Lately I’ve dived into the community of devoted fantasy roleplayers. Fantasy is huge in almost all parts of the world – also in Second Life.

Yesterday I stumbled across a place called ‘Elven Forest‘. A extremely well designed place obviously made by people knowing what they’re doing.

Elven Forest is primary for elves – hence the name. Although the place is full of creatures from the luscious wood- and grasslands and plenty of ballet-like fairy-dance poses. Buzzing insects and most of all harmony and tranquility. A tranquility that lasts throughout the night as well.

Elven Forest owner Voy Sands in the middle of her virtual paradise. (from flickr)

It dates back to 2007 where a young german woman named Voy Sands got a piece of SL-land as a gift from a friend. Fascinated by the forest surrounding her local neighbourhood in RL, she started up this green paradise.

I met her in her ‘homeground’ where I asked her a bit about the fantasy forest.

“There weren’t that much forests at that time [in SL]. That was when the idea came up to create a forest here in sl as well …//… a place to chill out, meet with friends and enjoy the beauty of nature.”

However the connected RP, that almost always follows in fantasy’s footprints, Voy Sands tried to avoid.

“I do have a love for fantasy as well since I read many novels in my youth. But I didnt want to create a RP-place … just a place where all those fantasy creatures could gather together, meet, chill or just be. The RP-places were all so scrict… too many rules for me”

Although Elven Forest still works mainly as a resting place or retreat for elves and fairies, some RP [RolePlay] has found its way into to Elven Forest. And that is perfectly alright with Voy, as long as other avatars isn’t bothered or unwillingly involved in it. There is as such no written rules and most RP is done spontaneously and with no interference from Voy or any of the managers.

One of those RP’ing in Elven Forest is Serafina Draconia. A more than usual beautifully made figure catched in the shadows of some moonlit ruins. A woman with fairy wings, glowing eyes and … twinkling fangs?!… was floating near the wall.

Fae Vampire Serafina Draconia in Elven Forest. (from flickr)

Serafina is a Fae Vampyress! I’ve never heard of fairies ‘gone bad’ before. But as always Second Life offers the visitor to interact and learn new stuff. Serafina Draconia is a member of a 60-70 member clan of vampiric fairies, lycans and other creatures of fantasy origin. She uses Elven Forest for resting and some RP – and only at night (no wonder). She’s mainly in it to socialize and have fun. As such her clan doesn’t have any fixed goals – they make it up as they go.

Another (more ‘usual’) fantasy-being in Elven Forest is Wistful Mactavish. She’s is as fae’s are – vivacious, vivid and uncatchable. You can’t help but to like her. She knows the forest inside out, and I really recommend her as tour guide round the premises. You can tell by her lines and lingo she makes stories up on-the-fly. An amazing and playful little butterfly who also mainly uses the forest for socializing and entertainment.

Fairy Wistful Mactavish trying to pull the sword in the stone in Elven Forest. (from flickr)

Wistful – like Serafina, myself and most others – enjoys SL with no strings attached and obligations to fullfil. The prerequisition for our fun has already been paid for by Voy Sands. And forests like Elven Forest, doesn’t come cheap. Besides the US$500 a month fee for the land endless amount of hours going into building and keeping the forest. Many users tribute with donations. But according to Voy it only takes care of less than 2% of the monthly cost. But then the Elven Forest group counts more than 1500 members shows a blatant succes, that is the entire workload worth.

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NB: Check out the Elven Forest blog @ www.elvenforest.com

I have earlier written about the still growing crowd of Duranies (fans of the british rock/pop band Duran Duran) gathering in SL – mainly in the Club Interference, run by german Chrissy Welinder.

• Duranies celebrate John Taylors 47th birthday

• Duranies celebrate Simon le Bon saturday 27th
• Another great celebration at the Club Interference

Being nothing but a kiddo-hang-around I suddenly found myself being invited to join the cheering choir of people singing “Reach out for the Sunrise”, when the Birmingham-band was to play in KB Hallen in Denmark.

I shall spare you for alot of deepfelt envy (if you are a fan too). But I had one of the coolest concert days of my life. Being a VIP at a Duran-gig is as ride. Even if you don’t get to meet the band (they where there though, I swear) you get to meet the stunningly happy Duranies. THEY are worth the trip even if the band doesn’t play

The concert was a blast. In my danish blog, I reviewed it as a 4 of 6 stars gig. Apparently the more professional reviews were even better (the otherwise tough danish tabloids gave it 5 of 6 stars and some VERY nice words alongside).

One of 25 pics I shot during the concert with my Nokia N95

The RL-connection where made. Ley Wrangler met Ken Ley… And some other until recently only virtual beings. Second Life became gateway to a bunch of really cool new friends. Now next goal for me is to meet Simon, John, Nick and Roger in SL and RL too

Thanks to all you superior guys from: Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, France, UK, Slovenia and Germany.

Extended thanks beyond the horizon to Chrissy Welinder for making this experience possible and for getting hold of the crowds – in both RL and SL

The set list of Copenhagen 2008 (as I remember it):

• The Valley

• Red Carpet Massacre
• Night Runner
• Hungry Like the Wolf
• Planet Earth
• Falling Down
• Come Undone
• Skin Divers
• The Reflex
• Save a Prayer
• A View to a Kill
• Last Chance on the Stairway
• All She Wants Is/Warm Leatherette
• I Don’t Want Your Love
• Skin Trade
• Tempted
• Notorious
• Girls on Film
• Papa Was a Rolling Stone
• Ordinary World
• Sunrise
• Wild Boys
• Rio (extra)

Around 2pm (Linden time) people started gathering at the Club Interference, where owner Chrissy Welinder were ready with a special event T-shirt, the updated tour-plan leading up to the next Duran Duran album release on November 13th and of course lots of other Duran Duran-stuff.

Club Interference owner, Chrissy Welinder, getting groovy on the dancefloor.

And for the really die-hard-need-to-know fans… Get yourself a flight ticket to NYC. The band WILL be in New York when the album ‘Red Carpet Massacre’ releases. From the 2nd to the 13th there’ll be 10 gigs at the Broadway stage at Barrymore Theatre. For the less wealthy in Europe there’ll be an oppotunity on December 3rd, Chrissy tells. London at the Odeon on Leicester Square.

It’s not really often I run into really, really, really dedicated fans like Chrissy Welinder. This german girl/woman spends all her spare time (it seems) on three things only – paying tribute to either David Sylvian or british rock legends Duran Duran OR… Traveling the world to see them perform.

Chrissy owns an entire island dedicated only to Duran Duran-groupies. On it is a huge castle containing the Club Interference, where Duranies from all over the world come do worship their idols.

Me trying hard to look as tough as the Duran-leading-man, Simon Le Bon.

Not much is known yet, while Chrissy herself are offline chasing musicians. But one would really not be surprised if Simon turns up to promote the upcoming Duran-album (due 13th of November)… Or well.. yeah.. ok, I’ll be seriously thrilled if he turns up.

According to newly updated rumours the band is STILL planning to open up a Duran Island, theme park or something else in Second Life, so sooner or later dedicated fans can do more, than just visit Club Interference and LISTEN to the music, interviews etc. etc.

And the fans have followed. A handful of various fanclubs for the british superband Duran Duran roams the realms, and thursday 20th of june 2007 a bunch of both young and old fans met in the Club INTERFERENCE to pay tribute and to celebrate the birthday of bassplayer John Taylor.

Me and fan Foxee Camilo takes a swing.

From the loudspeakers came nothing but tunes by the veteran but still vibrant ensemble from Birmingham. Including some unplugged live performances at least I hadn’t heard before. A two guitar acustic version of Rio actually made me wonder, why this major hit was not recorded that way in the first place.

On the far brink of the dancefloor I met Chrissy Welinder (RL Chrissy too). She is owner of the club and creator of the fangroup Duran Duran Delight that counts more than 160 memberavatars. She has been af dedicated fan of the ‘New Romantic’ band since 1981 – she was only 11 years old then. From the schoolyard in Frankfurt she and her friends were fascinated by the band, that in many ways revolutionized music videos.

“I think they were different in many ways and always ahead of time”, Chrissy tells me. “Like the videos they did in the 80’s – they were the first with these fashionable full story videos”.

“And then again in the 90’s they did the for download only release of Electric Barbarella”.

Club INTERFERENCE owner Chrissy Welinder also celebrated John Taylor’s birthday.

Chrissy ignited her interest for SL after listening to her alltime idol – keyboard player Nick Rhodes – expressing his positive view on SL and the oppotunities in virtual worlds. That got her started, and less than a year after, she has her own castle full of Duran-photos and other arts.

She now has good time to prepare the next birthday party – That of lead singer Simon le Bon on the 27th of October. Duran Duran as a band never really split up and will therefore pass their 30th year in 2008.

(Check also the pictures from Nick Rhodes’ birthday party at INTERFERENCE).

Today I walsed by Second Sweden. Last time I was there was in January or February 2007, and then it was just (almost) a field of grass and a little shed. That has changed!!!

Next to House of Sweden is now a wooden dancefloor where I ran straight into the most alternative, creative and fun avatar, I have seen so far. With pointless and obviously useless gadgets all over, but funny like nothing I’ve seen. Swedes are great!

Corinthian Fraker – a swedish smith with an addiction to funny gadgets – tells me, that Second Sweden draws lots of people – mostly swedes and and other scandinavians – every day (night). A row of concerts along with stand-up-shows by mostly swedish artists has made Second Sweden a very attractive place to go and have fun.

Also with more serious things like seminars and smaller conferences has according to Corinthian regularly been arranged… However clearly not this tuesday

After a few minutes a guy called Jannne Janus (yes, 3 n’s) with an oversized tartan kilt appears. Looks like a mix between Jesus, William Wallace and Fred Astaire… And this dude is obviously VERY popular. His av carries a Line-dance-script, that allows up to 8 other avatars to dance syncronized with him… Let’s just say that mr. Wrangler is very slow. Before I catch the vibe, eight other guys and girls has clicked Jannne’s belly, where the script is hidden – leaving me waiting in line for someone to lag and crash (did I really say that?).

Not just the regular disco-party with the usual competition. However it would surprise me, if the swedes did things the usual way anyway. Swedes are fun-with-a-thought – or just seriously fun You chose!

Being a nosy and inquisitive guy in the Second Life (SL) I see and hear alot. And though the variation is vast, I must admit, that sometimes it would be nice to be able to have a good podcast playing, rather than some redundant radioshow.

And guess what – my friend Karin Howe (RL – Karin Hoegh) just tipped me about a place called Podcaster Street.

For those of you, who don’t yet know Karin Howe, she is one of the most known podcasters in Denmark.

Karin has just rented the address Podcaster Street 7 and will be opening “Podhandle” (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kiniski/11/191/37) soon, she tells me. In RL she often teaches and helps people, who wants to podcast themselves, and I’m sure that’s just what she’s going to do in SL too.

Of course I went to see the shop right away. But she wasn’t in at the time. I think she went for and interior designer

Check her out And while you’re there – check out the surrounding buildings too. A fair share of podcasts are already available from various vendors.

The “business” of driving a club in SL is tough. Several good looking clubs with serious and ambitious owners are closed due to lack of guests. Only the creative and persistant survives.

On my way from the Acropolis Gardens (one of the most beautiful places in SL) yesterday I passed by a church. I have no idea why it caught my interest – but it did. Inside were no pater or preacher, but a couple of dancing guys and a band of girls dressed out as neko’s (wearing cats ears and tails). The church were a disco!

Paradise Lost is a regular and plain dancehall with cool lights and decorations. At first sight nothing above average. But the obviously happy guests turned out to be regulars – almost like nextdoor neighbours or best friends. And this is where it got interesting to me.

People wants to meet people – in RL and in SL. And the great thing about SL-clubbing is, that you can actually meet and talk to friends and crushes through the loud music. A common and annoying problem in RL. A nicely designed club will not suffice in itself. Just like RL you need to nurse steady and faithful costumers. People create the central part of atmosphere, and they need to have fun to return again and again. The atmosphere they bring along attracts more people, and there you go.

An ace at that is Helena Kirkorian, who runs the club. She is 24 years old, from Bruxelles, Belgium, and has more than 350 friends on her friendslist. It doesn’t take and Einstein to figure out, where she picks up so many guests for her club.

(Paradise Lost – http://paradiselost.myfreeforum.org)

(The clubowner Helena Kirkorian shows me how to dance the salsa)

Even as a newbie at the club she imidiately spots me through the crowd, and welcomes me by inviting me to a dance of salsa – yeah why not And within half an hour I’m her friend no. 351 and member of the club. I’m always impressed by people with a well developed and honest sense of business. And this girl is a true natural.

Besides the club, she does avatar-designing and she eagerly tells me what a thrill it was to make avatars for IBM and Saxo Bank amongst others.

Now how Helena spends her RL-time, I don’t know. But I sincerely hope she does just as good.