robuko

What an excellent fellowship is the Guild of Kaliphlin! Miss Templeton Smyth, our Kaliphlin route manager and Chief Logisitcs Officer, expresses her gratitude for the widely shared sentiments that our towns and cities are open to all. The Petrea General Trading Company is a tree with many roots, and maintains a myriad of fine buildings in all the major centres, by the permission of my Lords, as well an an extensive presence across this beautiful land. We are of course based in Petrea, and the guest rooms of our Head Quarters are always open to all Guild members. We are seeing more great builds from Kaliphlin recently. Kcaj Nosnikta, your modular builds are so cool. Love the lava and the colours. Wahil, my friend, your Red Tower lighthouse is quite the Wonder of the Southern isles. Captain Marcus tells us it has saved his cargo and crew many times, and it is one of the most noteable buildings in all the land. I should say too, your Sultan and his harem is renowned and admired even in Petrea for their noble bearing and looks. Captain Hardiel, congratulations on the restoration of your watch tower. Gex, Mt Agnathka is a mighty climb, congratulations on getting anything up there, let alone a full refuge. I believe I have seen some maps of our land featuring our caverns, deserts, mountains, and yes, even a jungle near the Delta. Abu Ali, we would love to read some chapters of your famous book, you have added so much to Kaliphlin`s trade with just one social visit! Velethuil, the sun-bleached images off your shelter are very evocative, I feel the heat when I look at them! Our Heliotropic glass manufactory should be fully operational before midnight, we will post some sketches as soon as our artists have recovered from their night before. yours Aye, Rasputin ps If any of our American friends would be kind enough to pick up a discounted $10 Ramses Pyramid for posting to HK, please send me a PM, it sounds a great deal.

Welcome to Eurobricks and to Kaliphlin, Brickmaestro! Glad to have you join us

Lovely build. I really enjoy the colour scheme, the dark tan and red accents look fantastic, and the wooden parts on the roof go very nicely . The baseplate shaping is great too. I would agree that it would be nice to see some activity around the building - and is Kaliphlin so confident that we can leave the doors open for anyone to come and peek at our seige weapon designs? Very　good addition to the guild.

Really nice build, Capt. Mugwash. The posing of the figures gives a great sense of transactions happening, it reminds me of Mos Eisley. We are always happy to see a strong Kaliphlin economy. I`m not sure what those ladies are selling, but it sure looks as though they found a buyer! Most stalls have only one customer, which I am sure is a tribute to the excellent efficiency of Kaliphlin service rather than weak demand.

Great builds from Mikey (love the simplicity of the Tower, great sand, and a wonderful Fire Engine), J4ke and Capt. Mugwash. Nice to see those Kaliphlin brains kicking into action! Fonzy, Welcome to Kalphlin. We wish you and your men a prosperous and peaceful stay. Dugal McLean, we are shocked by the attack on your Caravanserai. Next time we urge your brother to travel under the protection of Capt. Hardiel, although he looks capable of handling the sitaution boldly himself! Some of you may recall that The Inquisitor of Natural Philosophy of the Petrea General Trading Company, Doktor Frankenstein, was sharing a drink with Herr Liebniz of the Mountain Mummies a while ago. We can now explain why they were so happy. Yes, our bountiful land with its pure sand, which only a fool would see as a barren desert, is going to be the biggest crystal producer in all of Historica. We will soon be producing Crystal Walls, Mirrors, Scrying glasses for Land and Sea, lenses of Ocular Rejuvenation.... We expect even greater riches from our export trade! Rasputin

From the Journal of Doktor Frankenstein "Last week I received a visitor to the Laboratory, a seeker of truth from afar. He was called by the name of Abū Alī al-Ḥusayn ibn Abd Allāh ibn Sīnā. He said he had heard of my studies into the nature of Life, and he was curious to learn more of my Works. But today it was I who was the student. Abū Alī is a stargazer, and he introduced me to some wondrous intruments he uses to study the Heavens. First, using a triangular shape of purest Crystal, he showed my that Light is not Light, but is All Colours in One. Who knows what Other Colours may be hidden in the Light, perhaps to be drawn out by another Crystal? That was not the only secret his Crystals contained. He showed me a "lens" that he puts to his eye, to bring the Heavens closer. It works as a second Eye before the Eye, he said, and it moves the Light itself. He gave the most incredible demonstration. Noticing my barrel of heating oil, he bade me move it closer to the candle that contained the Light of All Colours. "Watch this, my friend", he said: At first, nothing happened, and then Everything happened at once! The barrel burst into flames before my eyes, under the unwavering gaze of the Crystal Lens. "Oh Philosopher, what Magick is this?" I asked, and the Visitor replied, "Friend, this is no Magick, it is the Truth of the Universe, called Optick. This Crystal Lens is indeed the source of my knowledge of the Heavens. And do you know what it is made from? You will laugh to hear it. Just Sand, the very Sand which spreads so far and wide around us, the pure Sand of the Kaliphlin Dune Sea. Heat it until it melts, and you can shape it in any way." I was so excited by this news I could hardly sleep. Could it be true? Or, more likely, was this Abū Alī a powerful Mage, a trickster come to mock me and my poor experiments? That night I sent word to my friend Herr Liebniz, the renowned Scholar of the Mountain Mummies, asking him to come at haste with a Dragon and as much sand as his steed could carry, to find the truth to the story. Unbelievably, everything the Wise Visitor told me was true! After many hours struggle, Herr Leibniz mastered the instructions for the Dragon and we burned a hot flame from the Black Oil. Before our eyes, common Sand became Purest Crystal. To think, Kaliphlin is so rich in the Sand, and the Oil that gives heat! And we can use them to make these Lenses, Scrying Glasses for land and sea, to search for the Other Colours, anything! The Petrea General Trading Company has been very good to me over the years, taking me in and providing me with the best in modern facilities here in the basement of our Petrea Head office. Our CEO, President and Chairman Rasputin Jones has taken good notice of my Works with the Crystal, and he is giving me a new facility in the desert with even more potential. Mr Jones has big ambitions for my Crystal Research. He greatly admired our Lookfar Scrying Glasses, and he plans to start making more of these for the glorious export Trade, as well as Crystal Walls so that our friends in Mitgardia can admire the beautiful Winter views from inside their homes, without getting cold! And Mirrors to sell to the beautiful and rather vain Ladies of Avalonia. This move into Crystal making could be the Big Time for Doktor Frakenstein!"

Cristoph, this is a great build, and I am so glad you did the astronomy tower, as you will see....

But of course we do! The Petrea General Trading Company has been aware of these for some while, it occurs to us that now may be the right time to share our knowledge. One of Kaliphlin`s strongest defenses is the ancient hidden networks of labyrinthine trenches, lakes and caverns full of oil, which sit just below our land. Some of those have surface rivers in places. Anyone who tries to get past them without permission gets barbecued pronto once the flames take hold and burn the earth above them. Only the Kaliphlin mages and AlKhymists know where the oil trenches are, and how to supress the flames once they start - but I heard there is at least one such network on every road, and around every major habitation (apart from the ravine wall of Queen`s Cross). Rasputin

Darecold, welcome to our lands. The Petrea General Trading Company will be pleased to send our special Nocturnus representative, Duke Strange, to the Eastern port of Peligrinus on Cape Dahaka. There we can supply your needs in friendship. We are currently buyers of Quicksilver, Lime, SaltPetre, Dragons' Eggs, and Brimstone. We also offer our usual extensive suite of discrete or gaudy items for the connoisseur, as well as more mundane commodities of coffee, ambergris, oil, masonry, live eels and Sandworms. You will find our credit good as always, Yours Aye, Rasputin Jones

My Lord, surely that army is more comfortable with the weather in beautiful Kaliphlin

How about one of these? Captain Hardiel, your reputation has reached us as second to none in the business, and we would always be delighted to work with you on the roads West of Petrea. We are of course committed to our Mountain Mummy allies on the Eastern roads, and we thank you greatly for bringing them to us. Lord Sansael, your comrades are well matched indeed, and your map is a thing of beauty and wonder. We have often ventured small trading barques to Cape Dahaka, and our Maritime Master Captain Marcus will be very happy to have these charts as a ghuide. As always, we are interested in any Dragon's Eggs, Teeth, or Claws that you may happen across in Perigrinus. Semiramis, your army is as impressive as it is mighty. Your Oliphaunt is appropriately majestic. Noble Captain, our deepest thanks. We always look to help citizens of all nations with our produce, and we value our Avalonian trade partners highly. Wahil, how looks the red sandstone? It seems precious rare and trades at a high value on the masonry exchange. We too admire the many jewel-like colours of the desert, though we mostly build from common sandstones. My Dear Abu Ali, now we understand how the inspiration of the stars can bring your mind to be pure and find the Truth. We are always grateful for your insights of the Cosmos. I second "Lick of Salt." Great Leader, we shall be pleased to send a caravan to the North in all haste. Jahi Khaldun Ibn Maibe, we though this legend was a myth lost to the mist of time. It is good to know the Dreamer protects us still. Yakob, the building techniques of your craftsmen are justly renowned, this is a very well made tower. Brave Captain, these are all very good ideas. We have heard tell of giant Arrakian sandworms of the deep sands that can swallow whole caravans. Maybe Dextrus Flagg has heard of these too. I have yet to see one.

@Gex, Nice build. A few suggestions - what is the watch-fire fuel? Not Black Oil? Looks like wood- if so, do you need a woodpile, or are you near a forest? What is the vegetation like there? I am getting a bleak cold mountaintop vibe, which I think would be stronger if the mountain sides were taller (if you have the bricks)or if you had some snow (some great snow builds in Mitgardia). What is the roof made of? I like the log cabin look you have here, I think most log cabins would have a wooden roof though. The small hut is very reminiscent of a mountain refugia. If it`s cold at night, will it need a door? I like the fish, it makes me think of air dried food. The PTGC can supply your crew with finest dried seal blubber from Mitgardia, very calorific and tasty too!

Nobles of Kaliphlin, I am proud to present the Board of the Petrea General Trading Company, from our Annual Report: Back Row Biarssh, a powerful Sorceress from a desert tribe. Head of Knowledge and Insight, and Chief Information Officer. Rijkard von Hoek, a very clever but bad-tempered Elf-Viking. Head of Internal Affairs and Compliance. Sally Templeton Smyth, a charming Human lass. Manages our Kaliphlin routes. Chief Logistic Officer. Rasputin Jones, my good self. President, CEO and Chairman. Gwyndolyn Astrid Etherea, my companion. Company Secretary. She knows all the right things. Urthrak Rockbiter, a good natured and forthright Ork with substantial underworld and criminal connections. Head of Legal Affairs. Sultan Hammurabi bin Mukhtar al Jebra, a mathematical prodigy. Chief Financial Officer and head of our Oil business. Front Row Ingvar Arnoldssen, a jolly Dwarven diplomat and trader. Manages our Mitgardian routes. Loves the Mead Run. Doktor Frankenstein, our Inquisitor of Natural Philosophy and Al-Khymy. Works closely with our Mummified chums on certain projects. Bastet the cat, how did you sneak in? Captain Marcus, our Master of Seaborne Trade. Nice to see him on dry land for the annual photo. Sir Inigo Stillwell, a deeply honourable man of experience, valour and courageous heart. Manages our Avalonian routes. Gets a bit hot in that armour here, prefers the cool forest glades of the West. All of the Directors wish you a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Financial Year. Yours Aye, Rasputin Semiramis, your followers are an impressive sight. May they get rich and glorious in Kaliphlin. Many Thanks, Mr la Flaga. Your kindness and foresight are as always warmly appreciated in our Southern Lands. We shall make sure you have first rights in Mitgardia for our new discovery, which we anticipate will be of great benefit in the Northern Winter. With respectful best wishes always, Rasputin

The PGTC no longer trades in slaves after the Director of Accounts proved that the deferred liabilities and warranty provisions on these goods soon eliminated the apparently attractive initial margins. However, we welcome enterprise and commerce unfettered by petty regulation. Jahi Khaldun Ibn Maibe - we have often times admired your mighty army Tafik Regex Marmota (NiceMarmot)- for "Master Cartographer" - Seconded Yours Aye, Rasputin flickr group and map - I think it is a good idea, I am on flickr. The comments feature is a really good way to post helpful suggestions. I am a bit wary of clogging up the main forum with WIPs, but I would really appreciate C&C. Not that we are solely interested in the profits from logistics, and our alliance with the Mummies who protect travellers...but we thought Petrea`s remote location in the desert would be a key defensive advantage? If we want it to be more interesting, we can feature the plunging ravines and canyons? I am loving the uniqueness of this guild. My style will aim for a blend of Egyptian, Orient Expedition and Prince of Persia to start with as we are based in Petrea, the heart of the desert, but no doubt through time we will expand the business of the PGTC to the mountain, forest and coast areas.

Valsharess, Doctor Rod, Lord Nocturnians We continue to esteem your trade highly. The population and economy of Kaliphlin grow stronger each day, and we can find buyers for certain Nocturnian items of provenance. We are currently buyers of Quicksilver, Lime, SaltPetre, Dragons' Eggs, and Brimstone. We offer our usual extensive suite of discrete or gaudy items for the connoisseur, as well as more mundane commodities of coffee, ambergris, oil, masonry, live eels and Sandworms. You will find our credit good as always, We will also take several brace of the amusing wiggly beasts, they make excellent playthings and hors d'ouvres for the Giant Scorpions With our respectful best wishes, Rasputin

We are indeed thankful for the safety of our merchants and travellers between our two great lands, which we endeavour to reciprocate as far as we can. The Inquisitor of Natural Philosophy of the Petrea General Trading Company, Doktor Frankenstein, shares a toast with his friend Herr Leibniz, a Mountain Mummy scholar. We have learned something of great interest and import from Abu Ali, the truth seeker. We are confident this discovery when we commercialise it will be of great benefit to all nations. Suffice to say for now, our 2 greatest natural resources can be brought together for the good of all Historica. The PGTC has acquired a disused research facility in the desert plains, which we plan to restore to production status. If it please our countrymen, and a grant is available, we can add a watchtower as part of the restoration. Yours Aye, Rasputin

Really nice build, Kabel. Love the snow and icicles, this feels very Mitgardian. I`m glad the Kaliphlin trader was as good as his word, we work hard to keep it that way

Yes, what a great list. Thanks Evil Stu! SI-mocs, is that the gauntlet of a guild challenge? robuko

My Dear Captain Blackamoor, We always admire your throughly justified pride in your homeland, although it may take many years of peaceful growth through trade before Avalonia`s riches will match those of Petrea, the Jewel of Kaliphlin. We hope your references to crushing and sinking the economies of other guilds are merely your usual boisterous exuberance. You will find our committment to the defence of free trade to be exceptionally robust if tested. Owing no doubt to the prosperity and peace that reign in the city of Petrea, as well as the wisdom and benevolence of our Guild Leader Dextrus Flagg, our capital`s population is growing rapidly. Kaliphlin`s people would like to increase our mutually beneficial trade to supply the needs of our new citizens. As you know, we value highly the proven quality of Avalonian farm produce, and we are happy to increase substantially our orders of your agricultural produce, especially meats, grains and specialty cheeses. We are also in the market for timber and stone to embellish the glory and beauty of the Kaliphin townships, and we will consider your competitive bids. You will find our credit good, as it always has been. With our respectful best wishes always, Rasputin

Hvar Icewind, Your wonderful map is　beautifully done. The Petrea General Trading Company values our mutual friendship and trade highly. Both you and our good friend Mr Seaburn la Flaga of the East Midgardia Trading Company are always welcome visitors in our realm. Owing no doubt to the prosperity and peace that reign in the city of Petrea, as well as the wisdom and benevolence of our Guild Leader Dextrus Flagg, our capital`s population is growing rapidly. Kaliphlin`s people would like to increase our mutually beneficial trade to supply the needs of our new citizens. We are happy to increase substantially our orders of your high quality Mitgardian ice and timber from the World`s End Caravan Co., as well as a large amount of the unusually wonderful dwarvish mead from the EMTC. This time we would also like to order a small quantity of seal meat, it is a wondrous rare delicacy in our parched lands, and we anticipate a favourable profit on resale. You will find our credit good, as it always has been. With our respectful best wishes always, Rasputin

Noble Captain Velethuil, you are quite right to bring this to our attention. We pride ourselves on our friendly and peaceful trade within the lands. Our beautiful city is recently able to attract a very high quality of new immigrants, who will of course be looking for a few of the rare and special products of other nations, as well as their usual provisions and home comforts. The Petrea General Trading Company will be only happy to supply your needs, and we will set to work immediately on expanding the trade and prosperity of the Guild. My noble Lords, let me know　if you have any special requests, and I shall work on your behalf to increase our trading routes and the wealth of all nations. Yours Aye, Rasputin (Scubacarrot, I believe we have one month from the challenge date. I am planning to submit but it will be toward the end. Captain Hardiel, Dextrus, thankyou very much for your kind and helpful advice. I should be able to try some images in natural daylight at the weekend)

May I present, the view from our guest suite at the Petrea General Trading Company, over beautiful Petrea. All friendly merchants are welcome to stay and do business here, Avalonian, Mitgardian or Nocturnian. We note with concern the apparent Nocturnian attacks on our allies and welcome the hand of friendship of our noble Avalonian comrades. And please allow myself to introduce myself: Rasputin Jones, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors. We of the PGTC are strong believers in free and fair trade between all nations. So we are absolutely not stockpiling barrels of Black Oil, nor hoarding Mitgardian ice nor Avalonian Water. Not us. I am something of a new arrival to Petrea, having been invited recently by the Company`s Board of Governors to take up my position. My mandate here is to expand our business very significantly. Yours aye Rasputin This is my first micro build and first monitor backdrop - C&C welcome on how to improve it, I am not happy with the shadows, but not sure how to change it. I do not have a studio setup, photoshop, or much access to daylight.

Gex, this scroll accords very well to our publicly known trade routes, and there are some company secrets I can share with all of Kaliplin. The southern marsh and the whole of the South coast is rich in fish, and we have some trade with small villages along the cliffs of the Southern island Gorr. We also have caravanserries of pearls from the villages on the isles of the inland sea.　　We supply provisions to a fortress on the Eastern cape, in exchange for certain items of a specialised and draconian nature, which conoisseurs value highly. We absolutely deny that we know where Losst Vegga is, and we would like to put a definitive end to the rumours that the General Trading Company maintains mysterious storage facilities there. The meagre farmlands of the West are possibly even vaster than you have depicted, we have certain upstream agricultural assets in the area, don`t put them on the map please. The Board are still preparing for the annual report, so they are not yet ready to publish their images. Apparently there has been a wardrobe clash. However, we are delighted to share that we have certain friends of convenience in the East who work with us to protect trade between Petreaea and Qarkyr. They too will ensure safety, or otherwise, for travellers. For the present, they are content to let all countrymen pass unmolested. No less than 2 Kings, a Shaman and a Goddess lead this well respected security company. They say humans and elves travel with them too, for reasons of their own. We have never asked what is behind the masks. We hope they are masks. Rasputin

The board of directors of the Petraea General Trading Company are concerned about the rumoured threat to these times of peace and prosperity. CEO, President and Chairman of the Board Rasputin Jones, reporting for nationa service! And to see if we can get inside information on commodity demand. While we trade the Black　Oil in large quantity, I have not concerned myself with the details overmuch　－can anyone enlighten me what the stuff is used for?

I was there 2 weeks ago and I picked up a cup full of trans orange cheeses and 1x1 rounds, and new flames.