December 2002 Discussions

Uru Explorers

Posted By: Marie Sutherland
On: December 03, 2002

Well, it looks like they’ve started to arrive. I’ve seen five Uru explorers so far that did not go through our authorization process. I can only assume that these are the first of the group that Zandi has gathered.

We had expected him bringing a large group down with him all at once. It’s too long a trip for him to be making very frequently. Instead, they seem to be coming down a few at a time.

Here’s the thing: they are not coming down through the tunnels. They’re Linking here from somewhere! The explorer I talked to mentioned an interim Age which contained a linking book to the Seret neighborhood. (How’d he get that!?)

At least the small groups will be a bit more manageable for us. The down side of this development is that he may be able to send these small groups more frequently, meaning in the long run we may end up with more people than we ever planned for.

One other bizarre thing: they all have an odd linking book with them.

Posted By: Dr. Watson
On: December 03, 2002

Yes, Rand and I spoke with two of them this morning on Ae’gura. They didn’t mention having a Linking Book, though.

So many questions…

They each have a Linking Book? Where would he get a supply of Books? What exactly did you mean by “odd”? Did you actually see one?
Where does it Link?

Very curious,

Dr. Watson

Posted By: Marie Sutherland
On: December 04, 2002

Yes, it is my understanding that they each have a linking book, and I have seen one.

It is a bit narrower than most linking books I’ve seen. It is leather bound. There is a silver medallion with a decorative symbol on the cover.
I think I’ve seen a similar symbol in Eder Kemo.

I am not sure where it links. The explorer I talked with wouldn’t say. Since the symbol looks like the one found in Eder Kemo, it seems reasonable to assume it links there. But that’s just a guess.

If nothing else, we should at least keep our eye out for when one of these books is used. Then we’ll be able to get our hands on it. ;)

Marie

Posted By: Marie Sutherland
On: December 04, 2002

Update:

I found one of the new explorers who was willing to let me use his book. It doesn’t link to Eder Kemo after all. It links to an Age that we haven’t seen before.

Here’s the most amazing part: the explorer linked in after me, and he was still holding the book! The book came with him when he linked with it! I thought that was impossible.

Any ideas, Dr. Watson?

Marie

Posted By: Victor Laxman
On: December 05, 2002

Okay, I’m in shock, and I’ve got quite a few questions! But I’ll limit this post to the two biggies.

First – WHAT WAS THE AGE? I can’t believe they’ve got a link to an age that we haven’t seen! Where did Zandi stumble onto that? Can I get more information? Was it large? Was it D’ni written? Was it stable? Inhabitants? Structures? Etc.???

Second – Are you SURE the book came with them? Maybe they had another one. Perhaps the books are small enough to keep a supply of them on their person. It just could NOT have come with them!

I would like to get together and get some answers!

v

Posted By: Dr. Watson
On: December 05, 2002

I would like to see one of those Books, especially if the Book is actually able to Link with them.

I am also concerned about the safety of the people he’s sent down. That Age obviously has not been inspected.

I’m with Vic. Let’s meet and discuss all this

Posted By: Marie Sutherland
On: December 05, 2002

I suppose it’s possible that the person had two identical books, held one in his hand then opened the other and linked with it. If that had been the case, then the book he used would be on Ae’gura. If it is a deception, it’s one that is easily disproven.

I’ll be at the Tokotah in a bit. Let’s discuss.

Marie

Unbelievable

Posted By: Dr. Watson
On: December 11, 2002

I spoke with one of the Uru explorers yesterday. I personally watched him use the mysterious Book. The Book did not remain behind. It indeed went with him. Frankly, I had really expected this to be some kind of hoax.

We have never found a D’ni Book that can do this. It obviously would have been useful enough that one would think that the D’ni would have figured out how to do it long ago if it were possible, but none of their Books can do this.

And that’s not the only D’ni rule that this Book breaks. You are not going to believe this one, Vic. Wait. I’m getting ahead of myself.

Anyway, the explorer came back shortly after, and offered to let me see the Age it links to. I was hesitant, since we know so little about this Book, but I agreed.

The Book links to a small island, only it’s not surrounded by water, it’s surrounded by clouds. There is only one small building and a few small trees.

My host had another surprise for me. As I watched, he used his Book again and re-appeared at the link-in spot on the other side of the island. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself. He was able to link within an Age. No D’ni Books can do that either.

I am really not sure what to make of this Book. It does not conform to the D’ni rules we’ve learned over the years. Until we have a better understanding about how this Book works and why it can break some of the D’ni rules that we know, and have some kind of assurance that breaking these D’ni rules is safe, we should not encourage their use. We cannot stop the Uru explorers from using their Books, but we need to be clear that if they choose to continue using them, that they are using them at their own risk. I will not be using any of those Books again until I better understand them, and I insist the other DRC members refrain as well.

I think it’s time that I talk with Prof. Zandi directly.

Dr. Watson

Posted By: Victor Laxman
On: December 12, 2002

Then you think that Zandi is writing this book??? Surely not!!!

v

Posted By: Dr. Watson
On: December 13, 2002

No, I don’t think he’s writing them, Vic. Zandi knows even less of the Art and the Books than we do. We are a long way from being able to write Books of our own; he could not have written these Books. But if they are of D’ni origin, why haven’t we ever found, or even heard of any other Books that work this way?

I have many questions but not many answers at the moment.

Dr. Watson

Posted By: Victor Laxman
On: December 13, 2002

What about the symbol on the front of it? Has anyone examined it? Does it mean anything to anyone?

v