Rook
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boxen.bsky.social
Rook
@boxen.bsky.social
910 followers 1.5K following 530 posts
they/he, white, 27. still masking and making stuff. NO AI. FREE PALESTINE.
portfolio: https://rookfeld.com
games: https://rookthegremlin.itch.io/
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boxen.bsky.social
Bonus:
A black cat on the back of a yellow chair. He grips the chair and looks evilly at the camera.
November 8, 2025 at 8:13 PM
boxen.bsky.social
Describe your cat's personality with one photo:
A blurry photo of a black cat lying on a carpet with wide yellow eyes.
November 8, 2025 at 8:07 PM
boxen.bsky.social
I probably won't stop yapping about this for a good long while. Can't share any illustrations beyond the cover yet, but here is said cover! Exciting :)
A hero carrying a staff with cloth tied around it steps from one world to another as the wind blows. They have one hand on a slice of a fantasy world to the left of the image, which includes foliage, a tree with mushrooms and a butterfly, a lake, mountains, and a cloudy daytime sky. The middle slice is a sci fi world, including a cityscape in silhouette, two setting suns, and three space shuttles. The hero steps from this world to the slice on the right, a post-apocalyptic landscape. In this slice, a road leads from the foreground to the background, where dilapidated buildings are illuminated by three distant fires. Atop the tallest building is a ruined satellite dish.
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
boxen.bsky.social
YESSSSS I'm so excited to be working on this project, particularly to be working alongside Nimaël again!

If you love solo TTRPGs and flexible yet robust systems, this one could be for you. Please consider backing. Check out the Kickstarter for the full cover, but here's my illustration for it.
A hero carrying a staff with cloth tied around it steps from one world to another as the wind blows. They have one hand on a slice of a fantasy world to the left of the image, which includes foliage, a tree with mushrooms and a butterfly, a lake, mountains, and a cloudy daytime sky. The middle slice is a sci fi world, including a cityscape in silhouette, two setting suns, and three space shuttles. The hero steps from this world to the slice on the right, a post-apocalyptic landscape. In this slice, a road leads from the foreground to the background, where dilapidated buildings are illuminated by three distant fires. Atop the tallest building is a ruined satellite dish.
November 6, 2025 at 5:33 PM
boxen.bsky.social
Post your space art

Mantiscope
An old science textbook-style illustration. A pink sun glows in the bottom left corner. The tiny earth orbits it, and the tinier moon orbits the earth. Beyond the earth, a pink, stylized version of the Webb space telescope also orbits the sun. In the reflective surface of the telescope, we can see a huge jeweled mantis. All these orbits are indicated by a curved series of small arrows, which gradient from blue to teal or blue to indigo as they curve. The background is another (elliptical) gradient of teal to blue to indigo.
November 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM
boxen.bsky.social
Check out my new game! Local Glyph is a LARP magic system which uses graffiti to cast spells. It may overlay on top of other games. Created for Random Prompts TTRPG Jam, hosted by @farhorizonscoop.bsky.social and @phophos.bsky.social.

rookthegremlin.itch.io/local-glyph

itch.io/jam/the-rand...
The thumbnail image for the live action roleplaying game Local Glyph. A yellow, metallic surface covered in rust. A teal glyph (consisting of an eye shape with two lines through it, one of which curves around to the bottom of the shape) has been drawn on the surface. It, too, has been worn away by rust. Text on the left, written vertically from top to bottom, rusty brown test reads: "LOCAL." Text on the right, written vertically from top to bottom, bright teal text reads: "GLYPH."
October 31, 2025 at 6:31 PM
boxen.bsky.social
Be nice to me it's #PortfolioDay
Digital illustration. Album cover of "A Day is the Worst Segmentation of Time" by Summer on Venus. The silhouette of a newscaster with smoke for hair sits holding papers. The chyron below reads "summer on venus" and "a day is the worst segmentation of time" repeatedly. Behind the newscaster, a screen shows a jumble of a face with eye sockets in shadow, a stop sign with its text scratched out, and some tubes. The whole image has a scanline effect and chromatic aberration. Digital illustration. A man with a buzz cut in the bottom left corner looks up and to the right. He wears a blue bomber jacket and a green gas mask with red lenses. The background is bright red. Reaching towards him are cord-like blue tendrils intertwined with thicker, orange cords. Digital illustration. In the style of a vintage science textbook, a red-tinted, stylized version of the James Webb space telescope orbits a burning red star. The orbit is indicated by small arrows in a circular pattern. Between the star and the telescope, a small Earth with its moon also orbits. On the telescope's surface, the reflection of a jeweled praying mantis. Digital collage. A photobash of a jackalope (constructed with the body and head of a rabbit, the arms of a raccoon, and the antlers of a stag) reaches up and to the right from underwater. The water is grayscale. The jackalope's fur is tinted red, and its eyes are bright red. On the surface of the water, a landscape of power lines in front of a mountain range. Behind the mountains, an orange-red sun rises in a cloudy, orange/purple/red sky.
October 15, 2025 at 12:53 AM
boxen.bsky.social
Obligatory neighbor cat appreciation hours
A beige, black, and white tabby cat perched on the lowest shelf of a set of three shelves on wheels. The cat is looking directly at the camera. On the top shelf, a copper cooking pot. Behind the shelves, a chain link fence. In the foreground, the grated back of a metal chair. The lighting is sunny.
October 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
boxen.bsky.social
I think Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega (and its many covers) = one of the best songs of all time. Pic unrelated
A grey parking lot. A beige cat lounges in the middle of the pavement. Behind her, a black car is parked. Behind it, green and orange trees and a wall with green graffiti. Behind that, a cloud in the blue sky.
October 6, 2025 at 11:25 PM
boxen.bsky.social
I think Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega (and its many covers) = one of the best songs of all time. Pic unrelated
A grey parking lot. A beige cat lounges in the middle of the pavement. Behind her, a black car is parked. Behind it, green and orange trees and a wall with green graffiti. Behind that, a cloud in the blue sky.
October 6, 2025 at 11:24 PM
boxen.bsky.social
I ended this run because I have to go to bed, and I literally could not lose. 9 Kings fuckin rocks. I'm not sorry for breaking the game.
A screenshot of the game "9 Kings." The kingdom onscreen consists entirely of a Base, many Wallmakers, a seemingly empty plot of 500+ level Lab Rats, and a Library. Text over Base reads: "2.15E + 9." Text over Lab Rats reads: "2.15E + 9." Text on the right reads, from top to bottom: "Your Reign: King of Progress [Peasant]. Time played 5:12:17. Years survived 689. Units killed 269,609. Units trained 9,055. Gold collected 20,378. Spells used 755. Constructions built 62. Plots built 3,129. Plots destroyed 390. Level 8. CONTINUE."
September 30, 2025 at 2:05 AM
boxen.bsky.social
Sometimes, I get sad that more people haven't rated my Songbirds setting, Watcher's Abbey. Then I remember the two ratings it does have, and I'm satisfied. Blessed by pinpanar9 and myfunnytime
A screenshot of two five-star ratings on itch.io. The first rating is from "myfunnytime" and includes no text. The second rating is from "pinpanar9" and reads "good"
September 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
boxen.bsky.social
Post a meme made by you
An emoji wearing a snapback, biting its lip, and raised a hand to its chin. Text below reads: "ME WHEN HE MAINTAINS HIS WHIMSY."
August 31, 2025 at 11:28 AM
boxen.bsky.social
No new pics, where are you mentally
Godzilla bursts up out of the ocean wearing a white t-shirt decorated with red text, which reads: "DO NOT GIVE ME A CIGARETTE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES NO MATTER WHAT I SAY"
August 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
boxen.bsky.social
A close-up photo of a tattooed arm resting on a wooden table. Visible tattooes are: the top part of a jackalope's head, a stylized sunrise/sunset, and the text "It's gonna be okay." There's also a book on the table, out of focus in the background.
August 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
boxen.bsky.social
20. FUN HOME by Alison Bechdel. Even if memoirs aren't your jam, I recommend reading this. Elevator pitch: a graphic novel memoir from one of the most important cartoonists of our time about growing up adjacent to her family's funeral home. (It's also about so much more.) At times, a gut punch.
The cover of Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Teal and grayscale colors. A zoomed-in view of a teal round table and the teal wallpaper behind it. On the table sits a grayscale photo in a gilded, also grayscale frame. Four figures stand in the photo, wearing formal outfits: three children of varying heights and a woman, presumably their mother. Additionally, a yellow sticker in the shape of a house reads in red, brown, and teal letters: "FUN HOME, now a Broadway musical." Other text besides the title and author name reads: "National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist" and "'A splendid autobiography... refreshingly open and generous.' - Entertainment Weekly."
August 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
boxen.bsky.social
19. INKHEART by Cornelia Funke. This is in my husband's top three favorite novels, and it meant the world to him growing up. I have yet to finish reading it, but so far, my experience has been beautiful. The book itself rocks, and I feel grateful to retrace my husband's steps as a lover of books.
The cover of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. A red cover with ornate patterns in the corners, meant to evoke the appearance of an old tome. In the center, a rectangular hole in the cover reveals an ocean landscape beyond. Inside that landscape, a gnarled tree, mountains and a city in the distance, a bright sun, and a marten stalking through green foliage. A hand reaches from the hole out onto the red foreground, grasping its edge like it's a ledge. Flowing from the hole into the foreground -- a green lizard, a blue beetle, a blue fairy with sparkles, coins, pearls, gems, a seashell, and a key. Other text besides the title and author name reads: "From New York Times Bestselling Author" and "Scholastic."
August 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
boxen.bsky.social
18. DIRECTING ACTORS by Judith Weston. While I am a stage director, and this book is geared towards screen directing, I found it invaluable when first starting out. I first read it in high school in preparation for directing Noises Off. Stage directors have a lot to learn from the screen.
The cover of Directing Actors by Judith Weston. This image is over-exposed, so the "C" in "Directing" and the "O" in "Actors" blend into the white background on the right side of the image. On the left side, black, red, and blue rectangles with gradients within. On the right side, three red silhouetted figures with yellow glows on their edges. One is in the foreground, too large to be fully seen, giving a performance. The other two are in the background -- one sits in a director's chair and the other stands, taking notes. Other text besides the title and author name reads: "Creating Memorable Performances for Film and Television."
August 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
boxen.bsky.social
17. YAZEBA'S BED & BREAKFAST by Possum Creek Games. I'm lucky to have the full box set. This game astounds me: the amount of work required of its designers, the legacy mechanics, the care woven into each character and chapter. Don't be intimidated by the page count. This is easy to pick up and play.
The cover of Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast. Vibrant purples, pinks, oranges, reds, and yellows, with just a bit of of blue and green. The titular bed & breakfast in the center of the image; its architecture seems cobbled together yet stable, with rooms added after its initial construction. Characters from the game lounge and go about their days on every level of the bed & breakfast. In the background, stylized trees with fluffy pink leaves, like cotton candy.
August 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
boxen.bsky.social
16. PARABLE OF THE SOWER by Octavia E. Butler. This has been my favorite novel since I read it in senior year of high school. It's not number one on this list because A) this is not a ranking and B) I cannot properly express how good this book is -- how vital, how foundational. Insufficient words.
The cover of Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. A Black woman in an orange and red dress and head scarf walks towards the right of the image. Flames or perhaps leaves drift around her. White background. Other text besides the title and author name reads: "Featuring a new foreword by acclaimed actor and author Levar Burton" and "New York Times Bestseller."
August 15, 2025 at 11:27 PM
boxen.bsky.social
15. THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern. This book fuckin transported me. I yearn for its world. Extremely good rivals-to-lovers, if tropes are your thing. I first listened to the audiobook as a teen and then read it again recently. The Night Circus holds up.
The cover of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Black, white, and red colors. The illustration mimics paper cut outs. A white-gloved hand in the center of the image delicately holds a group of black-and-white circus tents with red accents and a clock tower rising above. Stars in the background.
August 15, 2025 at 11:18 PM
boxen.bsky.social
14. SAGA VOLUME ONE, written by Brian K. Vaughn and illustrated by Fiona Staples. Simply my all-time favorite comic series. (Sorry, Bone by Jeff Smith.) I own and have read volumes 1-10. And re-read. And re-read. Often extremely graphic science fantasy with heart and bite.
The cover of Saga Volume One by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples. The three main characters: Alana, her husband Marko, and their infant. Alana is nursing the baby as she holds a handgun ready at her side. She has insect-like wings. Marko has one arm around her and the other arm holding a sheathed sword. He has ram-like horns.
August 15, 2025 at 11:14 PM
boxen.bsky.social
13. PERDIDO STREET STATION by China Miéville. A long book and an incredible achievement in worldbuilding. Throughout, I was so invested in the characters that I couldn't stop talking about it with my husband. The ending knocked the breath out of me. Perdido Street Station? More like OUCH OW OOF
The cover of Perdido Street Station by China Miéville. Sepia colors. A moth spreads its wings in front of a cityscape. The faintest hint of teal can be seen where the moth's wings meet its body. Other text besides the title and the author name reads: "'Flawlessly plotted and relentlessly, stunningly inventive: a conceptual breakthrough of the highest order.' - Kirkus Reviews."
August 15, 2025 at 11:07 PM
boxen.bsky.social
12. THE SAPLING CAGE by Margaret Killjoy. I grew up reading and loving "child dresses up as the 'opposite gender' to pursue something they wouldn't be allowed to pursue as their birth gender" books. This fantasy novel knocks that premise out of the park by making it overtly trans. GOOD SHIT!!!
The cover of The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy. Autumnal colors. In the center of the image, a skull in an ornate cage, which morphs into leaves, branches, and flowers as it expands outward towards the edges of the image. Stars also encircle the cage. The artwork is bordered by an arch, but the foliage breaks out of that boundary.
August 15, 2025 at 10:59 PM
boxen.bsky.social
11. PIRANESI by Susanna Clarke. In my top five favorite novels. A book full of wonder and intrigue. I delayed adding this one to the thread because @goldwagnathan.bsky.social already described it best. Also, shout out to Jacob Geller's video essay The Shape of Infinity for putting this on my radar.
The cover of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Gold and blue colors. A satyr plays a flute and dances on top of an ornate marble column. Behind the column, stylized ocean waves and a starry sky above. Other text besides the title and author name reads: "New York Times Bestseller," "Women's Prize for Fiction 2021 WINNER," "'Destined to become a work of classic fantasy.' - CBS Sunday Morning," and "'Spellbinding, strange, and unforgettably original.' - Esquire."
August 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM