The Greening

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Three Knots | Leave a comment

The Guest House

So it may come as a surprise to you that I slept part of the winter away in the Guest House. This is a beautiful floating island house created by the architects at The Looking Glass, and it’s so cosy. I love the castle, but it’s so big! Now, of course, it isn’t drafty, because when Riven re-engineered it, she insulated it properly, right down to the cellar level, but sometimes I just like to be in a place where I can get up from bed and walk right over to the kitchen to do my toast, you know? Probably it’s a throwback to my former life in student digs.

Anyway, the winter just zoomed past, didn’t it? And then we were all at the Great Faire, where this year I did a lot of shopping and let other people tell their stories as much as I could. It was hard to let that happen sometimes, so I suppose you will hear a little of me in those stories if you look at them hard enough.

But the truth is, I have not been much in Faerie over these past few months.

So when I was awakened by a thump (hint: it was me being rolled out of my cosy little bed!) yesterday, I was not best pleased.

I am not best pleased, I said.

I walked out onto the porch, squinting into the sunlight. “I am not best pleased,” I said.

You are not best pleased? How nice for you.

Uh, oh. I know that voice. “My Lady!” There are few people who would cause me to stop in my tracks and just wonder what I had done wrong, especially since my relationships with my parents (both sets) are somewhat distant at the moment. But of course, this was no person. “How may I attend you?”

Get your blasted Realm in order, for starters.

I took a breath. But She was not finished.

Oh, don’t come at me with your apologies, and your I’m so tireds. I have just spent most of the night and half the morning retconning your little … wait a minute: do you even know what month it is?

“Um, June?” I said. There. I answered it right.

So it is. And do you know what I have removed from this little realm just this morning?

I swallowed. Then, there was that dizzying sense that you get when a Goddess is picking you up and dragging you several hundred feet to make a point.

What did you do?

“What did you do?” I exclaimed, as I thumped down into the garden island, and none too gently.

Well, first, I got rid of the goddamned ice skating pond. Then, I got rid of the snow and made the grass regrow. Did you know you have animals on that farm across the water who are still hibernating?

Oh, right. “Well, I have been really busy, and I guess I thought the Land would just….”

You thought. Really? When has a season ever happened here without your influence? This is a created Realm, Missy, but that’s no excuse to make winter eight months long!

Eek. She called me “Missy.” She’s going to go full-on Welsh Granny if I’m not careful.

“I’m sorry.”

Sorry does not set the table, Gwyneth. Really. This is your realm; you must be more responsible with it. So. Last night and this morning, after I received complaints finally from some of the demifae in your Realm, I have been greening the place up: you get to do the farm, though. And that godawful city park. And I’m not touching the creepy carousel in the centre of town—what were you thinking with that one?

Again, there was that sense of dizziness.

I looked over my shoulder.

I looked over my shoulder and saw the still-frozen farm island next to all the middle-of-summer things. “I really am sorry, Lady,” I replied. “It won’t happen again.”

See that it doesn’t. And don’t even think of trying to change yourself this summer. You’re stuck with standard sun kissed Seelie. No fancy hair colours, no special alabaster skin: none of that for you. This year, you get to feel what it’s like to have something imposed on you, like a season, that you cannot control. Perhaps then you’ll be more inclined to treat the smaller creatures in your Realm with something akin to compassion.

I hadn’t even noticed. “I have freckles!” Oh, please, no.

Oh, you poor thing. I guess you’re stuck with those until you decide to make a timely change to Autumn this year.

It does look really nice.

“It does look really nice,” I said, only somewhat sullen. “I’m so glad you put in the Shrine of Elistrae. I loved the one in Twilight Spring so much.”

Complimenting me isn’t going to get you out of this, Missy.

“No, My Lady; I didn’t think it would,” I said. “Trees look a little sparse on the garden island; shall I add more?”

It’s your Realm. I only micromanage you when I have to and when the well-being of other beings hangs in the balance.

“I really am….”

Stop apologising! I’ll not accept it, not until I see full-blown Summer here within the day and Autumn make a timely debut no later than twenty-first September; do you hear me? And on that day, there’ll be no silver elf hair for you either, Missy. You can wait ’til Winter again, and I haven’t decided if I’m going to turn you red or brown in September. That can be my little surprise.

“And the freckles?”

Don’t you like them?

I was afraid to answer.

Then, there was only laughter, at first harsh and then fading to wind as She eased Her Presence out of the Realm. Well, great. So much for summer sleep-ins. Guess I’d better go work on that farm.

Style Card:
Dress: Senzafine, Melody Dress (featured at the Vintage Fair, but coming home to the Senzafine Main Store this week!)
Body: Maitreya
Head: LAQ, Noelle Bento Mesh Head
Skin: Lumae, Elvi (in Tone 6). (All current skin lines are just L$100 at the Lumae Main Store!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Hair: Exile, Swept Away
Necklace: Rozoregalia, Alugim Necklace (Miss You)
Shoes: Cult, Moon Ribbon Tip Toes

Environment:
Location: Awenia Faerie
Guest House: The Looking Glass, Victorian Dream II
Shrine: Roawenwood, Shrine of Elistraee (special auction item from the 2019 Fantasy Faire)
Gazebo: The Looking Glass, Shrine Tree Conservatory (special auction item from the 2019 Fantasy Faire)
Coffee Wagon: Atomic, Witches’ Brew Gacha
Clock and Benches, RH Design House, Cafe in the Park dacha

In the Dawn Age…

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Three Knots | Leave a comment

In the Dawn Age, you were not here. You and your men. Eventually, you came—and then you brought the demon Andels. You, and they, slaughtered us and the trees and the forests. But fear kept them away from the North. They could not subdue the North.

And there we are, watching.

Watching each of your ridiculous dynasties grind itself out in horrors of violence and betrayal.

Watching your loves dry away, your dragons grow small, your little beliefs scatter much like leaves.

The faces in the trees are our eyes.

The faces in the trees are our eyes. And there are thousands of them.

Thousands of eyes.

The creatures of ground and wood are our ears.

The creatures of ground and wood are our ears. And there are millions of them.

Millions of ears.

We see the green.

We see the green through ravens’ eyes. We see the world. We hear the world.

You call us “children”.

You call us children because we are small. Or you do not believe we exist at all.

How funny. How ironic.

Such vigilant children.

Such vigilant children we are: our warriors are in the forests of the North now, blessing the North itself and blessing our allies there and beyond the Wall.

Such steadfast children.

Such steadfast children we are: we are in so many trees, so many ravens, so many spiders, listening, watching, waiting, crouching.

Now that little Arya Stark has rid us of our greatest error, we can regroup and look again. We can watch our ally on the Throne. We can use the time we have now.

And we will never stop watching.

Style Card:
Items featured at the current round of Enchantment:
Poses: These poses are all from Le Poppycock, part of a Children of the Forest gacha. The poses largely inspired this post. I wanted to tell this story about a character who would talk about her people’s legacy.
Trees, Props, Raven: All from the Le Poppycock Children of the Forest gacha.
Clothes & Wings: zOOm, Sensoria Dress, Headpiece, Bento Wings, here in brown and black
Other Stuff:
Body: Maitreya
Head: LAQ, Noelle Bento Mesh Head
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Short Ears
Hair: .Shi, Kadosh
Skin: The Plastik, Vyrian Omega Appliers in Maritza

Queen In the North

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Three Knots | Leave a comment

This is how you show care for your people.

You ensure that they will not live under the thumb of any King, even if he is your brother.

You keep their sacred groves, you keep their Old Gods, you give a nod to the New Gods, though they are not yours.

You walk among the Weirwood Trees.

You hold the leaves in your hands.

You watch the wind turn.

You watch the leaves blow your sister out to sea.

You watch the leaves blow your heart brother to the Wall.

You watch the leaves blow your little brother to Kings’ Landing.

And you? Are Queen in the North.

And you? You are Queen in the North. Not a bad ending. Not at all.

Style Card:
Items available at the current round of Enchantment (closes 31 May!)
Dress, Cape, Dress Corset, Chain Corset: Devious Mind, Sansa, in Hare
Tree: The Roawenwood, Weirwood Trees (small)
Leaves: 3rd Eye Perceptions, Relics & Reliquaries, Weirwood Leaves
Other Stuff:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Lelutka, Korina Bento Mesh Head
Skin: Lumae, Lelutka Deia Applier, T2 (All current Lumae Skin Lines are only L$100 at the Lumae Main Store!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Eyes: Avi-Glam, Joy Eyes
Hair: Wasabi, Prudence
Environment: Studio Skye, Enchanted Wood

This round of Enchantment is so much fun! The theme is Game of Thrones, the very last episode of which aired just a week or so ago as I write this. But people are still talking about it, and they likely will be for a while. Enchantment closes on the 31st of May, so get there as quickly as you can to see both the great products on sale and another glorious Enchantment build!

Freedom

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Three Knots | Leave a comment

Night Flying Is Freedom.

Night Flying Is Freedom. And so many of the people I see in the world do not have this freedom. I know it is my calling, my duty, to give it to them. As their rightful Queen, I am obliged to create for them a world in which they no longer fear tyranny.

I have done this many times already.

I have done this many times already. The people of Westeros only need to understand that when their loyalties lie with oppressors, they are complicit in the restriction of their own freedoms. If they look at me, recognise me as their true Queen, and follow me, they can be part of the future.

If not…

If not… and it does pain me to say this…

They will be part of the past.

Style Card:
Items Featured at the current Enchantment round (it closes on 31 May!):
Mr Nectarus & Jinx: Dragon Gacha Rideable (ultrarare)
Dress: Velvet Whip & Faida, Asha Twilight
Hair: DeLa, Daenerys
Other Stuff:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Genus Project, Strong Face
Skin: Lumae, Genus Project Elska Applier, T1 (All current Lumae Skin Lines are only L$100 at the Lumae Main Store!)
Eyes: Chon, River Eyes
Eyebrows: Jumo, Heloise Eyebrows
Eyelashes: Bluebird, Natural Eyelashes for Genus Project

The Calm After

Posted on May 18, 2019 by Three Knots | Leave a comment

Winterfell seems quiet now.

Winterfell seems quiet now. Everyone’s gone South, and I’m spending my days worrying. I know the news, when it comes, will be full of tragedy. I just hope not very many of those tragedies will touch me. Does that make me selfish? Sorry; not sorry. I spent too long being timid and sorry: now I am Lady of Winterfell, and I will be whatever I please.

Disconcerting

It’s somewhat disconcerting not to have anybody here I can really talk to. Because let’s face it, Bran is creepy. I’m not sorry for the “unfortunate demise” of Littlefinger, but at least he had a vocabulary. And of course I’m concerned about Jon, in the clutches of that woman. I’m glad I told Tyrion who Jon really is; maybe they will sort the whole thing in King’s Landing and I won’t have to worry about it.

Brace Yourself

And then, it happens. There’s a shout from the courtyard overlook. “My Lady! There’s a Raven from King’s Landing.”

Here we go.

Style Card:
Items featured at this month’s Game of Thrones-themed Enchantment Event:
Architecture: Bergfried Store, Bergfried Castle Gate
Dress: Lassitude & Ennui, Noblewoman’s Dress
Everything Else:
Body: Maitreya
Feet: Slink Deluxe Feet (flat)
Head: Genus, Baby Face
Skin: Lumae, Elska (All current skin lines are just L$100 at the Lumae Main Store!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Hair: Truth, Teila
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Saltarello Slippers

Enchantment runs until 31 May, and if you want to be Lord of the Seven Kingdoms (or just dress like one!) check it out before then.

Enchantment ~ The Iron Throne ~ May 2019

Arya’s Biggest Fangirl

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Three Knots | Leave a comment

I can’t help it. I, The Amazing Catwoman, went years without binge television when all of this crazy stuff happened. Now that She (you know: Her Majesty The Precious And Snootyfaced Queen Gwyneth) has set up Awenia as a fae realm that actually embraces technology, I can’t stop myself.

Despite the lack of technology in Westeros, I am more than a little ticked off that I never ended up in Braavos with sexy, emotionally unavailable Jaqen. Because I totally would have embraced that calling instead of slinking on home to seriously depressing Winterfell just to save the fucking world. OK, maybe I am not thinking that through in the proper way that a Good Character would, but I think we know I have never been of Good Character.

Anyway, speaking of Good Characters, I am just going to be Arya Stark for a while.

What do we say to the god of death?

“Not Today.”

Style Card:
Available at Enchantment’s upcoming Game of Thrones round, which opens on 11th May, 2019 at noon SLT:
Clothes: Jangka, Iron Throne Outfit, Stark (night) (includes Armbands, Outfit, Sandals, and Leg Warmers)
Everything Else:
Body: Maitreya
Skin: The Plastik, Elvenne (Charcus)
Head: LAQ, Lulu Bento Mesh Head
Hair: Sintiklia, Orli
Ears: Illusions, Sylph Ears
Swords: Spell, Game of Crowns, Needle Sword
Eyes: Seydr, Versicolor Eyes, Autumn
Ring: Aisling, The Good Wife

Location: The Enchantment Event, which as usual has a good enough build that you kinda want to live there!

Enchantment ~ The Iron Throne ~ May 2019

So, What’s It Like To Be A Troller?

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Three Knots | Leave a comment

In the Troll’s Shadow

You have no idea. “Gosh, is your father also your uncle?” “Do you all grow so tall because of troll manure?” “I heard you secretly worship the troll and are trying to bring him back to life.” “I figured you’d be covered with dirt or drool or something.” “Wait, do they even allow people from Trollhaugen on the Internet?”

Oh, very funny. I’ve never heard any of those jokes before.

Yes, I grew up in Trollhaugen. Yes, I also went to University. Yes, I was once Miss Trollbride. Yes, I know how to spell. No, I do not intend to marry a close relative by blood. No, I do not enjoy rolling around in excrement. Satisfied? No?

Well, you can just bite me.

Well, you can just bite me. If it weren’t for the fact that my homeland is built around a large troll turned to stone by our Realm’s spiritual founder, Saint Megan of the Book, I probably wouldn’t even exist right now, because my ancestors would have been eaten by that same large troll, who then would have probably moved on to your homeland and eaten your ancestors, because when you eat as much as a troll, renewable resources dry up pretty quickly.

Yes, I was once Miss Trollbride

Yes, I was once Miss Trollbride. That’s a picture of me in the dreaded earring cage. Being Miss Trollbride is actually a huge honour, I’ll have you know. We beautiful maidens spend a whole night in that godsforsaken cage, all to remind everyone that there but for the grace of Saint Megan go we. And it’s not exactly a comfortable night, by the way: you’re so high up in the air and swinging back and forth, to say nothing of the way they actually get you up there. Let’s just say it’s creepy, even when you know there is no more snot up there, not to mention earwax. I’d say I still have nightmares about it, but that would be dramatic.

The fact is, Trollers love nothing more than books.

The fact is, Trollers love nothing more than books. A book saved our Realm—well, many books, and there’s nowhere in the multiverse where you will find such a love for them. Maybe we don’t have huge libraries here, and maybe there’s no University, but we are a Realm of storytellers and story listeners. I mean, growing up in a place like this is a little bit like having grown up in a fairy tale.

And maybe that’s why people are so condescending of us.

And maybe that’s why some of us are embarrassed to be Trollers.

I’m a combination of both, I guess. Having spent a few years Out In The World, I do know that people from Trollhaugen are looked upon with some disdain, much as people on the Internet look down on unwashed pieceworkers from Nebraska who happened to grow up next to Carhenge. First of all, Hugh (that’s our troll’s name) is much, much bigger than Carhenge. And second, we didn’t ask him to come here. We didn’t make him. Nobody looked at our Realm and said, “Golly gee, I think I’ll erect a big old Troll!” No. We defeated him. So take that, Alliance, Nebraska.

Fact is, Our Troll is Beautiful.

Fact is, our Troll is Beautiful. OK, he is beautiful in a looming, grotesque sort of way, but my people have turned him into something that is known throughout all the many Realms. And you would not believe the number of Amazing Authors, Poets, Storytellers, and Artists of all descriptions who have graced our Trollmouth with their words and images. As writers’ retreats go, Trollhaugen is unique, and even though most of our people are deeply involved with the land, that love for the earth also, we believe, creates a keen understanding of the truths that tie the universe together with stories.

The Western Vista

There are also no finer views to be had of neighbouring Realms than those from our Trollsteps. I am in these pictures for scale, by the way: I am a tiny little blonde head in a black dress and you probably can’t even see that I am scowling at you in this picture. In the morning, I love to climb up the steps and watch the sun illuminate Tensor’s Flying Market in the distance. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live there: all that lightning. I heard they dance with Goblins.

Look: Here is my Scowl Face.

So, yes. I am from Trollhaugen. This is my mother’s house, and behind me is hay to feed our single horse. My mother is a blacksmith, and a good one; without her, I would never have been able to leave Trollhaugen for university. And without St. Megan of the Book, neither one of us would be able to tell our tales.

You’re welcome.

St. Megan of the Book

Style Card:
Items featured at the 2019 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire:
Wings: Lassitude & Ennui, Bento Fairy Wings, Purple RFL (Lassitude & Ennui at Fantasy Faire!)
Coming soon to We Love Roleplay (4th May):
Gown: Silvan Moon Designs, River Daughter Gown
Other Stuff:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Catwa, Keme Bento Mesh Head
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Skin: Lumae, Elentari Fantasy Skin (All current skin lines are available at the Lumae Main Store for L$100!)
Eyes, Lipstick, Eye Makeup: Izzie’s, sparkle makeup (Gacha)
Necklace: Cae, Cressida
Rings: Avaway, Vanessa Rings

Trollhaugen is one of sixteen regions created for the 2019 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire. Trollhaugen is home to this year’s Literary Festival, where some wonderful writing events have been scheduled. Trollhaugen is sponsored by the Lost Unicorn Gallery and designed by Beq Janus and Elizabeth Jarvinen (polysail). The Faire closes on the 5th of May, so make sure and visit Trollhaugen before it fades back into the Mists.

Three Twisted Knots

Not all those who wander are lost.

Category Archives: A second life in pictures