My friend Pati recommended that I take a trip to the island of Cu Mara, and since she is a woman with fine taste (i.e., she considers me a friend) I set off to check it out. We’ll take a look at that another day, but what blew me away were the islands next door, to which Pati had yet to venture: Templum ex Obscurum and Crucible.
These have to be two of the most hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric places I’ve seen in Second Life. As near as I can tell there is no purpose for them other than looking amazing, which in this case is purpose enough.
Templum es Obscurum is pretty evenly divided between a massive temple (seemingly carved from the living rock) and the roiling waters that separate the temple from Crucible to the north. The water seems to glow in the moonlight…
…which in turn seems to have taken over the trees. There are places to sit that are at once dark yet full of light.
Crucible is more straightforward, but no less fascinating. You wander a dark and wild landscape upon the site of an ancient castle, which would appear to be completely abandoned were it not for some mysterious lights along the path.
You can almost sense the age of the stones around you, and the countless years that have left them in ruins. Its enough to make you want to engage in a little exploratory roleplay, as a hobbit or ranger discovering a long forgotten kingdom.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Templum%20ex%20Obscurum/117/185/22
Posted by Garth Goode 
