April 2013 – Page 4 – Ciaran Laval

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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April 20, 2013

Fantasy Faire 2013 Now Open – Press Release

This is a press release announcing that Fantasy Faire 2013 is now open:

* * Fantasy Faire 2013, April 20 – 28th * *

A Benefit for the American Cancer Society

Celebrating its fifth year, Fantasy Faire 2013 is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, roleplayers and performers in the virtual world. From Saturday April 20 to Sunday April 28, treat yourself to nine days of shopping, live music concerts, auctions, hunts and roleplaying as thousands of Second Life residents and creators bring their own visions together to support the American Cancer Society’s vision of a world without cancer.

Avatars, clothing, furnishings, gadgets and exclusive items are available from more than 130 of SL’s top Fantasy Creators across ten stunning sims designed by some of the visionary artists behind many of the hottest spots on the SL destination guide.

The Fantasy Faire 2013 is made possible by the generous support of our Sim and Event Sponsors: æros avatar, The Arcanum, Cerridwen’s Cauldron, Dark Goddess Designs, Dwarfins, Epic Toy Factory, Fallen Gods Inc., Fanavatar & Moonstruck, FATEWear, F*cking Ninjas, The Looking Glass, L’Uomo, Roawenwood, –= Solarium =–, Spyralle, T R I D E N T.

Fantasy Faire 2013 will be open to the public April 20 -28 and accessible from the American Cancer Society sim. We welcome you to come and join the story. Continue reading “Fantasy Faire 2013 Now Open – Press Release”

April 19, 2013April 19, 2013

Sneaking Into Fantasy Faire 2013

So I managed to sneak into a cave and find the secret entrance that took me to the entrance to Fantasy Faire 2013, but in my path I saw two Giants guarding the way, I tried to hide but they saw me and crossed their arms, frowining at me. Then one of them roared:

“Fee-fi-fo-fum,

I smell the blood of an Englishman,

Be he live, or be he dead

I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.”

I stood there, frozen, too afraid to move when one of the giants started laughing “I’ve always wanted to say that!” he roared.

The other giant replied “I’m waiting for the chance to say ‘Unleash The Kraken’”

“Ooh that’s a good one!” said the first Giant “Ok in you go, Sonya Marmurek said you’d be coming, come on move along quickly…. and remember, no SLURL’s allowed in previews.” I hurriedly moved through the entrance but couldn’t help overhear their conversation.

“Do you think it will rain?”

“No idea, I hope not, I want to hang my washing out.”

“Washing, blah, that means ironing.”

“Oh I hate ironing, but it has to be done, I’ve got some new fabric conditioner.”

“Oh really, which brand?”

Thankfully I was now out of range to hear the rest of the conversation, but I wasn’t quite there yet, barring my path was a witch, pointing her finger at me, “You!” she exclaimed “It was foretold in the prophecies that you would arrive!”

I looked behind me to see if anyone else was there, then looked questioningly at the witch “Did Sonya Marmurek mention my name?”

“Ah, you know the prophecies too!” exclaimed the witch.

I groaned and moved on and finally, I found myself at sneak peek Fantasy Faire 2013. I had to choose a portal:

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