Ross Fisher

The Grey Lilly - larboard stern quarter by Ross Fisher, on Flickr Padre, A quick note to say that we have noted your efforts on the Île d'Or with interest. Please find in the harbour of Fatu Hiva a small vessel, the Grey Lilly. It was recently captured in battle, and has been refitted for your use. We would be gratified if you would accept this gift and put it to immediate use. The concerned citizens of Fatu Hiva The Gray Grey Lilly was captured by Oleon a little while back. This is my completed build. She's a class 3, and I hope this does her justice. I realise I haven't really represented her three points of firepower here... I guess that's all below decks.

@Mesabi I get your point, but hopefully the fact it's limited to the one island, which is fairly centrally located, means I won't miss out.

We're going looking for the Weapon of the Gods:

Start point: Astrapi, Île Zeus Adventure Purpose: To find the weapon of the gods! Troops: 10 from @Phred, 10 from @Keymonus Coffers: 100 Dbs Characters: Padre François Monsieur Gallo "Juggernaught" Jones (@blackdeathgr) (This is a solo effort rather than a collab build, I'm just borrowing some resources from my countrymen). First meeting of the Astrapi Collective Diocesan Council by Ross Fisher, on Flickr Minutes, first meeting of the Astrapi Collective Diocesan Council, taken by Monsieur Gallo, a notary. Meeting held in the function room of the Astrapi Inn. In attendance: Padre François, priest of Hades, Renè Duchamp , on behalf of Tristan Ribaud, "Juggernaut" Jones, on behalf of Hugo d'Offren , Sergeant Carel, of the Astrapi guard, Brother Aquila, a monk of the Temple of Zeus, and agent of the Padre. Items of business: 1. Pact of Secrecy - queried by Monsieur Jones, but confirmed by Brother Aquila. If he is correct, the Temple of Zeus would be keen to thwart this venture. All parties agreed to the pact, ratified by signature, witnessed by Monsieur Gallo. 2. Main item. Padre François proposed to lead an expedition to recover the weapon of Zeus that is believed to have landed on the island. Brother Aquila confirmed fears about the Temple of Zeus. All other parties expressed interest. 3. Padre François invited all parties to join the venture on behalf of their masters, promising significant rewards both financial and spiritual. 4. Monsieur Jones volunteered his services as a pioneer and soldier of fortune. Monsieur Duchamp demurred, but volunteered a platoon of d'Offren troops to support the expedition. Sergeant Carel volunteered his own platoon of Astrapi guards. This was queried by Monsieur Duchamp - it would leave one fort unguarded. However, it was agreed that Padre François' personal bodyguard would remain at the fort to provide a semblance of a presence. Brother Aquila also demurred on the basis that his absence from the Temple would likely be noticed, and could not easily be explained. 5. In light of this, Monsieur Jones was appointed the military commander of the expedition, while Padre François would be it's spiritual guide and overall leader. Monsieur Duchamp would be the point-of-liaison in Astrapi, while Brother Aquila would keep an eye on events in the Temple, and pass any notable information on. Other responsibilities were divided up, and a start date was agreed. 6. The venture was launched with a toast. 7. Further oaths of secrecy were given before the meeting was adjourned. Aaaaand here's a video to get you in the mood:

@blackdeathgr Thanks! That guy was so fiddly to pose. He's down on one knee, and they are both articulated separately. And holding his wig (because it's so hot!) Every time I put him into the cave something fell off.

Ritual flagellation is part of his repertoire, but consider the message received and understood. @Bart @Fraunces Thanks for your feedback. I thought my photography let me down here, but it's too late for regrets now.

@Bart yeah, I meant sneakiness, I like the hidden level to the temple. The real business is going on out of sight...

Oh yeah, there's some classic heathen skullduggery here.

My Category C entry:

Rumble in the Jungle by Ross Fisher, on Flickr Extract from 'The continuing adventures of Padre François by his companion, Monsieur Gallo' ...It was then that we descended into the dell. While a general sense of foreboding had been surrounding us the entire journey, here it reached a peak. We had found only small hints that the colonists had come in this direction. However, they were no longer our main concern. Other mercenary companies were out scouring the hills for them. The Padre was more concerned about the head-hunters. The dell was the dark heart of this jungle. No longer a golden isle, but one given to bloody savagery. It appeared quiet, but there were signs the cannibals had been here recently. Shrunken heads dangled from the trees, totems and spears surrounded the clearing, and a trail of blood led to a cave at the foot of a huge rock wall. The Padre ordered a pause while we surveyed the area, and the militia set up a perimeter under the acting-Lieutenant's orders. Unfortunately, that's when the attacks started. A dozen or more of the savages launched a vicious attack, with spears, arrows and blow-darts. Some of the troops were slain immediately, while the rest returned an uneven fire. Soon the entire clearing was wreathed in powder-smoke, and this may have done more to protect us than any defence we might've offered. In desperation, the acting-Lieutenant pulled the remaining party members into the mouth of the cave. Shortly afterwards we heard our pack animal being cruelly cut down. Then, for the longest time, there was nothing. No sound, and only the dim light from the dell, slowly turning to darkness. And then we heard the drums again. And the chanting. "Al'su". It brought to mind the words of the lumber workers back in Fatu Hiva: "Skulltaker prophecy". The chanting and the drumming rose and rose in intensity until a crack akin to musketfire came from just outside the cave. The heathens abruptly stopped, having apparently fled. Their noises were replaced by a malevolent hum. The acting-Lieutenant offered to send a sentry to investigate, but the Padre refused. This, he said, was his mission alone. He left the cave quietly and calmly, his staff gripped in both hands. I followed to the mouth of the cave, and what I saw shook me to my core. There, in the dell, was a daemon; a sight which has stayed with me to the end of my days. Well over 7 feet tall, it was formed from darkness, with a skull for a face, and two glowing eyes that were unblinkingly fixed on the Padre. Then it swept towards him. The Padre thrust his staff into the abomination' s middle, but the daemon kept on coming, grinning its skeletal grin, and raising its arm to strike. It was then that the Padre exclaimed a word from a language I have never heard before or since. What that word was, I cannot recall. I likely would not be able to repeat it even if I could remember. Nonetheless, with a flash of light, the monster was rendered far more corporeal. When the Padre struck again, it was driven back. When he struck the daemon for the third time, its grinning daemon skull was thrown from its shoulders, and its body disappeared into fog on the breeze. The Padre strode over to the skull, and mercilessly crushed it underfoot. Apparently the savages had also been watching the encounter, because this action caused them a great anguish. Much wailing and moaning was heard from the trees and, in time, they moved slowly away. This creature, then, was Al'su, the Skulltaker. Its coming was foretold among the natives. Some, had held onto it as a way to defeat the colonists, and had made sacrifices at this spot in order to encourage it. Others had fled, fearing its malevolence beyond all else. When the Padre destroyed the daemon, he won a powerful victory for the Order of the Faith. The Head Hunters were driven back. In time they might be overcome by locals or other expeditions. Without their daemon, their resolve would be crippled, and their cohesion would crumble. Meanwhile, the rest of the island savages, hearing of this victory, would recognise the power of the Aplynacian gods and convert. The Padre, following this confrontation, deemed his work here a success. We left the Île d'Or not long after. While his path has often been beset by danger, I only saw him enter such immortal peril on a handful of occasions. Each time I was reminded that only the truly righteous can tread such a path and remain unscathed. So that's the end of the Padre's adventure in Fatu Hiva. I wonder what island he'll tear apart next?

How very Corringtonian of you.

See, when you describe the torture it doesn't sound so friendly...

Such plot thickening! Nice touch with the ergot reference, poisoning was a real problem during this period.

This is fantastic. I love how educational some of these builds are! I learn so much. Thinking of building Astrapi a mint at some point. Then it'll have the whole process.

@blackdeathgr @Flavius Gratian Thanks! Part 3 is in the works. It's about to go down!

@Professor Thaum Thanks. I may copy your shrunken heads a bit more for my third instalment. Keen to see your version of this.

@Roadmonkeytj "looking out for the little guys"?

@Bart @Fraunces @Keymonus Thanks!, part 3 is already written. We've run outof gunpowder, but the Padre still has some tricks up his sleeve.

@Bodi No worries. Thanks for looking out for me.

@Bodi Just double-checked, that's the maximum size for builds, not the minimum.

Fôret d'Or Lumber Yard, built and licensed: I couldn't figure out the logic of why the Padre would own the license for this property. He probably tortured the deed out of someone. @Captain Genaro

My Category B entry:

Destroying the idol by Ross Fisher, on Flickr Expenses claim, August 618, Fatu Hiva, Île d'Or. Sum: 50db. Associated account: Padre François, priest, Temple of Hades mission. Expenditure: Gunpowder, 5 barrels. Reason for purchase: demolition, pagan idol. Please give full details in order to help us expedite your claim: Your eminences, With the official summons from the governor, the rumours in town, and the results of my own investigations, I determined that the disturbances here merited the further attention of the Order of the Faith. My mission left Fatu Hiva in July of this year, heading into the interior alongside one of the larger streams. For several days we saw nothing but the accursed jungle that covers this isle. However, one week after we set out, we came across a disgusting heathen idol. The thing was festooned with pagan fetishes, votive offerings, and shrunken heads. I immediately detailed half the detachment to begin despoiling the site, while the other half was sent back to town to find enough powder to destroy the thing. They returned two weeks later with the supplies, and we set about preparing the demolition. The miners and soldiers among my conscripts laid the charges, primed the powder, and prepared the fuses. When my people had cleared the area I lit the fuses and retreated into cover. The five barrels my people procured proved sufficient for destroying the idol. Perhaps now these godless fiends will realise the errors of their ways. Addendum. After the idol was destroyed, we heard distant drumming. The natives among my conscripts fled into the jungle, yelling something about "Al'su". I sent men after them. We found their disembowelled remains the next morning. It was the professional opinion of the soldiers among my ranks that their deaths were at human hands, rather than animals. Such barbarism cannot be tolerated. Your humble servant, François

Brilliant! Great fun.

Were you tempted to get hold of the new unikitty base plates? They'd make really cute clouds.