Book II - Avalonia: Guild sign-up and Discussion

[TitusV]

I made sure to include Drond's Feelds for you, Titus.

Thanks! It was past time someone added that, and I was too busy/lazy to do IT myself

[Niku]

Great update of the map.

On the process of building...

[Henjin_Quilones]

I would like to introduce not my ultimate sigfig, as he is still in storage, but one of my major sidefigs, or perhaps sidekickfigs, who plays a major role in my story and will make frequent appearances. In fact, the story begins with her.

Galaria is a princess of the ruling family of Lotharia, the capital city of the elvish realm of Hesperia. Galaria had no taste for the royal court life, and instead chose to become an elvish ranger, learning woodcraft and the use of many weapons. She prefers the horse bow and short sword, as they allow her to move unencumbered through the dense undergrowth and to fight effectively from wolfback, as she tamed a giant wolf of the forest to serve as her mount. It was while she was on patrol one day that she saw a giant fireball descend from the sky and traced it to its landing point, and that is where my story begins.

Sorry about the poorish quality of the pic; it was a cloudy day here, but I did not want to wait another day. I edited it a bit to make it seem more like she was in a dense mist in the deep of the woods, perhaps. Better pictures will follow at some point.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Edited July 28, 2018 by Henjin_Quilones

[The Maestro]

Nice sidekickfig and story. I really like the banner :D

[TitusV]

Nice (sidekick)fig!

A kind-of-official welcome to the guild now (the very-official welcome will have to wait untill the real sigfig )

[Tezclatipoca]

Nice fig and good job on the map !

I will go forward to see more of your Barqua build De Gothia...

My next build will come to continue my story, probably this summer.

But I have few time to build as I will move in August, so, there will be a time in when my LEGO will be packed. In fact, I already have a part packed at my parents'house (the pieces I am using the less). So don't expect more than one or two builds from me this summer for Avalonia.

[halixon]

Nice fig and good job on the map !

I will go forward to see more of your Barqua build De Gothia...

My next build will come to continue my story, probably this summer.

But I have few time to build as I will move in August, so, there will be a time in when my LEGO will be packed. In fact, I already have a part packed at my parents'house (the pieces I am using the less). So don't expect more than one or two builds from me this summer for Avalonia.

It seems like everyone is moving!

[Henjin_Quilones]

It seems like everyone is moving!

Seriously! And too many bricks packed away.

[TitusV]

Seriously! And too many bricks packed away.

I was thinking exact the same!

[ixypixy]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to say hi and apologize for being rather slow getting my first builds done. Work and family are still fairly hectic but I will hopefully have more free time coming up soon. I have nearly finished my Task 3 for Faer-o-dur, which I hope to post this weekend.

Congratulations Cablefoxley on the arrival of your baby girl That's lovely news, just hope you're not too tired!

Welcome also to Henjin and thanks to you for working on the map. I see we're going to be neighbors in the enchanted forest and I look forward to seeing how both our new stories develop there. I love your sidekickfig, Galaria, it's a great photo of her.

[Henjin_Quilones]

Welcome also to Henjin and thanks to you for working on the map. I see we're going to be neighbors in the enchanted forest and I look forward to seeing how both our new stories develop there. I love your sidekickfig, Galaria, it's a great photo of her.

Thanks, ixypixy! I would love to hear your thoughts on what the terrain near our shared border looks like. I was thinking high jumbled hills, like low mountains almost (not the snow-covered kind), covered entirely in trees with rivers and streams flowing through the many valleys down to the coast.

I too hope to have something posted this weekend if I can get the story written, but the official tasks are on hold until I get my regular bricks back (only three weeks away!). I have been making do with a few new sets picked up here and there while I wait, just enough for something small.

[ixypixy]

Thanks, ixypixy! I would love to hear your thoughts on what the terrain near our shared border looks like. I was thinking high jumbled hills, like low mountains almost (not the snow-covered kind), covered entirely in trees with rivers and streams flowing through the many valleys down to the coast.

I too hope to have something posted this weekend if I can get the story written, but the official tasks are on hold until I get my regular bricks back (only three weeks away!). I have been making do with a few new sets picked up here and there while I wait, just enough for something small.

I know, I've been thinking long and hard about what the landscape looks like for Faer-o-dur. I wanted to keep the vast proportion of it as dense magical forest but with 6 rivers beginning from my borders, I thought it made sense to include some low lying hills (as mountains aren't characteristic for the enchanted forest). I know real hills don't have a lot of forest over them but seeing as this is a magic forest, I'm going with them being partially forested. So I have some hills around the rivers' sources and a dense forest valley going between them. I also imagine that close to the rivers and lake's edge, the land would be more open and grassy.

I have hand-drawn a map showing all this, which I'll post tomorrow. I'm just finishing the descriptions of the different villages, towns & sites.

[Henjin_Quilones]

I wanted to keep the vast proportion of it as dense magical forest but with 6 rivers beginning from my borders, I thought it made sense to include some low lying hills (as mountains aren't characteristic for the enchanted forest). I know real hills don't have a lot of forest over them but seeing as this is a magic forest, I'm going with them being partially forested. So I have some hills around the rivers' sources and a dense forest valley going between them. I also imagine that close to the rivers and lake's edge, the land would be more open and grassy.

I live in an area that is very hilly (the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains in the US) and covered entirely with forests, so in my mind hills are often forested. And rivers flow through the forest with no break in the trees save the water, at least here. That is more how I imagine it.

I'll see how you describe your land, and then I'll get a map and description of my own up that will hopefully not be contradictory...

[halixon]

Working on getting the pics for my next build ready! This part is gonna be interesting!

[ixypixy]

Previous post. Sigfig Auriel's Introduction

Task 3. The Realm of Faer-o-dur.

Hi guys. I would like to submit this map & it's description for my task 3 challenge . I hope I have done the right kind of thing and posted it in the right place? I've always wanted to draw my own fantasy map and had a lot of fun making it. I'm really sorry for the length of the description, please don't feel you have to read it all. I got a bit carried away! I hope you enjoy it!

Faer-o-dur

Nestled in the heart of Avalonia's Enchanted Forest, Faer-o-dur is nearly entirely covered with beautiful diverse forest. Even its rolling hills are heavily wooded. Old mysterious magic has had a profound effect on the land here over the ages. Strange and wondrous flora and fauna have evolved, many of which have been unseen by human eyes, due to the difficulty in exploring the dense enchanted forest. Magic rare crystals form amongst & within the forest’s plants, rocks, waters, underground lava pools & animals. The elves of House Orthelon journeyed from The Rustling Leaves Clan (if that's okay RogueAngel?), many generations ago, and were able to overcome this difficulty due to their awesome elfy racial skills.

House Orthelon then discovered, at the centre of the region, a giant Oak tree of golden leaves which was protected by a community of different magical creatures, (still to be named ... but thinking centaurs, fairies, ents, plant people and the like). The Golden Oak and its immediate area (Grove of the Wilds) emanate strong magic and it is rumoured that these trees are possible ancestors of the wizard's mythical oak. The Grove of the Wilds is surrounded by a sentient wall of living plants, which seem able to know when the Grove is under threat.

Next the elves met an ancient tribe of humans, named the Unchai, living nomadically in the north-eastern parts of the forest. They appeared to almost revere the forest and its magical creatures, seemingly devoting their lives to its protection. I imagine them to be quite tribal in appearance, dedicated to a primitive living and secretive. Although peaceful by nature, they will fight if the forest or their people are threatened. They live their life on the move, circling the north-eastern area known as the Shimmering Pools. Unchai village serves as a place to hold important celebrations and trade with the Grove of the Wild residents. Once trust had been established with House Orthelon, the Unchai also permitted the elves to trade their as well. The Shrine of the Six was built by the tribal people as a site to pay homage to (what they believe as), the forest gods and the six branches of magic that have shaped the forest, (fire, water, air, earth, plant & animal).

Eventually the elves of House Orthelon settled in the far west of Faer-o-dur, after finding a second mighty, Golden Oak. For hundreds of years they prospered there and built a wondrous city named Lor’dorei. The Ellodar order was formed and a greater understanding of the forest’s magic was learnt. However, the deep caves and tunnels of the honeycomb-like Punctured Ridges hid a grave threat. A large army of drow had breached the lower caves and swept out from the hills with devastating consequences. The elven warriors of the Doriath order were overwhelmed and Lor’dorei was decimated. House Orthelon retreated east, behind Volonaar parapet, which ironically was built to keep threats from the east out. Eventually the drow were defeated after a combined effort from the elves, Unchai and the Grove of the Wild. Sadly though, the Golden Oak had been corrupted from the Drow’s dark magic and the forest around defiled as well. It has been known ever since as the Blighted Oak and the area – Darkwood. Although burnt and dead in appearance, the Blighted Oak now pulses with dark magic and Darkwood is full of foul creatures and plants such as goblins and pointy-teeth plenty things (have to work on that idea ) Also in recent times, fearsome orcs have taken advantage of the troubled western region and built a stronghold at Tuurok’s Outpost. They are greedy and war-hungering and continually test the forces based at Volonaar and Isturdell.

Ever since that war, all three groups have worked together to keep the remaining Golden Oak safe. House Orthelon rebuilt its capital and named it Lor’naeris. It is a beauty to behold, with polished white towers and arches, (if I can ever build it that way! )The slightly crumbling, ancient Volonaar parapet is still standing and functioning as the western fortification. Three more fortified towns and towers were erected to the north (Isturdell), the east (Belshara), and the south (Eldrassil).

The upper caverns of the Punctured Ridges have been well explored and are permanently guarded. As the potential threat is still so great, about a quarter of House Orthelon’s population live in an underground citadel called Dol’othrond. Although this opposes their elven nature, each generation of these subterranean elves has become more adapted to life there.

There are three elven villages of note. Abaria, which mines and processes the white stone that is used for building. It is also the home of the master weapon & armour makers. The elves living in Alantris are chiefly foresters who fell & replenish trees in equal measure. The master woodworkers also reside here. Ylvanna produces a variety of cloths from the coats, silks & fibres from a variety of flora and fauna. It is home to the master tailors.

Each village, fortification & city is able to hunt and forage for food itself. The Orthelon elves don’t farm in the traditional sense but many keep beautiful working gardens. Celedar Harborage on Lake Talon is House Orthelon’s trade port, where many of the local elves fish for a living.

The human watchtower I described in my introduction has been named Farshore, also on the shore of Lake Talon. The start of Auriel’s story begins with the establishment of a new Avalonian human town called Westweald. The Avalonian soldiers there are supported by the labour and trade of colonists from Avalonia’s mainland. Keen to keep to their traditional Avalonian roots, Westweald’s architecture is similar to many medieval buildings from the like of Albion. The grey stone is acquired from The Arrow hills nearby. I imagine that a few more traditional farms may spring up in the surrounding Westweald area. The forest here is less dense with more meadow like areas rich in wild flowers.

[Niku]

One of the most lovely entries of depicting the land and giving a background story. Excellent done ixipixy :thumbup:

[Henjin_Quilones]

Excellent map and description!

It is good (or not?) to know that I have malevolent orcs and drow and other fell, pointy-toothed beasties living right on my eastern frontier, kept away by the river...maybe?

[BrickCurve]

Great map! It's really nice to see one hand drawn for a change. It may be harder to get everything 100% accurate, but the effect you have managed here is really great!

[halixon]

That is an amazing map! You are a very good artist!

[Wedge09]

The map looks great and the description sounds quite interesting, Ixypixy!

[Tezclatipoca]

Excellent map and description!

It is good (or not?) to know that I have malevolent orcs and drow and other fell, pointy-toothed beasties living right on my eastern frontier, kept away by the river...maybe?

Great map Ixypixy !

I think it's ok to have pointy toothed beasties in your county. My county was the prey of ravaging Drows and there are some strange creatures lurking in the deep woods. More on them will come...

So I think you can describe an orc tribe or some Drow roders in your county.

[Henjin_Quilones]

A link to my first MOC and the start of the Chronicles of Hesperia: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=137400

[halixon]

A link to my first MOC and the start of the Chronicles of Hesperia: http://www.eurobrick...howtopic=137400

Looking forward to more of it!

[Isundir]

Greetings all, I've been gone for what feels like a long time, the good news is that after next week my vacation starts and I'll have lots of time to build as I won't be going anywere (well maybe I'll be for a day but I won't be going on vacation to another country or anything).

My current WIP build I mentioned the last time has not changed yet however I only need to finish 1 more small part of the main building and build the landscape around said building and then it will be done. Maybe I find some time these days otherwise I'll finish it in the vacation.

ixypixy that is a wonderful map, if I had such drawing skills I would perhaps attempt to do this for Edelwald. I also really like Galaria Henjin, some neat combo's.

Edited July 12, 2016 by Isundir

[TitusV]

Awesome map, ixypixy! Really love it!

Looking forward to all the builds guys!