American Cancer Society – Page 20

April 23, 2013

Fantasy Faire 2013 – The Golden Thorn

There I am in The Dragonspire, I’ve avoided Goblins, Pixies, Dragons, evil overlords and am just about to make my escape when a voice hisses “Oi, Where do you think you’re going?” I look around, and can make out a shape in the shadows of a store called The Golden Thorn….. “I haven’t seen you since the days of the XStreetSL forums, oh and here.” a large pack looms out of the dark and I catch it, written on it are the words “Bloggers Pack“…. “Do it!” hisses the voice, then the shape disappears from view.

There’s something familiar about the cat like way this person appeared and disappeared, hmmmm, wait wait wait, it’s Thorn Witrial! However too late, Thorn has gone, now and I’m left unpicking this riddle…. well opening the bloggers pack at least.

I concentrate hard and using all my wizard like powers manage to sumon Thorn back, Thorn appears, looking a little shaken and I demand that Thorn tell us something about the store and the avatar behind it:

“I am the owner and creator for The Golden Thorn, a shop that sells fantasy jewelry, silks, sculpture and roleplaying props. I’ve been in SL for five years, and find it a perfect place to express myself and think it is an unparalleled place for creativity and opportunities to appreciate people for who they are, absent of ‘real world’ factors (like looks, physical disability or geography) out of their control, that obscure the brilliance of their spirits.”

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April 22, 2013

Fantasy Faire 2013 – Refined Wild Introduction

My next mission takes me back into the depths of The Dragonspire sim, the colouful caverns have a special interest this time because the store I’m looking at is also responsible for the sim build. The glowing crystals are part of the wares of Refined Wild store owner and mesh builder, Khyle Sion.

Illuminating the caverns so we can see where we are going, these crystals and accompanying displays bring a sparkle of light to what would otherwise be a dark dank area where Goblins would have way too much fun.

The store at Fantasy Faire contains many varied items such as wooden signs, fonts, wells, hair, obelisks, eyes, pipes of the smoking variety, necklaces and original items designed just for Fantasy Faire 2013. There’s plenty of choice here, this is a very diverse line of products.

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April 21, 2013April 21, 2013

Fantasy Faire 2013 – The Arcanum Introduction

Wizadry, that’s right up my street I thought, when I was asked to blog about Zachh Barkley’s The Arcanum, I mean who can resist the temptation to arm themselves with a wand and fire magic at friends and foes …. come on, it can’t just be me!

The Arcanum is a place of wonder, situated within the caverns of The Dragonspire at Fantasy Faire 2013, where it’s rumoured Dwarves, Goblins, Drow (that’s me sometimes) and Nixies live … Nixies? Anyway, there’s also rumour of a Dragon and his horde keeping careful watch on the place.

This is a colourful sim, designed by Khyle Sion and The Arcanum with its magical items fits in perfectly. I wander along, trying to mind my own business, adjusting my wizard hat and see items of the magical variety.

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April 20, 2013

Fantasy Faire 2013 – The Quest For The Golden Prim Introduction

I’m stood outside an explorer’s club in the Lotus Valley Dream sim at Fantasy Faire, Saffia Widdershins is asking me to conduct an interview in voice, I play my trump card “I speak Brummie, you may not be able to understand me“.

“I speak fluent Brummie” replies Saffia, I’m out of excuses and turn to voice.

The interview for The Quest For The Golden Prim turns into an adventure of its own. First of all the sims are being reset, we need to teleport out, but we can’t, the servers won’t let us at first. Then another sim is full, with the clock ticking and time running out, we manage to teleport to another sim in the nick of time.

Now I need to find Saffia, I can see her on the map, she can see me, we walk towards each other and realise we’re separated by a see-thru wall, we’re physically separated, we touch the wall either side and start the interview, Saffia’s accent is the sort that suits her elegant avatar every step of the way and has me enthralled as she enthuses about this project and others of bygone days. If Linden Lab are looking for an enthusiastic supporter of Second Life in the form of someone who has exemplified several use cases, Saffia Widdershins is the lady for the job.

The Quest For The Golden Prim isn’t an item you can buy, it’s a web comic with the presentation at Fantasy Faire a promotional tool to announce the relaunch of the web comic. The presentation itself is an interactive experience, you can click items and collect trading cards, learn about the story by finding books with previous chapters. There are hidden entrances to be found and, as Saffia proudly told me, the only wash room in the Faire lands is inside the build!

I’ll allow Saffia to explain the story of the quest below the cut, if you’re already below the cut, there isn’t another one, just read on.

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April 20, 2013

Fantasy Faire 2013 – Dwarfins Introduction

I’ve blogged about Dwarfins before, indeed I own Dwarfins. As part of my Fantasy Faire 2013 assigned missions, I’ve been asked to blog some more about Dwarfins and this was a welcome task, and not just because they’re releasing wizard avatars and Dwarfins at Fantasy Faire 2013 but that sure helps!

An Image Should Be Here — Wizard And Enchantress Avatars

The first thing to remember here is that as well as being a great event for the fantasy community in Second Life, Fantasy Faire is also part of the relay for life fundraising effort. Judy Chestnut explains why this is important for her:

“I have lost a lot of people close to me that were much too young. In particular my mother who was only 48 when she found out she had breast cancer and 50 when she lost her fight. She participated in a clinical trial after she was diagnosed, for a drug that is now widely used and helping other women. My uncle who passed away from brain cancer at the age of 50, was misdiagnosed for 2 years before they correctly diagnosed him. My sister in law who passed away at the age of 36 from breast cancer, her cancer had spread to her brain and had not been found there until it was too late.

Research, diagnostic training for doctors, support for survivors and caregivers and the fight for one more birthday, because by that next birthday, there may be a cure. Those are the reasons that I support relay for life.”

Dwarfins is a breedables venture in Second Life, where you breed, well Dwarfins! They create birthrocks together that have traits when they are birthed and of course, some traits are more valuable than others.These traits have the potential to be passed on to their offsprings. Jaimy Hancroft, artist for Dwarfins has created some pictures to advertise some of the features of Dwarfins.

Dwarfins also have interactive items, they like a drink that’s for sure!

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