@ -39,6 +32,13 @@ With Naybree being "Root Two" literally in D'ni, I'd have to assume this Age sta
Honestly, this tree is some of the only native plant life I can see in the Garden's back half. If this age had ANYTHING there that wasn't the "tree" before this point, it's long dead. Just some small shrubs and other bushes/grasses in the front half remain.
Ah, still. It's a nice mountain view from the clifftops though. ]]></translation>
@ -54,45 +54,33 @@ Driven a bit by this, I asked yesterday on the forums if I could get permission
I'm not sure what I'm expecting to find, but, maybe, if Athsheba's seeming habit of clearing out everything when she moves is actually a habit... I would hope maybe she left the age book behind somewhere if she moved on to Releeshahn or elsewhere? But given her existing habit...
Still I'm just curious if we can find the Garden Age she lived in. I honestly don't expect anything to come of this, but I figured I might as well start a journal anyways.
I guess I'll see what tomorrow brings?
-------
Still I'm just curious if we can find the Garden Age she lived in. I honestly don't expect anything to come of this, but I figured I might as well start a journal anyways. I guess I'll see what tomorrow brings?
12/29/21
It's late, and I'm heading to bed soon, but I found a reference in one of the old document folders of barely surveyed Ages.
Eder "Naybree" - meaning 'Double Root' in D'ni- is the rough name given on the document, dated from late November of 2007, and it's accompanied by a description. This is the standout bit: "There's a broken bridge breaking (sic) the age in half. There's a row of statues near it, repetitions of a woman's figure with arms stretched upwards."
Eder "Naybree" - meaning 'Double Root in D'ni'- is the rough name given on the document, dated from late November of 2007, and it's accompanied by a description. This is the standout bit: "There's a broken bridge breaking (sic) the age in half. There's a row of statues near it, repetitions of a woman's figure with arms stretched upwards."
Improper use of 'breaking' aside, this sounds similar to the row of statues at the Cathedral Island's shoreline. I think I may have Athsheba's post-fall home if I can find the Linking Book to it. There's also a description of the book cover, so I might be able to sort it out. If so, thanks go to you, unnamed DRC surveyor.
The rest of the age's description is fascinating, though. I think the name is drawn from the duality written into the Garden's environment? Either the physical nature of the ground (split in two pieces?), or something in the heavens. Moons, perhaps? One of the standout remarks was over "an impressive night sky," after all.
-------
12/30/21
Calum took a look over everything I'd found last night and agreed it looked like a viably plausible location for Athsheba's garden sanctuary. I'm searching for the book now. It's got to be here somewhere.
-------
1/1/22
It amuses me that Calum's decided to join me, to help keep me company he said, and yet just set up a laptop to run anime on in the background for noise. I think we've gotten distracted with watching it half the time we've been looking.
I can't complain, though. I've had something of a headache today so it's nice to focus my attention on something else for a time.
It amuses me that Calum's decided to join me, to help keep me company he said, and yet just set up a laptop to run anime on in the background for noise. I think we've gotten distracted with watching it half the time we've been looking. I can't complain, though. I've had something of a headache today so it's nice to focus my attention on something else for a time.
There's a lot that was left behind in the archives- a lot of documents and unrelated materials to each other. I'm sure it was properly sorted at some point, but between multiple location moves and multiple others digging through them for various things at different points in time, it's become something of a mess in the here and now.
Still, despite my looking for a specific book at this point, I'm doing my part to help get things sorted and back into a semblance of order.
Calum finds it amusing. "A new year means a chance for a clean slate, but you have to put energy into making it clean." He'd said. Then he went on a five minute ramble about cleaning up his own bedroom for the first time in years after the fire scare the other day.
I'd say something sterotypical about 'boys and their messy rooms' but I'm no better, honestly. I don't think I've cleaned my room since I moved in. I think I should probably should do that too.
Calum finds it amusing. "A new year means a chance for a clean slate, but you have to put energy into making it clean." He'd said. Then he went on a five minute ramble about cleaning up his own bedroom for the first time in years after the fire scare the other day. I'd say something sterotypical about 'boys and their messy rooms' but I'm no better, honestly. I don't think I've cleaned my room since I moved in. I think I should probably should do that too.
After I find this book.
-------
1/3/22
@ -100,49 +88,33 @@ I think I've found it. The linking panel shows what looks like a statue of the r
This might be *IT,* if I'm lucky. I'm calling Calum.
---
This is definitely the place.
Right next to the link-in gazebo is a statue carved so very similarly to Chezahcen's artwork. It's been pulled right out of the cliff- continuing on with it's original structural duties of holding the above rockface intact, while also being something far more intriguing than plain rock.
This definitely isn't native to the age, if the piles of debris behind the link-in are anything to go by. Chipped rock, shattered fragments, crushed stone debris...
I can only imagine how long Athsheba was here working on just this one piece alone.
There are ladder-like structures on the walls near the link-in, how strange.
Ground path near the link-in is very much in dire need of repair. It's quite broken up.
There are more statues further along, nearer to the bridge as noted in the survey report. One of them is far smaller, and holding a firemarble orb.
I can only imagine how long Athsheba was here working on just this one piece alone. There are ladder-like structures on the walls near the link-in, how strange. Ground path near the link-in is very much in dire need of repair. It's quite broken up. There are more statues further along, nearer to the bridge as noted in the survey report. One of them is far smaller, and holding a firemarble orb.
I'm astounded by it all, meanwhile Calum is over fretting over a broken bridge. I keep hearing him mutter-mumble, bouncing between 'deliberate sabotage' and 'geographical instabilities'. The river doesn't seem to have risen high enough to destroy the bridge originally. The cliff walls do show some signs of stress in this area, though. Most likely the giant tree roots, if I had to guess.
Are each of these trees on the other side reaching for the river or is there something more going on? I have to get a closer look...
---
I jumped the bridge, much to Calum's dismay. It's still sound on the other side. He followed reluctantly, but is vowing to put in a replacement bridge if we fully restore this place- and please, Calum, I saw how you looked at those statues. This place is related to the Cathedral, of COURSE we're going to restore it.
The other side of this garden is paradoxically, on one hand, remarkably well kept, and yet on the other, completely overgrown. There are MASSIVE trees here, growing into their surrounding objects. It's like Kadish Tolesa, all over again. Except, there's more to it.
The trees all grow very tall, then bend all in one direction, as if bowing to the wind- the vine-like growth drapes down from some of the branches like... Not-quite Leaves? That can't be right because there's a staggering amount of the same overgrowth of the same vine like plant on the ground everywhere. Is it even a vine?
Calum's testing it now, jumping on some of the ground-based overgrowth. It seems very...
'Springy' doesn't seem like the right word to me, but neither does 'rigid' to be honest. Regardless, it's able to support someone's weight above the ground.
As a side note, we've certainly made enough noise by now that if someone were here, they would have heard us. I fear for what that may mean.
Calum's testing it now, jumping on some of the ground-based overgrowth. It seems very... 'Springy' doesn't seem like the right word to me, but neither does 'rigid' to be honest. Regardless, it's able to support someone's weight above the ground. As a side note, we've certainly made enough noise by now that if someone were here, they would have heard us. I fear for what that may mean.
---
There's a giant face carved out of a corner of the back wall- not quite like my dream but close enough... How strange. The eyes are made up of displaced firemarbles from... the toppled pillars, it seems? There are enough of the things at the Link-in without their orb-ornaments that it's hard to say for certain, though.
Near the face is an abandoned bedroom, from where I write now. There's no sign that anyone has lived here in quite some time, however, fortunately for us, there's no signs of any skeletons either. Calum and I are in agreement that Athsheba packed up and moved out again at some point. I'm inclined to believe she fled to Releeshahn with the other D'ni survivors back in Atrus' day. Calum begs to differ, getting one of those looks in his eyes.
Of course, it could be she left for other - maybe not greener but possibly less overgrown? - pastures in this age that aren't *here,* in this part of the garden.
It looks like there are things up on the cliff, but there aren't any handy ladders carved into the rockface here- or maybe there are but they're overgrown? It's hard to tell for certain with all of the overgrowth. Calum's talking of bringing some rope and doing some free climbing to see if there's anything of interest up there.
Of course, it could be she left for other - maybe not greener but possibly less overgrown? - pastures in this age that aren't *here,* in this part of the garden. It looks like there are things up on the cliff, but there aren't any handy ladders carved into the rockface here- or maybe there are but they're overgrown? It's hard to tell for certain with all of the overgrowth. Calum's talking of bringing some rope and doing some free climbing to see if there's anything of interest up there.
But later, he says. For now we're heading back to report our findings to Patrick.
-------
1/4/22
@ -158,17 +130,13 @@ Athsheba left this place. There's no room to be squeamish about it. She's not ha
Goodness gracious, I'm getting myself all into a huff. I need to relax somewhat.
---
Caught up with Jules briefly at the tail end of the Relaxation Session. He had a fairly good New Years, it seems! I'll be pestering Calum to forward him some of the photos from Naybree later.
Had dinner, and Calum's now sent off the report to Patrick. All I can do is hope he approves a speedy restoration to this place. Beyond the main path needing work and the weeds needing trimming, I honestly can't see this place taking too much more work to get through the phases to release.
...I really want to restore this place.
Times like these I wish I was something more than just a Linguist. Maybe I'll message Patrick and see if I can take on the project for myself, maybe?
...I really want to restore this place. Times like these I wish I was something more than just a Linguist. Maybe I'll message Patrick and see if I can take on the project for myself, maybe?
...Ugh, I'm just being over-ambitious at this stage, aren't I?
-------
1/6/21
@ -183,7 +151,6 @@ And the vines, could they not be vines but roots? Tree roots? Do I have the who
Is this WHOLE Garden overgrown by nothing but *One Giant Tree?!*
That surely can't be the case, can it? But the way the 'branches' spear into the walls and the way that they do is concerning. I'll have to ask Calum what he thinks. This Age is certainly remarkable, to say the least.
-------
1/11/22
@ -193,13 +160,12 @@ He's been upset by something though. When I ask him what, he just brushes it off
...I hope he's not performing experiments with them in private again.
---
Look at me, I think I've finally caught Calum's journaling bug. Once I've started writing, I just can't stop.
I'll admit I'm just itching to see something related to Athsheba and the Cathedral out there in the public light. I could write down everything I know about the girl and her life in this journal, but then there's the part of me that wants to just let people speculate and delve deeper into the story as the Age presents it...?
Then, when we finally release the Cathedral, it could all click into place. But, am I truly that cruel to make people be forced to sit and wait to figure out what we already know? No, I'd think not.
-------
---
A Few Fun Facts We Know About Athsheba:
@ -218,7 +184,6 @@ I'm inclined to believe Athsheba was raised somewhat atypically for the D'ni aro
Given the heavy depictions of Chezahcen across the garden, I believe Athsheba was very likely a devout follower of Exten-col's hunting goddess, especially in the time after the Fall. Though she did not write about it much in the one journal we-
OH. There's a thought. I could copy my notes on translating that journal into this book, couldn't I? It'd certainly be a more worthwhile use of the page count.
---
TRANSCRIPTION NOTES FROM ATHSHEBA'S JOURNAL.
@ -298,22 +263,16 @@ Then, her last entry cites that she is leaving the journal in the Cathedral, for
I can only assume that Athsheba's absence here in this Age, along with any traces of any furniture from her family home, means that she's left for greener pastures- ideally Releeshahn. It's possible Atrus' Restoration found her either here, or during one of her visits, or through her journal. After that, who knows.
For all I know, she relocated to Exten-Col, and took everything with her. If that's the case, a link to the Age may be here somewhere. Behind the river, is the most likely case. I wonder if I can find a way over that blockage?
-------
1/23/22
Calum finished installing the bridge at some point, it looks like. It's a very nice bridge!
-------
1/24/22
Damn it, Calum, how do I let you talk me into this kind of experimenting?
Shardifying Vertigo Crystals to induce a resonance between them to try to get a crystal in one age to transfer the design of a statue to ANOTHER age is-
I can't believe it actually worked.
Damn it, Calum, how do I let you talk me into this kind of experimenting? Shardifying Vertigo Crystals to induce a resonance between them to try to get a crystal in one age to transfer the design of a statue to ANOTHER age is-
It replicated the statue down to its chisel marks! Yes, it was super sized- but to the MARK.
I can't believe it actually worked. It replicated the statue down to its chisel marks! Yes, it was super sized- but to the MARK.
He's got that far-off look in his eyes again, like something's possessing him. Unfortuantely, I'm fairly certain that this time it looks like it's *merely* just his own idle mind planning something and not the off-put resonance of the crystals harmonizing with his brain in absurd ways.
@ -324,68 +283,48 @@ Rei'schu/Exten-col- the Family Age. I want to find it. It's just now there's a
What we call the Call... The D'ni had a word for it: "Zandni", loosely meaning "the Gravity of D'ni." And if there really is such a thing as a "Gravity" to a place, then I suspect Calum is feeling a pull to somewhere far, far away from Earth, the Cavern, and civilization as we know it.
I really hope he's not about to pull a Phil Henderson on us.
-------
2/1/22
It seems Calum's been busy when I haven't been looking. He sent me a message telling me to take a look at the new views. So, I'm taking a quick look during my lunch break.
It seems he rebuilt the bridge (though I really preferred the old one) and he's put in rope ladders, as well as clearing away some overgrowth that had been covering some ladder mounting points!
It seems Calum's been busy when I haven't been looking. He sent me a message telling me to take a look at the new views. So, I'm taking a quick look during my lunch break. It seems he rebuilt the bridge (though I really preferred the old one) and he's put in rope ladders, as well as clearing away some overgrowth that had been covering some ladder mounting points!
I also noticed that Calum had some structure-testing tools on the cliffs near the Link In- I suspect he's evaluating the ladder-rung-like formations for weight support. Still, not my main concern.
I'm climbing these new ladders now.
---
The cliffs are definitely covered in pictographical markings. Athsheba must have painted these...!
Beyond that, we now know where the Maintainer Mark is in this age. Athsheba even carved a tiny, almost chibi-styled statue of Chezahcen to sit near it. How adorable! I feel a little sad for the little statue now, honestly. How long has she sat alone for?
Well, no matter, little one, I'm sure you'll have plenty of company soon enough. :)
---
Idle curiosity had me counting the tree roots in the river trench. I lost count several times, not that it mattered really. I wonder if I could use them as a climbing bridge to get over the rock?
Something to try when I have more free time, maybe.
---
Got that free time tonight. I'm going to do it!
---
The view from up on this rock is incredible. I'm surprised I managed to get up here, in all honesty. I think I might've broken one of the ropes on Calum's new bridge, though. Oops!
The water courses, gurgling below me... I'm reminded of the quoted passage in Athsheba's journal. One wrong step on my part, and I fall.
It's probably a good thing I've got a waterproof bag on me right now.
The water courses, gurgling below me... I'm reminded of the quoted passage in Athsheba's journal. One wrong step on my part, and I fall. It's probably a good thing I've got a waterproof bag on me right now.
---
I had to leap into the water and swim the rest of the way. But I've made it to a dead end. Tree roots continue to block the path further down... but that's fine.
I've found a small cave- a fissure in the wall made by the roots breaking through.
Athsheba's been here.
I had to leap into the water and swim the rest of the way. But I've made it to a dead end. Tree roots continue to block the path further down... but that's fine. I've found a small cave- a fissure in the wall made by the roots breaking through.
Two of the garden's light posts have been moved back here, somehow, and more than that...
I've found a Book. Two books, actually. One goes back to the Cathedral. I recognize the room in the Linking Panel. The other I don't... I can only dream that this is...
Athsheba's been here. Two of the garden's light posts have been moved back here, somehow, and more than that... I've found a Book. Two books, actually. One goes back to the Cathedral. I recognize the room in the Linking Panel. The other I don't... I can only dream that this is...
But...
Well. Honestly. I don't know what to do now.
Exten-Col. Rei'schu. Do I really finally have it in my hands?
Well. Honestly. I don't know what to do now. Exten-Col. Rei'schu. Do I really finally have it in my hands?
I-
I should take this to Calum.
I- I should take this to Calum.
...Why am I hesitating?
---
I've taken the books. Both of them, and returned to Relto.
I need to sleep on this.
------
2/21/22
Calum's given me the go ahead to take the Naybree Book to Patrick for Final Review before submission- now if only I could just get Patrick to reply to my request for a meeting.
@ -393,19 +332,16 @@ Calum's given me the go ahead to take the Naybree Book to Patrick for Final Revi
I only have so much free time in a week! Especially when that week is my vacation week.
Calum and Jules did a great job cutting the overgrowth back.
-------
2/24/22
The Garden's review has stalled, it seems. What's going on?
---
Apparently Patrick and Briggs both voiced concerns Calum was pushing Naybree's restoration too far ahead. Trying to meet some arbritary deadline to get the age out there early. I honestly don't see what else there is to do here in the Garden but there's apparently concerns of some kind.
But, I suppose my thoughts on the matter may have been what pushed Calum towards accelerating things? Maybe I should have curbed my own enthusiasm a bit...
I should've realized something was up sooner and asked Calum to take a break.
-------
2/27/22
@ -417,7 +353,6 @@ Oh well, unanswered questions about things I have no idea how to contend with. W
But I won't ask. I suspect that if I bring it up to him, Calum will start obsessing over it to the point of insanity and get distracted. I swear that boy gets torn off on the most strange tangents sometimes.
---
It's a shame my vacation week is over now. I still never managed that meeting with Patrick. If I can't arrange one, we can't get Chiso stocked with the Naybree book, nevermind these Caltauc documents I need to hand off in person rather than using our usual dropoff system. I suppose that'll answer that question in the end. I mean, I could just drop it off somewhere, but even so.
I added another post to the dniexplorer.com forums. Hopefully Patrick just missed seeing my last one due to how busy his schedule is these days. I know he's not brushing me off because I know HE knows how important these specific documents are. Still, a girl can only wait so long before getting a tad impatient.
@ -425,7 +360,6 @@ I added another post to the dniexplorer.com forums. Hopefully Patrick just misse
Speaking of impatient, Calum just texted me with an excited series of photos... of a Model Kit from 2001? Well, I can't chide him for having his hobbies outside of the Restoration. Still, atleast buy the thing before sending me pictures of your find, Calum.
I suspect I'll be spending my next translation session with the ambient background noise of model kit nippers and plastic parts being snap-fit together.
-------
3/1/22
@ -437,14 +371,12 @@ I've got an appointment with Patrick after the AGM this week, unfortunately Jule
...Now why's Calum texting me if I have any tiny screwdrivers for?
---
Another Deep City Lecture? D'ni Legal System, hm? A bit quick of a turn around after the AGM, though I'd hope not conflicting with other events. I really wish they'd announce these things more than a week in advance.
---
Was in the Garden, up on the cliffs, when the most irritating thing happened- a gust of wind blew furiously against the cliffs and utterly wrecked the rope ladders.
Now, I wasn't stranded, mind you. I could have Relto'd out at any time. But I messaged Calum about it right away and he said 'stay put' and came hurrying over and began rebuilding the ladders from scratch. It was interesting to watch him work, to say the least.
-------
3/4/22
@ -452,7 +384,6 @@ I do wonder, sometimes, when Calum finds the time to do the things he does. Appa
Boy needs his rest, for sure.
---
Calum texted me around 11 PM. Apparently, the damnable first ladder broke again. And he couldn't just Relto out because he left his book down in the bedroom- dummy.
So I had to go fetch his book and throw it up to him. I asked him, "Why are you working on this so late?"
@ -463,9 +394,7 @@ I've told him to take the weekend off. Just what I needed before the AGM. And ho
Screw ladders. Honestly! First me, now Calum... better to leave the things out if people are going to continually risk getting stuck on the cliffs for the time being.
---
I've collected most of the debris - how did this thing even break so thoroughly? It's like the rope knots just evaporated somehow . I don't even know. I'm not going to bother with piecing that together. It's late and I need my sleep before tomorrow's AGM.
-------
3/9/22
@ -479,10 +408,7 @@ I wonder. I really wonder. What did Athsheba think, while she was here in Naybre
A bigger question is, who was the woman who saved her after Athsheba's mother died? What did SHE know? Why did she save some random girl beyond doing the right thing and saving a life? Was she on an important mission? Was she nobody important? Was she a traveler from another place just passing by?
So many questions about what happened during the Fall. So so many.
A part of me hopes she's still alive in Exten-col, and that we can ask her questions if we go there.
-------
So many questions about what happened during the Fall. So so many. A part of me hopes she's still alive in Exten-col, and that we can ask her questions if we go there.
3/20/22
@ -499,7 +425,6 @@ It seems that the Age stayed in ownership of the family for the next five hundre
It stayed there for about a hundred years, and then it began to be traded between public libraries, it looks like, before being loaned to a public venue of Garden Ages that was being hosted at one of the City Proper's libraries shortly before the time of the Fall- around the year 9381 DE.
The document trail ends there - which leads me to suspect the garden exhibition either lasted for the next 19 years until the Fall, or it stayed at that library after the exhibition event ended. Likely the later, more than the former. What other documentation we have regarding the age showed it was sizably popular to remain in active circulation at the time of the Fall.
-------
5/23/22
@ -520,25 +445,29 @@ I can't see the multitude of statues, so pain-stakingly carved and so similar to
What kind of person was she, when she decided to move? It's a damned shame she left her journal in the Cathedral, and didn't even write in it very often. Didn't date it when she did. I can't blame her, not wanting to mark the passage of time, but she spent an unknown amount of time here and it's-- it's so sad that she was alone for so much of it.
If I ever meet her in person, I have so many questions.
-------
5/30/22
Naybree is oddly comforting in its quiet chill given recent events.
Naybree is oddly comforting in its quiet chill given recent events. I don't know if there's really anything else to say on the matter.
I don't know if there's really anything else to say on the matter.
-------
6/5/22
[Written on the last page of the book:]
I'm now officially heading up the final stages of Restoration for Eder Naybree with Calum off in Rei'schu/Exten-col. I suppose it makes sense for me to carry things over the finish line, but even so, I wasn't expecting to pick up the final slack towards completion.
I'll admit I'm a little at a loss as to what to do here.
I think Calum handled the majority of everything that needed doing. At this stage I'm just going to have to take care of any lingering issues or concerns the others may have regarding this age. I suppose we'll see how that all plays out.
I think this age is about ready for release.
Time to be an unrepentant tease and leave a few goodies behind for folks to find!
If you've read this far into this journal, thanks for giving my words some time. Oh, and the password is "Burning Sunsets are Amazing!"
;) Just to let me know you got this far. Hehe.
[Written on the last page of the book:]
I think this age is about ready for release. Time to be an unrepentant tease and leave a few goodies behind for folks to find!
If you've read this far into this journal, thanks for giving my words some time. Oh, and the password is "Burning Sunsets are Amazing!" ;) Just to let me know you got this far. Hehe.
_Kelsei A. Taylor]]></translation>
</element>
BIN
compiled/dat/EderNaybree_District_GardenGround.prp (Stored with Git LFS)
