D'ni Ages
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Note: Fictional details from the Myst franchise follow, and will be treated as facts.
Age (D'ni sehv) is the D'ni definition for a Universe, or a "Reality".
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Definition of an "Age"
According to the D'ni cosmology, the Creator Yahvo created the Terokh Jeruth, the Great Tree of Possibilities which has infinite leaves, and each leaf is one Age. In this conception every Universe therefore is just one Leaf, belonging to its own Branch, which in turn belongs to another and another, ultimately all belonging to the Great Tree. The theory can be described as a multiverse. Some Ages might resemble others (see parallel universe) but are actually different.
The forefathers of the D'ni, the Ronay of Garternay, developed what they called the Art (Gestoy). The Art allowed them to write Linking Books, that could create a Link between Ages, allowing people to travel to the Ages described in the Books. This is the core of the Myst backstory. There are some limitations, however. Several basic rules must be obeyed, or else the book will be linked to an unstable or near-death world. One may not link from one location in an Age to another location inside the same Age either. This rule is not limited only to places or planets, but refers to the entire universe. For example, a Linking Book on Earth can not "link" to Mars. This will not work because both Earth and Mars exist in the same Age. The Linking Book will Link to a planet similar to our Mars. This Mars might even belong to a solar system similar to our own—so similar in fact that to a visitor, it would appear identical—but in reality it is a different Age altogether.
The choice of the word Age might seem strange. Initially, many believed that the Ages visited in the Myst game were different time stages of Myst Island, but later knowledge revealed this was a mistaken view. Instead of referring to any given time period, the D'ni word "Age" might refer to the infinite expanse of Time of a Universe, from uttermost past to ultimate future, defining and encompassing therefore all of its existence.
Throughout the games it is seen that most Ages are written as or with central themes. These themes vary from the watery Stoneship Age to the garden Edanna, to even Riven (where its flawed nature creates a power source used throughout the game).
These central themes(with the exeption of Riven) are said by Atrus to give the age balance, though in creating Releeshan he writes that it was his intention to create a balance of all plausible themes in order for the civilization to grow.
Misunderstanding
Although the Ages were 'baptised' according to the characteristics of the islands visited, properly the term 'Age' doesn't refer to the island or limited space the player (or any visitor) has access to, but to the whole universe that place belongs.
On the other hand many use the word 'Age' to refer strictly to the place or island that appear in the games or the books. Saying for example that 'all the people of Stoneship Age are dead', doesn't of course mean that all of the universe (or even the planet) became devoid of life, but to the particular place where the action occurred.
Almost all of the Ages featured in the games look like islands and this is explained by the fact that the islands (or any limited place) are much easier to design and render. Similarly, it is believed that maybe for the D'ni as well, it would be easier to write and describe islands, without needing to bother what might be on the other side of that planet.
List
Following is a list of Ages mentioned in the Myst franchise. This page uses a loose definition of "Age" in that it also mentions parts of Ages, such as K'veer or Tomahna, which belong to the D'ni Age (in other terms, the planet Earth). Using the proper definition would make the structuring even more complex, unfortunately.
All locations physically located on the Earth surface are in Age of D'ni. All underground locations are listed in D'ni caverns.
Bear in mind that the amount of spoilers on the linked Age description articles is heavy. Puzzles leading you to different ages may be revealed in a matter-of-fact way. For enjoying the games and novels as intended, you may not want to read on.
By Debut
This listing is sorted by where the ages were introduced, shown or described, i.e. the game, novel or other places (for example, the D'ni Restoration Council (DRC) web site). Multiple listings of the same age are thus possible. The listing tries to be hierarchical: if one Age is to be accessed via another, or is only mentioned in the context of another, it is mentioned therein.
Games
Myst (realMyst)
See Ages of Myst for descriptions.
- Myst Island
- Selenitic
- Stoneship
- Terrel (only mentioned in the soundtrack journal)
- Mechanical
- Aspermere (only mentioned in journal)
- Channelwood
- Everdunes (only mentioned in journal)
- Osmoian (only mentioned in journal)
- Rime (only in realMyst)
- Riven
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Riven
See Ages of Riven for descriptions.
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Riven ("Age 5")
- Age 233
- Tay (Moiety Age)
- Riven ("Age 5")
Myst III: Exile
See Ages of Myst III: Exile for descriptions.
- Tomahna (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- J'nanin
- Edanna
- Amateria
- Voltaic
- Narayan
- J'nanin
- Releeshahn (only seen as Linking Book)
Myst IV: Revelation
See Ages of Myst IV: Revelation for descriptions.
- Tomahna (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Haven
- Serenia
- Spire
Uru: Ages Beyond Myst
See Ages of Uru for descriptions.
Uru Prime
- the Cleft (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Relto
- Teledahn
- Gahreesen (also called "Garrison")
- Kadish Tolesa
- Kadish Gallery (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Eder Gira
- Eder Kemo
- Tokotah Rooftop (D'ni) (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Yasefe (mentioned in a journal describing King Me'emen)
- Bahro Caves (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Uru Live, Uru: To D'ni, Untėl Uru
- Bevin neighborhood (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Spy Room (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Phil's Relto
- Kirel neighborhood (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Phil's Relto
- the Nexus
- Ae'gura (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Trases
- Yimas
- Great Zero or "Rezeero" (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Ae'gura (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Great Shaft (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Myst Uru: The Path of the Shell
- The Watcher's Sanctuary (Rolep) (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Ahnonay
- Er'cana
- Myst Island
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Novels
The Book of Atrus
- The Cleft (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Gehn's Age 37
- This is the first populated Age Atrus was taken to by his father. Here he began to realize that Gehn saw himself as a God, and had no compassion for the natives of "his" Ages.
- Inception
- Atrus' first Age. It was a recreation of The Cleft, but was later destroyed by Gehn's "improvements".
- Torus
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
The Book of Ti'ana
- Age of Earth
- the Lodge
- Ader Jamet
- This was an Age written by Veovis. It took 16 years to write, and was accepted in the Canon of the Guild of Writers at Veovis' Korfah V'ja.
- Ederat
- Er'duna
- Er'duna, like Er'cana and Er'jera, was a food producing age of the D'ni.
- Er'jera
- Er'jera, like Er'cana and Er'duna, was a food producing age of the D'ni.
- Gadar
- Gadar is the Guild of Legislator's Age. Legal records going back six millennia were kept here.
- Gemedet
- Named after a popular D'ni game, Gemedet was written by Aitrus and Ti'ana together.
- Ko'ah
- Ko'ah was a family Age of Aitrus' family, written by his father Kahlis.
- Nidur Gemat
- This was one of six Veovis' family's Ages.
- Te'Negamiris
- The burial Age of the D'ni, deceased D'ni were Linked here to be buried.
- Yakul
- One of the oldest Ages, this was the oldest Age of the Guild of Writers, written by their first great Writer, Ar'tenen. The Korfah V'ja ceremony was traditionally held here.
The Book of D'ni
- Aridanu
- A beautiful jungle Age, Aridanu is where (among others) Guildmaster Tergahn and Guildsman Gadren had survived the downfall.
- Averone
- Written by Atrus, Averone is a fertile island populated by the Averonese. Atrus here recruited helpers to restore D'ni.
- Aurack
- A wild jungle Age, this is where Meer, one of the Averonese explorers, was killed by an animal. The Age had apparently been the private hunting grounds of some D'ni.
- Bilaris
- Bilaris is the family Age of the father of Oma and Esel. During the downfall their family and many neighbours, as well as passers-by, fled into the Age, where they were later found by Atrus.
- Chroma'Agana
- Sedona
- Another Age that was found by Atrus and the Averonese, but no survivors were found here.
- Terahnee (Devokan)
Web sites
Note: Fictional details from the Myst franchise follow, and will be treated as facts.
Age (D'ni sehv) is the D'ni definition for a Universe, or a "Reality".
By Debut
This listing is sorted by where the ages were introduced, shown or described, i.e. the game, novel or other places (for example, the D'ni Restoration Council (DRC) web site). Multiple listings of the same age are thus possible. The listing tries to be hierarchical: if one Age is to be accessed via another, or is only mentioned in the context of another, it is mentioned therein.
Games
Myst (realMyst)
See Ages of Myst for descriptions.
- Myst Island
- Selenitic
- Stoneship
- Terrel (only mentioned in the soundtrack journal)
- Mechanical
- Aspermere (only mentioned in journal)
- Channelwood
- Everdunes (only mentioned in journal)
- Osmoian (only mentioned in journal)
- Rime (only in realMyst)
- Riven
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Riven
See Ages of Riven for descriptions.
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Riven ("Age 5")
- Age 233
- Tay (Moiety Age)
- Riven ("Age 5")
Myst III: Exile
See Ages of Myst III: Exile for descriptions.
- Tomahna (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- J'nanin
- Edanna
- Amateria
- Voltaic
- Narayan
- J'nanin
- Releeshahn (only seen as Linking Book)
Myst IV: Revelation
See Ages of Myst IV: Revelation for descriptions.
- Tomahna (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Haven
- Serenia
- Spire
Uru: Ages Beyond Myst
See Ages of Uru for descriptions.
Uru Prime
- the Cleft (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Relto
- Teledahn
- Gahreesen (also called "Garrison")
- Kadish Tolesa
- Kadish Gallery (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Eder Gira
- Eder Kemo
- Tokotah Rooftop (D'ni) (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Yasefe (mentioned in a journal describing King Me'emen)
- Bahro Caves (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Uru Live, Uru: To D'ni, Untėl Uru
- Bevin neighborhood (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Spy Room (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Phil's Relto
- Kirel neighborhood (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Phil's Relto
- the Nexus
- Ae'gura (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Trases
- Yimas
- Great Zero or "Rezeero" (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Ae'gura (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Great Shaft (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Myst Uru: The Path of the Shell
- The Watcher's Sanctuary (Rolep) (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Ahnonay
- Er'cana
- Myst Island
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
Novels
The Book of Atrus
- The Cleft (Part of D'ni/Earth)
- Gehn's Age 37
- This is the first populated Age Atrus was taken to by his father. Here he began to realize that Gehn saw himself as a God, and had no compassion for the natives of "his" Ages.
- Inception
- Atrus' first Age. It was a recreation of The Cleft, but was later destroyed by Gehn's "improvements".
- Torus
- K'veer (Part of D'ni/Earth)
The Book of Ti'ana
- Age of Earth
- the Lodge
- Ader Jamet
- This was an Age written by Veovis. It took 16 years to write, and was accepted in the Canon of the Guild of Writers at Veovis' Korfah V'ja.
- Ederat
- Er'duna
- Er'duna, like Er'cana and Er'jera, was a food producing age of the D'ni.
- Er'jera
- Er'jera, like Er'cana and Er'duna, was a food producing age of the D'ni.
- Gadar
- Gadar is the Guild of Legislator's Age. Legal records going back six millennia were kept here.
- Gemedet
- Named after a popular D'ni game, Gemedet was written by Aitrus and Ti'ana together.
- Ko'ah
- Ko'ah was a family Age of Aitrus' family, written by his father Kahlis.
- Nidur Gemat
- This was one of six Veovis' family's Ages.
- Te'Negamiris
- The burial Age of the D'ni, deceased D'ni were Linked here to be buried.
- Yakul
- One of the oldest Ages, this was the oldest Age of the Guild of Writers, written by their first great Writer, Ar'tenen. The Korfah V'ja ceremony was traditionally held here.
The Book of D'ni
- Aridanu
- A beautiful jungle Age, Aridanu is where (among others) Guildmaster Tergahn and Guildsman Gadren had survived the downfall.
- Averone
- Written by Atrus, Averone is a fertile island populated by the Averonese. Atrus here recruited helpers to restore D'ni.
- Aurack
- A wild jungle Age, this is where Meer, one of the Averonese explorers, was killed by an animal. The Age had apparently been the private hunting grounds of some D'ni.
- Bilaris
- Bilaris is the family Age of the father of Oma and Esel. During the downfall their family and many neighbours, as well as passers-by, fled into the Age, where they were later found by Atrus.
- Chroma'Agana
- Sedona
- Another Age that was found by Atrus and the Averonese, but no survivors were found here.
- Terahnee (Devokan)
Web sites
Cyan's D'ni web site
All of these Ages are written by Atrus. Descriptions for some of them are not given here, since they are already mentioned above (see Myst). See http://www.myst.com/dni_weeklyupdates.html for info from Atrus' journals.
- Ancam
- An Age where the plants react very strongly to the light of the sun and the changes in tempereature. The trees follow the movement of the sun and lay flat during the night.
- Everdunes
- Gravitation
- An Age that Atrus made to experiment with orbits and angles of celestial bodies. It contained six suns, many moons and meteor showers, all interacting with others. Atrus knew such a complex Age would grow unstable.
- Herelding
- Of this Age we know only it was the native world of the Starflies insects, a swarm of which was attracted to Atrus' lamp one night, and carried out all manner of intricate aerial formations around it.
- Mechnical
- Arimarl
- This Age was an oasis in the middle of a desert, written by Atrus to rest himself in nature, after the machines of the Mechanical Age.
- Oasis
- An oasis-like Age of varying trees and plants. Atrus mentions eucalypti to be found there.
- Osmoian
- Serenol
- An Age of with forests and fields. Native to plants that rise up from the ground moments before the sun rises and burst into full bloom at the touch of its light.
- Shimar
- A probably volcanic Age with much sulphur.
- Whiterock
- Native Age of the Shirnao, and a Creature called Ting, which begins its life in the water, then moves to the rocks on the shore and transforms into hundreds of small, quick-moving creatures called Solastings, which the Shirnao catch for food.
D'ni Restoration Council (DRC)
See http://www.drcsite.org/ages/ages.shtml for info.
- Dahtamnay
- Dereno
- Eder Gira
- Eder Kemo
- Gahreesen
- Garternay
- Hereas
- Kadish Tolesa
- Kahlo
- Kalamee
- Laki
- Meanas
- Negilahn
- Negilahn was a zoo age of the D'ni
- Noloben
- A large ocean was here, with a house on a beach. At least one D'ni survivor was found here.
- Pento
- Pirahnay
- Rebek
- gladiatorial games were held here at one point, with Bahro and ahrotantee (Book-Worlders).
- Shimas
- Teledahn
- Todelmer
- Venalem
Primordial Ages
- Garternay
- Judgement Age
- Perfect Age
- Vakooth's Age
Related sites
- Cyan's information on the D'ni (old) (http://www.myst.com/dni_home.html)
- Atrus's journal (http://www.myst.com/dni_journal.html)
- D'ni Desk Reference (http://www.dnidesk.com/agelist.html)- among others, hosts a very comprehensive list of Ages
D'ni Restoration Council (DRC)
See http://www.drcsite.org/ages/ages.shtml for info.
- Dahtamnay
- Dereno
- Eder Gira
- Eder Kemo
- Gahreesen
- Garternay
- Hereas
- Kadish Tolesa
- Kahlo
- Kalamee
- Laki
- Meanas
- Negilahn
- Negilahn was a zoo age of the D'ni
- Noloben
- A large ocean was here, with a house on a beach. At least one D'ni survivor was found here.
- Pento
- Pirahnay
- Rebek
- gladiatorial games were held here at one point, with Bahro and ahrotantee (Book-Worlders).
- Shimas
- Teledahn
- Todelmer
- Venalem
Primordial Ages
- Garternay
- Judgement Age
- Perfect Age
- Vakooth's Age
Related sites
- Cyan's information on the D'ni (old) (http://www.myst.com/dni_home.html)
- Atrus's journal (http://www.myst.com/dni_journal.html)
- D'ni Desk Reference (http://www.dnidesk.com/agelist.html)- among others, hosts a very comprehensive list of Ages