Worlds of Wordcraft

I've been somewhat despondent recently. A lack of access to my Relto book (it's still in a box somewhere) and an inability to even find the energy to look for it after work makes for a dull and uninteresting evening.

I miss the rolling thunder and howling mists of Ahnonay; I want to sit out at the edge of the path in Gahreesen and watch the world go by; I want to have a picnic in Eder Kemo; I want to relax in the cool night of Minkata.

Mostly though, I want to take a slow walk through the forest of Kadish Tolesa and gaze out over the vast vista.

Perhaps followed simply by sitting or lying back in the quiet stillness of Relto.

I long for the return of Uru, the deep city, for a time when it is possible to go back down into the deep city and run around perhaps going where we haven't been and opening doors to see what other things can be found about the D'ni.

I long for the chance to once again run along the walkways and meet other people there.

It has been quiet for too long...

Such a Long Time Without the Howl of the Link!

Since my recent house move, my Relto book seems to have disappeared. Again!

This is becoming a habit for me - losing access to the worlds of the D'ni. Still, it will turn up somewhere.

In the meantime, I have been watching the developing news over at www.mystonline.com about the DRC handing 'ownership' of the cavern over to the Explorers. I'd really like to help out in that regard but alas, all I'm actually able to do is spread the word.

I've also found myself exploring the land of Taborea. It's quite unlike the worlds of the D'ni but the inhabitants are friendly and quite generous in what they offer in return for help. The same cannot be said about the various creatures that roam the lands...

Teledahn Reluctance

I slept in Relto again and took breakfast in Eder Kemo under the hanging trails by the rotating monolith. It was such a refreshing start to the day with the warm sun beating down and the intermittent rain and thunder seeming to cleanse the garden.

I sit now, before the totem that leads to Teledahn in my Relto. I have put this off for long enough but I cannot ever find enjoyment in journeying around Teledahn.

I shall seek to run through as quickly as possible and might just stop for a bit to see if Shroomie wants to come out and play...

Enjoying Kadish Tolesa

The vast forest of Kadish Tolesa became my home for the day yesterday. It's such a wondrous Age with its giant trees and ruined buildings. I cannot help but wonder if Kadish himself designed the buildings as ruins or if the destruction has been caused by the growth of the trees.

The sounds of the forest betray its lifeless appearance yet I have never seen anything to suggest there is life there.

It reminds me of Relto. Deserted, calm and quiet. Such a restful place.

Breakfast in Eder Kemo

I opened the door in Eder Kemo yesterday. Upon being linked to the Bahro cave in the stars, I immediately started recording the speech given by Yeesha. It will be useful later.

Relto is beginning to come alive again. The newly moved in fireflies are prancing around and things are beginning to grow again.

I slept in the hut here on Relto last night. My new sleeping bag was certainly enough to keep me warm but I wouldn't like to be doing this on a regular basis - yet!

The two Ages of Eder Gira and Eder Kemo are now on my bookshelf so I can visit whenever I feel the need.

The water in Gira is quite warm, probably due to all the geothermic activity. This makes the waterfalls a nice place to have a wash. Unfortunately, the pools aren't deep enough to go swimming in but there are other places I can do that.

Breakfast consisted of a small picnic in Eder Kemo before returning home for a few days. I will come back in a week or so and I might try taking a trip to Gahreesen in my next visit.

Eder Gira & Eder Kemo

I have linked to Eder Gira. Night has fallen and the cold would have been unbearable had I not been wearing my usual woolly jumper.

The steam vents are around to keep me warm and the lava pit is also a good source of heat so I certainly wouldn't freeze here.

After collecting two Journey Cloths and making the bridge with the fishing basket, I have linked to Eder Kemo and remembered it to be a completely different place in comparison. The breeze keeps the Age cool in the gentle, summer wind. The short but frequent rain storms help keep everything alive, not giving the sun time to burn the plants.

It's certainly very beautiful here. I'd almost forgotten. This really is such a fantastic place to bring a small picnic and a book, set myself up in the overhanging fronds or the gazebo-like shelter and just relax.

Anyway, that's for later. Right now, I have to collect some flies to take back to Eder Gira to illuminate the caverns.

I brought the fireflies back to Relto with me. I do so enjoy watching them fly around the island, again and again.

I'd best press on and find them some plants, perhaps a large tree?

Unpacking & Looking Around Again

I can leave my luggage in Relto now, though. The backpack is killing me, it's so heavy! Still, because I can now go home and return here whenever I wish, the need for luggage is irrelevant. I just wish I could get back what I'd left in the old Relto. I miss my green jumper but thankfully I was wearing the blue one when I was linked home back in April.

Perhaps I should learn from past mistakes and not actually leave anything in Relto.

Ae'gura and Bevin are empty. There is no-one else here.

I travelled to Bevin using the book available on my Relto shelf. All the linking books in the book room have gone and the Private Rooms are locked.

Perhaps, fearful of encountering the DRC, other explorers are keeping their distance from the public Ages. Perhaps they prefer to keep to their own private instances of Ages...

Arrival & a Successful Link

I arrived at the cleft and immediately started running around pressing the Journey Cloths.

Zandi was there, as always, and looked to be quite absorbed in his book so I left him to it - I didn't see any need to disturb him. I wonder if he ever worries about the fact that his trailer is playing host to a Journey Cloth?

One of the Cloths had moved. When I descended into the Cleft, it was there on the wall to greet me. Maybe the Bahro had put it there to give returning explorers a quick start? New Explorers maybe were getting it as a preview? A 'demo' of what was to come?

Anyway, it didn't stay there. After I had activated the Holo-Imager and closed the door, the cloth was moved back to its proper place. I still can't figure out which one had been moved.

Upon descending into the tree, the Bahro seemed to be screaming more than they usually do. It was rather disturbing, almost like I wasn't as welcome as I had thought I would be.

I hurriedly picked up the Relto linking book, clipped it to my side and linked there.

Ready to go again!

After a long journey, I am ready again.

Today I arrived and I spend a couple of nights in a hotel before making my way on Friday to the Cleft. It is my hope that I will be able to retrieve a new Relto book from within the tree.

Rumour has been circulating that the DRC may soon be re-opening the caverns to the public but I'll have to monitor that more closely when I find my way to Relto. Once there, I can set about establishing a new link between there and home.

I travelled light as I know there is a wardrobe on Relto. Also, the trip home and back to Relto should be relatively quick using a new linking book.

I wonder if I'll be able to use my laptop on Relto? Is the Wi-Fi range up to the job?

It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for...

107 explorers in the Guild of Greeters Bevin...

100 explorers maximising the population of Ae'gura...

Other Bevins pulsating with population...

There can be no doubt about the popularity of D'ni caverns!

I don't know what happened; I don't think I'll ever find out but one moment I was in the Guild of Greeters Bevin enjoying the company of my fellow explorers and the next, I was at home. I hadn't even gone back to Relto before returning home, I was just... home.

My link back to Relto is gone.

Well, strictly speaking, it's still there, but it doesn't work. The Bahro must have taken away the ability to link.

I could go to New Mexico and climb down through the cleft and the volcano, through the tunnels and caverns to reach the D'ni city that way, but I cannot afford the fares for travel.

I am unsure what to do.

I can only keep trying my link to Relto.

It might work again.

Someday...

Unreachable Relto?

Something bad has happened...

Relto cannot be reached and my explorations are on hold.

Perhaps this will allow me some time to write some catch-up entries and back-date them...

It worries me that I cannot go any further. So much had been explored but so much more was waiting...

I had once more retrieved the four pillars but again Yeesha had said to give back what I had taken. I don't like that I now appear selfish. My Relto has four pillars that must be returned but I cannot get there to return them.

What will I do?

Rushing Around & Catching Up

I've been rather busy of late.

What little time I've had to go down into the caverns, I have been running around furiously trying to bring everything back to my Relto that should be there.

I have scrambled through Teledahn, Eder Gira and Eder Kemo far too quickly for my liking and not really taken the time to sit back and enjoy the views.

Shroomie put in an appearance which surprised me - I still had the machinery running and she was much closer than she had ever been before. By the time I had finished rummaging around in my backpack for the digital camera/video camera, she'd gone again.

I've been trying to find all the Relto pages again and have not missed one yet. This has surprised me as some of them do come and go. Bahro stones as well!

Phil's Relto - February 10th, 2008

Whilst I get myself sorted out here at home, feel free to take a look at my snapshots from our group photo at Phil's Relto.
(By the way, I'm the guy in the blue jumper with the yellow trousers.)

A whole new Relto?

The ringing in my ears has stopped.

When I joined the Cavern Skydivers, I became linked out to a whole new Relto. Everything is gone from here - the island is bare with only one pillar and there are none of my favourite pieces from the Relto pages I had collected.

Hastily, I checked my Relto book at my side. Pulling the book from my hip, I noticed that it felt a little thinner then it had been and sure enough, there was only one page inside- the linking page.

I now had to start again. At least I still had my KI.

Except I didn't.

I had been so caught up by my bare Relto island and examining the Relto book that I had failed to notice that my KI had gone.

Who had done this to me? Was it Yeesha? The Bahro?

I don't know and probably never will.

Slowly, I realised that I now had a unique opportunity. I could return home and pack a small bag with a video camera, normal camera, compass, notebook and a few other bits and pieces that I could take with me on my journey. I had worked my way around the Ages once already and could do so again but this time, I would be prepared...