Tag: RFL 2015

Fantasy Faire 2015: YoZakura (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Now the Fairelands are open, there is so much to see and do; fund-raising, shopping, dancing, exploring, telling tales, sharing in adventures, joining the hunt … the list is quite fantastic!

One thing many of us will doubtless be doing is taking photographs, both as keepsakes and to share. So, given the Fairelands are still young, and the days still stretch before us, I thought that rather than write about my own travels across the Fairelands just yet, I’d take a little time to remind you of the Fantasy Faire Calendar Competition.

2015 marks the second year in which the calendar competition has been run, and once again, it gives entrants the opportunity to be immortalised in print and help raise even more for Relay for Life!

Fantasy Faire 2015: YoZakura (Flickr) – click any image for full size

The Faire organisers are looking for photographs that best capture the spirit of each of the thirteen sims – and the winners will be included in the Fantasy Faire 2016 calendar (with credits for the photographers) that will be created in Second Life, and in real life using Lulu.com, and sold to raise money for Relay for Life. So this year, people really will be able to take the Faire home with them – and share it with their friends and family too!

The rules for the competition are straight-forward:

• Photographs are to be taken at your choice of the thirteen individually themed regions for this year’s Fantasy Faire
• Entries for the competition must be uploaded to the Fantasy Faire [Photography Contest] Flickr group
• Photographs may be edited with any photo editing software, and must be a minimum size of 1800 pixels high and 2300 pixels wide
• Please do not take selfies or add text to your images – the aim is to capture the beauty of the Fairelands and their surroundings. Figures may appear in your photos, but should not be the focus of your submissions
• All pictures should be PG rated. Any pictures failing to comply with this rule will be disqualified (and that includes nudity)
• Fantasy Faire & Relay for Life of Second Life reserve the right to use photograph submissions for event advertising and publication.

The deadline for all submissions to the competition is 23:59 SLT Wednesday, May 6th.

Fantasy Faire 2015: YoZakura (Flickr) – click any image for full size

The Winners

• The top twelve winning images*, as selected by the judging panel, will be included in the Fantasy Faire 2016 calendar, with credits for the photographers. This will be available for sale both in Second Life and the physical world through lulu.com later in the year, to raise money for Relay for Life
• The first prize winner photo will be on the cover of the calendar
• Please note that contest winners are required to provide their winning photography with the following dimensions – minimum 1800 pixels high by 2300 pixels wide at 200dpi or their photograph will be be disqualified.

Further Information and Related Links

• Fantasy Faire blog
• Fantasy Faire on Facebook
• Fantasy Faire on Twitter
• Fantasy Faire on Plurk
• Fantasy Faire on Pinterest
• Fantasy Faire on Flickr

The Lost Lands is more than a hunt – it is an unfolding story, and you are one of the principal characters! To help you play your role to the fullest, here are some hints and suggestions to start you on your way.

The HUD and Getting Started

There are two versions of the HUD available, one priced at L$250 and one at L$350. Both operate exactly the same way inside the hunt; the L$350 version will also give you a costume to let you be more “in-character” as you seek to come to the assistance of Princess Flora. And it’s yours to keep as a memory of the Faire and the hunt; so why not treat yourself to the full package – remember 100% of all payments go to RFL of SL. It will also help you recognise other Hunters – and you can help each other!

When you have purchased your HUD package wear it, and then touch it to unpack the contents to a folder in your Inventory called FF2015 The LostLand Hunt. When it has done so, you can detach the HUD package and then wear your hunt HUD (and your costume, if you purchased the special edition of the HUD).

Wearing your HUD will deliver instructions on how to use it, please read them, as they will answer many of your questions.

Game Play Guidelines

Part 1: Find the Orbs

• Your first task in the HUD is to seek out the Bard Queen in Fairelands Junction and receive her instructions. If you prefer, a landmark in the HUD folder of your inventory will teleport you directly to her presence
• Part of the Bard Queen’s story will be told through videos displayed in your viewer via a screen provided by your HUD. If the videos do not start automatically, click the screen. If they refuse to run, use the links in chat to watch them on YouTube (please do not share or embed links to the videos in blogs!)

• Sometimes you will need to click on someone after watching a video as well, so that they can give you an additional clue (such as how to find the Book of the Champions)
• Champions are to be found across the Fairelands (although not in any shops). The Bard Queen will direct you to the Book of Champions, which will in turn help you locate each of the Champions.  Some might be close to a sim’s landing point, others you may have to seek out
• Touch a Champion to interact with them, and it will display a dialogue box – be sure to check all of the options displayed, as there might be some special surprises!
• Make sure you give them a ring via the dialogue box in order to gain a clue to find their orbs
• Each orb is located in the same sim as its Champion (but again, not in any shops). When you have found the orb, return to the Champion and give it to them to receive a prize
• You can visit the Champions and seek their Orbs in any order you like, as long as you find and return all 10 orbs to them
• When you have found and returned all ten orbs, return to the Bard Queen to commence the second part of the hunt.

Part 2: Help the Princess

• This takes place in Ravenshold and will engage you in puzzle-solving
• Clues to all the puzzles will be spoken in text or can be found in Ravenshold – so look around you carefully and pay attention to everything that is said!
• Some of the puzzles are HUD-based, and sometimes the HUD can go wrong. If this happens, reset the HUD using Options > Reset HUD – this will not reset your hunt progress.

Other Things to Note

You can stop playing the hunt at any time and remove the HUD – your progress is automatically saved for you, so you do not have to do the entire hunt in one go.

If you don’t pick up a gift from a champion, or at the end of Part 2, you can return to receive the prize at any time.

When you complete the hunt, you can use Options > Reset Hunt and have another go, if you like.

Further Information and Related Links

• Fantasy Faire blog
• Fantasy Faire on Facebook
• Fantasy Faire on Twitter
• Fantasy Faire on Plurk
• Fantasy Faire on Pinterest
• Fantasy Faire on Flickr

Bloggers across the grid had their first opportunity to witness the regions of this year’s Fantasy Faire. And the verdict is already in:

Amazing.

No fewer than thirteen regions await the arrival of visitors to the Faire, which runs from Thursday, April 23rd through until Sunday, May 3rd inclusive, all in aid for Relay for Life. And even before the gates have officially opened, this year’s Faire has already raised L$1,559,776 ($6,239) as of 12:00 noon on April 21st.

This year, the Faire brings a host of new activities and opportunities for everyone to get involved in the biggest fantasy event fund-raiser in virtual worlds today, together with the return of popular activities from previous years.

Role-play will once again be a feature of Fantasy Faire in 2015, with three unfolding role-play stories taking place within the Fairelands.

The Rickety Weasels have once more returned to the Faire, and this year have set-up house in the  station at Poppetsborough, the wonderful town of paper created from the pages of a book when a mouse accidentally sneezed upon it. Not only that, but the town appeared with its own inhabitants, the kind-hearted and magical Poppets, complete with a magic train capable of carrying passengers to any story, despite only travelling in a circle.

But Poppetsborough and the Poppets are frail, being made only of paper, and now tears and holes are appearing in the pages of Poppetsborough, which are corrupting the stories with wickedness and drawing others into nothingness. Can it be stopped? Can Poppetsborough be restored – the Rickety Weasels are determined to try to mend the Tears of Poppetsborough – will you aid them?

Meanwhile in the Spires of Andolys, the dark role play of The Origins of Sanctuary: Lut’s Story will unfold. Long ago Lut, the Sultan of Sanctuary, made a deal that tore the realm from God’s judgement. This deal Lut has never had to answer for until now. The dark Sultan will be placed before judgement for this deal he made. Will he be found innocent and justified, or guilty and be destroyed because of it?

Finally, and having started on April 15th on the NeoVictoria region,The NeoVictoria Project bring their latest role-play event to the Fairelands  and the winter City of Aurora. In The White Wedding, a despairing fae scientist, cursed to bring winter wherever he goes, the Sidhe empire for Aurora. But fate and love are not so easily abandoned.  The shade of his human wife seeks the help of the NeoVictorians and they bring her to the Fairelands, to find her spouse and end the curse.

Continue reading “Fantasy Faire: as the gates open, are you ready for amazing sights, role-play and more?” →

Deep within the 2015 Fairelands lies an enchanted glade, the home to a series of literary activities new to Fantasy Faire this year, and collectively called the Fantasy Faire Literary Festival (LitFest for short).

Many events have been planned, and there is an open invitation to all who enjoy spinning a yarn, telling a tale, reading a story, reciting poetry and more, to come along and enjoy all that LitFest has to offer, from readings, to discussions and presentations through to open microphone sessions. And to mark the birthday of Sir Terry Pratchett, who so sadly passed away earlier this month, Tuesday, April 28th at the LitFest has been declared Terry Pratchett Day!

The full time-table of activities (as they stood at the time of writing) can be found on the Fantasy Faire blog, with all the necessary background information. However, in summary (all times SLT):

Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

• 17:30 – 19:00: Open Microphone session moderated by Saffia Widdershins. Bring your own poetry, short story or an extract from a longer piece of work and have 15 minutes before the microphone to introduce it and read it

Friday, April 24th, 2015

• 08:00 – 10:00: Caledonia Skytower from Seanchai Library reads selections from Lord of the Rings
• 11:00 – 12:30: Open Microphone session moderated by Judi Newall. Bring your own poetry, short story or an extract from a longer piece of work and have 15 minutes before the microphone to introduce it and read it
• 14:00 – 16:00: Aurora – Prelude to the Confluence: Beq Janus reads from her own story, written for Fantasy Faire

Saturday, April 25th, 2015

• 02:00 – 04:00: Cata Charisma from Seanchai Library reads some of his own works and favourites from the fantasy genre
• 08:00 – 10:00: Caledonia Skytower from Seanchai Library reads “Gorak the Gobbler”, her newest short story, which is about to be published
• 14:00 – 16:00: Speculative Fiction Saturday: Simeon Beresford leads a regular long running fantasy and science fiction discussion group in this special location for Fantasy Faire

In all the realms of the Fairelands, none were more renowned than the Ten Champions of the Queen.

Each of them had a tale to tell and a unique set of skills and abilities to share, and to teach – for it is to the Champions that the Bard Queen entrusted the care and guidance of her only daughter, the Princess Flora.

For the Princess they were her teachers, her companions … and her friends.

But the Unweaver never sleeps. Through his wicked designs, the Princess is now lost beyond the Sea of Mists, a captive of the Winter King.

Thus opens the story of this year’s Fantasy Faire hunt: The Lost Land.

Among the many events that mark Fantasy Faire, the hunt is one of the most loved, and most eagerly awaited, immersing all those who participate fully in the wonder and joy of the Fairelands and Fantasy Faire. Not only will this year’s hunt continue the tradition, it promises to be something rather special.

Written by Saffia Widdershins,  featuring a specially designed region by Rynn Verwood, scripting by Encaitaron Korobose and produced and directed by Aisling Sinclair,  The Lost Land commences on April 23rd, and runs for the duration of the Faire – and you will not want to miss it.

Once the Fairelands have opened, you will have the opportunity to purchase the Hunt HUD and become a Hunter, helping the queen recover her lost child. Along the way, you will encounter mystery and magic, and discover things are not always as they seem. And, of course, there will be rewards for those who do not falter, generously donated by the merchants participating in the Faire.

The Princess has faded from memory – except for that of the Queen who keeps and cherishes one last lock of golden hair, bright and unfading.

But the Champions have become stricken by a strange indifference; any thought of their noble purpose has fled their minds. They await you, brave Hunter, to reinvigorate them and restore their will to serve.

And here, each day of the Faire, the Champions will reveal themselves to you, one by one.

Will you be the one to recover the princess, and in doing so, save the Fairelands – and save us all? The adventure begins on April 23rd.

Further Information and Related Links

• Fantasy Faire blog
• Fantasy Faire on Facebook
• Fantasy Faire on Twitter
• Fantasy Faire on Plurk
• Fantasy Faire on Pinterest
• Fantasy Faire on Flickr

I remember walking the streets between wall and mountain.
I remember climbing stone-hewn steps and passing under arched passages.
I remember tall houses clinging to sheers faces of rock.
And I remember standing atop Hope’s Horizon as the sun came up.

I remember looking over a sea of red in a bowl of stone.
I remember the wind-blown ripples that dry-stirred its surface.
I remember walking through a field of roses.
And I remember  Crimson’s Field’s lone tower.

I remember the sky-strung crystals and gilt-edged paths of glass.
I remember the needles of rock rising from shimmering waters.
I remember the colours so vivid atop the slender spires.
And I remember Haven Hollow’s wonder.

I remember the gentle waters, the narrow bridges and shuttered doors.
I remember Buddha sat by bamboo fingers, as incense burns close by.
I remember heron waiting and lions guarding.
And I remember Lotus Valley’s dragon, and his vigilant gaze.

But most of all, I remember all those we’ve loved and lost.
And each year so I also look forward,
Awaiting the Fairelands and their return.
To give us new hope, new wonders, new memories
That help us remember once more.

I remember is a new challenge presented to bloggers by the Fantasy Faire team, inviting us to share out memories of past Faires, the realms they’ve held, the forms we took whilst exploring them, the adventures they gave us, and the moments of wonder we felt.

So why not share your memories, or perhaps share in one of the three other challenges for bloggers? and don’ forget, if you intend to apply to be an official blogger and haven’t already done so, your application must be submitted by April 18th, 2015.