Scenes From The Relay Flood Party

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

It's a Relay tradition that happens every year and has been called a number of things. It's been called the "Sink the Sims" party. It's been called the wrap-up party, although it shouldn't be confused with the official "Relay Wrap-Up" party in July to mark the official end of the season. Others call it the name yours truly prefers, the "Flood Party."

 

Rain and Flooding in the Forcast, "Sink The Sims" Wrap Up Party

 

Relay 2023 WRAP Party... Wednesday 06/14 @ 4pm SLT...
Join us on RFL Research as we "SINK THE SIMS" and wrap up another record breaking Relay Season... We will be handing out the Spirit of Relay Awards and the Gordy Klatt Award among others... 

So how did it start? In 2010, one of the sim managers decided on a whim to flood the place full of water. But someone saw it and told others in group chat, and it wasn't long before people were showing up in swimsuits and inner tubes. So next year, people were asking "where's the flood party?" It would take a few years, including one year in which the "flood" was just a few inches, but eventually the Relayers would get their annual flood party in which the water would rise past their waists and up to their shoulders, and often deeper. 

This year's Flood Party was on Wednesday June 14, scheduled to start at 4PM SL time. I went onto the track as my alt Rezzdarnnit. 

Checking the map, I noticed RFL Research, the sim the event was scheduled to take place was jam-packed with a hundred avatars. It looked like I'd be on the outside looking in this time.

 

I was going to walk/teleport over, then I ran into a surprise, the "Party Bus" which offered me a ride.

Inside, Silver Howler was DJing to other canines on the bus's small dance floor. 

We soon got to RFL Remission, the sim south of the one to be flooded. I could see a number of clouds, meaning people gathering at the sim boundary.

 

 But when we got there, and I got off the bus, I noticed our sim was starting to flood as well as the one to the north.

Panning ahead, I saw RFL Research was just starting to flood.

 

 Not everyone was rezzing, but it was still signs of a big party.

The water continued to rise.

 

 

Some people were putting out rafts and floaties, including some that resembled octopuses.

The party bus did a transformation, inflatable floaters people could stand on appearing.

Then came Rita Mariner, the captain of Team Sunbeamers, and her US Army DUKW. Aboard it were some of "Roos With A Dream." 

The water was starting to get a little deep.

With only a little room left on the amphibious truck, I hopped onto the party bus's inflatable.

 

 The water rose in quick spurts at times.

And it would take a moment for what could float to catch up.

I can't recall how many were in both sims combined, but with people going in and out, it may have approached 150.

This pizza float was almost good enough to eat.

Eventually, the numbers in RFL Research began to drop, so I headed over. By this time, the water was deeper than I was tall, so I floated over.

The water was just starting to drop once more, but some floaties didn't. 

While there, I checked out the water slide at one camp.

After a while, it was over. The water levels were back to normal, with the rafts and other floaties being the only evidence of the flood party. 

 

In group chat, there was a joke or two about people grumbling their campsite's sim wasn't flooded. There was also talk of some times at the edge of making another level having one last bash to bring them over the edge. This included a few small teams which were getting "Bronze Parties" so they would get to a level.

 

Once the Flood Party was winding down, some people would head on to scheduled events elsewhere. Others would check out the track for one last time before the Takedown, which was starting the very next morning, or light up the last few unlit lanterns.

Officially, it wasn't the end of the Relay. Team ACTS was due to have an equestrian event later in the month. And there was the Relay Wrap-Up in July. But for most, this would be the de-facto end of the Relay season. This included the Sunbeamers, who would pack away the kiosk at their main club.

It was a great 2023 Relay season.

Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes From the Relay For Life Fantasy Faire 2014

Earlier this month in Second Life, the Relay for Life's 2014 Fantasy Faire took place. Although the place was set up to sell items for charity, it also got attention for the sims great designs. There were a total of 11 sims, mostly in a circle, setup next to the permanent American Cancer Society sim. Each was an eyeful to see.

The Fairlands Junction was the official entrance to the Faire. One appeared in a small island in a shallow lake with shops around.

To the north was a wooden walkway over a river in a marsh, which led around the sim, leading one west, north, or east.

To the west of Fairlands Junction, and east of American Cancer Society, was the Palace of Tears.

This sim was the scene of some dance parties.

Some events were on a boat in the air.

Which was carried by a dragon.

To the north of Fairlands Junction was the Sanctum sim with a flying palace.

North of Sanctum was the Blackwater Glen.

It was a mix of marshy woods, with wooden walkways providing a path over the water, and clear areas, with shops all around.

North of Blackwater Glen was Mourningvale Thicket.

The place was the darkest of the sims of the Faire, a dark forest, the trees keeping most of the sunlight out.

There were some elements of a dark RP game about, such as this headless body.

East of Mourningvale Thicket was The Faery Court.

The sim had the appearance of a fantasy village, though the west had a touch of dark from being next to the forest.

The east was a brighter shade of green.

Going east from the Faery Court was the sim of Heavenslough.

At both the west and south sides, there was a "Survival Station," where one could pick up a few freebies.

My favorite among them was the backback, with critters in the back. The rat in the cage is waving a flag that says "help."

There were a few more walkways over water, but they also went up and down hills.

And one sometimes went across rock, looking down at waterfalls and trees.

South of Heavenslough was Hopes Horizon, the Dwarfins' sponsored sim.

One went down a stone path ...

To a city of carved stone.

South of Hopes Horizon was Medhir Woods.

The place was simpler, with shops along the stone roads. I noticed places that sold treehouses.

And a magic shopp owned by Zachh Barkley, Second Life's self-professed "King of Magic."

Asperatus started off at the foot of a misty, snow covered mountain.

One went up the slope, and some stairs ...

And into a Steampunkish city in the clouds.

The place seemed to be held up by a combination of balloons and propellers

And it looks like there had been some roleplay going on, " 'The Revenge of Professor Timmons.' In it, the professor has built a treacherous robot, which damages our town’s power center.  They then make their escape to Asperatus.  We townsfolk chase after these miscreants, so there will be lots of excitement, fighting in the streets, and general mayhem going on. In the end, we will capture the bad guys, and there will be a great big celebration on Friday, 9 May.  After which, we will return the evil doers to NeoVictoria to receive their just desserts.”

West of Asperatus was Wiggenstead Moorning, the Tiny-themed sim.

The place reminded me a bit of Mulgore in "World of Warcraft," though instead of on mesas, the shops were placed around floating islands.

But the scenery wasn't just above, but also underneath on the surface.

To the west of this sim was back to the beginning at Fairlands Junction. So this is where the journey in pictures ends. It was quite a well-designed and visually pleasing place.

There are a few other links for Fantasy Faire pics, such as Daniel Voyager, Ciaran Laval, Loverdag, and the Fantasy Faire Photography contest.

There will be other events in Second Life. As I was writing this, the "RelayStock" was taking place, but the memories, and screenshots, of the Fantasy Faire will go on.

Bixyl Shuftan