Helix City

Helix City is a Cyberpunk role play region with a bit of a difference. It’s not on a futuristic Earth, Earth is dying, it’s on Mars.

At first glance it appears to have taken inspiration from the likes of Blade Runner. However on reading the information/rules notecard at the arrival area, they insist most adamantly it’s not the case:

This is not Blade Runner, nor is it The Fifth Element, nor The Expanse. This is Helix, and the story is yours to write.

They do have their own lore (read it here) and want to keep to it that way, which I think is great. The ethos of “the story is yours to write” sums up role play in SL for me. So robots, cyborgs, appropriately dressed humanoids all welcome. However they’re quite clear about other Canon appearances, so don’t turn up in a Starfleet or similar uniform. I think it boils down to them wanting you to make an effort to make your own story, not copy a movie or series you liked.

Helix arrival point

I had already put together an outfit that I’d assembled from purchases at Fantasy Faire and recently from the Cyberpunk event. After finishing reading the rules, I added a combat utility belt and a leg holder gun!

Tooled up after reading the rules

Police intervention is rare, but swift and relentless. Muggings, brawls, and prostitution are some people’s forms of employment. Carry a weapon and keep your cash stashed.

So once I was ready, it was time to explore. Straight through the entrance portal takes you into a car park and taxi ranks like you would find coming out of an airport or transit hub, but we are not on Earth, this is Mars.

The city skyline from relative safety of the carpark

The general atmosphere is dark and foreboding punctuated by neon lights. You do get the feeling you’re in the set for one of the movies they claim not to be like, but I guess dark sci-fi can only have so many variations, it’s the storyline behind it that’s different.

Ava stepped out of the carpark onto the street and sees signs for various establishments, some in English others not.

She turns off the main street immediately, that’s a place you’ll be seen and that can be dangerous for a new arrival. She walked through an open courtyard area promptly not wanting to be in the open too long until familiar with the area.

Open courtyard that’s far too light for comfort

She hears a sound behind her and steps quickly into the shadows out of the neon glare and finds herself hidden by a tree of all things. Briefly wondering how it could survive without much sunlight while she waits to see if her would-be pursuer passes by.

Steps into the shadows to watch for her possible stalker

A young blonde woman walks past heading the way Ava has been going. Judging by her appearance she wouldn’t be stalking anyone, more likely to be stalked. She wore just shorts and a light top, definitely not the attire of a sane person around here.

My harmless pursuer

Ava proceeded on her way towards what appeared to be a bar or club by the name of “Kink”. Possibly disreputable but probably a good place to get information if there were any patrons at this hour. Unfortunately the place was empty except a bored looking pole dancer.

The club was empty except for a lone pole dancer

As she pondered where she might head to next, the blonde approached Ava looking somewhat lost.

The lost woman approached

Ava took a seat at the bar, keeping an eye on the room in the reflection in the glass behind the bar. She asks the stranger if she’s alright, since she doesn’t look it.

There then followed a discussion between them that reveals the girl is a stereotypical “daddy’s little rich girl” who’s had her allowance cut off. She’d thought she might go for a jog while the ship she arrived on was refueling. That explained the attire but not the lack of sense that made her think it was a good idea. However she was now wandering the streets because the ships captain had left without her. We RPed for a little while before she had to go, possibly the beginnings of a good storyline here.

Ava left the woman in the bar with a suggestion that maybe she take up pole dancing to raise cash. Heading warily through the streets she sees evidence of various Earth cultures and some she isn’t sure about.

A Dune reference perhaps..

She steps into the alcove of one and sees writing on the door suggesting the place is definitely not open for business. Whatever Spice might be.

Clearly they don’t want visitors

Further exploration has Ava a little turned around, while she tries to retrace her steps, she doesn’t notice a hover bike approach.

The bike lands in front of Ava

Ava steps off the gangway she had been crossing back onto solid ground. While the rider doesn’t at first glance mean her harm Ava remains wary.

The female rider asks if she is new in town and needs somewhere to stay, mentioning she knew of a half-way house. Ava thinks of the blonde she left at the bar and answers “I’m fine for now myself. However I met someone earlier that could definitely use that kind of help.” She continues as she puts a little distance between them, “I’ll go find them again and send them your way, or maybe bring them so they make it safely.”

I definitely like Helix City and will be back to RP when time allows. I must admit while I was exploring the region, having just read the summary of their lore, the advertisements in one of the films on their not list was on a loop in my head. “The off-world colonies, a chance to begin again.”

However once I read the extended lore on their website while writing this, its a film that isn’t on their list that came to mind. A film in which it was ancient aliens that built the tech to make the Martian environment breathable, not Earth corporations. I like the Helix version of the scenario better though.

But I digress, I’ll be back there again to followup on those RP leads and I’d recommend people check the place out too. Just remember to grab the rules notecard and read it before entering.

Helix City arrival point: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Helix/37/235/41

Website: https://helixsl.wixsite.com/home/

Outfit credits added HERE

Steam Folk

I love the idea of the Fantasy Faire Bloggers Challenge “Faire Folk” to create a new look for my avatar inspired by the Fairelands.

I did two looks based around the Faire:  Fantasy Faire Folk: Cassiopeia and Fantasy Faire Folk: Under the Pass

I decided I wanted a new steampunk look too, but the Faire wasn’t the ideal place to shop for that. While there are lots of excellence shops at the Faire I couldn’t find quite what I was looking for, so I went to The Engine Room event.  I picked up a few things that I didn’t realise I was missing until I saw them, like this neck corset by Silvery K, hat by Insomnia Angel and new hair to go under it.

Credits:

  • Corset: SteamPunk Corset with Watch (own creation from Full Perm items, ask for details)
  • Leggings: Black Opal – Hawkesworth Red
  • Boots:  Steampunk Boots -Jewel Red
  • Hat: Insomnia Angel . steampunk top hat [wine] (at Engine Room event)
  • Hair: Raven Belle – Luxe Hair
  • Neckpeice: Silvery K..:*SteamDiva Neck Corset
  • Bracers: Steampunk Leather cuffs

Location: NeoVictoria

 

Fantasy Faire Folk: Under the Pass

Alara had heard the trembling and vibrations in the ground as she slept during the daylight hours. They got stronger the closer she got to the mountains and home.

She had seen machinery on a large scale sometimes pass nearby as she traveled at night. What were the surface-dwellers doing?

Rather than taking the cave entrance into the centuries old subterranean city her people called home, she decided to investigate what was going on. She climbed the slope in darkness, to a position where she could look down on the surface settlement and froze with shock.

They had always mined the rock miles above her home, but never had she seen a drill of that size! She looked down into the crater trying to visualize the layout of the city below. If they dug much further they would start to uncover old entrance tunnels!

The giant drill that threatens her subterranean home.

She descended the slope away from the settlement towards the nearest entrance, she must warn her people. No doubt some would already be scared by the inevitable increased noise, but she suspected the Elders would be dismissing it as just more mining if they had no idea what was above them. Stopped for now, but inevitably that drill will start again.

Credits:

  • Outfit: Venetia
  • Mask: Mucronate Mask – Torn Black by [CX]
  • Skin: Classic Vamp Skin by Snow
  • Hair: Raven Belle – Luxe Hair

Location: Lost in the Mysts of Time

 

 

This fictional piece was written for Fantasy Faire 2020 Faire Bloggers Challenge “Faire Folk”

NeoVictoria Meet & Greet at Fantasy Faire 2020

There were several Meet & Greet sessions at Fantasy Faire for NeoVictoria, the one I was able to attend was on 29th April and it was pretty busy! Quite a few of the existing members were able to attend, so the varied collection of interested players were able to get plenty of answers to any questions they had. I believe we may well have gained a few new players for our community!

Fantasy Faire Folk: Cassiopeia

Visitors may think that the large serpentine statutes around Cassiopeia are just that, statute. They would be wrong.

The statues are meant to be a warning reminder of the planets largest natural predator. Although they have not been seen for a long time and have almost become myth. Yet the evolutionary evidence of the humanoid population cannot be denied, having dark patterned skin that would allow them to blend into natural terrain like a chameleon.

Evidently the humanoid population did not evolve from apes.

Custom dictates bright coloured clothing only be worn in private, going against this is frowned upon particularly by older generations. They say all stories are based on a grain of truth and the same can be said for customs originating from necessity. In this case it was survival.

A question that remains unanswered though is why each serpent statute is accompanied by what those of Earth would call an Angel? Do they represent an alien race? Perhaps a visiting race that destroyed the serpents, to allow the humanoids to thrive. Were they guardians against the serpents, or their keepers? The answers are no doubt long lost.

The serpent statues of Cassiopeia

Credits:

  • Spacesuit:Space Cadet Bodysuit by {REC} at Agra Adara, Fantasy FaireSkin: Wild Space Skin Set from Stargazer CreationsHair: Raven Belle – Luxe Hair


This fictional piece was written for Fantasy Faire 2020 Faire Bloggers Challenge “Faire Folk”

Fantasy Faire 2020: A different perspective

At the Faire last year I wandered rather aimlessly, I followed the Bubbo Owls storyline and one day I went to a NeoVictoria meet & greet, apart from that I didn’t explore much. It was that meet that would change my perspective, I just didn’t know it at the time.

This year I was at the planning meetings and discussions of what NeoVictoria may do at their meets and discussed what items they would be offering for sale and as gifts. It was this last part that was most relevant, I volunteered to make a freebie gift.

On the evening of the Wednesday before the Faire began I was invited to the “Backstage” group so I could Rez the item for visitors to purchase.

The NeoVictoria stand in Fantasy Faire
With a stage for Roleplays
The drinks barrel I made as a gift

On the Thursday morning I logged back in to have an explore.

It was surreal being in the Faire before it opened. My previous experiences had always been of bustling regions full of people. As usual I didn’t really have much of a plan of what I wanted to see, I just knew I had about 3 hours before the Faire opened and there would be people everywhere. I just wanted to see as much as I could before the masses arrived. 

Since the NeoVictoria store is located in Auxenio’s Pass steampunk region, that’s where I started. When I stepped outside I was blown away by the surroundings. I started walking the paths to see what I found.

A glance down the street

And I see several of these beautiful creations

With the regions being mostly empty except for store owners making final tweaks to their displays and other creators taking the time to wander, it was blissfully quiet.

Blissfully empty streets
The centre of the Region features a massive drill

I stuck mostly to the paths, with occasional detours, wanting to try and see as much as I could in the time I had. Traveling mostly clockwise around the Faire,  I took in the sights of the created locations.  Each one mind blowing or boggling in their design. I got about half way around before I ran out of time, but I had a large collection of snapshots taken as I went around.  Here are some of my favourites.

Now I look forward to exploring the rest of the Faire!

Outfit Credits:

Fantasy Faire 2020 Intro

So it’s this time of year again Fantasy Faire is upon us. Another week and more of exploring beautiful location, roleplay and shopping in aid of Relay for Life in Second Life.

Last year I visited the Faire and for the first time was able to follow their week-long roleplay storyline. That was great fun and I wrote about it in my Bubbo Owls post. This year it appears the RP is called the Grizzly Cubs and I look forward to following this years adventure.

As I’ve mentioned previously, last year I attended a Meet & Greet with the lovely folks from the NeoVictoria Project. I submitted a character and became an official member of the community. They’re holding similar Meet & Greet sessions this year, so I shall be present for at least one of them to help out. I’m also possibly providing a freebie to be given out at the NeoVictoria location at the Faire.

What else is new this year is that I applied to be one of the Official FF Bloggers. However the applications are now closed and my names not on the list. I suspect this is probably due to the quality of my regular images, admittedly lower quality, but it’s usually because they’re un-staged and my focus is the RP or story. (I’ll be remedying that for the Faire) So instead I’m going to try and complete some of their Blogger Challenges   which I’ve copied below:

Faire Folk – create a character from the Fairelands

My New Shiny – show off a shop that is new to you

I Remember – reminisce about previous Fairelands

Faire Life – blog and report about Faire events

The Emblem Project – take a picture with the Fantasy Faire Emblem in your favourite Faireland

All sound fun things to do, combined with following the Cubs RP I just hope I have the time to do it all!

Official Faire Website: https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/

NeoVictoria planning for Fantasy Faire 2020

On the 1st of April I attended a Townhall meeting of the NeoVictoria roleplay members to discuss ideas of what we/they will be doing for Fantasy Faire 2020.



It was last year that I met with them at their Meet & Greet events at the Faire

I wrote about it in this post.

I won’t spoil things by revealing the plans, but there was talks of possible roleplay ideas, freebies and sale items for the charity the Faire supports. They’ll be finalised and released in due time, but they’ll be a lot of fun if everything comes together as planned!

The Haunted Motel

Ava arrived at the venue for the Glitter & Gore festival she planned to attend, to find that the only accommodation left in the area was a very rundown hotel. Having checked in with the rather creepy desk clerk she follows the directions to deadliesther room, deciding it was best she not find out what was making the odd noises in the rooms she passed on the way. She notices the somewhat dubious condition of the fireplace but it’s too cold in the room without it lit, so she sleeps.

She is woken all too soon by the fire having apparently been in worse condition than she thought and was surrounded by flames, she opens the room door and exits the building via a window.

Burning hotel
Ava stands looking at the burning hotel

Cranky at having had too few hours daylight sleep and the nature of her waking, she looks up at the burning building. She notices her car has also caught light, but simply shrugs now she won’t have to torch the rust bucket herself for the insurance. Seeing a green light around the corner of the building she heads for it muttering “that is Not normal”.

She follows the light uphill into the woods behind the building

forest entrance
The edge of the forest

and follows the path and the light till she sees a graveyard.

Something large and furry lunges out of the dark towards her and into her path.

Ava’s furry attacker

She raises a hand planting it on it’s chest and pushing it away, thinking it best not to harm the local denizens when not on her own territory. She flashes her fangs in it’s direction and continues on into the graveyard.

Ava is well aware that she is in fact the deadliest thing on the prowl tonight.

Entering the crypt in the graveyard she finds herself in a maze of tunnels,seeing again the green light Ava follows it to a room full of hanging cages.

Hanging cages surround Ava

Here the tunnels divide and she must explore them all to fin the way out, where she comes across several specters haunting the tunnels.

She also encounters one very large living inhabitant of the cave, a large spider

large spider
The only apparent living inhabitant of the tunnels

Ava retraces her steps and in the process finds what must have evidently  been the former residence of the spider, clearly some had tried to keep it locked up.

room of spider webs
Had someone tried to keep the spider in here?

Having found nothing but dead ends, Ava surmises that perhaps the spider is hiding or guarding something, which may include a way out. She returns to it’s cavern looking for a way past it and finds one, passing through a a very gory room, but the lack of cobwebs makes her think it’s not the spiders work.

She proceeds though to the next chamber finding a  ritual space with a glowing pentagram on the floor

Beyond it she notices another phenomenon, presumably what the spell was used to create, a glowing portal.

Since she has run out of options for where else to go, she takes a breath and steps in.

After what feels like an eternity of falling, Ava lands in the middle of a cornfield, an unexpected place for such a means of transport would deliver someone,but at least she was out of the tunnels.

She wanders the different paths, finding various sights on the way

Finally one of the paths does not end with a confrontation with something un-dead or un-human and she finds a familiar face and a way out. (I’m not going to spoil it all!)

For more information about the Haunted Motel, read the blog by my dear friend Sheree Honeyflower HERE.

Wardrobe Credits:
Hair: A&A Guilia Reds (Alli&Ali)
Body: Maitreya Lara 4.1
Skin: -{The Attic}- Anjelica – Natural (Alabaster)
Shape: Zyra Anna (modified)
Outfit: {Le’La} Rory Outfit

 

NeoVictoria RP Intro

Back in May I blogged about arriving at the NeoVictoria (NeoVic) roleplay region. However despite my enthusiasm at having my backstory and character accepted, everything kinda stopped there. A combination of real-life and mismatched timezones meant I hadn’t even been able to rp my character (Misch) into the story, until recently.

This was rather different to previous rp I have done, in that the conversation is structured. Players must stay in conversation order, not typing a response to something until it’s your turn in the chat order. Which I found rather frustrating to begin with and also leads to big silences in local chat if someone is typing a long response. I have previously been used to typing responses straightaway, big gaps make me wonder if the person is even still at their keyboard or gone to make a snack. (Since sometimes you actually have that much time before it’s your turn to respond when using a chat order).

The advantage I found however was that this gave me time to compose appropriate responses to each participant in the conversation. The result however is that the more participants in the conversation, the longer the chat posts.

For example take a conversation involving 4 people. Player 1 makes a long post addressing all the other players, Player 2 makes a short post responding to the part that was relevant to them. If player 3 makes a short response to player 2, player 2 still has to wait until players 4&1 have posted before they can reply, regardless if the response would have been two words or two paragraphs in length. If player 4 then makes a long post addressing everyone, player 1 will definitely have had time to put the kettle on and come back with a cuppa before its their turn.
I’m sure it’ll get more of a habit and hopefully less frustrating as time goes on.

Anyway, onto what actually happened in the roleplay. Due to the length of some of the messages I won’t copy them all here, instead will give a descriptive summary:

I was seated in the empty tavern having a rest after my long journey from the wilds into the city. I glances out the window and see there a couple of people arrived in the town square outside.
I approached them slowly giving them chance to see me and to not appear to be a threat. One of them was a woman selling fresh pumpkins from a cart. The other appeared to be an odd creature, apparently Fae of some kind.
I said I was looking for somewhere to stay, they both offered up options.

The woman whose name was Annabelle said I could stay at the farm in exchange for helping out.The Fae’s offer was a lot more vague, clearly somewhere outdoors and given I had spent so long, until arriving at the city, in such circumstances I declined the offer.

I dropped various comments about preferring darkness and being stronger than I looked, in reference to my approved character traits. So by the end of the rp I was headed to the farm where I would have accommodation and a job maintaining the mushroom beds, on account of good night sight and a preference for dark places.

If you are interested in the full transcript by Jhaesoph Foxdale you can read it here.