Are You Going to Renaissance Faire VI in Second Life? (Hint: You should!)

 The phoenix must burn to emerge. 

Janet Fitch 

            Summer is drawing to its close in Real Life (RL), at least here in the Northern Hemisphere! 

            The last, long weekend of the American summer, Labor Day, draws nigh.

            All this means that the annual Renaissance Faire in Second Life (SL) will soon be here! 

So, when Perryn Peterson, the Mayor of Mieville, impresario extraordinaire, and my good friend in SL reached out recently to let me know that Renaissance Faire VI was soon

to be upon us, I was ready!  (Significant Other comments something about this being a rare occurrence.) 

            Since I’m still struggling to catch up after being away  I reached out to my latest Companion to join me and help with the photographs.  (She still wishes to remain anonymous to protect her professional reputation.  Significant Other suggests they form a support group.) 

            As with such Faires in RL, Renaissance Faire VI is a celebration of all things Renaissance.  The rebirth of knowledge and learning after the long night of the Dark Ages. 

In keeping with this theme, the SL Faire begins in a period village and hunters go off to find the marvelous gifts being offered by the participating merchants. 

            Renaissance Faire VI is located in Mieville Shelley, where it relocated to last year. 

            The site is a beautiful bucolic setting of a small village having its annual faire.  Besides the contemporary buildings located around a small pond, the temporary tents and booths of merchants and gypsies are set up on the outskirts of town. 

            Strolling through this scene, one hears the bubbling brooks and listens to period music.  Meriadne Merlin a RL performer has supplied several of the tunes which Perryn has been using for a number of years. 

            Trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers decorate the sim adding a pastoral effect that contributes to the feeling that one has left the modern age and returned to a simpler time.   (Mike Olbracht, Mieville’s landscaper par excellance and Perryn’s partner has once again

shown how talented he is and I marvel at the subtle changes that he has made to the grounds since last year!  His work alone is worth a visit to the Faire.)

            Strolling through the streets and lanes of the Faire, I see the various wares on display by the merchants and am impressed by their variety and quality.  Perryn always strives to have the best inworld mechants at his events. 

            While I’m wandering through the gypsy encampment, peeking into their vardos, (Yes, there’ll be a fortune teller!), my Companion is off busily snapping away with her photographs.  (I really don’t deserve her help.  Significant Other says she’s not the only one whose help I don’t deserve.) 

            BTW Ktahdn Vesuvino will be broadcasting period music from the gypsy encampment during the Faire! So. Make sure you’re listing for his tunes when you visit! 

            The Tinies from Tinyopolis have their own Artisans Lane with high quality craftspeople participating and shouldn’t be missed!

            There’s also a gacha tent with all the latest gachas! 

            The maypole still has pride of place in the center of the village and a small stage is a

t the water’s edge for performances during the Faire and don’t forget to see the Punch & Judy show! 

            As for the Hunt itself, seventy-five of the best shops inworld are participating!  (There's also a mini-hunt at the Faire itself!)

            A complete list of participating merchants can be obtained by joining the Historical Hunts, Ltd. Group inworld.  Additional information can be obtained from the website. 

            As always, the Renaissance Faire is a fun community event offering great opportunities to meet other residents and to learn about life inworld.  It also helps the merchants who are a vital part of SL! 

             I heartily recommend joining the Hunt or at least visiting the Faire!

            The Faire can be found here and runs from September 1^st to 30^th. 

            Happy hunting! 

            As always, I’d like to thank Perryn and his team for staging these terrific events and putting up with me as I write my stories!   

            I’d also like to thank the Companion for joining me at the last minute (Significant Other says what else is new.) and taking photographs.  (Hers are the better ones here and on this Flickr page where all our photos from this trip can be found.) 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!

Thoughts about the New Renaissance Faire and Hunt in Second Life

 

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

Machiavelli

 

          As I blogged a short time ago, it’s the season for Renaissance Hunt and Faire in Second Life (SL) which is new and improved this year! 

          (Significant Other leaves the room, having hoped for a new adventure.  Wait until next time!)

          The Mayor of Mieville, Perryn Peterson, with his team has done his usual superb job in laying out the new location and organizing all the merchants and events.

          This year, the Faire is at a new location in Mieville, Mieville Shelley, (accessible at a seafront town) which allowed Perryn to change things around a bit as he prepares for his fifth Faire.

           Unlike prior years, I’ve returned for a second story about this month long event running from September 1^st to 30^th to talk about the changes with some of the participants.

          What’s different?

          Well, for starters the location. 

          Then the layout has changed to accommodate the new location.

          And, as with any seismic change, new features are added while others are lost. 

          Get the picture?

          Liam Metaluna, a Tiny artisan is happy to be among other Tiny artisans in their own neighborhood.  Liam was responsible for organizing this community into the aptly named Tiny

Corner. 

          Liam loves the little things about the Faire like the frogs that follow you around. Being from the drought ridden western United States in Real Life (RL), he appreciates the harbor with all its water!

          Liam also loves the sounds from the Renaissance period. He creates music boxes with Renaissance-flair music. 

          Check him out when you visit!  (You are visiting right?)

          Mike Olbracht, Mieville’s landscaper par excellance and Perryn’s partner has done his usual superb work with the grounds for the Faire. 

          (Even if it was done under threats of virtual beatings to get the work done on time!  Perryn is a demanding taskmaster.) 

          Mike’s biggest challenge with the new location was that the original sim was devoted

to the Faire only and hence there were no restrictions.

The new location has neighboring sims so it was important that it fitted in with its surroundings properly. 

(It’s never easy inworld is it?)

          Miss Cyneswith Luik who made a new dance in addition to the three prior favorites.  In RL, she is a professional animator from the United Kingdom. 

          Cyneswith does miss the prior location. 

She had the same stall for about three years running always by the food and drink, with the music playing nearby.

However, Cyneswith finds the new location to be equally fantastic.

She loves how everything is laid out and she can still have the patch for the dances and can hear the music playing!

          Miss Moonsugah Monday has a brand new tavern!

          She is a refugee from Gor and this is her fifth Faire. 

          Moonsugah researches RL books on cooking then hunts for pictures to make textures.  She tries to make my foods realistic and sized proportionaIly to the avatar bodies, as well as historically accurate. So, she says, she wouldn’t make a smoothie to go with the medieval or Rennaissance table. Lately, she has been working more with mesh to get the desired effects. 

          Then there are things that remain the same!

          Wyvern Dryke has helped organize almost all of the events and says he only tweaked a few things. 

          His little den, a Faire tradition, can still be found on the Faire grounds if one goes looking for it. 

          My personal favorite the gypsy encampment, is still here with its vardos and hopefully a fortune teller. 

(If somewhat smaller.)

          Our old friend, Mr. Donkey, can be found grazing around the Faire with some new “critters” as friends.

          So, maybe the physical location and attributes of the Faire have changed but the people who make it all possible are still there.

          Their spirit and hard work are evident as one strolls through its streets and lanes!

          Please come by and support all these wonderful folks!

          The Renaissance Hunt and Faire runs from September 1^st to 30^th and can be located here.    

          The ongoing events during the Faire can be found on this blog. 

          The Faire is still underway so go and enjoy yourself!

          Maybe you’ll run into me!

          I’d like to thank Perryn, Mike, Wyvern, Liam, Cyneswith, and  Moonsugah for taking the time to answer my questionnaire.

          I know everyone is busy inworld! 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

The Renaissance Faire and Hunt Opens Again in Second Life

 

The best way of successfully acting a part is to be it.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  

 

          Around me in Real Life (RL), leaves are turning color and beginning to fall to the ground.

          In my morning walks, there’s a chill in the air that hints of autumn.  (SO is glad to be rid of summer’s heat and is beginning to ensure that I have us ready for winter.  SO believes in preparation.)

          In Second Life (SL), a sure sign of autumn’s approach is my old friend, Perryn Peterson, inviting me over for a sneak peak of the annual Renaissance Faire and Hunt that

he hosts. 

          This year, the Faire is at a new location in Mieville, Mieville Shelley, which allowed Perryn to change things around a bit as he prepares for his fifth Faire.

          So, I schedule a meeting with him and head off to the new and improved Renaissance Hunt and Faire!

          I arrive, as before, at a seafront town nestled around a protected cove.  A tall lighthouse looms over its entrance.  Merchants’ shops line the quay.

          The main booth welcomes visitors and leads to the Faire grounds.

          Walking through the entrance, I’m struck by just how many more flowers there are now than before.  (Mike Olbracht, Mieville’s landscaper par excellance and Perryn’s partner has obviously been very busy!)

          Immediately before me is a large pond in a pastoral setting which serves as a

centerpiece for the Faire. 

          Strolling through the grounds and around the pond, I see the merchants’ shops and wagons set up for the Faire.  Some already have their merchandise while others lie empty in anticipation of the treasure soon to be on display within them. 

          There’s even a Tiny Corner with Tiny artisans offering their goods.  Liam Metaluna can be thanked for organizing this community. 

           A new addition is a large windmill which serves as a backdrop to the Faire. 

          A small, outdoor stage has been set up for performances.

          But, Perryn tells me that this could be transformed into a larger one with and actual Renaissance dance production should negotiations currently underway prove successful. 

          A brand, new tavern, overseen by Miss Moonsugah Monday, will be offering its

refreshments to thirsty and hungry visitors. 

          Perryn points out to me that the buildings were created and donated by Kaydge (“KAGE”) Resident who has recently been awarded a prize for one of his structures at a recent Relay for Life competition. 

Old favorites from earlier Faires can be found on the grounds. 

          The gypsy encampment, my personal favorite, is here with its vardos and hopefully a

fortune teller.

          The tree house stands still offering panoramic views of the Faire grounds.

          The lawn for Renaissance dances is still with us.  Miss Cyneswith Luik has made a new dance in addition to the three old favorites.  In RL, she is a professional animator from the United Kingdom.  Samples of her work can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oFXCBlg428 .

          The maypole can be found as well.

Acadia Asylum has a shop offering its spectacular wares. 

Our old friend, Mr. Donkey, can be found grazing around the Faire with some new “critters” as friends.    

          There will be a mini-hunt as always with wondrous gifts from the participating merchants. 

          Perryn has also had several other of his veterans helping him out. 

Wyvern Dryke has helped organize almost all of the events.

          Tattoo Lane has done her usual marvelous job of creating the event’s poster. 

          I’d also like to call out a friend in need.

          Some of you may recall my story about Living without Disabilities in SL. 

          I wrote about XMarieX (“Marie”) Fairport who is struggling with disabilities in RL and trying to raise funds for a service animal.

          Marie has a shop at the Faire located here offering her merchandise. 

          Marie also has a donation kiosk to raise funds for her service animal thanks to Perryn’s generosity.

          There are also tee shirts are sale to support her cause.

          Please drop by if you can and do what you can to help her.

          I’ll be writing more about this in the future.

          The Renaissance Hunt and Faire runs from September 1^st to 30^th and can be located here.    

          The ongoing events during the Faire can be found on this blog. 

          Go and have a great time!

          Tell ‘em web sent you!

          Maybe you might even find me wandering around myself! 

          I’d like to thank Perryn for taking the time away from his busy schedule to meet with me and to show me around the grounds.   

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

Nature in Second Life

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

John Muir

           Recently, I went to the state of Maine in the United States for a brief vacation with Significant Other.  (Apparently, visiting yet another virtual world didn’t cut it.  And, contrary to popular opinion, I do know how to enjoy myself in Real Life (RL).)

          Our plans were to explore the coast and woods, enjoy lobster and other seafood, and get away from the day to day pressures of reality for a bit.  I also planned to do some writing and post my blog as usual.

          Well, as luck would have it, my usually reliable WiFi was not so reliable.  When I eventually made it into Second Life (SL), the experience was pretty bad.  I was able to briefly chat with a few friends but that was about it before I bailed.  Even emails and FaceBook were difficult. 

          So, I abandoned my efforts to stay connected inworld and focused on RL for the time away.  (Significant Other worried about my going through the DT’s.  But, have no fear, I survived.) 

          Being immersed in RL for an extended period, especially in the wilds of Maine, got me thinking about nature.  Its beauty, its mysteries, and how our senses interact with it.  I also thought about time and its effects on nature.  (That’s Mother Nature and not naturism for those familiar with my other writings.)  I was in Maine in the autumn and could see the foliage change as the trees and other plant life went through their annual explosion of color which this region is known for as summer recedes prior to winter’s arrival.  (I hope I’m not getting too heavy for anyone out there.)

          In RL, we can see, smell, and hear the changes in the wild as autumn unfolds.  Leaves change color, the air is different, the scent of early fires fills the air, and migrating birds fill the skies with their cries.  Feeling the fallen brittle leaves permits us to experience the sense of touch as trees shed their summer loads as just one example.  Some might argue that we may even taste the seasonal change as fruits and vegetables ripen and are ready for the harvest.  I’m singling out autumn but every season in RL has its own impacts on the senses. 

          In SL, we can experience nature too.  Although, as I’ve blogged earlier, experiencing all the senses inworld is not practical with current technology.  But, the visual and auditory are possible.  Several sims have taken nature to a high art form inworld. 

          The first I’d like to highlight is Natural Wilderness at Loch Haven.  The sim is a simple bucolic setting of woods, fields, water falls, mountains, and coastal scenes.  Leaves blow in the wind and mist arises from falling water.  It’s a quiet place to spend time either by oneself or with someone close. 

          Another and a favorite of mine is Lupes Magic Forest.  One caution here is that strict nudity is required.  If you’re up to it then the beautiful woods with their meandering pathways and hidden spots are well worth the time spent undressing. 

          Finally, last but not least, my old friend, Perryn Peterson, and his partner, Mike Olbracht, always do a phenomenal job with their nature settings in their Hunts.  I’ve included a couple of pictures of their handiwork their most recent Renaissance Faire.  Since their efforts don’t last much longer than their accompanying events, I encourage anyone wishing to see beautiful representations of nature inworld to visit their events when they’re open. 

          Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t recommend nature in SL over nature in RL.  (Significant Other wanted me to be very clear on this point.)  We should never retreat from RL into SL.  However, when RL is unavailable to us then we can enjoy SL as we would a fine picture in a museum or a National Geographic documentary on television. 

          Go walkabout inworld and enjoy these beautiful representations of RL nature.  Also, please remember that these are just but three of many beautiful, natural sims in SL.  I encourage you to go and find others for yourselves!

          I’ve included a few pictures from the three sims I’ve mentioned.  Don’t take my word for it, go and see these for yourselves.    

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.  

 

Photo No. 1  Natural Wilderness – Autumn Trees

Photo No. 2  Natural Wilderness – Waterfall and Mountains

Photo No. 3  Natural Wilderness – Field of Flowers

Photo No. 4  Natural Wilderness - Seacoast

Photo No. 5  Lupes Magical Forest – Sunset at the Seashore

Photo No. 6  Lupes Magical Forest – Woods

Photo No. 7  Lupes Magical Forest – Butterflies in Field

Photo No. 8  Lupes Magical Forest – Forest Pathway

Photo No. 9  Lupes Magical Forest – Waterfall

Photo No. 10 Renaissance Faire Mountain Stream

Photo No. 11 Renaissance Faire Landscaping