Moonlight magic

She would put a spell on the world.

When darkness fell in the town of New Babbage, and the majority of scholars at the institute were tucked up in their libraries, common rooms or beds, the nocturnal students were beginning their work. Many took over from their daylight colleagues, keeping the labs and lecture halls filled around the clock. Jayna had spent the twilight hours at study with her companions, ensuring the instruments were in order, whirring and ticking away. As the clock struck thirteen, and the bells began to chime they took to the streets. Perhaps tonight it would work... all of their efforts. Aligning themselves throughout the institute grounds they looked up to the stars, waiting on the movement of planets, for clouds to shift, and moonlight to shine...

They shouldn't have done it. Such was the comment murmured in lecture halls and shouted in corridors and streets. Those nocturnal students had unleashed moonlight on the town, had done it with no communication to those who dwelt in the day. Day had outranked night for hundreds of years, overwhelming numbers had sidelined the night students; the enlightenment itself was named for their victory, for their discoveries, but now... Karyne was unswayed by arguments of tradition and continuity. In the daylight she had toiled for years, developing her science, practising and experimenting. All paths had led to frustration, to a glimpse of what was possible, only for it to be snatched away. Now moonlight bathed the institute, making it hard for her scholarly companions to think, but for her, it opened the door so long locked and bolted. In this new light she could feel it, here and now, magic would begin to happen.

We < 3 RP!
September's round contains a whole new crop of fantastic items, clothing, skins, accessories etc etc at amazing prices from a select group of outstanding creators.
We < 3 RP

Jayna:
Skin : [theSkinnery] Xiao - Bare face(drow) DB CL3  L$450
This skin comes with three cleavage options for dark or no brows. That's six skins with appliers.
Hair : MINA Hair - Jasmin with braids (materials)   L$ 188
Lovely hair - two versions, with and without braids. Each in Materials and Non-Materials enabled finishes. This hair is in the blacks pack - five HUD driven tones.
Horn : Folly - Cercle Licorne L$ 225
Options galore with this beauty - I cannot face counting all the colour options - there are five for the horn alone, then you have gems, stones and accents, metals and embellishments *swoons*
Outfit : :[P]:-The Zarin Outfit:// Cosmic  L$ 329
Amazing outfit from The Plastik including boots, pants, corset and top. The top comes complete with mesh hands, and a HUD to match these to your Plastik skins.

Karyne:
Skin : [theSkinnery] Xiao - Bare face(drow) DB CL3  L$450
Hair : *~*Damselfly*~*Koko Rigged-Mesh Tuxedo  L$ 185
MESH hair with 20 HUD driven colour options. Love the feathers!
Necklace : .{yumyums}. Birthstone Choker {Garnet} L$ 100
Always have to choose my own birthstone - different according to different traditions - I love Garnet, so this suits me fine! There's also non-traditional stone options - the galactic ones are beautiful!
Outfit : .Arcadia. - Iron Riders Gown Fern L$ 297
Chainmail! On a dress! Impossible not to purchase.

Skyfall to a new World

The world had changed. The sky had fallen. One way of life ended, and another began. The change had been abrupt, though it had started decades past. People had refused to see it. People had denied it, even once the effects of change were manifest. Only once it was too late did their eyes, blinded by scales of profit, finally clear. Only then went up the cry of the elite, echoing that which others had sung for years. "We need to change!" All too soon these belated truths turned to others... "It's too late." Denial turned to despair, and the aching search for someone to blame besides themselves. "Why were we not told?" "It's not our fault..." Shards of sky fell, tumbling down, scything through oceans and smashing the cities. High above, there was a new sky, and far below, new people to enjoy it. Not everything from the world before had passed into nothingness, it never had and it never would. New beings formed from all things into which creativity had been poured. All which had been loved found new form here. From the cloth she had once been, the weaver's care gave her breath. The world's old desires and pleasures gave her purpose, and a hunger. Her old design still lingered, silvery light now on her skin, her past showing clear. Her creator's taste for donuts found a place in her also, never anticipated, she intended to enjoy it, and this new world, for all it was worth.

There are times when I can be misanthropic. Even at those times, so I'm told, my rantings are hilarious enough to make it worthwhile. Other times, I'm blown away by how helpful people can be - cue the superfriends who can pick out and name a hairstyle I'm looking for from an image with no credits! <3

Skin :  :Sugar: [5] DB Avril - Teeth
Lolas : Lolas ::: Tango ::: Mesh Breasts
Tattoo :  Folly - Tintable Glaze - Serpentine - Light
Hair :  Magika [Hair] Shimmer (03)
Hairband : .{yumyums}. {Pinkie} EatMe Headband
Eyes :  .::Kre-ations::. Eclypse eyes{Neptune / Pluto}
Dress : Luas Tarna - Black

Folly, formerly Skinthesis, has opened a new mainstore, and Cane has produced some amazing tintable tattoos for the occasion. They come in Dark, Med and Light tones, but can be modded to your heart's content. They also come with appliers, making them even more versatile for those with body add ons!
Folly

The lovely Io at YumYums is at her headband madness again - seriously some of the upcoming releases are so glittery I nearly died -. This donut version was a taster (groan - didn't even intend that pun as I typed it) - keep eyes out at the mainstore for newness soon!
YumYums

There is a free script available on Marketplace which allows more flexibility with clothing layers on your Lolas. I know in the past I have managed to have more than one layer showing, but I'd be damned if I could recreate that spark of genius. This script - produced by the Lola's creator - allows this with ease. The images above show the applier blending the skintone, 'dress bra' showing the tattoo, and 'dress top' showing the dress. All changeable by HUD, or by chat command. Perfect!

Faery Court - Fantasy Faire 2014 - Why I Relay

The Faery Court had emerged from the crystalline waters at the turn of the new moon. It could not last long in the world of mortals, their disbelief wore away at it,scale and wing. It would fade once more before it was in tatters. While it lasted its unearthly beauty would be seen by those daring or unselfish enough to venture there. Not all who came did so with the intention of doing good, some fuelled by greed and the desire only to obtain... but these were the minority. Even a Fae as cynical as Vespyra knew that.

Cynical may after all be too harsh a term to describe her, she had been hurt, deeply, time and again by the losses in the world. Those she saw and felt taken too soon. When her realm slid seamlessly into that of mortal folk, she felt it all the more keenly, yet still she came. She came as here, there was the only hope. Here was the only proof that each void left by a loved one gone would eventually be filled with light, the pain draining as rainfall back to the sea, the remaining space swelling with love and care which never died. For each adventurer visiting the court for personal gain, there were hundreds more walking to a different beat, their hearts filled with longing for something unobtainable, each with a will to fight what seemed impossible. Battles had been lost along the way, and sadly there would be more to come. The fight was what mattered, eventually the war would be won.

Memories would linger on. Though those of pain and loss were freshest, others would endure far longer. Glimpses of lives played out like movie reels, seconds lasting lifetimes in the hearts and minds of those left behind. Mourning the loss would always be part, as for the rest, celebrate and dance.

One of the Blogger challenges this year for those of us covering the Fantasy Faire is 'Why I Relay'. This is not one I thought I would try, but here I am anyway. I had been exceptionally lucky in life, to have never really been affected by cancer. Those in the family who may have had, or even died from the disease were distant, not really people I knew at all. In the past few years this has changed. My Aunt found a lump, faced and fought everything that followed so bravely. Her fight came to an end so suddenly, that even six months on, it's a surprise and a shock that she isn't there. While in Second Life, the Fantasy Faire Relay for Life is associated with the American Cancer Society, Relay is now active in 20 countries, including my patch of earth with Cancer Research UK. No matter where in the world you find yourself, money going to research to beat this disease can only be a good thing. The sooner we stop losing loved ones the better. This has been my first Faire since losing my Aunt, and it has been emotional. I can't thank the creators enough for the amazing items they put up in their Relay for Life vendors - from which all proceeds go to the charity. I've covered the event for three years now, the cause has always been important. Now, it's personal.

Skin : Niekra's Dreams - Hope Skin Female Dark Violet (3 shades in pack) L$ 499 RFL Item
Tattoo : Folly - Tintable Glaze - Filigree - Medium L$ 100
Hair : LNS - AELYKX - FANTASY BOX L$ 247 RFL Item
Unrigged mesh hair created for the Fantasy Faire.The Fantasy HUD for this hair has 9 colour options and is the RFL item, here I've also obtained the 'Blends' HUD - same price, 9 more options one of which is pictured above. 
Horns : [LNS Designs]   TESLA VORTEX HORNS  L$ 147
Animated mesh horns.  Touching them turns on / off the energy. LOVE the colour.
Eyes : LNS MANDALA EYES L$ 54 RFL Item
The RFL item is the 'Sunrise' colour option - here worn is 'Dark Skies'

Pauldrons : Folly - Mother of Dragons - RFL Edition Set (Set contains 28 items) L$ 1000 RFL item
The Mother of Dragons special edition set for RFL has 3 metal and 12 gemstone options with exclusive colours.
Gown : *SSK* RFL Special Edition Moroi Ensemble  L$ 149  RFL Item
Special edition colour for the Fantasy Faire.

We have been so lucky with items donated by creators. I've had the pleasure of meeting several face to face during the course of the Faire, their generosity is a little overwhelming at times. Thank you all so much!!!