I’ve just returned from the second Jaren Age. It was… disturbing.

Some great catastrophe must have happened there at some point. I linked into what must have at one point been a village. The building style and stone was definitely of D’ni origin. I can imagine that it was once a beautiful place, but there was nothing left of that beauty but blackened rubble…and corpses.

My God the corpses were everywhere.

Dark clouds surrounded the area, and furious arcs of green lightning flew from the sky. I decided to leave immediately, although as I prepared to ldo so, my curiousity overcame my horror. I stared at the sky as I began to wonder why the storm seemed so localised over the ruined village, as the distant sky appeared clear.

A deep belch of thunder shook the ground, and I decided it was time to leave.

As the cavern shimmered into view, I began to appreciate a lot of things I rarely thought about.

I’ve picked the blue Jaren book for my second attempt. It’s slightly larger than the first book. I don’t know how that will affect what I see.

I would have thought linking to an unknown age would have cured me of my fears, but the longer I wait to attempt this again, the greater my fear becomes. I must tackle it now, before it cripples me.

I feel like I’m playing Russian Roulette. Not a very good feeling at all. It will only take one unsafe Age.

I’m alive!

I made it there and back again! I only stayed for a few minutes, barely enough to recover from my nausea.

I returned, breathless. I barely even saw the Age I was so nervous! I was too relieved to have not linked above a broken land, into a sea of acid or into the maw of some huge creature!

I need to return with my Relto book to retrieve the Linking Book I left on the ground, but I’m not ready yet. I’m feeling feverish, I must still be overwhelmed from this endeavour.

I’ve decided on the smallest of the three Jaren books.

I’m leaving my Relto book behind, and instead I’ve decided to use the Linking Book I found, also in Jaren. It’s a bit more dangerous, yes, but I refuse to link into an unknown Age with my only Relto book. I might be able to find a new Linking Book to the Cavern but I will never be able to replace my Relto book.

My heart is pounding in my ears. My hand is trembling.

If I don’t return, Mother and Father, despite everything I love you both very much.

This is the moment.

Happy Birthday to to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday dear ‘Tolly,
Happy Birthday to me.

I’ve pained over the decision for what seems like weeks. I’ve walked through the City and every Age on my bookshelf, stalling, avoiding, looking for an alternative.

I even explored Gahreesen, attempting to find some way to access a Maintainer’s Suit, but no luck.

I have no choice. I’m going to have to link to an untested Age.

The Jaren books will have to do.

When the Guilds were released, I made a direct line to the Guild of Maintainer’s table. When I got there, I talked with the explorers who were in charge of the booth about the responsibilities of the Guild. I wanted to join the Guild that would be the first into an Age. To see it before anyone else! What a privaledge, I thought, to be able to set eyes upon a new Age before any others! To explore the Age, uncharted and fresh!

As I learned more and more about what the Maintainers did, I felt more and more conflicted. I milled about in front of that table, wandering back and forth for a solid hour.

I ended up joining the Guild of Cartographers.

The One Words still remain closed. I will not begin writing Luminesce until I can prove with my own eyes that I can Write. That means visting these Ages. That means linking through untested panels.

The books I found in Jaren were written by D’ni. D’ni with training, with practice. Their books worked, at least when they were written.