Praying Skeletons

Praying Skeletons (おりガイコツ) are a phenomena that can be found in the upper layers of the Abyss.

History
Located on the 1st Layer, 300 meters from the surface, is a Burial Tower where hundreds of skeletons, estimated to be around 2,000 years old, lie with their hands clasped in prayer.

Under the burial tower is a tomb with more praying skeletons, estimated to be around 4,000 years old. This tomb leads into a secondary tomb with skeletons, estimated to be around 6,000 years old. The cause for this cycle of mass deaths is currently unknown.

One theory stated by Ozen is that the Praying Skeletons were victims of the Birthday-Death Disease, an illness occurring around the Abyss, causing the infected to inexplicably fall very ill on their birthday and shortly afterwards leads to their death.

The cause for this is unknown, but is thought to be linked to the Abyss itself. It is a subject of much worry in Orth, as another 2,000 years have passed and the mysterious disease is making its rounds once again, having already claimed the lives of five people.

The only way to escape the disease is to leave the vicinity of the Abyss entirely. Those who are incapable of leaving can only pray, and thus it is theorized, by Delvers, the Praying Skeletons clasped hands are related to the illness.