-SPOTLIGHT- Grim Isle

Hello Crafty Miners and welcome back for another edition of Spotlight. This week we travel to the barter town of Grim Isle to explore the history and architecture of this small community.

Built on a small island, Grim Isle was originally home to the poorest people of Grimshire whom had begun trading with travelers that passed along the main road connecting to their former home. Before long a barter town sprung up and soon more and more people flocked to the island in hopes of making a gainful living.  Houses were built wherever space could be found until the homes were just barely clinging to the island. 

When Sam Co. established a factory in the neighboring Grimshire, it was also decided that the island be made an official Trading Post. A new road was constructed with bridges making Grim Isle a stopping point for travelers. 

In recent times, the introduction of horses has changed how roads are constructed. Unable to expand the existing structure, the new horse trail road has had to bypass the island. Hopes are for the inhabitants that the new bypass will not permanently draw away travelers from their town, but only time can tell.

We hope you have enjoyed this look at Grim Isle. Thank you for your support and for your comments. They are much appreciated. Be sure to join our Google+ community so you can get future updates ASAP. You are all awesome! Until we meet again, Happy Crafting!

-SPOTLIGHT- The Transfer Station

Welcome back Crafty Miners to the World of RAAR!

Today we travel to the borders between The Imperial Empire, Trevoria and Riah-topia where a remote rail hub stands firmly planted in the midst of a vast ocean. The Transfer Station was originally built on a simple cobblestone platform that protruded from the ocean floor. It allowed the original Imperial Rail Line to connect with a small island known as Ender Island and further to the distant shores of another continent where once stood the frontier outpost, Fort Dodge.  

When the kingdoms of Trevoria and Riah-topia were created, the Transfer Station became an important rail hub, where travelers could switch trains to any of the three realms. This required the station to be upgraded to include for a map, automatic rail car dispensers and most importantly, more walking space. 

Shortly after the upgrade was completed, a giant squid emerged from the ocean deep causing widespread panic. However, this was short lived when it was revealed that the squid was actually very friendly and  a vegetarian. To ensure the enormous squid would not go on a destructive rampage, residents of nearby Imperial City decided to feed the squid a plethora of trees each day. So far, the creature has remained docile next to the Transfer Station.

The Transfer Station is currently owned and operated by the Trans-Hub Corporation who acquired the station in order to expand their transportation network. Interviews with Trans-Hub Corporation executives have revealed a future expansion may be in store to incorporate a canal linkup and walkway large enough for RAARians to ride horses on. No date has been set for when the upgrade may happen.

We hope have enjoyed this Spotlight. Please feel free to leave a comment and join our Google+ community to share your creations and stories. Until we meet again, Happy Crafting!

ORIGINAL TRANSFER STATION

UPGRADED TRANSFER STATION

-World of Raar News!- Apr. 25, 2014

Welcome back Crafty Miners! It's Friday, which means time for the weekly News. Let's get to it.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

Construction crews started back to work this week at the Monson Heights building site located in the downtown core of Imperial City. Progress included finishing the exterior walls and construction of the roof of the building. The roof design calls for an Art Deco spire to match the rest of the building. Once the roof is complete, construction on the interior is expected to then begin. No word yet on when.

MODERNIZING

In the land of Riah-topiah, Little Owl Girl has begun redesigning her island paradise. Over the years, animals have been attracted to the island and eventually they overtook it. To regain control, a mass purge of the overrun animal population was required. With the grisly task completed, she began to redesign her existing home, giving it a more modern flair. The interior was also gutted and plans for a new layout have already been put in the works.

ARCHITECTURE IN GLASS

Lord TNT has continued to oversee the progress of his cathedral in Trevoria. This week, construction crews hoisted up the latest stained glass creation and secured it in it's new home at the center of the entrance tower. It is not known what the next step will be in this monstrous building, but one thing is clear, the attention to detail remains stunning.

STABLE-IZING STALLS

Horse stalls have begun to be installed inside Lady TNT's enormous breeding stable. The stable, which has seen much of the exterior completed to this point, looks to have construction crews moved indoors for the next while. According to sources, Little Owl Girl has been aiding Lady TNT in her design efforts.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

Hope you all have enjoyed this week's news, spotlights and updates. Make sure you check out the Google+ community page and join in the conversation. It's all about fun. Let us know what spotlights you'd like to see or what the next YouTube video should be. Thanks for all the support.

Until we meet again, Happy Crafting!

~RAAR News Team

-SPOTLIGHT- Castle Campbell

Hello Crafty Miners! Welcome to our latest Spotlight build. Today we explore the historic Castle Campbell which lies deep in the heart of The Imperial Empire. The castle rests upon the height of a stone capped island situated in an open bay. Once the location of epic battles, it now acts as a tourist attraction for the inhabitants of the World of Raar.


Access to this magnificent structure requires a walk along a gently sloped spiral road to the gatehouse far above the landscape, then across a lowered drawbridge that spans the distance across the great divide. Once within the main walls, you can look out across the sea to a dense forest in the east, the mountains of the south or the emerging cityscape of Imperial City in the west.

Inside the main tower fortress there are several vacant floors, however a secret lies on the main floor. With a flip of the switch, a hidden staircase that leads underneath the castle mount will appear. Currently, beneath the castle is a train station that connects to the Imperial rail line, but rumor has it that a cavern of crypts lies buried somewhere deeper inside the mountainous base, waiting to be discovered one day.

At the rear of the castle sits a quaint little chapel temple which is currently in need of restoration since it was gutted shortly after a creeper war long ago. The exterior, however, is in perfect condition and awaits a proper interior in time.

We hope you have enjoyed this Spotlight and if you did, check us out at all these links below:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Till we meet again, Happy Caching!

-Spotlight- Lantern Rock Harbor

Hello again, Crafty Miners. For this week's spotlight, we travel far to the west of Jursammic Park, to an isolated island with some very unique features. Lantern Rock Harbour is a tranquil and humble home of the Swig Jiggers, a friendly sort of fishermen folk who inhabit the small island. Bright vibrant colored homes gives this place an inviting feel. To guide the boats home, a large lantern was hung from the jut of rock that cantilevers over the ocean below. It's beams of light penetrate even the darkest nights and wildest storms.

Rumors of days long past tell stories of pirates travelling to the island and hiding their booty within the hollow caverns of Lantern Rock. We met up with a local expert, Gordoff, who told us of these tales from the deep. He mentioned that to date the only things ever recovered from the ominous caverns is a chest full of fishing rods and a barrel full of squid cakes. He also told us of a saucy pirate dance they used to perform in the old days. Eager to display his heritage, Gordoff proceeded to walk to the end of the pier and dance a strange jig and sing what sounded like a rejected drunken sea shanty leaving us to wonder if this man was really an expert on the island or just the village idiot. Rumored also were sheep that inhabited the island, but we were unable to spot any in our brief stay.

Till next time, Happy Crafting!