The Duchy of Camelaird

I've been a fan of weapons from Punchinello Philin's Gryphon Lair for some time now and I love to visit his authentic medieval region, The Duchy of Camelaird (in Winterfell Gryphondale; SLurl). There he has beautifully laid out the pre-fabs that he also sells. While the buildings are probably too clean and unweathered, the landscape is very natural with appropriate vegetation harmoniously planted.

When you land you'll be in the Winterfell Haven structure, some 1202 prims (unfurnished) and only L$14,000 if you want your own copy or if you want to buy one for me. Several structures surround this common area, many suitable as residences. One is filled with vendors for weapons and the pre-fabs you see in the region.

Leaving the small village and heading toward what appears to be an older settlement, you'll find a healthy young crop. In the distance to your left you can see the top of the castle. On my back is my Gryphon Lair Zweihander sword ("Female Size" if you believe it), one of my favorite blades. Look close and you'll see a notch for the Orc I took down in Mystara.

Looking westward into the village, across the bridge from the castle (not shown)

Similar angle but from further out shows how compact the build really is despite the spacious feeling you get when walking around (no flying, probably for your own good as the region is damage enabled). The castle will take a while to explore so plan your day accordingly. And if you want to buy one of these for me, too, feel free.

I could sit at the base of the castle enjoying this view for a very long time, it is so beautiful.

So how did I find this place? First I map hopped from a near by region that has a shop for Gryphon Lair. Then I was given a landmark by my brother who did the same thing but does collect LMs. However, entering the region has been hit-or-miss as if it is closed to the public at times, maybe for the owner's role play activities. He's often there, but you'll probably see a ^ for Punchi on the Mini-Map, almost directly above where I'm sitting in that last picture, likely far up in a private build area.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to head back into the village to get some supplies ...

You can find an earlier, related story here.

Gryphon Lair Armory

According to the Item Profile, I got my beloved (GL) Norse Sword and Shield (v1.7 shield & v2.0 sword) set by punchinello Philbin on September 30, 2008 (at 10:17pm, though that isn't really important, but it makes for nice filler). According to my brother, he got the same Gryphon Lair set (v4.1 sword) last week after having long admiring mine and finally deciding to try his hand at role play. The scabbard belt comes in black and in brown to suit different outfits then three sizes each plus two versions with no belt, one with a hanging chain and one without, to suit various avie sizes and clothing choices. That's eight variations when most sword makers give two scabbard options, at best. There are three sizes of shields, too, and a really gorgeous 40-prim packing box that I've saved for display. The newest iteration also includes a purple shield option in various sizes that nicely fits the black scabbard options. I don't do much fighting, actually, but it is set up for DCS2, CCS, HONOR, SZ, BZ, OSIRIS, GM (3.3 and RLV 3.3) Compatible Versions if I do.

Enough with the details. Here is why the weapon is beloved and why I encouraged my brother to get a set, too: I can't believe how beautiful it is. When I bought mine (that pic to the left is me on Day One with the goods) there was nothing this good looking available. Period. With other swordsmiths arriving in-world or improving their wares, the Gryphon Lair set more than holds its own in all respects. The animations are impressive in quality and quantity (32 total, including AO anims) and well suited to my smaller avie or larger avies. The highly detailed parts show great care and high craftsmanship with the sword alone weighing in at 55 prims. A compliment of sounds for each of the animations doesn't lag behind the motion so the scripting must be very efficient. All this adds up to making a very pleasant slashing and stabbing experience. My only regret is that the prims are No Mod so the fit on my smaller-than-most-males-because-I'm-female frame is a bit odd, but I'm used to that and if anyone objects I can change their focus with any of 20 different attack variations.

You can get Norse sword set (or any of the other cool weapons) at the Gryphon Lair main store (SLurl) or visit the store in Winterfell Gryphondale location (SLurl), where you can see Punchinello's wonderful pre-fab medieval castle (where I took the pic for this post) and his other themed buildings, too.

en garde On Gaurd

Often while working Security at the Isle of Lesbos (women only; SLurl) I'll dress in theme if an event is going on at the time whether I'm off in a corner building by myself or in more public parts. I had wanted to attend the Angels & Demons event because I thought I had a killer outfit here (having switched to this red from a creamy mint variation) but no one else was available to keep the lesbians in the pen so I just played with my sword. :::sighs:::

Lock'n'Load

"WEAPONS: may be worn on all four of the Lesbos Sims, however, use in Noncombat areas will result in a ban of no less than 6MONTHS for the avatars involved. There is no appeal for such a ban. Currently the COMBAT AREAS include only the Castle on the Isle of Lesbos. ATTENTION: Combat in the Isle of Lesbos Sims will only include Edged weapons *Swords, knives, blades* and will NOT include guns, bombs or any type of push weapons."

That is from the new rules card at the Isle of Lesbos (SLurl). Previously, no weapons were permitted, though whips worn on the hip were not considered weapons. So here I am in my Bare Rose 'Pioneer' robo-suit.

Die, Zombie, DIE!!

I don't exactly know the name of where I was in Nipponbashi (SLurl), but my friend Serenity found the place so it is a Japanese sim and I took a while to figure out some things. But after you grab a free gun and free HUD that seems to be of little use, you get to kill ZOMBIES! Or be killed by them. Or, as I managed, kill yourself.

um .. yah .. I tried to use one of my own guns a few times and found that if I shoot anything close to me I somehow hit myself and .. um .. Anyway, the game can be fun, especially playing with another shooter. My wife, Angela (shown above trying to rescue me from zombies in a staged scene outside the game area), and I made a great team. We managed to kill nearly a hundred or so over all with relative ease.

At first Ange died right away, not realizing that she couldn't really use her katana. I suppose we were pretty lucky that the guns could do no damage to humans as a 3rd party joined us for a while. He insisted on hand-to-zombie combat while Ange and I shot away from the perimeter. A later strategy should have left me bullet-riddled, but worked: I ran around like a chicken while Ange shot at the top, evil, hard-to-kill zombie. Then we hugged and kissed amid the bloody carnage, me thanking her for saving my life, before lovingly walking hand-in-hand to the first level where Ange killed one last undead.

Then we went outside and took the pics in this post. The one at top is mine and is titled Ange to the Rescue! Hers (click for larger versions) are titled, in order, Too Late to Save Her Wife and Trying to Get the Zombies Off Her Love. Should I worry about the tenor of her titles?