilangan.

kamu akan menganggap kepergianmu itu takkan begitu berarti untukku karena pada setiap pertemuan yang ada, bukan maksudku yang sebenarnya yang kau tangkap, melainkan sikap yang terlihat dingin olehmu.

aku tak tahu mengapa aku menjadi salah tingkah saat ada di depanmu.

...

aku tak tahu apa perhatianmu selama ini adalah upayamu atau semacam sikap baikmu saja.

aku juga tak tahu apa kita sama-sama menyangkal perasaan yang ada sehingga hanya bisa tertawa dan berkata biar waktu yang menjawab.

mmm...kalau aku bukannya mau menyangkal.

hanya saja aku tak mau terlalu berharap dan berusaha bersikap biasa saja.

kalau tentang perasaanmu...aku tak tahu.

kamu juga tak pernah tahu perasaanku, bukan?

atau sikap lurusmu itu hanya kepura-puraanmu saja?

ya, pada akhirnya jadi lebih terlihat seperti samasama tak mau tahu.

dan dalam segala ketidaktahuan kita itu, tiba-tiba kamu beranjak pergi tanpa membantuku menghapus jejakmu dari hatiku.

[jackfallows]

These two original miniature sculptures are still available from the online store if any lovely peeps wanna pick one up and help me with the cost of moving house 🙏 . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIAAVvMX0I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jackfallows]

A restless spirit from Theia pierces the veil in the guide of a crow for an important consultation with the young witch Anna. . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CpGC5DtMfoT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jackfallows]

The Stormlamp Rituals will collect, expand and update the first 18 issues from the Cryptogram Puzzle Post series. There will be so much lore and so many hidden treasures buried in this book. I’ve never worked harder on any creative endeavour in my life. It’s being published by the fine folks @liminal_11 in June 2023 and I’m proper stoked for you all to read it 🤘 . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/ClTIF8gMPkA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jackfallows]

I’m tentatively back to drawing now that my shoulder is a little less severe (I’ve been advised that working won’t make matters worse, even if the lack of blood-flow may feel unpleasant!) I’m still at a reduced pace and need to break regularly to move about but feels good to be back making updates/progress on the book! Here is Kawa Silverstring preparing a smoke divination for the young witch Anna. . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CipegChMv6x/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jackfallows]

Anna sweeps the moss and reads the message on the stone. . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CeVvHHBsBLC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jackfallows]

There’ll be more photos to come soon but I needed to share this now! The tarot deck, puzzle game, coming of age story hybrid that @postcurious and I spent a year and a half developing and creating finally landed on doorsteps in the UK yesterday and I am STOKED. The Light in the Mist is one of the most ambitious projects I’ve ever worked on and the feedback and reviews we’ve been receiving for it have completely spun me out. Rita did all of the grunt work speaking to manufacturers, getting quotes and samples, test printings and tweaks made. Meanwhile I got to sit back and wait for the final, polished thing to arrive before I physically held anything in my hands and the sense of gratification is HEALING. I tend not to spend a lot of time revelling in this feeling before I move on to the next thing but on the advice of my therapist I’m going on record to say I am incredibly proud of the thing we’ve made here and I’m so excited to finally be sharing it with everyone. Huge thanks to everyone who helped make the Kickstarter the unprecedented success it ended up being! And of course to Rita for being the kind of collaborator I intend to work with again even after an epic 18 months, 72 cards, a pandemic and an entire ocean physically separating us! . . . #thelightinthemist #tarot #tarotdeck #tarotpuzzle #tarotpuzzletale #postcurious #cryptogrampuzzlepost #ritaorlov #jackfallows #puzzle #puzzlegame #illustration #chooseyourownadventure #puzzlestory #kickstarter https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgd_0xCsm6h/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jackfallows]

Cryptogram 1.1 | The Library . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CaHNGAKMr1q/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jackfallows]

Hope everyone’s keepin it creepy this weekend 👻💀🪦🔮 . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkKU9hsAHp/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jackfallows]

You didn’t think I’d go to all the effort of putting a book together and it *not* have an elaborate and fiendishly difficult meta-puzzle element that will unlock a one-of-a-kind prize for the first person to find and solve it, did you? Today I will be laying out every meticulous aspect of the mechanics for this bizarre experiment in this ‘ere notebook 🤟 . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CbhpBtSsSwu/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jackfallows]

Cryptogram 1.6 | The Outskirts . . This issue will be the final chapter in the forthcoming collection from @liminal_11 🔥 . . . #thestormlamprituals #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/CaCVwsDMcxJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jackfallows]

Another one bites the dust! ✏️So many drawings being drawn for the coming-of-age-tarot-puzzle-story that @postcurious and I are working on! Thanks again to @susefest for the stash of nice pencils 🖤 . . . #drawing #wip #illustration #tarot #puzzles #puzzlestory #tarotdeck #puzzlegame #cryptogrampuzzlepost #postcurious https://www.instagram.com/p/CM1q0r2HVgf/?igshid=nphmnlww6ti6