Category: Exploring Second Life

One of the places I always enjoy visiting in Second Life is the homestead region of Natthimmel, held and curated by Konrad (Kaiju Kohime) and Saskia Rieko as a public space, and which is regularly updated to (in general) reflect re-world locations. Sadly, I was unable to cover the September / October iteration of the reason, as for some reason – and despite my best efforts – the setting repeatedly refused to fully render on my PC.

Given this, and aware that Rieko and Konrad had opened their latest build at Natthimmel towards the end of October, I was determined to hop over to take a look as soon as I was able to spend a sufficient amount of time sitting at my computer in order to appreciate it. In this, I was doubly curious / keen to do so, not only for having been unable to write about the previous build, but also because of the subject Konrad and Saskia had selected: the British Maunsell Sea Forts of World War Two.

Maunsell Forts were offshore defence structures built in the estuaries of the rivers Mersey (to defend the port of Liverpool and the western industrial regions of England against bombers using the Mersey as a navigational aid) and Thames, where they performed the dual roles of trying to shoot down bombers attempting to reach London or east coast ports such as Felixstowe and Harwich or which would try to mine the coastal sea lanes, and offering a line of defence against any fast German seaborne raiders attempting to strike ports in East Anglia.

Of the two groups of forts, those within and offshore to the Thames estuary are perhaps the most famous, primarily because some survive through to this day, whereas those on the west coast were all demolished following the end of World War Two. It is the east coast forts which form the basis for the Natthimmel build.

These forts were of two types: four Navy forts grounded on sand bars between 10 and 18 kilometres off the coast, and three metal Army forts of a more complex design located closer to the Thames estuary shoreline. The Navy forts were of a simpler design, comprising two large concrete towers containing 7 levels each of accommodation and storage spaces, topped by large metal gun decks mounting their main armament of guns, together with the main control building, radar and officer’s accommodation. They were were the forts charged with both anti-aircraft and anti surface vessel operations and protecting the approaches to the ports of East Anglia as well as the Thames estuary.

The Army forts were more complicated in design, comprising seven metal towers atop metal legs. Five of these were built around a central “control tower” and mounted anti-aircraft guns, with the remaining tower slightly offset and housing searchlights for illuminating enemy bombers to the guns. Connected by elevated walkways, the towers of the Army forts saw extensive action throughout the war, claiming over 20 Luftwaffe bombers shot down and, later in the war, around 20 V1 flying bombs.

For their build at Natthimmel, Konrad and Saskia present interpretations of both styles of Maunsell fort, with six Army-style towers linked (or partially linked) by their raised catwalks, some of which sport both single quick-firing guns and what might be taken as rapid-fire Bofors guns, whilst another appears to be the main command tower. They are joined by a structure resembling the more off-shore Navy style fort, this one acting as the searchlight tower.

Whilst not strictly historically accurate, the combining of the two styles of fort in this way allows visitors to explore them both with relative ease (allowing for the partially collapsed catwalks between some of the “army” towers!) from the Landing Point. The latter takes the form of one of the resupply moorings located at the base of some of the Army towers, and offers a link between the accessible Army fort elements and the slightly more distant Navy element.

Caught under a night-time sky which helps evoke their wartime operation, the forts at Nathhimmel are presented in a way that both also evokes the original purpose through the inclusion of their anti-aircraft guns and the beam of a searchlight splitting the sky, whilst also referencing their abandonment and decay following the end of the war, with the Army towers rusting away, their catwalks looking none too safe (or completely collapsed!), the Navy tower also looking strangely industrial in its deserted state, whilst the machinery and systems within their aging walls is clearly well past any practical use. It’s a haunting and captivating presentation.

I also like the fact that, as with so many of Saskia and Konrad’s builds, Nathhimmel: Maunsell opens the door on a period of history that might not be widely known, encouraging people to take a peep inside and perhaps find out more about the location being presented through their own research.

In the case of the Maunsell forts, doing the latter is particularly worthwhile, as one of the Navy forts – Roughs Tower (formerly HM Fort Roughs) – has a very colourful post-war history commencing in the 1960s and extending right up pretty much to modern times. It encapsulates the so-called “Principality of Sealand”, armed assaults by both civilians and a band of Dutch mercenaries, hostage-taking, a ransom demand, a so-called “government in exile” (itself allegedly mixed up in laundering drug money!), and much, much more. All of this you can lean about by looking up the “Principality of Sealand”, Major Patrick Bates and Alexander Achenbach, alongside the broader history of Guy Maunsell and his sea forts.

Just be sure to do so after you’ve visited Nathhimmel: Maunsell!

Slurl Details

• Nathhimmel: Maunsell (NewMoon, rated Moderate)

Occupying a Full private region, Ofrenda Nocturna is setting primarily designed by Pris (Pieris) and the home of club Afterneath. It’s a rugged setting, the inclusion of Afterneath adding a sense of mystery to itself, for reasons I’ll come to.

Ofrenda is a rugged, natural spot with much interest for photographers and dreamers. Relax, immerse yourself, and indulge your senses. Find those surprises and don’t get lost. This is an adult destination, with something for everyone, so be ready to explore!

– Ofrenda Nocturna About Land description

The main Landing Point lies to the east of the region aboard a ferry boat. This has managed to dock at the end of a pier forming a part of a small harbour which is perhaps not the easiest place to test navigation skills, given the number of rocks raising warning heads above the waves and the carcass of a motorboat that didn’t quite make it to the little harbour’s workshop, to say nothing of the warning buoys and local lighthouse.

Alighting from the ferry with bring you to the shore by way of the pier and a rather interesting location for a gentleman’s barber. A scramble over rocks and sand is then required to reach solid land. Here a path made from loose-laid stones skirts around a mini Stonehenge, offer a choice of routes.

A turn to the left takes visitors around to where a gypsy caravan offers the treat of “topless Tarot”(!); something which prompts me to note that this is an Adult-rated region, and there are some RLV trapping elements around – so those using RLV/a-enabled viewers – be warned 🙂 .

Close by this caravan, tucked into the south-east of the setting is a grassy headland and a barn. The latter is home to a horse rezzer for those who fancy seeing the region via horseback. A more overgrown field lies above this barn and slightly more to the west, a trio of places to sit and pass the time scattered over its back, one of them alongside the stones of the henge.

Follow the path around to the right of said henge, and it will give the choice of crossing either of the region’s two streams. To the right, an arched wooden bridge provides access to a further choice of routes.

One of these runs alongside the larger of the two streams, passing behind the local camp site and up towards the stream’s rugged source. The second path runs more or less north from the bridge and provides the most direct route to the campsite / trailer park, both of which overlook a couple of linked inlets cutting into the region.

The remaining path, helpfully highlighted by a “This Way” sign offers the way to three more of the region’s interesting settings: a hideaway tucked into a hollow of the rising land and complete with a hot tub and another adult-themed element. This is reached via steps hewn into the rock, some of which also descend into one of the region’s caverns.  A separate path winds up and over the hideaway to a rocky path leading up to the ruins of an old abbey and chapel occupying the north-eastern headland.

The path on the far side of the second bridge offers a choice of routes: one to the region’s second large cavern – and the surprise waiting within; and a path up to the cobblestone paved plateau forming an open-air event space. A gravel path leading off of this event space offers access to the aforementioned Afterneath, and via the span of a stone bridge, to a large Zen garden hugging the very western edge of the region.

Sitting within its own parcel and EEP environment, Afterneath sits under the Zen garden within the region’s largest cavern. Two searchlights mark the way down and into the atmospheric club.

Once a month, Afterneath opens fully, unleashing a night that is seduction. This isn’t the kind of party where you stand against the wall and sip something safe. This is where the rhythm takes you under, where sweat and smoke blur together, and where strangers become something more beneath the strobe and shadow.

– Heidi Volare, describing Afterneath

Rich in detail and with a stormy sky (which may not be obvious from my images here, as some odd rendering artefacts encouraged me to substitute an environment setting over the local EEP)and sprinkled with sculptures, Ofrenda Nocturna makes for an interesting visit and place to explore.

SLurl Details

• Ofrenda Nocturna (rated: Adult)

October is starting to rise over the year’s horizon, bringing with it – inevitably – thoughts of Halloween, pumpkins and all the associated shenanigans associated with this time of year. I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a particular fan of the modern hullabaloo around Halloween, but within Second Life it can sometimes be rewarding exploring suitably themed region designs that opt to offer offer something a little different from the usual fare.

One such place is Critterflop Hallowpop, the latest iteration of Alpha Auer’s Alphatribe Island.

Following somewhat is the tradition of Quirklewick Hollow (see my piece here for more) and Gingerbread and the Woodies (again, see my piece here for more), Critterflop takes a jump into a critter-led celebration of all things seen as Halloween related – broomsticks, pointy hats, pies, and more – coupled with a further engaging science fiction-ish twist.

As with the two designs mentioned above, Critterflop Hallowpop focuses on a village setting, one which seems to meander across a misty landscape and between autumnal trees gathered into groves close enough to one another to form a loose woodland. But as this is Alpha, the homes and houses in this village are far from ordinary: their styles are an engaging combination of ideas and looks.

Black roofs rise to points or curves, their looks distinctly hat-like over and around white walls withing which the placement of windows and doors can suggest the idea of a face here and there. In addition, the shapes of some houses are almost organic and / or suggestive of familiar objects – a sailing boat here, a coffee pot lacking its spout there (or perhaps a lighthouse tower with a hat replacing its lantern room), a pumpkin with its oversized stalk draped by a large hat, and so on. One even sits on four sturdy legs with a beak and eyes at one end and a tail at the other, looking like a living creature, the living space with familiar door and windows forming the creature’s body.

On, in, and around these are the village’s inhabitants – cats, crows, bats, rag dolls, a sorcerer, and raccoons. They all share the space with more curious characters. Some of these appear to be little aliens coming for a visit, others – the bird-like cats, for example – suggest some of the locals either have ingenious Halloween costumes or have been tinkering with magic.

Not that any actual dark mischief is going on here; the locals are having too much fun for that. The raccoons, for example, appear to particularly enjoy baking pies. Wander through the woodlands and you’ll find a group of them showing off their baking skills whilst sitting on giant pies. Elsewhere, in a clearing, more raccoons are demonstrating their broomstick riding skills as they circle a bonfire, watched by an appreciative audience of other racoons together with rag dolls.

All of the critters to be found within the village are available for sale and come as huggies. A market stall featuring all of them, together with framed paintings, can be found to the north-east of the setting. Just across from it is a further store area, again offer the current critters together with those from previous builds, together with her superb sculptures and unique flora.

As ever with Alpha’s designs, Critterflop Hallowpop is charming in its engagement, and photogenic in its uniqueness and detail. On arrival, I strongly recommend locating the information giver close by the Landing Point. This will deliver a folder of information and bits – notably an introduction to the setting with ideas for enhancing your visit, and some notes on best viewing.

In short with the latter, please using the local Shared Environment for lighting; if you can, enable shadows and local lighting and push your draw distance as high as s comfortable for your system’s performance). Also included in the folder is a rezzable pack of complimentary poseballs for people to use it they wish (rezzing is open within the region, with a 120-minute return time – but do please pick up anything you might rez out).

But above all, do visit Critterflop Hallowpop and have fun

SLurl Details

• Critterflop Hallowpop (Alphatribe Island, rated Moderate)