The Bard Queen's Garden - Quest at the Fantasy Faire 2020

The Queen's Garden had been busier than usual lately. Hestia had felt the presence of first one, then another. More and more, coming in pairs and groups, until the essence of thousands of souls drifted through the leaves, sparkling in the morning dew. Something had called them thither, as a guardian Hestia was sure she should know what... "Must have been too long trimming the henbane..." she mused to herself, "Can't for the life of me remember..."

It had something to do with the time of year, always as the bluebells were in bloom the people appeared. Year on year, some of them felt familiar. She had never actually seen them of course, the garden existed on countless planes, it was often more difficult to find anyone you were looking for than it was to avoid them. Wandering along the twisting paths her gaze swept the curves of the stream, attention caught by jugs and pots left out unattended. "What on earth?" 

This incongruity was milder than previous years... a small, distant chime of memory began. "Things out of place... bluebells in bloom... Strange things, strange souls. Old souls, new souls... things out of place, people out of..." Hestia snapped her fingers as understanding clicked. "The Quest!" 

There had been no looming dread, no worry and whispers among the Fairefolk as in previous years, the garden had been blooming with more beauty than ever, and here was the cause. The quest was not having to rescue or rebuild, it had taken a new form, thanks to the Bard Queen. Now these thousands of souls were helping the garden to grow, and new life was bursting from all sides.

The Fairelands Quest! Each year a Fairelands Wide search, guided by a helpful HUD, and video messages fom the Bard Queen herself. You can find the HUDs at the TP point of each Fairelands SIM - including a deluxe HUD which contains quest outfits for males and females for just L$350, 100% of which is a donation to Relay for Life. Given the AVALANCHE of gifts from the amazing and generous Fairelands creators you receive on completing the quest, the indepth rummage through SIMs letting you find amazing nooks and crannies you may otherwise have missed, and the camaraderie you build with others also searching, this may just be the best purchase you can make at the Faire.

All items listed are 100% donation to Relay for Life

Halo :  :[P]:- Boen Halo [Thin-Sparkle] RFL
Sirens Lore
Hair :  Raven Bell - Umbriel Hair [Crystal] and Head Sparkles
Auxentios’ Pass
Skin : ND/MD Boo BLUSH
Cassiopeia
Tattoo :  :[ET]: Wisps - Fantasy
Lunafae
Eyes:  A.D.D.Andel! Galaxy Eyes- RFL
Zodiac
Outfit :  MALified - The Bard Queen
Zodiac
Nails :  DP - Koffin Nails - Maitreya HUD - Fantasy Flutter Keys
Lamented Fens
Staff :  :[P]:- Tsubome Staff [Static Right] RFL
Sirens Lore

Follow the feeling - Fantasy Faire 2019

All through the fairelands the strains of music could be heard. It was more than the tuneful warbling of birds, though of course, that was ever present, especially up near the eaves.

"Eaves dropping..." Lore mumbled, her gaze drifting along the sweeping arches of stone.

"Dropping eaves... Dropping leaves..." turning she peered through the halflight to the shaded interior of the nearest tree.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are."

Shaking her head Lore chuckled. "What in the worlds am I doing? Peeping into nests?" Gently, as light as a feather, she began to drift down from the heights she had worked herself up to in her excitement. Refractions of light glimmered and danced across the silk of her gown, magical light, the Light of Va'Loth. Lore walked on, closer to its source, enjoying the effect, taking delight in the kinship even of the Fairelands themselves, the beauty of one drew out and bolstered the beauty of another. She had to follow the music, she was certain it was that which had drawn the moths from their homes. Fluttering wings took flight, chasing not the light of sun, moon, or even magic, but a different frequency. The rhythms flowing from the Fairechylde, a vital heartbeat to the lands, echoed in the forms of all those who sought it, gathered around it to sing and to dance.

"Round and round the mulberry bush..." she sang softly even as her eyes darted from a blade of grass to a drifting mote in the air.

"Come on my beauties where have you gone? You don't even eat mulberry leaves!" Soon the lands would fill with visitors, clomping feet and hooves, broad, leaf brushing wings, to say nothing of those beings made from fire or ice. She shuddered, she had to round them up, get them safely home. The silk rustled, the first wing beat.

"There!" Lore beckoned, lavender tipped fingers curling in welcome. Her moths fluttered to her, soon to be back safely in Bayounimba. Life would go on, eggs would be laid, caterpillars grown. Grown to eat the leaves in the Bayou, to make the most beautiful silk.

So much prettiness. More than prettiness. These are the kinds of SIMs that you wish were places you could visit in RL, so beautiful and well crafted you can feel the texture of the air and breathe in its scent as you click and cam your way. Plus, you can buy all this amazing stuff there!. What could be better? Raising money to support people with cancer? IT ONLY GOES AND DOES THAT AS WELL! What are you waiting for? Links to the beautiful right here!

Images taken in Fantasy Faireland SIM Light of Valoth

Halo : Air - Gothic Halo_silver
The Shrine Tree
Hair :  Wasabi // Prudence Mesh Hair
Midas
Circlet : [Kotolier] "Herba" Circlet (FF2019)
Midas
Skin :  Sinful Needs - Children of the Night V3 Female - Jet Brows
Twilight Spring
Eyes : {Acios} Eyes of Bayounimba
Bayounimba
Earrings :  [Cubic Cherry] {Akane} earrings
Nightshade Blossoms
Scarification : *Birth* Scarification - 'TribalArrow'
Tensors Flying Market
Skin Colourfade : :[EvenTide]: Colored Fades - Purple Mild
The Shrine Tree
Necklace : [HarshLands] FF X Necklace - ULTRA RARE - Her High Faireness
Light of Valoth
Gown : +Dreamcatcher+ Agatha
Faireholm

Wild Winged Creatures - Ember's Cauldron Shopping Event

 

The raven knew. Its smart beady eyes looked at his mistress with a mixture of pity and amusement. Fairies were sooo... fragile, compared to a freshly hatched raven chicken. Yet, the raven couldn’t abandon the Lady Anen to her fate. He was her familiar spirit, and that was it. The raven cawed and hoped that the Lady Anen could hear him through the blizzard that chilled her blood and roughed her up, brutally and painfully. The raven could see the ancient oak through the veil of wildly swirling snowflakes... the Oak, the asylum and sanctuary for all winged creatures great and small in The Forest. “She will do it... she reminds me of my firstborn, Qreeth... a cheeky lil fellow...” – thought the raven, and flapped his wings in encouragement.

The fantastic „Filling The Cauldron” fundraising event for Elicio Ember might be over, but please don’t forget that many creators still participate in the „Ember’s Cauldron” shopping event until 16^th April, and they still offer beautiful donation items created in support of Elicio!

For more information read the blog entry by Charlie (Lerochelle Destiny), owner of .:Soul:. and promoter of the event.

Donation items:

Mask: “Ember’s Mask Greater” by Laudanum Lollipops – 200 L$ (the package contains another, smaller mask as well, so it’s a real bargain).

Tattoo: “Elegant Ember” in Peacock by Even-Tide – 100 L$; take your time to check out the other delicately coloured versions (“Dusk”, “Dream” and “Ember”) too, they are all lovely!

Other items:

Skin: “Catalina” in Cream by Soul – this is a system skin; for the state-of-the-art appliers please visit the shop.

Eyes: “Feral Eyes” in Regal by Sterling Artistry – 65 L$.

Hair: “Editorial: Eastern Wind” in Funky by Tableau Vivant – a previous gacha item now available in the main shop, 75 L$ per play.

Antlers: “Winter Lights” in Plum by Tayren’s Fantasy Fashions – gacha in the shop, 50 L$ per play.

Sparklers: “Starry Night” Flakes by Tableau Vivant – from a previous gacha hair series not available any more.

Petal mask: “Breaking Apart” by Tableau Vivant – part of an old prop set not available any more.

Shoulder pet: part of the outfit called “Nevermore” by Montagne Noire – 25 L$.

Sakura - Spring's hope - Fantasy Faire 2015

In IchiGo IchiE the sakura were in full bloom. The delicate flowers appearing from bare wood heralding the start of spring, of life's miraculous return from the depths of winter sleep. Méi awoke with the flowers, her long slumber at an end. 

The world inhaled, the chill of the air warming with each passing day. The spirits of spring and rebirth unfurled as she moved, hopping at first from branch to branch, running along swaying twigs with a sure step. Méi would not fall. Her own wings would keep her aloft, those and those of her companions surrounding her would carry her from bough to bough.
  Bringing life and beauty to the world was never easy, there was always a struggle. As her steps brought buds from the bark of the trees she considered this, as she did each year. These blooms were life, they were beauty, they were ephemeral. They were joy to all who saw them, they called for enjoyment, for delight in life as long as it lasts. Méi flew among the trees, bringing life for life's enjoyment. Each flower a bloom for the future, made possible by the growth of the past.
Two posts in one day... I know - testament to my lack of organisation. 

This post was planned, but the message it contains reached a new level of personal this morning as I was writing, thanks to another post, and conversations in our second life. So this one is for Ursula.

The Fantasy Faire in 2015 has so far raised L$ 6,268,699  That's $ 25,075! All for Relay for Life - The American Cancer Society. The more money raised, the more research, the faster new techniques and treatments are developed, the faster we find a cure. 

So go - the Fairelands will fade back into the mists for another year at the end of today. Enjoy the Sims. Bump into the talented and generous creators. Complete the hunt and be so covered in prizes you won't see daylight for a week. Hit up the donation kiosks. Cover bail for those characters locked up by the Pawlice. Shop shop shop! The Relay for Life vendors are clearly marked, all the L$ going to RFL. 

Make a difference today.

Hair : /Wasabi Pills/ Jasmine Mesh Hair - (BOOBS) - Licorice
Odyssey
Skin : :[P]:- Immortalia Skin-Femme:// Mortulus - Free in each SIM!
Tattoo layer :  :[ET]: FF Dragon Scales - Light
Vallacia
Earrings : RFC - Dragonbead Earring - Cape Amethyst
Spires of Andolys
Necklace : ~tc~ Baroque Necklace - Silver (mc)
Tangleshimmer Grove
Outfit : -AZUL- Pepeke (Dress, Wings and Butterflies)
YoZakura

Visit the Sim
IchiGo IchiE

Palace of Tears - Fantasy Faire Quest 2014 (No Spoilers!)

"Ooowh"

The dull ache in my head was what had woken me... or was it the damp? Lying here I was becoming more aware of both with each passing moment. Drinking with the Fairefolk? I should have known better.

"Oh gods..." I moaned, right hand rising to press against my temples, fingers and thumb massaging slow circles as my left explored my surroundings, sliding through sodden grass into a pool of water, emerging with, of all things, a toad. Its skin was slimy and cool beneath my touch. A soft smile curled the corners of my lips, despite the pounding in my head, as I couldn't be too far from home after all. Opening my eyes however, I had no memory of this place.

Bringing the toad closer, the soft scales of of my own skin reflected in its swamp black eyes, I kissed it gently. Long moments we regarded each other, neither of us shifting form to match the other, no fairytale romance this time. Bending to return my latest non-prince to the marshy ground, writing etched on the back on my hand swam in and out of focus. Blinking, I tried hard to clear my head, finally able to read what was scrawled there... It, and other details of the previous night came flooding back.

"The Jolly Crocodile..." A sigh escaped my lips as memory returned in painful swallows. I would have to go back. I had unfinished business with a human there, one who had been propping up the bar all night.

"Aloysius Fimbleby."

Fimbleby had matched me, and others of the crowd drink for drink that night. There was something about him though, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Perhaps it had after all been water in those bottles he drank. As the hours went by, he seemed at least as sober as when I had arrived while I was certainly not. There had been something about a bet, a wager or challenge? I had to head back to the area near the bar to find out what I had let myself in for. Something floated up from the depths of memory just as my bare feet stepped from marsh to sand, Fimbleby's voice echoing in my ears. A clue... A bargain had clearly been struck last night.

Walking through the dunes, feeling eyes upon me, I felt somehow this barfly was able to see my every move. Perhaps he was. Following the clue, I searched the surrounding area for what it could mean. As I came upon what I felt for sure was the answer, snapping my fingers and naming it aloud in triumph, my voice was answered by Fimbleby's as though we had been in conversation all along. There were clues, he said, clues he would give if I journeyed throughout the Fairelands. All riddles had to be answered and only if I succeeded would he give me a golden key. Of what this key would open he gave no hint, other than it would be worth my while. How could I refuse? I had already begun...

The Palace of Tears is this year's immersive hunt at the Fantasy Faire.

You can purchase the HUD at the landing point of any of the Faire SIMS for L$250. The HUD will tell you in local chat exactly what you need to do, and where you should head. There are cut scenes as well as inworld text, which can pop up in your SL viewer, or externally on youtube. Each SIM of the Fantasy Faire has it's own riddle for you to solve - I've made sure not to include any spoilers here! Once you have solved them all, you are ready for Part Two - which should go live today at noon SLT.

My favourite thing about these hunts is that they truly showcase the amazing work of the SIM creators. Shopping can get a bit tunnel vision, even in these surroundings. This quest ensures everyone taking part really sees each location, and can appreciate all the hard work put in to make them so beautiful. The images here were taken at Fairelands Junction Wiggenstead Mooring  Asperatus

All items below are in Relay For Life vendors.

Skin : Niekra's Dreams - Hope Skin Female - Light Violet (three shades in pack) L$ 499
Tattoo :  :[Even~Tide]:  Mer Scales Pastel - Lilac (five colours in pack)  L$ 75 
Hair : /Wasabi Pills/ Darienne Mesh Hair (Boobs) - Crystal Violet  (three shades in pack) L$ 200
Eyes :  !Musa! Opal Eyes RFL3 (three shades in pack)  L$ 150 
Crown : . a i s l i n g . Sumiana Crown -Ice- (crown and collar) L$ 250 
Gown : Evie's Closet - Ceridwen Gown RFL 2014  L$ 375