SkaForHire

Definitely an interesting built, I agree, not so much for human sacrifice - but you are from Nocturnis...

I would say around 60% of my main collection is pirates. The rest is adventurers, castle, and Wild West. For my secondary collection (the one not in storage that I have available to me) I would say only around 10%

Well, it is now twice as big as it was originally. Pretty cool! THe piece selection last week had some tan and dark blue, but nothing else really screamed Kaliphlin to me. Hopefully you have better luck.

I was at Downtown Disney last week on vacation, I noticed their wall had many of the same elements the two Dallas stores have that I regularly visit. Of course, their wall is 4 times bigger than the larger of the two Dallas stores. Also, I tend to visit our Legoland imagination center, as it has been noted already, it is ran by Merlin Entertainment. I find that their PAB wall is lacking, but often has different items than the actual Lego stores. Also, a word of caution from a former Disney employee, try to hit Downtown Disney before 11AM, otherwise you will be fighting with tourists, kids, and anyone else that wanted to eat lunch in DD and not one of the parks that day. The Lego store there has a bunch of new displays, so it is worth a peak just for that. Good luck!

Wow. NM. Just WOW. I hope you do build this, that is amazing. What I had in mind does not really hold a candle to that. I can't wait to see it in bricks. About the competition, sorry I was on vacation the last week and a half, so I missed the original announcement, but congratulations gabe! Also, were our five towers ever announced? I am just wondering what were our entries as I think the other guild leaders may have made their decisions public, but I can't find ours. Of course I have about 200 new posts to look through (which I can't do right now because I should be catching up on my grading...) so there might be a post somewhere about this. I would appreciate if someone could link it for me. Anyway great job Kaliphlin! Let's take the number 1 spot this next time!

I agree this should be awesome. I like the idea of a Oriental town set in the middle mountainous bay... I can picture the lotus blossoms now... I really liked the story!

I really like the fence... that is really cool.

LMAO! Yeah, I think I rather buy the hair pieces on bricklink than go into the store and buy it... Although I do have nieces that I can use as an "excuse"

Most of my modern stuff is fleshie, it doesn't really bother me, other than when I try to customize figs, finding cheap flesh hands are the worst. But I have no problem with them side by side, I always imagined them just different pigmentations. Now friends... that would be an interesting army. Maybe brickforge will make some Friends armor? hahaha.

I actually thing it looks quite good... it has a traditional cavalier or 17th century French look, at least I think. Although, it looks somewhat like Weird Al, but then again, Weird Al's hair could belong to a cavalier or a French man.

Thank you! I know, I need to do something about backgrounds - I keep shooting these large builds on that table, and it just isn't working. After my vacation next week, I will have to shop for some cheep white sheets.

My character is actually a former privateer too, and orchestrates a pretty large fleet of privateers... er, I mean tradesmen. (sort of like Jean Laffite and the Baratraian Pirates of New Orleans fame.) So I think we can accept you with pretty open arms!

Hmmm, well now I just want to scrap the boat I have been working on out of shame, this is fantastic! I love the feel of this vessel and the waves are excellent. Great job! The sea monster is funny too. I don't think I have ever seen that many blue slopes in one place... One question, and it really doesn't matter as this is a good looking boat, but do catamarans normally have two masts? Yours looks awesome, and even if they don't of course this could be specifically Kaliphlin in style, I was wondering from a historic perspective, as I don't remember the answer myself.

Welcome back! I think we were successful in holding down the fort while you were gone. The tourist board of Lost Vega may not like that we leave them off the maps, but our small towns that must be visited to locate the mysterious city will profit greatly. I think a Kaliphlin full size poster could be a very cool idea indeed. There are enough printing companies online that we could probably do this pretty cheap. Yeah, I seem to have stories a plenty - before going to get a PhD in uselessness, I was about a stones-throw away from trying my hand as a fantasy author. I still have a few manuscripts propping up a table (literally) that I never sent away! Gex, I think I have heard that version of the story too. Like you said, who really knows. I know that I am not going to go looking for this treasure myself, out in the oilfields I need all the cooperation from the sands I can get. No use upsetting a possible sand god.

I suppose we could say Al'Derak is on the Oil Road, halfway between Au'ban Dran and the Cedrica Road

Hmmm... let's see if I can whip something up. ------------------------- Grandpa MacLean used to tell us a story of days when the South ruled the world, it was a tale of caution and betrayal, one that every Kaliphlinite has heard in some form.... Over 1000 years ago the spires of the great capital of the Southern Empire rose into the plains air like a second Rakath Mountain range. Gold glistened from the tall towers, and it was said that wealth rained on those residing in Kaligem (Or insert fabled name here). The city, and its surrounding empire ruled the great southern grasslands of the continent. Controlling the vast supply of fresh water lakes and ancient forests within its borders . The continent was very different in those days. It was not as cold in Mitgardia, Avalonia was full of a fairy folk rarely seen today, and no great desert stretched at any place on the continent. There came a time, at the height of their power that the great Sultans of Kaligem were closing in on completing the last land conquests upon the continent. They even began a more central city, Cedrica, in order to consolidate their holdings and centrally rule the continent. The idea was to spread the wealth of Kaligem throughout the whole world, even if that meant through force. The Sultans were not generally greedy, but it was their custom to outdo their father or predecessor in terms of conquest, wealth, and charity. So at the tip of their power, they ruled almost all of the present continent. The last holdout was that of a dark wizard and his undying army in the East. The Sultan Satani b'Rack Ji'Fall of the House Satani, decided to make a final push on the Darkland Bastion known as Everlast. It was not to be. In the coldest months of winter Kaligem forces arrived at the 100 foot walls of Everlast. It is said that during the first winter of that siege the great wolves of the darklands dined on over 1000 soldiers. Meanwhile, back in the great city came turmoil. Ji'Fall's son Santani Ar'Mani Ji'Teel had decided that change would come to the Kaligem. Kaligem was a place of his father, and his father's father. He was sure that being the next in line to inherit such a vast empire that Cedrica would make a greater home. However, the wealth was not in that fledgling city, it was in Kaligem. So as father froze against the walls of Everlast, caravans of jewels and gold flowed out of Kaligem and to Cedrica. It was at this time that the first great walls of what would later be nicknamed the "central fortress" were constructed in Cedrica. It was said that Ji'Teel began to construct his palace out of raw gold, taken from Kaligem. It was to be the most magnificent building in the world. The second year of the siege of Everlast went worse than the first winter. The Dark Wizard's forces sallied forth and broke the siege temporarily. Ji'Fall was forced to regroup in the Rakath Mountains for two months. At this time the Dark Wizard escaped. It is said that the wizard took the form of a Kaligem advisor, and took to the court of the younger Ji'Teel. As the treasure of Kaligem trickled farther away from its armies and its heart, and into the new city, the people of Kaligem started to cry out to their leader in protest. Meanwhile, the Dark Wizard posing as Mizou the advisor convinced Ji'Teel that he needed even more treasure to complete his palace at Cedrica. However, Ji'Teel had already emptied the coffers of Kaligem, and the only large source of treasure left in the city was within the temple of Bonash. Bonash, the deity of Kaligem, the patron of the city, and the only deity with a major temple within the original borders of the Southern Empire, was the god of three things - wealth, trade, and sand. (Sand was originally associated with wealth, because weights were made with sandbags, and one would need these weights to accurately measure quantities of gold and trade.) For nearly a thousand years the Sultans had held a feast in the early spring where every Kaligem citizen was required to give wealth back to Bonash. So it was no surprise that the vast basement store pit in the temple held riches to rival the city's official coffers. Mizou convinced Ji'Teel to empty this pit, telling him that let superstitions stay with this past city, Cedrica has no place for imaginary deities. So Ji'Teel did so. As the caravans left the city, Mizou dissapeared from the records and it had been reported that the Dark Wizard had returned to Everlast. Ji'Fall's army was upon the walls of the black city again, but this time they were prepared. Siege equipment scaled some of the outworks, and slowly the city began to fall. It was at that point that Bonash appeared to the Dark Wizard. Not knowing that Mizou and the Dark Wizard were one in the same, Bonash sought out the greatest enemy of Kaligem to help instill his revenge on the ungrateful city. Bonash proposed that he instantly transport the entire undying army to the gates of Kaligem to wreak havoc on the city. The Dark Wizard knew it was a dangerous game to play along with a spurned god, but he also wanted to save Everlast, so he agreed. It was about this time that missives were arriving to Ja'Fall outside the gates of Everlast. Ja'Fall knowing how important Bonash yelled at the messenger -"Go double-quick back to Kaligem and tell every resident to give twice this year's offering to the temple! start with this!" As he plucked the golden crown of Kaliphlin off his head and put it into the messenger's arms. "We must appease Bonash." It was five days later that the city of Everlast was eerily quiet. The first morning assault found no resistance, and soon the Kaligem army was riding within the walls of the city. Immediately Sultan Santani knew what had happened. He ordered 100 men to stay behind and fortify the city, and he began the long march home. Bonash knew of this long march, and anticipated the Sultan's return. He decided to rain something else upon the armies and citizens of Kaligem; sand. A large sand storm hit the army on its first day, so out of place and massive that the army could not tell its direction. On the third day of the march they ran right back into the walls of Everlast. Meanwhile the undying army was inside Kaligem. Ja'Teel attempted to lead the town guard against the oncoming army but he was slain on the third day of the invasion. On the fifth day of the invasion the messenger from the sultan arrived. He instructed the citizens of their King's orders, many believing that the assault was the resault of pillaging the temple found their way through the war zone to the temple to donate. Many of the peasents were slain on the temple steps, and the giant treasure pit filled with gold and the blood of Kaligem. The citizens of Kaligem fought on in their homes, in the streets, and in their fortresses drawing the Dark Wizard to a stalemate for over a month. Meanwhile the Sultan and his army fought through sand storm after sandstorm to get back to Kaligem. It is said they circled the city so much in their attempt to find home that great deserts appeared within the realm. Finally, the Sultan made it within miles of home. The Dark Wizard, knowing the great Kaligem army would be upon him soon, took the form of Mizou once more in order to convince the citizens to take back their money from the temple in hopes that it would anger Bonash enough to finally smite the Kaligem army. However, Bonash was in his temple that day. He liked the gold and blood given to him as a sacrifice, and he was thinking about banishing the undying army and sparing the city. He saw Mizou for who he really was, the Dark Wizard. The two were locked into combat at that moment. Using magiks so vile against one another that they are unheard of since the duel took place. The sand let up, as Bonash used his powers to fight the great and powerful Dark Wizard, and the Sultan entered the city. His men began to turn back the undying army and it looked as Kaligem was to be saved. But at the moment Santani arrived at the temple two things were revealed. The Dark Wizard was actually the god Ashroth, lord of fire and coal. Second, it seemed that Ashroth was Bonash's better, as the wealth deity began to weaken. The Sultan wasted no time, he ran forward and plunged his sword into the side of Ashroth, and many of his top lieutenants followed him. The Sultan was the last to die, but he was conscious just long enough to see Bonash call down his greatest fury. A wall of sand came from the North, West, South and East, crashing over the city of Kaligem - higher than its highest spire - and into the temple. The four waves crushed Ashroth, killing him as he turned to glass. Unfortunately, Bonash, too weak to remove the sand buried himself deep in the depths of the now lost city. Very few survived the waves of sand, those who did knew never to incur the wrath of the gods again. A great treasure lay in the sands covering the temple of Kaligem, but no one that was there that day would dare try to retrieve it. A few wise families living outside of Cedrica heard the story and took over the naturally defendable plot of land. They melted down Ja'Teel's palace and used the money to create a great fortified city as the chaos of Kaligem falling spread like wildfire throughout the world. The continent broke, factions appeared and fought against one another, total chaos amongst the races broke out, and soon war was all the world knew for a thousand more years. Today, Old women tell children the tale of Kaligem as a moral lesson, but many believe it is all truth. Some Kaliphlins still give offering to Bonash, in respect of his power and sacrifice to destroy Ashroth. Some cults look for the old lost city to dig up their deity and return him to the world. Others look for the city to find its riches. Still others will not enter the areas of the desert thought to contain the city. The family Santani is cursed still. Most of their decedents have long changed their name. No one wants associated with the foolish and greedy prince who brought upon the wrath of the immortal sand god. And of course, the desert still stretches across the entire south of the continent.

The problem with that is that I already have Eastgate ;) I did not want to hog more cities! This began as just an oasis and grew to a town, but I figure we probably have room for a bunch of small towns. Also, anyone who wants can "add" to it if they want. Also, I could see a small consulate or two there for the mining interests of other guilds. I like having no restrictions on building, so my MOCs have been all over the place. My next free build are going to be the shipyards at Eastgate I think. But first I will build my embassy I think.

I definitely second this entire post, I think that is how we have been running, and it is working smoothly.

Thanks for the site, if only I could find a Wal-mart that still has Lego period. All of the stores around me seem only to have a very small bit of Star Wars and nothing else, really would like to get my hands on some more Kingdoms.

That is a good idea, on my next bricklink order I will have to look into those. Also, something I have build needs to come down, the Tower and this town take up almost all of my tan and all of my white, and the embassy I plan to start after my vacation next week is going to be in Mitgardia, so I will need at least the white. No, Lost Vega was thrown around in the guild thread even before I joined, it might actually be a joke, I am not sure though.

Where is that blue coat admiral from? I have seen the redcoat, but I don't remember his counterpart.

Thank you! I know, the balconies are funny, I had absolutely nothing to make railings, and I am not even sure how I would go about doing it at that angle. The goblets with a 1x1 round flat piece looked ornamental, but don't really provide much function. Still, I needed some sort of rail, so that is what I came up with. I don't remember seeing a technique for making rail at an angle like that, any body with an idea on this? As for where the town is located, If I knew where Lost Vega was, I could place it on the map! :) Until Kaliphlin decides where that is, it may be hard to find this town.

hehe, where were you two days ago! Just kidding, Ok, here is some feedback: What PP version is this for? The condition templates don't work very well on 2007, so I was wondering if this was made in PP 2010? With that said, the first two parts work really well. I feel like you could have closer colors to the Lego palette though. Still, really cool. Once it comes down to symbols, I think you need to get better images. Most of the images are cut with some surrounding white that does not look clean. Also, some of the images, like the current lion knights shield, are not shot straight on. You can tell this if you try to overlay the lion shield on vertical stripes. It is slightly tilted to the left. So, if this is something you will be working on, I think finding new or better images would be a top priority. I can't comment on the condition thing because I couldn't use all of it for some reason. With all that said, this is a really cool tool that you are developing. Now, what to print these on??? I was almost thinking about getting overhead projector sheets (if they even still make those!)to print on. That could produce some interesting plastic flags, that would match the quality of the last Lego orc flag.

Exactly, that is why my brother Petera is so concerned! The town is overrun by foreigners! We will have to fire the current magistrate.

Ok, Al'Derak is finished and the thread is posted. I hope you all enjoy. NM, when you next update the map, go ahead and throw it on the map anywhere... Since I have no idea where Lost Vega actually is! I kind of think Lost Vega should be under the shadow of the lone mountain, or at least in sight of it. The sign was originally a joke that my brother who was visiting built and stuck on top of my oasis I was building. I modified it and kept it because I thought it was funny. The architecture of the main buildings is what I envision some of Eastgate looking like. The actual layout looks a lot cooler than the pictures made it seem... I almost kept adding on baseplates to build more town - although, as I ran out of tan and white, the buildings would have started to become grey and then black, so I decided I better stop. I actually cut out a bunch of tents to be more housing, but decided against using them in the end. DSC_0909 by princeofska, on Flickr