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Montgomery
Explorer
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject: An Open Letter to Cate Alexander and the DRC |
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I represent a small but growing group of concerned explorers (thus far limited to the Uru Obsession forums). We believe it is possible that Cate and the DRC may inadvertantly be putting the explorer community in grave danger.
As a result of this concern and the general lack of communication and disclosure from the DRC, I have drafted the following letter, which I will deliver to the the addressees via the D'ni Network on the 15th of February.
If you would like to attach your name to this letter, please reply here.
Thank you for reading.
| Quote: | To Ms. Alexander and distinguished members of the D’ni Restoration Council,
As an avid explorer of the D’ni world and a conscientious member of a rapidly-growing community of like-minded devotees, I find I must request a dialogue with you regarding a matter of grave concern to all.
I write you as a representative of a group of explorers who – like other groups – feel we have good reason to regret the present scarcity of communication from the DRC. Our reason is specific and we feel – at our present level of understanding – most dire. All we require is your assurance that this troubling matter is not as it appears, and we will be satisfied. Not your curt assurances; indeed we require your most fervent assurances.
In reading the histories of the D’ni kings, Ahlsender, Solath and Me’erta (among others) which you have provided to us, we find numerous references to the Age of Pento and the engineered plague unleashed on its population, as well as the aftermath. The lesson to be learned from these histories is clear: exposing a population to the engineered plague – even after hundreds of years – proved almost fatal. Indeed, to countless thousands of D’ni, it certainly was fatal.
And yet we find on your recently-updated site that Pento is listed among the Ages the DRC possesses!
This brings up a list of concerns, which list comprises the foundation of our request:
1) If you have located Pento, then you must either have unsealed the King’s Tomb, which contained an unnamed but apparently vast number of books, all at one time contaminated by this deadly plague, or located the Great Tree Temple, which contained a smaller number of books stolen from the tomb along with a swath of Ahlsender’s robes (also presumably contaminated by the plague). Are either of these conclusions correct?
2) How many other Ages from this source are you also exploring, and have any of those already been released to the general population?
3) If this engineered plague is deadly to both D’ni and other races, could it not be deadly to humans, as well?
4) While it is written that a cure was found among existing D’ni medical texts, this cure did nothing to eradicate the plague itself. But even so, has the DRC located these specific D’ni medical texts and translated them in a manor that our medical experts can understand?
5) The plague is said to have mutated over the few hundreds of years it lay dormant before being released into the cavern. Who’s to say what it may have evolved into by now? Further, who could predict the symptoms, if any, of such a plague and what vector it might take?
6) Even if our current medical advances approach those of the ancient D’ni, would a historical cure have any meaning for a mutated plague spreading though a non-D’ni population?
7) Assuming you anticipated these problems, what precautions did you take when you first considered linking to Pento? How do you know these precautions were sufficient?
8) What assurances can you give that you possess the ability to detect the presence or absence of a plague that the D'ni engineered and that has had thousands of years to evolve?
9) How many of your team have been potentially exposed to this plague already and have in turn exposed others, including the explorers themselves?
10) What precautions have you taken to assure that no explorers will be exposed to this Age before all of the above issues have been addressed and satisfactory answers found?
11) What are your plans for the Pento Age?
I think I speak for all those I represent when I say we would be most gratified to learn that you had sufficient forethought and took sufficient precautions in your initial forays into this and other Ages. Such assurances would, no doubt, go a long way toward mending and improving the vital relationship between the DRC and the explorers. But more than that, it might introduce a level of trust that is clearly lacking in the present arrangement.
Further communication and disclosure would surely serve to improve that trust.
I eagerly await your prompt reply.
Your faithful servant,
Montgomery (KI #175538) |
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Durin Mephit
Great Tree Officer
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
Posts: 3119
Location: Tigard, OR
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| Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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(I'll crosspost this message to Uru Obsession.)
Having observed the development of this letter over the past few days, I want to congratulate you on backing away from what seemed at first to be an alarmist position, and constructively writing an excellent letter full of good, non-accusatory, rational questions that deserve an answer. This is a letter I can stand behind and I would be glad to add my name to the list of concerned explorers.
My only suggestion is that the paragraph beginning "I write to you as..." seems superfluous; the preceding paragraph states tersely and eloquently the goal of the letter. My first impressions of Cate are that she is not the most patient of persons, and I would not want her to dismiss your letter out of concern that you do not get to the point with sufficient speed. I myself find that my writing is wordy and boring to others, and so I offer my opinion based upon my own past experiences.
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Durin Mephit * Member of Guild of Messengers - Unless otherwise stated, opinions are mine only and not Guild endorsed.
rel.to | Marten KI: 59474 | Durin M KI: 11883768 |
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Montgomery
Explorer
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:52 am Post subject: |
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Due to inreased interest, I've delayed sending this letter to the DRC until Monday the 19th.
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Saxy
Community Orchestrator
Joined: 23 Dec 2003
Posts: 1272
Location: Under the New Mexico desert
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| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Brian and I spoke with Montgomery tonight in the cavern about the topic of this letter and agreed that it's pretty alarming. It also ties into the fact that the DRC have been hiding things from us, and if they're so concerned about our safety, they'd be a bit more open to us. This is an eloquently written letter that deserves a read and an answer from the DRC. Very good job!
I wouldn't mind adding my name to the list, but I'm hesitant about the closer. I don't like to think of myself as Cate's "faithful servant;" I think I'd prefer a good old "sincerely" here.
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Durin Mephit
Great Tree Officer
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
Posts: 3119
Location: Tigard, OR
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| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:32 am Post subject: |
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I actually read into it words that aren't there.
"your faithful servant in the explorers' interest"
Edit Montgomery, you're either on the right track, or Nick is responding to having seen your letter.
http://forums.drcsite.org/viewtopic.php?t=1772
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rel.to | Marten KI: 59474 | Durin M KI: 11883768 |
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Montgomery
Explorer
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:15 am Post subject: |
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The way I read that, Ragdrazi mentioned it and Nick didn't respond. But I hope Nick gets a copy when the letter is delivered to "the DRC." I might have to specify that when I talk to the fine people at D'net.
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Montgomery
Explorer
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:20 am Post subject: |
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| Saxy wrote: | Brian and I spoke with Montgomery tonight in the cavern about the topic of this letter and agreed that it's pretty alarming. It also ties into the fact that the DRC have been hiding things from us, and if they're so concerned about our safety, they'd be a bit more open to us. This is an eloquently written letter that deserves a read and an answer from the DRC. Very good job!
I wouldn't mind adding my name to the list, but I'm hesitant about the closer. I don't like to think of myself as Cate's "faithful servant;" I think I'd prefer a good old "sincerely" here. |
Thanks, Saxy! Actually, check on the D'net site, here. This is how I'm adding signatures. Does that work for you?
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Saxy
Community Orchestrator
Joined: 23 Dec 2003
Posts: 1272
Location: Under the New Mexico desert
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| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:42 am Post subject: |
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Works for me! /thumbsup
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Anna Catherine
Folklorist
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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I have to disagree here. I feel that, all things considered, Pento is worth the risk, and I would eagerly accept the chance to explore it.
I think that the repercussions from the Pento incident changed D'ni more than any other event. I can say without exaggeration that it altered the course of D'ni history. Yet... we know nothing about the Pento, really. What was their culture like? Why did they get involved in this? Who exactly were these people who affected D'ni so drastically? The opportunity to understand both the Pento and the D'ni based on this exploration is pretty unique, and is worth considerable risk.
And yes, I appreciate the risks involved. I don't see them as grave as all that, though. The seal has likely already been broken, and if it hasn't, it could be done under controlled quarantine conditions. We have access to maintainers' suits. We could explore the Age relatively safely.
As a researcher, I would welcome the chance to explore Pento. I understand that I would do so at my own risk, and should anything happen to me as a result, the fault is mine, not the DRC's. The opportunity this Age provides to gain insight into both Pento and possibly D'ni culture is pretty amazing. I would love to be able to explore Pento, and hope that someday I will be able to. As I see it, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Annacat
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Durin Mephit
Great Tree Officer
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
Posts: 3119
Location: Tigard, OR
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:04 am Post subject: |
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Anna,
By adding my signature to the letter, I am not saying "Stop. Don't. Never." I am, however, urging extreme caution, and asking that the explorers be kept aware of the risks and methods involved in any operation involving Pento. We deserve to be informed.
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rel.to | Marten KI: 59474 | Durin M KI: 11883768 |
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Anna Catherine
Folklorist
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:13 am Post subject: |
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Cool, Marten. I'm all for keeping the explorers informed, as you know.
I basically just wanted to present my own opinion on Pento because I don't want Cate and/or the DRC to conclude that the explorers are too scared of Pento and that it's not worth restoring for that reason, because that would be a shame. Caution can be good, but I wanted to counter-point with how important I think it is that Pento be explored.
Because... I do. I do for all the reasons I mentioned before, and because... frankly I have a strong gut feeling that it's important. I didn't mention that before because there's no reason anyone else should trust my intuitions. I do, though, and I don't want to see Pento shelved.
So just wanted to explain why I feel it's worth the risk, as long as it's done intelligently. But by all means, keep us informed. 
Annacat
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Montgomery
Explorer
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| Anna Catherine wrote: | I basically just wanted to present my own opinion on Pento because I don't want Cate and/or the DRC to conclude that the explorers are too scared of Pento and that it's not worth restoring for that reason, because that would be a shame. Caution can be good, but I wanted to counter-point with how important I think it is that Pento be explored.
Because... I do. I do for all the reasons I mentioned before, and because... frankly I have a strong gut feeling that it's important. I didn't mention that before because there's no reason anyone else should trust my intuitions. I do, though, and I don't want to see Pento shelved. |
Anna,
I replied to your first post over on the DRC site, so I won't repeat it here. But I will respond to this post here.
I don't want to see Pento locked away or destroyed either. I want to be able to link there with confidence. And I agree that it is important -- it is mentioned more than any single Age in all of the histories. But ....
The purpose of my letter is really two-fold. The obvious purpose is, of course, the subject of the plague and the community's safety. But the second, more subtle purpose is to open a dialogue between the DRC and those concerned and conscientious members of the community who wish to be informed. Perhaps by being the epitome of politeness and reason with our letter the DRC will have no choice but to respond in kind. So far all they have heard from us is anger, accusations, and whining. Perhaps those things are justified, but I don't think they are going to produce the results with the DRC or Cate that we really want. They haven't so far.
If I am dissapointed and the DRC brushes us aside with patronizing words and empty promises, we will finally have the make of them, and a different tact may then be appropriate. But if they answer us in kind -- either confirming or allaying our fears once and for all -- they will at least have answered. And a way will be open for further communication.
Of the two purposes, I hold the second to be much more important.
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Quaxo
Great Tree Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
Posts: 184
Location: Tebryna
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:01 am Post subject: |
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Alright. Here goes.
When I first read about Pento, I was disturbed at the idea that it would be accessed by humans at all, let alone be potential explorer material. I admit - the idea of deadly viruses drives me to the edge and ... to be frank ... freaks me out beyond belief. However I have had some time to go over a few things in my mind and have a few questions of my own.
Let's start with the first thought that came upon me. Who's to say that "the plague" didn't reach the surface centuries ago? This engineered plague could have been what we called the influenza virus - which we have all but eradicated. Just a thought, what if it's been and gone?
Next, the virus itself. Okay, if it took that long merely to switch hosts, that's actually pretty pathetic as far as viruses go. Strange how the mutation found its way to the D'ni, though. Perhaps there were some budding Pento biochemists? Honestly, the chances of a virus mutating in the exact fashion it would need to be able to infect a D'ni instead of its engineered host are staggeringly small. I'm wondering if the virus didn't get some "direction".
This leads me to believe that Pento should be explored sooner rather than later. If there were survivors, they may be less than pleased about a new race linking in much like their previous "masters" had. Let's not forget that the Pento could have evolved too... I think we need to make sure there aren't survivors down there before we move ahead - or if there are, make sure they know our intent is pure.
Not trying to sound paranoid here, but I'm not too sure I'm entirely off my rocker either. If there are still people in Pento, we need to know before they take offence. That's all I'm sayin'.
Okay - now that that's said - I'm not comfortable with the fact that I don't know medically how the Pento passed on. How exactly do you trace a virus back to its humble beginnings? Yes, the usual DNA/protein analysis blahblah - but with such a difference in effects...are we sure they are one and the same? It's not just difference - because we don't know what happened exactly to the Pento - but the variance within the affected population of D'ni as well as the infertility bother me. Viruses change hosts - can change effects - but they typically still attack the same systems, just in another way. THIS line of thinking leads me to believe that the Pento plague and the D'ni plague are NOT the same. Of course, this could be me just not trusting the D'ni science, but hey, what can I say?
So, it looks like I have a lot of conflicting ideas here...and I do. This is just one of the reasons I agree with Annacat that Pento needs to be explored extensively VERY soon. I for one would like to know if and how many killer virus/es exist in the cavern I'm playing in.
~ Quaxo ~
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Anna Catherine
Folklorist
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:15 am Post subject: |
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Now you see why Quaxo is a scientist and I am a folklorist.  But that makes sense.
I think I agree with everyone. I agree Pento ought to be a priority, for my own folkloric reasons.
I also agree as a general principle that the DRC (and Cate) need to be open with explorers... not only about the risks involved in exploration, but just with what's going on. We can't really help or contribute if we're in the dark. So yeah, good idea all around.
So... maybe I just agree with everybody. And I want to see Pento.
Annacat
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