Many months ago, I had a very harrowing experience in the City. I was chased by a creature from a collective I had been observing in an Age I found in the Jaren District. I was completely lost in an unknown and very ruined part of the island with no water or food. The creature that had given chase after me was trapped also. It had no idea how to return to its home. We learned to trust one another to survive and find our way out of the rubble. If you’ve read through my entries here, you probably already know of this. It still seems unbelievable, even to me.

Unbelievable enough that I have been accused of inventing the entire experience, some saying the idea that an alien species would never learn to trust me so readily.

Rest assured, it did happen. The proof of it sits next to my desk as a constant reminder.

I have been staring at a lot since I moved. Perhaps the constant reminder dulled over the months and was refreshed when I had to move it to my new quarters. Even though it is well crafted, I am always nervous about handing it. I have no idea how old it is. Did he carve it himself? How many hunts did he bring it to?

It’s an incredibly powerful and personal artefact to me, even though it’s only some wood, paint and ripped cloth. I can see where the cloth has ripped by constant use and been hastily repaired. It tells so many stories, but the questions always outweigh the proofs on it.

Perhaps one day I will share it with others, as he shared it with me.

Happy April 1st. The spring weather transition is a little hard to tell down here. The Garden Ages are in a perpetual springtime, but somehow I can still tell.

The flood of explorers seems to have levelled off finally. I realise now, with the DRC generators humming away on the great steps, that I could have easily left mine on. The noise their machines put out would easily have disguised mine.

I have been exploring the structure I have taken up residence in and the island it was build upon. It is much smaller in size than a mansion like K’Veer, but has an oddly similar architectural style. The vaulted ceilings have a similar motif as well. Perhaps I should take some time and sketch the areas. I feel a need to step away from my book.

On that note, work is coming along, albeit slowly. After some sage advice from ‘Yvesia’ and ‘Green Dragoon’ and some consideration of my own efforts, I have been trying pull back on my attempts to control every aspect of Luminesce. A very difficult thing to fight though, my natural tendancies. I have such a vivid picture of the Age in my head, it frustrates me to allow it to change.

I wonder if the crowds have started pouring their home-made pellets into the lake again… I never really bought the entire setup myself. People were dropping those bloody things by the hundreds and it really had no long-term effects. One wonders if the DRC really knew as much about the algae in the lake as they said they did…

The immediate effect of a well-crafted pellet was unmistakable and quite remarkable to experience I admit, but I worry about the effects of a massive influx of chemicals into one particular spot in the lake. Are the currents strong enough to carry the concoction to all points in the lake, or was the majority of it simply sitting in a pile, oversaturating one tiny corner of the lake?

Hm.

So far, conversations I’ve overheard in the City have been quite trivial, almost no one even discusses the amazing place they are allowed to experience. They seem to discuss surface matters such as television and american football. Where have all the true explorers gone? Perhaps they, like me, never left, and also keep to themselves.

My personal space is slowly beginning to feel comfortable as I bring more of my belongings over.

It appears as if the feeds are working again. I noticed that this place became bloody quiet while they were broken and hopefully this will have a positive effect.

With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.

                                                                                 – Chinese Proverb

There is a pleasant cool breeze tonight. I have no idea where it is coming from. The Cavern has never had much of a cross-breeze.

Wherever it is coming from, it is having a positive effect. I’m listening to Gregg Karukas, drinking Lady Grey and have made some decent  progress on Luminesce. Now that access to the Pod Ages have been restored, perhaps I will go and have a look about them. I always did enjoy the relaxing sounds of ice floes on the hull of the pod.

Maybe I will go over to the dock in the City, there may be some people there, but hearing the conversations of others sounds oddly pleasant to me tonight.

I’d like more nights like this

- Giles

I haven’t had the desire to write in this Journal as of late. The Cavern has changed so drastically. My KI works again, assigned a number unrequested.

The marching feet on their journey down here, it practically shakes the walls of the Cavern, in my imagination. The dust slowly falls from the roof of this place.

Bah, how drearily I write nowadays! I must shake off the dust that has settled upon me. The Cavern is full of life, the thing I most wanted it to be infused with, but it was not of my own doing. Does that somehow cheapen it? Of course, it should not, so why do I feel this way? I sometimes think it quite juvenile and spoiled of me, but other times I completely agree with myself.

The City Proper is alive with life and the bustle of people again. Never more than several dozen at a time mind you, but enough to bring noise back to this place.

I’ve taken to walking the docks at times when the population seems lowest. I’ve rarely encountered anyone personally. I have to conciously force myself to not react to them. Of course I am not bothered as no one recognises me, and why should they? Yet, somewhere deep inside part of me wishes they did know me. Wishes they did know that they walk so casually mere metres from my home for so long.

Some of my belongings still remain in my old quarters. Eventually I will retrieve them.

I’ve been attempting to rid Luminesce of the things I think could make it unsafe for a first visit. The D’ni sign for the negative is quite strange, as it isn’t quite a word, more a symbol. Now that I’ve begun using it I realise how often I’ve come across it in my explorations.

I’ve simply been using it to negate the larger threats that could endanger me on a quick visit to see my progress. Of course I could fill a library of books with “no something”s but I will stick with only the ones I can think of.  “No Large Animals” seemed a good start, although I still have trouble forming some of the more ornate characters.

Or would that destroy the ecology of the planet? Should I dare lay such sweeping waste to parts of a natural system? I wish soon to visit and report on my very first Age, as I know many others would enjoy a first glimpse, I just cannot be too cautious…

my god, what a mess.

By the time Marie and Kodama arrived, they were flocked by scores of returning explorers. As soon as I saw the first face, I had to rush down and turn off all my generators. I had no interest in my peace being interrupted by weekend archaeologists. Extremely flustered, I attempted to calm myself by writing out Rule 6 several times in my notebook. It reminded me of doing lines as a child which, when done voluntarily, are actually quite soothing.

I won’t go into the details, but I have had to slowly move my meager comforts to a new location within the Cavern. There is no way to continue where I was without risking eventual discovery. Luckily, the few times through the last few years that I have been out on the lake, I was actually able to find a livable space in one of the nearby islands.

I briefly considered moving into K’Veer, the beautiful architecture has always pleased me greatly. However I rather quickly decided against it. It is still a popular destination for explorers and while I’m sure I could find a room or hallway out of the higher traffic areas in which to set up, the risk would still be too great. Aside from that, the place still has a horrible energy to it. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up any time I visit.

No, I have found a suitable, yet sadly smaller space barely within eyeshot of the harbour. I will miss being able to look out the windows and see Kerath’s Arch, but so be it. I need to be able to run my generators without fear of alerting anyone. There are still several items I have yet to collect from my old quarters in the harbour, but the little punt I’ve been ferrying my belongings in carries very little, and is quite frightening to travel in.

My internet connection in this new space is much worse. I am going to have to place several more signal repeaters throughout. I should have asked William to bring me some. I’m still concerned about the spike in activity. It’s only a matter of time before someone finds that there is a wireless signal. I am concerned by the thought of the increase in visitors forcing the DRC into revisiting and locking down their routers.

Perhaps I should spend some time moving the repeaters away from Ae’Gura…

A Gentleman must always be patient. A Gentleman cannot allow himself to act rashly or make a decision without proper consideration. All of his actions must be weighed. All possibilities considered.

In this way a Gentleman may Avoid Mistakes (Rule 1)

Bloody hell…

Perhaps an unusual request, but does anyone have the contact information for Marie Sutherland or Dr. Kodama? If they’re heading into the Cavern, I’d like to let them know that I am down here. From my explorations I think I have an idea what tripped the alarm. I am quite expecting them to be surprised by the sight of any explorers down here at all.

I’ve only met Marie once, through my father many years ago, but it was a quick meeting and I doubt she remembers me.