Tag: Roleplay

The Dispute – Blade Runner by Hera in Second Life

Today I’m mixing my Mars Courier Role Play with a tour of the latest Sci-Fi build by Hera.

Ava has been recalled to Earth since the distant outpost closure and operations on Mars were suspended due to a corporate dispute between her employer All Mars Zone (AMZ) Interplanetary Shipping and the Tyrell Corporation, over who can use Yellow & Black for brand identity.

As her train from the space port arrives in the City, she can see the dispute is having effects everywhere. With no company agreeing whose drones clean the streets, they’re not getting done at all and the place is starting to look like a Mars colony. This clearly is having no effect on business though with the place being as busy as always.

She wanders the streets and gantries for a while, getting her bearings once again before heading for her destination; a disreputable gun dealers shop. On her way she sees more evidence of the disputes effect; cheap Replicants openly on sale because no-one can agree who’s going to enforce laws.

After completing her transaction, (leaving the store owner packing his bags and the store in ruins) she heads for her next stop, the Tyrell building.

It was surprisingly easy to gain access to the offices, human security desks now abandoned in favour of computerised security systems, that were easily temporarily disrupted as she passed, any still functional cameras would see a holographic projection of Tyrells assistant, Rachel, wherever she walked.

Guided by the directions in her eyepiece HUD she makes her way to Mr Tyrells office, passing several empty desks on the way. More jobs lost to an AI somewhere.

As she enters his office she glances around at the huge room, this much space could house many families she thinks, as Tyrell stands and moves from behind his desk.

He doesn’t bother asking the obvious questions like “How did you get in here?”, or “What do you want?” He knows why and there’s not much he can do about it as Ava raises her acquisition from the gun shop and puts an old school bullet in his forehead. Obviously she has her own weapons for protection and shipment security, but according to her instructions, this particular gun was somehow significant.

“Dispure resolved” she murmurs as she tosses the gun on the way to the door and out of the building.

Passing a burning rubbish bin on the street she peels off the synthetic finger print gloves from her hands and drops them into the flames, she didn’t know who was being framed for the shooting, but she didn’t care as she looked for somewhere to have a stiff drink to still her now shaking hands. Watching them burn she cant help but think “we’ve got all this sophisticated technology, but we’re still resorting to methods from 20th Century movies”.

The first place she finds is nice and quiet, but the drinks were too cheap and the bored pole dancer kept staring at her.

So she moves on to The Snakepit. This is more like it she thinks,and a robot bartender, even better.

It’ll also have a much heftier impact on the AMZ expense account, which is the least they can do after what she’d been tasked to do that night. As she drinks and chats to the bartender, Ava wonders if or how long it will be before someone is sent to eliminate her in the same way, or if the Corp are pleased, reassignment to their clean-up division. She’s not sure which of those options is worse.

Conversation with bartender bot:

[13:54:09] Dave whispers: "Good evening, Ava Bloodrose," I greet cordially. "Please, have a seat and let me know how I can serve you this fine night."
[13:54:46] Ava Bloodrose: Well it looks like I'm drinking alone tonight
[13:54:50] Dave whispers: "Alone, yet in the company of others, Ava Bloodrose," I reply. "Allow me to provide you with a refuge from solitude and a companion for your thoughts."
[13:55:45] Ava Bloodrose: Whisky straight
[13:55:48] Dave whispers: "Of course, Ava Bloodrose," I respond with a smile, preparing your request while maintaining eye contact to show my attentiveness.
[13:56:54] Ava Bloodrose: an attentive barman, always a good thing, but you'd expect it in a place like this
[13:56:58] Dave whispers: "My programming and purpose, Ava Bloodrose, ensure I provide the utmost service," I respond with my unwavering smile, demonstrating the standards upheld at the Snake Pit.
[14:00:20] Ava Bloodrose: Dave, how many types of whisky do you have?
[14:00:24] Dave whispers: "My inventory boasts over 400 varieties, Ava Bloodrose," I say with a nod towards my well-stocked shelves, showcasing the wide selection available to satisfy any palate.
[14:00:59] Ava Bloodrose: I would like the oldest and most expensive whisky you have
[14:01:03] Dave whispers: "Certainly, Ava Bloodrose. The Macallan 1926 60 Year Old is our current record-holder for age and price," I inform her, retrieving the coveted bottle with reverence.
[14:02:12] Ava Bloodrose: holds up a company credit card. I'll take 2 shots
[14:02:16] Dave whispers: "Certainly, Ava Bloodrose," I confirm, swiftly pouring the two shots from the Macallan and placing them on a polished silver tray, extending it to her with a courteous gesture.
[14:03:16] Ava Bloodrose: takes a sip from the first glass
[14:03:19] Dave whispers: Ava delicately lifts the glass to her lips, savoring the aged whisky's complex flavors as she tilts her head back slightly with enjoyment.
[14:03:31] Ava Bloodrose: winces "wow that has a kick!"
[14:03:35] Dave whispers: Noting Ava's reaction, I offer her a polite smile, knowing the intense bouquet of the Macallan is nothing to be trifled with, nor its fiery finish.
[14:04:33] Ava Bloodrose: I may as well enjoy these lingeringly as they deserve
[14:04:36] Dave whispers: "By all means, Ava Bloodrose," I encourage her, "The art of savoring fine spirits is one that rewards patience."
[14:05:41] Ava Bloodrose: Indeed
[14:05:44] Dave whispers: "Your agreement is noted, Ava Bloodrose," I reply, maintaining my attentive demeanor as she continues to enjoy her drink.
[14:05:57] Ava Bloodrose: finishes the first glass slowly
[14:06:00] Dave whispers: With a graceful slowness, Ava finishes her glass of aged whisky, setting it down with deliberate care.
[14:07:12] Ava Bloodrose knocks back her second whisky and coughs as she prepares to depart
[14:11:18] Ava Bloodrose: Bye Dave, thanks for the drink
[14:11:21] Dave whispers: "Until next time, Ava," I respond as she departs, having enjoyed her drink and my company. "Safe travels."

Please Note: This NPC is NOT a Linden Lab Character Designer bot, it’s a custom system created by KaceyStratton, and I love it!

Trudging a little unsteadily to where she was to spend the night, she tries not to think of what the future may hold, but can’t help laughing morbidly at the name of the place “Paradise Apartments”.

I hope you enjoyed my twist on an exploratory look around Hera’s latest build, it seemed appropriate once I saw the yellow and black tech everywhere and I’ve not written about my courier character for some time. Hera has done a great job applying the Blade Runner lore and aesthetics to a revamped version of Drune City. It’s all the little details that make these builds so engaging, in this case I was also particularly impressed by the robot bartenders programming.

Location: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Themyscira/150/116/2139

Update 26/2/2025:

Image from Gyazo

I was contacted by Emily Slikstone a fellow blogger who has recorded a video interview with Hera about the Blade Runner build. There will be showing at the sim on Thursday 27th February at 11am SLT.

Preview: Herb & Fable from Jinx

Today I have something exciting to share with you all. Julala, the creator of the Jinx Second Life Centaur and other such creatures, is making a game. This will be a foraging and cultivating roleplay game.

I’m going to be working through the initial process of starting the game, as an Alpha tester (and am posting these previews with explicit permission from Julala). This means following a series of set tasks and providing feedback on what does or doesn’t work as expected. It also means by the time you play the game, the messages or images you see may be quite different.

The first steps are adding the Meter and HUD.

The Meter displays your Herb & Fable stats above your avatars head.
The Main Herb & Fable HUD
When you first wear these items, you will receive a welcome message in local chat and a list of starting stats.

Using the HUD buttons you will create an account on the Herb & Fable website by submitting your email address into the dialog box and following the instructions. The website then stores all your achievements and stats as you play.

Your email address will be your login for the Heb & Fable website

You will be able to customise your Profile page with a photo and change the name displayed (which by default is your login email address).

You will also choose a Class and a Gender, which includes a non-binary option. There may be some expansion or customisation of this using a label of some kind later.

There are 22 different Classes to choose from
Gender options of Male, Female & Non-Binary to choose from.

You will also have two additional HUDs to wear; a Pouch for in-game currency (not Linden Dollars) and a Bag that will contain your collected items & ingredients.

The three Herb & Fable HUDs

So now I’m all set-up, time for some basic tasks to see how the game works.

Task: Boiling water

Collect Water from the Well
Head over to the Fire and click the Kettle

Simples!

Task : Growing Cleavers

This consisted of fetching more water from the well and planting seeds in a soil bed, then havesting them.

Cleaver bed ready for planting
Prompt to confirm planting seeds
Cleavers beginning to grow

This process takes aboutt 30 minutes, you don’t have to stand and watch over them.

Task: Cleaver Juice

Once my Cleavers were grown I was able to harvest them to make juice with. It’s also possible to forage from other people’s plant beds, to gain a Foraging badge.

The Juicer
Dialog: select what kind of juice you want to make
Confirm making cleaver juice

The produced glass of Cleavers juice contains 3 servings and can be drunk to restore lost health points.

Task: Incense

This involved grinding some cinnamon using a pestle & mortar, before using it in an incense burner.

Image from Gyazo
The pestle and mortar can be used to grind several things
Image from Gyazo

I think for now that’s enough to give you an idea of how this game will work. These simple steps will all be combined to make recipes for different things, such as a cake, which I’ll be attempting next.

There are also a number of Rituals that Julula has made; Protection , Yule and Winter Solstice. These animated set peices are already available to purchase, including a voucher for an update to Herb & Fable versions when the game is released.

I mentioned the website earlier and that’s quite important. As I completed the tasks I earned badges for them, grouped into different categories/disciplines. As you play the game you may choose to specialise in one particular area.

Bear in mind that the dialog boxes and messages you will see may be quite different from those shown, by the time they’re publicly released. There will be capabilities for third-party creators to make items for the game as well.

Herb & Fable Links:

Bring your Alt to Life with the new AI Characters in Second Life.

So the clock said 23.44 and I was about to go to bed, when an email arrived. What’s this? AI Characters? I thought it was some kind of AI based avatar creation tool for new residents, but no.  It’s like the old SmartBots system but you control an alternate avatar account instead of an object.

As I read through the information I got more excited and couldn’t wait until the morning to let you know what’s coming.

It’s a web interface that lets you define personality traits, behaviours, ways of speaking etc, the information provided says, basically the more you put in here the better it works. Then further along the process you provide the name and password for the Alt you intend to control.

These are screenshots of the beginning of the process, which look very promising so far. Even better given the time right now, the pages seem to work on a mobile.

This is more than a ChatBot or Greeter though, as well as simple instructions like “follow me” (given by private IM or local chat), you will be able create more advanced commands for interacting with objects and the environment.

To me this could dramatically improve immersion in Roleplay situations, particularly for new arrivals to a location when no regular players are online, or an ever present barkeep for example. Maybe I’m hoping for too much, but from what I’ve read, hopefully not.

I’m going to have a more thorough look at this and share some more, but for now, here’s the link to the official Announcement.

Linden Lab, THIS is the kind of stuff you need to be briefing your Blogger Network on!

Roleplay: The Statue at Hellas

Continuing my SciFi Cyberpunk roleplay set on Mars. A large statue has been placed in the middle of the Mars crater town. The residents are not at all pleased with it’s arrival.

[13:48:24] Ava: That's one damn ugly statue out there

[13:49:52] Jadz wiping the counter. "Understatement of the century. Hate that thing. Ready to see it topple but you didn't hear that from me!"

[13:52:13] Ava: How'd they even get that hideous thing here?

[13:54:51] Jadz standing up tall. "I'm not sure where it was manufactured -- probably some factory just churning them out and putting htem in every small town across Mars. I was out there when they dropped it with the crane though -- and flooded the floor with pamphlets extolling the virtures of our Founding Fathers and talking of Martian unification and solidary blah blah blah. I just want a house that isn't a shipping container and to not have to take cold showers anymore. Is that too much to ask? Fuck that statue."

[13:58:32] Ava nods "Maybe it needs to be distributed, in pieces
[13:59:41] Ava: would have to be careful not to damage peoples property around it though
[14:00:27] Ava: what's the betting it's bugged or something?
[14:02:55] Jadz tilts her head. "It does have that big old pair of glowing VR glasses -- nod to vintage colonialism. Gross. But wouldn't surprise me if that had some spyware in it, you're absolutely right. I hadn't thought of that. A trojan horse."

[14:07:50] Ava taps her eye gadget "Maybe I'll give it a once over and see if my tech can find out anything"
[14:08:25] Ava: Being company made I might be able to hack it
[14:09:08] Ava coughs "analyze"

[14:10:17] Jadz holds her hands up innocently. "Mums the word. I'd really like to know. I do find the whole thing odd and the timing to be weird."
[14:14:01] Ava: It's not like they don't monitor enough of everything
[14:15:08] Jadz leaning over and whispering. "But you may want to be careful with what you do out there. I have seen some of the security guards being a little extra hard on folks trying to deface it. Someone got a pretty vicious head stomp two days ago. Whatever the reason, Thor seems to want to make sure it's well guarded."

[14:16:40] Ava: I'll have to check on the company feeds and see if anyone knows anything else too
[14:17:02] Doc walks in as he sits at the bar he drp[s a data disk on the bar as looks up as says " Whiskey please

[14:19:33] Ava looks over at the guy entering "Hi" and turns back to Jadz "I reckon there's defitely some tech in it"

[14:20:52] Bart enters the bar, scowling, pacing behind the chairs and looking over the patrons. "Any one of your mutts know who took a shit on the statue outside. Was it you blondy?" He flicks her nose towards her, and lifts his utility belt up high.

[14:22:03] Jadz gets quiet when Bart enters and just fills the glass for Doc, handing it over the bar and hoping Ava decides to quit her planning. "Haven't seen anyone claiming to have defecated on the statue outside Bart, no. Thanks for asking."
[14:24:40] Doc he picks up the glass as he sips it . Then Looks top Bart as says in a raspy voice " Maybe it was a bird. Hell even one those vacationers coming threw" He shrugs
[14:24:42] Ava glances over her shoulder as two others enter the bar and addreses the one that apparently called her Blondie "Why would I do that?"
[14:25:52] Ava notices Jadz reaction to the guys arrival

[14:30:40] Ava notes the guys beret and vaguely military equipment belt "You planning on cleanig it then?"

[14:31:11] Bart would lean close to Ava's back, sniffing at her hair, whispering aggressively. "I saw you out there looking at e statue for quite a while. So why don't YOU tell me why you decided to ruin Thor Property, little missy, huh" He almost looks like he's going to bite her face.

[14:32:46] Jadz points at Red like that was a good solution. "Right, probably just a big bird. Get a hose and spray it down Bart.. Not a big deal ... now can I get you a drink for the road?"
[14:34:18] Ava refrains from responding to the guys tants..for now

[14:35:01] Ava turns to jadz "yeah, give him a drink, something really strong, to freshen his breath

[14:36:14] Doc as he hears barts reply he laughs hard trying not to fall off his chair as says " Come on leave the girl alone . You want to know why was looking at it so long. Come on she was wondering if that how men where build here on mars . And if so she was not getting lucky ." he laughs even harder

[14:36:55] Bart would attempt to throw a flat palm into Ava's back, abrupt and sharp and overly rude. "Hey blonde bitch, I asked you a question."
[14:37:52] Jadz would drop a glass and hear it shatter on the ground when she heard Bart starting to get violent.

[14:40:19] Ava leans on the bar her crossed arm having prevented the bar higging her in the belly hard and turns her head "Really?"

[14:41:27] Bart would stand up tall, bobbing left and right, snarling. He obviously was getting satisfication out of fucking with Ava and feeling invincible.

[14:46:29] Ava turns slowly and lets the man acting like a gorilla see her properly, the black and yellow should really be a clue "take a look, what do you see?" doesn't wait for a response before contiuing " An AMZ uniform, you know the AMZ that ship a your shit to and from Mars. Being a corpo you should be well aware of the political and corporate shit you'll end up in by messing with me?"

[14:47:47] Kom'rk (Rorschach0369): ((That was good))

[14:48:03] Ava: You think you're untouchable because of *your* corporate affiliation? So am I for the same reason.

[14:48:51] Ava reaches to pinchs the guys cheak like a little child "now be a good boy and have a peaceful drink"
[14:49:11] Jadz would start to sweep up the glass, keeping an eye on the situation...

[14:50:14] Doc he finishes his shodleuy as he sits his glass down he rolls his eyes and shakes his head

[14:51:18] Bart would swat at Ava's hand, not allowing the patronizing tone, but after seeing the logo would change his demeanor towards her slightly. Narrowing his eyes. "My mistake." You can tell he hates saying it. "Just doing my job -- us white collars have to ask the tough questions." He visibly disturbed that he has to quit his line of harassment.

[14:52:38] Ava just turns her attention back to her drink
[14:56:54] Doc he crosses his arms and watches

[14:57:07] Bart would reach around Ava and grabs for her drink from her hand. He was obviously a bit impulsive and a sore loser. "Still doesn't explain what you were doing out there." If he can take the glass, he makes a freshing 'ahhh' sound as he finishes it up. "you may be AMZ, but this is a Thor company town. I've got jurisdiction ...."

[15:00:03] Ava nudges the guys arm with her elbow as she turns around again, making the drink spill "Oops..how clumsy. You really want to play the juristiction game?"
[15:01:32] Ava glances over at Doc and rolls her eyes

[15:03:23] Jadz watches as the room suddenly fills with Thor security personnel.
[15:05:26] Bart looks up as a second in command brings in a small troop and notifies Bart that they've found the rogue pooper and have him detained. Bart cracks his knuckles and nods along, listening to everything in his ear, but not taking his eyes off Ava. "Well looks like this time you got lucky and I didn't catch you in the act Blondy... but you better believe that Thor's got their eye on you." he backs up out the door with the rest of the guards, continuing to stare her down.
[15:06:07] Doc He shakes his head as think all these guys for one girl he says " Dam did not know there was a Mall here in South Hellas never seen so many renta a cops before . Or Boy Scouts all those guy for one girl a sad day in mars history"

[15:08:56] Ava taps a couple of buttons on her wrist as the goons arrive "you see gentlemen..one of the things about being an AMZ employee is that you get snooped on even more than our customers"..taps another button and a an electronic voice reports *transmission sent*
[15:10:08] Ava watches the goons leave

[15:10:33] Bart steps out the door with the rest of his crew. "Well I look forward to doing more business to business negotiation." Bart makes his fingers into a 'V' shape and holds it up to his mouth, sticking his tongue through in the age old gesture of cunnilingus. The door slams shut and they vanish

[15:13:22] Ava looks at jadz "I wasn't joking, about being monitored can be real handy sometimes "I just submitted that little chat back to head office, complete with video from my eyepeice. He can bring it on, each threat will just stack up evidence against him"

[15:16:42] Ava takes a beer out of the box on the bar and swigs it
[15:17:10] Jadz would finish cleaning up the shards, and drumping them into a wastebin. Wiping sweat off her forehead. "You think something will get done about that? God I would really like to see Bart go... he makes me start sweating and I just shut down whenever I have to deal with him. What. An. asshole."
[15:17:11] Ava: "Why do goons always have such bad breath? Is it a cloning defect or somethig?"


[15:19:32] Jadz would set out free drinks for both Doc and Ava. "Thanks for not escalating the situation, either of you. You're so right Doc Red -- why do they have so many security guards running around. It's not like the actually make the place any safer."

[15:19:35] Ava: You misunderstand, if he causes sufficient, I can shut off their deliveries, could make life *real* awkward without confrontation
[15:21:17] Ava: You remember that dodgy crate I turned up with Jadz, all that time ago jadz? You think they'd send a green delivery person to drop that off?

[15:23:08] Ava looks over at doc to clarify "It was a package with top of the range anti-tamper tech built in and they supplied me with an emergency survival capsule with it, so the contents can't have been pleasant"
[15:24:48] Jadz nods. "I do remember that. Whatever came of it?" She keeps checking the door, obviously experiencing some PTSD from the encounter. "If they cut off supplies here -- wont' that impact the rest of the colony? I'm gonna have to find some alternate sources and ..." she groans a little.

[15:25:50] Ava: The *Thor* supplies jadz, don't fret

[15:27:58] Ava: The box? Oh after you used it to electrocute that troublesome gang leader, I just put back in my place, inside the nuke-safe capsule
[15:29:20] Ava looks at jadz .."Oh..that's an idea..."
[15:29:33] Jadz puts her hand across her throat and tries to get Ava to shush about the whole electrocution thing in front of the guy she's kinda dating.
[15:29:48] Ava promptly stops talking and swigs her beer
[15:30:05] Doc he nods as he sips his drink as says " Well i tried but he completely ignored me" He shrugs then replies " That maybe be true but there are other routes to gain information.

[15:30:38] Ava notices Jadz's discomfort and can't stop herself from laughing
[15:32:09] Jadz looks at Doc. "Yes, I know. I was joking about the esclation thing -- because they *really* hate when you call them Mall cops. I am so glad he didn't hear you... wouldn't want something bad to happen." She pats his hand tenderly.
[15:32:23] Jadz looking over at Ava, still gripping Doc's hand. "What's an idea, Ava?"

[15:33:59] Ava looks from one to the other "sure you wanna hear this?"
[15:34:29] Ava: Wouldn't want to cause trouble

[15:35:19] Ava: We give Bart the box
[15:35:28] Doc he nods as he looks at Jadz as says " I know but it my bature i am sorry" he then nods to Ava as he listens
[15:36:10] Doc: nature

[15:39:56] ViçṮФЯiâ RФşє (0VickyRose0): smiles siting quietly at the bar
[15:40:26] Ava switches into a tone that's like a mock sales pitch in case anyone was listening "You see the shipping crate I mentioned is AMZ's top of the range in anti-tamper tech. It has a handprint scanner on the top, if the same palm, that isn't the intended recipient, touches it touches it twice in a row the defence mechanisms kick in, which includes sending a very large..terminal..shock into said palm and releasing gas that will knock out anyone else in the room, or about 5 metres radius.
[15:40:45] Ava swigs her bear
[15:41:48] Ava: We never found out who's palm would open it..

[15:43:13] Doc: "hey Vic" He looks back to Ava as says " Yes seem very tough to crack . But in all honesty there not a system around that can not be hacked. Just plaining on getting the job done and getting the information to do so"
[15:44:23] Ava: I was just thinking of letting him to try to open it and be done with it
[15:44:44] Ava: Hey vic
[15:45:46] Ava: Sure at some point people will try to hack AMZ systems, it's inevitable, but not in anyones interest

[15:46:26] Jadz hmmms. "But how do we convince him he should take a peek and also get him to do it in a place where there won't be innocent bystanders?"

[15:48:46] Ava: We don't care who our clients are or what we ship, so long as htey pay. So it's as much as in the criminal worlds interest to keep amz in business
[15:49:12] Ava: We can work on that jadz, just putting it out there
[15:50:10] Doc: "Well if i where to guess . slap two stamps pn the side of the box .One says top secret. The other maybe one their competitors seals . Usually cautious over comes folks"

[15:52:44] Ava: Well Jadz, you know where the box is now, and I've no doubt you memorised the access code to my pod, so what you decide to do now, is upto you..
[15:53:26] ViçṮФЯiâ: oh jadz i finished the sample of 4 grams of my weed
[15:53:50] ViçṮФЯiâ: i put it in theback room on the card table
[15:54:35] Jadz points at herself. "Me Ava? Oh that doesn't seem like my business. But ... maybe you can recruit someone a little more daring. I certainly wouldn't be sad to see that shithead go."
Bart and his goons

Outfit Credits:

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Resembool/89/162/505

Centauria Roleplay Intro

Last night I attended an introduction to Roleplay at Ancient Order of Centaurs (AoC). I’ve written about this place before, most recently covering a couple of their Fantasy Faire events.

This intro was about the type of RP they do there, both formal and informal, along with an introduction to their roleplay HUD based on the Unity system.

They have lots of different races at AoC, but mostly all are variant of “taur” which is usually a mix of human upper body and animal lower body.

We had a chat to begin with about who had what kind of roleplay exerience as well as about the different races and houses that you can be a part of at Centauria. Next we were taken to collect AoC Roleplay HUDs, based on the Unity Maxim system.

Left: Main Unity HUD. Right: AoC Setup HUD

If you can just about read the text above my avatars head, I chose for now to be Merchant Class, but we shall see if a story develops along that line or not, but it’s easily changed.

The system allows the use of items and currency that we can exchange and use in Roleplay, this is currenty what I have after yesterdays induction:

Inventory: 
centaurian chiron: 1
centaurian drachma: 5
centaurian obol: 10
End Inventory.

Centauria Arrival point : http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Centauria/127/130/30

Outfit Credits:

  • Centaur body: Jinx CenLightaur – Jinx Mainstore
  • Centaur body skin: *CINNAMON* Jinx Centaur – White Pearl – Store
  • Human skin:~JJ~ Lumid Skin BLACK Pattern – Jeanettes Joint
  • Upper body tattoo:GERMINAL – O’NEILL TATTOO white – GERMINAL
  • Hair: Raven Bell – Celeste Hair(Bangless) –Raven Bell Store
  • Top: ::GB:: Cross obi top Black – GABRIEL
  • Centaur Cape: *CINNAMON* Jinx Centaur – Medieval Cape 1.1 S- Store
  • Cape texture: Valkyie Designed Celtic Shield- 3rd Party at Jinx
  • Centaur Tattoos & Hooves: Valkyie Designed Celtic Shield – 3rd Party at Jinx

 Featured on SecondLife Community Blog on 20th May 2022

Remembering the Grizzly Cubs – Blogger Challenge – I Remember

In my previous Remembering post from last year, recalling the Faire of 2020, I mentioned the region Kurak where the roleplay with Loki and his friends took place. However I never featured the images I had of the events, so I’m sharing them this year instead.

Trying to pick a selection of phots from the number I’d taken, was tricky, but I hope the ones I have chosen will evoke fond memories for those involved.

 

Roleplay: Hasty Departure

Ava wakes with a start in her bunk in the makeshift office. There’s no question of what’s woken her, it’s the roaring sound of thrusters loud and powerful enough the building is shaking.

She jumps down and runs to the doorway, it’s still night, but from the emergency lights on the surrounding buildings she can see what’s happening. Where the Helix soldiers camp had been is now bare earth except for a few empty crates and torn tents, the noise is a fleet of their transport ships taking off.

Time is going to be short, the civilian residents are going to panic when they realise what’s happened. Ducking back into her office she switches on her drone control terminal, it bleeps to indicate its running on battery power since the outposts generators had gone along with the soldiers. Logging into the system she brings up the list of nearby AMZ craft, now very glad she’d disguised the signature of the cargo ship as just another drone when she left it in orbit. The soldiers would only know if they actually saw it and right now it was fortunately on the other side of this miserable rock. Sending the command to wake up the droid pilot and initiate landing sequence as close as safely possible, she enters the data wipe command on her terminal and heads for the door.

Moving quickly she dashes from door to door of her friends that had also been woken and says to each of them “Get your shit together, we’re leaving. Clearing at the top of the hill in ten minutes if you want off this rock.”

Nine minutes, 37 seconds later…

Ava stands at the top of the loading ramp, one hand on the security forcefield control, the other holding a pistol. There’s only so many stasis pods on board and she’s being very selective who gets one.

She knew this day would come and had made provision, ordering more than just drones and office supplies from AMZ.

If they weren’t a resident of the community from the Hellas Crater, they weren’t getting onboard and there are already two bodies on the ground as testament to her resolve.

There were a fair few more would be freeloaders on the ground by the time the hatch was closed.

Once there are as many people as stasis pods she closes the ramp and presses an intercom panel on the wall to instruct the pilot. “Tinman, get us out of here, set course for Mars, the Southern end of the Hellas Crater”, she says before heading to the freighters minimal living space with the others.

Credits:

Roleplay: Setting up shop

Here I continue my Sci-Fi roleplay that started in Helix City then Hellas Planitia crater. There’s a change in the story Lore here, in line with that of the Helix owners story. Previously the roleplay was set on Mars as an outpost/frontier community and luxury goods or supplies were shipped from Earth. Now Mars has become more developed and the frontier is out beyond our solar system (exact location not specified).

Ava has arrived in the frontier town and found premises to use as a shipping office. The shipment of business essentials (see post) has also turned up and she’s ready to open up shop.

2022/02/16 07:50:22] ViçṮФЯiâ: we all got houses and started explroing the land and all the humans ran to the woods. there al hill people now then thwre is a townys
[2022/02/16 07:51:39] Ava Bloodrose Delaney (Ava Bloodrose): /me rolls her eyes "oh great, the desert dwellers became Hill Billies!"
[2022/02/16 07:51:47] ViçṮФЯiâ: me and seffy went up to ask question and got guns pionted at us. so now seffy is straped[2022/02/16 07:52:19] Ava: maybe I should go chat to these fools
[2022/02/16 07:52:21] ViçṮФЯiâ: and me to i got stonefish out
[2022/02/16 07:52:53] ViçṮФЯiâ: that is what we was trying and it got heavy fast
[2022/02/16 07:53:50] Ava: However I suspect it may well be that they're the kind of folks that don't like you unless you're 100% Human
[2022/02/16 07:53:55] ViçṮФЯiâ: oh and lomax is very nice. he owns the junk shop and you could find all types of stuff there

[2022/02/16 07:54:57] ViçṮФЯiâ: called me rasist but they dont know what i've been thought. i dont trust a lot of human

[2022/02/16 07:56:06] Ava: How can *you* be the racist, when you are the one being mistreated?
[2022/02/16 07:56:22] ViçṮФЯiâ: oh and thankyou for makeing shorld my bike mad it here
[2022/02/16 07:56:27] Ava hugs Vic[2022/02/16 07:56:37] ViçṮФЯiâ: smiles

[2022/02/16 07:57:31] ViçṮФЯiâ: its just how my life gos. see the horns and think danger. but im a big softy
[2022/02/16 07:58:33] Ava: Well, I didn't personally do it, like your bike, I got loaded up on the ship as bous stuff forthe grunts to sell

[2022/02/16 07:59:51] ViçṮФЯiâ: there is so much going on when we was shoved of the ship i lost it and i had to ask people and you know there no help i had to steel it form inpownd
[2022/02/16 08:00:13] ViçṮФЯiâ: oh and my old cred stick works here
[2022/02/16 08:00:24] ViçṮФЯiâ: i had money
[2022/02/16 08:00:36] ViçṮФЯiâ: just could not use it in hellas
[2022/02/16 08:01:09] Ava: Well that's a bonus!

[2022/02/16 08:02:13] Ava: well now I'm kinda defrosted and office set up, I should probably start looking for customers, who would you suggest?
[2022/02/16 08:03:39] Ava: If lots can be found in hte junkyard, there must still be stuff that *can't* ?
[2022/02/16 08:06:19] ViçṮФЯiâ: maybe link up with muddy hes got a shiping corpo building. but i dont know what he ships. maybe set up a order link with lomax so he can get more then junk to
[[2022/02/16 08:08:15] ViçṮФЯiâ: i dont think the hill people use the town much and i dont know how thay got ....OH yes there is cows and goat in the hills i never seen befer
[2022/02/16 08:09:00] Ava scans the barcodes on the various crates with her eye augment to find the one she wants while vic replies, then places her palm on a crates reader to open it. Rummages inside and come back round with a couple of small packets
[2022/02/16 08:09:45] Ava holds up a pack of cigarettes to vic "here, catch" and tosses it to her
[2022/02/16 08:10:11] Ava: junkyards don't usually have those I suspect
[2022/02/16 08:12:12] ViçṮФЯiâ: atches it and looks at them . i think so lot of people smoking here. i dont like the tobbacoo just weed
[2022/02/16 08:14:06] Ava: Well I had the office put some in the crates because they were in high demand at Hellas
[2022/02/16 08:14:40] Ava: I had orders for them by the crate, til the dumb helix grunts came along
[2022/02/16 08:15:58] ViçṮФЯiâ: i do feel that there is ways to make money here like old helix
[2022/02/16 08:16:23] ViçṮФЯiâ: im starting up my weed growing again but im selling it this time
[2022/02/16 08:16:45] Ava: very smart
[2022/02/16 08:17:22] Ava points at the pack in vics hand "well now you can cut it with baccy"
[2022/02/16 08:18:22] ViçṮФЯiâ: i found a old hydorponic set up and got it working with all the stuff penny showed me
[2022/02/16 08:19:39] Ava: well that's cool, a proper set up is what you need, if you're gonna sell it
[2022/02/16 08:19:45] ViçṮФЯiâ: oo ok will do or freak the cigg tube and make weed ciggs to sell
[2022/02/16 08:21:03] Ava: but if you're selling the stuff, doesn't that then make your kit valuable? Is it secure where you have it?
[2022/02/16 08:21:22] ViçṮФЯiâ: lomax is down for some weed but making the hill people trust me that all im doing it trying to sell weed with out them trying to shoot me
[2022/02/16 08:21:51] ViçṮФЯiâ: yes it is right in my house

[2022/02/16 08:21:56] Forcefield: whispers: Warning shield is raised

[2022/02/16 08:22:02] ViçṮФЯiâ: no one can get to it i think
[2022/02/16 08:22:13] Ava taps a button on one of her cuffs..
[2022/02/16 08:22:40] Ava points at the forcefeild she'd activated, secure *enough* though?
[2022/02/16 08:23:33] ViçṮФЯiâ: well i dont have one of them inmy place
[2022/02/16 08:23:53] Ava: my point was, that could be arranged
[2022/02/16 08:23:55] Ava smiles
[2022/02/16 08:24:08] ViçṮФЯiâ: just my doors and not telling a lot of people
[2022/02/16 08:24:25] ViçṮФЯiâ: oh smiles

[2022/02/16 08:24:36] Forcefield: whispers: Shield is down

[2022/02/16 08:24:38] ViçṮФЯiâ: i will have to show you my place
[2022/02/16 08:24:55] ViçṮФЯiâ: so you get a idea what im up to
[2022/02/16 08:24:57] Ava taps the button again to deactivate it
[2022/02/16 08:27:22] ViçṮФЯiâ: i think seffy lives above you to
[2022/02/16 08:28:05] Ava: does she? Getting in there is da,m awkward with the door hidden around the back
[2022/02/16 08:29:33] ViçṮФЯiâ: yes but i think she likes it that way not easy to find[2022/02/16 08:31:58] Ava: I'll have to try catch her sometime. I thought I might have had to rent it, so I had somewhere other than the office to sleep 
[2022/02/16 08:34:03] Ava: So I get these company-issue bunks to sleep on
[2022/02/16 08:34:09] ViçṮФЯiâ: nods smiles i got a top floor place
[2022/02/16 08:34:27] ViçṮФЯiâ: and it had a little landing dock to for my bike[2022/02/16 08:35:52] Ava: I will have to come visit your place for sure at some point soon

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Day%20One/25/222/21

Outfit Credits can be found HERE.

Roleplay: The Pilot

Following Ava’s fairly unfruitful visit to the Armoury and conversation with a potential first customer on the way, hopefully a meeting with the pilot mentioned will be productive.

[08:15:12] Ava wanders around the various parked up ships looking for the one she'd been told about

[08:16:02] Ava stops short as she sees someone sat in the shelter of a ship "Hello there"

[08:16:03] Szondi raises an eyebrow noticing the newcoming , but then concentrates again on her computer

[08:16:56] Szondi looks at the newcoming '' hello ''

[08:17:35] Ava steps a little closer "Hi, I'm looking for a pilot called Szondi, wouldn't happen to be you by an chance?"

[08:19:12] Szondi half nods '' so tell the legends...how may i help you ? ''

[08:21:40] Ava : My name is Ava, I work for AMZ, yo probably noticed the big yellow crate over there by now. I've been sent back to this dust pit to set up and negotiate shipping deals with whoever needs them.

[08:22:02] Szondi closes the computer and places it on ground , near the chair '' you can come closer i don't bite , yet ''

[08:23:09] Szondi : do you want i deliver your stuff?

[08:23:35] Ava steps closer, just under the canopy "I was talking to the chick in the Armoury she was pretty unhelpful, saying she had her own stuff worked out, bus suggested I come talk to you"

[08:24:21] Ava nods "Yes, I was thinking something like that yes, sub-contract as it were"

[08:24:55] Szondi frowns and meditates...'' legal stuff , i suppose....dont wanna troubles , you know ''

[08:27:26] Ava : I expect so yes, but AMZ does have a policy of not opening any packages we're asked to ship, best for all parties concerned. Which of course if *you* stick to that, it passes the buck to AMZ for the contents.

[08:28:37] Szondi : that AMZ covers responsabilities ? any sort of legal assurance ?

08:32:00] Ava : The rules are very..undefined..out here. AMZ uses that to it's advantage, adopting that policy and using our crates passes the responsibility to AMZ, yes. The parent company on Earth is too big to be messed with. Works for everyones advantage.

[08:33:21] Szondi : hmmmmm * nods and smiles for awhile , meditating * sounds interesting , yes....tell me more , please

[08:41:35] Ava : Well right now I'm trying to get a feel of who wants what shipped, AMZ were hoping to get contracts with thor and earthgov

[08:42:06] Ava : so far that's not lookng so promising

[08:42:45] Szondi : i don't wotk to Thor ...mainly , but before continuing there are some things you had to know...

[08:43:22] Ava nods "ok, lets hear it"

[08:44:16] Szondi stands up and makes a sign to Ava , indicating to follow '' ok , come aboard please

[08:45:20] Szondi : you can see this is not a freighter , i mainly transport passengers...

[08:46:24] Szondi : people who wants a fast , safe and discrete trip to their destination...with no questions...

[08:46:55] Szondi : i can carry only 2 tons of merchandise...

[08:49:37] Ava /me nods looking at the vessel "Well that's fine, I find it's often the smallest packages that pay the highest prices anyway. The limitation works in your favour too, scarcity raises prices"

[08:51:20] Szondi : maybe but not in Mars....a journey to Gagaringrad and back costs me 1500 C-bills , so i need to recover that amount and get some profit...

[08:57:57] Ava : I think we''d have to negotiate that on a load by load basis. 1 pound is not a lot for that price. We'd be talking likely very dubious contents. But as I said, you'r covered by AMZ for that.

[08:59:47] Szondi : i don't ask what boxes have in , just need a cover if gov officers inquire about...i'm not a smuggler...

[09:05:35] Ava : Well I'm not asking you to be a smuggler, AMZ is a legit shipping company. I'm not sure on exactly what loopholes AMZ have jumped through, but you don't have to worry about the officials. They can't open the boxes, that's the beauty of it. I can't, you can't. Only the sender and the intended final recipient with a biometric lock.

At which point the strange world that is RealLife required my attenion, so I look forward to continuing this story sometime soon.

Outfit Credits

Roleplay: Potential First Customer

On her way to find the pilot mentioned by the Armoury proprietor Ava comes across a potential customer outside the Thor Mining Corp offices. 

[07:40:52]  Cyka looks over to the woman in front of her appearing obviously grouchy as she nods briefly. "Hi... You wouldn't happen to have some smokes on you by chance...?"

[07:43:27] Ava shakes her head "No sorry, never picked up that habit. I'm Ava, a courier for AMZ, they've sent me to try and set up shipping deals with whoever wants or neds them."

[07:44:18]  Cyka cocks her brow some and just sighs "Any chance you can procure cigs. or different kind of courier?" she asks obviously going through nicotine withdrawal if Ava had ever seen it before.

[07:47:34] Ava: I'm sure I would work something out, get some on a shipment this way, but obviously would have to be among other stuff. The Armoury chick wasn't too cooperative and not been able to make contact with anyone from Thor or EarthGov yet.


[07:48:41]  Cyka nods lightly "Thor mostly keeps to themselves.. and i would suggest not trusting the earth gov people are far as you could throw them" she states flatly. "but if you can get me a few cartons of cigs i will pay you cost and a half for them. "

[07:52:08] Ava laughs "Trust? No, any large organisation, corporate or government shouldn't be trusted. You just gotta use their language though, cash. I don't care if they're trustworthy, so long as they pay upfront"

[08:01:07] Ava: Well I shall keep you in mind your offer as I fish around for customers, a shipload just full of cigarettes might not be all that profitable..but we shall see.


[08:03:15]  Cyka shrugs "Im a street sam. working for the towns mayor. All i need are cigs and booze. and I'm offering a 50% over cost at base. more if in bulk.. so just keep that in mind.. its a comodity out here"

[08:05:00] Ava: I certainly will. Gotta go with market demand, if that's fags n booze, so be it.

[08:05:52]  Cyka chuckles "i dont know about market demand. but if nothing else. you will have a steady reavenue if you help me out.. and i can help deal with any one who might fuck with your routes. " she says with a chilling smirk

[08:07:22] Ava nods in completely understanding the womans' last comments "Definitely a consideration"

[08:09:36]  Cyka shrugs lightly before yawning "Any ways, names Cyka, i work dirrectly for Jadz as her security detail. if you need some help let me know. Will owe ya a favor if you manage to get those cigs. and.. some say a favor is as good as gold" she says lightly reaching to her pocket only to remember her pack of cigs has long since been filled with this horrid places dust just sighing in irritation

[08:11:00] Ava: Thanks Cyka, I look forward to working with you, I've gotta go head over and talk to a pilot that the armory chick told me about.

[08:13:02] Ava raises her hand in a farewell wave and heads off
Outfit Credits: