Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

Chapter 27 -- Virtualizing the Imagined: Underground River Games
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Chute in northern wall lowers water
level, and the dark waters disappear
from sight.
Two stone bridges broad enough to
allow the passage of large carts.
Waterfall cascading from opening in
southern rock wall allowing rain and
glacial water to form a freshwater
pool and river.
As Active Worlds is the oldest collaborative virtual world on the Internet, we'll look in a little more
detail. This virtual world's colonized areas draw on the underground Planetary Veins for drinking
water, water for crops, livestock and hydropower. Long ago, however, the veins were the
Imperial Sewers. The veins move erratically due to the three moons and geothermal and
volcanic activity.
As the veins open to a labyrinth of hospitable caves, at least two races are known to live below --
the Subminians and the Velosians. After finding the entrance, it's off to melancholy and strange
country of fracture, and violence, and fire.
As there's no current going to Poison Lake, race the sub through the numerous splits, turns and
double entrances. Because the River of Death is stagnant, one must pass through locks.
Opening them quickly, however, may flood Poison Lake since it lies downhill from the volcano.
The River of Life has a current -- one can hear change in prop pitch and current against one's
mini-submarine when going against the flow -- and surfaces occasionally in the Shadowed
Jungle. Watch out for falling stalactites and a tidal whirlpool! Use navigation lights at
intersections to see the underwater passages. When surfacing, take bearings with less than the
top half of the sub exposed. A glass-shaft lock transitions the underground voyage from the
subconscious to the super conscious.
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