On January 29th, 2012 We made the very difficult decision to close The Seven Isles. It wasn’t something we wanted to do, especially not the way it was done.  But after over a month of bureaucracy and cutting through red tape we felt as if there was no other choice to bring it to a premature end.

After three years of hard work, deep emotional investment and yes… significant financial investment, closing the sim was heartbreaking for many people. The Elders, and live in residents, especially so.

We have been asked a number of times what the future of The Seven Isles would be.  We will not re-open The Seven Isles.  We simply do not have the resources, however a smaller role-playing community using the same lore and story lines will be established for those who lived and truly loved The Seven Isles.

Change and loss are both inevitable and difficult. But all we can do as people of this “world” is look forward, move forward and remember the good times of our past fondly.

Khairete!

Korinna
(Corinda Taurus)

There is an old saying with which all of us are familiar. “Out of the mouths of babes.” PT, had already shown us he was a smart lad, always willing to help with a wise side, but he also showed us he observed something the grown ups either missed, or did not take seriously.

For a few weeks, a boat had been anchored, just beyond the bay where the water is too deep and currents are too strong for land dwellers to swim. The boat had been there for a few weeks before anyone went missing, and it was a natural assumption that the boat belonged to our overseas trader Haruk, as it looked very similar to one of her sloops that brings trade to the Isles.

But PT expressed to Korinna that the boat seemed suspicious to him, he talked about pirates.  Making a distinction between those we keep as friends, and the very bad kind with little regard for innocent, vulnerable life.  When the grownups had discussed the boat,  it was always a fleeting idea never fully thought through. Korinna agreed that it was certainly possible and word soon spread that it should be investigated.

Rak tells the group about what he knows... (picture credit: PT)

In the meantime, the scout Rakkarak, had a conversation that tied a lot of our clues together. Rak, who is part bird himself has the ability to communicate with birds of prey, and asked Zephyr what happened to his keeper, Thyul.  Zephyr’s conversation was quite abstract and symbolic, but it all seemed to point in the same direction; the suspicious boat just beyond our reach.

Citizens met in the tea house to discuss strategy, and it was during this meeting that Hakon’s silence broke.  He explained that he came to the isles  as a stowaway on a boat that was very similar to the one we now targeted.  He explained that the crew and captain of this boat were in the business of collecting “freaks.” As members of our community rarely look upon themselves as freaks, it was a baffling revelation.

Cern at the Meeting, listeing to Hakon (r) tell his story. Picture credit goes to PT

It had also been discussed that all of the ships, even those belonging to our friends should be searched, and it made sense to begin with the suspicious one.

Boarding row boats and traveling out into the depths, amid the sharp under water rocks and currents that can easily topple row boats, our friends pressed on towards the Suspicious ship. Once the arrived they struggled to board the ship unsure of what they would find.  Even some of our children came along to help where they could.  The group of citizens only had a little time to investigate before they were encountered, but they found a very telling sign.

This is what Hakon wanted to tell us all along.

The owners of the ship soon emerged. Harsh words, verbal abuse, and emotional attacks were thrown at one another from both sides.  The owners of the ship were asked to let their friends go, but it was no good.  Residents were taunted more, and insulted in such a way that revealed the ship’s crew had no regard for the lives they had taken, and used the “freaks” of the Seven Isles as little more than amusements that would yield them profit.

Our foes emerged on each side, trapping us on the main deck!

Arrows flew, swords clashed, some fell overboard and some stayed safely out of the way.  But it was our Dark wolf Hakon, who we had all been suspicious of at one time who stepped up and defended the others.

Lofta's last moments.

The masterminds of the capture, Lofta the Drow fighter and “Black Barris” himself, fell within moments.

Black Barris, about to meet his buisness partner again in the next world.

All there was left to do was release our grateful friends, and collect as much information as possible.  The atmosphere was still quite confused and hectic, as all three of our missing were freed from their filthy cages.  They were stripped of all of their dignity, thin, and dirty; but they were alive!  They were not, however, alone.  In the dank, smelly cell was a Mermaid, bound like the one that had washed up on our shores.  A fairy, somehow trapped in a bottle, and a hatchling dragon.

Just a few of the captives waiting for release.

In the confusion, the other prisoners were initially overlooked…

A Mermaid and Dragonlette also captured for the "freak show"

… weeping could be heard from the hull below, but it had been very difficult for our rescuers to get down into the tight spaces.  It was weakened Cherno who finally descended the steps and creeped through the narrow spaces between barrels to discover a young Centaur boy, living in the filthy hull of the ship.  He was unable to escape and was very traumatized by the fighting and yelling that had come from above.

While weak Cherno found the strength to approach the frightened boy.

Just as Cherno was coaxing him out, however, an explosion occurred on deck.  It was not from some unseen foe ready to engage us in battle,  but from one of our own.  Kal, who has always been known to be unpredictable and distressed at the mere mention of cages had let loose some of his Acorn bombs. Frightening the young centaur and and adults alike.

But efforts to draw the frightened boy to where he could be hoisted up on to deck continued, while Cherno, still weak from her ordeal redirected Kal to help her destroy the cages, rather than destroy the boat on which everyone still stood.  It was a great challenge for all of them.  Some members were returning to shore in order to prepare for our rescued, and Thyul worked to release the other three friends they had made when they shared captivity with them.

Chaos ensued as cages were discarded, and Ithil carried off Thyul's captured horse. Eaken helped coax the wee centaur our ot the ship.

But by the end of the day, everyone was home and few were worse for wear. Kal had received burns from the iron cages he helped push into the sea, and needs time and care to heel.  Our missing have a long road of spiritual recovery, but after weeks of uncertainty everyone was returned home safe and sound.

While being fed cold porridge and moldy bread, our friend's captors were not left wanting for anything.

But is it the end?  What questions remain unanswered, and are the residents of the Isles truly out of danger?  Could this just be a reminder that while the Isles is a peaceful land, it is not located in a peaceful world.  What must be done to protect and prevent such a thing happening again? Who was the dead Mermaid? What are the stories of the others found on the ship?

How much is there that we have yet to learn?

Several weeks ago, as our summer season came to a close some of our well known and beloved members unexpectedly went missing. It is not unusual for anyone to take a vacation this time of year to get one last rest. For soon the hard work of harvest and preparing for the winter would begin.

Posters just like this were put all over the Isle and the surrounding Area.

 

Perhaps it was why we first considered their disappearance as nothing to be alarmed about. Life on the Isles went about as normal, shorter on bread and baked goods than we normally had, as owen, our baker was one of the missing. But as wine season came and our dedicated vintner Cherno had not returned, we knew something had gone wrong. And we knew not for sure how much time they had even been gone.

In this time, our community had also grown. A mysterious, dark and intimidating Lycan named Hakon was seen frequently on the Isles, keeping largely to himself and rarely speaking to the others. But as withdrawn as he was, he responded to the call for him to use his superior senses to find our lost.

Our search efforts were localised at first, our skilled trackers who lived beyond our island had not seen tracks or traces of them, but then no one knew they were missing either. Several days of heavy rains made certain that any tracks left had long been erased. Even the sharpest noses could not pick up a trace after such weather But those who know the islands were confident that due to our isolated and remote location, the missing could not have gone far.

But it was of little comfort, knowing that many scenarios could be our missing’s realities. Were they hungry, hurt, lost, or dead? Our land may be peaceful, but there are still many dangers found in the wild. The wise ones who know it well understand that mother nature and mother earth are unpredictable.

Search efforts widened when Thyul, skilled fighter, sent out messages about our missing on the legs of hir birds, before going out hirself off on horse back with the eyes of hir Hawk Zephyr. When Thyul did not return in the expected time frame, the concern grew deeper.

The Doctor wasted no time in posting notifications.

A skilled fighter, well provisioned with a trained bird of prey should have been able to protect them self. Zephyr returned, flying frantic circles in the bay but there was still no sign of Thyul or hir horse.

More questions were raised, was this some unknown magic in the isles we had not discovered months ago when our land was tearing itself apart? When Cherno’s birds, her constant companions were found to on the island, people were unsure if this was a sign of hope, or doom.

One thing that was hard to deny, was that the arrival of the mysterious Hakon, his was just a little too convenient. Rumors spread that sometimes he was seen with blood running down his chest, but he had done nothing wrong that anyone could see. Korinna, who became very protective of her sister’s grapes and wine blends charged Hakon with the responsibility of keeping Cherno’s livelihood safe. In this task he had done well and proved his character was good to Korinna’s satisfaction.

The situation was not confirmed as foul play, until an unknown mermaid bound in chains had washed up under our docks.

If there was any good fortune for us on that day, it was that our doctor Fadrienne had not yet left to look for his spouse, Thyul. He was available to examine the Mermaid, and he determined that her death came with hands placed around her neck.

A moment of silence during the Doctor's investigation

Not long after,our Blacksmith Eaken, who had been taking shifts with his wife Korinna searching for our friends, was attacked, severely beaten, and left for dead. if his one-year old daughter had not woken her mother early that day, he may well have passed from his injuries.

But the Doctor saw to him immediately and saved his life, though it would be days before the Centaur woke up. Residents were more frightened than ever, for what sort of brute strength did it take to bring a retired cavalry officer down? He was a centaur who weighed three quarters of a ton, and had too much strength to be brought within an inch of his life.

Family and friends maintained vigil for Eaken

Something as big and as menacing as Hakon, perhaps? Even though the Lycan had shown concern for Eaken’s condition, rumors spread that he was seen with blood running down his chest.

Fear and a feeling of helplessness all but stopped the search efforts, residents were understandably too frightened to go far from home. Many decided that the safest way of venturing out for daily chores was to go in pairs. But even with such precautions, only two days passed before there was another grizzly discovery.

Our brave young Satyr PT, who had been exploring the woods as any boy his age would, stumbled upon two corpses. He bravely called for help. Cern and Fadrienne answered, together with their tracking and medical skills they determined that these two dead strangers were part of a group of five, and were most certainly casualties of Eaken defending himself. The remaining three had carelessly tossed their bodies into the sweltering atmosphere of the sweat lodge.

Showing no respect for a sacred space, nor their friends, what hope was there that our friends were treated well, if they had not been killed already.

Life on the Isles could not stop, even with such upsetting circumstances. To keep their minds from fretting and their hands from wringing themselves raw, the citizens gathered together to harvest the grapes before they were lost. The wheat still needed to be reaped. Vegetables and fruits gathered and stored for winter.

Before we knew it the solstice was upon us, there was hope (or perhaps concern) that being brought dark nights might bring us news of our missing. It had been long enough that some family members had already resigned the missing for dead. Hearts were heavy, and bodies were weary, but with winter ahead an organized hunt with a scant few hunters took place anyway.

Colli was one of the few hunters who came helped see our land was provided for.

There was a glimer of hope when Eaken finally woke and regained enough strength to take food through his broken jaw, but alas, he had no information to give us. Most of Eaken’s memories from around the time of the attack were lost, and what he could remember came out in a jumble of words that made no sense. It was frustrating for all, especially for him. All there was for us to do, was wait until Eaken had healed enough to regain his memory and order his speech. But the Doctor could not promise how soon this would occur, if it would occur at all.

But it would not be long before the tide would turn, and at the heart of it, was our young, brave PT.

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future".

Many people have noticed seven large stained-glass windows surrounding the amphitheatre recently.  Guess what?  Now you can buy those textures, and for just L$50!  (That’s less than the cost of uploading them all!)

L$50 for 7 stained-glass textures with full permissions.

You can find these textures for sale in the Seven Isles Curiosity Shop in our Market at the landing point.

Also new at the landing point…

Anthemei Firehawk and Bleizdu Irelund are now Guides.

Congratulations to Anthemei and Bleizdu on their promotion to Seven Isles Guides & Stewards! They lead by good example and are treasured members of the Seven Isles family.  It is also beneficial to have members of Seven Isles staff who are fluent in French.  Once again, welcome to the team!

At the Seven Isles landing point, there are two exits to our Market and one exit to the “OOC Lounge” which was always meant to be a place where visitors and Citizens could relax and socialise out-of-character (that is, while not roleplaying).  The Lounge is on its own parcel too, so when OOC events are held where the music is not in theme, it will not disrupt the music on the majority of the sim.

Until now, the Lounge had been decorated for various different events—always an enclosed, indoor space.  But now, at last, the Lounge is a beautiful outdoor area with a tranquil 7Seas fishing pond, among other things.  It is hoped that the new natural look of the Lounge will give visitors and Citizens a taste of the beauty of the Seven Isles, without the need for them to dress in-theme or roleplay.

The 7Seas fishing that is currently at ground-level (on the docks outside the Brenn & Barrel Inn) will remain there as an in-character fishing spot.  The new fishing pond in the Lounge at the landing point is for OOC fishing, for example while hanging out with friends.

The Lounge is 95% finished, so please excuse any construction that may be done there in the near future.  Other than that, it is open to the public, so stop in there to have a look around!  Please respect anyone in the landing point (market, Lounge, art gallery) area who does not wish to roleplay, as it is an OOC zone.  Enjoy!

(Parlez-vous français? Lire cet article sur le Journal de la Capitaine Givreroux – en français!)

After their troubles had ended, the Citizens of the Seven Isles worked to repair what the forces of Nature could not.  Trees, lava, fissures, and waters took care of themselves, while Citizens cleared rubble, repaired buildings, and moved their belongings back into their homes.

While waiting for any sign of the will o’ the wisps to light the way to the Mind Shrine, Citizens got to work cleaning up after the earthquake.

At the site of the cave-in, Eaken, Korinna, and Cern hacked the large boulders into smaller stones, which Willow, owen, and Captain Givreroux hauled away into an iron waste container.  In this manner, they cleared the rubble of the collapsed cave that had once been the Tauroi residence.

Before you a spirit rises from the center of the floor carving and stares into your eyes with a power that feels like he is looking right into your soul.  He then speaks with a voice that has a sound like the wind though the trees of the Isles, the tones that you hear are as cold and dusty as the old cellar that you stand in  ….

The next morning, a shout of “WISPS!” went round and round the island, as both Satyroi and Willow had spotted the will o’ wisps floating above the river near the new waterfall.  Citizens gathered around the canyon to see, and they asked Willow if she could look underwater for a shard.

Willow looks for a shard in the ruins under the dancing will o wisps.

The water kept rising.  Now the flood waters threatened the Tauroi home, and the inside of the wine tent was damp and muddy.  Everyone decided to move their valuables to higher ground, and helped one another with the moving.

Save the wine!