Sword Day, Red Day

Red had traveled under many names, most of them either forgotten by now or branded into myths and legends. Having a mythical name meant these days simply that your parents had played Dungeons and Dragons as youngsters, so she preferred Red.

Horses had changed to bikes, which in general meant they were much easier to fix than their predecessors had been. Sharp pieces of metal had turned to small blunt pieces of metal of beautiful velocity. The ring of swords had become the drums of guns.

In all this time Red had never changed. She was always beautiful, always fiery, always tempting and glamorous. She was glory and fame, power and control, the beauty of fire calling you closer until you burn.

She was all the reasons humanity had ever needed for fighting each other. She was War, and tonight she was riding to town.

New round of A Tattered Page has just started, this time focusing on Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. War is of course one of the Four Horsemen Bikers of the Apocalypse. The boots by Pale Empress and the helmet by Eclectica can be found in the ATP Library.

Scene: The Wastelands

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Gazala Salt Black Brow* | Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Exile – Pick Up Lines | Lipstick: Beautiful Freak – Liquid Metal Blood Red* | Hands & Feet: Slink Casual & High | Body Blood Smears: Fallen Gods Inc. – Bloody Flesh 

Outfit: Jacket: Erratic – Tory Cropped Biker Jacket Glossy Red | Pants: Erratic – Zoey Leather Pants Red | Boots: Pale Empress – War Boots* | Helmet: Eclectica – Good Omens War Helmet for ATP Red* | Jewelry: House of Rain – Burn Choker & Rings Ruby* | Sword: Fallen Arms – For the Living Sword* | Particles: Cole’s Corner – Digital Confetti Aura Firey*

Poses: {NanTra} Requiem 3 | !bang Carefree 2 | !bang mini series Overcome 2

The Call of Winter

She was once a daughter of summer, a child of growth and warmth. Beautiful like a sunny day she caught the eye of Winter, who seduced her to step into the silence, into the realm of ice and snow.

There were attempts to save her, of course, but not before she had tasted the berries, red as the blood in her veins. Not before she had bound herself to the realm of her captor.

Did she know what she was doing when she took a bite? Did she know she’d be forever trapped to travel between the seasons? Did the cold light of winter tempt her to stay willingly? She will never tell.

Never tell how it was a relief to drop her garments and duties, the busy sounds of life, the diverse excitement of all things growing and needing her attention. Never tell how the strength of the blinding light called to her with its single-minded focus.

Called to her until she happily lost sight of everything else and stepped forward to meet it, to embrace it, to be caught in its arms. Seduced.

With the outfit name like Persephone I simply had to do a more season-focused twist on her story. Less about Hades and more about Persephone as the explanation for seasons existing, and even more about her own choices within the situation.

Gothmas by Gaslight is held on two adjacent sims: Cursed and Sium. The skin by Jalwa, the outfit by Pale Empress and the tattoo by Fallen Gods Inc. are all available in the event, the straight booth slurls are in the credits.

Scene: Studio Skye – Enchanted Tree Tunnel v2

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Sameena Gothmas Black Brow* | Makeup: Jalwa – Sameena Gothmas Eyes Ice & Gothmas Lips Scarlet* | Eyes: IKON – Utopia Eyes Dark Red | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands & Feet: Slink | Hair: Olive – The Anna Hair & The Izzy II Hair | Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – Brier Complete full coloured (main look)*

Outfit: Pale Empress – Persephone Gown, Gloves, Crown*

Poses: aDORKable Poses – 17 of 25 2012 | PoseMonster – Behind 3 | an lar [poses] Being Miss Red One (m) | Kirin – Burlesque Poses Cane Pose 2

Occasional Orpheus

The scythe was absolutely useless against mushrooms, they either regenerated stronger than my dots, or if killed with dd, exploded in dots of their own. I checked out the frost focus in case I could freeze the lava to cross over to the channeling spot, but nope. Lava stayed lava and my gear was getting rather broken from all the deaths it and the mushrooms caused. I had to switch to my Uber Elemental Garb of Fireproofness and Stompy Boots of Kindling out of desperation.

So then I re-read the quest prompt, the whole poem about nature’s lullabies, and it hit me: the harp! All those hours multi-classing to bard finally paid off, the mushrooms changed colour and after the patch 5.3 I don’t look like I’m trying to bash someone’s head in with the harp when playing, which is a bonus.

Hopping up the lowered mushrooms finally got me to the achievement channel spot: months of pre-quests and grinding coming to culmination in this single two-second animation. No more harvesting thousands of mushrooms for the key or hoping the magma hippos drop the elemental hoof or that someone has completed the quest chain for the Irate Farmer so he’s asleep, leaving the door open from the left while you open the right side on the other side of the mountain… finally free!

[Achievement unlocked: Lava Gardener.] [Title Gained: Occasional Orpheus.] [Item Acquired: Mushroom Plant (Home Instance Harvestable)] [New Quest Unlocked: Epic Gardening 7!]

It never eeeeeeeends. But hey, at least you can look fancy while questing. The epic loot weapons by !dM deviousMind are available in Fantasy Gacha Carnival. The Fomhar dress by lassitude & ennui will be available on November 15th at The Secret Affair.

Scene: Environment: Garden of Dreams – Lava Lounge* | Mushrooms: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Whisp Shroom v2 Set*

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Sameena Salt Black Brow & LipStain Apricot 70%* | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Exile – Pick Up Lines | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Odetta Red* | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Romantic* | Body Parts: Slink – Physique, Casual Hands, High Feet

Outfit: Dress: lassitude & ennui – Fomhar Dress Red* | Shoes: lassitude & ennui – Obsession Sandals Black (physique & slink high)* | Cuffs: House of Rain – Abyssal Cuffs Ruby/Black* | Weapons: !dM deviousMind – Norath The Reaper’s Wrath, The Glass Canon of Destruction, Crystal Harp of the Valley* | Spell Effects: Solarium – ChaosHex Golden*

Poses: A part of !dM deviousMind – Norath The Glass Canon of Destruction* | Kirin – Florence Pose 1 | A part of Solarium – ChaosHex Golden*

Keep Walking

“Of course we come out at daytime as well. No, the sun does not really burn us. No, we do not turn to stone at the touch of sunlight.”

“Parasols are convenient though, even on beautifully soft and cloudy days. …no, not because of the sunlight, didn’t you listen a word I said? They’re convenient to twirl and preen with, the best accessory of them all.”

“Not to mention that if you fold it, you have a sharp poking stick weapon at hand. Just in case. Where was I? Ah yes, the stories about turning to stone at sunlight? Complete myth and fables.”

“Although if I were you surrounded by all these statues paused in play, I’d keep walking. Just… keep walking. While it’s still daytime.”

World Goth Fair continues to provide you with all the things you need for the darker flair of day or night. You can find the blouse and skirt by Senzafine, tights by ~Cannibelle~, shoes and bracelets by Bliensen + MaiTai, skin by Jalwa and the parasols and poses by {NanTra} from Cursed. The makeup by Beautiful Freak and the hair with veil by Redux! can be acquired from Sium. The eyes by Chop Shop! are available in Port Seraphine.

Scene: World Goth Fair – Port Seraphine

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Celine – Gold Smoke Eyeshadow* | Hair & Veil: Redux! – Mourning Hair & Veil Shadows* | Eyes: Chop Shop! – Morrigan Blue* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Demonia Royal* | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Loli Nails* | Hands: Slink

Outfit: Top & Skirt: Senzafine – Belladonna Blouse & Aconite Mini Skirt Sapphire* | Tights: ~Cannibelle~ Lace Insert Tights Black* | Shoes: Bliensen + MaiTai – Morticia Black/Black* | Bracelets: Bliensen + MaiTai – Mano Bracelets* | Necklace & Earrings: House of Rain – Love Hurt Bleed Black* 

Parasols & Poses: {NanTra} Promenade* 

The Violet Vision

It is all about the vision. Do you see in the dark? Do you see the sights in the night? Do you see the pathways, the dance, the invitation? Do you see where it all leads?

Are you one of the dark-dwelling folks, the ones who hiss at daylight and awaken truly at night? Do you believe black is fully acceptable colour for any occasion any time of year? Do your eyes see violet and never shrink?

In that case, ladies and gentle folk, I may have an event just for you. Welcome to World Goth Fair 2014: come get your goth on!

World Goth Fair opened its doors today so all you creatures delighting in darkness may enter and enjoy the three sims we have this year: Cursed, Sium and Port Seraphine. You can find the skin by Jalwa, the eyes by ~*By Snow*~ and the bracelets by Bliensen + MaiTai from Cursed. The extra liner by Beautiful Freak can be found in Sium and the dress by Fosca de Les Encantades and hat and cane by Sax Shepherd Designs are available in Port Seraphine.

Scene: World Goth Fair – Cursed

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Celine Exclusive Purple* | Hair: lamb. – Bang Bang Ink | Eyes: ~*By Snow*~ Midnight Eyes II Violet* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Extra Liner: Beautiful Freak – Demonia Eyeliner Violet* | Hands: Slink

Outfit: Dress: *Fosca de Les Encantades* – Haydeen Fallen Angel Orchid* | Boots: Slink – Tall Leather Thigh Boots Curvy Black | Hat & Cane: Sax Shepherd Designs – Royal Vodou Hat & Walking Cane* | Tights: ~Cannibelle~ Plain Nylon Tights Semi Sheer Black | Bracelets: Bliensen + MaiTai – Mano Bracelets Dark*

Poses: {Imeka~} Katie-Pose 1 | (marukin) [volition] back of a bird | (marukin) [passion] loveless_ver2

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)

The Tower

Sometimes it’s all about security, of strong walls and gates, of narrow staircases leading higher, easily defensible positions.

Sometimes it’s about the vantage point, of being able to see further than others, to have the whole picture in one glance, to enjoy the vision.

Sometimes it is a test, of having the perseverance to climb all the way to the top, to reach the treasure. We all know instinctively that only the most cherished things are kept there, protected by the whole of the tower.

The one thing we often forget is that sometimes the towers are not places to escape from or to break into. Sometimes they are the foundation of our strength, enhancing our ability to see far and true, keep unwanted matters away from us. Princesses might be locked in towers, but queens stroll as they please up and down because they know better. 

The gown set by Senzafine (the dress and the overcoat are two separate pieces) and the jewelry by .:ellabella:. are available in the current round of We Love Role-play. The crown by Remarkable Oblivion can be won in the Fantasy Gacha Carnival.

Location: Annon

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Zahida Coven Salt* | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Exile – Dream of Paradise | Hands: Slink – Elegant 

Outfit: Gown & Overcoat: Senzafine – Solveig Gown Set: Overcoat Onyx, Gown Silver* | Jewelry: .:ellabella:. – Nahimana’s Winter Necklace & Earrings* | Crown: Remarkable Oblivion – Sylver Crown

Poses: {Imeka~} Reika-Pose 2 | aDORKable Poses – Sunny 3m | {Imeka~} Katie-Pose 1

Gothilocks

But only two bears. Surely this was some sort of bizarro-day in story land, things definitely out of place and overlapping. Holidays mixing with fairytales, critters running from one story to another, no one sticking to the original plans anymore, absolute chaos! (And hijinks and shenanigans.)

There was no porridge nor beds, but a holiday feast and comfy pillows, even a small gingerbread house for noms. Gothilocks wasn’t quite certain why there was a snowshoe rabbit riding a small yak indoors, but surely there’d be an explanation for everything eventually.

The cocoa train kept puffing along steadily while the little arctic fox tried in vain to awaken the doggie that had unfortunately zoomed right through the Sleeping Beauty’s story before landing here. It was all so very peaceful and cosy that it was tempting to close one’s eyes, for just a moment.

But wait, maybe it wasn’t just the doggie… where did all this food come from if not a castle’s kitchen? Definitely not from this cottage, there’s not even a kitchen here! This amount of sleepiness all around cannot possibly be just from relaxed atmosphere… there’s trouble afoot!

Most of the look is from Gothmas by Gaslight. The outfit by Violent Seduction, the furniture by [noctis] and the nails by Pin Me Down are located in Cursed. The skin by Jalwa and shoes and jewelry by Eclectica can be found in Sium. The cocoa train by Lark and the sleepy doggie with pillows and the yak by +Half-Deer+ are from the current round of The Garden. The arctic animals are from a gacha in Beetlebones. The eyes by Adoness are a part of F R O S T and the gingerbread house by Poche is from the Christmas Mini Mall at Naminoke.

Scene: House: Trompe Loeil – Frostbite Cottage White | Rugs: ~Libertine~ Green Brocade Rugs | Train: Lark – Cocoa Express Large Track & Train | Center Pillow & Doggie: +Half-Deer+ Sleepy Italian Greyhound Black & Pillow | Yak: +Half-Deer+ Winter Yak Black (gacha) | Gingerbread House: Poche – Christmas Hexenhaus | Furniture & Tree: [noctis] – Von Scarlet Chairs and Dining Table, Baron Von Scarlet’s Secretary Desk, Gothmas Tree* | Critters: Beetlebones – Arctic Friends – Polar Bear Pals (Snow & Soot), Snowshoe Hare Pal (Snow), Fox (Soot), Snow Owl (snow) RARE

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Zahida Coven Salt Cleavage* | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Kylee Mesh Hair Licorice | Eyes: Adoness – Salina Eyes Starfish* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands & Feet: Slink | Nails: Pin Me Down – Gothmas Nails*

Outfit: Dress, Collar & Bow: Violent Seduction – Criminal Monochrome* | Necklace, Rings, Shoes: Eclectica – Catherine Ringsets in black, pendant in pale gold, Gothic shoes in dark* | Stockings: ~Cannibelle~ Bow Suspender Tights

Poses: aDORKable Poses – Sunny 2 | Part of the +Half-Deer+ pillow. | aDORKable Poses – Sunny 3m

Come On In!

I promise we’ll play nice! I also promise that our definition of ‘nice’ will leave you alive and mostly breathing, too. 

We are if not exactly cheerful, at least somewhat amused. Surely this counts? Very similar positive feeling, no? Don’t be afraid, step right through and join us!

All this to say that Gothmas by Gaslight is now open: come on in and enjoy! If one sim is full, try the other, there’s two for a good reason: Cursed & Sium. The dress by The Muses can be found in Sium and the jewelry by House of Rain and the makeup by Beautiful Freak in Cursed. The poses and the delightful Coraline-prop by Flash Friendly Poses are located in Sium. The eyes and nails by Adoness can be purchased in F R O S T.

Scene: Gothmas by Gaslight – Sium & Cursed

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Jezebel Vamp Ethereal Black Brow Cleavage* | Eyes: Adoness – Salina Eyes Seaweed* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: Beautiful Freak – Lua Eyeshadow Blood Red, Girl Poison Black Liner, Bad Candy Blood Red Lower Lipstick* | Hair: Alice Project – Willow Low Mirror* | Nails: Adoness – King Henry (Slink Nail Appliers) | Hands: Slink –  Elegant1

Outfit: Dress: The Muses – Stella Red* | Jewelry: House of Rain – Melt Ruby/Gold Set*

Poses & Mirror: Flash Friendly Poses – Coraline Trapt*

Little Helper

I know it’s not yet December, that’s the whole point. Did you really think we bother checking on people then? Everyone expects us around that time. The point is to keep an eye on people around the year, not just for one month.

So, I hope you have tried your best to get to the right list this year. I assure you that the difference between rum bottles and pink oversized sweaters is very clear. The Little Helper Division always follows the rules. We know that if we don’t, there’ll be brown quilting in our future.

For your sake we better have very clear documents and proof on your general level of naughtiness. If we don’t you better hurry, dress in black and indulge in some gothic debaucheries right this moment. We have house appliances in storage if you don’t.

We don’t even have to check our list twice, because we happen to be sufficiently efficient the first time. You just watch out, because Sandy Claws is coming to town and Gothmas is just around the corner!

Gothmas by Gaslight is indeed just around the corner, opening December 15th. Blogger applications are still open if you are so inclined. (Black -is- a festive colour.) The boots and the corset are both by :{MV}: – boots available in Shoetopia and the corset in Genre. The hair and nails by Adoness can be purchased in The Thrift Shop. The feather pauldrons by Zibska are from The Men’s Department. The lipstick by Beautiful Freak is an extremely early teaser for Gothmas by Gaslight and not available yet.

Scene: Studio Skye – Enchanted Tree Tunnel

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Jezebel Vamp Black Brow* | Eyes: Adoness – Bestia Eyes Werewolf* | Liner&Shadow: Beautiful Freak – Obake Makeup Black* | Lipstick: Beautiful Freak – Bad Candy Blood Red Lower* | Hair & Shaved Hairbase: Adoness – Andromeda Scarlet* | Hands: Slink – Avatar Enhancement Hands Elegant | Blender (makes hands black): Orc Inc – Blender Coal* | Nails: Adoness – Slink Enhancement Fingernails Queen Cathrine*

Outfit: Top: GALLACTIC – Element Solid Black* | Pants: GALLACTIC – Earthfall Grey* | Corset: :{MV}: – Dominion Corset Vitae | Boots: :{MV}: – Derezzed Boots Vitae | Shoulder Feathers: Zibska – Keallach Pauldrons* | Collar: SAKIDE – Attitude Collar Red* | Earring: Zibska – Tess*

Poses: !bang – Mini Series – Overcome 2 | HopScotch – Short Tempered 4 | aDORKable Poses – Love Gun II GroundSit2