Update April 27th: there is now an interview with Shadow’s Claw builder Laufey Markstein available on the Fantasy Faire website.
Shadow’s Claw is a marvellous build by Laufey Markstein, proprietor of Trident. It’s a build that harks back to when great longships plied the seas, bringing with the trade – and sometimes terror.
The theme is that of a small town, presided over by a great stone keep atop a rugged hill, where fir trees grow in abundance and the locals use wood for many uses: building, heat, for the curved hulls of their ships and for carving huge statues of their heroes – or gods.
In keeping with the theme of the region, you’ll find demons and satyrs rubbing shoulders with angels within the stores; gowns and lace mix freely with leather and tattoos. You can even acquire a wyrm or two!
Shadow’s Claw is a wonderful evocative environment – one that lends itself to role-play and as such (as with the other builds at this year’s Faire) truly deserves a life of its own beyond the Faire.There’s a marvellous attention to detail wherever you look, and wandering through the sim is a genuine treat for the eye.
The gateway into Shadow’s ClawTeleport arrival point from Fairelands Junction, with the sponsor’s store beyond……and looking the other way, towards the stone keep (Shadow’s Claw naturally lends itself to night-time pictures)One of the great wood carvingsBrowse the storesWhy we visit
“The Tides (by Alia Baroque) – the silent stones of a society who harnessed the power of the strong and heavy sea and ruled across the waves.”
The Tides is one of two ocean-themed region in this year’s Fantasy Faire. It is sponsored by Fallen Gods Inc, and the build is by Fallen Gods proprietor, Alia Baroque and features works by SL sculptor Amael Juran as part of its set-piece. I’ve previously visited Alia’s builds and Annon, Athan and Selidor, which I found enchanting.
I confess to also loving The Tides; not only is the build stunning and the attention to detail superb, the build contains powerful echoes of ancient civilisations and – Greek, Minoan, and so on – and also ancient legends, notably that of Atlantis.
Here are some highlights of this superb build (as always, click any to enlarge).
The TidesHeroic: two of the bronze sculptures that adorn The Tides teleport pointWhat lies beneath: the detail isn’t limited to the raised walkways and piered buildings……although even beautiful builds can have a dark side: a watery prison, perhaps to hold those awaiting their turn in the Jail and Bail fundraiser?!Macmoragh & Muse: one of the Featured Stores at The TidesAlien orrery: inside Macmoragh & Muse
This weekend sees the start of Fantasy Faire 2012, in aid of Relay for Life. From Saturday April 21 to Sunday April 29, 2012, thousands of Second Life residents and creators will come together to support the global fight for a world without cancer. In all, nine sims have been transformed into a mix of fantasy themes, with eight regions providing worlds of content to explore, shops to peruse and events to enjoy, with the ninth acting as a gateway and event point.
More than 130 of SL’s fantasy creators have come together to support this year’s event, with a huge range of creations on offer through stores, and special limited-edition items and other goodies to be auctioned-off as a part of the ongoing events.
The sims themselves are all magnificent builds, richly diverse and beautifully put together to present unique and eye-catching environments to explore.
The Fairelands Junction – where your journey can begin
When the Faire opens on the 21st, you can start your journey from the Fairelands Junction. Here you’ll find the auction wall and the main teleport hub to the other sims of the faire, each represented by its own alcoved fresco within the central round structure on the sim.
The teleports – touch a fresco to teleport to a simThe eight main regions of Fantasy Faire 2012
Where you go from here is up to you. I’ve had the good fortune to take a tour of the sims ahead of the opening, so hope to provide a quick tour here – click on the name of each region for details on the stores you’ll find there.
Deep in the jungle lies the mystical ruins of Nu Orne, where temple-like structures sit amidst the encroaching trees and undergrowth as the sun filters through the rising mists overhead.
As with all the sims, the teleport will deliver you to an arrival point directly outside the main sponsor’s store. From here, wander the walkways between the ancient buildings, explore the stores and keep an eye on things – there is much more going on with the builds in each of these sims than at first meets the eye.
Nu Orne – where trees encroach and mysteries may lie hidden…Ancient temples…?
From the rain forest-like enclave of Nu Orne, one passes to the verdant richness of Jungle Bungle.
Jungle bungle
Despite the name, Jungle Bungle is more open than one might imagine, and watched over by huge wood carvings made from living trees – are these the Children of the Forest from legend?
Who are the great wood carvings?
This is part of the attraction with this years’ Faire and it’s theme: The story starts with you – because you get to make up stories as to how each sim arose.
A great attraction with each is that as well as the shops and event areas, there are also places to meet and chat with friends and strangers – a camp fire here, a cauldron of bubbling soup (?) there – all inviting one to stay, sit and linger a while as the world turns and people come and go.
From jungle-y themes to the whimsical fancy of Meandervale, with its charming windmills with butterfly sails and (for me) memories of Charlar Linden, as trees row their little boats along the meandering waterways.
The 2012 Fantasy Faire is ramping-up ready for April 21-29 2012. In aid of Relay For Life, this year’s event will be spread across a total of eight sims in-world, and supported (as usual) by the Fantasy Faire website.
In an unusual move, the organisers have put out a call for “official” bloggers, complete with a set of prerequisites for being so. To qualify, a blogger must (among other things) have been blogging for at least 2 months, update their blog at least weekly and be required to blog about a sim they choose and about at least one item supplied to them from each of the stores on the sim to which they have been assigned. In return, the blogger will be listed on the Fantasy Faire website.
While I can understand the reasoning behind the move – the organisers want to ensure those participating in the event get due coverage – it’s not something I’m personally keen on. However, the organisers are aware this might be the case for some bloggers, and so are still providing the means for us to enjoy a preview of the sims in order to push out early bird reports and features. Whichever way you’d prefer to go, you’ll need to fill out the blogging application form.
The Sims
The sims to feature in Fantasy Faire this year are still under development. However, the blog describes them thus:
Devil’s Locket (by Lauren Thibaud / Piedras Chama / Nonna Hedges) – a small chain of islands that earned its name not only for the treacherous navigation of its waters and the amazing, but explosive, firegems that were mined from its volcanic depths
Jungle Bungle (by Mayah Parx) – a living forest where candies lay like pebbles along the edge of a chocolate lake and the smiling trees dance in excitement as they watch the fae race rose petals on the currents of the wind
Meandervale (by Marcus Inkpen / Sharni Azalee) – a surreal meadow where the streams meander as well as thoughts and, in fact, reality itself
Ruins of Nu Orne (by Elicio Ember) – a lost stone city of an ancient civilization, hidden in an exotic fantasy jungle where vegetation overgrows the magnificent ruins, and cupolas and spiraling buildings merge with the gigantic ferns and mushrooms
Shadow’s Claw (by Laufey Markstein) – a mountainous terrain thick with the scent of pine and covered with rocky crags that ride all manner of secrets, possibly even dragons
Shifting Sands (by Kayle Matzerath) – the Hourglass holding the Sands of Time has cracked and spilled creating a desert with untold treasures awaiting discoveries by the intrepid explorer
Siren’s Secret (by Elicio Ember) – caught between lava vents on one side and the bridges and towers of The Tides on the other, these rocky sea caves are a refuge for the sea creatures who hide in the depths of the kelp forest
The Tides (by Alia Baroque) – the silent ruins of a lost society who harnessed the power of the strong and heavy sea and ruled across the waves
About Fantasy Faire
(from the initial press release)
Fantasy Faire 2012 is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, role players and performers in the virtual world. Nine days of shopping, live music concerts, auctions, hunts and roleplaying to benefit Relay for Life and the fight against cancer. Avatars, clothing, furnishings, gadgets, goodies and exclusive items are available from more than 130 of SL’s top Fantasy Creators, spread across nine stunning sims designed by some of the visionary artists behind many of the hottest spots on the SL destination guide.
Fantasy Faire 2012 will be open to the public April 21 -29 and accessible from the American Cancer Society sim. We welcome you to come and join the story.
I covered last year’s event in part, although real life conspired to prevent me devoting the time I wanted to the event. This year I hope to present more in-depth commentary on the event along the lines of coverage I’ve given to the likes of SLCC and SLB.
Further Information and Related Links
In-world contacts: Elizabeth Tinsley or Zander Greene
This weekend will see the “main event” for this year’s Relay For Life activities in Second Life, around which events have been running since March 12th.
Relay For Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society, and has been active and growing in Second Life for 7 years. The very first Relay For Life in Second Life (RFL SL), held in 2005 raised almost $5,000 USD for the American Cancer Society, and was attended by a few hundred avatars. In 2010, over $220,000 was raised across the Grid. Events held this year have so far raised of $300,000, bring the total raised over the last 7 years to over $1 million even before the official weekend of festivities kicks-off – a staggering and impressive figure. The event this year is themed on “Seasons of Hope”.
This weekend will see the opening of the official Relay For Life sims, which are packed with information and will play host to a world of events and activities designed to be fun, and to give us all a further opportunity to support the work of the American Cancer Society.
The Events and Activities
RFL SL Welcome Centre
The weekend kicks-off at 10:00 SLT on Saturday 16th July with an opening ceremony, which will be followed at 11:00 by the Celebrate survivors / care-givers honour walk along the RFL SL track – and everyone is invited the line the track and celebrate with these remarkable people.
At 21:00 SLT will be the Luminara Ceremony – a solumn reflection with readings and inspirational music; sims are darkened for in remembrance of those and their loved ones who have lost their battles to cancer or are still battling it. Again, all are invited to participate and asked to walk the RFL SL track in silence.
Sunday the 17th will see the Fight Back event starting at 06:00 SLT. Pick up your specially made RFL HOPE Cape and Fight Back Flags – available at the Relay Stations, and join in and make a fight back pledge to save a life this year; your own, a friends, a family member, or someone you don’t even know yet.
Finally, at 10:00 SLT will see the closing ceremony and tribute to all this year’s RFL SL has achieved.
The welcome centre comprises a circular area and flags from the nations of the world, together with a range of information boards that provide more background on RFL, the weekend and the track itself. It operated on a one-way basis, with the direction you should take to work your way around the boards clearly marked. Make sure you pick up the goodies on offer – the RFL guide, pedometer, etc.
Welcome centre information boards
The track itself (reached via a teleport point at the welcome centre), runs through some 34 sims (not including all of the events sims mentioned above), divided into the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn (/fall) and winter. It is here that people can cheer on the participants in the Celebrate walk, and join in the Luminara Ceremony and Fight Back walk. As well as the major events, there will also be themed walks around the track, offering people the opportunity to join in activities in fancy dress, etc.
There are a few simple rules associated with the track: it is a one-way circuit, and slower walkers should keep to the right, please move off the route if you stop to chat or go afk, don’t bring pets that can wander randomly, etc. A full set of the rules is available at the welcome centre.
Looking down the track
The route is lined with donation boxes (this is about raising money, remember!), as features displays and builds put together by the teams participating in this year’s event, which you can explore as you go. With so many sims, region crossings might be an issue, especially if things get busy (to say nothing of the risk of individual sims being down unexpectedly. This has been catered for as far as possible by sim boundaries being clearly marked on the track itself, each of which has a traffic light indicator for the sim ahead: red indicates the sim ahead if either full (avatar-wise) or offline; amber indicates it is subject to heavy use and extreme lag; green indicates all should be OK. However, even if the light for the sim ahead is green, if you can see a lot of folk on one of the walks, you should still approach each boundary with caution to minimise rubber-banding.
The RFL Youthful sim, just off the main track, will be featuring events for younger members of Second Life, including:
Saturday 16th:
10.00-12.00 SLT: Opening and kick-off party
12.00-13.00 SLT: Morgan Canare
13:00-14:00 SLT: Tallyesin Resident
15:00-17:00 SLT: Doctor Who themed party
17:00-18:00 SLT: JennaSue Crosby
20:00-21:00 SLT: LoneWolf55 Genesis
21:00-22:00 SLT: Halloween Costume Hour
23:00-01:00 SLT: Winter Formal Dance
Sunday 17th:
08:00-09:00 SLT: Brett Hansome
10:00-11:00 SLT: Closing Ceremonies
Note that further youth events may also take place.
A famous NYC landmark on the NYHealthscape-sponsored sim
All-in-all, RFL SL offers a magnificent range of displays, activities and events, all in the name of a very worthy and international cause: the fight against cancer. With so much to see and do, I very much hope that all of us can find time to walk the track, enjoy what is on offer and give whatever we can – and don’t forget to visit the event website.
This week is Fantasy Faire week – and quite possibly one of the best-organised events in SL for 2011. A multi-sim celebration, the fantasy covers all aspects of fantasy RP in SL, with sims themed in terms of look and vendors, to present a stunning visual experience that could be heavy on the unwary Linden dollar account!
The tower at Dark Mirage
The aim of the event is to explore the RP themes available in Second Life while at the same time raising money for Relay For Life (and nigh-on $7000 USD has already been raised, with some $1600 of that coming from just the first day).
Events are planned through the week at the faire, with tonnes of live music each and every day, plus some “special” events: such as top creators and sponsors of the event being thrown in jail, where they cannot be released until their bail is paid (all donations to freeing them go to RFL)!
While it may get a little laggy given the amount of attention the event is getting, spending time wandering the sims is more that worth the effort. Not only are thy amazing builds in and of themselves, there are some remarkable creations on sale as well.
Navigating around the sims is a joy: There is a central “hub” sim called Fantasy Faire Central, which acts as the focal-point for arrival. This has a central teleport gazebo, with charity information clearly displayed, together with adverts for the various sims and a teleport board that takes you directly to any of the other sims – where you arrive at a similar gazebo, centrally located and themed to sim, which offers the same facilities. This makes sim-to-sim teleports quick and simple from those not wishing to trust region crossings.
The themes in the sims are nicely carried through: Sea of Mer, for example, features stores with an aquatic fantasy bent – mermaids, and so on; in the Forest of Shadows, stores are all built from the wood of the surrounding forest, while in the Forest of Light, they have almost a fairy-tale look. Dark Mirage features a town build with a stunning tower as its visual focal-point which looks dramatic framed against a burnished sky at sunset.
Another view of the tower at Dark Mirage
Alongside the shops in each sim is a low-key RFL kiosk, allowing donations to be made quickly and easily wherever you are in your travels. Sims are also set to specific times of the day to enhance their appearance, and I’d strongly suggest that you leave your day times settings on Regional Default to fully enjoy this.
Getting around all of the sims is a work of perseverance; even in quiet times, the lag can hit hard – and stands as testament to the fact that Linden Lab really need to put effort into getting this sorted as a matter of course, rather than it repeatedly coming up as a “special focus” for action. However, it really is worthwhile making the extra effort as a lot of time as effort has gone into developing a look for the Faire that puts it head-and-shoulders above others. Certainly it is worth a visit – if only to drop a donation into to a very worthy cause.
Don’t forget to take a look at the Fantasy Faire website – which is packed with information, and take a look at the wide range of photos coming out of the event!
The fabulous tree house in Fantastical and Magical
This weekend will see the “main event” for this year’s Relay For Life activities in Second Life, around which events have been running since March 12th.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 