socalbricks

Poor Evrart! It's cool to see that Neuro torso from Ninjago. You don't see it too often - if I recall correctly, that figure was quite rare (I think he was part of a Toys-R-Us exclusive "Bricktober" pack). He's gotten quite expensive on BrickLink!

Better late than never (I was pleasantly surprised when this post from 2019 got a new comment)! Joking aside, I appreciate the kind words. Looking back on it, this design seems so "rough" compared her current one. She's gone through so many revisions since then (the biggest issue was the exposed studs on her sides - I'm glad I was able to fix that). I also completely reworked her backstory and personality (turning her into a gentle healing mage), and transferred some of those traits over to her sister, Brielle (a knight who would happily wield the battle axe seen in these older pictures). I'm glad you like that first photo! I shot it at a fountain not far from where I live. At night, the lights under the water change colors, but it's on a timed cycle. It took a lot of trial-and-error to get the shot I liked within a relatively short time frame. I wonder how Ayra would feel about the caves - like most centaurs, she is very claustrophobic (which could be a problem underground) but if the Kolgari needed her healing expertise, I think she would power through that fear to help those in need.

Neat idea! I should definitely build one of these - I think my bounty hunter characters like Kars would find it very helpful!

FILE: Project Thunderbird (2071 – 2085) Developed by Ætheon (a high-profile private military company/"PMC"), Project Thunderbird was the first successful of instance of “jet trooper” (colloquially known as “Jetters”) being deployed into combat. Using cybernetically enhanced pilots (most of which were former US Air Force and Marines), the company was able to find work in conflict zones all over the world. All jet suits contained an exoskeleton, joy stick controls, and numerous intakes and jets that could be adjusted in real-time for maximum maneuverability. Jet suits varied wildly according the pilot’s rank and personal preferences. Though the suit’s weaponry varied between pilots, the most popular weapons were twin rapid-fire plasma cannons and two pairs of missile launchers. The most famous Jetter was Ariel Vazquez. Joining the program in 2072 at the age of 25, she displayed immense prowess with the suit and made headlines for her heroics in the Long Beach Excursion (2073), in which [REDACTED] surfaced off the coast of Long Beach, California and attacked the water front. Were it not for the timely intervention of the “Jetters”, the [REDACTED] would’ve wreaked untold destruction on the city proper. Vazquez would also participate in the Battle of Bend (2079), in which the nation states of Cascadia and Greater Idaho fought for control of a newly-discovered (and incredibly valuable) lithium deposit on the outskirts of Bend, Oregon. Being a PMC, Ætheon sided with the highest bidder (in this case, Greater Idaho) and wreaked massive casualties on the Cascadian military with their superior airpower. Though effective, Project Thunderbird’s heavy and unwieldly jet suits would ultimately be phased out as the technology improved and became more compact. However, it would leave a lasting impact on military combat (even going into the intergalactic age centuries later), with similar technology being deployed by the Royal Cobalt Space Navy (RCSN) in their “Gunzerker” program. Ariel Vazquez Birthdate: 04/26/2047 Hometown: Santa Ana, California, United States Height 5’11”/1.80 m (without suit) 6’5”/1.96 m (with suit) Weight 155 lbs/70.30 kg (without suit) 82 lbs/37.19 kg (suit) 242 lbs/114.31 kg (with suit) Education Mater Dei High School (2062 – 2066) West Point (2066 – 2070) Primary Military Specialty: Aerial Secondary Military Specialty: Ordinance

@Feuer Zug Thank you so much! @Umbra-Manis Thanks - I'm glad you like it!

Nice little build - I especially like the use of that "Marauder's Map" from Harry Potter!

Really like the prints on some of these guys - its easy to forget that the older minfigure torsos could still have a lot of detail! I'll second what Aurore said - "band-aid guy" is my favorite of the bunch. That facial expression gives him so much personality - I imagine he got that band-aid from trying to tax some "ill-tempered" folks!

Don't mention it! I agree with you about the Shuri figure; like you, I bought her on BrickLink the first chance I got. I used her head on one of my CDC2 CMF figures (the Ivory Priestess), and I'll have to find a use for that great torso as well!

Some genius parts combos here - the transition from the belt on the "Slave Leia torso" to the belt on the "Thena legs" is flawless (what were the odds that those two pieces produced several years apart would combine so smoothly)? Add the arms and metal headband, and you have a great color scheme. The whole wardrobe reminds me of the "pulp fantasy" genre (sort of like Red Sonja, Conan, etc.). I love her hair as well - I've been looking to get the Vampire Bassist on BrickLink for a while now. Finding her for a reasonable price has been difficult, but she'll probably become cheaper/more common in the next few months...

Amazing work! I love the large masonry bricks at the front entrance (really love how implemented them in that archway), the "SNOT" construction for the dirt, and the dark red "awnings" in the back. I also like how you used those light bluish-gray "flick-fire missile" parts for a lot of the masonry - I have so many of those at home (and no idea what to do with them; this gave me some ideas!). Your outdoor shots are wonderfully cinematic as well! Not only that, but the positioning of those minifigures makes this whole MOC come alive. I also appreciate your "Behind the Scenes" video - that's something you rarely see on this website, and it really made me appreciate the amount of work and creativity that went into this MOC (especially at such a large scale)!

The parts combos on all of these are incredible - Thyrulnë and Dresghar might be my favorites! It's amazing how you can take all these figure parts from different sources (Star Wars, Marvel/DC, etc.) and make the combos work. This might be some of your best "figure work" yet - even better than your recent CMF contest entry (and that's saying something)! The story is great as well - it's always a pleasure to see the Chronicles of Embervale storyline continue! I also like the brick-built assemblies. The flag/banners + "candelabra" (great use of that "silver thing") and throne look wonderful) Keep up the great work!

Excellent work! The work you did on all the fungi and trees is impeccable - I particularly like the "Ogre's eye", the use of minifigure hands for the fungus (?) on the left edge of the MOC, and the orange tree in the back! The use of red construction hats for a couple of the fungis was also creative. The design for standing stones is great as well! All your grent figures look excellent. Baob is my favorite - he has so much personality, and I really like how you added all that foliage to him! The Rock Raiders rock monster is such a "niche" piece that you rarely see it in MOCs. Its cool that you were able to put it to such great use! The story is an example of great world-building - it makes the grent culture feel tangible or "real". Keep up the great work!

1 point for 2. Eyrezer 1. point for 5. KaiNRG 1. point for 8. Aurore

1 point for 2. LordDan 1 point for 13. Ayrlego 1 point for 16. Henjin_Quilones

No sweat!

@Grover Thank you! I created my centaur design before the official "centaur piece" was unveiled in 2020. I agree with you that the official piece is too small relative to a minifigure torso. I also appreciate your color comments - I often consulted a color wheel when creating some of the characters for "Cobold's Crusaders" and the CDC2 CMF. That being said, I still seem to gravitate towards "cooler" colors (greens, blues, purples, etc.), with both sets of figures. No idea why! @Eyrezer Thank you so much - I'm humbled! I first posted Kars on Flickr several months ago, but I don't recall him ever being featured on TBB (or any similar sites). He seems to be really popular - that first photo of him is my most liked Instagram post (by a long shot) and my third-most "favorited" Flickr post. I'm not sure if that's because he was featured somewhere (unbeknownst to me) or if people just really like him.

Trouble is brewing in Nocturnus. In the midst of the civil war that has engulfed the kingdom for years, a new power has slowly emerged: the Crimson Knives. Armed with weaponry far more advanced than their rivals, they have engaged in a scorched earth policy that has left large amounts of civilians dead. One such victim was an ambassador (and dear friend) of the Desert King. Knowing that his citizens would be hesitant to take part in an all-out invasion of Nocturnus, the King has put an incredibly high bounty on all of the public figureheads of the Crimson Knives (including Ulriq, Bastio, and Magda). The instruction are simple: he wants their severed heads delivered to him. Such a high bounty has elicited enthusiasm from bounty hunters and assassins all over Historica. Average citizens also have something to gain, as mercenaries from across the land have congregated on "border regions" to eat, drink, rest, and buy supplies before venturing into Nocturnus. Such an influx of money has been a boon for the local economies. Not all are as enthusiastic though. Someone within Ylspeth's circle has been secretly sending information to the Crimson Knives. In order to find out who the traitor is, Ylspeth needs Ulriq, Bastio, and the others alive. To accomplish this task, she has secretly enlisted the help of Cobold McTavish and his team of adventurers! From left to right: Gerard Renwick Sinclair III, Ayra Valken, Kars, Cobold McTavish, Charis From left to right: Cobold McTavish and Kars Cobold McTavish Kingdom: Kaliphlin Race: Dwarf Sex: Male Age: 96 (48 in Dwarf years) Height: 4'8" (1.42 m) Bio: A dwarf of many talents, Cobold was engineer/chemist/seasoned chef from the mountains of eastern Kaliphlin. A demolitions prodigy, he was recruited by the Cedrican royalty to create a bomb that could turn the tide in the war against Raavage. The result was a revolutionary design – though large and unwieldly (needing at least two people to carry it), it could bring down a wall and end a siege in minutes. The bombs would see deployment on the battlefield by Cobold and his commandos; it was on this crack team of elite soldiers where Cobold would meet Kars (a mysterious tracker from Avalonia) and Ulriq (a hulking refugee from Nocturnus). Somehow, Cobold’s designs (which were supposedly well-protected by the Cedrican Royal Guard) found their way into Nocturnus, where they were used by forces allied with Raavage to devastating effect. Cobold realized that he created a monster – not only were they being used against his own men, but if his designs proliferated enough, they would make the "simple act" of waging war more destructive than ever. As Raavage’s forces were obliterated and scattered throughout the Nocturnan wastelands, Cobold made a point of destroying every blueprint and model of the bomb he could find, doing so until he was satisfied that he had eliminated every trace of his creation. After the war, Cobold returned home with Kaliphlin, and decided to follow his passion of being a chef. After all that destruction, he decided it was time to pursue something creative. Several years later, Cobold is working as the head chef of a prominent restaurant. Though his job pays well, he chafes at controlling nature of his boss. Without a means for expressing himself, he feels like he is suffocating. In recent weeks, news had begun to trickle out of Nocturnus of a militia group known as the “Crimson Knives”, led by one of Cobold's former friend/protege Ulriq. Though they strike their rivals fast and disappear just as quickly (cleaning up any remains of their attacks), a few pieces of shrapnel have managed to escape their grasp. The indications are clear: Cobold’s bombs are back in production. With this revelation, Cobold has decide to assemble a team to venture into Nocturnus, defeat the Crimson Knives, and destroy every last trace of his creation. Having always had a flair for the theatrical, the dwarf has named his team "Cobold's Crusaders", much to the chagrin of his lieutenant Kars. Kars thinks its "too cheesy"; Cobold jokingly retorts that Kars is "no fun". Queen Ylspeth and Cobold are both aware that there is a traitor somewhere in her government. Directly funding his mission would require much manpower on her part (increasing the risk of the traitor being privy to their plans). However, she has referred him to the Sinclair family in Valyrio, who have agreed to bankroll his mission. For now, all the young Queen can give is her tacit support. Skills: master chef, demolitions expert, engineer, master tactician, skilled hand-to-hand combatant, small size obfuscates physical strength Hobbies: cooking, axe-throwing, military history Personality: boisterous, passionate, leads from the front, can be somewhat stubborn and impulsive (this is tempered by his lieutenant Kars), guilt over past actions Kars Kingdom: Avalonia Race: Unknown Sex: Male Age: Unknown Height: 6’4” (1.93 m) Bio: Kars is a quiet, enigmatic mercenary who uses his borderline-supernatural tracking abilities to hunt his targets. Having grown up on the impoverished outskirts of an Avalonian city, he befriended Bastio and co-founded the criminal gang called the "Krenwald Cavaliers". The two would eventually have a falling-out that left Kars drifting down a river on the brink of death. He was found and nursed back to health by the Valken family. It was the first time he had a healthy relationship with anyone, and he would never forget the kindness they showed to him. Kars would “lie low” on the isolated farm for over a year, helping out with various tasks. Though they were a family of centaurs, the Valkens accepted him as one of their own, with Kars developing a sibling-like relationship with Ayra. Searching for work, Kars would eventually join the Avalonian military in the fight against Lord Ravaage. His skills in tracking and wilderness survival would eventually see him transferred to a Cedrican Commando unit (nicknamed “Cobold’s Commandos) led by Cobold McTavish. After the war's end, Kars would return to mercenary work. Tracking everyone from bail jumpers and escaped criminals to kidnapping victims, he would acquire a fearsome reputation for "never losing a quarry". Some targets (upon discovering that Kars was tracking them) supposedly opted to surrender and spare both parties the trouble. Cobold had been a mentor figure for Kars, and the closest thing he has had to a father figure. He would leap at the opportunity to fight alongside him years later, with the two of them determined to 1) destroy every last trace of the former's creation and 2) bring in their former friend Ulriq alive. Skills: master tracker, wilderness survival, stealth, enhanced senses (especially sight), competent swordsman, lanky build hides surprising physical strength Hobbies: birdwatching (a hobby he shares with Ayra), tracking his targets ("if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life") Personality: introverted, analytical, obsessed with “professionalism”, intensely loyal, socially awkward, hates people who are "picky", occasionally lonely (Kars wants camaraderie, but couldn't bring himself bring himself to actively seek it until he met Charis; before that someone would have to approach him first) From left to right: Gerard Renwick Sinclair III and Charis Gerard Renwick Sinclair III Kingdom: Valyrio Race: Human Sex: Male Age: 35 Height: 5’11” (1.80 m) Bio: As the youngest son (and only bachelor) within a Valyrian aristocratic family, Gerard Renwick Sinclair III has struggled to stand out and make a name for himself. Having so far lived an uneventful life, he is the only member of his family without any heroic tales. This has caused him to worry about being the disappointment of the family. Since the War against Raavage, the Sinclair family have become steadfast (tacit) allies of Queen Ylspeth. The queen has referred Cobold's Crusaders to the aristocratic family, who has agreed to bankroll their mission. Gerard has also agreed to join them; he sees this as a golden opportunity to prove himself and avoid being a disappointment to his family. Though he is eager for adventure, he still has to get used to life on the road, where people sleep in the dirt and make-do without three meals a day. Skills: master fencer/sword-fighter, diplomat Hobbies: wine-tasting, fencing, classical literature/art Personality: gregarious, obsessed with manners, picky, desperate to prove himself, has an affinity for "the finer things in life" Charis Kingdom: Avalonia Race: Unknown Sex: Female Age: 25 Height: 5’9” (1.75 m) Bio: Little is known about Charis' life. According to her, it was "so boring that it isn't even worth recounting". All that can be gathered is that she used to bowfish when she was younger, leading her to expert marksmanship and skill in all forms of archery. No one knows where she came from or why she has purple skin, webbed fingers/toes, and a pair of gills. None of that matters to her - in her view, all that matters is living in the moment, so who cares what her past was like? Adventurous and thrill-seeking, Charis has made it her life's goal to "avoid boredom" - this led her to pursue a degree in monster-hunting. It pays well, and the excitement is a guaranteed. To pass the time, Charis likes performing "trick shots" with her bow (such as firing the arrow using her feet) and playing pranks on her friends. Charis and Kars met a few years ago when they encountered each other going after the same bounty: a Dreerack. With a snake-like body, armored head, and mouth full of teeth sharp enough to bite through chain-mail, the monster would have been nigh-impossible to take down alone. Charis and Kars agreed to work together and split the bounty. The pair made a perfect team, with their strengths and weaknesses complementing each other nicely. Kars was a great close range combatant with extraordinary tracking skills, whereas Charis made for an impeccable sniper. Both were "loners" who loved the thrill of the hunt. Charis drove Kars to become more extroverted, whereas Kars drove Charis to become more introspective. Skills: master of all forms of archery, can breathe underwater, stealth Hobbies: fishing (especially bow fishing), sports-hunting, increasingly elaborate jokes/pranks, performing "trick shots" with her bow Personality: extroverted, easily bored/distracted, has no "filter" when speaking, "daredevil", mischievous Ayra Valken Kingdom: Avalonia Race: Centaur Sex: Female Age: 28 Height: 7’5” (2.26 m) Bio: Growing up on an isolated farm in Avalonia, Ayra Valken had an simple and idyllic childhood. Her family (consisting of her father, a combat medic, and her mother, a former school teacher) were always willing to take in anyone passing through their neck of the woods, even adopting a young centaur named Brielle. While Mrs. Valken would homeschool them, Mr. Valken would instruct them both in the ways of combat medicine (a field which involved fighting off attackers just as much as tending to your allies). Brielle and Ayra had different takeaways from this: Brielle would eventually become a fierce knight, sworn to protect the innocent, whereas Ayra would become a gentle healer who avoids violence whenever possible. As a centaur, Ayra knew that a powerful kick could kill a man; all the more reason for restraint. A year before the war against Raavage, Ayra found a bloodied Kars on a riverbank near the farm. Taking him in, the family nursed him back to health. To repay their kindness (and "lay low" to avoid Bastio) Kars stayed on the farm for over a year, during which he developed a sibling-like bond with Ayra and Brielle. Around the same time, Ayra began showing signs of the "green flame"; an exceptionally rare magical power that could heal any wound imaginable, albeit at a great cost of energy to the wielder. The magic could also be used to perform impenetrable barriers and telekinetically move anything from fallen debris to injured people. In combat situations, the magic is only supposed to be used defensively. Ayra would subsequently be sent to the Green Order (an order consisting those who possessed the "green flame") within northern Avalonia, where her skills would be further honed. Nowadays, Ayra travels around Historica, helping those in need. When Kars approached her (on the orders of Cobold) and asked if she wanted to join his "Crusaders", she heartily accepted, both out of desire to help those suffering at the hands of Crimson Knives and out of loyalty to her brother. One of Ayra’s worst fears is her fear of being a burden on someone. When someone does a favor for her, she always insists on repaying that debt in some way. It’s a trait viewed as equal parts flattering and annoying. This fear also causes Ayra not to voice her misgivings regarding a particular issue - when repressed, this can sometimes lead to bitterness/passive-aggressiveness. Ayra has several other phobias, including claustrophobia, thassalophobia (fear of deep water), and acrophobia (fear of heights). These fears largely stem from her physiology (and are shared by many of her fellow centaurs). Centaurs generally do poorly in tight spaces (due to their unique proportions), are awkward swimmers, and prefer to have all four of their hooves placed firmly on the ground. Though she will travel anywhere she is physically able to help those in need, Ayra has a strong dislike for large cities. Their narrow streets and small shops are crowded with people (playing into her claustrophobia) and her naturally heightened sense of hearing (common among centaurs) makes it hard to tune out the constant noise. Though this leaves Ayra somewhat susceptible to “sensory overload” upon entering a city, she won't let it stop her from helping those in need. Skills: healing magic, "practical medicine" such as herbalism, heightened hearing (shared by all centaurs), can deliver "a mean kick" from her hooves (but never does so because of the potentially fatal results) Hobbies: bird watching (due to her heightened hearing, she can supposedly identify most birds by sound alone), herbalism, relaxing walks through the woods, cooking/food in general (something very dear to most centaurs to their physiology) Personality: kind-hearted, gentle/easy-going, avoids violence whenever possible, worries about being a burden/has multiple phobias, has a reverence for nature and all forms of life, unofficial "team mom" (Pictured Below) Ayra and her sister Brielle make a new friend... I think that bird likes you! You think so? (Pictured) The Crusaders "messing around" If you've made it this far and read through my "Great Wall of Text", then I applaud your patience! I've been working on these characters for years, starting with Ayra back in early 2019 (time flies). After a lot of writing and rewriting, I finally have a team (complete with characters and character dynamics) that I'm happy with! I was considering portraying these backstories through MOC's, but going to college in Germany as an exchange student made that unfeasible. I won't be back home until Spring 2022. Seeing as how I have been sitting on some of these stories for years, I wanted to "get the story out" now so that I can focus on the "present day" events in these characters' lives (I think Charis would approve of "focusing on the present" ). That being said, I am absolutely open to going back and building key moments of these backstories (in "MOC form") in the future! Enjoy!

@Eyrezer Thank you - I'm glad I was able illicit your interest in them! I would also recommend checking out "Four Bricks Tall", who made an excellent Tiefling using the "dark azure headpiece". @Umbra-Manis Thank you! As you can probably tell, I've amassed quite the "armor collection" over the years!

Here is my entry for CDC2 Category 1: Populating Historica. Enjoy! Cedrica and Valyrio from left to right: Queen Ylspeth: The Queen of Historica in her “ceremonial armor”, which she wears at certain military functions/ceremonies. Though she rules securely from Cedrica, she worries that she might one day need to use it... Marilla Danza: a tiefling and former slave who freed herself after leading a revolt. She and her crew of freedom fighters have been disrupting the underground slave trade between Valyrio and Kaliphlin, raiding slave ships and freeing their captives. Gerard Renwick Sinclare III: Second son (and the only bachelor) within a powerful family of Valyrian aristocrats. He is the only one in his family without any heroic tales to tell. Having lived an uneventful life, he seeks adventure in an effort to prove himself. Mitgardia Ivar Lonswain: an “eccentric” sea captain who ferries “unscrupulous people” between Mitgardia, Avalonia, and Valyrio. His pet lobster, Claudette, is blood thirsty and capable of surviving out of water indefinitely. She has a body count large enough to fill a multi-volume book. Ivar is the only one who can pet her without being dismembered. The Ivory Priestess: a mysterious priestess who collects bones. Her methods of acquiring these bones vary from rummaging around in the waste piles of butcher shops to brazen grave robbery. Her intentions for said bones are currently unknown. Zapato: a Minotaur butcher of few words. How a member of a usually herbivorous race became an expert on meat is anyone’s guess. People ask him if it "ever feels weird for him to be serving beef" - they receive a death glare in response. Avalonia Gertrude "Gerti" Eilinger: a prominent cultural anthropologist from the University of Albion. She travels all around Historica with her team of researchers. Having just finished a thesis on Cyclops cultures of the southwest Mitgardian lowlands, she has now set her sights on a group of “camel centaurs” (cameltaurs?) that some allege to exist in the Siccus Badlands. This has elicited controversy among her fellow academics, who claim that her theories are “absolutely preposterous”. This has done little to deter the enthusiastic anthropologist, though. Brielle Valken: adopted older sister of Ayra Valken, and captain of the Knights of Duranya. Described as a “natural born leader” who leads from the front, she has earned the respect of her fellow knights time and time again. The same cannot be said for her relationship with the bureaucracy. In a field where nepotism and “favors” leads to promotion, Brielle’s polite refusal to “brownnose” has left her without many allies in the upper brass, and without many means to progress her career. Though this sometimes frustrates her, she would ultimately rather be "on the ground" then cooped up in some office. Shriana: an elven sorceress who betrayed her kind before being banished to another plane of existence. Bargaining with dark powers, she has returned in a cursed, spectral state (neither alive nor dead) to exact revenge on her fellow elves. Kaliphlin Jalla Vaswani: a naga bounty hunter and assassin engaged in a fierce rivalry with Kars. A top earner among Kaliphlani mercenaries, she has become a minor celebrity in parts of Kaliphlin, flaunting her success with expensive silks and the best weaponry. Keeper Radina Roshti: the dedicated (if not slightly aloof) keeper of the Queenscross archives. Located deep beneath the sand, she oversees and guards thousands of years worth of knowledge. Ranging from "schematics of buildings that don't (officially) exist" to "forbidden spells", the texts would prove dangerous if they fell into the wrong hands. Armando Sabatheel: bar tender at the Tipsy Tree. Applying excessive amounts of pomade to his hair (down to his “trademark curl”), he can be smelled from meters away. He claims to be popular with the ladies (proof needed). Nocturnus Magda: a mysterious chemist with an entirely unknown past. There are no records of them or their work in any of the five guilds - their age, gender, race are all a mystery. Ulriq has deduced that, if those records ever did exist, they were likely wiped from existence by those in power. Magda is too experienced in their field to have not had a history. The only things that are unquestionable is their expertise in their field and their complete sociopathy. Recently, they have joined the Crimson Knives after being offered "career opportunities" by Ulriq. Bastio: an orc soldier who fashions himself as a “survivor”, allying himself with whoever he thinks is the most powerful. He has allied himself with Ulriq, but will betray him at the first sign of weakness. Unbeknownst to Bastio, Ulriq is well aware of this fact; he only tolerates Bastio because he “drives him to be better”. Ulriq: the mysterious and charismatic leader of the Crimson Knives. Hailing from an influential Nocturnan family, he was sent to Avalonia before Raavage considered the family a threat to his power. With his family subsequently purged, Ulriq was the lone survivor. A year later, he would join a Cedrican commando unit, fighting alongside Kars and Cobold. Parting ways after the war, Ulriq returned home to his native Nocturnus and claimed his family’s hidden wealth. With Raavage’s purported death creating a power vacuum, the whole kingdom is now in chaos, and Ulriq has sought to make a name for himself by any means necessary. Countess Irina Vachau: living in her isolated castle in northern Nocturnus, she has a prized collection of "vintage bloods" in her cellar. Visitors to her castle also have a nasty habit of disappearing. She insists that she definitely isn't a vampire, though. ___________________________________________________________________________________ When I heard that CDC2: Category 1 would involve a CMF, I knew that I just had to take part! Given my small workspace and limited parts collection, I've never been able to build larger MOC's - instead, I've focused almost entirely on minifigures these past few years. Something like a CMF challenge was one of the few Guilds of Historica challenges I could feasibly participate in. Some behind the scenes info on this series: I had a lot of fun working on this series and watching what the other contestants have/will come up with - I wish you all the best of luck!

@Umbra-Manis Thank you! @Kai NRG I'm sorry you had to read all that! I'm thinking about putting the backstories under "spoilers" so people don't have to scroll for five minutes. That being said, I'm really glad you liked said backstories! I also appreciate your kind words regarding the minifigures - Kars is also my favorite of the bunch (he even doubles as my "sigfig" within the Avalonia guild topic)!

This is a great set of figures you have here! I really like the Mercenary (really like that torso-legs combo) and The Blue Knight (you took a bunch of parts/colors from different sources and made it work). However, my favorites are probably The Cedrican Royal Guard (eye-catching design, with great parts for the helmet and shoulder pads) and The Immortal Baker (really unique/charming design + backstory)!

Great work on all of these! My favorites are probably the Kaliphlin Merchant (love his handheld "weighing scale"), Barqan Astrologer (love the re-use of that Harry Potter "invisibility cloak"), Petraean Swordsman (lovely colors/parts combos; especially love that shield), Nocturnan Herbalist (really love his "plant disguise" + backstory) and the Rego Palace Guard (the parts combos are great, especially the leg-armor combo).

Incredible work! It's really impressive how you were able to make the bird look truly "organic" using geometric/"blocky" LEGO pieces. That's difficult to pull off! I also love the cawing feature (as with the aforementioned shaping, the movement feels smooth/"organic")!

@Glassjaw Sorry for the ridiculously late reply - I'm glad you liked the figure (and the build as a whole)!

A heavily armed minifigure I made as my sole contribution to the "Dispute on LV-4273" collab, which was displayed at Bricks Cascade 2020. I just got a lightbox, so now I'm finally able to photograph it! More info on the collab: Dispute on LV-4273 by Douglas Hughes, on Flickr