Tag: Exploring Second Life 2026

Linden Lab recently indicated that they would be carrying out various small-scale projects to improve part of Second Life Mainland following the decision not to close the Gaeta 1 continent. Various aspects of this work are now in progress, as numerous Second life users have noted through the forums and elsewhere.

One location in particular where improvement has long been requested has been the 12-region estate of the Linden Memorial Park, located off the north coast of Corsica.

For those not familiar with the Memorial Park regions, they were established in 2009 as a place where Second Life residents who have passed away in the physical world could be remembered by their SL families and friends. While its active life was relatively short – the Lab ceased accepting requests for new memorials to be added to the Park in July 2011 – it has remained a part of Second Life, whilst looking increasingly aged.

While there have been various attempts to revitalise the regions (I think I’m correct in saying the last being in 2020, although my memory is hazy on this), it now appears it is subject to improvement, with the first phase of the work now complete, as recently noted by Oatmeal Linden in a comment added to a request made via the Feedback Portal, and which Miro Collas pointed me towards.

Hello everyone! We have made some cosmetic updates to the regions in Linden Memorial Park. This is the first part of the revitalization efforts for this project.

We are still reviewing updates for the Day of Remembrance Garden. The original build in remains in its current location for now, with scripts disabled to prevent damage to or loss of the existing content. We hope to be able to provide a means to continue to leave messages and record the account names for those we’ve lost before the end of this year.

We are also exploring enabling the addition of new stand-alone memorials.

– Oatmeal Linden, August 21, 2026.

This work appears to be focused on general landscaping, with elements designed and used in some of the Bellisseria themes being given new purpose in updating the general look of the park.

For example:  rock forms used within the Stilt, Houseboat and Newbrooke Linden Homes themes been used to redress key areas of the Park, such as the waterfalls surrounding the Greco-Roman style circular Shrine of Remembrance. Meanwhile, trees and shrubs from the Sakura, Newbrooke and Chalet themes have been used to refresh the woodlands and many of the plants throughout the parklands.

For those who have not previously visited the Park, the Shrine, sitting upon its artificial island, forms the Landing Point for the Park, with three sides of the lake fed by pairs of waterfalls, and the 4th (at the time of writing at least) be a single fall.

A bridge crosses the waters on the north side of the Shrine’s island to offer a way up to the Memorial Gardens, a set of five tended plots arranged in the form of a cross with the names of those being remembered rising from the flowers therein.

Exploration of the Park can be carried out by following the paved paths running around and through most of its regions, or simply by wandering freely. The former pass many of the larger memorials placed within the Park between 2009 and 2011 as well as some of the more general contemplative areas – such as the Hyper Mole memorial garden. Wandering freely, meanwhile, particularly through the woodlands might bring visitors to various ruins and memorials such as the  LDPW Mausoleum.

With the Highgate Monument, Winterspire and Derran Moor regions in the south-east of the Park largely devoid of landscaping outside of the coastline (as is San Michele to the north-west), it appears the Memorial Park has room to expand. If so, what form the expansion might take could be a further point of interest for future visits.

At Oatmeal notes in their update, scripts within the Park regions remain inactive for the time being. Nevertheless, the facelift carried out so far greatly increases the beauty of the regions without either overwhelming them or replacing the original builds of the Shrines, monuments, etc. The fact the work has been carried out (albeit  seemingly paused as of the writing of this piece) makes the Memorial Park well worth (re)visiting. My thanks again to Miro for the poke about the update!

Slurl Details

All Park regions are rated General.

• Linden Memorial Park

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)

In August 2025, I visited Goddess Temple, a quarter full region design by Sharon Edwyn. Dedicated to the Sacred Feminine and with a particular focus  – although not exclusively so – on the goddess Hecate (HEK-ə-tee). I found it a genuinely magical setting, mixing elements of physical world mythology with a sense of mystery and mysticism.

More recently, Goddess temple has relocated and expanded and in mid-August 2026, Sharon re-opened it to the public, and I was curious to see the new design.

Still occupying a Full private region utilising the Land Capacity bonus available to such regions, Goddess Temple now occupies almost an entire half of the region. More importantly, it has both maintained and extended its sheer beauty whilst deepening its atmosphere of reverence and air of mysticism.

The Goddess Temple was created as a place to honour the Sacred Feminine and to celebrate the Goddess in all her different aspects, forms, and expressions. There are two main temples within the sanctuary, dedicated to Hecate and Aphrodite, but throughout the Goddess Temple you will also find statues, symbols, and other elements representing many different goddesses from the ancient world. Each one reflects a different aspect of the Sacred Feminine and the archetypes connected to it.

– Sharon Edwyn on Goddess Temple, describing Goddess Temple

The setting retains much that will be familiar to those who visited the previous iteration of Goddess Temple, expanding on the overall design and on the motifs neatly folded into it as well. The result is that for those of us returning to the location, there is both a sense of the initial familiarity as might be felt in making a returning pilgrimage and of experiencing something new.

This is particularly true of the Landing Point with its paths, canopy of forest-lie trees and hints of ancient structures. The crossing of paths here, together with the information board, will immediately be familiar to those returning for the first time since the move, but a quick camming around will reveal elements of the new – perhaps most noticeably the much extended path running to the east.

This is a setting split by a long, broad channel of water also pushing its way eastwards. Fed by high falls and dropping over much smaller ones as it seeks the open waters east of the region, the channel at first appears to be and intentional physical barrier to travelling further south into the setting. However, appearances tend to be deceptive.

Certainly, the views south over the water from various points along the paths are tantalising. Across the water and marvellously cut into the high cliffs and rock formations inland are signs of life: vine hung balconies push through the foliage and archways allow glimpses of corridors and rooms from under overhangs and more vines and branches, with some curtained by waterfalls. But how to reach them without getting wet? Even if one to wade across, there are no obvious steps up into any of the visible rooms or hallways.

The answer to that question lies along the east-pointing path and beyond the pavilion it passes, shaded by the forest’s trees. Find the route and it will open the way to Aphrodite’s temple and also to where a gondola sits quietly moored alongside ancient ruins. Accept the Experience on sitting in the boat for the first time, and you will have your means to cross the water smoothly.

In this, your destination is obvious: across the water sits another gondola with room to moor alongside it. It floats beneath the tall figures of carved dogs – the companions of Hecate. Between them and the cauldrons illuminating them, lies the shadowed entrance to her temple.

This temple is utterly magnificent in nature and contains elements related to Hecate’s legend. A tall figure of the goddess stands at the back of the temple against a blue sky, facing the circular pool of water which takes up the main floor of the temple. The sky and water remind us of Hecate’s connections to both, whilst the torches she holds aloft speak to her role as protector and guide. Spaces opening off of either side of the temple form libraries, reflecting her roles as a goddess of wisdom and (perhaps) a practitioner of magic.

One of these libraries offers the entrance to a large complex of rooms and hallways – some of them being those so tantalisingly visible from the far side of the water channel. Most are open to the public. However, I’m not going to describe them here, as they all deserve to be witnessed first-hand. All I will say is that the stairway located mid-way through them leads up to a private residence – so please, no trespassing there!

As well has Hecate, Goddess Temple continues to encompass other goddesses of legend. Here again, the presence of water perhaps plays an important role. Persephone, for example, has a statue out on the water channel. Like Hecate, she is linked to the Underworld, so it is not great leap of the imagination to see the water flowing through Goddess Temple as a metaphor for the Styx, separating as it does the aboveground gardens to the north from the “underworld” of the temple and its associated rooms and corridors to the south.

Aphrodite is also celebrated here, her temple rising from the eastern waters of the setting whilst she also – in the form of Venus – watches over the bathing pool within the underground complex; the pairing of temple and statue with water again neatly referencing her connection to the sea and seafaring.

I could ramble on in this respect, but I’ll save you the pain of my burbling! Suffice it to say, when visiting, be sure to keep an eye out for the signs sitting close to some of the statues, as these will provide additional information for those interested in the various goddess and deities celebrated here.

What I will say is that the new iteration of Goddess Temple builds on the last, presenting a deeply captivating, immersive and beautiful setting, rich in detail. It carries with it a genuine mix of myths and architecture which, whilst based on western histories, also touches on eastern roots as well (e.g. Hindu Shakti) through the modern referencing of Sacred Feminine.

As Sharon notes, Goddess Temple should not be seen as an attempt to manifest any form of historically accurate representation of ancient temples or historic sites. Rather, it is a place in which to find peace; to rest the mind and spirit, and celebrate the natural. For this, the setting offers multiple places in which to relax on both sides of the waters splitting it – but I’ll leave you to discover them in your own explorations!

Slurl Details

• Goddess Temple (Moonlight Dreams, rated Adult)

I try very hard not to let my ego lead me in things (honest! – In fact I try to make sure it remains trapped in the bottom drawer of a locked filing cabinet with a sign on front saying “beware of the leopard – so to speak” 🙂 ).

However, when I learned that I’ve recently been on the mind of a kitsune guardian of a mainland shine, I have to admit I was more than a little curious, so I had to bounce in-world and discover more.

The Kitsune in question – Tamamo – watches over the Imari Okami Jinja shrine. Sitting high on the side of a southern Corsica mountain in-world, the shrine forms part of the Excellens Prefecture, developed and overseen by Deefer Doge and Petros Aabye.

Roughly half a Full region in size, the Prefecture draws inspiration from the Yamadera temple and surrounds in Japan, but folds so much into itself as to be entirely unique. It extends from the small coastal Slendai Harbour up through the Yamadera hills and on up the mountain to reach Inari Okami Jinja. Along the way, the lands present the most engaging of Mainland visits.

However, it’s not a simple case of following the path upwards as if on a pilgrimage: there is a lot to see and appreciate along the way as one explores, complete with paths to outer farmlands and looping trails with features of their own to discover.

This build started as a harbour, my place to sail from plus I wanted a garden, so the onsen was developed. I love building on Mainland, with all its constraints of terrain, I would like to see more of our wonderful SL world nurtured. I also like to explore and with that in mind I always keep my land open to public to use & explore, I do live here but I think I can share 🙂 .

– Deefer Doge on Inari Okami Jinja – Yamadera & Slendai Harbour

Given the size of the Prefecture, there are several points of entry, but the SLurl I’m using here is for Slendai Harbour down on the coast. To help in finding your way around, there is an information board at the harbour (and which is twinned elsewhere in the setting) which will give a map HUD and notecard to arriving visitors (just click the board if these don’t arrive), and the map outlines the major paths and trails.

There is also an Experience-based teleport system available – look for the kuguri rings which have been strategically located around the various locations within the Prefecture. Simply step through one (and accept the Experience the very first time you do so) to be teleported. However I strongly recommend exploring on foot.

The onsen Deefer mentions in her comment above sits just beyond the gates from the harbour to the main trail. Bathing is permitted, and to help keep things personal, it – like a number of places within the Prefecture – resides within its own parcel with Privacy enable.

The onsen also forms part of a looping trail around the back of the harbour -just follow the path over the red bridge spanning the channels feeding water into it – with the route up into the hill resuming via the torii gate alongside of the bridge.

I’m not going to go blow-by blow through everything to see along the way as that will spoil things. However, here are some things to look out for / make note of on your initial climb:

• Slendai Harbour is open to the South Corsica waterway, and so can be reached by boat & has open rezzing should you wish to visit by boat and that sail away after (do mind the wreck partially submerged in the harbour tho!). A jet ski rezzer is also available
• Don’t miss the eastward path just after the first two Torii gates climbing the hill from the onsen. It has a garden surprise tucked away along it and offers a path to the farmlands.
• The Yamadera Shukubo Lodge overlooks the path up, sitting just above misty low-level cloud. Deefer’s former home, it is also open to the public.
• The Admin centre is where Goshuin stamp collectors can collect their stamp – Deefer puts out a new one each month. It’s an area watched over by Miyone (do be sure to chat with her!). There’s also a lookout point to be found here and another route out to the farmlands and rice fields.

However, do be sure to keep an eye out for a small gate just to the left of the Sanman Gatehouse (itself alongside the lodge). Going through this smaller gate will lead you to the Tea House. Tucked away below the Admin centre, it is a lovely haven for peace and quiet – even meditation, given the way the outdoor seating is arranged.

This is actually one of my favourite parts of the setting, and potentially easily overlooked if the main path is followed without paying attention. If travelling with a friend or three, you can also enjoy a board game under the roof the Tea House.

But it is the Imari Okami Jinja shrine, which sits as the ultimate destination. Home to Tamamo, mentioned at the top of this article, it provides a view back down over the Prefecture to the harbour to one side and out over the gardens and trees to the rice fields on the other.

The red torii gates marching up the escarpment to the shrine offer their own guardianship against unwanted spirits making the climb (and a little rest area offers water to thirsty pilgrims as it faces one of the many small shrines to be found throughout the lands here).

Do be sure to respond to Tamamo when she greets you; she is very conversational and can tell you more about the shrine, the Imari, and the prefecture in general. She is both knowledgeable and at times very poetic.

This place is called Inari Okami Jinja. A shrine to Inari – the great kami of foxes, rice, fertility, prosperity, and… well, many things. Inari is generous that way, refusing to be pinned down to just one domain. I watch over it and keep the energy clean. Chase away things that should not linger near sacred ground. Sometimes I guide visitors.

– Tamamo, in conversation with me about Imari Okami Jinja.

The beauty of this setting cannot be overstated, nor can the sense of peace and age; there is so much more to be seen than I have allowed here (see if you find your way to the stone hand and the photo opportunities there). The sense of age is communicated by the mix of torii gates, the way paths and steps branch but then go nowhere, as if overgrown and their purpose forgotten.

From Slendai Harbour through Yamadera to Inari Okami Jinja, this is a perfect part of the Mainland to visit; rich in detail and utterly idea for viewing under a wide range of environment settings as well as its own default. And, needless to say, it is thoroughly photogenic throughout.

My thanks to Deefer for the opportunity to visit and for spending time with me when I did – and again to Tamano for her kind words and our conversations 🙂 .

Slurl Details

• Slendai Harbour (Excellens, rated Moderate)