A Few Fantasy Faire Stories

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

The Fantasy Faire has come and gone, but it certainly won't be forgotten. For a few days after the event was officially closed, and probably for several days after, people continued to chatter. The day after, I invited people to share their stories, and screenshots. Two people took me up on the offer. 

Prokofy Neva: I was dithering about buying this Dinkie outfit and then time ran out and three mages walked me out to the safe hub with my cardboard box of goods, so astarrynite agreed to buy the outfit as a gift, for which I am grateful.

 

Kira Skydancer (Kira Fairelander): Well... I'm apparently failed in my quest to fly the Faire one last time. I didn't crash, but I'm stuck. But what an appropriate place for a dragon to *be* stuck.  so I'm playing with EEPs, (laughter). https://gyazo.com/d53ed4b91ee39b40a0626658291cb70c

 

 When asked about the Faire being closed, "Maybe? I'm still here, just can't move. There are others in this region too."

 

And then, there was this final post in the blog:

Sonya does all she can to convince me to write something for the website at least once a Faire season. Sometimes she succeeds, but more often then not, the Faire comes and goes before I have time to sit down and collect my thoughts. This year I was able to co-host the opening tour of the Fairelands on FFR with Zander Greene. I love the audio introduction to the regions which has become the traditional opening of Fantasy Faire. To be part of welcoming Fairelanders home after months away is a gift I feel very fortunate to share with Zander. The soundtrack sets the stage for the adventures awaiting Faire visitors in the coming days as they start off on their explorations of the assembled worlds.

It also gave me a chance to say something that I felt needed to be said. I didn’t want to simply welcome people to the 2025 Fantasy Faire. I wanted to welcome Fairelanders home. I wanted to embrace each of you and thank you for returning. For bringing your light back to the Fairelands. For contributing to the magic that fuels the Faire and flows through our community, illuminating our time together and creating enough residual energy that we continue to glow with the warmth and brilliance of the Faire for months to come. No darkness can survive the light of our community.

We came to a Faire full of darkness, but not hopelessness. We found the hope in every shadowed corner and embraced it. Arriving from a physical world full of increasing challenges, we came together in the Fairelands reaffirming our friendships and our shared desire to make a world where the Unweaver’s influence shrinks every day. Where every action, large or small, monetary or emotional, brightens the strength of our heart lights and makes the darkness across realms retreat.

I knew coming into this year that my goal was not to reach some number on a RFL kiosk. I knew whatever we raised during the course of the Faire would be life changing to people around the globe. But I also knew that the act of being a community of Fairelanders together would also change our lives for the better. I look at the RFL kiosk in front of me as we prepare for the regions to fade back into the Mists and I am shocked at what we were able to do in a year as turbulent as 2025. I am even more shocked when I realize that in the rush of all the things, there was no good time for me to add additional funds to our total, including the store and sponsorship donations, the website donations, and the wootable and memorial candle sales. All told the final total for this year’s Faire is 31,980,309L (still going up) or 127,921usd.

Take a moment for that to sink in.

In 2025 we not only raised a bit more than we did last year BUT we also crossed the point where Fantasy Faire has now raised over 1 million USD lifetime total. All I wanted was for us to be together. To be happy and remember that we each carry the light of the Fairelands in our hearts throughout the year, but during the Faire, we are a bonfire! Then you went and raised an unprecedented amount of money for the global cancer programs that the American Cancer Society supports on top of that. What more is there to say? Unweaver, go away! There is no place for you to play today. Faire on!

Oh and there WILL be a party Relay Weekend, June 6-7. Don’t think there won’t be. We are going to rock Relay to it’s foundations as only Fairelanders can!

With Love and Appreciation,

Elizabeth aka Fantasy

For me, it was another great Faire. I've enjoyed ever one that I've attended, enjoying the detailed scenery, the smaller events here such as the parties and tours, the shopping, the Fairelands Quest (the story more than the prizes, but the latter's a great bonus) and the enthusiasm of the people here.  

 

I wasn't able to spend as much time here as in previous years, missing out on some events, and the Children of Stories seems to have skipped a year, for some reason (maybe they needed another year to come up with a great story).

While I'd love to post the hundreds of pictures I've posted, sadly time is short, and I must move on to both the demands of real life and the next story.

 

If any of you have more stories about the Faire, feel free to send them to the Newser, bixylshuftan@gmail.com

 

Until next year, Fairlanders, 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes From The Fairlands: "The Desert Foxes"

 

 

 On Monday April 22, I dropped by the Sunstone Oasis sim for more on the continuing saga of the Desert Foxes in this year's "Children of Stories" roleplay. I arrived a little late to see the group looking for "The Singing Sword" in hopes of restoring the memories of a sphinx, the guardian of a lost library that had it's books all turn blank. Ultimately they were looking for the cure of a strange fever. 

The train led to an aqueduct, and someone found a secret passage near it.

 

Which lead to a cave, and a mysterious anvil, with something stuck in it.

 It wasn't the Singing Sword, but it was it's scabbard, embedded in a jewel in a hole in the anvil. Someone managed to pull it out without too much trouble. 

The group took it back to the lost library. Someone had also discovered the Sphinx's name Madulin. And at one point, a number of books appeared. It was a circular staircase of books.

It led to some circular platform on top with a spiral pattern. 

It looked like we'd gotten the books back, at least some of them. But the Sphinx still hadn't gotten his memories, yet.

 

 

And with that, it was time for the cast of characters to put the roleplay on pause, at least until the next day. 

For the complete story of the Desert Foxes, Click Here. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Patch Linden's Jail and Bail

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

 

A lot happened this weekend at the Fantasy Faire. While a number of Jail and Bail events take place at the Faire, they started out with the biggest. On Friday April 21 at 1PM SL time came "The Jailing of Patch Linden."

We’re always on edge when their prey is one of the Grid Guardians, the Speakers of the Verba Caeruleum, the few, the proud, the bold, the…..Lindens!

Fortunately for us, the Constables know a good sport when they see one, and that’s why one of their favorite targets is none other than Patch Linden. And, fortunately for you, Patch knows just the kind of goodies to bring along to buy his way out of the dog house (nope) madhouse (nope) puppy pen (yup).

This is a Faire event that has to be seen to be believed!

Our tiny informants report that Patch has prepared for his bail with plenty of offerings to inspire the goodwill of Fairelanders, including but not limited to, your very own event exclusive Patch cutout to take home and cherish forever, and a completely new Patch Linden Faire Event Bear!

The event was quickly packed. Even showing up early, the sim was full and I couldn't get in. While a few avatars rezzed, most remained shapes for a while. Patch Linden himself didn't even show up as a nametag until well after I was there for a half hour, and then appeared fully in just a few minutes. Various types of avatars would appear around him. For once, normal humans were the minority, with multitudes of elves, fairies, gryphons, tinies (notably the Pawlice) and dragons, some flapping nearby the balloon gondola Patch was in, the airbag looking like the double-F Faire logo. 

 

People could just donate into the kiosk near Patch, but various items were also put up for bid in informal auctions. Patch Linden would offer, "Who wants to spend an hour with me, to go on a secret behind the scenes tour to see some things the team is working on, and you can bring 1 friend!    You never know what you might see!" "An hour with Patch with a Fantasy Faire Photo Op! what do you say folks, who wants to bid on this?? ... We got a 15K bid folks!! Do I hear 16K?!! 20K!!" The top bid for that would be 30,000 Linden dollars. Then came the opportunity to name a region. That went for 20,000 Linden dollars. Then came the chance to rename one's account. That went for 67,000 Lindens. 

Then came "Auctioning off a slice of Ancient Mole to build.... yes...  THE WOOTBERRY FOUNTAIN for all to enjoy and get!" It ended up sold at 26,000L "for tha pawlice to be drunk off wootberry juice for the entire faire."Then came "An hour with Patch to go on a secret behind the scenes tour to see some things the team is working on, and you can bring 1 friend!" Wildstar Beaumont got it for 65,000 Lindens "YAY!! WILDSTAR!!!!" Someone else also paid 100,000 Lindens for a "house," possibly a Linden Home.

There was some funnery,  Patch Linden at one point shouting, "I declare, Waffle are hereby banned forevermore!" That brought quite a reaction, "Blasphemy! HERESY!" When getting to name a region was up for auction, there were jokes about naming one "Soggy Waffle," or "Regiony McRegionface."

Around 3:20 PM, it was announced, "OMG we just blew 3 MILLION LINDENS out of the water!!! WTG Patch! WTG Warwick! WTG FAIRELANDERS!! And THAT is how we launch opening weekend!" Someone near me went, "That's some crazy numbers!" "Pretty sure it's a safe bet we'll beat last year's numbers." FantasyFaire Resident would shout, "Thank you Patch! Thank you Fairelanders! What an amazing time we just had!! And this is only day 2! (big grin) ... Thank you Patch! Thank you for coming and being with us all! We <3 you at the Faire!"

It was quite an event at the Fantasy Faire, with many days to come.

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Reader Submitted: Memorial for Cerdwin Flanagan

By Cynthia Farshore

On May 23rd, a memorial for Cer (Cerdwin Flanagan) was to be held on her land at Witch Woods by Cer and Wolfe from 2PM SL time. However, the crowd grew beyond what it could hold. So the event was moved to The Hideaway. After TPing and links, a large crowd of over 60 formed. Once the music began playing, the pagan ceremony lead by the priest Tamlord Carterhaugh Wood started.

The priest began, "Welcome to this celebration of the life of Cerdwin Flanagan, or Cer as I knew her. She was a lovely woman and touched many of us with sweetness and enthusiasm. Cer was a pagan, so this celebration of her life will be in a pagan format. Please do not lef the word 'pagan' frighten you. All it means is a spiritual path that honors the Nordic/Viking current, and the music will reflect her preferences. Music and ritual have been known to open doors to the Otherworld. There will be drumming and it may carry you away in a light trance. This ritual will me simple. We will also honor the elements of nature. Then we will open our service to your stories. When we open up the ritual for sharing Elayne Diavolo has been kind enough to help. Please submit your request to share a story about Cer to Elayne. Elayne will then call people in order. Let us begin."

At this point, the priest called for everyone to face west and invited the Blessed Ancestors to the Sacred Circle with calls and praises to various spirits. After the priest finished the opening, Elayne Diavolo began calling people in order to tell their stories and relations with Cer, as she was affectionately called, and there were many.

One person, Sinder (Shaldowsin), made a wonderful expression, "Cer, one of the things you said was, 'I live at the speed of my mind, and love with the strength of my heart.' You liked fast, fierce, and more than I could ever know. You were always willing to make a friend, always willing to help, but more than anything, you were supportive, warm, fun. You were like the sun but damned if anyone called you the sun, no that role you gave to me, your little princess of light. You were the night, but if anything, you were the moon, welcoming, and warm on a cold night, so perfect in every way. Magical and mysterious to most. I remember the many times I called you beautiful, which is in my nature when I warm up to someone, and you would always say it was the fairy glamor. That I was the beautiful one. If only you could have seen yourself through my eyes, how you radiated love. You were supportive, to all the creators you knew, musicians, DJs, everyone, even me, you're the reason, I took the dive into meshing and rigging again, your love, your support, it made me feel like I had wings. That there was no mountain I could not conquer. You made a lot of people feel that way. And now it's over, your life ended far too soon. A few parting words, is never enough, but may you dance with the fairy folk and ride with the Valkyrie, and in your downtime, may you tend to the animals like you always wanted. Yes, I remember, our talks about your farm. How I was going to come and help you tend to them."

 Another example was Ghost (Xd Fuchs), "I did not know Cer as long or as well as I would have hoped, though, in the time I did know her, she showed that the amount of time you knew someone didn’t always matter. She was so accepting of people and open to connecting with others, and those who are lucky enough to know her were witness to her enthusiasm and support. She had a way of making people heard, felt, and seen. She made an effort to learn about people when meeting them. She radiated passion and excitement for the people and things she loved. Though this is a moment of deep sadness, we should strive to move forward with the same love and compassion Cer showed those she met and grew close to. She so clearly touched the lives of a number of people, and I personally believe she would be happy to see that same care continue to influence others, and spread through the world."

Many spoke and we do not have room here to record all who did but these two examples show the out pouring of love so many had for Cerdwin Flanagan.

The priest closed with, " Powers of the North, West, South and East, we thank you for your presence at this Circle this day.  Go if you must, stay if you will.  Hail and farewell, Blessed Guardians and Friends. Blessed Ancestors who have gone before, we thank you for your presence here. Lend us your aid as we move through these times of difficulty. We close the Door of Death behind you as you return to your rest.  Hail and farewell, blessed Ancestors!"

The ceremony ended with a Pegasus fly-over, many filled the sky. It was very clear that Cerdwin Flanagan had touched the hearts of many, may she find her peace.

Thanks to OldeSoul Eldemar (oldesoul) for this short clip of the Pegasus fly-over
https://i.gyazo.com/7bc384f9b72a6396170c743a05155507.mp4

Cynthia Farshore

Scenes From Fantasy Faire's Last Weekend

By Bixyl Shuftan

From April 23 to May 10, the Fantasy Faire took place in Second Life. A fundraising event for the Relay for Life in Second Life, only the Relay Weekend is larger in terms of people attending or sims involved.

There was a lot to see, and a lot to shop for. Yours truly took more pictures of more scenes than I have time to post, so I'm going to try and concentrate mostly on what I did in the past few days.

I had fun exploring the sims. One guy commented of what I thought was the "Mistakes Were Made" area, "Good lord, this sim is like a bad trip through Willy Wonka's nightmares."

On Wednesday May 6, there was a centaur parade in Heliodor.

Okay, so it was before the weekend. But how often do you see centaurs in large numbers?

And in such a variety?

A common sight was various DJs playing somewhere on the map. On Friday May 8, it was the tune of Team Sunbamers' DJ Matt to play at Auxentios' Pass.

Matt had modified his Spirit Fennec avie to look like "Carbuncle" of Final Fantasy.

A variety of avatars showed up

From the tiny,

To the large and the winged,

To the equine,

To the gigantic. Yes, Ceri Quixote was wearing undies. She was also wearing a facial mask, a nod to 2020 reality.

 Sunbeamer team captain Rita Mariner and her friend Gil Otaared were among those cheering Matt on.

At the end of her two hour set, Matt had raised 60,000 Linden dollars. While these had gone into general donations and not part of the Team Sunbeamer total, an anonymous donor gave about that much to the team sometime that day. So everyone came out ahead.

And there was the Fairelands Quest. This was more relaxed than the previous two I was in, one year looking for the Bard Queen's father, the next helping out a wizard whom had been turned into an owl. This year, the objective was planting a garden for the Bard Queen.

One needed to items at the start, the backpack that was magically enchanted to carry all the sacks of seeds.

And there was the almanac, which gave you a little info about the plants and how to plant them. Much of the time, Matt and I teamed up to search.

 Some of the sacks of seeds were easier to find than others, such as the rose seeds in Zodiac found next to a large rosebush.

Zodiac was pretty, with those sparkling globes all around.

And this one was more ore less out in the open, though easily overlooked.

X marks the spot.

One was in a cemetary.

Other times, I had a little help from Skylark "Snowbuns" Lefavre.

After getting all the seeds, it was off to Queensgarden.

Where I had to look for various pots of water.

And various pots of soil.

After getting them all, it was off to the garden area.

 Players, once they had all the soils and waters, were transported to a garden skybox, where they would mix soils, waters, and seeds to get right combinations.

Succeed, and the player was rewarded with the sight of a beautiful garden.

The Bard Queen herself appears, explaining why such a fuss over a garden.

And for helping out, the player would be awarded. There were so many prizes, my screen was temporarily flooded. I had to copy-paste the list to keep track, though this website helps.

Saturday May 9 was the last day of the roleplay in Kuruk. The plot was that the bear chief had been found dead, and it was suspected a number of the cubs were the cause.

No doubt the whole story would be worth an article of it's own right. The short version was that the cubs did end up killing the chief, but from an exorcism. The Unweaver, the lasting villain of the Fantasy Faire over the years, had possessed the chief, and the cubs had finally freed him of it's grasp, but at a terrible cost: his life. Not Guilty.

Sunday May 10 was the last day of the Faire, and "The Final Ravedown" party.

From 11AM to 11PM, the party took place at various sims. When I was able to visit, I was needed elsewhere, so I sent an alt, which made things a bit laggy. But I did catch some things, such as DJ Madonna wearing something other than her trademark suit.

The flyer for the party commented, "No glowsticks allowed after The Incident." I never did get a straight answer as to what "The Incident" was.

In the Faire's last few hours, I never could get into the Ravedown as it was packed, so I explored a few places with friends.

Nothing like spending the last hour of a great event with friends.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful company and support not only for the Faire but for Relay for Life. We have had a wonderful 2 weeks and you have raised over 73,000usd! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will be back next year

It was a great event, but like all good things, the Fantasy Faire would end. After Midnight, the sims were closed to anyone trying to get in. Many in the group expressed their sadness. But for some Relayers, the sadness would only be temporary. The next month promises many events, such as the Relaystock, the Sunbeamers Under the Sea party and Moon Dance, and of course the Relay weekend.

For those wanting to check out more pictures, head to the Flicker page:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasyfairesl/pool/

Wildstar Beaumont's pictures: https://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasyfairesl/pool/wildstar_b

Ishtar Kiss's pictures: https://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasyfairesl/pool/ishtarskiss

Bixyl Shuftan