Ahnonay

(Ahno = Water, Nay = Root)

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Author: Unknown

Date Written: Unknown
Date Accessed: 09/07/04
Date Released: 02/11/08

Book location: Ahnonay Cathedral, Relto

Designation: D’ni Age

Who actually wrote Ahnonay is open for interpretation still. Many suspect it to be the work of Guild Master Kadish, however, given Kadish's flawed Writing style but superior engineering style it is likely he purchased the Age and oversaw the construction work. It is speculated that the Age is in fact a "Torus Age" like that Written by Katran. However heavy mist below the waterfall makes this impossible to say for sure. If it is then this Age would most likely be considered an illicit Age in the eyes of the D'ni.

Ahnonay is a testament to Kadish's fantastic engineering skills and his delusions. Using his skills he constructed a massive machine that was able to hold, and rotate, four stadium-sized spheres, each of which gave the illusion of being Ages on the inside. Built into a massive water vortex, Kadish used the vortex of water to power his gigantic sphere machine. He then used the spheres to imitate time travel and deceive his audiences into believing that he was a religious figure more powerful than any Writer…or even time itself.

Combining the “time travel” illusion of Ahnonay with Er'cana and the pellets that lit up the D’ni lake. Kadish sought to establish himself as the “Grower” that was spoken of in Words, the series of prophecies by The Watcher.

A vast mechanism of pressure plates was the backbone of the Age. Kadish would take visitors to the Age and show them the various stages in time. This was accomplished by using the pressure plates to trigger the rotation of the spheres after the last person Linked out. They would then be taken back to the Ahnonay Cathedral where they would use the Book to Link back to the same spot as before. Only it would look different due to the spheres rotating thus giving the impression of time travelling.

The weight on the plates could be seen on the “clocks” (often erroneously referred to as life form detectors) found in spheres one, two, and three.

At the end of the DRC's first restoration effort, Ahnonay had been suspended in Phase 4 development. During the second restoration effort, it was still in Phase 4 as of 28/06/07. However, it was released to the public a week later.

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Appearance

The actual Age of Ahnonay is a vast vortex waterfall roughly 3 miles in diameter, that on first impressions seems to operate a lot like Catherine’s Torus Age. This has given rise to speculation that the Age is, in fact, an illicit one and not Written by Kadish.

Sitting upon the sides of the immense vortex is the vast mechanism that contains the four spheres and their ability to rotate. Within each sphere, there is a different illusion that is supposed to be the Ronay home world Garternay at different points in time.

Sphere 1:

The Ronay home world before the disaster that befell it. That is the illusion Kadish presented with Sphere 1.

A rocky island surrounded by blue waters sits below a pinkish sky. Littering the island are a number of Terrose, trees with rose-coloured foliage these artificial trees give the impression of thriving wildlife. Small quadruped crustaceans known as Quabs have also found their way into Sphere One, however they originated from the true part of Ahnonay itself. Offshore a small island can be found with a tower upon it, within are the controls for the water current. In the distance, surrounding the island large looking structures carved from rock can be seen. This too is part of the illusion, as the structures are nothing but paintings on tall metal screens. Behind one such screen lies the access tunnel to the maintenance area.

Sphere 1 is how Ahnonay is most commonly depicted.

Sphere 2:

Sphere 2 represents Garternay as it was before the Ronay splinter group moved to the D’ni cavern. Gone are the pink clouds, now replaced with grey skies and frequent storms. The Quabs and water have also disappeared, instead, a blanket of fog covers the areas where the water once was. The Terrose are no longer visible in Sphere 2. In their place sit delicate trees of crystal reminiscent of lightning (from which they may likely get their name) that easily shatter at a touch. These "Ning Trees" are caused by lightning striking the ground. Of course, like most of Ahnonay, the lightning is artificially generated.

The rock here is riddled with cracks. The weight indicator in the center of the island mass is damaged yet still working. With the lack of water, access to the Sphere 2 maintenance area can be difficult. Use of the journey cloths are the only means to reach that destination.

Sphere 3:

Sphere 3 was said to be Garternay as it would be in the future.

The island is heavily fractured, seemingly floating in a starry expanse. At the center, the familiar “clock” is now completely useless and broken. Nothing lives in Sphere 3, no Quabs or Ning not even the scrub grass of the previous two spheres. However, Sphere Three is where the Firds prefer to nest, favoring the darkened environment of the sphere.

Surrounding the shattered island is a vast grey ring akin to the rings of Saturn. On closer inspection, however, it appears to be constructed from D’ni imager technology. Like Sphere 2 access to the maintenance area of Sphere 3 is only possible through the use of the cloths.

Sphere 4:

Sphere 4 never reached completion as the Fall took place before it could be finished. Sphere 4 was to be Garternay after Kadish had rebuilt it. Only a select few devout followers were allowed to see Sphere 4.

Throughout the sphere, visitors can see masses of scaffolding rising up all over the area. Vast cog-shaped walkways span the area where the island would have been in the previous 3 spheres. Instead of the weight indicator clock at the center, there is a vast statue of Kadish, arm raised high holding a sphere.

Like Sphere 3, Sphere 4 has no wildlife that can be seen.

Maintenance Room:

Each of the four spheres contains access to the Maintenance Room. Sphere 1 is the only sphere that allows access to the Maintenance room from the Link in point. The other three spheres require the use of the cloths, leading one to wonder how Kadish accessed the rooms.

The maintenance rooms have very little in them aside from pipes. However, through the Maintenance rooms, one can access the Observation Room.

Observation Room:

Inside the Observation Room, amongst the vast workings of Ahnonay sits a large imager that displays the four Spheres. It is currently unknown whether the view presented on the imager is real-time or just images to indicate which sphere is currently aligned with the Observation Room.

Below the walkway lies a seat that takes visitors down to the Vogondola. The Vogondola will then skirt the edge of the water vortex along a track leading to Kadish’s quarters.

Kadish’s Quarters:

Kadish's quarters served as a sleeping area and workshop/office for Guild Master Kadish with the workshop being separated from the sleeping area via a locked door.

The chair mechanism brings visitors from the Vogondala to a small rectangular room laced with pipes. To the right sits a sleeping cot, and to the left is a combination lock mechanism that grants access to Kadish's Workshop (the solutionto this can be found in the Ahnonay Cathedral and Kadish Gallery).

Kadish's Workshop

The workshop is a spherical room that continues the familiar cog motif that is found everywhere in Ahnonay. A large window looks out onto the vortex, a vast waterfall that dominates the Age and provides power to the sphere mechanism.

A doorway on the far side opens to a balcony overlooking the waterfall. At the center of the workshop sits a cog-shaped work area with taps descending from the ceiling to provide drinkable water.

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Notable Wildlife

Firds Firds are a strange combination of bird and fish who are native to the exterior Ahnonay environment. They feed off of plankton that live in the water as well as small insects that ride the wind currents above the water. The creatures four wings aid in adapting to the environment’s harsh conditions. Fairly often the Firds can be seen jumping from the water and immediately changing their position so that they can fly above the water without immediately being sucked back in by gravity.
Because of Firds’ suction-like bodies they often nest in the rocks and crevasses around the water. Their eyes are luminescent and at night form an eerie sight as they are piled one on another in any rock or crevasse they can find. The creatures have managed to find their way into Sphere One through the crack in the wall although they don’t appear to especially enjoy the environment. Not only is there a large number of Quabs (who apparently annoy Firds) but the environment is also completely different then what they are used to with the relationship between air and water.
Firds have also found their way into Sphere Three through a broken grate and because of its dark environment usually rest in the many rocks and crags within the sphere. Though Firds don’t seem to be especially afraid of people they rarely allow them to get too close, especially when nesting as a result the Firds have remained unseen by most explorers.

Quabs Quabs are a fairly small crab-like creature. They are native to the Ahnonay exterior environment and feed on the small protozoa that live within the waterfall. Over time the Quabs have managed to find their way into Sphere One. In Sphere One they have managed to breed quite nicely and built up a fairly strong population of around fifty. Because so many are constantly being sucked into the whirlpool, fifty is a relatively strong number. As a result they now live on the crescent landmass and continually activate the pressure plates on the landmass. Though the Quabs usually stay on the land, they are not afraid of water and, if forced into it, usually manage to swim around for sometime.
Quabs are near neutrally buoyant so that they don't activate pressure plates while in the water. They are fairly friendly creatures who seem undeterred by humans although are found to be frightened by loud noises.

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Documents

Yeesha Bahro Cave Sketch Desk, Kadish's Workshop (currently missing)

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Artifacts

Clothing D'ni Great Tree Tunic
Relto Page Clock
Relto Page Storm

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Connections

Ahnonay Cathedral Linking Book
Bahro CaveBahro Stone
Bahro CaveBahro Portal

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DRC Restoration Notes

Phase Four: Work continues. 6.28.07
Phase Three: Suspended

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