Story

The story of the D’ni civilization began when they established their underground empire on Earth some 10,000 years ago. While living beneath the Earth’s surface, the D’ni practiced what they called the “Art of Writing,” which enabled them to create links to incredible, alternate worlds of fantastic variety called “Ages,” to which they could travel through “Linking Books.” The D’ni people thrived for thousands of years, but later met with a great catastrophe that all but ended their civilization. Their vast cavern was left uninhabited, and their Linking Books and Ages seemed lost forever.
Relto

Then, in the late 1980s, a few humans from the surface discovered that cavern. One of these humans was Elias Zandi. He devoted the rest of his life to exploring and, eventually, restoring that ancient city in the D’ni cavern, preparing to one day reveal their discovery to those who were suddenly feeling irresistibly drawn to the cavern.

When he passed away in 1996, his legacy was divided between a foundation that he set up and his only son, Jeff Zandi. The foundation came to be known as the DRC (D’ni Restoration Council). As their name implies, they took on the task of physically restoring the ruins of the D’ni cavern. If you choose to visit the cavern at some point, you’re sure to run into them.
D’ni

Jeff Zandi, on the other hand, was interested in learning why the D’ni civilization fell in the first place. He continued studying the teachings of Yeesha, by far the most talented of all the D’ni writers, and daughter of Atrus and Catherine. After years of learning, the younger Zandi is finally comfortable bringing others to an uru (a D’ni word meaning “large gathering” or “grand community”).

The DRC worked tirelessly to restore the D’ni cavern hoping to open it up to the public, but Jeff Zandi started bringing explorers to the D’ni city before the DRC were ready for them.

Friction between the DRC and the explorers grew with the DRC concerned for the safety of the visitors and the explorers feeling the DRC were being overly cautious and secretive. These sentiments were further stoked by Douglas Sharper and his Great Tree faction who began to rebel against the DRC at every opportunity.
As things began to heat up Phil Henderson returned having been with Yeesha and learning of the Bahro. As Phil traveled through the cavern spreading the word of the Yeesha the DRC acted and snatched him up taking him to Kirel the DRC neighourbood much to the anger of the explorer community.

Things finally came to a head with Phil exploring the area surrounding the Guild Hall, with a resounding crash a section of wall fell seemingly killing him. Distraught with another death caused by the cavern the DRC disbanded leaving the cavern in 2004.

Characters

Alexander, Cate

Cate Alexander is a funder of the restoration project. She had been working with the DRC for a fair while before making a public introduction and is credited with securing the funding from Turner which allowed the DRC to return to the Cavern. Whilst she claims not to be part of the DRC she said she has an input into what happens with them due to the fact that she has alot invested in the project.

She is a down to business person which has left some people uncertain on whether she can be trusted with the restoration effort or not.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

The Bahro

The Bahro (D’ni – Bah = Beast, Ro = Person/People) are an ancient race long enslaved by the D’ni (the term Bahro appears in the Book of D’ni this was a generic term like foreigner) they are also known as The Least.

They have a distinct look about them with their leathery skin, insectoid features and large wings that wrap tightly around their chests. They live in many Ages in domed caves and can link at will without the use of any books or stones. Yeesha and Calam discovered the Bahro and the Tablet, when Calam died Yeesha set about forming the Journeys that would lead to the Bahro being released from their prisons.

The Tablet was returned to the Bahro and after 10,000 the Bahro regained their full power, what the future hold for them is unknown but it will no doubt effect the restoration of D’ni

Portrayed By: N/A.

Engberg, Michael

Michael Engberg was the 5th and last person to be appointed to the D’ni Restoration Council and is an expert in architectural structure and history. He received his Masters in Building Science from the University of Southern California and can occasionaly be found in the D’ni city of neighbourhoods. Michael is in charge of Phase Four (Restoration) of the restoration process in D’ni and its Ages.

Before the DRC pulled out of the Cavern, Michael was working on the Er’cana Age, since his return with his daughter Willow “Wheely” Engberg, in 2006 his attention had been focused upon the Age of Kahlo. Later it became apparent through Dr. Kodama that work had halted on the Age due to limitations in resources.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Engberg, Willow “Wheely”

Willow Engberg is the daughter of Michael Engberg, and better known as “Wheely” which she uses whilst in the cavern. Wheely first appeared in D’ni in Febuary of 2006 after the DRC returned, and seems to be shy and unknowing about D’ni and its Ages, it appears that what little she does know she learned from her father.

After sneaking into a crack that had appeared in a wall near to the Kahlo Pub with her friend Rose, Wheely became trapped and spent several days awaiting rescue by the DRC in the room with a Bahro and the body of her friend Rose. Unfortunatly upon reaching Wheely her father found her dead at the hands of one of the Bahro.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Henderson, Phil “Phend”

Phil Henderson was a member of Dr. Sutherland’s team and was a part of the restoration process in Eder Kemo. During his time there Phil learned how to open the Bahro door within the Age and passed through it disappearing. Phil would return a year later having spent time with both Yeesha and the Bahro. His personality upon his return had changed significantly with some commenting on how he seemed “spaced out”. Phil was involved in an accident at the Guild Hall where a section of wall collapsed seemingly killing him, however his body was never discovered and only his shattered KI was discovered.

Phil later returned again during the second DRC restoration in 2006 – 2007 having returned to Yeesha and the Bahro after his accident at the Guild Hall years prior.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Kadish

Guild Master Kadish was once a member of the Guild of Writers but was dismissed for reasons not yet known, it is possible it was because he was a poor writer or perhaps his Age, Kadish Tolesa, was deemed an illict one. Kadish lived during The Fall, dying alone in the vault of Kadish Tolesa whilst his wife died back in D’ni wondering where her husband was.

Kadish however proved himself to be an excellent engineer, working on Er’cana and Ahnonay. Before the fall he ran the Watchers Sanctuary (aka The Great Tree Pub) where he would regularly host contests with the intricate puzzle built into the building, challenging visitors to try and solve the “The Path of the Shell”, Kadish was the only one who ever solved it before his death.

Portrayed By: N/A.

Kodama, Dr. Ikuro

Dr. Kodama is the third member of the DRC and is an expert in Geology and Structural Intergrity. Kodama is a surly no nonsense guy who prefers to stay behind the scenes and get the job done, however he has been spotted about in Ae’Gura now and then.

Better known to the explorers as Dr. K, Kodama was regarded as a very blunt person, esspecially in his public dislike for Jeff Zandi allowing people into the Cavern before the DRC publically opened it. However having seen the DRC disband and taking Yeesha’s Journey, Dr. Kodama seems to be more aproachable and forthcoming with information about the restoration.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Laxman, Victor

Victor Laxman is the fourth member of the DRC and the cheif Engineer/Technology guru for the restoration process. He has spent alot of time working in the Nexus and on the KI’s, often publically compaining about the issues the DRC have been having with the Lattice and the KI technology. He was often spotted in the hoods and in the city of D’ni asking explorers their thoughts on various issues, and listening to calls for a more forthcoming DRC.

Laxman was working closely with explorers to calibrate the Great Zero prior to the DRC pulling out of the cavern in 2004.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Sharper, Douglas “Shroom Baron”

Douglas Sharper is not actually a member of the DRC of a Restoration Engineer, he was a civilian let down into the Cavern who found the Teledahn Linking Book. The DRC allowed him to be incharge of the Restoration of that Age, it was this restoration that embittered Douglas against the DRC.

Through his meetings with Brian Fioca the Great Tree group was started and their numbers grew quickly as many voiced their displeasure with the DRC. Some people turned from Sharper disliking his actions and the fact that he hunted one of the native creatures of Teledahn known as “Shroomies”. When Phil Henderson returned to spread Yeesha’s teachings Douglas and the Great Tree group flocked behind Yeesha’s message to further their own cause.

After the DRC pulled out of the Cavern, Douglas stayed down in D’ni, recording his thoughts in his Journals. He began to feel guilty for Phil’s “death” and eventually decided to take The Path of the Shell Journey since then he has not been sighted nor heard from.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Sutherland, Dr. Marie

Dr. Sutherland is the Director of Field Work for the DRC. Considered to be the most forthcoming of the DRC, it was Dr. Sutherland who initially announced the desire for explorer liaisons. Often seen in Ae’Gura, Dr. Sutherland was often accompanied by Dr. Watson and served as head of the team that was dealing with Eder Kemo when Phil Henderson, who was part of her team, dissapeared.

Evidence has been discovered that indicates that Dr. Sutherland discovered a D’ni survivor (Esher) on the Age of Noloben.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Taylor, Rosette “Rose”

Rosette “Rose” Taylor was a friend of Willow Engberg from the surface. She was first met by the explorers in on May 20th, 2007 during Rose’ first trip to D’ni.

The trip ended in tragedy however when Rose and Wheely decided to sneak into a crack that had appeared in a wall near to the Kahlo Pub. Shortly after a section of the room they found their way into collapsed and killed Rose leaving Wheely to be trapped for several days in the room with the body of her friend.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

White, Nick

Nick White is a translator for the DRC and one of their “ResEngs” (Restoration Engineers). He first learned of D’ni back in 1998 and began translating documents taken from Teledahn shortly after. He began working closely with Douglas Sharper translating documents for him and keeping some of of them from the DRC. He is currently keeping in contact with Sharper and working with Dr. Kodama on two Ages one of which is currently nameless.

Portrayed By: Unknown.

Yeesha

Yeesha (D’ni for Laughter) is Atrus and Catherine’s third child, born after Atrus had finished writing Releeshahn for the D’ni survivors.

Nicknamed “Desert Bird” she left her family at the age of 16 to head out into the world, this eventually lead her to D’ni. It was there that Yeesha began to learn of D’ni and their fall, it was there she met Calam a D’ni writer. Calam and Yeesha learned from each other and from Calam’s knowledge Yeesha became probably the greatest D’ni writer. It was also during this time she discovered the Bahro, The Least as she called them. A race that had been enslaved for 10,000 years. Calam was later killed, and Yeesha went on to discover that she was “The Grower” that a man known as The Watcher had prophesied about.

Yeesha crafted the Journeys for people to take, to teach them of the true nature of the D’ni and its Ages. Yeesha’s future has yet to play out, according to a line of text in Words Yeesha has or will have a daughter of her own.

Portrayed By: Rengin Altay

Zandi, Jeff

Jeff was the son of Elias Zandi, one of the first people to venture into D’ni after its re-discovery. Jeff had taken trips to the Cavern with his father on a number of occasions until he had an argument with his father over how D’ni should be restored. His father brought up a lot of the land around The Cleft which he later left to Jeff when he died of a heart attack.

Elias left his money to the DRF, with this money Dr. Richard Watson went on to find the DRC. Jeff was offered a place upon the DRC but refused saying that “his vision for the restoration was something beyond what we on the Council could comprehend,” according to Dr. Watson.
Jeff was the person that allowed a great number of explorers access to D’ni against the DRC’s wishes. Sitting at his trailer home at The Cleft, Jeff welcomes all the new explorers and sets them on Yeesha’s Journey.

Portrayed By: Jeff Zandi (Physical Model), David Ogden Stiers (Voice).