Jake Omaze - Revision history

Siddharth1: /* Rescue */

2024-07-13T05:07:43Z

Rescue

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	"I don't know what happened next. When I awoke I was surrounded by darkness. I screamed and cried, thinking the whole thing, my whole ordeal, had been a dream. I struggled, I was tied down! I screamed! Then the lights came on; I was in the hospital. They'd restrained me for my own protection. I begged the nurses to leave the lights on. They hurt my eyes, but I had to see it."		"I don't know what happened next. When I awoke I was surrounded by darkness. I screamed and cried, thinking the whole thing, my whole ordeal, had been a dream. I struggled, I was tied down! I screamed! Then the lights came on; I was in the hospital. They'd restrained me for my own protection. I begged the nurses to leave the lights on. They hurt my eyes, but I had to see it."

	"At first, no one believed my story. They thought I was a ~~fragrant~~, a homeless man who'd been wandering in the national park. But I think my odd fish-skin tunic convinced them. Eventually the police came and took my finger prints, and matched them to ones taken when I was twelve, an eternity ago. My identity confirmed, the slow process of unraveling the pieces began."		"At first, no one believed my story. They thought I was a vagrant, a homeless man who'd been wandering in the national park. But I think my odd fish-skin tunic convinced them. Eventually the police came and took my finger prints, and matched them to ones taken when I was twelve, an eternity ago. My identity confirmed, the slow process of unraveling the pieces began."

	==Aftermath==		==Aftermath==

Siddharth1: /* Escape */

2024-07-13T05:06:46Z

Escape

Siddharth1: /* Treasures */

2024-07-13T05:04:42Z

Treasures

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	===Treasures===		===Treasures===
	"A ~~horde~~ of treasure, enough to make a thousand men rich for a thousand generations, waits lost in the deep places of the world."		"A hoard of treasure, enough to make a thousand men rich for a thousand generations, waits lost in the deep places of the world."

	Jake reports on finding mountains of gold, in one place. Based on his account it seems likely to be a dragon ~~horde~~ (most ~~Eeries~~ have entrances into the Duat), but Jake describes the place ~~and~~ dry and cold, while dragons prefer humidity and warmth. A widely held belief is that he did in fact stumble upon the lost ~~horde~~ of [[Rama Flight]]. Unfortunately, as Jake puts it:		Jake reports on finding mountains of gold, in one place. Based on his account it seems likely to be a [[dragon]] hoard (most Eyries have entrances into the Duat), but Jake describes the place as dry and cold, while dragons prefer humidity and warmth. A widely held belief is that he did in fact stumble upon the lost hoard of [[Rama Flight]]. Unfortunately, as Jake puts it:

	"Years of isolation in the dark does weird things to a person's sense of greed. I didn't think 'great, now I'm rich!'. When I saw that mountain of gold, all I thought was 'someone had to have put this here, there MUST be a way to the surface!' But it was for naught. I wandered those caves for two days and found nothing. It was in a dry section of the caverns, so I couldn't stay long. I didn't take a single piece of it with me. I had no room for gold. Only food, water, and light."		"Years of isolation in the dark does weird things to a person's sense of greed. I didn't think 'great, now I'm rich!'. When I saw that mountain of gold, all I thought was 'someone had to have put this here, there MUST be a way to the surface!' But it was for naught. I wandered those caves for two days and found nothing. It was in a dry section of the caverns, so I couldn't stay long. I didn't take a single piece of it with me. I had no room for gold. Only food, water, and light."

CourseDirector: /* The Duani */

2024-07-10T21:13:01Z

The Duani

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	{Note: what follows is an account based solely on Jake Omaze; no other Duat explorer has ever lent credence to this tale).		{Note: what follows is an account based solely on Jake Omaze; no other Duat explorer has ever lent credence to this tale).

	"They are ~~queer~~ folk with pale skin and big eyes. They are human, or I think were, once, but not one amongst their number has ever glimpsed the sky."		"They are unusual folk with pale skin and big eyes. They are human, or I think were, once, but not one amongst their number has ever glimpsed the sky."

	While deep in the Duat, Jake claims to have encountered a race of men, long-adapted to the darkness, who had no knowledge of the surface world. They used the luminous algae for light and could make fire, though they used it only for cooking (fuel was scarce) and kept fish as livestock in a series of natural and artificial pools. They had no metal, only stone tools, and wore clothing made from fish-skin.		While deep in the Duat, Jake claims to have encountered a race of men, long-adapted to the darkness, who had no knowledge of the surface world. They used the luminous algae for light and could make fire, though they used it only for cooking (fuel was scarce) and kept fish as livestock in a series of natural and artificial pools. They had no metal, only stone tools, and wore clothing made from fish-skin.

CourseDirector: /* Bones */

2024-07-10T17:41:39Z

Bones

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	===Bones===		===Bones===
	"More common were the bones of past adventurers who came before me. I don't like to think about it, much, but I found so many. Entire parties, dead, long decayed. I didn't want to be like them. I wanted to get out."		"More common were the bones of past adventurers who came before me. I don't like to think about it, much, but I found so many. Entire parties, dead, long decayed. I didn't want to be like them. I wanted to get out."

			"Pretty grisly, but, these groups did give me something: shoes. Nearly always, no matter how old, the shoes survived. I got nine pairs of boots that way. After you've walked a few hundred miles over stone and gravel with no shoes, it gets easy to burgle the dead."

	===Escape===		===Escape===

CourseDirector at 22:43, 26 December 2018

2018-12-26T22:43:15Z

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	==Later Life and Death==		==Later Life and Death==
	Jake lived in Arindell for 20 years, working for about twelve of them. After he had finished the task of recording all he knew, he worked as a researcher, and eventually retired with a pension. He lived to be 72 years old. His dying wish was that he never again be placed underground. His body was interned in a cemetery outside of the city, in an above-ground crypt. The coffin itself had a very thick glass lid, and the top of the mausoleum had a vaulted glass arch. He was not buried underground, and was left where he could see the sky for all eternity.		Jake lived in Arindell for 20 years, working for about twelve of them. After he had finished the task of recording all he knew, he worked as a researcher, and eventually retired with a pension. He lived to be 72 years old. His dying wish was that he never again be placed underground. His body was interned in a cemetery outside of the city, in an above-ground crypt. The coffin itself had a very thick glass lid, and the top of the mausoleum had a vaulted glass arch. He was not buried underground, and was left where he could see the sky for all eternity.

			[[Category:Course Books]]

CourseDirector: /* Aftermath */

2018-06-06T22:38:46Z

Aftermath

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	==Aftermath==		==Aftermath==
	Jake had emerged from the mouth of a hole called the Devil's Spillway: a stream crossing a rhyolite knuckle, split in half. Half of it flowed down to a lake some miles away; the other half dropped eight thousand feet into the earth and disappeared. Spelunkers had occasionally ~~sailed~~ into the shaft, always finding a pool of water at the bottom. No one knew exactly how deep. There had, however, been a drought over the last few years, and a shift in the stream's course meant much less water going down into the hole. Those factors let Jake find the other end of it, in the Duat, and a clear passage back to the surface.		Jake had emerged from the mouth of a hole called the Devil's Spillway: a stream crossing a rhyolite knuckle, split in half. Half of it flowed down to a lake some miles away; the other half dropped eight thousand feet into the earth and disappeared. Spelunkers had occasionally asailed into the shaft, always finding a pool of water at the bottom. No one knew exactly how deep. There had, however, been a drought over the last few years, and a shift in the stream's course meant much less water going down into the hole. Those factors let Jake find the other end of it, in the Duat, and a clear passage back to the surface.

	Jake was upset, but unsurprised to learn the full length of his ordeal: thirty-one years, nine months, and sixteen days.		Jake was upset, but unsurprised to learn the full length of his ordeal: thirty-one years, nine months, and sixteen days.

Siddharth1: /* Early Life */

2017-12-05T20:18:53Z

Early Life

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	===Duat Expedition===		===Duat Expedition===
	For three years, Jake and his friends played in the guard-house ruins, building forts and inventing games. Only occasionally, usually on a dare or to impress girls, would they take the steep decending passage that opened, over a hundred feet beneath the surface, on a natural cavern. With his friends he never dared venture more than a few steps into that deep sub-~~terrace~~ world, but alone Jake would sometimes explore the passages for hundreds, even thousands of ~~feat~~. At this time, he still did not know what he and his friends had carelessly discovered, and he made a rather juvenile mistake: he believed that the caves could only go so far, and that, properly equipped and provisioned, he should be able to explore them.		For three years, Jake and his friends played in the guard-house ruins, building forts and inventing games. Only occasionally, usually on a dare or to impress girls, would they take the steep decending passage that opened, over a hundred feet beneath the surface, on a natural cavern. With his friends he never dared venture more than a few steps into that deep sub-terranean world, but alone Jake would sometimes explore the passages for hundreds, even thousands of feet. At this time, he still did not know what he and his friends had carelessly discovered, and he made a rather juvenile mistake: he believed that the caves could only go so far, and that, properly equipped and provisioned, he should be able to explore them.

	He told his friends of his aspirations many times, but could convince none of them to accompany him. Enamored by the cave, he resolved to go alone.		He told his friends of his aspirations many times, but could convince none of them to accompany him. Enamored by the cave, he resolved to go alone.

Siddharth1: /* Early Life */

2017-12-05T20:18:31Z

Early Life

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	==Early Life==		==Early Life==
	Jake was born in the city of [[Sun's Beacon]] where he lived into adolesence. He was one of four children of a middle-class banker and home-maker. He and his friends would often play and ~~excplore~~ in the ruins ~~interpsersed~~ throughout the city, paying little ~~head~~ to "Warning" and "Keep Out". "Danger" typically necessitated the use of flashlights and, on rare occasions, closed-toed shoes.		Jake was born in the city of [[Sun's Beacon]] where he lived into adolesence. He was one of four children of a middle-class banker and home-maker. He and his friends would often play and explore in the ruins interspersed throughout the city, paying little heed to "Warning" and "Keep Out". "Danger" typically necessitated the use of flashlights and, on rare occasions, closed-toed shoes.

	He was about twelve when he and his friends first stumbled upon what he would later know as the entrance to the Duat. On the surface the place looked like little more than a vacant lot with the scant ruins of some ancient building. In a small corner, a game gone wrong broke through the slab and revealed it to be a ~~rough~~. Or, rather, what was thought to be the building's foundation, was actually the ceiling of ~~it's~~ first floor. The road level had changed that much. The boys had found an abandoned building, filled mostly with debris and garbage. But they explored it all the same, and found their way into a basement with similar, if lesser, trappings, and finally into a well-preserved sub-basement.		He was about twelve when he and his friends first stumbled upon what he would later know as the entrance to the Duat. On the surface the place looked like little more than a vacant lot with the scant ruins of some ancient building. In a small corner, a game gone wrong broke through the slab and revealed it to be a roof. Or, rather, what was thought to be the building's foundation, was actually the ceiling of its first floor. The road level had changed that much. The boys had found an abandoned building, filled mostly with debris and garbage. But they explored it all the same, and found their way into a basement with similar, if lesser, trappings, and finally into a well-preserved sub-basement.

	It was mostly empty, but the presence of rusted cells told them this had probably once been a guard house of some sort. At the far back corner, three stories underground, behind a rotting book case, Jake and his friends found a deep, rock-cut passageway ~~that extended~~ into the earth. This, Jake would later say, was where his adventure began.		It was mostly empty, but the presence of rusted cells told them this had probably once been a guard house of some sort. At the far back corner, three stories underground, behind a rotting book case, Jake and his friends found a deep, rock-cut passageway into the earth. This, Jake would later say, was where his adventure began.

	===Duat Expedition===		===Duat Expedition===

Siddharth1 at 20:17, 5 December 2017

2017-12-05T20:17:36Z

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	Jake Omaze was an "accidental explorer" and adventurer who lived during the [[Ages#The Fifth Age\|Fifth Age]]. He is most notable for surviving over ~~thrity~~-one years lost on the [[Duat]].		Jake Omaze was an "accidental explorer" and adventurer who lived during the [[Ages#The Fifth Age\|Fifth Age]]. He is most notable for surviving over thirty-one years lost on the [[Duat]].

	==Early Life==		==Early Life==

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	"Finding [a way out] dominated my every thought, my every action and decision. Rest was difficult, even when I knew I'd been traveling for weeks, and my body ached, stopping for a few sleeps to rest made me uneasy. What if the very next bend was the way out? But as the years stretched on, I think I grew delusional. But it was the delusion that saved me."		"Finding [a way out] dominated my every thought, my every action and decision. Rest was difficult, even when I knew I'd been traveling for weeks, and my body ached, stopping for a few sleeps to rest made me uneasy. What if the very next bend was the way out? But as the years stretched on, I think I grew delusional. But it was the delusion that saved me."

	Jake's typical logic was that since water flowed down, if he followed the many underground rivers he found, one would eventually take him to the surface. This was not an ~~all together~~ wise assertion, and usually ended in impassable waterfalls or tiny trickles flowing out of cracks. Still, it worked out in the end.		Jake's typical logic was that since water flowed down, if he followed the many underground rivers he found, one would eventually take him to the surface. This was not an altogether wise assertion, and usually ended in impassable waterfalls or tiny trickles flowing out of cracks. Still, it worked out in the end.

	"I had been following this one stream through a narrow tube. It was maybe four feet high at a 45-degree angle, with 6 or 8 inches of water flowing across very smooth stone. Dangerous going, but I had to explore it. I reached a point at which the slope ended at the bottom of a shaft. Normally, this is where I'd turn around, but fate had ~~diened~~ fit to smile upon me that day..."		"I had been following this one stream through a narrow tube. It was maybe four feet high at a 45-degree angle, with 6 or 8 inches of water flowing across very smooth stone. Dangerous going, but I had to explore it. I reached a point at which the slope ended at the bottom of a shaft. Normally, this is where I'd turn around, but fate had denied fit to smile upon me that day..."

	Jake recounts how the light danced and flickered at the bottom of the shaft, in a ~~hunting~~, beautiful way. Looking up he could see nothing, but light bounced everywhere, reflecting off of slick rocks. As he stood in the cold shower, staring at the dancing light, it began to wane, and, finally, ~~disapear~~.		Jake recounts how the light danced and flickered at the bottom of the shaft, in a haunting, beautiful way. Looking up he could see nothing, but light bounced everywhere, reflecting off of slick rocks. As he stood in the cold shower, staring at the dancing light, it began to wane, and, finally, disappear.

	"It was a light unlike any I'd seen, and I won't deny that I thought it was all in my head. The delusion that it was somehow special kept me there, and made me go back after a sleep. I stood in that cold water for hours, along in the darkness, waiting for the dancing light. And when it came... I just knew."		"It was a light unlike any I'd seen, and I won't deny that I thought it was all in my head. The delusion that it was somehow special kept me there, and made me go back after a sleep. I stood in that cold water for hours, along in the darkness, waiting for the dancing light. And when it came... I just knew."

	He didn't dare admit it consciously, but Jake knew that in the Duat, light does not wane and return. ~~Their~~ are no cycles in the deep places, only darkness, stillness. The light waning and returning meant sunlight, though it seemed to come less than an hour a day.		He didn't dare admit it consciously, but Jake knew that in the Duat, light does not wane and return. There are no cycles in the deep places, only darkness, stillness. The light waning and returning meant sunlight, though it seemed to come less than an hour a day.

	Jake made camp at the bottom of the tube, in a place he could fish and survive. and there he waited.		Jake made camp at the bottom of the tube, in a place he could fish and survive. and there he waited.

	"I had counted six winters since I first became ~~cognacent~~ of the seasons. I knew another was coming, and that my only hope in hell of getting out was for the water to freeze. I waited and waited, and forty sleeps after when I thought the ice should come, the shaft finally began to freeze."		"I had counted six winters since I first became cognizant of the seasons. I knew another was coming, and that my only hope in hell of getting out was for the water to freeze. I waited and waited, and forty sleeps after when I thought the ice should come, the shaft finally began to freeze."

	Of course, it wasn't icy the whole way down. Whatever river fed the shaft had frozen, and water had frozen most of the way down. But eventually it reached a point where the underground temperatures were above freezing, and began to melt. This left the shaft far from dry, but free of the torrent.		Of course, it wasn't icy the whole way down. Whatever river fed the shaft had frozen, and water had frozen most of the way down. But eventually it reached a point where the underground temperatures were above freezing, and began to melt. This left the shaft far from dry, but free of the torrent.
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	"I waited another ten sleeps, hoping conditions would improve, before I began the climb. Climbing sheer walls wasn't something you did in the Duat. Shafts were even more dangerous. You could reach the top and find no ledge, only an end. This one was worn smooth by aeons of water."		"I waited another ten sleeps, hoping conditions would improve, before I began the climb. Climbing sheer walls wasn't something you did in the Duat. Shafts were even more dangerous. You could reach the top and find no ledge, only an end. This one was worn smooth by aeons of water."

	"In my time I had faced starvation, dehydration, deranged killers, floods, cave-ins, underground rock slides, and a ~~myraid~~ of other fears. Nothing I ever did was as dangerous as this climb, and yet nothing else had ever brought me so close to daylight. The higher I got, the more sure I became. I still could not see the sky, but I could see the reflections, the shadows."		"In my time I had faced starvation, dehydration, deranged killers, floods, cave-ins, underground rock slides, and a myriad of other fears. Nothing I ever did was as dangerous as this climb, and yet nothing else had ever brought me so close to daylight. The higher I got, the more sure I became. I still could not see the sky, but I could see the reflections, the shadows."

	"The climb took three days."		"The climb took three days."

	"Three agonizing, terrifying, exhausting days. I fought for every single inch, checked every single hand-hold. I used ~~loos~~ rocks I carried with me and others I found to chisel out holds where I had none. Ledges were few. When I slept it was on an edge barely wider than my body. The shaft was thousands of feet, and I was not an experienced climber. But daylight, the surface waited for me, so I urged myself upward."		"Three agonizing, terrifying, exhausting days. I fought for every single inch, checked every single hand-hold. I used loose rocks I carried with me and others I found to chisel out holds where I had none. Ledges were few. When I slept it was on an edge barely wider than my body. The shaft was thousands of feet, and I was not an experienced climber. But daylight, the surface waited for me, so I urged myself upward."

	"There was, of course, another, more pressing concern as I climbed. I very quickly reached a point where going back would be more dangerous than going forward. Several times I climbed over nothing but ice, and had it fall away as soon as I was clear. There was no going back. If I did not reach the top, I would die. So I climbed."		"There was, of course, another, more pressing concern as I climbed. I very quickly reached a point where going back would be more dangerous than going forward. Several times I climbed over nothing but ice, and had it fall away as soon as I was clear. There was no going back. If I did not reach the top, I would die. So I climbed."