Crimson Memories - Winter's Retrospective

I was as shocked as anyone by the big announcement. Sure, I knew about the Heritage Key grid, but I didn't know that events would happen as they have. I was assured that day that this site, the Rezzable blog was going to stay a part of Second Life. But it wasn't until the dead of night that it hit me right in the centre of my chest - this meant that Crimson Shadow was going.

Greenies Home will remain. And I know that it's the darling of the grid, and one of the showcases that everyone takes their friends to after you've inveigled them into starting an SL account. And the Carnival of Doom is a wickedly fun ride: you haven't lived until you've died on the Ferris Wheel and scored yourself one of those awesome balloons with eyeballs or a tarantula inside. The Tunnel of Light is one of those great date sims - a whirling teacup ride through a chromadelic spectacular, where you can slip an arm behind your girl to reassure and steady her around the fast corners. But. Crimson Shadow is so special to me. And it's aside from the obvious reasons, the fact that it's the vampire sim. And has the most magnificent gothic architecture in my opinion, with it's soaring vaults, hidden chambers and stained glass masterpieces. It also happens to be the lure that led me to join the Rezzable team.

It was May 2008, and several of my friends talked me into joining the Face of the Darklands search. Rezzable was looking for alternative types - nekos, elves, fauns, and vampires - to be the spokesperson for their more sinister sims. After scoffing that I was sooooo not a model (a situation which has been proven time and time again every time I've fallen off a catwalk) I gave in and submitted my shots. After finding out I was one of the finalists I thought it may be a good idea to actually go and check out what the hell this was all about - and so I swaggered into Crimson Shadow for the first time. And stopped in shock, taken aback at the deadly beauty of this sim. I didn't win the competition, but the result was a year long association with Rezzable, starting as a blogger then working my way up to the totally self endowed title of "Fashun and Events Coordinating Style God" - yes, I have that on my letterhead. So I ended up a winner regardless.

Since that first day I've been back many, many times. I've stalked it's long corridors seeking both willing and unwilling victims to feed upon. I strutted down the catwalk for the "Inspired By" fashion event with the most pimpin' model walk known to humanity. And been dropped into the middle of my surprise birthday party thrown there by my wonderful friends, who all just knew that Crimson was the most fitting place to do this. I still find fresh inspiration for pictures there , and not just for Rezzable work - I often head there to shoot my own blog. And when I'm in my darkest moods, I've found solace brooding atop one of the spires and working things through, the silence a strange comfort. It's also so easy to get caught up in the drama, light and motion of the fashion world. Everyone has their own quiet corner of the grid that they retreat to. For me it takes a visit back to Crimson to recentre myself.

I was not asked to write this. I actually asked if I could. I don't reveal my "true self" very often, preferring to stay in character for most of my time logged in to those that don't really know me. But I needed to get across how deeply this place has touched me. Lokum and I stood upon the Tempus Malum walkway the other day and reminisced fondly about our first memories of this place. Yes, it's "just" a Second Life sim. A collection of binary and code, pixels harnessed into the virtual semblance of a cathedral that was corrupted yet beautified by the Undead. But somehow it's still a place that I've considered a home. I walked the arcades of Crimson Shadow today, and there was such a tangible air of sadness. The lady I drew today as my final encounter there said  "It's as if even the walls know that soon they will be no more." I can truthfully say this - the proud stones and stained glass may not be standing in SL past this week, but to me it was built of elements greater than that. Friends, passion, opportunities and memories. And although I will miss the ancestral halls of  Crimson Shadow in Second Life, that's a creation that time and server error can't ever erode.