Keymonus

Great build Legonaut! The way you depicted the water and the beach is very detailed, and the fortress structure is at the same time original and historically accurate. I'm looking forward to your next builds!

Thank you guys! Actually I was planning an AMRCA westward and then maybe southwards, if the events will allow that. Anyways, since I still have a couple of things pending (Charlatan Bay, Fatu Hiva prizes, something about the Marquisade received by my character...) I won’t start it too soon... I was just deciding which torsos/headgears/decorated plates I should include in my next BL order, so no need to hurry up at all!

Fatu Hiva, Ile D'Or, July 619 After the dark happenings of the previous months, life in Fatu Hiva returned to normality. Patrols of soldiers and groups of native warriors started a fierce hunt against the bands of fanatics still infesting the jungle and, even if some of them may have escaped, no new attack was reported. The economy of the settlement flared up again too: the natives returned to their fishing activity, while the plantations outside Fatu Hiva were repaired and expanded, allowing the recovery of the brewing activities. This little vineyard was bought by a foreigner, a Varcosian, who invested a large sum of money to expand the plantation. A little is known about this individual, but he is rumoured to have earned his fortune during the successful expedition in the jungle. While up to now the vineyard is sufficient for the requirements of the settlement, the Varcosian has imported seeds of Oleander grape, in order to expand the business and export wine and spirit in the archipelago. Today, the workers are cleaning a part of the hill from the undergrowth and are building new terracing. By sure, even if a lot of time will be required for the first profitable harvests, starting a vineyard near to the Oleander capital of alcol production is a wise investment. The herd of a native shepherd is very useful to remove herbs and low bushes... ...while more robust plants are removed with more resolute methods. Meanwhile, other workers realise the terracing for the new plants, planting poles in the ground and shovelling away the earth. Overall view The sheep And the "mysterious" owner, one of Tristan's followers during the expedition against the fanatics, in which absolutely no treasure was found. I will license this build as large plantation (instead of using a micro) as prize for the last challenge.

Only a quick question… how do you imagine the NPC states never fleshed out? I've some ideas for a future AMRCA, but since it could touch several states I would like your feedback! In my mind (general real world references): Great Alliance States = from Eastern Europe to Siberia Great Raider = something inspired to Mongol or Hun states, with nomadic warlords struggling against sedentary settlements Middle Kingdoms = something Ottoman/Persian-like Pontilla = a European-like buffer state, no clear idea Kemblar/Kemblarsi = @Mesabi depicted them as Asian states, makes sense due to their position Lotus Empire = we have many Lotii settlers around the Brick Seas, apparently East Asians (China/Japan) What do you think? And about the other Southern States?

Hi guys, I'm finally back (more or less ) after a long period in another city, away from my beloved bricks . My main character is still trapped in Charlatan Bay, trying to restore order, but soon you will hear again about him! Welcome to all the new members (sorry for the delay), and vive le Roi!

Sorry I commented so late but, since it is our collab, I think I should say something! This build is great: the turkeys are very nice, but the real protagonist is the solidified lava with the burned plants around. Hopefully I'll soon be back with another part, describing these months of "military campaign"... at least to show that Tristan is still alive!

Thank you @Drunknok!

Very nice little ship! The repairing scene is very well composed too!

What a bunch of vile sellswords group of noble Eslandolan soldiers! Everybody wishes to see them all slaughtered in action as soon as possible, for the good of all the civilized countries glory of Eslandola! OOC Very nice scene, both minifigure choice and the fortress in background are very nice!

Merrynight in the homeland | OL | Keymonus

Somewhere in the Sea of Storms, the beginning of 619 Every good mariner knows how ominous it is celebrating the beginning of the year on a ship… the Gods of the Sea or Poseidon, Sol or Prometheus (according to whom do you ask to) may consider it an affront and pay back with contrary winds and bad luck. For this reason, sometimes a captain decides to moor his ship in a secluded bay of a desert island, just to celebrate something with his men. In this case, Captain Dufrene decided to land on a little islet to celebrate the Merrynight and the beginning of 619 (more or less on the right date, even if rats had eaten his diary a couple of weeks before). And, since he felt a little nostalgic and didn't want to begin another year in a foreign land, decided to claim that vast land to the crown of Oleon. "In the name of our graceful King Phil, I claim this island to the crown! Now bring the rum, Matthew… for once we can celebrate the beginning of the year in our motherland! Stephen, as new minister of the crabs of this new colony, it's your duty to provide a decorated tree!" "But captain… were can I find a tree?" "Use your imagination!" At last they found a tree… or something similar: they covered a oar with some seaweed, and hung some brass beads (always useful if you commerce with the natives) on it. Nobody cared if it wasn't exactly the right day, or if that land wasn't exactly Oleon: 619 would have surely been their good year, they were sure, and opening their best bottle of rum was more than appropriate. Some cups of rum, a couple of merry songs and then the men left the islet. That year would have been the good one, thought Captain Dufrene, looking at the waves slowly covering his ephemeral colony, surely better than the miserable 618 and than the flea-bitten 617. And, otherwise… who cared? "Bow towards Tortuga, lazybones! They say that rum is cheap and women are cheerful on that island! Have you got barnacles in your ears, slackers? Move! I think we all deserve a little holiday… and, by the way, merry 619!" The islet The newly acquired subjects, at least until the next tide

Thank you all for your comments! My next part of the story, with the cargo ship landing in a safe area, will be posted soon!

Impressive build! The level of details you reached in such a small scale is absolutely great, the colour choice is completely appropriate, and the windows you realized are spectacular. Your job is fantastic and the LDD rendering, that sometimes "takes something away" from the build is very nice! About the financial issue… currently I have more doubloons than I can incest in monthly MRCA, I can't finance your build entirely, but I can offer you 100 DBs as a donation and 400DBs as a loan, PM me if you are interested.

Nice little MOC! I like the way you realized the irregular terrain and the tree on the right. Well done!

Sorry, I had completely missed this challenge! I'll try to build something nice before the deadline

Thank you! I took inspiration from some LEGO WWI trenches I saw on the web and tried something more suitable to sail age. Thank you! Don't worry about hostile Oleonese actions: this build is only the furtherance of a joined storyline about the restoration of order in Charlatan Bay after the Marderian occupation, the volcanic eruption and the following riots. My men (even if it doesn't seem ) are on the island only as a support/humanitarian force helping Roadmonkeytj's men; they don't wear Oleonese uniforms and do not receive direct orders from the motherland (thing that could cause me some legal troubles coming back home).

Infero Pordejon, Northern Coast of the Charlatan Bay, 618 A couple of cannons in a strategic position, concealed in the thick jungle of Infero Pordejon… at first, the hidden battery was nothing more than that. Today, only two years later, things have changed a lot: the Bishop before, and the Marderian occupants later, progressively strengthened the little fort with heavier cannons, trenches and embankments, making it almost impregnable from sea. Together with Fort Saint Millar, this battery overlooks the bay… who controls them both, controls the port and all the naval trades of the settlement. "Five thousands doubloons for a load of hardtack and salted cod! What else do you want? And if we doubled the price, the inhabitants of Charlatan Bay would pay all the same! And we just have to sit here, drinking rum, playing dice and sending to hell any ship trying to sneak below our nose! We take no risk, and make a lot of money! Why the hell do you think we should take sea?" "Well, you are perfectly right, but… how long can it last? We have completely squeezed the lemon, and now Charlatan Bay is starving. Only the rich can afford the imported food, and now they are to the limit too. We are as rich as Mokolei satraps… why not to leave now, before one of the gangs, or one of the troublemakers of Hightown decides to cut our throats?" "Don't talk nonsense, my friend! The citizens may be starving, but some of them can still pay nice doubloons. The gangs fight one another in the streets for the control of warehouses and control zones, but all the goods they divvy up come from the port, and they know that no merchant would trust them… without our mediation the commercial routes would drain completely. Moreover, they are not strong enough to assault the forts. And that old captain, Von Bricktin, left the city several days ago... if we are lucky the indians are already using his skull as a mug, and may Hades damn his soul!" "You are right, as usual. Nevertheless I feel not quiet, our position is not so strong from land… I think we should hire more men, maybe build a palisade towards the jungle. And I think we should leave this damned island and enjoy our money in Mesabi Landing, Tortuga or another joyful city." "Mmh, taverns, alcool and high life… what a nice thought! One more month and we'll leave with all the gold of Hightown, I'm sure that some of those fatty pigs still hide money somewhere… let them starve for a while, and we'll take their gold for a piece of bread!" "Sir, the Oleander cargo ship we spotted has let down the sails… it has stopped right outside the bay! Hades knows what those drunkards are waiting for!" Meanwhile, a figure was crawling in the bushes behind the turret, a tomahawk in his hand. The man climbed the turret. The sentinel was staring the sea, as he had done for the last hour. Easier than expected… this sentinel was the last one. A quick hit with the handle of the axe, a dull thud, and all clear for his comrades. Everything seemed moving faster: a musket fired… ...sharply interrupting the conversation of the pirates. There wasn't even a real battle: it wasn't matter of bravery or cowardice, since the pirates were completely surrounded and no resistance was possible… ...how could they fight with a gun already pointed against their face? Things were going well, thought Tristan, even better than expected… now everything was in his friend's hands, since the incoming ships loaded with supplies needed a safe landing point in the bay, far enough from Fort Saint Millar cannons. Using a little mirror, his men sent a light signal to Le Phénix, the ship waiting outside. The timing had been incredibly good, thought Tristan, thanking Poseidon for His help… with a bit of luck, that evening all the inhabitants of Charlatan Bay would have had something to eat, and Gustaf would have received all the guns he needed for his men. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This build was strongly inspired to Kwatchi's hidden battery (I referred with a link to his build), that I considered a crucial element in the joined storyline about Charlatan Bay

Infero Pordejon, somewhere near to Northern Coast, 618 After a long, extenuating waiting, the day they had been waiting for had arrived. During the previous days, all the patrols sent in exploration had found nothing but ashes, destroyed buildings and skeletal remains of the once luxuriant jungle… that damned mountain had hit very hard the northern part of the island, while the southern area and the settlement seemed, from advanced reconnaissance, almost untouched by the disaster. If that was a divine punishment for the sins of the Dark Bishop and of his damned followers, the next time gods should aim better, couldn't help but think Tristan. What concerned him most, however, were the many signs of violence and pillaging his men had reported, such as smoke plumes in the distance, burnt houses and farmers fortifying their homes: sitting there waiting, while innocent civilians were being killed everyday, was destroying his nerves. That morning, however, something was going to change: Master Sergeant Marcel Dubois, using his words, had "taken contact" with Gustaf Von Bricktin, and the old pirate was arriving to the camp; considering how pale Marcel looked, the contact probably implied being surrounded by an angry mob of pirates. In a very short time, the pirate gang entered the palisade: Gustaf was followed by a few men, shabbily dressed and covered with ashes. Tristan immediately recognized his old friend, with his head up and the back straight. Despite the age, the long time spent as an outlaw and the peaceful retirement in Charlatan Bay, the old officer was still there, leading once again his men against the enemy. The army Gustaf had gathered, however, was quite different from the grenadiers he once had led into battle against the barbarians on Pontilla borders: his soldiers seemed tired and visibly starving, their clothes were dirty and tattered, while their weapons were a heterogeneous assortment of old rifles and melee weapons. However, thought Tristan, those men didn't surrendered in spite of all the troubles, of the hunger, of the hopeless situation: the old officer was definitely still there, and still knew his job very well. When the pirates entered the camp, tension rose a little: even if in a different uniform, all the volunteers were Oleander soldiers, and caressing the trigger of the rifle when seeing a pirate was almost a natural reflex. Discipline, however, prevailed, and the soldiers kept calm. "Tristan, old friend of mine! I will never thank you enough for your help! You have really been mad enough to come here, and you have also found found someone mad enough to follow you on this damned island… welcome on Infero Pordejon, by the way, even if you can't see my island in its best shape." "You almost seem surprised, old buccaneer! How could I have missed a chance of seeing your ugly face?" Tristan continued, more seriously "I'm glad you are fine, Gustaf! When I heard of the Marderian coupe against the Bishop, and few weeks later of the disaster that hit Charlatan Bay, I feared for your life. How bad is the situation?" "You know I'm a tough nut to crack… and the ones who tried plundering my housed learned it too. But I'll be frank: the situation is very bad. When the surviving Marderians left Charlatan Bay, the gangs of Lowtown, the pirate crews blocked on the island, and basically anyone who had a weapon or who could steal it started fighting: some for power, wealth and areas of control, but most of them for food and survival. The port still closed, since the bastards controlling the forts prefer speculating on the little available supplies, and the crops are failing. If we don't act soon, Charlatan Bay will starve to death, with the only exception of the responsible ones, who are becoming fatter and richer. Oh, I almost forgot, they also want my head on a plate for what I'm doing." "Well, I've seen better situations… "...but I also brought from home a couple of toys that could be quite useful." "I see you even brought a cannon… quite a strong argument during a discussion! But to be honest food is what concerns me most… we are scraping the bottom of the barrel, but the famine is imminent." "First of all, excuse me for my poor hospitality… you and your men have arrived just in time for the lunch, and I'm still holding you here talking. I think that things will look better after a proper meal, and it seems your men really need it. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring much without a proper landing point; a cargo ship will be here in days, filled with whatever we need to feed your people and begin the reconstruction, but we still have a little problem…" "Yes, those damned forts! They will fire at sight." "Unless we take care of them before. Come with me, after ten years we have again a battle plan to discuss together… and I think that the old officer I once met in Pontilla will enjoy my idea." A carriage of supplies An overall view

Thank you guys! I had the idea more than a year ago, when I saw armors exposed in a museum with the “safety guarantee” described in the build but, without anything armored in BoBS, I delayed it until the appearance of courassiers! Building the bellows was quite challenging, all the previous attempts were too large! And I agree with you, those trans orange tiles always fit in a furnace/droid factory/blacksmith store!

Building twin statues was surely a nice idea! The build itself is simple but effective, as minifig posing too.

Armour foundry | Medium artisan

Very nice build, this is for sure your best architecture up to now! It really gives the feel of a colonial church. The writing is very good too. As soon as possible I'll use my medium license to build the convent, as agreed. I'll try to follow your style as much as possible!

November 618, Le Bellan, Eltina The settlement has grown quickly during the previous years and Eltina, today, resembles almost completely a large town of the Old World, except for the palms and the parrots: elegant bystanders walk along paved streets, flanked by houses built with stones. Even the new troops garrisoned in the city, in particular the courassiers recently arrived on the island, are something quite unusual for a colonial settlement, more used to militiamen or, at most, a couple of infantry companies: Eltina citizens proudly consider them a sign of the importance of their island, now a province of Oleon, more than a godsforsaken, unexplored angle of wasteland. Armoured cavalry, however, needs new armours: a new furnace was built for the purpose, with specialized smiths coming from Granoleon. Making an armour, in fact, is not an easy task, and requires the best iron and the best expertise: first of all the iron ingots are heated in a coal furnace, the bellows keeping the temperature high enough. Then the comes the core of the work: the steel bars are hammered, bent and hammered again, cooled and heated, cut in foils and moulded in the wanted shapes, again and again for hours. The number of different layers of steel determines the resistance of the armour: three layers (meaning basically three concentric armours welded together) represent a reasonable balance between weight and protection, but require a lot of time and work to be produced. The armours are quenched in cold water to further improve their resistance and durability: the process must be quick enough to work, but not too brutal or the steel, instead of reinforcing, will become fragile and will crack. At last, since courassiers are elite soldiers, the armours are carefully polished with a grindstone and finely decorated, one by one, by a specialized (and hopefully talented) artisan. Even if armoured cavalry can still route almost anything with a frontal charge, the times of legendary kings, jousts and spears shining in the sun have ended centuries ago, and knights must be protected accordingly: the main menace, nowadays, is represented by infantry with firearms. For this reason, each armour is tested under the sight of state officials: it must endure without damage a short range gunshot... ...or a musket ball from a longer distance. The armour the courassiers wear, in fact, is not only a distinctive sign of the regiment or a decorative object: it can be pierced by a close range shot of a musket or of a modern rifle, this is true, but still provides a good protection aganist swords, arrows, pistols and blunderbusses, that means aganist weapons frequently used by cavalry and militias. Armoured cavalry is not at its sunset yet: it's not invincible, but still can decide the result of a battle with its powerful charge. To do that, not to be cut down before reaching the enemy is a good start and, if that is possible, part of the credit for that also goes to Eltina armour smiths.

I had a preview before and the overall result, with story and LDD cottage, is very nice! The only caveat is the photography, probably you should try not to use the flash for close-up photos. Great job!

Nice little ship, the custom hull in particular is very well-done! I hope the stone colour is only paint, otherwise I've some doubts about the floating!