Secrets of the Tomb Artifact BAS-IV: Music of Millenia
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition: Exploration Knowledge level BAS-IV
- Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Antiquated Coin x150
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Tomb of Ita
Artifact Discovery
You: This looks like a musical instrument... But I can't really tell what it is.
Museum Curator: This is a sistrum, one of the instruments unique to ancient Khaimit.
The curator slowly waves the sistrum. It makes a soft tinkling sound.
Museum Curator: You shake it to play it. Like this.
Museum Curator: Look, the head of the Khaimit goddess of love is carved here, indicating that it was often present at the rituals dedicated to the goddess of love.
You look closely and find that this goddess is very beautiful
You: Must be a very beautiful god.
Museum Curator: Yes, the goddess of love is Adora, in charge of love, beauty, farming and reproduction, guarding the prosperity and abundance of all Khaimit.
Museum Curator: Khaimit also had court musicians specializing in the sistrum. The name of the musician is usually engraved on the bottom of the bell.
The curator turns the sistrum, looking for the name underneath.
Museum Curator: Got it. "Ngu Debu" ... Debu is a sistrum musicians’ family name passed down from generation to generation. There are many historical records.
Museum Curator: It's the first time I'm hearing this name, so it's hard to tell exactly how old this artifact is...
He thinks it over for a moment.
Museum Curator: [Player], would you be willing to do me another favor?
You: Of course. Where do you need me to go this time?
Museum Curator: It is said that the Debu family still has a number of descendants living in Mien. They have always owned very complete family records unknown to outsiders.
Museum Curator: Could you please run over there to ask them if they know this musician named Ngu?
Museum Curator: I will also go back to look up the information again to see if I can find anything.
You: Okay. I got it.
Museum Curator: I heard that the Debu family is still plays the sistrum, so maybe you'll be able to hear it.
You: There are more reasons to check it out now. let's go!
Mien Central Business District
Not long after arriving in Mien, someone from the Debu family comes to find you, saying that they know about the sistrum.
You: Hello, are you from the Debu family we're looking for?
Young Man: Yes, my name is Atta Debu, and I am the thirty-third generation of the Debu family. This is our family tree.
Atta unfolds the paper he carries with him, which is densely packed with the names and relationships of all the members in the clan.
You: It's so spectacular...
Young Man: Well, it has been inherited for more than a thousand years. I heard that you have found a sistrum from hundreds of years ago and are looking for its owner?
You both explain the reason why you're here, and show him the picture of the sistrum.
Atta Debu: "Ngu Debu..." Well, here it is.
He picks up the family tree and looks for a while before eventually pointing to a more marginal location.
You find his name in the upper position in the tree. There are no extra relatives other than his parents.
Vyn: Ngu Debu did not marry. Which means...
Atta Debu: I know his story, but could you please promise me something?
Vyn: Oh?
Atta Debu: It's not a big deal. But I'm going to start my performance soon, so I'd like to invite you two to listen to it first.
Atta takes a sistrum out of his pocket, waving it in front of you.
You: Do you also play the sistrum?
Atta Debu: Yeah, after all, I'm a member of the Debu family! The performance will start soon. It'll be at the marketplace over in Mien.
Vyn: I think you have displayed enough sincerity. Please wait a moment. We will be there shortly.
Atta Debu: Thank you so much! Please believe me. The Debus will never go back on their word.
Atta Debu: I'll go prepare then.
Atta invites you to listen to his sistrum performance in the market.
Vyn and you soon arrive at the place he specified, which is one of the lively marketplaces in Mien.
A few locals start sporadically gathering around, almost as if they knew that there was an upcoming performance.
You: We'll soon be able to hear a sistrum performance... I can't help feeling excited!
You: But... why would he make such a condition?
Vyn: You can probably guess, but let's wait for him to say it by himself.
Vyn: Look, the show is about to start.
Looking to the center of the square, you spot him holding a sistrum, along with several youths with various Khaimit instruments.
Atta Debu: --Now comes the Adora Ritual Song for you.
He gently swerves his sistrum from side to side. To accompany him, the woman beside him plucks at her harp-like instrument.
The sistrum tinkles a merry tune, and the music from various instruments intermingle to create a deep ancient melody, floating in the bazaar, the desert, and the sky of Khaimit.
For a moment, you have the illusion that the melody in your ears has been echoing in this ancient land for a thousand years, never once stopping.
You: This is the sound of a sistrum...
You are completely blown away by the performance.
Vyn: He is calling us over.
You: ...Oh, okay!
After the performance, Atta asks you to go over and see him.
Atta Debu: So you two did end up coming to my performance in the end. How was it?
You: It was great! I never thought the sistrum could sound like that!
In the less noisy streets by the bazaar, you start to chat with Atta.
Atta Debu: The sistrum has long since lost its former glory. Even in the Debu family, fewer and fewer people are engaged in this business.
Atta Debu: The significance of the sistrum is vanishing, both in terms of revenue and practicality...
Atta Debu: I'm one of the few remaining people in the family who still plays it. I've formed a small band with a few friends though.
Atta Debu: As you can see, it's like this every day, and not many people come to listen.
Atta Debu: It's not like I haven't thought about changing professions. I just really like it, and don't want it to disappear.
He scratches his head.
Atta Debu: Sorry, I went off topic. I can tell you what you wanna know now.
He unfolds his family tree again and points to the name "Ngu."
Atta Debu: His mother was a court musician, a priestess in the Fifth Dynasty, and a sistrum player.
Atta Debu: Despite being the youngest child in the family, Ngu showed great interest and talent in music from an early age. He was highly regarded by his family.
Atta Debu: His mother had a special sistrum made for him, with his name engraved on it. She hoped that he would become an outstanding musician in the future, but unfortunately...
Atta Debu: A high fever took his life at the age of 8. Ngu's mother was utterly devastated and destroyed everything that once belonged to him...
Atta Debu: Only this sistrum remained... It is said to have been put away quietly by an old servant who dearly loved Ngu.
You: Ngu...his mother must be very sad.
Vyn: I think, if Ngu had the opportunity, he would also want to continue his musical dreams.
Vyn: We will tell the curator about this. Thank you for such a melodious performance.
Atta Debu: Thanks for enjoying it. In fact, the reason I made the request is just to let more people hear the sistrum.
Vyn: So you want us to experience how it sounds, right?
Atta Debu: Yeah, I wanted you to hear it since you came from faraway lands.
Atta Debu: It doesn't change anything, but just take it as a selfish whim of mine.
Vyn: It was a charmingly fascinating performance,
Vyn: I wish the fascination of the sistrum would be known to more people. Hopefully, that day will come soon...
Rubis Museum
Return to Rubis and tell the curator everything that happened in Mien.
Museum Curator: I see. That explains why I couldn't find anything.
Museum Curator: In the current Khaimit, Atta's persistence is somewhat rare.
After listening to us, the curator looks at the sistrum in the display cabinet once moer.
Museum Curator: We were planning on showing some cultural heritage things recently. And I had planned to include the sistrum as well.
Museum Curator: ...How about hosting a special show and inviting Atta and his crew to perform there?
You: Really? That's great!
Museum Curator: Not only the sistrum, but I have also been compiling a list of other heritages. Hopefully they'll gain more attention soon. These inherited cultures should not disappear.
You: Thank you, Mr. Curator! I'm sure Atta and his crew would be really happy to know that they'll be seen.
Museum Curator: What are you thanking me for? I'm only doing my job. The people that should be thanked are Atta and his crew.
Museum Curator: And, of course, people like you who are dedicated to heritage preservation.
Vyn: You flatter us, Mr. Curator.
Vyn: Seeing as the secret of the sistrum has been unveiled, we will be taking our leave today.
Museum Curator: Okay, take care.
Summary
