Touring Kahruvel
The Forest of Kahruvel covers much of the sims of Stinson, Rodeo, and Cowell, deep in the heart of the oldest portion of the SL mainland. Its primary caretaker, Salazar Jack, has led a team in replanting trees and discovering ancient ruins in the area, making it one of the most beautiful and interesting regions of Second Life.
I found myself returning to Kahruvel the other day after a long motorcycle ride, and it was obvious that Salazar and his crew had been busy. Since my last visit months ago, Kahruvel has sprouted newly unearthed ruins, a lovely meadow area facing the lake on the north border of the woods, and even weather; a furious thunderstorm was brewing when I arrived, making me glad I’d parked the bike back in Noyo and set out on foot.
Just as the rain was really starting to pick up, I ran across Salazar himself. We chatted a bit, and then parted so he could continue with his work in the forest. I continued south through the forest and into the seaside village in Cowell, where I was joined by Wynne Patton, who was new to this magical place.
Not only had Salazar been busy with the forest itself, his office and workshop in the base of the lighthouse, hardly more than a table or two on my last visit, was now fully covered in projects and memorabilia. There are little details of his second life scattered about: photos, half-finished projects, research notes and maps of the region, knicknacks. Visiting Salazar’s personal space is a lot like visiting the personal space of someone in real life; I kept looking over my shoulder expecting to be caught sneaking around where I shouldn’t have been.
Salazar returned while Wynne and I were poking through his personal effects. He offered us an aerial tour of Kahruvel aboard the Aonghus, a delightful steam-powered aircraft built by Mary Edison. It was an invitation I was quite eager to accept. The flyer was a perfect platform from which to observe the forest and its surroundings, and Salazar proved a capable pilot; we weren’t struck by lightning even once, despite the storm raging around us. Wynne and I clung to the bow of the craft, flexi-hair whipping in the wind as it rushed past.
All in all, it was one of those evenings that makes Second Life worthwhile. Sharing a little of the dream with other creative souls is good for the spirit, and when all the elements fall together just so, such shared dreaming makes SL a completely magical experience.
Kahruvel is steeped in history, as revealed by the ruins, artifacts, and research notes that may be discovered throughout the region. Finding pieces of the puzzle is half the fun of Kahruvel; just enough clues are available to give it a real sense of place, as if it really predated the Second Life grid itself. More of this history is revealed on Salazar’s Kahruvel website, where you will also find his blog.
A few points of interest in Kahruvel follow.