Category: Reviews

Hiraeth Beach occupies around a half of a Full region held by Philippe Bruraf – VOID (bruraf), the other half being taken up with his club THE BLOCK, of which more anon.

I came across it via the Destination Guide earlier in August, and decided to hop over and have a look. What I found was a natural expanse of coastline carrying with it memories of places I’ve visited in the physical world whilst itself remaining a place firmly rooted in the imagination.

Hiraeth Beach is a secluded coastal escape where sea, wind, nature and forgotten history meet. Wander along wild shores, explore ancient ruins and a mysterious temple, discover hidden places beneath the sea, or simply find a quiet spot overlooking the horizon. Hiraeth is a Welsh word for a longing for a place that feels like home, even if you have never known it. More than a beach, Hiraeth is a place to explore, photograph, or simply slow down and breathe. Some places are visited. Others are remembered.

– Hiraeth Beach Destination Guide Description

I’ve spent many a happy hour over the decades walking the sands of places like Bamburgh on the coast if Northumberland, on spring, summer, autumn and even blue-skied winter days when the tide had retreated to expose broad, wets sands, the wind is fresh and clean and the worries of the world are a lifetime away.

Whilst a castle is noticeably absent from Hiraeth Beach (unlike Bamburgh!), there was something about it which immediately put me in mind of those walks, particularly when taken in the early morning. At the same time the setting is suggestive of more far-off places; a feeling most likely heightened by the Kuromatsu pines growing along the back of the beach and out along its headlands and the presence of a stone Buddha’s head.

This is a place with a sense of both age and patience: ruins mark part of the coastline, casting a more Mediterranean feel to it (and hint at the temple remnants lying beneath the ebb and flow of the sea), whilst fishing nets are strung as if awaiting unwary fish carried inwards by an incoming tide.

There are numerous places to sit found scattered along the length of the beach whilst the temple ruins under the waves can be reached via a teleport board.

There are some small niggles with the setting; elements in the form of the privacy surround around the nightclub setting intrude into the western skyline. Whilst not a major inconvenience, once noticed, they do tend to distract when in view; given that he nightclub venue is wreathed in a darkness that largely hides them from within it, it’s hard not to question the necessity of their presence.

The other is that the above aside, Hiraeth Beach is ideal for photography, but the lack of rezzing rights (even with local Group membership and / or Auto Return enabled) might be a limiting factor some seeking to capture themselves using the setting as a backdrop.

Meanwhile, the nightclub – THE BLOCK, as noted above – is connected to Hiraeth Beach via a road tunnel at the northern end of the region. Passing through this tunnel in either direction will transition visitors through the two local Share Environments – and both of the locations really should be seen using their respective environment settings.

THE BLOCK is a world away from the tranquillity of the beach, being something of a post-apocalyptic setting, complete with a fallen Statue of Liberty. It is located in what amounts to a concrete compound guarding a fortress-like warehouse, the ruins of streets on two sides. Inside, the club is an almost psychedelic tour de force of lighting (hence the reason for viewing it under its Shared Environment) and industrial design, all of it highly effective. Events are held both within the club and in the courtyard of the compound Thursday through Saturdays – details via the local Group; and I gather some events are additionally held out on the beach as well.

I’m not a great person for clubs in SL, but I did find the lighting and design of THE BLOCK appealing. Camming around also suggested that some expansion to the club spaces is underway, if currently off-limits to public access. As such a return to see what else develops here might be in order.

Hiraeth Beach and THE BLOCK are two very different locations joined by a single designer / builder. Very different in looks and appeal, they equally work together as locations to visit and experience.

SLurl Details

Glendell is rated Moderate

• Hiraeth Beach Landing Point
• THE BLOCK Landing Point

I’ve been reporting on the BluShock Coalition on-and-off since 2021. Led by the redoubtable Fazzy Constantine (Faisel Constantine), BluShock have been exploring future worlds through world building and role-play, their story unfolding like the seasons of a continuing sci-fi series as it moves from world-to-world (and occasionally confines itself to life on small outposts or deep space cruisers).

Since my last time spent visiting them in July 2025, the group has renamed itself Cerbshock, and they have most recently arrived on a new world – Planet Terralyth, located in the Andromeda galaxy – and Fazzy extended a subspace invitation for me to explore this world ahead of it being made public.

In Cerbshock, the universe is basically yours to explore. Check out amazing new planets loaded with beauty and mystery. Dive into a gripping story where your decisions actually matter—pushing your morals and testing how far you’re willing to go. Every choice counts, making your journey completely one-of-a-kind.

– From the Cerbshock website

Occupying a Full private region, Terralyth has been designed by Fazzy with the assistance of Zeth Ryder (Zeth Starlight) and artist CK (Ceakay Ballyhoo). To say it is a truly impressive build would be an understatement.

At first glance, there is a faintly Panadora-ish feel to the planet: densely forested and with great fingers of rock pointing skywards with winged creatures circling them. However, unlike James Cameron’s world, Terralyth remains rooted in physics: no floating islands turning a blind eye to Newton and Einstein. Instead, what we do have is an environment that is immersive and which stands both in the long tradition of and tribute to the work of Noah Constantine (NoahLion), who was for so long the group’s world-building genius.

Planetary Database: Terralyth Designation: Habitat 1 Region: Heleus Cluster, Andromeda Galaxy. Classification: Super-Earth with extreme axial inclination. Surface Temperature: Approximately 30–35°C. Surface Gravity: Approximately 1.15–1.20 Earth standard. Environment: Tropical jungle and elevated rainforest. Atmosphere: Breathable, dense and humid. Natural satellites: One, unusually large. Habitability and lifeforms: Confirmed, with outstanding environmental concerns under investigation.

There are a few ground rules – pardon the pun – visitors are asked to observe when visiting. These can be found at the Landing Point and are not onerous – in essence, keep to the ground level, keep clothing / look PG and don’t try accessing restricted areas.

One point I will make (outside of the usual “best viewed with a PBR enabled viewer”) is that you might need to occasionally extend Draw Distance up to around 350-360 metres to get some of the off-region elements to render if you wish to see the setting as intended. However, given the overall design, the emphasis here is very much on “occasionally”. Whether or not you opt to have Shadows enabled is entirely up to you – but do have local sounds enabled.

There are a couple of routes for exploration leading away from the shuttle pad Landing Point. These routes might at first appear limited; the landscape, whilst lush, has been cleaved open as if by a giant’s axe, resulting in deep gorges and paths that sometimes end in long falls. However, such appearances are deceptive. Spans of rock reach across some chasms (some at giddying altitudes!), with the fallen trunks of trees great bridging others, their positions along trails begging the question: was their gap-spanning toppling fortuitous or designed?

Planetary Database: Terralyth Terralyth is a large, Earth-like world characterised by dense tropical jungles, towering rock formations, deep valleys, elevated landmasses, and extensive networks of rivers and waterfalls. Its warm, humid atmosphere supports an exceptionally diverse biosphere, including widespread bioluminescent flora and fungal life. The planet possesses an unusually slow and highly inclined rotation. Across the primary jungle regions, both the Sun and moon follow shallow paths along the horizon, rising only slightly before gradually disappearing into the planet’s dense atmospheric haze.

That this world was once inhabited is clear: some of the paths are clearly well-worn and ancient, and there are ruins awaiting discovery. Then there is the no small matter of the futuristic monolithic tower. Now apparently the base of operations for the Cerbshock team, it does not appear to be of human design – so who might have been responsible for its construction and what might have been its purpose? Such are the rich opportunities for role play to be found here!

As to the life forms present and how much of a threat they may pose – well, that is again a matter of conjecture on my part. They appear to be a mix of herbivore (or possibly omnivore) in the case of the shadowbull. The lean and powerful bloodstalker with its claws and teeth, however, has all the hallmarks of being a carnivore of the hunting variety – so you have been warned!

It also appears as though the Cerbshock veterans are not the first human / alien alliance to venture to Terralyth. Tucked away within the planet are all the signs of an existing human-involved presence; possibly one intent on planetary exploitation going by the markings  on what appears to be their planetary transport. Are they the reason for the reports of pirate activity noted in the Cerbshock planetary database? Quite possibly – if you’re a role player and curious, then all the more reason for you to consider joining the Cerbshock team and finding out.

Planetary Database: Terralyth Preliminary surveys have identified traces of ancient structures across several elevated plateaus and within caverns exposed by tidal erosion. Their origin remains unknown. Several ruins appear deliberately positioned along the paths followed by the Sun and moon, suggesting that Terralyth’s unusual celestial cycle held significance to the planet’s former inhabitants. Recent reports have also indicated possible pirate activity within the region surrounding Terralyth. These reports remain unconfirmed, and no direct evidence has been established linking the activity to the planet itself.

Terralyth is excellently conceived and executed. Even if you are only paying a visit, there is plenty to see; if you’re looking for an immersive, science fiction oriented role play, then it and the Cerbshock team have a lot to offer. In the latter regard, the official website (or Codex) is extremely informative (and also quoted here!), and includes notes on how to join.

Speaking purely as a visitor, I enjoyed wandering / camming and poking around; and even if “Blood Stalker” isn’t the official name for the carnivore – I really think it should be; sums the rascal up perfectly in terms of his looks and actions! 😀 .

My thanks to Fazzy (as always!( for keeping me informed as to BluShock / Cerbstock adventures and worlds – and best wishes to the team as this chapter in their adventures opens!

Further Details

• Habitat 1 – Planet Terralyth (Cedwin, rated Moderate)
• Cerbshock Codex

Earlier in the week I was chatting to Cube Republic about Sharon Edwyn’s Goddess Temple after he’d visited it on the basis of my recent article.

During the conversation he asked about Hera (zee9) and whether she’d opened up any region designs recently – and guess what? Within 24 hours of that conversation, I received a Group notice indicating that Hera had opened not one but two themed settings in the same location!

Well, I don’t know about you, but that was a loooong, hot summer! But now that it’s cooling down a bit, Lili and I are looking forward to some cool late summer nights with events at Studio 54 and the new Club Paradisio. Before we get to that, though, I thought it would be fun to hang out with some friends of mine in Elysia, the Garden of the Gods :). It’s all very Greek and relaxed – lots of beaches and temples just to stroll around and unwind.

– Hera’s notice on Elysia and Studio 54.

These are two very different designs, pretty much standing at either end of our entire recorded history, here joined by a creative talent and a partnership, so both are covered in this piece.

Elysia, Garden of the Gods is the first of the two settings I’m going to be writing about here, both in terms of it coming first historically speaking, and because it might be the shorter-lived of the two given the wording of the notice (Hera’s designs have a habit of vanishing without warning). As the note above makes clear, this is a visualisation of the Ancient Greek conception of the Elysian Realm.

Also known as the Fortunate Isles, the Elysian Realm was – mostly, at least – seen as a place where the heroic and righteous would live a happy afterlife of indulgence. With Hera’s design, we’re taken to a sort-of modern Elysium: a home to the gods whilst also a place where we can indulge ourselves in sun, sand and swimming without the need to shuffle off this mortal coil in order to reach it 🙂 .

Featuring a climbing hill of temples and pavilions watched over by a mermaid and guarded by white lions, this is a place rising from the blue of the sky like Olympus above the clouds, a complex centred on a temple dedicated to Zeus and before which Dionysus – in keeping with the theme of pleasurable indulgence – sits ready to welcome guests.

The Landing Point, interestingly, does not sit before the setting, but high up to one side and to the rear of the complex. This encourages wandering and exploring – and there’s a lot to find given the compact size of the setting. Gods and goddesses watch over progress, while pavilions and pools offer tempting distractions – including a terrace bar and party space (the Club Paradiso mentioned in Hera’s note?), while the surrounding beach offers more places to relax.

Also located at the Landing Point are a couple of sign boards for Studio 54 and the Soul City Junction. Both boards are an Experience-based teleport, and the two locations are a joint venture between Hera and DJ Lili Belmonte, with the latter (I think) intended to be the Landing Point for the former.

Both carry us from the ancient past to the New York of the 1970s and the famous Studio 54 nightclub based in mid-town Manhattan within a venue with quite a long history going back to nigh-on 100 years, and which continues today.

As the Landing Point, Soul City Junction drops visitors into one of Hera’s famous street scenes, albeit on a smaller scale and (apparently when first seen, at least!) without the fantasy elements common to Hera’s builds. Instead we’re presented with a straightforward representation of 1970s New York – although “straightforward” does not mean “uninteresting”.

Smaller than Elysia, Soul City Junction is still nevertheless worthy of exploration as attention has been paid to detail, from the graffiti to the cars and even the interiors of some of the business premises. One of the latter is the entrance foyer to Studio 54 (which takes the form of a touch-operated teleport to the club). However, before taking the TP there, make sure you take a look at the Voodoo lounge across the road for its “touch of Hera” 🙂 .

Studio 54 focuses on the club’s 1970’s heydays, but also appears to touch on some of its prior history as a venue as well, together with more recent elements within the venue. For example, the galleried upper section directly above the club floor perhaps offers both a hint of the club’s past as a theatre and its more recent venue as a cabaret  / show venue. Meanwhile, above this sits the Rubber Room, a reimagining of the original club’s fetish venue which gives it a complete and attractive makeover.

My inspiration for doing all of this was Lili, who I found out a month back is a great fan of disco, soul and all things 1970’s,  and had always dreamed of playing at Studio 54 :). She woke me up in a way to the simple joy of the music. Why you may ask would anyone want to do anything else on a night out other than have good time?

The Junction grew out of the club, I just wanted a complete 1970’s world to disappear into. It is another fantasy, although I have tried hard to capture the look and feel of the era … please enjoy it for what it is 🙂

– Hera on Studio 54.

Events at Studio 54 are due to kick-off in September 2026 – there is a local Group to join for details of when and times. In the meantime, it and Soul City Junction are available to visits. As noted, I’ve no idea how long Elysia will be around – so do hop over sooner rather than later if you want to see it.

Slurl Details

Nadia is rated Adult

• Elysia, Garden of the Gods
• Soul City Junction (and Club 54)