Fantasy Faire 2012 Preview - Ullabellatrix

The memory of her nanny always made her smile. “You must be very careful, my sweet little Ulla!” – she used to say, with a grave expression on her wrinkled face. “After sunset, the woods swarm with the most dangerous creatures, people say... those lucky who have lived to tell the tale, that is. They speak of six-legged polecats that spit fire, birds with poisonous feathers, and...” – Nanny’s voice was usually reduced to a hoarse whisper by now – “... there are ruthless, walking golden statues, too, who will kill you in an eyeblink! Promise me you will never walk in the woods after dark, my sweet child!” And little Ullabellatrix promised.

Oh, poor Nanny... she was a foreigner who never truly learned to know and love her chosen homeland. Why didn’t she notice, then, that her ward’s skin was slowly turning into a pale gold, as it customarily happened to the princesses of her House when they approached womanhood? “... and I bet she never counted Fuzzball’s legs, either...” – Ullabellatrix chuckled, then she whistled to her faithful polecat, she patted the deadly feathers of the bird perched on her shoulder, and began her night patrol in the wilderness.

The 2012 edition of Fantasy Faire is around the corner, and look at these beauties that will hit the shelves in a few hours!

Elvenbreath by Selina Forder was among the very first fantasy shops I stumbled into in SL as a noob, and now I have the pleasure to show you one of her exclusive FF items, “Ulabeth”. It is a beautiful ranger/hunter outfit in soft fawns and orangey golds, rich in elaborate details such as the medaillons on the shoulder strap and the belt. The strap, the skirt and the boots come with a resize script, so be you tiny or tall, you’ll be able to wear “Ulabeth” as if it were your second skin.

Talking of skins, “Beatrice” in Gold by Lerochelle Destiny of De La Soul stunningly complements Selina’s outfit. I love the delicate tattoo pattern around the eyes, and I only added a lip tattoo layer of my own because I’m too much of a perfectionist, and not because De La Soul products need any correction. :) “Beatrice” will be available in other fantastic gemstone colours, too, of which I’m going to show you some more very soon.

You’ll find Elvenbreath and De La Soul on the “Shifting Sands” sim here, and here.

Outfit: Elvenbreath “Ulabeth” - RFL donation item (350 L$).

Skin: De La Soul “Beatrice Ikon” in Gold - RFL donation item (350 L$).

Crossbow: GTS Design “Viking Sniper Bow”, a fully functional weapon with HUD – Three Moons Hunt 2 gift (0 L$). The hunt is on until April 30th.

Hair: D!va “Mana” in Black Amber – group gift (0 L$), and it’s free to join the group.

Eyes: Sterling Artistry “Discovery Eyes” The Far Away - 65 L$; the 6-pair pack costs 260 L$.

Lip tattoo: Lovely Mi “Leafy Lips” – previous hunt gift, not available any more.

Poses: Embody “Supermodel” Get Down in the first picture, and Embody “Supermodel” Tough Girl in the second one. The “Supermodel” megapack is a previous discount item, now one pose is available for 49 L$ and a five-pose pack costs 199 L$.

The pictures were made at Enchanted Swansong.

Butterflies In The Mist

She was born among the mountains, and she never forgot about them… not even later, when her family gave her hand in marriage to a rich merchant who lived at the sea. Mei Hua became an obedient wife, she learned quickly how to prepare the savoury fish stew that her husband preferred to any other dishes, and she got used to the damp weather and the fog. What she couldn’t forget, though, was the sweet smell of the grass that had grown on her father’s mountain pastures... and she sourly missed the butterflies. There weren’t butterflies in the seashore town, and nobody knew why.

Then, one morning, when Mei Hua was doing her usual chores, she felt a soft tickling in her hair. She reached up, touched her elaborate bun, and when she lowered her hand she was astonished to see that a golden butterfly was sitting on her middle finger, and butterflies were soaring around her, as if she had been an exquisite flower. The next day she received a letter from her family. Her mother had died the day before... but the butterflies never left her any more.

I heard people mention the Crazy Hair Hunt and I also saw some pictures of the past prizes, yet I couldn’t really understand why everybody had been talking about the previous hunts with so much nostalgy until the third Crazy Hair Hunt kicked in on March 31st. And what can I say that other bloggers haven’t said before me, in praise of this crazy funny whirlwind of amazing hairdo…? This is the very first SL hunt where I wasn’t cherry picking from the various gifts but I did the entire hunt from A to Z. And what gifts… oh my. Treebee Withnail, the mastermind behind the happening, has been absent from SL for 18 months and now she’s back with a „Bang!” We all owe her some huge thanks for the work she’s done, and we owe similar thanks to the creators whose creativity I can’t cease admiring.

I’m not one of the organisers, yet I hope you’ll forgive me if I share out some mild words of admonishment, for the common well-being of all participants. The hunt is extremely popular and hundreds of SL residents are on the path all around the clock – so pretty please, play nicely, the hunt objects are easy to find (it’s not the Twisted Hunt, after all…), and don’t complain to the organisers at the very first apparent difficulty. Treebee is ironing out the few effective glitches with incredible efficiency, so please show some patience with her. What you get are gifts, after all, and many people have worked in order to amuse you… so please say „Thank you”, and enjoy. :)

Outfit: The White Armory „Mists of Fuji” group gift (0 L$). It’s free to join the group, but for an invitation you have to contact either Colton Drechsler or Ida Donardson.

Hair: Yasyn’s Odds and Ends „Effervescent Chrysalis” – Crazy Hair Hunt 3 gift (0 L$). The hunt is on until April 30th.

Skin: PixyStix „Custard” – The Fashionista Hunt gift (0 L$). The hunt ended on March 31st, but the gift bag is still out in the shop. If it’s gone, then you can buy the „Custard” skin for 100 L$.

Tattoo: White Widow „Crystal” – free gift in the shop (0 L$).

Eyes: Sterling Artistry „March Festive” – monthly freebie in the shop (0 L$).

Nails: Sterling Artistry “Gold Silk” (10 L$).

Poses: previous D!va group gifts, not available any more.

The pictures were taken at World’s End Garden.

It’s Not Easy, Bein’ Green

Fern O’Shaughnessy lived the quiet life of a wood pixie. From Spring to Autumn she took care of the mushrooms, the wild flowers, and – of course – the tufts of fern that were growing in her hidden cove among the green hills of Ireland. In Winter she curled up in a comfortable burrow and slept until the first ray of March sun tickled her nose. She was generally happy… yet something secretly gnawed on her soul. She knew there lived some creatures called „humans” not very far from her place… and a starling told her that „human” girls didn’t have green spots or mushrooms growing on their skins, and they wore „dresses” instead of fern blades. Then, one day, Fern O’Shaughnessy heard some noise from behind a bush.

 

The noise was made by a leprechaun… a funny green creature, like herself, thought Fern and chuckled. The leprechaun heard her and frowned: „Why are you giggling, you silly craythur? Do you think it’s easy, being green?” Then the leprechaun started chuckling, too. „No, you must know what it means… right, Fern? I know of your secret wish, by the way… and, as I’m in good mood today, I’m willing to grant you it…” – said he, and his chuckles slowly turned into a sinister cackle.

   

Poof! Gone were the mushrooms, the green spots, the skirt and blouse made of fern… and there stood a pretty Irish colleen, green-eyed and jet-haired, dressed up in a marvellous gown… with a silly green tophat firmly attached to her head. „So that you never ever forget that it’s not easy bein’ green!” – echoed the cackling voice of the leprechaun among those emerald Irish hills.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

First picture:

Outfit: Caverna Obscura „Huldra” Flora Edition (including the skin spots tattoo set, the mushroom attachments, shoes, hat, jewellery and mod shape) - Group Lucky Board prize (0 L$). To get an invite to join the group, contact Elvina Ewing with the transaction info of your recent purchase at least L$250 worth. As she’s very generous with group gifts and lucky board prizes, it’s money really well spent.

Skin: Moosehead „Bronze” with blush and green eyeshadow (0 L$).

Eyes: Sterling Artistry Peaceful Eyes „Tranquility” (it was a formal hunt gift, now it’s available for 65 L$, the 6-pair pack is 260 L$).

Hair: D!va hair „Mana” group gift in Black Amber (0 L$ and it’s free to join the group).

Pose: Glitterati Long Hair 2 (it was a formal hunt gift, now the single poses are available for 50 L$ and the 10-pose pack is 250 L$).

Second picture:

Dress: Debutante - Mean Green Hunt gift (0 L$). The dress is rigged mesh and it comes in three sizes, together with an alpha layer. The hunt is on until March 31st.
Hat: Les Sucreries de Fairy - Lucky Leprechaun Hunt gift (0 L$). The hunt is on until March 31st.
Earrings and necklace: $GaNKeD$ „Lucky Clover” Set (0 L$, available on the Marketplace).
Skin: Rockberry „Apple” 1 Natural - Lucky Board prize (0 L$).

Eyes: Sterling Artistry Peaceful Eyes „Tranquility” (it was a formal hunt gift, now it’s available for 65 L$, the 6-pair pack is 260 L$).

Hair: D!va hair „Marie” group gift in Onyx (0 L$ and it’s free to join the group).

Makeup: :Glamorize: Stunner Makeup Kit Combo No. 5. (it was a formal freebie at the Kosmetika fair, but the currently available „Shadowed Dreams” kit is quite similar - 10 L$).

Nails: Sterling Artistry Manicure „Pistachio” (10 L$).

Pose: Adorkable Poses (it was a formal Advent gift and I’m sorry but I can’t tell whether it’s currently available).
Emoter HUD: Adorkable Poses – gift in the main shop (0 L$).


The first picture was taken at Chakryn Forest, the second one at Empress and Hierophant.

Chasing The Kraken

Captain Kitty Shadowsail never felt so angry and impotent in her entire life. Her beloved clipper was stranded and seriously damaged, the cargo was floating around the wreck, the crew fled… they were cowards anyway, she thought while she wanted to skin them alive. 

Her family had dedicated themselves to hunting down the Kraken. She was never allowed to forget about this quest… and if she was to give up, a glance at her Grandad’s gold pocket watch was enough to rekindle the fire in her chest. Grandad was fabulous, he had told her so many lovely and frightening stories about the gigantic octopus he and his forefathers had been chasing around the globe. Yes, Captain Kitty was a true member of the Shadowsail clan, she had already lost an eye during a particularly vicious encounter with the Kraken… and now she lost her beloved ship. What a shame.

Yet… Captain Kitty suddenly felt weird. She heard a sound… a hated, yet way too familiar sound… the deep booming voice of the Kraken. It was singing, and it was singing for her, wanting her back, wanting her to continue the eternal chase. Captain Kitty listened, and she suddenly felt revived. Oh yes, she was to rebuild the clipper, she was to restart the hunt. She listened to the song of the Kraken, she grabbed her Grandad’s pocket watch with a defiant yet happy smile, and in her single feline eye there glowed a wild unextinguishable fire. 

„Steam the Hunt 6” is on, and many shops offer lovely gifts for the indefatigable hunter. I’m a great fan of the Victorian Steampunk style, so this hunt is a true prizes galore for me. Let me show you some of my favourites here… and if you want more, check out the hunt locations and hints here. The hunt will end on March 31st so you have some time to complete the challenge.

Outfit: = Brain Circuit Inc. = Sea Voyager (Female Outfit), including the mechanical eye patch, tool belt and tricorn hat - Steam6 Hunt gift (0 L$).

Boots: A&S Visions Aftershok Steam Boots - Steam6 Hunt gift (0 L$).

Watch: *Amaranthus* Compass Rose Pocket-Watch Antique Gold - Steam6 Hunt gift (0 L$).

Hair: „D!va” hair „Akane” group gift in Topaz (0 L$ and it’s free to join the group).

Skin: ::Mother Goose’s:: Jamil-II(B) Lucky Board gift (0 L$).

Eyes: Sterling Artistry Feral Eyes in Ginger (it was a formal hunt gift, now it’s available for 65 L$, the 6-pair pack is 260 L$).

Poses: Embody M Flex No. 3. in the first picture (it was a formal hunt gift, now it’s available for 49 L$, the 5-pose pack is 199 L$), HelaMiyo Look In The Sky No. 5. in the second picture (free pose pack gift available in the shop). 

The pictures were taken at the Black Spot Shipyard, a must-see for all aspiring SL pirates. :)