An elvish bard makes merry on the streets of Dandelume

Swedish builder T-86 never misses a chance to enter a medieval building challenge. And when possible, this LEGO storyteller uses a challenge to reveal a new piece of the fantasy world of Dandelume. The builder’s latest addition is diorama and scenes featuring Bryndon the Bard, a fixture of the sprawling stone city. Here on the steps to old town, we see the city’s oldest wall and the interplay of rich and poor at this busy gate. T-86 references older builds in color schemes and lore while making the location feel specific and new.

Even though the majority of the build is grey bricks, T-86 packs it with sophisticated techniques that keep it visually interesting. The sidewalk mosaic uses a mix of tiles and cheese slopes in alternating orientations to make concentric rings. And the arches made from loosely fitted headlight bricks looks wonderful.

Last year, T-86 create a stretch of wall outside the city showing Dandelume in the fall.

This modular-sized old dockside scene is one of my favorite of T-86’s builds for both the detail and sublte coloring. The dovecote on the roof is cozy addition, and the woman sweeping away rats make the setting feel so alive.

Even a vignette is a chance to expand the city’s lore. Here we see a courtyard for the nobility.

Finally, this incredible illuminated scene depicts a founding myth of the fictional city with the elf Dand El Alume finding solace.

For three years the story of Dandelume has continued to expand. What secrets of this world of elves and men will T-86 reveal next?