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.
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)
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.
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!
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”
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 FaireWith a stage for RoleplaysThe 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 streetsThe 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.
The leafy pathways of Autumnia
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia
Lamented Fens – An eerie myst is everywhere
Lamented Fens – Not somewhere you’d want to swim!
A light in the distance? Who would live here?
Isle of Shadows – The sight of this creation is breathtaking
Isle of Shadows – Such detail on a massive scale
Isle of Shadows – Departing the harbour
Isle of Shadows – Off the brige into some welcome woodland
Isle of Shadows – A lovely small place just off the path
Now I look forward to exploring the rest of the Faire!
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
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 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!
As I mentioned I would in a previous post I returned to the Taluna continent which is styled to represent the Southern Jungles of the planet Gor.
It is made up of 7 regions and they are described as follows:
Here, dwell the tribes of the:
• Toki Aka’am Taluna,
• Veck En Taluna,
• Wa Ngao Taluna,
• Wildings
Here you will find refuges:
• Korat Trading Post,
• Village of Korat.
Seven lands comprise the Taluna Continent. Three are Safe Lands, places for healing, rest, and learning. There is no forced collaring and absolutely no threats of violence will be tolerated in Safe Lands. These are:
• Jungles of Gor
• Korat Cove
• Jungles of Mist
The remaining four lands allow full Gorean role play. Prior to combat and capture, some Role Play (RP) must be conducted. These are:
• Jungles of Schendi (Southern Jungles)
• Jungles of Ushindi
• Jungle of Sheba
• TMP
The Korat Trading Post is a non-combat Safe Zone (as all trade points are, by Gorean custom). All taverns are non-combat.
I arrived at the Kort Village landing point since that was the landmark I had from years past.
I wandered up into the village where I saw various gorean food props for sale
Gorean foodstuffs for sale
among a number of straw huts
Outside the food stall and in these huts are areas for playing “The Game”, the only Gorean board game.
There is also a 2 storey building that seemed a bit out of place. I wandered around but that was pretty much all there was to see here. I headed back down to the dock where I had arrived. Where I found a small boat that I’d missed when I arrived.
Sitting in this ferries you along the coastline to Korat Trading Post
The landing dock, watch your step!
A better view of the waterside of the trading station
(Remember to stand up as soon as you arrive or the boat will vanish and drop you in the water!)
You have to cross a bridge to get into the trading post
I entered the main trade area where there were a number of trade carts as you cross through the main area before you come to a number of buildings including a tavern and a healers premises. You can see here there are a number of signed entryways heading into the jungle.
Numerous trading stalls
One of the entryways into the jungle
A Tavern to the left and a large Healers premises to the right.
Another seaward entryway
The fact there is a second seaward entrance, makes me wonder which way the region owners actually intend for you to arrive. But either way these places provide plenty of opportunity for RP for those that don’t want to play “pew, pew” with bows and arrows in the jungle.
