It’s a New Dawn in Second Life

It’s a New Dawn (Flickr) – click any image for full size

It’s a New Dawn is the evocative name of Silvermoon Fairey’s new homestead region in Second Life. Like its name, this is an evocative place to visit, filled with sights and sounds to delight the eyes and ears; a place where exploration on foot is greatly encouraged.

I first became familiar with Silvermoon’s work through her region Dawn of Radiance, which you can read about here and here, an enchanting region beautifully designed and constructed and which could reflect the passing seasons of the year, but which passed into memory. It was a place I admired greatly, and given this, I was eager to see what It’s a New Dawn might hold.

It’s a New Dawn (Flickr)

From the start you know this is a special place; a rugged island where time has almost stood still in some ways, and where the pastoral life holds sway. A tiny hamlet occupies the island, although the population here seems to be chiefly horses, sheep and cattle, together with the local wildlife and birds. There are no roads, only rough tracks and footpaths worn into the rock by the passage of feet down through the years. Two lighthouses vie with a windmill perched on a tall plateau to be the sentinel of the island, while small inlets and coves around the coast offer sheltered beaches and rocky coastal paths around the base of tall cliffs and craggy slopes.

The contrasts in landscape and elevations here is remarkable and does much to give It’s a New Dawn a stunning natural look and feel. Exploring the island, I couldn’t shake the sensation I was walking across one of the Scottish islands, or perhaps another of the mythical islands in the chain once thought to lie within the North Atlantic may years past, and which includes Frisland, another popular Second Life destination.

It’s a New Dawn (Flickr)

This is very much a place to be enjoyed in foot (flying is disabled, and it’s really better to walk than override), and with local sounds enabled. As with most scenic and well-designed regions, It’s a New Dawn has an accompanying sound scape to add to the sense of immersion, so make sure you have local sounds enabled.

Those who remember Dawn of Radiance may notice a few familiar motifs from that region – the windmill mentioned above, the cottage on the escarpment nearby, the use of water and falls to enhance the lay of the land, and so on – all of which serve to give something of a feeling of familiarity whilst presenting somewhere wholly new.

It’s a New Dawn (Flickr)

Photography within the region is welcome, and those taking pictures are invited to add them to the Dawn of Radiance Flickr pool. Should you enjoy your visit – and I have no doubt you will – please consider making a donation at the landing point to help with the region running costs.

SLurl Details

• It’s a New Dawn (Rated: Adult)