Channelwood
From MYSTlore
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|---|---|
| Channelwood | |
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Written by Atrus | |
| Type | Inhabited Age |
| Connected places | Myst |
| Journal | Channelwood Journal |
Channelwood is an Age covered with water with the exception of a small rocky island. It is one of the many ages written by Atrus while he lived on Myst Island. Although Atrus's journals describe the age as being inhabited by tree dwelling monkey-like creatures, it is currently uninhabited, possibly as a direct result of Sirrus and Achenar's interference.
Contents |
[edit] Geology and Ecosystem
Channelwood had been originally an island dominated by the massive conifers that grow directly out of the water, in which the tree-dwellers made their homes. The age's fauna includes a species of toad and some unseen birds that can be heard.
In its current flooded state, Channelwood's forest is weaved with a series of walkways just above the surface of the water. A small rocky island houses a windmill used for generating power which is directed through a system of pipes, enabling elevators and extendible walkways to work.
The upper levels contain what's left of the Age's civilization: rooms and bridges scattered with abandoned furniture and broken artifacts.
[edit] History
Since long before Atrus first arrival in Channelwood, the age was inhabited by humans, who lived on the ground, and tree-dwellers resembling monkeys. Most of the humans died as the island sank and transformed into the Channelwood Atrus knew; they sacrificed themselves in order to stop the island from sinking.
By the time Atrus arrived, only one human remained; an elderly man with whom he shared a language (whether this language was English or D'ni, or some other, is not specified). The other inhabitants spoke a different language. Atrus described him as seeming "almost insane", probably from a combination of long isolation and senile dementia. He deliberately stepped off a walkway to his death later. When the tree-dwellers burnt his body the previously color-changing water became fixed as a dark green.
Atrus's family is known to have lived on Channelwood for a while. The tree-dwellers almost worshipped Atrus and his sons, which made Atrus uncomfortable; Sirrus and Achenar probably less so. Sirrus and Achenar's rooms are located on the third level, where their rivalry and attempts to subdue the native cultures become readily apparent. Eventually Sirrus and Achenar lived as kings or even gods among the tree-dwellers. By the time the brothers were imprisoned on Haven and Spire the tree-dwellers had all been killed or had left the area.
[edit] Views
 A map of Channelwood. |
 Channelwood's windmill. |
 Pathway to Channelwood's windmill. |
[edit] Background
Channelwood, like other Ages of the game, was planned in realMyst to feature day-night circle and some frogs appearing in the pathways. Unfortunately due to constraints they were not included in the finished game and (like Mechanical) remains in constant daytime.
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Featured
[edit] References
- Atrus mentions Channelwood in his journal as an example of a nature-based Age.
- Achenar refers to the tree-dwellers in his Haven lake journal.
