Designing Worlds at the Fantasy Faire Part II

Entertainment in Lumeneria, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 6th May, for the new episode of Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams, as we pay a second visit to the Fantasy Faire regions (now sadly closed).

Lotus Valley Dream, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

While Saffia talks to designers Kayle Matzerath and Marcus Inkpen about the regions that they created, Elrik will be learning about the amazing Fantasy Faire radio (and its rather unusual studio) from Zander Greene, and then will be given an escorted tour of the famed (notorious?) Explorers’ Club (Oriental Branch) by Martini Discovalante.

Fantasy Faire Radio, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

And then there are more regions to explore before we say farewell to Fantasy Faire … for this year.

And – by the way – the total now raised by Fantasy Faire stands at over US$36,000 – in Lindens, that’s over 9,500,000.

So – come and join us at 2pm.

Crimson Fields, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

Or – if you can’t attend in person – tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show on http://treet.tv/live – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site at http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds – our very own version of the iPlayer!

There’s also a special short story competition sponsored by Prim Perfect and the Fantasy Faire team – you can find out all the details here.

Evensong Woods, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

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Prim Perfect Jigsaw at Fantasy Faire: Sunset over Lotus Valley Dream

Lotus Valley Dream

It’s not just that it’s hard to let go of the wonderful Fantasy Faire this year (although that, too!).  Taking another jigsaw from there is a way of giving you a nudge (is that just a Brit thing? It’s like a firm hint!) that tonight will see the second of our two shows from Fantasy Faire on Designing Worlds – and more about that will follow later.

And that show will include a visit to the subject of today’s jigsaw – Lotus Valley Dream.  Sunset here was not a problem – the windlight setting was a permanent and beautiful sunset (a modified version of one of Bryn Oh’s settings, one of the creators, Marcus Inkpen, told me). The Explorers Club had a beautiful location – as you strolled out, you looked straight out over the road leading down to the setting sun, the beautiful buildings ahead, the lake (with its lotus and its dragon) glinting off to the right …

Is it possible to be nostalgic for something that’s only been gone a week? I think so.

Over 9,500,000 raised for Relay for Life …

Let’s do a jigsaw.

Sunset over Lotus Valley Dream, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

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Catch up with your Prim Perfect jigsaws (showing images of Second Life and other virtual worlds).

If you’d like to submit a photo of your own to feature as a jigsaw, send it to the Prim Perfect Flickr Group. It should be sized 800w x 600h, or else it will need to be re-sized.

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Prim Perfect Jigsaw at Fantasy Faire: Dragon Boat over Lumenaria

Dragon boat over Lumenaria

Many people who visited Fantasy Faire enjoyed the stream that was playing. Some of the time this was DJs of course, and live musicians. But aside from that, there was a wonderfully evocative stream created by Zander Greene. And it was all broadcast from this beautiful dragon boat by Rynn Verwood.

The Faire has finished now – and it was heartbreaking watching the regions being taken down last night.  But it will, of course, live on in part when the second part of the Hunt opens (later today, hopefully), and in the stories that people are writing for the Fantasy Faire/Prim Perfect Shot Story Competition.  Why don’t you have a go yourself? There are pictures on Flickr to remind – and inspire you!

But, in the mean-time, let’s do a jigsaw.

Dragon Boat over Lumenaria, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catch up with your Prim Perfect jigsaws (showing images of Second Life and other virtual worlds).

If you’d like to submit a photo of your own to feature as a jigsaw, send it to the Prim Perfect Flickr Group. It should be sized 800w x 600h, or else it will need to be re-sized.

Read Full Post »

Fantasy Faire 2013 – Day 9 – Lumenaria

We have worked wonders today.We went through the seven million Linden barrier. Ten hours later, we went through the eight million barrier. As I write, we are less than 650,000 from something incredible: the all-time record for ANY fundraising event in SL history.This record is ours for the taking, and we intend to do just that. We’re already laying plans. Stay tuned.

We leave the smoking tunnels of Dragonspire behind us, and stumble from the choking fumes into the the fresh air of the Valley of Ishnar. Filling our lungs with the fresh air we slip quickly through the valley, we will not stop here now. Instead our sights are on something more refreshing, a sorely needed infusion of happiness. We step into Lumenaria.

Lumenaria by Kayle Matzerath – Photo by Beq Janus

The sky settles to a misty orange glow, that should tell you immediately thay Kayle Matzerath, of Garden of Dreams, is behind this fantasy city. Kayle has created a wonderful medieval fantasy city that tells its story without words. A grand castle looks over a tiered garden beyond which narrow cobbled streets wind around the castle walls. Bunting hangs between houses, the bridges carry bunches of bright balloons. The city is preparing a celebration and it is for us to live the tale.

Lumenaria by Kayle Matzerath – Photo by Beq Janus

In creating the models for the region Kayle has built everything from mesh, the trees and flowers have a cleverly hand drawn feel about them that lends itself perfectly to the fairytale setting. The delightful gardens, with butterflies lead up to the grandly spectacular castle in which you can imagine the beautiful fairytale princess marrying her prince charming, somehow I cannot shift the expectation that I will see the animated ogre, Shrek, walking the streets here alongside his wise-cracking donkey pal. Instead of course, we had our own Faireland hereoes, Kayle in elf form,  and his wise-cracking penguin pal…Alia.

Lumenaria by Kayle Matzerath – Photo by Beq Janus

The detail in the buildings, the lovingly crafted houses and shops, right down to the fruit stalls show the love and attention that Kayle has poured into this project. What is more, the detail and complexity of the scenes have been created with customary frugality, Kayle himself has observed that the entire region, including the vendors could be put into a homestead sim. Perhaps, those of us impatiently awaiting a new Dream Scene can look upon this and acknowledge that it was time well spent, and accept that Kayle most certainly has not been idle.

Lumenaria by Kayle Matzerath – Photo by Beq Janus

This is the perfect place to conclude our adventure, the heroes are welcomed home, a great party is being arranged….

What an amazing adventure this Faire has been, beyond the wonderous creations of sim builders, the broad array of goods and items that we’ve bought, we have helped not only break but smash all our targets and records setting a new bar to be aimed at for the future.

There is of course one more stop on our journey, The Valley of Ishnar, the region dedicated to a special story that has unfolded during the Faire and which will continue on for another few weeks. We will take a look at the Valley tomorrow but for now we’ll say goodbye to the Faire and carry our fond memories into the future with us.

The Faire is over…Until next year…

 

 

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Fantasy Faire 2013 – Day 8 – The Dragon Spire

We have worked wonders today.

We went through the seven million Linden barrier. Ten hours later, we went through the eight million barrier. As I write, we are less than 650,000 from something incredible: the all-time record for ANY fundraising event in SL history.

This record is ours for the taking, and we intend to do just that. We’re already laying plans.

Stay tuned – Zander Greene

If you were to fly into Dragon Spire you would find a rather desolate landscape, a flat almost formless landscape of molten stone shrouded in mist and smoke. At the back of the region lies a deeply shadowed cave.

The Dragonspire by Khyle Sion – photo by Beq Janus

As we approach the cave we find the source of the smoke and desolation. A mighty dragon lords over its domain its golden hoard sparking in the gloom, reflecting the light of the phosphorescent gems.

Dragonspire by Khyle Sion – photo by Beq Janus

So where are the Faireland residents? The eager merchants rushing to trade their wares during the few short days that these lands are united?

Who could live in such desolate a land? To find the answers we must return to our path, for as we step from the alien world of Titans Hollow we find ourselves confronted by a wall of stone, a solitary passage leads us inwards. We are underground, enclosed in the tunnels carved from the very rocks on which the dragon vents his flames. With no light from the sun or moon above we are guided by the soft sheen of the crystals that erupt from the tunnel walls, and the subtle glow of subterranean plants, which, although a unique species could easily have been spawned from the alien flora of Titans hollow.

Dragonspire by Khyle Sion – photo by Beq Janus

The Dragonspire is the creation of Kyhle Sion, its winding tunnels lovingly crafted in Mesh units and then joined together to form one of the most impressive mazes of tunnels that the grid has ever seen. As you head deeper  and deeper into the tunnels, be careful nto to ignore the signs that will guide you safely to the stores if that is what you wish. But if you have the time, turn down that tunnel the slides off to the right, plunging down into the depths.

Dragonspire by Khyle Sion – photo by Beq Janus

To be lost in these tunnels is both disorienting and claustrophobic. The smog of dragon breath permeates the tunnels and it is easy to wander for 15 minutes only to find you are back where you began. Having recently read Tolkien’s The Hobbit to my young daughters (no movies for them, cruel mother am I) I cannot help but conjure up the imagery of Bilbo and the dwarves entering the tunnels of the misty mountain. Where there was outright beauty and craftsmanship in all of the builds we have seen , epitomised perhaps by the gorgeous deep hues of the Tiffany lanterns of Titans Hollow, Khyle has brought technical mastery of the tunnels and woven it together to form a glorious maze that would grace any adventurers fantasy.

But we are lost, wandering through smoke filled tunnels, the sound of dripping water our only companion, how will we find our way out? When all hope begins to fade we hear a ringing that echoes through the tunnels. Dwarves, mining the tunnels no doubt. We run towards the sounds and hopes rise as the sounds grow louder until finally we round a corner and see ahead of us a not the ringing hammers of the dwarves, but the ringing tills of countless merchants enjoying the Faire in the way they know best.

Dragonspire by Khyle Sion – photo by Beq Janus

We have found our way back to the one true path that will lead us on through the Fairelands and soon we emerge from the tunnels into the fresh air once again.

We are leaving maze-like tunnels of The Dragonspire now and logically we should progress now to the neighbouring Faireland region, the Valley of Ishnar.  But we shall not, instead our next stop will be the Final of the “regular” Faireland regions, Lumenaria. Why are we skipping past the Valley? You will have to wait and find out.

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Fantasy Faire 2013 – Day 7(part 2) – Titans Hollow

I, and the American Cancer Society appreciate everyone who has donated their time, talent, and Lindens throughout all the years, and this year is no exception.  This year, I have seen some of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in Second Life.  I have heard from countless others who share the same sense of wonder and amazement.  In fact, I can quote one friend who said, “I’ve never seen anything like this in Second Life.”  And that’s from someone who is in Second Life every day, and has been for many years.

- Jeffrey Montegut, aka Stingray9798 Raymaker, American Cancer Society

We step across the threshold of two Fairelands once again, this time leaving the icy forest floor of Evensong Woods behind we step into an altogether more alien place. We have entered Titans Hollow, created by veteran Faire builder and creator of the alien and mystical, Elicio Ember.

Titans Hollow By Elicio Ember – Photo By Beq Janus

We enter from the forest floor to be greeted by a vast metallic stairway that rises to a platform out of sight. Beyond giant glass lanterns hang suspended on gigantic chains that are anchored into mysterious flooating rocks. A soft warmth of pink unearthly light permeates through the light mist. We ascend the steps…

Titans Hollow By Elicio Ember – Photo By Beq Janus

Below us lise a colourful swamp, dominated by alien plant life that is not entirely safe to be near, as Elicio himself discovered when they attempted to devour him during a Jail and Bail session. Each floating lantern, evoking thoughts of middle eastern charm and Art Nouveau elegance, houses a store or feature but getting to them requires an act of faith. In a peculiar parallel to the preceding Faireland region we find ourselves epxloring a multi-tiered land, yet the safety and solidity embodied by the sturdy wooden platforms and short vistas that rarely saw you looking down to the ground  could not be further from  experience in Titans Hollow.

Titans Hollow By Elicio Ember – Photo By Beq Janus

Transparent  walkways carry you from store to store and level to level the only hint to their existence lies in the solid brass retainers and the subtle blue haze that emanates from the edges. It is very much an act of faith as you step out onto the air with meat-eating plants waiting hungrily below.

Titans Hollow By Elicio Ember – Photo By Beq Janus

Elicio’s creations embody so much of what is great about the Faire. Pure creative genius, drawing inspiration from our own history giving them an immediacy, a familiarity that is then placed at odds with the extra-terrestrial environment in which it is placed. Last year we saw the amazing Ruins of Nu Orne, inspired by the historic temple complexes of asia, this year an altogether different theme yet linked by a staple of Elicio’s design the bold coloration and etheral glow of his wonderful plant-life.

Titans Hollow By Elicio Ember – Photo By Beq Janus

 

 

Glowing Plants: Natural Lighting with no Electricity

Yet there may be trouble ahead, perhaps in a world first I stumbled upon a recent case of Real Life emulating Second Life. A project on crowd funding website, Kickstarter proposes the following:-

Create GLOWING PLANTS using synthetic biology and Genome Compiler’s software – the first step in creating sustainable natural lighting

We know Elicio did it first though.

Titans Hollow By Elicio Ember – Photo By Beq Janus

It is time now to hasten onwards to out next Faireland destination  leaving the man-eating, bio-luminescent flora and hanging lanterns of  opalescent glass behind; we now head underground into the caves and tunnels of Dragonspire. See you there.

 

 

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Fantasy Faire 2013 – Day 7 – Evensong Woods

L$6,158,196 . That’s $24,674 US. And that brings Fantasy Faire to a five year total of $100,000 US.  It is a measure of many things.  And the greatest of these is love.At L$6.3 Million this will be a record Faire, a goal we will certainly reach together.  But the highest goal we should aspire to now is to cherish these realms and one another.  Celebrate the Fairelands and your fellow Fairelanders.  Soon, that magic must return from whence it came. Soon, it must again lie fallow.Soon. But not yet…

Good news! In response to suggestions from a number of merchants (and threats of fish-slapping from a certain Fallen God) we’ll be keeping the shopping sims open for an extra day. More shopping! More awesomeness*! Go Relay! – Zander Greene

And so we leave behind the desolation and cold darkness of the Crimson Fields, stepping across the border into a completely different type of chill. We enter the elven homeland of Evensong Woods created by Searlait Nitsche.

A light blanket of snow frosts the forest floor, it is night and all is quiet and serene. Resting high in the treetops above us is the elven enclave of Yuale Nura. Bathed in moonlight, the homes glow warm in the deep blues and purples of a winter’s night. The winter holds the forest in stasis, none of the colourful flora that we saw in Fairelands junction have remained to see the winter through. The forest is frozen and barren awaiting the rebirth of spring.

Evensong Woods by Searlait Nitschke – Photo by Beq Janus

The elves of Yuale Nura are traditional woodland elves, few of the grandiose trappings of some of their cousins, who many would condemn as having lost their touch with their ancestral roots. Simple but well crafted wooden steps lead us up to the first level of the settlement, their village nestles discreetly in the upper branches at one with it environment.

Evensong Woods by Searlait Nitschke – Photo by Beq Janus

As we rise higher into the towering evergreen forest canopy the shops and homes grow in size yielding finally to a ceremonial area at the very top of the forest. The platforms seemingly hewn from trees, a decorously carved and adorned with simple ribbons that hang between carved pillars topped with sparkling globes.

Evensong Woods by Searlait Nitschke – Photo by Beq Janus

The cold, moonlit scenes evoke a feeling of calm but also of solitude, the cleverly designed build never makes you feel precariously stranded high above the ground, yet the occasional grand vista shows that towering beauty of the elven architects.

Evensong Woods by Searlait Nitschke – Photo by Beq Janus

 

And now we must move an apace for having dallied during out tour I am now running behind schedule. Our next destination is Titan’s hollow, which as you will find has remarkable parallels to Evensong Woods, whilst being as starkly different as can be imagined.

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Have you seen these Fugitives at the Fantasy Faire?

The Fugitives!

More news has come in about the dangerous fugitives, rumoured to be hiding out in the Faireland – as was warned in a recent post on the Fantasy Faire blog. Now further news has come in from Steelhead, where their crimes were apparently committed.

The Marshal of Steelhead and his Deputies

Demetrius “Fuzzball” Ortega, Marshal of Steelhead City, has informed us that he and his deputies – the famed “nun gunnies” – were investigating an anonymous tip regarding a disturbance at the home of a Mr. Carruthers.

The Questers caught!

The Sisters and the Marshal arrived to find the……”Questers” in the house, standing over the dead body of Mr Carruthers.

They were taken in for questioning.

The arrest!

And that should have been that …

Except that a mysterious accomplice disguised themselves as one of the deputies, bringing the Marshal some tea.

The mysterious accomplice

The tea was drugged, and as the Marshal passed out, they made their escape – having previously drugged the Deputies too!

The Unfortunate Deputies

Now the Marshal says that he has received a variety of communications suggesting that these “Questers” are in the Fairelands!

The Marshal says: “If you see one of these Questers, alert the Fairelands officials. They have the facilities for holding all ne’er do wells. Above all, neither approach them yourselves, nor assist them in any way. It is quite evident that they are very dangerous criminals.”

But other people are trying to find the fugitives too …

Note on the Quest for the Golden Prim:
There are several mysterious characters visiting the Faire with the words “Quest for the Golden Prim” or more simply the cryptic “QGP” in their titler. If you speak to them, they’ll be happy to tell you more – and they’ll share their calling cards with you too. It’s said that they’re based at the Explorers’ Club on Lotus Valley Dream – where it is rumoured that this delightful establishment is harbouring secrets of its own (as well as the ONLY washroom in the whole of the Fairelands!).

The Explorers’ Club (Oriental Branch)

In fact, on Saturday 27th, there will be a party at the Explorer’s Club (Oriental Branch) from 2pm – 5pm to celebrate the relaunch of the Quest for the Golden Prim. And – as the party begins, we suspect that some – at least – of the Fugitives will be safely under lock and key!

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Fantasy Faire 2013 – Day 5 – Crimson Fields

Today the defeat of the Demon Prince began. Today we passed 4 million Lindens raised. Today we saw incredible generosity, and the heaviest Sheriff’s presence in Fairelands history.Today we made history. Tomorrow…?

- Zander Greene

Yesterday, we were at peace with the world. Magnificat, elegant and serene, soothed away our weariness. Even the lag seemed to diminish.

Today we face something rather different. Laufey Markstein, owner of Trident, and creator of Crimson Fields built an epic viking landscape for last year’s Faire, his first as a sim sponsor. This year he has taken on a rather different challenge but one which seems to suit him well.

Crimson Fields by Laufey Markstein, photo by Beq Janus

Crimson Fields, “The field of Oblivion” is built as a homage to Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series. On entry the skies shift to a flat low light, a vast sea of red sways before you, fringed by brown rock walls and crumbling ruins. But the eye is drawn skywards, as you resolve upon the monstrous central feature of the sim an ominous, dark, gothic tower. Standing at the edge of the walls the sea of red becomes clear, no sea at all but a vast open field of overgrown thorns and scarlet red roses.

Crimson Fields by Laufey Markstein, photo by Beq Janus

We look back with fondness to the calm security of Magnificat, but we must go on, many delights await us beyond this trial. What can one do when faced with such disturbingly dark scenes? Shop, of course! Each of the ruined, crumbling buildings that line the parapet walls is a store containing the wares of one of the wonderful Fantasy Faire merchants.

Crimson Fields by Laufey Markstein, photo by Beq Janus

But be warned, many of the merchants have been associated with this sim for a reason. If you love demons, Gothic  horror then this is undoubtedly the region for you. But even if those do not light your fire be sure to poke around in the ruins for some wonderful gems to suit lovers of other genres too.

Crimson Fields by Laufey Markstein, photo by Beq Janus

Take a moment to observe the sim from different angles, notice how with comparatively few visual features, Laufey has managed to embody the ominous, dark nature of his theme, the barren, decrepit ruins speak of a time before now. If the dark, foreboding of Crimson Fields has unsettled you then step quickly over the border with us, for our next stop is the peaceful quiet of Evensong Woods.

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Prim Perfect Jigsaw at the Fantasy Faire: Ravenshard

Ravenshard

Today’s jigsaw shows Ravenshard, the region created byMayah Parx of the Epic Toy Factory and a real visual treat with – of course – lots of chocolate!

There are many types of fantasy, but one that is often overlooked is children’s fantasy. Well, perhaps not by anyone who has read The Gruffalo five times on the trot …. then there’s Maurice Sendak …

It seemed totally in keeping with Ravenshard that I found one of my favourite designers – Cutea Benelli of Grim Bros – displaying some of her amazing range of goods in one of the fantasical crooked cottages.

Let’s do a jigsaw!

Ravenshard, photograph by Judith Lefevre

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Catch up with your Prim Perfect jigsaws (showing images of Second Life and other virtual worlds).

If you’d like to submit a photo of your own to feature as a jigsaw, send it to the Prim Perfect Flickr Group. It should be sized 800w x 600h, or else it will need to be re-sized.

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