Alright! The final Age of Myst and my personal fav of the first game : Channelwood!
Thanks again to everyone who has read my story, especially those who have read and reviewed. We are reaching the end of the first game and about to get into Riven. That is where things really get cool in my opinion. I have the book Myst : The Book of Atrus that I read all the time, so Riven is very dear to my heart. Plus there may be another character added in Riven... maybe... *sly grin*
As always I do not own anything Myst. All I own is my character Melody.
As usual, she went to Sirrus' book first.
He smiled in greeting to her. "Melody, with each page I can see you more clearly. You must... one remaining Age. Soon... free from this horrid prison book."
"Listen Sirrus," she said, determined to make him answer her this time. "I want you to tell me something. What happened to your father? Did you have anything to do with his disappearance?"
His eyes narrowed. "I see you have been... my brother. Listen to me Melody, Achenar is demented... took advantage of the freedom our father had given us... Achenar went... I ask you again... not retrieve the blue pages... destroy me and I shudder to think what he would... to you. He destroyed the other Ages... make sure he never will escape..."
She had to admit, he was very convincing. It certainly sounded as though he cared about her welfare. "I want to believe you Sirrus, but I'm not sure I can."
"I understand... must bring the red pages... all will be made clear, I promise. I'm sure your wisdom... see that I am innocent and he is guilty... this forgotten island long ago..." he smiled warmly. "I will owe you my life Melody. I look forward to meeting you properly once this is over."
He faded and the picture went dark.
He certainly was charming. Unfortunately she had a feeling that he knew it. She was certain he had been mildly flirting just then, but had he been serious or was he trying to charm her into freeing him?
Either way, it was time to hear what Achenar had to say.
He greeted her with his normal giddy excited laugh. "Hi my friend!... bring the blue pages," he suddenly looked surprised. "Oh! I see you are a..."
She arched an eyebrow. He was just now realizing that she was a girl? "My name is Melody," she told him.
"... good name, pretty name..."
"Thank you."
"Now we are truly friends... convinced that Sirrus is guilty."
Melody sighed. "So, we're back to this again?"
"Do not release him!... will destroy me just as he... innocent bystander! I was tricked and imprisoned!... you have witnessed his unbridled lust for riches!"
That made Melody pause. She had certainly seen evidence that Sirrus was greedy. How much had his greed consumed him?
"... four remaining worlds," Achenar was saying. "... almost perfect... final blow to father. He tricked him into believing... I was a murderer. I didn't kill father! I didn't!" he said almost desperately. "It was Sirrus! Bring me the remaining blue pages please!"
"I asked Sirrus about Atrus," Melody said. "He said that you were... off," she concluded for lack of a better word.
"Liar!" Achenar roared. "... must not be free!... last blue pages... must be free! I cannot bear it here for eternity! Please Melody, free me! Help me Melody! Help me...!"
He was still pleading as the picture faded.
Despite what she had seen of him, Melody found herself feeling a little sorry for Achenar. She'd never heard a grown man pleading so desperately for help.
Maybe he had changed. Maybe there was a way to help both Sirrus and Achenar.
They were both pleading for her to help them. She just couldn't ignore cries for help.
It was with a sense of accomplishment that Melody rotated the tower to the giant tree. The last Age. Her last chance to make a decision about who to free. She would have to pay close attention to all she saw and heard in this final Age.
The elevator ride to the top of the tower and climbing the key ladder had become a routine. This time it read 7, 2, 4.
The only thing she hadn't unlocked was the safe in the cabin. Since it was right next to the tree, it didn't take a genius to figure out what she had to do.
Returning to the library, she scanned the undamaged books on the shelf and found a journal with a leaf on the cover.
I have called this age Channelwood and it is a very different world. Though it is exactly how I imagined it, it is still amazing to see it with my own eyes. Water covers this age as far as I can see, except for a small rocky island. Elsewhere there are only trees, which grow directly out of the water. A myriad of thin wooden pathways are built just above the water and disappear into the forest. I assume they were built some time ago for they appear aged. I am eager to discover more about this land and it's people, but I have arrived here late and I must rest.
I was awakened this morning by strange noises coming from a pathway adjacent to the one on which I had slept. I saw a group of monkey-like people heading in my direction. They had not seen me yet. I did not feel threatened by their presence. Their response to me was one that I would have never expected. After staring at me for a short time, they fell to their knees and began what appeared to be some sort of ceremonial worship. I tried to speak to them, but they did not understand my language. Instead, they indicated through enthusiastic hand motions that I was to follow them.
As we walked, I began to notice then that waters below us were changing colors. Slowly, subtly, they would change from deep blue to muddy orange, then from muddy orange to beautifully clear. I was so intrigued by the water I hardly noticed that we had arrived at a ladder. Climbing the ladder led us to their village, which is about ten meters above the water and can only be reached by rope ladders that stretch from the lower path to the village level approximately halfway up the grand trees.
It is very interesting watching these people carry out their daily tasks. Even after watching them for hours I did not understand exactly what they were doing. At sunset they motioned for me to follow them. I followed the creatures to the doorway of an enormous hut. Strangely once inside I found that the hut appeared even larger than it had from the outside. The walls were garnished with bright metals.
In the center of the hut sat the leader of these people. At least he appeared to be their leader for he sat a meter off the floor in a thick throne. Guards surrounded the strong creature, who was dressed in many exotic colorful fabrics.
Next to the leader sat a very old human. At least to some extent he appears human. His hair, which was only on his face and head, was completely gray almost white and hung very long around his frail body. His thin head hung limply by an almost grotesque neck that could not hold it's head up to look at me. But what a surprise! This creature could speak my language!
Shortly thereafter I was given a bed with some hand motions that looked to be telling me to go to sleep. I look forward to learning more.
As I suspected the ancient creature is a human but he is old beyond his own reckoning and seems almost insane. However, the tree dwellers almost revere him as a god. They are treating me now in the same fashion, which makes me very uncomfortable.
It is almost impossible to understand this old man. His voice is feeble, but wild. He has adopted much of the language of the tree dwellers. He himself told me he had not spoken our own tongue in ages. He attempted to explain to me the history of this place. The following is my best translation of what he has told me:
Many years ago the humans and tree dwellers lived together in this place, which was then a vast island. They interacted very little. The humans dwelt on the ground and the tree dwellers lived high above the humans. Occasionally the island was disturbed by mysterious rumblings which happened randomly (some sort of tectonic or volcanic action I suspect.) The sometimes slight, sometimes heavy tremors would only last a short time, then they would stop, allowing everything to return to normal. One day things changed. The rumbling began and grew quickly to unprecedented levels. Soon it became apparent that the entire island was sinking slowly into the ocean around them. Many of the humans died that day, but not before sacrificing themselves in order to stop the sinking of the island. The humans who lived through this catastrophe moved into the trees, where they gradually died out (maybe because they were unequipped for such an environment, but I am not sure).
This is the story the old man communicated to me, although many details are very unclear in my mind. I am especially confused as to how the humans saved the island from completely sinking. In fact, I doubt the accuracy of that part of the story. The island must have stopped on it's own. Yet the old man believes the truth of the story as if he had been there and the tree dwellers worship him and apparently all humans as if they were heroes or gods.
The old man ended our conversation today with an event which I shall never forget. He began gripping my hands tightly, murmuring something about 'rest' and 'asleep'. He then said 'we had expected you to come sooner'. These actions filled me with a sort of immediate dread. With much effort he stood to his feet. I tried to help, but he pushed me away with more force than I imagined his frail body contained. The tree dwellers quietly surrounded him with very solemn faces. They then kneeled before him. He walked to each and placed his hand on their heads. All the while he murmured words which I did not understand. Finally he turned to me and smiled. Then he closed his eyes and walked out the door and off the narrow path high in the trees. The tree dwellers were silent. They began a procession down the nearest rope ladder. As I was descending I saw several of them pick up the body (he had fallen onto a lower level of the walkway) and carry it away. He was laid down at the dead-end of a short, pier-like structure. With the use of some potion, one of the tree creatures lit the pier on fire and I watched as the flames engulfed him. As this strange funeral proceeded, the waters around the pier changed to dull green.
This morning I awoke, finding it hard to even believe the previous evenings events. The water is a dull green for as far as I can see now. For some reason the water no longer shifts color.
As I wander throughout the pathways the creatures watch me, curious to see what I will do next. They are constantly offering me strange objects of affection. I even found food outside the doorway to the room in which I had slept. This is a unique race of beings. I hope to learn their language soon so that I may learn more from them.
I have lived on this world for three months off and on, and the tree dwellers have shown great hospitality. I am even beginning to learn bits of their language. I have decided to return home for an extended stay with my loving wife and my sons, and hopefully return with them. However, I am sure Catherine will once again refuse. A visit to this Age would be a wonderful experience for them all and I at least look forward to how Sirrus and Achenar will react to it's curious inhabitants.
Catherine is staying behind as expected. My sons have returned with me and they enjoy this Age very much. They get along very well with the tree dwellers and are picking up their language surprisingly fast. I have no doubt that it will not be too long until they can speak with the tree dwellers much better than myself.
Melody turned the page and blinked. Strangely, the rest of the journal entries were in different colors. Maybe Atrus had run out of ink and had to make more. She wondered what he had used to create those different colors. And why had he used a different color for each journal entry?
Melody read on, hoping for an answer.
I am leaving tomorrow to check on Osmoian Age. Sirrus suggested that I allow him and his brother to stay, though the idea unsettles me. I know the boys are growing up rapidly. The hospitality of these creatures is such that I could think of no better place to leave them alone for a short while, so I will consent to their request. I warned the boys not to take advantage of the respect the tree dwellers have for their ideas. They seemed to understand my warning and I have faith they will follow it.
Much to my dismay, upon arriving in Everdune I learned that Pran and her people are continuing to be menaced by the Choctic. I fear for their survival and plan on returning to her shortly after checking on Sirrus and Achenar here.
After watching Sirrus and Achenar I see they are handling things very well and I think I can put to rest any fears about leaving them in Channelwood again and for a little longer time.
The tree dwellers seem slightly distressed that I am leaving, but are happy that Sirrus and Achenar are staying behind again.
I have been gone for over three days and have been to many different places. I had to tell Sirrus and Achenar about Pran's death today and they were visibly shaken, although they only remember her from their childhood. Catherine has suggested that it would wise for Sirrus and Achenar to leave Channelwood for a while and I have to agree. They will be returning with me when I leave again.
I have told my sons that they will be returning with me in two days. They spent the entire night telling me of an adventure they experienced in my absence and it was rather remarkable. It seems they constructed a boat with the creatures and traveled some ways out into the surrounding waters. I enjoyed hearing them talk excitedly of their adventures and I am reminded of my own adventures as a child.
I finally understood why the tree dwellers have been giving me their many inks and insisting I write with them. Looking through some of my past entries I see now that the inks have changed from the black I thought they were to various different colors. I have shown some of the creatures my journal and they laughed and howled. I did not know that they had such a sense of humor. Even now as I look through this very colorful journal I cannot help but laugh myself.
So that explained it. Melody laughed as she read the entry. The tree dwellers of Channelwood sounded like fun. She couldn't wait to meet them, if they were still there. She had gotten her hopes up that she would see people in Stoneship, but there had been no one there. She sincerely hoped that Channelwood wouldn't be deserted as well. She was starting to become very lonely for contact with another living creature.
We will be returning tomorrow so my sons are with the creatures for the last night here. They have told me they would like to come to Channelwood again and also asked if they can revisit some other Ages alone, though I will have to think about their request. I believe they have proved to me that they are trustworthy and responsible. Catherine will also have to help me decide whether they are ready for travel alone. For now I must give my farewells to the creatures, for I do not know how long it will be until I visit this Age again.
Melody reread the last entry several times. The way this journal described Sirrus and Achenar was a far cry from what she had seen in the Ages she had been to so far.
They had asked if they could revisit other Ages alone? For some reason, her suspicions rose at reading that. Why had they wanted to go alone? So they could conquer the Ages without Atrus' interference?
But no, they had proved they were trustworthy in Channelwood. If that was truly the way they were when Atrus penned this journal, what had happened to change them so?
An old saying went through her mind:
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character give him power.
Abraham Lincoln had said that.
Had the freedom and power gone to both Sirrus and Achenar's heads?
If so, could she trust either of them?
The numbers from the tower did unlock the safe in the cabin, but the only thing inside was a matchbox. Melody used it to light the boiler.
The flame was very low. Turning the wheel released more gas and turned up the flame. She didn't know what she was supposed to do, but if Atrus had gone through that much trouble to hide the matchbox the boiler had to be important. All she could do was just keep slowly turning the wheel until...
A loud thud made her jump.
Going outside, she watched in surprise as the giant tree rose out of the ground. There was more of the tree underground! It was genius! No one would think there was more to the tree than what they saw on the surface.
When the tree stopped Melody approached and saw a compartment that had been hollowed out in the trunk.
A brown book lay inside, the word 'Channelwood' adorning the cover.
Melody could hardly contain her excitement as she eagerly placed her hand on the page.
The only sound she could hear was the chirping of insects. She was standing on a wooden dock just above the water. Looking around, she saw more paths snaking through the trees like a maze.
The Age was just as Atrus had described it. Large trees grew right out of the water. In the distance, she could see a small rocky island that had what looked like a windmill on it.
Melody looked up into the trees to see the huts of the tree dwellers. Many of them were in disrepair.
Her heart sank. Something told her she was, once again, completely alone.
Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She didn't have time for tears. There was work to be done. She had to find the red and blues pages and the linking book back to Myst.
She navigated the maze of pathways and managed to find an elevator with a hand crank.
The elevator stopped at a single room. She was surprised when she saw the Myst-linking book laying on a table inside.
This was certainly a change of pace. Usually she found the pages first, then the Myst book. Well, at least she knew where the book was. Now she needed to find the pages.
The walkways were a confusing maze, but eventually she found her way to another elevator. It took her up to the village of the tree dwellers.
The huts were built around the tree trunks. Bridges connected all the huts. As she explored the huts, she found that she had to be careful where she put her foot. The floor was falling out of most of them. She searched every hut, but found nothing but clays dishes, storage pots, wooden tools and fruit hanging to dry.
She was confused over what to do next until she looked up.
There was another level of huts above the one she was currently on.
Going back to the elevator, she used the hand crank to go higher.
If the lower huts were for villagers, Melody had no doubt that the upper level was for Sirrus and Achenar. She was right.
A square hut and two large rectangular huts made up the highest level of the village. The square one had a metal door. Inside were candle holders, tribal masks on the wall and a strange table with sharp ridges around the edge. There was a button underneath it and Melody pushed it out of curiosity.
She gasped when Achenar's head floated into view above the table. He spoke in a language that she assumed was the tree dweller's. In the middle of the table was a hinge. Curious, Melody touched it.
Only reflexes made her jerk her arm back before the top of the table snapped shut like a bear trap, the sharp ridges serving as teeth.
Achenar, she concluded. It had to be Achenar who came up with this.
Atrus had said that the tree dwellers treated humans like gods. Had Sirrus and Achenar taken advantage of this belief and made themselves gods to the tree dwellers? Was this some kind of altar for sacrifices?
The thought of it made her sick.
A poorly concealed door behind the trap lead to a bridge.
She walked along it carefully. The wind was much stronger in the canopy of the forest. The bridge creaked and groaned under her, but held strong.
The bridge led to one of the large rectangular huts. Inside was a shabby bed, a table covered with large nails and heavy pliers, spears and pikes lined one wall and a electronic gadget sat in the corner.
Melody nodded. Definitely Achenar's room.
Under the table she found a blue page, which she pocketed.
She examined the gadget and discovered that it was a recorder. There were several buttons. She pressed one had saw the image of Achenar's head again speaking the same message that she had seen in the altar room. She tried each of the buttons in turn and found that each had a different message in the tree dweller's language. Melody wondered what he was telling them, but then decided she probably didn't want to know.
The last button brought up an image of Sirrus.
"Hello dear brother," he said with a smile. "Very interesting device you have here. I hope I'm not recording over anything important," he laughed as though he wasn't sorry at all.
Melody frowned. 'Dear brother'? What was this about? The brothers were constantly talking bad against each other. Weren't they enemies?
In the message, Sirrus stopped laughing and suddenly got serious. "He is preparing. Remember, take only one page."
As the message faded, Melody was more confused than ever.
Who was 'he'? Could Sirrus be talking about Atrus? It sounded as if the brothers were plotting something. And what did 'take only one page' mean?
Still puzzling over the strange message, Melody followed another bridge over to the other rectangular hut which she assumed was Sirrus'. From the look of the expensive decor inside, there was no doubt she was right.
A large four poster bed was covered in rich cloth. An ornate desk held an astrolabe, ink and a quill and the red page, which she took out of habit.
At the bed, she was surprised to find a knife under the pillow. Maybe things weren't that good between the brothers after all.
Next to the bed was a table with a drawer. Inside she found a torn piece of paper.
It was the other half of the torn note she had found in Stoneship!
Pulling out the other half, she fitted them together and read the note:
Myst Island Vault:
Turn all the marker switches to the 'on' position.
go down to the dock.
turn the marker switch there 'off'.
A vault? There had to be something important inside if Sirrus and Achenar had gone to such trouble to hide the two pieces of the note. Maybe it would be good to find out what they had hidden there.
Now that she had both pages she could leave Channelwood.
As she made her way to the elevator, she gazed at the empty village around her. What had happened here? Had Achenar killed all of the tree dwellers? Had Sirrus taken what he wanted then left them to die? Had it been both of them?
The mist added a haunted feeling to the age that chilled her. It was so sad. This once happy, vibrant village gone.
Atrus had to have been devastated when he'd realized what had become of the Ages he loved so much. Had he died of a broken heart or had he, as Achenar claimed, been murdered by his own son? And where was Catherine? Was she dead as well? It was yet another question she was afraid she didn't want to know the answer to.
Sirrus and Achenar.
When the time came, how would she know who to rescue? Which one did she trust? They had destroyed and pillaged these wonderful Ages. Had their imprisonment changed them at all? How could she know for sure? If she released Achenar, he would might torture and kill her as he had done to others. But if she released Sirrus he might murder her as Achenar claimed he had murdered their father.
These thoughts continued to run through Melody's mind as she rode the elevator down to the lowest level and made her way to the Myst book.
She had come to this Age full of excitement.
Now she was leaving with feelings of sorrow, confusion and dread.
*rubs hands* Alrighty! next chappie will be the confrontation and Melody's decision. Which one will she free?
I realize that if you have played the games you know what is going to happen, but hey let me build suspense a little okay?
Don't forget to read and review! Pretty please?