this is amazing omg
there's a lot to say, I think the idea is really cool, getting to the source felt incredibly rewarding, overall this is an amazing experience for a jam game (made in 48 hours at that!)
I love the fact that you have to write down what the elder tells you in your own notes to figure out where the source can be, that little extra step makes it actually feel like you're exploring this vast wilderness
I'm not sure if it's intended but there's some kind of screen tearing when you move around, in the desert environment it looks like heat shimmer! If it wasn't intended, it looks really cool by accident lol
when it comes to the upgrades, they do feel a little expensive, especially when you're so incentivised to spend your scrap on information, and every trip basically requires you to die once, so you lose water no matter what
so yeah, I never felt like I wanted to use the forge at all, so maybe that could be an interesting design question, but regardless I had a ton of fun with the core gameplay loop! and that's the most important
And the theme having multiple layers of interpretation is the cherry on top, the story was captivating, really solid stuff all around! congrats yall this is sick