Khorne

There's a Discord currently, right? Weren't there intra-team comms there? I lost my login information, so I haven't checked it for ages . I'm very curious as well! However, I think the Court is trying to remain intentionally vague until Era III arrives: IMHO, I think the world shouldn't expand as much this time. There should be some new stuff as exploration is the basic core of BOBS, but seeing as the current (active) player base is smaller than when Era II started, I think a too big of a world/map would make the world feel empty when there's not enough activity/characters/people/buildings to populate it. Maybe a refocus and finetuning of what is already there, plus some new bits of land. I know I'm faaaar from a very active member so other members might see it differently, but those are just my 2 cents as I see it . Is there an ETA for when we move into the 3rd Era?

Thanks for the info! The blue torso is from one of the Chinese New Year sets. They have good non-fantasy oriental designs. I get that if you want more realistic torso designs in muted colors, that Ninjago is not the way to then .

I missed this one! Great Asian style you have here. I've been wanting to do something similar as well, but I don't have any of those pieces you've used for the roof. They look really effective as an oriental-style tiled roof. I also like the way you did the window on the first floor. Is everything held together by friction there? Ninjago has some great torsos for general Asian use, but you have to sift through all the wild designs to find the "calmer", more normal ones. The villagers from the Ninjago Movie line have good torsos. Monkie Kid also has cool Chinese designs. I can also recommend the torsos from the minifigures from the Chinese New Year sets; those are really detailed. These are mostly Ninjago parts:

Chapter VI. - Prey Thanks to the carefully relayed information of Manaaki on the layout of the camp, the schedules of the guards and the activities of its inhabitants, the raid was swift; performed with surgical precision, it was over before most of the sleeping rebels knew what was transpiring. Under the cover of the night, captain Lysandre and his men left their positions in the jungle. Like a deadly disease they crept up on the camp, silently killing those who stood in the way of their objective. Guards were taken down without as much as a sound. There was palpable tension in the air as Lysandre's troops did their utmost best not to get discovered, but the rebels were so tired they never noticed what hit them. Lysandre and a handful of men made their way to the main tent, while several others snuck around the camp to retrieve anything of value. A small scuffle ensued as the gendarmes dragged Nicolas out of his bed, put him in irons and shoved a bag over his head. It was over quick, but it was enough to alert some other members of the Brigade Rouge. Here and there shouts were heard that started to wake up the camp and people started discovering the murdered guards and ransacked tents, but the gendarmes were already double-pacing it back into the darkness of the jungle, in possession of their prey. Extra picture in daylight:

Curious to see what you have in store for Era III. Hopefully the activity will rise again somewhat, but as you've said in the introductory post: as this is already the 8th (!) year, I think much has changed over time. People got older with busier lives (I know my life has certainly gotten busier once I got out of school) and I think overall much of the community has shifted from forums to app like Instagram, Flickr, Discord, etc to stay connected resulting in traffic loss here. Not to be a downer though! I very much like the world you have created with BOBS and I hope the spirit remains and the activity is renewed with this new era!

Chapter V. - Predator Present day. Manaaki slowly crept forward through the dense foliage, towards the campsite set up by the retreating stragglers of the Brigade Rouge. Like a panther he snuck on his unknowing prey. Aided by his tribal upbringing and years of experience in hunting, Manaaki was impossible to spot for the untrained eye and ear. Without as much of a sound he tread lightly through the undergrowth, covering by the shadows and plants of the thick jungle. He surveyed the camp and memorized its lay-out so he could pass the information to his companions later on. While there were no apparent signs of a violent struggle, the camp looked rundown with many broken and empty tents. It was clear the unit was under strength and that several soldiers had left. What remained of the men looked tired and downtrodden with little fight left in them. Tonight would be the night. Perfect. ----- Thanks! Like I said, most vignettes have been shot now, including the new ones, so I can keep posting at a steady pace now and continue the story until it's wrapped up.

Interlude II. - This Is The Way Some time ago, before currents events. The breeze rolling over the sea and into the port city of Tarzout barely made it to its medina and was only a slight consolation in the sweltering heat of a Guelphian afternoon. Despite the high sun, the souk was bustling with people. It was one of the many shopping districts in Tarzout's city center. The banners above fluttered ever so slightly in the wind and did their best to keep most of the sun out. Noorah and Andromeda pushed their way through the crowd, Noorah being visibly more used to it than the lieutenant-colonel - who was largely annoyed by the location of this impromptu meeting. If one could even call it that. "I have reason to believe we have located the position of one of the Brigade Rouge's key men on El Oleonda," Noorah said, trying to raise the volume of her voice above the noise of the bazaar, yet not make it too loud and draw attention or eavesdroppers. "I'm entrusting this operation to you. The tide on El Oleonda is currently is turning in our favor. The net around the Brigade's units still there is tightening and I want to make sure we use the situation to our utmost advantage. We could learn valuable information from the subject." As she moved through the souk and talked, Noorah took a look at the wares and sometimes stopped to smell some of the spices for sale - gesturing her servant to buy some. Even though she lived in the casbah, or fortress, above Tarzout - the eponymous Roche in her surname, she often ventured into the lower city to hear the latest rumors and gossip. And do some shopping, of course. "It's wholly unbecoming of the proletarians to arm themselves and dare question the legitimacy of our great king and institutions. Politics are not meant for peasants. There is a system in place and it is up to us to make sure it stays that way. Ours is the way of Mount Aplynacus, with our king on top and we as his servants. And in turn, we do as is expected of us and the plebeian masses serve us." "The King does not care for their minor grievances. I don't care. We each have our part to play. The eagle mourns not the hare it hunts. Nor will I shed a tear when I kill the eagle and take it as a trophy." Noorah stopped and turned to Andromeda. "Do you understand, lieutenant-colonel? Aplynacus, Andromeda. And it is us who are part of the summit. Make the rabble understand." "This is the way," the Spider said. Andromeda raised an eyebrow. Noorah chuckled and motioned towards an archway. "The way out of this bazaar." ----- Waaaaay later than expected and not quite the update I had planned, but at least here's something. I shuffled the story around a bit and made some extra MOCs, which I have now also shot. I expect this to go a lot smoother again now. The end is certainly near! Sorry for the long wait! Extra picture:

Thanks, NOD! The Red Brigade functions primarily as a unit of mercenaries, to fund their revolutionary activities in Oléon. As such, you can hire them to fight for you, but you can't recruit them into your army as a regular unit. After all, they are not Sea Rats . They are still Oléonese and believe in the country and a government, they just want a different type of government. So if you want to hire them and use them in a build, go ahead! Just try to stick to their background lore .

Did not expect this ending . So chaotic, hah!

Nice build! I love the overall action going on and the different games being portrayed. Great job on posing all of the figures and stuff. While the architecture is nicely done, it feels a bit too Elvish/Rivendell for my taste. But the quality and style of the structures is certainly commendable!

A long, but good read! Great sendoff for the general. I like the inclusion of the song in between the paragraphs and builds. I didn't know about these type of songs, so it was interesting to learn something new.

Loving the slo-mo fight . That's hilarious! Ending on a cliffhanger again. Like a regular soap tv show, this story. Curious to see who is the perpetrator. I love how the assistant also dryly says "never heard of him". Funny subversion of expectations there.

Haha, thanks! I'm in no way a literature professor though. I'm a graphic designer IRL. I don't even use English all that much any more in daily life. I used to be better at it when I was in school, because then you use it on a weekly basis in class. Nowadays, I only need it sporadically during a call with an international client, for example. So, yeah, thanks for the compliment . The torso is from one of the Chinese New Year sets. Those have lovely oriental designs. I just bought mine on Bricklink. Funny how Manaaki is drawing attention, since I never really intended him to be more than a minor side character. Glad you like the minifigure!

One more today, because I missed my own deadline last week... Interlude I. - Love (For The Cause) Will Tear Us Apart "Your turn is over, Nicolas. I have the high ground now," smirked Nestor Antonin as he stood atop a turned-over crate. "I am the speaker now." Begrudgingly Nicolas threw his hands in the air and admitted defeat in the matter. Nestor was right, those were the rules of the soap box. The speaker's corner, consisting of naught but an empty soap box - ammo crate, in this case - was a ritual true to the roots of the Red Brigade's popular origin and egalitarian values as per Dorée's and the Heraclian teachings. "See, fellow comrades. Brothers in arms," Nestor began, "this is what is has come to - the cause we are supposedly fighting for! Our esteemed leader would even outright refuse our right to parlay. To what right? We are supposedly all equals here, are we not?" The crowd muttered. Since the failure at Seawatch and a string of military failures on the side of the Lotii alliance, the morale of the Brigade Rouge's fighters was slowly ebbing away. A great believe in the cause and a sense of unity against the imperialist aggressors of the Old World was starting to give way to dissent. "We've been stuck on this miserable island for years now, with no progress in sight! The Alliance has El Oleonda surrounded, making it even more difficult for us to leave this place alive. And for what? Why did we come here?", Nestor eyed Nicolas, who was fuming. "They told us we would make money here to support the Cause on the home front. That we would gain valuable military experience to enable and strengthen the uprising in Oléon. That El Oleonda would be the first step in smashing the imperialists' power!" Nestor was wildly gesticulating to accentuate his anger. He paused briefly and took in his audience of fellow soldiers. All tired and dirty of fighting this war and living in the forest for years. "How is the death of our comrades a learning experience that will help the struggle in Oléon? How is siding with Oriental imperialists in this kings' conflict any aid to those families who cannot afford to buy food? We should be in Oléon, not here. We should be helping our own, not killing them in this pointless struggle! We have merely traded in one set of leaders and kings for others. How is fighting for Nicolas any different than fighting the King's war?" At this point Nicolas intervened. "Enough! You are a disgrace to the Cause, Antonin", he barked. "No! Your Cause is the disgrace", Nestor riposted. "You long for freedom of the individual and abolition of the classes, yet you uphold a system of castes of your own. You mock the wars of the royalists, yet you have us in one of your own. No more!" As he was about to end his speech, Nestor thought of the Lotii teachings he had read during his time fighting alongside them. "The Lotii believe in the Elements. Air being one of them. They say it is the element of freedom, because it is unrooted and detached from the world. So should we become detached from these worldly problems and concerns and find true freedom in life." He stepped of the soap box as he raised his fist in the air. "Down with the system." Nestor packed his gear and with a handful of deserters - followers who were also sick of the current state of events, he left the camp; ousted by Nicolas. ----- Turned out way longer than intended. The Interlude is longer than the actual chapters . Kudos to anyone reading this!

Lovely writing and characterisation. Great to see the child's story progressing. Are these Sisters a different than these; a sub branch - or just a uniform update? They're an interesting bunch, the Sisterhood.

Chapter IV. - Into Darkness It was early in the morning when captain Lysandre left Fort Arltrees with his squadron on Gendarmes, accompanied by Manaaki - the Tyree'dee guide. They left at the crack of dawn when most of the settlement was either still asleep or only barely getting up, in order to avoid raising too much suspicion and thus diminishing the chance of a rat in the settlement reaching out to members of the Brigade Rouge. As a mounted force, the Gendarmes made quick work of first kilometers into the hinterlands of El Oleonda. It was only when the jungle became too thick, dark and difficult to traverse in a mounted fashion that the group left their horses behind and continued afoot, carrying only what was needed. A handful of soldiers remained behind to protect the horses and safeguard the way out. Lysandre, Manaaki and the others continued, albeit at a much slower pace now. Warily, they crept through the exotic plants and vegetation of the jungle. Despite the relative darkness of the forest's interior, it was still a sensorily overwhelming experience as the jungle was buzzing with life and color. The group either communicated in hand signals or hushed voice, as to not give away their presence too much. After all, they weren't the only hunters here and their goal was to approach their prey undetected. After the Lotii siege of Seawatch had broken down, many Lotii and Monomontachi wandered the forest in ragtag bands looking for a way out. Locating and sneaking around these men was nerve-racking and time-consuming, but Lysandre and his men pressed on nonetheless. Stashing their carbines, they took out their sabers in case it would come to a standoff, but luckily for them Manaaki was an expert guide and safely led them through the jungle undetected. ----- Phew, it took me a bit longer than expected to post this, even though I had the MOC ready some time ago. Unexpectedly busy weekend and week. I've added a table of contents to the first post now, for ease of viewing.

Thanks for the feedback. You're right about the blue cap. Perhaps I should've put it on the post so the horse wouldn't be as obscured. The update will probably only come over the weekend. I have the next part built and ready, but I want to tweak the next chapters to have it more "body" to them. I think the next part would be rather anticlimactic otherwise. Thanks for the honest feedback. I didn't want to separate each chapter into a topic of it's own like @Captain Braunsfeld does with his own stories, because my MOCs aren't as elaborate as his. Maybe I should add links to the different posts in the first post. As I've said above: the next chapter will probably be uploaded over the weekend.

Dura Lex, Sed Lex A LOOK at OLEON'S PEACEKEEPERS I. la Force Publique Captain (l.) and sergent-de-ville (r.) Unit name: la Force Publique Type: Urban police, public safety, crime fighting and investigation Uniform description: A dark blue bicorne - often worn by militia or rear echelon troops (in contrast to the more impressive shako or tricorne for main line units), decorated with roundel, and a simple scarcely decorated dark blue uniform: single-breasted for troopers, which is somewhat more elaborate and double-breasted for officers. Equipment description: As they are not a true military force, members of la Force Publique seldom carry firearms. Their primary weapon is usually a billy club or a saber for officers. Recruitment center: Large urban centers Unit history and description: La Force Publique - the Public Force, is basically Oléon's local police and keeps the peace in major Oléonese cities. Only large cities house brigades of the Force, while smaller villages, hamlets or colonies outside of Oléon proper rely on militia, posses or the army for their public security. The Force originates in the amalgamation of a myriad of independently raised city watches, units of thief catchers and militant semi-religious orders who stood in for the protection and safety of a city's populace and surrounding hinterland. As the King and his central authority tightened their hold on the power of lords and cities and chipped away at feudal privileges, the independent organisations were abolished and its personnel was folded into a new force, under the direct control and authority of the administration of the King. This new public force would now answer to the département of the Defense of the Realm instead of a mayor, lord or local noble. Each companie of la Force stationed in a city or province is headed by a Prévôte - or Provost, chosen by the King's hand. The Public Force mostly deals with petty crimes and keeping the cities safe at night. When larger threats are identified beyond the scope the Force can handle, they call in either the newly-raised Gendarmerie or the army. Members of the Force Publique are paid relatively handsomely, but in order to join you must have a clean criminal record. They are trained in basic drill exercises and in time of need can be drafted into the military, even though la Force Publique falls under the authority of the Defense of the Realm and not of the War Council. They are, however, not up to par with a regular Oléonese soldier and only have value as meatshields on the battlefield. Instances in which they have actually fought on the battlefield are scarce and extremely rare. As most of the middle class or lower upper class own horses and are able to buy commissions, many of them join the Dragoons or other cavalry units in the army. As such, the ranks of la Force Publique are mostly filled with lower middle class men and those of the working class, resulting in a reputation that sometimes leaves to be desired ... Motto: "Protéger et servir" More about the unit: II. la Gendarmerie Royale Captain (l., mounted) and trooper (r., dismounted) - both are wearing the secondary, less elaborate Gendarmerie uniform and peaked cap with badge often worn in the New World Unit name: la Gendarmerie Royale Type: Dragoons (mounted paramilitary infantry), counterinsurgency, policing Uniform description: While normally outfitted in the same uniform as other dragoons, troopers of the Gendarmerie often choose to wear their informal working or encampment uniforms when posted in the New World. It allows for easier movement through the jungle and the cap is lighter to wear and easier to stow away when not needed. However, they are only allowed to wear this while out on campaign and should always wear the standard uniform when on active duty in a city or when posted in Oléon proper. As they are a mounted unit, they wear tall black jackboots suited for riding, and white trousers. Equipment description: The Gendarmerie is equipped like regular dragoons, with a carbine, a saber and a pistol. In the New World, the saber is sometimes foregone for a machete. Recruitment center: Currently a merger of existing units, but new members can be recruited in larger cities such as Granoléon, Breshaun or Nola Mar. Unit history and description: Dragoons have historically been the heavy-hitting arm of Oléon's judiciary enforcers. Where the watchmen of old or the newer Force Publique fail, the army steps in - usually in the form of a detachment of mobile dragoons, to quell any unrest. The Force Publique has always stood stronger in the cities, but lacks the necessary mobility to cover the roads and forests outside the urban areas, leaving it open to brigands and highwaymen. This, coupled with the need for a more permanent hard-hitting police force and to alleviate the army of its policing duties in the more far-flung colonies and reaches of the empire, has urged the interior department of the Royal Administration to merge together some sub-strength dragoon units into a new formation: la Gendarmerie Royale. Pulled away from the command of the War Council, this now paramilitary mounted force no longer fights on the frontlines, but finds itself securing the rear areas of Oléon's territories and protecting the populace from any threat. Next to their usual training as a dragoon, members of the Gendarmerie are also drilled extra in urban combat and light infantry exercises, coupled with asymmetric fighting in order to deal with their non-military adversaries better. As its roots lay in the military, the Gendarmerie is drenched in military traditions and outlook, very much more so than its sister organisation, the Force Publique - which has a civilian origin. While they are usually quite capable of keeping the peace and doing their job, they also have a fiendish reputation of sometimes responding to threats in an exaggerated militaristic and violent fashion. One tale has it, that in search of rebels in some far-flung colony in the New World, they burned down large swathes of jungle in order to capture their target. Another story tells of the Gendarmerie raiding a house in Granoléon's pauper's district in search of a criminal which led to excessive collateral damage, both in materials and local lives lost due to brute force and intimidation. Members of the Gendarmerie are usually staunch royalists and utmost loyal to the King, more so than is usually the case in the army. Because of their role in keeping the lands free of unwanted elements, they are sometimes referred to as the "King's Gardeners", rooting out any weeds. Unlike la Force Publique, the Gendarmerie has no inspectors of its own to investigate crime and is usually brought in on behest of the Force or an agent of other interior departments concerned with security. Campaigns: The War in El Oleonda Motto: "Lex Paciferat" - The Law will bring Peace More about the unit:

Chapter III. - Blusmangs After a succinct briefing by the lieutenant-colonel, Lysandre retreated to his quarters where he further studied the documents had received in-depth, memorizing the information before destroying any evidence of the briefing having ever existed. Before he hit the hay for a well-needed good night's rest, the captain took an evening stroll to the stables to check up on his horse which had also been brought over from New Oléon. As he tended the white stallion, one of the Tyree'dee walked up to him. Dressed in tribal robes mixed with a surplus military Oléonese shirt, the man was clearly part of an officially sanctioned ad hoc unit of Tyree'dee auxilia, mostly consisting of local scouts and interpreters. The islander saluted Lysandre. "Manaaki sir, interpreter. Rapòte pou devwa. (Reporting for duty.)", he introduced himself with a thick accent which made his tongue closer to a sort of patois language than actual Oléonese. Still it was comprehensible enough for Lysandre. "No need for the formalities," the captain replied and waved away the salute. He put out his hand for a handshake. Manaaki raised a surprised eyebrow at first, but then firmly decided to acknowledge the gesture and returned the handshake." "I take it you know the land? You know where we need to go and to stay out of sight?" Manaaki smiled cheekily and replied in basic Oléonese, peppered with his own exotic accent: "I know it better than you, blusmang". "Blusmang?", repeated Lysandre intrigued. Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. Manaaki pointed at Lysandre's uniform and then tugged his own shirt. "Yes, you's all blusmangs. Blue. You men wear de blue shirts" Lysandre chuckled. It was obvious what the word meant, once you knew it. "Come here prepared at dawn. Me and my other blusmangs ride out in the morning, ready to hunt." ----- Off the books, that's for sure. Thanks! I like that I can tie together a myriad of things of the past in this way. Nah, I would never MOC anything pertaining to other people's PC's without a head's up first . Like Ross said: DO IT. Jump on the train.

Chapter II. - Burn After Reading Lysandre quickly made his way from the docks to the fortress, where he was expected by lieutenant-colonel Andromeda of Oléon's home office thirteenth section. Secret police, sent to the outskirts of the Empire in order to keep Oléon's internal opponents in check. "Your reputation precedes you, captain Bernadotte. I am glad you were able to make it to El Oleonda in such timely fashion. I've read up on your dossier and your exploits in Guelph. We need men thorough and loyal such as yourself." While Lysandre was pleased with the compliments of his superior, he merely smiled politely. "I live to serve the King, ma'am. What is required of me and my men here, if I may be so bold to inquire?" "As you might heard on the voyage here, or read in the KPA, but we have the Lotii in the ropes after the offensive. While our boys in blue continue to keep up the pressure, it's up to use to make the best of the situation and mop up." Together, they continued to walk in the hallways of the fortress, speaking in hushed voices to avoid eavesdropping. "You are probably aware of the presence of the Brigade Rouge in this conflict? The armed part of the Society of Héracles... They came here to make some money of this war, earn combat experience and fight us - the evil imperialists - in the process. Hah, can you believe these guys?" "Anyway, as the war is not completely going the way they probably expected, cracks are apparently starting to show in their so-called united front. Our intel has it there's a rift forming in the group, which affects their combat performance and readiness. Coupled with the Lotii rout, it leaves them in a precarious position. An opportune moment for us to strike and take the head of this snake. Spies and local scouts have confirmed the location of the lead group, with Nicolas Pierrot - Dorée's right-hand man and one of the most militant of the members." Whilst walking, Andromeda slid an envelope in Lysandre's hand. "You'll find everything you need in there. Obviously, your eyes only and on need-to-know basis. Bring him in alive. The Spider wants him for questioning. I don't care about the rest. Take them out of you must. Search the camp for valuable information. I have arranged for a local scout to meet you at the stables. He will take you and your men into the jungle." "Oh, and Lysandre: be sure to burn your orders after reading. We wouldn't want those red dogs to be alerted of your arrival." "It will be done, ma'am. For the King." Andromeda smirked. "For the King."

I echo what the others have said: great vault! The Eslandolan soldiers look great. Too bad LEGO never made the soldier torsos in extra colors other than red and blue.

Indeed! I was able to build several scenes in a short amount of time, which will allow me to tell a story. Instead of focussing on larger MOCs, which take me a ton of time to build and for which I often lack the pieces to finish them. Thanks! I have several builds ready. Some have been photographed already as well. I'll upload a next one after the men's WC cycling race in Glasgow is over, later today . I get what you're seeing. There's indeed an added challenge of trying to find the focus of the MOC/story and then translate that into a corresponding build on a small scale.

This is a story divided in different chapters dispersed throughout this topic. For ease of navigation, you can find a list of current chapters below: Chapter I. - New Beginnings Chapter II. - Burn After Reading Chapter III. - Blusmangs Chapter IV. - Into Darkness Interlude I. - Love (For The Cause) Will Tear Us Apart Interlude II. - This Is The Way Chapter V. - Predator Chapter VI. - Prey Chapter VII. - Haji Chapter VIII. - Standoff Chapter IX. - Civilization Chapter X. - Sunny Side Up Interlude III. - Bitter Morning Epilogue - The Head Of The Snake Chapter I. - New Beginnings Captain Lysandre Bernadotte took in the fresh air as he disembarked in the docks of Fort Arltrees. He immediately noticed the humidity of the area, which greatly contrasted to the dry air and dusty nature of New Oléon, where he had just finished his tour and from whence he and his gendarmes were then shipped off to El Oleonda on orders coming straight from the top. Lysandre was to report to the eponymous fort of the settlement to receive further details, but he could already guess what was to be expected of him. The gendarmes were oft nicknamed "the King's Gardeners" and since El Oleonda was in the middle of a war, there were certainly plenty of weeds that would needed to be rooted out in order for the Oléonese lilies to grow. ----- Inspired by @Ross Fisher's neat series of small builds concerning Nola Mar and wanting to advance some plotlines I have in my mind, I wanted to try my hand at something similar. So there you have it! I have several builds lined up already, so I will continue to update the story here. Even though all builds will be the same (tiny) size, I still hope you will enjoy these.

Lovely series all around. The small stories fit the tiny builds, but both still have plenty of character. Great figure builds as well. Love that rider. That helmet works very well for a lobster tail type helmet indeed. I've used it as such in the past as well. I just try to ignore the clip on the front. I also like the fact you've used yellow backgrounds here instead of the usual black. I dunno, it makes everything pop more.

Lovely figures and posing. I like how small builds can be challenging to fit everything in there what you want to tell. Also: I always love MOCs expanding background - be they large or small.