Shadows

I returned to D'ni as a means of escaping the bizarre happenings that seemed to become a regular part of my life since moving to the town of Reality-on-the-Norm, but it seems that even in the depths of the Earth there is no way to keep such things at bay.

Something is going to happen very soon, I can feel it. All this talk of destruction, the Bahro war, rumours of Yeesha making a reappearance... and now the strange musings of a very good friend and confidante of mine, Miss McKenzie.

It's been a long time since last we spoke. Too long. I need to understand what these shadows she speaks of are. Maybe she can cast some light on my own.

Where I come from, tea doesn't do that...

I can't believe I got out of that incident with nothing more than a modest burn or two. Thankfully someone managed to pull me out of the hood lake during that disastrous press announcement though, the last thing I was expecting was a panic attack or whatever it was.

I don't know if it's because of my brush with death, but I've been in a reflective mood this past month. Whatever it is I'm doing, I've certainly had my fair share of opposition. Is this the way with all people in responsibility? Or is it because the things I am doing are genuinely unsound and wrong? If I relent now, will it show I'm receptive to the thoughts of others? Or will it just be construed as a sign of weakness and make things worse?

It might be an idea to test the waters slightly. Lets see what happens when I tell them about the office...

He wants to make cider out of my blood...

I find myself being taken more and more to task by Tyion these days. I really think I've hit a nerve by letting Ruby go for a while, and my recent faux-pas with her office hasn't done much to improve our relationship. There's nothing overtly hostile about his tone, but it's clear he's looking for ways to demonstrate I'm really not up to the job.

I know he's doing it, and by rights I should put him in his place, but it's odd. I find myself genuinely speechless at times. I've done absolutely nothing wrong, nothing I feel regret for, and yet when I try to convince him I can say nothing but stammer and wilt in the face of his scorn. Hah. After all the madness I've endured over the years, the plethora of impossible creatures and people I've faced down, the one thing that finally overcomes me are the stinging barbs of a co-worker. Fate better be enjoying this, because I sure as hell don't see the funny side of this hateful irony.

Damn the Guardians. Damn this whole wretched business. I wish it had never begun.

Crisis

I released a statement on Thursday to the community, sacking Ruby. What is happening to me? I watched with glee as she deliberatly riled up the antagonists of the Liason arguments barely a year ago, and now here I am giving her the walking papers. Is this my world now? Administration, paperwork, and the stifling of independant thought?

I may be able to justify my decision in a number of ways, but that still doesn't mean I am proud of it.

I need to find Echo. She will be able to make sense of it all.

Who is the boss of you?

ME! I AM THE BOSS OF YOU!

No, I'm not the Grand Inquisitor (but I'm sure it's only a matter of time). It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, full of crazy developments and the like. The upshot of it all is that I now find myself occupying an executive position in the Cavern Communication Network.

I'm pretty certain such things do not normally happen in a sane and rational world, but thankfully such concepts don't seem to apply to this wonderful group of individuals. So long as I don't let power go to my head, I foresee nothing but glory and win.

Now where has that pesky bot got to with my drinks cabinet...

Watcher's Sanctuary = The D'ni 'Drones'

It looks like activity from the DRC is on the cards again. The Zero's been activated, and the Watcher's Sanctuary has been opened for explorer access, complete with five volumes of the Book of Words. Er'cana is apparently slated for this week as well. Looking forward to visiting it, I've yet to see one of the D'ni food ages in person.

A report has also been completed on the collapse in the City last month. No structural damage prior to the collapse is the official conclusion. We all suspected it, but having it confirmed is chilling to say the least. Being careful where I put my feet in the future.

Had a quick poke around the Sanctuary. Definitely an up market watering hole for the intelligentsia, almost like a D'ni version of the Reform Club. I can see myself becoming a regular patron. Fascinating history of the place too, especially this so-called 'Path of the Shell'. The Watcher's 'Words' made interesting reading, and I even found myself making some connections to current events. I don't think it's wise to read too much into them, though. Ambiguous philosophies of their nature can be twisted and interpreted to fit any event. Still, Simpson's report mentioned that their words contain hints to Kadish's self-congratulatory puzzle he concocted, so when the time comes I may end up studying the texts in more detail at a later date.

Hope the DRC presence continues to be prominent this week. Be interesting to see if they've made any progress with the symbol found in Minkata.

My Path in the Stars

I had a feeling I would find something. And find something I did.

After taking the numbers for each bearing as time as opposed to steps, I came across one of the raised daises which were to my astonishment no only open, but held a ladder leading down. I was led into a small cave, containing some empty crates (DRC's?) and a Bahro stone. It was similar in shape and size to the one under the canopy where I linked in, but imagine my surprise when I found upon it a phrase carved in English.

Touching the symbol in the centre bought back memories of the Journey cloths. At least, for a brief second - next thing I knew, I was linking out, and when I linked back in the cave was dark and cold. Climbing back up, I looked out to see the desert illuminated by the night sky. Either I had been linked to a separate age, completely alike but at night, or the stone had changed day into night.

'Find my Path in the Stars'... looking up in the sky, I was stuck by the constellations, and how odd they were. There seemed to be five precise groupings, all with a varying numbers of stars and shapes making them up. Five sets of stars... five sets of way points? Looking up at the simplest of them, and comparing my sketches from the book of directions, I realised I was staring at my route from the canopy to the cave, depicted in the sky. Was this what it meant?

It was. And I don't quite understand what happened when I walked towards the stars and encountered the shape, but it is of vast importance I emulate what I have done for the other four sets of bearings. Only when the symbol is complete will this age's mysteries be unlocked.

It burns us, precious...

I made the mistake of not applying any tan lotion before getting lost in Minkata. I now have a slight degree of burning. On my everything.

Thank the Goddess for my waterfall is all I can say. Well, I could say a lot more, but in the interests of keeping this little journal PG I restrain myself.

Anyway, Minkata. Fascinating age. And big. Very VERY big. Incredibly easy to get lost, a perfect training ground for the Guild of Cartographers. I can imagine teams of D'ni running around, utilising any distinguishing mark they can find to keep their right direction.

What's interesting though is the stone that lies underneath the main compass canopy. It clearly refers to the Bahro, and what's more, I've seen that symbol before. Isn't it the one that Sharper found on his hunt in Nelighan? What is it's significance?

I'm sure there's more to this age than first appearences suggest. If I can understand how to follow the directions in that journal in the library, I may discover what is hidden beneath the dust and sand. The journal is the key, I am sure of it.

Sigh. And there's me thinking I left the Scouts behind me for good.

Onwards!

Everything all packed away, sorted and in its proper place now. Sweet Hungus, that wardrobe can hold a LOT. I strongly suspect one of those 'bigger on the inside' jobbies.

... now THERE'S a thought. Time Lord technology? Pah. Next thing I'll be theorising that the Stranger turned out to be the Doctor. Although having said that, a lot would suddenly fall into place...

Speaking of Time Lords, Harold Saxon's getting the country whipped up in an anti-alien hysteria, and it looks like he's made the Doctor public enemy number one, along with any of his associates (which now includes a certain Jack Harkness, according to his latest entry on his MySpace blog). I dread to think what will happen if he sinks the election, which is fast becoming an inevitability. It's bizarre though. Surely I can't be the only one who feels uncomfortable when I lay my eyes on him?

Anyway, I'm back in action now, and ready to start getting to the bottom of recent events. Minkata seems as good as any place to start. Heard it's a bit on the hot and dusty side. Better leave the Crombie and Waistcoat back in the TARDISrobe.

Preparations

I've just returned from a surface trip, a fortnight back in my estate in Reality Gardens, trying to get my thoughts straight and decide what to do.

Spoken to several people about what has happened - Adrienne, Seigen, Max and Kenji most prominantly. Much speculation, a great number of reassurings, but nothing that's made me understand the events any better. I am grateful for their counsel, though. Has helped me push aside the fear a little. Kenji in particular I am most thankful for, and in our last conversation he hinted that he may join me in the coming months. This has thrilled me greatly, but it speaks volumes in regard to the peril he believes I and my fellow explorers will soon be facing.

Took the oppertunity to bring down with me the assorted clothes, supplies, trinkets and assorted odds and ends that my untimely departure prevented me from taking the first time. My hut on Relto is now a mess of strewn cases, and knowing my general lethergy with unpacking I shan't get around to getting everything sorted until the weekend. Must make an effort and get things done.

One thing doesn't need unpacking, though, and looking at it laying on my shelf I realise the full gravity of the last month's events that's made me even consider bringing it down with me. All I can do is hope I never have to use it. I hope that side of me will once again remain forever dormant.

Futility

Wheely and Rose are dead. Murdered. Engberg is missing, and from what Sharper has witnessed there is solid evidence that the Bahro (or at least some rogue element of the species) bears us ill will.

I do not know what to think. All I know is there was nothing I could do. Nothing for Wheely, the rescue, I couldn't even bring Michael from his revalries when I had the chance. I do not think I have ever felt so useless in my entire life. Useless and afraid.

I need time to think. I need to be alone.

Events

Was going to write about how I finally cracked the pod ages and got a grip on D'ni timekeeping, but recent goings on have suddenly made my achievement pale into insignificance.

The area near the pub in the city has collapsed. Wheely Engberg and her friend Rose are nowhere to be found, and their KI's are off. Laxman is trying to activate them remotely, but for all we know the two of them are buried beneath the rubble. It's a horrible thought, and I hope with everything I have that the two are safe and unharmed.

So many questions are going through my mind, most prominently how this could have happened, but there will be time for asking this later. For now, all we can do is wait and pray for their finding.

City musings

Ae'gura is quiet these days. I see plenty of new faces though. I recognise the expressions easily - wide eyed with wonderment, constantly glancing everywhere trying to take it all in. I look at them and feel quite glad that they have this wonderful oppertunity to do so, this second chance to explore one of history's greatest legacies. I keep thinking how very easily it could not have turned out this way.

No sign of Echo. I haven't seen her for about a week now. I hope she's holding up ok. I'm confident that she seems more at ease with what she is seeing, but Kenji and I are no closer to ascertaining how she can do so. Our original speculations still stand, and I am reluctant to consider any real alternative - I refuse to believe she is insane, or merely hallucinating. I have not yet shared our theories with her, for danger of unduly alarming her. The best I can hope to do is remain in contact and observe any possible developments which could shed light on her 'condition'.

Re-reading the last sentence, it sounds so cold and clinical. Truth be told, the things she has told me have had quite a lasting impression. It's certainly made me look at the City in a different light. Bought home the full scale of the disaster which befell it...

Need to discover the secret held in the Museum Ages. I know how, the markings in Payifren and the map is all I need. It's simply a matter of catching the right time in the Desert pod and working backwards and forwards for the others respectivly. I suppose I could simply ask someone for a timetable and save myself the bother, but where's the satisfaction in that? If this is one of the elements in some grand scheme of some as of yet unknown person or persons, then it exists for a reason, and to reach the destination without taking the journey would clearly go against the reason for its existance - whatever that may be.

I think I'll make camp in Payifren tonight and wait. It'll give me the oppertunity to catch up on some faculty business.

Haven't we met before?

So, here we are again. A new journey, a new start, a new adventure. What better way to kick it off than getting it all down in a nice shiny new blog-type journal?

Truth be told, I've been meaning to start this for a while now. So much in recent months has happened, lots of things have needed to take precidence. The fact that my arrival was once again completly uplanned was a significant factor, I think. Seriously, is it really too much to ask to magically turn up in some other part of the world/universe when I actually want to, and when I'm suitably prepared and ready for it? The first couple of times I was willing to chalk up to ordinary tempting of the fate, but now it's bordering on the unbelievable. I'm really starting to think that the Maker sees my existance in his great scheme of things as one long Robert Rankin-esque running joke.

Woosh, two paragraphs in and I've already deteriorated into a rambling monologue. Clearly I'm in the wrong frame of mind to really dive into this right now. Maybe a stroll through the city will allow me to get my thoughts together more coherantly...