"Where The Sun Sails And The Moon Walks"

Anyone who disputes the fact that Mainland can be beautiful just needs to visit the Pinkwater sim on the TSL continent, pictured below. The entire sim (and half of the neighboring sim of Bull) has been developed by a J. R. R. Tolkien roleplaying group, and it is an incredibly lovely place to spend an afternoon exploring. Two complementary parcels, Brithombar and Eglarest, evoke the homelands of Tolkien's ethereal Elves.

I spoke to one of the land group owners, Iminwiel Elenissiel (eegeltine resident), who told me, "Brithombar and Eglarest came to be through the very generous sharing of land by sim owners Jolly Lebroski (enelya) and Rob Royal (Aranion Sîrfalas). Most of us in the group had met previously in Elven Tolkien appreciation sims. All of us were interested in role-playing Tolkien style and while we wanted to keep true to the spirit of his writing, we also wanted to avoid the famous character roles and make up our own stories in a Middle Earth-like framework. Because the shape of the sim resembled the Maps of Brithombar and Eglarest with rivers and coastline, we sought to recapture the spirit of those places here as a first age-like Middle Earth Coastal Haven of Teleri Elves and Exilic Noldor Elves."

Starting at the Pinkwater Rez Zone, which is a fun dead-end road to visit in and of itself, face the water, turn left, and walk into the realm of Brithombar. Flying is disabled, so you'll need to explore on foot, which will give you an opportunity to spot all of the small details which make these parcels a delight. There is a garden with spots to meditate, places for couples to cuddle or dance, and a community dance circle. Several buildings grace the shoreline: a shipbuilder's workshop, a community hall for storytelling, and a lighthouse overlooking the harbor. Horses graze on a hillside which leads to a concert area (pictured below). Observant explorers may even spot a cavern or two hidden behind the many waterfalls in the area.

Across a small inlet (pictured below) is Eglarest, where you can swim or rez a rowboat to row upstream, further into the sim. Step ashore to dream under an ivy-covered arbor, feed the swans, or relax in the open air bathhouse. A gathering hall with colorful stained-glass windows sits ready for a feast, and a set of three treehouses perches high above the sim in one giant tree. According to Iminwiel, the sim is a work in progress, and the group is constantly adding to the landscaping and the environment.

 

"The roleplay is something we will achieve in the future and at the moment we are concentrating on landscaping and building a roleplay structure," stated Iminwiel. "We have established a story reading group which celebrates fantasy literature in voice which is currently active and to which all are welcome. Whilst we are building you are welcome to come and explore and develop your own story of a society just holding onto peace with its fingernails." Tolkien fan or not, this lovely area is well worth a visit.

“Farewell," they cried, "Wherever you fare till your eyries receive you at the journey's end!" That is the polite thing to say among eagles. "May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks," answered Gandalf, who knew the correct reply.” - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Annotated Hobbit: The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again