The Stad

Even knights aren't above rasslin' some hogs. Very fun build, and nice work on all the little details that bring this to life. I love your sign post in particular.

@Grover - I'm glad you're enjoying the story and appreciate the microscale. I am prone to grandiosity, so I love how building at ~1/4 the standard scale allows me to show scenes that would be prohibitively large/expensive/time consuming with minifigs. @socalbricks - Thank you!

Previously: A New Post at Gammeltårn Party Supplies Perils Old and New Unsought but Welcome Out Through the Market Embarking Once Førstlys had disappeared in the distance, the wind caught their sails and the ship surged westward, slicing through the growing whitecaps and skipping over the deepening troughs between the swells. Their course carried them rapidly past the rocky southern coast of the Burial Isle, whose sloping hills soon grew to craggy peaks and towering cliffs. Throughout the afternoon they kept their distance from the increasingly jagged shore, for which Kjell was thankful, as the seas rolled more violently the further they sailed. He felt his nerves were tight enough just worrying about the waves, and wasn't sure he'd be able to worry about the mighty rocks against which they crashed as well. He and the other men said very little, each fighting his stomach (with varying success), while the gold-clad elves moved quickly and efficiently around them, seemingly unperturbed by the motion of their vessel. As the sun descended and lit upon the horizon, the old elf turned to his helmsman. "Vaikea olla oikealla." The helmsman shouted a few quick commands and, to Kjell's alarm, the ship wheeled about quickly and tacked rapidly to the north, directly towards the cliffs. He wanted to yell, but dared not open his mouth. In a matter of minutes the dark mass of the coast loomed before them, and to either side in the gathering twilight could be seen great sea rocks, jutting from the churning waves like gnarled fingers. Panic began to overtake Kjell; gone was the nausea, and in its place was the hollow fear that he might soon be swallowed by the endless, frigid darkness upon which they foolishly danced. Beside him the old elf was calm. Soon the foam of the mountainous swells, which relentlessly battered the rapidly-nearing cliffs, was all that could be seen in the dusk. The old elf raised his right hand before him, his left hand held to his chest, and quietly but clearly spoke, "Kuíave fōd thu luz." Out of the night a pale light shot across their path, illuminating the base of the cliffs in a blue glow, and beyond it the waves seemed to calm. Still, before the ship they yet surged, and the old elf turned once again and spoke to his helmsman, "Tee kaivoon, setten nomeasti vasemmalle." The ship shifted course slightly, cutting along a deep valley in the water. Kjell couldn't breath. The helmsman shouted again, they shot across the light onto smooth water, and immediately turned hard to port. They glided over the glassy surface, down a narrow aisle of water between the rock face and the luminous wall that held the raging sea at bay, and Kjell saw that the light progressed in a steady chain between the sea rocks. As they neared one, the dim light revealed that the wall issued from openings in a structure that was built into the landward side of the rock, hidden from any eyes that would dare to search from the Bay of Storms. Nearly as tall as the rock itself, the edifice towered over their ship as it passed. In awe, Kjell turned to the old elf and breathlessly asked, "What is this? Who built it?" Again, the slight smile played at the corners of the elf's eyes and he replied, "These are the Lánfadan. They were built in the long distant past by the Pinnothen, whose blood you share." Kjell could not summon a response so, unprompted, the elf continued, "They were a great students of the world about them, observant of the flow of energy through the earth, trees, and sky, and were insatiably curious. They soon mastered the ability channel that energy, direct it as they desired, and bend it to their considerable will." "They quickly became renowned as master builders and craftsmen, and a formidable force on the field of battle. Even among the mightiest of kingdoms in the land, the most prudent rulers chose to offer generous terms of allegiance." "But if they were so mighty, what became of them?" asked Kjell. "Unrivaled might is its own greatest threat," the elf replied. "With no opponents to face beyond their borders, the Pinnothen turned inward. Princes coveted the power of kings, and the wars that brother waged against brother all but destroyed them. But that, I think, is a tale for another night..."

This is amazing! Wonderful texture, great attention to detail, and very nicely done with that hexagonal tower.

Thank you! The trebuchet was supposed to be a crane, but I admit that those two pieces of equipment look very similar. Thanks Ecc, it was a lot of fun coming up with multiple mini boats to fill the docks.

This is a great build with wonderful landscaping and excellent techniques and details throughout, but all the weight of that stone tower is going to sink pretty quickly into the bog if it's concentrated on those two narrow points where the arches meet the ground.

It's crazy that your snow techniques are still improving at this point, but here is probably your best demonstration yet. Love the use of horns and teeth, though I do wish the tree had more snow on it, given how thickly the ground is covered. On the house, I love the subtle stepping inward of the walls at the base.

It’s as if Lego had made a Ninjago City module for Avalonia. Amazing, and so much fun to look at!

Previously: A New Post at Gammeltårn Party Supplies Perils Old and New Unsought but Welcome Out through the Market The quay was crowded with sailors and merchants who hurried between the boats, barges, and ships at dock. Smaller craft suited to the plying the island's rivers had nestled into the berths along the outer wall of the structure, while the seaworthy vessels were docked in the dredged-out depths of the inner harbor. The air was filled with shouting and laughter in countless tongues, and wares in all manner of boxes and caskets were piled all about. The Lord of Førstlys and his second son, Kjell, accompanied by Ulrik Dunwald and trailed by a small retinue of guards, forged their way through the bustling throngs. At the end of the quay they passed through the sturdy bastion that served as customs house, watch tower, and lighthouse, and out once more into the autumn sunlight. Beside the pier lay a ship unlike any they had ever seen. Brilliantly white and glistening with gold, it was larger than even the great Kaliphlian dromons that had sought shelter in the harbor during the Elemental Crisis, all those years ago. Before Kjell could find words to remark on the sight before them his father had hurried onward to the elf. The mysterious visitor, who had promised passage across the impassible seas that guarded the southern coast of the Burial Isle, strode forward to greet the approaching men. "My friends," he said, offering an outstretched hand, "the hour is upon us. Let us make haste, that we trade not kind winds for long farewells." Kjell's father took the elf's hand and spoke solemnly. "I fear that I shall never show you the true depths of my gratitude. Though perhaps fortune will yet favor me, and you shall grace our halls again ere the end of my rule. At that time I shall certainly try." The elf smiled and bowed his head, then turned and swept down the gangplank. The Lord of Førstlys turned to Kjell and placed an arm upon his shoulder. "My son, may the gods guard your footsteps and their wisdom guide your hand. Bring your cousin home." "As you will father," Kjell replied. He bowed, turned, and, followed closely by Ulrik, boarded the ship. The crew of elves moved deftly to cast off and set sail, and soon the quay was shrinking across the widening water. As Kjell lost sight of his father amid the teeming shadows and forms of an increasingly distant Førstlys, a wave of fear and resentment washed over him. He hated the formality and decorum that kept him from embracing his father in the face of uncertain fate, and he hoped with all his heart that that had not been the final farewell that they would share.

Great job on the cliff side. I really envy your collection of nougat bricks, and you’ve put them to very good use in this piece. I also like that the culvert where the tunnel exits is the same color as the stone around it, like it was carved from the hillside. Nice work all around!

This is coming along very nicely. So many great details to enjoy, but it doesn't feel cluttered at all. I think you've chosen a very nice scale, and your various "brick sketches" have already started to pay off. Love your sigfig's town look, that torso/skirt combo is very classy.

I think awareness needs to be brought to the Avalonian Giant Hare and its impact as a non-native species around Historica.

Beautifully done, this is an amazing moc! I love how you made the various wings of the building similar, but with enough variation to reflect their different ages, and the inclusion of the mine shaft is very nice. I hope it doesn't rain much in Allanar though; that front walk would be quite the treacherous mudslide...

It's funny, I usually see a new Lego spider and have trouble distinguishing it from the last Lego spider I saw, but not this time. This is a terrific, very distinct, spider, and you've placed it in some excellent trees and brush. I love the story, and you've done great job with positioning your figs.

This is cool. Great job fitting the floor into the circular dais, and I love your integration of lighting into the build. My only criticism is more a matter of personal preference - I just think the Ninjago skulls look kind of goofy. Otherwise, well done all around!

A triumphant return to the Guilds! This is a great MOC, especially the vegetation and SNOT-work on display. I think my only critique is that you've got kind of a lot of empty grey space in front of the house, and even breaking that up with some green "moss" incorporated into those sections would enhance this build. Otherwise, great work, and keep it coming!

@Puvel @JintaiZ @Otherworld @LEGO Train 12 Volts @Servertijd @Brickwolf Thank you all for the positive feedback! @MAB, if Disney buying LOTR means that we get more LOTR Lego, then I'm all for it! @Grover, glad you're enjoying the story; hopefully the next installment isn't far behind... @Goldiebricks, if you're looking for some unsolicited snot advice, you're in luck: Brickheadz - on sale - are your new favorite theme. And do everything you can to become familiar with the geometry of the brick. Otherwise, just keep tinkering and be prepared to re-do your mocs a lot.

Thanks for the kind words! I had a lot of fun with all the minifigs, so I'm glad you noticed them! I'm glad you like the cloak, it took a lot of attempts to get to this point! And how could I pass up an opportunity to get AoM credit in a freebuild? Thanks! That's why it's called the Watchman's Way, right? Thank you! I love the collars, but they are difficult to use because of how high they sit on the back of the minifig head. There are only a few hairstyles and headgear pieces that work with them, and most of those are still not entirely seated on the head. Thanks for the good advice, it's been rectified! I do love the rotated 1x1; it's a very simple motif but adds a lot of character. I just need to be sure I'm not over-using it...

Another great story installment, and fantastic work on the layout from both of you! Your buildings fit with @adde51's so seamlessly, it's hard to tell where one moc ends and another begins. Keep it up!

Inn Phase 2 and Store Phase 2 are both present in this moc:

Previously: A New Post at Gammeltårn Party Supplies Perils Old and New Unsought but Welcome The autumn sun had nearly reached its zenith as Kjell and his father made their way from the stronghold and down to Førstlys' harbor. Avoiding the prying eyes of the High Road, they took the Watchman's Way and picked a path through the bustling Lower Market. "Father, know that I do not question your judgment, but I must know why you entrust me and my task to this envoy," Kjell pressed as they walked on. "You speak as though you are old friends, though I have never heard his mention." His father was slow to respond, pacing deliberately through the crowd with his guard behind him. "When I was young, perhaps not even half your age, we hosted this very same elf in our halls. He spoke little of his origins, though he told many tales of our own island, as if he had lived several lifetimes upon our shores already. During his short stay he taught my siblings and me to read books and scrolls from my grandfather's library that even our most learned scholars could not decipher, and he showed my father and me many of the island's secret and forgotten places. He was among us for but a few seasons, and then, quite abruptly, he departed and did not -until this day- return." "So why return now and entangle himself in our domestic affairs? While I am grateful for his aid, I am loathe to let a new friend fight our battles for us with so little a commitment of our own strength." Kjell grumbled, his legs aching to reach their destination with more urgency than his father would allow. "As he told us earlier, he believes that this domestic affair aligns with his own task, and coincides with his purpose in returning to these shores," his father replied. "Though, as to our commitment, fear not my son. Some of your compatriots returned from their ranging this morning, and have volunteered to join you in relieving your cousin. Ah! Here comes one of the very same hardy fellows!" The lord of Førstlys halted and waved as a tall, swarthy, mail-clad man cut a path through the crowd, his heavy grey cloak billowing behind him. Kjell recognized Ulrik Dunwald and his confidence swelled. It would truly be a boon to have a company of Skygger at hand. Ulrik reached them, stopped, and offered his sword as a sign of fealty. "My lord, I am yours to command!" Kjell's father inclined his head in acknowledgment, and Ulrik turned to Kjell. "My captain, it has been to long since my Shadows and I have ridden at your side. We are happy to do so once more." "And I am happy to have you at my side, old friend," Kjell replied, offering an outstretched hand. "Then let us make haste," Ulrik exclaimed. "Glory, and a ship, await!"

Love all the angles on this thing, it's got a really funky exterior that is still somehow completely cohesive. Very nice work!

It was really cool watching this one come together on your flickr, but the final product is so much more than the sum of its parts. Another excellent addition to your very impressive fleet, and kudos for banging out such a beast in under a month!

I've always wondered about the large order service - do they apply any sort of bulk discount, or is it still the same price per piece as if you bough through B&P?

Nice scarecrow, and I appreciate the subtle slope to the landscape you’ve got going in the background. Glad to see you collection is growing with lots of fun colors and pieces in Billund.