Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:27 No. 1107541 ID: acb8e2
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I reach for the card and pull. There's... some resistance, but...
POP!

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:27 No. 1107542 ID: acb8e2
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Hmmm...

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:27 No. 1107543 ID: acb8e2
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> Anyone taking bets on feras special ability?
> Is this chest thing a psionic iconograph representing some inner truth shes extracting feom dave or is it the tag that keeps his heart beating?

Keeps his heart doing WHAT?!

David: "Woah, what was I..."
His eyes kinda glaze over. He frowns groggily.
David: "What was I so upset about?"
Okay he doesn't seem to be dying.

I look over to Gladii. They return my gaze in that usual very neutral fashion. Does nothing faze them?

David eventually focuses on the card.
David: "Hey I think that's mine."
Fera: "Uuuuhhhh"
David: "That's okay, you can keep it, I think. Damn, I guess the uh... the thing finally kicked. Where is- Oh I think I dropped it."
As he is about to awkwardly crouch down to pick up his joint, Gladii thrusts the pack of cigarettes at him.
Gladii: "Take them. Go back inside and rest."
David: "Oh... Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Gladys."
Gladii scowls for just a moment.
Gladii: "Mh Hmm."

We watch him return to the gas station.

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:28 No. 1107544 ID: acb8e2
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Eventually Gladii turns to me.
Gladii: "Can I see that?"
I realize I still have the card in my hand. I hold it out to them and they take it to inspect it closely.
Gladii: "Nine of Swords. Hmm."
Fera: "What does it mean?"
They shake their head and hand the card back to me.
Gladii: "Always with the questions. I'll not put ideas in your head. It's your augury, you figure it out."
The words are harsh but delivered without any sort of malice. I look at the card. Well. It looks straight-forward enough. What do you guys think?

Fera: "Can all agents do this?"
Gladii: "Not this, no. But every one I've met so far has been a diviner of some kind."
Fera: "How does it work for you?"
There is a pause.
Gladii: "Pointless to talk about. I do not do that anymore."
Fera: "Why?"
They sigh and completely ignore my question.
Gladii: "What's next, lead investigor?"

I'm not sure how I can tell what with the lack of facial expression, but I think there's pain there. They're avoiding the question to avoid something that hurts.
I let it go for now and gently stick the card in my pocket. it seems pretty sturdy, but I'll still try to be careful with it.

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:28 No. 1107545 ID: acb8e2
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> OK so anomaly in the bunker. Everything was normal (according to this guy) outside of it, but while inside, something strange happened. Is the bunker itself the anomaly? You're not equipped to destroy a bunker! Those are specifically designed to be destroy resistant!

Okay, gonna hope it's not the bunker, then. otherwise we're gonna have to get real creative.

> Still, how to find out about whatever's in the bunker, without getting... forcefully made unable to destroy it?

You're asking me? I don't know... Oh right, I can ask...
Fera: "How do we find out about whatever's in the bunker, without getting... forcefully made unable to destroy it?"
Gladii: "There's nothing for it, Agent Fera. We'll have to go down there. Don't be overly worried. I'm sure it's not that dangerous as long as we play this smart."

> Proceed carefully. Also probably let the sword go first.

> As far as what do... Gladii seems to know a bit about what she's doing? I think we should head to the bunker once all follow ups have been followed upon. Gladii seems ready to sword up whatever anomaly is down there, so send her in first, and maybe follow her down?

Fera: "Would you mind taking point?"
Gladii: "Not at all."

Oh good, that makes me feel better about sending them into a dangerous situation first.

> Ask Gladii if she can break into the sheriff's trunk. A shotgun would be nice.

Fera: "Can you break into the Sheriff's trunk? A shotgun would be nice."
Gladii: "While the Agency does sometimes expect us to acquire equipment on site, it usually provides weapons when appropriate. I don't have one. I presume neither do you."
I frown at the comment. They don't have a weapon? Huh?
Gladii: "If you'd feel safer with a gun, I won't stop you, but I cannot think of a way to get at it."
Fera: "What about the sword?"
Another pause. They grip the sword's haft. It's a protective gesture, rather than an aggressive one.
Gladii: "Would you use a scalpel as a can opener, Agent Fera?"
Fera: "I guess not."
Gladii: "This is probably a good time to make a few things clear. One: The sword is a precision instrument that must not be misued. Two: It is rarely worth using at all. Three: It is mine to use and mine alone. Is this understood?"
Fera: "Y-yes?"
Gladii: "Very good."

> Oh hey, mirror on a stick would be useful to spy around corners here. See if David has any you could borrow in the store.

Already got a mirror. Not sure what good a stick is gonna do, but I'll keep my eyes open for something we can use.

> Do you have a light source on you? If not you probably want to ask if you can borrow a flashlight.

I think Gladii pocketed David's lighter earlier. That's probably not great for illumination. I'll check the gas station.

> Beyond that, sounds like the girl got pepper sprayed, so acquire eye protection before heading down.

Oooh yeah that makes a ton of sense.

> Don't forget to check out the bathroom before diving down the spooky hole.

Right! Still got the key for that!
I turn to head to the gas station, but Gladii sets off towards the large rock.

Gladii: "Let's at least have a quick look from outside before we go break into any cars."

I follow.

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)01:16 No. 1107548 ID: acb8e2
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We quickly reach the bunker's hatch. It is wide open. Though the glare off the bright dirt around it makes it hard to see... There's light down there. That's... unexpected. Looks like someone dropped a flashlight inside. That should solve the light problem.

It's an ominous feeling, looking down this shaft.

Gladii: "I believe this is a good time to determine our resources."
They reach into their right pants pocket and pull out... a sleep mask?
Gladii: "... Fuck you."
Fera: "What was that?"
Gladii: "Hm? What was what?"
They hold the mask out to me.
Gladii: "This is a sleep mask, I believe."

...

Okay, let's see what we have...

- mission orders
- Agency requisition form
- a small hand mirror
- a pack of tissues
- the bathroom key
- the Nine of Swords
- a lighter
- a sleep mask

I think that's everything.

Things I'll search at the gas station:
- bathroom
- cop car trunk
- a stick for the mirror?
- some kind of eye protection (for pepper spray)

Anything else?

>>1107544
>What do you guys think?
Nine of Swords. A tarot card, minor arcana. It's a highly negative card, relating to worry, guilt, anguish, depression, that sort of thing. So I'm guessing you literally took his bad feelings away. Perhaps you can use the card to imbue a target with those bad feelings? Useful as a way to debilitate an opponent, perhaps.

>>1107545
Hmm. I'm guessing the sword doesn't work like a weapon. It's probably used for a more... metaphorical cutting or severing purpose. Might have some sort of backlash involved which is why they don't like using it.

>>1107546
>sleep mask
That's not completely useless? If the anomaly in there is more dangerous when looked at, then it could work as a blindfold. If the anomaly has a gaze attack then the sleep mask could be used to disable it, especially if the anomaly has no hands.

>stick for the mirror
Eh, well, a selfie stick could work for that but also you could just not try to attach a stick and instead use a hand mirror that already has a handle.
Um, if we're trying to get supplies from the gas station then I hope someone's pockets has money in it. If not, then... would using the requisition form be worthwhile? Or maybe the clerk will let us borrow items without paying.

Breaking into the truck doesn't seem worth it. Yes, there could be weapons in there, but since we didn't arrive with weapons we won't need them. Oh wait, maybe there could be a first aid kit? Still, we could get that from the gas station.
Mirror, eye goggles, first aid kit. That'll do. Huh, I just realized Gladii has eye protection already, of a sort.

Sleep mask is eye protection! Mirror probably is as well, if the anomaly has some sort of don’t look at me effect. DEAR GOD, THIS CASE IS CALLED PEEKABOO IT’S ALL COMING TOGETHER!!! Okay yeah, mirror is DEFINITELY to avoid looking at things directly while still being able to see what’s going on. Sleep mask seems inhibiting as a trade off for not being able to see the anomaly, but maybe the anomaly makes a lot of noise? Gladii’s sword reluctance is odd but probably stems from it being a tarot suit. Ask her if she’s ever had 9 swords before, just to be silly. (You know, cuz of the card)

Speaking of the card… no idea how it works. Seems like it contains the intense emotion David was just feeling? Not sure how we’d use that, but it’s good to have on hand~

>>1107543
>the card
Well, damn. Id have lost 5 peanuts if anyone had taken my bet.
>its a dave card
Oh!
Ok, i know what it is.
So, now youve collected him, you need to find five other cards from this set, then you can combine them to form Davodia the forbidden one,
>>1107545
>would you use a scalpel to open a can
Ah dammit, you missed a chance to be a smartass.
"Depends if i was starving or not. Or if i really fancied beans on toast."
Nhhh, shes got a point though.
Chances are a gun would end up being more risk to us than the anomaly.
Lets leave it be.
>>1107548
Mmm.
Just peek in the window to see how dave is doing. Dont let him see you.
All other things to check are good.

Wait.
Hold on.
Taro... 9 of swords... Gladii has a sword... It's similar to the swords on the card. She does not consider her sword a weapon. Her sword has been held upside down this entire time and she's consistently been obtuse, difficult to communicate with, and refuses to communicate with us...

HOLY CRAP! Gladii is THE Ace of Swords! Here! In the flesh! That sword is The Sword of Truth, and is probably as much a part of her as her flesh and bones.
It is both supremely useful and supremely dangerous given the situation... Yeah... Best leave it to her...
Try addressing her as such, I want to see how she reacts.
Don't bother asking too many questions while it's sheathed though. She wont be forthcoming unless she's wielding it.

It's rude to pry into things Gladii isn't interested in talking about. Just assure her that the Agency must know that the Anomaly is just a little grumpy wumpypuss and is cranky from staying up past bedtime. The mask will be the perfect solution!

> Not sure what good a stick is gonna do

The stick is so when you use the mirror to peek around a corner and there is a monster, you are one stick's length away from it.

from Gladii's reaction I'd wager the sleep mask reminder of something upsetting, that someone sent to them purposefully. Nothing they need to explain to you, but they could be less patronizing about it.

But maybe the mask would indicate that whatever is down there can affect you through vision. Like a medusa, or a symbol of pain.

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:12 No. 1110272 ID: 6a5191
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> Hmm. I'm guessing the sword doesn't work like a weapon. It's probably used for a more... metaphorical cutting or severing purpose.

> Gladii’s sword reluctance is odd but probably stems from it being a tarot suit. Ask her if she’s ever had 9 swords before, just to be silly. (You know, cuz of the card)

> Wait.
> Hold on.
> Taro... 9 of swords... Gladii has a sword... It's similar to the swords on the card. She does not consider her sword a weapon. Her sword has been held upside down this entire time and she's consistently been obtuse, difficult to communicate with, and refuses to communicate with us...
> HOLY CRAP! Gladii is THE Ace of Swords! Here! In the flesh! That sword is The Sword of Truth, and is probably as much a part of her as her flesh and bones.
>It is both supremely useful and supremely dangerous given the situation... Yeah... Best leave it to her...
>Try addressing her as such, I want to see how she reacts.
>Don't bother asking too many questions while it's sheathed though. She wont be forthcoming unless she's wielding it.

Oooohhh you... you mean they're being difficult because the sword is upside down? Huh...
Huge if true! I think? Well to hell with it, let's find out!

Fera: "Getting a bit tired of the condescension, Ace of Swords..."
They slowly turn their head to look at me.
Gladii: "Uh... Ace?"
Fera: "That's what you are, isn't it? But your sword is upside down. Reversed, so to speak. So of course you can't give me a single straight answer."
Gladii: "..."
Fera: "Is your sword the Sword of Truth? Does it like... cut in a more metaphorical sense? Can it sever abstracts? Does any of this Tarot stuff actually mean anything?"
Gladii: "..."
Fera: "..."
They just stare. I stare back.
Gladii: "Well. Aren't you a clever one?"
Infuriating. Utterly insufferable at this point. What does that mean? Do they mean it or is that sarcasm?
Fera: "So I'm right?"
There is a pause. They turn their gaze back towards the bunker.
Gladii: "You're more right than you are wrong."

Oh wow. Hey that's... That's something, right? Vindication? Oooh that feels like a victory to me.
Still no clear answers but I feel like we're making headway in figuring them out. Oh but I shouldn't steal your valour...

Fera: "Uh to be fair, I might not be that clever. The Peanut Gallery figured it out."
Gladii: "That's a bit like saying you can't take credit for the omelette you made because your brain told you how to do it. It's your Peanut Gallery. They are your thoughts and ideas. They're just thoughts and ideas you could've had but didn't."
Fera: "Uhm... I'm not sure I understand."
Gladii: "That is fine. It's your first day. You do not have to understand everything right away. Let's focus on the mission now, yes?"

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:12 No. 1110273 ID: 6a5191
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>But maybe the mask would indicate that whatever is down there can affect you through vision. Like a medusa, or a symbol of pain.

> That's not completely useless? If the anomaly in there is more dangerous when looked at, then it could work as a blindfold. If the anomaly has a gaze attack then the sleep mask could be used to disable it, especially if the anomaly has no hands.

> Sleep mask is eye protection! Mirror probably is as well, if the anomaly has some sort of don’t look at me effect. DEAR GOD, THIS CASE IS CALLED PEEKABOO IT’S ALL COMING TOGETHER!!! Okay yeah, mirror is DEFINITELY to avoid looking at things directly while still being able to see what’s going on. Sleep mask seems inhibiting as a trade off for not being able to see the anomaly, but maybe the anomaly makes a lot of noise?

Okay, hold on, let's back up a moment.
...
You know what, that kinda makes sense. If we assume it's true that the Agency provides us with useful equipment for the mission as Gladii says, then the sleep mask and the mirror could mean that the anomaly is dangerous to look at.
Mnngghh that's tricky though. I really don't like the idea of going down there blindfolded...

Fera: "I think I just figured out something important."
Gladii: "Do tell."
I explain our reasoning. Agent Gladii holds their chin thoughtfully
Gladii: "Interesting..."
They tilt their head.
Gladii: "Three went down. One came back up, notably looking like she had been maced. According to David she could barely see. Perhaps that is why she did come back up."
Fera: "Yeah! That didn't even occur to me!"
Gladii nods their head.
Gladii: "You might be on to something, there. Excellent work, Agent Fera."

Fera: "Okay so we need to be careful about what we look at in there."
Gladii taps their right foot a few times.
Gladii: "That... might be a problem. I cannot be blindfolded. Or blinded at all. At least not easily."
Fera: "Uh, how come?"

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:12 No. 1110274 ID: 6a5191
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Gladii wordlessly turns their head, takes off their sunglasses and then pushes up their bangs.
Fera: "Oh wow, uh... Mmh. Well the sleep mask won't cover uh... that one, but what if you tied your tie over your forehead?"
Gladii: "Won't do any good."
Fera: "Can you close it?"
Gladii gives an uncharacteristic scoff.
Gladii: "Would that I could. I'd never open it again."
I can't help but stare. It's... kinda odd how the third eye seems to just disappear behind the hair. I feel like I shouldn't have been able to miss it.

Well anyway that kind of implies that Gladii is gonna be more vulnerable to the anomaly if it really is some sort of Medusa. Ernngghhh I really don't like it, but that probably means I'll have to take point.
It takes me a few moments to say it because, frankly, I'm really scared.

Fera: "I- I guess I should go first after all, then."
Gladii responds so quickly as to nearly cut me off.
Gladii: "No. No, that's all right. I can go ahead. We'll be careful."
They take a deep breath and let it out again.
Gladii: "But it's your call to make, Lead Investigator."

Fera: "I'll... think about it. Let's uhm... let's finish our preparations first."

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:13 No. 1110275 ID: 6a5191
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> Nine of Swords. A tarot card, minor arcana. It's a highly negative card, relating to worry, guilt, anguish, depression, that sort of thing. So I'm guessing you literally took his bad feelings away.

> Speaking of the card… no idea how it works. Seems like it contains the intense emotion David was just feeling? Not sure how we’d use that, but it’s good to have on hand~

Oh that's cool! I like this hypothesis.

> Perhaps you can use the card to imbue a target with those bad feelings? Useful as a way to debilitate an opponent, perhaps.

Hmm, we could test that. Though we'd need... a test subject...

Fera: "Say, Agent Gladii. Here's a thought: I pulled that Nine of Swords out of David earlier. It stands to reason that I can pull other cards out of people, too, but what if I can also put a card in?"
Gladii: "I assume that would simply reverse whatever state he is in right now."
Fera: "No, I don't mean 'put the card back in'. Put it in someone else."
Gladii: "I'd honestly be surprised if that were possible. Even abstracts tend to be specific. Why would David's... let's say 'regret' be compatible with anybody else?"
Fera: "We could test it. Maybe on you? What do you think?"
They hesitate. They shrug.
Gladii: "Sure. Why not? It won't amount to much, but go ahead."
I carefully retrieve the card from my pocket and approach Gladii.
Fera: "Why are you so certain that it won't work?"
Gladii: "Because the world is not simple. Because it is messy, complicated and inconvenient. You'll see."

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:13 No. 1110276 ID: 6a5191
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I place the edge of the card against Gladii's sternum. or rather their tie above their sternum.

Fera: "Ready?"
Gladii: "Just get on with it, Agent Fera."

I push and the card slides into Gladii's chest, causing them to make a strangled noise of surprise and grab onto my arm. Their eyes glaze over. Beads of sweat form on their forehead.

Gladii: "No no, nonononono, we didn't mean to. It wasn't supposed to go like that. It was supposed to be fine. We didn't know... Couldn't have known..."
They claw desperately at their chest, but the card is intangible to their fingers. It's like they're trying to grip the red dot of a laser pointer.
Gladii: "This isn't fair, I paid for it. I paid for it so dearly. I... I refuse to bear that guilt!"

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:13 No. 1110277 ID: 6a5191
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Their eyes suddenly snap back into focus, glaring at me. They grip my arms tighter before barking:
Gladii: "Take it out! Do it now!"
I panic a little. Oh god, they're so close and so loud! I fumble with the card for several seconds before I manage to pull it out.

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:13 No. 1110278 ID: 6a5191
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Gladii stumbles backwards and breathes heavily.

Fera: "I... sorry."

There is a slight tremor in their fingers as they unfold their sunglasses and put them back on.

Gladii: "... I hope that was... enlightening."
Fera: "Uhm... What did you... I mean how did it feel?"
Gladii: "Bad. Now drop it."

Sheesh!

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:14 No. 1110279 ID: 6a5191
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> Eh, well, a selfie stick could work for that but also you could just not try to attach a stick and instead use a hand mirror that already has a handle.
> The stick is so when you use the mirror to peek around a corner and there is a monster, you are one stick's length away from it.

Yeah okay I can see the utility of that.

> Mirror, eye goggles, first aid kit. That'll do.

Fera: "Okay I'll go uh... gather some more stuff and check out the bathroom."
Gladii: "It might be faster if you delegated some of that. If you tell me what you need I'll go fetch it."
Fera: "Good point. Okay so the Peanut Gallery wants: a selfie stick for the mirror or something like that, eye goggles to protect from pepper spray and a first aid kit just in case."
Gladii: "I'll see what I can find at the gas station."
Fera: "And check on David, would you? See how he's doing?"
Gladii: "Sure."

We head back for the gas station and I unlock the bathroom with the key we got from David while Gladii rounds the corner to the front of the convenience store.

The bathroom is small and pretty clean. Smells mostly like cleaning products and citrus. There's a bunch of graffiti, including on the mirror. But more interestingly: There's another key on the floor. A car key.
I look around some more, but don't find anything else of interest, so I leave the bathroom with the key in the lock and head back to the corner of the gas station from where I can see both cars. Then I hit the unlock button on the car key.
The turn indicators of the cop car light up. Wow. Might as well!

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:14 No. 1110280 ID: 6a5191
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I pop open the trunk of the car and... well it's just full of random stuff. I rummage a little. Here are the highlights:
- a shotgun
- ammunition for said shotgun
- a box of ammunition for something else. Says "9x19mm parabellum"
- a first aid kit
- a crowbar
- a can of black spraypaint
- a fire extinguisher
- a blanket
- a small plastic case with little bags, tags, sharpies and tweezers in it
- a... shower curtain?

What... What could they possibly use that for?

Gladii: "Oh you managed to get it open."

I bump my head against the trunk lid, but not very hard.

Fera: "Ouch. Yeah. Trying to figure out what we can use."
Gladii: "Well, now we have two first aid kits."
Fera: "And what else?"
Gladii: "No selfie sticks, nor any other way to attach a mirror to a handle securely. But I did find safety goggles."
Fera: "So good of David to let us borrow those."
Gladii: "..."
Fera: "No?"
Gladii: "He is fast asleep at the counter. Looked very peaceful. I did not bother to wake him."
Fera: "W-well as long as we return what we take..."
Gladii: "It does not matter, Agent Fera. By the time anybody notices, we'll be long gone."
Fera: "Hrmm..."

Silicon 2025/06/25(Wed)04:14 No. 1110281 ID: 6a5191
File 175085007378.png - (417.03KB , 1500x1000 , C01_08_1G.png )

All right, this is it. Time to... face the unknown. What's the plan, Peanut Gallery?

What should we take down there with us?
Remember, we can't carry everything and we'll have to climb a ladder. We can of course leave some stuff by the hatch so we can get to it quickly if needed.

Should I really go in blindfolded?
What do we do about Gladii?

Who takes point?
Gladii said they don't mind to go first and I'd definitely prefer that, but I'm also a bit worried they might get hurt.

How should we proceed in there?
We don't know what we'll find, so I don't expect an exact plan here, but maybe there's some simple stuff I can do or avoid doing?

Should we use the requisition form? And what for?

>>1110277
Ah, looks like the recipient of the card can break out of it by rejecting the emotion.

>>1110280
>shower curtain
Are you sure that's what that is? Well, it could be used to move a dead body without making a huge mess. Sheriffs are supposed to wait for the coroners, but I guess if he drives out somewhere remote the coroners might not be able to get there? Also possible that it could be used like a tarp to protect things from the rain.
>shotgun
Hm, tempting. We weren't given any true weapons so we shouldn't need to use it. Would you even know how to wield it? On the other hand, the key was easy to find so maybe we didn't get any weapons because there was one on site?
>parabellum ammo
That's pistol ammo. The Sheriff had one with him when he went down. Didn't do him any good, it seems. Considering you have to look at something to shoot it, I don't think the shotgun will be much better. Slightly so, since it's got a bit of spread, but it's not a sawed off.
>black spraypaint
Hey, useful! You could spraypaint the goggles, or the shower curtain. Shower curtain especially since you could throw it over the thing you're not supposed to look at. Maybe spraypainting the anomaly itself would neutralize it?
...hmm, the person that escaped looked like she had been maced, and the theory is that it allowed her to escape because she was having trouble seeing. Did she mace herself? Maybe the anomaly doesn't let you look away, but with some willpower you can use your arms. That, or she maced herself upon seeing the other victims get caught looking at it.
Maybe if you spraypainted the goggles enough to only partially see out of them, it would be enough protection?

Take the first aid kit and the crowbar, at least.

>>1110272
Hm… This would imply your- or I suppose our being, if we’re technically your thoughts (news to us, by the way) but anyways, it’s likely your abilities and general demeanor are tarot based as well. WAIT! SHIT! SUITS! Okay, it’s highly likely that Gladii’s sword IS the sword of Truth, but rather than her being ONE card, she represents the suit as a whole! Unfortunately, this doesn’t help much with finding out more about yourself, seeing as there isn’t a swirly suit to my knowledge. Perhaps you’re the major arcana? I’m not quite an expert on Tarot stuff, perhaps another voice here can help on this front.

As for the plan, spray painting the goggles to reduce visibility seems pretty solid! If we’re looking for a sawed off shotgun, we *could* just requisition a saw and do the sawing off ourselves. I’d suggest asking Gladii to cut it but she’s established her stance on using her sword for like, normal cutting purposes. I’m not saying we *should* requisition the saw immediately, but it’s an idea if we decide more formally that we want the shotgun to be sawed. Crowbar seems more suitable, plus, it has added utility even if we don’t need it as a weapon. If the obstacle is truly “Don’t look at the anomaly” then “Throw the shower curtain over it so you can’t see it” certainly sounds viable, if you don’t mind carrying the whole curtain around with you. Blanket seems more practical for carrying, while serving the same purpose. I think Gladii should have the mirror. If they can’t stop themself from seeing, making their means of looking more indirect should theoretically help them.

>>1110281
As to gladii...
You could always ste- uhh, borrow daves cap. Wear it tucked down tight so the third eye on the forehead has a little extra material impeding her vision on top of her hair.
Not perfect but less flowy than her fringe.
A bike helmet would be better but work with what you got.
No.
Its not just because i want to get her to wear a hat.
I mean, yes i did think of the idea because of that but then the utility occurred to me as well and i figured it might help.

Dont take the gun.
Refer you to earlier scalpel-tin can-beans toast statements.
More likely to result in error than utility.

Take the first aid kits.
Worst comes to worst, if gladii doesnt like the hat a gauze headband might work.
That eye has gotta be resilient enough to tolerate contact with things given her hairstyle.
Oh yeah.
And medical purposes too i guess.

>>1110298
I think the implication is that the third eye can see through whatever's directly in front of it. Presumably there's a limit to that though, maybe related to the concept of being blinded. Can't see through walls etc.

>>1110292
I dunno how literal the suits analogy is, but ours (we the peanut gallery) would be the power of the Seven of Cups. Whether this means that Fera Is the seven of cups, that Fera wields the powers of the suit of Cups, or if Fera is a seeker that otherwise has access to the power of the Seven of Cups for whatever reason has yet to be seen.

It should be noted that at the beginning of the quest it was established that Gladii *chose* not to hear us, so the idea that the peanut gallery is exclusively Fera's possible thoughts should be questioned.

If I'm not totally off base about this Seven of Cups thing, then Gladii won't be able to insert her ear-piece without our prompting (not that she'd want to) and she won't be able to make any significant decisions on her own. To me this means Fera must take point.

Actually... With all this Seven of Cups pondering... Fera. What exactly does that earpiece of yours connect to? Why don't you check? Just make sure to pop it back in once you find it, please.

I think Gladii going first is best. When she gets affected by the anomaly you'll have forewarning and then you can blind yourself to avoid it. She can't do that.

Check if she can wear the goggles over her third eye, if so then it can be spraypainted and used as a blind fold that doesn't require closing her eye.

>>1110276
Just now catching this, an EXACT color palette swap when you inserted the card? Looking at the original extraction of the card from David, a similar glow occured, but in that case, your colors didn’t fully swap. I have no clue what it means yet, but I find it intriguing that using your power switches your hair color to EXACTLY Gladii’s skin color, and using it on Gladii switches their skin color to EXACTLY your hair color. My theory is the two of you are intrinsically linked somehow? Other than being on the same case together, I mean. But that’s PURE speculation.

Silicon 2025/07/26(Sat)06:48 No. 1111826 ID: acb8e2
File 175353771647.png - (576.71KB , 1500x1000 , C01_09_A.png )

> shotgun
> Hm, tempting. We weren't given any true weapons so we shouldn't need to use it. Would you even know how to wield it? On the other hand, the key was easy to find so maybe we didn't get any weapons because there was one on site?

> If we’re looking for a sawed off shotgun, we *could* just requisition a saw and do the sawing off ourselves. I’d suggest asking Gladii to cut it but she’s established her stance on using her sword for like, normal cutting purposes. I’m not saying we *should* requisition the saw immediately, but it’s an idea if we decide more formally that we want the shotgun to be sawed.

Fera: "What do you think of requisitioning a saw to make a sawed off shotgun?"
Gladii: "I am still of the opinion that the Agency would have provided weaponry if it were truly needed. This seems like a lot of effort to very little gain. Surely we can requisition something more useful directly."
Fera: "Yeah that's what I thought, honestly. What we thought."


> As to gladii...
> You could always ste- uhh, borrow daves cap. Wear it tucked down tight so the third eye on the forehead has a little extra material impeding her vision on top of her hair.

> Worst comes to worst, if gladii doesnt like the hat a gauze headband might work.
> And medical purposes too i guess.

> Check if she can wear the goggles over her third eye, if so then it can be spraypainted and used as a blind fold that doesn't require closing her eye.

> I think the implication is that the third eye can see through whatever's directly in front of it. Presumably there's a limit to that though, maybe related to the concept of being blinded. Can't see through walls etc.

Fera: "Is there a point in trying to put gauze or something over your third eye? Maybe we could borrow David's hat? Can you see through everything? Like walls? Or are you just like... immune to the concept of being blinded?"
Gladii: "Yes, that is about accurate. I cannot see through opaque walls, but anything applied for the purpose of impeding my sight specifically will fail."
Fera: "Weird."
Gladii: "If you say so."

> I think Gladii should have the mirror. If they can’t stop themself from seeing, making their means of looking more indirect should theoretically help them.

I get out the mirror and hold it out to them.
Fera: "Maybe the mirror will help, though. Perhaps looking at the anomaly indirectly is better than seeing it directly."
Gladii: "It's possible. I will try it."
And into their pocket it goes.

Silicon 2025/07/26(Sat)06:48 No. 1111827 ID: acb8e2
File 175353772586.png - (492.97KB , 1500x1000 , C01_09_B.png )

> black spraypaint
> Hey, useful! You could spraypaint the goggles, or the shower curtain. Maybe spraypainting the anomaly itself would neutralize it?
> Maybe if you spraypainted the goggles enough to only partially see out of them, it would be enough protection?

> As for the plan, spray painting the goggles to reduce visibility seems pretty solid!

Hey that's pretty smart. I grab the can of spraypaint and shake it as the label instructs.
Fera: "Give me those goggles please."
Agent Gladii hands them over without comment. Before I actually spray them, I test the spraypaint on the ground a couple of times until I get a feel for how hard I have to press the actuator to get a light enough spray to not fully cover anything.
Then I carefully apply a light drizzling of black paint to the front of the goggles. Yeah those should be difficult to see through but not totally opaque.
I show them to Gladii before setting them down to dry.

Fera: "See? This way they impair my vision but don't totally block it."
Gladii: "Clever."


> shower curtain
> Are you sure that's what that is? Well, it could be used to move a dead body without making a huge mess. Also possible that it could be used like a tarp to protect things from the rain.

> If the obstacle is truly “Don’t look at the anomaly” then “Throw the shower curtain over it so you can’t see it” certainly sounds viable, if you don’t mind carrying the whole curtain around with you. Blanket seems more practical for carrying, while serving the same purpose.

All right, that does make sense. Shower curtain is useful for wrapping up stuff you don't want on your car seat. Honestly that makes me wary of touching the thing. Who knows what it's been used for and how well it's been cleaned?!
We'll take the blanket, I think.


> Take the first aid kit and the crowbar, at least.

> Crowbar seems more suitable, plus, it has added utility even if we don’t need it as a weapon.

> Take the first aid kits.

Fera: "Okay, you take the blanket and the crowbar. I'll take the spraypaint and a first aid kit."
Gladii: "Roger."

Gladii hands me my jacket and I put it back on for convenience, as it has extra pockets.
And speaking of pockets, here's what we end up with:

Fera - Pockets: mission orders, Agency requisition form, Nine of Swords, tissues, sleep mask
Fera - Worn: painted goggles
Fera - Carried: first aid kit, spraypaint
Gladii - Pockets: lighter, mirror
Gladii - Worn: sunglasses
Gladii - Carried: blanket, crowbar

Silicon 2025/07/26(Sat)06:52 No. 1111829 ID: acb8e2
File 175353792746.png - (403.40KB , 1500x1000 , C01_09_C.png )

Now fully equipped, Agent Gladii and I head back over to the bunker hatch. This gives me some more time to think.

> Ah, looks like the recipient of the card can break out of it by rejecting the emotion.

Gladii sure seemed to be breaking out of something, but they were pretty worked up right up until the point where I pulled the card back out. They were struggling against it, definitely. Whatever it is. But, y'know... I could be on the verge of tears and still say 'I'm fine. This is nothing.' You know?

> Just now catching this, an EXACT color palette swap when you inserted the card? Looking at the original extraction of the card from David, a similar glow occured, but in that case, your colors didn’t fully swap. I have no clue what it means yet, but I find it intriguing that using your power switches your hair color to EXACTLY Gladii’s skin color, and using it on Gladii switches their skin color to EXACTLY your hair color. My theory is the two of you are intrinsically linked somehow? Other than being on the same case together, I mean. But that’s PURE speculation.

Fera: "You know, earlier when I stuck the card inside you, our colours flipped."
Gladii: "Our colours flipped?"
Fera: "Yeah like with David? Your skin was the colour of my hair and vice versa."
Gladii: "I... Did not observe such a change."
Fera: "Oh... I was gonna ask if you also felt like the change was more pronounced with you than with David."
Gladii: "Can't help you there."
Fera: "Could there be some intrinsic link between us?"
Gladii: "Let's keep this professional, Agent Fera."

A hint of a smirk there. I think that may have a been a joke.
Oh hey, I just remembered something from earlier, that I was meaning to ask about!

Fera: "You didn't seem to like the taste of that joint."
Gladii: "... No I did not."
Fera: "Were you surprised it wasn't tobacco?"
Gladii: "That was unexpected, yes. Can't say whether I would have liked that any better, though. I don't smoke."
Fera: "You don't? Then why did you light one up at all?"
Gladii: "I was going with the flow. I thought it might be odd if I carried cigarettes but didn't join David in having one."
Fera: "Well... Lighting one and then immediately putting it out again was definitely weirder."
They sigh.
Gladii: "Yes, Agent Fera. Yes it was."

Silicon 2025/07/26(Sat)06:52 No. 1111830 ID: acb8e2
File 175353795229.png - (436.97KB , 1500x1000 , C01_09_D.png )

> Okay, it’s highly likely that Gladii’s sword IS the sword of Truth, but rather than her being ONE card, she represents the suit as a whole! Unfortunately, this doesn’t help much with finding out more about yourself, seeing as there isn’t a swirly suit to my knowledge. Perhaps you’re the major arcana?

Right yeah, we were musing about this earlier. Maybe I'll just ask.

Fera: "The Peanut Gallery suggests that you represent a whole suit. Swords, obviously. They are unsure whether I am also a suit, because the swirly thing doesn't seem to fit a tarot suit at all. Maybe the major arcana?"
Gladii: "That would be my guess as well. Although... Hm."
Fera: "Yes?"
Gladii: "If it is the major arcana, I'd expect your name to be something like Triumphi."
Fera: "Ah. Like a trump card? Because Gladii means swords?"
Gladii: "And Calices means cups and so forth, yes."
Fera: "Calices?"
Gladii: "Another colleague. I'm sure the two of you will meet before long."


> I dunno how literal the suits analogy is, but ours (we the peanut gallery) would be the power of the Seven of Cups.
> It should be noted that at the beginning of the quest it was established that Gladii *chose* not to hear us, so the idea that the peanut gallery is exclusively Fera's possible thoughts should be questioned.

> Actually... With all this Seven of Cups pondering... Fera. What exactly does that earpiece of yours connect to? Why don't you check? Just make sure to pop it back in once you find it, please.

Okay I don't know about all of this Seven of Cups stuff, but you do raise an interesting point about the earpiece. I set down the first aid kit and the spraypaint and start tugging on the cable. There is eventually some resistance. I don't test it too strongly, so as not to unplug it before finding where it goes.
Instead I try to feel out the path of the cable with my hands, but it's kind of awkward as it goes behind my back and it's hard to feel it through the shirt and jacket.
I unbutton the jacket to take it off, but Gladii suddenly speaks up.

Gladii: "Don't bother, you won't find it."
Fera: "What do you mean?"
Gladii: "The cable doesn't go anywhere. Even if you stripped down fully, you wouldn't be able to find the place where it ends, because it ends nowhere. You'll inevitably lose track of it."
Fera: "What? That's weird!"
They shrug.
Gladii: "You can ascertain it yourself, if you like, but perhaps not right now?"
Fera: "Mmrh"

I button up my jacket again.

Fera: "But while we're on the topic... The Peanut Gallery is wondering about you choosing not to hear them. And I wonder why that is."
Gladii: "Well to be accurate, I would never be able to hear them. My Peanut Gallery is not your Peanut Gallery. And to pre-empt the inevitable question: I do not use it, because I have deemed it more trouble than it's worth. I will not elaborate. Can we can get this over with now?"
Fera: "Yes, yes."

> If I'm not totally off base about this Seven of Cups thing, then Gladii won't be able to insert her ear-piece without our prompting (not that she'd want to) and she won't be able to make any significant decisions on her own. To me this means Fera must take point.

> I think Gladii going first is best. When she gets affected by the anomaly you'll have forewarning and then you can blind yourself to avoid it. She can't do that.

Okay, so what I'm getting is that you guys can't make up your mind one way or the other. So while I can see your arguments... Well... Since Gladii seems eager to take point and I'm very hesitant to...

Fera: "Okay, I've decided. You go in first. Be careful. And use the mirror."
Gladii: "Mmh hm."

Silicon 2025/07/26(Sat)06:52 No. 1111831 ID: acb8e2
File 175353796322.png - (531.57KB , 1500x1000 , C01_09_E.png )

Agent Gladii sets down the blanket and crowbar by the opening and pulls the mirror out of their pocket.

Gladii: "You'll hand me these things when I'm down the ladder, won't you?"
Fera: "Yeah of course."

Then they swing their legs over the edge of the hole, one after the other and start climbing down, one hand on the ladder, one holding the mirror. Once they reach the bottom, they move and angle the mirror to get a view of the room.

They sigh.

Gladii: "Two bodies. Very still."

It feels like my insides are contracting. Every muscle in my body tenses.
Oh Fuck.
They're dead.

Gladii: "Moderate smell of decay down here. Flashlight on the floor. Otherwise, the room is pretty barren. There's an open doorway to the left. Ah, no. The right."
I open my mouth to reply something, but nothing comes out. I forgot to breathe. I take a deep breath.
Fera: "O-okay..."

Gladii tucks the mirror in their breast pocket and looks up to me. They're raising their arms. It takes me a moment to remember.
Fera: "Oh, right."
I hand first the blanket, then the crowbar down to them. They set both on the floor and I give them the spray can and the first aid kit as well. Finally Gladii pulls out the mirror again. Then they step back from the ladder.

Silicon 2025/07/26(Sat)06:53 No. 1111832 ID: acb8e2
File 175353798325.png - (1.59MB , 3000x2000 , C01_09_F.png )

I don't wanna go down there. I just wanna go... somewhere else. But then... No, just waiting up here while Gladii investigates is... is worse.

They look up at me.
Gladii: "Do you need a minute?"

ka-chrrk

Fera: "What was that?!"
Gladii: "No idea, but I heard it, too."

They angle the mirror around again, but seemingly find nothing.

Gladii: "Come on now, Agent Fera. Let's get this over with."

I take another deep breath of the dry desert air. Then I pull the goggles down over my eyes and step onto the ladder. I climb down carefully, one step at a time. A sickly sweet stench rises to meet me. It turns my already queasy stomach.
At the bottom I hesitate a moment. I bend down to take the can of spray paint with slightly shaky fingers. I take another breath, but less deep this time as the smell is... unpleasant. Though not overwhelming.

Yet.

Silicon 2025/07/26(Sat)06:53 No. 1111833 ID: acb8e2
File 175353799712.png - (631.29KB , 1500x1000 , C01_09_G.png )

Finally, I turn. And there they are.

The flashlight isn't pointing at them, so they're hard to see in the dark with the blackened googles. But I do see them, two crumpled piles of meat.
I think I'm gonna throw up.

Gladii: "Very good, Agent Fera."
Fera: "I... I- I can't see very well..."
Gladii: "Good. The goggles are doing their job, then."

I take a few quick and shallow breaths.

Fera: "Wh- What do you see?"
Gladii: "Other than the bodies? A flashlight of course. A bottle of water. And what appears to be a very small spray bottle with a little cord on it."

ka-chrrk

What is that??!

Agent Gladii is eerily calm.
Gladii: "Next steps?"

...why am I only now noticing the symbol in the bottom left of every image? Usually it's a sword, but sometimes it's a |<>| symbol.

>Fera has meaning
Well, there's the obvious "feral" etymology. Wild animal. Maybe it's referring to instincts? I would've expected more of a tie to emotions, personally, but maybe there's more to your skillset than the emotion cards.

>can't see very well
Oddly, we can see just about normally, where there's light. Maybe it's because we're (usually) getting still images-- could be the information gathered by your eyes over time is condensed into a still frame, like an error correction algorithm?

Examine the bodies. See how they died, that'll give us a bit more info on the nature of the anomaly. Also peek around the corner.

>>1111830
More trouble than its worth?
Tell her shes probably right.
Good news is were a bunch of underachievers so we're likely to be less trouble than were worth. Maybe about half if we try.
>>1111832
Bad news.
How they died is important in helping us figure out whats down here.
Maybe fera can examine them for you.

Also, the spray bottle.
Contents, markings etc...
Say.
What is that noise?

>>1111834
The symbol in the bottom left is just the artist's signature. Don't worry about it.

unfortunatly yes, you're going to have to examine the bodies. and quickly before whatever it is attacks you.

the spray bottle seems odd, check that too.

...!
hold up, theres a camera in the top corner!

>>1111840
Weirdly enough, that looks like it might be an SLR camera, not a surveillance camera. And ka-chrrk sounds a lot like its shutter and mirror flicking open and shut. Given David's testimony, this sound has been happening for three days, though it could be motion-activated. The question is why someone would want to take pictures instead of recording video; if it isn't just an idiosyncrasy, then it's probably like that to mitigate the effect of our mystery basilisk, and that means the camera, at some point, has a direct view of the thing. Be wary.
As for the bodies, they look like the sheriff and athlete David mentioned. We're probably gonna have to get a good look at them, but first have Gladii look around the doorway with the mirror; it could be a corner or a hallway, and you probably want the corner.

Both bodies are facing the open doorway to Gladii's right. The one looks like he fell backwards after he died on his feet, crumpling against the wall. The other one is in just the right position he would be, if he were leaning over to cautiously peer into the doorway, then suddenly died.

Point being two people have suddenly died from looking at whatever is in there. Recommend not looking.

The "ka-chrrk" is that camera taking pictures automatically, somehow. So someone must have known it was deadly, enough to set up the camera without looking. They could be the first body, if they accidentally looked after setting up the camera.

Recommend using selfie stick to take camera without looking, then inspect film. Error selfie stick not found.

Maybe static imagery is safer... somehow.
Ĺooking at a picture of the thing substantially different enough from beholding the thing in its anomo.ous glory.
Or, it was a desperate idea they tried and it failed,contributing to their respective current posthumous status.

Silicon 2025/08/15(Fri)14:12 No. 1112789 ID: bb3183
File 175529236773.png - (635.24KB , 1500x1000 , C01_10_A.png )

> Fera has meaning
> Well, there's the obvious "feral" etymology. Wild animal. Maybe it's referring to instincts? I would've expected more of a tie to emotions, personally, but maybe there's more to your skillset than the emotion cards.

Yeah okay, I... I can think about that for a moment... Uhm...
Well, before you tell me to try turning into a wolf, I already tried that and it didn't work.
I don't feel particularly wild or feral, you know? Maybe we're overthinking this.

> More trouble than its worth?
> Tell her shes probably right.
> Good news is were a bunch of underachievers so we're likely to be less trouble than were worth. Maybe about half if we try.

Oh don't sell yourselves short. I'm sure you can be as much trouble as you like if you put your mind to it.
I don't think Gladii is in the mood for that sort of conversation right now. And uhm. Me neither, honestly.
Damn, that stench really creeps into you. Eurgh.


> can't see very well
> Oddly, we can see just about normally, where there's light. Maybe it's because we're (usually) getting still images-- could be the information gathered by your eyes over time is condensed into a still frame, like an error correction algorithm?

Maybe? Or maybe you just have a different idea of what normal sight is.


> Say.
> What is that noise?

You're asking me? I don't-

> ...!
> hold up, theres a camera in the top corner!

There is?! Okay maybe you can somehow see better than I can...

> Weirdly enough, that looks like it might be an SLR camera, not a surveillance camera. And ka-chrrk sounds a lot like its shutter and mirror flicking open and shut. Given David's testimony, this sound has been happening for three days, though it could be motion-activated. The question is why someone would want to take pictures instead of recording video; if it isn't just an idiosyncrasy, then it's probably like that to mitigate the effect of our mystery basilisk, and that means the camera, at some point, has a direct view of the thing. Be wary.

> Maybe static imagery is safer... somehow.
> Ĺooking at a picture of the thing substantially different enough from beholding the thing in its anomo.ous glory.
> Or, it was a desperate idea they tried and it failed,contributing to their respective current posthumous status.

Well it's not moving. If it can turn, it's probably, like, remote controlled. But it might also just be fixed angle.

Fera: "There's... There's a camera up in the corner there. By the doorway."
Gladii: "Mmh?"
They almost turn to look, but then think better of it and instead turn the mirror about until...
Gladii: "Ah. There it is. Interesting. That should explain the noise."
Fera: "You're taller than I am. Maybe you could get it?"
Gladii: "Perhaps. But it is right next to the door. It might not be safe."

Can't argue with that. I'll note it for later.


> Examine the bodies. See how they died, that'll give us a bit more info on the nature of the anomaly.

> Bad news.
> How they died is important in helping us figure out whats down here.
> Maybe fera can examine them for you.

> unfortunatly yes, you're going to have to examine the bodies. and quickly before whatever it is attacks you.

> As for the bodies, they look like the sheriff and athlete David mentioned. We're probably gonna have to get a good look at them,

Fera: "How do you feel about examining the bodies?"
Gladii: "That, too, would leave us quite exposed, don't you agree? What's there to learn? They're dead, that's plain to see. We're close."

Silicon 2025/08/15(Fri)14:13 No. 1112790 ID: bb3183
File 175529240087.png - (814.82KB , 1500x1000 , C01_10_B.png )

> Also, the spray bottle.
> Contents, markings etc...

> the spray bottle seems odd, check that too.

Fera: "Yes. Give me a moment to have a look at this spray bottle and then we can check the doorway."
Gladii: "Good."

I stoop down and pick up the little spray bottle. It appears to be a keychain. I turn it into the light so I can read it: Spicy Derringer - Capsaicin Spray.

Fera: "It's mace."
Gladii: "That makes sense."

I put the little bottle in my pocket.

Silicon 2025/08/15(Fri)14:13 No. 1112791 ID: bb3183
File 175529242418.png - (549.14KB , 1500x1000 , C01_10_C.png )

> Also peek around the corner.

> Both bodies are facing the open doorway to Gladii's right. The one looks like he fell backwards after he died on his feet, crumpling against the wall. The other one is in just the right position he would be, if he were leaning over to cautiously peer into the doorway, then suddenly died.
> Point being two people have suddenly died from looking at whatever is in there. Recommend not looking.

Oh that's a good observation! They must have died two days apart, looking at the same thing. I wonder what that could mean. Either way, this is... This is probably very dangerous.

> The "ka-chrrk" is that camera taking pictures automatically, somehow. So someone must have known it was deadly, enough to set up the camera without looking. They could be the first body, if they accidentally looked after setting up the camera.
> Recommend using selfie stick to take camera without looking, then inspect film. Error selfie stick not found.

Yeah, if we could look at what the camera has captured, that would probably answer a lot of questions!

Fera: "Okay, wait."
Gladii: "What now?"
Fera: "Look at the bodies. It kinda looks like they both died looking through that doorway."
They do not turn to look directly.
Gladii: "Ah."
Fera: "Maybe we can get the camera first after all? Might answer a lot of questions."
Gladii: "But not the crucial one. If the anomaly is through this doorway, then the camera can't possibly have captured it. Not from that angle."
Fera: "I mean it can't hurt to check-"
Gladii: "Agent Fera, you are stalling. I get that this is frightening. You're new and this mission has turned out to be unusually deadly. I understand. But we'll get nowhere investigating every little thing except the anomaly itself. Nothing matters but our orders. 'Neutralize the anomaly.' We accomplish that and we can rest. No further investigation is necessary."
Fera: "Well, this thing kills people! I just want to make sure we don't end up dead. So we should get all the information we-"
Gladii: "There is no way to remove that camera without standing right next to the doorway. It is possible that glimpsing it in your peripheral vision is enough to kill you."
Fera: "But-"
Gladii: "Face it, Agent Fera. To know what it actually is and how to neutralize it, we must take the risk of taking a look."
They raise the hand mirror.
Gladii: "I am willing to take this risk, because I am not afraid to die and your idea about indirect contact is sound. Let's end this already."

> but first have Gladii look around the doorway with the mirror; it could be a corner or a hallway, and you probably want the corner.

All right. Okay. Yeah. Yeah let's do this.

Gladii looks at me expectantly.
Gladii: "Ready?"
I hesitate. I nod. I really hope this is the right call.

Agent Gladii steps over to the side of the doorway, back to the wall. Slowly, carefully, they extend their arm with the mirror in hand to see around the corner. I'm holding my breath. They're holding their breath. They angle the mirror further...

Silicon 2025/08/15(Fri)14:14 No. 1112792 ID: bb3183
File 175529245119.png - (654.17KB , 1500x1000 , C01_10_D.png )

Gladii: "Gnnckhh!"
A sudden violent tremor shoots through Gladii's body. The back of their head collides with the wall. Crack! Mirror and sunglasses fall hard onto the concrete floor.

ka-chrrk

Silicon 2025/08/15(Fri)14:14 No. 1112793 ID: bb3183
File 175529247746.png - (667.41KB , 1500x1000 , C01_10_E.png )

It takes a second before I remember that I'm also here and all my muscles are pulled taught. Gladii keels over, like in slow motion. I only catch them because they're falling right on top of me.

WHUMP!

We go, both of us down.

Silicon 2025/08/15(Fri)14:15 No. 1112794 ID: bb3183
File 175529251049.png - (0.97MB , 1500x1000 , C01_10_F.png )

Fera: "W-what's wrong?! What happened?!"
Gladii: "Hnngghh- Krcckkrt..."
They draw a laborious breath. They're shaking. I hold their head, so they don't hit it again.

Fera: "No, no no nonono please! D-don't die!"
Gladii: "Anom- Errcchhh W- wa- hhhHHHhh"
They're grabbing my arm.
Gladii: "W-wall!"
Fera: "Wall?!"
Gladii: "Hhhh Aangghh P-pic- Pitch... Pitcher- Hhrrgk Wall!"
The shaking gets weaker over time. Is that good? Or are they dying?!
Fera: "A pitcher?!"
Gladii: "Pick! hhhHHHhh Shur! Grkkh"
Fera: "Picture! O-on the wall?!"
Gladii: "Mnggkkrr hhHhhh Y- es... F-fuck... ev- ever- hhHHHhhhck- -ing..."

I don't... I don't know what to do! I just... Kind of pat Gladii's head a little.

Fera: "Are you- A-are you gonna make it?"
Another series of tremors in their lungs. I'm not sure if they're hyperventilating or laughing. Either way, it's an ugly sound.
Gladii: "Hhhhh alw- hH -ways make it... Ngghh! Unf- unfor- hhHHhhh hhhhhh"
Fera: "Okay, okay, stop talking. Just breathe, okay?"

Gladii takes deep breaths. It sounds like each one takes tremendous effort. They're no longer shaking, but I sure am.

Fera: "I'm gonna... I'm gonna set you down, okay?"
There is no response.

Okay... okay. Let's make the most of this.
What do I do now? Maybe I should have a look at that camera and those bodies after all... But very carefully... VERY.

Ah. It's a "basilisk" image, not a creature. An image made to destroy the human mind via destructive cognitive patterns. That means... if you simply don't look at the wall, you'll be fine. I'm guessing that since Gladii didn't look directly at the entire thing (the mirror is small and wouldn't let her see the whole thing unless it's far down the corridor) must be why she's not dead. That, and the mirror would have distorted it a bit.
Your partially spraypainted goggles will probably work if you look at such a thing, as well...

UNFORTUNATELY, the camera taking images of people who look at the basilisk means that someone set this up on purpose. Maybe to research and refine the technique. A very nasty person is in here. At best, the basilisk is a "guard", something to screen unauthorized personnel.

Investigate what you can reach in this room, then either look at the floor while turning the corner, or outright cover your eyes with the blindfold and use your hands to find the picture on the wall. Take it down, or otherwise disable it. Then carefully peek around through the goggles to see if anything else is around. Maybe with only one eye to further limit exposure.

This thing seems pretty deadly! But if it's just a picture on a wall, and nothing has come out of this bunker... it shouldn't be able to move. That means time is on your side. Take a few breaths, and steady yourself before proceeding.

It looks like your partner also has a new card sticking out of them. You should probably take it, but be wary of looking directly at it. If it depicts the anomaly, it might be just as dangerous.

>>1112790
Oh good.
If something anomalous tries to make you look at it, you can now mace yourself as a last reso-
>>1112792
Shit.
>>1112794
Shit!
.
Basilisk image is a good term for it.
Ok.
Ok.
Recovery position for gladii.
And yeah, check the bodies out if you want, but you have had an example of what it does.
The camera is the most useful thing here.

If we accept the assumption theres someone on site recieving imagery, they may react to the camera being disabled in some way.
It is possible that the timing of the images is a long term observational method. A full stream of video would fill your recording medium quickly, but if live feedback wasnt important, then an image every so often would generate more managable amount of data and inform the viewer when it was time to come scrape up another involuntary subject for the autopsy table.

Is the timing on the camera noise consistant?

There may be other anomalies down here, but for now we have our primary target. Priority is neutralizing its means of attack; direct line of sight.

Our options are: cover the image, disrupt the image, or destroy the image. We don't know whether it will still function if part of it is missing, and we lack the means to destroy a whole wall, so lets focus on covering it.

We will have to be methodical about this, as we can't test any theories without dying if we are wrong. For example we must assume the image covers all four walls, floor and ceiling of the room.

Since it presumably can't move, take some time for Gladii to recover.

You need to 'refract' the image. If you can split it into parts, it might be contained without triggering any 'indestructible' properties.

The camera must have gone in before the basilisk, right? Otherwise it'd be too dangerous to install where it is.
And the camera must be new, otherwise David wouldn't have mentioned the sound.
So maybe the first couple came down here, spent 10 minutes setting up the camera, unrolled a poster with the image, and found out they got more than they bargained for.

I think your best best is to spray(-paint) and pray, but we should get Gladii to safety first, so she isn't lying there breathing in the fumes.

We should also block the camera or spray the lens. I just don't trust it. Maybe the basilisk is personalized somehow.

OK Gladii could have let you know that they always survive, if incredibly painfully, but water under the bridge. Take that card out, since you seem to be good at removing suffering that way, but don't look at it! It might have properties of the image on the wall.

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:03 No. 1115386 ID: 04d06c
File 176106621655.png - (788.19KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_A.png )

> Ah. It's a "basilisk" image, not a creature. An image made to destroy the human mind via destructive cognitive patterns. That means... if you simply don't look at the wall, you'll be fine. I'm guessing that since Gladii didn't look directly at the entire thing (the mirror is small and wouldn't let her see the whole thing unless it's far down the corridor) must be why she's not dead. That, and the mirror would have distorted it a bit.
> Your partially spraypainted goggles will probably work if you look at such a thing, as well...

You seem to know a lot about it! So it... destroys your brain just from looking at it? Will Gladii be okay?! I think they had a... a seizure or something. Maybe only partially looking at it only partially destroys your brain? That's still really bad. And they might also have a concussion or... or worse!
Ugh I should have insisted we take more precautions! I should have put my foot down!

> There may be other anomalies down here, but for now we have our primary target. Priority is neutralizing its means of attack; direct line of sight.

Oh come on, no! More? Please! I can barely handle one! How do you figure there might be more??

> This thing seems pretty deadly! But if it's just a picture on a wall, and nothing has come out of this bunker... it shouldn't be able to move. That means time is on your side. Take a few breaths, and steady yourself before proceeding.

Yeah okay. Yeah. You're right. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. We're gonna be okay.

> Our options are: cover the image, disrupt the image, or destroy the image. We don't know whether it will still function if part of it is missing, and we lack the means to destroy a whole wall, so lets focus on covering it.

Black spray paint should cover most anything, right? I brought this down here specifically for this purpose. I'll just have to somehow like... cover at least most of it without seeing what I'm doing. That's not impossible, I don't think. Just gotta find the damn thing.

> We will have to be methodical about this, as we can't test any theories without dying if we are wrong. For example we must assume the image covers all four walls, floor and ceiling of the room.

This strikes me as unlikely. I have seen little slivers of the wall, floor and ceiling of the next room and they look like sheer concrete to me.
But I get your meaning. There's no margin for error, so there's no thing such as overkill.

> You need to 'refract' the image. If you can split it into parts, it might be contained without triggering any 'indestructible' properties.

Also an interesting option. Depends on whether it's painted directly on the wall or just mounted on there, it might be possible to take it down and break it apart. But there's probably no harm in painting over it first all the same.

> OK Gladii could have let you know that they always survive, if incredibly painfully, but water under the bridge.

You think that's what they meant? Yeah if that's the case they really should have told me!

> Ok.
> Ok.
> Recovery position for gladii.

Right, that's uuuhh.. On their side, upper knee forward, hand under their head and face tilted to the floor, right? Yeah, I can do that.

I carefully extricate myself from Gladii, ensuring I set their head down gently.
Gladii does not resist as I arrange their limbs and roll them over on the side. In fact, they go along with the movements. They're not fully unconscious, I don't think.

Fera: "Don't move, okay? Just stay like this and breathe."
Gladii: "hhHHhh... Rgkhhh... Yes... hhHHhhh"

> Since it presumably can't move, take some time for Gladii to recover.

I really hope they will. There's a lot of blood. I... think that doesn't necessarily point to a lethal head injury, but it looks really awful.

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:03 No. 1115387 ID: 04d06c
File 176106622588.png - (815.27KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_B.png )

> It looks like your partner also has a new card sticking out of them. You should probably take it, but be wary of looking directly at it. If it depicts the anomaly, it might be just as dangerous.

> Take that card out, since you seem to be good at removing suffering that way, but don't look at it! It might have properties of the image on the wall.

Sure enough there is another card sticking out of their chest. Should I really take it when they're in this state?
I decide that, since it didn't seem to cause David any harm, it should be fine here, maybe even helpful? So I tug on it until it comes free.
POP!
Gladii groans, but then resumes breathing as they had: very badly and loudly.
Hmm... How do I find out whether the card is safe to look at? For now I place it on the floor, face down.

> I think your best best is to spray(-paint) and pray, but we should get Gladii to safety first, so she isn't lying there breathing in the fumes.

Okay, how? The only exit is a ladder. Even if I recruited David I don't know how we'd get them out of here if they can't even at least stand. And I can't really call an ambulance, can I? The paramedics would have to come down here and that is demonstrably unsafe!
Let me know if you come up with a plan here because I'm stumped.

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:03 No. 1115388 ID: 04d06c
File 176106623329.png - (583.64KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_C.png )

> UNFORTUNATELY, the camera taking images of people who look at the basilisk means that someone set this up on purpose. Maybe to research and refine the technique. A very nasty person is in here. At best, the basilisk is a "guard", something to screen unauthorized personnel.

> If we accept the assumption theres someone on site recieving imagery, they may react to the camera being disabled in some way.

Well, the camera has already taken several pictures of us. The cat's out of the box and very much alive. I guess there might be a ticking clock here after all. God damnit...

> It is possible that the timing of the images is a long term observational method. A full stream of video would fill your recording medium quickly, but if live feedback wasnt important, then an image every so often would generate more managable amount of data and inform the viewer when it was time to come scrape up another involuntary subject for the autopsy table.

If that's the case, why are there two increasingly... ripe bodies here? Wouldn't you want to examine them fresh?

> Is the timing on the camera noise consistant?

Not at all. If anything I'd say it's noise activated? Hey you know what?
I clap my hands.

ka-chrrk

I think it's noise activated.

> The camera must have gone in before the basilisk, right? Otherwise it'd be too dangerous to install where it is.
>And the camera must be new, otherwise David wouldn't have mentioned the sound.
> So maybe the first couple came down here, spent 10 minutes setting up the camera, unrolled a poster with the image, and found out they got more than they bargained for.

Makes sense to me. Let's see what we can find...

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:04 No. 1115389 ID: 04d06c
File 176106624818.png - (614.47KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_D.png )

> Investigate what you can reach in this room

> And yeah, check the bodies out if you want, but you have had an example of what it does.

I step over to the bodies, very careful to keep my back turned on the doorway. Feels like turning my back on a guy with a knife. Urgh. I better do this quick!
I spot the little hand mirror on the floor where Gladii dropped it. It's got some big nasty cracks in it. I put it in my pocket.
As I bend down to search the bodies the stench nearly overwhelms me and I need to supress a gag. I quickly fumble a tissue out of the little tissue pack and hold it over my nose and mouth. maybe that'll help a little.

Even so it takes me a little while to go through the dead guys' pockets. I need to take a couple breaks to step away and breathe.

Okay results:

sheriff:
He's slumped against the wall. As I root around in his pockets his head moves in ways that look unhealthy. Maybe his neck is broken? I'm not gonna check any further. Probably would have died even so.
- a handgun
- a wallet with a bit of cash and a bunch of useless trash.
- a badge
- a pack of chewing gum.
- a key ring (but no car keys)

other guy:
There's a bit of blood on the wall behind his head. Looks like he was pretty fit. He absolutely reeks at this distance blurrgghhh
- no wallet, no keys
- some breath mints
- a whole bunch of granola bars
- a couple condoms, how responsible!
- wireless earphones in a little box
- a swiss army knife
- a note

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:04 No. 1115390 ID: 04d06c
File 176106625852.png - (666.20KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_E.png )

I retreat from the bodies once more and hold the note into the light so I can read it. Huh, there are some strange symbols on here.

Hey ,

says he wants me to go check something out and you
know how he gets when he doesn't get what he wants.
It's kinda out of the way though and I don't have a car.
Maybe you could take me?
I'll make it worth your while.
Call me!

-

> The camera is the most useful thing here.

I have a look at the camera. It seems to be screwed on to a little platform that's mounted to the ceiling. There is something hanging off of it that looks like a computer chip.
Hey here's an idea. I pull out the pocket knife and see what sorts of tools it has.
Bingo! A screwdriver!
I carefully take off the screw holding the camera and remove the thing from the mount.

ka-chrrk

Okay yeah the computer chip is wired right into the camera through a makeshift-looking hole in the casing.
Hmm... You guys seem pretty sure about not looking at anything that might depict the uh... basilisk, so I'm not sure whether I should check out the photos on the camera. Those would probably be very illuminating and I'm still relatively sure that the camera shouldn't have taken any pictures through that doorway the way it was mounted.
But I'll let you judge that.

> We should also block the camera or spray the lens. I just don't trust it. Maybe the basilisk is personalized somehow.

For now, I set the camera down on the floor, pointed directly at the empty wall.

ka-chrrk

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:04 No. 1115391 ID: 04d06c
File 176106627393.png - (362.16KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_F.png )

> then either look at the floor while turning the corner, or outright cover your eyes with the blindfold and use your hands to find the picture on the wall. Take it down, or otherwise disable it. Then carefully peek around through the goggles to see if anything else is around. Maybe with only one eye to further limit exposure.

Okay, let's... Yeah.
I finagle the sleep mask underneath the goggles for double protection. Yup. Can't see shit like this.
I take the spray paint, awkwardly feel my way to the doorway and over the bodies. I step into the room beyond and with my hands outstretched I carefully walk forward until-

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:04 No. 1115392 ID: 04d06c
File 176106628661.png - (704.74KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_G.png )

clack

I brush against something with my shoe. Something small and fairly light. I crouch and find the thing. A bit above fist-size... roughly box-shaped... Another camera? Much smaller. Without the large objective the other one has. I stick it in my pocket and-
Immediately trip on another one.
I feel around on the floor and... wouldn't you believe it, there's a third one!
I put away all three and continue on to the wall opposite the door.

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:04 No. 1115393 ID: 04d06c
File 176106629661.png - (479.73KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_H.png )

Eventually I reach it. It feels... different from the other walls in here. The others are pretty rough. This one is rather smooth. I begin running my hands over the wall in all directions, looking for some kind of frame, but I never find one. However, towards the left and the right the wall's texture gets coarser again. Hmm.

> I think your best best is to spray(-paint) and pray

I'm worried I might run out of paint if I just randomly spray the wall... So I refrain for now. I make my way back to the other room and get the blindfold off.

Silicon 2025/10/21(Tue)10:05 No. 1115394 ID: 04d06c
File 176106630683.png - (896.15KB , 1500x1000 , C01_11_I.png )

Sitting down by the ladder I pull out the smaller cameras. These are also digital, but they look super cheap. On a whim, I press the power button on the first one (with the screen turned away). Nothing. The little LED doesn't turn on or flash or anything. I try the second one. Also nothing. Hm.
Third time's the charm. I press the button on the third camera and for just an instant the LED glows red. Then there's a krrzzt, a whisp of smoke and that's it. Pressing the button more results in absolutely nothing.

All right where does that leave us? I get that you want me to spraypaint over the anomaly, but it's difficult for me to tell where excatly I need to spray and whether I'll have enough paint if I do it haphazardly... Maybe we can figure out a way to do this right...

We have a camera and we could look at the pictures. It's risky, I guess. But not that risky, I think.

And then there's a bunch more puzzling stuff that we found. I'm not sure what all that adds up to.

I've got a headache.

Gladii: "hhHh... h-ghHhh... hHHhh..."

Gladii is still breathing. So at least there's that.

>>1115394
Headache...
Stale air, poor ventilation and stinky bodies...
Yeah.
Thatd do it.
Eat mints. Might take the edge off.

Interesting note.
The symbols are new to us, but weve seen similar in the peanut gallery here.
When we first met you two but didnt know your names.
What this means is hard to quantify at this point.
Evidence of other agents? Other group using a similar sigil based identification system?

I think you may be right about needing to view the images on the camera.
Indecision is detrimental to gladii's health.
A more ruthless soul would test the camera images on an already exposed individual, but i dont think youre that kind of person, nor would the safety itd earn be worth the cost.
So, camera image examination.
Squient till your eyes are blurry or wear the goggles for the first glance. Seeing only part of the basilisk image may disable or impede it.
Perahps even use the note to obscure half of the image at a time to disrupt full exposure.

New resource found: the camera
It being sound activated means you could use it to take further around corner images if needed.

Im not sure what to make of the cheaper cameras.
What purpose they served or whether they were part of the original set up.

>>1115389
>loot! also different causes of death
Hey, that handgun is potentially useful now that we know more of what's going on.
...huh, everyone gets head/neck trauma from looking at the poster, but it's external damage? Maybe it doesn't work like we thought. It doesn't attack the brain, it's... like a telekinetic attack in response to being seen?

>>1115393
>smooth wall
That would be the poster. Though we're missing some information... Ask gladii if thinking about the poster hurts. If not, ask how big the poster was, and where on the wall it was exactly. From touch, it seems very big.

>>1115390
>camera pictures?
Yeah that one was pointed in a safe direction.

>>1115394
>headache
Oh great, does that mean even touching the thing counts as partial exposure? I hope not.
>not enough spray paint?
Hmm, maybe the convenience store has more? Alternatively we can get some gasoline and burn the thing. ...burning it seems like the safest option actually. You can take the sheriff's cash to pay for gas.

Idea! Not to be needlessly cruel, but Gladii is here, and alive. If we’re really wary of the photos, why not show them to her first? Putting yourself at risk first could lead to you BOTH being on the floor, which is kinda counterproductive. If Gladii has a reaction a second time, we know not to look. Plus, it’s honestly probably safe. Digital cameras don’t store every bit of light they capture. I’d be willing to bet that the lower resolution of the camera (compared to your eyes) is enough of a mosaic censor for the basilisk’s threat to be rendered ineffective.

>>1115401
Both on the floor is a better outcome than one of us dead.

...ah, I bet the other cameras are dead because they took pictures of the poster. The anomaly "killed" the cameras! This would very much confirm the working camera is safe to check.

Hmm, seems like the basilisk killed the cameras in the room. That would indicate that the other camera hasn't seen inside the room, as its still functioning. I say see whats on it, it seems reasonably safe.

as for fire, if its just painted on a concrete wall it won't be able to burn down. As we just saw with Gladii, if even a portion remains it will still hurt. scorching can't be trusted to be thorough.

>>1115403
Right, but it didn’t kill them! So they’d probably feel the same pain again, but still be fine

>>1115414
It's not just pain, it's physical injury.

The injuries don't have to mean that the basilisk doesn't affect the brain; If it works by triggering a suicidal response in the victim the kinds of injury would differ from each other.
It seems to go mostly for head trauma but that's maybe mostly because blunt force to the head is the fastest lane it pictures in that moment.

You felt the uninterruped wall without any framing, getting rougher to both sides; I'd guesstimate the picture is either painted or sprayed onto the wall, so checking for the smooth area can give you an idea of the dimensions it covers.
Spraypaint/tag it to anounce your claim of this territory to rival gangs (or disarm the basilisk i guess).
You could then shoot it with the shotgun for good measure to disrupt the surface its on, but this could involve shrapnel and injury. A pickaxe would be nice now.

The first symbol on the letter seems likean alchemical symbol (maybe air or fire, not sure right now), so either your organisation could have different symbolisms for seperate departmens or you have a rival organisation on your hand (which would be another good reason for marking your territory via cross-tag).

Keep monitoring your headache. If it gets worse the air is maybe too bad for long-time exposure, in which case you and especially Gladii should get out of there, they are pretty close to the ground and in bad shape, I'd doubt the air down there is any better.

...also, can you stick your cards into other things than people?

Okay, yeah, I agree with some of the other peanuts here on the following:
1. The other cameras must be dead from directly "seeing" the picture
2. The basilisk is probably a mural of sorts, hence why the surface is smooth there
3. Your headache is probably from the exposure to the scents down here

Which would mean that checking out the working camera should be safe. It was angled away from the picture.

The note is interesting. It seems like it was written by the goth woman to the athlete. The text implied that by the time both of them arrived, the Medusa Mural was already HERE.

It also sounds like it may have been a trap, either for goth lady or for athelete. If we take goth lady at her word, the trap was set for her, and athlete only got caught in the crossfire. But I have my doubts... "I'll make it worth your while" sounds like she knew she had some emotional sway over athlete and leveraged it to get him here. Which makes it especially notable that HE died, while SHE got out.

He may have been a test subject.

Also, the officer's equipment feels weird now. Spraypaint and tarp... why? Did he have an idea of what he'd find here?

The blanket or the curtain might be able to cover a lerger part of the mural than the paint alone, but the other peanuts are right - even only partially blacking out the mural might already help a lot!

Do we have anything that might be able to hold the curtain up? Perhaps whatever the camera was mounted on?

This also seems less like a clean organization like Gladii and you are part of, and more like... maybe something cult-adjacent? Or a ragtag gang of supernatural hunters.

>>1115426

That officer *must* have been trying to cover it up! Maybe the tarp can help cover it more than just the spray paint?

The pictures on the working camera would be good to look at first.

It doesn't have to be a mural. It could be a poster glued directly to the wall.

Oh right and if Gladii has external wounds we should probably administer first aid?

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:35 No. 1116695 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279610933.png - (955.24KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_A.png )

> Headache...
> Stale air, poor ventilation and stinky bodies...
> Yeah.
> Thatd do it.
> Eat mints. Might take the edge off.

That's probably what it is. Don't have any mints and the chewing gum I found on a corpse is not particularly appetizing. I think I'll live.

> Keep monitoring your headache. If it gets worse the air is maybe too bad for long-time exposure, in which case you and especially Gladii should get out of there, they are pretty close to the ground and in bad shape, I'd doubt the air down there is any better.

I still don't have any concrete plan how I'd even get Gladii out. I think even if I got David to help that would be quite difficult. I'm open for suggestions!

> Oh right and if Gladii has external wounds we should probably administer first aid?

... Shoot, you're right! Why didn't I think of that sooner?!
I grab the first aid kit and find a roll of gauze and scissors. There's not much I can do about a potential skull fracture or concussion, but I can at least staunch the bleeding.

Fera: "Hey, Gladii, I'll put a bandage on your head, okay?"
Gladii: "gghhkk... If... hhhh... you must..."

Very gingerly, I lift their head and get to wrapping. I'm not great at this.

Gladii: "hhHHhh... Fffera? hhkkhh..."
Fera: "Hmm?"
Gladii: "Don't... hHHhhh... ever... call me Gladys. ghhkh hHHh..."
Fera: "Uh... Okay."

So they're at least somewhat lucid.

> Interesting note.
> The symbols are new to us, but weve seen similar in the peanut gallery here.
> When we first met you two but didnt know your names.
> What this means is hard to quantify at this point.
> Evidence of other agents? Other group using a similar sigil based identification system?

That is interesting.

> The first symbol on the letter seems likean alchemical symbol (maybe air or fire, not sure right now), so either your organisation could have different symbolisms for seperate departmens or you have a rival organisation on your hand (which would be another good reason for marking your territory via cross-tag).

I'll try asking Gladii.

Fera: "I found some strange symbols. The Peanut Gallery is suggesting they might be for other agents, or another organization..."
Gladii: "Ghhkh... What?"
Fera: "Are there agents that use alchemical symbols rather than tarot suits?"
Gladii: "No... hhHhhh... All suits... Rgkhhh... Me- Media..."
Fera: "media?"
Gladii: "Hhhh... hhHHhhh..."

Hmm...


> The note is interesting. It seems like it was written by the goth woman to the athlete. The text implied that by the time both of them arrived, the Medusa Mural was already HERE.
> It also sounds like it may have been a trap, either for goth lady or for athelete. If we take goth lady at her word, the trap was set for her, and athlete only got caught in the crossfire. But I have my doubts... "I'll make it worth your while" sounds like she knew she had some emotional sway over athlete and leveraged it to get him here. Which makes it especially notable that HE died, while SHE got out.
> He may have been a test subject.

That's a disturbing thought.

> This also seems less like a clean organization like Gladii and you are part of, and more like... maybe something cult-adjacent? Or a ragtag gang of supernatural hunters.

Yeah and apparently they're killing one another.

> Also, the officer's equipment feels weird now. Spraypaint and tarp... why? Did he have an idea of what he'd find here?

> That officer *must* have been trying to cover it up! Maybe the tarp can help cover it more than just the spray paint?

That suggests he would have had to know the thing was dangerous to look at. But if that had been so, why did he look at it and die?

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:35 No. 1116696 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279612490.png - (957.71KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_B.png )

> I think you may be right about needing to view the images on the camera.
> Indecision is detrimental to gladii's health.
> A more ruthless soul would test the camera images on an already exposed individual, but i dont think youre that kind of person, nor would the safety itd earn be worth the cost.

Y-yeah, that's... No I already feel bad for letting them go first.

> Idea! Not to be needlessly cruel, but Gladii is here, and alive. If we’re really wary of the photos, why not show them to her first? Putting yourself at risk first could lead to you BOTH being on the floor, which is kinda counterproductive. If Gladii has a reaction a second time, we know not to look. Plus, it’s honestly probably safe. Digital cameras don’t store every bit of light they capture. I’d be willing to bet that the lower resolution of the camera (compared to your eyes) is enough of a mosaic censor for the basilisk’s threat to be rendered ineffective.

> Both on the floor is a better outcome than one of us dead.

> Right, but it didn’t kill them! So they’d probably feel the same pain again, but still be fine

> It's not just pain, it's physical injury.

I see the logic there. Really, I do. But I'm not going to intentionally expose Gladii to even more harm. Not unless I really really have to. Let's explore alternatives first.

> So, camera image examination.
> Squient till your eyes are blurry or wear the goggles for the first glance. Seeing only part of the basilisk image may disable or impede it.
> Perahps even use the note to obscure half of the image at a time to disrupt full exposure.

Oh that's clever, yeah. I'll do this as safely as possible.

> Yeah that one was pointed in a safe direction.

> The pictures on the working camera would be good to look at first.

Glad we agree.

> ...ah, I bet the other cameras are dead because they took pictures of the poster. The anomaly "killed" the cameras! This would very much confirm the working camera is safe to check.

> Hmm, seems like the basilisk killed the cameras in the room. That would indicate that the other camera hasn't seen inside the room, as its still functioning. I say see whats on it, it seems reasonably safe.

...

Huh? Wait. Are you saying the Basilisk doesn't just kill people, it also kills cameras? That's. Really weird. I mean images that kill people are already weird! But cameras aren't even alive and...

Okay, you know what? I'm just gonna accept this for now. The cameras are dead, after all. I'll take this as a sign that the large camera is largely safe.

> New resource found: the camera
> It being sound activated means you could use it to take further around corner images if needed.

Oh and given what else we just figured out, we could perhaps also use it to check if the Basilisk is still a danger.

Gladii: "Ow! ghHHh Careful..."
Fera: "Sorry."

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:35 No. 1116697 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279613477.png - (958.38KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_C.png )

> ...huh, everyone gets head/neck trauma from looking at the poster, but it's external damage? Maybe it doesn't work like we thought. It doesn't attack the brain, it's... like a telekinetic attack in response to being seen?

> The injuries don't have to mean that the basilisk doesn't affect the brain; If it works by triggering a suicidal response in the victim the kinds of injury would differ from each other.
> It seems to go mostly for head trauma but that's maybe mostly because blunt force to the head is the fastest lane it pictures in that moment.

It seemed to me that Gladii simply... seized up and slammed their head into the wall. And more generally, I imagine that if you're standing up and you suddenly have a seizure like that, you're liable to fall over without being able to protect your head and... well... get badly injured.
In fact! If Gladii hadn't fallen towards me, I probably wouldn't have caught them and they could have really cracked their head open.

> smooth wall
> That would be the poster. Though we're missing some information... Ask gladii if thinking about the poster hurts. If not, ask how big the poster was, and where on the wall it was exactly. From touch, it seems very big.

Fera: "Gladii, uhm... Does thinking about the poster hurt?"
Gladii: "Ghhkkhh.. Ack! hhHHhhh... Y-... yes..."
Fera: "Nevermind, then."
Gladii: "Ask. hHhhh..."
Fera: "No, forget about it. Think of something else."
Gladii: "hHHhghk... Ask!"
Fera: "No! Enough already!"
Gladii: "Just... finish it... hhhHHHhhhh..."

> You felt the uninterruped wall without any framing, getting rougher to both sides; I'd guesstimate the picture is either painted or sprayed onto the wall, so checking for the smooth area can give you an idea of the dimensions it covers.

> It doesn't have to be a mural. It could be a poster glued directly to the wall.

If it's a poster it's glued very firmly to the wall. I didn't feel the surface shifting under my hands at all. I couldn't feel any edge. Could be a mural. It's possible.

In either case, knowing that the smooth stuff is the basilisk is helpful. Makes it easier to tell where to apply the paint.

> not enough spray paint?
> Hmm, maybe the convenience store has more? Alternatively we can get some gasoline and burn the thing. ...burning it seems like the safest option actually. You can take the sheriff's cash to pay for gas.

> Spraypaint/tag it to anounce your claim of this territory to rival gangs (or disarm the basilisk i guess).
> You could then shoot it with the shotgun for good measure to disrupt the surface its on, but this could involve shrapnel and injury. A pickaxe would be nice now.

> The blanket or the curtain might be able to cover a lerger part of the mural than the paint alone, but the other peanuts are right - even only partially blacking out the mural might already help a lot!
> Do we have anything that might be able to hold the curtain up? Perhaps whatever the camera was mounted on?

Understanding that I can probably feel out the exact edges of the thing makes me a lot more confident in the spraypaint plan. If the paint does run out, I'll check the convenience store.
Covering the basilisk with the curtain is difficult. I don't think I have the tools to mount that in there. Plus: A curtain can potentially be removed. I'd prefer neutralizing this thing for good.
I'll... reserve the fire and shotgun options for the case that the spraypaint doesn't work.

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:35 No. 1116698 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279614833.png - (622.98KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_D.png )

Well, Gladii's head bandage is done. It's not amazing work, but it should hold. And it'll staunch the bleeding.

Fera: "There, all done."
Gladii: "hhhHhhhHhh... Thanks..."

That sounded mildly sarcastic, but I'm never sure with Gladii. Is it deadpan or is it just flat delivery?

I gently lower Gladii back down into the recovery position. It's time to check out some photographs!

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:36 No. 1116699 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279616097.png - (1.11MB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_E.png )

After lowering the goggles back over my eyes, I pick up the camera, careful to avoid looking directly at the screen. I find the button that switches it into view photos mode. Then I hold the note over the screen and turn the camera to look at it. I slowly slide the note sideways until I can see... a photograph of a bare concrete wall.

That makes sense of course. I did place it down facing the wall.

I place the note back on the screen and move to the previous photograph. Then I repeat the previous process to find... Another blank wall.

I do this until I find a different photo. Look at that handsome devil!

And I repeat this some more. There are, predictably, several pictures of Gladii and me.

I get a bit impatient and I know where the camera was pointing the whole entire time we were in there, so I start flicking through the photos without the whole note-obscuring trick until I'm past the picture showing us coming in.

It takes a little while of slowly, carefully flipping through a lot of near-identical pictures, but eventually there's a change! Look at that! It's the Sheriff!

There aren't many pictures with him. Him about to look around the corner, him looking at the corpse from a distance, him climbing down. There is no picture of the moment of his death.

Following this there are a lot of pictures with just the one dead guy in them. I impatiently flick through them until she appears: There she is: the mysterious survivor. Climbing down. No wait, I'm looking at this backwards. She's climbing out. Obviously.

This is it. My heart beats faster. My hands are a bit clammy. This is where it gets interesting. And potentially harrowing. Let's... Let's see...

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:36 No. 1116700 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279617010.png - (0.96MB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_F.png )

I go through the next couple pictures slowly, carefully. Always slowly unveiling each one with the note.

Here she is... rifling through the dead guy's pockets? Maybe she needed the car keys. Or maybe it was something else she was after.

Hm. Here she is cowering in the corner. Is it horror? Guilt?

Here she is crawling around on all fours. Her hand is hovering just above the dead guy's leg. Mhmm...

Woah! Is that... The very moment of death? That's disturbing to think about. I mean obviously we know that he died, but... Seeing it like this is very morbid. I look closer anyway. He appears to be having some sort of seizure. Much like Gladii did. And then he fell.
The mystery woman is pouring water on her face. Is she washing out the pepper spray?

Next one. She's crouched down, hands on her face. The athlete is offering her the water. So I guess this is just after she got hit by the mace?

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:36 No. 1116701 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279617937.png - (0.98MB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_G.png )

She... she did in fact pepperspray herself. Wow.
There aren't many more pictures of these two. They arrive and then there's just the empty bunker.

Well. This tells us one thing at least: They didn't make the basilisk. And they didn't set up the camera.

But then who did?

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:36 No. 1116702 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279618790.png - (1.02MB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_H.png )

I flip through a lot of empty pictures. It is agonizing. But then, suddenly, the whole atmosphere shifts. Someone is climbing out and they have some kind of light source casting the basement in a warm glow.

The next photo is quite the smoking gun! Or smoking camera, eh? Look at that! Who is that? They're wearing a raincoat, some very large goggles and a mask. There is an open bag and, zooming into the picture reveals that it's got spray cans in it. We have our culprit!
But most importantly, they're taking a photo of the room with the basilisk in it! The camera is spitting smoke!

They must have some kind of lamp mounted on their head? Unfortunately it's out of frame. The culprit isn't in the next photo at all.

But the one after that has them shaking a can of paint. They're holding a couple of thin plasticy-looking thingies with geometric holes in them in their hand.

According to the camera's counter, there is exactly one more picture on here.

It takes all of my self-control to put the note over the screen instead of just flipping to the final image.

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:36 No. 1116703 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279619702.png - (846.04KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_I.png )

...

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:36 No. 1116704 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279620611.png - (542.53KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_J.png )

What even is that? A halo?

...

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)09:36 No. 1116705 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279621491.png - (542.06KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_K.png )

> ...also, can you stick your cards into other things than people?

Oh uh... Let's see.
I push it into the blanket. It doesn't sink in any further than normal. I try the medkit, I try the wall. Nothing.

So I don't know if it doesn't work with any non-people objects, but it doesn't work with these.

>>1116703

More importantly! Well actually not all that importantly. But if FOR SOME REASON you needed to look at the basilisk without spraypainting over it, check out that visor. Shattered, with distorted eyes. If you use that photo to replicate that visor, it's probably protection against the basilisk!

> thin plasticy-looking thingies with geometric holes
could those be stencils for the killer sigil? perhaps each one holds a portion of the pattern so they can be safely handled, and only when combined do they kill.

If so this would indicate that the deadly image may be a series of smaller images. May be the effect is stronger with more of them. It would explain why Gladii got hurt even with the small area the mirror would have shown.

Those goggles, they seem to act as a filter, fracturing the images so they don't fully connect all at once.
Whoever that guy was, they're either a skilled artist or filled with processing power.

Maybe you can do something like that. Put on cracked goggles filled with water, anything that lets you see in fragments.

>>1116703
Fancy goggles! Alright that confirms that scrambling the image works.
Also very interesting that the basilisk was created via spraypaint and stencils. I'd have thought it would require more fine detail than that. The halo implies an anomalous individual created the thing, though...

I kindof want to keep this camera, so that we can give it to our superiors as evidence of a secondary target... if we can get some disposable cameras from the gas station we can use those to confirm the anomaly is disabled once we sparypaint over it. Make sure to get at least two, so you can use one to confirm the basilisk normally destroys cameras.

>>1116701
Hmm. Looks like she meant to pepperspray the guy, but didn't mean to get him killed. Her hovering over his leg was probably because she was checking if he was dead, and once she realized that she went into the corner in shock. Then she took his stuff, because... I dunno. Considering they used symbols instead of names, maybe it was to remove any evidence of their organization... but she left the note behind? Maybe she just didn't find the note, or didn't expect him to still be carrying it.

>>1116699
Unusual that the sheriff died without making noise, but it seems the other pictures were taken when the victims collided with walls. ...oh, he shined a flashlight on it. I'm guessing that with more light, the effect is more powerful, so it killed him differently.

Go get some cameras, use one to confirm the effect, tag over the graffiti, then use one or two more cameras to confirm it's safe to observe.

Daww.
You stick your tongue out when you concentrate.
Adorable.

>>1116701
I think she was trying to pepperspray that guy and got herself.
Understandable.
Given him helping immediately, i suspect he was just a dumbass with no idea of how itd look getting flirty after taking someone to a dark, creepy spot.
Oh, hey.
He had mints in his pocket. Help yourself.
Cant have too much deadguy on them.

>>1116712
Agreed.
Fracturing the... lines maybe?
That indicates Its definately a rune or sigil or word of power that activates on... what exactly?
Its not a mind as cameras may be smart these days but not that smart.
The only shared trait between humans and cameras would be the eye and the camera both have a lens.
Unless thats too specific a trigger and whatever rules govern this specific weirdery are vague enough to cover anything which can behold it.
Sorry.
Probably not relevant.
Do like to figure things out.

... say. Fera.
Do your cards work on dead bodies?
Science and easily distracted minds demand answers!

I really don't think we need to experiment with goggles. Simply spraypainting it with closed eyes should be fine.

Also of note: despite the fact you're wearing those partially-spraypainted goggles, we can see the photos clearly.

>>1116726

Probably activates on being copied or reproduced. Reproduced in your eyes and brain, reproduced on film. I'll bet money that concrete wall took some damage when the angel(?) spray painted the pattern on it.

HEY! WE STILL HAVE THE REQUISITION FORM! REQUISITION A BASILISK GRAFFITI NEUTRALIZER! OR A GLADII-FULLY-HEALER!

Oh, yeah, we can requisition something to heal Gladii for sure. I think spraypaint is enough to neutralize the graffiti, although... to *really* kill it, we need some paint thinner.