Thursday, June 2, 2016

XANADU - in a Land of Fantasy

SILK ROAD VII HUNT

JUNE 1 - 30, 2016

THEME: XANADU

Perryn Peterson, the Mayor of Mieville has done it again,
offering another wonderful hunt with the magical theme, Xanadu.
Again we will be seeking these elusive
Pagodas (pictured below) that offer hints and prizes galore.

What would a blog about a hunt with the theme Xanadu be
without posting the famous poem for which it's named.

Xanadu
Kubla Khan
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.
But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war!
The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!
A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid, And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora. Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song, To such a deep delight 'twould win me
That with music loud and long I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed And drunk the milk of Paradise. 

You can join the Historical Group here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mieville%20Dickens/94/61/26
(the 1st stop on the hunt) and then look in group notices for the notecard with all 68 shops listed with their landmarks.  Each store offers a 'hint' to find their gift including the landmark to the next stop.

MOUNTAIN ROSE (my home away from my Faery Crossing home) again offers a mini-hunt with 12 gift pagodas (although many more then 12 gifts are provided), beginning with a trek up the side of the mountain to a glorious Xanadu setting.  You are challenged to discover the secret word opening the door to the sacred river called Alph, which boasts 3 sparkling caves.  Be sure to set your sun to midnight to truly enjoy the beauty of the hidden river.  It will bring you to the shores of the sunless sea where more gifts abound.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mountain%20Rose/236/55/22

It was truly a work of love in creating Xanadu, not to mention all the wonderful gifts. 
SebastianTiogar (Sebby), Sophia Kennocha, and Meadow Copperfield

Get your very own Xanadu Flying Vessel