[OL - ChIVA] No Worse Enemy, No Better Friend

[CapOnBOBS]

It was a long and complicated road that led to war between the Crown of Oleon and Arch Duke Oldis, but when Ultima Ratio Regum (Historic note: "The Last Argument of Kings:" cast on every cannon forged during Louis XIV's reign) is called for, then there is no worse an enemy than the forces of Oleon. The destruction of King's Port has demonstrated this plainly enough to the inhabitants of the Brick Seas. 

But... once the final shot has been fired, and the peace signed, there is also no greater friendship than to be a friend of the Kingdom of Light. Now, it is time to demonstrate this fact to the Arch Duke and the whole of the Brick Seas as well. This is why recently promoted Colonel (COL) Edward Beauchamp and the Garde de Grenadiers du 1er Régiment (1st Regt Grenadier Guards) immediately transitioned to humanitarian assistance and then the reconstruction of the Arch Duke's Capital when the Peace Treaty was finalized. 

With the help of the young Colonel, the Crown's representatives selected a moderately sized plot in the center of King's Port's governmental quarter as the site for an embassy. 

As a memorial to the brave soldiers and ferocious fighting on both sides, the Oleander Architects preserved the pockmarked remnants of the plot and incorporated the ruins into the new embassy. 

Though, as a representative of the Kingdom of Light, the structure must still demonstrate the piety and majesty of Oleon.  

A public drinking fountain on the pristine side of the new embassy allowing the King to provide a drink to any who are thirsty. 

The balcony in the back of the building provides an appropriately grand forum for discussing how the Oleon can improve relations with their new neighbors and to promote healing, peace, and cooperation with the Arch Duke's new government. 

As the candle lights reflect off the gold of the chandelier, a representative from Oldis' military HQ, the Charge d'affaires, the recently appointed Ambassador Renee Durey, and COL Beauchamp discuss the final details of the security agreement for the new embassy. 

A small garrison of consular troops will protect the actual facility and Oldis' own forces will take the Oleander Embassy into their security responsibilities as with the rest of the Government Quarter, but without access onto the grounds. This pledge from the forces of Oldis to protect, with their lives and honor, this mission which Oldis has recognized as enjoying the rights of sovereign Oleander territory, is, in itself, a great leap forward for the new relationship. 

With the security of the embassy confirmed and the affairs of the crown in King's Port clearly now the responsibility of diplomats, and not the military, COL Beauchamp is satisfied that his troops are ready to withdraw to their quarters in Nola Mar. As he walks out of the building, leaving King's Port for the first time since the death of COL Delange, his own promotion, knighthood, and the honor of Commanding his beloved Grenadiers, Edward looks up at Neptune, who ebbs and flows the fortunes of men as often as the changing of the tides, and wonders what the gods have next in store for him and his Regiment. 

To be licensed as a medium cultural build demonstrating, and providing a headquarters for, Oleon's support for the Arch Duke, a former enemy, now turned friend. 

[Thomas Waagenaar]

Oh woah, that looks amazing!

I like the combination of new/'old' and it really grabs your attention without looking out of place

[caiman0637]

Great build!

[evancelt]

Wonderful build @CapOnBOBS! Great job incorporating the rebuilding process into the final build (the remnants). Classy looking building

[Ross Fisher]

Really nice concept. I like the pediment and ornamentation. All the elements of a traditional embassy. 

[Ayrlego]

Great transition from ruins to finished building - and such an grand building befitting of an embassy as well! The statue of Poseidon/Neptune is particularly well done and I also like the addition of the public fountain as well. A very nice entry!

[Khorne]

I love the classical architectural style of this! It just oozes "official" building meant to project power and wealth and inspire awe. I like the story behind it as well, with the transition from the destroyed building into the new embassy. The Poseidon decoration of the pediment is glorious as well and so befitting the faction. Truly a beautiful build with many great details to take in! 

The only thing that "bothers" me are the milky-white pieces. While I loved them in previous builds when you used the color for statues, here the color kind of takes me out of it. To me it looks like those are glow-in-the-dark bricks, or plastic translucent bricks and not marble. Whereas when you used it for statues, it did work as marble for me. Maybe it's because there are a lot more of those bricks in this build instead of only statues using that specific color?

[blackdeathgr]

The Embassy is great but I cant take my eyes off those ruins either!!!

P.S: I get what Khorne means. Milky white looks like marble more than just a painted surface, maybe due to the fact that it has a certain small degree of transparency. On the other hand, Embassies tend to use tons of white marble so its valid here too?

[Kai NRG]

Neat idea to build the ruins into another building!  I also really like the statues over the doors.

[CapOnBOBS]

Hey gang, thanks for all the nice comments. I chuckle that now, I am thinking about actual architectural styles to match builds, "a government building to represent our religious faction would likely be classical, let me see if I can make classical" so I am very pleased to see it came through and is appreciated. For Posidon/Neptune, you can imagine I started with him in the center facing straight out and said, "meh, that sucks!" I laughed that I was really overthinking and over analyzing some classic sculpture to make it "not suck" it is now my favorite part too. Building on the ruins and keeping the scars as a reminder and memorial was my very first thought when I read the great challenge vignettes that @Ayrlego came up with. "Pearl White" makes a good marble texture, but does come off as a bit transparent too. It is hard to tell how it will turn out when you render it. I was less happy with the effect on the columns but it works alright.

[KotZ]

Fantastic work! I love the transformation.

[NOD]

Very nice building. I particularly like the entrance area and the balcony with the chandelier.