There's a shelf which once held books, and among the mess on the floor, some of those books can indeed be found. It takes some searching but the relevant manual can be found partially underneath a screen that has fallen off the wall when part of the wall broke.

The manual is made with those plastic pages which are popular for reference material in areas where one can get greasy, so it's survived being underwater quite well. Though the pages stick together some and make a wet sound when pulled apart.

He's just about found the correct area in the index and is half a page through reading when something warbles behind him.

The Tender looks about the space and sit down on the floor. The red of their eyes pierce the darkness, which is everywhere outside the light cone of the torch.

They have learned that a natural topic of conversation is food related to the conversation partners apparent interests.

"There is a species of creatures who share some characteristics with what you'd know as starfish. They eat a kind of kelp shaped somewhat like tomes such as that one."

They briefly point to the manual, because pointing is an important building block of communication.

Yupp, fishlady - fishlad? fishperson? is back.

"Fascinating! I wonder... what do you eat?"

"I no longer require material sustenance. I am sustained by my proximity to Invi'ctmanis." They gesture downwards. "It is delightful."

They step up next to Mark and peek at the manual with lithe steps.

"Tomes are for recording lore, are they not? What secrets are contained within? If it is advisable for you to share, of course."