Fantasy Faire 2014 - The confluence is upon us....

High up in the forward lookout pod, the on-duty 'glasser strained his eyes against the glare of the incessant sun. Peering straight ahead, the young man squinted at the shapes forming on the horizon. Lifting his head for a moment, he blinked, rubbing his eyes, before placing an eye to the spyglass once more and to look again at the dark mass. "By the gears!" He cried, beckoning urgently to the older man, "quick Fred, I need yer to four eyes that storm, I don't think it's normal". Frederick Lee, the most experienced lookout in the fleet, looked out across the cloudscape, hardly needing the glass now, as great purple clouds swirled ever larger, looming ever closer.
"Aye lad, that's them all right. That's the confluence storm, we've found it." Turning to the brass speaking tube to his right, Lee sounded a klaxon to attract attention on the bridge far below them. The klaxon call was acknowledged with an anxious voice.
"What did you see?"
"Fairelands, Right ahead!"

---

Asperatus - An airborne community living high above the clouds which hide their broken homeland far below, is just one of the treats in store for visitors to this year's Fantasy Faire. The Faire which opens to the public tomorrow (1st May) and will run until the 11th promises to be every bit as fun, exciting and full of tinies, as previous years.
Always my favourite RFL event, perhaps my favourite event of any kind, the faire is a wonderful mixture of fantasy styles and themes. 2014 is different for this seasoned Faire reporter, having journalled, filmed  and photographed previous conjunctions of Fairelands, this year I have had the honour of bringing you a Faireland from within my own head, Asperatus.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Asperatus/135/127/62
Come visit the faire and enjoy all the creations we have for you. Anything you could wish to buy in a fantasy related theme is available some where and there are many new treats to be found this year too.

New Babbage sees red over purple onslaught

For nearly a week not the citizens of New Babbage have lived under fire; a barrage of burgundy bombs launched upon the city by an evil genius.

Our New Babbage reporter Beq Janus who broke the news of this attack last weekend posted the following report this morning.

I woke this morning, this the sixth morning since the barrage began, and stared out across a sea of purple rooftops. Despite the litter of unexploded mauve missiles across our fair city, it is clear that many assaults have been succesful.

From the rooftops and walls to airships and chimney stacks, factories, homes and shops. Everyone, I have met in the past few days has borne the purple stain upon their skin, evidence of their oppression. No doubt there will be many tales told in the pubs of Babbage of these purple days.But feelings are turning from resentment to rebellion, as one they are rising up, it is time this victimisation in violet ended.



The reports of the mysterious boat, so bravely brought back by the city spies, from the lair of the evil genius Doctor Obolensky were correct and accurate. It was indeed emblazoned with the word 'Red' and the word 'Blue'. One label per tank. The boat has been holding its own in the port all week bombarding the city with its mighty cannon. The dastardly doctor was mixing the purple paint and launching his attacks from the sea.

I have had word from Commdore Dagger of the New Babbage Navy, who have recently returned from manouvres, that they are ready to end this and will attack today. I have heard too, the mutterings of an uprising, a people's army against the purple menace.

If the rumours are to be believed many of the brave men and women of Babbage, their clothes and skin now tinted purple, will wear their colours as warpaint and descend upon the port en masse to assault the ship and take the doctor captive.

So I will be joining my fellows at 3pm SLT in Port Babbage to see the bitter end of this.I hope to see many comrades by my side.

-----------------------------------------------------

From May 7 to May 13 the Second Life grid will be turning purple!

Thousands of Second Life residents will be painting their
stores and houses purple, wearing purple clothes, purple hair, even
purple skin, in order to show their support for the Relay For Life of Second Life and to spread a purple Message of Hope.

New Babbage Attacked in Purple Paint Blitz

From our New Babbage Reporter Beq Janus.
Mauve Melée
This morning I found that my home had been subjected to, what I took to be, an act of wanton vandalism. The walls of my home were slick with purple paint.
I looked out through the (now purple tinted) windows, to find that something more foul by far was in play.

The remains of numerous mauve missiles, many still leaking their purple payload, were strewn about the street.

Taking my trusty toolbelt with me, I quickly set about defusing those that I found, but simply got myself covered in the confounded purple paint. I was going to need help with this, so I ran off into the city to seek my fellow engineers.

[ Note: The missiles are RFLSL vendors giving you a fetching set of purple splats as a tattoo and clothing layers for a minimum donation of just 100L$]

Plethora of Purple
As I ran around the city I found that, as I had feared, it was not a personal attack but a city wide assault. Purple patches were appearing all over the city and every now and then the distinctive "whistle...splat" of a plumetting, purple projectile, echoed eerily through the alley ways.

Fear has been struck into our hearts. This is a crime worse than the threat of physical harm. The People of New Babbage are no strangers to danger, but bright colours! I am really not sure they are ready for this. Bring back the sooty browns and greys.



The Central Station in Babbage Square has been damaged but only lightly at this stage. Whoever is responsible for this we must take solace in the fact that their incompetence has meant that many of the devices have failed to explode and simply lay sparying a miasma of mauuve into the air about them.



Suspicions aroused?
In separate and as yet unconfirmed reports, a new boat has appeared moored near Doctor Obolensky's clock tower. Its exact purpose remains unknown and there is some confusion in the reports with one witness remarking that it has the name "Red" daubed on the side of a large tank, whilst another insists, it is named "Blue". The mystery deepens but I'm sure we'll figure it out.




[ As noted in this very journal

From May 7 to May 13 the Second Life grid will be turning purple!

Thousands of Second Life
residents will be painting their stores and houses purple, wearing
purple clothes, purple hair, even purple skin, in order to show their
support for the Relay For Life of Second Life and to spread a purple Message of Hope.

This is Team New Babbage's way of celebrating this event with a simple story to cover the theme. Come see New Babbage as it is succumbs to the purple onslaught.
RFLSL 2011 : Team New Babbage Team #90
]

The Caledon Rose-Growing Competition: your chance to vote!

As you may have seen, The Primgraph is sponsoring The Caledon Rose-Growing Competition. To celebrate the launch of our summer issue, we are holding the competition in the grounds of The Primgraph Press in Caledon Glengarry.

This competition (we hope the first of an annual event) is being staged in order to find the best roses in the Steamlands and beyond - and we have some superb entrants!

There are two categories:
Single Roses (no more than 35 prims per rose)
Rosebushes (no more than 15 prims per bush)

The roses in competition are on display in the courtyard at The Primgraph Press in Caledon Glengarry - four rose bushes and six individual roses.

Now it is your turn! There are voting boards above the either side of the gate. To vote for your favourite rose on display, click on the name of the entrant. The PINK board is for the single rose competition; the BLUE board is for the rosebush competition.

Voting is now open, and will conclude at 2pm on Saturday 29th August - so make sure that you visit Caledon Glengarry and vote soon!

Categories*:

Issue 7 of the Primgraph out now!

Issue 7 of The Primgraph is now available - and this time we are celebrating the summer by taking a trip to the sea-side!And there has been no shortage of exciting events in the vintage and steampunk sims recently ... We bring you news of the late Upheaval in New Babbage (the full tale of which we covered on our new aethernet weblog . We also have information about the Grand Tour for Relay For Life and Steampunk Builds at Second Life Sixth Birthday - as well as coverage of the Tinies' Dogfight that formed a component of the Summer of Flight.

And very dear to our own hearts has been the opening of the new Primgraph offices, which will be celebrated officially after the publication of the magazine!


But the excitement seems to attend The Primgraph staff (especially our gallant photographer-in-chief, Mr PJ Trenton). Indeed, when Mr Trenton and I went to the delightful region of Caledon on Sea for no more hazardous an undertaking than a simple photoshoot, bombs suddenly started raining down all around us ... Later we learned that this was fall-out from the explosion of a full tank on an island in the Firth. Nevertheless, it heightened our conviction that we are front-line reporters and photographers at The Primgraph - and that bringing you all the latest news can be a hazardous occupation!

In this issue, we're visiting the seaside region of Caledon south of the Firth, a collection of four rather different areas, linked by a common seafront. From the bustle of Port Caledon, we move to look at the decidedly more dramatic coastal landscape of Caledon Highlands, and then on to the elegancies of Caledon Cay, before encountering the traditional Victorian seaside features of Caledon on Sea. Miss Viv Trafalgar reviews the different areas for our delectation, while Miss Ceejay Writer presents a view of the traditional Victorian seaside holiday. Frau Annechen Lowey surveys seaside fashions for the bold as the Jaegers take to water sports, and fashions for the ladies are considered by Miss Kembri Tomsen. Miss Alesia Markstein presents a history of steamships, while Mr Jvstin Tomorrow visits one of the best-loved buildings in Caledon Cay, the Botanical House, and looks into the history of glasshouses and botanical gardens.

And we have Episode 2 of our exciting new web comic - The Quest for the Golden Prim. In this episode we will meet further characters - and discover some of those whom the Librarian, the Keeper of Secrets himself, has summoned to a dark and secret meeting ... but why?

There are other articles too: Miss Naergilien Wunderlich presents a history of corsetry, while Sir JJ Drinkwater supplies information about the Caledon Libraries. Frau Annechen Lowey is once more on hand to advise on ettiquette in the Steamlands, this month tackling the knotty question of titles. Meanwhile, our Lady of Propriety offers advice on the delicate question of photographic modeling (such as that being undertaken by young ladies whose likenesses are appearing in The Quest for the Golden Prim).

We have more of our classic serial, The Mysteries of London, and details of new acquisitions from the library, as well as another extract from that fascinating documentary record: Henry Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor, building up a detailed picture of Victorian life in a great city....

So, with no shortage of fascinating articles and beautiful illustrations supplied by our brilliantly talented team, we welcome you to this seventh issue of The Primgraph.


How do I get my copy of The Primgraph?
Well, there are various ways to get The Primgraph!

You could buy a copy from xStreetSL to be delivered to you inworld.

Best of all, you can join our Subscribe-o-Matic group, which will deliever the magazine to you automatically when it is published. The Subscribe-o-Matic kiosks are located in historical and steampunk sims across Second Life (for example, you’ll find ones at all the Caledon infohubs). And if you can’t find one in your favourite sim, why not ask the owner to install one?

You will also find them at the Prim Perfect offices in Oliveto.

But if you prefer to read the magazine online but not inworld, there are choices too. Firstly, there’s the wonderful Calaméo system, which allows you to moves smoothly through the pages, giving you the feeling of reading a real magazine. You’ll find Issue 7 here – and please do leave a comment!

But, if you like to download your magazines to read as you commute to work, or in the bath, or wherever, you can also obtain a standard pdf for downloading and printing.

So, really, you have no excuse for not reading The Pimgraph. In fact, why aren’t you reading it now?

The Primgraph is looking for a graphic designer!

The Primgraph is looking for a Graphic Designer to join an amazing team!

This is a rare opportunity to work with one of the most highly regarded and fastest growing media groups within Second Life. Prim Perfect Publications consists of three distinct productions: The Primgraph (Second Life vintage and steampunk magazine), Prim Perfect magazine (Second Life's premier home and gardens magazine), and Designing Worlds (the Treet TV show for design and designers in virtual worlds).

We wish to hire an energetic, enthusiastic, and proactive individual who can be part of the team responsible for designing and laying out The Primgraph to create new editions of this stunning magazine, which is scheduled to appear every six weeks.

The successful candidate will have attitude, aptitude, and appetite. A proven ability to meet deadlines is essential.

You will be a creative person with a flair for magazine design. You will have the flexibility to work with different writers and photographers, and the organisation skills to work to a set schedule.

You will work both independently and with the various production and editorial teams, so good communication skills are a must.

Job responsibilities include: laying out the magazine using an high-end DTP package*; assigning photographers to stories; taking the odd photograph yourself when needed; assigning different level of advertising space throughout the magazine and integrating it within the layout.

* we would strongly prefer the successful candidate to use Adobe InDesign.

Knowledge of DTP and Photoshop are essentials, as is experience in RL print and/or online rich content design. Knowledge of steampunk and Victorian design would be an advantage.

Applicants should have at least six months experience in Second Life. Applicants should have real life experience of the design process and key issues affecting designers.

Payment will be on a profit share basis.

Applicants should apply in writing to primperfect@gmail.com, giving:

Avatar Name:
Rezz Date:
Employment experience in Second Life:
Any real life experience you believe may be relevant:
Why you believe you are a suitable candidate for this position:
The names and contact details of two SL referees:

CLOSING DATE: August 31st. Successful applicants will be asked to complete a design task and to attend an interview.

For more information about Prime Perfect Publications and The Primgraph see:
http://www.primperfect.net/ and http://www.primgraph.com/

Farewell, Drottningholm Palace

(Photographs for this article by Mr PJ Trenton. More may be seen here)

Today, in very sad news, we learned of the disappearance of Drottningholm Palace, one of the most beautiful of the 18th century sims.


Set in 1778 in one of the most beautiful of the Swedish royal palaces (now, in real life, a UNESCO Heritage Site), it was a gloriously finished sim. It is featured, exuberantly, on the login page as one of the positive highlights of Second Life, and was our Region of the Month in Issue 5 of The Primgraph.


When we visited, we had a delightful reception, and certainly found it to be one of the most welcoming of the 18th century sims. There was a great deal of lively roleplay to be found there, and a willingness to share with newcomers that gave us great hope for the future. So too did the extension into a new sim, Drottningholm Old Town, which offered the chance of residential accommodation.


However, over the last few weeks, Drottningholm seems to have been struggling. There were several high profile departures by well-established characters, and suggestions of a rift between the owners and managers of the two different sims. This culminated in today's announcement that the Palace sim has been deleted by its owner, who has decided to leave Second Life.


The future of Drottningholm Old Town also seems in some doubt. The town was always intended to act as a residential area to support the Palace, and now that has been lost, a time for reappraisal of its aims may be needed. We have already heard talk of the sim being incorporated into a new area which will be based around the Republic of Venice in its 18th century heyday as Las Serenissima. But, obviiously, there will need to be a time for reflection and consultation first.


What is certain is that the closure of the Palace happened with great suddeness for the majority of people involved and has caused considerable disappointment and distress from people who felt that they had made a considerable investment of time and energy there. The owners, of course, had the right to remove their creation at any point, as they have done, but one thinks with respect of New Babbage which had such a civilised handover (and involved its citizens in a great roleplay of the election of the new Mayor). It seems the greatest of shames that some arrangement proved impossible for Drottningholm Palace.

The Pride and the Passion: Counter Revolution in the state formerly known as New Babbage

Since the start of the Recent Unpleasantness in New Babbage (now known as Obolenskidonia, our correspondent, Beq Janus, has been sending dispatches from the front line. In addition, Miss Saffia Widdershins has managed to obtain interviews with an individual known only as T, a leading member of the Resistance, and with the de facto ruler, Doctor Obolenski himself. Photographs by PJ Trenton

Part 1: The Resistance Fighter
We had communicated for several days through obscure means before our arrangement meeting took place. I wore white pearl ear-rings had we had agreed, and T unerringly made his way through the cafe towards me. A relative newcomer to the former state of New Babbage, T has nevertheless made the city his home, and the cause his own.


It was clear that he had been living hand to mouth. We both ordered coffees - and I added a tray of delicious pastries. While I nibbled delicately at a slice of Battenberg, he fell on the sticky buns and cupcakes like a starving man. His clothes were stained with soot and blood - something that is, perhaps, less worthy of comment in the industrial streets of the region fomerly known as New Babbage than elsewhere, but even by Babbage standards it was apparent that something had Gone Wrong.

There had recently been an encounter, it seemed, with some of the metallic robots in the likeness of Doctor Obolenski in the commercial streets, and popularly (or perhaps notoriously) known as 'smashitrons'. According to T, they had been engaged in an attack on a leading citizen, one which had not only failed, but had led to the destruction of some five or six of the coonstructs who had literally lost their heads.

"I imagine it will be discussed as a malfunction," T told me. "I do not (believe it) ... for they fought with too much intensity ... but I will maintain the ruse ... if nothing more to allow Dr. O to maintain a low level of respect for us citizens."

T went on to speak with some passion of a disrupted and angry citizenry, children enlisted as spies, streets filled with grotesque iron images of the new leader, commerce endangered ... but was concerned that there seemed to be little done to save the city.

"I am new to the city," he explained, "just a couple of weeks under the stewardship of this clockwinder....a fine fellow as I can tell....with an odd taste in drink - frequently seen laying accross that very hearth behind you ... quite lost in his sour milk dreams. Then the announcement ... that he had been spirited away ... and the dark curtain of oppression falling upon the city."

T may be a newcomer to the city, but vehemently denies the charge that he is acting as the agent of a foreign power. He is proud of the democracy that the old New Babbage formerly embraced, for he believes that the people are the state, not the leaders alone (a view that might occasion a raised eyebrow from the Doctor).

He took me to see the devastation in Loner's Lane, where the attack that he had spoken of had happened. There, while T faded unobtrusively into the background lest his secret identity be suspected, I was able to speak with some of the cituzens and see for myself the outrageous assaults on the citzenry that are apparently taking place without restraint, with young (and irresponsible) children being armed with dangerous weapons which they have not hesitated to use.

I was able to speak with one citizen who had, to her great distress, been shot by a young girl. The girl seemed to feel no remorse and - indeed - revelled in her status as one of Doctor Obolensky's Youth Movement.

What will happen in Babbage? Will Doctor Obolenski succeed in his plans for his new city state? Perhaps it was time for find out just what his plans are.

Read Part 2 tomorrow.

Life in Obolenskidonia

This correspondent has spent some time assessing the impact upon the lives of the residents. Many of the social leaders have been removed or have gone into hiding, there are no official numbers being given for civilian/militia casualties with the regime showing scant regard for those who rebel against them.

"We didn't count anything... just dumped what we could in the canal... and yes Obolenskidonia is holding strong.", claimed General Kuroe when questioned about the attack on the HQ of the militia.

Yet in many quarters life is carrying on, the urchins are still at large, they are a constant thorn in the side of any authority democratically elected or otherwise so for them it is business as usual, however, this correspondent fears that the cost to those who push their luck too far may be somewhat higher than a spell in the school house and a clip round the ear.

There are still social gatherings, and the bars and coffee shops are still busy though suspicions are rife and the hushed tone of whispers is more common now than the raucous laughter familiar to those who have lived here for some time. The regular popular balls held by Miss Breezy Carver are still taking place despite the occupation and the difficulties that that imposes, some guests it is said were deliberately becostumed in order to conceal their true identity.

Industry however has been diverted. A look out upon the docks sees a fleet not of mercantile clippers and trading ships but of threatening ironclad war vessels. Indeed the port, in the past a ribald and lively part of the city, is all but deserted. In a recent open letter to the citizens of Obolenskidonia, The overlord announced that productivity in the factories was up by 7%. No information as to what was being produced and how this increase was achieved is available. The Primgraph can reveal however that the new regime has plans however with an ambitious scheme to create a pioneering new factory producing scones, on the site of the old town hall. A more ominous prospect, the Primgraph can exclusively reveal is the secretive "Aether" project,
which will apparently expand the borders of Obolenskidonia.

I will report more on the trials and tribulations of life in Obolenskidonia in coming days but for now this correspondent is gonig to return to a bar, for research purposes.

your faithful correspondent
Beq

New Babbage, New name, Welcome to Obolenskidonia

New Babbage, the independent city state, that has stood out for is brash rebuffal of past attempts at political and military interference has fallen under the control external forces.

The Primgraph, your ever diligent news journal has asked this correspondent to report from the city and relate events as they unfold. News has been slow to emerge, with fears of control measures to kerb the freedom of the press and yet, since my return to my home city, yesterday, I have not found evidence to support these claims, indeed a full interview with general Kuroe will follow in the comings days.

As this correspondent has herself been away from the events I shall first attempt to briefly capture the events that have brought us to the present situation.

What happened to this once proud City? Who is the new ruler?

The City Of New Babbage was last in the headlines earlier this year with the hotly contested election of a new Mayor. An election that was concluded with a democratic majority voting for Mossoveno Tenk. Mr Tenk assumed office In late February but in recent times rumours of weaknesses, an over indulgence in a certain alcoholic beverage, have persisted with alleged photographic evidence being published in the more popularist journals such as the Canal Street Snitch.

For a long time the mercantile strength of New Babbage has been an attraction to both Merchants and Brigands and it was not long before the apparent weakness of the new leadership saw in increase in the number of incursions into New Babbage Territory. These were rumoured, but never proven, to be linked to one Doctor Obolenski, an eccentric and fanciful character, with an inclination towards theatrics.

The local militia, an ill-prepared band of citizen soldiers, was assembled in April with no real expectation that they would be required to act. What else could be expected of a state whose unofficial motto is the ever optimistic "What could possibly go wrong"? Yet with typical Babbage pluck the militia has rebuffed many attacks, including bombs, gas mines and mortars. However, on no occasion was the leader, a pirate known locally as Ashiko Kuroe, successfully apprehended and detained.

Finally in early June, it seems, the odds tipped in the aggressors' favour. Mr Cleanslate, the mayor's deputy, left town around the 3rd of June, publicly stating that he was heading on diplomatic business to the steam lands and the neighbours of Babbage. The aggressors saw their opportunity with the sober deputy otherwise engaged a mechanical army was seen to descend upon New Babbage overnight on June the 9th. Supported by Captain Kuroe and a cohort, Capt. Lupindo, the army was triumphant. The very next day a new state of Obolenskidonia, ruled by the Overlord Doctor Obolenski was announced to the nation through aerial paper drops, martial law was imposed and the new regime took hold. Captain Kuroe, was hailed as General of the air corps, with Captain Cadmus Lupindo, put in charge of the naval blockade, both sharing the overall policing of the state. the metallic soldiers, known locally as "clanks" now patrol the streets.

The fate of the mayor had remained unknown but a few days later propaganda started to appear claiming that the Mayor's addiction had been his downfall. He was it is clear abducted and his fate is as yet unconfirmed, though the propaganda of the new state claims that he was seduced by his addiction, sealed in a bottle and set afloat on the currents of the Vernian sea.



In the days since the occupying forces made their presence known, there has been a growing underground movement, a resistance. Initially this was confined to misdemeanour and high profile protests, with the iron clanks being dressed in garlands of flowers and cuddly toys alongside other statements of a typically Babbagian nature, such as protest notices in the form of street graffiti.


In more recent days the protest has escalated, in one audacious assault Miss Mara Razor and an as yet unidentified white haired co-conspirator were seen to make an attempt to assassinate the overlord, but their bows and arrows proved powerless and they are now sought as enemies of the state.

The resistance is not limited to just these two, as an increasing number of assaults would seem to support. Indeed, General Kuroe admitted openly that this vexes him.

"I have people with guns shooting at my men. I would rather focus my attentions towards them."

I can, through my own observations confirm that gun fire can be heard ringing out from the streets at night, and many citizens are left stranded in their houses.

The apparent triumph of the new rulers is beginning to look somewhat tarnished.



Your faithful correspondent - Beq Janus