[quote="shai-hulud]"I wish to ask about something quite a bit more complex for me to understand. I have studied religion for many years, so learning of your church's enlightenment should come quickly and naturally, but you speak of records and tablets, of
loading, and many other concepts that I am not familiar with. I am very interested in learning.
Science is a complete mystery to me. In my day, what you are accomplishing with this science was accomplished by what we called magic. Perhaps what I refer to as magic is merely another form of science. Please excuse me, for my terminology is rather archaic, but I would like to learn more about this science. Would you have any books that could teach me the basics? Starting at the beginning, like what a child would learn, all the way to what an adult would know?"[/quote]
"Unfortunately, much of the greatest science was lost during the End Times. We know of no one who can recreate the the greatest works of the ancients, and only a few, such as Sam Tinker in Nauthun, have even the skill to repair those works when they can be recovered from the ruins. We do, however, have some basic texts introducing the concepts of science. I can have those loaded on your tablet as well."
"Also, is there any way that I can repay you? Would you like me to bring the word of Meeher to the places that I travel?"
"Yes, spreading the word would be most appreciated. Also, if you should encounter others who still follow the true faith, tell them of us here in Sanctuary that they might join us."
Snapping back to the conversation at hand, "My next request concerns economics. In my day, we used copper, silver, gold, and platinum as our currency. I am told that these metals have no value to most peoples. Do I possess anything that would be valuable in barter? How does one judge value? I know that Shareev deems broken pieces of constructed beasts as 'treasure' and was able to trade that for goods in Nauthan. Is that the new currency? If I do possess anything that would be useful to Sanctuary, may I trade it for supplies that could be bartered with others? If not, I offer anything that you or anyone within Sanctuary would like as a donation for all of the services that you have provided."
"Hmmm, yes, your coins will be of little use in Nauthun, as they have set up their own system of currency, which closely matches that of the Ancients. There may be other places, however, where your precious metals have value. There is no overarching system of economics in these dark times, other than the trade in found artifacts of the Ancients. These artifacts have value, even when damaged, because many of them cannot be recreated, only repaired, as I said before. As for here in Sanctuary, we have all we need. For what we lack, we have been able to trade with Nauthun. Your offer to spread the word is more than enough payment."
"And my final request is for any information that you might have that could lead me to a way to return to my own time. Perhaps someone in Sanctuary's records knows of some way to alter the course of time such that my friends and I could step back through it, much as we slept forward into this time."
"I have access to all of Sanctuary's records and we have no information on any such methods. I have heard, however, that there is a place where more complete records on the treasures of the Ancients have been gathered. This is far to the south, on the edge of the great Jungle. We have learned there is a community of Sleeth there, known for collecting information and records."