Announcement: “The Missing Torso Mystery Game”

 

If you love art, writing, and mysteries, participate in Kondor Art Center’s “The Missing Torso” game. It focuses on Zia Branner's missing masterpiece. It vanished when the crew closed the center for the night. Security cameras were turned off because no one knows who took it. If you’re ready to investigate, these are the steps you can take to solve the mystery.

Start your investigation at the Main Gallery. Look for 14 hidden fragments such as colors, shadows, or seams of gold scattered across the gardens, galleries, and the Kondor Café.

Click each fragment to receive clues leading to the next location.

Find the missing Torso hidden in one of the landmark installations. They offer a hint: Look up! The architecture is part of the mystery.

Provide evidence. Take a photo of the Torso exactly where you found it.

Write Your Theory. Compose a story (150–900 words) explaining the disappearance. Use a pseudonym to keep the mystery alive!

Submit your investigation. Drop your story and photo at the Kondor Café submission box before Sunday, March 29. That’s when the game ends.

The Rewards:  8,000L Prize Pool and Certificates & Distinctions. Winners will be announced at the Grand Gala on Thursday, April 9.

“THE MISSING TORSO”  — Mystery Game Contest Rules

1. Description of the Contest

“The Missing Torso” is a cultural mystery game set in the Kondor Art Center, combining art, storytelling, and investigation. Participants must explore the Kondor Art Center's exhibition venues, find fragments and clues, identify the missing artwork, and submit their own written theory on the disappearance.

2. Objective

The objective of the contest is to collect all fragments of the missing torso artwork and, based on the clues discovered, to produce a compelling narrative theory explaining how and why the disappearance occurred.

3. Participation

Participation is open to all visitors of the Kondor Art Center. There is no entry fee. Participants may join the game at any time between the contest's opening and closing dates.

4. Contest Duration

The mystery game and contest will run from:

Opening: January 29, 2026

Closing: March 29, 2026

All final submissions must be received before 23:59 SLT on March 29, 2026.

5. How to Play

Participants must:

    1.    Visit the Kondor Art Center and its venues.

    2.    Find the hidden fragments and clues distributed across the different locations.

    3.    Assemble the information gathered in order to find the missing artwork.

Clues are partial fragments of the missing artwork with an important written message inside, that lead to the next place, where the next hint is hidden. To get it, just click on the fragment found.

    4.    After finding the missing artwork hidden in one of the important places of the Kondor Art Center, take a photo of it in its location.

    5.     After finding it, write a narrative theory about its disappearance, and include the photo taken in the location you found it. This is the most important part of the game

6. Final Submission Requirements

Final submissions must:

    •    be written in English

    •    be signed by the participant with a pseudonym

    •    be between 150 and 900 words

    •    present a theory explaining the disappearance of the torso

    •    be original and written specifically for this contest

    •    include a notecard with the participant’s SL avatar name

The tone and style are free: poetic, noir, humorous, academic, detective, surreal, philosophical, documentary, etc.

7. Jury and Evaluation Criteria

The jury will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

    1.    Narrative quality (clarity, coherence, imagination)

    2.    Engagement with the clues

    3.    Elegance of language and tone

    4.    Cultural sensitivity and sophistication

    5.    Originality of theory

    6.    Overall enjoyment

Bonus appreciation may be given to theories that:

    •    link multiple venues

    •    reflect Kondor’s cultural atmosphere

    •    show literary ambition

    •    demonstrate a personal style

8. Plagiarism & AI Clause

We love creativity — not copy/paste.

AI tools may be used as assistants (e.g., brainstorming, editing, translation), but the theory itself must be written by you.

If your submission reads like ChatGPT dictation or an encyclopedia entry, we will politely close the case and disqualify it.

9. Prizes

Total prize pool: 8,000 $L

Additional gift cards may be awarded.

Prizes will be distributed as follows:

    •    1st Place: Main Prize + certificate

    •    2nd Place: Runner-up Prize + certificate

    •    3rd Place: Honorable Mention + certificate

There will be prize money awards for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes   

Additional distinctions may be awarded at the jury’s discretion.

10. Jury Decisions

The jury's decisions are final. The jury may declare a tie, award shared prizes, or withhold prizes if submissions do not meet the minimum criteria.

11. Rights and Attribution

Participants retain the rights to their written texts. By submitting, participants grant Kondor Art Center permission to:

    •    display the texts in-world

    •    publish them for exhibition purposes

    •    include them in salons, catalogues, or machinima

    •    archive them in Kondor’s cultural collection

Attribution will always be respected.

12. Disqualification

Texts may be disqualified if they:

    •    are plagiarized

    •    contain hateful or discriminatory content

    •    include personal attacks

    •    violate general community norms

Erotica is allowed if tasteful and culturally meaningful.

13. Results and Closing Ceremony

The winners will be announced and prizes delivered during a special gala on April 9, 2026.

14. Questions

Questions and clarifications may be addressed in-world or via notecard to Hermes Kondor.

Sponsors include: BBX Design - Yachts & Buildings, Cats Claw Designs, Dench Designs, Kunglers Jewelry, NanoGunk - Cigar Yachts, and Sunwheel Studio.