Category: Reviews

Since 2021, Jayden Mercury has been creating  / writing stories involving settings he designs, sometimes on his own, sometimes with the assistance of others, and notecards which might be seen as chapter outlines or prompts, all under his Neverending banner.

While I have missed numerous segments, I did cover the start of the story when Jayden opened Adventures In Mad Wonderland in 2021 (see here for more). I then returned to it for Neverending – Sakura Tales (more here) and again for The Dark Tower (more here), after which I kind-of lost touch with things. I was therefore pleased to be recently able to visit the 13th chapter in the series NeverendingSL: Souru Sosaeti.

Jayden’s settings often have a suggestion of pulling on the threads of literature and storytelling from times past in order to create a tale of its own. With Adventures In Mad Wonderland, for example, there was the obvious element of Dodgson’s stories as written under his pen name; with The Dark Tower there seemed to be multiple potential intertwining references: Stephen King, Robert Browning, Tolkien, and so on.

Here, the name of the setting appears to be taken from the Japanese term for Soul Society (aka “dead spirit world” or “spirit world”, Souru Sosaeti), where souls are said to reside whilst awaiting reincarnation.

Whether the reference is meant literally or simply as a means of unfolding this chapter of Jayden’s story (or even as an oblique reference to the Japanime series BLEACH), I’ve no idea. Certainly, the introductory notecard gives the impression that there is a common thread linking this Soul Society with its namesake:

Souru Sosaeti, once bustling and lively, now lay shrouded in fog and surrounded by an eerie silence. The artist arrived in the harbour aboard his small boat, guided by his constant companion, the majestic phoenix. The bird of rebirth was more than just a symbol; it seemed to have a connection to this mysterious city, whose fate threatened to disappear into the mist.

– Introductory notecard for NeverendingSL: Souru Sosaeti

Stranded, the artist has set-up home on the edge of the city, and among the tower of stacked trailer homes similar in nature (if on a smaller scale) to the one popularised by a certain E. Cline in his debut novel. And it is at his little retreat that the story opens, with an invite to sit and then explore the setting. As with previous iterations of the story, the setting is interactive, and visitors are encouraged to explore, take photos, discover – and to try to find the artist’s pen and paper in order to read on to see what happens next.

The story itself carries the sub-title The Artist and the Cards of Destiny. This appears to be a reference to a game within the setting which can be triggered by locating the local Experience and receiving the game HUD. The Experience trigger might take a little finding; all I’ll say is look for alley with the red lanterns and the gate at its far end. Locate it, and the Joker may have a challenge for you!

Suddenly, the Joker appeared, emerging from nowhere with a diabolical grin and a theatrical voice that echoed through the deserted streets. ‘Ah, finally a curious wanderer,’ chuckled the Joker as he faced the artist. ‘Are you here to unravel the secrets of this city? 

The artist stepped back, startled by the Joker’s sudden appearance. Gathering his composure, he met the Joker’s gaze. ‘Who are you? What do you know about the disappearances?’ he demanded …

The Joker smiled mysteriously and replied, ‘Ah, that is a question for those who seek the truth. The city has many faces, each with its own stories to tell. Perhaps you will find the answers you seek if you find the four king cards. Are you ready for the challenge?

I’ll say no more on the game here – you can discover it for yourself when you find the “Joker’s gate”, as it were. So why not pay a visit to NeverendingSL: Souru Sosaeti and see what you might find on the ground  (and elsewhere!), both on foot and by way of theJoker’s challenge?

Slurl Details

• NeverendingSL: Souru Sosaeti (Hidden Reef, rated Moderate)

In leafing through the Destination Guide recently, I happened across an entry for Petite Provence d’Annisss, a full private region setting leveraging the Land Capacity bonus, designed by Annisss Mathịṣ (annisss). Offering a mix of public spaces and rental properties (so some caution might be in order during wanderings to avoid invading someone’s privacy), it offers a good deal to see and appreciate and some pleasing opportunities for photography.

Visit a village in the south-east of France, have lunch at a restaurant with a sea view or enjoy its beaches and small isolated coves, visit its superb caves or come and enjoy the evenings at the Club.

– Petite Provence d’Annisss About Land description

A visit commences towards the west side of the region where a tall clock tower keeps watch over a channel cutting its way into the landscape. Perhaps this watery cutting and the bay at its eastern end may once have been a natural inlet, but where the banks may have once stood has been built up with walls and topped out with paving to provide space for local businesses, the town church, with the inlet becoming something of a small harbour, offering a safe haven to various craft which appear to enter via a separate channel.

Gathered behind the clock tower, the part of the town adjacent to the landing point carries hints of multiple locations – some of the buildings having a lean towards Tuscany; others seemingly plucked from rural France. It’s a mix that is pleasing to the eyes with cobblestones an paving run around and between the buildings, inviting feet to follow, while to the south a road sweeps down from the heights before performing a u-turn and ending as abruptly as it started have served its intent and brought visitors down to the golden sands of a beach whilst cupping one of the region’s restaurants in its arms as it does so.

The beach offers plenty of places and space to catch the sun, whilst a makeshift bar might allow sunbathers to quench their thirst when it is stocked and operating. For those who prefer, steps to one side of the clock tower offer a quicker way down from the landing point to the beach, and both the the steps and the road will direct wanderers to where a horse rezzer is also available should clip-clopping around the town appeal.

Across the channel, and linked to the clock tower by way of a bridge, the north side of town has fairly packed itself into a small island, the buildings shuffling together shoulder-to-shoulder is if in mutual protection. Between them might be found narrow streets and alleys that – as is so often the way with old towns – suddenly burst forth into a square or walk raised above a beach, offering places to sit and pace the time and / or steps down to the sands.

Follow the raised water front here down to where it overlooks the moorings for boats, and you cannot fail to find The Blue Note, the club mentioned in the About Land description. Sitting within the remnants and façades of a number of buildings and with its very roof the sky above, this a a place ready to host both DJs and live musicians alike, its dancefloor sitting above a tropical isle in miniature.

Reached by walking through the town and passing by the church and another restaurant, visitors can make their way to the region’s art gallery. Sitting with cliffs on three of its four sides, the gallery was hosting a exhibition of photography by Ludi Tarus at the time of my visit, with its courtyard area sporting various 3D pieces. Just to the south of the gallery are two blocky promontories, a narrow cove cutting between them. One of these promontories is home to a public baths, and those seeking it out might also notice there’s a path edging its way around the cliffs below it, offering access to the cove.

The second promontory is the location to one of the setting’s rental homes. Overlooking another cove-like beach sheltering between the rocky bluffs, this house looks across the sands to another headland marked by more rentals, and with another path running through it connecting the two baches along its shoreline. To be honest, I’ve not sure if this aspect of the island is intended to be open to the public; while it links directly to the the gallery and its courtyard, the only means to reach the footpath and the beached appears to be by taking a walk through the gardens of the rental houses. I wasn’t keen on doing this in case I was trapsing across private property, so I simply cammed  over and looked around.

Some of the cliffs dropping away to the harbour from the rentals and the gallery have waterfalls bursting out of them, suggesting the presence of a rocky aquifer. More to the point, for those who find it, there’s a stairway leading down to the base of some of these falls, where a bag of gifts awaits, together with the entrance to the cave mentioned in the About Land description.

Charming, quiet and with plenty of opportunities for photography, Petite Provence d’Annisss makes from a pleasing visit with plenty to seen and photograph.

SLurl Details

• Petite Provence d’Annisss (Petite Provence, rated Moderate)

In my previous Exploring Second Life piece, I wrote about Ai-mura, a part of a region called A Love Project (see: Ai-mura: A Love Project in Second Life). Primarily created by ラパ (Rapa Tone) and Indra Herouin, Ai-mura, as I noted in that article, sits on a sky platform as one of a number of public spaces within the region, and I said I’d cover the rest in a future piece. So, here we are.

Occupying an area approaching a quarter of the region’s area in size, Ai-mura is, I believe, the largest single public space open to visitors within this Full region. By contrast Ākādo, also sitting on a sky platform and continuing the Japanese theme, covers an area a little over 5,000 square metres in size – which doesn’t make it any less curious and interesting to explore.

Every now and then, Ākādo experiences a peculiar transformation, beckoning the townspeople to an otherworldly celebration. The narrow streets become alive with masked figures in ornate kimonos moving to the rhythmic beat.

– Ākādo About Land description

The landing point sits as an open-sided path running alongside of a water channel. The façades of little shops line the other side of the cobbles, whilst the landing area itself offers a note-card giver providing more information on the minds behind A Love Project as well as offering a teleport HUD giver. Experience-driven, this provides access to other public spaces within the region (including Ai-mura) and also to other related regions.

At the far end of the footpath is a small precinct of businesses selling variety of wares, and a large boat with sitting with it bow abutting the local jetty. Unfortunately, the boat appears to sit within a boundary prim for the settings, and so sitting on board doesn’t appear to be possible (I got bounced up onto the awning). One of the eateries making up one of the little businesses does offer seating, however, whilst the other sits alongside the path leading up to a large, open-air paved space that’s given over the music.

This may well be the place of the celebrations  mentioned in the parcel’s About Land description; it is certainly curious in tone. At first seeming innocent in looks, one only has to look at the waters over which the DJ booth sits to realise it has its own mystery. For there, rising from the depths, are a series of demon-like creatures. They are in fact oni statues, although they appear to have been called forth by the music – or perhaps they are seeking the  Cthulhu-like creature on in the open waters…

Steps rise from a corner of this square to pass by way of a shrine and then climb on upwards to where a temple sits at the top of the hill overlooking the events area. Here, prayers might be offered to Ōkuninushi – perhaps to keep the demons below at bay!

Using the teleporter HUD can carry one to a further sky platform, and a very different environment. Taking the name Saudade – the Portuguese term referencing the profoundly nostalgic longing for a beloved yet absent something or someone, this is a small space given over to remembering those whom have been lost.

It’s a beautiful setting designed by RavenStarr Fairelander in which visitors can literally walk among the clouds and commemorate someone dear to them whom they miss deeply through the release of a prayer balloon, or by sending a full permissions image (and presumably a short IM / note) to RavenStarr, who will add it to the picture board within the space.

Two further public spaces can be reached via the teleporter HUD. Both reside on the ground level of the region, which is also the location of a number of private residences, so please do keep to just the two public areas when visiting. The first I’ll mention is Bachata Magica, a waterfront destination mindful of the Caribbean or Latin America, and where – as the name suggests, Latin American music (and, presumably other forms of music) can be enjoyed whilst dancing on the sands between the gaily-painted houses and bars. The remaining space is a small gallery called Piece of Work, and is home to Indra’s avatar-centric and attention-holding photography.

Love Project offers may to see and appreciate, as I hope this and my previous article show – so enjoy.

SLurl Details

A Love Project is rated Moderate.

• Ākādo
• Saudade
• Bachata Magica
• Piece of Work

My most recent travels to me to the setting of Ai-mura, largely created by ラパ (Rapa Tone) and Indra Herouin. Occupying a sky platform covering a little under a quarter of a Full private region which offers the private island Land Capacity bonus, Ai-Mura is held under Rapa’s melodic.one Group and is described as being a part of the Love Project, in reference to the region as a whole and the multiple settings available within it – some of which I’ll be covering in these pages in due course.

Ai-mura is an engaging Japanese themed setting, with very good use made of the available space, which has been split into roughly three primary areas.

As you step off the train at Ai-mura station, you sense there is something magical about this small village by the sea. Refresh your body and mind at the local onsen, explore the bustling neko village, wander the paths to find your perfect picture spot, and come listen to amazing DJs while dancing your cares away in a beautiful, open-air venue.

– Ai-Mura Destination Guide entry

The train – more a tram, really – referenced in the setting’s Destination Guide entry sits in the south-east corner of the setting, stopped at the terminus of whatever line it has followed to reach this point, having to to it via passage through a nearby tunnel. The station located just below the elevated tracks has something of an industrial feel about its insides, resembling more of a pumping station than a ticket office or anything. Alongside of it is the entrance / exit to a subway system, suggesting another means of reaching the setting.

A bamboo path offers two routes down from the station, it and the tram track being the highest accessible points in the setting. The first is to the north, where a gatehouse and stone steps allow visitors to descend from the station’s rocky table-top and reach the neko village also referenced in the Destination Guide entry.

The second arm of the path turns west to pass under a Torii gate and again descend via stone steps to provide access to the west side of the setting. In offering the way to their respective destinations, both arms of the path pass over a fast-flowing stream that tumbles from above vias falls and then further falls and rapids before eventually passing into a tunnel of its own, effectively isolating the station’s rocky highland from the rest of the landscape.

The neko village is, as the name suggests, a village of kitties – u10 nitta’s (shiro0822) ever-engaging {-Maru Kado-} kitties to be precise. Unsurprisingly, given the local inhabitants 🙂 the majority of the businesses in the village square are given over to eateries with all sorts of foods on offer – including fish. The latter are being offered via a warehouse linking the village with a fishing wharf where a couple of boats are tied-up, most likely having recently delivered their catches.

Packed with little details waiting to be found, the village is a simply charming setting ripe with photo opportunities. One of my favourite elements – aside from the kitties – is a sign board sitting above the the village providing information on where Rapa –  an SL DJ – might be, giving both her DJ appearances and the times she’s asleep  with “zzzz”.

Steps on the west side of the village provides access to an open meadow which in turn connects to the west side of the region, the majority of which is given over to a field for music events, with the field set to host a Progressive Music event on Tuesday, July 30th from 16;00-22:00 SLT, hosted by Coley Magic, who will join Rapa and five other DJs presenting sets during the event.

South of the music venue is a raised courtyard which connects to the second part of the path running down from the tram station. The courtyard seems to function as both an overspill area for the music events field and as an open space before the setting’s osen.

The latter is entirely open-air and without either accompanying bath house or changing area. Instead, the main pool sits within a oval of large stones and appears to be heated from a natural source below, the water’s surface misted with steam. Whatever the source of the heat, it must be powerful: the pool appears to be fed by cold fresh water tumbling from more of the falls at the setting’s southern highlands; water which drops over stepped falls and then rushes through more little rapids to flow into the larger body of which the onsen pool is part.

For those who would like a more private spa, a second hot spring and pool can be found on a shoulder of rock overlooking the main falls and stream. It is reached by turning off the path down to the onsen from the tram station before it crosses the stream via a red bridge.

There are one or two roughly little elements where the landscaping could perhaps be tidied in little more, but these don’t really intrude into the setting to the extent them we show up in photos. The sound scape – birdsong and trickling water – could perhaps do with a little more, but again, its entirely possible most visitors will be dropping in for the music, and so won’t notice. Certainly, the overall photogenic nature of the setting cannot be denied, and the look and appeal of Ai-Mura does much to commend the rest of the public spaces within the region as being destinations to add to an itinerary.

SLurl Details

• Ai-Mura (a love Project, rated Moderate)