MassEditor

Wonderful entry, so glad you finally joined GoH. Fantastic story and the builds are, as I have come to expect and enjoy from you, quite superb. The black tree in the first MOC is particularly eye-catching, and your landscaping is as wonderful as ever. I really enjoy the variety in these builds, the varying landscapes, architecture and micro build. Really nice stuff, hope we get you see more from you in these parts!

(Looks like my title was too long! It should read: A Part to Play: Abd-al-Malik's role in the Kaliphlin Civil War) The din of the battle raging around Abd-al-Malik grew dimmer, replaced by flashing moments of his earlier life. Even the pain from his wound, though mortal, began to fade away. He had premonitions that his death would come on Al Amarj Island, but he never expected it to be so peaceful. As the Desert King troops and High Council defenders battled around him, Malik's thoughts turned to happier times. There, in his old home, he could once again see his wife and child. How long it had been since he had seen their faces. The house, with its palm trunk walls and dirt floor, was nothing fancy, but it had been their home for years. A wood burning stove cooked the family's meal each night and kept the house warm during the cold months. There was no other place Malik would rather be. Malik's thoughts than moved to his son and the many adventures the two had. Malik wanted his son to grow strong and brave. Often the two would explore the nearby jungle, clearing their own trails and stumbling upon many natural wonders. Those were happy days, before death and violence had consumed Kaliphlin. Everything changed the day the war came to Malik's home. He had been laid off from the nearby sawmill that day. Many of its workers had either fled or joined one of the various armies marching across Kaliphlin. Only Malik and a few others remained, but the owner closed the sawmill in fear of becoming a casualty of the spreading war. Malik walked home slowly, wondering how he would tell his family of the loss of their only source of income. When his house became visible Malik immediately knew something was wrong. His son, Adnan, always waited for him by the road, jumping out of the bushes to surprise his father and then walk home together. Then Malik noticed the smoke rising from his home. He ran as fast as he could but the house was completely engulfed before he arrived at its doorsteps. Hours later, when the fire had died and the ash cooled, Malik collected the remains of two bodies he found inside. He would learn later from neighbors than a pack of rogue Ulandian soldiers had stumbled across the home, performing unspeakable horrors against Malik's wife and child before setting the structure ablaze. Malik collected what remains he could and buried them under a nearby tree. For days he did not sleep and ate nothing. He only laid there, weeping quietly by the graves of his beloved family. Then, suddenly, the thirst for revenge hit him like water does a man lost in the desert. He had watched his world collapse around him, and decided he would seek vengeance. He hated the Ulandians, and the High Council for not putting up a stronger resistance against the Centurion's march across Kaliphlin. He had heard rumors of a prophecy brought to life in the northern stretches of Kaliphlin. And it was the Desert King, and Malik knew it was to him that he would place his allegiance. The Desert King was the one entity willing and able to force peace on these lands and return Kaliphlin to the glory of its past. Malik found a Desert King outpost and signed up initially as a mercenary. Those early days were filled with sharp and hectic battles for the peripheries of the marching armies. It was at one particularly crucial battle for an aqueduct where Malik's potential was noted by a senior officer of the Desert King. Shortly afterwards, he was inducted into the Desert King's covert operations. Malik's covert military career with the Desert King quickly took off. At first, he was tasked with detecting and countering sedition in towns captured by the Desert King's forces. These included "fifth columnists," deserters and those who would dare to defenestrate the Desert King's tax collectors. Malik was then put in charge of subverting targets of the Desert King, especially the big cities which stood as the centers of power in Kaliphlin. As a southern Kaliphlin, Malik was especially adept at infiltrating High Council positions and leadership circles. From Qarkyr to Petraea, Malik served an immeasurable role in weakening enemy defenses and allowing the Desert King's armies to march in secretly and quickly defeat their opponents. (Malik watches from the shadows as civilian supporters of the Desert King triumph their victory in Qarkyr) (Desert King troops surprised the High Council defenders of Petraea, no doubt due to Malik's subterfuge) (Malik looks on as Desert King troops capture Petraea, Kaliphlin's greatest city) After these stunning victories, Malik was ordered with his greatest task yet: neutralizing the High Council strong point at Al Amarj Island. No enemy forces had ever landed on Al Amraj, let alone conquered the fortress, but Malik was not one to back down. He swore to the Desert King that he island would be captured, or that he would die in the attempt. After all, Malik had nothing else to live for. Again, using his masterful ability to blend in, Malik as well as his apprentice, Salah-ad-Din, managed to infiltrate the island under the guise of a merchant and his bodyguard. Malik began quickly to study the islands defenses and watch schedule. He quickly concluded that the island's defenses had been largely siphoned off for the war effort on the mainland. An eavesdropped conversation revealed the arrogance of the island's defenders and their belief that Al Amarj would miss the bloodshed as it always had. One night, when the opportunity seemed perfect, Malik sent a signal to a large group of Desert King forces stationed on vessels just out of sight of the island's defenses. Malik and ad-Din neutralized the few guards on duty on the island's southern watchtower. Dozens of Desert King troops began scaling the walls and descending on Al Amarj's few defenders. Despite a valiant and fierce resistance by the defenders, it was clear that the island would not stand up to the Desert King onslaught. The defenders fell where they fought and by morning virtually all of the island was in Desert King hands. It was at this point that the High Council commander of Al Amarj called to Malik to join him in single combat. As Malik's soldiers cleared the last few areas of resistance, Malik battled the commander on the high rock archway above the crashing ocean. It seemed as if their battle lasted an hour or even more. Despite Malik's plea that the commander surrender, the High Council officer continued to strike. A heavy blow struck Malik's sword, throwing him against a tree. The commander raised his weapon to deal the final blow, but Malik struck sooner, his blade entering the enemy's chest. A swift kick sent the High Council officer soaring off the arch and into the water below. Malik turned to join his troops but a sharp pain in his stomach stopped him suddenly. He looked down to see a young boy holding a sword, half its length now buried in Malik's abdomen. He was the High Council commander's son, who had witnessed the battle and now sought his revenge. The boy's face reminded Malik of his own son, which brought to the fore those memories of happier times. Desert King troops rushed to help their fallen leader. One mummy grabbed the young boy but Malik ordered him to be released. The boy had only done what was right by the code of honor and family. The boy ran off to join his remaining family in the High Council stronghold. Malik's flashbacks caught up to his present time, where he was slowly dying. His death would not bother him, as his mission had been completed - Al Amarj was in Desert King hands. The victory would likely signal the beginning of the end of the war. Nothing would please Malik more. After so much violence and bloodshed, Malik was happy to turn his thoughts to peace. Salah-ad-Din attempted to treat Malik's wound, but it was too grievous. Malik thanked him but knew there was nothing he could do. It was there, on the island fortress, that Malik died. Malik's troops noticed the smile on his face - the first they had ever seen on the old warrior. They were relieved that he had died happy. Malik was dressed in the white robes of a Kaliphlin elder and given the funeral rites of a highly respected Desert King officer. He was placed in a floating funeral pyre and set into the ocean. 14 That morning, as the sun rose over Al Amarj, Salah-ad-Din walked alone to one of the islands watch towers. He looked out into the ocean and he too began to think of peace. Ad-Din's lust for combat had been tempered by the loss of his leader and friend. He vowed that, when this war ended, his work would focus on making sure future generations would enjoy the peace those like Abd-al-Malik had died to achieve. 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hello again everyone! I know this is a few hours past the deadline but I hope I will be forgiven - I had intended to have this uploaded last night but, as some of y'all know by now, the recent Flickr update has made it impossible for me to grab the BBCodes for my pics using the hardware I own. I had to borrow a friends computer this morning to get the pictures. If Ska or the group thinks my entry should be disqualified because of the deadline, I will certainly have no hard feelings. A little sad, not but mad! Anwyays, I hope you guys enjoy this story. Thanks for looking!

Man, you may be more serious than you in fact intend, as this was the primary trouble I ran into over the last few months. It wasn't a lack of ideas or time that got to me, but a wife who expected me to do something with her from time to time... No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get her to see eye to eye with me on the importance of the Kaliphlin Civil War! I hope Ch. V in Nocturnus does not end in a divorce for me... But, all this trash-talking aside, I hope everyone can agree with me that the last three months have been a phenomenal time for GoH, if not a tad stressful. I feel like my building ability grew by leaps and bounds, and considering the amazing entries we've seen for Ch. IV, I think others feel the same way. But that reminds me, we've still got A,B and D to go!

Nice continuation and sweet interior scene! The table looks good as do the stained glass windows. Have to wonder, how much farther have the Algus marched in their blitz into the south... From what we've seen of these icy fiends so far, I pray these leaders bring plenty of swordarms!

No kidding! I could really use some kind of LEGO-related disability pension. Amen brother! Don't mind the dissenters - haters always gonna hate. It is a shame Ark'Mora's benevolence has not affected these wayward souls, perhaps a few eras in the deep tombs of Sultan's Gate will change their minds!

So, this is the scum Raavage sends knocking on the doors of the great city of Shadowmere, in his arrogant hope that the defenders will lay down their arms after many seasons of successful resistance against the Spire's hordes... It seems Anfauglir's past continues to follow him; he knows of this Spire emissary. His tongue carries well the twisted and forbidding message of his lord, and he should not be trusted. OoC: Great continuation LV, and sweet build too! Nice work on that gate, another excellent addition to Nocturnus' grandest city. The swamp environment looks great, and one detail I really like is the torch holder made from the witch king crowns. Plenty of suspense here, sure to get folks back into this story!

Another excellently detailed and composed build from you, definitely one of my favorite beacons of this chapter in the saga. That walkway is awesome as is the surrounding land- and snow-scaping. My favorite detail has to be the expression on the face of the guy shoveling snow. I had to shovel a lot of snow growing up, and I'm sure that's exactly how I looked when I did it.

Nice build and welcome to GoH! Great little scene, looks like we Nocturnians are making ourselves quite at home in Kaliphlin! I like how many details you were able to pack in such a small footprint. The wooden supports on the corners of the building are a nice touch, as is the water fountain. Like Jacob said, I very much look forward to seeing this saga continue!

Thanks again y'all! Four months with a month or so break in between to work on other parts of the Kali Civil War. Thanks Gideon! I've been away on vacation and had no idea it was blogged until I saw you shared the link. Much appreciated! Hopefully I will have the rest of my Cat. B stuff done soon and I'll be able to share some more exclusive photos of this build just for you guys!

The spread of light in the approaching darkness is a hopeful sign, perhaps Mitgardia will be warned in time to meet the Algus and send them back to their frozen wastelands. The thoughts of the free people of Nocturnus are with Mitgardia in these disturbing times. OoC: Nice build and beacon design kabel, but you tease us with these limited shots! Have you been finding much time to add to Thorshaven?

Well, with all this laying around in the grass, it seems you are quite at home in Avalonia! Seriously though, sweet build! Great work on the ground foliage, and that tree is ace. Look forward to seeing more from you!

Beautiful scene, you are developing an awesome knack for intricate and gorgeous landscapes. The white/dk green/sand green combo is such a pretty combination. The tree is quite nice too, especially with the purple leaf accents. As usual, your story writing skills are top notch and very engaging. Glad to see Adira made it out of Kaliphlin in one piece!

Awesome! A ton of detail and action packed in here. Some nice colors and architecture too, but that ferocious black worm beast definitely steals the show. I pity those who oppose the Desert King's rightful rule!

VOTING THREAD Warzone 10: The Battle for Petraea Who Can Vote: EVERYONE (That includes people who have not signed up yet, or will never sign up!) How to Vote: Look at all the MOCs from each side. First, determine which side won this battle. You should base your opinion on a couple different factors: A)Build quality amongst all MOCs B)Number of MOCs of quality C) Story of the MOC You can weigh these in any order, or add your own categories. Please consider the three above in your decision though. You may want to clarify or lobby for your favorites in this thread, but you don’t have to write anything if you don’t want to. Next, pick an answer to each question in the pole. In the second three questions it will ask you to pick your favorite MOC from each side. Please judge on quality of MOC and its story. You can add other qualifications to your own judging process if you would like. Finally, submit your vote. Polling ends: June 14 Warzone 10: The Battle for Petraea Location: F9 Who Can Participate: Everybody (Special) Terrain: Petraea is the largest city in Kaliphlin. The main governmental buildings are there, the high walls are there (anyone who wants to dig up some links for reference would be my hero), many of the historic monuments of Kaliphlin are there, and the terrain itself is a dusty arid climate, yet irrigated from the Lick of Salt. There are lush gardens within the city’s walls, including the famous Grand and Exquisite Gardens of Petraea. The University of Petraea’s campus is considered one of the wonders of the world itself. The Observatory Of Adus Krhon, on the campus of the university has stood for 500 years and has been a symbol of Kaliplhinite desire to learn since its creation. Some buildings in the city reach five stories, and many live inside of large multifamily housing units made of brick and mud. There are a series of barracks the protect the city, and the main road of Kaliphlin, the Oil Road stretches through the city in one wide straight boulevard. History: Petraea has been the regional capital of Kaliphlin since the disappearance of Kaligem long ago. It has always been the center of wealth for the guild, and most oil is first brought to market within the walls of the city. As the seat of government, many lords have secondary residences within the city. It is the cultural heart of the desert, and of the Siccus Badlands in general. Mini-challenge: This is one of the final battles of the Kaliphlin Civil War. All forces will be driving their armies towards the capital, as it is so important culturally and strategically. It is assumed that all three armies have gotten into Petraea, by force or by subterfuge. The many streets and alleys of Petraea have become the battleground. Civilians are trying to keep cover, or flee the city, for war has been brought to the capital. Builders should depict their forces winning the battle in an urban environment. Remember, Petraea is a very rich city, with ornate and spectacular architecture. Even lower-end tenement buildings have a little gild on them. Restrictions: 48x48, with limited overhang High Council Entries de Gothia - The Battle of Petraea (No complete overall shot, please see topic for more pictures) Ulandus Entries: Marcu22 - Take over Petraea! Garmadon - Divide and Conquer! Kai NRG - Melee! Desert King Entries MassEditor - Liberating Petraea Captain Braunsfeld - Taking Petraea by Storm Blufiji - Battle in the Gardens MKJoshA - The Gardens of Historica in Petraea Jacob Nion - The Final Battle Dr. Cogg - All Out

Very beautiful sunset, one of the better I've seen in LEGO form. The forced perspective is quite nicely done and the first photo sells it so well - I almost feel as if I'm standing next to Marcus on the catwalk. The various details are fun to view as well, especially those two ships and the snot rocks. I really enjoyed the story too. Reminds me of a few friends who lost limbs fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. They struggle to cope with their injuries yet still have the courage and strength to poke fun at themselves and still pick themselves up everyday and enjoy life. Yours is a touching story and well presented. One small bit of advice I would share concerning the forced perspective: I think shortening the depth of field in this photo and thereby making the background a tad bit more blurry would help with some of the issues you expressed. Shooting the background out of focus would most likely eliminate the visible lines between the yellow bricks and obscure the details enough to give a better perspective of a sun setting in the distant horizon. The light given off by something as large as a star is quite hazy so you don't want those details to be sharp in the photo. Just a small suggestion for an otherwise excellent build!

I've posted on this build already but had to congratulate you on getting this frontpaged alongside a few of your others for Ch. IV. I've never seen someone have that many MOCs frontpaged at once before. But it is very well deserved. If there's anyone the DK owes its victory to, it's you. Sehr gut mein freund!

Gorgeous as always though now I'm eager to see the rest!

Woah, now that's a bonfire! Nice work on that Tomsche, though I agree a bit more landscaping or just a path would have helped spice this up a bit.

Thanks again everyone! Me too! Now you're getting real close! Thanks Simon! Good to see you getting some much needed R&R! Not much longer I suppose and you'll be back to building? Have you got to blow anything up yet? Thanks a lot Gideon, that means a lot coming from the Kali Master himself! Although I've had a lot of fun building in Kaliphlin for this challenge, I can't help but feel excited for a chance to return to Nocturnus! Kaliphlin will always be with me, however, as it will take ages to dispense of all the sand I've gathered over the past few months... So, thanks for the invite my friend, but my heart is still as black as ever! Thanks SK! I'll have some photos of the other side and a few more details when I get my Cat. B entry together.

Ok guys, today is the last day to get in entries for Petraea. This is the last WZ of Challenge C so make sure to get your entries in today and posted in this thread! So far we have five entries for DK (MKJoshA, Captain Braunsfeld, Blufiji, Jacob Nion and ME), one for HC (de Gothia) and one for Ulandus (Marcu). Am I missing anyone? C'mon y'all, this is the grand finale of Challenge C so let's see some more entries before the deadline expires! I'll post the voting thread for Petraea tomorrow afternoon when the global deadline has expired.

Beautiful build, I will certainly be studying this impressive rockwork technique. The overhanging snow is such a wonderful touch and really makes this build pop. The beacon itself is quite elegant too. I really like those angled supports. Love to see this story progress! I think the fact that these beacons were not lit during the Mitgardian Civil War really says something about the danger which now approaches... Can't wait to see where this goes!

Haha, Garmadon strikes again! Looks like his building tactics are the bane of both DK and HC supporters! I still dream about that frustrating mirror experience. Haven't had much good luck come my way lately either, and I'll place the blame for that squarely in Garmadon's lap. Garmadon, haven't you tortured us long enough?! Seriously though, a great and clever counter. Excellent description too, the ray seems feasible enough to work in this setting. It's execution, especially the burning ship, is nicely done. A difficult but impressive counter!

Nice micro scene, I love all the detail you crammed into this tiny footprint! I will have to agree with mrcp6d that your crew must be incredibly talented at tacking into the wind through a narrow channel with a square-rigged ship!

Wow, what an epic end to this tragic and bloody conflict. Such a fearsome looking army Osric has built (can't wait to see it unleashed against the spire-demons in Nocturnus!). I really like how you avoided a big battle scene and instead depicted the two sides just moments from crashing into one another. It really creates a breathtaking sense of atmosphere, as if two storms were about to collide. No doubt this would prove to be one of the bloodiest campaigns of the war. The build itself is wonderful, many excellent details big and small to enjoy. I love the angled castle wall in particular, gives a great sense of dimension to this build. The inn-style building and mosque are also fun to view (the fez-wearing-guy peeking out of the mosque is a sweet touch, as are the fleeing civys). Superb work as usual Jacob, no doubt Petraea is firmly in the hands of the Desert King!

Great microbuild, what an awe-inspiring monument when you think of the size of the titan's skull. For as long as time exists, this monument will remind the people of Historica of the Desert King's sacrifice, his dedication and his victory over the other factions of Kaliphlin!