Information on Douglas Sharper

[Arthur Kalnins]

Considering the “Baron” is returning at some point, I thought it might help those new to the Cavern to have a little information on the man Douglas Sharper.

Sharper's first recorded appearance on the Restoration scene was in late 1997 when the DRC allowed him to restore the Age of Teledahn (though it is likely that he was down here before then). From Sharper's journal: "11.14.97 - Looks like they've agreed to let me take "control" of Teledahn. Time to start a journal. Officially. " He frequently mentioned his distaste for the DRC's safety checks on Teledahn in his journal (found in the link from the upper mushroom in Teledahn).

In March of 1998, Douglas first saw one of the native creatures which he eventually named Shroomie. Around this same time Sharper requested a translator from the DRC. Sam Renyolds arrived to assist in translating some documents, journals, and notes found in the upper areas of the main shroom.

Sam translated as best he could, but was not able to translate for both the DRC and Sharper and was pulled from him to work on DRC texts. Dr. Ikuro Kodama informed Sharper in August about a new person learning D'ni and Douglas met Nicholas White in October of 1998. White did a good job in Sharper's eyes. Up to this point much of what Sharper had found was kept hidden from the DRC (so far as I have found, NONE of the information kept by him or shown to the DRC has ever been publicly released) Nick was given "permission" by Sharper to translate some of the material he planned on keeping for himself.

March of 1999 was interesting. Sharper learned of the DRC's wish for the Age to be released to all the explorers. While not happy, Sharper agreed. He still had "his" areas. A few days later, Watson argued with him about translations kept hidden from the DRC. Though it apparently was a mis-communication, it appears to have given Sharper a wake up call. He headed up to the Surface the same day for a trip to Africa, not to return for a year.

On February 16th 2000, Sharper went out to look at a Shroomie nest recorded in some more history to be kept from the DRC. The nest was abandoned.

Sharper had been fairly quiet up until now. He had kept a large amount of translations and much of the history of Teledahn a secret, however aside from that, he had kept to himself and restored the Age well enough. However, starting September of 2000, Sharper was more public in his transgressions. September saw a DRC inspection which gave Sharper more things to do regarding restoration. Sharper's journal shows that he hunted the local wildlife in Teledahn, including trapping and killing the creature known as Shroomie. He took portions off as trophies, and sunk the remains.

With Teledahn restored sufficiently, Sharper began helping with restoration of the City in early February 2001. His motives were hardly charitable. As stated in his journal, he was helping to “get leverage” with Dr. Richard A Watson. While this was going on, he was still keeping translations and history books for himself away from the DRC.

Sharper took a trip out into the ocean of Teledahn in late May 2001 after spotting another of the Shroomie creatures. He learned more about the Shroomie creatures, the one he killed was a young one, adults got large enough to swallow a small boat whole, and he briefly considered harming or killing an adult to “bring a portion home”

In November of 2001, Sharper found a book leading to a sealed office in the Guild Hall overlooking Ae’gura and claimed it as his own.

May of 2002 is when things really began to go downhill with regards to Sharper. A Restoration Engineer named Michael Simpson gave Sharper a Bahro stone that links to the roof of the main building in Gahreesen. For most of May and into April, Sharper and the Bahro played hot potato with the stone. The Bahro took it, Simpson took it back, and Sharper placed it in another “secure location.” finally, Sharper placed the stone inside the second mushroom in Teledahn and it hasn’t been disturbed since. In April, frustrated at some of the safety requirements of the DRC, Sharper began to take an interest on what would become “the Call” (the massive amounts of explorers entering the City via Relto books in the Cleft).

Sharper is a fan of the New England Patriots, writing about them often in his personal journal. In September of 2002, he began betting on the games with Dr. Kodama.

July of 2003, a friend from the surface, Sonya Michaels, comes down to do some writing in D’ni.

It’s October 24th of 2003 and Sharper does more stealing, this time from a newly-acquired pub in the J’taeri district. He, along with Nick White, stole many books from the pub before it was even officially his.

As more visitors came down to D’ni, Sharper got out and began talking to them, about his ideas and his experiences. Many came to be friends of his and one in particular, Brian Fioca, eventually became the second in command of the Great Tree group Sharper helped to found.

The final blow for Sharper came in late 2003. For the past year as Sharper’s drama had been going on, a Restoration Engineer by the name of Phil Henderson had gone missing in Eder Kemo. He had now returned “changed” and spoke to many about Yeesha and her journey. In November of 2003, Sharper talked to him and realized he could be a powerful tool to be used against the DRC. In December, after a journey with Phil and the DRC’s taking-in of Phil after his year-long absence, Sharper provided the catalyst for a war between those who followed Yeesha and Phil, and those who followed the DRC, by taking some of his Great Tree members and breaking into the Kahlo Pub on Ae’gura. This resulted in the J’taeri pub being taken away from him. The last major event Sharper was involved in before the Restoration was shut down was he stole Phil Henderson’s Relto (despite that he had one of his own). Phil was on top of Ae’gura in an unsafe area of the Guild Hall when something collapsed, allegedly killing him However, no body was found .

And that is the history of Douglas Sharper. Based off of his journal and chat logs taken during many of the events.
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Arthur Kalnins
KI#60907

[Cycreim]

Um, what exactly is the point of this?
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KI #: 34353

[Arthur Kalnins]

[Marten]

[Cycreim]

Oh THAT I gathered, but... you don't like Sharper much, do you?

Let the dude speak for himself, if he's coming back. Heaven forbid he should present himself in such a manner that will cause people to like him.
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KI #: 34353

[Arthur Kalnins]

[earthwizard]

Thanks Arthur....


I appreciate your effort... I was able to see that your discourse came from your own perspective on having read the literature available. Obviously all humans filter facts through the lens of social and cultural learning of their respective worldviews. What you were doing was trying just to help newcomers such as myself be informed. If we, as newbies, wish to get the facts straight then that is something we must do for ourselves.

I do not assume you to be a scholar, nor some professor with accreditation in the University of D'ni --- an obvious crack in the lid of misnomers. You are just a concerned explorer who wishes to share what you have learned on your own with those of us who appreciate any kind of information available. Yes, if the facts are incorrect, then they should be adjusted, but to have your work raked over the coals and belittled is of little benifit to newcomers or oldies alike.

It should behoove those who would critique a work of scholarly interest to at least attack the mistated facts with revisionary expertise rather than the misinformed scholar/explorer. Maybe this is how D'ni fell also, squabbling over the fine points of a descriptive fact. As an old wizard, who has come to Ae'gura to find a new way among fellow journeyers, I find any information filtered as nicely as yours in an aesthetic format with a critical eye for detail to be an exceptional demonstration of all that is great in the new breed of explorers coming among us.

If the details need correction I'm sure the eyes of the keepers will keep you well informed....

from a fan... earthwiz
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Earthwizard - KI # 01555592
D'ni Digest | Assembly of Guilds | Member: Guild of Cartographers

[Cycreim]

Again, did this really need to get posted? I don't dispute the factual nature of what you're saying, but that's not what I'm concerned about, and I gather neither is Marten.

Arthur, I can't help but get the feeling you're attempting to demonize Douglas Sharper! That's rather sad, not to mention that it doesn't really do anyone any good. We're getting a lot of new folk down here lately, who might not have known what went on in the past. And you know, I trust them enough to make their own decisions about a person. Especially when the person they're passing judgement on has a mouth to speak, and a journal that's not exactly a secret.

I've been wary of the DRC before, but you don't see me posting anything like this.

What gives? And why not just let Sharper speak for himself? Inquiring minds want to know!
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KI #: 34353

[Owehn]

I think everyone in this thread has been a little too accusatory. (And, depending on how you read this last sentence, so have I. )

Perhaps we should all leave a little more room open for interpretation. Sharper may not be as bad as Arthur's making him out to be. Arthur may not be making Sharper out to be bad as bad as Cycreim's making him out to be, etc. (That's a bit of a brain-twister; I hope I got my syntax right.) Arthur, if you could just clarify the sections where you're speculating, and maybe add quotations inside notes like these, it would go a long way toward allaying fears that you're spinning the story.

[bfioca]

Dealing with issues like this is surely a challenge, but that's what makes life interesting! As GD used to say, "The world is grey," there is no clear black and white. I have never understood why people in the Cavern insisted on vilifying or anointing one person or another. Neither Atrus, Catherine, Yeesha, Sirrus, or Achenar (just to name a few) were clear cut good or evil. Even Atrus might be demonized if you do you research and spin it the right way. People are motivated to do the things they do. You, I, the rest of the explorers, the DRC, Sharper... we aren't characters in a story. We are all D'ni.
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~Brian Fioca

[Marck]

[Ragdrazi]

Why does it always seem like there are two Douglas Sharpers?

All the stuff I've seen written about him... I don't see how it could have been written about the same person.
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I feel as though each and every one of us have personally failed here.
Mission Statement
Ki #229367

[Ian Atrus]

[Ragdrazi]

[Gadren]