Grace Loudon is perhaps best known as a singer / performer in Second Life. However, she is also a creator of worlds, notably within her Full region of Amainiris, currently offered under the name of Boogeyman’s.
The name may seem to be appropriate for the time of year when I’m writing this, but I gather the overall themes of the setting – dark mystery and fantasy with a good splash of horror – are pretty much year-round. It offers an enticing visit and, as the home of Grace’s music venue, the chance for some good live music sessions.
We’re creepy all year! – Scary, gore, insane, haunted, ghost, explore, hangout, music, live, perform, spooky, monster, zombie, asylum, trick or treat, Halloween.
– Boogeyman’s About Land Description
The Landing Point takes the form of a little residential street busy with trick-or-treaters scurrying between the houses. Those arriving are advised to read the scrolling introductory notes which will appear before them (don’t land and hurry forward!) to get the best from their visit. Head lights are also available for those who might find things a little dark.
There’s not a lot to see within the houses along the street – they are all façades – but the little Trick-or-treaters are fun to observe – including a couple from Cica Ghost.
However, the fun begins at the far end of the street relative to the Landing Point. Here sit three paths leading into the dark woods covering pretty much the entire region. Which one you take first is entirely up to you as all have much to offer.
Along one, for example you’ll find an asylum which might not carry the name Arkham – but so easily could. Beyond it along a winding path more is to be found from weird creatures to a scene that might have you mentally quoting The Scottish Play (if not When shall we three meet again?, then almost certainly, Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble), and more before coming to a creepy swamp.
The main thing is, all the paths – and their branches – should be followed, and followed carefully if you’re to experience everything: the creepy playground balancing the swamp; the zombie train (complete with outdoor cinema close by – just be wary of anyone coming up behind you!); the cemetery and – within its own Landing Point and forming another jumping-off point for explorations, the delightfully spooky Boogeyman’s club itself.
This is actually one of three venues within the region, the other two being the quirky Groovy Girl Café and Sound Control. Both are located in the sky, with the former celebrating Second Life’s female sings and live performers, and the latter carrying a cabaret club vibe with a strong celebration of the RCMP. Both are packed with detail, and I’ll likely cover them as a part of my Coffeehouses and Cafe series.
Back on the ground, there are two particular spots await discovery. They sit fairly close together along a path, each carrying a warning: Don’t Go Down the Ladder!, together with And Don’t Go in the Water Either!
Of course both are open invitations – although you’ll need to accept the local Experience to either climb the ladder or take a dip (you’ll only need to accept it the one time, obviously!).
The ladder will take you to my favourite part of the setting: the catacombs. This, for me, has wonderful echo of Tolkien – not that this is likely intentional. You’ll heard the dragon before you see it (just look up!), whilst the entire arrival space has a feel of the great halls of Erebor after Smaug’s arrival.
Across the field of bones, an entrance beckons, carrying you on down. I’m not going to spoil things any further other than to note that the path through the tunnels and caverns will mix elements of beauty and touches of beasties. Just be sure to key an eye out for points where the tunnels branch.
Take a dip, meanwhile and you’ll be on something of an undersea adventure. Again take a good look around and then follow the path winding down into the sea floor sinkhole. Both the caves and the underwater elements have teleports that will carry you back to the top of the ladder’s well or the banks of the pond. Elsewhere you might find a door with a warning of its own and a trip through a maze containing the season’s Ghoul’s and Ghosts game (also seen elsewhere in SL).
Throughout all of this are touches large and small (beware of a giant spider dropping in on you in the caverns, for example), and places which simply offer somewhere to sit down – even if one is beneath the roving eyes of a ventriloquist’s dummy sitting on a shelf!
Whilst offering something of a Halloween-y style of destination, Boogeyman’s leans more towards fun and light scares rather than gore and horror (zombies notwithstanding!), with the touches filtering lightly into the two skyborne venues without being overpowering or spoiling their very individual environments and ambience.
In all, a fun visit, with plenty of opportunities for re-visits to enjoy some of SL’s best music and vocal artists.
SLurls
Amainiris is rated Moderate
