Through The Vast Sea

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OverLoad
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Through The Vast Sea

Post by OverLoad »

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Through The Vast Sea by GrayOverload, on Flickr

It was nearly dawn when Cordelia awoke, with Robert standing beside her bed. He was dressed in a maroon tunic patterned with beige flowers, some of his best attire. He had his typical confident grin on his face, a sign that gave Cordelia comfort despite her standings.

“Your Radiance, it is time to get up. We mustn’t keep the vessel waiting long. You know how antsy sailors get in dock.” Robert chimed, almost like a bird.

Groaning, the princess sat up in her bed. “Is it time already?” she pondered aloud, a hint of dread evident in her tone.

“Yes, but of course, Your Radiance! Come on now, you must get dressed! We have to get on the open sea sometime!” Robert stated, his cheerfulness a stark contrast to Cordelia’s dismal outlook. It was going to be some time out on the open sea, to a destination Cordelia was less than fond of.

When she was dressed, she strolled out into one of the less used hallways of the castle of Gothilir. An old castle on the sea, Gothilir stood as one of the major ports on the northern coast of the Middle Lion Kingdom. Its town was given the same name, but the two were separate entities. Gothilir village was a pleasant hamlet of good-natured village folk and traders. Gothilir castle was a monstrous fortress built on the edge of the shore, with many towers and hard stonewalls.

Too many towers. Cordelia thought. Towers devoid of life, where death and anguish reside in the blackened chambers.

“I received a message from your brother today, Your Radiance.” Robert said as they walked towards the end of the long hallway. “The formation of the Empire was successful, official as of the first of January, 514 SY. Your father reigns as Emperor for the time being, but your brother writes that his health is failing fast. I sent your regards should your father pass before we return.”

“And let me guess, Thomas is eager to get his hands on the freshly imperialized throne?” Cordelia said with a sarcastic tone. Her brother was very much arrogant and lusted for power among all else. Power and war. What a brute. She thought.

“Now now, we mustn’t be saying that about the heir to the throne, Your Radiance.” Robert chirped, swaying his hands wildly as he spoke. “He was kind enough to arrange this betrothal for you, as well as the accommodations to get there. I’ve sent the messenger to thank him for us, and I’ve sent word to the Lord of Gothilir thanking us for the hospice we have been shown.”

Yes, he was certainly kind. Cordelia rolled her eyes. Kind enough to send me away to the frozen north, kind enough to essentially bar me from having any sort of say in the royal affairs from this day forth. Yes, kind is certainly the word to describe Thomas.

As the two of them stepped out into the morning air, they were greeted by the salty smell of the open sea. Frigid as it was, the Icy Sea was a very calm expanse of water, and it provided much in the way of trade for the Middle Lion Kingdom. It provided a perfect route from Gothilir to the shores of the Wyvern Kingdom far in the Northern Continent.

Cordelia frowned as she realized the vessel was not before her. Instead, those boarding were required to row themselves out to the ship, which waited further out in the harbor. Soldiers with the lion emblem on their tunics loaded up the rowboats with various goods to bring along, and prepped themselves mentally for the long journey that lay ahead.

“Why is it that all of this must be a secret mission, Robert?” Cordelia asked. The entire voyage to this point had been covert or otherwise concealed. There was no evidence of them having entered Gothilir, and their exit was out of a secret doorway in an often abandoned portion of the castle.

“Your uncle thought it wise to keep your travels on a need to know basis. With the formation of the Lion Empire, the tendency for violence is expected to be a possibility. With your safety in mind, Your Radiance, the comings and goings of our crew are, for all intents and purposes, nonexistent.” Robert said proudly. Although he had been Cordelia’s advisor and friend for all her life, he was often a creature of obedience. His allegiance was always the royal family of the Lion Kingdoms, with his kinship for Cordelia taking second place in order of importance.

Sighing, the princess stepped down to the lower docks. A vessel had been procured for her and Robert. Separate from the rowboat that carried most of her guards, this boat had an ornately carved chair at its rear, with a white cushion and scarlet fabric sewn around parts of it.

A throne for the princess thrown from her home. Cordelia thought dryly. At least I’ll be comfortable.

Robert beckoned for her to step into the vessel. She did, and the rowboats pushed themselves away, off onto the cog that would bring the princess to her betrothed, whoever it may be…


More photos on Brickshelf. This is the first chapter of my newest story, A Lion In The Wyvern's Nest, featuring a whole new cast of characters in the Nortlen, and featuring locations I have had rolling around in my mind and in various supplemental stories to the Nortlen, but have yet to build. C&C welcome. :)
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mpoh98
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Re: Through The Vast Sea

Post by mpoh98 »

Another great story, with a great build to go along with it! The minifig posing is great, and the texture on the castle wall is fantastic!
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Sir Erathor
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Re: Through The Vast Sea

Post by Sir Erathor »

Really good work here! I think the rocks next to those walls look great :)
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Re: Through The Vast Sea

Post by AK_Brickster »

A few minor critiques, if I may...

It looks like you ran out of 1x1 studs once you got a little bit past the elevation of the top of the door. Having a few more in the upper portion of the wall would make it look more consistent (though perhaps it was meant to reflect that lower sections of the wall would be more worn than upper sections?).

The window elevations don't seem to make sense relative to the door. They are too high to be first floor windows, but too low to be second floor windows. I actually admit that the randomness actually looks visually interesting, but maybe there is a way to check both boxes?

The transition between light and dark gray right in the middle section is too smooth. You did a great job on either side with the rocks and it would have been nice to continue that with the middle section as well.

I would suggest flipping the barrel 180 so that we see the brown bottom instead of the dark gray "lid". It blends in with the rocks behind it, and I didn't even see it at first.

You have a lot of good things going on as well, those are just my nitpicks ;)

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OverLoad
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Re: Through The Vast Sea

Post by OverLoad »

AK_Brickster wrote:A few minor critiques, if I may...
You certainly may!
It looks like you ran out of 1x1 studs once you got a little bit past the elevation of the top of the door. Having a few more in the upper portion of the wall would make it look more consistent (though perhaps it was meant to reflect that lower sections of the wall would be more worn than upper sections?).
It was entirely intentional. The lower portions of the castle, being on the sea and all, I felt were more exposed to the waves and tossing and turning of the sea, in turn being more worn. I thought about continuing with the 1x1s all the way up (believe me, I certainly did not run out, I probably have more light bley 1x1s than I need. :lol: ), but decided against it.
The window elevations don't seem to make sense relative to the door. They are too high to be first floor windows, but too low to be second floor windows. I actually admit that the randomness actually looks visually interesting, but maybe there is a way to check both boxes?
I see what you mean with them not matching any floor. I wanted to give a little variety (through variable height and width) while still keeping them above the rocks (too close would have seemed off, IMO). But I'll keep that in mind for when I next build towers and castle with windows, that's something I normally don't think of!
The transition between light and dark gray right in the middle section is too smooth. You did a great job on either side with the rocks and it would have been nice to continue that with the middle section as well.
Yes, I too didn't quite like the way that turned out. I wanted to be able to use the staircase, and It was a bit difficult getting slopes to not look too awkward being the stairs to the dock, but I suppose I could have moved the staircase out a bit with another dock.
I would suggest flipping the barrel 180 so that we see the brown bottom instead of the dark gray "lid". It blends in with the rocks behind it, and I didn't even see it at first.
I see where you are coming from, but from the angle I was building this scene, it looked like if I kept the lid brown it would have been too much brown. Black yielded a similar result of having too much dark concentrated in one area. I understand how the photo's angle makes it seem blended that way though, and it's a fair point to make.
You have a lot of good things going on as well, those are just my nitpicks ;)
I really appreciate the time spent on this critique! Thank you very much! And thank you everyone else for commenting as well. :)
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