Extra Credit 1 - Research
Hailey Potter
I chose Avalon. At first glance, after discovering the meaning behind the word is most likely “the isle of apples,” you would envision walking into a world resembling that of an apple orchard. However, this might not be true. One thing is certain though: in order to get to Avalon, you must enter by the sea. It is indeed a magical place, where everything there seems to replenish. Do you love to eat? This is the place for you! It is said that it always has plenty apples, grapes, and grain. Are you a farmer? Well, your job just got much easier! As a farmer, you won’t need to labor hard to force the land into giving these gifts; the land produces them itself. Arthur himself was replenished; after venturing there, he was nurtured back to health after the Battle of Camlann by Morgan le Fay. One that wanders there would most likely live in peace without any hard labor. And not only would you live in peace, but you live for quite a while! People in Avalon live at least a hundred years or more. Many people do not get to live that long, so Avalon is quite magical in that way. If you are lucky, you might even meet King Arthur himself. It is believed that he lives on in Avalon with the spirits. And while you’re here, you might as well search for the Holy Grail! It is believed that Jesus’ father Joseph brought it here to Avalon before he died.
So welcome to Avalon, the place where food is plentiful, people live long, happy lives, Arthur’s spirit is said to live on, and the secret hiding place of the Holy Grail. We hope you stay awhile, and remember that this is the type of world which seems to be quite perfect to spend the rest of your days.
So welcome to Avalon, the place where food is plentiful, people live long, happy lives, Arthur’s spirit is said to live on, and the secret hiding place of the Holy Grail. We hope you stay awhile, and remember that this is the type of world which seems to be quite perfect to spend the rest of your days.
Ivelisse Ada
The faery world I have picked is called "Clarion", and it is from the novels The Princess Pawn/The Princess Mage by Maggie L. Wood. To clarify, one of the travellers who ends up in Clarion isn't completely mortal, as she can wield magic, but the fae in Clarion are far superior in almost every way to the girl, and the girl's companion is completely mortal (not to mention the fae practically take away her magic while she's in Clarion anyways >.>). Some background information that I feel is needed is that Clarion is the realm of the elves, who have seperated themselves into Seelie and Unseelie courts. They rule over their respective creatures, such as Hobgoblins and Re'ems (or something similiar... I haven't read the book in over a year so bear with me >.>). However, these creatures aren't allowed to live in Clarion neccesarily: instead, most of them have been sent to alternate realms created by the elves that have physical representations in Clarion. These representations are in the form of snowglobes, and the elves have galleries of them. I'll explain these snow globes and their purposes in a moment. While Clarion is certainly the place where immortals (or practical immortals) live, and a beautiful world where the "superior" magical beings reside, it is just like every other faerie realm in that it is as dangerous as it is beautiful.
When Willow, our protagonist traveller, and her knight Brand end up in Clarion after being summoned by the elves for a previous misfortune they caused the fae, the elves banter back and forth over what they want to do with the two. In the end, the Unseelie court claims them (as their quarrel is much more personal than that of the Seelie court). Willow and Brand certainly live "immortal lives" while they are in the fae realm, but it certainly doesn't feel like it, and it certainly isn't paradise. Here in the elves' fae realm, everything is an illusion. You see, each court has a gallery of these snowglobes - alternate mini-realms the elves have spent their time creating. But these realms aren't just for show: they are the source of all elven entertainment. Being immortal has gotten awfully boring for the elves - whether Seelie or Unseelie, learning and being kind or cruel (or both) gets old. Due to this, elves have become quite fond of creating extremely realistic "games" to challenge each other with.
These games have specific rules, and the bundles of these are contained in the snow globes. Usually the courts will challenge each other to compete in games, so as to tip the balance of power in one direction or another. However, the Unseelie court uses these games to punish and frighten young Willow and Brand. The first example we're given of these games is when Willow and Brand are unknowingly transported into a globe called "The Menagerie". Upon waking, they find themselves locked up in a cage like animals. The cage has nothing in it but straw, but there is beautiful scenery surrounding the cage: a small waterfall and pond to one side and a wide meadow surrounded by forests on the other.
After a day or two alone and confused in this cage, the two of them spot a sudden troop of elves coming towards them, all dressed up in beautiful faerie garb. As it turns out, the Unseelie Lord who trapped them here has decided to put Willow and Brand on display for his dinner party - but that's only half of his fun.
After the feast is over, the Unseelie Lord releases Willow and Brand only to tell them with a wry smile, "Run!" The two quickly discover that the tigers that had been prowling the party weren't just decoration either... and after a terrible chase/tiger mauling where we literally get to hear about the two of them being ripped apart (whoo!), the two are utterly surprised to find themselves in a hall of the Unseelie Palace, completely alive and unscathed. This game isn't the only one the Unseelie Lord has in store: in the next snowglobe Willow and Brand are tasked with traversing the terrifying snowglobe that has been filled with all of the Unseelie creatures in order to defeat the ruthless Goblin King. This time, however, there's quite a lot at stake. (I won't be getting into just what as that ruins that plot of the novel, but let's just say that it might as well be life-or-death.)
When Willow, our protagonist traveller, and her knight Brand end up in Clarion after being summoned by the elves for a previous misfortune they caused the fae, the elves banter back and forth over what they want to do with the two. In the end, the Unseelie court claims them (as their quarrel is much more personal than that of the Seelie court). Willow and Brand certainly live "immortal lives" while they are in the fae realm, but it certainly doesn't feel like it, and it certainly isn't paradise. Here in the elves' fae realm, everything is an illusion. You see, each court has a gallery of these snowglobes - alternate mini-realms the elves have spent their time creating. But these realms aren't just for show: they are the source of all elven entertainment. Being immortal has gotten awfully boring for the elves - whether Seelie or Unseelie, learning and being kind or cruel (or both) gets old. Due to this, elves have become quite fond of creating extremely realistic "games" to challenge each other with.
These games have specific rules, and the bundles of these are contained in the snow globes. Usually the courts will challenge each other to compete in games, so as to tip the balance of power in one direction or another. However, the Unseelie court uses these games to punish and frighten young Willow and Brand. The first example we're given of these games is when Willow and Brand are unknowingly transported into a globe called "The Menagerie". Upon waking, they find themselves locked up in a cage like animals. The cage has nothing in it but straw, but there is beautiful scenery surrounding the cage: a small waterfall and pond to one side and a wide meadow surrounded by forests on the other.
After a day or two alone and confused in this cage, the two of them spot a sudden troop of elves coming towards them, all dressed up in beautiful faerie garb. As it turns out, the Unseelie Lord who trapped them here has decided to put Willow and Brand on display for his dinner party - but that's only half of his fun.
After the feast is over, the Unseelie Lord releases Willow and Brand only to tell them with a wry smile, "Run!" The two quickly discover that the tigers that had been prowling the party weren't just decoration either... and after a terrible chase/tiger mauling where we literally get to hear about the two of them being ripped apart (whoo!), the two are utterly surprised to find themselves in a hall of the Unseelie Palace, completely alive and unscathed. This game isn't the only one the Unseelie Lord has in store: in the next snowglobe Willow and Brand are tasked with traversing the terrifying snowglobe that has been filled with all of the Unseelie creatures in order to defeat the ruthless Goblin King. This time, however, there's quite a lot at stake. (I won't be getting into just what as that ruins that plot of the novel, but let's just say that it might as well be life-or-death.)