The Fight - Why I Relay at the Fantasy Faire 2024

 

The fight. 

It came out of the darkness, out of the blue. It came in whispers, in moments of sensation only slightly out of the ordinary. It came in the hesitation, the unexpectedly repeated review, the 'let me just run this past...' on an otherwise idyllic hot summer morning.

 

The fight built from there. From the words. Words known, and heard for others. Cursed and kept at a distance for the irrational fear of contamination. Words now so, so close. Now spoken to you. The fight may have begun from the worry. A preparation, a defence from the depths of soul and spirit, while the conscious mind danced in a syncopated frenzy of distraction, keeping to the rhythm, a beat of desperate hope, 'it might not be... it might not be...' The hope so often severed by the blade of confirmation. Of fear realised.

Other blades follow. The dull and bruising edge of doubt, of remorse for imaginary opportunities missed - for things which could have been done differently. Of course things could always have been done differently, while they also couldn't have been any other way at all. Terror's sharp stabs, slicing to the bone, to the heart, burying the marrow in an avalanche of fear. The rough serration of anxiety, catching and pulling, tearing mind and body from any focus but this one. "What will happen now?" 

The fight becomes a living thing. With a temperature and temperament all it's own, waxing and waning with every encounter, it falters and fails, regroups and rises. It gathers strength when weak, gives strength when even the idea of it feels impossible. It stands alone with you in your isolation, the solitary confinement of the early hours, in the thrum of the crowd at work, in the arms of your loved ones at home. The fight is for you, and in you. Your fight is the fight of all those who came before, of everything learned which has brought you to this point. When you feel you cannot go further, it is the fight that will carry you on, because you do not fight alone. Your fight is with you, and it has teeth. 

The blogger challenge of all blogger challenges. Why I Relay. The most personal, the most difficult for bloggers like me. Those of us who you may get to know by reading our stories, the themes and references we draw on, but nothing clear, nothing obviously us. I'm generally happiest to hide behind my characters - all aspects of me, while keeping who I am, what I think and feel hidden in their shadows. This is the yearly challenge to shine a light on all of that, and it is not a comfortable sensation! In the past I've spoken of those I've loved and lost to cancer. They remain at the heart of why I Relay. In trying not to look at my own past, I can't even be sure if I've shared my own fears, my own experience, my own time hearing that pause, that unexpected extension of an examination, that "let me just run this past..." The terror, the doubt, the anxiety. The appointments, the waiting, the planning for the what ifs for me and those who mattered the most. Life is far from what I expected, from what was promised. The appointments I'd attended, my hand and heart held safe, to having to find the strength to attend these on my own. My plans and the promises made daily to me in tatters, shredded and bloodied, and yet I remain. The fight continued whether I wanted it or not. When I didn't, when I don't, others carried and carry me forward, believing as I did not, that some day it would matter again. I hope to hope they are right. This fight continues, for them, for me. I hope it continues for you. And THAT my loves, is why I Relay. 

Vyl

xxx

RFL Items are 100% Donation to Relay for Life

Halo : :[P]:- Arien Gemhalo RFL Purple

Samsara

Horns : :[P]:- Arien Horns [Swirl-Stars] RFL Purple

Samsara

Hair : Raven Bell - Magnolia Hair F ~Shimmer~

Thunnus Bay

Earrings : :[P]:- Lunin Earring 

Samsara

Eyes : CHIMAERA - 'Lilith' Eyes in Purple

Flamenca

Tattoo: .AngelicUs. -We are coming-  

Ondheim

Wings : :[P]:- Dene Wings Raised RFL

Samsara

Floating companion :   -AxisMundi-Quetzlcoatl-Medium

Hopes Wish

Sword : (Artemisia) )O( Stained Glass Rose Glaive 

Lolliocalypse

Top : [The Forge] Zeta Bra, Gold Lace

Thunnus Bay

Top : [The Forge] Zeta Harness, Gold, Maitreya

Thunnus Bay

Nails : [QE] Leviathan Claws

Last Stop

Belt : Tentacio - Taeyeon belt maitreya turquesa

The Duskfall Court

Pants : :::c*C*c:::JSummer_Pants_Legacy(m) Purple01

Thunnus Bay

Twisting with fate at the Fantasy Faire 2024

Well, this was different…

Cyra had felt out of time for some considerable time. Dipping in and out, doing what was possible when it seemed possible, even when it didn't. It was hard to tell once you were behind the clock face, once the hands fell off and the numbers melted into their gently glowing puddles. When the world ceased. Forward or backward, up, down or sideways. Where each window would open, where each door would lead wasn't always by chance, not always a spin of the wheel. Sometimes she felt Lachesis behind a choice, a thread twisting, pulling to a destination with intention.

Perhaps there was something there, something that needed attention, or had… Cyra slowly looked around the hilltop, the utterly unexpected and unlooked for hilltop. “Nope … no Druids.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Unless..!?” Spinning around, eyes narrowing, scanning the horizon, taking in each trilithon, lintel and upright, every solitary menhir, missing not one blade of grass as it shifted in the breeze. No sound, not a whisper save from her own sequins. “No invisible Druids either…”

A twist, a pull, a shove.

The watermelon warmth of the light spiraled away into an infinite sky of damson and purple. The bone deep chill of the stones from the hill swirled around into the nothingness. Stars glinting in the distance the only measument, the only focus in the void. Riding it out the only option as fate made another move.

"OK then..." Warmth returned along with light, a different light, another place, the air sweet and threatening. Either the Druids or time itself thought this was the place to be, and the hour to visit. Cyra stretched and leaned in to the newness with an amused aside to the statue of Mayor Craven Candyclaw "One hell of a way to get to work!" At least the giant cupcake with teeth wasn't singing...

Back, back, back, back, back again! The Fantasy Faire is back, and so am I - raising money for The American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.  You know the deal - sims of beauty beyond compare. Creators with hearts, souls and minds working toward one aim. All items below are 100% Relay For Life donation items. Go shop, go stare, go help end cancer by getting some of the legit sparkliest stuff I've ever seen! Why I Relay post to follow :) 

Hat :  Lolly Hat Special FF (Spicy) by Madame Noir
Lolliocalypse

Hair :  Raven Bell Wisteria Hair ~Shimmer
Thunnus Bay

Earrings :  SIGMA Flower hoop
Samsara

Eyes : [Azai] - Arcana Eyes 15 ( Blackout )
Last Stop

Nose bandaid : [TNK] ESSENTIAL BANDAID - STRIPED
Wistlyn Shallows

Jumpsuit : Lolly Sequin Pantsuit (Spicy) LARA X by Madame Noir
Lolliocalypse

Nails : [QE] Leviathan Claws Maitreya
Last Stop

Pose image 1 :  Paniq - Midsummer Delights
The Duskfall Court

Pose image 3: Uzme Sorcerer
Ondheim

Fallen Star - Fantasy Faire 2023

 Something... something was missing.

People had noticed of course, though not too many just yet. There were always those more observant, those whose eyes turned most often to the firmament; seeking guidance, tracing patterns, wishing... Now there were whispers among the wishes, murmurs from the mapmakers and something not quite grumbling from those who used the stars as their guide. Something was definitely missing, a patch of darkness above where a speck of brilliance had long gleamed.

Something was missing from the darkness of the night sky, because something had become someone. Someone had looked down for as long as eyes had looked up, someone had seen, and wanted a closer look. Taking form as something so comparatively small had been a challenge, she was taking very careful steps with her new feet, lest she sink through the surface of this enticing world.

Her choice of form was inspired entirely by the new sights which dazzled her eyes, as she in her turn had inspired others for aeons gone by. Travelling through the lands opening up before her, tones, light and shade never experienced threatened to overwhelm her senses. Everywhere flowers burst into bloom, their petals unfathomably smooth and cool against the nascent touch of her fingertips. Music and voices lilted and rose, a wave of welcome to ears accustomed to the fury of fire and storm.



She could barely wait to explore the beautiful world, able to linger only so long in each place, desperate to take it all in. Voices and fellowship called her forward, drawing her into a strange dance of warmth she'd thought left far behind. Before too long, she would return to the her place, a light in the darkness; for now, she would revel in the lights she found right here.

Aaaaannnd we're back! The Fantasy Faire is here once again! Thousands of souls coming together in rememberance and hope, making the world more beautiful while doing the most beautiful thing - helping others. Raising money to contribute to the fight against all cancers. Items blogged are donation items, with proceeds going to Relay for Life - The American Cancer Society. So come and explore, shop and enjoy some time in the beautiful worlds created for you, to make our world better.

Hair: Raven Bell - Magnolia Hair F ~Shimmer~
Szystrum Synod
Skin: Moth&Moon - Maitreya - HAZE - Cleavage 2
Frostweald
Earrings: *KD* Soul earrings
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Khumbala/104/187/68
Eyes: _-FAS-_ AURORA EYES : NORTHERN
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spirits%20Crossing/31/36/68
Necklace: [DB] Drunken Brokkr - Fithril Chest Jewelry - FF special
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nysaris/177/30/70
Gown: Belle Epoque - Athena Dress RFL (Maitreya)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nysaris/125/65/85
Hand tattoos: GERMINAL - IMOGEN FINGERS
Nysaris
Staff: Simply Shelby - Moon Staff - Purple/Pink
Nysaris

These pictures taken in the Fantasy Faire Sim : Glimmering Meadows

Fantasy Faire 2020 - Out of this World

Across aeons there had been whisperings, wonderings, all over the worlds.
                       Whence came we?
                                                                                                              Wither goeth we?
The words themselves had changed over time of course, but the sentiment remained. All those blessed with sentience, which was of course just about everything, had thought, spoken, or screamed the question into the void.
Out there in the void, the powers that be shifted, they were always listening.

Aethera drifted through the limitless heavens, eyes and ears alert for the change. There was a moment for each planet, each civilisation when they achieved a coming together, with the questioning voices coalescing into one. The blue planet called to her now, unremarkable, though pretty with its pattern of greens, browns and blue. The chorus had begun years ago, a few disparate souls echoing through the vacuum, like pinpricks of light their presence tickled her skin, catching her attention. 

Over time these echos multiplied, spinning through space, dancing and winding together to encircle the planet, drifting off to form an enticing cord. It was time. Aethera grasped it. There was no knowing where they would end up, there was just one guarantee. Having come together as one, with one positive goal, whatever came next would be better than anything they had seen before.

We are coming to the end of the Fantasy Faire 2020. There is still time to shop! So far, the Fantasy Faire 2020 has relayed L$17,434,340 ($69,737) by the end of the sixteenth Faire day.
Read that again. L$17,434,340. That's $69,737!
Mind. Blown. Go on. Please. Make this even more amazing. Spend those Lindens to raise real life money to fight cancer. Relay for Life!!!

All items listed are 100% donation to Relay for Life.

Antlers : Jinx : Cervine Antlers - Fine -
Heliodor
Hair : Raven Bell - Nereid Hair
Auxentios’ Pass
Skin : Fallen Gods Inc. - Expanding Universe [xx]+FGInc.+ Psychic Opals NB
Zodiac
Eyes :  !TLB - Lyric Eyes/Green
Autumnium
DP - Koffin Nails - Maitreya HUD - Fantasy Flutter Keys
Lamented Fens
Globe : Boudoir - Holding Earth
Lunafae
Outfit : The Annex - Kimama - Black
Cassiopeia

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

Fantasy Faire 2020 - Revelation

The sands shifted as the spring breeze swirled into existence, chasing the last of the clinging frosts from the dunes. Grain tumbled over grain; a slip swelling into a landslide, uncovering what had remained buried for decades. The glimmer of crystal, a shining drop of blue amidst the sand. Emerging from the depths of the earth's clinging confinement, Arala stepped forth, pulling her staff free behind her.

"So dry... so barren..."
She coughed, the dust rattling loose as thoughts from the dark slowly coalesced. Understanding of what had happened dawned, her anger and disappointment grew. Grumbling to herself she looked around, poking here and there at the dunes with the base of her staff.
"It must be around here somewhere!"
*poke*
*prod*
*poke*
The gentle touch of the breeze flowed over her, carrying with it the answer.
"Oh... It's me."

Arala began to climb. She had been looking for a reason, an actual revelation to explain her own.
She remembered the decline, the loss.
Her deminishment, through no fault of her own. There had been fault, but in this moment, it no longer seemed to matter. She was again. Conscious and present. It could mean only one thing. There was a place for her in the world again, all she had to do was take it. All things change, nothing lasts forever, neither joy nor pain. Life would return to the barren wastes, she would be the one to bring it. Her light grip tightened around her staff, as she smiled, rain began to fall.

It's BAAAAAAAAAAAACK! Fantasy Faire Time! And already I have typoed Fantasy as Fantasty and have had to change it. This happens EVERY year.
Anyway... clears throat and puts on a boxing match announcer voice...
It's back. It's bigger than ever. It's EIGHTEEN sims of amazing creations, wonderful people spending their money not only to get mindbogglingly gorgeous stuff, but to benefit the world by supporting the cause of fighting cancer. I'm so excited. Get down there. Be amazing. Join the shopping, the events, the community. The real revelation is that the answers will come from us.

Items shown are sold as 100% donations for Relay for Life.
Crown : AMBIX // Chrysalis Crown [Glacial]
Melusina’s Depths
Hair : Raven Bell - Nereid Hair F2
Auxentios’ Pass
Eyes : !TLB - Lyric Eyes/Green
Autumnium
Skin : .:Soul:. [G3] Jalyn RaniV2 [FF20]  -BOM-
Zodiac
Gown : Mishmash Fusion - Dark Siren Gown - Purple - Maitreya
Lamented Fens
Staff : Jinx : Spirit Moon Staff
Heliodor

Aetherean Opposites - Fantasy Faire 2018

Eos brought the dawn to Aetherea, in a place this beautiful, her work wasn't work at all. Sunlight glinted on golden memories of yesterday, illuminating the shining possibilities of today. The dawn was calm and quiet, a peaceful time in what could be an almost impossibly busy place. Marble held the stillness, the pools untroubled by ripples from passers by. The world warmed with the breath of day.

Sunset, in this place, paradoxically existed at the same time as the dawn. Aetherea was just that special kind of place, where opposites not only attracted, but collided. Perhaps that was the truth of its conception, the nexus of being resided here. As the dawn blossomed above, so the dusk bloomed below. The moments of twilight held their own kind of magic, strong enough to make anything possible. In the ever shifting light, in this upside down world, you could dance on air.

Aetherea had a difficult birth, but its beauty is well worth the struggle the world builders and Lindens had! Come and enjoy it! All items are 100% donation for Relay for Life. So far we have raised over TEN MILLION LINDENS!!!

Eos:
Hair: Raven Bell - Chronos Hair 2 [Mystic]  L$ 200
This pack contains, Chronos Hair, Chronos Hair 2, Mirrored versions of both of these, and an Undercut version (and its mirror). HUD driven colours offer 16 different options for pastel to more vivid rainbow tones. Erstwhile
Mask : (*<*) 1313 Cthaeh Mask - Lower LOD  L$ 99
Well damn, this is what happens when your attention slips when blogging! This mask is available in three RFL colours, Pink, Purple and Blue. I had these on a HUD which I forgot to add... Options for the mask include Lower and Higher LOD
The Bazaar Dungeon
Skin : [NM] - Mortal - Fairy - Female - N1 - (Add HUD)  L$ 300
System skins , 6 options (3 different cleavage each with and without brow) 21 different appliers for mesh bodies and heads Severina
Tattoo: :[ET]: FF Magical - Ocean  L$ 50
Pretty shaded tattoo, comes with a system layer, and a HUD, Omega Advanced for your mesh needs.
Severina
Earrings: SoG Goddess Eos
Secrets of Gaia. Ok, hold on to your hats. These lovely earrings, an ode to the goddess of the dawn, are available along with a matching choker as a pack which is not RFL. They are part of a MUCH bigger set, with literally everything you need from your shoes to your hair, all themed to Eos. There are three goddesses however, Dawn, Day and Night, and these are, as a threesome, what is available (heavily discounted from their individual prices) to a RFL 100% donation of L$ 2500 Just don't shout at me when your inventory groans under the sheer number of items included!
The Bazaar Dungeon
Locket: *OAL* Memorial Locket ~ Eternal Circle L$ 300
On A Lark locket to which you can add photos you want to carry with you. HUD options allow selection of three different metals, Copper, Silver and Gold, each with eleven different gems to choose from.
Aetherea
Dress: *LE* Petal Pearl   L$ 175
Pretty mesh dress, five standard SL Mesh Sizes from XXS to L, and a Fitmesh version too.
Willows of Nienna

Dusk Hair, Skin and Tattoo as Eos


Mask: ~ThatChick~ (P) High Queen Masque  L$ 75
You better have an idea in mind for what you want this mask to look like before you put on the HUD, or you too will be in there for hours playing with the seven textures, their full RGB spectrum options, brightness, shine, glow, two sets of gems (each with 30 colour options) and five different gem settings. Not that its a bad way to spend the day!
The Bazaar Dungeon
Necklace: Bliensen + MaiTai - Aziza - necklace - silver  L$  240
Beautiful necklace, reminiscent of seaglass, each set of beads is carved in a different shape.
Erstwhile
Dress: [EvelineIntheBox] Cherena Flower Green L$ 189
Lovely not too florally floral dress, reminds me of beautiful ivy and light foliage. Comes with options for Freya, Isis, Venus, Hourglass, Physique and Maitreya. Also in 5 standard mesh sizes from XXS to L.
Willows of Nienna