Kai NRG

The rules state that the build pictures may be photoshopped, but a non-photoshopped picture must also be provided - does that apply to any builds other than the three judged ones? Also, Robuko, So apparently there will be voting (though the gold will be handed out via judging), and the winner will have the official story.

Welcome to Kaliphlin! And trust me, if you could build that wall, you have way more tan than I do! (This is about what I can build... maybe a bit more now, but not much! And no 1x1 tiles...) Not all walls and castles or houses need to be built out of tan though - white and grey are both great colors!

Yes! Join Kaliphlin! Seriously, apart from my bias, judging by your intro you'd fit right in! Great job on all those builds, I love the city wall especially"

I think I'll just have to go with a pool of blood or something myself...

@DM, I do hope you can do something for Challenge VI though! By the looks of it, we should have a fair amount of entries... I sure hope nothing gets in the way of our building plans!

Guilds of Historica Character Location and Facts - since I'm updating it, it's easy to remember who's been busy...

Yes, come join Kaliphlin! We've got the biggest amount of land, tons of diversity - mountains in the east, deserts and rivers and oases (I had no idea that was the plural of oasis!) all over, swamp down in the bottoms, plenty of islands, the Witherwoods up by Eastgate... in fact just check out the map of Historica! But no pressure, of course...

I've finished both my first and last Challenge VI builds, but I think I might actually use the first one as a prelude and build another one... Actually I'm not at all worried about time, it only takes me about three days to build a 50x34, which is the size I've been going for (though I plan on making the middle one - since it will have to be an interior - a bit more irregular). Great to hear that we've got four at least, probably five or six! Lets leave those mitgardians back where they belong!

Red brown is always useful, Brickington! Especially in Avalonia where wood is such a staple! Even though I'm not Mitgardian, welcome Sir Edwin, Mitgardia does need new blood or we'll really leave it in the dust with this challenge... Edit: Mitgardia does have a couple members though who have a tendency to build and not talk: Garmadon, Torgar, Cara (she did say she might not do this next challenge). I've got 13 listed members that have been active recently enough (not including Sir Edwin). Nocturnus only has three or so (and of those, Lord Vladivius is the only one who's built recently), Kaliphlin has eight (and still beating you!) plus Si-MOCs, Gabe, and Erynlasgalen (but none of those have been building lately), and Avalonia has around 13 too (but a few of those are fairly new still, Disco, Brickington, etc.). So what are you Mitgardians complaning about? 13 not enough to hold your spot as third?

Thanks Captain Settle! Thanks, one good thing about building first and writing the story afterwards!

You sure there's no way you can tie a third build in with the MOCathlon? Depends on the categories of course, but there will probably be one at least that would end up suitable...

Thanks Esurient! Thanks! I was actually a bit surprised at how well this photographed!

You wish! Sometimes though, you've got to stop working hard and just let the bricks flow...

Have fun, knowing Revolword he won't bother the snow... It does seem awfully quiet... we seem to become active in fits and starts... I have been busy building though, probably about halfway done with my third Challenge VI now! (Haven't done the second yet to be sure...)

Thanks Kabel! Honestly though, I didn't actually take the pictures in the dark, I just darkened them on the computer later... (I do wonder what they would have looked like if I had taken the photos in the dark... I'll have to try it someday!)

Thanks! I was pretty much working with whatever I had with that one, my light grey brick count is sadly lacking... otherwise I would have kept going with the two side turrets until I got to the top (or even a little higher). As Masa said, he has one more, so what she's overheard is I guess up to him... Thanks! Now that would be a cool twist...

Thanks! I really had a tough time deciding whether to use the dark photos or not... I'm glad you like it! Sort of, as SkaforHire asked MK or me to take care of Merith and we decided to cooperate on it. Thanks!

Finished up my latest free-build! Rescuing Merith Part 2 I'll hopefully be starting and finishing my second Challenge VI build this week as well, and I've got a few things on my desk that might end up in a build...

Part One, by Masa of Kaliphlin back there. The waves lapped the boat's side, as Ageven and his companions traveled down the Arkbri River, just a day after their escape from Cedrica. It was hard to imagine that this peaceful scene could any day now become a battlefield, but so it was, for Victor Revolword had taken Cedrica, and there was no saying what he might do! Suddenly, from the water right ahead of them, a crocodile sprang out, pulling from his garments a soiled and dirty letter. Without a word, he dropped it into Ageven's lap. With a start of surprise, Ageven read the letter, his four companions crowding around him. It was from Gaius, Mikel Kalores' head of household affairs. Ageven promptly agreed, sending a return letter by means of the crocodile. They would now strike across the desert, descend to Eastgate, and rescue Merith, fiance of the late Dugal MacLean, who, it was feared was in great danger from Petera MacLean, Dugal's brother, now in control of Eastgate, and suspected of having turned to the side of Revolword. Four days latter the travelers entered Eastgate, gathering supplies - of which, indeed, they were in need of. The city was peaceful - though Revolword had captured Cedrica, the inhabitants felt they had nothing to fear, there city was well protected and guarded. For three days they remained in Eastgate, trying to find out what information they could - but they were strangers, only Ageven had even seen Merith close, and Petera was ever watchful. On the eve of the third day Gad walked the streets, wondering what excuse Ageven could come up with. It seemed to be a hopeless task. Merith, had hidden herself away somewhere in the city. It was evident that Petera was searching for her vigorously, though without much stir; the inhabitants of Eastgate would not favor his purpose. They were in a race - a race against Petera, a race against time - a race which, do what they wished, it seemed they were loosing. Lost in his thoughts, Gad paid little attention to where he was going. Suddenly a young man, in the garb of an assassin, ran into him - whether on purpose or not, he could not tell. Gad recoiled instantly, but the man said, in a low voice, "Come with me, I know what you are looking for." The hilt of a dagger gleamed in the sun for a second, and Azc felt he had no choice but to follow. After having walked for several minutes, they finally entered a house, located very near the city wall, where Gad's suspicious companion locked and bolted the door. In answer to Gad's look of surprise, he said, "It is better so. The very stones have ears in this place." "What is it you think I wish to know? You must be mistaken, I am a stranger in the city. I have come with Ageven Deraim, in search of supplies..." "And in search of someone, if I mistake not. At any rate I can trust you." He then told Gad, much to his surprise, that Merith was in hiding in that very house, and that it would be an easy task to let her down over the wall. "But it must be done <i>quickly</i>! Petera is not one to sit back and wait. Another three days of searching and he will have found her!" "Of course," replied Gad, who was rather unsure of what to do. "You are aware, however, that I can do nothing without Ageven? We had planned on leaving today, and I dare say it would be easy enough to row up the river latter tonight and have her come over?" "That is a very good plan. I will be waiting near the city gates at dusk tonight, if Ageven has agreed, give me a nod as you leave, I will understand. Now you had better return - stay a minute, I will take you, it would be difficult for you to find your way through the streets all by yourself." Later that night, in almost complete darkness, a boat floated silently down the river, along the wall's edge. Kaflar and Azc had been sent to Barqa ahead of the other three, so the boat was less heavily laden. They were startled, suddenly, by a soft low whistle. Raz backed his oars instantly. "This must be the spot." Ageven nodded, and with scarce a sound stepped over the side to the rock by the wall's edge. "There is no fear of a little noise," whispered Gad's mysterious friend, "this guard at least is asleep." "Or a little light either?" asked Ageven. "Good, light us a torch, Gad." Under the fitful torchlight Raz made out two figures on the top of the wall, and soon the grating of a chain was heard, Merith was being let down, and she was soon on the slight ledge of rock. Ageven helped her into the boat. The sound of the chain being pulled up was all that could be hear for a second, but then the young man spoke, "Ageven Deraim, do not trust Petera. He has turned to Revolwords side. But you need fear nothing from Eastgate, it's inhabitants are still Kaliphlin, they will not side with Revolword. You must go now, but if you ever need information from Eastgate, I am on your side." With a wave of his hand he descended the wall, and the group was left alone to float down to Barqa. Overview shots of the two set ups (not darkened): Comments are welcome, I guess the story was long but I had a lot of ground to cover, so to speak...

Nice landscaping, I like the scare-crow as well, though do you not have any carrots? If you do, it might be nice to have the fig pulling one up!

Naw, wait until I get two more... (Just kidding )

Thanks, SK and Kristel, I really need more red tiles for the flooring...

Yeah, but then it did have to go from Wales (?) to South America...

Here's my third entry! Thanks for the Building Drive, it's been great!

While out exploring in the polar regions, the now famous explorer discovered a letter in a bottle on a small ice mound out on the polar sea. It said, "I have escaped the desert and swamp, but in my unfortunate wanderings I have come to this region of ice and snow. My boat has sunk, my food is nearly gone, all I can hope is that this letter will be saved so posterity can learn from my example." I'm actually still not convinced shade is better, as you can see... Another (shade ) picture on my Flickr, hope you enjoy this entry - it might be my last one, but I did have a really good idea just a bit ago... (and this one only took me about 20 minutes, so if I can do another one that fast...) Comments are welcome!