More than words – The Voice of There

EASTER EGG HUNT

BAFFLED BY BARRELS

by Rose_Blossom

Next month, I will reach my one-year birthday in There. Not a Beta-tester, certainly, but not a Newbie, by any standards. I’ve been around. I enjoy spending my time as an explorer and socializer. I adore nothing more than running around, greeting the people of There, talking with them, sharing with them, seeing new places, and then, running around and meeting and seeing some more.

Since becoming a reporter for the Motu Eagle, then Caldera Sun Times, and now, The Voice of There, I have the opportunity of, not only doing the things I love best in There, BUT, I also receive the reward of knowing that hundreds of little eager-to-learn avies and seasoned skilled professionals are reading MY words and visiting the places I’VE been to, simply because I’ve been to them! How cool is THAT?!

My last article, “Field of Drains” initiated a reaction that I never counted on. The next day, I received a few ThereMails from avies wanting to show me “something unusual.” Also, the last few times after entering the world, I received IMs from a couple very friendly strangers (strangers no longer!) informing me about strange sightings and miraculous “visions” they have encountered. It appears that the drain and a couple gnomes are not the only aberrations to be found in our brand new world (or our ragged old world, either!)

With that in mind, I thought my readers would enjoy a series of reports about some of the abnormalities, Easter eggs, and just plain weird stuff, that we see around There! I know, I know, some of you “old folk” have heard all about them, have seen them, even have claimed to create them! (All former There-employees, say “Aye!”) But I thought it might be interesting to see some of these oddities, both for the benefit of our new Therizens, as well as people like me who missed out!

Today, my focus is about another kind of field, and a UFO sighting. First, the field I’m referring to is on dry land this time. This field consists of a number of ghostly barrels discovered by Mr_FigNewton and his friends. That’s right, BARRELS.

We all know the story about the quark, or “flashing red laser” located in several different locations, that all seemed to be mounted on top of a clear, barrel-like image, right? Well, this field of barrels is possibly the main source, the “mother load” if you will (remember the “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” when the pods spawned?) where tens, maybe hundreds, of quarks are destined to be “hatched” and dispersed throughout There! (’WOW)

It all started back in November ‘03, you may remember, with the “Phenomenon” red-laser-thingy popping up when someone was retrieving their PAZ. Then again, under a tent in Sirocco. There were even rumors of an alien invasion! There_Hardware attempted to explain it all away, but you can’t fool a fool, There! We all knew that it was someone, or someTHING, from out of this world! After much ado about nothing, then some griefing, then the camp close-down (for signs and such), everyone learned to live with the glowing lasers…And now, this.

It appears that we’ve had yet another visitation. While driving along the Northern coast of Motu Motu, not terribly far from where the last quark was spotted, my buggy suddenly flipped over and I was thrown completely out of the vehicle! When I stood up and cleared my eyes, this is what I saw! About 20 ghost-like images of, you guessed it, BARRELS! And, BINGO, you guessed right, again…the same barrels that are what the quarks seem to be anchored to! Except, THESE barrels are quark-less!…for NOW.

Mr_FigNewton told me how he and his friends also had a “run-in” with the barrels, “We found a barrel over in abandoned camp on the first night of the update, and just about an hour ago found a whole field of the things on one of Motu's beaches! We were driving around the islands and BAM there they were... just waiting for us!”

ALIENATION

Earlier this year, one of the most popular community events was T-Con Sci-Fi week. All over There, designers were selling out of alien outfits, alien accessories, alien home design parts, alien-mobiles… There were events, plays, movies, readings, races and parties celebrating the invasion of There, or at least the possibility of it. It was exciting!

In the previous section, I mentioned the appearance of the “quark,” last spring, in Sirocco. While I was viewing the anomaly myself, I had a “sighting” of what appeared to be … well … let’s just say they didn’t look Therely. All I could do was freeze and hope they didn’t shoot me with their ray guns! It was frightening!

And now, just the other day, I was stunned into silence again as I beheld the most astonishing vision, at least, for me, since my history in There! An honest-to-Dog, pinch-me-if-I’m dreaming, moving, gliding, Unidentified Flying Object! I had heard about it, and wanted to see it for myself. I did some reading in the forum archives and found coordinates, so decided to put my hiking boots on, pack my hoverpack and I set of for Nene. For those who wish to look for it, the coordinates are as follows:

*X -2164.88
Y -721.77
Z -6000331.3

Here is a picture of me standing and watching the UFO. I was lucky, I think, that I wasn’t assimilated, though. There were rumors that that was happening. I took my pics and hightailed it outta there!

I went back to the forums and found out there was another one, off the coast of Nada, so I thought pictures of that would be good too. Very interesting thing happened to me while I was looking for this spot, however…my instruments went dead (‘puter crashed) twice before I was able to stand and take a picture. Is it possible that someone, or something, didn’t want me to find this? (‘hmmmmm) Fellow X-File fans can find this UFO at these coordinates:

*X 9263.62
Y -7041.83
Z -6000205.7

While reading about the flying saucers, I learned a little of their history. One story was that they appeared, for the first time, during public beta 1, back in 2001. But the earliest I could find any traceable reference of them was back in November of last year when someone spotted the UFOs and posted in the forums. They caused quite a commotion and most avies wouldn’t believe the reports…they thought it was a ruse. Eventually, enough peeps had their own sightings, and the rest is history. Now, YOU can see for yourself!

If YOU see any Easter Eggs in There and would like me to report them in The Voice (you might get your picture taken!), please contact me and I’ll come see you in There! I will return soon with more attractions off the beaten path!

* Author’s Note: While viewing the UFOs at these specific coordinates, it’s important to stay absolutely still in the spot…do not move, except to turn direction. You can view the UFOs ONLY while standing in a specific spot. Nada’s UFO flies from right to left, and the UFO in Nene flies from left to right. Enjoy!