Odin's son Fred

These sets are great. My only "complaints" would be that the only two elves in this wave come in the two most expensive sets (hopefully this will be fixed down the line with a battlepack), that there is still no articulation in the short legs and that these sets are not on the shelf right now. With the helmets on the Rohan guys from the Uruk hai set should look generic enough to build up a Rohan army.

Thank you for the warm welcome, good mead and compliments on the Blackthorn. I am sailing to find not only myself but adventure as well. I think I should be able to find some adventure in Kaliphlin. My crew and I are ready to sail for work, adventure and if the time should come the defense of Kaliphlin (that Doomsphere on the front packs a punch).

Thank you guys for all the compliments. That way works too. I wish they made a mid length bone that I could use in the crows nest. I may at some point go back and get some more skeleton legs and a bunch of the little bones and do a ring all the way around. Sorry but are refugees from Nocturnus living in Kaliphlin. A buddy of mine that I play Brikwars with is in Nocturnus so I thought tieing in my background to there would give his Fright Knights and Skeletons a good reason to be fighting my Pirates and Ninjas. Or borrowed for an indefinite amount of time...lol Once I get the budget for it I'm thinking about replacing the chain railing in the front with bone railing. The chains match the side and the mast but a a little too long for that part of the ship and I think the bones would look better than a lot of little chains strung together.

Thank you. You should also check out the Great Stone Stairs (you can see part of it in the background...I'm a bit scared to move it off the table...lol) as that build will be the lighthouse for Darlig Ulv-Stranden. The next project on the list will be Katsumoto's port. And a temple/town hall is in the works but that is still in the design phase...then I have to get the bricks for it.

Thank you guys. The bat-a-rang in the hair, the skeletal parts and black clothing help give the whole Nocturnus refugees look (and a werewolf in the crew doesn't hurt either). After doing a Google search I see what you mean about the ramming blades. I'll have to see if I can rework the front some to get them securely attached lower. Since the ship is a modded Black Pearl set the front is mostly two big solid pieces. Maybe have some plates attach to the bottom to help hold the cross hole bricks in that the arms holding the blades attach to. If I can work in some changes I'll post them here.

When Xander Wraith and friends fled from Nocturnus to pursue a life of adventure, they stole the Blackthorn and now use it to get around to the ports of Historica on various jobs of both a legal and illegal nature. On the front of the ship are ramming blades and an ancient artifact known as a Doomsphere which is capable of firing out bolts of magic energy (fantasy version of a death ray) The crow's nest not only allows for spotting but also gives a clear field of fire for archers The side blades can be kept up to help protect the riggings from passing ships trying to cut them or be lowered to try to do some cutting of their own. Captain Xander Wraith at the wheel

Great job on your ship. It is both majestic and magical. I hope the day never comes that the Blackthorn ever has to go against that because I'm pretty sure the Magelica would win.

Wow, awesome job on that. I'm loving the 3D hieroglyphics on the front...very nice touch. I agree with you that the top part does need to be raised some so it can bee seen better. No, I'm joining Kaliphlin officially now (been lurking and posting in here for a while). I just put in the part about Nocturnus to add some back story and tie it into Historica as a whole. As Xander and his crew are privateers and looking for work anywhere, they will be traveling to and from all the guilds as needed but will have to keep a low profile more in Nocturnus than in other places (could lead to some good stories down the line). When not working they will usually return to Darlig Ulv-Stranden to hit up some of their contacts there for work...or just enjoy some time in the tavern if they have money. I posted these in the main Historica forum but since they are part of Kaliphlin and the first builds for Darlig Ulv-Stranden I thought I would put the links here as well. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=65861 http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=65862

Thank you.

As part of his ongoing work to clean up Darlig Ulv-Stranden, Master Katsumoto has been trying enhancing the beauty of the town as well as the education of the inhabitants. A gazebo was set up in the center of the nicer area of the town and from there sensei Roshi teaches philosophy to anyone that will stop and listen. The samurai in training also use the garden area around the gazebo to practice their sword fighting.

One of the wonders of Historica is hidden away in Darlig Ulv-Stranden (in the Northeast corner of Kaliphlin), the Great Stone Stairway. It is a large tower like structure built of stone, that winds around itself as it goes up into the sky. Similar type stairs can be seen deep in Dwarvin mines built into the wall of their caverns but nowhere else has a free standing structure like this been seen before. No one knows exactly who made the stairs and they only first showed up in recorded history a couple of hundred years ago when the tales of Mitgardian adventurers, that had come to the area, were written down. The stairway is much older than two hundred years. Some theorize that the Elves or Drow built the stairway when they came to Historica while others think the druids that first lived in Historica built them. Regardless of who built the stairway, Master Katsumoto now has his men light large signal fires at the top of the stairs to act as a lighthouse for ships coming into Darlig Ulv-Stranden. The light guides ships to the port that Katsumoto controls but experience Captains know just how far to navigate off the light to get to ports where less than legal business can be done. Darlig Ulv-Stranden (loosely translates to Bad Wolf Bay): Originally founded by Northern Adventurers who were looking for new lands to explore and opportunities to increase their wealthy. Ships would come to the bay and unload Adventurers who would then go exploring their way back to their northern home over land. Eventually a port and docks were built and a few small trade shops as some Adventurers would bring back items they had found to sell and trade with other Adventurers or ship back home while they went back out to explore more. As the area became more developed fewer new Adventures would come thinking all the good finds in the area had been found already and the older Adventures had moved on as they found better riches on the other side of the mountains or land routes back to their homelands. Some of the Northerners did stay though preferring the warmer climate to their cold homeland. After a while though the small trading village became a haven for pirates, thieves and other criminals to conduct their lawless business, it's remote location proving ideal for this. A few years ago Samurai Master Katsumoto, and his clan, chased a group of bandits to the small village and felt that he was lead here to bring order to the chaos. Katsumoto and his clan of samurai and ninjas began to settle the area bringing their Oriental style of architecture to the already mish-mash of Northern and Southern styles present in the village. Katsumoto is trying to bring in more honest traders to the village, but he is not unaware that the economy there does thrive on a certain level of illegal activity. As long as you keep your less than legal business quite and it doesn't affect others in the village a blind eye is turn to your activities. However if your business gets out of hand, you will probably be visited by Katsumoto's ninjas and never heard from again. Slavery and murder are not tolerated and will get you a public execution. Darlig Ulv-Stranden is still a good place for independent traders of all kinds to find work, both legal and otherwise, and a good place for the careful shopper to find items and goods not available in markets anywhere else, but watch your step because Katsumoto's ninjas are everywhere and watching.

Captain Xander Wraith and crew are sailing into Kaliphlin Xander Wraith was studying to become a wizard in Nocturnus, but a life of dark rooms, old books and scrolls was not for him. He longed for a life of adventure, so he and his girlfriend (now wife) Morganna stole a ship, the Blackthorn, and fled Nocturnus. Morganna's werewolf body guard, Abbott, also went with them. They sailed to Darlig Ulv-Stranden and picked some more crew members to help run the ship and started looking for work. If you have a job, we'll do it regardless of how legal it is. Xander and Morganna The crew of the Blacktorn (from left to right) Abbott, Tucker, Tenchi and Clint The Blackthorn More pictures on Flickr

Most of the sets and minifigs would fit in well with Harry Potter stuff (well not the parts that happen in the Muggle world) or the PotC stuff. That could be what is secretly attracting you to them.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't have multiple characters in the same guild and story (but I'm not a Mod or Admin). I could be wrong but I think the main point of this is to be fun and if your current character isn't fun I think you should make one that is. Time and equipment permitting this weekend I'm finally get my ship finished and posted on here along with my main character, the crew of his ship and some other characters from Darlig Ulv-Stranden (maybe even a small build or two as well).

If I'm not mistaken that piece also comes with some Atlantis and Nijago sets so it should be pretty common and available.

If you like tabletop battle games and Legos I would also recommend Brikwars ( http://www.brikwars.com/rules/2005/cover.htm ). Parts, sets and minifigs from all the LotR line are going to be getting some use in the gaming group I'm in. Sorry to get a bit off topic. Is it June yet?

In A for every other row (or every row if you wanted and had the parts) you could put 2 4070 1 x 1 with headlight bricks and on the studs facing out put a 4073 round 1 x 1 with straight side. Not overly fancy or uncommon but something simple that will still ad some texture to those parts. That's all I can think of off the top of my head but if I have any other ideas I'll post them.

I stand corrected. I've seen all 4 of those sets in some ads together out of the boxes and assumed they were all Battlepacks. I'm glad i was wrong. While there are some scenes from the movies that highlight the Elves, there are no sets in wave 1 that have non-character Elves in them. Lego is most likely going to release Battlepacks that support the "troops" in the sets instead of introducing a new "faction". There is a slim chance they could do a Battlepack for the Elves since they fought at Helm's Deep but it seems more likely that they would do more Rohan troops and/or Uruk Hai since that would support two sets.

That is my plan as well. I should be able to get a couple of the Uruk Hai sets to make Helm's Deep bigger and after that see how the budget is looking. I wouldn't mind getting extras of Weathertop, Orc Forge, and Mines of Moria as they look like they will have some good parts but I'll have to see what other expenses come up between now and then. What I would really love to see in a Battle pack is 5 Elves but I think when we get Battlepacks they will support the existing sets (so Orcs, Uruk Hai and Rohan).

I think they will come out with Battlepacks eventually...but only after the main sets have been out for a while. Just look at the history of the Star Wars line...they have been getting Battlepacks with army builder type minifigs for ages. Hopefully Lego sticks to that model and doesn't start including characters in the Battlepacks. I know that would limit the number I get and I'm sure others probably feel the same way. As a Brikwars player I would like to build up some armies as well but if Lego does not do Battlepacks then the LotR minis will be joining existing groups of minis as my budget only allows for a few repeats of the sets. Fixed that for you. The upcoming Star Wars Battlepacks and have characters in them and that really defeats the purpose of the Battlepack. The PotC Battlepack was just about all common characters with one troop guy (if I remember correctly) and my local Lego store still has plenty of them on the shelf. Just troop type minis belong in Battlepacks and hopefully Lego will remember this when they release LotR Battlepacks.

This was just the London Toy Fair. I would guess that Lego is saving the picture flood for the New York Toy Fair (which is usually around the second weekend in February). I would also expect to see Hobbit sets at SDCC (at least that is what I'm hoping for).

I thought the Drow liked punishment though. Or is it they prefer to give rather than receive?

If my Yellows didn't way out number my Fleshies there would have been trouble when the Fleshies started showing up in my collection. Thankfully, some of the newer Yellows had printing on the front and back of their torsos or they would have been jealous of the Fleshies. Fortunately a peaceful resolution was made before all out war started (now they just have planned battles to blow off steam). In all seriousness you are correct that burning the plastic Friends (or most any plastic for that matter) does give off toxic fumes. I wouldn't seriously burn and Friends at the stake (mainly because I wouldn't spend the money to get any...but that is beside the point) but it is funny to joke about.

Thank you. The inhabitants of that area are not, for the most part, very nice. So a mix of samurai, ninjas and local militia should be enough to keep the Nocturnus invaders at bay. My friend, omegabob, is in Nocturnus and we will probably have a few Brikwars fights off the record before total wars breaks out between the guilds/areas. I hope my MOCs live up to your expectations as I've never tried Oriental designs before. However, the area (at least in my idea of it) is still open to Northern, Southern and Oriental designed MOCs. Master Katsumoto and his clan are pretty much ready but before doing any pictures I'm waiting to finish Captain Alexander (Xander) Wraith and the the crew of the Blackthorn (along with the ship itself). Captain Wraith will be my signature figure (just need that new spiky hair to finish him off) and his crew will be the center of my stories. They will mainly operate out of Bad Wolf Bay and be willing to take on "jobs" from whoever will hire them. Master Katsumoto and his clan will be characters in that area along with some low life, underworld types, provided you and the Master Cartographer make it an official location. I hope some other people will want to settle in the area and make MOCs and characters as I think the area has a lot of potential for some fun story telling. I will post updates here as I am all for Kaliphlin Guild.

If you need a ship and crew to move your goods without asking any questions you can always call upon the Blackthorn to handle your shipping needs.