Tag: Exploring Second Life 2014

A recent addition to the Photogenic section of the Destination Guide is The Citadel, billed as, “a time-plateau with a futuristic city overlooking a large desert. Filled with freebies, items to buy and places to explore, the Citadel is great for photos and role-play!”  – and I have to say that this description undersells things somewhat. Yes, there is a city overlooking a desert, and there are opportunities for role-play and photography – but there is also a lot more, much of it with a particular theme, hinted at in the words time plateau.

The landing point is inside a barn, around which the wind howls. Straw covers the floor and the slatted wooden walls don’t really do much to keep the wind-blown dust out. On the floor is the first clue as to the major theme of this region (assuming you haven’t already looked at the region description in the viewer’s top bar!) – although Whovians will likely recognise the barn as the scene of the meeting between three of the Doctor’s incarnations – that of the tenth (David Tennant) and eleventh (Matt Smith) with the “War Doctor” (John Hurt).

Step outside, and you are in a desert landscape, where the wind scoops sand into the air and billows it across the barren landscape, almost entirely denuded of trees and vegetation. Up on a high dune and above the worst of the winds, sits the Citadel of the Destination Guide entry’s title, englobed within a protective sphere, a composite tribute to the variety of designs denoting the Time Lords Citadel, as Laredo Lowtide, who operates the region with Kat Kassner, told me. The city entrance can be found at the base of the dune leading up to it, as can the crashed wreck of a Dalek space ship.

Teleporters hold the key to finding all the secrets with the region – and there are a number of them (teleports and secrets) to be discovered, including the interior of a Dalek ship travelling in deep space, and frozen garden (which again might carry echoes for Doctor Who fans), a lounge with a distinctly TARDIS-like design, and the route down to the ground.

Here sits a small section of a rather distressed London. The buildings are a mix of Tudor and Victorian (might I say Dickensian?), overlooked by the Elizabeth Tower, home to Big Ben, leaning  Pisa-like to one side, all of which makes for a typically Whovian mix to suggest that this London isn’t our London,

Central to the build is the Guy Fawkes Inn, a nod to the York birthplace of the infamous Gunpowder plot conspirator, and carrying a certain amount of dry humour: the headlines reporting on the Apollo 11 Moon landing take something of a dig at the modern love of a certain expletive, the bar menu reads as a list of possible fates for the unwary, and a chalk board outside the corner entrance carries a little nod towards the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

The presence of the Guy Fawkes Inn isn’t accidental. Just down the street, and close to another point of arrival, is the Guy Fawkes Exhibition. Here you can travel back in time to the year 1605, and, in the words of the old rhyme, remember, remember the fifth of November / Gunpowder, treason and plot.

This interactive tour, featuring audio elements, text, props and images, will guide you through the events both leading up and subsequent to, that fateful day. It’s a well-crafted exhibition, with the ground floor leading you through the hatching of the plot, revealing the conspirators and their aims. Upstairs, the aftermath of the plot is examined, with further historical context.  You can even meet Guido (Guy) Fawkes himself, and read a portion of his confession.

“We used to run regions as more social spots but we don’t have the time these days, so we look to make spots people can be snap happy and wander,” Laredo said in explaining the reason behind the design.

I’d say they’ve succeeded very nicely. Whether you are seeking a photographic location, the potential for a little Who-related role-play (rezzing is allowed, but please do pick-up afterwards), want to learn a little more about a part of English history, or simply want to enjoy yourself exploring somewhere new and engaging, Black Hole offers you the perfect destination. Laredo tells me the current layout will remain pretty much as-is until at least the New Years, and that there may well be some seasonal updates towards the end of the year, making it a place worth popping back to as the festive season approaches!

Related Links

• The Citadel / Black Hole SLurl (Rated: Adult)

I have something of a passion for literature, as regular readers may have noticed. I also have a fondness for literature within SL – hence why I try to support Seanchai Library through my posts on their weekly schedules. So when I’m told about a new library venture that’s opened in SL, I’m going to hop over as soon as time allows to have a look.

The Chamber Library is the work of Storm Septimus, and while it opened on September 21st, she is still working to expand the facilities. Described as a “one-of-a-kind, bringing together art and literature in a never-before-seen way”, the Chamber Library presents visitors with the opportunity to relax with works of literature and poetry from a wide range of authors, including TS Eliot, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle, Voltaire, HG Wells and The Brothers Grimm – with more titles and authors being added. In addition, writers and poets from within Second Life can offer their own work for inclusion in the Library’s section devoted to resident’s writing if they so wish. All works are available to read via note card, and the bookcases containing them are all clearly labelled.

As its name suggests, the Library comprises a series of chambers spanning multiple levels (the third should hopefully open on September 29th), each chamber provides something of an artistic theme, where people can enjoy the writings they select in a suitable ambience. Located just off the main library chamber, for example, is a ruddy landscape where the trees stand denuded, their trunks split and burning within, and a baleful light pervades the surroundings – ideal for settling down with a horror story or a tale of demonology. Across from this is the poetry chamber, where waves break upon the shore, great horses rising from them as they crash over rocks, and a stormy seascape forms the backdrop.

Places to sit can be found throughout the Library – although going on its popularity, there may be a need to add a few more sooner rather than later! – while down in the mid-level area, reached via a teleport point in the main chamber, not only can further reading material be found, but an old Mah-jong table from way back in SL’s past offers itself to those who wish to while away their time a different way. Next door is an area which may have the blood rushing to your head! The third level, from the cheeky peek I took, appears to have something special for lovers of Poe.

Art plays an important element within the Library, as evidenced by the horses mentioned above, and it is clear that Storm has put considerable effort in creating a unique environment in which art and literature can be enjoyed.

Looking at the guest book,  it’s clear that many people have already enjoyed their time at the Chamber Library; hopefully this will continue well into the future. If you do have writing you’d like to share with others, be it fiction or poetry, you can drop it into the bookcase at the landing point. If you’d like to get more involved in the Library, Storm is always looking for help in creating note cards for inclusion in the various bookcases, simply contact Storm directly to volunteer. There is also a 7th Circle Group you can join to keep abreast of Library developments.

All told, an interesting addition to Second Life, and one I’ll be keeping my eye on!

Related Links

• The Chamber Library SLurl (Rated Moderate)
• The Chamber Library on Storm’s blog

 

Square Pegs in Round Holes, Kashmir Dreams (Flickr)

Square Pegs in Round Holes is a fairly new region to open its doors to the public, offering “a place to explore and while away time”. A homestead region (Kashmir Dreams), it is the work of Rwah Resident, whom some may know through her stunning photographic blog and Flickr stream. It  is a sheer delight to explore, comprising a set of low-lying islands, most connected by a series of stone bridges, and a trio of tall needles of rock, also connected to one another by stone spans. A broad channel of water separates the two.

The build offers two suggested windlight settings, Bryn Oh’s Immersiva Grey Dust, which offers a darkly atmospheric look and feel to the region, or Bree’s appleblossom for a brighter, more sunny aspect to the day. However, the fact is that the design lends itself to a wide range of windlights and is somewhere in which SL photographers are likely going to want to experiment with a wide range of lighting options and settings – as I found myself doing.

Square Pegs in Round Holes, Kashmir Dreams (Flickr)

The landing point is located on the largest of the low-lying islands, where a welcoming note card is offered. Here one will find an old church and cemetery, that latter apparently last used in 1931.  The church has passed beyond its original purpose, and among other things, now provides  information on the  artists who have some of their work on display within the region, presents opportunities to join the region’s group and / or find out more about the region, and offers a corner to sit and chill with friends. I do recommend a visit inside.

Beyond the church sits a small café, again offering a place to meet, sit and chat, with seating areas inside, out the back and down on the water below.  The bridges allow the visitor to island-hop across a couple of small rocky outcrops standing above the waves to reach the second largest of the islands, which offers a sandy beach backed by rugged outcrops of grey rock. A gap through the latter will lead the way to the region’s art gallery.

Square Pegs in Round Holes, Kashmir Dreams (Flickr)

To reach the tall needles of rock across the region, one can either fly or use one of the Seven Emporium Time Traveller teleport system trunks which can be found at each of the major locations around the region. There is a low-lying promontory beneath the last of the needles, which, together with the final small island right off to one side of the region, is probably best reached by either flying or via the row-boat available from down below the café on the main island. Both the promontory and the little island offer further places to sit and relax – the former complete with coffee and cakes!

“As some might know I have a love for buildings, houses etc., in Second Life,” Rwah says of the her reasons for creating Square Pegs in Round Holes. “My first ever build was the coastal loft from {what next}. My second build the NY apartment by Apple Fall and my third a build by Scarlet Creative. An addiction was born.

“Since I only lived on a sky platform with a minimum amount of prims most of the times, builds were rezzed, admired, drooled over and derezzed again.” Square Pegs in Round Holes gives her the opportunity to do more, and to share her eclectic collection of buildings with others – which is why she warns that the region is liable to be an ever-changing collection of buildings. However, and as she also makes clear, all are welcome to explore and photograph – but are asked to respect the rules.

Square Pegs in Round Holes, Kashmir Dreams (Flickr)

Related Links

• Square Pegs in Round Holes SLurl (Rated: Moderate)
• Square Pegs in Round Holes Flickr group
• Rwah’s blog
• Rwah’s Flickr photostream

My thanks to Morganacarter Resident for pointing me to Square Pegs in Round Holes.

 

Matoluta Sanctuary and Bay (Flickr)

My first visit to Matoluta Sanctuary came in July 2014, so it might seem a rather brief period between visits; however there is a reason for my return: on Saturday September 20th at 10:00 SLT, the “new” Matoluta opened its gates to the public.

The Sanctuary is both a role-play environment and a place to promote the conservation of the Colonial Spanish Horse on the North American continent. At the time the Sanctuary originally opened, it comprised a single homestead region. With the re-opening, it will comprise two connected homesteads – but the changes don’t end there.

Matoluta Sanctuary and Bay (Flickr)

Matoluta Sanctuary itself, still devoted to the conservation work, now occupies the region Hudhufushi, representing the autumn (fall) and winter seasons.  Here, as one explores, the leaves on the trees gradually turn from green to reds and golds, snow lies on the surrounding mesas, and eventually one comes to a wintry snow-covered landscape, where wolves and bears roam.

Matoluta Bay, located on the region of Satre, which formed the Sanctuary’s original home, is dressed in the colours of spring and summer, and retains much of the original Matoluta build: distant surrounding mesas, rocky outcrops, fast-flowing waters and lots of wildlife. Between the two, on the edge of Matoluta Bay, sits a sandy beach where visitors to the Bay arrive.

Matoluta Sanctuary and Bay (Flickr)

Between them, the regions offer a range of activities and lots of opportunities for photography, with Matoluta Sanctuary remaining the focal-point for role-play. Visitors are asked to respect the rules for the regions and to remember that most of the horses on Matoluta are avatars, and suitable interaction with them is encouraged (they might even consent to carrying riders, if asked!).

Role-play isn’t a requirement, and visitors are free to roam as they please through until Monday 22nd September, when Matoluta Sanctuary reverts to group access for roleplay. Until then, people can wander freely, sit, enjoy the activities, and simply observe and role-play which might be underway. Those interested in joining the herd and engaging in equine RP can do so by contacting Ursus Broono (also known as Manatou, the herd leader).

New to the regions are a dance area, which also includes seating and yoga; ice skating and snowballing fighting, and boating. A range of sitting and cuddle spots can be found throughout.

Matoluta Sanctuary and Bay (Flickr)

I enjoyed my explorations of the updated regions, and there’s sure to be a lot to attract visitors as the gates open.

Related Links

• Matoluta Sanctuary (Rated: Moderate)
• Matoluta Bay (Rated: Moderate)
• Matoluta Sanctuary website
• Matoluta Flickr Group