Epic Rites is a concept art project based on an original story about a cursed community bound to a single place. Only one boy is free from the curse, and it falls upon him to lead the others to freedom. To break the curse, he must navigate a surreal and treacherous path, entering a massive snail trap to retrieve a sacred book hidden deep within the shell of a gigantic snail. This book holds the ancient phrases and knowledge needed to release the community from their fate. Along the way, the boy must perform a series of strange and mystical rites in order to survive the journey and unlock the path forward. The project explores world-building, creature design, and narrative-driven environments.