In this lovely machinima, ColeMarie Soliel has brilliantly captured a selection of the moments that made up Fantasy Faire, giving us all chance to remember the places and the people and the events that made up this year’s Fantasy Faire.
Enjoy!
Category Archives: Fairelands
Posts about the Fairelands themselves: sim teasers, descriptions, sim builder interviews.
Ursula And The Pink Froggy Hat
Monday evening saw the big closing party at the Faire, and Tuesday morning I had to go to work after a long weekend spent between two worlds, the tangible and the virtual one… well, maybe the balance was tilted a wee bit more towards the Fairelands, but only a wee lil bit. A teeny-weeny wee lil bit, you know.
I caught a very early train and, being the polite commuter that I am, I promptly reached for my lovely new pink hat with the froggies to take it off, and for a brief second it crossed my mind that I should also curl up my fluorescent pink Burbaglur antennae, as the light might disturb my fellow passengers. (Pssst… if you don’t know what, better to say who a Burbaglur is, ask Kilik Lekvoda. He will be happy to help…)
Then I almost slapped my forehead in realisation. Damn. I was traveling on a RL train, and the only body parts I could curl or fold or bend were my RL limbs… and the funny pink hat with the froggies was left behind in another realm.
Yes, Dear Reader, this year I could spend more time in the Fairelands than ever before, thanks to some well-placed RL holidays… and boy, did I live life to the fullest. I talked a lot. A lot, I say… I met creators I had previously known only by name, who turned out to be nice, smart and funny people. I rode the Candy Bus together with a black unicorn, the driver’s seat occupied by a penguin. I modelled at a Mermaid group picture shoot.
I went to a jail-and-bail where I ended up in the cage with the tag “Jailbird” above my head, and I shared my prison with some tiny cats and a bathtub full of bottled beer. I received so many wonderful gifts, and I also handed out some. I saw breathtaking dance and theatrical performances. I chatted, I laughed (a lot!), I shot pictures, I was standing around in the Fairelands in absolute awe of the genius that made them emerge from the mists.
It is a weird coincidence (but do coincidences exist at all?) that the scheduled topic to discuss with my med students in class during Fantasy Faire Week is one of the toughest and most difficult… end-of-life issues. How to communicate with terminally ill patients, how to face and manage the hardest kind of loss, the loss of a human life.
I always bring many, many stories with me from the Fairelands… life stories told between a Deera stampede and a Gangnam-dancing flashmob, burdened with suffering and pain, both physical and psychological, memories from hospital visits, the gut-wrenching fear before the result of a biopsy is revealed… and I also tell my students how you relay, Faire Folk, how you are able to find immense pleasure in what you do, how you appreciate the moments of shadow-free mirth. I have been enjoying the Faire differently, too, ever since I got the diagnosis of “The Big C”… because serene moments are dear and precious for us, Reader, and our laughter rings with this deep understanding.
… by the way, I know a small milliner shop in town. Maybe, if I bring a nice picture, they can make me a pink hat with froggies perching on the brim… just like the one I wear when I’m a cute pink Burbaglur in Second Life.
Once upon a time…
….an angry god caused a huge flood. The giant wave destroyed civilizations, extinguished mythical creatures, and washed off all colour on the surface of the earth….
And so begins the story of Opal Flight, the place for Art and Entertainment on the Fairelands, created by Haveit Neox and Lillia Artis. (read this interview with these great builders, for the rest of the story!)
Opal Flight is that place you go to and dive underwater to enjoy the art, the fish and the colours. A perfect spot to unwind after exploring and/or partying or to float about when waking up!
Oh and in case you think you need to hurry, as today is the last day of the Fantasy Faire: fear not, here is a surprise!
Even though our planned programming is ending with a six hour closing party on Monday, May 1 from 1-7pm SLT, there is no reason to be sad because we have the Fairelands to roam around until THURSDAY the 4th of May!
As long as the Fairelands are here, the quest is playable and shopping and exploring encouraged!
Event times and places
Silent Auction ends on Monday, 3 PM SLT
Live Auction on Sunday, 2 – 4 PM SLT in Opal Flight
The Song of the Spirit Pool
The Spirit Pool by Kayle Matzerath, Fantasy Faire 2017
Since the dawn of the First Age, when the peoples of the world started counting the passage of Time, we have been here. Keepers of the waters; guardians of Life’s Way; shepherds to those seeking rest as their Path leads to the gates of Beyond.
Carved from the living rock above the waters and below the outspread arms of the Goddess, our halls are open to all, from above or below the waves. Like time itself, our waters flow outwards from their beginning in the hills, passing through tunnel and channel as they seeking the Spirit Pool, while the ebb and flow of landfolk and seafolk mark the beat of the citadel’s heart.
The Spirit Pool by Kayle Matzerath, Fantasy Faire 2017
To some we are a place of commerce, folded between land and sea. To those seeking Answers or uncertain of their way as their years wane, we are a place of Sanctuary and peace. The waters of the Spirit Pool offer rest and clarity of vision and thought to those who seek either.
As the world turns, so we have seen the rise and fall of many; but while the years fall like leaves from a bough and the ages unfold as the petals of the flower, we remain. These walls, ancient before the world grew old, tire not. Though countless thousands of feet have walked our piers and halls, the stone beneath them does not fade nor wear. Our banners do not fade.
The Spirit Pool by Kayle Matzerath, Fantasy Faire 2017
“Timeless” some might call it; but that would infer we have escaped time. But how do you escape something to which you’ve never been held in thrall? We simply Are; and that is why the weary, the lost, the lingering souls caught between one realm and the next, find their way to us.
Beneath the Goddess’ outstretched arms, within the shade of covered terraces and walks, guided by the lanterns held aloft by the Handmaidens of the Pool or within the waters of the Pool itself, all who are uncertain, all who seek reset before passing beyond the realm of the physical, are welcome here.
The Spirit Pool by Kayle Matzerath, Fantasy Faire 2017
As a trader or traveller coming to this citadel for commerce, you may not see them moving among the people here, but we do. Our promises is to care for them, provide the peace they need so that they may hear their own calling. We do not offer direction; we do not encourage passage one way or the other. Each of those bound by time must make their own choice as to which path they will take.
That is how it always has been, here in the midst of the Spirit Pool, and it is how it always will be. We greet you now as friend and traveller, and offer our halls as a place of trading and meetings. And we will welcome you again, one day, when your spirit is in need of rest and your thoughts in need of focus, when the Spirit Pool calls to you once more.
The Spirit Pool by Kayle Matzerath, Fantasy Faire 2017
SLurl Details
- The Spirit Pool (rated: Moderate) Fantasy Faire, April 20th-30th, 2017
The Very Latest From Ynys Seamaide at The Spirit Pool: April 27th
Thursday April 27th
The Ritual Yields an Answer…And a God!
The Envoys of Seamaide made their way to the Spirit Pool once more.
They arrived to news that an aide from another land had found the last two elemental artifacts. Having all four in hand, the old Druid cast a circle and called on a beautiful female to play the ritual music on her flute.
As the music began, the Lord of the Wyldes and other Envoys, plus a foreign dignitary, took positions at the four cardinal points of the circle, each in front of one of the elemental crystals.
The Tavern Mistress Elayne called upon the spirits of the Air.
The Harbour Mistress Laila called upon the spirits of the Water.
The foreigner who had aided them many times thus far, the male known as Ktahdn, called upon the spirits of the Earth.
And the Lord of the Wyldes himself called upon the spirits of Fire to help them.
After an exhausting period of chanting and flute playing, the God of the Sea, Lugh himself, appeared in the middle of the circle.
With his aid, the Envoys were able to decipher the next step in their quest and identify the person who would be called upon to complete the task. The child Cairann was instructed by Lugh:
“Cast the stone with all your might at the forehead of the dragon, little one. And when it falls, the rest of you must cut its heart from its chest and place it upon the circle where I stand before the heart stops beating. Then you may perform the ritual upon this scroll to cleanse it. Only then may it be returned to where it belongs to heal that which is unclean. But be warned there is a price.”
Roleplay News from The Lilypods at Mudrana: April 27th
Thursday April 27th
Enemy Mine-r, Mr. Biggins
The Lilypods confronted the dark spirits and heard their dire warnings for themselves. Tepic of the Lilypods confronted them, stating the warnings sounded like the spirits worked for the Unweaver. They did not deny their allegiance to their dark master.
The Lilypods refused to heed these warnings, and were discussing a way to find the Sunrise Gem, even though it was a gem only an enemy of Mudrana could find.
As they discussed the possibilities they soon heard the sound of rock breaking, and discovered a man with the audacity to dig into the mountain of the Godfrog! They surrounded the intruder with hostility as the stranger waved his pickax menacingly and said the statue was in his way. Matthew the Lilypod struck the man in the knee with a stick making him fall.
The children soon had the man overwhelmed and talking. His name was Mr. Biggins, and he was looking for a gem to get back home with. The Grandmaster had taken his gem hunting device for himself where it had broken into pieces. He was intending to take a gem from the Godfrog’s mountain, which risked weakening the entire Land of the Lilypad.
The man had made himself an enemy to Mudrana, and it was then that the children realized that they could use him to find the Sunrise gem.
Mr. Biggins, who was tired of getting hit by Matthew’s stick, agreed that if they fixed his device he would help them find the gem they needed as well. They searched high and low, and Azura the Lilypod found two of the missing pieces, but no one could find the control box.
It wasn’t until Matthew stumbled upon their lost guardian, Strifeclaw, that they found that she had discovered it. After telling them why she had turned to stone, she gave the Lilypods the box they needed.
The allies of Mudrana were apprehensive as they offered the device to Mr. Biggins, and a few who had just arrived did not think they should put any faith into an ‘enemy of Mudrana’.
The device made awful noises that hurt the sensitive ears of many of the Lilypods, but they followed the man in circles, growing ever more distrustful and angry as they followed. Finally, he stopped and looked at a flower.
He said that the gem was in the flower. Though skeptical, the Lilypods raised their horns to call forth the Sunrise gem with their music.
The flower opened up and the Sunrise gem emerged, showing that the woman poisoned the Frog Prince, and in his last moments the Pook turned into a frog and ate the woman after shrinking her as well. He then turned to stone.
Mr. Biggins took his device to look for a gem of his own, but as he left the spirits returned to issue their dire warnings. The Lilypods and their allies as one chased them away. With their enemies gone, the children went to what they believed was the Frog Prince statue.
They made plans to thwart the Unweavers threats to make the Godfrog fall asleep, by planning a loud race the next day, while the Guardians of Air and Earth stones prepared a Woading to break it open.
Join the Lilypods for racing on Friday, and help them keep the Godfrog entertained and awake as the Unweaver tries to make the sickness in the land spread.
LitFest Tours Part 1: Tales from Mudrana
Over the last week, Fairelanders have been joining tours of individual lands and telling stories about them. These we will be preserving on this website – and some will be made into special tales to be recorded for Fantasy Faire radio. We’re also going to share some of these stories here, starting with Tales from Mudrana.
A Story from Mudrana
by FidgetsWidgets
It was a big frog to be sure …
Well, that was an understatement. It was HUGE! And Fidget was having third and fourth thoughts about her plan.
Still, if she wanted to ride the dragonflies, she had to get to them. And to get to them, well a particular kind of Dinkie bravery was required.
Taking a deep breath; whiskers a-quiver, she put one paw in front of the other and began the climb.
A steady drone of noise from the frogs and the flying things played in her ears … helping to steady her focus on the green slimey moss that was growing on the surface of the godfrog statue.
Wafting up from the purple-centered blooms was a delicate fruity scent, while the yellow-centered blooms on the other side had a kind of mineral quality to their sniff.
She was fortunate in that — because if either one of them had smelled of chocolate or bacon … well! Climbing would have been an impossibility.
So up, and up, and up, and up, and up she went …
And at just that moment, the lands began to quake, the HUGE godfrog began swaying … was it a katastrophy for our brave Dinkie?
Some blame it on a monster they call Lag. Others blame it on something called Knew Servers.
And if you want to hear the rest? My deary … you’ll have to ask her yourself! I suggest you lay down a trail of gummi worms to draw her attention.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Perils of Youth: a Tale of Mudrana
by Lyr Lobo, aka Cynthia Calongne
Fantasy Faire 2017
“Come back here!” Esme said, her roar sounding fierce.
Mynx knew better than to stop. She knew Esme would follow, but at a snail’s pace. Instead, her gaze drifted to the lilies where the light twinkled, a strange haze that drew her deeper.
She danced across the lilypods, feeling them shift in the water as her feet dashed over them. The leaves swayed, displaying wee frogs that stared as she danced past. They croaked a song unfamiliar to her.
The lilypods rose to form a graceful trail, lining the hill. A distant light flashed above them, beckoning her to draw near. Mesmerized, she took a few steps, only to snap out of her reverie as Esme called to her.
“Do not go up that hill without me. Mynx! I’m warning you. I’m going home if you don’t slow down this instant!”
Unwilling to go alone, Mynx turned to wait for her. Exasperation fueled her next words.
“Getting too fat to catch me, Esme?” she said, glancing back to see if it worked. She knew how to goad her. They were childhood friends, approaching the edge of womanhood, which took a lot longer than they would admit. Feminine and at the brink of their power, the two girls couldn’t be more different.
Mynx was tall, athletic and strong. She looked good, but her tomboy ways kept interested parties at bay. In contrast, Esme was luscious, a ripening peach that turned many a head. It was only her hesitant manner, fed by a lack of confidence that made would be suitors pass her by.
Mynx stamped her foot as she watched Esme tiptoe from one lilypod to the next. Her gait resembled an old woman, cautious as she stepped onto one and tapped the next with her toe, testing to see if it would hold her weight. This was going to take all day!
“Come on, already. They’re safe. I ran over them, fast as I could! You can do it!” Mynx said, growling.
Esme frowned as she inspected the next pod, tapping it with one foot on it before shifting her weight to test it.
“Oh my sweet beehive, at this rate, it will take forever!” said Mynx, growling. “I’m not going to wait much longer.”
As Esme stepped on the next lilypod, a frog jumped, landing next to her. “Ribbit,” said the frog, his eyes bulging. He wore a fancy vest and a top hat, but Mynx saw that his lower half was bare.
Mynx’s eyes narrowed, not due to the roguish frog. She saw her friend fall on her backside, landing hard on the leaf as it rolled beneath her. The side she sat on dipped low into the water. Esme clung to it as her foot kicked against the water.
“Dashed plucky frogs,” Mynx snarled under her breath before hollering, “Come on already. Quit fooling around and get up here!”
It must have worked. Esme prodded the frog with her toe, nudging at his belly, but her foot slipped from its target and landed in his crotch.
“Ribbit!” said the frog, roaring in pain as he retreated to the next pad.
Esme knelt on one knee, preparing to stand. She cried out as she slipped, the water splashed around her, making the leaf slippery. She lost her grip and slid toward the water.
The frog’s tongue whipped out and snapped around her ankle. He yanked her back onto the lilypod as she shrieked and kicked at him.
“Ow!” said the Frog as he tugged with his tongue, dragging Esme flat on her face. Alarmed, Esme cried out as she rolled over and kicked at him.
“Get off of me,” she hollered.
Mynx, fearing for her friend, broke her disguise and snapped open her wings. She flew fast, swooping at the maligned frog, who yanked back his sticky tongue, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. Any other time, she would have enjoyed the sight, but Esme let out another cry.
Her placid friend lost her grip on the slippery lilypod and slipped from into the water.
Mynx flew fast, grabbing her by the ankle as Esme’s head dipped under the water. She strained she flew, her wings beating fast. Her friend was no dainty miss dry, she thought as she struggled to carry her wet friend.
They flew up to the summit of the rise, where Mynx dropped Esme onto the grassy hill.
“Ow!” said Esme, turning to glare at her.
Mynx fluttered to the ground, coiling her wings back into their hiding place. She sat down next to her friend and let her toes wiggle in the soft, strange grass that twitched as she settled onto it. The scene played across her mind, and a laugh escaped her.
Esme friend gaped at her. “How can you laugh?” Esme looked so bedraggled that Mynx let out a roar of laughter. The once beautiful curls were dripping wet, and a wet leaf stuck to Esme’s eyebrow.
“It’s not funny,” said Esme, shaking the wet curls out of her face.
“Oh, but it is. Your frog prince came to your rescue. What did you do? You kicked him. And not in a good way.”
“Did not!”
“You sure did. Whatever hope he had for a family is now a thing of the past.” Mynx laughed so hard that tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
They sat back, dazed by the mishap. After a few moments, Esme grinned.
Behind her, Mynx noticed the hapless frog hopping up the path. Her giggles grew as she caught sight of his soggy top hat.
He announced to no one in particular.
“Fine. This is the thanks I get — a swift kick in the unmentionables followed by whiplash of the tongue. Females! You’ll be the death of me,” said the frog, gesturing at them with his cane.
A deep rumble shook the ground beneath them. The hill pitched and rolled as it drew back. Mynx grabbed Esme with her right hand and buried the frog under the crook of her arm, ignoring their protests. She took to the air, her wings straining to elude the new threat.
The ground rolled back as two eyes, one green and one blue, stared at them. The frog in her arms squirmed, his little feet kicking at her arm as he tried to jump.
“I am alive,” said the Frog King, his voice reverberating as he wiggled a sticky tongue at them.
