The New Moon Ritual of Xaponteclan

[Fuzzy MacFuzz]

This was supposed to be for Challenge 1A but I couldn't get the photos taken in time. It is my very first MOC! I am pleased with the build and the story but not with the photography. If anyone has any tips, I would love to improve for next time.

20160216_231049 by Chris Warburton Brown, on Flickr

Above: Frederick Stephens accidentally becomes the first Westerner to witness the New Moon Ritual of Xaponteclan.

Frederick Stephens was a young midshipman on the Corrian frigate HMS Antelope, and during the years of peace between Corrington, Oleon and Eslandola had been able to develop his sailing and navigational skills with little incident. However, all that changed when the Antelope was despatched to New Terra. A hurricane blew up, and the ship was driven miles of course before being smashed on the rocks of an undiscovered island. Two days later, Frederick awoke on an unknown beach, utterly and terrifyingly alone, the sole survivor of the wreck. He was able to keep himself alive on fruit and shellfish as he explored the island. After several weeks a new storm blew in, and in desperation he took shelter in an apparently abandoned tower not far inland. Cold, wet and exhausted he fell into a deep sleep.

20160216_232437 by Chris Warburton Brown, on Flickr

Next morning Frederick was awakened by the sound of chanting. To his horror, he realised he was not alone. The tower was in fact The Moon Temple of Xaponteclan and it was not abandoned at all. Every lunar month, the Xaponteclan natives used the temple for their New Moon Ritual. The Xaponteclans believed that the new moon is an egg laid by the White Eagle Goddess (Manxagatlatl). The egg is guarded by the Celestial Fire Lion (Pormogolatlatl), and it rolls across the sky for 29 days before hatching, at which point the goddess lays a new egg. In order to ensure that this continues to happen, the Xaponteclans enacted this ritual at every new moon. In their ritual, the priestess dressed as the White Eagle Goddess throws a quartz egg down the steps of the temple to the priest dressed as the Celestial Fire Lion waiting below. It is vital that he cleanly catches the egg, something that requires great practice.

20160216_231014 by Chris Warburton Brown, on Flickr

Frederick of course had no idea of the significance of this ritual in the life of the Xaponteclans, but simply watched in terror as it was enacted below him. Luckily the dim light and the overgrown state of the temple meant he was not seen and shortly after the priests had departed he was able to make his escape. One day he would write this story in his autobiographical best seller Incidents of Travel in New Terra. But that was a long way in the future, and for now he faces a long road home; we have not heard the last of Midshipman Frederick Stephens.

(NB: The temple is a miniature version of Temple II at Tikal, Guatemala, dating from the 8th century AD. This temple featured as part of the rebel fighter base in the first Star Wars film. My wife visited it the year before we were married, but sadly I did not!)

Edited February 17, 2016 by Fuzzy MacFuzz

[blackdeathgr]

Great story about islander culture and a genious way of using these chima figs. Now i am envying them :)

[TitusV]

For a first time: great! I really like the vegetation and plants on the build, only tip would be to try some tiles or so

[Puvel]

Great story! Recognise the building as well so well done.

As for photo tips I just take lots and lots of pics using different light sources and camera settings and then hope some of them are good

[blackdeathgr]

Great story! Recognise the building as well so well done.

As for photo tips I just take lots and lots of pics using different light sources and camera settings and then hope some of them are good

Hey! I do that too! It is called the "spray and pray" technic!

[dr_spock]

Good story. Clever way to incorporate Chima into your MOC. Vegetation looks good on the temple.

I think you're using a cell phone camera? Phone camera works best when there is lots of light. Avoid using the camera's flash which can give harsh shadows and reflections on LEGO.

[Captain Dee]

This is a pretty good first MOC. The design is recognizable and the vegetation is nice. The lighting is a bit harsh but otherwise it looks good.