Writer's Debate

June 19, 2013 – Californian Legacy Facility: Today I emerged into a world transformed. Birds were singing in the trees, which grew from a bed of smooth, brightly-colored glass pebbles, covered in a few centimeters of water. Fish darted among the pebbles, with strange chiming noises. Something large and bat-like flew overhead. “Well?” Walmajarri called from inside the dome. “We have gone through a Way,” I said in amazement. This was not supposed to happen. Gods could not go through Ways, they were tied to the land that they had sprung from… but then again, Walmajarri was where the thylacines were. “And before you object, take a look and tell me what you think.” He trotted out and shivered a bit, then scratched his left ear with his left hind leg. “Huh.” “That would seem to cover it.” Our voices echoed through the verdant forest. The trees broke through the clouds above and scraped the ceiling of the sky. Still, sunlight came through, warming my skin. My mind came alive with energy. I felt rejuvenated. “Fairly close to your home universe, from the looks of things. I’ll explore, see if I can find any hints to where we are. I think it would be best if you stay here.” The Ravelwoods are truly vast. Few places are as large, or as varied. In the Ravelwoods, it is said, one can find their truest hopes and their darkest fears, often within the same day. A million civilizations of a trillion species. Wonders beyond number and beyond words. Paradise for a wanderer. Some faiths hold that souls go to the Ravelwoods upon death, to become plants, or wildlife, or, if they were very virtuous, wanderers. From the beginning, I suspected that we had traveled to the Ravelwoods somehow. I can feel the nature of a universe, and the Ravelwoods feel like endless wonder and old lemons. Really old lemons. That isn’t uncommon, though. My suspicions were confirmed as I dropped down from a tree into a crouch and found myself before a ruined city. Moss-covered pyramids of roughly hewn dark gray stone towered above even the trees. The Tower of Babel could not compare. Few things are as majestic as the cities of the Asiri. To enter the cities of the Asiri and not be considered greviously impolite, one must follow protocol. First, one uses a walking stick, if one has the capability, to smite the end upon a small plate of metal with a carving of the sun, with rays protruding. A loud sound like that of a bell being rung shall fill the air, and then one announces themselves in a rather ritualistic manner. Then the Asiri grant entry—possibly. “I am Peristrixalo, One Who Walks, of Falyx!” I shouted at the silent, ruined towers. “God-Friend, Book Finder, and Member of the Serpent’s Hand! I request entrance to your fair city! If any would speak against me, let them speak now!” Again, I banged the branch I had gotten off the ground on the metal plate. A few seconds passed. Only the echo of the bell could be heard. Then, the air around the towers shimmered in purple and blue, a minature aurora. Ages were undone, before my eyes, in seconds. The towers lost their moss, became finer in form, became bright and polished. Monuments made of living, carved trees formed, turning from dirt to rotting timber to fresh, well-maintained wood. Many of the larger and rougher glass pebbles formed themselves into sculptures of glittering, multicolored transparent glass, shot through with glowing lines. And before me formed a portal like the film of a soap bubble, swirling with wild translucent color. I stepped forward into a city, and backwards into the past. Unknown Time, But Certainly Long Ago – The City of the Asiri: The Asiri are not very friendly. They are benign, but as they live outside of normal time, visitors are generally seen as wasting resources. Even communication is viewed as something to avoid unless necessary. Therefore, I expected to be escorted by armed guard to their leader. “A fair complaint,” I acknowledged, dipping my head in respect. “I recognize that my admittance has been somewhat taxing to some of your people. You are not used to strangers, though you have heard of much of where I am from and what I have been involved in.” Inter-universal politics was a surprisingly small world, and the Asiri had been around for millenia of their time, with access to information from almost any time. “I believe, however, that I may be able to compensate for the effort that has been exerted upon my behalf.” “Something brought not only myself here, but a building, and a friend.” I folded my hands in front of me. “That friend is a god, from Earth. That Earth. Anything capable of transferring such an entity here, I presume, would be of interest to you. I propose an expedition. Let me use your resources to determine how to reverse the process, and I’ll give you the key. I’d venture a guess that it will make the process by which you keep your city isolated much more efficient.”