I know from my own past experience writing for a computer game that it seems so easy to picture a place and a reason to be there, but far beyond the idea we have to deal with art, movement, choice points -- how many and in what order -- and the list goes on. So before I go launching into age creation (my tech and graphic skills are limited) I thought I would start with something that I know can be done with nothing more than what we already have -- multiple avatars and talented people.
I have edited the following to be more in keeping with the GoW's policies -- Inanna, 12/03/2007
Several friends from different bevins have joined together to form The Friends of the Fissure. We have a forum where we are hammering out ideas, including back-story for the group as a whole and for each person's role as he or she wishes to play. At present this is all still in development and anyone who wants to join in the effort is welcome. This is strictly a role-play for now, requiring some acting and scripting ability, but I am hoping that it can someday expand to include some related ages.
Friends of the Fissure (also called FoF or The Order) is devoted to the deeper, more spiritual meanings in URU, specifically the words of Yeesha. The group was founded to answer the needs of those who were not happy with the creation of the guilds (and yes, I do appreciate the irony of posting this to GoW) and those who felt that there should be more emphasis placed on that initial "call" we all heard that led us to the Cleft. There is no drama without conflict. Certainly the game creators have injected plenty of that with the bahro war, and certain abrasive characters in the DRC. FoF only wants to inject some story of our own creation, something that can follow the accepted canon, running parallel. FoF is not anti-guild, it is non-guild, giving those who do not want to work within a guild structure another outlet to affect the story.
Accepted History
The Cleft of Tomanha is in New Mexico and the native people of the area certainly knew that it was there even if they never knew what it was. At some point The Stranger found the Myst Book and fell to the island. The Stranger's contact with Atrus and his family were recorded in journals that in the late 20th century were used as the basis for several successful computer games, the proceeds of which were used to fund the DRC. With URU we were all "called" to that fenced-off area, where we met Jeff Zandi, son of the DRC's late Dr. Elias Zandi. The fence marks the land that he purchased, which presumably upon his death went to his son Jeff.
But what lies beyond the fence? And who was there before Dr. Elias Zandi arrived?
The Adjacent Land
In the FoF story, there is another parcel of land upon which sits an old Spanish mission, just a few miles from Tomanha. A college professor purchased the land in the 1930s. He was an anthropologist interested in tribal history. He moved to the area right after the war with his wife and daughter. We do not know her real name. She calls herself KoHama (from two Navajo words -- Fire Mother). She was a flower child in the 60s, and after her parents died she continued to live in the mission, supporting herself by selling herbs and crafts. Around her grew a little group of commune-types.
She made friends with the man who had purchased the adjacent land. Elias showed her how to enter the underground city, and they explored the area together for years. Later he gave her the
name niD'ni-- meaning daughter of D'ni. Elias and KoHama were close friends, perhaps even lovers. She feels that her relationship with Elias may have damaged his relationship with Jeff, since it is well-known that the two men were estranged for many years.
Over time the commune grew and turned its attention to local history in general and the Cleft in particular. The Friends of the Fissure took up residence in the Spanish mission. One of the earliest to join the group was Okasan, another flower child. The current members of FoF have long thought that there were other branches of the group, earlier chapters, perhaps. But they are scattered. We only know of those who are here now and have made themselves known to us.
When Elias died suddenly (about 10 years ago), KoHama placed her affairs in the hands of her friend Okasan, then grabbed one of the linking books Elias had tucked away and linked out, stating that she never intended to return to Tomanha. She did not want to deal with Jeff Zandi, and could not bear to see all those "intruders" in what had once been her private place with Elias (I never said my characters were particularly sane ) However because of recent events, especially the bahro war, Okasan found a way to contact KoHama, and begged her to come back to Tomanha. KoHama has returned as requested.
Friends of the Fissure Structure
The seniors are Protectors of The Order, in D'ni called Ahreeuhtahn. The word is gender-neutral. The lower rank are Servants of The Order -- men are called Acolytes and women are called Handmaidens. We are non-monastic, non-celibate, philosophical rather than religious. We are not fanatics. We are philosophers, and we do not pretend to have all the answers -- or even to know all the questions.
So This Is As Far As We Have Gotten
If any of the above strikes you as interesting please let me know. This is the easiest form of story content to create because it does not require special training or tools. We are working with what we have at the moment. We hope that we can expand the group's role in the Cavern.