De*cid*u*ous – click any image for full size
De*cid*u*ous is a full region designed by Trip (TrippingDaisy) and landscaped by his partner, Tate (Tate Ghost). It needs only one word to describe it: enchanting.
Sitting under a Windlight suggestive of an early morning, when the Sun’s rays cause a gentle ground mist to rise of the dew gathered on grass and leaf, De*cid*u*ous is a mix of stunning landscaping and personal expression on love, life, relationships and the passage of time given in words of prose and poetry – and it is a place deserving of careful and thorough exploration as there really is a lot to see.
“What if a virtual land could represent a real life?” Trip asks those arriving at the landing point in the north-west corner of the region, before he continues with an invitation: “Take a journey with me. Enjoy the meticulous landscaping designed by my partner, Tate. Stand in line at my heart to witness the fate of some.” And thus we’re off on a journey, following paths and trail, crossing bridges, exploring settings and passing through caves and caverns.
Along the way – most notably in the caverns and tunnels connecting them, but elsewhere as well – are easels visitors are invited to touch. Doing so will offer up a note card with a passage or poem intended to complement the scene where it is found. Collectively, the shape moments from a life – happiness, love, melancholy, regret, anger, freedom – and all should be read as a part of any deeper journey through the land.
Following the path down from the landing points takes visitors to first of several water crossings: a bridge and deck where time can be spent sitting at cable roll tables or sitting in the rowing boats moored alongside. Beyond, the path winds through trees, forking before an ancient ruin, one arm leading to a Romany camp between ruins and water, where restful times can be had.
The other arm of the path points the way onwards to a second bridge, joined on the far side of the channel it spans by wooden boards marching over the grass to where they also fork. Turn left, and the way leads to Trip’s heart, as mentioned in the welcoming note card, and another poem of life and reflection. Continue onwards from the path to the heart, and the trail leads to a clearing and another choice: left and out to where a Ferris wheel sits in the light of the rising Sun, or onwards to where the entrance to the caverns awaits.
Neither option should be missed. The Ferris Wheel sits within another scene, an easel offering up a poem. The caverns wind up through a pyramid-like hill, each offering a scene or settings, each with at least one poems to accompany it. As Trip hopes the scenes and settings throughout the region will speak personally to all visitors passing through, I’m not going to shade your thinking on encountering the caverns by offering my thoughts here.
From the top of the hill, and the cottages sitting on it, the way back down to the lowlands takes the form of a switchback path – but do check around the slopes of the rocky crown carefully, lest you miss the fort built into its southern face and the cosy hideaway it offers. From the foot of the path down the side of the hill, it is possible to continue onwards and discover the remaining secrets of the region and the various places for contemplation and quiet company it offers.
De*cid*u*ous is, as noted, a stunning region, offering a series of individual scenes beautifully brought together as a whole through the landscaping. The default Windlight throws the region into a misty half-light, but the land lends itself comfortably to a wide range of environmental settings, and Trip and Tate encourage photographers to experiment. They also ask that those so minded consider submitting their work to the De*cid*u*ous Flickr group. Those requiring props for their images can obtain rezzing rights by joining the region group – but do please remember to pick up your items afterwards!
All told, an eye-catching visit for any Second Life region-hopper. Mix in the poetry and prose that accompany many of the scenes found across the land, and you have a new level of engagement when visiting. Definitely not a place to miss.
SLurl Details
- De*cid*u*ous (Deciduous, rated: Moderate)
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