Captain Braunsfeld

Nice to see our ideas fitting together

what a pity that he only found books after all the danger he went through

So, there it is. The final chapter, just in time for the deadline. Did anybody find the song reference in this one? Thank you This is about "dark secrets" isn't it? I needed that brick built background to make the gate "work". Golden walls??

Strange candles you have there

Final entry: Cat C: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/165379-era-ii-challenge-ii-cat-c-suddenly/

(this topic started here and this was next) A Letter To The Royal Society Puerto Desafio, 30.08.618 My Dearest Fellow Colleagues, I have the most disturbing story to tell, so please make sure, you are seated and feeling well while you read this. At the moment I am sitting in my office with the windows and the shutters closed as what I have to inform you about is apparently of such evil nature that word must not spread to the unwise – and also I feel safer this way. Where shall I begin? Two days ago a mercenary came to my house, seeking solace and help. His name was Ram Brandt. Apparently he had gone on an adventure to the island of Gold, or Île d’Or as it is called in Oleon tongue. The injuries that Ram Brandt brought back from his enterprise were not visible as they were injuries of the soul. But I will step aside for a moment and write down the story he told me and I will try not to let my understanding of what was happening influence his report.. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ram Brandt’s report: … shortly after we had destroyed the statue, we stumbled along through the jungle, still stuck inside the jungle, and I was thinking something like “if I ever get out of there, all I need is a pint a day, if I ever get out of here.” Meanwhile the stench of those strange jungle plants could no longer be ignored. I put a cloth over my mouth and nose to ease my breathing and so did the others. And then we came to the pyramid itself. When we came closer, we saw that the black thingy we had detected on top of the pyramid was not a box, as it was wider than it was thick. And it was as black as night. “What shall we do”, Swash Buckler asked us, but before anyone could answer, something terrible and frightening happened: The black thing suddenly started to change, modifying its own structure, becoming transparent in the middle. And now it looked like a gate – a gate to another world or another dimension. To what I cannot say. Suddenly something was appearing as we peered through the gate – something evil, not from this world. Swash screamed and I think I panicked. Our end seemed to have come, but we would die fighting. Clara was the one to react the fastest - and she saved our lives. She took one of the bombs we had brought and flung it towards the gate. Just when it reached the gate it exploded with a mighty crash. We all were blown backwards and fell on our backs. When finally we got up again, one by one, half deaf, the sight at the pyramid caught us by surprise completely. And the first one said to the second one there: “I hope you see what I see.” The gate had entirely vanished, as if it had never been there in the first place. Alas, we could not investigate further as the nearest trees had caught fire in the aftermath of the explosion. So we took to our heels to get away from that evil place. Just a band of mercenaries on the run. Behind us the jungle was going up in smoke and flames. After what seemed like an eternity we were safe upon one of the hills – and on our way back. We had survived but we did not dare to go back to the Oleon officials as we feared our story would be regarded as heresy – plus we’d be charged with arson. Instead we sneaked away from that terrible island on a boat – and landed here in Puerto Desafio. Now, you are a learned man, a doctor. What do you make of my story? And can you help me sleep again at night, as I have terrible nightmares in which I am in front of that hellish gate again, fearing for my life and for my soul. So, this is Ram Brandt’s report. I gave him laudanum and used some hypnosis to soothe his soul. He is resting now in my guest room, apparently being able to sleep again. You may ask what I take as truth from his story? Well, I choose to believe that those strange smelly plants in that valley were producing a gas of hallucinatic abilities, which was affecting that group of mercenaries - and possibly others too on that island. First it made them more violent - and they were lucky not to have directed this violence against each other – but it also made them tired and made them see things that do not exist in our world. I suggest that an expedition is being undertaken by the Royal Society to further investigate the plants on Ile d’Or – and that they are eradicated for the sake of mankind. And we need to make sure that there was no gate and that there is no gate. And that it will not appear again. We must guard the place – for I have seen deep into the eyes of Ram Brandt and I cannot help to think that there is more to the story than just an outbreak of hallucinations. We must act, I urge you. Yours Truly Doctor Albert da Pontelli

I am a big fan of the blue sky - and also that background makes my photoshop work a lot easier! furry thing = skunk! Thanks, I've been a fan of such statues for some time

Apologies to all the contributors to the challenge whose work I have not commented. It is not that I have ignored them. I've been on holiday mid of July to mid of August, thus missing the posts when they were fresh. I will take a look at them (and have done so) but will refrain from bumping old topics.

Fair point! Subconscious inspiration A cat? To me it is a small, furry jungle beast. And technically it is an animal I picked from my animal box... You got it! (i.e. this is one of the song references) Could be. Must be from some friends set...

Second entry for Cat B: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/165191-era-ii-challenge-ii-cat-b2-what-shall-we-do-now/

Fine - and a good solution to the question of how to create a background for a jungle scene

They are in the Unikitty-"minifig" sets. It is the stand. Works well as a cloud.

(this topic started here) They started their descent towards the pyramid they had seen in the valley. The jungle was getting thicker with each step and the mercenaries were using their sabres to cut their way forward. "There must be some way out of here", Swash Buckler said to Ram Brandt. "So much confusion here." "And the yellow things that grow here, have a strange smell", Scarlett Pontellinova added. "They make me tired", Swash Buckler replied. "Weary. My weariness amazes me." Suddenly a clearing opened before them - with a single strange stone statue in the middle of the clearing, staring back at them. "What shall we do now?" Ram Brandt asked. "It is a pagan statue. Probably of evil nature", said Swash. "Something the Oleon guys would not want to see." "Hush. The thing is hearing every word we're saying. Just look at those ears!" "I am more worried about the teeth." "Let us not talk falsely now. Shall we blow it to pieces and move on?" Scarlett mused. "We should save our bombs for the time being. We do not know what lies ahead of us at the pyramid", Swash replied. "The thing does not seem to be in perfect shape. There are cracks here and there. So, let's give it a little push", Clara Brickinson suggested. "Just a little push ..." "... and we'll be smiling." The statue came down with a crash. "That was easy." "That should be a solution to the worries of the good old Oleon Church", Ram concluded with a smile. "And we saved our bombs." "Let us forget about this place until tomorrow", Clara added. "I am still feeling tired and strange. My toes are too numb to step", Swash added but the others were not really listening as they moved on. (to be continued)

Very charming scene - and I also like your idea with the hooks.

Never too late for positive feedback

Thanks - getting better Sure? Maybe it is a very small pyramid? Strange link... but ok. I am also quite happy with how my idea turned out. Monkeys will sure come up next. There are some monkeys in the MOC but maybe they are to small to be seen. Makes me happy. Let's see. Maybe it is not a box.. Well, the clouds were not that difficult, the trees were Thanks a lot! Wow, so much praise.

I agree - the build has a great atmosphere to it.

Yepp, that was the inspiration behind it . Thanks.

And here is my first entry for Cat B (and I am running out of time...) https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/165025-era-ii-challenge-ii-cat-b1-then-they-found-something/

Guided by what Rum'Or had told them, the mercenaries moved on deeper into the island. They stopped on a small mountain top, bedazzled by what had come into their sight: "What on earth is that?" Swash Buckler called out. "Looks like an ancient pyramid to me", Scarlett Pontellinova replied. "According to our friend here to the right, this might be dangerous", Clara Brickinson added. "But what is this black thing on top of it?" Ram Brandt asked. "We'll find out", Swash Buckler said. "We'll find out". (to be continued) ... (Thanks for watching)

Yes, I plan to be there.

Thanks Somebody has pointed me to those Unikitty bases. Otherwise I find those kitties pretty useless, but the bases make nice clouds. I am happy to hear that. Thanks. I am not sure about the "always" as there were other scenes in Pontelli (like Asma April falling to her death) .... Yepp, try for yourself. Thank you Thanks for the kind feedback. As for the holidays - I have to go back to work tomorrow

In the summertime when the weather is hot you can find Pontelli's people going for a decent swim in the sea: Some people are buying over-priced cookies... .. some are challenged with their sandcastle... .... but life's for livin', that is their philosophy... Pls note the fashionable parasols. (inspired by Toskany where we found amazingly turqoise water at a wonderful beach - we assume some chalk to be the cause of the fantastic colour)

I have no problems with that at all. I don't think I have a monopoly on fishing natives Thanks. Well, a fish trading post would have to have some fish, right? (and there is a custom monkey in the background eating a banana)

Thanks Thanks for pointing that out. I wasn't really aware of the unikitty stuff. Well, they are clouds. But how can I break this to my custom made clouds? Thanks. This is the monkey in the background: You've built something similar? Can you post the link? I have not been able to find the entry.