The Skybeam Fox Hunt (Nov 2009)

By Bixyl Shuftan

 In late October, Second Life Newspaper had a new sponsor, the Skybeam Estates. It wasn't long before we had a chance to spotlight the community, their third anniversary on Saturday Nov 14. Among the events that day was the fox hunt. Maybe I was a little close to the subject, but it was the one that I chose to write on, the article going up Tuesday Nov. 17.

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Skybeam had a number of  events to celebrate it’s third anniversary. There was a “Worst Dressed” contest. There was a snail race. There was a spoof of “Wheel of Fortune” called “Wheel of Lindens,” in which I won a hundred L on. But what to me was the most memorable was the fox hunt.

No, they didn’t hunt yours truly. Amethyst Starosin, the Skybeam event manager, and Erix Oh, donned feral fox avatars, purple and red respectively, and volunteered to be the targets. There was also a third fox, Kiwako Snook, whom was the gray decoy. There were free horse mounts available to those whom didn’t have one, but as demos they were no longer redeemable once the player got off them, or 45 minutes had past. Anyone whom wanted the traditional red riding outfit, however, would have to get it themselves. To catch the foxes was a cager, just go in mouselook, aim, and click.

So at 10 AM SL time on Saturday the 14th, people began gathering. My presence led to a few chuckles, not just because of my avatar’s vulpine appearance but also the raptor-like mount I had for a “horse.” But no one tossed a cage at me. It was soon time to give the foxes a head start, and then everyone on horseback charged to capture them, or in my case on raptorback to “rescue” them.

But not surprisingly, I lost sight of them. I had heard all of Skybeam, not just that one sim, were open to the fox hunt. Peaking at the map, there were plenty of green dots here and there, so I wandered about, going through fields, over rocky hills, and by homes. I didn’t think I’d find the foxies, but I was having fun exploring around.

Finally checking the map, I saw that the sim the hunt had stared on suddenly had a mess of green dots. Was it all over. I ported over, expecting to hear that it was. Instead when things were rezzing, I saw people running around, and people shouting, “Some one get her!” The hunt was still on!

To my surprise, the purple fox darted in front of me. I promptly zoomed into mouselook, took aim, and ... nothing! As I had test-fired it once before, I wondered if it was a one-shot weapon, and went back to the starting point to get a new cager. But when I got it and turned my raptor mount around, I heard, “TWIZT GOT HER!!” “Yay Twiz!!” “CONGRATULATIONS TO TWIZT YING FOR CAGING THE ONE THAT COULDN'T BE CAUGHT!!” And so the hunt was over. twists response was simple, “Wow. I didn’t even see the cage.”

After that was the post chase chatter. Earlier on, Erix Oh had been caged by Neil McCullough. Amethyst had proven much more frustrating, “That was so frustrating having her right there in front of me and not getting her.” “I'm sorry ... but last year Neil had me in like 90 seconds ... this was great.” “Did anybody get a picture of me caging myself?” “... what'd you say, where I ‘rested’ on my sim, hidden in a hollow stump?” (decoy)“I almost morphed dragon a couple of times, just to give a horse a fright. :P ” “Eeeek a dragon!” “Oh my God!  Scarey dragon!”

Admist the laughter, there was talk of having another fox hunt in December, and Amythest the purple vixen getting a few belly rubs. And after a while, people soon left for the next event. And so ended the Skybeam Fox Hunt.

Among my furry friends, reaction was a bit mixed. Some thought it odd. Others joked about holding a different kind of fox hunt. Many thought it should be the foxes on horseback and hunting the “hummies.” But there was also one suggestion for a shy human guy being chased by a band of scantily-clad, giggly, vixens.”

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This would be the only anniversary of it's new land sponsor Second Life Newspaper would cover, and there would be no fox hunt in December to cover. Still, it was a chance to get a peek of life and times at Skybeam.

Bixyl Shuftan

Summer Fair at Aero Pines Park

By Gemma Cleanslate

Aero Pines Park, a favorite place for many of us, has a Summer Fair and Carnival in Equus hosted by the Aero Pines Park Rangers and the Bravo Carnival Company. Every fun game that you have ever played, and every ride you have ever enjoyed in Second Life seems to be here for your vacation fun if you are having a staycation like many of us. Take your friends and have a ball!

 

On the way in, grab a mallet and test your strength at the High Striker game. There are lots of arcade games on the midway to try, some very familiar like Whack a Mole. One game I had never seen called Zombie Meltdown was great fun. Out in the rodeo field I saw someone riding a bucking bull for points. I will skip that. There is a fast carousel, a scary roller coaster, bumper cars, and an enormous ferris wheel, my favorite ride, along with some others you will recognize.  Take a walk through the Fun House, that is a real maze. Good luck! 

 

Wandering around all the sims of Aero Pines is always so interesting no matter when you go. I took the long long ride from the sky isle down the water slide and right into the ocean! When you land, you are near the bumper boats so have some fun there too.  Do not miss the log flume ride!!! Rezz a log and jump in and you will be on the journey of your life. The log is hauled up inclines and slides down the water ways, wending its way to the end. 

 

Outside the entrance to the carnival you will find the brochure and a list of the many teleports you can take to various areas of the Park that are always available. I saw some people  riding horses on the beach not too far from the carnival. Rezz a demo horse and ride the trails. I do that often. I also found some new little golf cars to rezz and took a ride around before I had to leave. Be sure to read the directions (laughter).  

 

Just get to the Carnival before the end of August! Enjoy!  

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Equus/47/206/23 

Gemma Cleanslate

The Annual Steelhead RFL Horse Races

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Saturday July 6th, the Steelhead community held their annual horse races for the Relay For Life. Every year, the steampunk community holds the event to raise cash for the American Cancer Society. And this year, a number people took part.

The action took place on a platform high above Steelhead Shanghai. People were asked to arrive at 5PM SL time or a little before. Dropping in, there were a few people there, with more coming as time went on. The entry fee for the race was fairly small, a donation of fifty Lindens in the Steelhead Salmon's RFL kiosk. TotalLunar Eclipse, the elven Steelhead co-owner, commented, "This is the first time I've done a race on my own," saying Fuzzball Ortega had some real life matters to attend to, "We'll have a specific 'horse race,' then an all animal race." The third race would be a "free for all" which was open to all, including avatars. Races would be first two races would be two laps. The third would have three. The winners would get trophies created by Lunar.

For the first race, the largest mount was a huge white stallion, "Ithax," belonging to Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach. outlander). Bringing out his horse, Lunar was greeted with some curious looks and a couple chuckles, a unicorn with a rainbow mane and tail, "He was a gift from Riven. … I'm riding 'Nyan Cat' horse." "I think he's pretty," Softpaw Sommer, a fairy catgirl commented. Her horse also stood out, purple and a little translucent. Garnet Psaltery of Babbage also took part with her horse "Daemon." Garnet stands shorter than the tall Lunar, but her horse was larger than the elven leader's smallish mount, "How funny to be able to look you in the eye, Lunar." Stereo Nacht was lent a horse by Sidonie Ancelin.

A practice run given to those showing up on time had varied results. The Baron's huge stallion proved stubborn. But Stereo's speed got a wide-eyed look from Lunar , "your horse is a bat out of hell." "Danke," the Baron spoke up, "he's from my stables." "She gave it some nitro beforehand," Lunar commented. Sidone grinned, "Isn't he a handsome boy. Pif is a *rocket!*" "I shall need him back," the Baron told her. Sidone protested, "Mine!"

Two more racers came in, Steelhead Jager Liam Richter (aert.odigaunt) with his dark stallion,  and Wraith Serdyuk, whom had been lent another of Baron Wulfenbach's horses, Ekhion. And with them, the racers lined up at the starting line, "3, 2, 1, Go!!" And they took off, with Stero's stallion once again racing down the track. Liam was the other racer strong performer on the first race, but getting off the track, he bumped into a few people. "Zorry for hennyvon Hy ran into," the Jager apologized, "dis guy does nut haff a clean turn." "Well done, Mr. Richter," Stereo told him. "Tenks! Hyu gaff me a goot ron on Illizzuz. He iz a pretty fascht horze!" Tensai called the race a "photo finish," with Liam being declared the winner.

For the second race, Satu Moreau came in with another unusual horse, which Softpaw recognized, "Oh, that's the fire elemental." There was a bit of confusion, with Lunar commenting, "Okay, Wraith gave me a horse called 'Bad Horsie.' I am not trusting this description." Wraith quipped, "I gave you a horse? How did I do that?" Garnet's mount for this race was one of the more unusual ones, a giant cat. The Baron's second try was greeted with more stubbornness from his mount, having some trouble even getting to the starting line at first. Lunar commented, "Well, the Baron's horse is going crazy … " Stereo brought Pif on the track again. Eventually the wild mounts began to cooperate, somewhat, and Tensai ordered the racers to get ready, "Ready Riders! To your Marks!! … 3, 2, 1, Go!!" This time there was some trouble as glitches had a rider or two "fly off" the track. Tensai declared, "Aaaaaannndd … by a paw … Garnet!" The kitty rider was surprised, "I won?? My goodness!" "Well done," Stereo congratulated her. Garnet petted her mount, "Well done, Magnificat. Extra tuna for you."

"Okay, one more race," Tensai reminded everyone, "Anything goes! Cars, horses, kittens, whatever. … ANY vehicle or creature." Nobody brought in a vehicle, though Lunar changed to a pegasus avatar and entered himself. I myself entered with my "Shiave" raptor-like mount. Garnet entered Magnificat again. Satu entered the fire mount for the third race. Liam also entered once again.

"On the mark … 3, 2, 1, GO!!!" And the racers went off once again. Once again, Liam sped down the track, and as expected, "Hoooo!!! In first place, LIAM!!" But yours truly managed to put in a stronger than expected showing, "In second place … Bixyl!! In third … Garnet!!" "Congratulations riders."

There was a bit of funnery as Sidone grabbed Liam's hat. Liam briefly snarled, but shrugged it off, "De forst plaze trophy, Hy tink, goez to Klaus," saying he was just a jockey. The Baron answered, "Was? Bah! You did the riding. You can put the trophy up in Der Hut, though." "Dot vill vork. … It iz victory for all of Vulfenbach Jaeger, proofing dot horzez is indeedt hyuzeful for more den eatink, or ridink into fight."

The only problem for Liam was he couldn't take home two trophies, so the Third Race trophy went to the second place rider, me. Liam approved anyway and applauded, "Hy chust like ridink horzez … " Getting her trophy, Garnet thanked Lunar, "I'll give it a place of honor." Of his trophy with the red gemstone, Liam asked, "Doez de red part taschte like schtrawberriez?" He then tasted it, with the others chuckling or going "Eww." Liam looked up, "Vot?"

Tensai, after giggling, announced, "Thank you everyone for coming out here today. Please tell others about the upcoming race for more fun! We will announce date and time soon." Lunar also reminded everyone about the festival hunt still going on that weekend.

The fun continued with some people remaining on the track for a while. One bystander changed into another horse av, and began chewing on Satu, "Ack! MY head!" Another horse was brought onto the track to practice, Sephiroth, and Sidonie commented after seeing him rocket down the track, "The Baron will have to go get him."

Once again, the results were:

First Race: Liam Richter
Second Race: Garnet Psaltery
Third Race: Liam Richter

The races were part of the Steelhead Salmon's RFL festival, which went on until the following day. It would be among the community's last events before the Relay Walk the following weekend.

Bixyl Shuftan