I changed my clothes inworld from "Torley's 1st" outfit, to a more subdued pantsuit called "obscurite" by hyasynth Tiramisu, which I bought from hya and Jessica Ornitz's place in Caledon II. We both have the same favorite book (guess which one?). I did this because it called out to me… as often happens with a change of clothes, like an avatar equivalent of method acting, I felt compelled to seek out places which resonated with the theme.

I found myself at Tusk in Jubata. This place is special for a number of reasons: created by Amberly Kinsella, who previously did Planet Pinktastic, Tusk is an inversion in style. Whereas Planet Pinktastic had, well, a lot of pink—and green!—with foamy volcanos gushing rose cream and awning flowers chirping away merrier than the illegitimate child of Mickey Mouse and the red Teletubby, Tusk looks downright depressing at angles. Just so desolate, you sniff death coming your way. At points, I raised my Lunar Scythe made by Esprite Xavier, and marched on the grounds.

My graphics card cried a bit, a not-to-subtle motion to the intricately heavy geometry that comprises this venue, and altho it was broad daylight, I could almost hear Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man call out to me. (Instead of "BOOOOY!" he'd say "WATERMELOOOON!") And yes, that's where the theme to Phantasm would kick in, tinkling bells, jingling chimes, and disturbing electronically slowed-down sighs (much as the Silent Hill games have used to great effect in later days).

There was a hearse, there was a Mustang and a Dodge Charger (a reference to Bullitt?), and behind this all, a cemetary. Which are hard to come by in SL, since most coffins look flat and are modelled very basically, and not with the craftsmanship which you'd expect for the enclosure of a dearly departed avatar. Boo!

But there's beauty here too. Lots to explore… some shops in an unlikely place, including another of hya's silentsparrow outlets (connections, they rock my world), and inside, a scene that I found reminiscent of the old shooter game Hexxen, which I've never played, but seen many screenshots of. It was within that Francis Chung happened to find candles Amb was using, one of the first three things Fran had ever scripted, and yet, they weren't even using the most recent version of the scripts.

A cool air blew.

Crates outside, packing some strange cargo, I'm sure. Tusk is situated right next to the "Great Linden Wall", and Amb has inserted water-flowing pipes. I really enjoy when Resis integrate part of their build into a Linden's so well.

And then it was down a long hallway, and another one, and we found a hidden grotto. And perhaps, in what had shifted emotions from terror to tranquility, I got down on the single poseball and floated in the water.

Impressionately lovely, but all throughout, this question nagged at me: "Why's it called Tusk?" I saw some tori bent into shapes similar to that of an elephant's tusk, but none which literally ressembled ivory. A mystery for another day, or perhaps I'll have to ask.