Face your Fears

It was a ritual that repeated itself regularly. He locked it in a trunk, he tried to hide the key. But the whispering only got louder and louder. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, it would torment him until he finally relented and retrieved the mask. He could hear it laughing at him. The only way to make it stop was to wear it.

It is almost as if a switch as been flicked. He had been nervous, slightly awkward before - a trait that endeared him to his prey. With the mask on, he strode with confidence and purpose - like a predator. He unravelled a cloth roll on the table, showing off the glint of steel - his instruments of art - and chose a blade.

He walked towards the bludgeoned body at the foot of the bed. His prey. How her pretty eyes widened when decided to shut up her banal chattering with a hammer. Her breaths were shallow as the puddle of blood spread beneath her. No matter how beautiful they were, they all sounded the same in the end. Full of blood and gurgle and spit.

He knelt at her feet and whispered to her like a lover. "Be brave," he said. "Face your fears...." Then he grimaced as the laughing started anew. Only blood would placate the voices...

For a larger version of these photos please look at: Flickr
Thank you to the following creators who helped create this scene:

DRD Motel
- murdertools table
- deerhead
- mirror broken
- vid camera
- hanging decorlight
- body

{vespertine} spine bone candles
{vespertine}sacred heart
{vespertine}trinket box
{vespertine}empty beauty RARE
{vespertine}potions

Kalopsia - In Loving Memory - Onyx RARE

RO - Hotel Paranoia - Tone Death
RO - Hotel Paranoia - Bed of Roses
RO - Hotel Paranoia - Face Your Fears - MYSTERY RARE

[n.i] turn.and.cough.stool

[ContraptioN] Decor: Alto's Death Mask *DISPLAY*
[ContraptioN] Decor: Baritone's Mask *DISPLAY*
[ContraptioN] Decor: Tenor's Death Mask *DISPLAY*

All these items are available in TAG! Gacha - open now until October 31st.

Scene was photographed in Kalopsia - Old Wood House - available for the October round of Shiny Shabby. Opens 20th October 2015.

The Great Outdoors

Casa Del Shai's machine for June 2015 Arcade celebrates the great outdoors. It complements her machine from March 2015 Arcade: The Mountain Man Collective. Packed full of essentials for the rugged outdoor man, the highlight of the machine are the two RARES - *Shai* Vintage Rucksack in black and brown.

Vintage Rucksack Black RARE

Pictured items from Shai's Let's Sleep under the Stars tonight Set:
- *Shai* Fire Spit with Cast Iron Kettle
- *Shai* Sleeping Bag Blue
- *Shai* Sleeping Bag Black
- *Shai* Army Blanket Blue
- *Shai* Vintage Rucksack Brown - RARE
- *Shai* Brown Tin Cup
- *Shai* Blue Tin Cup
- *Shai* Rope Coil
- *Shai* Miniature Pickaxe
- *Shai* Miniature Shovel
- *Shai* Cast Iron Pan with Egg
- *Shai* Walking Stick

Wearing:
- *Shai* Trapper Hat Black Rare (Shai Mountain Man Collective - Arcade March 2015)
- [ kunst ] - Wire ring - The Men's Department (June 2015)
- [LJ] Snacky Style #07 - T-Bone Ring (Arcade June 2015)
- HUNTSMAN Jacket w/Shirt (Plaid) - ColdAsh (TMD - March 2015)

If leaping from tree to tree as they float along the rivers of British Columbia are not your thing, consider a more transcendental existence with Soy's Our Secret Camp. Channel your inner hippy and discover the meaning of life in this spiritual space.

If you set it up right, you might tempt someone to leave their beach shack to join you....

Pictured items from Soy's Our Secret Camp:
- Soy. OSC- MOROCCAN POUF - leather
- Soy. OSC- RUG - Mandala
- Soy. OSC- OLD RADIO LP PLAYER
- Soy. OSC- STICK INCENSE
- Soy. OSC- INCENSE STAND
- Soy. OSC- DEN BASE RARE
- Soy. OSC- HANGING FABRIC - Butterfly
- Soy. OSC- HANGING FABRIC - Ganesha
- Soy. OSC- TORAN

Other items:
- R(S)W Mannydrake the Magnificent RARE
- Zaara [Goa party] : 23 Weed Joint
- .Loud Mouth. - Carlos v1.5

New Year Chic

Fashion in Second Life looks promising for 2015. Uber opened on New Years eve with amazing collections from creators like Tres Blah, Ison and Ryvolter. Accessories and hair from Yummy and Truth can be found there as well. You will have to head over to Fameshed however, to pick up the latest release from Remarkable Oblivion. RO's new GearJammer Heels have all the clomp and chunk you want from a platform heel with the fine details we have come to expect from this brand. I love the logo hanging on the right shoe. After all, what is the point if no one knows who you are wearing?

Hair: Magika - Written - Mainstore

Coat - Ryvolter - Zira Shoulder Goat Fur Coat - Uber

Necklace - Yummy - Pearl & Diamond Necklace - Uber

Top - Tres Blah -  Sophie Blouse - Uber

Skirt - Tres Blah - Sequined Pencil Skirt  - Uber

Shoes - Remarkable Oblivion - GearJammer Heels - Fameshed

Location - Gachatopia

Cake Stomper

The Elf emerged from the forest and began stomping on all the New Year cakes we had displayed. You could see a grin pull at the corners of it's mouth, staring down at her wiggling toes, packed with frosting. We stood there shocked. Not so much by the destruction but more so at the site of her. We watched with smiles of our own until the little thing turned and scampered off.

Wishing you all a New Year filled with mischief and magic.

  

Food by Poche

Elf by Ohmai

Grateful Dreads

Years ago there were only one or two decent dreads for your avatar in Second Life. You had to wear them black because any other color only highlighted the awkward textures. I started wearing dreads regularly a few years ago when Boon really stepped up to the plate and created some great styles in mesh. Soonsiki has also released a regular stream of dreads in funky styles but this latest one shown here is Tableau Vivant. You might remember the first Tableau Vivant dreads that came out last winter, flowing out of a winter hat. These are a little more versatile and can be used in role play or for your modern out of character looks. You can find these now in two styles at We Love Role Play. 

Non Gacha Shown Here

Hair - Tableau Vivant Outlaw dreads - We Love Roleplay

Gacha

Earrings - aisling  Tortuga Princess Earrings - Mainstore

Necklace - aisling Tortuga Princess Necklace RARE - Mainstore

Top - DRD Fairy Top Blue - Mainstore

Bangle - aisling Sadhana Bracelet - Mainstore

Skirt - Zenith Druid Long Dress  - Fantasy Gacha Carnival

Oh so Scawy!

The kings and queens of cute got together for TAG! Gacha and produced some terrifyingly cute Gachas for halloween.
When meeting one of these in a dark alley you may be tempted to say Awww rather than Ahhh... but be warned... sharp fangs abound!

Be sure to join the Haunted Studio Tour at Gachatopia to pick up your Tour HUD and badge. Join our Gachatopia! chat group to get help for the tour or trade. Be sure to redeem your mystery coupons by the 31st of October. Once the event is over, those prizes will never be seen again!

Wearing

*MishMish* Scawy Monster - Avatar RARE

On Display

OMEN - Halloween Town (full set)

[geek.] Sheldon's Sugar-High  - Spooks Rare

[geek.] Sheldon's Sugar-High - Demon Rare

.:Standby Inc. - PVC Figures (Halloween) That Monster Guy

.:Standby Inc. - PVC Figures (Halloween) PebbleGoyle

.:Standby Inc. - PVC Figures (Halloween) FoulWitch

*MishMish* Scawy Monster - Frankie

*MishMish* Scawy Monster - Dracula

*MishMish* Scawy Monster - Diablo

*MishMish* Scawy Monster - Unicorn RARE

*MishMish* Scawy Monster - Freddy

<:*BoOgErS*:> Kitty w/ Balloon

<:*BoOgErS*:> Kitty play spider

.tsg. Persian Kitten - Pumpkat RARE

.tsg. Persian Kitten - Pinky Witch RARE

+Half-Deer+ Hearthugger Bat - Candy Pop RARE

+Half-Deer+ Hearthugger Bat - Pumpkin Spice RARE

+Half-Deer+ Hearthugger Bat - Cocoa

+Half-Deer+ Hearthugger Bat - Moon

+Half-Deer+ Hearthugger Bat - Little Devil

+Half-Deer+ Hearthugger Bat - Nebula

+Half-Deer+ Hearthugger Bat - Deery

The Darkness Within

I cannot believe it is already Day 5 of TAG! Gacha. We have been so busy with administration we have hardly had time to sit down and play with all the goodies we collected. The quality of items on offer is astounding from veteran creators and new creators alike.

No Halloween is complete without a creepy scene from a mouldy old 19th century house which may have a creepy doll staring at you from a shelf somewhere. To create this scene I used items from the following creators:

Murderer masks

Contraption

Walton Wainwright could be considered the master of all things weird and whimsical. His style reminds me of victorian steampunk and freaky carnivals with a hint of anime. We watched with anticipation as he released his WIP of his Murderer masks and true to form he didn't disappoint with the finished product.




Second Spaces
The Monster's study set is full of wit and fun. My favourite pieces include the family cameos, the potion ingredients and the barred door. It is a set guaranteed to make you smile.

Nylon Outfitters
I've been a fan of NO since the early days of my SL. Even more so when she produced her Doll Head Vase gacha in 2012. Her machine of Spooks with Pets for TAG! Gacha features original artwork that can be hung on a wall or worn. It is a signature piece that will be cherished for a long time.

ARRRGH its a redback spider mate!

Noctis
Sweet Noctis.... I furnished full RP spaces with her furniture during my life as a vampire. Yelly has full attention to detail, reproducing still life vanitas displays in full 3D splendour. It brings a macabre yet elegant touch to your decor. Definitely not a machine to be missed.



DRD
I would like to nominate Jaimy Hancroft as Gachatopia's resident scream queen. Her ultimate nightmare machine is deliciously gory and is perfectly complimented by her Gorefest machine. Go collect the whole set of her TAG! machines then go play her old gachas in her store for a terrifyingly memorable Halloween costume. (Lucius Templar is not responsible for any adverse outcomes or bans you might generate with the outfit you put together)

Be sure to join the Haunted Studio Tour at Gachatopia to pick up your Tour HUD and badge. Join our Gachatopia! chat group to get help for the tour or trade. Be sure to redeem your mystery coupons by the 31st of October. Once the event is over, those prizes will never be seen again!

Wearing

DRD - Ultimate nightmares - biter mask boody @ TAG! Gacha
DRD- Ultimate nightmares - nightmare gloves @ TAG! Gacha

DRD- Gorefest - bloodfest @ TAG! Gacha

DRD- Gorefest- death by housewife @ TAG! Gacha

RO - Zombie Axe -  Freegift from Remarkable Oblivion's mainstore

On display

[noctis] vanitas Still life table redroses @ TAG! Gacha

[noctis] Vanitas posing couch/daybed w paint RARE @ TAG! Gacha

[noctis] vanitas Still life table flute @ TAG! Gacha

DRD carriage @ TAG! Gacha

Second Spaces - Monster's Study - family cameos @ TAG! Gacha

(NO) Lidiya Portrait - Wall Picture @ TAG! Gacha

(NO) Rachel Portrait - Wall Picture @ TAG! Gacha

[ContraptioN] Props: Wrapped Corpses - Free gift from Contraption's  Mainstore

[ContraptioN] Masks: Vaim *crimson* @ TAG! Gacha

[ContraptioN] Masks: Mister Canis *default*  @ TAG! Gacha

[ContraptioN] Masks: Tragedia *wood*  @ TAG! Gacha

There is a mystery rare in the picture somewhere... can you spot it?

Happy Birthday Gachatopia!

Gachatopia opened one year ago this month. I will never forget the day we opened and people poured in looking around wondering what the heck this place was going to be. It was hard to explain because it was just an idea. A place for all things gacha, is all we could really say. There was no one renting and no one in the group but gacha fans flooded over the sim and most of them never left. Many of the original members of the community have become good friends and we are proud to say that one year later, that community has grown to one of the largest, most active gacha communities in Second Life.

Gachatopia celebrates this month with some great gifts and two amazing Gacha Shows. Saturday the 2nd at 2pm slt we have the colorful Katat0nik here for an interview. She has made everyone this little fox plushie you see in these images. Everyone who attends will get one. Speaking of Gacha Show gifts, we are releasing some past gifts out into the Gachatopia community via free raffles over the course of the month to celebrate. If you missed a past show, join the Gachatopia chat group, you may just get lucky and win!

Another important and loved part of Gachatopia are the creators who have supported us and joined in the fun here over the past year. We are always humbled when they take the time out to participate in our crazy ideas. The Gacha Show is just the beginning. We have something planned for fall that involves 50 of the best creators in Second Life called TAG! Gacha we think you will all love. One of those creators Jaimy Hancroft of DRD has made us a special gift for our first anniversary. The gacha machine backpack you see in these photos can be found in the notices of the Gachatopia chat group for the rest of the month.

Happy Birthday Gachatopians! Thank you for an amazing year!

Adorable Summer

July wraps up with great things from Mishmish, Junk, Oyasumi and Half Deer. The Seasons Story set the stage for a summer on the farm. You can still find these great pieces from Junk like this tractor table and fresh milk sign. The structure I am in is from the Oyasumi gacha at Seasons Story as well. But the real gacha star there is Half Deers Pygmy goat gacha. You can play the rezzable ones or the wearable shoulder pet...but we know you will play both! Once you have picked up your pygmys head over to the Dreamers Factory for more Half Deer delights like these lovely Starry Twilight ears and horns. No one does horns like Half Deer. You can also pick up the cute deer face tattoo in her mainstore. Don't go drifting off however before playing the Mishmish Candy Fluffz gacha. These adorable poofs will hover around you looking sweet. Finally the cotton candy machine of all cotton candy machines! Choose from three colors and let Mishmish serve you up some spun sugar in pink or mint. As Aime would say, so beaut!

Signs of Summer

Summer in Second Life is typically kind of slow but that has not stopped creators and event coordinators from bringing us more stuff! July kicked off with two events that I am thrilled to see back! Summerfest and OMG Gacha. Summerfest14 had all of the bang of last years with many of the same creators and some new favorites. Summerfest ends on the 13th of July and I strongly advise getting over there because some stuff is exclusive and poofs once the event ends.Shown here are signs by Second Spaces and Floorplan. I also slipped Seven Emporiums FLF in here, Attention Pickpockets! More things from Summerfest are Anya Ohmai's hedghogs, Oyasumi's beach chair and crates. There is a watermelon bucket by Culprit and a drink cooler by Flowey! The awesome boombox behind me is also from Summerfest brought to you by Remarkable Oblivion. RO is also responsible for this crazy cool hat I am wearing, available at The Mens Department.

OMG Gacha returns after a short break with a whole mess of new machines. Alchemy breaks out the summertime cuteness with a Seal pet machine. The Balloon Seal Rare is floating next to me. OMG is open for two weeks so head over when you can and take some spins!

The Alchemist's Secret

Kean Kelly is one of the loveliest people I have met in Second Life. Her work reflects her personality to a tee and what would we do without it. I am hard pressed to think of any other Second Life creator that tackles the fine work of glass making to scale on a regular basis. As a miniatures enthusiast for most of my life, I deeply appreciate creators that consider the scale of our virtual space. It is one of those elements that just makes things more real inworld. 

You can find Kean's latest gacha at the Arcade which is running until the end of the month. Past gacha and more can be found at the KeKe mainstore. Other laboratory items shown here can be found at the Mens Department and are made by Soy.