Cavern Citizen

Name:
Location: Quincy, Massachusetts, United States

I'm a college student who adores the world of Myst. "The Bend of Time" is my regular blog. "Cavern Citizen" is my IC Uru blog--IC comments aren't necessary but highly encouraged.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

We Begin Again

Well, the restoration has begun. That Bahro scream ushered in a (not-so) new era of the DRC being their usual cautious selves. Apparently the cavern went through some structural damage (it's unknown if the scream was the cause or just a symptom), so many things have been blocked off. Ae'gura suffered the most--we're limited up to the Great Stair, and even the docks are closed. The hoods had taken damage in the community rooms, but they were opened up again yesterday. The heek tables are back, albeit broken. They've even put up New Year's decorations. And, amazingly, after three years, they finally got the Gallery doors to work!

The DRC have been visiting quite often, although I've only ran into Wheely (Engberg's daughter) and Moke (a Cyanist) so far. I took a tour at Beginner's Bevin and chatted with a ResEng too. Still, things have been going slow.

Yet despite the apparent calm, there is a layer of unknown changes occurring. The DRC might have a new leader, known as Cate. Yeesha has given us access to the alternate Kadish Vault and an alternate cavern as well (accessed via the brown book in Relto). And while the Bahro haven't been agitated like they were on that Tuesday, something is still up with them, I can feel it.

I had a bad dream a few nights ago. I was given a new link to another balcony overlooking Tokotah. But I linked right into a massive earthquake that shook the cavern to its core. I dimly remember wandering through the rubble, but it's the earthquake that still stands out in my mind. My slight anxiety is forgotten when I visit D'ni and my friends, but at night I sometimes can't shake that sense of...I don't know what.

Agh, I've been worrying too much over a silly dream. Nothing like that is going to happen. The future is bright, and no matter what might come our way, you can't keep us explorers down!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

What was THAT!?

I didn't make it to the Town Hall meeting with the DRC today--the hoods they held it in were overflowing, so I decided to stay in Ae'gura while people reported on the Q&A. I was surprised by the constant bahro screeches. I heard they've increased somewhat during the past few months, but today, it was just unreal--literally several cries every minute or so.

Then, I heard a bahro shriek so deafening, my ears are still ringing. Then--get this--everyone in the city, including myself, were suddenly sent to their Reltos! Is this Yeesha's doing? What in the world is going on??

Monday, December 18, 2006

A New Beginning

It still hasn't sunk in for me that tomorrow will usher in a second chance at D'ni's restoration. I still can't really believe it. Has it been an entire year from Laxman posting gibberish test posts to d'mahlah to uru?! Thanks go out to the Cyanists and Gametappers who helped to make this financially possible, and my fellow explorers for keeping the torch burning for two years now.

When I first felt the Call, it was April 2004, so obviously I found myself exploring the Ages alone. Now, I can't wait to explore new Ages with friends!

Sunday, December 17, 2006

A Touch of Fun

A couple of days ago, I read on the DRC forums that someone left their toy behind in Kadish. Of course, I visited the Age. I found, nestled amongst the tree trunks near the the third telescope, a D'ni soccer ball! Explorers have already translated the script on the ball: "This is a D'ni soccer ball." Hee! There's another one in Ae'gura as well. They probably belong to the ResEngs as a way to destress before they start working again. I played with the Kadish ball for a few minutes--with my finals and projects, I need to destress too!

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Don't believe everything you hear

Apparently all those rumors about Ae'gura being closed off and everything I mentioned in my last entry were completely unfounded. I went to the city myself and saw that everything was just fine. I should've checked first before propagating false info. Sorry if I frightened anyone!

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Destruction is Coming...

Here I am, trying to focus on all the schoolwork I have. I should be focusing on it, seeing as I'm graduating and all. But it's hard to do as I keep getting distracted by the scattered reports coming in.

All of Ae'gura blocked off apart from the Ferry Terminal Nexus, the Pub and the Great Stair. Other areas of Ages also possibly blocked off. Books disappearing. Odd objects popping up in Reltos. The Great Zero no longer listed in the Nexus. KIs acting up. Strange and terse messages from the DRC, that is, assuming they actually are from the DRC. And most troubling, Yeesha's message, reported by The Cavern Today.

I don't doubt Yeesha when she says destruction is coming. But I worry that it might not come from an external force. My main fear is that this might end up being a self-fulfilling prophecy. It would be possible to unite against a common enemy. Not easy, but possible. But if baseless paranoia wins the day, it would pull the cavern apart, this time possibly for good.

I worry for us explorers. It's hard to marvel at wonders when you're constantly looking over your shoulder. I worry for the DRC and the ResEngs too--I hope they're just busy and not in danger. I worry for the Cyanists and Gametappers, partly for their safety, and partly for selfishness: if they think that the restoration is in trouble, they might pull their financial support.

We are so close...we must weather this storm...

Friday, December 01, 2006

Kadish Glow Room Dreamin'

This is the third (and last) journal entry regarding D'ni and my lighting design class.

Journal Entry #12
Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Location: Kadish Tolesa

I'm in what we call the Glow Room in Kadish Tolesa. This Age had the most fiendish puzzles, which fits the D'ni peoples' obsession with them. Granted, all the puzzle solutions are seen in his Gallery in the City, but it is very difficult to figure out just what solutions the paintings and triptychs are trying to convey. Now I travel through the Age with ease, but two years ago, I was banging my head on the stone in frustration...

The theme for all the puzzles is what is hidden, and the Glow Room is no exception. From the upper spiraling walkway, you see the ground divided into random shapes, and a wooden door at the end. When you reach the bottom you see five buttons, which light up certain parts of the ground. Checking the Gallery painting, you realize that you have to push buttons 2, 3, and 5. I, like many others, thought that you had to press those buttons and walk in the path of light to reach and open the door. But good ol' Guild Master Kadish was a deceiving son of a bitch—the door is a red herring. After many angry attempts of walking in the light only to bump into a door that refused to open, I tried the opposite: walking in the dark. I was right—you walk the path of darkness that leads to the middle of the room, then a small hidden spiral stairway opens up beneath your feet.

Sad to say, this puzzle wasn't even the hard one in the Age. Don't get me started about the damn ziggurat...