The second Myst novel, the Book of Ti’Ana, goes deeper into the mythological story of the D’Ni.
It goes back and relates the story of Anna and how she stumbles upon the ancient culture of D’Ni and meets Aitrus (the grandfather of Atrus). It starts off underground as we follow Aitrus, as he and others are digging their way up to the surface. We get to see a sliver of D’Ni culture as we are introduced to the idea of guilds. In D’Ni you develop a specialty and join that guild. Aitrus is a member of the surveyors guild. Aitrus is described as a hard worker who loves to constantly experiment and innovate. We also get introduced to Veovis, a member of the writers guild (they wrote all the linking books like those found in the game, Myst) and a person who becomes a friend of Aitrus. They reach the surface, but fear meeting violent, uncivilized monsters (us). After a debate, they make the decision to close of the tunnels and return to their underground kingdom. Veovis is adamantly for closing the tunnel, while Aitrus passionately wants to explore. After the decision there is an earthquake and Aitrus ends up saving Veovis’ life.
We then switch to Anna and how she discovers the D’Ni tunnels. We are introduced to her with her father as they are exploring the rocks around a volcano (again, there is a big thematic emphasis on being naturally curious about the worlds we inhabit). They are looking for geological clues about the history of the area, and they come upon rocks that look constructed instead of natural. They find a natural cave that is very close to the D’Ni tunnels that Aitrus and company sealed off. Together, Anna and her father explore the caves and the anomalies therein. Anna’s father gets sick, recovers and works, but eventually dies, leaving her on her own. After awhile, Anna’s curiosity about the anomalies causes her to go exploring on her own, so she descends down into the earth. She ends up discovering the D’Ni tunnels and sees their writing on the walls, leading her to believe that there is a civilization below. So she explores further.
At the same time as the above events, Aitrus and Veovis have become more politically involved in the renewed debate over whether to contact the surface. At a public forum on these issues, it is revealed that Anna has made contact with D’Ni. She is brought down into the grand cavern of D’Ni and she is kept under courteous watch and the D’Ni council slowly debates what to do about the situation. Aitrus becomes an ardent voice for letting her learn about them so they in turn can learn about her. Veovis is totally against her integrating at all. This disagreement strains their friendship. Anna helps her cause by learning their language. They hold a trial to determine what to do with her and she speaks for herself and wins over the council. She ends up staying in Aitrus’ family home and starts learning more about D’Ni. Veovis is unhappy, but tolerant, as long as she is denied access to the great linking books that are the heart of their culture. Aitrus silently disagrees with Veovis and actually shows Anna a linking book and begins to help her learn how to write these amazing books. Soon, Veovis learns that Anna knows of the linking books and is learning how to write and he and Aitrus find their friendship dissolving.
Anna begins to learn to write with Aitrus, and they begin to fall in love with each other. He takes her to a world he wrote where she sees the thick glasses the D’Ni wear to protect their eyes when not underground. It is here that Aitrus gives her a D’Ni name, Ti’Ana, meaning storyteller, and they also decide to try to get married and soon have a child, Ghen (Atrus’ father from the first novel).
While this is occurring, there is another debate revolving around issues of class between the elite upper class of D’Ni and the lower class. So we see a theme of how all people, regardless of class, should have the same rights and freedoms. Veovis is enraged by these changes and looks for ways to foment rebellion in other ways, seeking out some one called the Philosopher.
Thefts of the linking books and destruction of guild houses occur as a rebellion begins. What follows is the end of D’Ni culture as it was. The Philosopher and Veovis release a biological gas within the great underground cavern, killing all who breathe it and contaminating all the worlds linked to through books. Aitrus becomes infected but manages to help save Ti’Ana and Gehn, but D’Ni of this story is now gone. The tale ends with Ti’Ana and Gehn returning to the surface to live where she lived with her father long ago.