Halloween Returns to Second Life!

The wind outside nested in each tree, prowled the sidewalks in invisible treads like unseen cats, Tom Skelton shivered. Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades. From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells: gourds being cut, pies being baked.

Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree

Autumn always means the arrival of one of my favorite holidays!

In fact, the entire Yuletide Holiday season begins for me with this holiday.  (Growing up, things were kind of dull for me except for this time of the year so I made the most of it.)

Of course, that holiday is Halloween!    

Whether it be in Second Life (SL) or Real Life (RL)! 

(I did lead a futile effort to have it made an official school holiday in my youth.  This was the first of many experiences that I had with the overbearing weight of authority while growing up.) 

Although, it’s been a while since I wore a costume for the event (Significant Other is grateful for the small things.) I always look forward to it and have plenty of candy for the trick or treaters who come by. 

This time of the year is also when Perryn Peterson reaches out to let me know what his band at Mieville has planned and allows me the privilege of a quick preview of what’s planned.    

Things are a little different this year at Mieville though.

Wyvern Dryke, a longstanding member of the Mieville community ran the build and the whole show was his.   

Wyvern had big shoes to fill following in Perryn’s footsteps but he’s done an amazing job!    

The event is called Nawlins Halloween: Haunted Mardi Gras. 

The theme is Mardi Gras mixed with Halloween: think celebration, Samhain, spooks, Voodoo, swamps, and bright Mardi Gras and Halloween colors such as gold, green, and

purple.  Think decadence and celebration of life in death. 

Think of all of these things and you have the Mieville Halloween for this year!

The look and feel is different this year.  It seems more overcast and gloomy. Maybe the darkened skies with lightning are creating this moody environment.  (Be warned, I was the kid who went through the haunted house multiple times on the school trip.  I’ll ignore Significant Other’s comment about that explaining a lot.)

The physical layout is different too.  There appears to be less of a grid format as in past events and more of a randomness to things.  I kept getting lost during my visit.  (Significant Other asks what else is new.)

In a word, it feels sinister which is what Halloween is supposed to feel like!  (Safely sinister like that haunted house I kept going back to in RL.) 

Walking around the grounds, when not trying to get lost, the atmosphere felt ominous.  A sense of impending doom.  (Significant Other suggests it’s blowback from the ongoing US Presidential election.) Maybe this is because things really are different.

Some sights and sounds are familiar but many are different.

Pumpkins, witches, and clowns (the scary sort) abound.  Ghosts dance in storefronts.  The event is a celebration of color.  Amusements are available for those who haven’t been frightened out of their wits.  Make sure to check out the Magic Mirror at

Madame Magda’s, just ask yes or no questions in local chat and solve all your problems.  (Neither Mielville nor I take any responsibility for the consequences of doing so.)

And, there will be plenty to see and do, entertainment, gachas, shopping,food and drinks, parades, dances and much more!  A special building for gachas is being provided.

Dozens of merchants will be participating and will have their wares on display.  A Trick-or-Treat mini-hunt especially designed by Wyvern will be taking place with gifts from many of the participating merchants. 

This year’s Halloween celebration in Mieville is different from earlier ones but no less fun and exciting. As always, the considerable efforts of Wyvern, his team, and the merchants are realized in this scary spectacle! 

Mieville’s Halloween celebration is still the “go to” seasonal event inworld!

The fun runs from October 7^th to October 31^st, Halloween itself! 

The celebration can be found here. 

Come, have fun, and maybe be a little bit frightened!

I’d like to thank Perryn for giving me the scoop as always and Wyvern for his

extraordinary efforts in pulling together this year’s Halloween festival!

I’d also like to thank my Companion who supplied all the pictures used in this story and that can also be found on this flickr page.  (She’s also grateful that this assignment allowed her to keep her clothes on given how cool the Halloween air can be.) 

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!

All Hallows’ Eve in Second Life

 

                 Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October’s days.

Anonymous

  

          Leaves are turning color and falling from the trees in both Second Life (SL) and Real Life (RL).

          The days are getting noticeably shorter and there’s a crispness in the air that wasn’t there last week.

          Yes, autumn has arrived!

          With its arrival comes the unofficial start of end-of-year Holiday season – Halloween! 

          I know, I know.  Halloween isn’t for another month!  (Significant Other sighs resignedly.  Significant Other has never gotten used to how I play fast and loose with the calendar.)  Last Halloween seems like only yesterday.

          My good SL friend and Mayor of Mieville, Perryn Peterson has reached out and informed me that the Mieville Halloween Village is ready for a tour.

          While we both realize it’s early (I don’t know about Perry but I haven’t even bought candy for the trick or treaters yet.) we decide to start the publicity campaign now to give everyone plenty of time to come and see the spectacle that Perryn and his team have prepared for everyone.

          We meet at the Village to begin our tour. 

          When I first see Perryn, I assume he’s getting into the swing of things early by wearing his lederhosen and cap.  (Nice legs BTW!)  But as it turns out, he’s doing double duty as the Biermeister at the Mieville Oktoberfest this evening.  (I guess things aren’t all that easy when you’re the Mayor.)

          Perryn begins by explaining to me that there are six themed areas in the Halloween Village.

          The first is the Pumpkin Patch and that’s where we’re standing.  There are a lot of pumpkins and let’s just say that orange is the predominant color.

          Here, visitors can either smash pumpkins or carve their own jack o’lanterns.  Not to worry about getting carried away, they grow back almost immediately.

          Moving along, we come to the next area, Witches’ Woods.  Leaves fall around us adding to the autumn mood.

          Guess what the theme is here?

          Yep, you guessed it.  Witches!  (Significant Other accuses me of sometimes pandering to my audience.)  There are enough cauldrons and witches about to satisfy even Hansel and Gretel.

          Up next is Skellytown.  (We’re playing to a lot of stereotypes here I know but it’s all done with the best possible taste in the most macabre way possible.)

          As we walk through these theme areas, I notice the shops and wagons of the participating merchants.  Their merchandise is appropriate for Halloween and is of the highest quality.  Many will be offering free gifts to visitors.  Perryn works continually to have the best designers and creators at his events.

          Our fourth stop is Vampyreville.  None of our fanged friends are about when we arrive but there is an imposing castle which would make the Old Impaler himself proud.    Perryn points out that the Halloween dances will be taking place on its rooftop.

          The Village amusement park with rides is located in Vampyreville.  One ride, a pumpkin coach reminded of a childhood ride that I once too.  (Contrary to rumors started by my mother and which Significant Other continues to spread, I did have a childhood.)

          Next up is Ghostly Gulch where graveyards and ghosts reside.  A few of the latter have even set up a small barber shop quartet.  Be careful around some of the graves because they have a nasty habit of reaching up and grabbing the unsuspecting.  (Perryn finds this very amusing.)

          Here is also the memorial to The Master.  The grave of Edgar Allan Poe lies to one side for those of us who reread regularly his works to drop by and remember him.

          Finally, Perryn and I reach the last themed area, Spyder Steppes. 

          Climbing the creaking old steps (Perryn has a thing for word play and puns I’ve learned over the years.) and brushing aside cobwebs we arrive at the top of a steep hill.

          Here, as Perryn puts it himself, he has saved the best for last.

          And, indeed he has!

          For here, all free, is a treasure trove of mad scientist gear from the master herself, Aley Resident (AKA Acadia Asylum).  I strongly recommend everyone who visits Mieville Halloween Village to at least stop here.  Even if you’re not a collector, you must stop by to see some of the most ingenious contraptions inworld. 

          My tour with Perryn is over and he has to return to his biermeister duties and I have another interview to get along to.  (I’m realizing that we’re both busy guys!)  So, I thank him as we make our farewells and then rezz off into the Unknown.

          All my impressions of the Mieville Halloween Village are favorable.  After this whirlwind tour and my return trip to take pictures for this story, I’m impressed by both the scope of the sim and its detail.

          Mieville festivals seem to be getting bigger and better.  The Tolkien Festival earlier this year is another good example. 

          In lieu of the traditional Hunt with the event, there will be trick or treat doors with select merchants.  Knock on the door at the appropriate time and you’ll receive a gift as a treat from the merchant.  Knock at the wrong time and as a trick you may be teleported home!  Wyvern Dryke

          This particular sleight of hand is the handiwork of Wyvern Dryke. Wyvvy is one of the team’s most creative scripters.

          This sim has lots of scares and fun but avoids the blood ‘n gore of others.  (Significant Other informs me this one is preferred to some others I’ve visited in the past.)

          The Village opens on October 18^th and runs until Halloween.  Maybe I’ll see you there!

          I strongly recommend the Mieville Halloween Village to all who want a little fun inworld during this time of the year.     

          Happy Halloween!  

          I would like to thank Perryn for his time and hospitality while meeting with me for this interview.        

          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’ve included some pictures from my meeting with Arkad in his private offices inworld.

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.

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 safe fires!

 

 

 

Photo No. 1 Landing Zone

Photo No. 2 Pumpkin Patch

Photo No. 3 Make Your Own Jack O’Lantern

Photo No. 4 Scarecrow

Photo No. 5 Merchant’s Shop I

Photo No. 6 Witches’ Woods Entrance

Photo No. 7 Witch’s Den

Photo No. 8 Skellytown Entrance

Photo No. 9 Merchant Shop II

Photo No. 10 Vampyreville Entrance

Photo No. 11 Amusement Park

Photo No. 12 Ghostly Gulch Entrance

Photo No. 13 Graveyard

Photo No. 14 The Master’s Grave

Photo No. 15 Spyder Steppes Entrance

Photo No. 16 Mad Scientist Treasure Trove

Photo No. 17 Castle

Photo No. 18 Aerial View

 

 

An Anniversary Celebration in Second Life!

 

Life is celebration, for those who know how to celebrate every moment.

Bharat Zanvar

 

After the gloom and doom that I engendered with my last post about the future of Second Life (SL).  I decided it was time to cheer up a bit.  The world’s not ending.  (At least not yet.)

So, after an intervention by some well-intentioned SL friends (Significant Other is giving me that “I told you so!” look as I write this.)  I decided to return to the happier events which surround us inworld.  (But, have no fear, I haven’t abandoned the Cause.  More to come!)

Fortunately for me, there is always cause for celebration in SL!

In particular, my very good friend inworld, Perryn Peterson, reminded me that this month is the sixth anniversary of the founding of the Mieville sim in SL.   Perryn, who is one of the most impressive impresarios whom I’ve met in either SL or Real Life (RL), is pulling out all the plugs for this one.

For those of you who are just joining us, Perryn is the mayor of Mieville, a collection of twelve sims in SL.  The theme is steampunk.  But, I’ve found them to be very open minded about what’s included in the genre. 

Perryn, whom I selected last year as one of the most interesting SL residents whom I’ve met, acts as the creative spark and organizer behind all that happens in Mieville.  I still don’t know how he balances RL and SL.  (There is a rumor that he only exists inworld but I’m not touching that one until I have some more facts.  I do have some standards you know!)

His career inworld began with Gor.  But he wasn’t satisfied there.  (Gor can be a demanding and rigid roleplaying environment inworld.)  Perryn didn’t feel that he was getting all that he wanted or could get from SL in Gor.  In RL, He’s always been fond of Victorian times and lives in a house built in 1892.  (For my non-American readers, that’s a very old house by our standards!)

When the Doyle sim became available six years ago, Perryn felt that he could do something with it. Initially, he was working with his STEAM: The Hunt project.  Perryn also faced a monumental task of replacing all the prims that came with the sim because title didn’t pass to him with the sale.  He says now he knows better.  The replacement of all the sims took years Perryn tells me. 

Ultimately, Perryn and his SL partner, Mike Olbracht, the landscaping wunderkind, left Gor completely two years ago to focus on Mieville exclusively. 

And, he does need the time because in addition to STEAM, he’s introduced the recurring Renaissance Faire and Hunt, and The Silk Road Hunt. 

In addition to these regularly scheduled functions, Perryn has special one off functions for Christmas, the gacha fad, a Tolkien Festival, and Route 66 to name but a few.  Regular followers of my blog know that by now few seasons go by without some sort of special Perryn function in Mieville.

Perryn also has weekly town hall meetings for the merchants and residents of Mieville.  He also sponsors weekly dances with different themes.  (Ebbe Altberg and Linden Lab could learn a few things from him but I digress.)

Mieville now comprises twelve sims.  Besides the original Doyle, Twain, Poe, Wells, Verne, Chesterton, Dickens, Lakes, Stevenson, Kipling, Shelley, and Pond have been added.  Tinyopolis now occupies one of these sims.  Another Perryn property is Renaissance Fairy Island which is on the mainland. 

Helping Perryn along the way were folks like Mike, Jalynne Ohmai, and Wyvern Dryke to name but a few.  (To those whose names I’ve omitted, my apologies, I’ll get you in my next story!) 

Now Perryn wouldn’t be Perryn if he didn’t have some sort of celebrations planned for this event and he does!

There will be a yard sale to assist a member of the community with RL medical bills.  Please be generous when you stop by here.

Airship races, a boat regatta, something to do with warbugs, a Victorian dance, a picnic, opening of a new public building, a chef’s cook-off, and much more!  There’s something for everyone.

          But, hurry!  The festivities only last until July 13^th.  Come and meet Perryn and the wonderful people who make up the Mieville community!  Maybe you’ll even run into me!  (Please don’t use that as your excuse for not coming, Perryn won’t invite me back if you do!)

          The poster shown below will give you a detailed program when you click it inworld.  (A not so subtle way to get you to go in!) 

          Also, one final note for now, as part of the Mieville 6^th Anniversary Celebrations, I with two brave companions will shortly begin a boat tour of the Mieville sims.  Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to cast off into the unexplored reaches of Mieville!  (Sorry Perryn, I just had to be overly dramatic here!)

           I would like to thank Perryn for taking the time to meet with me to answer my questions to permit to write this story.  As always, he is a most gracious and hospitable host.

Remember to drop by!

I’ve included a few pictures of some of the beautiful places in Mieville.  There are many more, go and see them 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.   

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

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 Perryn Peterson, Mayor of Mieville

Photo No. 2 Mieville 6^th Anniversary Celebration Poster

Photo No. 3 Merchants’ Lane at a Renaissance Faire

Photo No. 4 Airships from STEAM 8

Photo No. 5 Irish Countryside from St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Photo No. 6 Gacha Machines at Gacha Expo

Photo No. 7 Yardsale I

Photo No. 8 Yardsale II

Photo No. 9 Yardsale III

Photo No. 10 Mieville Doyle – Where It All Began!