Mielikki, Mistress of the Woods

Mistress of the woods, Mielikki, Forest-mother, formed in beauty,
Let thy gold flow out abundant, Let thy silver onward wander,
For the hero that is seeking For the wild-moose of thy kingdom;
Bring me here thy keys of silver, From the golden girdle round thee.

Fair Mielikki, forest hostess, Spake these words in meditation:
‘Claws I should be pleased to give him, And with teeth endow the wonder,
Would he not abuse the favor.’

“Swore the bear a promise sacred, On his knees before Mielikki,
Hostess of the glen and forest, And before omniscient Ukko,
First and last of all creators,
That he would not harm the worthy, Never do a deed of evil.
Then Mielikki, woodland hostess, Wisest maid of Tapiola,
Sought for teeth and claws to give him.

O Mielikki, forest-hostess, Tapio’s wife, thou fair Tellervo,
Call thy dogs and well enchain them, Set in readiness thy hunters,
Let them wait within their kennels.

Filled with kindness was the forest, Glen and woodland full of greetings,
Tapio showing greatest favor.
Fair Mielikki, forest hostess, Metsola’s bewitching daughter,
Beauteous woodland maid, Tellervo,
Gladly led me on my journey, Smoothed my pathway through the glen-wood.
Marked the trees upon the mountains, Pointing me to Otso’s caverns,
To the Great Bear’s golden island.

All of the above are separate quotes from the Finnish National Epic, Kalevala. I found its translation here, so couldn’t resist just locating the Mielikki quotes for this. To all the Forgotten Realms fans feeling confused right now: yes, Mielikki is an actual pagan Finnish goddess of the forest, her name (and several others) were just happily yoinked and applied into Forgotten Realms.

The gown that inspired me to envision her is another collaboration by Faida and Fallen Gods Inc. and it is available in The Conquest event right now. The hair by Wasabi Pills can be found in the same event. The fennec foxes by +Half-Deer+ are a gacha in Kustom9. Mielikki’s foxes should really be red and northern, but the fennecs didn’t take a no for an answer.

Scene: Home in Ambar (Private)

Critters: Foxies: +Half-Deer+ Fennec Foxes | Birdies: Happy Mood | Bear: Birdy/Alchemy – Forest Babies Bear Cub Sun 

Body: Skin: [KOOQLA] Bisquit . Nude 02 (db) | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Keira Cinnamon | Eyes: IKON – Charm Eyes Forest | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eyeshadow: Beautiful Freak – Starcrossed Gruesome Gold* | Hands: Slink Casual | Nail Polish: Beautiful Freak – Romantic*

Outfit: Gown: [FAIDA] & Fallen Gods Inc. – Secrets Green* | Headdress & Earrings: Aisling – Dangara | Necklace: .Enfant Terrible. Magic Ride Necklace Gold | Bracelets: The Muses – Vanha Bracelets Bronze* | Honey: Anc Ltd. – Magician’s Honey Drink | Aura: Cole’s Corner – “We Are Groot” Aura*

Poses: Kirin – Florence Pose 3 | Exposeur – Back to Black 2 M | Kirin – December Pose 2

Golden Gaze

It’s the golden eve, the heat of day having exhausted every living thing, the rays of sun slowly drawing out the very last pieces of focus and coherence, leaving behind only lazy lounging instinct, the primal indulgence of basking in the sun.

There’s luxury in the warmth, delicious decadence in the heat where the only reason to adorn one’s body is for decoration.

The haze shifts perception into rose-gilded illusions, into acute sensitivity of each pearl pressing against warm skin, the stark contrast of shade and sun like cooler stripes painted on the world.

Luscious, opulent, intoxicated from the warmth, the delightful incoherence affecting the vision until the whole world is gold. Gold and the scent of dreams.

The corset dress with all the pearl accessories by !deviousMind and the mask by Alchemy are both available in The Secret Affair. The boots by lassitude & ennui are currently available in We Love RP and the bed by Kalopsia in Genre. The hair by EMO-tions can be acquired from Hair Fair.

Scene: Bed: Kalopsia – Le Lit de La Marquise (Gold)

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette | Hair: .:EMO-tions:. – Envy | Eyes: IKON – Immortal Eyes Parchment | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands: Slink – Casual

Outfit: Corset Dress with Pearls: !deviousMind – Satine La Rouge Pearl | Boots: lassitude & ennui – Marquise Boots Cream* | Mask: Alchemy – Dreams Filigree Mask Cream 

Pose: !bang – Taurus 4 | Part of furniture.

Splashing in the Sun

“Yes, you may play with pandas, just watch out that you don’t fall… ah. Well, swimming is good in the heat, splash some extra while you’re there, I’ll pick you up in just a moment. Yes, Adler, I know your paws can’t reach the drink, just take it as a tummy cooler for now. Now someone help me liberate this poor seal pup of this outfit, surely he can’t be comfortable in this…”

“Everyone safely out from the water and drying in the sun? Good good. What’s this… ah, sun screen spreading service hedgie, most kind of you. Mr. Squirrel, you dropped an ice cream on Adler’s head? I’m sure he’ll find it refreshing, not to worry.”

“Yes, I do agree that my shoes make perfect perches, well spotted. …sure, you may use that as a floating device, little hedgie, or possibly a hat for two. Picnic ready and mostly not nibbled? Excellent.”

“No, I don’t need the hat right now, feel free to play with it, I have tweeties to carry anyway. Remember to build a big guest room to the sand castle, I have a feeling we’re going to need it. Oh, and someone water the flower vases. Not you, Adler, you can’t reach.”

“Everyone alive, relaxed and counted for? No pair of paws lost or splashing too far? Good. Countdown to otter relaxation in three… two…”

It’s summer. I poked at my inventory curiously to see what would fall out to make a post and this simply happened. There’s plenty of stuff that was from the June’s Arcade round or Summer Fest or even earlier, but a little critter picnic needs what it does, no arguments. I did manage to sneak in some things that were still current, though.

Today’s the last day of Oh My Gacha, so if you want the eyes by Pin Me Down, skin by .Birdy., panda floaties by D-LAB or the seal pup by Alchemy, hop over here in a hurry. It’s also the last day for Creation.jp, where the ruffly summer outfit by *Edelweiss* is from. The top comes with a HUD so you can click more ruffly layers on it to form a romper, but I felt the weather was too warm for that. You have more time to shop for the things from the Season’s Story like the flower vases by [ keke ], the blanket and the sketchbook by 8f8 and the summer orange tart by Poche. The hair and all the little tweeters around are of course by !Ohmai and can be acquired from Hair Fair: the separate little birdies are a freebie that comes with a cage, but it’s modable and therefore unlinkable if you want your birdies to be freeee.

Scene: D-LAB – Panda Floats | Miamai – Floatie Panda Blue | !Ohmai – Hedgehogs, Mochi Bunnies, Steampunk Squirrels, Otters | 8f8 – Our Secret Hideout Meadow Soft Spot & Little Sketchbook, Strawberry Ice Cream Please, Oops! Ice Cream | ANE – Slon Set Moka Pot & Coffee | Second Spaces – Beach Day Pale Skin (Sunscreens) | [keke] – summer tray with flowers red | +Half-Deer+ Summer Delights Waffle Cone Hat | Vespertine – Lemonade Box, Stack of Blankets, Picnic Basket, Fruit Treats, Tea Time/daylight | Zigana – Banjo Peace | Poche – Summer Orange Tart & Shaved Ice Grape| Lassitude & Ennui – Bijou Heels for Slink Med Feet Pearl* | Sari-Sari – Summer House Beach Step Ladder Rare | Botanical – T2C Campfire & Log Seat

Body: Skin: .Birdy. – Summer Skin Porcelaine Kitty Black | Eyes: Pin Me Down – All about the eyes Sapphire* | Lashes: Redgrave- 39 – Luscious | Hair: !Ohmai Salon: Eli w Tweeter & Sue’s Nesting Tweeters | Hands: Slink Casual | Feet: Gos Barefoot

Outfit: *Edelweiss* Irie | Seal Pup: Alchemy – Seal Pups Hello Sailor

Poses: Picture This! – Jewelry Model 3 | Vibe – ATRC_1202

 

The Forest Spirit

Can you see them? Dancing just at the edges of your vision, flickering within the embrace of the trees. 

Not everyone can. Not even all of the druids. It takes a special attitude, special attuning to the forest before your eyes open.

But when you do, when your mind is finally relaxed enough, accepting enough, they are everywhere. Joyous, carefree, soothing. Even curious.

From that moment on you will never leave the trees, no matter how far you might travel. The spirit will always be there, at the edge of your vision. Dancing.

The gown by Evie’s Closet, headdress by Alchemy and jewelry by .Eldritch. are all discounted at the moment in We Love Role-play. The skin by Jalwa and the makeup by +Nuuna+ are both from Skin Fair, which opens on March 14th. The hair by Exile can be won from The Arcade.

Scene: Athan

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Meenakshi Salt Black Brow* | Hair: Exile – Rain 14 Wild Fusion | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Face Tattoo: +Nuuna+ Fen Green | Hands: Slink | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Galaxy*

Outfit: Gown: Evie’s Closet – Nimue Gown Illusion | Headdress: Alchemy – Druid Headdress | Jewelry: .Eldritch. Caird Set 

Poses: .Infiniti. – Better To See You With 2 | Exposeur – Back to Black 2 (x2)

Stay Away

All the stories got it wrong. They paint the forest full of terrors and threats, scare the humans away from our home, turn tales into metaphors of fearing the unknown and not talking to strangers.

There was no human child for a wolf to hunt, wolves know better than draw in angry hunters. It doesn’t mean the forest would be safe or welcoming for their clueless, noisy kind.

Perhaps grandmother really has sharp teeth — you don’t want to get on her bad side, especially during the full moon — but I’d like to see anyone try to take her down. Age brings experience and cunning to the pack, not frailty.

In truth, there really might be a woman wearing red in the woods, but if a huntsman ever raises an axe against a wolf, that tale won’t end well for the human. All the stories got it wrong. Just as we wanted, just as we planned. These are our forests. Stay away.

The new round of Enchantment has just started and its theme is Little Red Riding Hood. The dress by The Muses, necklace by House of Rain, hair flowers by .Enfant Terrible., skin by .Birdy., eyes by !Chop Shop!, wolf by Alchemy, nails by .Infiniti. and the poses by an lar are all from the event. The event items are exclusive, so go shop while you still can!

Scene: Enchantment

Body: Skin: .Birdy. – Red Skin Milk Black | Eyes: !Chop Shop! – The Wolf | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Rose (Bloodstained HUD)* | Hands: Slink – Elegant1 | Slink Nails: .Infiniti. Better To See You With

Outfit: Dress: The Muses – Into the Woods Red* | Necklace: House of Rain – Big Bad Wolf necklace mens blood/gold* | Hair Band: .Enfant Terrible. Forest Flowers Red 

Wolf: Alchemy – Fenris the Great Wolf Grey

Poses: an lar [poses] Being Miss Red: Three-A (m) |  One (m) | Two

Once Upon a Time…

…there was a small flight of dragonlings, the last five survivors of their kin. Their mother had bravely hidden them away before luring evil humans after her to save the dragonlings. Their big sister found them and brought them to safety to their aunt, who lived far away from others because she liked peace and quiet and… put that down. Right now.

Alright, where were we… ah. The said aunt promised to look after her small nephews and nieces while their big sister went to hunt for proper food and- Those are not healthy, especially not before dinner, stop- …oh, so you paw-stamped and licked them all already? Very well. Just this once.

The young dragonlings were completely unaware of the tragedy they had faced and played around recklessly without a pinch of gratitude, I might add, and would certainly soon catch the melting sickness from all those candles if they do not stop pretending to be deaf and get out of there right this moment.

In the end their aunt accepted that her sensitive silence-loving ears would never stop ringing for the next couple of centuries and- …where did the fifth one go? I swear when I find you little rascals-

The skin by Fallen Gods Inc., dress by Senzafine, horns by .{Rue}., dragonlings by ~Alchemy~, chairs, table and candles set by .a i s l i n g. and waystone and blue grass by Cerridwen’s Cauldron are all available in the current round of We Love Role-play. The cherry noms by Apple Fall can be won in The Arcade and the eyes by IKON can be purchased in FaMESHed.

Scene: Background: MAB – Small Season Changing Cave House | Singing Stone: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Fae Waystone, Two Holes* | Chairs, Table, Candles: .a i s l i n g. – Louarn Set* | Blue Grass: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Winter Underbrush Field/Blue Grass* | Cherry Noms: Apple Fall – Cherry Voulevants | Tea Service: c( Two Cats ) – Tilting Tea Server White* | Dragonlings: ~Alchemy~ Baby Dragon Accessorie Air

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Draco Glacier Scaled SB* | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Wight | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Analog Dog – Wound Up Winter | Horns: .{Rue}. – Horns/Krampus Ghost*

Outfit: Dress: Senzafine – Thetis Dress Mithril*

Poses: A part of the chair | {Imeka} Reika-Pose 8

The Dragon Nest

The rumor was true: the elder frost dragon had managed to lay her last eggs before luring the hunters to a merry chase that drew them far away from the nest, a chase that ended with her life.

The nest was a haphazard arrangement, the surroundings not even properly frosted over yet: she had been in a hurry. Some of the growth nearby was still green, the ground only iced over, no sign of a freezing blizzard or intricate icicle formations.

The eggs glowed of stubborn, magical life, fragile as any beginning. Easy prey for a dragon hunter. Fortunately they will never share mother’s fate, not if I have anything to say about it.

“Come, little siblings. I will take you to desolate hunting grounds, far away from the humans until you learn the disguise and can pass off as them. Then we will return to completely different hunting grounds, my little brothers and sisters. Completely different ones.”

The pauldrons and armguards by [The Forge], the mask by ~Chimeric Fashions~, the dragonlings by ~Alchemy~, the horns by .{Rue}. and the waystone bench that worked as a nest by Cerridwen’s Cauldron are all available for discount in the new round of We Love Roleplay. The eyes by IKON are their latest group gift and the skin by .Birdy. can be won at The Arcade. The bamboos by Cerridwen’s Cauldron and the hair by Adoness are new releases.

Scene: Bamboos: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Bamboo Set v2* | Nest: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Bonus: Fae Waystone Bench* | Eggs & Dragonlings: ~Alchemy~ Baby Dragon Accessorie Air

Body: Skin: .Birdy. – Blair Skin Porcelaine Goth Black | Hair: Adoness – Luna Pitch Black* | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Horns: .{Rue}. – Horns/Krampus Wrought Iron*

Outfit: Chainmail Layers: The Muses – Rainha Black* | Pauldrons & Arm Guards: [The Forge] – Eldar Armour Regal* | Boots: [The Forge] – Daerwen Boots Worn Black* | Leg Guards: [The Forge] – Cadeyrn Upper Leg Armour Black/Br* | Harness & Belts: [The Forge] – Stomach Harness, Chest Harness, Belt Harness* | Collar: [The Forge] – Posture Collar* | Weapons: [EZ] Weaponry – Bacurd Mace & Shield* | Mask: ~Chimeric Fashions~ Dragon Motif Mask (Burgundy&Silver)*

Poses: Exposeur – Call the Shots 4 | aDORKable Poses – Smart 4 | Exposeur – Call the Shots 1