Happy New Year 2007!

Hahr rahm gah shoraht, everyone! My last hours of 2006 were well-spent with a party at the Uru Obsession hood. I left to watch the ball drop with loved ones from the surface, but I still had a great time down in D'ni.

I hope everyone had a good 2006, and that everyone will have an awesome 2007!

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!

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??

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!

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!

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!

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...