Among the Steampunks: STEAM XI in Second Life

Steam seems to have killed all gratitude in the hearts of sailors. 

Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

  

          The Holidays are past and winter is gradually releasing its icy grasp in Real Life (RL).

          In Second Life (SL), that lull which always seems to follow the New Year’s festivities seems to be drawing to a close as more friends whom I haven’t seen for some time are gradually reappearing inworld.  (Or, as Significant Other puts it, they’re just not as good at avoiding me as they used to be.)

          As I always look for things to keep my mind off of RLs weather at this time of the year and I’m rewarded by knowing that it’s time for the annual Mieville steampunk hunt, STEAM

XI, inworld. 

          For those to whom this may be a new phenomenon in SL, STEAM XI is the eleventh (Hence the “XI” for those who failed Roman numerals in second grade arithmetic.) celebration of all that this is steampunk inworld. 

          STEAM XI is, as always, hosted by the Mayor of Mieville and impresario extraordinaire, Perryn Peterson. 

          The Hunt is a Grid wide event with dozens of merchants, all personally and carefully selected by Perryn himself, offering as gifts to intrepid hunters the very best of their wares.  Several merchants run their own mini-Hunts which adds to the fun.  Two hundred and five spots have been reserved for merchants this year so expect lots of great gifts!

          Hunters look for clues and try to find the gifts which are free.  Some hunters gather into hunt parties and go out together.

          Let’s take a closer look at STEAM XI.

          STEAM is an acronym which stands for “Steampunk Travelers’ Event, Adventure & Megahunt.”  (Rather to the point if I do say so myself!)  STEAM was once a semi-annual event but the effort behind an event of this scale as well as all the other social activities on Mieville’s calendar have necessitated going to an annual schedule.

          I began covering these events with STEAM VII not long after I’d begun blogging. 

          The theme for this year’s Hunt is Realms of the Deep and this is the idea behind all the Hunt’s gifts.  (Shades of Captain Nemo!) 

          This year’s poster has been done once again by the talented Tattoo Lane.

          The Hunt begins at Laughing Gryphon House in the Mieville Doyle Victorian

Steampunk sim .

          From here, hunters launch out across the Grid in pursuit of their treasures.

          STEAM XI runs from March 1^st to 31^st so don’t miss out! 

          The gear (pictured) marks participating merchants and also contains their hint to help

find their gift. 

          Historical Hunts, Ltd., the sponsoring Mieville organization maintains a blog with Hunt details as well as pictures of gifts.  This blog is also a great resource for future Mieville activities.  Be sure to check it out!

          STEAM XI is a wonderful and fun filled community event in SL. 

          It’s an opportunity to sample the wares of the creative merchants inworld and to meet and hang out with other residents. 

          I strongly encourage all to participate and, if possible, to purchase some of the other merchandise offered by merchants in their shops.  After all, a strong SL economy is good for everyone. 

          I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Great Challenge of every Hunt!

          Namely to complete the Hunt in its entirety, including mini-Hunts, in record time!

          Who’s up for it?

 

 

 

 

          See you at STEAM XI!

 

          I’d like to thank Perryn for his time and assistance in helping me prepare for this story.   Perryn is one of my oldest and closest friends inworld and I’m grateful for the time he takes from his busy schedule to help me.

          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!

STEAM X in Second Life

 There was something delightfully intimate about the relationship between predator and prey.

Nenia Campbell

  

          As I sit down to write this story about Second Life (SL), another 8 inches of show is falling outside of my home in Real Life (RL).

          Yet, hope springs eternal because The Weather Channel promises that spring is also around the corner.

          I yearn for warmer weather and no ice and snow outside my door. (Significant Other now complains about cabin fever on a regular basis.)

          As I always look for things to keep my mind off of the weather at this time of the year (And to stay out of Significant Other’s way.) I’m rewarded by knowing that it’s time for the annual Mieville steampunk hunt, STEAM X, inworld.

          For those to whom this may be a new phenomenon in SL, STEAM X is the tenth (Hence the “X” for those who failed Roman numerals in second grade arithmetic.) celebration of all this is steampunk inworld. 

          STEAM X is, as always, hosted by the Mayor of Mieville and impresario extraordinaire, Perryn Peterson. 

         

The Hunt is a Grid wide event with dozens of merchants, all personally and carefully selected by Perryn himself, offering as gifts to intrepid hunters the very best of their wares.  Several merchants run their own mini-Hunts which adds to the fun. 

          Hunters look for clues and try to find the gifts which are free.  Some hunters gather into hunt parties and go out together.

          Let’s take a closer look at STEAM X.

          STEAM is an acronym which stands for “Steampunk Travelers’ Event, Adventure & Megahunt.”  (Rather to the point if I do say so myself!)  STEAM was once a semi-annual event but the effort behind an event of this scale as well as all the other social activities on Mieville’s calendar have necessitated going to an annual schedule.

          I began covering these events with STEAM VII not long after I’d begun blogging. 

          The theme for this year’s Hunt is Steam: The Dream and this is the idea behind all the Hunt’s gifts. 

          This year’s poster has been done once again by the talented Tattoo Lane.

          XMarieX Fairport’s gift’s (The Steam Dream Cog Chair) picture is included as a sample of the marvelous and creative gifts

prepared by the merchants for the Hunt.

          The Hunt begins at Laughing Gryphon House in the Mieville Doyle Victorian Steampunk sim .

          From here, hunters launch out across the Grid in pursuit of their treasures.

          STEAM X runs from March 1^st to 31^st so don’t miss out!

          Historical Hunts, Ltd., the sponsoring Mieville organization maintains a blog with Hunt details as well as pictures of gifts.  This blog is also a great resource for future Mieville activities.  Be sure to check it out!

          STEAM X is a wonderful and fun filled community event in SL. 

          It’s an opportunity to sample the wares of the creative merchants inworld and to meet and hang out with other residents. 

          I strongly encourage all to participate and, if possible, to purchase some of the other merchandise offered by merchants in their shops.  After all, a strong SL economy is good for everyone. 

          I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Great Challenge of every Hunt!

          Namely to complete the Hunt in its entirety, including mini-Hunts, in record time!

          Who’s up for it?

          See you at STEAM X!

          I’d like to thank Perryn for his time and assistance in helping me prepare for this story.   Perryn has become one of my closest friends inworld and I’m grateful for the time he takes from his busy schedule to help me.

          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!

                                             

Valentine’s Day Vegas Style in Second Life!

A little bit of this town goes a very long way.

Hunter S. Thompson

 

          It’s been the New Year for a few weeks now and it’s time to put the Holidays behind us and start thinking about all the new holidays and festivals that Second Life (SL) has to offer us!

          Festivals are nothing new in SL.

          Some are once offs and celebrated locally inworld while others are recurring and Grid-wide.

          One holiday that is as much a favorite in SL as it is in Real Life (RL) is Valentine’s Day.  (I won’t get into the debate about whether or not this is an artificial holiday created by greeting card makers and candy manufacturers to goose sales.  All I know is that Significant Other prominently marks our calendar for this event every year and that’s enough for me!  Remember, I only look stupid, even in RL.)

          I’ve covered Valentine’s Day inworld before. 

          But this year, my old friend and impresario extraordinaire not to mention the Mayor of Mieville, Perry Peterson told me about his plans to celebrate the day in his usual Over The Top way and I was hooked.  And here’s why…

          Perryn will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a Las Vegas theme this year. 

          This meant three things to me.

          First, given Perryn’s ability to do things on a lavish scale this could only be good.

          Second, a Las Vegas theme can only bright lights and a wild and crazy time.

          Finally, being personally inspired by Hunter S. Thompson, the father of gonzo journalism, and the author of the classic road story, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I had to do this story.  (Not sure if Perryn knew what he was in for in giving me this scoop.  Enough to say that Significant Other winces every time I mention Thompson’s name.)  

          Valentine’s Day and Vegas are two suitable themes to commingle.

          The holiday’s ideas of love and romance combined with the freewheeling style, if not outright hedonism, of Vegas make for a very intriguing and explosive mixture in my mind. (Significant Other’s head just shakes now.)

          My visit to Valentines in Vegas begins with my arrival at the sim’s landing zone.  Posters for this event as well as the upcoming STEAM X hunt tower over me.  Cyndie Alter did an outstanding job with the former and Tattoo Lane has done her usual creative work with the latter.  (Perryn always seems to be able to surround himself with the most creative types inworld.)

          Walking out onto the Strip, I’m overwhelmed by the glitter and lights of this virtual Vegas.

        

  All the recognizable landmarks are there.  A certain pyramid shaped hotel and another with magical fountains in front.  (Copyright considerations prevent Perryn from using RL names.  What would they do, sue for Lindens?)  Elegant shops and restaurants are in their lobbies as in RL. 

          Casinos are everywhere.  Although, given SL’s prohibition against gambling, one armed bandits have been replaced by gacha machines. 

          High end shops are available as well with some of the finest merchandise in SL.  Clothing, artwork, you name it, it’s here!

          Iconic illuminated signs dot the cityscape as searchlights play across the night’s sky.  Old travel posters advertising Vegas are on the walls.  Stretch limos idle curbside.

          Perry has added a few of his own touches.

          For those tired of walking, free cars (“love bugs” created by CaraCali) are available to use.  (Friendly advice, never let Perryn drive.) 

          The Heartbreak Hotel can even be found here. 

          An amusement ride called Cupid’s Arrow can induce vertigo in RL.  (Don’t ask.)

          And yes, images of Elvis adorn the walls.

          Perryn has successfully married classic and modern Vegas in a pastiche which is true to the original!  Bugsy Siegal would be proud!  I expected the Rat Pack to come around a corner at any time.  The feel of Vegas has been captured.

          Overall, the spirit and style of Vegas has been captured here.

          Mieville stalwarts like Jalynne Ohmai, who laid out the streets and the surrounding

vistas (and is a RL artist and becoming known as a truly innovative builder inworld), and Mike Olbracht, who created those fascinating fountains, are much in evidence with this sim. 

          This is a wonderful place to spend some time inworld with your romantic interest this Valentine’s Day!

          And, maybe take in the mini-hunt while you’re at it!

          Valentines in Vegas is open from January 24^th to February 15^th and can be found here. 

          Tell them web sent you!

          More pictures from my visit can be found at this Flickr page.

          Also, check back here for future details about STEAM X and other Mieville happenings in the New Year!

          I’d like to thank Perryn once again for taking time out of his busy schedule to show me around and for being the guiding light behind all the marvelous activities that happen in Mieville!

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!

This Year’s Renaissance Hunt and Faire in Second Life

In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace - and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.

Orson Welles  

          So, after a few weeks of erotic art, storytelling, reading Tarot cards, and technical issues, I’m returning to more conventional fare about Second Life (SL) this week.

          Please don’t turn away when you read this because, this week, I’m visiting one of the most popular, exciting, and interesting annual events inworld, namely, the Renaissance Hunt and Faire put on by my old and good friend, Perryn Peterson.  (Yes, I do admit to a certain amount of bias here but after visiting this event for several years now as well as other productions of Perryn’s, I’m more than a little impressed by his work.)  This is the third one and as my recent visit will show will surpass its predecessors. 

          This year’s Hunt and Faire are earlier than usual running from September 1^st to the 30^th.  (Perryn is finally realizing he’s only human and is trying balance his workload.  Let’s see how that goes for him!)

          One recent evening, I rezzed into the Faire area to receive a personally guided tour of the site by Perryn himself before the official opening.  (One of the few perq’s of being a blogger inworld and a friend of Perryn’s.  Come to think of it, that’s just about the only perq.)  The poster for this year’s Faire is in front of me.  (Tattoo Lane has done another superb job.) 

          I’m greeted by Perryn attired for the occasion with his usual sartorial taste and elegance.  (I may not know how to dress properly inworld but my friends sure know how to or be undressed as circumstances require.)  We’re at the landing zone which is a Renaissance era ship.  We walk down the gangplank and are at the rebuilt entry plaza.  In a departure from previous Faires, several enterprising merchants are setting up shop here to greet hunters as they arrive.   

          As Perryn walks with me towards the town gate he explains that his SL partner, Mike Olbracht, has been busily redoing the landscaping for the event and “autumnifying” everything he can lay his hands on.  I’m happy to hear that Mike has returned hale ‘n hearty from his recent Real Life (RL) medical absence and is actively participating once again. 

          Returning to the Faire site for the third time makes me feel like I’m going back to an old neighborhood.  A feeling I get a lot these days inworld.  (Significant Other wants to know whatever happened to someplace new inworld every time I rezz in.)  There are many things the same but as Perryn is about to show me, there are many differences too.  Also, please remember that the Hunt and Faire is not a static place like a museum which moves exhibits around from time to time.  It’s a dynamic, living community where every day offers new variety and unexpected experiences.  What may once have been is no longer. 

          Coming through the gate, Perryn and I proceed in a clockwise direction around the sim.  This means the sea is to our left.  At the docks, Marcel Ghostraven, no relation, will have his fantastic ships.  He has also created as a prize a mesh peasants’ horse-drawn wagon which is well worth looking for. 

          As we stroll by the buildings where merchants are beginning to present their wars, Perry tells me that sixty-five to seventy vendors are participating this year.  Only one booth is still available at this time and he has multiple requests from vendors to participate.  In addition to the buildings, there are push carts and tents for the merchants’ wares. 

          Approximately, halfway through our walk, we come across my favorite part of the sim, the gypsy encampment.  (I have this fantasy of leading a gypsy caravan inworld with my friends someday. Hey, it’s my fantasy and a lot less crazy than some inworld!)  The colorful vardos of the gypsies are in place and their horses graze in a nearby paddock.  And there will be a Tarot reader here for those wishing to have their fortunes told. 

          The landscaping we encounter is as colorful, varied, and lush as any woodland scene from the Renaissance would be.  Mike’s additions of streams and ponds only accentuates the pastoral scene.  (Even if you care nothing about the Renaissance or hunts then come to see the landscaping for itself.  It’s among the highest quality I’ve seen inworld.) 

          Along the way, Perryn and I encounter a few other favorites of mine from this event.  There’s the Chained Library which goes back to the very first Faire when it was gifted to Perryn.  (I’m a writer, I love books, chained or unchained, no apologies.)  The maypole is still in place as is the galliard dance area where master animator, Cyneswith Luik has added a third Renaissance dance entitled “Black Nag”.  (A Youtube version can be seen.)  And, of course, the Foode and Meade Halle is there offering refreshments to the hunters. 

          For those looking for more active entertainment, the jousting lists and buskers stage are back as well. 

          Our wanderings eventually take Perryn and I back to the signpost near the town gate where we started from.  Perryn states that this year’s theme for the merchants participating in the Hunt is Robin Hood and Maid Marion.  Apparently, Wyvern Dryke will be the official Robin Hood for the Hunt along with three hundred or so wannabe’s. 

          As always there will be plenty of freebies and mini-hunts to keep everyone engaged. 

          I take my leave of Perryn and thank him for his time and hospitality.  He takes the Renaissance Hunt and Faire very seriously.  (As he does all his events.)  His attention to detail is considerable as I noticed when he pointed out the rubbish tip that had been added from last year to increase the realism. 

          I encourage everyone who can to visit and participate in the Third Renaissance Hunt and Faire.  SL is at its best when the people, their creativity, and camaraderie come together in inworld events such as this. 

          Maybe you’ll run into me there!  (Hopefully, that doesn’t scare anyone away.) 

          One last note, there are several new merchants participating this year.  I encountered some of their shops in my tour.  Miss Stormy Loraheet of Armoire, Mlle Ephe Luik and Ephemera offer women’s merchandise.  Miss Feyda Ann Ferryhill and Feyline Fashions offer men’s wear.  This is not an exhaustive list but merely those whom I encountered.  Please come and show these and the other merchants your support by visiting them and maybe buying some of their products. 

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. 

Below I’ve included a few links to pictures of the Faire site.  Pictures are fun but, trust me on this, go visit for yourself, see the place, meet the people, and have a great time!

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  Landing Zone

Photo No. 2  Renaissance Hunt III Poster (with credit to Tattoo Lane)

Photo No. 3  Registration Center

Photo No. 4  Town Gate and Faire Entrance

Photo No. 5  RVi Design Booth

Photo No. 6  Ships at the Docks

Photo No. 7  Merchants Lane I

Photo No. 8  Merchants Lane II

Photo No. 9  Jousting Lists

Photo No. 10 Landscaping I

Photo No. 11 Gypsy Caravan

Photo No. 12 Gypsy Encampment

Photo No. 13 Gypsy Horses

Photo No. 14 Chained Library

Photo No. 15 Mountain Stream

Photo No. 16 Maypole

Photo No. 17 Landscaping II