Dr. Greer's Uru Journal

The irresistable call

2008-06-30T15:32:00.001-07:00

Life is strange. Just when I think I'm either too busy or have priorities else where I find myself being called to the places of my roots or other "deeper places." In a couple of days I will be going to a Scout Camp I worked at in the 80's and taking video, still images and sound samples for a promotional video I have been asked to do. This is the same place where I heard stories and inkings that eventually lead me to the underground city of D'ni. A few days ago I was almost at the point of tears in regards to my missing D'ni. For some reason that cavern always felt like home but in recent years surface matters distracted me and I grew sadly distant.

I'm being called back. I'm not sure how I will get back but it's important for me to do so. I have unfinished exploring to do, journals to write, images to capture and puzzles to solve. I'm going back and along the way I will seek other explorers who are feeling the call.

Leaving the underground city for the foreseeable future

2008-05-03T05:00:00.001-07:00

It's been quite sometime since I posted an update to this journal but circumstances and discoveries on the surface have made it impractical to do extended stays in the underground city of D'ni. I however will be exploring what I think to be evidence of D'ni civilization that made it's way to the surface world of earth long ago. This weekend I will be returning to a place that led me to my discovery of D'ni. I have always felt that I may have been related somehow and may other who were drawn to this other place I am going to have a similiar connection. The simple fact that both my mother and myself have a high sensitivity to light has always raised my suspicions about my background. Hopefully I will be able to share some photographic evidence later and maybe I can convince some of the DRC to come to the area I will be at this weekend for some further investigations.

The Journey continues...on the surface. I will however support those who wish to tell the story anyway I can and one day I shall return.

Renewed Journeys?

2007-08-01T08:44:00.001-07:00

I've been making some discoveries based on my past adventures and explorations in the D'ni cavern and connected ages. Perhaps my thoughts on discontinuing my explorations may have been a bit premature.

Technorati Tags: D'ni, exploring, innovation, linking, networking, Uru

Closing my Uru Journal?

2007-07-18T13:48:00.001-07:00

I'm seriously thinking of closing my Uru Journal. It been a while since I have been to the cavern to do any serious exploration. I'm facing more and more challenges on the surface with my business and it may be time to shut this little venture down so I can consolidate my life in order to innovate in other areas. If their is anything you want to keep please look over and copy to your computer as I plan on shutting this journal down in the near future.

Technorati Tags: blogging, D'ni, exploring, innovation, simplicity, thinking, Uru

short visits to the Cavern

2007-06-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

I've made some short visits to the cavern recently. Trying to "stay low" from watchers on the surface. It's looking more and more like i will need some help next time I go back down.

Technorati Tags: D'ni, exploring

Increased DRC activity?

2007-05-06T12:12:00.001-07:00

It appears the DRC will soon begin to bring about changes in the D'ni cavern and reveal ages on a more frequent basis. Funding for my frequent explorations is tenuous but I look forward to helping uncover some mysteries in the weeks ahead.

Technorati Tags: D'ni, exploring, goals, Uru

41

2007-04-26T10:45:00.001-07:00

I turn 41 next Monday. Hope to return to the cavern this weekend and do a LOT. Year 41 is going to be a turning point.

Technorati Tags: D'ni, exploring, motivation, Uru

Returning?

2007-04-14T06:41:00.001-07:00

I think I have found a loophole so I can continue my explorations. Surprisingly I think I can apply some of the things I can learn down there to things am doing up here. Stay tuned.

Technorati Tags: creativity, D'ni, exploring, networking, Uru

Leaving the D'ni exploration

2007-03-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

As soon I started to recapture my passion for the cavern it has been decided that I will have to quit my explorations of D'ni and the connected ages for the foreseeable future. I think the government is on to me and some of my discoveries in D'ni and some of the ages. Even the DRC doesn't know of some of the places I have been and some of their journals I have happened to find. One warning shot had been fired by the IRS and I'd better take heed and lay low for a time. I'm sure some of my fellow explorers who do not have some of the business affairs I am involved can commit to deeper explorations.

I will not be making any more explorations post here for the foreseeable future. This blog will be an archive for all to read. In the future I will be working on a "special project" that hopefully many of you will want to use. I just need to find some trusted software developers.

Technorati Tags: D'ni, goals, Uru

recapturing the passion of the exploration

2007-03-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

I got a little tired of the DRC taking their time with the new phase of the restoration. I'm not against it per se but since I'm not directly involved in the restoration effort itself I decided to take a break and return back to Greenville,SC to pursue some other interests that have been flying around in my mind. I also had a chance to "star" as an extra in a new film called, Leatherheads being filmed near the "ol homestead. I also have been a little busy retooling my business and in the process hiring some help. My experience with the KI in the explorations has opened my mind to some unique business possibilities. No I'm not copy the D'ni technology but I was inspired by some aspects of "portable media".

This past weekend I flew back out to New Mexico on a new charter service being operated by Oceanic Airways. I'm glad to see them making a good comeback after the mysterious incident about three years ago. I heard rumors that their was someone who was going to be involved with the DRC on the flight. Since the plane "disappeared" a lot of the information has been kept quite and conspiracy theories have abounded.

Anyway my interest was reawakened as I visited some of the ages I had explored before and the new arrival on "floating sparkles" in various ages and their connection with the Relto lamps in a very interesting development. I see the DRC has opened a couple of ages in the museum on A'egura. Both look similar at the link in points as they both link into large round metallic "pods" however outside the pods appear to be two different ages with extreme conditions. I can't seem to figure out the mechanisms of the pods. Maybe I will need to ask someone to help me with the controls. Why did the D'ni use these pods in these ages but not in other ages that appear to be just as extreme?

Looks like i will be exploring more in the months ahead.

Technorati Tags: culture, D'ni, exploring, linking

The eeriness of normal

2007-03-04T00:40:00.001-08:00

I've been exploring the cavern off and on since the reformed DRC reopened it for exploration after closing it for several years. It seems as if they have had to repeat some of their previous work, especially in parts of the island of Ae'gura in the middle of the lake in the D'ni cavern. Perhaps some of their original work did not meet up to new standards of restoration but thankfully I am noticing some things have been "fixed better". The odd thing that concerns me however is how a lot of the explorers and the DRC are going about business as if none of the events of the first restoration event ever took place. Yes, their we're some mistakes made and tragedy struck.

Thankfully they have decided to keep their original findings and documents available for study at various locations within the city. I just can help but feel that something odd is going on. During my first exploration we had distant encounters with what we eventually came to know as the Bahro. It seems they are making their presence more noticeable in this revival of the restoration. Their "nontraditional links" have appeared in more places but they are not to new places rather it seems the Bahro want us to keep an eye on the DRC's restoration efforts by placing links to interesting spots within the ages and places the DRC is currently "restoring". Even though the Bahro are totally alien in appearance and culture I can't help but feel like I am closer to them than the DRC.

The restoration almost seems to be going too smoothly but I have a feeling something is going on that is not quite visible. The DRC have restored an some ages that wasn't available in the previous restoration but this time I have not seen journals talking about the ages. Are things going that good or are they being careful to hide more from the rest of the explorers. I've seen a couple of garden ages that were not available before which still seem to have a strong Bahro connection. Peaceful at first visit but I can't help but sense something dark in the shadows.

Even stranger is an age made available in the museum on Ae'gura Island. when one links in you are in what I would call an observation pod. On the surface it seems like the D'ni version of a zoo but upon closer inspection I notice evidence that some bad things may have happened in this place as well based on the size of the crack in the pod.

Technorati Tags: D'ni, exploring, linking, Uru

Getting Steamed

2007-02-03T20:34:00.001-08:00

I was introducing my wife to the primative garden age of Eder Gira. It's one thing to do this exploring yourself be see one's wife almost fall into a lava pit is disturbing to say the least. thankfully she had quickly learned about the Relto fail-safe. I was very intrigued at her observations of the age and the logic behind the mechanics. Her mindset on the steam vents was totally opposite of what I figured out. I admit however her viewpoint was very logical in the world we know but I tried to remind her the other ages were also in other realities or planes of existence where some of the physical laws we are familiar with operate slightly different and even if we were not in another universe I have to remind myself that things can be different in our own universe depending on where you are and even different planets in our own solar system has a lot of strange things going on like ice volcanos, methane lakes, etc.

I'm still confounded that a civilization like D'ni with their advanced technology would set up things the way the did on Eder Gira. Some things about that age just do not make sense in regards to the way the D'ni do things and I almost wonder if the age itself and it's distinctives had been stolen from it's original inhabitants. If fact I can see what I think is a distant city of some sorts. Not a city like you would see on earth but something definitely organized by some intelligent beings. Hopefully we can explore those distant places in the near future. We just need to figure out a safe way to get out of the walled cavern on Eder Gira that you intially link into. The only open area I see so far to get out of the current area is a steep waterfall and neither of us are cliff divers and I have not idea how deep or shallow the pool at the bottom is.

Technorati Tags: culture, D'ni, exploring, linking, Uru

Exploring the ancient city again

2007-01-09T12:19:00.001-08:00

I feels great to be exploring the ancient city of D'ni once again after being away for so long. It's also good to see the DRC has apparently received some great funding as the restoration of this fascinating place seems to be taking place at a quicker pace. I was pleasantly surprised to discover access to what appears to be a D'ni art gallery. My wife Heather has already been cataloging and attempting to decrypt to meaning and cultural significance of a lot of the symbols seen in the various forms of art.

We have also been settling into one of the neighborhoods in the city and pleased to see some additional work as been done their in our absence.

I can't explain it but for some reason the process of linking to other ages literally feels smoother. I doubt it has anything to do with the apparent cleaning process on the linking books. Could the DRC's work at places like the Nexus and other areas in the city somehow help or maybe reduce interference in the process? I don't understand the weird technology but I am thankful to be here.

Technorati Tags: art, culture, D'ni, exploring, Uru, puppy

finally exploring again - this time not alone

2006-12-30T07:11:00.000-08:00

The family gatherings are finally over. For some reason this year seemed to be less stressful than those before. I gave an uncle the Myst Reader as one of his Christmas presents. I also have started to record family history by scanning old photos and some of them I have been colorizing. I gave some of these colorized photos as Christmas gifts. One of my grandmother as a baby was my favorite. The day after Christmas we slept in but soon started cleaning up our home in South Carolina by throwing away old things and organizing new things. After we headed to my New Mexico office not too far from Jeff Zandi's property. This is the first time my wife will be joining me on a regular basis. She will be a welcome addition to the project as she is very detailed oriented and an excellent project manager and explorer. She is able to join me because of new technological advancements to the point we can run our business more remotely. We also have quicker means of travel back and forth to South Carolina. If anyone is in the Cavern or one of the ages the D'ni people provided links to her ID in the KI system is hgreer. Mine is still Dr. Greer.

The DRC is back in the cavern at it appears they have placed some barriers as the cavern seemed to have fallen into decay once again but thankfully it seems they have learned much since the last time they were working there as changes seem to be happening quicker.

I should be posting more frequent reports in the days and months ahead.

testing connection

2006-12-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

Testing connection from undisclosed location. Should be returning to the cavern after the holidays and when I get over this sickness.

Fortresses, keys and bridges part 1

2006-12-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

As I settle down in to my new lab on the surface near the cleft and work diligently to secure my finding, documents, photos, etc. I am reminded of how the D'ni took security seriously. After I explored one of the garden ages known as Eder Kemo I returned to the Bevin neighborhood in D'ni and discovered instructions on going to another age known as Gahreesen sometimes transliterated as Garrison and a fitting name for what appeared to be a place the D'ni civilization used securing their technology and and other matters.

To this day I can figure out how the D'ni contructed the fortresses in that age as each building seemed to not only be constructed of thick rock yet they were built as huge machines that rotated around each other on unseen bases.

I linked into the smaller of the buildings in the age. It was here that I was directed by the DRC to retrieve one of the communication devices know as a KI (pronouced key) because it had the D'ni symbols KI on it. The devices were like a combination of our surface GPS and smart phone devices however the voice functions only worked over short ranges (at least as far as we have been able to discover) but we have been able to transmit images and text even across ages! Apparently they contain crystals that are able to resonate across the dimensional quantum vibrations. I was able to walk up to a dispenser in the building I linked into and had one place on my hand. I was too curious to return immediately to the D'ni cavern. My curiosity got the better of me and I went past the DRC barriers and investigated the building further. After going through some ruble I was able get to the second level, cross a temporary bridge and figure out some of the mechanics of the building. I was soon going to discover some of the greater secrets of the D'ni maintainers guild which I will talk about in my next entry.

2007 Plans and a Proposal

2006-11-21T12:15:00.000-08:00

I've been evaluating my exploration goals of the D'ni ages vs. my family and business concerns. After much evaluation I have decided to tie up some lose ends and spend time with various family members this holiday season (thanksgiving - New Years Eve 2006). I'm also in the process of seeking funding for future explorations so I'm busy preparing a proposal to some investors concerning how important the exploration of the D'ni ages will be to future generations, creative endeavors, business development, etc. Learning from the successes and mistakes of this technology advanced culture along with the opportunity to interact with explorers from around the globe is an opportunity that will benefit many. I've got some business to take care of today as well as preparing for a family gathering but when things settle down I may have a chance to share some experiences I had during my last official exploration and how I was changed as a person.

New exploration lab

2006-11-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

Finally getting me new exploration lab set up. I'm sharing some work space with an old friend but my lab will be in a private section away from the general public. I'm just about set up in my new digs (pun intended). I just need to get the new security system verified, find the right space for my equipment including a testing server for a project I'm working on, a place to store my supplies and a line set up to communicate with the home office.

Packed up and ready to go...almost

2006-10-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

My wife has moved into my old lab where I had been storing my finding in D'ni and linked worlds. She had outgrown her old office and needed a bigger dedicated space for her computers and other equipment. I have a new mobile lab that I can take on the road but I will also need to set up a more stationary station for easier access to the cavern. I'm currently exploring some locations and when I have that set up and secured I think I my finally be ready to return to D'ni!

shouldering responsibility on the surface

2006-10-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

I was recently called back to my home base on the surface as some business concerns took priority. The needs of some clients and the needed purchase of new equipment like computers, vehicle upgrades and stucture needs at the office required me to leave my exploration of the caverns and ages. Needless to say my back went out when I inadvertantly slipped on some rubble in Garrison. I really shouldn't have been nosing around that rock pile but something captured my attention and my shoulder went out so instead of hanging around the cavern not doing anything I called my wife and she picked me up just outside the exploration zone in New Mexico.

Things seem to have improved greatly, my neck and shoulder have healed about 90% and the some of the new equipment will allow me to work remotely more from N.M. and even from the cavern.

I hope to return soon and before then I plan on telling you more in detail my adventures in the Garrison Age.

The Garden of Unrest

2006-06-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

When I returned to the neighborhood I was so relieved. I had begun to fear I would become trapped on Teledahn or the mysterious Island in the sky and never find my way home. Upon arriving back in the D'ni neighborhood I meet other explorers and talked of things I had seen. Apparently others had similiar experiences on other ages. In our conversation we began to realize the D'ni civilization was a lot more complex that we had thought. I don't mean complex in terms of technology for we knew D'ni had an advanced technology based on the whole linking to other ages thing. No, I'm talking about their soceity, morals and cultural dynamics. For some reason many of us had confused an advanced technology which seemed magical with goodness but as we have discovered on the surface, technology does not make people good and in fact it can often be a means to slip into an evil pride.

It goes without say however that the D'ni were a hardworking people despite the ease of linking from age to age. Recreation and beauty becomes a treasure for those who live in such a hard working and serious environment on a daily basis. The DRC soon discovered that each neighborhood within the city had a linking book to a garden age. After composing myself, washing up and eating a bite I decided to accompany some fellow explorers to the neighborhood's garden age known as Eder Kemo.

When we first linked to Eder Kemo is seemed quite barren but that was just the link in spot. A short distance down the path we found a relaxing setting of fountains, flowering ground cover, m pruned trees and gently slopping paths. Other areas of the garden had more exotic plants that seemed to be spore based from giant bulbs that shot spores high into the air on a frequent basis to trees that appeared to be nothing but floating bags much like the "puffer" bags I would see in my yard popping up after a rain. At the end of the path was a nice fish pond and access to a linking book back to the neighborhood.

As much as I wanted to relax and enjoy the place I once again found myself being disturbed but a few things. First was the fact the access to this age was restricted to a very small area within a rock crater. We saw a door, a door similiar to one I saw in Teledahn. Another disturbing connection to Teledahn I noticed was strange primative painting drawn on the rock wall surround the garden. Some of the drawing seemed to depict some kind of struggle while other ones seemed to suggest an alliance of some sort. I had a inkling of what may be going on so I decided to start checking out the other ages the DRC had opened up. At the suggestion of the DRC my next trip would be to the Garrison age where apparently they discovered some communication devices we could use to keep in touch with one another.

An oddly familiar place

2006-06-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

As we progressed along the dark passways and mysterious rooms in the Teledahn mushrooms we surprising found a way out of the age but in doing so I was seperated from my traveling companion. I remember walking through doors and going down a dark passage way. The next thing I remember was arriving in an oddly lit room but how I got their is still a mystery to me. I heard the voice of the woman who was in the holographic project I saw in New Mexico. She talked in a poetic and prophetic sounding speech aluding to the downfall of the civilization of the D'ni. I was lead to beleive she was the child of Atrus who, up until this time, was someone I thought was a fictional character in a computer game. I was stuck on a ledge and after listening her speech I looked around for a latch or something that would open a door. My greatest fear was realized when I slipped and fell into an apprently bottomless abyss. I thought I was doom and no one I knew would ever see me again.

What happened next was beyond my wildest dreams. I found myself at a place, a place that looked like a primative version of Myst, the island in the computer game except this place had no ocean and instead of a fancy marble building there was a primative hut and outside were ornamental poles like I saw in the dark cave. To be pefectly honest I could stay in the place for a long time. Their was a gentle breeze, a calming sound coming from...somewhere and an indescribable sweetness to the air that reminded me of the honeysuckle back home. I was tired and could help but take a nap. After I awoke I explored the lone building which contained a book to the age I just returned from as well as what appeared to be a link to the neighborhood in D'ni I had seem a few days earlier based on the familiar linking panel. Maybe Rico had a similiar experience to myself so I decided not to look for him on Teledahn but rather attempt a return to D'ni. My greatest hopes were realized when I discovered than not only Rico was there in the D'ni neighborhood I had originally linked to but a group of other explorers as well.

The Hidden Darkness

2006-06-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

With no way out to the rest of the city we returned to Teledahn and went exploring for another way back. We linked back to the bedroom/office in the top of the old mushroom and went back down to the control room. We eventually came to the conclusion that some kind of spore refining was going on here and discovered passageways under the mushroom. When we linked in the spot was over a pond off water inside the mushroom but it was soon revealed it was a pond at all but rather a pool that doubled as a refining process and cut off access to some very disturbing. We crawled down ladders and through tubes and eventually discover a cave or rather a prison. It looked like it had been abandon for some time. We saw bones and didn't know if they were the bones of prisoners or from animals used for food. As first we thought we had become prisoners too but thankfully we had discovered something earlier that gave us a clue of how to get out. As we exited the other end of the chamber we came out on the other side of the giant mushroom, saw more of the "flying pancakes" and eventually discovered we were on an island in the middle of a strange ocean. We saw docks, crates and other items with gave a hint that some kind of trade or shipping was going on? Where were the boats? I wish we would have found a ship because I have a feeling a more complete story of this age could come together by greater exploration. Maybe one day with the help of the DRC we can construct ships. My wife's family has ship builders and who know they may can be recruited. I also know another fellow in New Zealand from his work on a landscape rendering program who's day job is ship design. He would be great for this work. Seeing no signs or ships we decided it was time to go back in explore a second mushroom which appeared to be a store house at this ports. Just as we was headed back up to the entrance to the second mushroom we heard a disturbing sound. Turning our heads we saw a creature which we had seen drawing of previously. Fearing for our lives we quickly got away and investigated the mushroom warehouse for a solution to return home.

The strangest Christmas ever part 2

2006-06-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

Rico and I had managed to get the mechanics of the place working. Without giving too much away I can tell you that the power system involved the unique of the planet we linked to in this age. To this day I am still in stunned wonderment that I had not only gone to another planet but another universe for all practical purposes. We came to the conclusion the D'ni civilization must have used the mushrooms of this world for food or some biochemical purpose. However based on the machinery it appeared the "meat" of the mushroom were not used per se but rather the spores as giant buckets seem to have been used for transport in the harvesting of the spores.

We surmise the D'ni Empire fell about 200 or so years ago and thus this place had fallen into serious disrepair hence the DRC and their restoration efforts. We soon found out that the DRC made use of contract workers. As we explored the place we came to an elevator that went to a private residence. We found signs of where one the D'ni had lived and one of the contract workers had apparently made himself at home in the same place.

Don't get me wrong. I am not the type to snoop around and go where I shouldn't go but we were starting to get nervous as we had not seen a way to get back to the D'ni cavern when all of the sudden we found a book sort of hidden away. With nothing to lose we both linked but we found ourselves in another part of the D'ni city. Interestingly enough we linked into an office we no discernable exit. Uh oh.

I snapped the picture of Rico at the right looking over some material related to Teledahn. In addition to maps and drawing we also discovered a person journal of one of the DRC's contract workers, a mug depicting the flag of Kenya and a photo of a hunting expidition on the shelf behind the desk. Apparently this person enjoyed hunting. Combined with the drawing on the desk I had a very disturbed feeling about what might be going on. We also saw many books but they appear to be of D'ni origin so we had a hard time reading time. We looked back over towards our link in spot and noticed a small Christmas tree. Interesting to Christmas being celebrated down there but seeing that made me homesick and hastened my desire to get back to the surface so I could contact my wife and tell her of this exciting discovery. However Rico and I soon discovered that the way back home would not be quite as easy as the way we both got here.

The strangest Christmas ever part 1

2006-05-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I felt I could post the stories of my first adventures among the ancient D'ni empire but a lot has happened since then and many felt the call. A new initative is underway opening the door for many more to the truth and possibilities of the many worlds yet unexplored. If you have yet to take the journey but are feeling the call I want to remind you that what you read from hear one may either spoil the surprises of first exploration or some info may not be correct as many things have changed since the first big DRC initiative. Now let me begin to catch you up on what I experienced during my first journey.

Rico and I indeed linked to the age known as Teledahn. For those unfamiliar with the concept the term "age" refers not to a time period per se but rather a whole other universe with the focus being the point one initially links into via touching the panel on the books and I was soon to learn other items opened up the links to other worlds. As we linked we arrived in what appeared to be a small roundish cabin. The cabin itself appeared to be in another building but as we ventured out we learned it was not a building at all but a rather large mushroom. A mushroom bigger than most trees on the earth. We exited the mushroom through a small fissure and from there we were awstruck!

This definitely was NOT earth. The sky had a weirdish hue, the sun never rose high in the sky and the rotation of this world appeared to be very fast. As we scanned the Horizon we saw great machinery composed of cables, metal walkways, huge buckets and and odd mechanism that looked like a radio transmitter or some sort. It took us awhile to get used to the musty/fishy smell of the place and we were initially nervous because of some of the wildlife including something I can only describe as "flying pancakes".

As we walked around we discovered why the DRC had not totally approved this age for people to visit. Walkways were either broken or blocked. Our adventerous nature did lead us to discover that this place had an interesting power source which we figured out together. I'll speak more of that and some dark secrets in the next post.

Warning Signs

2002-12-24T20:32:00.000-08:00

In hearing some of the things about Teledahn I have decided to leave a copy of what I have written in my journal in case I don't return as planed or if something unexpected happens. I want any future explorers to consider what I have written here but most importantly I would like to ask for the time being any explorers who follow me down here keep what you know a secret from the general public. Most of the people on the surface are not ready for such things. We must respect the DRC and their wishes. I may or may not return to the surface soon. Hopefully I will but if you see me posting on the Internet or in person please let's keep this to ourselves. It looks like I may not be home for Christmas this year. Hopefully I can provide a good explanation when I arrive. Diversions have taken me away in the past but never this far!

The Link to Teledahn

2002-12-24T17:46:00.000-08:00

After walking around through firemarble lit hallways I could hear the tools and voices behind closed doors and construction barricades. I arrived at the library greeted by some other explorers such as myself. Some were relatives of the DRC, others were language experts. I even saw quite a few people who are experts in various technologies. The library itself is off limits currently by the DRC. More construction barricades are there telling use to keep out and yes this section of the island is very dangerous. A huge section of the circular courtyard area the library rests upon has broken off and fallen into the harbor. I meet one explorer named, Rico. We started talking about the one book that the DRC had left out on a pedestal. After studying the linking panel we deduced it must be the link to Teledahn Age that has been mentioned by the DRC and speculated about for so long by others on the surface. Rico mentioned that he had been there once but it was with someone from the DRC. He asked if I would come along and help him with something. I agreed but for some reason was a little nervous about visiting such a strange place. I'm not sure why.

Coming home to D'ni

2002-12-23T22:42:00.000-08:00

I have arrived in D'ni! I never dreamed this was a real place! I was greeted with the sight of magnificent architecture, fantastic lights, the sounds of water but more surprisingly the place was filled with individuals know as the restoration engineers. They must have been taking some time off because I saw them playing (ok, let's say they were investigating) what appeared to be alien version of an arcade game; another fellow was kicking around a large beach ball. They were confused about how I arrived her but oddly they were not angry. My biggest surprise was meeting Rand Miller of Cyan Worlds who played Atrus in the Myst series of games and Doctor Watson of the DRC. They showed me the view from a balcony overlooking the large underground lake and showed me Ae'gura the large Island in the middle of the lake though a large telescope. Dr. Watson told me I would need a KI and drew my attention to a board with a welcome message and instructions. I found out where to get the communication device invented by the D'ni but adjusted for surface natives. The place where I obtained my KI had a barricade blocking further exploration in the large building so I decided to return via the linking book next to the KI dispenser.

After I returned to this neighborhood I explored it as much as I could and returned once again an area off one of the main courtyard. I heard of a gorgeous garden and it seemed like a safe place to visit. I had also read postings on the DRC board about this garden (called Eder Kemo) and some of the things mentioned were right in line with my studies. I can definitely tell this was a place to relax and get away from the darkness of the cavern. I don't plan on staying here too long however. It's raining a lot and some of the plant life concerns me. I found a linking book back to the neighborhood as expected.

Upon returning to the D'ni neighborhood I soon experienced another age only hinted at on the DRC website. They call this age the "Nexus" which for what I can see is devoted to linking back to different sections of the massive D'ni cavern. In a way it sort of does what a surface library should do. Not only can you search for a linking book via an interesting touch screen device but touching the screen also retrieves the book of your choice! The mechanics here are fascinating indeed. For some reason the only link other than the neighborhood I linked into (must have some connection with my KI as the access panel is activated by it) Other than the neighborhood there is an option to retrieve a linking book to something called the Ferry Terminal. Of course I chose to go to somewhere I haven't seen before.

I linked to an area next to a harbor. In the distance I see a half - sunk boat. The "Ferry" I suppose. This must be Ae'gura Island that Dr. Watson and Rand Miller pointed out from the neighborhood balcony. At first glance I could see great destruction but in the distance I also heard the sound of serious work going on. I began to walk around and eventually ascended a grand staircase leading up to an upper level of the Island and toward the sound of hammers, power saws, stone cutters and not to mention the chatter of many voices in the distance. The DRC has apparently set up work stations and planning tables all over the place. I stopped to rest at one and was meet by Dr. Watson again. We chatted for some time and he pointed out many things I should watch for. One thing of interest was the great library on the other side of the harbor. He had a meeting nearby with the DRC and suggested I cautiously make my way there as other visitors from the surface had gathered.

Arrival at the cleft in New Mexico

2002-12-22T23:31:00.000-08:00

I have arrived in New Mexico in an effort get to the bottom of what Zandi has been doing. Using clues and coordinates that the NM geocachers used and also other things related to my research I have arrived at a very isolated spot in the desert. I have found Professor Zandi and we have had much to talk about. I can't reveal much but he did lead me to something that I never thought possible, a place that has fulfilled my dreams yet has loaded on me a heaviness of the implications of what I have found. Yes a linking book has been revealed to me! What was once only a fleeting hope of a journey to another world is now in my grasp. The world of the surface is not ready for such wonder yet. I have linked! It's like taking a nap but not realizing if you had actually slept or not! Oh, this place! I'm all alone here but it's a place I wish I could have escaped to many a time when life's stresses were too much! There is also something familiar about this place but I can't seem to figure what it is that makes me feel like I've been here before. It seemed to be in a perpetual twilight (my favorite time of the day) but even more fantastic was the super clean air, the land that seemed to defy to laws of nature. This place only has one building I can see. I opened the door and inside was a bookshelf with only one book. I pulled it off and what did I find but another linking book. It was a book back to the age of earth yes but not just any place on earth as I was soon to discover!

Packing up for a trip out west

2002-12-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

Needless to say I have been following the works of Cyan and fascinated by their creations but as many have thought there is more to their works than they let on. It wasn’t too long ago that I discovered the website of the D’ni Restoration Council. Some else was afoot. Not long after finding their site an interesting and odd individual posted odd messages on their public forum provided for individuals with an interest in the project. His cryptic puzzles were frowned upon by the DRC but people became fascinated by his enigmatic messages and eventually started discovering artifacts in the New Mexico desert. As a professor of ancient civilizations with an emphasis on symbols used in the telling of their stories I have taken upon myself to travel and delve into the mystery of Zandi spirals (aka - journeys) because if they mean what I think they mean then I’m on to something that will shake the world of "surface dwellers"! I’m headed to New Mexico to study the ancient drawing and to follow the path I think the search for the spiral will leave. Alas, I go alone I have left a generic message to the Myst Community that I will be traveling over the holidays but I cannot say exactly where I am going or even contact the geocachers in that area. I am however taking my digital camera, a blank journal and GPS receiver.

Preface to the Journey to D'ni

2002-12-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

Ever since I was an early teen I had heard stories of hidden worlds. I can remember a camping trip I went on as a boy and hearing the counselor at summer camp telling the story of a former co-worker who went was on a mountain path, saw two boys and disappeared into the forest. The concerned counselor in the story followed the route of the two boys and came up on a circle of trees with a small opening at the base near some gnarled roots. The counselor crawled in and saw strange visions and hears strange sounds. I could go on about the rest of that story but now is not the time. Ever since I was teenager something about this story seemed odd. The fellow who told it seemed to be telling something that was true or based on something he experienced. Later on I became a counselor at that camp myself and asked him where he got the story from but he always found ways to avoid the subject. Later on I had some very strange dreams of a very surreal nature based on this story that haunted me. About 10 years after I heard that story I had the opportunity to play a game on a friends computer called, Myst. It was very odd because the same emotions and feelings I had with that old ghost story and my dreams were once again evoked with the beautiful images, moody music and devices presented in Myst. Something was different and I was captured and drawn to seek something deeper than what was presented in the computer game.