The Sarge

Thank you everyone!

I'll cast three votes. @evancelt Impressive in both scale and quality! The castle instantly sets the scene as a Scots-inspired subfaction. Looking forward to seeing how the clan fares in this postwar era. @Khorne Lovely work, having an interior as well as exterior was really nice. Would love to see the city expanded on modular-style. @Ayrlego Very thematic! Great techniques throughout and excellent choices in colors. And an irregular base is always nice, especially on a larger build.

Jean de la Fac paused on the cobbled path to his door, turning to take in his estates. Overgrown, to be sure. The war had taken so much - time, to be sure; but also the lives of some of those who had followed him, like his groundskeeper Guillaume; the surplus of goats that had once grazed his gardens; the surety of his faith. Warm light lapped at him from the lantern hanging by the door. Cool air drifted up off the Pantac, slipping through his maile. Yes, the war had taken so much. But much was left as well. Now it was time to rebuild what was lost. Now it was time to weave a new tale.

Kingdom of Oléon The Kingdom of Light Victorious yet weary, Oléon claims divine favor after its triumph in the Long War. Its theocratic monarchy is bolstered by the Church, and its armies are feared for their discipline and zeal. Now, it turns to consolidate power and expand overseas holdings - particularly in Afar. However, unrest increases in the never quite tamed march of Terra Pontilla, where the heathen natives are eager to throw off the Oléonder yoke. Sub Factions: Afar Trade Outposts | Terra Pontilla Heraldry Flags: Blue Colors: Blue (and white) Sigils: Crowns, Crowned Lions (Blue), Fleur de Lys * * For example. Faction colors are key. Lay of the Land Political Ruler: King Alaric IV the Stormbringer, Chosen of Zeus Capital: Granoleon Government: Absolutist feudal monarchy Faction focus Faction Focus is a roleplaying instrument that helps indicate what a Faction finds important on a quick glance. It can help inspire your builds or shape your stories. The ranking of the Focuses indicates what a Faction finds more important, i.e. the Focus that comes first is most important to a Faction. People and History Traditionally, a typical Oleander's life centers around the values of – traditions. Considering themselves the most culturally advanced people, Oleanders take great pride in their rich heritage of arts and literature. They are generally pious people, living in accordance with the divine rules of the Gods. It is true that the Order of the Faith holds its sway over the people, but that doesn't refrain Oleanders from enjoying life. And especially the nobility is known throughout Halos for celebrating the grandest and most opulent feasts. Some time before the beginning of the Long War, Oléon had launched a crusade into the territory of its southern neighbor, Pontilla, with the intention of bringing the Faith to its people and securing Oléon's southern border from pagan incursions. However, the integration of Terra Pontilla has been difficult and the march remains a wild and untamed place, dangerous to most people venturing into its gloomy mountains and dark forests. More success was gained by Oléonder merchants setting up trade routes to the lucrative spice territories of Afar and beyond. Negotiating successful treaties with local rules, Oléonder trade companies were able to set up a series of small trade outposts along the coast, in order to resupply ship sailing further towards Mogholay. Recently, the Kingdom of Oléon was victorious over its arch nemesis Corrington during the Long War. As such, the Kingdom has been caught up in a wave of national pride with the King and Church basking in glory. Many monuments and memorials are being erected, dedicated to the King and the heroes of the War. Geography Oleon is the largest country on the peninsula, and its land is naturally an important economic factor. Wealth is usually measured in land holdings, and hereditary grants pass on from father to son for generations. In the interior, the rural nobility traditionally resides in prestigious castles, and peasants live in little hamlets, and work for their lords as they have for ages. There are few large cities in the interior, but towards the coast things are beginning to change as innovations are developed. Passing from a rural hamlet with the lord's impressive manor towering over it, to a bustling port town is like going from one world to another. A multitude of coastal hubs have begun to spring up. With oceans bordering Oleon on either side, these towns have become quite numerous, and have contributed to a new emphasis on seafaring. The Order of the Faith has encouraged this emphasis, but is still eager to preserve the traditional social ways by keeping its mystical hold on the people. Example builds [Example MOC or troop build] Real world inspiration and influences Mainly medieval France Future equivalent in BOBS: Oléon Subfactions Sub Factions are for all intents and purposes part of the Main Faction, but they offer the chance at playing a character of a distinct culture or subgroup of the Main Faction. As Sub Faction are mostly less strict in terms of uniform, the overall Faction uniform is of less importance here. What is important is that soldiers or armies of the Sub Factions still fly the main colors/flags of the Main Faction Afar Trade Outposts Vast, rich, and only half-known, the trade outposts in distant Afar are Oléon’s prize and peril. Trade flows, but so do blades and blood. It is a land of opportunity, but you need to be willing to take risks if you wish to reap its rewards. The Afar Trade Outposts are the result of the endeavors of Oléonder merchants and explorers having made trade deals with local Afarian chieftains along the coast. The Outposts are slowly turning into bustling seaports, where trade ships traveling south are resupplied. The Trade Posts are a place for adventurers, a place with little royal intervention and where the heavy hand of the Church has no power. Lay of the Land Political Ruler: Various: Oléonder viceroys, native kings, and warlords Capital: No capital, semi-autonomous entities; Granoleon de jure Real world inspiration and influences The Outposts are based on the earliest colonies along the African coast, mostly founded by Portuguese merchants on their way to India. Another inspiration are the medieval trade connections with the Levant and trade bases in Cyprus and the like. The armed forces of the Trade Posts are usually a mixture of ex-military men, foreign mercenaries and local native auxiliaries. Future equivalent in BOBS: Oléon-owned Guelph (New Oléon) Terra Pontilla Officially a march of the Kingdom of Oléon - conquered by various religious knight orders in decades past, Terra Pontilla is still more wilderness than province. Settlers are mostly soldiers, laborers, or exiles sent to hold the land against the native tribes, who still control much of the countryside. Its dark forests and mountain passes are home to mystery and dread. Distantly related to the Phoideratoi of the Pyrite Empire, the native Pontillans are known to be excellent horsemen and strong warriors, experts at guerrilla warfare. While many of the Pontillan nobility has accepted the Faith, most of the commoners still hold fast to their pagan beliefs. Lay of the Land Political Ruler: Grand Master of the Knights of Poseidon Capital: Taurgas de facto; Granoleon de jure Real world inspiration and influences Pontilla in itself is based upon Central European cultures, such as Poland-Lithuania, Bohemia and Romania, coupled with the rest of the Baltics and medieval Georgia. This is reflected in its geography, which ranges from hard to cross mountain ranges in the east, to deep and dark forests in the south along the Varcosian border and large grassy plains to the west where the land borders the Pyrite Empire. The relation between the Oléonder knightly state and the natives, and the recent history of Terra Pontilla is influenced by the real-world Northern Crusades. Future equivalent in BOBS: Pontilla Want to join the Kingdom of Oléon and bask in wealth and glory? To sign up, post a picture of your signature figure, preferably accompanied by Oléon formal flag colors. You are welcome to include a bit of a description as well. Your signature figure, or sigfig, will represent your character throughout your MOCs within Tales of Old (That does not mean that your sigfig has to be in every MOC you make). Although this is the “Blue” faction, that does not mean that everyone should have a blue-uniformed soldier as sigfig. Within Tales of Old you build your own story – for example, your sigfig could start out as a carpenter that decides to work on a ship.

I give it a minor pass for that given that they didn't pass him up for another Luke or Wedge, and that he's somewhat likely to appear in one of the recurring X-wings.

Yep. Fingers crossed Dutch has the UCS helmet print, that's a $55+ part right now. Still a bit disappointed that the figure list is short compared to the first leaks - lost a pilot and two rebels. Would have been a great opportunity for another Blue Squadron pilot or an updated Biggs print on the normal helmet, and an honor guard.

Any leaks on who the pilots will be/what helmets we're getting in the Yavin and NR starfighter sets? Hopefully we will get one or more of the missing Red Squadron helmets and another U-Wing variation but I'm not holding my breath.

The liason finally arrives!

The lighter bobbed alongside the dock as adjoint Chef de Bataillon Valentin de Glenson marched up the dock to the beat of his drummer. The gold braid epaulettes of a staff officer glistened in the sun. Behind a thick wall of jungle, he could just make out the tops of the buildings of Seawatch - the view rudely interrupted by a slightly inebriated Corrie leftenant waving with one hand, the other occupied by a drink. Not even a salute! de Glenson grimaced internally. Such boors. Ah well. Best foot forward and perhaps their leadership will be better behaved. The enthusiastic young officer mistook de Glenson's forced smile for actual enthusiasm, and began to regale him with tales of derring-do from the recent siege, coming perilously close to spilling his cocktail. "Yes, yes, I'm sure you were quite heroic lad. But best get this show on the road, non?" Trailed by his aide, clerk, a detachment of signallers, and a small honor guard, they struck out for headquarters in Seawatch, the Lieutenant babbling the whole way.

My town had a cobbler shop that also sold model trains until the cobbler retired. Small barber shop Antiques store Cultural organization, like a Suomi-Hall Travel office Phone store Insurance office

The Oleon liason officer in Seawatch, adjoint Chef de Bataillon Valentin de Glenson. I'll be MOCing his arrival but he is detached from the Oleon General Staff, and will have a small team including a clerk, signalers, and an aide.

Torn between white hips and the traditional black hips for my clones. The white hips are definitely growing on me.

A heads up on the new Eiffel Tower set - tons of DBG candlesticks, if you want to replace the metallic ones in your build.

Thanks! As I add crofts, I'm hoping to show the jungle being trimmed away in stages and replaced by worked land. Thank you! Thanks, the stone is slightly parts intensive but very rewarding! And thank you, I'm glad to be back! Thanks, looking forward to seeing what you build for him!