GoH 10 B: Back to Svalg Keep

[Louis of Nutwood]

Back to Svalg Keep

To the very end of a treacherous dirt road, west of the Bay of Storms, lay a small fortress called Svalg Keep. The fortress was erected by the Old Men, where the winds were heavy, the temperature was low, and no man had reason to pass by. For behind those doors, nested only chaos and destruction.

My stallion trotted through icy roads, as small bits of the fortress appeared between the snow-covered pines. The dim light of the lanterns that kept Svalg Keep alive looked blurred and weak from a distance. The more we approached, more it looked old and forgotten.

I have been here before and promised never to return. Never to open the gates of chaos. Never to access the memories I prayed to forget.

“But there is such joy in chaos. Stow all the world's evils behind a door and tell men that they must never, ever, open the door. And it will be opened because there is pure joy in destruction.”

As I stood by the gates of Svalg Keep, the wind whispered a desperate cry, hustling through the trees and fading in the distance. Iron chains hugged tight to the rusty handles, to ensure what was in, would never come out.  

I chuckled. Every path would lead me here. Where everything began.

For chaos and destruction live in every warrior’s soul. And only amidst chaos, we can find our peace.

 

 

 

Built for Guilds of Historica's Anniversary Challenge, Category B: Old but Gold

_________

I've built Svalg Keep back in 2019.
By the time, I had just started writing my own stories. The castle came alive as I built it the first time -- much more alive in my imagination. And I've always wanted to revisit it. 
It was also my first build to be featured. That build made me start interacting with you guys and the LEGO community in general. And I believe it was my entry-ticket to the Guilds of Historica. Re-imagining that build was a way to revisit those days I got introduced in the frozen lands of Mitgardia, my proud and heartfelt homeland.

That's my way of saying thank you.
For years of fun-creative-building-storytelling time. 

Here is the old (but gold) version:

 

 

Hope you like it, folks. 
I've made some considerable adaptations. But luckily you can grasp the resemblance.
Let me know what you think.

Skol!
Louis of Nutwood

[T-86(swe)]

A very cool build. You’ve really nailed the technique for an impressive texture for the keep, and a master of the art of snow! The droid-vines are perfect and the waves in the water are great too.

 

Skål! 

Edited April 1, 2023 by T-86(swe)

[Grover]

Funny enough, I really enjoyed your original build.  This is obviously larger, and you have progressed as a builder, but the original is quite nice and stands on its own in my opinion.  I do, however, really appreciate that you can tell this is a remake of the original build, an improvement without deviating from the original intent.  You have really captured the cold feeling with the outstanding snowcover and the icy looking waters. The multiple arch bridge leading to the gate is great, and I love the signpost.  The new larger towers are more rounded, and you do something well that you have always done, which is to use multiple elevations. This is not an easy think to achieve, and your builds really look nice, plus give the viewer the feeling of being in the mountainous Mitgardia.  I miss the fall trees a little from the original build, although I understand why you didn't include them.  The picture of the falcon on the roof is great, and I like that you made it level with the ground instead of the roofline.  Your droid arm vines look great, giving more of a frozen, dormant-for-winter look than the brown whip vines that signal more current growth to me, which lends more to the winter feel.  Does this new version have an interior the way the old build did?  I always enjoy seeing your builds and reading the latest part of the story!

Edited April 1, 2023 by Grover

[Kai NRG]

So crisp!  The water is a really great addition to bring in some color, and I also really like the black vines.  The original MOC was great too, but I think you can definitely see that the new one is better laid out--and the edited shots are super cool!

[Ecclesiastes]

Great upgrade. The placement of the gate, the wooden roof on both of the towers, and the roots on the wall where previously the trees were are all recognizable. It's also shows how your building style has evolved, very neat to see!