Chapter: V: Into The Abyss
Shara: The ... the blade ...
Katharina: <her voice starts to fade away> YES! It's INCREDIBLE! I have never seen anything like this!
---
Shara: That's the one ... GIDEON ...
Gideon: Yes. You are home. We are home.
Katharina: <barely understandable> Be careful though ... I think that's where the magic is coming from!
---
Shara: ... HOME.
Gideon: We never had anyone but EACH OTHER. And now we are TOGETHER again.
<Katharina is still talking but fading into the background. Shara doesn't hear her anymore>
---
<Shara sees Gideon's reflection in the metal of the blade>
Gideon: There is only one more thing for you to do, Shara.
Shara: Anything.
Gideon: ... GRAB MY HAND.
---
Gideon: TOUCH ME!
Shara: I ...
<Shara's hand reaches down>
---
<Shara's hand is stopped by Katharina grabbing her wrist>
Katharina: SHARA! What are you DOING? I told you NOT TO TOUCH IT!
---
Katharina: ... Shara? Are ... are you feeling alright?
---
<Shara looks up to her, with tears in her eyes>
Shara: K-Kat. I ... I think I need to tell you something.
<Shara and Katharina approach the sarcophagus in the middle of the chamber>
Katharina: <to Chris and Fernanda> Alright folks - stay outside for the moment, please. I want to disturb AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. And DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING! Not even in the corridor!
Shara: <whispering> Is that ...
Gideon: Yes, Shara.
---
Katharina: The same for you, Shara. PLEASE don't touch anything!
Shara: That ... that's it. This is it.
Katharina: Shara? Careful with the sarcophagus! What are you ...
---
<They both look into the sarcophagus and pause. There is a byzarian skeleton, the rests of a fancy armor and the blade that Shara has seen in her dreams>
Katharina: ... WOW!
Gideon: Finally. We can be REUNITED!
Shara: <grins> It is a LITTLE BIT funny, though.
Katharina: It is NOT.
Shara: ... eh, I guess you had to be there.
Katharina: I WAS!
---
Shara: I know, I saw it. <chuckles>
Katharina: UGH ... let's go on. There is so much to see here. Look at these walls! Again, burial markings carved over older ones. They must have REALLY been in a hurry! That might explain the lack of BURIAL GIFTS, too.
---
<Katharina is going on forward, her voice gets further away>
Katharina: It almost looks like whoever is buried here WASN'T really an important person ... but then again ... kinda WAS? Very strange!
<Gideon's voice appears in Shara's head>
Gideon: Why are you hesitating, Shara? Please, come closer! I can feel your heart beating.
Shara: <whispering> ... Gideon?
---
Katharina: <from further away> Did you say something, Shara? Come over here, I think I found the BURIAL CHAMBER!
Gideon: Of course it's me, dummy! You're here to SAVE me, did you forget that?
Shara: <whispering> .. I didn't. I WILL.
---
Gideon: Then COME. Follow your friend. She is so ADORABLY ENTHUSIASTIC.
<Katharina is standing forther down at the entrance to a bigger chamber, Chris and Fernanda behind her>
Katharina: By Lhûn's grace ... a SARCOPHAGUS! And I think there is still someone in there! Shara, come and have a look at this!
---
<Shara catches up and shoves Katharina to the side>
Shara: Alright, Kat. Calm down, I'm HERE.
Katharina: There you are! Do you SEE this? Do you see the WALLS? This is HISTORY! Can you FEEL it?
---
<They have a long look into the octagonal burial chamber with a stone sarcophagus in the middle>
Shara: ... yes. Yes I do.
Katharina: I am SO EXCITED!
Gideon: Me too!
<soon, Katharina and Shara are standing in front of the cleared entrance>
Katharina: Wow ... this is so EXCITING! But maybe we should wait until tomorrow ... it's getting DARK ...
Shara: It'll be dark down there either way, Kat. Just do your LIGHT THING!
---
Katharina: But -
Shara: C'mon, BE A LEADER!
Katharina: ... y-you're right! FERNANDA, CHRIS, stay close behind us please, WE'RE GOING IN!
<Chris and Fernanda sit on the cleared rubble to the side, trying to rest a bit>
Fernanda: <pants> ... yes, Miss Grauch! <pants> Just a ... little moment please!
Chris: <murmuring> ... told you you should've let Thomas help you.
---
<They start descending down the stairs into the tomb>
Shara: You feelin' any NASTY SURPRISES yet?
Katharina: No, nothing. If ... if anything feels wrong to YOU just say it and we'll stop, alright?
Shara: I'm FINE, Kat. Don't worry about me.
Katharina: I just wanted you to -
Shara: Just FOCUS ON YOUR SURROUNDINGS! If anyone is to feel bad magic happen it's YOU.
Katharina: Right. Sorry.
---
Katharina: Look at that, more of those burial markings! This has to be where this ... this PERSON is buried. Whoever they are.
Shara: ... yeah.
Katharina: At least we can assume it'll be a Baroc!
Shara: I wouldn't assume ANYTHING yet.
---
Shara: Hey, I JUST had a thought.
Katharina: What?
Shara: ... remember the last time we went through a DARK CAVE like this?
Katharina: Oh COME ON! That's NOT FUNNY Shara!
<Kat and Shara are waiting on the side while the entrance is getting cleared>
Shara: SHIT, I can't believe how fast your guys are clearing that rubble!
Katharina: You'd be surprised what a group of mages can do if they just work together.
Shara: I shouldn't be, actually.
---
Shara: I also notice you let THEM do all the work. Ain't you the best mage around here, Miss FOURTH GRADE MAGICIAN?
Katharina: Aherm. Well I WOULD help but I'll need my energy for whatever is down there.
Shara: SUUUUURE. Must be great to be the boss.
---
Katharina: I'm serious Shara! If I help with the heavy lifting now I'll be EXHAUSTED afterwards ... and probably have a HEADACHE. Not the condition to be in when you plan to EXPLORE AN ANCIENT TOMB!
Shara: Do you think the Professor is right? That there's something DANGEROUS down there?
---
Katharina: I ... don't believe so, no. I mean there is the STRANGE MAGIC coming from down there, but I don't think it is harmful per se. And we can't just IGNORE the whole thing and leave it buried here, right? I mean we've come THIS FAR! To leave just because we're scared would be ... such a waste.
---
Shara: <smiles> I think you're right.
Katharina: You do?
Shara: Yeah. That professor has just seen to many ghosts in his life. Let's do this shit.
---
Katharina: I'm surprised YOU'RE this eager to go down there ...
Shara: Like you said: we've come this far ... we're so close - LET'S DO IT!
Katharina: WOW. We're gonna need to clear it and make sure it is STABLE but with the help of some of the guards that shouldn't be a problem!
<Prof. Queahn approaches from the side>
Queahn: Mhm ... ! M-miss Grauch, wait! I STRONGLY urge you to be cautious! We do not know what is down there! M-maybe we should NOT disturb whatever is buried beneath ... !
---
Katharina: PROFESSOR QUEAHN! I didn't hear you coming! But I promise you we will be VERY CAREFUL! I am aware that there is some magic here that we have yet to -
Queahn: N-no. No you DON'T UNDERSTAND! It is ... it FEELS WRONG! We are TOO CLOSE! W-we should not go in there. We should NOT GO IN THERE!
---
<Professor Brahms follows him and tries to pull him back gently>
Brahms: My friend, please calm yourself!
Queahn: <panicking> We are TOO CLOSE Cornelius! The WALL, the EMPIRE ... they'll find us! THEY'LL FIND ME AND BRING ME BACK!
Brahms: You should SIT DOWN for a moment - come with me and leave the Lady to work, yes?
Queahn: DON'T BRING HER GAZE UPON US, I BEG YOU!
---
<Professor Queahn seems to sink down and lets Brahms take him back>
Queahn: <muttering> B-by the eternal wrath of the Empress ...
Brahms: Everything is alright, Friend. NO ONE will bring you back.
Queahn: <muttering> Ngh ... y-yes ... safe. Yes ...
Brahms: I will bring you to your tent.
---
<The Professors leave, Shara and Katharina look after them awkwardly>
Shara: Soo ... you think that was some more PANIC MAGIC hanging around? Or did he just have a plain old FLASHBACK?
Katharina: I ... don't know. And I'm not sure what's WORSE.
Brahms: What is the matter, friend? WHY shouldn't we touch these signs?
Katharina: I am pretty sure they are NOT magical, professor ...
Queahn: <increasingly stressed> No, but they are still ... y-you have to be careful here. It feels C-CLOSE.
Katharina: "Close"?
Queahn: T-to ... to home. To the EMPIRE. NGH.
---
<Brahms tries to comfort him>
Brahms: Are you feeling well ... ?
Queahn: NGH. It ... it is fine. Just a little DIZZY, that is all. Just give me moment.
Shara: <shouting from the side> HEY! KAT AND PROFESSOR GUYS!
Brahms: Isn't that your RUDE BODYGUARD, Miss Grauch?
Shara: <shouting> C'MON AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SHIT HERE!
Katharina: ... A GOOD DESCRIPTION of her, yes. Please excuse me for a moment.
---
<Katharina goes over to Shara>
Katharina: What is it Shara? I am kinda BUSY with the professors ...
Shara: I noticed. So did you guys settle on WHAT THIS IS?
Katharina: Well we're not exactly SURE yet ...
Shara: <grinning> Don't BULLSHIT me, Kat. Say it!
Katharina: Ok, fine, BURIAL GROUND! Congratulations, you got lucky!
Shara: HAH!
Katharina: So what is it you wanted to show me? Or did you just want to MOCK me?
---
Shara: Since we now all FINALLY agree that someone important is buried here ...
Katharina: It's ONE THEORY!
Shara: Sure, whatever. IF someone important is buried here ... it'll probably be DOWN THERE, don't you think?
<Shara points to an entrance to the building below the huge tree which is blocked by rubble>
Queahn: STONE is very important in the Empire, Miss Grauch. We believe that every building has a SOUL, a specific PURPOSE that it is dedicated to. And it has to stand for as long as that purpose exists. You won’t find a single constructed wall in the Empire that does not have some carvings on it which tell you about its function. That’s why they either left the remains of the Tyr’Enn ruins here INTACT or TORE THEM DOWN completely and built something new from the ground.
Katharina: You mean they'd never ... REPURPOSE old buildings?
Queahn: Never, no. That would be asking for MISFORTUNE. In the case of this central building they left the outer walls UNTOUCHED and just put their own smaller temple INSIDE. Effectively creating a NEW, DIFFERENT BUILDING.
---
Katharina: So these burial markings ...
Queahn: They are extremely unusual in that they are carved OVER the older ones ... both on the Barian and Tyr'Enn stones. They FORCEFULLY REPLACED whatever was here before. That is something you just don't DO!
Brahms: Maybe this weren't your people after all ... ? Or they were OUTCASTS who didn't care about your traditions?
---
<Queahn points to one of the carvings>
Queahn: No Cornelius. These are DEEPLY SACRED symbols. They are supposed to guide a highly valued offspring of Galca back into her womb. And there are SEVERAL of these - that's why I think someone important must be resting here.
Katharina: Hmh ... sacred signs for someone of high rank ... but done HASTILY and DEFYING TRADITIONS.
---
Katharina: They might just not have had the TIME to build their own mausoleum from the ground. And the whole thing speaks for a very ... AMBIVALENT RELATIONSHIP to the empire. Maybe ... the stories about the BETRAYER GENERAL who killed the empress are TRUE. And maybe he didn't make it home either and is buried HERE!
Brahms: That's an interesting STORY Miss Grauch, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves ...
<Katharina reaches out to touch the carvings>
---
Queahn: Actually, she might be RIGHT, Cornelius ...
Katharina: Thank you, Professor Queahn, I -
Queahn: Also please DON'T TOUCH THE CARVINGS!
Katharina: I ...
Queahn: PLEASE!
Katharina: <startled> ... s-sure.
Katharina: Look, Shara, if you know something I dont' -
Shara: No, forget it - it's just a gut feeling.
Katharina: A FEELING.
Shara: You're right, YOU are the expert. I promised I wouldn't poke my nose into your history stuff, so I WON'T.
Katharina: ... RIGHT. I am going to speak with the professors now. Please keep your GUT FEELINGS to yourself for a while, alright?
---
Shara: Why, are you afraid I might be right?
Katharina: Maybe by PURE CHANCE. I mean I mentioned "burial site" first, right?
Shara: I guess, yeah.
Katharina: So ... you just picked something and hoped you'd get lucky? So you can, what, ACT SMUG?
Shara: No I'm actually pretty sure. But I DO like acting smug.
Katharina: You're acting ... kind of STRANGE right now, you know that?
---
<They catch up with the professors Brahms and Queahn who are standind at some old pillars>
Brahms: There you are Miss Grauch! We were just talking about the architecture here ....
Katharina: Oh, er, right! So what do you think, Professor Brahms? TYR'ENN and BARIAN, right?
Queahn: That is pretty obvious, yes. I can't say what it was built for ORIGINALLY, but the carvings on the barian pieces make it look like it was used as a TEMPLE by my people. There's no signs of FORTIFICATIONS, though, so I don't think it was used as an outpost during the war. At least not enough to justify building some extra walls here ...
---
Katharina: So you think it was already abandoned when the war started?
Queahn: I didn't say that. In fact there are some markings here that seem even NEWER than the other ones ... as if they were carved OVER the ones that were already here.
Katharina: What kind of markings?
Queahn: ... BURIAL MARKINGS, Miss Grauch.
---
Katharina: ... did you just say "BURIAL MARKINGS"?
Queahn; Er ... yes I did. Someone was buried here. Someone -
Katharina: - IMPORTANT. That bitch!
Queahn: Excuse me?
Katharina: ... nothing!
<Somewhat later, the same day. Shara and Katharina are in the ruins, looking around. Katharina notes something in her book while Shara looks at some kind of rune carved into a stone>
---
Katharina: ... and you really don't want to lie down a bit more ... ?
Shara: For the hundredth time, I'm FINE Kat!
Katharina: Sorry! It's just - we STILL don't know what happened to you ...
Shara: Yeah, me neither. But you're sure there is no MORE surprises like that magic field down here?
---
Katharina: Um ... PRETTY SURE, yes. I mean we checked several times and there is still this ... STRANGE RESIDUAL MAGIC around here. But it doesn't seem to DO anything. It just ... IS here. I really don't know what to make of it. It is unlike anything I have ever felt ... Maybe there was some MAGICAL EXPERIMENTATION happening here? Maybe it was some kind of RESEARCH FACILITY of the Tyr'Enn ... they do like their OCTAGONAL BUILDINGS ...
---
Shara: You don't sound convinced.
Katharina: Well like I told you: these buildings could have been REUSED countless times by all different kinds of people. In fact I'm pretty sure these walls here are SIGNIFICANTLY YOUNGER - by comparison at least. I bet at some point the BAROC found these ruins and built their own things on top of it. First we should find out what the PURPOSE of these buildings were!
---
Shara: It's a burial ground.
Katharina: ... excuse me?
Shara: It's a grave. Someone is buried here. Someone important.
Katharina: HEH. You ... how would you know that? I mean don't get me wrong but if I don't know then how could YOU -
Shara: Fine, forget it. Figure it out yourself.
Katharina: ...
Shara: I'm right, though.
Katharina: ... are you SURE you don't have a concussion?