Death Row Designs has cooked up another fun event for Halloween this year, a haunted hotel! This is my entry to DRD's the "Scarlet Hotel" contest. The story is inspired in part by my time working in the news, and discovering who to talk to for the real scoop. Enjoy. Style Credits below. Contest Details here.
The Janitor
Bobbie R. Murrow was an aspiring journalist who wanted to do a really great “School of J” investigation into the infamous Scarlet Hotel for his high school’s Halloween edition newspaper. His teacher loved the idea. However Bobbie was having a hard time getting past dubious murder rumors, ghost stories, and urban legends. What he needed was facts, cold hard truth, not stories told to frighten children. Surely there was a kernel of truth to the rumors. But what was it? He poured for days in the library hunting for old newspaper stories about the Scarlet Hotel, but at every turn, when there should have been an article about the hotel, that part of the paper was ether cut, or damaged. It was frustrating. His brilliant idea was turning into a nightmare that could threaten his precious grades.
After sighing over his uneaten dinner, his father noticed Bobbie’s sour mood. After explaining the problem, his father smirked, “Son, if you want to find out what’s really going on at a business, talk to the janitor. They see all. They hear all,” he leaned in close for emphasis and whispered, “…They know where all the bodies are buried, if you know what I mean,” he winked and leaned back to stab another slice of steak.
Bobbie was completely stunned. Of course, it was perfect! He immediately formed a plan.
Later that night after dinner, he stalked the dumpster of the Scarlet Hotel, waiting to see the janitor when he came out to dump the trash.
It was a night Bobbie would never forget. He found out far more then he ever hoped to know.
STORYLINE: The younger brother of the Marquess of Waterford, Lord Berksford, was throughly obsessed with automatons. He studied the masters and tinkered endlessly in his workshop. The result of all his work? In true scandalous fashion, (his big brother would be proud), he debuted The Robotic Burlesque to much fanfair. The show was the talk of the town. Berksford tolled not for fame, but for his own amusement. Sure his brother every now and then came with special requests, but it seemed innocent to him and he liked the challenge as much as the revenue. I mean what Gent wouldn't want giant spider legs to leap over tall buildings, right? When the police busted down his door and arrested Berksford for the Spring Heeled Jack Murders, ... he was completely surprised.
The Engine Room is ending soon. Here's a last look at some wonderful creations there. This image was inspired by Burlesques, Steampunk Mechanics, and the beautiful What's Lost Spirit doll.
On him, Lord Berksford:
Mask:[LANEVO] Deadly Drive Mask [mesh](Engine Room)(342L) Shirt:AsteroidBox Albian Shirt Legacy red Male [mesh](Engine Room)(270L) Boots:Hotdog Gaiter boots brown [mesh](Engine Room)(250L)
This post was made possible with the help of my of Blogger Bat Buddie, Aarya Phantomhive. Thanks Aarya! To see her finale to the Spring Heeled Jack series, the Killer, go to: Dark Phantom Blog: Dance with the Ripper
STORYLINE: It all started with the ringing of a tiny bell. Cornelius had been engrossed in a book when a stunning woman stepped inside the bookstore and asked the shopkeeper about a rare out of print book. Normally his mind was focused on invention, he wasn't one to chase after a skirt. However, he began to visit that little bookstore more frequently. He told himself it was research, but in truth he was hoping to see her again. And see her again he did. She was strolling down the aisles, picking up books. He nodded. "...Yes, yes. Excellent choice. A lady of good taste." And then She looked directly at him and smiled. What she said, he had no idea. He forgot his own name. She laughed and took the book he had desperately been pretending to read and turned up right side up. Normally he would have been quite embarrassed, but all he could think was "she smiled at me." So it came as quite a shock the next day he discovered his mystery woman on the cover of the newspaper. She was the youngest daughter of the Queen's Knight family, and would be soon be picking a husband from the attendees of the Grand Masquerade. He had no invitation. He had no hope to win the hand of such an amazing lady. But he felt if he didn't tell her his true feelings, it would kill him. Words failed him in her presence, so he created a beautiful ruby mechanical heart. His plan was to sneak into the ball before it started, and offer it to her.
Are you wanting something gothic and elegant in this month of love? Well I have some some good news for you, Midnight Order is a debut event by SLS folks, and there are fantastic items to drool over. Be sure to check it out!
The Home and Garden Expo this year has must-see attractions such as a preview of the NEW mesh Linden Homes for premium members, and the rideable animesh Teegle Horse, as well as excellent hunt goodies including a car in the Expo Hunt, speakers and workshops, not to mention purchasable homes, decor and garden items to support the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. ...And then there is what has kept me busy the past week....
It's even bigger and better this year! 16 winners drawn in a lottery compete to decorate 1 of 16 different style homes. There's a 500 prim limit and 1 week to decorate. Once the decorating period ends, the houses are voted on by visitors by paying the Kiosk in front of each house. All money goes to a good cause.
This year, I took the feedback I received from last year's competition, and applied it to this year. I paid extra attention to the garden, land impact, lived-in decor, and staying on theme with the style of the home. It's an intense challenge. Each time I try it, my decorating skills improve. Hey, ...Why not try it yourself next year?
My idea for "House 11- Stone Cottage" is French Country & Artist.
Please visit my house, and if you like it, or other houses, please vote! Merci beaucoup! Home & Garden Expo Design Challenge: House 11 - Stone Cottage http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%202/171/29/27
Storyline of house: Louis couldn't believe it. He had been a lowly art student in America, but after taking a DNA test and working on his family tree, the most unlikely thing happened.... Long story short, he inherited the family's ancestral home in France. It was fully furnished too. But there was one catch to his ownership, -- he was the estate's new caretaker. If he failed to properly maintain the cottage, someone else would get the job. Sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, he learned quickly its neither easy nor cheap to maintain such an old building. So many things required urgent repair. He needed to find a way to make money quickly. At first he tried offering tours of the home, then he tried opening the house for weddings. Then one day while working in his secret artist's studio in the attic, inspiration struck. His pet cat Gigi made the most curious pose. It reminded him of a famous painting. He quickly started a remake of this masterpiece, but with a cat instead of a person. His whimsical Cat Paintings were a hit with tourists. They were selling in Paris, and he had the waiting list of patron to paint each of their cats in their own famous painting. He was never hurting for money again. The family was so impressed, they decided his most famous painting would become a permanent part of the family estate. It would become the duty of the next generation to protect his painting, his legacy, along with the rest of the family estate.
TIP: Sometimes you may need to be creative over a home issue. For instance, the neighboring house has a very different style. To keep the mood and theme of my home visually intact, I used a simple one prim wall with an excellent medieval brick texture on the sides of my home. ...Another creative solution I used was use a teleport system to access areas not reachable by walking. Hallways: Harpsichord:Fancy Decor Harpsichord RARE, gacha [mesh] Table: Fancy Decor Opulent Half-Moon Table RARE, gacha [mesh] Plant:Apple FallHydrangea Bunch - Pink [mesh] Drapes: Opi - Mesh Curtains & Pillows Arched Drape Curtain [mesh] Suitcase:Apple FallAF Worn Luggage Bag [mesh] Coat Rack:Unlikely Designs ::UD:: Black Coat Rack [mesh]
TIPS: Link objects to save prims. Do it to ONLY to non-scultped, no script, or items that contain no poses and animations. And do NOT try this with your non-copy Gacha wins. You could explode the prim count on the item and be unable to fix it.
STORYLINE: A crow landed in the snow covered doorway of the ruined tower and cawed loudly. A blindfolded man turned his ear to the doorway and nodded as if he understood the message of the feathered visitor. He was a regal looking man, despite the maid uniform he wore. He was none other than Sebastian, the demon butler of Phantomhive Manor. He was busy preparing a rather interesting evening of entertainment for young master. Soon, the misogynistic thief who stole Her Majesty's crown jewels would arrive. The deranged criminal belonged to a secret society that believed women should never be in positions of power. Ridiculous. The butler snapped on a tight lady's latex glove. A sinister grin curled up on the edge of his lips. Oh how he did enjoy extracting information.
Happy 4th of July! To celebrate, don't miss making your own fireworks at the Independence Sale at Dictatorshop. All the adult furniture of the entire store is discounted 40% off. Shown above at the Contempo sofa, chair, stool, and cross. All the pieces come with a color change hud. You can choose what poses you want: m/f, f/m. f/f, m/m, or get the 4-in-1 option. All pieces will automatically rez props and attach them with permission.
STORYLINE: High above the busy streets of Insilico, a man's laughter rang out from the most plush penthouse of the city. Kujo, ringleader of the Cyber Mafia, was plugged into an expensive VR gaming rig. A silent android watched him in the otherwise empty room as he twisted and dodged attacks from some unseen enemy. "Hey, Gertie," he yelled a little too loudly, "I haven't had this much fun since I was a little shit in the global games tourney." The android nodded politely. "Superior technique, Master. No one will suspect the mighty EVA is piloted by a human this time." The droid turned to look at the flickering security monitors from her master's overhyped Death Match: Battle Bot EVA vs a bona-fide Creature of the Night. No one thought the vampire would win, it looked like it was starved to death. Interest in the fight was remarkably high. Perhaps because it was so rare to see a living Nosferatu. They were thought extinct long ago. She looked at the massive number of bets pouring in from the net. "Everything is proceeding to plan. EVA is heavily favored to win." Kujo laughed, "I think its time EVA stumbled, don't you?" He faked a trip. Gertie watched silently as the vampire took advantage. It made quick work of Eva, then leapt into the screaming crowd to begin feasting on them. Gertie turned away from the carnage. Was it wise to let that... thing, live? Wait. She turned to the haloscreen of the VIP viewing boxes. Fights were breaking out. "Master look!" she pointed. They both saw it at the same time. The display case of Kujo's most prized possession, the Yata no Kagami, was shattered as a gambler tossed a loan shark into the display. Kujo quickly unhooked himself from the rig. Fury blazed in his cybernetically enhanced eyes, "Ready my copter, NOW!"
Japonica is back, and this time its wearing a little something special to spice up your nights. Head over to Re:Japonica to see what I mean. Scandalous goodies to have for girls, guys, homes, and decor. Have fun!
STORYLINE: Dr Oliver Conray shuffled into the dreary bedroom provided by his Grim taskmaster. In disgust, he tossed his scythe against the bed and sunk onto its faded surface. Dust wafted up and danced in pale light before his strange blacked-out eyes. Standing in the light by the window was the ghostly form of a refined lady. Her delicate voice broke the tense silence, “What happened my love?” He sighed. He didn't want waste a single precious moment he had with his beloved over unpleasant matters. After all, he had paid a horrendous price for the privilege. But still, his heart ached for the life he left behind. "I killed my last living friend today."
For you goth boys, I have some fun things to share. First, I experimented with mixed mesh bodies once more. The upper body is The Mesh Project Male and wearing Gabriel Body Belt shirt. The lower is... *drumrolls* ...Maitreya. Why? For the simple reason that I was able to rock this badass outfit by Moon Elixir thanks to this little trick. Its on sale at the Fantasy Gach Carnival. Paired with the shirt, these two outfits actually worked together really well. My only complaint (besides heavy avatar render weight) is the foot size. Sadly the foot can not be scaled up. The wonderful black oil tears are from this year's Halloween offering by Tableau Vivant. Its one of the Mort Vivant faces for new skin Marcus. To go with the oily tears, I used the Cubic Cherry Loss eye and tears and tinted it black. For the hands, is the Cursed Hand applier by Lovely Dissarray. In the background is the fun Hunter Scythe by Swagga. Oh and, one more thing... Did I also mention the *must have* bed for any self-respecting vampire in Secondlife? The Death Row Vampire Gothic Bed set. Worth every single L.
3 Days left to Subscribe to the Gents Crate, Don't miss it!
Join the GentsCrate group between the 9th - 22nd of each month, and receive your crate of goodies on the 23rd via group notices. The introductory Gents Crate is L$1000.
STORYLINE: “She held her sword, and she smiled like a knife. The men in the room suddenly realized that they did not want to know her better. She was beautiful, but she was beautiful in the way a forest fire was beautiful: something to be admired from a distance, not up close.” - On War (4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse), Good Omens by Terry Pratchett
STORYLINE: Dorothy was forever changed by her childhood visit to Oz. It was considered a miracle she escaped the tornado with only a bump to the head and a scar to the face. She had long ago accepted her memories of Oz were dreams triggered by head trauma. Never-the-less, she was determined to bring a little magic of Oz to Kansas. She studied agriculture to learn how to revitalize parched land. To brighten the otherwise dusty landscape, she planted colorful flowers that reminded her of Munchkinland. "Paradise is not a dream," Auntie Em often said, "It's the product of hard work and determination." All seemed to be going well for Dorothy, until the eve of her 18th birthday. Shattering her sense of reality, a yellow brick road slowly formed before her house leading up into the sky.
Enchantment returns with the Wizard of Oz. Don't miss this beautifully decorated sim, fun creations, live performances, parties, art, and the many anniversary gifts!
Setting: Caravan: By Nacht Professor Marvel’s Caravan [mesh](Enchantment)(250L) Hanging lamp:Artisan Fantasy Tornado Chandelier [mesh](Enchantment)(450L) Party set: Aphrodite Wizard of Oz Party Set [mesh](Enchantment)(699L) Table:22769 [bauwerk] Yellow Brick Road Iron Garden Table [mesh](Enchantment)(145L)
Chair:22769 [bauwerk] Yellow Brick Road Iron Garden Chair [mesh](Enchantment)(175L)
Bench:22769 [bauwerk] Yellow Brick Road Iron Garden Bench [mesh](Enchantment)(175L)
Tree: Little Branch LB_HoneyMesquite{4seasons}[mesh](Enchantment)(386L)
Path: FDD stories Roads of Oz [mesh](Enchantment)(350L)
Crates: Noctis garden crates #1 nettles and violets RARE, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found(35L) Crates: Noctis garden crates #2 empty, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Crates: Noctis garden crates #3 empty, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Crates: Noctis Garden crate, pots and spade, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Bucket: Noctis Mirkwood Farms viola bucket white, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Jug: Noctis Mirkwood Farmsviolets jug/aqua, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Cart: Noctis Keepers of the Cart RARE, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Jug: Noctis Mirkwood Farms milk jug/closed/yellow, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Jug: Noctis Mirkwood Farms milkchurn/closed/blue2, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Jug: Noctis Mirkwood Farms Milk Churn#2sunflrw, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Jug: Noctis Mirkwood Farms Milk Churn#2,mallow, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Jug: Noctis Murkwood farms milk churn with sage, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Jug: Noctis Mirkwood Farms thistle jug/cobalt, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Potted plants: Noctis Herb potplants, group of 4, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Bucket: Noctis Mirkwood Farms sage jug/green, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Crates: Noctis Mirkwood Farms viloa bucket yellow, gacha [mesh](Lost and Found)(35L) Topiary:ZenithGrass Rabbit with Flowers(group gift)(free) House:Death RowGarden House pack [mesh](pg 1400L, adult 1650L) Windmill: Iso Flux Flux Farm Windmill[mesh](19L) Hay stack, barn: Alehandrita Design Our Little Stable
