abstractions in a river. peer into it to see things you may be afraid of, or things you may understand already. the river shows us our true nature, so we flock to it, as do the members of neighboring villages. they form caravans and plod through soft soil, through the forest, to the banks of knowing. we stare into it, and we are shown things we fear. but those who see only their face reflected in the waters retreat with a sense of directionless malaise.

the water still functions when carried to other locations, when placed in fountains, when placed in bowls. it is used to construct the seeing pools of soothsayers, and wishing wells, or placed in fonts, and consecrated, as holy water. some drink it and find that it tastes of salt and sugar. some drink it and find that it tastes of nothing at all.