"Do you know anything about what caused the damage, or how the water was lost?"
Isen considered the comment. He wondered if, perhaps, it was some Jagladine experiment. He awaited the monk's response to Vincent's queery.
"Forgive my forwardness and curiosity, but considering the pursuit seems rather scientific and pragmatic, how does the chanting fit into it? And how do you dig for the water?", Phai inquired.
Of course, it was a monastery and some spirituality was to be expected, but surely, extra hands digging would have more effect than hours-long mud-baked chanting.
"Interesting," Isen mused, considering the issue. "Is the loss of water a global issue, or one that only affected these lands?" If the whole planet had lost water, then surely it must have gone somewhere...like perhaps through a Gate to another world. Stealing a whole planet's water was horrifying, but horrifying happened.
"This world is hurt, there's no doubt about it. It's also good to see you actively seek to heal it, not merely placing your fate in a gods intervention. In my home world, there's a saying: 'The gods help those who help themselves'...I believe you will want to take a look at our notes, to help further your understanding of the holy word?"
The water in her own world drained deep underground...but the mountains somehow always pressed it back up. The water in this world certainly could find a way back as well, given time.
"That's interesting, we have a similar saying among my people: 'If you can't fix the problem, fix yourself.' Actually, now that I think about it, half of the meaning is kinda lost for you I guess. Anyways, a few more questions: where are you digging, how far down have you made it, and do you know where the river's source was before the water was lost?"
Interesting. "Do your stories and records suggest the land was this dry before, or did the weather change when the water left as well?"
"Tomb? In our investigations for the baron, we found what looked somewhat like an old tomb that their digging had inadvertently disturbed. Do you know who was buried in your tomb, and why do you take such care?"
"Was your digging successful, so far? If the oceans are there, there should be a ground level where water can be found below. How deep is your deepest well?" Phai asks, then follows up on Vincents question: "Is it by chance the tomb of Saint Albat himself? If so, is it possible to visit there and pay our respects to him?"
"I see," Isen murmured. "Does the spirit often speak when offerings are made? Or do you mean figuratively?"
Vincent frowned. "I would expect dedicated monks to have more respect for the dead and more self-control. Perhaps that is another cultural difference from my home."
"You mean relics such as these fragments of the Opus Aeterna?", Phai shows some of the originals she copied from earlier. "If so, we would very much like to see if the Saint can provide some enlightenment to all of us."
"Well, it seems then it's time to pay him a visit. Regarding the signs in the heavens, do you have an estimate on how long it will take before the stars align? We have reason to believe that before that happens, we may need to accomplish our own goals, for the good of all."
Isen nodded. It looked like an exchange of information would be a useful move after all. A copy of those markings could reveal a lot.
"In light of what we bring, do you think we could be allowed to visit the tomb? It may help us learn what we need."
"Moss is fine, and thank you for it." He glanced at the others. "However, I believe I am quite eager to begin this journey, if my colleagues are."
"A refreshment is welcome. We had not noticed you beforehand and opted not to interrupt the acolytes if we could help it. As such, I admit I have grown a bit thirsty while waiting - aside from that, yes, I believe we are all eager to visit the tomb as soon as can be arranged, but of course, we will follow protocol. If there is a proper time for that, or a ritual of preparation, we will go with the established procedure."
"My particular biology affords me the benefit of not requiring nourishment in that way, but I appreciate your offer for my friends. When they are ready, I'm eager to see if there's anything to be learned."
Isen checked the area for traps. Since no one had been down here for quite some time he wasn't sure that such things simply hadn't been passed along.
Phai asks for a moment to sketch some of the inscriptions into her journal.
There was meaning in those writings, and maybe, she would eventually happen to learn that meaning.
Vincent took a moment once they got to the bottom to enhance his vision.
Then, he retrieved his shield and his spell caused it to glow brightly before he strapped it to his arm.
"Does any of that match what you've got in your journal already? Can you make any sense of it?"
"That is interesting indeed. I went over that passage 3 times, looking for a different interpretation, but it seems there is none. Gates to other worlds were raised on Rythes, under the guidance of the Opus Aeterna. It could be read to imply that it has an Agenda of it's own."
Phai will summarize what else she learned for Vincent and Isen, then looked to their guide to see which passageway they would take.
Isen tilted his head, having not found much of either use or danger, and considered. "Perhaps I misunderstood. I was under the impression that the Opus Aeterna was some kind of book, or a series of writings?"
"That could be. Powerful magic can instill sentience into otherwise inanimate objects. That said, could it be that someone just used the knowledge contained within the Opus Aeterna to create the gates? That could still be said to be "under the guidance of the Opus Aeterna," no? Either way, it definitely seems that it's our best and possibly only way away from here. Maybe there is more farther in that can tell us where to continue our search?"
"In that case, Vincent, the question becomes even more convoluted. If the knowledge did not originate from the Opus Aeterna, and instead, it was simply used in the process, then who created the Opus, and for what purpose - because guidance still implies that a sort of...direction is provided, something beyond pure theoretical knowledge. So in that case whoever made the Opus indirectly instructed whoever used it to set up Gates in a certain manner or pattern - with a result we saw above ground. I think I prefer for the Opus to be the origin, rather than a puppetmaster behind it.", Phai muses.
"Whats this?", Phai asks of their host, pointing towards the cylinders, following up with a guess:"Part of your efforts for water?"
Isen looked at the cylinders with curiosity, attempting to divine there purpose.
"But they don't come down here," Isen said, clearly confused. "How long have the people in these tubes been...here?" Isen could think of few things worse than being trapped, dreaming, in some kind of strange mud prison.
"They said it was a tomb. Perhaps the burial rites here involve some kind of suspended animation before true death takes hold? It could also be servants, caretakers, or even guardians of the tomb to prevent robbery? Either way, it's probably best to not disturb them right now, at least not until we know more about what's going on here. Phai, do you think you could help ferry us across if I help boost your strength?"
"That should be possibly, yes. Though I have to admit, I am slightly disappointed at the lack of instructions given by our hostess. She knows we are strangers. Stepping in the mud may be sacrilege. Or it may be part of the ritual and not touching the mud is sacrilege."
Phai sighs, then lifts her shoulders in the universal gesture of 'don't know':"Guess we'll find out, one way or the other."
"Seriously now? This is a holy place to them. I'm not really certain they expect us to demolish it just so we can present our case to their dead founder. Should one of us quickly fly back and ask that monk head?"
Phai asks of her colleagues, even as she checks for any secret doors.
"That's probably the best. I wouldn't want to start smashing this thing up without a very good reason. If need be though, it doesn't look like very sturdy construction and I'm pretty sure I can get through it easily. I might even be able to rebuild it a bit sturdier once we are all done checking this place out."
Isen attempted to determine if mining out the passages was actually wise, safe or possible.
Isen gestured to the walls. "It should be safe enough to remove the bricks, and be simple enough to leave them in a state to be reused. My own concern is more why did the brick up these passages? It's hardly a barrier, really, and yet they did so." What were they trying to keep out, or keep in?
"Well, it could serve the same purpose as in Trebelbet...you don't know if they created this Grave, or simply used it for this Albat. Could be we'll find another Sphere in this complex. Or, you know...tent flaps, curtains, bricked up walls. They don't have a lot of trees here, mostly moss. Maybe we should teach them the concept of doors on this world?", Phai suggested, while starting to remove bricks with her bow-hands.
"If I had to guess, it's more of a reminder than something meant to deter determined graverobbers. If there's nothing here to stop them, it's easy for someone to rationalize a visit down to pay respects. Once down there, it could be easy to rationalize picking up a small memento. If there's a brick wall blocking the way, it forces them to reevaluate their motives for coming, and likely give up. Either way, we've got work to do." Vincent fished out his any-tool and got to work carefully removing the stonework so as not to damage the doorway itself.