O Shepherdess Where Are Thyne Pastures?

The last lamb was exhausted and weak. It looked up to the centre of its tiny world, the shepherdess, the benevolent caretaker and the source of all goodness, and it silently begged for water. "Oh my dear... I am so very, very sorry..." - whispered the young girl, and hugged the little woolly body closer. "There has been no rain for ages, the pastures are fenced, and we are not permitted into town. But I shall not leave you alone, my dear." The thirsty, exhausted girl kept the thirsty, exhausted lamb in her arms, and she was waiting for whatever fate was mapped out for them.

As far as gacha machines are concerned, I made a vow some time ago. "I shall play one gacha machine three times, and I shall be happy with whatever I receive" ... and, oddly enough, the spirits guiding those machine handles reward me with rare or ultra rare pieces amazingly often.

Many of the items I'm showing you here are from the current round of The Fantasy Gacha Carnival, already duly introduced by my swifter-than-the-wind fellow blogger Vyl here. You can tempt your luck at Acerbus Silva until August 31st (or, according to the notice you receive when landing, until September 8th), so you still have a few days to walk around, pick and play.

Dress: "Mei Mei" by May's Soul in Green (common) - 75 L$ per play.

Headpiece and collar: "Lifa" by Zibska, full set with colour HUD (rare) - 50 L$ per play.

Face jewellery: "Miradi'el" by Keystone in Onyx (rare) - 50 L$ per play.

Necklace: "Eloise Chain Collar" by The Forge in Black (common) - 75 L$ per play.

Hand jewellery: "Aaliya Hawk" by Luas in Metal (common) - gacha machine available in the shop, 50 L$ per play.

Sheep: "Sheepie" by Adore & Abhor in Licorice - a previous Zodiac Event gacha prize now available in the main shop, 50 L$ per play. I'm a RL Aries so I'm quite taken with this sweet cutie, you know...

Skin: "Fairy" by Mudskin, blogged here.

Nails: "Basic Prim Nails" by Candy Nail in Monotone 10 - 70 L$.

Hairbase: "Curls" by EMO-tions in Black - a previous group gift.

Eyes: "Immortal Eyes" by IKON in Sage - group gift June 2014, now available for sale in the main shop (150 L$).

Pose: Gesticulate - an old gift from the FabFree Headquarters, not available any more.

The picture was taken at El Laberinto Perdido, the latest build by Romy Nayar - quirky and bizarrely cute, as her creations usually are.

Forest awakening

Deep in her heart was the forest. In the heart of the forest she dwelt. Pines and sentinals formed a near impenetrable barrier around the border; stray trees grew here and there, camouflage in the wilderness. Through the labyrinth of  thickets and thorns, near the centre of the forest, the trees grew less dense. Needles gave way to broad leaves, boughs and branches spread under sun and moon. The clearing ringed a tarn, neither deep nor broad enough to be called a lake, but it brought life to the whole wood, and to her. Each season she woke, covered in fallen leaves or encased in ice. The creatures of the forest scuttled over her skin rousing her from slumber. Water dripped from her hair as her bare feet curled into the leaf litter and loam. Sun and moon beams dappled her skin as she moved slowly around the clearing, her touch caressing bark and fur as she came back to life. Flames flickered, kindling into being on her horns, lighting up the night. Fully awakened, fully alive the forest around her bloomed or withered as was its season. In the clearing she held her court. The throne's eyes were open, the time for judgement was at hand. All the business of the forest must be conducted before the moon waned, and her candles guttered. So little time each season to take in all the beauty her energy created. The woods were so beautiful. She would take the time to enjoy them.

Skin :  :[P]:- Astrali Skin :// Auriga L$ 1099
This skin comes in three versions, basic - shown here, cover up and toned down. Seven eye shadows, six other lip and face make up mods and eight brow options.
The Plastik
Hair :  (r)M Hair No.25'14 - Cherry Brown - from Blacks Pack L$ 287
Incredible value here for this amazing hair. The Blacks colourpack contains five tones.
( r e d ) M i n t
Eyes :  :[P]:-Haunt Collection-The Cell L$ 119
Corset :  :[P]:- Anasaze Corset :// Wrought Leather with Hips  L$ 289
Beautiful tooled leather under bust corset. Can be worn with or without the additional hip sections.
Horns : :[P]:- Living Light Horns [Complete-Light]:// Bound  L$ 449
Twelve. That's right, twelve different versions of these beauties. With and without candles, with and without ribbons. There are additional packs available for yet more colour options at the mainstore.
Armour :  [The Forge] Lorien Bracer Set - (Rustic Gold) L$ 450
This pack comes with four coloured gemstone options. They are much brighter in colour than shown here - but are mod! I've darkened them considerably (to 16 from 100) for the look I wanted here.
The Forge
Pose (Picture 1) : Del May - Fearful heart #1 L$ 50
Del May
Chair : Boudoir - UnSeelie Fairy Queen Wearable Throne L$ 250
Natural and super creepy with its eyes! Prim heavy - wear - don't rez!
Boudoir
Setting : Studio Skye : Four Season Enchanted Pond from 100% MESH  L$ 699
This is a great section for landscaping, especially if you already have similar items from Studio Skye. One click changes the season of all sections you have rezzed. This Enchanted Pond comes in two versions, one with prim water, and one without. For those lucky enough to have land at sea level, this can be rezzed and placed slightly in the water, so you get all the windlight options for water in your scene.
Studio Skye

Love in the mists

They were of the mists...

They would be everywhere, part of everyone and everything. Steam rising, dew forming, tides rolling, and rivers flowing. Under the moon, the sea fret formed. As did they. They emerged from vapour just as they had entered it, coming together in a never ending embrace. Moon and starlight gave them substance, to last only as long as the night. They were poured into a well of feeling, had only to take care not to drown. In these brief hours they could step from the water onto even the driest of lands, puddles forming in their wake, evaporating just as they, with the dawn.  

He wears; 

Skin: AKERUKA Gary Beard Dark Group Gift (L$1)
Another great skin with excellent detail.
Akeruka
Hair: *Dura-Boy*49 (Black)  L$ 120
Realistic and stylish as ever from Dura.
Dura
Tattoo: +REDRUM+ Tarot of Lovers Tattoo  L$ 119
A must for all lovers of the cards.
+REDRUM+
Pants: +REDRUM+ Leather Pants with Suspenders from THE BONES outfit L$ 299
Love these - whole outfit works great and also as parts! MESH in standard 5 sizes.
Boots: DRD Beggers Boots (Coal) L$ 189
Great Unisex boots - HUD driven options for fabric colour and style, laces and to have been walking through mud or snow!
Death Row Designs 

She wears;
Skin:  YumYums  Alli Skin Tone 5 (Dark Brow Cleavage) pack L$ 899
As always, the skins from YumYums are amazing, excellent detail, and many options for your L$. The pack contains light brow, dark brow and no brow, all with cleavage / no cleavage. Also included are freckles, blushes, moles and Loud Mouth appliers.
YumYums
Appliers: YumYums  Alli Skin Tone 5 applier pack  L$ 199
Excellent applier HUD with Tango, SLink, and Phat Azz options. Good for your skin and nails.
Hair: Magika [Hair] Shimmer  (Colour pack 3) L$ 250 
Love this hair, not generally a fan of short styles, but there's no getting away from how great this is.
Magika
Makeup: +Nuuna+ Meta Gray 70% (F) full black L$ 100
Beautiful makeup I've been hunting for for a while. Mod, so here I have darkened the tattoo layer to get the opacity I wanted.
+Nuuna+
Corset: -DRD- Corset Arts Red  L$ 200
This is my second purchase of one of Death Row Design's Art Corsets. Original works of art at the heart. Beautiful.
Death Row Designs 
Armour: [The Forge] Eldar Armour, Female (Worn Black) - MeshL$ 399
This really is beautiful armour. Three sections for each arm included. Textures and design are amazing.
The Forge
Hands:  Slink AvEnhance Hands Female - Relaxed  L$ 450
A more relaxed look.
Slink
Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet Female Mid L$ 675
My most used feet!
Nails: DLS Ceredil nail applier (RFL vendor) L$ 199
I was lucky enough to get these at the Fantasy Faire this year, and the Relay for Life vendor has been moved to the fabulous De La Soul Mainstore!
Shoes: -DRD-  Monochrome v2 black  L$ 189
These really stand out for me - as they aren't the 'perfect' unscuffed shoe. They have been worn, the laces undone. Perfect for RP! 

Poses;
{.:exposeur:.} We Are Water- L$ 175
Exposeur
Del May - Fissure - L$ 150 
Del May 
{look.sharp} "Denial" L$ 10
Look.Sharp - Marketplace 
 

Fantasy Faire 2014 - Twilight Huntress

The most dangerous beast come out to hunt at twilight. She knew that since she had been born. Her mother taught her well. The noises, the smells, the slight changes in the air ... foreboding and also forewarning signs for a huntress. She prickled her ears. Could that be... an Amphisbaena? No, she should have heard some soft hissing if it were. And those shadows? Just some tree branches, or... were they antlers? Maybe a Peryton...? She took a deep breath and began her long and patient stalking after the magnificient creature.

The list of designers participating at this year's Fantasy Faire is more than impressive, and a pleasure to read... so many old friends and acquaintances, and so many new creators that all offer their lovingly crafted pieces for a good cause!

Dress: Red Queen "Lioness" by The Library - RFL donation item available at Hope's Horizon (300 L$). I knew of the Medieval and fantasy dresses designed by Dreamfantasia Nightfire but (shame on me...) this is the first time I've ever bought one of her works.

Mask: Gold "Alato" Mask by Illusions - RFL donation item available at Sanctum (95 L$). Another beautiful piece by The Mask Lady, Siyu Suen.

Necklace: "Nyx" in Gunmetal by Sax Shepherd Designs - part of the Nyx fantasy jewellery set available at Hope's Horizon (499 L$). Thank you for the blogger pack, Sax, I didn't know your art went well beyond those lovely shoes... shame on me, again.

Skin: The Plastik - Astrali "Orion" by The Plastik. This set of skins is not a RFL donation item, but in the shop of The Plastik at The Faery Court you can admire (and, of course, buy) the new Asaia skins, designed just for the Faire. Vae, aka Aikea Rieko also offers you the Vynn Horns, the Malei Earrings and the Lys Circlets, each and every piece being created with amazing art and care.

Horns: Chained Horns in Black by LaNoirSoleil - RFL donation item available at Wiggenstead Mooring (247 L$). Caresia, thank you so much for the wonderful goodies, I'm sure I'm going to be a horned SL being for a long time! LNS is a recent discovery for me, and I'm already a fan of your headpieces.

Hair:"Mientje" in Black by Mina Hair - 250 L$ for a fatpack of 5 different black shades.

Eyes: Dragon Eyes "Golden Sight" by Sterling Artistry (85 L$). Silverr Andel has been absent from SL for quite a while, and he's not attending the Faire either... which is a great loss for all of us.

Staff: Aura Staff in Gold by The Forge - gacha prize (50 L$ per play). The staff is not among the RFL items, but it is worth checking out the shop of The Forge at Asperatus for some other awesome pieces.

Pose: RFL Pose 2 by Musa (shown here without the glowing orbs that also make part of the pose pack) - RFL donation item available at Sanctum (80 L$). Filomena, thank you for the blogger pack, I always use your poses with pleasure!

The picture was taken at Mourningvale Thicket.