[COR-Ch2B] Water Party

[Ayrlego]

Challenge II, Category B - Water Party

Lieutenant Jonathon Stewart led his small party of marines and sailors inland. Their ship, the large sloop HMS Tenacious, was anchored in the wide bay of this uncharted island. Lieutenant Stewart’s party were on an expedition to follow a small creek upstream far enough to replenish the sloop’s water supply as the water at the creek’s mouth was too brackish to use. The air was heavy and sticky, and the sound of insects was almost deafening as the party fought its way through the jungle. After thirty minutes of hacking and cursing, Lieutenant Stewart declared the water fresh enough and the sailors began to fill the barrels that they had dragged alone with them. The Marines set up a loose picket, and took turns to assist the sailors with the barrels.

Lieutenant Stewart was nervous. It wasn’t just the abundant rumours that the new islands were full of savage cannibalistic natives or lawless and wild Sea Rat bands, or the unfamiliar and un-nerving jungle. It was the young 19 year old Lieutenant’s first solo command after his family purchased his commission earlier in the year. His superior officer, a Captain of Marines, was confined to his bunk on Tenacious with a sweating fever, so this expedition had fallen on his shoulders. Although his experience didn’t allow him to realise it, Lieutenant Stewart was fortunate that his Sergeant was an extremely able and experienced marine who ensured the men under his command were well trained and disciplined. Sergeant Bill Woodhouse ensured the pickets were alert, and despite the humid conditions, their powder was dry and their muskets well cleaned and in good order. This was probably just as well, as although none of the marines were aware of it yet, they were being watched.

Sergeant Woodhouse was checking his flint when, without warning, muskets crashed from the tree line and powder smoke filled the air. Amazingly only one sailor was hit in this initial volley. His experienced ear immediately recognised that the volley was a small one, probably only a dozen firearms at most and not all muskets. Lieutenant Stewart seemed frozen, his jaw working up and down but no words coming out. “Marines independent fire” bellowed Sergeant Woodhouse. Before the command was completed however, desperate figures burst from the tree line. Wild, un-kept men dressed in tattered western clothes and carrying an assortment of arms came crashing towards the patrol. Sergeant Woodhouse raised his musket and fired in one smooth motion. Several of his marines also got shots off before the fight descended into a desperate hand to hand melee.

With no time to fix bayonets, muskets were used as clubs as the redcoats and sea rats savagely clashed. Lieutenant Steward found his senses as a wild one-eyed pirate charged directly at him. Somehow the youth managed to raise his pistol and dispatch the pirate with a hastily aimed shot. Unfortunately the fallen pirate was followed by another, and as Lieutenant Steward fumbled trying to draw his sword, he saw his life coming to an end in the form of the snarling pirate, brandishing a heavy cutlass. His sword finally free of his scabbard, too late, no time to parry he closed his eyes as the cutlass came down to seal his fate. The crash of a nearby musket and the pirate was jerked backwards at the last second. His near death seemed to fuel the Lieutenant with rage. He would not die in this god’s forsaken hell. Screaming an incoherent battle cry, he charged into the fray.

Despite the fury of the attack, the training, equipment and general health of the marines soon gained the upper hand over the ragged band of pirates. The survivors broke off and fled back into the jungle almost as quickly as they had appeared. The enraged Lieutenant Stewart charged after them, the order for his men to begin the pursuit was forming on his lips when Sergeant Woodhouse firmly gripped him on the shoulder. Wildly, the young Lieutenant swang around to face the force preventing him chasing down these impertinent attackers. “Sir!” boomed the Sergeant in his parade ground voice, then slightly lower “Sir, your orders to form line and hold while we assess the situation?” The tactfully framed half question - half order, caused the Lieutenant to pause. The battle fury slowly draining from him, his mouth dry and hands shaking, sanity returned to Lieutenant Stewart. “Ah… yes Sergeant, um, make it so..” Although the Lieutenant couldn’t yet see it, the marines had already followed their Sergeants instruction, whilst the sailors tended to the wounded. A marine stood over a groaning, wounded sea rat. “Looks like we have a live one to question Sarge” remarked the marine.

For the Corlander expedition, it would appear re-provisioning would be more arduous than first thought.

[Captain Dee]

Fantastic jungle and very well-written story. All those trees and bushes and other plants make a beautiful dense scene. You managed to turn the mundane task of filling the water barrels into a tremendous action scene. The stream and little rocky ledge look nice too. Good work.

And naturally those redcoats would dispatch any threat from a bunch of rowdy, undisciplined sea dogs.

[CelesAurivern]

Superb all-out melee shown in 4 steps. The density of the vegetation is very realistic.

Definitely a title contender for Cat2B.

[TitusV]

Lovely vegetation! altough the bank looks great too, your plants and trees are superb

[Tomsche]

Awesome looking foliage and a very nice story, good work!

[Kai NRG]

Beautiful vegetation! I never can get my green to pop like that when I take it against a white background! The combination of palm trees and the other kind of leaves looks really nice and good job with the exciting story!

[Elostirion]

You came here to be among the best in challenge 2 as well - and you delivered. Amazing work. High quality vegetation, perfectly fitting atmosphere, nice action and story, just really well done overall.

[BrickOn]

Really great story, I enjoyed reading. And a fantastic jungle scene for it to play out in. Nice entry :-)

[SilentWolf]

The story is great, but the scenery and foliage are amazing. It looks very much like a real jungle!

[blackdeathgr]

Yay! A nice story and as always excellent surroundings and foliage!

[Fuzzy MacFuzz]

This is a really great build. Lovely jungle scenery even before the story got going...and then a great story, beautifully depicted.

I will be entering this challenge as well but having seen your entry I know I have no chance! Well, I'll enjoy the build anyway.

Edited March 22, 2016 by Fuzzy MacFuzz

[Ayrlego]

Thanks everyone for the comments, this is probably one of my biggest builds yet and certainly the most densely vegetated - I've used pretty much all my vegetation (and dark tan plates) in the one build, so unfortunately I'm going to have to break it up to enter Cat A! I'm quite pleased with the way it came out, so glad you guys enjoyed it.

Beautiful vegetation! I never can get my green to pop like that when I take it against a white background!

I too struggled with this for a long time. White Fang gave me some great advice and I now find that as long as my lighting was good to begin with, increasing the brightness and contrast a little helps the green (and other colours - but most importantly the green - to 'pop')

You came here to be among the best in challenge 2 as well - and you delivered.

I must admit, I did feel the pressure of challenge 1 breathing down my neck!!!

This is a really great build. Lovely jungle scenery even before the story got going...and then a great story, beautifully depicted.

I must admit I was stumped for ideas for this challenge, then all of a sudden I wrote the story - which for me is surprising, usually the story is the thing I cobble together in the rush to post. Anyway after writing the story, the build just followed.

[Matthias]

You may heard it thousand timees, but the vegetaion is awesome. Ich will definatly copy a lot, when I whant to make a jungle. :wub:

[Puvel]

This is stunning on all fronts! You have my respect good sir

[Captain Braunsfeld]

That is an excellent entry, story- and picture-wise!

[Jacob Nion]

Great vegetation! I can feel the adventures hiding in this jungle! But the Corrie soldiers must be lightweights, gliding over the grass

[Garmadon]

Excellent story and wonderful vegetation, Ayrlego, and great job portraying the action as well! The photography is superb as well, and the water and bank are well done too My one piece of advice is that, if you have the room on your backdrop for the pictures, taking them from a bit of an angle would help the presentation even more. Great job all around!

[Bregir]

Beautiful landscaping and "jungling", Ayrlego - you are quite a hand with the greenstuff!

My favourite part, though, was reading the story - I really think you have a knack for turning out a good story, with some great characters! And the way you illustrate it with the different poses is just brilliant.

Another contender for the challenge, I believe! Althoug I hope winning isn't going to be the main objective for the builders in BoBS!

[halixon]

The foliage is so lush! It's the best i've seen!

[Kolonialbeamter]

How dare I miss to comment on this beauty! Shame, shame, shame...

That's one of the finest landscaping and foliage efforts I've seen here

All the different levels of vegetation, the transition between rocks and earth, the SNOTed base - just remarkable!

And not to forget minifig placement, storyline... this has it all!!

Top entry

[Dzoni90]

This is really cool. Vegetation is amazing

[Gideon]

Great jungle foliage, and I quite like the SNOTed shoreline as well