Fantasy Faire 2025: Izumo

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STORYLINE: High in the misty mountains of Japan, there was an enchanted city time forgot. Rabbits could talk, guardian foo dogs turned their stone heads as you passed, and a neko named Soramaru soared through the clouds with the help of his magical umbrella. His only companion was his mischievous flying cat, Mikeneko.

Long ago, Soramaru had discovered the perfect way to make sure Mikeneko followed him: he tied a tiny bell to the end of a long ribbon connected to his wrist. The bell jingled, the ribbon danced, and the cat simply couldn't resist. The two were inseparable.

But it was not all game and games in the clouds. One afternoon, their cupboards were bare.

Soramaru sighed, “We’ll just have to get creative, Mikeneko. Why don’t we try fishing in the forbidden pool? They say it’s dangerous. No one dares to fish there. But that just means the fish will be huge and fat!”

Mikeneko’s eyes shimmered, and his fluffy tail swayed with excitement.

Soramaru peeked over the edge of the cliffside walkway to the sparkling blue waters far below. He licked his lips, snapped open his umbrella, and leapt over the ledge, drifting gently down through the mists. Behind him the tiny bell jingled softly in the wind.

Mikeneko hesitated at first, but the waving ribbon and its shiny bell soon had him chasing after it like a kitten for a toy.

Once below, Soramaru crouched by the water’s edge, hands hovering just above the surface, waiting for a fish to come too close.

But then, the water began to boil.

He slipped on the rocks and fell backward as a gigantic dragon rose from the pool! Then another, and another until there were eight heads snarling above him. The nearest one snapped its long sharp teeth at him.

Soramaru yelped and flung open his umbrella. With a rush of wind, he was quickly swept up like a dandelion seed with Little Mikeneko trailing close behind.

Back in the hidden city, safe among the pines and temple eaves, Soramaru sighed again.
They were still hungry.

He thought and thought, and then he had an idea!

“I’ll fish from above,” he laughed. “With a really, really long string! And I’ll ask nicely first this time, maybe offer a rice ball for the dragons too. Sounds good?”

Mikeneko listened carefully, then nodded his fluffy head.

Yes. That was a much better idea indeed.

The final days are upon us at Fantasy Faire 2025. So much to see and do, the time flies by so quickly. Today's post takes place at the Izumo sim by Gabriel. It's beautifuly crafted like an ancient hidden Japanese city, but also had a magical pool and oceanside ritual. (see pictures below). There is a sim hunt to find all the White Rabbits. He's tricky to find!

My image and story were inspired by items available at the Faire.  ...From Onedays, is the elegant Xia Lian kimono. It comes in several color styles, (I loved the PBR textures for the black ones, but white worked better for this image).  ...My adorable animesh companion is the Norwegian Forest Cat Calico by CKit Falconry. It has am amusing variety of animations, and you buy fun bonus items too. I look forward to see more for the cat!   ...The Rain Umbrella by Naminoke is Purrrfect for the feline kind. The little purple fish on it are animated and swim all around the umbrella. It also has a cool rain sound effect.   ...Also by Naminoke is the Abysinian Chesha mask. It's unrigged, so you can resize and add it anywhere.   ...The cute lore for the cat is the Shizuka RB cuffs that come with several wind blown poses. It's just cool. Cats agree. *jingle jingle*.  ...My Claws are by L'Emporio&PL, Werecat eyes By Snow, simple white bento tail by BareRose, and whiskers resized to fit a human head by Kinzart. Mary Poppins like pose by What Next.

On him, Soramaru:

Outfit: ONEDAYs Xia Lian, XIA LIAN, Legacy M [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Izumo)(279L)

Pet: CKit Falconry Norwegian Forest Cat Calico [animesh](Fantasy Faire: Harmonious Glade)(500L)
Mask: NAMINOKE *N*abysinian chesha men himo [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Galerie Gaillard)(280L)

Umbrella: NAMINOKE *N*Rain Umbrella_s-hanabi [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Galerie Gaillard)(200L)
Wrist cuffs: AIR Shizuka RB_purple [mesh](300L)

Hair: Wasabi Pills Draco Windblown Mesh Hair [mesh](250L)

Claws: L'Emporio&PL Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)
Claws: L'Emporio&PL Damned Claws For Feet-B. Jake V2.0.BENTO-V2 [mesh](340L)

Eyes: By Snow Werecat Eyes (100L)

Tail: BareRose ::: B@R ::: White B-Tail [BENTO] (100L)

Whiskers: Kinzart KZK Frostbite Cat (past gift)

Ears: Aii SAVE THE EARS! Bento Fox Ears Snow [BENTO](past gift)

Head: LeLUTKA Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)
Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)
Pose: {what next} Rainy Days - Couples 3 (50L)

Location:

Fantasy Faire 2025: Izumo by Gabriel


BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shot, hi-res, midday sky.

Fantasy Faire: Ombiasy Rakoto of the Owl Tribe

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STORYLINE: In the treetops of Madagascar, nestled amongst the vibrant leaves and swaying branches, lies the colorful village of the Owl Tribe. Their shaman, known as Ombiasy Rakoto, had long white dreadlocked hair and white tribal markings on his purple skin. From his staff swung a shrunken skull, a symbol of his power and connection to the spirits. Perched on his shoulder was the watchful white owl Kijabe who acted as his eyes and ears. Together, they kept a vigilant watch over the village, protecting their people from the evil Unweaver. But one day, a darkness fell upon the village, and the Unweaver's shadow crept closer. With his people in danger, the shaman knew he had to act fast. Summoning all of his strength and magic, Rakoto and Kijabe set out to battle the Unweaver.

I was inspired by the wonderful and colorful Africa inspired sim, Khumbla. I haven't seen a sim quite like that before at Fantasy Faire, and I look forward to seeing more creations by Novus Ascending. Something else that blew me away, was the Dobs Witch Doctor Staff. This is no normal staff, ...sure it has several animations built in from hold poses, to magical spells, and knocking people on the head... but what really is next level, is animesh! It moves... fabric, ropes, feathers, and skull all swing gently in the breeze. Just a wonderful effect. It makes my mind hurt to consider how it was animated.  ....Because the tribe of Khumbla live in the trees, I had the idea to combine the idea with the Owl mask and Owl pet. 

Sadly the Faire is ending today, but there is a lot to celebrate. Once more, the Fantasy Faire lived up to all the hype and then some. It raised $119,536 USD for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Well done Faire organizers, designers, vendors, entertainers, shoppers, gamers, adventurers, and role players. Kudos to you all!

On him, Ombiasy Rakoto of the Owl Tribe:
Pet: CKit Falconry animesh Eagle Owl_Small [Animesh](Fantasy Faire: Spirits Crossing)(550L)
Mask: CERBERUS .:C:. + ::BP:: - Gloomgrove Owl Mask [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Sialdor )(599L)
Cloak: DOBS Dry Grass Cloak, Male Fit [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Khumbala)
Staff: DOBS Witch Doctor Staff [Animesh](Fantasy Faire: Khumbala)
Tattoo: Wild -Body Paint :Mayan Tribe: [bom](40L)
Hair: NO.MATCH NO.FUTURE. (male) [mesh](200L)
Claws: L'Emporio&PL Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)
Head: LeLUTKA Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)
Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.0) [mesh](5000L)
Pose: momomuller / 3M MMMA_1108

Location:
Khumbala ~ Sponsored by Novus Ascending, Khumbala

You can read more about the sim's creation here: 
Fantasy Faire: MEET OUR SPONSORS: NOVUS ASCENDING

Fantasy Faire : The Hidden City of Tenpyo

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STORYLINE: Hidden beyond a snowy pass deep in the Nippon mountains, was the twelve hundred year old city of Tenpyo, the capital of the Oni Lands. Beautiful. Regal. A place untouched by modern times. It had been safely defended all these years. Until one day, the Benimurasaki Onmyōdō detected the evil miasma of the Unweaver had infiltrated their paradise.

The Fantasy Faire is back! This post was inspired by the hat and veil by Hopscotch and the fun skin and tattoo by Soul and AERTH. Not to mention, this stunning sim created by Gabriel. Its a Must see! the Faire is open until May 8th. DO NOT MISS IT!   (Below the style card, is an FAQ for FF I made for those new to SL and the the Faire.)

On Him, the Benimurasaki Onmyōdō:

Veil: HopScotch Veiled Hat, posable [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Tenpyo)(225L)

Pet: ridi-ludi-fool obake medama-3 patapata [animesh](Fantasy Faire: Bassett Town)(80L)

Tattoo: AERTH Moon Tears Body Tattoo MAGENTA [BOM](Fantasy Faire: Atheneum)(200L)

Skin: SOUL .:S:. [G3] Dantela [F20] EVO, LEGACY M [BOM](Fantasy Faire: Atheneum)(1499L)

Necklace: who what magatama pendant- male [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Tenpyo)(210L)

Typing Effect: who what GOBOUSEI- [benimurasaki] male [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Tenpyo)(180L)

Pants: Gabriel ::GB:: Wa sarouel (Legacy) (C) Kurosame [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Tenpyo)(99L sale)

Hat: Maru Kado Suge Gasa White [mesh](100L)

Hair: Ginko Hair #22 Hair - Rigged Male, colorful [mesh](279L)

Arm wraps: CerberusXing Wraps (350L)

Belt: sakka Studio Ss.Kosode Nagoya-Obi [mesh](200L)

Collar: Bare Rose ::: B@R ::: Karakuriko C2 Kesa [mesh](190L)

Claws: L'Emporio&PL Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)

Head: LeLUTKA lel EvoX KANE 3.1 [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.0) [mesh](5000L)

Setting:
Fantasy Faire - Tenpyo Sponsored by Gabriel

Here is a quick FAQ on Fantasy Faire off the top of my head.

**Q: What is the Fantasy Faire?**
A: Its an annual event hosted by the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Its like SL's World Cup or Super Bowl. It's HUGE! The theme is Fantasy (fiction, fashion, role play, decor, sim design, tabletop games, video games, anime/manga/comics, radio station, parties, art galleries, quest games, etc)

**Q: They raising funds?**
A: yes! All designers participating have an item for sale that is either a 100% donation or 50%. There is also a silent auction. Donations. And a Hud you purchase to play a quest game with stories, videos, and prizes. (note: A higher level hud includes an outfit for men and women). Last year in 2021 the Fantasy Faire in SL raised a new record, $95,178 in US Dollar (that's L$23,794,648 in Linden Dollars). So far this year after 8 days, the Fantasy Faire has raised $42,503 USD (that's 10,625,800L). Yes, I was not kidding when I said its huge! Relay for Life says of all their fund raising operations, SecondLife's Fantasy faire is by far the biggest fund raiser per money invested in an event. )

**Q: Ok! I want to see it, do I need to dress up in a costume?**
A: Come however you want, Fantasy allows for barely clothed styles, furries, city smashing giants, fairies, animal avatars, tiny kittens, robots, whatever you want as long as it's PG. But a word of  WARNING, the sims are very full of people and objects. To avoid lag, and enjoy the best experience, wear a low lag avatar, and work for graphic settings to keep frame rates up. At the main landing is a free Low Lag gift avatar/outfit you can wear. This year its a paperdoll style. To read more about being low lag, go here: https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/How_to_reduce_lag

**Q: What is there to do?**
A: Explore the 20 sims! Its very big deal to land a sim to decorate for the Fantasy Faire. Its SL's finest creating amazing fantasy settings. This my favorite part of the fair. I also enjoy people watching and making new friends. I have made many long lasting friends at the fair, good people too. You can also visit during live DJ shows and Live dance Performances. The Lit Sim has gatherings to talk about certain books and authors. Tabletop game tournament. Several sims have their own Hunts and Games. And the big game will start soon, you purchase a hud to play it. The first part usually requires hunting for objects hidden across the sims. The 2nd part takes place on the game sim, with puzzles. You can also shop like crazy. Lots of amazing stuff.

You can read more the Fantasy Faire here:
https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/
The website has links to event calendar, the shopping catalog, details with the sims designers, role plays, game information, images taken, and daily blog posts.Go have fun! But don't wait too long to go, it ends May 8th. First week is full of events. 2nd week does not have events, but sims and games are still open.

BONUS QUESTION:
**Q: What is the "Unweaver" I see mentioned in the game?**
A: Its the Faire's personification/embodiment of Cancer. He is the villain we quest to defeat.

Necrotize: The Laughing Aliens

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STORYLINE: The Guardian wrapped his arm around his best spy and laughed. "Wonderful work, Agent Tri, the humans are running away! Did you hear how loud that last one screamed when my children hatched?" The aliens both roared with laughter. "You were correct, Tri. the Hairless Apes could not be reasoned with, none of our numerous warnings to avoid the Plague Nebula were heeded. Terror is the only true language lower lifeforms understand. I will pass this valuable information to the Queen should we have any trouble with Terrians again."

Happy Alien Celebration Day! Well, in their corner of the universe anyway. lol This big Necrotize finale today was inspired by the BeSpoke Centipede mesh head and the idea I had for the series. I hope you enjoyed it! Aarya is here with me as we collaborated at break neck speed on the last Team Blogger Bat image. Head over to her blog for more details on what she is wearing. For the Centipede head, I took the alien's look in a radically different direction. I added teeth, and tongue. The glasses and crown are by Evil Baby. I really wanted to use the Static Hexxus hands, so I pulled a little trick so I could, I wore Maitreya hand on Jake body and hid the seam with the A&Y arm Boosters. (UPDATE: Static has added male fits and flat chest to Hexxus, you can find it on the marketplace, link included below) The Tail on the left is Ambix's Serrated Tail. And the cool statue in the back is Zone88's Cyborg Escape. 

On him, Alien King:
Head, skin, eyes: BeSpoke  Centipede - Gothic Burgandy [mesh](Necrotize)(600L)
Crown: Evil Baby Biomechanic Headpiece [mesh](Necrotize)(349L)
Glasses: Evil Baby Biomechanical Glasses [mesh](Necrotize)(199L)

Tail: AMBIX Serrated Tail [Bento] [mesh](Necrotize)(599L)
Hand goo: Static Hexxus Symbiote {Black} Claw - Male Maitreya [mesh](Necrotize)(450L)
Armbands: A&Y Cyber Bunker Arm Booster Male[mesh](390L)

Coat: A&Y Cyber Bunker NJ Cyber Coat (Jake) - Black [mesh](390L)
Top, pants: L'Emporio&PL Perseo Space Suit, Black [mesh](430L)
Teeth: [ni.Ju] Flesh Eater Teeth [mesh](50L)

Tongue: [Pirocious] Akaname Tongue [mesh](199L)
Legs: Ghoul Orochi Legs - JAKE - Ghoul Glossy [mesh](399L)

Hands: Maitreya Mesh Body Lara [BOM] [mesh](2750L)
Body: Belleza Jake 3.0 Bento Mesh Body  [mesh](2999L)
Pose: Inertia Loiter

On her, Alien Spy:

To see Aarya Phantomhive's complete stylecard and continuing story, go to: Dark Phantom Blog

Helmet: Level 9 Xino Helmet [mesh](Necrotize)(500L)

Outfit: Normandy Hibernation Suit [mesh](Necrotize)(450L)

Collar implant: SOLE SA - CL-Joint tech, White[mesh](Necrotize)(299L)

Boots: Cubic Cherry Orici [mesh](Necrotize)(275L)

Set:
Statue: ZONE88 Escape Cyborg [mesh](Necrotize)(488L)

Eggs: torment bilu egg [mesh](Necrotize)(100L)

Cityscape: Strange Merchant Light City [mesh](Beauty60)(60L)

Thanks for your help, Aarya!