Sympatik Brick

Thank you both for the kind words! @LordDan: You spotted it! That specific part was actually the inspiration for this entire build. I designed those columns back in December 2024, but I was just waiting for the right occasion to finally integrate them into a MOC. @Grover: Thank you very much for your comment on this publication! I really appreciate the feedback."

This is my entry for @umbasa_lug « Pirate Contest » 🏴‍☠️ My Moc: The Captain’s CabinBy the flickering glow of the lantern and the warm light filtering through the window, the pirate captain leans over his precious map. Every drawn island, every charted course, holds a promise of adventure and hidden treasures.At his side, his faithful cockatoo watches the scene with a mischievous eye, while a rat scurries by, a silent witness to the secrets being plotted. In the privacy of his cabin, surrounded by his loot and travel mementos, this old sea dog prepares for his next journey into the unknown. My minifig: Captain « Tanglebeard » Captain Mordecai « Tanglebeard » is a master of secrets and forgotten lore. He puts his faith not in brute force, but in his ancient maps and the unerring needle of his compass. Only his cockatoo, « Whisper, » knows the true destination—a secret the old captain guards as closely as the gold he seeks.

I typically never have time to build during the two summer months, but I just barely had enough time to participate in the "Summer Joust" competition in June for the first time this year. The category was "Where no one dares go." I decided to feature this minifigure I created a while ago in a small scene. This scene should be considered an Arthurian legend rather than a depiction of real places or people. This is one of the first times I've integrated lights into a MOC. I hope you like it! Only Silence Returns In a realm forgotten by time, where silence is the only law, sits the Faceless Reaper. He is the guardian of the final crossroad, a patient judge enthroned amidst cold ruins. His spectral sentinels, frozen in stone, watch over the path no living soul dares to tread. At his side, his loyal steed, the Grave-wing, waits with him. Its skeletal frame is a stark promise of the inevitable journey for any who wander into this desolate land. The borders of this realm appear on no map.

@zoth33 Thank you! The knight, bard, and the "wolfpack" elves are the only new additions. I repurposed figures I designed for my initial minifigure contest, "Guilds of Historica," which I had previously used in my first "Brickscalibur" collaboration. This MOC is essentially an upgraded version of "the Rich and the Poor" that I've finally been able to dismantle!

@zoth33 I built this figure several years ago and recently added the shoulder pads from the figure you mentioned. My first thought was to showcase it for 'Capturing Character,' and it became my first Brickscalibur MOC. I even made a short video of the stained glass construction process: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDy5kmxMR32/?igsh=MWZ4ZXFsbGY1d3VkcQ==

@zoth33 Thank you! Indeed, I tried to create something that looks massive and solid (like dwarves, in a way!), so I limited the textures that I could have done in other circumstances to add imperfections and wear to the walls. The massive columns are actually quite simple and were made using a 30373 piece and 4 pieces of 45301. @KaiNRG I'm glad you like the golden accents on the walls! It's undoubtedly the most complex part of this MOC. The techniques used are invisible in the wall but I used many jumpers and "snot parts" to be able to build horizontally and vertically in a balanced way without any unsightly gaps.

"Thank you all for your kind comments! It means a lot. @zoth33 I've always thought that Dumbledore's lavender robe couldn't be separated from his torso, but I'm thrilled to have found an innovative solution with the Paladin's torso and arms in the right color. I had never done "microscale landscaping" before, and I must say it was quite fun to change scale: ferns turn into fir trees, green slopes into hills, and 6x6 plates into mountains... @Kai NRGiNRG: The portal was the first thing I built for this MOC, and using the trans-light blue lightsabers is perfect for conducting light to the surface of the portal. @Garmadon: The explosion was kind of imposed on me by the theme (initially this build was made for the "Elemental Emergency" collaboration, unfortunately my partner ran out of inspiration and time to do his part). The presence of the window allowed me to submit this MOC for the "Perspective Matters" category. It's funny that you all three noticed and appreciated the dark red floor... it's very likely that if I had enough classic tiles, I wouldn't have thought of using the Nexo Tiles."

My Entry for Eurobricks’ Alt Build contest: Medium Category: Original set: 76831 - Lightyear « Zurg Battle » https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=76831-1#T=S&O={"iconly":0} (252 parts + 19 extra parts) 229 parts used (No stickers/printed parts/minifigures) https://linktr.ee/sympatikbrick

My Entry for Eurobricks’ Alt Build contest: Medium Category: « Crab Clash » Original set: 76831 - Lightyear « Zurg Battle » https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=76831-1#T=S&O={"iconly":0} (252 parts + 19 extra parts) 229 parts used (No stickers/printed parts/minifigures) https://linktr.ee/sympatikbrick

Shadows of Avalonia My entry for the category « Capturing Character » (Brickscalibur) Shadows of Avalonia The full moon bathed the castle in an ethereal glow, casting long shadows that danced across the courtyard. Clinging to a grappling hook, a figure shrouded in a long midnight blue cape swung over the void. Their face, hidden by a mask, was illuminated by the moonlight and the shifting hues of the stained glass windows. What mission brings them to scale the walls of this ancient fortress? What secret do they seek to uncover beneath the watchful eye of the moon? The legends of Avalonia are still being written... linktr.ee/sympatikbrick

The Unexpected Alliance My entry for the category « Dwarf Tales » (Brickscalibur) The Unexpected Alliance Deep within the mountain’s heart, where sunlight fears to tread, lies a dwarven city of unparalleled wealth. Its tunnels stretch endlessly, carved into the rock by generations of blacksmiths and miners. In the deepest recesses of this subterranean realm lies an ancient secret: the dwarves have forged an unexpected alliance with a colossal dragon. In a vast chamber, illuminated by a phosphorescent glow, only the head and tail of a dragon with ruby-red scales emerge from a heap of gold. Its amber eyes, filled with millennia of wisdom, gaze upon the immense treasure that engulfs it. At its feet, two dwarven guards, clad in finely crafted armor, stand watch around the clock over a blue sphere suspended above a pedestal adorned with mysterious runes. This sphere, a tangible symbol of the union between the two races, emits a soft pulse, radiating a calming energy throughout the chamber. The history of this alliance dates back to ancient times. The dwarves, ever seeking new veins of ore, had ventured too deep into the mountain and disturbed the dragon’s slumber. Instead of exterminating them, the creature perceived in them a strength and determination worthy of admiration. A pact was forged: the dwarves could continue to exploit the mountain’s riches in exchange for their loyalty and regular tributes. The dragon, in turn, would protect the city from any external threats. https://linktr.ee/sympatikbrick

The Burning Portal My second entry for the category « Perspective Matters » (Brickscalibur) The Burning Portal The Great Library of the Kolgaris was a sanctuary of ancient knowledge. Its shelves, which reached up to the vaulted ceiling, were filled with dusty grimoires, magical artifacts, ancient scrolls, and potions of vibrant colors. It was in this setting that Elara resided, the youngest apprentice of the order That day, Elara was tasked with reorganizing a particularly high shelf. As she reached the top of the ladder, her foot slipped. In her fall, she knocked over vials that shattered into a thousand pieces, spilling their colorful liquids onto the wooden floor. A spark jumped from one of the potions, causing an explosion, and in an instant, the fire spread across the floor towards the center of the room. Faelan, the oldest and wisest of the Kolgaris, was working near the teleportation portal when he heard the explosion and felt the heat rising. He looked up in horror and saw the flames engulfing the magic circle. He knew that if the fire reached the portal, it would emerge just as dangerous on the other side, unleashing destructive forces into the Sacred Forest. Time was of the essence. The library, the beating heart of their knowledge, was in peril. But that was not all. The Sacred Forest, the lungs of their world, was in danger of being ravaged by the unleashed flames. The Kolgaris had to act quickly. Every second that passed brought them closer to disaster. linktr.ee/sympatikbrick

Clash of Lances My entry for the category « Perspective Matters » (Brickscalibur) Clash of lances Every year, the Dragon Clan organizes a great joust. The best knights from across the kingdoms gather for a merciless tournament. Currently, it is the young prodigy, Lorik, who faces the fearsome Moros, a knight with a dark reputation, while the Dragon Clan’s own knight prepares to enter the lists. Let us listen to the bard commentate on this clash: « Hear ye, hear ye, one and all, A joust begins, a hero’s call! Sir Lorik, bold and strong and bright, His armor gleams with silver light. Sir Moros, dark as stormy night, His shield bears a dragon, fierce and tight. Their steeds they spur, with all their might, To meet in battle, full of fight. Their lances clash, a mighty sound, As they collide upon the ground. Sir Moros falls, his quest is done, And Lorik claims the victor’s crown.» linktr.ee/sympatikbrick

Congratulations everyone. It was a really fun theme for a contest.

Wow, thanks for such a thorough and thoughtful comment! I'm thrilled that you picked up on all the little details I included, from the shooting practice to the jester's juggling. The apple was fun and easy to build, and I'm glad you like it! (I don’t like the Lego apple!) Your suggestions about adding depth and contrast to the architecture are spot on. I will probably make some changes and keep your suggestions in mind for future improvements! (I want to build slowly a full castle) I created my nomadics orcs, King Dagorn, Queen Alienora and a few other characters specifically for the CMF contest when I first joined the forum Thanks again for the kind words and constructive feedback. It really motivates me to keep improving my Lego creations!