Every
renaissance comes to the world with a cry, the cry of the human spirit to be
free.
Anne
Sullivan
Autumn is
approaching in both Second Life (SL) and Real Life (RL).
(Yes, I
know it’s several more weeks until the autumnal equinox but the Labor Day
holiday weekend has always marked the end of summer for me!)
The
rituals of life, whether nature’s or our own, begin to play themselves out
again. (Significant Other hopes that I
don’t become overly sentimental.)
One
inworld ritual which I enjoy immensely is the annual Renaissance Hunt and Faire
organized and run by Perryn
Peterson and his band of merry women and men. The event runs from September 1st
to 30th this year just as it did last year. This is the fourth time
the event is being held inworld.
Like life
itself, the Hunt and Faire don’t remain the same. The event I blogged
about last year has changed in a few ways. Some subtle, some not so subtle. But, they point to how SL is a dynamic,
changing environment.
Likewise,
other things have remained the same.
But, are they? Or, do we look at
them differently because of the passage of time and what we’ve experienced along
the way?
I go back
to this sim again as it slowly awakens to prepare itself for the festivities
and the soon to be arriving guests.
I’m an old
hand now, so I don’t have to drag poor Perryn away from all his duties as Mayor
of Mieville to show me around.
Upon
rezzing in at the arrival
area,
I see the first major change. Where once
an old galleon had sat moored to a dock, a small cove with several small boats
greets me. A waterfront with small
merchants’ shops, some already occupied, winds around the cove.
Behind me,
the sea beckons and I can stroll completely around the cove thanks to a small
foot footbridge which goes over the entrance to the sea.
Strolling
up from the water’s edge, I pass the registration center for the hunters and
from there through the town gate into the fair grounds. I feel like I’m in old neighborhood. I no longer get lost here. (We won’t mention Significant Other’s
observation.)
What I
always enjoy walking along this part of the sim is Mike Olbracht, Perryn’s partner
and Mieville’s landscaping wunderkind has managed to capture the pastoral feel
of the fields and woods with the small village effect.
Booths
have been set up for the merchants and they are being slowly filled and I have
no doubt that all will be in place for opening day as it always is. One of my favorite exhibits, the Chained Library
recreating a Renaissance library is not set up yet but I have Perryn’s
assurances that it will be so I’ll be returning to check it out after the
opening.
The usual
entertainments will be ready for the hunters and other visitors, jousting,
fencing, galliard dancing, and the May pole.
Refreshments will also be served.
Merchants
will be offering a broad array of merchandise with the emphasis on the
Renaissance period. (There’s a good deal
on full suits of armor if anyone’s interested.)
My walk
takes me through the gypsy encampment. Stopping
to look inside several of the vardos, I get a sense of the color and beautiful
workmanship that has gone into their interiors.
The fortune teller is back and her crystal book is sitting on a table
waiting for customers.
The horse
paddock is nearby conveniently situated near a stream which flows down from the
hills. Following along the pathway from
here, I arrive at the signpost just inside the town gate where I’d started.
As always,
the Hunt and Faire will be a fun event.
Dozens of merchants will have their wares on display. Gifts will be available for hunters. This hunt consistently draws high marks from
its participants for the diversity and originality of its gifts.
Several
merchants will be having their own mini-hunts.
(No, I won’t tell you who or what!
There has to some suspense left, right?)
If you’re
wondering if you should come and participate, I encourage you to do so.
The
camaraderie of the Hunt and the Faire has to be experienced firsthand like all
good experiences in life whether SL or RL.
The community that runs and supports these events is a wonderful group
of people and if you plan on being a regular inworld then you have to meet
them.
Please
come and enjoy yourselves! Maybe you’ll
run into me! (I do give autographs!)
I’ve included pictures from my visit but I
encourage everyone to go and see these wonderful sights for yourselves. I’m about as good inworld with a camera as I
am in RL so checking for yourself is highly recommended. (Significant Other nods violently in
agreement.)
I’d like
to thank Perryn for briefing before my visit and for his and his entire team’s
efforts to put on this spectacular event again!
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.
If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.
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