Esto - Messages

I got a message from Dean today.  His KI signal appeared only long enough for his message to send.

It seems ages since we have spoken.  I can barely remember the last time I was in D'ni or even seen the surface.  The words of the least move me to journey.  My journey has taken me far and now I have an opportunity to share this journey with you.  Move fast.  I do not have long and I must return.  You will not regret it.  I will leave passage for you in Vamen District - I believe you know the place.  Should you arrive after I have left it may be possible to catch up.  You will understand soon.

Vamen District is across the lake from here and if he means the location I think he means I should leave soon to get there in time.  The difficulty is that I still have exams to study for and from his message it doesn't sound as if I'll be able to just Relto 'home' whenever I need to.  I know time is against me, but I must think this over.

Esto - Finals

So much as happened since my last visit to the cavern.  My exams, papers, and journal entries have kept me away.  I guess that's a valid excuse.  Fortunately, tomorrow is the last day of classes.  Tonight I'll start moving back into the cavern and hole up in the Baron Office to study for finals as I'm least likely to be bothered there.

I dunno.  Being in the cavern helps me focus sometimes and surface life can be equally dull or distracting when trying to study.  Just a week more and this balancing act will end for a moment and I'll be able to continue working on my various projects.

Pantaleon - Enter D'ni

I have been living in D’ni for nearly a month.  Esto set me up in a cozy apartment in Tokotah II, which overlooks the docks and over the course of the month I have moved more supplies from home. There are many reasons I enjoy it here, there is a nice gentle breeze that passes through here from the lake keeping the apartment cooled, new and experienced explorers filter in through here, it’s close to the plaza where meetings and hangouts take place.  All in all I feel like I belong.  The only thing that creeps me out is the orange glow from the lake allegedly caused by algae.  Everyday when I wake up in Tokotah II I am awestruck by the size of Kerath’s arch welcoming explorers into the world of D’ni.

As for the explorers, there are many people in D’ni; each with different backgrounds and interests, but each seem connected by this place.  In some ways life here is not that different than that of the surface.  Some people spend their time exploring ages, solving puzzles, other people come here to hangout to escape from surface life, and the occasional few enjoy trying to reach new heights from the blocked off areas in D’ni.  Its really funny to watch someone scale a building or wall, only to fall, and panic-link to safety but at least I know they are safe.  Most explorers meet in the town plaza telling their stories of exploration and goings-on of the surface.  We find ourselves filling the empty halls of D’ni with laughter; filling our hearts with joy; not wanting to return to life on the surface.

It was at one of these meetings I began inquiring about the history of D’ni.  After all, I wanted to understand what lead to the destruction of D’ni and its history not to vacation.  A few explorers mentioned that the DRC found journals written by a woman named Catherine who had secondhand accounts of life in the cavern.  Using these journals they were able to contract Cyan to write a series of books about Atrus (Catherine’s husband) and his family with the purpose of spreading the idea of D’ni to the public without being overt.  Esto gave me copies of these novels.  The stories are tales of betrayal, love, art, good and evil.  D’ni is even more fascinating and vast than what I imagined.

Nonetheless, this place feels like home and it is a place where true friendship can be found;true friendship is rare in our society making this a treasure all by itself.  Now it is late.  I will rest and continue onward with Esto tomorrow.

Esto - Climbing

We had company this weekend.  A good friend of mine came by for a birthday party but sometimes I just have to get away.  D'ni is an easy solution, but Ae'gura is not always the right choice.  Sometimes it's best just to explore where no one can find me.  This time I grabbed my climbing equipment and linked into Ae'gura.  I came to the cavern wall and began to climb.  I had done this before so the path needed was clear, just requiring focus and patience.  Should I fall I would have my Relto but I still needed to be careful.  Eventually I came to my goal.

Fehnir House it's called.  It belonged to a D'ni man who stayed behind during The Fall to ensure that his family would survive.  Places like this, I'm glad few know how to reach.  This place is so incredible.  The truth that is written here just helps put everything in perspective.

Esto - Rain

It's raining here on the surface, and for a time everything has become quite.  I hear the water falling from the sky and the slow roll of thunder in the distance and everything seems as it should be.  Calling this is relaxing does not even come close.  Therapeutic is closer, more, it's almost religious.  This rain.  It's life falling from the sky.  Rejoice and be glad that things are as they should be.

Esto - Time Dialation

I ran across my recording of Crooked Jack a few days ago.  Listening back to it reminds me of what  a rough run it was.  Perhaps in a few days I may go back and work up a new recording and more, I may make a few more arrangements of other songs too.  Kind of funny though.  Normally I find myself thinking I don't have enough time to do all that is needed of me and here I am making plans to increase my load.  I guess we make time for the things that are important to us.