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A "military" build to flesh out Embervale in the Historical Settlements and one day get it included in the "Avalonian Sites and Monuments: a comprehensive guide"...and also my entry for Brickscalibur's "Interior Architect" category. Here are the command room and the armoury of the castle of Embervale! (Global photos in the hidden section) The story - Chronicles of Embervale Episode : To arms! Featuring… Alrune - The Elf Maiden, Lady of Embervale, mage Dresghar - The Chronicler, her faithful uncle, erudite Evrart - The (recently promoted) captain of her guards Gram - A guard Rex - The guards’ pet tarasque Goblin guards, skeletons "So, how are you doing?" Dresghar cheerfully asked the captain. Brooding next to the window of the command room, his arms crossed and his eyes gazing into space, Evrart let out a slight sigh but did not answer. Shortly following their expedition to the druidic mausoleum, out of the blue, Lady Alrune had come up with the unfortunate idea to appoint him as the captain of her guards. Her goblin guards. Only recently had the pesky little thugs dropped the idea of eating him, he wondered how she could think they would obey him anytime soon. "Are you alright?" Dresghar repeated. Evrart sighed again and gestured toward the courtyard on the other side of the window, where a few goblins were enthusiastically poking each other with blunt spears. "I’m trying to get them through basic training, sir. Teamwork. Hierarchy. Elementary hygiene. Stuff like that." "And it doesn’t go as intended?" "Oh well, they happen to follow my orders from time to time. And they know which side of a spear is supposed to be pointed at the enemy. I guess that’s a start." One of the goblins tripped over his own weapon, fell in a puddle, and made all the others giggle foolishly. "Let’s just hope the lady doesn’t have short-term military ambitions, sir." Evrart turned his attention away from the goblins – his goblins – and observed Dresghar snooping around the command room. It was a large study located in one of the most ancient parts of the castle, reflecting the architectural style of the humans who had built the early stronghold rather than the ornate design of the elves who had later besieged it, won it, and rebuilt it. The successive elven governors of the castle had kept the room as intact as possible, going so far as to hire human workers to renovate the elaborate parquet floor and furniture. Lady Alrune’s father, who had used the place as his headquarters during all his campaigns, was allegedly the first to add his coat of arms and colours on the walls and decorate with personal items and weapons. "Do you know how to read and write?" Dresghar suddenly and unexpectedly enquired. "More or less, sir," Evrart replied after a short hesitation. "The baron I used to serve taught me how to sign my name and read simple messages." "Well, I guess that’s a start,” the elf sneered. "Now that you’re an officer of Embervale, you’ll need to participate to administrative tasks as well as military ones." Evrart rolled his eyes. "Very funny, sir." "Oh, I’m not joking," Dresghar replied with a mischievous smile. "There. Here are the books where my niece was recording her military expenditures. She’s very bad at accounting, even you can’t do worse. Give it a try!" And, still smirking, he left the room and abandoned Evrart with a pile of books and the unpleasant feeling of being snookered. First, irksome goblins, and now administrative chores. Why did he come to Embervale already? Oh, right, he had no place to live when the baron got rid of him, and he deemed the lady here as a respectable person. --- He spent the rest of a day – an eternity – struggling to decipher the tiny, tight handwriting of the said lady. He was almost concluding she had encrypted her writings, when an ear-piercing shriek shrilled. He froze, all senses in alarm. And soon, he heard the distinct sounds of a scuffle right from the next room. The armoury. He rushed out, only to find three panicked goblins trying to fend off a much larger group of skeletons. Good old stupid skeletons, wielding decaying weapons, fighting bluntly without a hint of cooperation. Not that it really put them at disadvantage against the goblins, who were hardly better at tactical thinking. Frightened eyes were peeking out from the door that led to the guards’ dormitory: the rest of the goblins, not even helping their comrades in need. And, much to Evrart’s surprise, Alrune was in the room too. Unarmed, her hair undone, wearing a white nightgown, she was trying to comfort the guards’ pet tarasque cub. He briefly wondered why she was playing damsel in distress instead of fighting, but chose to focus on more immediate issues. "Get out, you wimps!" he shouted at the hidden goblins. "Take weapons and fight!" He heard them squabbling and moaning, but only one of them hesitantly ventured out of their lair. And stopped halfway when he noticed he was alone. Exasperated, Evrart crushed a few skeletons out of his way and reached the strongest among the fighting goblins. "Gram, make those cowards come out! If any of them dares to resist, feel free to tear off their ears – or whatever else comes to your mind!" The goblin flashed him a vicious smile and headed to the door. A few squeaks and screeches later, the whole company was in the guards’ room and frantically grabbing the nearest weapons. "Leave those freaking spears alone! Take clubs and maces!" the captain yelled. "Clubs and maces, you freaking fools!" Gram repeated while dropping her own spear. And, much sooner than Evrart had expected, all the intruders were shattered. --- The goblins cheered and drank all night long, boasting at their military prowess. The next morning, their captain was in a foul mood and had a severe headache when he met Alrune for their daily brief. "I regret to say that, but I have yet to find where the skeletons came from," he reported bitterly. "Really? They simply come from the basement. I animated them in the catacombs under the castle." He recoiled, staring at her in disbelief. A silence fell. And last. "I’m what your people call a dark elf, and I’m a mage," Alrune finally stated, her voice deeper than usual. “How could you not expect me to know enough necromancy to animate a few skeletons?" "If you say so! But why the heck would you do that to attack the armoury? I mean, your own armoury?" "It was a live exercise for the goblins and you! Or rather, an undead exercise," she added with a slight chuckle he found appalling. A rather puzzled Alrune watched him leave the room swearing under his breath. She had given him a trusted position, helped him train his men – err, goblins, and yet the guy was still as grouchy as ever. Oh well, humans. Strange people, really. -
The build: The Rise of Slågö Farm The story: Marija Slågö ran one of the most productive horticultural centres in Notomys. While the land had always been fruitful, Marija’s hard work, shrewd business sense and innovation had taken it to new heights. This had seemed unlikely even one year earlier. Back during the Drow-Elf civil war, Marija’s husband Grigor had been wounded defending the hamlet. Several years trying to fight off infection and caring for her increasingly debilitated husband had seen the farm slowly neglected. When Grigor finally succumbed to death, Marija was left with two toddlers and one newborn. Some in the village urged Marija to abandon the farm and return to her childhood village. Marija had other ideas. Leaving would mean betraying her husband’s dreams and leave their children ignorant of the home they’d built together. Instead, she vowed to turn the farm around. First, her mother-in-law Đoris moved in to assist with caring for the children. The homestead itself was built around a large, stone storage room perfect for storing the root vegetables that were their staple crop. Accessed through a wooden ladder, the second floor was a single room, dominated by a large bed with enough room for Marija, Đoris and the two wriggling toddlers. The infant, at least, had its own cot. A small kitchen, play area and Gregor’s dented amour completed that floor. A small attic completed the structure. Ever since the war, Marija kept her bow and a full quiver up there; with windows on each side, she could defend the homestead from all sides. Marija’s second intervention was to sidle up to the local gnomish tinkerer and convince her to develop some new fan-dangled beehive prototypes. Marija had noticed that, the more active the farm’s bees, the more plentiful their crop. One of the local wood elves even volunteered to maintain the hives in exchange for a small portion of the honey. With the new beehives working a trick, Marija also increased the wildflowers surrounding the farm. While some neighbours considered this a waste of precious labour, Marija was convinced it would support her valuable pollinators. While she didn’t yet have a buyer for her abundant flowers, she was hopeful the well-to-do Varlyrian newcomer in town might be persuaded to purchase some. Finally, Marija also scaled up her manure production. She liked to repeat the story of the visiting scholar from the University of Petraea who’d tried to convince her that soil in the Enchanted Forest was so fertile, you could plant beans anywhere and overnight expect to find a giant beanstalk. The truth every Avalonian farmer knew was that soil gave back what you put in – and that meant compost. So Marija struck up a deal to secure copious amounts of the best manure available: centaur manure! Forest fillies were regularly seen lugging bulging sacks up Slågö farm track, leaving shortly after, light of step, and accompanied by the clink of coin. This season, Marija and Đoris’ efforts had come to fruition: a great crop of spuds and peppers; pumpkins, red and green gourds well on the way; and the full crop of giant corn sold even before it matured! Of course, none of it would have been possible without the support from the other women of the village, many of whom had lost their own relatives in the war. Inspired by stories of the Avalonian Oak Maidens and Sword Sirens, Marija was one of the founding members of a small archery militia, alongside the trapper Jultarra and the hunter Roisin. As a small way of giving back, Marija had chosen to host a banquet to mark the graduation of four new, fully-fletched members of the archer’s guild. First up was Ari, manager of the local delicatessen; next was the fisherwoman Sofia; followed by Bess, whose mother ran the tavern. The last to attempt the test would be the Cyclops Scythia. This would be her third attempt, having struggled to overcome her lack of depth perception. To assist Scythia, the other guild members had pooled funds to buy her a crossbow. Hopefully this time would be different - at the very least she had been warned multiple times not to hit the old beehive! The cast: The Slågö family and helpers Marija, Kalene, Miri, Đoris, Cara, the cat, the bees, Medb, the chickens, the armadorses The centaur gong farmers: Đamerus, Thalile, Sophare The archery guild: Jultarra (trapper), Roisin (hunter), Ari (delicatessanier), Sofia (fishmonger), Bess (publican's daughter), Scythia (Cyclops), Zara (butcher), Joan (baker), Alice (candlestick maker), Agnes (shopkeeper), Donika (shepherd). Build notes: More photos on my Flickr album.
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The build: Lord of the Flies Agaric The story: Mushrooms were big business in the Enchanted Forest and one of the best mushroom groomers was Flix. The pixie specialised in painting fly agaric mushrooms, making sure their white spots were vivid and perfectly round. While mushroom grooming was often a relaxing task, Flix was always wary of insect attacks and kept his rapier with him at all times. Build notes:
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The woods of Avalonia were home to many critters, familiar and rare, wild and civilised, magical and mundane. One that was rarely sighted was the shy talzoin. Sometimes called “cave-bears”, the talzoin lived underground in the Wizard’s Spine mountains. The bipedal creatures were covered in thick grey fur and sported four eyes, which granted clear sight in the dark caverns and tunnels they carved in their subterranean domain. On odd occasions, talzoin would emerge into the surface forests for a spot of moonlight.
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[Freebuild] Hunting the blue woolly eel (Anguilla galidoris)
Eyrezer posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
The build: Hunting the blue woolly eel (Anguilla galidoris) The story: Every spring, baby blue woolly eels migrated up rivers from the ocean, a highly anticipated chance to catch the small delicacy. Its ocean breeding grounds had never been found, a mystery the mermaid Ciara and her ikateren friend, Weroti, were determined to solve. They tracked the elvers into the depths of the ocean, fending off shark and other predators of the deep. Eventually, they came across an ancient seamount, covered with corals, kelp and other life. As they drew close, the pair saw two of the monstrously large blue woolly eels, their gaping maws displaying circle after circle of razor sharp teeth. Could these be the original progenitors of the tiny delicacy? Ciara knew no one would believe them - unless they could bring back one of the eels as a trophy! The hunters: Ciara was a young mermaid, living in a commune off the southern coast of Avalonia. For work, she tended the kelp gardens and warded off the giant sea turtles that liked to uproot the plants. She was often seen riding the wake of the Varlyrian schooners that traded goods along the Avalonia coast. Weroti was a wiry ikateren, a tentacled race allied with the mermaids. Weroti was the spawn of the local chieftainess and recently earned his coming of age tattoo on his arm. He was eager to prove himself as a worthy heir to his mother despite it being almost unheard of for a male to lead an ikateren school. Ikaterens were bipedal creatures typically patterned in orange, red or green. They had fins on their legs and a long spiny tail that aided in swimming and balance. They had black eyes and two wattles around their mouths. Build notes: -
In the glorious city of Albion, the capital of Avalonia, there are many taverns and inns famous for their fantastic food and drink. This particular tavern is a popular hangout for Avalonian guardsmen and servers a large variety of ales and other spirits.\ I built this nearly a year ago now, but I was waiting to try and build a landscape to go with it ( which never happened), and I forgot that I hadn't posted it to GoH yet.
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[Freebuild] round windmill in Marginea (Avalonia)
Sympatik Brick posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
The hamlet of Marginea is expanding rapidly, its border location between Avalonia and Kaliphlin makes it a regular crossing point for merchants and traders of all kinds. The establishment of the armies of the dragon clan significantly increases the number of mouths to feed. In the oven and in the mill, a couple is active night and day to grind the grain, make and bake the bread. There is no shortage of work, we will have to think about recruiting. -
[Freebuild] Something was rotten in the forest of Notomys
Eyrezer posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
The build: Something was rotten in the forest of Notomys The story: After the archery graduation ceremony at Slågö Farm, Tarra rejoined her litter mates at their trappers’ camp in the forest. While she loved the women in the local archery militia – their steely determination to protect their families, their commitment to mastering their skills, and the warmth of community they shared – they were still foreign. Human ways were different and often strange to the ways of Tarra’s people, the Jerboans. Take for instance, the women’s militia garb. It wasn’t a uniform – they were too informal for that – but most chose to dress in green robes thinking this would help them blend into the Enchanted Forest. Maybe it did if you relied so heavily on sight, but for Jerboans, whose ears were as large as heads, all it did was generate many sounds foreign to the woods: leather rubbing on wool; wool rubbing on burlap; burlap rubbing on furs. She’d tried suggesting the women wear less but that idea had only gained traction with Scythia the Cyclops – and even Tarra herself opposed that idea! In her absence, Tarra’s litter mates Otis and Bibly had continued trapping and skinning martens. This season they’d set up temporary camp near a pond that provided ready access to fresh water. Marten furs fetched a good price at the hamlet of Notomys and it had been a bumper season. “Look at this monster,” said Otis eagerly on Tarra’s return, showing off a plump marten. “I should get double for this pelt!” “‘We’ will get double”, she corrected as she deposited a freshly caught hare by their hut. The camp was simple – not like the elaborate structures her human friends built: a simple semi-circular hut, covered in treated hides; a small cooking brazier; a drying rack; and a few supplies that couldn’t be foraged from the surrounding lands. This was another difference between the Jerboans and Humans – the former preferred more nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles while Humans seems to prefer to hide behind large stones. As Humans had moved in the Jerboans had accommodated them but it led to the curious naming of the hamlet Notomys. The word “Notomys” literally meant home in the Jerboan language but it had become just a place signifier in the common tongue. About a week later, the trappers received an unexpected visitor – another Jerboan accompanied by a white swap wolf. “Bayawarra!” called Tarra, recognising their guest. While Tarra and Bayawarra were from different packs, they had fought alongside each other in the Notomys militia years earlier. “It’s been too long. Do you know Otis and Bilby?” she said, introducing her litter mates. After introductions and niceties, Bayawarra took Tarra aside, his nose wrinkling as it did when he was contemplating something serious. “This isn’t just a friendly visit,” he began. “Have you … have you seen anything strange recently?” “Strange? Yes, definitely”, chuckled Tarra nervously, “I saw Bibly do some actual work!” “Oi! I can still hear you from over here,” interjected Bilby from the other end of the camp, “these ears aren’t just to make me pretty!” “But seriously, no, we haven’t seen anything odd that comes to mind. Why?” Bayawarra continued, “I’ve increasingly been coming across animal corpses in the woods, but they haven’t been eaten – or even touched by wildlife – as you’d expect. And some have had … well mutilations is the best work I can think of. Hearts removed but nothing else. And what concerns me most is that I can barely find tracks to follow.” He paused, petting his wolf. “Simma here can pick up a little scent, but I can tell it’s unfamiliar to her.” “Gosh – no we haven’t seen anything like that. It sounds creepy! You don’t suppose… no… Look, if you can’t track it, I’m not sure that I can do much better.” “Perhaps, but you know this area far better than I do. I’m starting to miss the Inner Marshes. I would really appreciate your help tracking this down – if you’re free to come that is.” Tarra knew a request like this from Bayawarra would only come if he was deeply worried. What could she say but yes? “Sure, Bay, I’ll come. Can you stay for some tucker first or do you want to move straight away?” Bayawarra agreed to spend the rest of the day at the camp. That night they all traded stories over the campfire; Bilby adding levity with his comic impersonations of friends and foes alike; Otis delighting with a few of the simple magic tricks he was practicing; and the tracking animals – Bay’s marsh wolf, Otis’ corhounds and Tarra’s fox – sniffing and grooming each other. It was a moment of rest and tranquility that poorly foreshadowed what was to come. Build notes: More photos on my Flickr album. -
Guilds of Historica Collectible Minfigures: Homecoming Yes, I remember now... I don't know why, or if this is common, but I tend to forget where it all started. How I ended up doing what I do. But as I set out to write this topic, it came back to me. I think it was around 2014 that Guilds of Historica caught my eye. I'm sure it must have been one of the many awesome castle builds that guided me to this forum. I went over the New Member Guide, the Guild topics one by one, and saw the maps. And then I saw minifigures, unlike any I had seen before. Custom factions, armies, fantasy races, built from official lego pieces! Up to that point, my (teenage) creations were based on official LEGO themes, built to be populated by official LEGO minifigs. With Guilds of Historica, it all started to change. A new world opened up for me, a journey, and a place to belong. I started building custom figures myself, eventually a sigfig and his family, friends and foes, and joined the Guilds a year later. So looking back at it, the figures have always been there, sparking new builds and stories. Perhaps that's why I have this feeling of homecoming. Introduction by Exetrius Welcome to Historica, fellow adventurer! On my travels through this land, this mighty continent, I have seen many wonderful people, creatures and other beings. Of course I can't tell you about all of them, that would take days, weeks, months probably! But, don't worry: I have made a selection. Let me introduce you to some of those I have met, or heard about. From the cold North to the hot South, from the tumultuous East to the calm West, from the world above to the world below, and from places within to places outside the continent. Let's start with the four guilds on the continent, and Varlyrio. Mitgardia Magnus, Lord of Spróggefjell Keep "Staring at my armour isn't going to help you get through the winter, get to work!" Yffreya, wilderness hunter "A mercenary job? Sorry, but I don't hate humans that much. Do I look like I do?" Kaliphlin Madame Quarrat, mine owner "This deep pink sapphire came from the latest expansion. Work for me, and you might find one too..." Norri, badlands nomad "This is Bërtah, my favourite of the herd. She's a little shy around strangers, though." Avalonia Fiona, Mystic Isles messenger "It's mostly good news from Albion this time around, so I can afford to take the scenic route. You can join me for a while, if you like." Jerome, salvager-carpenter "You are leaving your old wagon in good hands, sir. And, on behalf of the trees in our forests, I thank you!" Nocturnus Pandemonium, 6th wizard of Zotharith "Yes I burned the town, got a problem with that? There wasn't a good soul in the whole rotten place anyway..." Umdurin, Vacunani scholar "If I'm not mistaken Volume 467 of the Recorin Orbi makes mention of such a tunnel exit. I'll check with the archives." Varlyrio Don Giullio, art dealer "100% genuine, for certain. This is a one-time offer: 13 silvers and it's yours." Rebecca, maid and assistant-chef "I'd love to chat, but the market will be closing soon. Later!" Outside of the Guilds, there is also plenty of interesting folk. Some of them I never met in person, for better or for worse... Ghost Islands of Yureishima Yoshintamaru Sasekageojima, Master swordsman "I see your spirit is fierce, but you lack technique. And away with those runes, they ruin the flow between you and the blade!" Miyuko of the Dawn, folk legend It is said that those who meet Miyuko die on the spot, and depending on her judgement either get sent straight to the realm of the dead, or are reborn from their former bodies. The Underworld Zugal defector and Demorian informant "The war really changed the Clan, you know. I tell you: flying up and down the Underworld is better than serving Raavage." K'sirtllhisqr, Drow mage "Where do you think you're going, surface critter? Trespassing this area is strictly forbidden, even for Drow..." Cedrica Sabrina, spoiled brat "Say hi to Marco, I got him for my half-year birthday! Hey, I'm not spoiled, you're just too poor to understand!" Lunarius the Formidable, archmage "A City of Magic, you say? Sounds like something I need to keep my eye on..." ---- And there you have it: 16 figures! I wasn't feeling very inspired from the beginning, but I had said I'd participate so I didn't go back on my word. I found a way to produce solid figures nonetheless. There are a number of little hints to previous builds or other references baked into the figs and their bios, tell which ones you like! I could do a breakdown later. Thanks for looking! Criticism welcome, hit me with all you got. @Henjin_Quilones I'm not going to keep this from you: Fiona with nougat skin and white elven hair looked glorious. For example as a Hesperian dragon rider. However, it just looked wrong next to the carpenter... Maybe a fleshie figbarf isn't all that unlikely anymore.
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The Brickscalibur event is over… and it was fun and interesting to see all these medievals builds. I was inspired by all 6 categories and choosed at the early beginning to make one submission for each… but I had no much time… and no much bricks left for my participation so I choosed to work on vignettes for 4 of the category. I decided to stage my sigfig Walt Herboï in a little adventure. Vignette - 12x12 (Walt’s journey 1/4) The riches that passed through the port of Barqa were numerous and accidents during unloading were not rare. The Varlyrian nobility also sometimes tended to dispose of objects that have become cumbersome directly in the port. That was enough to persuade Walt to visit. He crossed the Whiter Woods to reach Barqa and went for a swim as refreshing as it was lucrative. Rogues and Outlaws (Walt’s journey 2/4) Gold is good, but it's complicated to transport. Walt was forced to part with it at a second-hand dealer from Barqa. Dreaming of adventure, he exchanged it for a treasure map, which seems to indicate the presence of a cave guarded by a dragon not far from Marginea. As he recrosses the Whiter Woods, he comes face to face with elves ready to rid him of his riches. The old parchment in his hand does not make the elves pursue him too long ... it would have been quite the opposite if he still had his pockets full of gold coins. Monstrous Encounters (Walt’s Journey 3/4) The map Walt obtained at the port of Barqa indicates treasure hidden in the mountains south of Sionnach, allegedly guarded by a dragon. Thirsting for adventure, Walt climbs the mountain’s steepest side and comes upon a temple carved into the rock. It seems uninhabited but its contents shine brightly. With his foot on a gold coin, a terrible rumble resounds. Huggingy the wall, Walt feels the warm breath of the half-awakened dragon. Interior Architect (Walt’s Journey 4/4) In a defensive reflex, Walt grabbed a sword very close to him before to roll down the mountain. If his legs saved his life, this sword would change it ... his dream is finally coming true, he will be able to enter the throne room and offer his services at the same time as this sword to King Dagorn and thus follow the path of his late father. Thank you for your feedbacks… my rogues and outlaws participation is the least successful of the four builds but I’m happy with the elves!
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[Freebuild] The "Zany Snake" potion store in Marginea (Avalonia)
Sympatik Brick posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
The « Zany snake » potion store The "Zany Snake" potion store attracts a very diverse clientele and these clients sometimes come from faraway kingdoms as its fame is so good. The store has an entrance located on the village side and an exit which leads directly into a gloomy forest. This particularity allows a minimum of discretion to the customer who can thus if he wishes to consume his potion out of sight. The store manager, Salzar Natrix, only allows one person in his stall at a time. Her latest client, hooded, seems in a hurry to bring home her precious beverage ... But isn't she wearing a uniform belonging to the dragon clan? Why is she trying to hide her identity? -
I recently built the small Disney castle, which put me in a fairy-tale mood. So here is something more...sugary than usual. Now I need to find a bridge to my main storyline... The main photo is my entry for the "Kiosks" contest on Brickcentral, while the tidy vignette version is my entry for the "12x12 Vignette" category of Brickscalibur. Once upon a time, far away in the heart of the Enchanted Lands, there was a city. A city of lights and wonders, a city renowned for its alluring balls and fascinating masquerades. And in this city, there was a little mask-maker who had a secret...
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The build: Hot pools on the hunt The story: A steep mountain range ran through the heart of the Enchanted Forest, dividing the very ancient forests in the northwest with the merely ancient forests in the southeast. The range went by many names to the peoples of the forests: the Wizard’s Spine, Titan’s Jaw, or merely “the range”. One particularly tall peak had, in times past, been volcanically active; now, geothermal vents still peppered its southern flank. If you knew where to look, some of these vents emerged in thermal hot pools, providing a steamy respite from the surrounding snow and ice. The Varana sisters, Ooru and Gudoo, used the thermal pools as waypoints on their hunting expeditions. Despite the sulphurous emissions, the pools were the perfect spot to remove their snow shoes, warm up, dry out their sodden fur cloaks, and brew a little tea. On this expedition, the siblings had a special target: the elusive giant snow bear. It would be a challenging hunt – to even find a bear; let alone kill it. Snow bears had long, white fur, which provided almost perfect camouflage against the snow and the ice. If you were skilled enough to track one down, you then had to content with their sharp claws, almost as long as a Varana head. Still, Ooro and Gudoo were excited by the hunt: Not only would it challenge their skills but when you were paid upfront with a gold bracelet – with the promise of a second on completion – how could you not be excited! Build notes: C&C welcome.
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Just a quick double dip before I leave for a few days! Collab part 1 : The Poor by jesse van den Oetelaar, on Flickr Orginally made for Brickscalibur, but why not make a freebuild for GOH too?
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The Galaxiflora is an ancient forest, home to a multitude of sylvan communities. When a rare evil threatens to corrupt the Galaxiflora, Lady Bandruí forges an unlikely – and fragile – company of heroes for a dangerous quest to save their home. Despite being composed of champions from the five strongest races of the forest, even the oracles cannot foretell whether the fellowship will survive the quest – or each other. From left to right: Cillian: wood elf cleric. His magic specialty is pyrokinesis – a brazen decision among forest dwellers, a fact that gives him much pleasure. Medb Táin o Cú: queen of the local faeries. She is as sharp with her caustic wit as she is with her knife. Bandruí: dryad and high priestess. She is determined to hold the company together for as long as their quest takes – and not a day longer. Horoeka: treant brute. Taciturn and tough as old boots, he considers splintering foes with his axe fair justice for decades of deforestation. Saoirse: night elf sellsword. The deadliest fighter of the company, she says little except for when goading Cillian.
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[Minifigs] Dark Elves Royalty (Chronicles of Embervale Digression #1)
Aurore posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
My entry for the "Monarchic Minifigures" category of the Brickscalibur contest! I could not miss the opportunity of having fun with minifigs while fleshing out my main character Alrune's family history. The minifigs (from left to right) - Dresghar, court minstrel - Thyrulnë the Fair, his sister, sorceress - Prince Aerenion, second son of the Queen - Shellethnir, Queen of the Dark Elves - Crown Prince Aerenthir, first son of the Queen - Alrune, his daughter - Wilwë the Elder, battlemage and advisor to the Queen Their story Once upon a time, in this very land we live in, there was a Queen. Queen Shellethnir, as she was called, had been widowed at a young age – losing her King to a sudden apoplexy stroke only two years after their wedding. Shortly before her widowhood, the Queen had given birth to two sons. Twins, but as different as siblings could be. Aerenthir was born first, and first he was in everything. A bright and fair child, the pride and joy of the Queen’s court. Aerenion was born second, unexpected even by his own mother. A shy and silent child, hidden in the shadow of his brother. While their mother ruled the kingdom with an iron fist in a glove of the same metal, the two princes grew up under the thumb of a most renowned tutor, Wilwë the Elder. A battlemage, a veteran of most – if not all – the wars the kingdom had known before. And also, incidentally, my father. But that’s not what matters. What matters is that Aerenthir became a brilliant tactician and a ruthless conqueror, the perfect crown prince his mother had hoped for. And that he soon married the fairest maiden of the court: my sister Thyrulnë, proud offspring from a long lineage of sorcerers and a mighty sorceress herself. Meanwhile, Aerenion stood behind the scene, finding serenity in study and solitude. The court rejoiced when Thyrulnë gave birth to a little girl, for the child would be as bright and fair as her parents. But when the kid grew up, it became obvious that she was as shy, as silent, and as solitary as her uncle Aerenion. Murmurs and rumours spread across the court. Aerenthir chose to flee. He threw himself headlong into military campaigns, marching even on neighbouring countries he used to see as allies. Thyrulnë chose to fight. She threw herself headlong into arcane studies, morphing her bitterness into dreadful weapons against the courtiers she used to see as friends. The harm had been done, and the halcyon days were over. The crown prince never came back from war. Neither did my father. And while my sister held on, the Queen as for her sank into despair. Soon after the funerals of her favourite son and her most trusted friend, she abdicated. And disappeared. That’s how Aerenion the Unexpected was crowned King. That’s also how I ended up taking care of a little girl, my niece Alrune, and how our story began... -
In the fantastical Historica, there are times where magic can have unexpected consequences. Some of these are random, while other times the unscrupulous or unwitting can bring changes on themselves… Avalonia Bunny Swap Too near a nexus of magical energy, this adventurer had his body swapped with a nearby Avalonian Giant Hare. Pig Headed “Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.” This king found out what the wizard thought of him after causing grave offense. Elarf An Avalonian elf and his Mitgardian dwarven traveling partner were unfortunately part of a magical explosion. The elf got the short end of the stick. Mitgardia Dwalf The Mitgardian counterpart to the Elarf. Reaching new heights. Stoned This warrior agreed to fight a ‘Meh’ Doula in a crowded bar one night. Too bad he had prepared to fight an average midwife and not the serpent haired demon he did. Now he is a bird garderobe. The Vanished Cursed to be ignored after taking advantage of a tribal priestess, this popular playboy slowly faded from sight and is largely forgotten now. Kaliphlin Mermaidman Having failed to kill a sea-witch, this old triton was transfigured into the body of a mermaid. Sandmaid The sandman is a mythical being who brings sleep to the weary. A tryst with a mortal produced a daughter who puts people to sleep when she is not sleeping herself! The Dessert King Never a good speller, the erstwhile ruler of Kaliphlin angered a minor goddess and was forced to bring pastries to his subjects for a month he wishes would be forgotten. Nocturnus Orctaur One of the few beneficial mishaps, an enchantment gone awry from the local shaman melded the body of an orc warrior to his horse, bringing greater speed and stamina. He's also faster on foot and can run for longer periods without getting winded. The One Eye Love Captain of the Nocturnus cheerleading squad, Carrie was not popular with the other cheerleaders. She was criticized for lacking any depth of field and was always unable to see the other side of an argument. WTF? Yeah, it’s Nocturnus. Don’t ask. Varlyrio Snakebuckler This swashbuckler prayed for fast, smooth moves. Prayers answered. Slimfast™ This overly vain DiCarlo daughter felt she was overweight so drank a potion to help her slim down. Lawyer “You are ssssserved!” Literally cursed by an unhappy client. Philadelphia Bob Cursed by a gypsy after drukenly vomiting on her, Bob found himself in Historica and traveled about, finally settling in Avalonia.
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[Freebuild] The dragon clan watchtower on the edge of the village of Marginea (Avalonia)
Sympatik Brick posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
On the edge of the forest in the native village of Walt Herboï, the dragon clan has installed a watchtower to provide protection to the villagers. However there are counterparts, the village regularly brings food to the soldiers, sometimes manufactured objects and more rarely men to swell the ranks of the clan. Today, Walt takes over from his late father and comes to deliver his letter of commitment to the dragon clan. -
In Avalonia there can be found a multitude and a variety of forests, yet the most intriguing continues to be The Enchanted Forest, that very few dare to enter. Natural Harmony by Arfelan Nest, en Flickr I am very happy of building a forest scene. Hope you like it. Thanks for watching.
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Back in 2017, I built a Centaur MOC and put it on Flickr. Looking back on it, it was pretty basic, so I decided to revamp it and make it part of the "Guilds of Historica" universe. After a lot of trial and error, this is what I wound up with. The character's name is Ayra, and she is from Avalonia. I don't have a light box at the moment, so I decided to get some outdoor shots instead. Hopefully I can get some clearer shots and come up with a backstory in the future. Enjoy! Ayra (4) by socalbricks, on Flickr The figure comes complete with a bendable waist, which I achieved using backwards minifigure legs. Ayra (2) by socalbricks, on Flickr Some more shots... Ayra (3) by socalbricks, on Flickr Ayra (1) by socalbricks, on Flickr
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The build: The story: The life of a fungus herder could be a lonely one. Most mushrooms were skittish creatures preferring the quietness of the deep forest and the solitude of their own kind. Too much sunlight, noise or disturbance and they grew slowly or not at all. For this reason, fungus herders were often quiet, introspected folk. Some of the most renowned fungus herders in all Historica were the tree-folk of the Enchanted Forest. Tree-folk were often reclusive themselves, sometimes living out their entire lives in the same valley or grove. Their introspective nature enabled the tree-folk to discover the magic of fungi – both metaphorical and mystical: the phosphorescence of gilled Pixie chalices; the healing power of Witches’ Steeples; or the purifying abilities of Spotted Purple Caps, capable of negating evil rot incantations. Of all the tree-folk sub-races in Historica, the best fungus herders came from the grent sub-race. Although few grent would admit it to outsiders, part of the secret to their success was that they could form symbiotic relationships with many fungi. Tiny fungal hyphae would wrap around grent roots and even penetrate the root interior. The fungus provided its grent partner with minerals in exchange for nutrients and other chemicals the fungus needed but could not produce itself. This skill enabled the grent to intimately monitor the health of their herds and encourage spore growth. Even grent, however, sometimes needed help propagating their fungal herds. In a grove within the Enchanted Forest, stood three ancient standing stones. Twice the height of a man, these stones stood in a slight semi-circle. For most of the year they stood grey and largely unadorned; not even moss or lichen marred the surfaces. At the autumnal equinox, however, faint traces of purple and silver runes appeared carved into the rockwork, hinting at a long-forgotten magical purpose. Uncovering one – likely incidental – use for this magic, the tree-folk had repurposed the standing stones for the annual, highly anticipated fungal swap meet. Grents, other tree-folk and the occasional wild dryad would herd their finest fungal specimens across the forests to this one grove. Under a full moon, the magic of the standing stones would ripen the fungal spores, which spawned in vast multi-coloured clouds. The air seemed almost to sparkle as moonbeams fell on clouds of spores. The normally solitary tree-folk were affected by the occasion too, becoming almost giddy. They swapped stories and news; traded fungal specimens; and, on occasion, frisky grents even coupled to propagate baby grent saplings. This particular year, the first to arrive at the standing stones were a small group of grent. There was Ngaio, herding a troop of sharply-pointed Witches’ Steeples; the juvenile sapling Mahoe attending his first meet and showcasing some tiny puffballs, most still waiting for their pinks caps to erupt; and Kawa, corralling a mixed herd of Firecracker white caps and Sour Buttons. They were all good samples and likely to generate plenty of interest when the trading began in earnest. All focus, however, was on Kauri, or more specifically the magnificent specimen he was showing off. ‹Is that an Ogre’s Eye? I didn’t think there were any left!› said Kawa. ‹Is that actually up for trade?› asked Ngaio. ‹I’ll give you all my puffballs› added Mahoe. The Ogre’s Eye was a rare mushroom that was pale green in colour and with a large black spot on its crown. From above it resembled a large eye, hence its common name. While striking in appearance, this was not the reason it was causing a stir. The Ogre’s Eye was bioluminescent and soaked through with magic. It was an ingredient in many potions and highly sought after by elves, mages and even Nocturnan necromancers. Kauri let their excitement wash over him before responding. ‹Hah, no way! I’ve already got a buyer lined up in Cedrica. This one is just for show - I've already removed all its spores. I thought you’d like a look before I make my fortune.› Kawa looked away to hide his disgust. This was a classic move by Kauri, who loved showing off but also proved damn successful at almost everything he tried. Kawa moved off to inspect Ngaio’s troop, refusing to give Kauri any more attention. Tiny Mahoe, however, was clearly impressed, shuffling up for a closer look. Thankfully the moment didn’t last long, with another arrival. A hulking tree-man shuffled into the standing stones glade, preceded by a collection of red and white capped -shrooms. ‹Baob, you’ve really packed on the rings› said Ngaio in greeting. ‹You look like you’re ready to go to seed!› When tree-folk reached a certain age, they gave up their mobility to put down roots. ‹True, I am. This will be my last swap and I’m giving away all my troops in preparation.” Baob was a different sub-race from the grents, a much stockier group known as mallowmen. Three large trunks grew from his hunched back curving outward in gentle lines. The offer of free mushrooms was enough to entice tiny Mahoe to the newcomer. ‹What is it with everyone going to seed all of a sudden? First Rimurapa, now you› interjected Kauri, shifting his specimen in a transparent attempt to restore attention to him. ‹Rimu’s gone to seed?› said Kawa in shock. He’d always been close to that particular grent and it came as a surprise to hear the wizened mentor had settled down without letting him know. ‹Yes, over by the Notomys’s coast› Kauri preened delivering the news to his rival. He’d intended to wait until there was more of a crowd before doing so, in order to embarrass Kawa in front of more kin. Hearing that development, Kawa immediately lost interest in the swap meet. While he needed to stay to revitalise his herds, he resolved to visit his old friend as soon as he the meet wrapped up. He wanted to perform the fungal exchange rituals known to ease the transition to a sedentary state – and find out what had caused his friend to seed years earlier than expected. The herders and their herds: From left to right: Kauri - the Ogre’s Eye; Kawa - Firecracker white caps, Sour buttons; Mahoe - pink cap puffballs (mature and immature); Ngaio - Witches’ Steeples; Baob - red-capped toadstools, pink-spotted boletes, red hard-caps Build notes: Comments and constructive criticism welcome!
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[Freebuild] The « Golden Dragon » tavern-inn in Marginea (Avalonia)
Sympatik Brick posted a topic in LEGO Historic Themes
The golden dragon tavern-inn benefits from an extraordinary location close to a hot spring. The virtues of these bubbling baths attract a large female clientele. The dragon clan garrisons are also regulars here. Are they attracted by the quality of the beverages served in this tavern, by the regular presence of women from elsewhere or by the name given to this place? Certainly a bit of all three. Only the elves living in the nearby forest take a dim view of the presence of soldiers and personalities who have come from so far to the border of their forest-sanctuary. -
- Alright, move! - shouted down the master scribes, to his apprentice, but the ladder didn't move at all. - Apprentice! Did you fell asleep again? - He reached in his pocket, to grab a pebble, and dropped it. The pebble perfectly falls and hits the sleeping boy on his forehead. With a loud snort, he woke up, and lookup. - I'm glad you are with us again Arnoult, now would you be kind, and move the ladder to the right... Right, Right! The other right! - His shout echoed in the dark corridors, as he grabbed tightly the ladder, and tried to protect the ink, from spilling out. - You imbecile! Gently! If the page will be ink-stained, I will skin you, and you will be the cover of the reissued Illustrated Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment! Do you know how long it took to brother Bertran, to draw that Decorative capital initial? The Boy looked up. He already saw the raven-shaped K letter on the top of the page. Soon, he could draw one of them too. But first, he must survive the terrible fate of the apprentice. - It took three fu... - It took three full days, to draw it! - interrupted the old man on top of the ladder, as he holds a bunch of paper in his hand, and dipped his pen in the ink. - We are already behind schedule! The fourth book is upon us! We need to finish the third one soon as we could! What a surprise! Ran through the thought in Arnoult's head. We are always behind schedule... He looked around in the Hall of History. Books, scrolls, maps, letters. An immeasurable amount of information about Historica. Kept in the dim darkness, of these halls, so the sun couldn't damage both the paper and the content. Letters, pictures, stories, and tales came here, from all of the kingdoms, so the folks down here, can register them, and safeguard them for posterity. In front of the Third Book, a large table take its place. Wast mountains were created with paper, books, and scrolls. And only three brave souls were tasked, to explore it, and find the next topic for the following pages. - Damn it! - cursed the master from above. - The inkpot is almost empty, in the middle of the sentence... Where is an apprentice when I'm in a hurry! - A minute grandmaster! - came the answer, from a moving tower of books. - Just need to put this down... As the young apprentice arrived at the table, he gently dropped down the books. The old table creaked, and the three old scribes peeked out from their books. They look liked the mountainers, who reached a higher point of their journey, to realize: there are still more mountains ahead for them... - Psst! - came hissing from behind Arnoult. As he turned around, the young boy stood behind him. He must be lost in his mind and stared blankly, didn't noticed the other boy. - I saw you always holding the ladder, to the master. How long it took to write these big books. - It depends, how often we receive content. - Arnoult leaned on the ladder next to him, pretending he knows everything. - And why are they so huge? - That's easy. The master is blind as a mole. - he smirked. - And he didn't want to wear glass... Ouch! Again, pain struck his head. He again looked up, just to get hit by another one on his forehead. - Unlucky for you Arnoult, my ears sharp as a fox's. Don't hold up apprentice Dan fulfilling his task! - the master put the remaining stones into his pocket, and look to the other boy: - Don't just stand there! Move, or we will never finish the Third Book! and without Book III. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When I first read about this challenge, I asked myself: What to came up with. Started wondering about huge beasts, great ancient places, mystical locations. In that thinking, I came up with another realization: Everybody will build their entry around what he likes. Those, who like magic and mysticism will create places with ancient great powers. Those, who like buildings will create ruins and palaces of old times. And me? Well, I like the lore, the history, to tell a tale not only with words but with pictures, little everyday happenings captured in a scene. That is why I choose, to create the Halls of History. To show you not only bildings and landscapes could be ancient, but history and lore too. And also a little humor and 4th wall-breaking. :) Hope you like it! C&C are welcome.
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[Freebuild] « New Hope » Grange in Marginea (Avalonia)
Sympatik Brick posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
« New Hope » Grange in Marginea (Avalonia) Walt was not immediately accepted into the Dragon Knights ... indeed he is not of legal age yet, but it is only a matter of months. Walt already imagined himself training hard, fighting, riding dragons. He will have to arm himself with patience, while waiting, he has to earn a living ... so he will work hard on a small farm not far from home. Everyone knows it there and the crops, livestock and people still need water! -
CDC2 CMF : Sympatik Brick [It's all about Power]
Sympatik Brick posted a topic in Guilds of Historica
CMF Guilds of Historica - It’s all about power! The power! Strength, charisma, courage, intelligence or even sometimes cunning and betrayal are all weapons allowing access to power ... and this is true for all kings, queens, leaders and dictators on the borders of this world. Others obtain a unique power, either from birth, or through hard work and rigors: Magical powers, invocations, hypnosis ... a real asset to reign. Avalonia : The Green dragon’s Clan Avalonia - « King » Dagorn : self-proclaimed king of the dragon clan The sound of horses charging in battle is known as "the flight of the dragon ». Dagorn, always loyal to his steed, set out to find and train dragons to destabilize enemy armies on the ground. The "flight of the dragon" is to be taken at face value from now on. Avalonia - Alienora « the Dragon Queen » Alienora is an expert in martial arts and potions. She uses many poisonous plants and the venom of certain reptiles to coat her weapon. Avalonia - Dovahkiin : the dragon rider mage Dovahkiin was the first to ride the dragons. His complicity with them allowed him to forge a sword with their effigy under the flame of one of them. Avalonia : Elves from the enchanted forest Avalonia - Aranrùth : King of the deer clan Elves are known to be peaceful but ready to do battle when they feel threatened. It is the same for deer, Rather harmless in normal times, it is often fatal for a predator who will attack it. Aranrùth decided to bond with this animal in order to go on the offensive. Avalonia - Fíriel : Queen of the deer clan Fíriel has the distinction of having a drow ancestor. If that lineage was rather hidden by her parents and her grandparents, on the contrary, Firíel proudly claims this blood tie explains certain traits of her character. Avalonia - Aldaron : Protective mage of the sacred tree Aldaron is one of the few elves to have discovered him in the middle of the Enchanted Forest. That day, however windless, a branch fell at his feet. Since that time, he uses the power provided by it to protect this forest and its peaceful inhabitants. Varlyrio : Nomadic orcs of the wasteland and their beasts Varlyrio - Durzum : the nomadic orcs chieftain Durzum is an expert in combat but his power comes mainly from his business acumen. The caravan of nomadic orcs travels from city to city to exchange textiles, spices, works of art and even weapons. In negotiation, snickers of his tame hyena often give him an edge. Varlyrio - Urzul the war princess Urzul appreciates the blood and dust of desert battlefields as much as the perfumes and jewelry she wears at receptions in Valyrian residences with grandiose architecture. Varlyrio - Wudugog the black Magus Who says orcs are cruelty and barbarism? Wudugog, following an accident from an early age did not have the physical capacities of his fellows. He immersed himself in books and not just any book : He excels today in black magic ... you know: cruelty and barbarism! Kaliphlin : The deserts orcs and their reptilians mounts Kaliphlin - Shraknus : the Warrior King Shraknus is the leader of the desert orcs clan, riding the most dangerous creature this world has known: the velociraptor. It will be necessary to redouble vigilance to avoid his saber and the claws of his mount. Kaliphlin - Ujalzia : the desert Queen Perched on her mount and using a spear as her weapon, she is also able to throw it like a javelin at her enemies. Ujalzia is not one of those queens who remains sheltered during combat ... on the contrary, she is regularly found in the heart of the fray. Kaliphlin - Aknashk : the reptilian archmage It took all the power of Aknashk to bring back to life the dinosaurs that serve as the mounts of the desert orcs. his specter has a strong hypnothic power which allows him to control them totally. Mitgardia : The dwarves of the bear clan Mitgardia - Doradraic Beasthand : Leader of the bear tribe Doradraic is full of courage and incredible strength. He will have needed both to be able to face and domesticate a bear ... His charisma and this bear which accompanies him in combat are enough to make him the leader of an emerging tribe: the bear tribe. Mitgardia - Thesilynn Wyvernmace : The crown princess Thessilynn is the adopted daughter of King Doradraic. She losts both parents in battle: Kimic Wyvernmace, the best blacksmith the clan has known and Gabelynn Beasthand, the king's younger sister. Nocturnus : Skeleton armies from the Eastern Moruth Swamplands Nocturnus - Shralazar : the necromancer Shralazar is on the last line during the fighting ... not out of cowardice but because of his ability to transform the freshly deceased bodies of their enemies into a skeleton soldier who reinforces the ranks. Nocturnus - Shebetha : the summoner Shebetha is a queen with immense power. She is able in one night to bring back to life an entire army of living dead. After each fight, his invocations bring their victims back to the bottom of the swamps ... who will be their future allies. I really enjoyed creating these figures (and a few other that I didn't select this time!) But also seeing the inventiveness of the other participants! You have a few days left: I want to see more minifigs !
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