Tag: Exploring Second Life 2013

I’ve been a little behind things of late due to a project elsewhere taking up a large portion of my time and RL in general being somewhat awkward in its scheduling of things. So there are a few SL Destinations pending a write-up, including another Halloween theme or two which may or may or now seen the light of day. If they don’t my apologies to the creators concerned, both for my failure to get them blogged and because when I do make it in-world, I get totally distracted.

For the latter, you can blame Honour :). You see, I love castles; a good deal of my time has been spent travelling around England and Scotland visiting castles and the ruins of castles, so when Honour blogs about a castle I’ve not seen in SL, then that was it as far as the day’s plans were concerned; I was off to see for myself.

And Tudor Rose, with its castle, cathedral and waterfront, is certainly worth seeing. It has been developed by Amas Veritas (ppeapod) on behalf of region owner Elizabeth I (Elizabetth Chester), and the Whiteraven group. About Land provides the background to the region:

The setting is north of London along the Thames River to a castle that has been occupied by King and Queens alike for over 900 years, the Elizabeth castle.

This beautiful kingdom is a stage for councils, state ceremonies, summit politics, important feasts and Renaissance dances rich in culture.  A place where Queen Elizabeth I takes respite from the hectic life of court in London in this country retreat.

I admit that I wasn’t aware that the Thames ran north from London, nor did I realise the lands north of that great city were quite so hilly (the region has a near-mountainous surround on all sides); but this really is nit-picking on my part. What we’re presented with here is plenty to appreciate, enjoy and photograph.

Tudor Rose can be split into a number of distinct areas. The castle itself sits on an island on the north-east side of the region. To the west and south of it lies a small waterfront town, dominated by the huge bulk of a cathedral . Here can be found an inn, a quayside with two ships alongside and a slipway where a third vessel is under construction, its hull looking ready to be tar-sealed. Together the castle the cathedral with its entourage of houses and places of business make up the focal points to the region.

The cathedral is imposing. While built on lower ground to the castle, the spires atop its towers almost match the highest spire on the castle itself. Both the castle and cathedral are open to exploration, although in the case of the former, you may well want to take care if Her Majesty is in residence. Period costume does not appear to be a requirement for visitors, but I’m sure it would be appreciated.

Beyond the cathedral, moving southwards between it and the woodland separating it from a river, one can find the remaining features in the region. First are the jousting butts, heralding the days of chivalry, and which appear to be in frequent use. Make your way through the trees south-east from here and you’ll find a small church. From her, a path leads the way to a bridge crossing a stream, and which in turn brings you to a mystical dance circle, shrouded in mist and overlooked by a tall, round tower.

I’m not sure how much role-play goes on here; during my visit there were a good few people in period costume, but no-one accosted me for wearing modern clothing, and I didn’t come across any note card / rules giver either on my arrival or in my travels around the region.  Certainly, the opportunities for role-play would appear to be many; be it of a courtly persuasion within the castle itself, possibly involving Queen Elizabeth and her courtiers, or out jousting or perhaps (and possibly more mysteriously) at the open-air dance circle, where the rolling mist and surrounding gnarled trees suggest something of a dark nature may well be acted-out here at certain times of the year. There’s even a hint of the Arthurian within the castle.

There are a couple of slight incongruities with the architecture within the region in that both the castle and the cathedral have elements which are suggestive of them belonging more in a European landscape than perhaps having once sat close to London. However, as with my earlier quibble, this is a little bit of nit-picking; as a fantasy / role-play region, Tudor Rose has much which is welcoming, and the design lends itself to allowing several different activities or scenarios to be acted-out simultaneously.

For those looking for a period region offering opportunities to meet others interested in the Tudor history of England or similarly role-play, or if you’re simply looking for somewhere new to visit and photograph, Tudor Rose may well be worth adding to your list of places to visit.

Related Links

• Tudor Rose SLurl (Rated: General)

I’ve received a number of suggestions for places to visit and blog about. Some have come from people who have enjoyed visiting the places they recommend, some have come as an invitation from the creators to pay a visit.

As I’ve mentioned before, all such requests / suggestions are always welcome. I can’t honestly say everything will end up being blogged about (I might fall under a bus before I get to a sim!), and I certainly can’t say how quickly I might get to a particular region, but I will take a look at all the suggestions that come in, and hopefully work my way through blog posts on them.

A couple of suggestions which came my way recently were as a result of people picking-up on my own love of the orient, as reflected in blog posts such those for the Moonlight Teahouse,  Taka no Sakura and Kusanagi. Coincidentally, while the suggestions came from different directions, they were both pointing to combat-themed regions. I wasn’t sure which one to visit first, so it came down to a coin toss.

Nagare is the home of the Blue Lotus Clan and occupies one-quarter of Southern Marvel. The work of Lila Aquacade and Ryansilver Philipp (Ryuan), it is a dojo for the Blue Lotus Clan who use the C:si combat system, and in addition to a combat and training centres, it’s a home, a garden and a meeting-place.

The main combat areas are up in the sky – a teleport system offers access to them – while the ground level has been beautifully and richly landscaped. Here you’ll find a temple, a training area, walks, a small beach for relaxation and even a seafront club house with modern DJ equipment and room to dance.

From the arrival point, you can cross a bridge over a stream to a  training area, or take a short walk to a walled house with its own local rainstorm in the garden. Inside, a warm cup of tea awaits, as does a game of Ban-soguroku (or Shuanglu, as the Chinese originally called it), a form of Backgammon.

A path leading away from the arrival point, following the stream as it tumbles down to the sea, leads you past a temple to the waterfront. Here sits an old oriental house-boat, which clearly isn’t going anywhere given the tree growing out of the middle of it, and a small restaurant facing the sea and offering a filling meal for those seeking sustenance after a morning’s training.

The beach is just across another bridge next to the restaurant. Here people can let their hair down, forget the disciplines of the day and relax around the open fire or listen to music in the beach house.

Nagare really is beautifully put together, and given the majority of the arena space is up in the sky (all the better to avoid the lag), there’s little chance of accidentally walking into a combat / training sessions and making a nuisance of yourself. For those who get particularly bitten by the oriental bug, the Tsunami Japanese/Chinese Creations store is right next door, where you can pick-up a few things to decorate your own land.

Nagare is well worth the visit, particularly if you have a katana and fancy a little combat as well as pleasing walk in inviting surroundings. In the meantime, and as it’s been a while, here’s another piece from The Piano Guys I’ve been listening to of late, and which fits the oriental theme, given the setting.

Related Links

• Nagare SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

On Saturday October 12th, Tymus Tenk and Truck Meredith invited me to see their 2013 Halloween Experience, Veil of Darkness a little ahead of opening it to group members to preview on Sunday October 13th. A full public opening is scheduled for Monday October 14th, and if you’re into Halloween, horror, the macabre or simply like a little spookiness, this is something you are not going to want to miss.

You start at the side of a road. Before you is a bridge, albeit bordered by information boards (one of which contains important information intended to help you enjoy the experience to the fullest). Make sure you accept the region windlight and, if you can, turn on Advanced Lighting Model (ALM: Preferences > Graphics > Advanced Lighting Model) – you can leave Shadows set to None. If ALM causes your computer problems, trying setting local time to Midnight.

Before you is a path winding through a woodland. Your goal – follow it and make your way to the brooding, dark mass of a castle on high and once there, find the door which will return you to the relative safety of the start-point. But don’t expect this to be a simple night-time hike; as my friend in the picture above shows, there are things to see here, and not all of them may be friendly. There are also places to explore, such as the village of the damned, the Halloween pavilion or the castle itself, as well as things to do, including a tour through a part of the region by raft.

Veil of Darkness is wonderfully immersive. As well as setting ALM (if you can) and windlight, make sure you have sounds on and allow the region’s audio stream to play. Truck has hand-picked the music for the stream, and it greatly adds depth and feeling to your explorations.

The routes you can take in your wanderings many be easy to find – or they may not. As the region is intentionally dark (another reason for keeping Shadows set to None when wandering), you may want to tweak the brightness on your screen a little. Keep an eye out for the torches which mark some of the route, and for paths through the trees and for boarded walkways; all of lead somewhere. Make sure you touch the things you pass in places. Not all of them bite. Some may even treat you :).

The level of creativity Ty and Truck have invested in this build is phenomenal, and the care and love employed in bringing it all together is evident everywhere – hence why I refer this to an experience, rather than a destination. The more fully you can immerse yourself in it, the more you’ll enjoy it. In fact, it’s fair to say that while it wasn’t built with Oculus Rift in mind, it would be ideal for use with the headset.

As you explore, you’ll get the feeling eyes are watching you  – or at least, eye sockets – and you’d be right. Here be monsters, ogres, witches, zombies, and other creatures of the night(mare) – some of which have far more than the usual two eyes one generally expects to find in others… There are also some delightful touches of humour to be found which will raise a small (or a wail!), and which are fully in keeping with the theme of the region. Keep an eye out for Bambi and his, um, friend, for example!

Finding your way to the castle is not hard – and there is certainly no need to fly or click-teleport to get there. Rather, the fun of the walk is discovering all there is to see. I spent two hours roaming around, and still found more to see when I returned after reluctantly dragging myself off to bed. So the key is to take your time. Especially in the castle.

Perched on a plateau overlooking the rest of the region, the castle is a foreboding place, reached via a long bridge. Here you will need to watch your step – literally – if you are to find your way. And if footsteps fail, a guiding hand may just help with directions. Or not.

Within the cold, hard stone of the castle are rooms and passages, each with its own secrets to be discovered. Finding your way up to the top may take time, but it is worth it. Once there you will find a Wonderland,  although the Cheshire Cat might not be quite so friendly as you’d been lead to believe from certain books. You might even find yourself in conversation with Malice in Wonderland, if she’s available.

It is in this room that the door to freedom is hid. But can you find it? The clue is there, as anyone with an inkling for Alice’s encounters should realise – if not quite right away. If you are stuck as to where it might be, there are at least comfortable armchairs and a sofa to sit on … and one or two objects inviting you to touch them. Will you dare?

Veil of Darkness opens on Monday October 14th and will remain so through until the start of November. As well as being open to exploration by the intrepid, it will also host some Halloween events – so keep an eye on the Calas Galadhon website.

Related Links

• Veil of Darkness (Rated: Moderate)
• Calas Galadhon website

In my Second Life wanderings, I sometimes receive recommendations of places to visit, which are always welcome. So when Sammi Borgin recently dropped me a line about Avedon Park, occupying most of the full region of Newfie Land, I set out to investigate.

Avedon Park is home to The Factory, a club located up in the sky, and a landscaped park down at ground level, which is both open to the public and a home to the creative team behind the region. There’s a lot to see and do here, with walks, water features, castles, a touch of steampunk, a photo studio /gallery and more.

Created by Aura Firehawk and Karma Avedon, the region is largely free to roam, but as noted above, do be aware that this is also their home, so do please take note of any privacy signs you find while exploring. Also, please keep in mind that the property in the south-east corner of the region, separated from the rest by tall mountains, is not a part of the park but an entirely separate private residence.

The arrival point, located towards the west side of the region offers a teleport system for getting around and to get to the club overhead, and an information board which will offer to open a link to the Avedon Park website when clicked. This provides general information on the park, including a history to the place, which introduces readers to James Wellington Avedon, “a noted  entrepreneurial inventor and explorer” of the early 20th Century, credited with discovering the land, and Captain Charles T. Firehawk, “the noted WWI pilot and accomplished explorer”, Avedon’s partner.  The website makes for an entertaining (and informative) read when exploring the region, and has some very nice photography within it.

Where you go following your arrival is entirely up to you; the teleport system makes reaching some parts of the park easier than when using pedal extremities, but I do urge you to wander and take your time on foot – there is much to see (and do), and a lot of little details which make the time taken in wandering more than worthwhile.

Within the area of the park containing the arrival point you’ll find the Avedon Gallery / studio, a private house boat, a tree house and two large bodies of water. A path wanders through the area, crossing a stone bridge into Firehawk Cove, an island on the north-west side of the region offering places to relax by the water or to dance in the shade of a gazebo and even the opportunity to try your hand at fencing with a friend or two on a pier at the water’s edge.

Just before the bridge to Firehawk Cove, the path branches, with one part of it leading you across two wooden bridges and a small islet to Firehawk Island. Here you can follow a wooded path to a small beach and the Sanctum Tower, which faces Sky Castle across a narrow neck of water.

Sky Castle itself is apparently available to rent as a venue for weddings – although you might have to get your feet wet in getting to it! The castle – one of Alex Bader’s stunning creations (as is much else to be found here), sits on its own island on the north-east of the region and offers a commanding view back across the water to the Sanctum Tower and across to the tall cliffs to the east, which have further walks at their feet and the Avedon Amazing Music Machine further up.  The cliffs are reached via Fennux Park, home to a small colony of Fennux.

This is another region which has been put together with a wonderful eye for creativity and invention – the website accompanying it really is a must-read if one wishes to fully immerse oneself here, as it adds depth and colour to the park.

Windlight settings are supplied with the region, but as usual, I opted to play with my own in taking snaps, and the region is very photogenic in this respect, being suited to a wide range of windlight themes and settings, whether preset (viewer allowing) or your own.

I very much enjoyed my afternoon of wandering through the park, and loved all the little touches to be found – the deer drinking at the lakeside, the bird bath, the Amazing Music Machine and so on. For thosew who like a little activity, there is the aforemention fencing, opportunities to go swiming and various games to be found scattered across the park. Do make sure you have sounds enabled and speakers / headphones on when you visit, as the soundscape has also been put together with care.

All told, a recommended visit, and my thanks to Sammi for pointing Avedon Park out to me.

Related Links

• Avedon Park SLurl (Rated: Moderate)
• Avedon Park website

I first introduced to Worlds End Garden back in 2011, when I was taken there by Himitu Twine. After that visit, it became a regular haunt until one day the region it was on was under new management, and I thought the garden had been closed. In fact, Lucia Genesis, the garden’s creator, had relocated it to her own homestead region, and I’d missed any / all notices about the move prior to it happening.

However, in perusing Flickr, I came across an image by Lucia which carried a short announcement that Worlds End Garden will be closing on October 18th 2013, and that while her store on Kowloon and her SL Marketplace presence will remain, she is apparently ending her creative work in Second Life.

There are and will be many who find this news to be sad. While some are ill-at-ease with the various religious motifs found within the garden, many – myself included – have always found it a place of tranquility, where the heart can be put at ease and the mind can contemplate the imagery present in the region or simply float free.

The garden has gone through small updates and changes during its time in SL; but the central themes and motifs – the aforementioned religious motifs, the use of water, light, and sound (do have ambient sound on should you visit) – have remained constant.

There are now only two island vignettes remaining, and although the sky scene is still present, the teleport system appears to have been unlinked. Whether this is all part of gentle preparations for the forthcoming departure, I’ve no idea. However, for all of those who have enjoyed Worlds End Garden and haven’t visited for a while, the clock is now sadly ticking. For those who haven’t yet visited, I’ll leave you with some images of the garden, past and present and remind you that it will be available to see through until October 18th.

Thank you, Lucia, for providing such a haven for so long in Second Life.

Related Links

• Worlds End Garden SLurl (Rated Moderate)

I recently had the opportunity to wander through the village and woods of Harrowdale, a new RP region currently under construction in SL. If I’m honest, my time there comprised two visits, each of them shorter than I’d have liked, thanks to RL tapping me on the shoulder or keeping me afk while there.

The region is the work of Arica Storaro, also known as the Blogging Elf, and features medieval fantasy role-play based on the Forgotten Realms. For those familiar with the latter, Harrowdale lies in the Dalelands on the west coast of the Dragonreach both north of Sembia and south-east of Cormanthor. The time frame for role-play is Tarsakh, the Year of Blue Fire, 1385 DR, two months after the Spellplague hit the realms.

A wooded land, Harrowdale is home to a large-ish village, an old, run-down port, and a fortified encampment, all linked by paths and trails, and a few more points of interest besides. A river splits the region in two, the village occupying most of one side of the watery divide, which is spanned by a single wooden bridge. New arrivals appear near the centre of the region at a crossroads, presenting a good opportunity to start wandering and meet the locals – some of whom, it has to be said, may not be friendly once the region opens for role-play!

The village would appear to offer several opportunities for RP employment, with a large tavern and several other places of business to keep people busy. Similarly, the encampment ringed by a protective cheval de frise offers another focal-point. It is apparently a refuge for the homeless, the pointed spars of the fence intended to help ward-off the bandits who roam the woods and may well be based at the old port. Elsewhere are cottages hidden in the woods, and a mystical-looking ruined tower, where torches are kept lit and a large glowing crystal lay nestled at its base.

There’s already a small community forming (several of whom had the pleasure of me landing on their heads during my second visit!), and Arica hopes it’ll grow as news spreads once the region is open. That is planned for the weekend of 5th / 6th October, which will see the region’s dress code / race code strictly enforced – suitable period / fantasy wear only, and only races common to the Forgotten Realms (e.g. humans, drow, elves, orcs, tiefling, dwarves, wizards, etc). Until that time, however, the region is open to casual visitors, whom I can attest will receive a warm and friendly greeting from the locals!

Related Links

• Harrowdale SLurl (Rated: Moderate)
• The Blogging Elf
• The Forgotten Realms wiki