By Gemma Cleanslate
The eerily beautiful Darkwood is now open at Calas Galadhon Park sims,
one of my favorite places to visit especially when the seasons change. Darkwood
is a very different Halloween area with many surprises as you wander through the
sim. To get an overview of the region when I arrived I took the
cuddleboat ride. It not only takes you along the waterways where you can view
the woods from the edge but takes off into the sky among the vultures that soar
overhead. As you hover above the Pavilion and see dragons poised you experience
the surreal feeling of being back in the Hobbit’s world upon which the sim is
based. Ty Tenk & Truck Meredith, the owners of the Park sims, as usual go all out to create an atmosphere that delights the visitors who wander through. “We took a few liberties … some could say more than a few (grin) as we usually do with a story. But hopefully you’ll find our take with it’s mix of beauty, terror and an enjoyable one.”
Back at the entrance after my
peaceful ride, I walked into the woods with trepidation and immediately was
surrounded by huge spiders. As I ran from that area, I fell through the ground to
an underground pool of water filled with hands reaching up to grab
me. I could see the entwined bodies, dead I think, clinging to vines .
Making my way out of that scene I found myself surrounded by trolls that looked
very like Smeagol ... Smaug. 
I kept taking routes off the path marked by lamps,
so it took me a while to find the Barrel Ride that took me far into the
interior, and down into underground lakes populated by bats and strange
creatures that looked hungry and through beautiful iridescent foliage. After I
left the barrel ride, I made my way up to the ghostly Elven Ruins, and then
up the winding stone steps through the rocky overhangs to the Pavilion,
which is very lovely. I sat in an elven chair to rest from the climb and gazed
out over the whole scene from the comfortable overlook, believing I might be in
the Hobbit lands of yore. Some of the visiting avatars blended into the scenery
as if they lived there. 
At the base of the steps, I stopped to wander into Elven
ruins inhabited by ghosts and more bats. I stopped to rest at one of the
campfire circles and listen to the sounds of the woods. There is so much
to see and experience in the Darkwoods, it may take a month to discover all the
secrets. At the entrance pick up the Lamp and set your graphics to Region
windlight and have a wonderful time exploring Stop at some of
There will be events at the Pavilion during the month . You are invited to join
the group. All the Calas sims are wonderful to visit. There are pumpkins
throughout the sim if you can leave a donation. Begin your journey here
at the entrance near the cuddleboat ride. I may see you there as I continue to
find secrets I missed. http://maps.secondlife.com/Gemma Cleanslate
No comments:
Post a Comment