I was really confused during my first game too.
I really didn't understand where this surfaces came from and why mye companions died so often...
I think Gale should give us clue or an advertisement as soon as we meet him and accept to travel with him. Something a little bit vague but something that could allow players to understand that : pay attention, something's gonna happen when Gale will be dead.
The first time I just don't have any cutscene after his death so I just resurected him with a scroll.
I did it the second time and I find this enigma very cool... I miss a step so I ressurected him with another common scroll.
So it was cool, but on the other hand not really consistent... Gale considered I succeed and tell something like "this ritual was necessary, powerfull magical items,..." => Meh, I have 10 common scroll to rez you... You're ritual was definitely useless.
I think things deserve improvement, but I guess it's planned.
