The Dragons Guard

Darkness… penetrated only by a few torches, the glow of the lava well and the reflection off the hoard. The hoard, and a few fragile eggs that couldn’t be moved, they’re why she’s here, guard duty.

Under normal circumstances this wouldn’t even be an issue, the Dragons do it instinctively. However when the time comes that Mortals can enter the Faire, that doesn’t really work; since the Dragon instinctive response is to just to breathe intruders to cinders. So after a few unfortunate incidents, the Dragon Council agreed to keep away from the paths the Mortals trod during this period. Obviously that meant someone had to guard this stuff, if a Mortal were to take an extra souvenir from the chamber… it wouldn’t go well for the mortal race after that. At least it’s quiet and warm down here, blissful when you’re cold-blooded, but that’s why her race got the job; she won’t pass out from the heat of the lava well. The draconis are also the only humanoid race the Dragon Council will trust, due to their distant genetic history that no-one seems to know the origins of, but accepts because fireproof scales for skin counts for something.

At that point one of the gates opens and interrupts her thoughts, a mortal comes down the steps into a pool of light and sees her standing there. She points with her staff at the opposite gateway “Greetings Fairelander, do not dally here, on your way, please.”

Credits:

Literary Fetival: Poetry Reading by Sidhe Fairelander

Sidhe Fairelander

Earlier today I atteneded a poetry reading by Sidhe Fairelander of poetry she composed for Relay of Life.

Reading from a Chronicle of Gwath by Sidhe Fairelander
Sidhe Fairelander has written a volume of poetry for Relay for Life since 2020. During the first 10 days of the Faire she writes as many poems as she can including every region and as many people as possible. Songs of the Faire 
In addition, she has also been writing verse for last year and this, celebrating the work of Amethyst Ytelde and Scarlet Fey in creating the story of Mithlumen over the centuries.Her second of two readings from her very special Chronicles takes place today.
Gwath is Chapter 4 of the Mithlumen Series ~ This is a realm where intrigue reigns supreme and style meets sophistication in the dark elegance of the Dark Elves.  Dare to embrace the living night of Gwath, the enigmatic world that stands defiantly as the fierce rival of Mithlumen.

You can pick up copies of the Gwath Chronicles Chapters 1 & 2 for 0L by clicking the poster frames on the wall through the archways.

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Gwath/118/156/66

Gwath Region Tour

Last night was the LitFest Tour of Gwath, the Region in this years Faire sponsored by Scarlet Fey. Since my first purchase in the Faire was the Gwath armour, I just had to go along.

Scarlet Fey
Amethyst

Our hosts and the Region builders; Scarlet Fey (Sari6t) & Amethyst Ytelde (Jeanette Doobie)

Header Image Outfit Credits:

Quills & Curiosities Team – Jail n Bail

On Tuesday I attended the Jail n Bail event of Dacien and Marcel Blackwood, builders of the Nox Aetherna region in this years Fantasy Faire. The Fairelands Watch hauled them in for questioning over a suspected Ruckus? To the soundtrack provided DJ Ketsui Naiboo, Fairelanders gathered to cast their votes as to whether giant bats should be allowed to roam the Faire, by paying RFL Donation vendors. As always at Jail n Bail events, a fun time was had and plenty of donations made!

The Airship Captain – Heading to The Fairelands

The Airship awaits her, hovering just above Bloodrose Castle waiting to set sail for the Fairelands. Of course the downside of airships like this one is boarding them. Since landing can be tricky, it’s much easier to take a balloon up to it, which gives you a fabulous view of the majestic vessel.

Credits:

  • Outfit & Balloon: Jazabelle – Airship Captain
  • Airship: {EP} The Majestic Revived by Ketsui Naidoo

Store location links will be added once the Faire opens on the 17th of April at Noon SLT.

24 Hours to go and counting down!

Judgement of the Errant Chronicler

The Mists are growing thin as the time when the Fairelands and the Mortal Realm will overlap for a spell approaches. Some select mortals, Builders and Merchants, have been permitted ahead to prepare the way for the masses of Fairelanders that will join them soon.

There is another group who may enter the Faire, at an allocated time to herald its arrival the day before; the Chroniclers.

We Chroniclers are reminded each year as the Faire draws ever closer, not to enter until the signal is given by the Lady Sonya. Presumably something nasty happens to errant Chroniclers that disobey this creed, but we don’t know what.

I purely by chance was reading the relevant section in the Bloggers instructions notecard at the same time as I unpacked this outfit by Jazabelle from the Blogger room.  It’s called “The Sword of Justice” and made me wonder about those past errant Chroniclers,  might the scene above be similar to that of their Judgement?

Close-Up of crown and mask
HUD that adjusts outfit style

Credits:

  • Outfit: Sword of Justice – Jazabelle
  • Mask: Golden Age Masque FF 2025 – Whymsical Market
  • Non-Faire setting: DRD Bloodrcroft Throne

Store location links will be added once the Faire opens on the 17th of April at Noon SLT.

See you at the Faire!

Paper People Prank – Evolution not Revolution, but a success?

On the 29th of March (not 1st of April) the list of creators involved in something called “Project Mesh Revolution” was revealed via a post on Flickr, it’s quite a list.

Project Mesh Revolution - Creator Reveal

I’m now wondering how many of them are still glad they joined in on the prank. Since it would seem that not all of them read the application form thoroughly.

I spoke to a couple of fellow bloggers before the release, who had varying opinions:

I can’t help but think it’s an April fools joke.

With another having the counter view

If it’s an elaborate April fool they’re gonna lose a lot of customers

I had my suspicions though, which I voiced in the discussion with one of the bloggers:

Seems I wasn’t totally off the mark

So at Midnight SLT on April Fools day, the group notice goes out and everyone piles into the various stores to get their free bodies, heads and apparel. I would guess some were laughing and some were crying when they unpacked their haul.

What actually got released was basically a pair of paper doll avatars, which have been around for years, just with changeable outfits and apparel from the listed creators. This is a key difference, the avatar genre has evolved to include easy modification, with this set of bodies.

There seemed to be a divide in opinion as to whether this was a totally upsetting letdown or an amusing prank that they were cute(ish) dolls.

Reading the group chat on the day, you’d have thought this was a totally new concept and Salt Peppermint was a genius for coming up with it, but it’s not. Paper doll avatars have been around for quite some time. Some examples would be those made by Paper Friends, whose store parcel was claimed in 2014 and a range of paper avatars by MOoh!.

The PMR avatars however do bring easy customisation back to Second Life, akin to the early 2000s when people made perfectly acceptable avatars for the time on the default system body using clothing layers, now known as Bakes-on-Mesh (BoM) layers.

Writing this a week after the release, the interest in these avatars doesn’t seem to have slowed down, based on the activity in the dedicated Discord server and the amount of search results now showing on Markerplace.

There was a claim made on Facebook that new users had signed up specifically because of these avatars availability. While anything that brings new residents into SL is good, when I asked Linden Lab if there were stats that support this claim, I was told: “We’ve seen a slight up-tick in returning residents”. I’d say that’s still a positive.

You can get these bodies on the Marketplace:

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/PMR-Cardboard-body-head-CARDY-by-SP/27028090 – Female Body

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/PMR-Cardboard-body-head-CARDO-by-SP/27028089 – Male Body

Preparing for the Faire 2025, by unpacking 2024!

It’s always good to start with a clean slate when starting something new, I’m sure most people would agree with that. At Fantasy Faire however you collect a LOT of stuff, especially if you complete the annual Quest.  Sadly some may or may not see virtual daylight from within the depths of your Inventory, remaining in their boxes for eternity.

So this year I’m attending an “Unpacking Party”, which I believe involves everyone digging out all the stuff from last year that you never opened, to the accompony of DJ’s and in the company of other Fairelanders.

Well, I did get some stuff unpacked in the hour I was there, but there’s still plenty to be dug out! So not quite a clean slate yet, but who knows I might have time to do the rest before the Faire…maybe?

Celenor

Standing at the inland end of the pier,Ava glances at the ominous black doorway at the far end and ignores it, focussing her attention on the bright light in the fog.

Slowly as she walks through the mist,a stone circle becomes visible, the light she had seen was at its centre. Carefully she circles the stones, you never know what, who, where or even when might be on the inside.

Part way around she notices that one of the stones has fallen or been laid down deliberately, a sigh of relief escapes her, the circle is broken; so relatively safe.

When Ava entered the circle however, there appeared to be a woman next to the light. She whispers a few words that start Ava pondering, then in the blink of an eye, she is gone.

Continuing on her way she notes the entrance to a cave in the nearby cliff as she comes to the shore of the sea, leading to a small harbour and a cosy hut for a rest from wandering.

This is a beautiful place to wander around if you want some quiet peace. The firelit cave is particularly charming, a nice place to chat with a friend.

For anyone wondering where the ominous black door on the pier leads..have a look. Be warned however there’s not a Teleporter to get you back, so maybe go there last.

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Celenor/159/170/21