Challenge VI - The Taking of Cedrica

[Garmadon]

Ok, so here is my challenge entry:

"Let me pass, let me pass, I have an important letter for Uridius Dratiphe!"

Looking up from his work, Uridius saw a middle aged messenger, apparently from Valholl, detained by a few of his retainers.

"Let him come," he said.

"Sir," said the messenger, "I have this letter from Elon Chorian. He ordered me to deliver it with all speed." Uridius eyed him questioningly. Having cut open the seal, he read:

Elon Chorian, to Uridius Dratiphe, Royal Architect and soldier of Mitgardia, April 5th

Today I have received news of the taking of Cedrica by Victor. The time has come. We must act quickly to prevent his marching on Valholl. Bring any number of soldiers you can and meet me at Cedrica's lake on the Adeler River. We must take on Victor in his den.

Sincerely yours,

Elon Chorian

Scribbling a short reply, Uridius quickly finished his work. Only a few days later, his entire contingent, swelled by his brother and his retainers as well, marched to the banks of the Adeler, eager to assist in recapturing Cedrica and dethroning Victor. The fate of Historica was in the balance.

The night was pitch dark as the army encamped in front of Cedrica, whose impregnable towers stared down at them mockingly. With it's gigantic walls, under which flowed the waters of the Adeler, it seemed as though the city could hold out for years. As the morning dawned, other Mitgardian armies came into view, among which Steen Larsson's and Glorfindel's stood out conspicuously. That evening, the army commanders joined to decide what the next step should be. Uridius' brother, although usually pessimistic, was a cunning planner, and suggested a strategy that might work. And so for days the army labored, always in the strictest secrecy, digging a vast trench, designed to change the river's course and, if all went well, enter into Cedrica under the very noses of the guards! Finally the time came. The night was moonless, the army stood ready as the last barrier was cut, and the river, long pent up in its course into Cedrica began to empty as it flowed into the lake the army had dug. Under cover of darkness they marched quietly under the walls, taking the hand by surprise, as they flowed into Cedrica.

Quickly taking a portion of the men, Uridius Dratiphe and his brother marched in silence to Victor's banquet hall, where he was known to be holding a feast with his most trusted commanders.

Crash! Crash! And yet again, Crash! The sound of breaking glass filled the room as Victor and his accomplices sprang up in alarm. Through the windows and doors Uridius' soldiers came pouring in, quickly overwhelming Victor's few guards.

Kaïn, who had been present at the banquet, engaged Uridius by throwing all kinds of food at him, but the Mitgardians did not slow down!

Victor, seeing that the day was against him, raised his staff to call more troops, or perhaps an elemental - no one really knows, because before he could do more, a dark cloaked figure slid up, plunging a dagger into his back. Whether the assassin was one of Victor's guests or not has not been discovered, however, availing himself of the momentary confusion, Kaïn slipped out, and escaped the city. Nonetheless, Cedrica has been taken, and the threat of the hand of corruption was gone! Historica was free!

If possible (could ZC or someone help me on this point) I would like to edit this topic tommorrow to add more pics and possibly change the story a little bit. However, if it is not possible,it does not matter to much.

Anyways, I loved building for this challenge!

More pics at my photostream: http://www.flickr.co...tos/robert4168/

C&C are welcome as always.

Edited June 17, 2014 by Garmadon

[robuko]

Great entry, the old marching in the aqueduct trick. It never fails! I love your windows, brilliant idea. The food fight feels very real somehow. What does the old man by the gate think?

[Maxim I]

So much to love in your builds!

The second one for example really looks like it is a micr-build, but then you notice the soldiers marching on and you realise it is a giant build instead! I love it!

And the interior is really splendid :) The windows with the soldiers in are excellent and the foodfight made me laugh :)

[soccerkid6]

Great entry, the riverbed scene is cool, you did a great job detailing the walls but not cluttering them

Love the scene showing the Mitgardians jumping through the windows and the food fight is great

Always fun to see Glorfindel included in other stories too

[SkaForHire]

I really liked the entrance scene, but that banquet scene is really cool! I like the broken windows and the guys coming in, that is just really neat!

[Garmadon]

Great entry, the old marching in the aqueduct trick. It never fails! I love your windows, brilliant idea. The food fight feels very real somehow. What does the old man by the gate think?

Thanks, and as to the old man, he's not really thinking much at all, cause he's sleeping (and drunk )

So much to love in your builds! The second one for example really looks like it is a micr-build, but then you notice the soldiers marching on and you realise it is a giant build instead! I love it! And the interior is really splendid :) The windows with the soldiers in are excellent and the foodfight made me laugh :)

Thanks, DM, making it look like a micro build was unintentional (but I'm glad you like it ). I don't think that the other pics on Flickr have the same effect, if you want to check them out. the windows were a little difficult to make so that the soldiers fit through them. As everyone seems to like the food fight, I glad it occurred to me (it was pretty much a last minute idea ).

Great entry, the riverbed scene is cool, you did a great job detailing the walls but not cluttering them Love the scene showing the Mitgardians jumping through the windows and the food fight is great Always fun to see Glorfindel included in other stories too

Yea, that wall puzzled me for a while. I smash about four or five designs before coming up with this one. And about Glorfindel being in the story, I would have liked to include other sigfigs as well and the other four guilds in the story, but I was in to much of a hurry .

[Kai NRG]

...As everyone seems to like the food fight, I glad it occurred to me (it was pretty much a last minute idea ).

What?! It was my idea! - and of course, that's the best part.

Seriously though, great entry, the details on Cedrica's wall are well done and great posing on the battle scene! And good ending to the story!

[ZCerberus]

What is it you want to change?

[Garmadon]

What is it you want to change?

I was thinking about changing the story a bit to include the other four guilds, which I hadn't done because I ran out of time. But it doesn't really matter, it seems to have turned out pretty good anyways.

[de Gothia]

Well done with this entry! The windows are my favorite part!

[kabel]

Some really cool scenes here! The dry riverbed is really cool as is the indoor scene. Maybe putting a lot of foliage on the brown plates would add more character though!

[Ecclesiastes]

Splendid work Garmadon, I think you outdid yourself! I really like the men marching and the interior is outstanding. The black walls make it very evil, but preventing it being to dark the flags did the job. Also nice posing of the guys coming trough the windows and clever use of the hat as a plate. Keep it up!

"The time has come" Nice interaction!

[Mike S]

Excelent entry Garmadon! I like the river idea!

[Garmadon]

Some really cool scenes here! The dry riverbed is really cool as is the indoor scene. Maybe putting a lot of foliage on the brown plates would add more character though!

Yea, I would have liked to make it a little less plain. However, I don't have much foliage, and green foliage bothered me, because the other plates were dk Green.

Splendid work Garmadon, I think you outdid yourself! I really like the men marching and the interior is outstanding. The black walls make it very evil, but preventing it being to dark the flags did the job. Also nice posing of the guys coming trough the windows and clever use of the hat as a plate. Keep it up!

"The time has come" Nice interaction!

Thanks a lot, Ecc, it means a lot coming from you! The use of the hats for plates occurred to me because I don't have enough gold plates, and the hats tilt, making it look like the feast was disturbed. I was wondering what the letter should say when I thought of that .

Excelent entry Garmadon! I like the river idea!

I actually had the idea first, and then went to look at the Historican map, and, voilà! A river running straight through Cedrica!

[Infernum]

Great work! I love the dry river bed! Nice job!

[Garmadon]

Thanks, Infernum! Here's a teaser That has a lot to do with my challenge VI entry, so here goes:

 

[Gideon]

Nice entry, I especially liked the detailing on the wall and the buildings on the inside.

The interior is also great, the broken windows are a great touch!

[Garmadon]

Thanks Gideon, I'm surprised everyone likes the buildings inside Cedrica so much (they were built at the last minute, at least pretty much).

[Wedge09]

Really nice work :thumbup: In particularly the Victor's banquet hall