I hope this works
- Candied Thornapple
- journey
- character development
- music remembering sheet
- Moles? Morrigan loves moles!
- out of sight
- BIKE FUCKING KNIGHT
- The audio logs of Dr. Jack Mason
- Armory ideas
- Canon/series concept
- canon
- David Wight
- Out of Time Man
- Dark humor
- the trees are spinning
- HPA-ECT
- HPA-ECT-2
- shadow charades
- Ichabod
- Stalking to a stranger
- Horror tricks
- Pepto Abysmal
- Preach
- Party planning
- Sagaros
- fluff
- Byrne Docs
In case it needs any clarification,
Thornapple is a nickname for a plant known as Datura stramonium
don't actually eat thornapples, they're toxic
not sure why I feel the need to clarify that,
it just felt like it was needed
High spirits and horrific visions
Overarching story: Focusing in on the human factor of the CI, it shows the individual minds of its members and their experiences. All while hinting at the CI's attempts to create the perfect soldier. A strong being, fearless, loyal, and easily produced. Major themes would be humanistic factors, the overcoming of fear, and finding the perfect mindset.
I hope anyone that wants to share their voice on their characters will join in.
Banked idea: No fear in empty threats
The CI is mostly a joke to the foundation. They are the empty threat that pose no danger as the foundation could just reset back (though the ci have some similar procedures such as phoenix and the vaults). In order to give the CI a chance, they must dismantle the foundations reset facilities. A series based on power struggles and fear. Ichabod acts as tank and avery his right hand, knave still mostly clueless, and hopefully some other collaboration from other authors to
1- Shadow charades: Knave briefs people, this includes awiti and avery, they plan to save ichabod (while knave has never met or heard of him) and decide to pick up the hand along the way.
2- ???: raid on the place, Knave awiti and avery pick up ichabod (who currently has a ping pong ball head), they make some brief encounter with guards (knave figures out ichabods teal), ichabod comes across researcher he disliked, shows off abilities, as he leaves avery finishes him off. They grab the hand and leave after one final showdown.
| Ichabod | Fiction is based off of truth, bitter British dandy, loves sweets and mice (remind him of his voyage to america), was a killed tax collector due to anti tax sentiment, head severed on accident during killing, revived by cult that used dug up bodies, god angered by incomplete body, resurrects ichabod to punish cult, head will become closest spherical object, head is granted sight speech and hearing, taste and scent if using a human head, Body is fully controllable but can only feel (head cannot feel), Can rip out spine as a whip, Whip can be regrow over a 2 hour period (has fast general regeneration and steel like skin and muscle), whip contains a toxin that induces fear (similar to scarecrow),sadistic and likes causing fear but not pain, In the ci for boredom and to stay under the radar. Tall build and muscular, adept horse rider and good with animals |
| Avery Mendel | Prideful and hotheaded when loosing controll, works heavily with Ichabod, minor crush in a harley quinn esque way, abusive childhood, Sadistic and does the dirty work ichabod cannot stomach (heavy gore, mass innocent death, and children), Adept in many weapons though prefers magnum revolvers and heavy blades, Works best with cleavers, Skinny, black hair, blue almost purple eyes, agile, Picked up by the ci as a former serial killer who stalked the wrong person and got thrown into the CI world, currently trying to build up a resilience to ichabods toxin, Dislike animals (killed housepets as a child too) and is a bad people person, Enjoys fear almost as much as ichabod |
| dark humor | glass animals, ratatat, joywave, |
| Morrigan | A good dose of harvey birdman, the glitch mob, cosmo sheldrake, lex, saint motel, random access memories, billy talent |
| dropdown | saint motel, qotsa, |
| Out of sight | The gitch mob, The living tombstone, Rise against |
| BIKE KNIGHT | Wooden toaster, nightcore, |
| ? | Ugo, Dead pirates, weathers, the strumbellas |
| Canon | Assassins creed syndicate soundtrack for valentine, Infected mushroom and ghost data for Tremblay |
Songs? why did I do this. It just make writing a pain.
Agent Ken Rodgers had just arrived in base 37. His head ached with the information he was holding, and he was in a hurry to get it to the highest authority possible. What had seemed like an average recon mission had given results much deeper and darker than he could have imagined. And it was his job to convey the information to the most loyal alpha personnel he could find.
As soon as he reached the interior of base 37, a gaunt man with a hardy voice greeted him. He wore a white pinstripe suit with an unnatural neon green tie. His hair was slicked back like James bond, but an almost childish grin dispersed any similarity between the two.
"Agent! Glad you could make it." The man grabbed his hand and gave it a good shake, slipping a card into his hand before drawing his hand back. The agent slid the card into his pocket as discreetly as possible. "I'm the cell director here, but you can call me Jason." The man gave a small bow before continuing "Come! I heard you needed an outlet with some alpha personnel. My office is close,"
After following for a few minutes, he made a jab at small talk. "So, you're the cell director. I bet you get a lot of privileges with that," Jason stopped and sent a cold stare towards him, "What are you implying?" And for a split second, he seemed much taller than Ken. His face gave an even more skeletal look and his suit appeared much more ragged than before.
"Nothing Sir, just trying to make conversation."
Jason leaned close, until they were only inches apart, before breaking into a similar smile as before. "Nah, I'm just screwing with you." He started walking again "Honestly, the benefits are worth it. For example," He reached into his pinstripe suit, which now looked as if it was newly ironed, and pulled out a pack of fruit stripes gum. "This never runs out of gum, and the flavor never fades. However, it doesn't really have a good field use, so it was going to be destroyed. But I kept it instead (all paperwork filed, mind you)," He offered ken a stick, which he declined.
"But yeah, I get little perks like that. Oh! we're here," He stopped in front of a door indifferent from the many they had passed. "Well? After you," He opened the door and pushed ken in.
They now stood in a dimly lit room. The walls were lined with polished bookshelves covered in various books, trinkets, and photos. In the center of the room stood a large oak desk surrounded by several swivel chairs. On top of the desk was also a swivel chair. Jason walked past him and started to climb his desk. "lemme guess, you're probably wondering why I sit on top of my desk instead of behind it." before he could answer Jason was on the chair with his arms raised vertically "Well it's so I can to THIS!"
you have to look at it
| Item: | Out of Sight |
| Size: | |
| Type: | Canine, |
| Living: | N/A |
| Sentient: | No |
| Potential/Current Hazards | -Is it dangerous? How is it dangerous?- |
| Required Wear/Weaponry | -What should people wear/have when around the object? Is it only in the containment cell, or facility-wide?- |
| Location: | optional -where is the item being kept? |
| Reported Anomaly: | optional -what IS the anomaly? Consult the Terms page |
Usage
How do you use the item? How do you activate it, if applicable? What safety measure do you have to do? What are the potential uses of the item?
The Usage portion should describe how we use the item, how careful we should be, how to take care of it, etc.
Report
What is the item? What does it look like? What's the size? What does it do? Is there something we should be aware of? What are its anomalous properties? How'd we find it? When? How do we store the item safely? How do we protect it?
The Report portion should describe the item, provide the protocols for storing it, etc.
Current premise- Agent has midlife crisis, so he takes a Sabbatical leave. Later during a Foundation raid he comes back, AS BIKE KNIGHT!
From then on, he occasionally apears out of nowhere and helps with uphill fights against the Foundation
https://ifunny.co/picture/why-don-t-people-in-zombie-apocalypse-stories-ever-just-gxE3y5ce7
bike knight,
I call's dibs on this concept
interview appendix, lazy appendix, follow appendix
| Item: | Bike Knight |
| Living: | Yes |
| Sentient: | Yes |
Usage
The usage of Bike Knight is fairly uncontrollable due to its nature. However, The following conditions need to be met for the Item to activate.
- The CI must be engaged in open combat with an enemy GOI
- The CI must have sustained significant losses during the operation
- The location must be accessible by a standard mountain bike
The fact that an operation meets these conditions does not mean that the Item will appear or help1. In scenarios like this, personnel are expected to ignore the presence of Bike Knight and continue with the operation. In scenarios where Bike Knight is present and active, personnel are advised to prioritize their own life on the field.
Report
The item code-name Bike Knight is a Caucasian male formerly known as Agent Wayne Scott. Bike Knight wears a suit of armor of medieval origins and drives a bike of an unknown make. The speed that the item is able to reach has been clocked at 54 kph. Both the armor and the bike do not appear to take damage in the field.
The item only appears during battles when the conditions listed above are met.
What is the item? What does it look like? What's the size? What does it do? Is there something we should be aware of? What are its anomalous properties? How'd we find it? When? How do we store the item safely? How do we protect it?
The following appendix is a list of times when the item "decided not to make itself of any use"2
Occurrence: A skirmish involving the SCP Foundation in Sedona AZ close to the Jack Malmgren Skate Park.
Recorded behavior: Local video surveillance systems picked up video of bike knight on his way to a nearby skirmish. Upon Passing Jack Malmgren Skate Park, Bike knight stops and looks at the skate park. He then shakes his head peddles a few meters before looking back at the skate park. The item then proceeds to spend the next fifty three minutes at the skate park and socializes with several teenagers.
Notes: The skirmish with the Foundation was declared a defeat and all of the teenagers received Type A memory wipes. That said, the footage those kids got was pretty cool. Seriously though, He managed to do an ollie on a fucking bike. I've rewatched that footage 15 times now and I still don't know how he did it. - Lead Researcher Robin
Occurrence: An attack against a GOI base in Ohio. The battle was conducted in a large open field near a road. The only building nearby (other than the base) was a gas station roughly a hundred meters away.
Recorded behavior: The item biked past the battle and entered the convenience store. He comes out ten minutes later with a 128 ounce drink and a bag of Jack Links brand beef jerky. The item then proceeds to shout words of encouragement from the gas station.
Notes: The battle was considered a victory, despite the lack of participation from the item. I'm not sure if it's of any importance, but what he was drinking was Mr.Pibb and orange Crush mixed together. - Lead Researcher Robin
Occurrence: A skirmish involving the Foundation over a new item. The item resembled a LaPerm kitten with sapience and the ability to understand and form the English language.
Recorded behavior: The Item appeared roughly 15 minutes into the battle. He then proceeded to take the kitten from Foundation forces, except instead of killing the enemy forces, the item disarmed both sides instead. The item then lectured all the personnel present for 20 minutes about subjecting a kitten to a life of experimenting and torture. The item then left the scene with the kitten.
Notes: To date, there has been no resurgence of the kitten.
The Report portion should describe the item, provide the protocols for storing it, etc.
The following transcripts are taken from the audio diary of Dr. Jack Mason before his disappearance. The logs were archived in case of possible hints to his whereabouts. Due to his access to classified knowledge, any information on his current whereabouts, dead or alive, should be reported to personnel with Beta or Alpha clearance as soon as possible.
Date: 9/16/200█
Log title: New job!
Contents: *clears throat* Uh, so… Hello me from the future! God, I sound so fuckin awkward right now. I was told that starting a diary is good for the mind. Ya know? But now that I'm here it just feels, uncomfortable.
I don't know. It's probably just another thing I'm not used to doing. But it does feel weird sitting alone talking to the walls.
I guess I should probably mention my job. I was able to finally quit working with all the skips and now I'm in the big leagues. Seriously though, how long was I working with fucking talking burgers? Here they say I'd at least get to work something cool. Hell, I even had to fake my own death to get here. So no going back.
They're giving me a few days to get settled before they assign me something. I just hope I'm still able to use my Ikea membership despite being, well, dead. 'Cause my room right now is looking pretty sparse.
I guess I should wrap this up for today. I might do this again, I might not. I probably won't but who knows.
Date: 9/23/200█
Log title: First Skip,
Contents: Huh, I guess I'm actually doing this again. I got my first assignment so that's good! Apparently they're called items here, not SCPs. Heh, some guys got real pissy when I asked about which SCP I was assigned to. Luckily they were fairly understanding about my situation and told me where to go. The lady I'm working with is pretty nice, she apparently can talk to her stuffed animals. Not really the most practical of abilities, but it could be a decent way to place a bug. Just sneak a teddy bear in a vent, then have her ask it what it saw. Then again I could also see if there is more to this that can be used than just that.
God, I haven't felt my brain this active in a long time. I have two fuckin' Phds and they stuck as a lab assistant. A fucking lab assistant
Ah, but I'm getting worked up again. Let's see, Anything else worth mentioning?
Oh! I was able to find a pawn shop nearby. Spruced up my quarters a bit. Got this sweet record player made to look like a car radio. Might try and base the rest of the room around that. Well, it's either that or give it an eclectic feel.
Anyways, it's getting late. I should probably head to bed.
Date: 10/2/200█
Log title: Nice dudes and dudettes
Contents: The people working here have been so nice to me since I got here. I mean, technically this is a terrorist organization. And a decent chunk of people working here are pretty screwed up in the head. But a psychopath that throws you a birthday party is OK in my book.
Kinda reminds me of the orphanage. Just one big family despite the stigma. Then again I might have just been put in a really nice orphanage.
They also told me about the base Halloween party later this month. They said there's also a costume contest involved so my brain is working on ideas. I'm thinking of either doing something overly witty or overly creepy. But nothings set in stone yet.
Date: 10/15/200█
Log title: In memory
Contents: So… The lady who I was working with died.
Apparently there was a fucking raid from SEPIA where she got caught in the crossfire. I remember talking to her the day before. She spent the larger part of her life in a mental facility. She guessed her parents didn't like that she talked to stuffed animals. She even told me they tried to perform an exorcism on her.
She was thirty when we found her. Most of her life was wasted in hospital rooms. I'm just glad she was able to experience some things with the CI. I brought her a few CDs one day since she said she was bored. She seemed to like Donnie Darko and Zathura a whole lot.
I feel like I should be saying more about her, given that she's not going to be remembered in any way other than paperwork and statistics. But I can't think of anything else about her. Most of her life was squandered. (brief silence) Oh god I'm tearing up. She just wanted to live.
Date: 10/26/200█
Log title: Frank underway
Contents: I decided on a Donnie Darko costume for the party in honor of Amber. I got the mask down, but I'm struggling with the faux fur. That said, I'm glad I still remember sewing from home economics.
Date: 11/1/200█
Log title: Hungover
Contents: I have no memory of last night, and apparently the chick from security I woke up next to didn't either. My guess is that someone spiked the punch since I can't hold my liquor. Shit, and I'm pretty sure my hangover confirms it. I hope things aren't awkward after-
Fuck, I need an Asprin.
Date: 11/4/200█
Log title: Potato mines
Contents: Got a new item today, Potato mines. Potatoes that explode. Only problem is that we don't know what the trigger is. That's where I come in.
Oh yeah, I asked around and it turns out I lost the costume contest. I thought I was pretty good but some guy had a badass Xenomorph costume. Also, I talked with the lady I slept with. Turns out she was just as embarrassed as I was, so we made one of those "Let us never speak of this again" pacts. Funny how this kinda stuff works out.
Date: 7/11/201█
Log title: I remember this
Contents: Damn, I totally forgot that I did this. I was digging through some, uh, well it was more like cleaning but I guess that's not important. Well, I was cleaning up my room for the move and I found my old diary. I've been listening to my recordings and I thought I filled this up more. Honestly, I was doing these for a quarter of a year and I only made 6 or 7 logs.
I forgot about most of the stuff on them too. Like the potato mines. Oh, those were a disaster. Storing them was a pain onto itself, with them growing through the walls and all that jazz. I also won the costume contest the next year too. And the year after that, and after that. Turns out I'm one of the two people here who owns a sewing machine.
Uh, let's see… I'm not sure if there is anything really interesting that's happened between now and then. What am I talking about? Plenty has happened between now and then! Hell, I'm packing to move to a different base right now. I guess all the stuff in between blurs together after a while.
Anyway, I should probably get back to packing. Those vinyl aren't gonna pack themselves!
Date: 7/14/201█
Log title: Finally unpacked!
Contents: Well, it took two days but I finally unpacked everything. My new quarters are slightly bigger than they were at base nine. I might be able to squeeze a personal computer among the chaos.
Heh, chaos.
Welp, I start work tomorrow so I should probably get some rest.
Date: 7/15/201█
Log title: Fancy new item!
Contents: So.. I got to meet my new item today. It's, well, we think it's a mask that makes you popular. We think. I mean, there could be something else at play that we don't know about. I guess that's what I'm here for.
On another note, the people here are a bit colder than the other place I was at. Don't get me wrong, they're still fairly nice. It's just that there's a kinda, Oh, what's the word, chill? No, It's more of a… base-wide introvertedness if that makes sense.
Like earlier today, I was going to the cafeteria for some lunch. Then out of nowhere, this dame starts to turn a corner, sees me, then pretends like they were going straight. And then when I got there I tried to make small talk with one of the guards. So I ask him how his day has been going and he looked me deadpan in the eye, said yes, realized that I didn't ask a yes or no question, and hurried off.
I don't know, maybe I just need to think it over in the morning.
Date: 7/18/201█
Log title: Human testing
Contents: So… I did all the preliminary tests and got confirmed for human testing. It doesn´t seem to give off radiation or anything bad. It just seems to be a normal mask if not worn.
I don´t know, I feel like I should be more excited about getting the paperwork for human testing done, but I just feel drained. It might be that this place is just getting to me. I asked around and apparently this base just has a quieter atmosphere than the other one I was at. I guess it's just natural that a different place would carry a different mood with it. But now I feel a bit lonely without someone to talk to.
Eh, I'll probably just try and get some games to stave off the boredom. I have been meaning to play Bioshock for a while. Might give that a try
Date: 7/23/201█
Log title: My name is Inigo Montoya
Contents: Guess who just got back from the infirmary. This guy!
Who would have thought that the subjects that we were using might not like testing. I remember seeing him put on the mask and thinking Woah, what a fucking badass. I mean, I don't even know anything about him other that he was a prisoner of war. And the mask made him seem like someone from those against all odds stories.
In fact, I thought he was so badass, that I should go in and shake his hand. However, he ended up using me entering as a chance to escape. Luckily, he had taken the mask off (I still have no clue as to why he would) and I came to my senses.
Except now that meant I was now the only thing between him and the open door. So he just came at me, clawing and scratching. It happened so fast it was mostly a burr after that. Next thing I know I'm in the Infirmary with a nasty cut on my cheek and scratches all over my arms. But now every time a look in the mirror I just see Inigo Montoya since the cut's in the exact same place.
You know what, I'm gonna treat myself. I'm gonna go get some jello, that always helps improve my mood.
Date: 7/25/201█
Log title: Test dummy
Contents: So ever since the fiasco last week we've decided to use only trusted personnel as subjects. I personally volunteered since I'm the head researcher for this thing. Now I just gotta hope I don´t explode after a few weeks.
I mean, I feel fine. Now I'm praying that I stay that way.
Date: 7/31/201█
Log title: Amazing mask
Contents: This mask is amazing!
Today I was actually able to walk up to the cell director, ask for his gun, and walk right out! There's no limit on this thing!
And I feel great too. I don't even think it's the item, I just feel better. I mean, I feel badass. It could be the scar, It could be the fact people are finally warming up to me, Hell, It could even be the mask.
You know what, I'm gonna request to wear it in public for the next test. See if I can pick up some vinyl while I'm out. I probably won't even need to pay with that thing.
Date: 8/12/201█
Log title: Beautiful Mask
Contents: The more I look at it, the more beautiful it becomes. The swirling golds, the vibrant red, the creamy base. Wonderful, isn't it? I almost want to take it for myself.
Of course, I can't tell anyone that. Oh no no, They'd lock me away for sure. But when you spend years in this line of work you learn to hide your true intentions pretty well. I mean, I'm the one who spends the most time with it. I'm the one who knows it best. I should be the one to get it!
They'll just let it wear away on field missions. It's a delicate thing, like a small bird. It needs a gentle hand like my own. I've seen how those brutes handle field missions. They'd break its bones without even realizing it.
The following log was played on the base-wide intercom at 11:34 by Dr.Mason. During this time he wore both ████████ █████ and ██████████████, causing nobody to question the message. Afterward, he left with both items and went off the radar. A box with Dr. Mason's audio logs were left next to the intercom.
Date: 8/19/201█
Log title: Bye bye,
Contents: It's been fun working alongside you all. But I'm afraid I have to take my leave now. Don't get me wrong, you all have been lovely. I just feel the need for a change of pace. Away from this facade.
Now now, don't worry. I left all my notes right where they are, should they ever be needed again. But I don't want to spoil the moment by saying too much, so I'll let the Von Trapp family say the rest for me.
(The rest of the audio log is a recording of So long, Farewell, From The Sound of Music. It is thought that Dr. Mason left the building during this time.)
🛈
ScaledDatura
Date of release (2022-01-12)Scurra Aurum
Raw Material:
1kg Gold, 200kg Mercury, 1000kg Pyrite, 2000 2 (1kg each) Properties:
Panes of glass 1 square meter in size. A slightly opaque luster that shows a rainbow sheen when illuminated. Gives the effects of stramonium dust when consumed.
Combinations:
- Water:
Produces a bottle filled with a purple liquid. When broken the bottle releases a gas cloud similar to that given off by David Wight. The cloud and bottle size are proportionate with that of water allowed, with 6oz producing 8 square meters of the cloud. The cloud then persists for approximately 60 seconds before dissipating. The following combinations produce similar results except for the changes listed. Substances can be mixed to mix properties.- Rubbing Alcohol:
Cloud persists for 15 minutes before dissipating.- Chlorophorm:
Subjects within the cloud who fall unconscious will no longer die. However, there has been a correlation with test subjects who fall unconscious being diagnosed with cancer within the following months.- Ether:
Subjects caught in the cloud will become numb and have movement hindered. Hallucinations become stronger as well, with subjects claiming to see neon lights as well as the previous effects.- Human blood:
Cloud becomes a dark crimson and will leave a sticky film to surfaces upon dissipating. If breathed, the substance will condense and clog the bronchi branches in the lungs, often resulting in death. The film has also shown to render gas masks unusable.Additional Notes:
Optional comments about the process, etc. Ask zesc if the cancer could be a mistake
Usage
How do you use the item? How do you activate it, if applicable? What safety measure do you have to do? What are the potential uses of the item?
The Usage portion should describe how we use the item, how careful we should be, how to take care of it, etc.
Report
What is the item? What does it look like? What's the size? What does it do? Is there something we should be aware of? What are its anomalous properties? How'd we find it? When? How do we store the item safely? How do we protect it?
The Report portion should describe the item, provide the protocols for storing it, etc.
Nothing in the world is consistent and our minds are connecting the dots of a puzzle not meant to be solved. This is the thought process of Daniel Valentine. A man who wishes the world gave up caring about petty things like the notion that the reality makes sense. Even more so since his own senses seem to be the only ones able to notice the worlds gaps in sense.
He's not sure if he cares its all falling to pieces around him. He's not quite sure if caring fits his own mindset anymore. He's not even sure what the incorrect gaps in story are. All he knows is that he lives in the cracks that other minds gloss over. After all, he gave up trying to make sense of it. Now he knows that 2+2 can equal 5 if the world changed it's rules on a whim like it has many times in the past. Even stuff like reality anchors have no affect of him or the changes he's witnessed.
Now his motives are nonexistent and the would around him feels like it's collapsing. His only light is the CI, which see a few of the more noticeable errors and try to make sense of them, if not use them. His job is to point out the errors everyone else ignores and write them down in his office.
Due to his role and his haecceity he has a guard of gamma personnel consisting of 12 people at all times. Their jobs are to protect Daniel, file his works in the archive, and to read up on the previous discrepancies so they are not forgotten. His previous guard was mostly destroyed in an accident (the story behind which I still need to think up), save 5 who were not on duty at the time. He now is giving a speech to the new recruits to hopefully help with the confusion his work brings.
One of which is a younger gamma personnel named Jackson Tremblay who is skeptical, modern, and cynical. He doesn't quite trust what he's reading but he doesn't doubt Valentines words. He's not sure if he'll make friends or enemies with his personality and hopes he can just stay afloat. And though nobody appointed him leader he acts as the voice for the cadets. Each of which I am planning on fleshing out, though some more than others.
Now, I want to have it as a full story. With not just my own thoughts, but that of others as well. And one of the main problems I'm facing is that I would need to have more of a story fleshed out to start working. And I would like to have the input and contribution of others to help evolve the series into something more than "A plot with a subplot."
So I'm looking for someone to collaborate with for a full series. Because I am limited by my own perspective, and I feel there are to many stories told from a single point of view nowadays.
"The funny thing about my view of the world, is that nothing is canon. Yes, there are consistencies. And yes, there are inconsistencies. But what about those factors makes us assume we are right. Is it the fact we can see whats wrong with the world and find it. Wrong, near nobody can tell the facts from fiction. Do you know why that is?
"It's because the fiction becomes the facts. The world has a way of smoothing out peoples minds. Making sure that the reality they know is canon. You've seen some of the inconsistencies, and a great many of the consistencies. Hell, a tenth the items here aren't inconsistent, just improperly smoothed out. But the purpose isn't to question it, or even try to make sense of it. It's to not care and move on.
"However some people feel the need to remember it, to make sense of it, to patch it up. And while I might disagree with their mindsets, I'd be a fool to turn down their offers. So I am the man who keeps track of the consistencies. I write them down and I look for them. I also can tell you if something is from a previous canon or not. That is my job, and I am very good at it.
"You're jobs are to file my documents, protect me, and read up on my previous writings so the worlds past are not forgotten. And know, you will disagree with me. After all, every paper is false nowadays. But they were correct in times past. So don't doubt my statements.
"Your work starts tomorrow, you all may now leave."
As the cadets filed out of the room, one stayed behind. His hair was put in a classic slick back style and the air around him gave off the scent of gunpowder and cedar. "Permission to speak frankly Sir?"
"Permission granted"
"What makes you any different from a reality anchor or mematic training?"
"Ah, usually someone asks that. Well I'm still affected by mematics and reality benders, just not the world, if that makes sense."
"I'm afraid I don't follow"
"Think of it like this, see that lamp in the corner?"
"Yes"
"What color is it?"
"It's a navy blue with a brass base"
"Correct. Now if a reality bender changed it from blue to green, it would simply be known as green for everyone other than the reality bender and those with reality anchors. And that applies to me as well. Now, if the world said something along the lines of lamps should be naturally green, all lamps would be green. No one would question it and it would probably be backed by some scientific fact, like all lamps are green since the absorption of green light is the best and it's cheapest way to make them. It would just make sense to everyone other than me.
"Now in a situation like that I would take the event, document what changed, and then have you read about the mystical time when lamps could be all sorts of colors, not just green. Does that make more sense?"
The cadet looked at the the lamp sitting in the corner of the room, and then back at Daniel. "Yeah, I think I got it." He let out a sigh, as if defeated by the fact he couldn't think of another kink in his reasoning. "I suppose I'll let myself out now."
"Third door on the left then straight ahead" Daniel responded returning to his desk. "Oh, and whats your name by the way." The cadet stopped midway through the door. "Jackson Tremblay sir," he said. "Thank you, that will be all."
He stole one more glance at the hot pink lamp before turning back and heading home.
Then next morning Jackson headed back to the old outlet mall. He passed several kiosks, the smell of soft pretzels mixed with the rubber from a nearby shoe store. The temptation from the bright signs meshed with his small breakfast and overtook him.
He turned right past the bookstore with churro in hand. Through a door, down 2 flights of stairs, past a large boiler, and down an elevator well hidden. The quiet ride down gave him a slight chill. Not that it spooked him or anything of the sort, only that the cold metal gave it an empty feel. As if he was descending into the abyss.
A sudden jerk said that he was at his destination. The doors slid open and he stepped out onto the equally cold feeling linoleum. The base, despite the attempt to lighten up the facility with some plants, felt rather clinical. He took the last bite of his fried cinnamon sugar before heading to check in with his boss.
As he entered office the older man smiled "Ah, you're a bit early today. You've got an easy job too, archive duty. You know where they are, don't you?" His balding head didn't make him the most flattering individual. "Yes sir," In actuality he only had a vague idea, but the base was structured in such a way that it would be easy to find.
Daniel's office was at the center of the facility, with the rest of complex almost spiraling around it. He knew that much from the intro he got before the reassignment. "When you get there Shelly should give you the rundown. It's all pretty simple, usually peoples favorite too." Jackson doubted he would be as interested in reading and sorting documents as he would be in the field. But he was willing to give it a shot.
| Item: | David Wight |
| Size: | Approximately 2 meters in height |
| Type: | Undead |
| Sentient: | Yes |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Toxic gas |
| Required Wear/Weaponry | Personnel working closely with the Item should keep a standard gas mask on at all times |
| Location: | Testing base 29 |
| Reported Anomaly: | Immortality, Regenerative properties, Toxic gas |
Usage
The gas given off by the Item can be vacuumed and distilled into a powder. This powder, nicknamed stramonium dust, has a variety of different uses. It should be noted that this powder is not to be ingested by any personnel under normal circumstances, as it will lead to mild hallucinations and eventually death.
The first use is of stramonium dust is to mix it with water on a 3:1 ratio and soak a rag in the solution. Breathing in through the rag will cause mild hallucinations. After roughly 6 seconds of breathing in it will incapacitate it's victim for a minimum of three minutes. Continuous breathing of the mixture for over a minute will result in death. It should be noted that these rags are to be kept in a container to prevent accidental exposure and to keep the solution from drying out.
The second use of the powder is the replacement of medical supplies when none are found. When rubbed onto an open wound or injected into the blood stream it can replace the need for medical materials such as butterfly tapes and minor splints. As it can reposition out of place flesh and bone into similar spots and hold them there until proper medical supplies can be found. No more than 150 milligrams should be used within an hours time period, or else the user will experience mild hallucinations and eventual death.
The powder can also be used as a poison. However this is unadvised as less noticeable and more efficient poisons and hallucinogens exist.
The Item itself can be used for the testing of weapons and new Items due to it's regenerative properties and immortality. It should be noted that these testings should be spaced out as to let the Item regenerate over time. This is so that results are closer to that of a normal human subject.
Report
David Wight is the codename for the reanimated corpse of David White. The corpse hovers roughly 8 cm above the ground and is surrounded by a purple smoke. This smoke appears to flow in place of blood, however it often leaks out and surrounds the Item in a 1 meter cloud. Pieces of the corpse that fall off or become detached from the rest of the body are held in place, but often shift a few centimeters from their natural spot. The corpse also experiences mild regenerative properties, often prioritizing the reconnection of detached pieces first. However the rate of regeneration is long and often times estimated to take over a full year for a complete regeneration. Because of this the Item is often unable to fully recover before getting injured again.
Creatures that enter the smoke cloud will begin to experience mild hallucinations instantly. Causing slightly blurred vision, imaginary moths appearing at light sources, and pink tinted vision. When in the cloud for more than 15 seconds subjects start to experience trouble to stay awake and will often lose consciousness around the 25 second mark. If not removed from the cloud after 40 seconds the subject will die.
The Item was first discovered after reports of teenagers attacking a zombie at a cemetery in ██████████ Pennsylvania. Further investigation revealed the poisoning of a local grave digger and the looting of David Whites grave. The Item was found by insurgency personnel in a beech tree attempting to hide. The Item showed deep guilt for the accidental killing of the graves digger and agreed to come with personnel if he could be kept from killing again. Since his arrival David Wight has been compliant with the CI and it's questionable usage of weapons on him. The only time that the Item became unruly was when a subject was killed in its cloud during testing. This testing was done to see the maximum exposure in the cloud. The Item has taken an interest in food at the CI claiming that its taste has been amplified. Because of this the Item often requests exotic foods despite the lack of a functioning digestive track.
Appendix
The following interview was taken roughly 3 hours after its arrival in CI custody. The interviewer is agent Marie Chinonso, as she had establish a trust during the Items bringing in. The interview was conducted in a 2 meter by 3 meter glassed off room to prevent accidental exposure to the smoke.
Begin log
Marie: Hey, how's the system been treatin' ya?
Wight: Been getting a bunch of weird looks, but I guess I am a rather unpleasant sight. Hell, mostly just been bureaucratic shit so far.
Marie: Ah, well paperwork sucks. Do you mind if I ask some questions?
Wight: Not at all.
Marie: Alright then. What was the last thing you remember before your death?
Wight: Oh lets see, I remember its was night. Must've been no later than 3 or 4 AM. I heard some noise come from downstairs. At first I thought it was my wife, but then I realized she was still sleeping next to me. So I went and got an old shotgun I kept in case of intruders and went downstairs. I found some kid, probably no older than 19, rummaging through my desk. I'm not sure if he was an addict, a thief, or what. All I remember is that he stabbed me right in the thigh. I managed to unload a blast of bird shot on him though, so I guess that makes us kinda even. I don't remember much after that. I guess I must've passed out from blood loss.
Marie: Was there anything magical or unnatural that you remember from your death?
Wight: Other than the fact that I got shanked by a kid who broke into my house. I would say it was a pretty normal night.
Marie: Well on to the next question then. What do you remember from when you woke up?
Wight: Oh man, I think I was laying down in my coffin. It felt like, it felt like… Oh what's the word. Like I had gotten up on the wrong side of bed, kinda. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. Probably not that important anyway. Well, I was in my coffin surrounded by pitch black. I didn't know I was in a coffin, mind you. But either way it freaked me out. I tried moving around and finding a way out, but 6 feet of dirt made it kinda hard to open.
Marie: Damn, that's a claustrophobia nightmare.
Wight: It was, I never really minded tight spaces in life. But waking up in a coffin sized padded room scared the living daylights out of me. I must have screamed for at least 2 hours before I calmed down and tried to brute force my way out. I remember buying my coffin back in '97, I chose a nice mahogany one with all the bells and whistles. Now I wish I got one made outta balsa wood 'cause that thing took ages to break. I started off by punching it. Giving it the good old one two, ya' know? After a while my punches felt more like weird slaps. That was when I first realized I wasn't quite human anymore. Especially since my fingers were broken into good one inch chunks. (Item waves its hands rapidly to emphasize the shredded flesh in place of its fingers.)
Marie: That looks a little worse than one inch chunks.
Wight: Well that wood didn't break right away. I must have had to let these bad boys heal a good three times before I could get through that lid.3 Hell, I've still got some splinters in between my knuckles. (The Item then proceeds to pick out bits of dirt and wood from it's flesh)
Marie: What did you do when underground?
Wight: What did I do? Well there wasn't much to do really, when I wasn't chipping away at the lid I mostly just laid there and thought.
Marie: What did you think about?
Wight: Life, death, I mostly spent the time coming to terms with my previous life. I mean I had lived a good life. I had a wife who loved me, three beautiful children, a nice house. Hell, I was well-off enough that I could afford my own coffin and a burial spot in a nice cemetery. I never really had any big regrets either. I guess all that reflection really showed me how good I had it. Other than that I thought a lot about getting out, managing the dirt problem, and wondering if I was a zombie or something.
Marie: The dirt problem?
Wight: Well I broke through that thing ages ago. But breaking through meant the dirt came in. So a lot of my time was spent trying to make the hole wide enough so that I could get out without drowning in soil. (Item looks around the interview room and grimaces) It was only a few days ago when I thought it was big enough to fit through. So I kinda positioned myself so that I could push off. Kinda like how you would push off the bottom of a pool. You know what I'm saying? Anyhow, I pushed off and started trying to swim up the dirt. I mean it's wasn't easy. Pushing through compacted soil with these shredded things, (Item once again motions to its hands) but once I hit the grass I could pull the rest of myself up.
Marie: So this was the first time you were doing anything outside of your coffin since your reanimation?
Wight: Reanimation? Don't see that word to often. But yeah, it was the first time I was really do anything other than think and punch. It was the first time I was able to see too. And man was it vivid. I never really thought of graveyards as particularly pleasant places in life, Mostly just morbid and gloomy. But those headstone were a sight for sore eyes. And I'll never forget looking down and seeing myself flying! I mean it's more hovering. But still, flying!
Marie: So how did you find out about the rest of your abilities?
Wight: Well I already told you about the healing and what makes my body stay connected. But the first I noticed when I got out was that everything was this weird purple tint. I was a bit confused at first but I kinda shrugged it off as just another weird thing. But then this nasty kind of bug few right in my face. I started to wave it off when I notice that my vision cleared where I was waving. After a bit of trying I found out about this weird fog. Not quite sure if it's the reason I'm alive or if its just like some kind of waste. All I know is that it's dangerous.
Marie: I'm assuming you met the gravedigger shortly after?
Wight: Sadly yes, I wish I could have done something else to help him. But he just kept on trying to get as close as possible to attack me. I guess it makes sense for a gravedigger to be paranoid about the living dead. But I would have run for the hills if I were him. Not get in a goddamn dust cloud. I guess it had to happen eventually. And otherwise it might have been someone else less aggressive. But still, I checked his wallet after he was dead to try and figure out how bad I screwed up. And it chokes me up to say that the 2 faces of his darling angels were staring back at me. They couldn't have been any older than 5 and 10. (Item starts getting visibly choked up)
Marie: You don't have to talk about him anymore if you don't want to.
Wight: Thank you.
Marie: What did you do after that?
Wight: I mostly wandered about and tried to stay away from people. I was only there for 3 days mind you. So I didn't really have a set routine. Luckily the first day I was able to hide fairly well. The second day however I turned a corner and ran into a group of teens. I remember very clearly that two of them were wearing leather jackets and the other 2 wore denim. Well, one wore a denim jacket, the other had jeans and a t-shirt. Anyways, one of the leather ones had some sort of hunting knife on him. Of which he managed to land a good slice on me. I personally didn't want a repeat of the earlier incident so I tried to back away. However those kids kept egging him on, shouting shit like "Go gettum' frank," and "Show that meatbag who's boss." I think they might have been a bit slow.
Marie: How did you get rid of them?
Wight: Oh, I disarmed him and stuck the knife in my arm. Not the most practical of solutions but it sure as hell scared them away. After that I waited the night out and you guys found me yesterday.
Marie: Well that's all I need from you for now. Thanks for your co-operation.
Wight: Much obliged.
| Item: | Out of Time Man |
| Size: | 2 meters |
| Sentient: | Yes |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Possible harm to the CI due to lack of field training, Possible harmful forms for drawing personnels attention away |
| Reported Anomaly: | Rebirth, invulnerability |
Usage
On the third Monday of every month, the 59th street/Columbus circle station should be watched to recruit the item before they latch onto a different concept. Though several tactics for recruiting the item have worked, the most successful is the awakening scenario.
The awakening scenario is when the item is confronted that he is a former agent who went under for years and he is now being reawakened for a last effort in the insurgency. This is often handled by Agent Abinor Mea due to his learning of Oscar's mannerisms and past. Though an inexperienced agent can perform the scenario as well. Other scenarios can be used as well, often if the passion the insurgency needs is different than the base dedication to the insurgency.
Within the first 2 days of CI custody, it is best to give the Item basic firearm, field code, and tactical training to minimize errors. It is also in the insurgency's best interest to use the Out of Time Man in prisoner switches (for their disposability), in catch 22 scenarios (because to their invulnerability), and Black suit missions (due to their knowledge of pleasing higher class individuals). Though it is also recommended to give times to the Item at least 15 minutes ahead as to counter its tardiness.
Report
The Out of Time Man is the codename for Oscar Hofmann and his associated ability. The anomaly consists of Oscar's rebirth, invulnerability, and eventual suicide, as well as the inability to prevent any of the events from happening. For simplicity's sake, this is split into 5 stages known as the birth, the programming, the passion, the hanged man, and the pause stages.
The birth stage takes place on the 3rd Monday of every month at 2:36. At which they will be seen exiting the 59th street/Columbus circle station in New York, New York. Despite all attempts, any view of the Item before his exiting will be obscured. This has happened in forms from balloons blocking lenses, a rat crawling up an agent's leg causing the line of sight to be broken, to the mugging of an agent at gunpoint. During the birth, Oscar's phone will receive a text with a timestamp dating to 8 minutes prior stating I swear to god if you miss your train again dont catch the next one from a contact named Ana. Ana was later found to be the Items ex, claiming "He was a nice guy and all, but there was only so much waiting a girl can take. And let me tell you he was not the most punctual guy."
The programming stage occurs in the 32 hours following the birth stage. During this time Oscar is highly suggestible to ideas such as new hobbies, rouge-like groups (such as the CI), and larger-than-life concepts. After an Idea has taken hold in the Out of Time Man's mind, they will move into the passion stage.
In the passion stage the item will take the concept latched onto in the programming stage and devout its waking hours to the idea. In the case of the insurgency, the item will do any task available to rise in the ranks or benefit the CI. During this time the item is unable to be killed or harmed in any way. This will always happen due to a chance scenario, such as a gun jamming just before a shot is fired or a random mattress truck for the item to leap onto from a high place. However, these occurrences are not entirely affected by the item with some being put in motion before the item even gained its anomaly. It should be noted that while the item cannot be killed, it can still fail at certain tasks and cause great harm to the insurgency due to inexperience.
On the 23rd of each month, the hanged man stage begins. During this time the Item will act solemnly and even confront people about their regrets. At 4:27 EST they will kill themselves by any means possible. This cannot be prevented or delayed despite the insurgency's best efforts. Means of suicide have included ripping out the femural artery, holding their breath even after passing out, and tensing the muscles in the neck to block the carotid artery. Any attempts to keep the Item alive will be met with machinery failure due to chance circumstances. Upon death, the pause stage begins.
During the pause stage the Items banks account will refill (if anything was withdrawn) and their rent will be paid. Their body will stay until the birth stage begins again, upon which anyone witnessing it will have their line of sight obscured. Afterward, the corpse will be gone.
Oscar Hofmann is 2 meters tall with a thin physique and long blond hair. Before his first suicide in 2013 he worked as the FOH manager at the high-end Oakenfall restaurant in the Manhattan area. Because of this they are a smooth talker and able to co-ordinate teams effectively, though know little of military strategy. They are often described as a gentleman and chivalrous by both colleagues and insurgents. However, they struggle with time management and often miss deadlines and randevu times.
He counsels through with laughter
"Red bravo is the target in sight?"
"Affirmative, target is approaching the extraction point."
"Stand by for signal"
Rowan MacClery was tired of waiting. She had been sitting for the past five hours twiddling her thumbs waiting for a single cargo ship to come into port. She meant to bring a book or something of the sort but forgot last second. And her partner for this mission, Micheal, wasn't much of a talker. "Sorensen sure took his time," no response came from the stoic man. "Well he'll be glad he got the extra hours in. You ready at the wheel?" This time there was a but a single nod before her eye in the sky started back up again on the radio.
"Target is moving into position in 3, 2, 1-" As he finished the final syllable she leaped onto the weathered concrete. The salty sea air met her skin as she eyed Sorensen's two guards. One started for his firearm, only to grab at his neck in a vein attempt to keep from bleeding out. Their support wasn't the best, otherwise he might have gotten a clean shot, but it was better than nothing. As the second one reacted Rowan dealt with him at point blank range and splatted their payload with more blood.
| Item: | High Pressure Awakening Electroconvulsive Therapy |
| Type: | Procedure |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Potential death of the subject through malpractice |
| Required Wear/Weaponry | Insulated clothing and shoes are recommended to prevent accidental exposure to electricity |
Usage
When performing the HPA-ECT procedure there is little room for flexibility as any changes can result in the death of the subject. If there is a current fluctuation of more than 2 milliamps, the subject will die. If the intervals in which the current flows have a fluctuation of .35 seconds or more, the subject will die. If the electrodes are not inserted directly into the amygdala in a bilateral fashion, the subject will feel the effect of the needle and may gain permanent brain damage. If the queue for regression defense is missed for longer than 20 seconds, the subject will die. Because of the high consequences of malpractice, it is recommended that personnel who need to perform the procedure practice beforehand on expendables.
The main use of the HPA-ECT is for taking individuals with procedural memory4 and putting them to insurgency causes. This will most often be due to noncompliance with insurgency causes, but can also be for making sure that operations cannot be traced back to the CI. The procedure can also be used for erasing memory, however this is not usually recommended as the fabrication of new memories can conflict with existing events.
Report
The High Pressure Awakening Electroconvulsive Therapy, or HPA-ECT for short, is a dangerous procedure that when done successfully can cause a hard reboot of the brain. The procedure starts by inserting two high stimulus electrodes into the amygdala in a bilateral formation. A current of 1200 milliamps must then flow through at 5 second intervals. If the procedure is done correctly the subject will not be harmed.
While this is going on the subject with not show any signs of pain, but instead intense fear. This is assumed to happen due to the procedure taking place in the amygdala5 and the opening of neurochemical pathways that come with ECT procedures. The current must keep flowing until the subject reverts to using the defense mechanism of regression. Upon which, the current should be brought down to 500 milliamps and the subject will be put in a trance like state.
In this state, the subject will have lost all of their short-term and archived memory and becomes highly susceptible to suggestion. Making them similar to a blank slate. Subjects should be programmed with a goal in mind during this time and given a backstory. When done programming the subject should be introduced back to the 1200 milliamp dosage for 1 minute before being removed from the electrodes. They will then go into a catatonic state for 30 minutes before waking up.
Upon waking up the subject will have no memory of their previous life, but will instead have completely fabricated memories based on what was said in the programming period. They will then proceed to go through their life as if nothing had happened (unless their programming states otherwise). Individuals who go through the procedure tend to leave with General Anxiety Disorder, but this is theorized to be a side effect of the ECT alone. The procedure can be practiced multiple times on the same individual. Anxiety traits tend to worsen the more the procedure is performed.
The HPA-ECT procedure was first discovered by CI scientists working under Dr. Geming Yi. The original intention of the experiments using ECT was to test for possible treatments to PTSD for emotionally unstable recruits. While the majority of results were inconclusive, the HPA tests proved unique as subjects had a high rate of survival in comparison to the dosage as well as showing notable fear in place of pain. Through further testing, the HPA-ETC procedure was created and put into field use.
Appendix:
The following list is of notable instances of the HPA-ECT procedure.| Changes in procedure (If any) | Results |
|---|---|
| No commands were given for the entirety of the programming stage, the rest of the procedure was conducted as normal. | Subject entered a catatonic state upon waking up. Redoing the procedure reversed any effects. |
| Subject was programmed with their previous memories in intense detail, including an in depth description of their life since birth and descriptions of their wife and kid's looks and personality. The subject had no knowledge of the CI as to not leak information in the process. | The subject, upon reintroduction to their family, said that they were not his real family. He claimed that they were "crude fakes" in an attempt to trick him and he then proceeded to question them about detailed events explained in the programming stage, calling them out for minor details that were created differently post procedure. |
| The subject was a CI operative scheduled for termination with 20 years of experience on various musical instruments. They were programmed to believe that they were a cover musician. | All knowledge of their previous songs was lost, though when asked to play songs from their previous roster they proceeded to play the song to a similar skill level as they had previously. |
| The subject was an anomalous individual who showed great distaste for the insurgency. Anomalous properties included an altered genetic structure among other effects. Electrodes were still placed in the amygdala area in accordance with their altered genetic structure. | The subject expired as if the procedure was done incorrectly despite no viable error being found. It is believed that this is due to the subjects anomalous properties as similar results have been recorded in other genetically different anomalous individuals. |
| Item: | -your item name here- |
| Size: | optional -the size of the item here; use metric- |
| Type: | optional -is it a fungus? a mammal? something made during the Renaissance?- |
| Living: | optional -Y/N- |
| Sentient: | optional -Y/N- |
| Potential/Current Hazards | -Is it dangerous? How is it dangerous?- |
| Required Wear/Weaponry | -What should people wear/have when around the object? Is it only in the containment cell, or facility-wide?- |
| Location: | optional -where is the item being kept? |
| Reported Anomaly: | optional -what IS the anomaly? Consult the Terms page |
Usage
How do you use the item? How do you activate it, if applicable? What safety measure do you have to do? What are the potential uses of the item?
The Usage portion should describe how we use the item, how careful we should be, how to take care of it, etc.
Report
What is the item? What does it look like? What's the size? What does it do? Is there something we should be aware of? What are its anomalous properties? How'd we find it? When? How do we store the item safely? How do we protect it?
So many people, wonder what makes this operation special. Knave hovered at the front of the room. Even though he knew his wandering gaze couldn't be traced, he was worried to make eye contact with any of them. The facility he had inspected seemed like an average one. Not that any of these places were average, but if anything this one seemed slightly smaller than the rest. He pondered the thought a bit more before the agent managing the raid took the podium.
"Well I think we all know why we're here. But for those of you that don't, the Knave here-" He gave a complimentary wave "Recently did a recon mission at a foundation base we're calling facility 25. I know a couple of you have had briefings with the knave before, but let me explain how this works for the rest of you. The Knave will shape out the bases layout and show points of interest. However some of these pictures don't always make sense right away. If he does something that you understand that the rest of us don't, feel free to shout it out." He stood for a second as if wondering as if he had forgotten something before continuing "Well I suppose that's all I need to really explain. Take it away knave." Erembour smiled and took a more centered position as the agent took his seat.
Ok, Mary, you at least should get this. He took the shape of a trophy and then a wing. Then a capital I and a smaller version of himself in a box. A lady in the front row spoke up. "First wing you were in?" A quick thumbs up confirmed her answer before he shifted into a rough blueprint of a small area. He waited for the clipboards to stop scribbling as he then zoomed in on one of the more important rooms. He thought for a minute, how the hell do I explain a hand you can't touch. He made another I, an eye, and a beaker.
"You saw testing?" He followed with a nod. Now came the hard part. He made a hand, then a bigger hand, then the hands touching, then an X. He could see confusion in the crowd. "No teamwork? Is it a pattern screamer?" No no, its a hand He tried emphasizing the anomalous hand by by pointing himself and then forming the small hand. "You need to be the one to item?" "Is it another shadow like you?" "Were you involved in the testing?" All still wrong answers. Come on, you guys are getting cold with each guess. He looked for something that could help him before spying someone at the back of the room.
Awiti had worked with the knave before, and had sat in on more than her fair share of agents shouting like headless chicken to listen to the immediate briefing. She would just read over the report after all was said and done and go on the mission. What she didn't expect was for the knave to put a big flashy Las Vegas arrow over her chair in the corner of the room. As she noticed a collective group of researchers realized what he was getting at and jotted down some notes she would have to read in a couple hours. She tried to shoot Knave a glare but he was already back the front of the room explaining the best he could. She'd chew him out later, for now she would go back to reading behind her clipboard.
So they know it's an item, but we need to grab it without touching it He tried the same shapes as he did before. "We shouldn't grab it? Is it volatile?" No "So we should grab it?" Yes, but I'm trying to warn you He signed the item in a bag, then a check mark. Followed by the hand grabbing and the X. "So we should get then item, but not physically touch it?" Bingo!
"So a restroom here?" yep "Ah, and there is a small containment room here. Anything notable?" No, everything was in lock boxes. it was going on an hour 30 and they were just finishing up, only one more wing. Nothing too much here. A cafeteria, a few empty testing rooms. There was one notable containment chamber, but not much else. He thought about what he saw and tried to think of something they would understand. He decided to make a simple shape of what he saw. He formed a headless man sitting cross-legged, he followed with a small sack hanging from a rope.
A few of the agents whispered to each other, even Awiti looked up. "Were there any special precautions on this room?" Must've been something we've had our eye on for a while. That also explained the flux of people sitting in. Was there anything special? Seemed like a normal padded room. I guess I should mention the padded part. A quick box and a women's hygiene product gave the agents a good idea of what they were dealing with.
Well this thing sure livened up the room. Almost all of the agents chimed in now, asking about guard patrols, possible escape route from the wing, and a few were arguing about the best route to pick up items (prioritizing the headless man of course). Wonder what this thing can do, hope it's someone they can recruit and not just a body that, well, does something. One of the agents in the background was starting stand out with their argument. She had jet black hair and deep blue, almost violet, eyes. Each time she was countered her voice rose slightly.
"I'm not saying we should ignore half the base, but I think we need to prioritize some things more than others. We have no clue what most of these things do, but we know that hand is dangerous. Not to mention we know what basic precautions to take."
The man across from her was getting annoyed as well. "I can get that, but we'd be loosing the chance at 3 perfectly safe looking items that way."
"Would you be calling that hand safe if the Knave didn't say it wasn't? Or would we have put some sort of spell on who knows how many agents just because we didn't know." The man looked taken aback by this comment, she continued "Look, I just think it's a safer bet to pick up 12 items that we have some info about than 14 wild cards."
When she finished she realized how quiet the room had become. She addressed the crowd watching her. "Look, I just think better safe than sorry." The agent in charge of the raid stood up "Personally I agree with you, just make sure to keep the volume level low enough that every sigma and spy can't hear us" She blushed and took her seat. The agent, seeing that he had control of the room, decided to rein everyone back together.
| Item: | Ichabod |
| Size: | 1.6 meters |
| Living: | Yes |
| Sentient: | Yes |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Strong moral compass, |
| Location: | Base 5 |
| Reported Anomaly: | Possession, Toughened body |
Usage
How do you use the item? How do you activate it, if applicable? What safety measure do you have to do? What are the potential uses of the item?
The Usage portion should describe how we use the item, how careful we should be, how to take care of it, etc.
Report
Ichabod Cross is a sentient disembodied corpse nicknamed the Horseman. The corpse by itself is incapable of sight, speech, taste, and smell. Though the corpse can still detect sound and navigate by feel. To make up for its loss of a head, the corpse can possess a nearby object to act as one. These objects must be approximately 55cm to 60cm in circumference and require markings for eyes. Once a usable head has been found Ichabod will gain vision through both eye markings and is capable of speech. If a human/animal head is used the head is capable of smell and taste. The head is unable to be controlled remotely.
The corpse has also been shown to have a toughened skin and muscle. The breaking point of which is 3.482e+8 pascal. This provides the majority of gunfire useless and hand-to-hand combat futile. However, despite the Item's defensive capabilities, they lack a main source of offensive power. Because of this they often resort to fear-mongering. The item can detach its spinal cord and is able to use it as a whip. While the whip itself is largely ineffective, often leaving little more than bruising, it acts as an extra deterrent to aggressors.
Ichabod Cross was originally a tax collector for the British in the mid to late 1700s. Due to anti-British sentiments at the time, Ichabod was soon killed. The exact cause of death is unknown, but it is believed that the item lost its head in the incident. Through past investigations of the Item, it is known that Ichabod's corpse was given to a small cult that has since died out. While original use for the corpse is unknown, it is believed that the Item's reanimation was accidental. Upon awaking, Ichabod had killed most of the cultists. He claims he has no memories before that.
The Item then spent the next 2 centuries wandering America, using heads made from makeshift items. During this time the item claims to have encountered Washington Irving outside of the town of sleepy hollow and claims to have been the inspiration behind Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The item also claims to have been a more powerful entity at that time, but due to advancing technologies, most of its natural power is undermined.
In 1978 The item was captured by foundation forces and placed under containment until 1981 when it was liberated by insurgency forces. While the item doesn't always agree with insurgency goals, the Item is generally compliant claiming that working is "Easier than living like a hobo." The item also is neutral to the thought of killing. However, they find great disgust in the thought of heavy gore and the death of innocents.
Left foot, right foot, left foot, that's it, keep going, come on, show me that pretty scream
A click came from the chair as he sat down. A little trick Avery had perfected through trial and error. A small razor silently slid down and jutted forward, just enough to cut the Achilles but not far or strong enough to sever the foot. The man winced and grabbed at his foot, barely stifling a shout.
Is that all? I know it hurts, let it all out
He limped out into the hall, gripping his bleeding ankle and leaning on the same arm. Avery slipped out of the closet she was looking from and followed him slowly. Staying just out of sight. He thought for a second about whether he should call 911 or head towards the bathroom to handle it himself.
He chose the landline.
Bad idea
She had cut it long before he had gotten home. He tried to no use to dial the numbers several times. He said something under his strained breath that she couldn't quite make out. He made a hasty look around the room that barely gave her time to react, yet luckily he didn't seem to notice her. He started his way back to the bathroom, practically crawling now. She followed.
Just a little more, you can do it
She felt the condensation in her mask on her lips. Her heart was pounding. She felt it in every vein from her ears to her fingertips. The latter formed around her blade's hilt. He finally made it to the bathroom. On the floor facing him was a silver platter. It was polished to the point where he could see himself in it, as well as the masked figure behind him.
"I was beginning to lose hope" He flipped onto his back to face the voice. The rushed action caused him to let out a small squawk. "So you do have a voice in you" He tried to address the figure in a straight voice. "Why is" He swallowed through gritted teeth. "this happening?" The maroon mask tilted.
"Oh shush, you haven't even looked at your gift" She motioned the tray with the tip of her boot. "On second thought, maybe I should unveil it. You seem a bit indisposed" She entered the room, 'accidentally' stepping on his hand while moving around his body. He let out a small yelp.
She hovered her hand over the tray. "Just as you ordered" She lifted the lid. Inside was a rotting lambs ribcage with rosemary stems hanging from the peaks like streamers. "Rack of lamb with rosemary" Something clicked in the man's head as if he remembered something through the pain. "You, you're that bitch" His breathing was heavy, "With the fucking survey."
"Ding ding, I'm glad you remembered. Though I will recommend you start eating" The man looked disgusted at the thought. "What if I-" But was unable to finish after a waft of the stuff hit him. "Cheeky too, I like that. Well, the more you finish, the longer you have to live. Sounds like a fair deal to me."
He attempted to steady his voice. " She swung hard down into his ribs. His scream almost made up for his mouth. The blade gave some resistance as she yanked it out. "Now, eat" With her open hand, Avery grabbed the lamb and slammed the rotten carcass down on him. Yet, he only grabbed at his own bleeding ribs.
"Fine, Fine, I've given you enough chances" Her voice teetered on the edge of rage and disappointment. And though he couldn't see it, her face twisted as she swung again. She usually would savor this moment. Holding onto each pop of a joint and every giving pull of the knife. Now, there was no more joy felt. Now she was pissed.
Avery still felt a bitter taste from the previous night. Everything went flawlessly, the planning, the entrance, the exit. But the victim himself was the problem. This time she would choose better.
Now she stood on a street corner eyeing the pedestrians. Only a few had caught her interest today, and all of those came with complications. A woman with children meant too many lives to corral, and a university student meant dealing with dorms. She steadied her clipboard as she noticed a man waiting for the crosswalk. He looked to be in about his fifties with maybe some veteran experience.
"Excuse me, sir, can I have a moment of your time?"
He eyed her with suspicion. "What for? I'm in a bit of a rush." His voice suggested he smoked heavily. "I promise sir, it will only be a moment. I'm surveying with the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, and I would love if you could answer some quick questions" He let out a sigh. "How long is it?" She responded with a smile. "Only a few minutes" He checked his watch then looked up to see the crosswalk turn from green to red. "Fine, but keep it quick."
"First, do you mind if I ask if you have any veteran status?"
"Yeah, served on the back end of 'Nam," Avery noted it on her clipboard.
"What would you say your current cost of living is?"
"Oh, it's gotta be around 60 thousand."
"Do you have any preparations for when you die?" He thought for a second before noticing the light turning green again.
"Can we take this on the road? I really am in a hurry." Avery full-heartedly agreed. Not only did she get him, but now she could get a sneak peek at his schedule. "Well, I guess I do have a will and some life insurance. But nothing like a funeral or a plot" They crossed the street and headed north.
"What about how you expect to die? And what would be your preferred way to die if you could choose?"
"These are rather morbid questions" He let out a gravelly chuckle. "Then again, I guess it is a mortician's survey. I expect to probably have a heart attack, all that bacon if finally having its toll" They turned a corner. "As for a preferred way, I guess zombies would be fun" At this, Avery was the one to laugh.
"I'm sorry, but that's a first for me" He flashed her a quick smile. "No need to apologize. It is a bit silly. But it does, honest to god, seem like a hell of a way to go."
"I guess so. Next question, what would your ideal last meal be?"
"Last meal? What would you need that for?"
"Oh, just some tchotchke statistic that says people like turkey or something of the sort."
"Ah, got it. I used to know a guy who loved looking at all this research and stuff. Never realized just how useful this is until I got to know 'im. Oh, but I'm getting off-topic now. I guess I always was a burger fan. I could see myself requesting that at the chair." He stopped in front of an old printing store. "Well, this is where I was headed. How many more questions you have on that thing?"
"Only one more. Would you say you are afraid of death?"
"Ending on a morbid one, huh? No, I wouldn't say I am. There have been a few scares in the past, but not much surprises me now."
She smiled. "Well, thank you for your time. You have been a big help."
"Oh, don't mention it. Just glad It didn't take too long" He shot her back a toothy grin before disappearing into the store. Avery walked back to her car. She wondered if the man worked at the store, he certainly looked within the age range for it, but his clothes suggested more blue-collar work. She also wondered how he screamed.
"Evening Marshal"
"Hey Billy"
Billy sat at his usual spot in the printer store. Just between the fax machine and the ink display. "You know Marshal, that girl's been coming by an awful lot lately. It's become a security concern" He let out a deep breath, "I know you guys know more about these anomaly factions than I do, but I would hate to lose my job here just because there was one spy."
Marshal gave a small chuckle. "I understand your concern, but we actually looked into it, and she's not really from any faction. It seems she only wants me."
"Hmm? No offense, but why just you? I just see why if you're not after information."
"Turns out she's a Lecter wannabe, minus the cannibalism and stuff. I guess I did something to pop on her radar, and now I have someone stalkin' me."
"See, I told you that survey was a bad move. So what're you planning on doing about it?"
Marshal sighed. "Well, Ichabod might be staying with me this weekend to make sure nothing too bad happens. Plus, I managed to find a couple of those spare cameras to hook up in my place just so we know if she does anything to warrant action."
"Wouldn't the threat against a beta be enough to take action anyway?"
"Yeah, usually. But you know how tight agents have been lately, Not to mention there's something I want to test if I get the chance."
A little jingle came from the door as a customer carrying a large bundle of posters walked in. "Ah, lemme give you a hand with those. I'll talk to you later Marshal," Billy gave him a complimentary wave as Marshal headed towards the backroom. Passing piles of stock papers as he made his way to a tucked-away elevator. He waited a few seconds for it to ascend before stepping inside and taking it all the way down to base 5.
Avery could feel her heart beating through her chest. Two months of planning all leading up to one final huzzah for this old veteran, and Avery wasn't going to squander it like the last one. She now sat in a closet that was always propped open but never checked. It gave a broad view of the run-down apartment. Showing every little trick and bit she placed. All that was needed now was the star of the show.
Come on, hurry up
Her body tensed as she heard the tarnished lock turning. Finally. She quietened her breath, crouched down a little bit more, and fingered the handle of her blade. The anticipation was almost orgasmic.
"Well, all I'm saying is to give training someone a try. You've been with us for what? Going on 20 years. Besides, " The old man was talking with someone. Avery didn't prepare for guests. However, this was only a minor setback. She had dealt with similar occurrences before. One could be taken out slowly and while the other was forced to watch. Or she could take them both out in an elegant dance of blood and blades. Hell, she even had some ideas intended for family men that could be put into action.
As they stepped in, Avery could make out the second man. He wore a sizable overcoat hinting at a muscular body beneath, and his face gave a stiff look as if botox was a vice. "I don't know Marshal," His mouth barely seemed to move when he talked. "I'm used to working in the field with come-and-go agents. It feels like having to settle down." His host smiled. "Oh hush, it's not you personally. We're just stretched a little thin nowadays." Mashel cleared his throat and looked directly at Avery. "Well, direct confrontation probably isn't the best, but with you holed up in that corner, there isn't much of an option."
Her stomach dropped. How could he have known? The countless times with the same procedure, and now she gets caught? What happened? Maybe she got too confrontational at his work. But even then, how could he have known her exact location.
"Could you at least come out so we can talk like human beings?" She met Marshal with silence. He let out a sigh, "Ich, could you go get her." Now named Ick, the man gave a small "Got it" before moving in.
Avery now sat tied to a worn pleather armchair. Across from her were the grimacing veteran and the man with a cleaver lodged in his jaw. "So…" Ichabod broke the silence. "You seem, Different."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Neither, just a change."
Marshal cleared his throat. "Well, I hope you're ready for a change," Nodding at Avery, "Cause I've got a job offer, and you've got no other option."
"We've been watching you for a bit now. You're clever, unpolished maybe, but clever. Take that little trick you did with my door. Once it's shut, that small deadlock slides into place, preventing any escapes on my part. Once again, clever.
I know to many on discord I am thought of as the psychology guy. However, my original interest was not in psych, but in the branch dealing with fear. It feels a bit cheesy to say, but ever since I was a young child I always like jumping out from corners and giving someone a little spook. Eventually, I went on to use my knowledge with haunted houses and building elaborate Halloween costumes that would tear at trail goers psyche.
Now I know a bit more about psychology than fear itself, but I still remember my old bag of tricks. This tab is dedicated to the cataloging of these tricks for use in later articles (And I will clarify where I learned these to show that I am not as disturbing as some of these are). And this is public, so anyone who wants to use these is open too.
After writing for a bit I figured I might as well put down the schools of thought behind each of these in footnotes. This is just a little psych thing I like to do and it doesn't mean much
Make stuff personal:6 A simply but important rule, know your audience. This is easiest to explain through the story of how I learned it myself. When I was younger I saw Blair witch project and thought it was tame, and almost everyone I talked with about it agreed. Everyone except for my father. I originally thought it was his distaste for horror, but later I learned he didn't like it because the movie was filmed in the area he grew up in. And while it wasn't the same spot, the type of forest was near identical to the one he would play in when he was younger. So you can imagine what went through his head when he saw it for the first time.
This rule is both easy and hard to follow. It works terrifically, however it is person-specific. Now you can appeal to broad traumas (such as abusive parents or rape) or phobias in a broad attempt to draw personal feelings. However, this won't give the same emotions as showing the trees you played hide and seek in, only to show what else was playing there with you.
There is no fear in empty threats:7 Another simple one, but this is by far the hardest to follow while keeping things kosher. A hollow scare draws little to no emotion. Similar to that interrogation dilemma of trying to get info out of a prisoner without killing them. They know you cannot harm them to the point where they are useless. However, they won't have any incentive to spill the beans otherwise.
You have no control virtually, so gain a bargaining chip. The best way to do this is to draw attachment in your characters, before shattering said attachment horrifically. The other option is making it personal (the previous rule). Also failing this rule on the internet (or in forms of fiction such as writing or television) comes across as cheesy. If someone thinks they're going to creep someone out by breaking the fourth wall, they're already in the wrong. Just saying my name through that little Wikidot code isn't going to cut it.
Discoloration in body horror:8 Look at your skin. Now I don't know you personally, but I'm going to go off on a limb and say you aren't a single color. Your insides work the same. Fat is yellow, blood is red, and bile is green. Like a sick coloring book. However, you are not drawn in perfect Crayola crayon. That yellow isn't the color of sunshine. Your blood can be a mountain of colors depending on oxidation. And that bile would surely stick out from the surrounding grass.
This is one I should clarify where I learned it. A while ago I was eating some fried chicken and came across a kidney. I took note of its dark contrast from the meat and realized I didn't want to eat it. I knew it tasted the same as the rest of the bird, and the texture never really bugged me. Then I realized it was the color that disturbed me. It had an almost purple hue among the rotting brown.
Anywho, make colors as vividly disturbing as possible. Through evolution, we are programmed to stay away from colors that look too close to a dead person. If you are having trouble (and I don't blame you if you do) try and think about how a butcher takes apart a cow. How the silver skin doesn't want to part from its matte cousin. The marbled pinkness of the long intestine. Or how the kidney shows contrasting darkness. (One last tip, rotting looks different depending on the conditions. If left out in the open to the weather, it will turn mostly black. Otherwise, it will keep a large amount of its natural color. I walk past a lot of roadkill)
Use all 5 senses:9 Don't just focus on a person's eyes and ears. While the full force of your attack should be there, don't forget to assault the rest of their senses. I'll devote a paragraph to each.
Touch can be important. A sticky railing is grosser than a clean one. Leshag carpeting feels odd under shoes that expect grass. The coolness of metal can give a stark contrast to a bloody environment. This is harder to do through writing, however, you can have more freedom than in a haunted trail. A person reaching in the darkness only to stumble onto a blade can draw suspense. Use this to your advantage.
Taste is useful, but only available through imagery. Use rot as much as possible. Use metallic tastes to hint at blood. There isn't much to say on taste. Just think about what might make you gag or what you shouldn't eat tastes like and describe that.
Smell is greatly underused. However, it can be the strongest factor in horror. I walk past a couple of roads the get a lot of roadkill. You can always smell carrion before you see it. Use this in your writing. Floral scents that are often artificial and heavy hint at worse smells being masked. Lighter scents hint at stuff that is long gone. Brimstone shows either destroyed evidence or an unlivable environment. Just don't go too heavy-handed with it, as most smells are unnoticeable.
Avoid a power struggle:10 I had a whole thing talking about the ocean earlier, but it all sounded wrong. I figured out I was trying to dag one trick into two, when all you need to worry about is making a fight one sided. Fear, in modern society, is most often caused by a loss of control.
Take micheal myers for example, he has 2 things going for him. The most talked about is his lack of cause (which I will address in a bit), but ever notice how he is an unstoppable? He gets shot, stabbed, shoved off a balcony, and whatever the hell they have him do in the sequels (I haven't seen them). And through all of that, he gets back up and starts the slaughter again. Everything is one-sided. Monsters must have a threatening presence; And if you can't make them stronger, make the prey weaker. If you have a beginner serial killer, cripple the target early on.
Now, you have to use this religiously. If you don't have any sort of hopelessness from one side, there is no fear. Here's an easy way to remember how to organize a power struggle to fit your intention.| Predator v Predator | Action |
| Predator v Prey | Horror |
| Prey v Predator | Thriller |
| Prey v Prey | Drama |
| Don't know who's the Predator or Prey | Mystery |
| Power struggle with no serious consequences | Comedy |
| No power struggle | Romance |
| Item: | Pepto Abysmal |
| Type: | Statue, Medicinal |
| Size: | 1.8 meters |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Possible undisirable mutations, Overuse can lead to the loss of personel |
| Location: | Facility: Prayer-Garden |
Usage
As of 11/13, testing and development of subjects using Pepto abysmal are postponed until further notice.
The only use of the statue is the production of tears. Staff working with the Item should always ensure the funnel is secure before removing the amulet.
The tears can produce desirable mutations. Therefore, personnel with interests that may provide positive results must be selected and approved by beta personnel. Two personnel must also do a thorough background check to confirm no conflicting interests. After passing preliminary screeners, subjects are administered a 200ml dose.
In the case of unfavorable mutations, a 500ml dose is heavily recommended.
Using The Preacher to manipulate those who believe in Ilmir is possible. However, this should be done with the utmost care to avoid losing trust with both the Preacher and the subject. If there is any chance that the Preacher becomes aware of its manipulation, personnel are to use procedure XI11. In the case of base-wide rebellion, use procedure YI37.
Report
The item is a granite statue 1.8 meters in height. It depicts a male on a pedestal displayed as if begging for mercy. The man looks to be around 20 years of age and of the caucasian race. The man is also depicted wearing a ceremonial robe for an unknown religion and was holding a clay emblem upon discovery. If the emblem is removed, the statue will start crying.
The tears that the statue produces have similar properties to the medicine Pepto Bismol, sharing color, opacity, and consistency. However, the tears also give a robust rotting smell and have a taste similar to raw beef.
When ingested, the substance provides immediate changes to the subject's mindset. Any previous religious beliefs are shunned and replaced with a devout wanting to serve an entity know as Ilmir.11 This god is described as the Christian God and Devil as the same person, creating and ruling over both the realms of heaven and hell. They also do not claim to have made the earth or our current universe. The devotion caused by a single 30ml dose is enough for the subject to practice severe religious intolerance, often leading to violence against any other religion.
If a dosage of more than 200ml is given within a 12 hour period, physical mutations occur. These are based on the personality of the subject and will vary from person to person. A brief list of these is documented in addendum A. Mutations start minor, though with repeated use extreme changes occur. If the subject takes more than 500ml at once, a portal will open, and the subject will enter.12
This portal is 2.5 meters tall and gives off a dense golden light. Subjects will regard both the transformation and the portal as a joyous occurrence. And to date, no one has emerged from the other side.
The statue was first discovered during a raid on a cult that sources suggested of having anonymous abilities. When the team arrived, there were no signs of any of the parishioners. Instead, insurgents found the statue on a pedestal that reads:
You are your own
No one can control that
Not even the false teachings of men
Since the raid, there has been no sign of the cult or any of its members.
Addendum A
The following is a brief list of the documented mutations. All of the noted agents have since left the Insurgency.
| Agent Max Parvan | Agent Parvan kept and cared for several insects as an entomology hobby. On field missions they preferred to use blades out of stylistic choice. | Mutations started with the merging of the fingers and strengthening of the nails, leading to long mantis like scythes in place of hands. Later a thick exoskeleton grew from the scythes to the rest of the body. Finally, mandibles and maxillae grew from the jaw, and smaller keratin blades grew from the elbows. |
| Agent Jillian Adams | The agent showed great interest in horror movies and books. When active, she worked in tracking and target assassination. | No visible signs of mutation at first. However, Jillian started to mutate spontaneously and would revert back after being noticed. These would usually take the form of the face melting or elongation of limbs. Later use caused an extra set of joints in the arms and legs to grow. There was then a loss of pigmentation similar to vitiligo followed by a widened mouth. |
| Agent Kenneth Quinn | Kenneth was a demolitions expert within the Insurgency. He was a fan of hunting and was also a known sadist. | Mutations started with extreme muscle mass growing in the upper body. Body temperatures rose to 58* Celsius. Mutilation and elongating of the facial features and bone structure followed this. The subject was let go due to the unwieldy nature of the transformation. |
| [[REDACTED]] | [[REDACTED]] | [[REDACTED]] |
| Agent Ofelia | ||
| Item: Flagellant | Due to the items self destructive nature, it was unexpected to be of any further use to the insurgency. Tests were done to see the outcome of two conflicting religious anomalies. | Previous religious affiliation was lost. Despite this, the anomaly was kept, though minor alterations to streamline the Flagellants properties were made. Mutations consisted of increased regeneration, increased muscle mass, and large lead thorns appearing from the subjects back. In 2012 the Item killed themselves. It is theorized that the regenerative properties stopped to enable the Flagellant to do so. |
| Item: | The Preacher |
| Size: | 1.9 meters |
| Living: | Yes |
| Sentient: | Yes |
| Required Wear: | Bugs and recording devices should be worn when the Item is present |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Heavy influence over Prayer-Garden's staff |
| Location: | Facility: Prayer-Garden |
Usage
Currently, the Preacher is being used to gain knowledge on the Alnwick cult, Ilmir, and the Pepto Abysmal Item.
Any written documents by the Item are to be photographed and appropriately stored. This is to be done covertly as not to arouse suspicion from the Preacher. The monitoring of Base: Prayer-Garden should also raise when the Item is on site. Any bugs featuring interactions between the Item and other subjects of Pepto Abysmal are to be recorded and checked for possible codes. Immediately report any information gained from the audio or decoding to a beta class personnel outside of the Prayer Garden.
It is possible to use the Preacher to manipulate the Prayer Garden. This should be done with the utmost care as not to lose trust with the Item. If there is any chance that the Item becomes aware of its manipulation, personnel are to use procedure XI11. In the case of base-wide rebellion, use procedure YI37.
Report
The Preacher is Former Reverend James Byrne of the insurgency. The Item stands at 1.9 meters tall, weighs roughly 77 kg, and is of the caucasian race. They have long blonde hair and pale blue eyes, both formerly brown when in the insurgency. Out of their back, they have two large wings similar to that of a Bateleur eagle. The wingspan of these is 4.2 meters. It is unknown if the Item is capable of flight.
In 2010 Rev. Byrne received their first dose of Pepto Abysmal to test its effects on someone with devout religious affiliations. 2 weeks after the monitoring period had ended, the Reverend was dismissed due to lackluster results. In 2013 the Item re-emerged from the Pepto Abysmal portal wearing a silk toga with burgundy accents. Further analysis could not trace the material to any known dye. The Preacher claimed to be showing "the way to heaven, with a forgiving and loving God," to all within Base: Prayer-Garden.
In the initial questioning period, the Item disclosed classified information claiming to have seen "it from heaven." The Item has shown to lack this sight outside of the heaven. Further attempts to weaponize this sight from heaven have been unsuccessful. The Item refuses to co-operate with insurgents who have not ingested Pepto Abysmal and instead strongly encourages individuals to use the Item.
Shortly after clearance for re-entry into the Prayer Garden, several items appeared in an empty storage room in the facility. These included eight pews, two braziers, and one alter. All items are consist of a cobalt compound and have Cobaltkoritnigite formations growing on top. In addition, the Item conducts weekly sermons at the site to others affected with Pepto Abysmal. The theme and formula of these sermons are consistent, often emphasizing the God's kindness and the concept of free will.13
Appendix A
The following is an example of the Item's usual sermons.
Sermon taken from 02/02/15
Log start
Ah, welcome everyone. And a special welcome to our two new members. You all know Myra, though can you believe this is her first time sitting in? And our new member, Silas! We are thrilled to have you with us, and we hope to see you again. Today's sermon will be a bit shorter as I know there is a cult raid soon. So if you want to leave early, I won't keep you.
And that turns me to my topic today, our God will not force you to do anything. He is happy to have you, for you. All of your flaws, all of your strengths, he blesses us with these changes, not to make us practical, but to help us be what we want to be.
He didn't give me these wings so I can fly around all day. I got these cause it was a childhood of mine to have wings like an angel. Though unlike those Catholic bigots who want to change you with their rules and lies, for both personal gain and a God that claims false love, we know for a fact he loves us. I have met with him myself and spent a great time in heaven. I offered love to those around me and was given love in return. And have spoken with God myself.
And it is from my talks with him that I know his love. His love for you all. His passion for this base. He wants nothing more for your life on earth to be a success. And when you are done, he is waiting with open arms; for you, and for me.However, if you are happier on earth, he won't pluck you early for himself. Oh no, he will leave you to live to the fullest, taking down baddies, saving humanity; if that's your bread and butter, he won't rob you of it. I loved heaven; I enjoyed living up there with all my fellow insurgents and friends. Though what use is heaven if you cannot share it? That is why he let me stay here with you. I want to help you see him as I have. I want you to live among the stars and friends. Though like him, my will will-not and cannot be imposed on you. So all I say is, do what you feel.
Thank you all for coming today; I'll be around the kitchen if anyone wants to speak, and there will be a fish dinner later if anyone wants to join.
Now go live.
Appendix B
The list of the Preachers written documents has been moved to the Byrne Study Log.
Honore strolled down the beige linoleum aisles, passing masks and cheap costumes as he did so. It was good inspiration, but nothing he was looking for. Under his breath, he muttered the names of the non-copyright products. "Groovy man, rock star, lightning rock star. Oh hey, they got bill n' ted."
The left wheel on his cart gave a strained whine as the decor aisle opened up. Finally, finding the object of his search, Honore slowed his pace. The list in his pocket was mostly simple stuff that he probably could have gotten at any five and dime. But plain cups make for a plain party, and there wouldn't be any of the budget spare. So he settled on a set of plastic goblets before moving to a dragon-looking punchbowl to go with a medieval, almost dungeon, theme. Next, some fake ivy and cotton webs to line the walls and a stony backdrop to dirty and darken the empty containment cell. Finally a janky, but creepy shackled animatronic to sell the theme home.
"Ok, your total is 165, 63. Would you like to donate and buy a wristband?" The zitty teen behind the register looked no older than 17. "Nah, I'm good for now." The kid punched the confirmation into the computer before taking the cash handed to him. "Are those your dogs out there?" He said while making change for the large bills. Honore smiled. "Yeah, sweet little things, aren't they? You wanna pet 'em?" The kid sighed. "Sorry, I can't leave my register," Honore noted the scarred arm poking out from his uniform as it handed him his money back. "Your change is 34, 37. Have a nice day." They both gave a polite smile to each other before Honore gathered his bags and left.
"Hey, how's the party planning going?" Reverend Byrne placed his food across from Honore's. "Oh, you know. Same as usual. Got the decor down, though the food could use some work. Would you mind pitching in again? I know everyone loved those little beef things you did last time." He gave a small chuckle. "Hell, anything you could do would probably be a whole lot better than this instant mash."
"I should be able to whip something up; what's the theme this year?"
"I was going along the lines of a medieval dungeon. So I got some goblets and a matching punch bowl if you wanna work with that."
"Hmm, you think a cherry punch would look good in it?"
"Oh, definitely."
"Then I might pair something with goat cheese, always liked how that went with cherry. Though I've meant to tell you, a friend told me they found some occult thing up by the prayer garden. So I might be shipped out soon."
"Damn, well at least it's better than waiting around here. You have any idea when you'll be leaving?"
"Not a clue, though I'm guessing not for a few weeks. You know how these things are; first the science, then the fanatics." He sighed.
"You're not having more doubts, are ya'?"
"No, no. And thanks for that. I guess it's just a bit awkward to be second fiddle to science. I mean, there are so many gods now that it's a bit weird to speak of a one true god now.
"Ah, I know what you're saying. Well, even if there are more gods, the fact that your god gets called upon enough that they hire priests means yours must be pretty high up on the food chain, right?'
"Huh, never thought of it like that."
They ate in silence for a few minutes before Honore stood up. "Welp, I've got an appointment at 12:30. It was nice talking to you,"
"Likewise"
"I don't know really, I mean I've killed plenty of kids before and never felt a thing. That's why I think I was approached for this job in the first place. But when I saw what took place at the school, well, it shook me. You know what I'm saying?"
"I think so. Was it the brutality of it?"
"Nah, I've seen worse gore before. It was, it was kind of like you could see it on their faces. Like they were being yelled at while it happened. I saw this one girl, no older than 10, and she just started bawling. She cried like she, well, she *had* killed someone. I've seen it in teens before; one get's in over their head and they turn into a baby. But this was an actual child. She just cried and pleaded that she was sorry before taking another bite. God, I just don't know anymore."
"Is there something you think you should know?"
"What?"
"I mean, how does this change the view of your other work? It's a brutal job, you know that. So does this make you doubt bringing in that one item from that cult in '06?"
"Well, no…"
"Exactly, that was a messed up task you were given. I think the tops gonna decommission it too. But things that bad are rare mistakes on an administrative part. But all your other work has been for the betterment of mankind."
"I guess you're right, but that still doesn't help the base problem. It's that I'm starting to freak out whenever I see children. Like I'm having a panic attack or something."
"Sounds like PTSD to me. We have a small therapy group that meets on Wednesdays to talk about this stuff in more detail. I'm not sure that's something a big macho man like you would be interested in, but if you want to, there'd be a seat open for ya'."
"Thanks, I probably won't, but just getting it out was kind of nice. Anyways, I've got to get going. The wife's gonna be making dinner."
"Oh yeah, before you leave, I wanted to ask if you're going to be attending the Halloween party."
"Probably not, the wifes having me attend one a friend of hers is throwing."
"Ah, well, have a nice night."
"Thanks, you too."
"Aw, who's a good little dragon? You are! You are!"
Thompson lapped up the attention given from some of the newer recruits. Meanwhile, his brother lapped up goat cheese crumbs from beneath the snack table. The two's hand-stitched dragon costumes gave a comical effect among the awkward researchers and hardened veterans.
Thompson nudged away from the callused hand and looked around. In one corner, he could see a mousy man in a bunny costume sway drunkenly. In another corner, a sizeable chitinous creature tossed away a couple of bourbon bottles. He moved through cargo pants to a far wall with 3 figures, only one he recognized.
Honore chatted with a man in a brown robe tied with a tincture. Thompson didn't recognize any of the words spoken, though he could hear the warm tone as the monk received a pat on the back. The two separated and Honore's attention focused now on the dog in front of him.
"Hey there, having fun?"
Thompson responded to the attention.
"That's good. Let's find your brother and take a break, ok?"
He followed obediently to the snack table and then the door. Down the halls, up some stairs, then out onto the cool night air.
"Woo boy, it's sweaty in there, isn't it?"
A reassuring hand rubbed behind his ear. Thomson meanwhile relieved himself on a nearby tree.
"Oh well, nice night, huh?"
No response came. The two of them sat for a bit while Thomson chased a moth.
"Well, I'm gonna head back in. Come on you two. We might've already missed the costume contest."
As they headed in, Thompson could feel his owner's hesitation. Nothing more than a faint lingering around a particular door, though. Before they headed back into the dimly lit dungeon.
IMAGERY
Base [tbd] is the insurgency's emotional well in its dry eyed desert of mercenaries. Located in the Sonoran desert on top of hundreds of roots, Base [tbd] should be an easy target given the emotional baggage that clogs the facilities personnel. Yet when tear of pure terror, grief, or pain falls, the endless roots pick it up. Wetting the Sonoran king's sand swallowed eyes and allows for his inevitable retribution; and solace.
Deep shallow roots, collection, activation, sorrow, retribution, dead mans switch, emotion well
https://youtu.be/SCMMZHlSQCQ , https://youtu.be/4B6E0mijV5A ,
| Item: | Sanoran King |
| Size: | 20 kilometers in length |
| Type: | Gaurdian; Cactus |
| Living: | No |
| Sentient: | No |
| Location: |
Usage
The Sonoran King's primary use is as Facility
How do you use the item? How do you activate it, if applicable? What safety measure do you have to do? What are the potential uses of the item?
The Usage portion should describe how we use the item, how careful we should be, how to take care of it, etc.
Report
What is the item? What does it look like? What's the size? What does it do? Is there something we should be aware of? What are its anomalous properties? How'd we find it? When? How do we store the item safely? How do we protect it?
The Report portion should describe the item, provide the protocols for storing it, etc.
I haven't forgotten about pepto and my plans for it.
Just easing myself back in after such a long break from writing.
| Item: | Fluffy Abomination |
| Size: | Minimum recorded: 1.2m; Maximum recorded: 2.8m |
| Type: | Shapeshifter |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Rapid shifts in mood, occasional self destructive tendencies |
| Required Wear/Weaponry | -What should people wear/have when around the object? Is it only in the containment cell, or facility-wide?- |
| Location: | Base |
| Reported Anomaly: | optional -what IS the anomaly? Consult the Terms page |
Usage
How do you use the item? How do you activate it, if applicable? What safety measure do you have to do? What are the potential uses of the item?
The Usage portion should describe how we use the item, how careful we should be, how to take care of it, etc.
Report
Item
What is the item? What does it look like? What's the size? What does it do? Is there something we should be aware of? What are its anomalous properties? How'd we find it? When? How do we store the item safely? How do we protect it?
The Report portion should describe the item, provide the protocols for storing it, etc.
| Item: | Fluffy Abomination |
| Size: | Minimum recorded: 1.2m; Maximum recorded: 2.8m |
| Type: | Shapeshifter, Beast, Humanoid |
| Potential/Current Hazards | Rapid shifts in mood, occasional self destructive tendencies |
| Required Wear/Weaponry | In operations, firepower enough to subdue the Item |
| Current Duties: | Teal Operative █ (Special Assets) |
Usage
The Item specializes in assault operations. Before missions, Fluffy Abomination must psych themselves up to maximize their ability. Operation leaders must give 20 minutes to the Item before the Operation. The Item often carries an Mp3 player for this purpose.
Using the Item in missions involving religious aspects is heavily discouraged, as it puts the Item in a rapturous mindset. While this does give a noticeable boost to Markus' strength, it also causes significant damage to the Item, putting Markus out of commission for both physical and mental recovery. If this should happen, agents should fall back and observe the Item's behavior. If Markus' aggravation turns from hostilities and onto himself, intervention from personnel is necessary.
As of April 9th, 2015, the codename Devil's Abomination will be swapped for Fluffy Abomination after psychological review.
Report
Fluffy Abomination is the codename for Markus Abbott, a teal division operative. Body structure consists of a humanoid frame with Bovidae and Canidae elements. These structures tend to shift with the Items mood14. However, consciousness and vocal function remain unchanged despite this. Other notable physical features include thick fur covering most the body and several scars along the back.
The Item (in its psyched state) has lifted 2.2 tons on record and a recorded psi of 6000. The rapturous mindset has shown better results. However, testing and deployment often prove difficult, given its nature.
Fluffy Abomination was born to Thomas Abbott and Beth Abbott in 1997. Due to the Bovidae aspects of his anomaly and his parent's extreme Christian devotion, Markus was seen as a scapegoat and spent most of his childhood in total isolation. The scars on Markus' back are said to come from this period.
On March 8th, 2015, Jones county police received a call from Beth Abbott about her husband being attacked by the devil. Officer intervention revealed the death of both Abbotts by Markus, who was in shock at the time. Insurgency personnel intercepted early reports of the creature and dispatched an obtainment team.
Once in custody, Markus grew an allegiance to the Insurgency and its goals. Better living conditions15 are considered a significant reason for the items trust. There have been no reported instances of disloyalty to the Insurgency. However, when in a rapturous mindset, Markus will often become self-destructive and attack anything he considers "sinful" (an example of which is in Appendix B). The Item is currently receiving therapy to prevent further behavior.
| Neutral | Fur and body structure resemble the timber wolf. Horns are similar to an Ibex, while face structure mixes the two. Height recorded at 1.8 meters |
| Anxious | Body and limb structure resemble the Golden Jackal. Face structure resembles a Whitetail Deer. Fur color and texture mix the two. No change in muscle mass; height shrinks to 1.2 meters. |
| Aggrivated | fur, body, and facial structure resemble a Bush dog. Horn, leg, and chest structures are similar to that of a kouprey. Muscle mass recorded at above average. Height varies between 2.2 and 2.5 meters. |
| Elated | Fur and body structure similar to that of the maned wolf. Horn, face, and tail structure are that of Schomburgk's deer. Muscle mass significantly decreases. Height remains the same. |
| Smitten/Lustful | Facial features, fur, and limb structure are considered a mix of the muntjac and crab-eating fox. Muscle mass recorded at slightly below average. Height remains the same. |
| Psyched | Horn, coloration, and facial structure are similar to that of an Oryx. Fur and limbs resemble a saint bernard. Muscle mass records a significant increase. Height increases to 2.6 meters. |
| Rapturious16 | Horn, color, and facial features similar to that of Hebridean sheep. The lower half and fur resemble a Markhor goat and have the most muscle mass. Height recorded at 2.8 meters |
The following log states an instance of the Item in a rapturous state and proper handling of the situation. The instance occurred during a raid of a foundation base. The primary trigger was a religious researcher. CI observed the situation via a camera attached to the Item's neck.
Begin log
(Item bashes through a wall. A researcher cowers in the corner with a rosary in his hand.)
Researcher: Devil, Devil!
(Abomination surveys the room, sees no apparent threats or potential items, and begins to leave. It is assumed the researcher produced a small firearm off-camera and shoots at Markus. Abomination sighs.)
Researcher: (quickly and quietly) The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever-
(Abomination grabs the researcher by the throat. A slight change in height and hand structure has begun)
FA: You think I'm the evil here? What about all these corpses you've locked away? For what? Are they too ugly for your holy eyes?
(Item is now significantly taller and holds the researcher by the head. Abomination slowly pushes fingers in on the eyes.)
Fa: You called me the Devil before. Funny how only you fuckers fear him.
(Abomination crushes the researcher's head. The Operation control center has now sent a notice to other personnel in the facility about the Item's change in mindset. Markus continues on his original course, passing multiple potential Items and killing five researchers in the process, all of which were hiding. Finally, the item reaches its extraction point, and several CI personnel wait to see if Markus expects traditional extraction. Markus proceeds to break off his left ring finger.)
Fa: (Shouting at the foundation building) Your god cast me down to punish you, sinners. My burden is more than-
(Markus is shot with an anomalous narcotics mix; this varies depending on the situation and what is on hand. The mixture is injected directly into the self-inflicted wound to ensure the hide's piercing. Damages are kept to a minimum and are repaired using means at a nearby base.)
