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"Been awhile, Scott," Emile said as he came ashore the small island in the middle of nowehre. "Perreault!" the young man exclaimed as he stood. "What are you doing here?" "Took some doing to find you," Emile pulled his sword out and tossed the scabbard aside. "Been some time since I started searching for everyone. Who would have thought I'd find you first." "How?" Scott said, backing up as he held his sword in front of him. "Asked around. I have to say, I'm impressed you managed to get off that tub and get into trading." Another step closer. Another. "Doesn't excuse you for what you did." "We all took part to survive the Captain, even you." "Barely." "We were friends," Scott whimpered. "What kind of friend actually stabs me in the damn back?" Another step. Emile held his sword forward. "Even so, you did the least damage to that ship and everyone around. I'm willing to offer you a quick death if you surrender." "I'm going to fi-" Emile quickly put an end to that. Emile looked around. Scott of all people managed to get a ship. And what does he do, crash it into an island. No other crew. Probably dead, Emile figured. What Scott lacked in phsycial ability, he made up in thievery. Emile went back and picked up his scabbard and headed back to The Elise. There were still quite a few people he needed to hunt down, and he needed to get his hair cut after all this time at sea.
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Hi there, fellow fortune seekers and adventurers, this is my entry for Challenge V - Category E. The Conquest of Paradise The Marquis de la Roya is an able man. Considered reckless by his foes and peers alike, he sees himself as a loyal servant to the new Marderian King Alphonse XIII. And as a loyal servant, he knew it was up to all Marderians to support the empire's war efforts against the invading Eslandian forces as best they could. But the Marquis is not only skilled in the arts of battlefield warfare - his true qualities lie in gathering and evaluating information. Cause that's what wars are won with primarily. And recently, he came across a very interesting bit of information. What only very few people in the Brick Seas know is that the mysterious voyages of the Oleander priest Father Tholeau lasted much longer than official records claim. And during these voyages to the far end of the world, Tholeau didn't only find the Fountain of Youth. In fact, he had also found something else in the vast jungles of the New Terra - something so important and potentially dangerous that it could shake the political status quo of all the known world like a furious earthquake. He had found the legendary city of Legorado - a city constructed of pure gold, constituting such astonishing wealth that whatever power managed to claim it would be considered rich beyond the wildest dream ever dreamed up by anybody. Terrorized by the implications of this very thought, Tholeau tried to kept his findings a secret. But the map he drew to find his way back home somehow winded up in an Oleander monastery where they were almost forgotten. And it was this bit of information that reached the Marquis de la Roya's ear... Part I - Atrocities The Marquis and his henchman - who only went by the name of el Zamuro - didn't loose any time. In total secrecy and given order by King Alphonse XIII himself to 'do whatever is necessary', they took command of a company of the King's Palace Guard, and boarded a ship - direction East. Their first destination was the Oleander monastery rumored to hold the secret map. When they arrived, the head priest requested to know what this unexpected visit was all about. This was his last request on this earth - 'whatever is necessary' in Marderian is best translated with 'shot first - don't even bother asking questions later!' The map was found shortly after in the catacombs underneath the chapel. The path was set. Part II - Pathfinding After an uneventful journey to the far side of New Terra, the Marquis and his company set up camp at the beaches of this yet unsettled island which revealed itself in front of their eyes. After a night's rest and some planning and scouting, the expedition party moved out and made their way through the jungle. The green hell was merciless - humidity and heat took their toll, as well as all sorts of venomous crawling things - man after man collapsed in these harsh conditions under the weight of their heavy equipment. After marching for several days without finding anything, concerns were spreading - some in the King's Guard whispered the Marquis would be their downfall. But luckily enough for de la Roya, soon after the expedition came across a promising beacon - an altar in the middle of the jungle. And the best thing was that gold seemed to be abundant! Part III - The Great Golden Pyramid of Legorado Incited by their discovery of the gold filled altar, de la Roya and his men picked up the pace and marched on. Driven by an insatiable thirst for the shiny metal they hasted through the jungle - nothing could stand in their way. All the long journey's destitution was forgotten, suffering became meaningless, and especially de la Roya's eyes were filled with an almost inhuman desire. And then they saw it. A bright reflection of pure golden sunlight in the middle of a vast clearing. Like bugs they were drawn towards it, still incapable of believing their eyes in the face of such radiating beauty. As the expedition closed in on the bright light, a priest flanked by two warriors approached them, seemingly friendly and curious as to the origin of the strange looking men. But instead of trying to enter into a conversation and trying to explore an obviously fascinating culture, de la Roya and his company only had eyes for the gold... 'Whatever is necessary' - the Marderian way... After the heinous murder of the sun priest and his warriors, de la Roya and his men climbed the pyramid. When they reached the top they first were shocked that the temple didn't contain any treasure. But when el Zamuro smashed his sword into the walls of the temple out of pure frustration, he realized... the entire temple structure was constructed of massive gold! What happened next is better not described - it sure was a great day for de la Roya and Mardier, but a horrible day for mankind as a whole. 'Whatever is necessary' About: Well, where to start... the jungle build was pretty straight forward, nothing really special about it. The chapel was a bit more tricky, the rug took some time to get right, but the hardest thing here was to stack the two coins on the small altar - something that 'in the brick' would take no time at all Now, the pyramid, yes in theory it could be built, but I sure don't know if the required bricks exist in such numbers - on Bricklink certainly not. Among other parts the pyramid consists of: 9792 chrome gold 1x2 tiles, 8675 pearl gold 1x1 plates, 718 pearl gold 1x2 jumper plates, 557 pearl gold 1x2 tiles, 658 pearl gold 2x2 tiles, 955 pearl gold 2x2 jumper plates, 5495 pearl gold 1x4 tiles, 2125 pearl gold 2x2x2 slopes What about suggesting this as a Lego Ideas set? Thanks for watching, C&C welcome! Vive le Roi!
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Somewhere in New Terra, in Eltina to be precise, the local taverns and inns are suddenly crowded by seamen and marines of la Royale. This inflow of seamen is not unfamiliar to the residents of the town, each time when a naval vessel or a Terraman anchors at the bay, the sailors would always seek consolation in these establishments, but this time, the locals are suprised by their opulence, spending their doubloons like kings! However, not all of them prefer to throw their doubloons in taverns, some of them choiced to seek a moment of peace, for example to take a rest in the garden of the town, to have a walk with the lady, or to do some gardening. After a long voyage on sea, a marine rifleman takes here a well-deserved rest, an officer of la Royale talks about his latest inter-faction mission to a lady, and we can also see a dude doing some gardening behind the bushes. Misinformation He's hiding gold! Looks like someone has "made" a small fortune during the last voyage, and he's not ready to share it. But why hiding the gold in a garden? Maybe he doesn't know that the BOC is a safer place. Thanks for viewing. Vive le Roi!
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This collab is realized by Captain Genaro, Blackdeathgr and me. Here is the part of collab built by Captain Genaro: Amazing, the Mardierian officer thought. Had the native guide not pointed it out, he would completely missed the half overgrown stone, but now that he saw it, his imagination ran wild. The stone, more of a boulder really, was nearly the size of a man and despite cracks and weathering, had clearly been cut out by skilled stone masons. The overgrowth and weathering alone suggested that it predated any colonial settlements, but from what he had seen, the current natives lacked the means to quarry this block, much less move it any distance. CH V Entry by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr The native guide attempted to explain something about the stone with hand gestures, falling from the sky? No, that doesn't make sense, the officer thought. Or is he trying to tell us to rest? But before the Mardierian officer could interpret the gestures, he heard shouting followed by a thud, splash, and screams of terror. Immediately, he turned his head towards the commotion and saw the head and upper torso of one of the adventurers bobbing amid the torrent. Another man lay at the officer's feet, struggling to get up, and with a massive chest sitting precariously close to being washed away by the stream. On the opposite bank, men shouted at the poor soul to swim, keep his head up, grab onto something, head for the bank, just do something until we can help you, but all their shouting was in vain. The officer, though he had seen his share of violence and death, simply stood there stunned by the result. To think the adventure had gone so well up to this point, not a single man lost and an alliance with the natives. But alas, in his haste to reach his goal and avoid the Garvian frigate, he had decided to take the most direct route regardless of the risks. Sure, the stream was narrow, but it moved too fast and was mostly too deep to be forded. A bridge wouldn't take more than a few hours to construct, but the Oleanders couldn't be kept waiting. Any delay on his part and the ship-of-the-line captain might decide to abandon their deal and return to his patrols. And now, as a result of his haste, as a result of his greed for gold, a man had died. CH V Entry by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr While the officer stood there stunned, the rest of the men recovered. The shouting soon stopped, the roar of rushing water drowning out the prayers mumbled by the men as they quietly blessed their selves before fortifying their selves to continue on their journey to the coast. CH V Entry by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr "Shall we continue, sir," the soldier on the near bank asked. "Sir?" he repeated as the officer remained in his stunned state. "Oh, yes, yes, very good. As you were," the officer muttered seemingly to no one in particular. The soldier eyed the officer who seemed unaware of anything that was happening around him, and then began shouting orders for the men to continue and to watch their damn step lest they want to become the next sacrifice to the river nymph. CH V Entry by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr Here is my part of collab (recognizable by the bad photo quality): On a bright and sunny day, a Garvian frigate cruises in the vicinity of Tema Hiva (rumours say a city of gold was discovered on this island). The ship, the Ugly Duckling, The Lion of Garvey, is a newly commissioned 6th rater (or class 5 in the universe of BoBS), pride of her captain. On this cruise, the captain must fulfill one mission, intercept the Mardierian vessel carrying the gold discovered on the soil of natives. The captain of the Lion of Garvey was very confident of the success of his mission, knowing Mardierians have lost most of their ships in the battle of five fleets. But it seems he has neglected one detail, the Blues are not in war against Mardier and their fleet is intact. So, on this shinny day, the watch of Lion of Garvey was surprised by a big bowsprit pointing at their six. - Captain, ship on our six! - Can you identify her? - Nay, sir, but she's a two-decker! - It must be Margot, our Eslandolan friends are trustworthy lads. - Sir! She is arboring a Fleur de lys on the bow castle! - What??!!! Impossible!!!! - What should we do captain? She's gaining rapidly on us! The garvian seamen aren't mistaken, she's indeed an Oleander ship of the line, built in urgence by the Royal Shipyard and arrived in time to the rendez-vous point. The Mardierian exploration team, although lost one of their men in the haste, finally managed to plow a path through the jungle and loaded the gold aboard. There, the gold is placed under the custody of a Mardierian colonel, who will make sure that the gold reaches safely its destination. The Oleanders are well aware of the importance of the cargo, therefore, they've despatched a SOTL carrying 60 guns. This is her maiden voyage and some Oleander dignitaries and ship experts are onboard to evaluate her sailing ability and supervise the loading and unloading of the gold. - Captain! They are opening the gunports, what is your order, sir! - Hum, humhum, heu, rehum... - Sir! - Lay down your weapons, lads! We can't fight a sotl at this distance. - Farewell Garvies! The Mardierian officer on the stern waves at them and says in smiling. Extra pictures of the ships: Thank you for viewing! -
"Once you take the King's shilling, your first pay, you become a soldier. For at least three years you'll serve our country aganist our enemies, whoever they will be. Honour your vow and you'll be rewarded with glory, respect and regular wages; defect and you'll be court-martialled. I'm not an officer of that kind always calling for salute and impeccable uniform, but I require absolute loyalty towards me and towards your comrades. I personally selected you among those who wanted to enlist... I know that you are a good sailor and a good fighter, and also that in the past you were on board the Fantome, a ship "slightly" suspected of piracy. I think you are the kind of man we need to defend our colonies and our interests in the New World... Am I mistaken? Today you are considered a pickpocket and a loser... Are you ready to become a respected defender of our Motherland?" "You are not mistaken, sir! I'll do my best to clear my name and serve Oleon aganist our enemies!" "A fine speech, some money and the promise of a fresh start... - thought Tristan, looking at the new recruit- That's enough to turn a group of lowlives and beggars into a formidable fighting force". He led into battle men of this kind, when he was a young officer garrisoned on the troubled Western Border: scoundrels with a bad reputation and a past full of mistakes, but with their heart at the right place and surely more guts than the average regular soldier. "Yes- he thought while the recruit took without hesitation the King's shilling- these are exactly the men I need". Soldiers and sutlers storing supplies A cavalryman leaving the camp Soon the military unit will be trained and equipped. Until then, probably I should choose an appropriate name for it!
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The Raging Fire is finished, now under full sail . The Raging fire! Built for speed, she started her life as a merchant ship but it was later fitted with more cannon ports, giving the ship a capacity of 22 guns. The Dancing Ember is a ship of the same series, there's one more coming in this line. Below are pictures prio to rigging and sails. Just like the Dancing Ember I started this ship at Maxim's, using his collection. But eventually I was seduced into buying the WIP from him so I could continue to build at my home. I didn't bother to do sails yet, I will add those later. I'm a bit short on parts to really finish the ship and since it might take a while before I do I decided to put it online already. I can't wait because this ship is needed for a special operation (in BOBS). Overall I'm quite happy with the ship, it shows a lot of similarities with the Beatrix. Although it does not share some of the functional features (working capstan, light in cabin, ) It does have some improvements on the esthetical part. I think I can say that this must be one of my finest so far. Built on white prefab hull pieces with partially brick-built stern to get a better shape on the aft. She carries 22 cannon, classified as a light frigate or corvette. Color scheme consists out of a tan gun line with dark and olive green for the upper walls and pearl gold for ornaments and decoration. The stern is enhanced with stickers from some Chima legend beast set. There's an interior but due to the rigging it's not very practical to access so forgive me for not having pictures of that. Apart from the sails and rigging this is 100% LEGO. Any more questions? feel free to ask ;)
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Ahoy there, fellow BoBS'ers. Nothing much today, just another little scene along the river a bit upstream of Lavalette. Up And Down The River While barrels full of peppercorn are floating downstream towards Lavalette - okay, sometimes they get stuck - the other direction is not less frequented. Here you can see a dedicated crew transporting a waterwheel to the side of a sawmill currently under construction a bit further upstream. As hard a task that might be - fortunately, there are always people who seem to have an even nastier job - apparently good enough an opportunity to make fun of those poor souls... There isn't really anything more to describe here About: Nothing much to tell here either... As usual, all can be built... and also as usual, placing those minifigs was the most annoying part. Thanks for watching, C&C welcome! Vive le Roi!
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Ahoy once more, laddies. Long time no ship - shame on me - so I hope to make up for it by presenting something a little larger this time. États de Boussac Ordered and paid for by the Estates of the Province of Boussac, the États used to call the Great Northern Ocean her home for the past years, trading goods between Pontilla and Northern Oleon. But now she is one of the first larger Terramen to see regular service on the shipping lines between Halos and New Terra. With the increased traffic, the number of pirates and other threats increases, too. Being able to protect the more and more valuable cargo, larger and better protected ships are becoming essential for the merchant elite of Halos. As she can easily carry a broadside of 10 medium or even heavy guns, the États de Boussac surely has what it takes to prevail on the perilous waves. May Poseidon and Tyche bless her journeys! And the good ol' comparison shot: About: I think this is the biggest ship I've posted here so far. It's also my first attempt at a custom hull galleon. Therefore, the États is rather just a simple, non-fancy test ship to get a feeling for the shaping of such a hull. A 3D model I found online served as inspiration... and it didn't turn out too bad, I think. Using flex-tubes as rigging instead of the strings with handles I used to is still pretty new to me, getting them in place is even more annoying, but it looks better - in my eyes at least. What else? As usual, all can be built... And finally some numbers: waterline is 85 studs, beam is 22. Piece count is 'only' slightly over 7000, as internally, she only features the decks, but nothing else. Should still be large and massive enough to be at least a class 7 with the new ship classes. Thanks for watching C&C welcome! Vive le Roi!
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Sulfur has been used for centuries in several sectors: while alchemists consider it (together with mercury and salt) one of the "primordial essences" constituing matter, physicians use sulfur in skin treatment and to prevent the spreading of contagious diseases (i.e. disinfecting a room by fumigation); modern science, additionally, is discovering more and more possible uses of this element in industrial processes. What makes brimstone extraction a real paramount, however, is gunpowder production; coal and saltpeter can be produced (even if the latter requires long and complex procedures), but sulfur can be obtained only digging it in volcanic areas: for this reason large deposits represent one of the most precious and fiercely disputed mineral resources; up until now, in the New World, no real brimstone lore has already been discovered and most of the gunpowder is still imported from the motherland. In the uninhabited interior of Île de Zeus, in a rocky area near to Astrapi, an explorative expedition recently found a volcanic cliff with deep cracks and fumaroles: some of them developed wide sulfur encrustations that can be exploited (even if on a limited scale). Hammering sulfur concrections on a rickety footbridge, clinging to the rocks among suffocating fumes, is probably one of the most dangerous occupations, significantly more than working in the mines but, since the pay is relatively good, it's not hard to find someone mad enough to take this job. Rock scraps are later lifted (using a rudimental crane) to the top of the cliff, where they are put in barrels ready to be sent to Astrapi: there sulfur will be grinded, refined and converted into "the finest gunpowder of the New World", as the manufacturers say. The largest and purest sulfur crystals are accurately selected and packed directly in the extraction site: bought at a high price by chemists and alchemists, they ensure an additional (and considerable) profit margin. To be licensed as a small factory; this building is freely based on Cortes expedition to Popocatepetl crater (conquistadores needed gunpowder for their cannons). C&C are obviously welcome
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Greetings, fellow BoBS'ers, I'd like to present my entry for Challenge V - Category B. Keeping the Keep El Peñón is a strategic Marderian stronghold overlooking the Bay of Good Hope. Although not a large fortress, El Peñón is nonetheless a vital part of Mardier's defenses around the town of Terra Fin Tin. Carved deep into the rocky cliffs, El Peñón is virtually impenetrable - a fact that's also known to the Eslandolian High Command - and giving them major headaches. The joint Eslandolian and Garvian assault plan provides for the surprise capture of Terra Fin Tin in order to open up a second front north of the fortress city of La Puebloto. And in order to achieve that, El Peñón had to be sacked quickly before any Marderian reinforcements would render capturing the fort impossible, ultimately putting the whole second front plan in jeopardy should Mardier's forces around Terra Fin Tin be alarmed before the actual assault was to begin. To solve this problem, one of the Eslandian elite units, the Black Bats - a veteran battalion experienced in spearhead missions, and infamous for their recklessness - was tasked with the surprise attack on El Peñón. Initially, the mission progressed as planned - the approach was not spotted by neither Marderian patrol vessels nor lookout posts along the coastline. And another pleasant surprise: when the boats landed, it became clear that the fort was undermanned. Now nothing stood in the way of a quick success. Or at least so it seemed... What they hadn't expected was the courage and relentlessness of the fort's commander. Before the perimeter guard was overrun, coronel Lorenzo Alderete stepped outside the gate in a desperate attempt to buy time, telling his men to barricade the entrance behind him. He then proceeded to furiously charge the attackers. The coronel managed to repel man after man, giving the garrison valuable time to regroup and send for reinforcements. The artillery lookout then spotted the approaching Eslandian fleet and the fort's batteries started engaging - thus completely ruining the attackers' element of surprise. Shortly before coronel Alderete was mortally wounded, he yelled out his final order to the garrison - to drop a load of explosives onto himself and the attackers. El Peñón was not to be captured! For Mardier! Some additional pics: About: Well, this started out with the simple need to come up with something for this category at all... and unfortunately, a massive builder's block. Eventually, the block loosened, and thanks to the support of @Bodi and @Captain Genaro, I even managed to put in some action. What else... well, as usual all parts except the uniforms exist... gravity is 'off'... can't think of anything else now Thanks for watching, C&C welcome! Vive le Roi!
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This is a royal collaborative build by (in order of appearance): @blackdeathgr, @Kolonialbeamter @robinnilsson403 @Captain Genaro, and @Brandon Stark. Comments and criticism are always welcome. Riding a few dozen yards behind the rest of the convoy, partially for privacy but primarily to avoid the dust tossed up by the convoy of horses, men, and wagons, Lieutenant Wolfgang Hochstetter worried about his future. The unsigned letter, the cause of his worries, sat in the lieutenant’s saddlebag as he pondered every possible reason for the unexpected order to return to Breshaun and report to the Royal Mint. The lieutenant was in charge of overseeing the convoys of pure Belson silver that traveled from the isolated mines deep in the island’s untamed wilderness to the massive smelting operations, and finally at the Royal Mint, where the metal was turned into coins, bars, and whatever else the King desired before being placed on massive galleons destined for Granoleon. Sure, there had been delays, the young lieutenant knew. The natives were getting restless again and there were reports of robbers, possibly even pirates, ambushing travelers along the isolated island roads. But these weren’t his fault, Wolfgang told himself, he was simply in charge of ensuring the silver kept flowing, something that, despite a few delays, he did very well. Still, despite his near perfect record, that single piece of paper in his saddlebag consumed the young lieutenant’s mind more than hordes of cannibals or violent brigands could. The sun was just beginning to set by the time the convoy arrived at the city gates. The convoy remained together for a few miles, but as they neared their destination, the wagon and guards took the right path which lead to the freight entrance behind the Mint, while Wolfgang took the left path to the front of the majestic building. The lieutenant rode on for a few hundred yards, the shadows growing longer, before finding a stable where he could keep his horse. Delaying only long enough to pay for his horses’ supper, Wolfgang continued down the winding roads before turning onto the tree lined boulevard which lead straight to the Mint’s main gate. Despite seeing the building on multiple occasions, Wolfgang couldn’t help but be in awe of the building’s sublime splendor. But it was not the intricate stonework or gold-plated royal crest that Wolfgang reflected on; rather, it was the sheer size of the imposing structure. And as the last rays of the setting sun disappeared behind the Mint’s enormous roof, Wolfgang passed the black iron gates and into the dark foyer. Immediately upon entering, Wolfgang was approached by a porter who, upon seeing the letter instructed the officer to “follow.” The two quickly took off and within a few moments were completely lost in the labyrinth of halls, stairs, and rooms. P2280008 by Robin Nilsson, on Flickr After countless turns and endless corridors, they arrived at a portion of the Mint Wolfgang had never seen before. A long simple hallway flanked the corridor, empty apart from two vigilant soldiers guarding a massive gold-plated vault. Like most visitors to the Mint, Wolfgang heard stories about the massive vaults deep within the building, but had never seen them. Walking past the guards, Wolfgang’s worries disappeared for a moment as he tried to imagine just how much wealth lay behind the massive iron door. But as imaginative as he was, Wolfgang couldn’t begin to fathom the plethora of chests filled with coins, the stacks of silver bars too heavy for the strongest draft horse to carry, and the long rods of pure silver destined to be melted down and turned into whatever the artisans (or more accurately, whatever the artisans’ customers) desired. P2280016 by Robin Nilsson, on Flickr They finally arrived in a rather large antechamber, empty apart from a few chairs and a secretary’s desk. After confirming that Wolfgang was ready to meet his host, the porter turned to the massive French doors and gave them two loud knocks. After a brief pause, a firm voice from within replied. “Enter,” the voice commanded, and the doors swung inwards revealing the immense office of le Intendant General des Finances d'Oleon. Realizing who sat before him, Wolfgang froze for a moment before walking forward. Reaching the Intendant’s desk, Wolfgang froze and, looking at the life-sized statue of Tyche that stood behind the Intendant’s desk, he clumsily blessed himself in the Oleander fashion. While he did this, the Intendant got up and proceeded to stand next to the young lieutenant who, upon finishing the blessing, turned, knelt on one knee, and kissed l'Anneau de Vele, the Ring of Vele, which rested upon the Intendant’s right middle finger. P1110334 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr “Lieutenant Wolfgang Hochstetter, reporting as ordered, my lord” said Wolfgang as he stood up. The Intendant stared for a moment before speaking in his firm, cold voice. “Fortuna iuvat pias [Fortuna favors the pious], Lieutenant. I have seen men greater than you, men of Oleander birth, who upon entering my office kneel before me before paying homage to the goddess,” replied the Intendant, his cold voice showing just a mere hint of kindness. “Those men have all failed. You, however, a foreigner no less, knows the proper order of things. I am pleased to see this. Sit,” the Intendant gestured toward two chairs. Wolfgang bowed and thanked his lordship and walked towards the chairs while the Intendant walked towards a liquor cabinet and filled two glasses from separate bottles. Speechless, Wolfgang struggled to grasp his situation. Not only did he meet a Peer of Oleon, but he received some rather high praise and was now being served drinks by the same Peer. P1110341 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr “I believe you are found of raspberry schnapps” said the Intendant as he held out a glass to Wolfgang. Wolfgang nodded before the Intendant toasted “To the King” and they both took a long swig from their glasses. “You must forgive the secrecy, but there are those that must not know of my presence in Breshaun and especially of my meeting you” stated the Intendant in a conversational tone. “You are aware of the fate of Major Leon?” Wolfgang thought for a moment. “The RNTC officer who drowned in Lavalette?” “No, the RNTC officer who was drowned in Lavalette. Make no mistake, Lieutenant, Major Leon was killed, and he was killed by the Order.” “But how can you be so certain, my lord. I don’t mean to doubt your lordship, but these are serious accusations” a stunned Wolfgang replied. “It’s all in a report I shall give you. But I did not order you here to explain my reasoning. No, I ordered you here because there is an opportunity you should accept.” The Intendant took a sip of his wine before continuing. “It appears that the RNTC is in need of an officer to command its forces in Lavalette. You are my primary candidate.” Stunned, Wolfgang couldn’t believe his ears. “Me, sir, my lord?” stammered Wolfgang. “I don’t mean to question your lordship, but are you quite certain.” “I have reviewed your record,” replied the Intendant. “Your intelligence and brutality, especially your unique methods of interrogation and native pacification, are in high demand in Lavalette. Better yet, as a foreigner, I have nothing to fear from you. It’s a miracle you made it to a lieutenant, but you won’t advance any further in the army. You need me if you hope to advance, so you can’t betray me.” “Your praise is too much, my lord. I simply served the Crown as best I could.” As he said this, Wolfgang reflected on the Intendant’s words. They were all true, and what choice did he have? As an exile, he could never return to his home country and his welcome in other lands wouldn’t be any warmer than Oleon. With no skills other than his military knowledge, he couldn’t exactly change careers and he had no desire to spend the rest of his days as a lieutenant taking orders from men half his age. Besides, he had no family and the new settlements further east offered untold opportunities for fortune and fame. “What do you command of me, my lord?” At this, the Intendant stood up, walked over to a smaller desk and pressed two seals onto a sheet of paper. “Your orders, Major Hochstetter, are quite simple. Restore order in Lavalette, check the spread of the Order’s authority, and find the assassin who killed Major Leon.” P1110344 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr “The assassin, my lord?” “A cleric of Hades. I only know of two priests of Tyche in Lavalette right now, so the cleric has not decided to make his identity known. Your report includes a list of names, one of which is our cleric. You are to identify him, arrest him, and have him sent to me alive. Is that clear?” the Intendant asked with a threatening tone. “My lord, I’m not sure I heard you correctly, sir, as I’m merely a lieutenant and the next rank is,” “I am well aware of military ranks, Major, and I hope you are aware that in this matter my word is final.” “Yes, my lord. Certainly, my lord, forgive me, I never meant to question you.” Wolfgang paused for a moment before continuing. “May I ask how you know so much about the assassin?” The Intendant stared for a moment before continuing. “Your horse and personal affects have been loaded onto the Philip Roi, and you are expected onboard before the morning tide. Your uniform is in your cabin along with a tailor who can make the final adjustments. Congratulations on your promotion, Major,” said the Intendant as he stood. On que, two servants opened the massive French doors to the Intendant’s office. Wolfgang stood, feelings of fear, pride, and confusion all competing inside him, took his leave, and began to exit when the Intendant interrupted. “Major, the assassin shall be delivered to me alive. There is no debate on this point.” P1110315 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr Brandon Stark's Story: Breshaun Collab 1 by Brandon Stark, on Flickr Breshaun Collab 2 by Brandon Stark, on Flickr Brandon walked through the Royal Mint of Breshaun, on his way to a meeting with the Intendant General des Finances d'Oleon. It was two weeks ago when he had received a summons with the royal seal asking him to come to Breshaun for a meeting with the Intendant General. After a long journey and a brief stop in King's Port, Terraversa, Brandon arrived at the port of Breshaun. He had no time for a stop in Eltina. As he walked through the halls of the large building, which reminded him so much of the palaces back home in Oleon, Brandon couldn't help but wonder why he needed to meet with one of the kingdom's top officials. He thought he was summoned to be reprimanded or punished for settling an island without the Crown's permission, but that meeting would've been with the Secretaire des Colonies. Maybe they were going to force him to pay a fine? As Brandon continued walking down the hall, he noticed a familiar young woman walking in his direction down the corridor. She also seemed to be wearing a very familiar dress. Brandon assumed it was just his eyes, but he decided to get a closer look. As he got closer, he immediately noticed the young woman. "Lady Maelynn of the House of Couture. What brings you to Breshaun?" Brandon said in a half joking manner. Brandon also saw she was wearing the silk dress he had sent her with the money he made from investments and mayor pay. Maelynn responded with. "I'm not a lady yet, Mayor Lantell. And I'm following my father, who's helping run this mint for the crown" Brandon quickly bowed and kissed her hand. Maelynn Couture, the daughter of a prominent aristocrat back in Oleon, was Brandon's betrothed. He had gone so far in life since that day in the Juniper grove, he thought to himself. Though he and Maelynn were to marry soon, Brandon left for the colonies as part of a royal expeditionary force more than a year ago, though he stayed in the colonies even after his duties were done. "It is pleasant to see you after a year of being apart. You've only grown more beautiful since then." Brandon then looked at his watch, then remembered the time of the meeting. "Apologies, Maelynn, but I must go now. I have to meet with the Intendant General des Finances, and he is one you don't want to make angry. Now, after I'm done, would you like to come with me to the mayor's mansion tonight? I hear he's hosting an event for nobles and other prestigious people like us." "Brandon, I would be more than happy to go with you. Please meet me at the Poseidon Garden at 6 tonight. I have to go home first to prepare for the event. Just wait for me there. Until then, Brandon." Maelynn then begun walking down the corridor. Brandon then walked in the direction of the Intendant General's office, wondering what the meeting would be like. But Brandon had feelings of joy after meeting his betrothed after a year of being apart.
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"Emile, where are we going?" Elise asked. "Just keep your eyes closed, we're almos there, promise," Emile replied. Careful," Jean said as he helped Elise into the boat. "Bit of a drop." "We're not going fishing are we?" Elise asked, slight annoyance in her voice. "No, nothing of the sort, dear," Emile returned as he stepped into the boat. As Jean cast off and rowed, Emile ignored Elise's questions for a few more moments. Then, he said, "Open them now." Elise gazed in awe at the corvette. "Emile, this is yours?" "The Elise," he said. "Named for you." As they pulled alogn the starboard side, Emile started telling Elise about the ship. "18 guns in total. The figurehead was designed to resemble you. Enough room for the old crew and some new ones to keep her afloat." "Ropes so no one falls in high seas or battle," Emile continued. "Or for William when he drinks too much?" Elise questioned. "Yes, but don't tell him that," the captain confirmed in a whisper. "Anyway as you can see some of the new crew have already come aboard." "Welcome back, Captain," Rene said as he helped pull Emile and Elise up on the deck. "Gilbert is ready to go, it seems." "Way up there is Henri for the rigging, as is his job. Also one of the new crewmen is there, positioned perfectly for taking out targets when we board." "Don't mention that," Elise said. "Of course." "Shall we see how she fares?" Emil asked. "Yes." Some background on the ship and building. First I want to say thanks to @Sebeus I as I studied his Beatrix for the hull, and various other things, changing them to my own taste. Also a big thanks to @Kolonialbeamter and @Bodi for their feedback as I was designing, specifically on the stern. That was the hardest part (as always). I also took some inspiration from The Walrus from STARZ' show Black Sails for the masts and yard arms, as well as the ropes. Those yellow tubes were challenging to flex and do in LDD, but I think they look fine. I'm actually really pleased with how this came out, and I'm kind of amazed how far I have come in designing ships from a few years ago, which were incredibly bulky and square. Thanks for looking, and C&C are welcome!
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Almost a Mardieran, now Oleander fishing boat
blackdeathgr posted a topic in Brethren of the Brick Seas
Well, since I didn't finish soon enough for Ch5D, this Mardieran Oleander (1T) fishing boat, will go fishing at next MRCA. Modeled after the greek Sakoleva (used for spongediving), she came in many sizes and different rigging, but she always maintained her key features, a trapezoid main sail and the unusually crossed masts. I am sorry about the pic quality but food always takes the better of me. Oh, and.. happy Easter people! side view A close up top down (glass sea version) Thanks for watching! -
Being a shareholder in the Oleander RNTC, it is only up in my interest to supply them with ship, and with an order appearing - especially with those fairly interesting terms they are offering - I had decided to order my shipyards to build a decently sized New Terraman that, while having plenty of cargo space, is still able to defend itself against potential attackers as well as sail as quick as a frigate. Their efforts have been successful while still maintaining their usual speed. This new Terraman has been built following the plans of a small fifth rate, slightly widened, but the gunports haven't been cut out - what this means is obvious. It has a lot of cargo space, and could, if the need arises, be transformed into a frigate with the use of a saw. We decided it would be best if we kept the guns on the quarterdeck and forecastle, or better say deck - to protect the cargo we have decided to completely cover up the lower deck and only allow access to it through the hatches; light can also get through into the great cabin through a skylight above it. In short - speed and manoeuvrability of a frigate, a full extra deck for cargo as well as 16 guns of 9 pounds each to defend itself. So, here we go: Off course, a new ship needs to be celebrated. While the Captain discusses the plan of the next target destination with one of the Officers on board, a bunch of regular Sea Men, a couple Officers and some others have started doing just that. Not everyone is that lucky though. I dare calling her a curvy lady! The Stern, not much to say about it. One might know my personal Frigate - that one is just a little bit shorter and thinner than this one, but I think it is well visible that they are both from the hands and hammers of my shipyards. For the time being, Esprit Fortune will likely be licensed as a 5T by the RNTC, but I certainly expect it to be at least a class 6, and, depending on the definition, maybe even a class 7.
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Ahoy, mateys! Here's my Challenge V - Category C entry. Witness the return of the Colonial MinionsTM *evil laughter in the background* Don't Tread on Meeeee!! After their unsuccessful attack on the Marderian fortress of El Peñón, the remaining Eslandian Black Bats were ordered to refresh and regroup on the Southern shores of the Isla de Medio - away from the awful fighting. Unfortunately, no place is really safe from the mayhem those dreadful Colonial MinionsTM are capable of spreading wherever they happen to show up. And as it so happened, they did. Of all the places in the Brick Seas it had to be here. Exactly now. And the camp the Eslandians had set up was right in their way. Well, actually, more in the pathway their latest pet decided to take... Seemingly a fish in a wet suit. What exactly it is and where they got it from, no-one really knows. One thing is for sure, though - it's ridiculous in every aspect. And yet terrifying enough to turn the feared Eslandian crack troops into a bunch of screaming chickens as they are trying to escape the incomprehensible menace that's coming down on them... About: I absolutely wanted to mobilize the Minions for this category, there was just too much potential here to forgo this opportunity The idea for the 'monster' is based on the Futurama reverse scuba suit - ridiculous enough to be translated into bricks. As usual, all can be built - and maybe I'm going to build this land fish thingy for real... a friend of mine said it'd be a worthy decorative object for her flat... well... I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter in the Menacing Minions Book. C&C welcome! Vive le Roi!
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Elise was pleased Emile had earned more money this month. When he returned back to Eltina, he bought a small beer distillery. Elise joked Emile was only buying these properties so he could drink more easily. Emile purchased a solid desk for Elise to work at, and he placed it right next to the window to allow for some natural light. But downstairs was where the magic happened. Emile jested that they get a pet rabbit and name it "Hops," like the ingredients; Elise wasn't amused.
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The collier Le Gros has undergone a modification in the Royal Shipyard, now, we're ready to sail it to New Terra, to serve under the RNTC. En route to New Terra. From this view, one may think it's nothing else than a defenseless cargo ship, an easy prey for the piratey. A bird view seems to confirm this impression, just 4 small guns. The apparence is deceptive. Of course, we can always get ride of the cannons and make full use of its cargo hold. The captain and passengers should find decent accomodation in this cabin. - Need a little help? - Aye sir, quickly please. Thank you for viewing. Vive le Roi!
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This is my entry for Cat C: vehicles of the 2017 "Braaiiinnss" contest: The fighting cart Nobody knew how it started. First the elder succumbed to this plague, then the weak. There wasn't any discrimination. Peasants and nobles suffered the same fate. Even our gracious King fell ill and was transformed into one of these flesh-hungry beasts. With him gone, order crumbled and many lost faith in our fathers' gods. Entire cities started to either fall to this plague or were being evacuated. None should stay behind, as by doing so, his fate was sealed. A seemingly endless life of roaming hungry for human flesh. For succumbing to this plague mean that you get turned into a mindless zombie. We didn't even had time to find out how one could get sick. Most plague doctors believed that it was these creatures' breath. Or their smell. That's why most of the survivors wore masks or handkerchiefs on their face. Or even their oozing while you killed them. And oh, boy, we had our fair share of killing on our way out of the city... Our only hope was that these creatures were slow. Really slow. Unless they smelled human flesh. That drove them mad and could run like horses luckily for us, for a short distance only. I was a young lieutenant when all this happened. Our brave commander found an ox driven cart and we all got aboard. Munition was fortunately not a problem for us. It was time to flee but we didn't even know where to go. Just flee... (Hint: For a better audiovisual experience, hear to this tune while visiting this post) More at Flickr and as always, thanks for watching and good luck everybody!
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Flashback by Brandon Stark, on Flickr An 18 year old officer of the Royal Army of Oleon stood on a hill on the northeastern border of Oleon, looking down on the advancing Corrish soldiers. Of the original 250 soldiers he had brought with him, hours of battle had taken their toll, leaving only about 100 men. He and his men had to constantly retreat further up the hill, as nearly 5,000 Corrish soldiers advanced. They had no idea when the reinforcements would arrive, but were determined to fight to the last man. After all, they were protecting the Oleander border. This officer's name was Brandon Lantell, the second son of the Lord of Ladros, a northeastern province of Oleon. He had only recently joined the army, but his father's position in politics gave him a decent position in the army. He had joined when the Juniper War was in its last stages, and after weeks of training, was admitted to the army. It was mere days ago when it was heard that a Corrish force would try to invade Oleon. It would take days before any force from Valduria, Juniper, and Boussac were mustered, so Brandon decided on a decoy. Thus he led, along with three other commanders, 250 men each, totalling to 1,000 Royal soldiers, to temporarily hold the border until other forces would arrive. They were joined by about 500 other soldiers from the provinces along the way. However, Brandon was aware the Corrish had around 5,000 to 7,000 soldiers, or even more. But this would have to do. Brandon's force made contact with the Corrish in early morning, and they had been fighting even since, with casualties mounting up on both sides. As the Corrish rushed up the hill, in one of their many charges of the day, Brandon looked behind him. There was another row of men, but now there was none. The rest had been killed. Now just open fields and juniper trees. This was surely bleak. A bullet came, hitting an Oleander soldier, who died instantly. "Fire!" was all Brandon could say in response. Bullets soon fell upon the Corrish soldiers, decimating entire ranks. Being on the hill had an advantage. A much smaller force than what they started with arrived up the hill. The gun fights soon broke into a melee of bayonets and swords. A Corrish soldier fired a bullet, hitting Brandon's arm, near his shoulder, before spearing him with a bayonet in his chest. With a quick stab from Brandon's sword, the soldier slumped to the ground. Brandon was caught from falling by a nearby soldier. He was very young, around Brandon's age, possibly around 16 or 17. "Sir! You're hurt!" he shouted. "We must get you out of here!" Brandon pushed him away. "I'm fine. Let go of me." Brandon wasn't fine. Many of the original Corrish who had stormed up the hill earlier were dead, but they were quickly replaced by more Corrish advancing up the hill. Brandon's force now numbered around 70, while the advancing Corrish seemed endless. He wondered what was the situation in other parts of the battle. Was it going well? Was everyone else already dead? Days before the battle, Brandon received word that reinforcements would arrive soon. Where were they? With the fighting like this, there was no hope. Now, he and his men were almost surrounded. There was a juniper grove behind them, and hundreds upon thousands of Corrish soldiers in front of them. Brandon's men had been forced to retreat up the hill slowly as they lost the battle. "I want every one of you fighting to the last man! Because if we die here today, we will die defending Oleon, our families, and our land from these godless barbarians!" Despite the short speech, his men weren't faring any better. There were probably only 50 men left now. Then the Corrish came advancing. The Oleander ranks were quickly being decimated. Brandon was stabbed in the abdomen by a Corrish captain's sword. He slashed at the captain, who fell back, injured. The distracted captain was then killed by a bullet from one of Brandon's soldiers. Brandon was now severely weakened from much blood loss, yet he still was able to fight off a few other Corrish soldiers. The boy who had caught him earlier was shot by a Corrish bullet, but was still alive. Around Brandon, there looked even less men than before. A quick count showed there was probably around 30 men left, though the battlefield was littered with many more Corrish soldiers. That still didn't change the fact that more Corrish were still advancing up the hill. Brandon fought off a few more Corrish, but while distracted, he was slashed in the leg. Another Corrish soldier stabbed him in the chest, right below the heart. This was enough, Brandon slumped to the ground. This time, no one caught him. Sword in hand, Brandon tried to hold off a few more Corrish, but now only his soldiers were protecting him. He was getting increasingly tired from the sleepless days and now the multiple wounds he was bleeding from. Knowing he was going to die, he thought of home, of his family, and of Maelin, the girl that was now being courted by a boy who had a better chance of marrying her than he did. He hoped the Oleander reinforcements would be able to protect the land from the Corrish when they defeated his force. In the distance, however, Brandon could hear hoofbeats, drums, and horns. Many of the Corrish were now running down the hill. Brandon also heard the nearby Oleander soldiers shouting "Vive le Roi!", among other Oleander patriotic words. Reinforcements, he thought. He hadn't died in vain. Knowing all was at peace now, Brandon rested. An Oleander officer came up to him. "Sir, we're winning. The tide has turned in our favor. Royal reinforcements have arrived." Brandon could only say, pulling his last strength. "Good." He closed his eyes. "Maelin..."
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Previously: New Arrivals and Old Rivalries Lavalette Bakery The Beginning of the End An Unexpected Reunion Unfortuantely, not even a RNTC major can outrun fate for long. Comments and criticism are welcome. "Eight, nine, ten," counted Philip before he suddenly gasped as he almost lost his balance. Ever since he arrived at Lavalette Philip had been practicing holding his breath, his current record being forty-three seconds, for Philip was part of several shipments of former prisoners of the Order. Men who, for the most part, hadn't done anything worse than offend the wrong person at the wrong time. So when the RNTC official arrived at the prison with the offer to commune their sentence in exchange for five years of hard labor, almost all eagerly signed up. After all, Philip told himself at the time, anything is better than rotting away in one of the Order's prisons for the next fifteen years. But after arriving in Lavalette, Philip started to have second thoughts. You see, to get peppercorn from the inland plantations to the mills, warehouses, and docks of Lavalette, the company was building canals and roads, but until the infrastructure could be complete, they sent barrels of the stuff down the river. Genius and foolproof is not for the rocks, banks, and shallows where the barrels perpetually got caught. Each day, Philip and his cohorts would wake up, roll up their trousers, grab a six-foot pole, and wade into the river, searching for stuck barrels to dislodge. Even in the dry season, it was dangerous work. Piranhas and alligators tended to stick to the warmer waters deeper in the jungle, but it wasn't uncommon for men to be bitten by deadly river snakes, to lose their footing on a slippery rock and drown, or to just disappear, possibly from natives, possibly from drowning, or possibly from one of the river sirens that lure unsuspecting workers to their watery grave (NOTE: The RNTC strongly condemns the circulation of these wife-tales and gossip. Lavalette is a wonderful place without the dangers of Indian attack, wild beasts, or imaginary phantoms. For more information, visit TravelLavalette.com or contact your local RNTC representative). Hold Your Breath by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr Fleeing into the jungle didn't seem like much of an escape to Philip, and he still wasn't willing to surrender his relative freedom to return to the Order's dungeons. Still, as someone who wasn't able to swim very well, holding your breath seemed like a valuable skill for a river-worker. And that's what Philip practiced every day as he pushed the massive barrels of peppercorn off the rocks and into the center of the fast-flowing river. But this one barrel simply wouldn't budge Push as he might, it just seemed to get stuck more and more. Not one to give up, Philip waded closer to the barrel. Odd, Philip mused, that's a rather expensive looking boot, what is it doing in the river? Moving forward a few more feet, Philip's question was answered when he saw the leg the boot was still attached to. Philip froze for a few moments, staring at the long-dead body of the RNTC officer. I better tell somebody, Philip thought, but not until I get these barrels loose. Hold Your Breath by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr Without figs or barrels: Hold Your Breath by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr
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Fort Philip 1 by Brandon Stark, on Flickr Fort Philip 2 by Brandon Stark, on Flickr While Dragonstone continues to be built, Brandon ventured south with a small force of soldiers and some workers. He built Fort Philip, a fortified trading post named after the king at the edge of Oleander territory in Blueton. While the trading post's main goal is to open up trade with the natives and Corrington, it is also fortified, to act as a guard for the border, in case either the natives or Corrington turn hostile. While Oleander soldiers initially had some trouble with the forest, they were able to clear the forest and get the fort finished. As for now, neither the natives nor Corringtonians have been seen, so the fort is still a fort and not a trading post.
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In the Settlement of Astrapi, a new statue has been erected for those too busy to get to the Temple of Zeus that day. If passing this statue, the faithful can pray or stop to have a chat. If it's a lovely day, why not? Some old peddlers even may stop by telling you a secret, if you the coin of course. They say that Zeus faces the direction of the secret relic, but nobody has been able to locate it, at this point at least. Those peddlers seem strangly like Eslandolers...
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Due to the recent raids of Mardier, the completion of the Merchant Quay has been a really stressfull thingy for Governor Maximilian Damaximus. But since the last days, the amount of activity has been booming in Trador. To secure safety of the traders, MAESTRO sent a full regiment to La Sombra. The Trade Quarters are a big success, many nations, trade companies and important families were almost fighting to get one. Every Trade Quarter was build accordingly to the owner, A Trade Quarter exists of a store room with direct access to the boats and a residence above it. . Garvey Emporium Consortium ( @CelesAurivern ) Prio Pierre d'Oleon ( to be revealed somewhere in the future ) Montoya Estate ( @Bregir ) Merchant Gate ( MAESTRO / Medium fort) WETEC ( @SilentWolf ) Sebeus Estate ( @Sebeus I ) White Glove Order ( @Sir Stig ) Quinsville ( @Tomsche ) Fontonajo Estate ( @Elostirion ) my nametag ^^ The Dancing Ember arriving at the Quays (ship build by Sebeus) General Whisximus (Terraversa Sea) and General Samu (Prio Sea) watching over the arrival of troops A WETEC sloop unpacking An Oleon soldier being distracted Corrie traders inspecting trade wares Officers from Eslandola, Corrington and Oleon chitchatting Merchant Gate MAESTRO Naval Soldiers watching over the unloading Sir Ethiximus and Governor Damaximus meeting with the King of Garvey behind is Trade Quarter. Guards are protecting them. Mardier Assassin hanged to death Troops assembling in front of Merchant Gate A Corrie soldier hunting a strange red bird. Hope the bird doesn't get angry... Update: detailpics of the residences and the nametages and more pictures can be found further in this topic. ---------------------------------------- Thanks for watching!!! C&C welcome! Some remarks: due to circumstances, I have no access to my bag of blue round plates. I know it is a big difference and I am sorry the water is now plain base plate other circumstances are the reason I am missing the name bricks for the different houses. This should be solved in two weeks. Same goes for the coat of arms that will be placed next to the storerooms. Total of 11750 studs. Will be licenced as a royal commerce (10k studs needed) and a medium fort (900 studs needed) -
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Previously: New Arrivals and Old Rivalries Lavalette Bakery Hopefully a mildly entertaining story. Comments and criticism are welcome. The steady clicking of the galloping horse, interspersed by the animal's hard breathing and the rider egged his steed on broke the otherwise tranquil jungle morning. "Faster, faster now!" exclaimed the breathless rider as his destination, the now sprawling brickworks of Lavalette, came into sight. After a few hundred more yards, the jungle completely gave way as massive open fields filled with drying bricks each separated by a myriad of kilns and the immense warehouse filled what had, as recently as three months ago, been a pristine jungle. P1110221 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr "Halt! Halt and identify yourself!" roared a sentry as he lowered his musket. Then, recognizing the rider, he shouldered his weapon, snapped to attention and crying "Major, Sir!" saluted the rider. Pausing to take a few deep breaths, the Major patted his horse's neck, then quickly dismounted and hastily returned the salute. "What is this?" panted the Major. "Sir, I don't quite follow." "What is the meaning of this!" demanded the Major, his breath returning. After a brief quizzical look, the sentry hesitantly responded. "It's a brick factory, sir. You see, clay, sand, shale, and other ingredients are stored and mixed in the warehouse there. Then, workers fill barrels with the mixture and take it out to drying fields where frames are laid out and filled with the mixture," "Yes, I know that," snapped the Major. "Why was I called out?" "A raid, apparently. All I know is the sarge, I mean Sargent de Vele ordered us to fall out and when we got here the fields were a mess. But sir," continued the sentry, "I believe the factory manager can tell you more." P1110228 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr Ordering the sentry to watch his horse, the Major departed and headed for the warehouse's entrance. As he walked closer past a workman refilling a crate with coal that had spilt and aggressive, tense soldiers, the Major felt a rush of excitement. His whole life, his whole career, he had been left to listen to others tell war stories. Even as his comrades marched of to fight in the Juniper War, his regiment had been reduced to mere watchmen after some idiot duke convinced the King that St. Vele, a city that hadn't been captured, much less invaded in over three hundred years, needed additional troops. But now, walking among the wreckage of half-dry bricks, the Major felt hopeful. Even a mere Indian raid seemed exciting to him, especially since valor and distinction here could do much for his career in the RNTC. P1110229 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr "Major, so glad you could come," cried the factory's manager, a thin, sweating man (everyone from Vele seemed to sweat profusely in the jungle climate) as the Major approached. "Disaster, absolute disaster! An entire day's work ruined! Ten acres, ten acres of brick reduced to nothing more than bits and pieces!" "Calm yourself, man" replied the Major. "Calm down and explain what happened." "Look around, can't you see what happened" exclaimed the manager. "The workers arrived for their shift and as soon as we got here absolute ruin and not a soul in sight. Major, security is your responsibility and I demand that you bring the culprits to justice." "But no damage to the buildings or kilns, just the bricks that lay out in the open?" questioned the Major. "Rather peculiar, is it not? I mean, wouldn't a native at least attempt to enter the warehouse or destroy a kiln?" "How am I supposed to know what a savage thinks?" the manager replied. "Just get me results! Someone must pay for destroying two and three-fifth doubloons of inventory!" Sighing, the Major said "Very well, as you can see my men are already on patrol. Now, if you could please provide me with your report, form 23-FB5 I believe, I will bring it to town and return with troops to search the area. No, no, this will never do. You've given me 34-FB2, which only applies to extreme weather conditions, and this supplement, ah 4-2 does not include the name of the assistant manager. I'm sorry, but you must do this all over." If there was one thing the Major learned from his time guarding St. Vele, it was that businesses could be just as bad as bureaucrats when it came to paperwork. P1110231 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr The manager disappeared inside to fill out the proper forms while the Major decided to wait and watch the workmen. After a few minutes, however, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. Every minor rustling in the trees made him feel uneasy and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Still, no harm could come, right? After all, there was a platoon of men here with him now, not to mention the workmen and a heavy, easily barricaded oak door behind him. The Major was convinced that a voice was whispering his name, beckoning him, calling him to, do something, but what? "Must be the heat, must be the excitement and the heat, yes that's it" the Major told himself. "Major, Major" the voice continued. The Major continued to look around, but unable to see anyone the Major was left meekly whispering "who's there?" "We know what you did," replied the voice seeming all around him. "We know, Major, we know your secret. Now, repent or die! Repent or die!" the voice roared from behind the Major. Drawing his sword, the Major cried out and hastily turned to face his opponent. But looking around, there was nothing. Nothing, that is, except for a single, solitary flower. "Hades' Shade" whispered the Major to himself as he felt his knees start to give and his head spin. For ever Oleander knew the stories, often told by older siblings to frighten young ones. Yes, Hades' Shades were often used to decorate cemeteries and temples, as it was believed that the bright red flowers would help open an entrance to the underworld so the dead could continue their journey to Styx. But the flowers also had a far more sinister meaning. Legend states that the Priests of Hades, the Order's assassins, would use a single red flower to mark their next victim, helping to prepare the soul to depart, thus ensuring an easy kill, and as an added bonus, psychologically tormenting the victim. P1110235 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr The Major soon heard footsteps and bent down to pick up the flower. Placing it inside his coat, he stumbled back before leaning on the warehouse's wall. "Search the jungle," stuttered the Major. "No one's here, sir" said a private after peering about behind the warehouse. "Nothing here but a few trees and a couple hundred yards of open brick fields." "But the voice, you must have heard it. Someone has to be here," replied the Major. The soldiers looked around, awkwardly before a workman spoke up. "No one heard anything, Mister Major, sir. You sure you feeling quite right in the head?" "That's impossible, surely..." began the Major before his words trailed off. "Private," continued the Major, some strength returning. "Private, tell the manager to have his men send the report, and gather the men and escort me back to the fort at once!" P1110237 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr Overview P1110223 by Capt. Genaro, on Flickr
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Hello again, here's another result of my landlubbing endeavors: Fort Henri On the northern shores of the Baie de Tyche, overlooking the town of Lavalette, lies the company's fortress at Lavalette - more commonly referred to as Fort Henri, after the town's first mayor - Henri Hollande. Its construction began as soon as the first settlers arrived, and now it protects the growing settlement and the entire bay. Fort Henri is one of the first forts in New Terra featuring a semaphore mast, which allows the garrison to communicate quickly with similar stations around Lavalette, even reaching as far as Windfall, increasing the chances for a successful defense in case of an attack on the island. For now, the fort is only equipped with light field guns, but the RNTC has plans to invest in additional defenses once the settlement grows. About: My first attempt at a star-fort, and I think it worked out alright. As usual, all can be built - if you have the 15.000 bricks necessary Oh, and most of the building time here went into the surface pattern/foliage Although its footprint is far larger than required for a large fortress, it'll only be licensed as a medium, because... that's what it looks like in my eyes. Thanks for watching! C&C as always welcome Vive le Roi!
