Had been waiting on some air samples to get back to us regarding a new Age we have been working with. Results came back that indicated that all was well so a team is being assembled to venture into the Age and check it out.
Added a new feature to Beneath called Quick Notes, it utilizes Twitter to post quick updates of what is going on, a bit like mini journal entries. These entries well contain details of what the Restorers Guild and myself are up to in D’ni and its Ages.
“I have words.
Destruction is almost upon us. They are here. Fighting in war. Freed from their prison, the Bahro choose their way now; good and evil stand before them. No longer are they slaves to the tablet, no longer is their destiny locked to the wishes of others. No longer is their freedom captive. They are powerful and with freedom, some are dangerous.
Most of the Bahro are friends. They stand with us, protecting us from the evil that surrounds you almost constantly. They sacrifice for you. They battle and die for this cavern. They battle and die for the Ages, and your comfort. They fight for the D’ni as well. They watch over us all.
But there are those who have not chosen to side with you, with the D’ni, or with good. They seek revenge for the evil done to them. They seek to impart tht harm on others, just as they were tortured. Revenge is their excuse but freedom is their cause.
They are able to make the choice and they bask in such opportunity to do as they please. They are free to choose evil and so they do. With freedom comes choice and with choice comes evil, as well as good.
Their leader can be seen clearly. He is missing a large patch of skin on his shoulder – taken from him in the tortuous lab of Esher. Because of that, I will draw them away. Away from the cavern. Away from you. I do not know how long the evil ones will seek me… I do not know how long they will seek what I carry. It could be only days, it could be months.
Destruction is coming. It is almost here. I will delay it as long as I can but, in the meantime, you must find a way. You must make a home. Destruction will be here soon.
I will try to return and help you in the future. If things go well, I will offer you my aid. If things do not, you must find a way on your own.
Regardless, you must be ready. Destruction will come… sooner or later. When it does, you must have a way. You must make a home.
I will do all that I can in the meantime.”
I admit it, I wasn’t expecting her to address us herself, I was thinking another imager message. I’ll be taking my slice of humble pie ala mode please.
That said, what did she really give us? She took them away, for now. She tells us what we already know, and a small item we did not know.
Perhaps I would feel different if I had been there, she had left by the time I got over to the area, Telmora took the above image.
I don’t know, she stands there delivers a speech then leaves, we have questions, we need answers and she fails to deliver again. If she returns I am going to do my utmost to talk to her, actually talk to her.
With the growing concerns about the Bahro War, people have unsurprisingly been searching for answers. The human tenacity for survival can be immense a tenacity which, I feel, could surprise the Bahro.
And yet, in times of trouble, everyone looks outwards to Yeesha, Phil or Dr. Watson. I guess I am not to surprised, in times past people frequently looked towards figured like Jesus and God. But seldom do we look to ourselves, draw up on some of that tenacity we hold inside and use it to face the on coming storm.
That said when we look to Phil and Dr. Watson we are in a sense looking to ourselves, they are our people in terms of race. I guess Yeesha is too in a way as she has human blood within.
But as the Bahro War spills over, as the Arch of Kerath is encircled, I find myself feeling the need to step away from “The Grower”. Years ago during a conversation with James, he said to me that explorers are forced to follow her path. I asked him howso, as I could not see it and he said that The Called are taken from The Cleft and arrive in Relto, how do they get back? I could see what he was getting at, explorers end up with no way or returning, lest they complete The Journey and return to The Cleft via the fissure. Of course, it could be argued that they could just return via D’ni and its tunnels to the surface.
But how feasible is that? Ae’gura is the point of arrival, from there to the tunnels you would need a boat, not every explorer has a boat. From the tunnels you need to navigate a labyrinth of tunnels stretching out for miles, tunnels which have collapsed in areas thus needing to be circumnavigated.
How many people, especially people new to D’ni would be able to do that? Not a great many I warrant.
Thus in most part, the explorers are trapped.
Now adding on top the fact that it is only really at the end of the Journey that it becomes clear what you have just done, and the fact that some of this information is dismissed by Yeesha as irrelevent. Now we have a war in our house, the result of Yeesha’s journeys. Don’t get me wrong the Bahro should be released, but we hear nothing from her, for a year some claim when in fact to some it has been even longer.
And now, destruction coming, we hear from her. Congratulations she says, we have seen a prophecy that has no bearing on the situation fulfilled. That’s it? That is all you have to say?
Pathetic, we went out on a limb for you Yeesha, and we had little choice in the matter.
Do we really need her? Ah she has knowledge for sure, knowledge of D’ni, of the Bahro, of The Art. But at what cost does that information come?
We should look to our own for strength.
First thing I saw was that fantastic window, the blue into orange. A combination that is a great favorite of mine. I strolled over and pressed my hands against the cold window, looking out over the great lake to Ae’gura. Seeing this area of K’veer is amazing, previous visits to the area has seen me confined to the room in which Atrus was imprisoned by his father.
The architecture of this hall is beautiful, there is a cathedral like atmosphere to it all. So very similar to what was described in Watson’s tale of freeing the Bahro. I can almost see Veovis and Rakeri walking these hallways…
Stairs leading down are blocked, I shall have to go upwards…
Top of the stairs is blocked, alas I was hoping to explore more of the mansion. Wait! I see another doorway. Aha, familiar territory, Atrus’ prison room. I must admit it has been a while since I have walked in this room, brushing my fingers over the carved stone..
This place is stunning.
As soon as I Linked here I knew something was wrong, the usual infrequent cries of the Bahro had multiplied, rolling out over Ae’gura, crying, screaming.
Then I saw them to many to count swooping and circling Kerath’s Arch. The war has spilled over and finally we are witness to it.
Dr. Watson said the deception the Bahro had created to protect us was failing, it is an awesome sight to behold, if not frightening. I saw first hand how fast the Bahro can move, if they are wanting blood I know I am no match for them.
I wonder if they have noticed me watching them from the Library courtyard? If they haven’t what happens when they do?