They finally get up to the Abbey, and Maneha whistles in appreciation - they've got some amazing architecture if nothing else, and Kana seems interested as well.
One of the guards blocks their path, demanding to know why they're here - good thing the Ondrite from the Fort had something about a Tidebringer arriving soon. She says as much, while rapidly pulling as much knowledge from all the monks' minds as she can without them realizing it, and gains them entry by pointing out the fact that it's nearly the end of the Mecwyn's Tide and that her presence shouldn't be any surprise to them.
Kana whistles in appreciation, and quietly asks "You know about Ondra's Tides?"
"They do, and I'm pulling info out of their heads as fast as I can. The Tidebringer is supposed to replace the High Abbot, one Aumaua named Kaoto. Other than that…a lot of stuff about Giftbearers and something called the 'Low Tide' down below the Abbey. And I'm fairly certain it's not your normal water-tide. Because they keep saying something about them 'going to Ondra's Embrace' a lot." To be entirely honest, that doesn't sound at all comforting to anyone.
Now everybody thinks Cera's the Tidebringer and lets them all through without even a suspicious glance.
Maneha, earlier, confessed to having an Awakened Soul of her own that supplied her with memories she dearly wants to forget - she used to be a general in a long-ago war, and had to crush some resistance in the locals when they invited them to stay for the night and then tried to kill them. And now the guilt is eating her alive.
There's supposed to be a salt pool in the abbey somewhere, which can supposedly wash away even memories. Cera and Aloth share a glance, but then Maneha says it only works for Ondra's faithful servants supposedly.
Cera's look wilts a little at that, but she forces her voice to be steady when she says "Well, had to be a catch somewhere. That and the fact that I don't have anything to offer as a token of what I'd like to forget." She shrugs, but you don't need to be a Cipher or have a mental connection with her to know her hopes got real high for just a moment when Maneha mentioned the pool - as high as the moon, only to come crashing back down and die.
They're given directions to all the rooms, and Manhea focuses on one that's supposed to be extra sacred for some reason the monk didn't say. It's called the Vault of Forgotten Thoughts - sounds like it has what Maneha's looking for.
When they get inside, after Cera successfully fakes a recitation and they are all still under the belief that Cera is the Tidebringer, they find there's four rows of coral growing over and around items like they're Ondra's fingers wrapping around them. There's also a small pool in the back, which Cera and Maneha go over to while everyone else takes a look at the items trapped in the coral.
Aloth doesn't know if anybody else finds anything, but he discovers a beautiful ring amongst the coral - and that he can retrieve. He's more than certain it's a betrothal ring, due to the gemstones set into it and the skill that clearly went into creating it. He puts it in his pocket for now - there's no way he's letting Eder get even a glimpse of it, Cera will have to hear his thoughts from all the way across the Dyrwood if he does - and sneaks another look at the elf woman to find her and Maneha talking at the edge of the pool back there. He quickly turns back to looking for any more items he can free until they all hear a shriek of "It's freezing!"
When they all turn around and look, they find Maneha treading water in the pool up to her neck. Eder asks "What're you doing swimming in the White March?!"
"Well, how else am I going to wash away these memories? Why isn't anything happening though?"
She looks around at the pool, and Cera asks "Remember the Giftbearer thing about taking a token of what is intended to be forgotten?"
"Riiiight. Got just the thing." She digs around in her pack, and comes out with a wrapped bottle of wine. She looks at it regretfully, and says "Been saving this for a special occasion - I was hoping it'd be after this. Oh well, if it's getting drunk or being free of these memories…" She smashes the bottle against the side of the pool, letting the wine flow into the water. Its instantly stained almost as red as blood, and two massive tentacles form in the pool and drag her down.
Everybody freaks, Cera nearly diving in the water herself, until Maneha's head pops back up after a moment and takes a deep breath of air. When she's out of the water, it instantly turns crystal clear once again - like the whole thing never happened.
Despite being freezing cold, Maneha is perfectly calm about the entire ordeal. When Cera asks what she remembers, she says "I remember being afraid, but I don't remember what of. I remember running, but not why."
"Sounds like it worked then. Too bad it probably won't work for me." She shrugs again, adjusting her crossbow at her hip, and then zones out for a moment and says "Someone's coming. Likely looking to see if we're ready to head downstairs."
Sure enough, a monk opens the door a moment later, and doesn't seem all that surprised to see one of them soaked to the bone and spreading a puddle of water as she walks. "Ah, yes, you've discovered the Salt Pool then. We'll get you a towel and some new clothes, sister."
When the door closes, they all let out sighs of relief - good thing Cera's mental powers are always active, otherwise they'd have gotten found out at least a dozen times before.
Cera's staring at the relic in front of them, Ondra's Witness it's called.
Push it one way, it'll open the flood gates and release all the Low Tide members. Push it the other way, it'll flood the place and kill them all.
They were all real clear on the whole 'Ondra's Embrace' deal - the Low Tide goes to their goddess after their memories have been fully stripped away - but willingly murdering all those innocent people? Maybe they weren't innocent before, but they can't remember any of that now - most of them can barely talk!
Farentis, the only one that wasn't a raving lunatic, said they just wanted to make new memories and live out the rest of their natural lifespans. That what they were promised was a far cry from what the Halls of Silence actually is. They thought it would be peaceful, not paranoia-filled and confusing!
Sagani says "Looks like our cover is almost up anyway. Either you push the lever left and buy us a few more minutes, or you push it right and give all those people a chance at a new life for a bit."
Cera looks away from the lever, then quickly back at it, then pushes the lever towards the open gate. "I won't murder all those people down there. Not…not again. Never again."
She's got to be referring to her Awakened life, all the people she keeps seeing on torture racks and pyres.
Even now, they can hear happy shouts filled with hope, along with alarmed shouts of 'don't hurt our brethren!' and 'bring them back to the halls!'
Kana says "Looks like we're through pretending, at least."
After defeating Kaoto, they find the rest of the massive skeleton at the top of the abbey - its only relic, apparently. Pallegina comments "Honestly, the rest of the skeleton should have clued us in."
Kana says "This is both far larger and far older than any kith or construction of kith in history! What could it be from?"
Cera finds a hunk of metal wedged in the ice, and pries it loose only to be hit with yet another vision. It's of a being destroying a rock hurtling towards a settlement, and taking the blow of the worst of the remaining projectiles in the settlement's place.
And right after the vision ends, another begins - this one directly from Ondra. And Cera's willing to bet she's not too happy.
AN: Yeah, I don't really see Cera actually agreeing to drown a bunch of memoryless priests that have gone feral from lack of memories and understanding - well, going through with it, anyway. Pretending to agree to keep the cover of the Tidebringer going, maybe. At any rate, we've got the metal that turns into Abydon's Hammer! So, I bet everyone can guess what chapter is next! If you can't, read it and find out - no spoilers! As for me, I've gotten moved in to college for the school year, and classes start Monday - please expect longer waits between chapters, as homework comes first - no matter how much fun this is. Please review! Enjoy, more chapters to come!