Dalken Starbyne - On the Verge

I sit here in Relto, watching the lightning strike in the distance as I write this. I've always loved that lightning. Yeesha calls this 'the high place,' which I'll admit is rather apt, if nothing else, and it makes for a great view. And it's cozy and makes for a good home away from home, particularly when I don't want to be bothered.

Well, most of the time, anyway.

I'm looking through my notes again. I've been on this trail for a year now, and the more I investigate, the more I'm convinced it's of the utmost importance I get to the bottom of this. This isn't just some report for The Cavern Today anymore. What started as a brief trip to the Descent to check against Pantaleon's story has spiraled (pardon the pun) into something much deeper.

The appearance of the spiral in the Watcher's Pub all but confirmed what I already suspected. I've been talking to several explorers since I got back from my...excursion, but the correlation with the journals I've found is too consistent to dismiss as coincidence. While I still need to interview those explorers from Pahratehs and check against the facts, I feel like I'm on the verge of a major breakthrough.

Of course, it's still possible that this is all an elaborate ruse. It wouldn't exactly be the first time it's happened around here. And that's part of why I've been playing this close to the chest so far. The last thing we need is a bunch of explorers getting all worked up over nothing. The last time that happened, we had a real emergency not long after, and someone died. I'm not going to let that happen if I can help it.

Still, now that I know the Bahro are involved...I'm pretty sure I'm on to something.

Torri Illan - Decisions

I closed the car door and closed my eyes for a moment.  Another day, another file folder, another phone call.  I made it through another day and now it was time to go home.  Deep breaths.  This is why you came back here right?  I thought to myself.  A nine-to-five was nothing to complain about, and yet, why did it feel like this town would be the death of me?  Cathy was nice, the job was fine.  I needed to get out of this town.  I bucked my seatbelt and started the car.

Red lights and traffic left me in front of the White Horse.  In the summer the doors would be open and a dozen or so people would be playing music by the patio.  This time of year, the doors stayed shut to keep the cold out.  Wasn’t there an open mic tonight?  I kept on my way.

Jessica and Hailey had been in the Research Triangle for years.  They went to State, I went to Emory.  They made their lives out east; I’m stuck here.  How did this happen?  Maybe I should take a hint from Karen and move to China.  Quick merge onto highway 9.  I got home and went straight to my room.  I can’t be the only one with so many thoughts.  My gaze wandered; landing first on my desk, my clock, my computer, and then that book.  I closed my eyes and tried to shut everything out.

I was an island in the dark.  Well, one might say it was dark, but perhaps it would be more accurate to say there was nothing to be seen.  I stretched my arms and legs as I floated through the emptiness.  How did I get here?  I couldn't remember.  A soft blue flashing caught my eye.  I had a KI message.  I made to read it, but the display wouldn't raise.  Is it broken?  I kept pressing the button, cursing under my breath.

I heard a voice.  “Tori?  Where are you”

I looked around, but there was only me in this void.  “Hello?” I called out, hoping I sounded braver than I felt.  There was nothing, but the memory rang clear in my mind.  How did I get here?  I needed to get out.  I reached for my Relto only to find it was gone.

The black filled with KI projections filled with messages.  Hannah; Mark; Flora; Steven; a Guild of Messenger bulletin?

I fell.  The KI projections disappeared into darkness as I was hit by the adrenaline.  From below something started to take shape.  It was a lake, it was the cavern lake!  The Yellow water rushed towards me as I struggle helplessly to fly.  I wanted to scream but the fall had taken my breath.  I knew I would hit the water any second and I threw up my hands instinctively to protect my face.

My eyes flashed open to the sight of bedroom wall and soon the floor as I fell out of my bed.  Well, that was embarrassing.  I pulled myself up.  My mother called from downstairs asking if I was alright.  I looked to the book on my shelf.  I took it down and examined it.  Green cover with slightly yellowed pages.  It looked more like a journal than anything else.  I opened the cover and watched the image on the right hand page pass through the clouds to the High Place.  My mother called again from below.  "Just a minute," I called.  I looked around my room.  Now where did I put that KI?

Meghan Albrand - Dec 2, 2013 - In Brief

Most of my time is spent in Pahrahtehs.  People come and go.  Events are held.  I don't usually participate.  It's not because of an aversion to crowds, or because I feel anti-social in any way.  It's just that most days I have work to do.  Pahrahtehs is an incredible place; but to keep it running, someone has to do the paperwork.

On a typical day I link into the cavern directly into the neighborhood when most of the residents are still sleeping.  My office, if you can call it that, fills three of the chambers in the Egg Room.  It’s not so bad working in this space; especially when most of the paperwork is filed digitally.

Usually I'm the first one inside the egg room.  Nicole Hooper arrives an hour later.  She works out of the room to my left.  Were it not for her help very little would be accomplished.  The room to my right is occasionally occupied by Evelyn Sayers or D'veeta as most people know her.  She is the public face of Pahrahtehs, but chances are you already know that.

The past few weeks have been something of a logistical nightmare.  I've been in near constant talks with Mister Magic, the ResEngs, an explorer from the Cavern Today, and a few people from the Guild of Messengers.  The ResEngs suspect someone from our neighborhood is responsible for the appearances of the Hopi Spirals though they have no evidence to support that claim.  There is some evidence that someone here is responsible for a hologram of Dr Richard Watson that was seen in Ae'gura shortly before the discovery of the Hopi Spiral in the Watcher's Pub.  I've told them we are unaware of any unauthorized grey hat activity but will begin an investigation.

Mister Magic has been calling for updates on our search.  For many, he is the most visible face of the Grey Hats.  For some, the Grey Hats are an unknown factor in the cavern; and every time there is a problem with the Nexus, or the Lattice, or the 'vault' there are some explorers who feel quite strongly that the Grey Hats are to blame.  Mister Magic has done much to try and dispel this distrust of the Grey Hats through public shows in the Hood of Illusions and the Fun House and most lately vias collaboration with other Grey Hats to produce the Bots that so many explorers utilize on almost a daily basis.

Aside from a colorful character from The Cavern Today, I've been having repeat meetings with reporters from the Guild of Messengers.  Ever since Jessie Pollick released his study christening the new symbol as the ‘Hopi Spiral,’ there has been an unending call for more information.  There has also been a question by some how he learned of this symbol before the rest of the cavern became aware of it in the Watcher's Pub.  Jessie Pollick has since retreated into his study and refuses to take visitors.  I can't blame him, but it has made my work all the more difficult.

Hopefully I'll be able to learn a thing or two from David tonight.  We have our weekly heek night and I'm hoping to hear some good news.  Terry has been absent the past few weeks and I suspect David knows why.  At the very least it will give me a chance to clear my head.

We're Back!

After a year on hiatus I am pleased to announce that we at The Cleft and Below are back!  That's right, this means that new story is on the horizon.  So, what have we been up to for the last year?  Well, that's difficult to answer.  Many of us went through major life changes on the surface which has made it difficult to devote the time we wanted to this project.  That said, we did fulfill some of our goals.  One which I'm very pleased to share with all of you is the completion of the PDFitizing (patent pending) of our previous story arc, The Third Journeyer.  It's been a long time coming, and after many rewrites, and revisions, this inaugural story arc is available for all to read.  You can find it here, or by simply clicking on the KI Log button tab above.  As for our other projects, stay tuned to see what happens next!  And as ever, thank you for your continued support of The Cleft and Below.