Gallery, Testimonials, & Tales
Within these halls, we preserve the moments and tales that make The Old Forest come alive. Each image captures a fragment of our shared journey through Middle-earth, and every story or testimonial adds another layer to our collective memory.
Images from The Old Forest
(click to view in full)
Nost-na-Lothion (Birth of Flowers) - Congregation
Nost-na-Lothion (Birth of Flowers) - Approaching the “Ring”
Nost-na-Lothion (Birth of Flowers) - Proceedings begin
Nost-na-Lothion (Birth of Flowers) - Lady Laicalassë is first
Nost-na-Lothion (Birth of Flowers) - It is the King’s turn
Nost-na-Lothion (Birth of Flowers) - Relaxing with eat and chat
The path to the Forest of Fëa
Elven Glade
The Ancient Tree
Moonlit Clearing
The Forest Stream
Leadership team
Testimonials
Traveler Under The Stars
"I’ve been to maybe a dozen fantasy sims in SL, but The Old Forest actually feels lived-in. The rangers don’t just stand around - they interact, they have stories, they remember you. That said, I did feel a bit lost my first visit (the notecard is long!), but once I asked for help, people showed up to give me a tour. The builds are gorgeous, especially at sunset. 10/10 would recommend, just… read the instructions first."
Woodland Wanderer
"As someone who’s read the Silmarillion five times, I came in expecting to find mistakes. Many of those I found must be attributed to restrictions in the SL functionality. These folks know their lore, and they’re not afraid to go deep into First Age material that most sims ignore complete. The RP can get intense - this isn’t a casual ‘walk around and look pretty’ place. If you’re serious about Tolkien and willing to learn the setting, you’ll love it. If you just want to dress up as Legolas and stand on a rock… maybe try elsewhere first?
We gathered one evening in the Barding circle, a dozen of us who had never met before but shared a love for Tolkien’s words. As the virtual stars wheeled overhead, we listened to, discussed, and commented on Yalawë’s presentation of a Silmarillion chapter. In that moment, thousands of miles apart in the real world, we were together in the Forest, and the world of Professor Tolkien lived again."
The Gift of Peace
"Honestly? I logged in by accident while looking for something else, and I’m so glad I did. I’m not a huge Tolkien nerd (don’t hurt me!), but the community made me feel welcome anyway. They explained things, taught me how to RP properly, and didn’t make me feel stupid for not knowing what ‘Noldor’ means. The landscape is absolutely stunning - I’ve taken SO many photos. Only critique: events are scheduled for US/EU times, which is tough for us Aussies. But I adjust my sleep schedule because it’s worth it :). In a world of noise and hurry, The Old Forest offers something rare: peace. I come here when I need to think, to remember why I fell in love with fantasy, to reconnect with the wonder I felt as a child reading Tolkien for the first time. Thank you to everyone who built and maintains this sanctuary."
A Builders Place
"Right, so I’ll be honest - I thought this was going to be another prettied-up chat sim. Guess what, it’s not. These people are serious about the world they’ve built, and it shows in every detail. The Guild Hall alone must have taken weeks to design. The smith actually smithes, the rangers actually patrol, and when I showed up in modern clothes (whoops!), they politely redirected me to get proper kit. It’s immersive as hell. My only gripe? I wish there were more folks online during my-place late-night hours, but I guess that’s SL in general. Solid 9/10."
Share Your Story
Have you visited The Old Forest? Do you have a memory, photograph, or tale you would like to share? We welcome contributions from our community. Please visit our Contact Us page to submit your stories and images.
"It’s a dangerous business... going out your door."
— J.R.R. Tolkien