SkaForHire

Welcome aboard Mikel! I must have missed your first post since you edited it - Eastgate welcomes all, but it does seem that your idea requires a terrain like Barqa. That being said, the picture you have posted looks to me to be very suitable for Barqa, being our largest port the natural bay is great - I can imagine long lines of ships waiting to clear customs to enter the port or go up the river. If you decide to plant in Eastgate, here is the map. To me, it would most closely resemble #6 The Pearl Tower.

I don't envy his job upon returning - with all these terrific embassies, I don't know how he is going to narrow it down to just 5. I think the guild had a very strong showing this challenge.

Thank you everyone, the Embassy itself has grown on me in the last day, when I sit down to eat I kind of take another look at it - Although it is not what I originally imagined, I like the outcome. I really need to get a better set up to take pictures - although I took the advice to stick a sheet behind this one so that my bookshelves and windows don't distract. I will have to keep playing with the set up - maybe a light tent would help with the white balance?

But it is still inspiring. I can imagine the radiation of power people feel entering before this embassy. I think its is a good front panel design.

That is one very attractive building, I would go as far as saying it was almost "sexy". It is really eye catching, and I think one of the sharpest we have seen. The lights are a great touch, keep up the awesome work! Where do those roof tiles come from?

This build feels right though. As, they could have made this set in the main line of Kingdoms. I like it. Sometimes simple is just as good as detailed. So many of us used 1000s of pieces, I like that this was not as much. Although I dislike most of the prefab trees, and always have :) personal preference though.

I love the unique design of the base - I am too chicken to try anything that doesn't run on right angles with the traditional connections! Your building came out great. Another great addition to Kaliphlin.

Apparently I did not reply yet - What is ridiculous about this build is the top 4th of this could have been an outstanding embassy on its own... This is like a whole city of awesome below that level.

Ok, I did it! Embassy at "Bottom's Run" In the Frozen Tundra of Mitgarida is complete. I wish I could have done more with the ship... but it turns out, with so many of my pieces spread out over three very large MOCs I didn't have much left. (my girlfriend won't let me tear down Al'Derek or the Tower because I hid Christmas gifts for her in the buildings and sent her on a scavenger hunt. Bad idea men, don't hide sentimental gifts [jewelry] in your MOCs... you will never be able to dissemble them.) Anyway, the topic was that link, and here is a preview pic: DSC_1074 by princeofska, on Flickr

Traditionally and historically, only the busiest towns received full fledged ministers or diplomats. Smaller towns usually received a consul, and even smaller towns and trade locations may have been lucky enough to get an official emissary who was also a ship's captain. Often in these cases the captain - usually a naval officer - would travel from port to port of the small country or territory and act as a ambassador at large. For the most part they usually did not have a residence or an embassy - the ship acted as the embassy. In the farthest reaches of the Northern Tundra, Kaliphlin traders have long visited during the summer months to trade walrus ivory, whale blubber, and fine furs for goods of the south. The Mitgardian Jarl's more unruly and more autonomous followers usually lived upon this tundra, and were often the only skilled hunters able to produce large quantities of these luxury goods. For this reason Kaliphlin traders had to interact with these people in order to make a profit. After a few incidents with the northern tribes, it was determined that an ambassador, with armed guards, should be present in the Tundra at all time. Ideally, this ambassador would be someone that has spent a lot of time trading in the Northern Wastes, and had many connections (after all, on the other side of the continent, they were on their own.) A silver tongue and many gifts have built great trading relationships between Kaliphlin merchants and the Northern Tribes. The current Ambassador to the Wastes is Jak Da'el. DSC_1072 by princeofska, on Flickr A hardened veteran of the Great Silk War, he has been a merchant in the employ of the Greater Eastgate Articles and Rations Company for over 20 years. He was a natural choice a few years back when the position became open, and he received the official letter of office last year. Unfortunately, Jak is only allowed to stray from the North once every two years, meaning he is almost constantly stationed up there. As the great Northern sea becomes frozen solid for 7 months of the year, it often means that Jak must stay in the Tundra. This year he was lucky enough to sail his vessel - Luck be a Lass - into one of the small trading centers GEAR has established over the years. DSC_1089 by princeofska, on Flickr This center - Bottom's Run - is the only mortar structure within 50 miles. During the summer months it is a well visited meeting place between the native peoples and GEAR traders. In the paintings below we can see Luck be a Lass boarded up for winter and some of her crew trying to keep the ice off her on this rare winter warm spell (it is a bit above freezing!) Although, snow is still piling up high everywhere it gets knocked off or shoveled. DSC_1059 by princeofska, on Flickr DSC_1085 by princeofska, on Flickr The Trading post, built by GEAR traders about thirty years ago was inspired by architecture of the homeland. Of course the flowing arches and open airways are just not practical in the Tundra, so the outer facade still resembles the graceful sandstone curves of the south (imported actually)while the inner layer, viewable behind the arches takes on a more traditional Mitgardian wooden flare. This is thought to make homesick Kaliphlinites feel a little more comfortable - then again, they probably are not all that comfortable if they are viewing the building from the outside in three feet of snow! DSC_1073 by princeofska, on Flickr DSC_1071 by princeofska, on Flickr A couple of the crew attempt to break down the ice coming off the mast. DSC_1079 by princeofska, on Flickr Knocking ice off the out building. (Penned in for the summer, when live rabbits and brought and traded here.) DSC_1076 by princeofska, on Flickr DSC_1081 by princeofska, on Flickr "Looks like we are eating good tonight, my captain!" DSC_1066 by princeofska, on Flickr DSC_1080 by princeofska, on Flickr More from this set: HERE Well, I was a little rushed - and I learned how hard it was to take pictures of white Lego - I still am kind of happy with how this turned out. I wish I owned more white flats, but heck can't blow the electric bill money on Lego this month! It is too cold. Anyway, it is not as good as our guild's other entries, but I think it makes a decent addition to our collection of embassies. I really wanted to go with that backwater province feel - where basically no one wants to go, obviously Jak upset someone to get this appointment.

Anyone know the exact cutoff time for the challenge? I have my embassy done, but I need to photograph it when I get back from work tonight and then upload the pics. I will definitely be done by the end of the 15th - Central (US) time, but I think this forum is on GMT... Is it ok if it is a little later than midnight forum time?

It sounds like although the administrators of Historica have only committed to 1 whole year, that the event may go on indefinitely - at least that was what I picked up over the last couple months. I think the support base will be there for them to do so. As far as I know, so far there has not been any real world prizes given out in Historica. So I don't think money would be too much of a problem, as there are not going to be prizes in the foreseeable future (Although I could see the value of giving prizes to entice more participation - Perhaps DC could let us know if the administrators of Historica are going to eventually have prizes, so we can do a comparison?) As for manpower that is understandable. Although I believe at least 2 of the 4 guild leaders are not moderators over there, (I could be totally wrong with that). So they did call upon some of the laymen of the forum to help build the competition. With that being said, I can volunteer to be a faction leader and to help get something like this going. I would just prefer it didn't launch for another month or so because of my personal schedule. But that could give us a lot of time to cultivate the project. I think we would need two leaders for each faction, as I think that one of the high stresses of the Historica is the amount of time the guild leaders have to spend sorting and organizing. With cutting that duty in half, it is more likely to find people who are a)willing and b)have the time. So, we would probably need 8 volunteers to help run factions when it started. We probably only need 4 or 5 to get the project started and hammer out details and can bring on the other administrators when it launched. I think there is a general process to get the ball rolling. 1)Start an exploratory post - throwing ideas out there about this, and letting the community discuss it for two weeks. 2)after a week of discussion, pole the forum to find out interest. Also, find 4-5 volunteers to develop the project. 3) If interest is substantial, go ahead into the project development phase. 4) Open up a "map making" competition (Totally stealing that from CC's version of Historica that they are in the middle of creating right now) 5) Release the rules / terms / timeline of the competition to the public. Allow them to start signing up with their sig figs. 6) Begin the event. I can volunteer to take point on this. I just want moderator support and approval before doing anything - since a project like this would mean that we would probably have to have a sub-forum for project related MOCs (Although, I suppose we may be able to get away with just using the MOC forum). I also don't want to be supreme leader, this should be a council ran event, like Historica. No one person should be vital to the project that if they bow out after 6 months the whole thing comes crashing down. So, if we want, I will gladly write up a starter exploratory post and keep tabs on it this weekend. Just let me know.

I know that feeling, I am trying to get my girlfriend to let me finish my embassy before we go out... I guess there is more to life than Lego.

Wow, I am so happy to see such quality embassies coming out of our guild - and at least two great ones today!!! Excellent build! Puts mine to shame! I love the interior, really well done my friend! I like the Mitgardia on bottom, Kaliphlin on top - its meshes well, also the discolored side with the darker tan pattern is really nice looking. You made the offset of color without too much texture work really well.

Haha... I love it. ANd they said Nocturni don't eat food...

Very cool! Simple, well displayed, and a good read. Can I ask where is that head from the demon come from?

I think what you will find is that Avalonia and Mitgardia are the breadbaskets of the continent, with Kaliphlin growing a little bit. It seems Nocturnus does not have much agriculture. However, I could see if these central farmlands were around the capital, that would make sense, since most of that territory seems to be grasslands.

I know, as of right now the King is still alive (may he reign forever) The king also seems to have loyal "central" forces that owe their allegiance to him, although I don't think they have been MOCed. The King has said that he will bring vengeance down on anyone attacking another faction... so that is why we have seen so much peace.

I know what you mean... to build my "kaliphlin" collection of white and tan, it has cost way too much. Even getting lucky at some PAB walls. When I chose Kaliphlin, I figured I would just stock up on PQ and PoP sets at cheap discounted prices. Well I missed the period where target discounted them, and TRU still hasn't bothered to discount them even know they still have a ton around here. So I spent most of my money on Bricklink. Funny enough, the whole reason I didn't originally join Avalonia was because I thought it would be too expensive to buy trees! Also, on the subject of buying Lego second hand - I never have any luck at garage sales! No one ever has Lego it seems. Also, it seems like the bulk lots on ebay are getting more and more expensive (There are probably too many of us here bidding against one another!)

My critique was the same... but I understand being short pieces for sure. Great job here. I wish I had some of the color palette you have in plates... that swamp water looks nasty! Great job.

After looking at all your mosaic pieces I have determined my next purchase needs to be cheese wedges... Are they just placed in there unsupported? How long does that take?

Wow. Spectacular. We are going to miss your embassy attempt for sure, but thank you for this gorgeous scene.

I have been trying to figure how to brickbuild a dome for the last few months... Could you possible take a few closer pics and let us in on your secret? Fantastic building! A palace is definitely on my list of to builds - I think yours is the first in a long line of awesome Kaliphlin palaces to come (I believe DaMaximas is next?)

I have been a long time lurker over there. That might make me join, if for any reason, just to occasionally build outside of Kaliphlin. I have not read that thread in a few days, but I was hoping that they would come to a consensus and create a second continent in the same world as GoH, and run some joint competitions. Maybe in a year we could have a war of the worlds! One concern I had was that two competitions might siphon builders from one site to the other and maybe end up the death of one or both of these projects. However, constant promotion of both events and a friendly attitude towards each other should be enough to keep that from happening I think. I hope our terrific map makers don't get pilfered though... that would be a true loss! EDIT: I forgot the whole reason I wanted to post. Just to say that the new challenge you all have sounds great! I can't wait to see some of the results, maybe we will copy your guild challenge.

And seriously, we need to get enough entries that we don't have to use the mess-terpiece I am attempting. It is awful. Haha. So please everyone post an embassy!