Field Report & Recordings #20030219-MW - Containment Breach
RECORD #20030219-MW
TYPE: FIELD REPORT & RECORDINGS
RELATED PERSON(S)/ENTITY(S): Anya Konstantinevna Fedorov, field agent (AKF), [Rusted Roughshod Rifle] [RRR], Dimitri Mikhailovich Popov, Pony Express operator (DMP), unclassified ENTITY tentatively named [ATHENA] [A], unclassified ENTITY tentatively named [SPHINX] [S], unclassified ENTITY tentatively named [CERBERUS] [C]
(Record-Keeper’s Note: The majority of the words contained herein are in Russian; they have been translated as faithfully as possible into English. Certain expressions or words may not be accurate. Please consult Moscow Branch to access the original transcript in Russian.)
(RECORDING BEGINS)
(Sound of wind, two sets of footsteps: one with a crunching, even gait and another of lighter, more uneven feet) (AKF) Hello, Anya Fedorov is recording. [Rusted Roughshod Rifle] is with me. We are somewhere in Siberia, some days north of Lake Baikal. There is a river nearby. We have encountered a strange campus of buildings; it is big and appears to be in disrepair. It is surrounded by barbed wire, and guard towers, and a great moat as well. There are at least three buildings, all very flat, maybe only two stories tall. There are a few trucks and rough terrain vehicles about; they are in disrepair as well. [RRR] MANY PEOPLE DIED HERE. MANY WERE SACRIFICES TO THE FŁÄMĘ, BUT MANY OTHERS WERE KILLED IN THE LĮŃÊ ØF DÚTY. (AKF) We are going in, but not through the main gate, however, it is wide open and very damaged. There is a small hole in the fence on the side nearest the river. [Rifle], do be quiet. We must be very careful. [RRR] AYE. (Sounds of two sets of feet: rustling, crunching footsteps, and lighter, tapping footsteps) (Sounds of reluctantly creaking metal, some wind and winded breath) (AKF) *whispering*, we are inside the fence perimeter. There is something moving nearer to the large building, within the moat. It looks like a great white and gold statue of some kind of warrior; it is holding a spear and a shield. The water is moving in the moat; it is not frozen and very clean and blue. [Rifle], do you think it’s Oh So Sweet Water? [RRR] POSSIBLY. I WOULD NOT TOUCH IT, TO BE SAFE. (AKF) *whispering* yeah, wasn’t going to do that anyway. … That thing got a little closer. It looks like it’s made of gold and something else of a yellowed white color; the sunlight caught by the gold is very bright, even through the goggles. But it doesn’t seem to have eyes. It certainly hasn’t seen us yet. (Sounds of heavy, labouring, crunching footsteps and something dragging through the snow) (AKF) *whispering* never mind, it’s coming this way. [Rifle], do you think it could be connected to the Conqueror? [RRR] POSSIBLY. REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING OF THE CRANE’S CREATION OF GREAT PARTHENOS, A GREAT STATUE OF ATHENA OF IVORY AND GOLD. (AKF) *whispering* well, can you try to talk to it? [RRR] I CAN TRY. (Sounds of the lighter, tapping footsteps and the heavy, crunching footsteps) [RRR] HAIL TO YOU, AND WELL MET, STRANGER. [A] HAIL. HAIL. HAIL TO YOU. MET WELL, HOUND. [RRR] YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR TO ME, BUT YOU ARE NO ENEMY. WHAT BE YOUR NAME? [A] I. I. I HAVE NO NAME. THE DEAD ONES CALLED ME CHRYSELEPHANTINE. [RRR] THEN THAT MAY BE YOUR NAME. I AM NAMED RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE; THE HUMAN BEHIND ME IS ANYA, DAUGHTER OF KONSTANTIN, OF FAMILY FEDOROV. [A] THEN HAIL TO ANYA, KONSTANTIN DAUGHTER, FAMILY FEDOROV. (AKF) Hail to you, Chryselephantine. Might I ask you what this place is? [A] THIS WAS MY PRISON, THEY CALLED IT SITE-NU. I WAS NOT BORN HERE, FOR I REMEMBER A GREAT TEMPLE WHERE I WAS MADE. THEY SHAPED ME WITH FEATHERS AND METAL AND IVORY; THEY CALLED ME THE LADY CHRYSELEPHANTINE, THEIR VRIGIN GODDESS GIVEN FORM. (AKF) Do you know how you got here? [A] NO. NO. NO, I DO NOT REMEMBER… BUT I DO. I DO REMEMBER SOMETHING. THERE ARE MORE LIKE ME INSIDE; THE LADY AMMOS, GUARDIAN, AND THE LORDS PETRA, MASTER’S HOUND. (AKF) Were there more like you besides the Lady Ammos and Lord Petra? [A] YES. YES. YES, THERE WERE MANY MORE. BUT THEY ALL LEFT, OR WERE NOT HERE TO BEGIN WITH. THE LORD KAPNOS, PROPHET, THE LADIES ESTIA, FIREBRANDS, AND THE LORD LABYRINTH, PRISONER, THEY WERE ALL HERE. BUT THEY LEFT. (AKF) Okay. If they left, why are you and the others still here? [A] I. I. I CAN’T LEAVE. I. Ī. I MÙŠT S̶̪͖̃͊̐T̴͈͇̀A̶͈͗ͅY̴̞͋. THIS IS MY STATION. (AKF) Well then, may we enter your station? We have no want to harm or defile this place. We are just here to document what we find. [A] AYE. AYE. AYE, YOU MAY COME IN. BUT THE LADY AMMOS AND LORDS PETRA MAY NOT BE PLEASED. AMMOS RESIDES IN THE WESTERLY BUILDING. PETRA IN THE EASTERLY. THE NORTHERLY BUILDING IS GONE. GONE, DESTROYED BY ESTIA. (Sudden sounds of cracking, freezing ice, and creaking movement) (AKF) Well, thank you for allowing us entry, Lady Chryselephantine. [A] MET WELL, ANYA OF FEDEROV. (Sound of two hesitant sets of footsteps on ice, followed by crunching on snow alongside a third, much heavier set) (AKF) *muttering* “Site-Nu” indeed. Perhaps the ones who built this were indeed trying to evoke an idea of Ancient Hellas… [A] OPEN. OPEN. OPEN, NOTOS, HERALD OF AUTUMN. THESE ARE GUESTS, GUARD THEM WITH YOUR LEAVES. (Sounds of concernedly well-maintained doors opening with a whooshing) (AKF) Thank you, Lady Chryselephantine. [A] THANK. THANK. THANK YOU, ANYA OF FEDOROV. (Sounds of two sets of footsteps on concrete; far too frequent light and tapping mixed with the clunking of boots. Wind suddenly cuts out and footsteps change to dog-like clacking nails and squeaking rubber soles, both on tile) (AKF) *whispering* could you cut that out? (Sounds of dog-like clacking nails stops, replaced by quiet and near-constant taps) (AKF) *whispering* thanks. (Record-Keeper’s Note: several minutes of nothing but footsteps and silence have been omitted from the transcript. They will be indicated by a simple ‘Cut for Brevity’) (Roughly 4:03 minutes cut for brevity) (Low sounds of deep purring; best compared to a housecat hybridised with a four-by-four truck and a household garbage disposal) (AKF) *whispering* well, that’s probably the Lady Ammos. Ammos means ‘sand’ in Greek, right? [RRR] INDEED. AND THE GREEKS WOULD HAVE HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED SAND WITH THE DESERTS OF EGYPT, AND THUS THE SPHINX. (AKF) *whispering* can you go ahead and take a look? [RRR] AYE. (Sound of numerous tapping footsteps, a faint swishing movement, and light breathing mixed with forcibly calm breaths) [RRR] HAIL TO YOU, AND WELL MET, STRANGER. [S] H-H-HAIL TO THEE, H-H-HOUND. [RRR] WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED ENTRY TO THIS STATON BY THE LADY CHRYSELEPHANTINE. BE YOU THE LADY AMMOS? [S] Y-Y-YES. I-I-I AM THE LADY AMMOS, GUARDIAN OF THE WESTERLY ENTRANCE. WHAT SEEKTH THOU? [RRR] I AM RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE. I AM FAMILIAR TO ANYA, OF FAMILY FEDOROV, DAUGHTER OF KONSTANTIN, AND WE SEEK TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PLACE, ONCE CALLED SITE-NU. [S] I-I-I SEEEEEEEEEE… PERHAPS THEN, IF THE LADY ANYA WOULD COMETH AND ANSWER MINE RIDDLE, THOU AND HER MIGHT JUST TICKLE MINE TONGUE AND MAKETH ME SPEAK OF SITE-NU, EHHHHHEHE… [RRR] AYE. WHAT SAYETH YOU, ANYA? (Sound of rubber soles on tile, squeaking) (AKF) Very well. I am Anya Konstantinevna Fedorov, Crown of Laurels. Well met, Lady Ammos. Present thine riddle and I shalt labour to answer. [S] Y-Y-YES. WELL MET. HERE IS MINE FIRST RIDDLE, ONE MORE FOR EACH QUESTION THY SHALT ASK: MORE FRAGILE THAN A FLOWER-PETAL, MORE RARE THAN A HONEST KING. MORE DESIRED THAN A DIAMOND, MORE ABHORRED THAN THE PLAGUE. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT BREAKS IT, AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN ONE DOES. W̶̩͛H̸̡̐À̸̙T̷̠̾.̴̥̍ ̵͕͒Ã̵͉M̶̪͗.̶̗̒ ̴̥̋Ḯ̴͎?̸͉͐ (Sounds of foot-tapping on tile and little else) (AKF) You are silence. [S] A-A-AHH YES. ONE QUESTION IST THINE. (AKF) Why are you here, Lady Ammos, and not guarding Thebes back in Hellas, or in the sand by the Nile? [S] A-A-AHHHHH, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTIONNN… THEY TOOK ME HERE FOR THEIR EXPERIMENTS, THEIR POKING AND PRODDING AND DOCUMENTATION. THEY SAID IT WAS FOR THE GLORY OF THEIR RED STAR NATION, FOR THE PEOPLE’S GOOD. I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY TOOK THE OTHERS FOR THAT REASON. DOST THOU DESIRE ANOTHER RIDDLE AND QUESTION? (AKF) Indeed. [S] V-V-VERRRRRRY WELL. THEN I ASK YOU: TWO HORSES PULL AT THE REINS OF A GREAT CHARIOT. ONE IS BLACK AS PITCH AND THE OTHER IS AS WHITE AS PURE SNOW. BOTH ARE TREMENDOUSLY STRONG, YET NEITHER CAN OVERTAKE THE OTHER. W̴̮͐H̶̬͛A̷̼͒T̶̩̑.̶̗͆ ̸̋͜Ą̶̓R̶̢̕E̴̻̓.̵̛͕ ̴̼̈T̶̯̀H̶̯̿E̸͂͜Y̶͙̚?̷̲̆ (Sounds of foot-tapping and a bit of humming (AKF) They are night and day, while the world is the chariot. [S] Y-Y-YESSSS. THINE QUESTION IST? (AKF) Why did ‘they’ take the others alongside you to this place in northern Siberia? [S] P-P-PRECISELY WHY I COULD NOT FATHOMMMMMM… BUT WE EACH HAD OUR USSSSSSSES; CHRYSELEPHANTINE IS AN UNYIELDING WATCHER, PETRA IS THE LOYALIST OF HOUNDS. I AM AN EVER-VIGILANT GATEKEEPER. ESTIA WERE VICIOUS BEYOND MEASURE, KAPNOS WAS MOST PERCEPTIVE, AND LABYRINTH WAS MOST POWERFUL IN BODILY STRENGTH. (AKF) I have one more question. [S] H-H-HAAAAAAH. THUS I HAVE ONE MORE RIDDLE. I ASK OF YOU: I REST IN A VAULT OF CLEANEST IVOY, OF NOBLE COPPER AND SHINING SILVER. I AM A LONE GOLDEN TREASURE, RARELY EVER SHARING MY HOME WITH ANOTHER. MY CAGE HAS NO KEY, YET ALL LABOUR STILL TO BREAK IN. W̶̩͛H̸̡̐À̸̙T̷̠̾.̴̥̍ ̵͕͒Ã̵͉M̶̪͗.̶̗̒ ̴̥̋Ḯ̴͎?̸͉͐ (Sounds of foot-tapping, again) (AKF) You are an egg. [S] Y-Y-YESSSSSSSS. WHAT DOST THOUT WISH TO KNOW? (AKF) Will you let me and [Roughshod] pass, alive and unharmed, through this section of the Site? [S] H-H-HAHAHA!! T-T-TRICKSY LIIIIITTLE VICTOR, ART THOU NOT?! B-B-BUT YESSSS. THOU AND THINE HOUND MAY PASS UNDER MINE GAZE WITHOUT HARMMMMMM. B-B-BUT BEWARE, FOR THE LORDS PETRA ARRRRE… LESSSSSSSSSS ACCOMMODATING. (AKF) I thank thee, Lady Ammos. [RRR] AS DO I. FARE THEE WELL, GUARDIAN OF ZEPHYRUS, WESTERLY WINDS. (Sounds of heavy-duty purring return, slowly fading into silence with the same two sets of footsteps again) (Roughly 4:11 minutes cut for brevity) (Same two sets of footsteps stop, the light set before the boots) [RRR] ANYA. (AKF) *quietly* what? [RRR] THERE IS SOMEONE LIKE ME BEYOND THIS HALL. A HOUND. A STONE HOUND. (AKF) *quietly* well, that must be the Lords Petra. Do they seem alert to our presence? [RRR] I SHOULD THINK SO. THEY ARE BREATHING EVENLY, AND ARE L̷̩̐̀̏Į̸̩͉͕̫͎͕̂̾S̸̼͓̖̹̍́͒ͅT̷̡̳̹̉̄̒͜͝Ẹ̶̹͉͂̀̈͝N̴̡̞͕̪͛Ï̵̹͋͒̎̋̆N̵̜̺̞͋̔̍̚Ģ̷̦̘̱̤̟̟̀̎̉̈́̔̌͝…̴̱͊͌̔͝ DOST THOU WISH TO TREAT WITH THEM TOO? (AKF) No. In their myths, the Cerberus is an unyielding watchdog. At least this ‘Site-Nu’ has no Egyptian ENTITIES… goodness knows that Amit would be far less welcome than even the Colossus of Rhodes. We must approach the Lords Petra openly, to prove that we mean no harm. After all, we just need to find out what this place is about and catalogue whoever and whatever is here… or was here. Let’s go meet the Lords Petra. (Same two sets of footsteps begin again, joined roughly fifteen seconds later by three sets of breathing: one calm, one quick, and one extraordinarily slow) (Record-Keeper’s Note: The entity hereafter referred to as ‘Cerberus’ or ‘C’ possesses at least three (3) heads at any given time. The speaking head shall be denoted by a ‘-’ followed by a number; in this case a three (3), a two (2), or a one (1)) [C-1] WHAT HAVE WE HERE? A LADY AND HER PUP? [C-2] INDEED, INDEED, INDEEEEEEEEEEEEEED… BUT THE PUP SEEEEEEEEMS FAMILIAR. DON’T YOU THINK SO? [C-3] YES. HAIL TO YOU, STRANGER AND HOUND, AND WELL MET. (AKF) Hail to you. Might I assume that you are the Lords Petra? [C-2] INDEEEEEEEED WE ARE. WHAT BE THINE NAME, LASS? (AKF) I am Anya, daughter of Konstantin, of the family of Fedorov. [RRR] HAIL TO YOU, LORDS PETRA. I AM RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE, FAMILIAR TO ANYA. [C-3] MAY I ASSUME THAT THE LADY CHRYSELEPHANTINE INVITED YOU BOTH IN? (AKF) Indeed she did. The Lady let us enter through the Notos door to the south. We have also met the Lady Ammos of the westerly Zephyrus door. [C-1] WELL THEN, LADY AND PUP, WHY HAVE YOU APPROACHED US? THE NORTHERLY BUILDING OF BOREAS IS GONE; YOU COULD HAVE LEFT WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING EITHER US PETRA OR THE LADY AMMOS. [C-3] BROTHER, THOU SHOULD KNOWST THAT SYMBOL ANYA KONSTANTINEVNA WEARS UPON HER SHOULDER. THEY SHOWED IT TO US; THEY DECLARED THEM ENEMIES OF THE RED STAR STATE. (AKF) Did they, now? But you greeted me and [Rifle] both like guests. [C-2] INDEEEEEEEED WE DIIIIIIID. BUT THE RED STARS OUR ENEMIES, AND THUS THEIR ENEMIES ARE NOT OUR OWN. [C-3] THIS IS TRUE, ANYA FEDOROV. BEARERS OF THE SEAL OF THE CHATTER & THE MELODY ARE NOT OUR ENEMIES; THE RED STAR, WITH THEIR SICKLE AND THEIR HAMMER, ARE. (AKF) Then might you Lords do us a favor? For you must know the mission of the Society if you recognise our seal and crest. We wish to know about this ‘Site-Nu’. [C-1] FOR A LADY OF THE ENEMIES OF OUR ENEMIES? I SAY YEA. [C-2] INDEEEEEED, I DO NOT TO TELLING HER AND THEM. [C-3] AND I ASSENT AS WELL. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WISH TO KNOW, ANYA KONSTANTINEVNA FEDOROV? (AKF) I wish to know many things, but I ask you this: what happened here? I do not only mean when the Ladies Estia, Lord Kapnos, and Lord Labyrinth left, but before then too. I have seen sites like this, and none were as bold as to hold such ENTITIES as you; most held mere VECTORS, ARTEFACTS, or, rarely, DEVOTEES that went too far. But you are clearly not any of the above. [C-1] AH, THOU DOST SUMMON MEMORIES TO THE FOREFRONT. [C-2] INDEEEED, NASTY MEMORIES. BLOODY MEMORIES. HORRID MEMORIES. [C-3] I SHALL ELABORATE. WE WERE KEPT HERE FOR MANY YEARS. SO LONG AGO WERE WE BROUGHT HERE THAT WE REMEMBER NOT WHERE WE CAME FROM, BESIDES THAT WE WERE BETTER OFF THERE. [C-2] INDEEEEEEEEEED!! WHERE WE CAME FROM BEFORE, THERE WAS GOOD FOOD AND GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD FUN TO BE HAD! [C-3] BUT THEN THEY BROUGHT US HERE, IN CHAINS AND IN SHACKLES. WE WERE MOVED IN A GREAT TRAIN OR TRUCK, RUMBLING ALONG FOR WEEKS. WE WERE ALONE AT FIRST, BUT THEN THEY BROUGHT IN THE LADIES ESTIA, AND THEN AMMOS AND KAPNOS AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY CHRYSELEPHANTINE, AND LASTLY LABYRINTH. WEEKS MORE WE SAT, IN FILTH AND IN SQUALOR, BEFORE THEY OFFLOADED US HERE. [C-1] IT WAS HORRID AT FIRST. ENDLESS NEEDLES DRAWING FORTH BLOOD, ENDLESS TUBES INSERTING WHAT THEY DARED CALL MEDICINE. WE COULD ALL SEE EACH OTHER AT FIRST, AND EACH WAS RESTRAINED IN THE WORST OF THE WAYS. [C-2] INDEEEEED, INDEEED, INDEEEEEEEEEED!!! ESTIA WERE COVERED IN DUST AND CLOTH THAT STANK OF SWAMPWATER AND DIRT. KAPNOS WAS IN SOME TANK OF SIZZLING LIQUID; HE COULD NOT BREATHE. AMMOS SAT IN A CAGE OF THORNS AND COULD NOT MOVE WITHOUT CUTTING A SCAB OPEN AGAIN. LABYRINTH WAS BLINDFOLDED AND ATTACHED TO THE WALL WITH NAILS. WE WERE GAGGED, STUCK STANDING WITH A FRAME OF HOT IRON AND COALS. ONLY CHRYSELEPHANTINE WAS UNRESTRAINED, BUT HER SPEAR AND HELMET AND SHEILD AND SNAKE AND VICTORY HERSELF WERE HELD HOSTAGE IN A CASE OF ROILING… SOMETHING. [C-3] FIVE WEEKS WE SUFFERED THERE, FIVE WEEKS WE WERE FORCED TO WATCH AS OUR KIN SUFFERED IN TURN. CHRYSELEPHANTINE WAS THE FIRST TO LEAVE; THEY GAVE HER THE SPEAR AND THE SHIELD AND THE HELMET, BUT SNAKE AND VICTORY BOTH HAD BEEN SHIPPED OFF. THEN THEY CARRIED OFF KAPNOS AND AMMOS TOGETHER, AND LASTLY ESTIA AND WE WERE TAKEN INTO A CELL. LABYRINTH ALONE REMAINED. [C-1] THAT CELL WAS MOST DEPLORABLE IN CONDITION AND SIZE! BARELY ENOUGH SPACE FOR US TO TURN ABOUT WITHOUT BUMPING INTO ESTIA, NO WINDOWS NOR BEDDING NOR PLACE TO RELIEVE OURSELVES. CHAINED STILL AND GAGGED, WE SAT FOR THREE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER! [C-2] IIIIIIIIINDEEEEEEEEEEEEEED! AND WHEN THEY DID PROVIDE FOOD, IT WAS BARELY EDIBLE. A SLOP OF POTATOES AND RICE, WRIGGLING WITH MAGGOTS, AND A SINGLE TRAY OF WATER BARELY BIGGER THAN OUR PAW! AND WE WERE TO SHARE IT WITH ESTIA! [C-3] NOT ONLY DID THEY REFUSE TO GIVE US BASIC SUSTENANCE, BUT THEY DREW OUR BLOOD AND BEAT US WITH STICKS AND STOLE OUR VERY FLESH FOR THEIR TESTS. OUR ONLY DECENT MEAL WAS WHEN THEY THREW SOME POOR SOUL IN HERE. HE WORE A BRIGHTLY ORANGE COLOURED OUTFIT WTIH WRITING ON THE FRONT AND BACK, AS WELL AS A SYMBOL, THE SAME ONE THAT IS PAINTED ALL OVER THIS SITE. WE ATE HIM ALIVE; WE ARE NOT SORRY FOR THAT. (AKF) I can see why you’d break out. [C-2] INDEED, INDEED, INDEED! BUT WE WERE SO WEAK, SO CRIPPLED, THAT WE HAD NO HOPE OF ESCAPING. [C-1] BUT DEAREST ESTIA WERE MORE THAN STRONG ENOUGH TO BREAK OUT. THEY MELTED THE WALL OVER THE TIME OF A WEEK WITH THEIR FLAMES! [C-3] THEN THE LADIES WENT ON TO FREE KAPNOS AND AMMOS, THEN LABYRINTH. THE LORD PRISONER TOLD US THAT CHRYSELEPHANTINE WAS FROZEN OUTSIDE IN THE SNOW; WHEN SHE WAS FREED, SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT GO. AND AMMOS WISHED TO STAY, FOR THE ONES WHO DARED CALL THEMSELVES DOCTORS HAD BROKEN HER WINGS. [C-1] WE STAY HERE STILL TO WATCH OVER THE TWO LADIES; IT WOULD BE UNCHIVALROUS TO ABANDON THEM. [C-2] INDEED. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE. (AKF) Thank you, Lords Petra. [C-3] AND IN TURN, THANK YOU, ANYA, FOR LISTENING TO OUR TALE. [C-2] INDEED! INDEED. THAT IS ONLY WHAT WE CAN TELL YOU, BUT DOWN THE HALL AND TO THE RIGHT THERE IS AN OFFICE WITH BOXES OF PAPYRUS INSCRIBED WITH CYRILLIC AND NUMBERS AND DIAGRAMS THAT WE CANNOT READ. READ THEM IF YOU CAN, TAKE THEM, TELL OTHERS ABOUT THIS PLACE, OTHERS WHO BEAR THE SEAL YOU WEAR. THE WORLD MUST KNOW ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF THE SHOOTING STAR DIVISION. (AKF) We certainly shall take as many as we can carry, and bring others to this site. Will you allow them to enter unopposed through the door of Eurus? [C-2] INDEED WE SHALL. FARE THEE WELL, ANYA FEDOROV AND RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE. (AKF) Fare thee well. (Sounds of the same set of footsteps) (Roughly 0:49 seconds cut for brevity) (Sounds of a concernedly well-maintained door whooshing open) (AKF) *whispering* anyone in there, [Rusting]? [RRR] NONE THAT I CAN PERCEIVE. (Sounds of cautious footsteps, drawers opening, rummaging, shifting of papers, clanking of metal objects, and other such noises) (Roughly 1:05 minutes cut for brevity) (AKF) That’s all I can carry. You full too? [RRR] YES. (AKF) Okay, let’s go. Call for a Pony Express once we’re outside of the perimeter. [RRR] AYE. (Sounds of the same set of footsteps) (Roughly 3:57 minutes cut for brevity) (Sounds of another concernedly well-maintained door whooshing open, footsteps resume on snow and wind is heard) (Roughly 1:36 minutes cut for brevity) (Footsteps stop, slightly winded breathing is heard) (Sounds of a piercing, reverberating, extremely loud howl resembling a hybrid of a wolf, a hyena, a train whistle, and a war bugle) (Roughly 1:02 minutes cut for brevity) (Sound of horse hoof beats on snow) (AKF) Over here! (Hoof beats get louder before stopping) (DMP) Hello! You’re Fedorov and [Roughshod]? (AKF) Yes! Do you have a marker on hand? This place is connected to the Shooting Star Division of the former USSR, and it’s mostly intact! We have as many documents as we could carry, but there are many more inside. There are also three unclassified ENTITIES here that were brought all the way from Greece, you can see the Lady Chryselephantine from here, she’s really bi- (DMP) Say no more, Konstantinevna! My poor Familiar’s gonna freeze if we stay here any longer! Save it for Anastasia and the debrief! (AKF) Fine. But we must save the ENTITIES that were held captive here, and track down the ones that escaped and did all this damage! (DMP) Aye! Once we get back to Moscow. (Sounds of mounting a horse, of hoof beats and ██████████) (RECORDING ENDS) SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Some of the documents found within Site-Nu can be accessed at █████.
This is the seal and motto of the PPZ. It roughly translates to ‘we, who reach beyond’. The seal can be found in various places at Site-Nu: on doors, in-site maps, stationary, and engraved onto the hardware used to restrain ENTITIES.
A single compass with two needles was found in the destroyed remnants of the northernmost building. It continuously points towards the intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian with its white needle while the red needle points towards the constellation Sagittarius whenever it is visible. It is made of an unidentified and possibly paranatural alloy that reacts violently to being brought into the presence of an ENTITY, Devotee, or other such paranatural sentient being; most notably, it ███████.
(Sound of wind, two sets of footsteps: one with a crunching, even gait and another of lighter, more uneven feet) (AKF) Hello, Anya Fedorov is recording. [Rusted Roughshod Rifle] is with me. We are somewhere in Siberia, some days north of Lake Baikal. There is a river nearby. We have encountered a strange campus of buildings; it is big and appears to be in disrepair. It is surrounded by barbed wire, and guard towers, and a great moat as well. There are at least three buildings, all very flat, maybe only two stories tall. There are a few trucks and rough terrain vehicles about; they are in disrepair as well. [RRR] MANY PEOPLE DIED HERE. MANY WERE SACRIFICES TO THE FŁÄMĘ, BUT MANY OTHERS WERE KILLED IN THE LĮŃÊ ØF DÚTY. (AKF) We are going in, but not through the main gate, however, it is wide open and very damaged. There is a small hole in the fence on the side nearest the river. [Rifle], do be quiet. We must be very careful. [RRR] AYE. (Sounds of two sets of feet: rustling, crunching footsteps, and lighter, tapping footsteps) (Sounds of reluctantly creaking metal, some wind and winded breath) (AKF) *whispering*, we are inside the fence perimeter. There is something moving nearer to the large building, within the moat. It looks like a great white and gold statue of some kind of warrior; it is holding a spear and a shield. The water is moving in the moat; it is not frozen and very clean and blue. [Rifle], do you think it’s Oh So Sweet Water? [RRR] POSSIBLY. I WOULD NOT TOUCH IT, TO BE SAFE. (AKF) *whispering* yeah, wasn’t going to do that anyway. … That thing got a little closer. It looks like it’s made of gold and something else of a yellowed white color; the sunlight caught by the gold is very bright, even through the goggles. But it doesn’t seem to have eyes. It certainly hasn’t seen us yet. (Sounds of heavy, labouring, crunching footsteps and something dragging through the snow) (AKF) *whispering* never mind, it’s coming this way. [Rifle], do you think it could be connected to the Conqueror? [RRR] POSSIBLY. REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING OF THE CRANE’S CREATION OF GREAT PARTHENOS, A GREAT STATUE OF ATHENA OF IVORY AND GOLD. (AKF) *whispering* well, can you try to talk to it? [RRR] I CAN TRY. (Sounds of the lighter, tapping footsteps and the heavy, crunching footsteps) [RRR] HAIL TO YOU, AND WELL MET, STRANGER. [A] HAIL. HAIL. HAIL TO YOU. MET WELL, HOUND. [RRR] YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR TO ME, BUT YOU ARE NO ENEMY. WHAT BE YOUR NAME? [A] I. I. I HAVE NO NAME. THE DEAD ONES CALLED ME CHRYSELEPHANTINE. [RRR] THEN THAT MAY BE YOUR NAME. I AM NAMED RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE; THE HUMAN BEHIND ME IS ANYA, DAUGHTER OF KONSTANTIN, OF FAMILY FEDOROV. [A] THEN HAIL TO ANYA, KONSTANTIN DAUGHTER, FAMILY FEDOROV. (AKF) Hail to you, Chryselephantine. Might I ask you what this place is? [A] THIS WAS MY PRISON, THEY CALLED IT SITE-NU. I WAS NOT BORN HERE, FOR I REMEMBER A GREAT TEMPLE WHERE I WAS MADE. THEY SHAPED ME WITH FEATHERS AND METAL AND IVORY; THEY CALLED ME THE LADY CHRYSELEPHANTINE, THEIR VRIGIN GODDESS GIVEN FORM. (AKF) Do you know how you got here? [A] NO. NO. NO, I DO NOT REMEMBER… BUT I DO. I DO REMEMBER SOMETHING. THERE ARE MORE LIKE ME INSIDE; THE LADY AMMOS, GUARDIAN, AND THE LORDS PETRA, MASTER’S HOUND. (AKF) Were there more like you besides the Lady Ammos and Lord Petra? [A] YES. YES. YES, THERE WERE MANY MORE. BUT THEY ALL LEFT, OR WERE NOT HERE TO BEGIN WITH. THE LORD KAPNOS, PROPHET, THE LADIES ESTIA, FIREBRANDS, AND THE LORD LABYRINTH, PRISONER, THEY WERE ALL HERE. BUT THEY LEFT. (AKF) Okay. If they left, why are you and the others still here? [A] I. I. I CAN’T LEAVE. I. Ī. I MÙŠT S̶̪͖̃͊̐T̴͈͇̀A̶͈͗ͅY̴̞͋. THIS IS MY STATION. (AKF) Well then, may we enter your station? We have no want to harm or defile this place. We are just here to document what we find. [A] AYE. AYE. AYE, YOU MAY COME IN. BUT THE LADY AMMOS AND LORDS PETRA MAY NOT BE PLEASED. AMMOS RESIDES IN THE WESTERLY BUILDING. PETRA IN THE EASTERLY. THE NORTHERLY BUILDING IS GONE. GONE, DESTROYED BY ESTIA. (Sudden sounds of cracking, freezing ice, and creaking movement) (AKF) Well, thank you for allowing us entry, Lady Chryselephantine. [A] MET WELL, ANYA OF FEDEROV. (Sound of two hesitant sets of footsteps on ice, followed by crunching on snow alongside a third, much heavier set) (AKF) *muttering* “Site-Nu” indeed. Perhaps the ones who built this were indeed trying to evoke an idea of Ancient Hellas… [A] OPEN. OPEN. OPEN, NOTOS, HERALD OF AUTUMN. THESE ARE GUESTS, GUARD THEM WITH YOUR LEAVES. (Sounds of concernedly well-maintained doors opening with a whooshing) (AKF) Thank you, Lady Chryselephantine. [A] THANK. THANK. THANK YOU, ANYA OF FEDOROV. (Sounds of two sets of footsteps on concrete; far too frequent light and tapping mixed with the clunking of boots. Wind suddenly cuts out and footsteps change to dog-like clacking nails and squeaking rubber soles, both on tile) (AKF) *whispering* could you cut that out? (Sounds of dog-like clacking nails stops, replaced by quiet and near-constant taps) (AKF) *whispering* thanks. (Record-Keeper’s Note: several minutes of nothing but footsteps and silence have been omitted from the transcript. They will be indicated by a simple ‘Cut for Brevity’) (Roughly 4:03 minutes cut for brevity) (Low sounds of deep purring; best compared to a housecat hybridised with a four-by-four truck and a household garbage disposal) (AKF) *whispering* well, that’s probably the Lady Ammos. Ammos means ‘sand’ in Greek, right? [RRR] INDEED. AND THE GREEKS WOULD HAVE HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED SAND WITH THE DESERTS OF EGYPT, AND THUS THE SPHINX. (AKF) *whispering* can you go ahead and take a look? [RRR] AYE. (Sound of numerous tapping footsteps, a faint swishing movement, and light breathing mixed with forcibly calm breaths) [RRR] HAIL TO YOU, AND WELL MET, STRANGER. [S] H-H-HAIL TO THEE, H-H-HOUND. [RRR] WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED ENTRY TO THIS STATON BY THE LADY CHRYSELEPHANTINE. BE YOU THE LADY AMMOS? [S] Y-Y-YES. I-I-I AM THE LADY AMMOS, GUARDIAN OF THE WESTERLY ENTRANCE. WHAT SEEKTH THOU? [RRR] I AM RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE. I AM FAMILIAR TO ANYA, OF FAMILY FEDOROV, DAUGHTER OF KONSTANTIN, AND WE SEEK TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PLACE, ONCE CALLED SITE-NU. [S] I-I-I SEEEEEEEEEE… PERHAPS THEN, IF THE LADY ANYA WOULD COMETH AND ANSWER MINE RIDDLE, THOU AND HER MIGHT JUST TICKLE MINE TONGUE AND MAKETH ME SPEAK OF SITE-NU, EHHHHHEHE… [RRR] AYE. WHAT SAYETH YOU, ANYA? (Sound of rubber soles on tile, squeaking) (AKF) Very well. I am Anya Konstantinevna Fedorov, Crown of Laurels. Well met, Lady Ammos. Present thine riddle and I shalt labour to answer. [S] Y-Y-YES. WELL MET. HERE IS MINE FIRST RIDDLE, ONE MORE FOR EACH QUESTION THY SHALT ASK: MORE FRAGILE THAN A FLOWER-PETAL, MORE RARE THAN A HONEST KING. MORE DESIRED THAN A DIAMOND, MORE ABHORRED THAN THE PLAGUE. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT BREAKS IT, AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN ONE DOES. W̶̩͛H̸̡̐À̸̙T̷̠̾.̴̥̍ ̵͕͒Ã̵͉M̶̪͗.̶̗̒ ̴̥̋Ḯ̴͎?̸͉͐ (Sounds of foot-tapping on tile and little else) (AKF) You are silence. [S] A-A-AHH YES. ONE QUESTION IST THINE. (AKF) Why are you here, Lady Ammos, and not guarding Thebes back in Hellas, or in the sand by the Nile? [S] A-A-AHHHHH, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTIONNN… THEY TOOK ME HERE FOR THEIR EXPERIMENTS, THEIR POKING AND PRODDING AND DOCUMENTATION. THEY SAID IT WAS FOR THE GLORY OF THEIR RED STAR NATION, FOR THE PEOPLE’S GOOD. I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY TOOK THE OTHERS FOR THAT REASON. DOST THOU DESIRE ANOTHER RIDDLE AND QUESTION? (AKF) Indeed. [S] V-V-VERRRRRRY WELL. THEN I ASK YOU: TWO HORSES PULL AT THE REINS OF A GREAT CHARIOT. ONE IS BLACK AS PITCH AND THE OTHER IS AS WHITE AS PURE SNOW. BOTH ARE TREMENDOUSLY STRONG, YET NEITHER CAN OVERTAKE THE OTHER. W̴̮͐H̶̬͛A̷̼͒T̶̩̑.̶̗͆ ̸̋͜Ą̶̓R̶̢̕E̴̻̓.̵̛͕ ̴̼̈T̶̯̀H̶̯̿E̸͂͜Y̶͙̚?̷̲̆ (Sounds of foot-tapping and a bit of humming (AKF) They are night and day, while the world is the chariot. [S] Y-Y-YESSSS. THINE QUESTION IST? (AKF) Why did ‘they’ take the others alongside you to this place in northern Siberia? [S] P-P-PRECISELY WHY I COULD NOT FATHOMMMMMM… BUT WE EACH HAD OUR USSSSSSSES; CHRYSELEPHANTINE IS AN UNYIELDING WATCHER, PETRA IS THE LOYALIST OF HOUNDS. I AM AN EVER-VIGILANT GATEKEEPER. ESTIA WERE VICIOUS BEYOND MEASURE, KAPNOS WAS MOST PERCEPTIVE, AND LABYRINTH WAS MOST POWERFUL IN BODILY STRENGTH. (AKF) I have one more question. [S] H-H-HAAAAAAH. THUS I HAVE ONE MORE RIDDLE. I ASK OF YOU: I REST IN A VAULT OF CLEANEST IVOY, OF NOBLE COPPER AND SHINING SILVER. I AM A LONE GOLDEN TREASURE, RARELY EVER SHARING MY HOME WITH ANOTHER. MY CAGE HAS NO KEY, YET ALL LABOUR STILL TO BREAK IN. W̶̩͛H̸̡̐À̸̙T̷̠̾.̴̥̍ ̵͕͒Ã̵͉M̶̪͗.̶̗̒ ̴̥̋Ḯ̴͎?̸͉͐ (Sounds of foot-tapping, again) (AKF) You are an egg. [S] Y-Y-YESSSSSSSS. WHAT DOST THOUT WISH TO KNOW? (AKF) Will you let me and [Roughshod] pass, alive and unharmed, through this section of the Site? [S] H-H-HAHAHA!! T-T-TRICKSY LIIIIITTLE VICTOR, ART THOU NOT?! B-B-BUT YESSSS. THOU AND THINE HOUND MAY PASS UNDER MINE GAZE WITHOUT HARMMMMMM. B-B-BUT BEWARE, FOR THE LORDS PETRA ARRRRE… LESSSSSSSSSS ACCOMMODATING. (AKF) I thank thee, Lady Ammos. [RRR] AS DO I. FARE THEE WELL, GUARDIAN OF ZEPHYRUS, WESTERLY WINDS. (Sounds of heavy-duty purring return, slowly fading into silence with the same two sets of footsteps again) (Roughly 4:11 minutes cut for brevity) (Same two sets of footsteps stop, the light set before the boots) [RRR] ANYA. (AKF) *quietly* what? [RRR] THERE IS SOMEONE LIKE ME BEYOND THIS HALL. A HOUND. A STONE HOUND. (AKF) *quietly* well, that must be the Lords Petra. Do they seem alert to our presence? [RRR] I SHOULD THINK SO. THEY ARE BREATHING EVENLY, AND ARE L̷̩̐̀̏Į̸̩͉͕̫͎͕̂̾S̸̼͓̖̹̍́͒ͅT̷̡̳̹̉̄̒͜͝Ẹ̶̹͉͂̀̈͝N̴̡̞͕̪͛Ï̵̹͋͒̎̋̆N̵̜̺̞͋̔̍̚Ģ̷̦̘̱̤̟̟̀̎̉̈́̔̌͝…̴̱͊͌̔͝ DOST THOU WISH TO TREAT WITH THEM TOO? (AKF) No. In their myths, the Cerberus is an unyielding watchdog. At least this ‘Site-Nu’ has no Egyptian ENTITIES… goodness knows that Amit would be far less welcome than even the Colossus of Rhodes. We must approach the Lords Petra openly, to prove that we mean no harm. After all, we just need to find out what this place is about and catalogue whoever and whatever is here… or was here. Let’s go meet the Lords Petra. (Same two sets of footsteps begin again, joined roughly fifteen seconds later by three sets of breathing: one calm, one quick, and one extraordinarily slow) (Record-Keeper’s Note: The entity hereafter referred to as ‘Cerberus’ or ‘C’ possesses at least three (3) heads at any given time. The speaking head shall be denoted by a ‘-’ followed by a number; in this case a three (3), a two (2), or a one (1)) [C-1] WHAT HAVE WE HERE? A LADY AND HER PUP? [C-2] INDEED, INDEED, INDEEEEEEEEEEEEEED… BUT THE PUP SEEEEEEEEMS FAMILIAR. DON’T YOU THINK SO? [C-3] YES. HAIL TO YOU, STRANGER AND HOUND, AND WELL MET. (AKF) Hail to you. Might I assume that you are the Lords Petra? [C-2] INDEEEEEEEED WE ARE. WHAT BE THINE NAME, LASS? (AKF) I am Anya, daughter of Konstantin, of the family of Fedorov. [RRR] HAIL TO YOU, LORDS PETRA. I AM RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE, FAMILIAR TO ANYA. [C-3] MAY I ASSUME THAT THE LADY CHRYSELEPHANTINE INVITED YOU BOTH IN? (AKF) Indeed she did. The Lady let us enter through the Notos door to the south. We have also met the Lady Ammos of the westerly Zephyrus door. [C-1] WELL THEN, LADY AND PUP, WHY HAVE YOU APPROACHED US? THE NORTHERLY BUILDING OF BOREAS IS GONE; YOU COULD HAVE LEFT WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING EITHER US PETRA OR THE LADY AMMOS. [C-3] BROTHER, THOU SHOULD KNOWST THAT SYMBOL ANYA KONSTANTINEVNA WEARS UPON HER SHOULDER. THEY SHOWED IT TO US; THEY DECLARED THEM ENEMIES OF THE RED STAR STATE. (AKF) Did they, now? But you greeted me and [Rifle] both like guests. [C-2] INDEEEEEEEED WE DIIIIIIID. BUT THE RED STARS OUR ENEMIES, AND THUS THEIR ENEMIES ARE NOT OUR OWN. [C-3] THIS IS TRUE, ANYA FEDOROV. BEARERS OF THE SEAL OF THE CHATTER & THE MELODY ARE NOT OUR ENEMIES; THE RED STAR, WITH THEIR SICKLE AND THEIR HAMMER, ARE. (AKF) Then might you Lords do us a favor? For you must know the mission of the Society if you recognise our seal and crest. We wish to know about this ‘Site-Nu’. [C-1] FOR A LADY OF THE ENEMIES OF OUR ENEMIES? I SAY YEA. [C-2] INDEEEEEED, I DO NOT TO TELLING HER AND THEM. [C-3] AND I ASSENT AS WELL. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WISH TO KNOW, ANYA KONSTANTINEVNA FEDOROV? (AKF) I wish to know many things, but I ask you this: what happened here? I do not only mean when the Ladies Estia, Lord Kapnos, and Lord Labyrinth left, but before then too. I have seen sites like this, and none were as bold as to hold such ENTITIES as you; most held mere VECTORS, ARTEFACTS, or, rarely, DEVOTEES that went too far. But you are clearly not any of the above. [C-1] AH, THOU DOST SUMMON MEMORIES TO THE FOREFRONT. [C-2] INDEEEED, NASTY MEMORIES. BLOODY MEMORIES. HORRID MEMORIES. [C-3] I SHALL ELABORATE. WE WERE KEPT HERE FOR MANY YEARS. SO LONG AGO WERE WE BROUGHT HERE THAT WE REMEMBER NOT WHERE WE CAME FROM, BESIDES THAT WE WERE BETTER OFF THERE. [C-2] INDEEEEEEEEEED!! WHERE WE CAME FROM BEFORE, THERE WAS GOOD FOOD AND GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD FUN TO BE HAD! [C-3] BUT THEN THEY BROUGHT US HERE, IN CHAINS AND IN SHACKLES. WE WERE MOVED IN A GREAT TRAIN OR TRUCK, RUMBLING ALONG FOR WEEKS. WE WERE ALONE AT FIRST, BUT THEN THEY BROUGHT IN THE LADIES ESTIA, AND THEN AMMOS AND KAPNOS AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY CHRYSELEPHANTINE, AND LASTLY LABYRINTH. WEEKS MORE WE SAT, IN FILTH AND IN SQUALOR, BEFORE THEY OFFLOADED US HERE. [C-1] IT WAS HORRID AT FIRST. ENDLESS NEEDLES DRAWING FORTH BLOOD, ENDLESS TUBES INSERTING WHAT THEY DARED CALL MEDICINE. WE COULD ALL SEE EACH OTHER AT FIRST, AND EACH WAS RESTRAINED IN THE WORST OF THE WAYS. [C-2] INDEEEEED, INDEEED, INDEEEEEEEEEED!!! ESTIA WERE COVERED IN DUST AND CLOTH THAT STANK OF SWAMPWATER AND DIRT. KAPNOS WAS IN SOME TANK OF SIZZLING LIQUID; HE COULD NOT BREATHE. AMMOS SAT IN A CAGE OF THORNS AND COULD NOT MOVE WITHOUT CUTTING A SCAB OPEN AGAIN. LABYRINTH WAS BLINDFOLDED AND ATTACHED TO THE WALL WITH NAILS. WE WERE GAGGED, STUCK STANDING WITH A FRAME OF HOT IRON AND COALS. ONLY CHRYSELEPHANTINE WAS UNRESTRAINED, BUT HER SPEAR AND HELMET AND SHEILD AND SNAKE AND VICTORY HERSELF WERE HELD HOSTAGE IN A CASE OF ROILING… SOMETHING. [C-3] FIVE WEEKS WE SUFFERED THERE, FIVE WEEKS WE WERE FORCED TO WATCH AS OUR KIN SUFFERED IN TURN. CHRYSELEPHANTINE WAS THE FIRST TO LEAVE; THEY GAVE HER THE SPEAR AND THE SHIELD AND THE HELMET, BUT SNAKE AND VICTORY BOTH HAD BEEN SHIPPED OFF. THEN THEY CARRIED OFF KAPNOS AND AMMOS TOGETHER, AND LASTLY ESTIA AND WE WERE TAKEN INTO A CELL. LABYRINTH ALONE REMAINED. [C-1] THAT CELL WAS MOST DEPLORABLE IN CONDITION AND SIZE! BARELY ENOUGH SPACE FOR US TO TURN ABOUT WITHOUT BUMPING INTO ESTIA, NO WINDOWS NOR BEDDING NOR PLACE TO RELIEVE OURSELVES. CHAINED STILL AND GAGGED, WE SAT FOR THREE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER! [C-2] IIIIIIIIINDEEEEEEEEEEEEEED! AND WHEN THEY DID PROVIDE FOOD, IT WAS BARELY EDIBLE. A SLOP OF POTATOES AND RICE, WRIGGLING WITH MAGGOTS, AND A SINGLE TRAY OF WATER BARELY BIGGER THAN OUR PAW! AND WE WERE TO SHARE IT WITH ESTIA! [C-3] NOT ONLY DID THEY REFUSE TO GIVE US BASIC SUSTENANCE, BUT THEY DREW OUR BLOOD AND BEAT US WITH STICKS AND STOLE OUR VERY FLESH FOR THEIR TESTS. OUR ONLY DECENT MEAL WAS WHEN THEY THREW SOME POOR SOUL IN HERE. HE WORE A BRIGHTLY ORANGE COLOURED OUTFIT WTIH WRITING ON THE FRONT AND BACK, AS WELL AS A SYMBOL, THE SAME ONE THAT IS PAINTED ALL OVER THIS SITE. WE ATE HIM ALIVE; WE ARE NOT SORRY FOR THAT. (AKF) I can see why you’d break out. [C-2] INDEED, INDEED, INDEED! BUT WE WERE SO WEAK, SO CRIPPLED, THAT WE HAD NO HOPE OF ESCAPING. [C-1] BUT DEAREST ESTIA WERE MORE THAN STRONG ENOUGH TO BREAK OUT. THEY MELTED THE WALL OVER THE TIME OF A WEEK WITH THEIR FLAMES! [C-3] THEN THE LADIES WENT ON TO FREE KAPNOS AND AMMOS, THEN LABYRINTH. THE LORD PRISONER TOLD US THAT CHRYSELEPHANTINE WAS FROZEN OUTSIDE IN THE SNOW; WHEN SHE WAS FREED, SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT GO. AND AMMOS WISHED TO STAY, FOR THE ONES WHO DARED CALL THEMSELVES DOCTORS HAD BROKEN HER WINGS. [C-1] WE STAY HERE STILL TO WATCH OVER THE TWO LADIES; IT WOULD BE UNCHIVALROUS TO ABANDON THEM. [C-2] INDEED. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE. (AKF) Thank you, Lords Petra. [C-3] AND IN TURN, THANK YOU, ANYA, FOR LISTENING TO OUR TALE. [C-2] INDEED! INDEED. THAT IS ONLY WHAT WE CAN TELL YOU, BUT DOWN THE HALL AND TO THE RIGHT THERE IS AN OFFICE WITH BOXES OF PAPYRUS INSCRIBED WITH CYRILLIC AND NUMBERS AND DIAGRAMS THAT WE CANNOT READ. READ THEM IF YOU CAN, TAKE THEM, TELL OTHERS ABOUT THIS PLACE, OTHERS WHO BEAR THE SEAL YOU WEAR. THE WORLD MUST KNOW ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF THE SHOOTING STAR DIVISION. (AKF) We certainly shall take as many as we can carry, and bring others to this site. Will you allow them to enter unopposed through the door of Eurus? [C-2] INDEED WE SHALL. FARE THEE WELL, ANYA FEDOROV AND RUSTING ROUGHSHOD RIFLE. (AKF) Fare thee well. (Sounds of the same set of footsteps) (Roughly 0:49 seconds cut for brevity) (Sounds of a concernedly well-maintained door whooshing open) (AKF) *whispering* anyone in there, [Rusting]? [RRR] NONE THAT I CAN PERCEIVE. (Sounds of cautious footsteps, drawers opening, rummaging, shifting of papers, clanking of metal objects, and other such noises) (Roughly 1:05 minutes cut for brevity) (AKF) That’s all I can carry. You full too? [RRR] YES. (AKF) Okay, let’s go. Call for a Pony Express once we’re outside of the perimeter. [RRR] AYE. (Sounds of the same set of footsteps) (Roughly 3:57 minutes cut for brevity) (Sounds of another concernedly well-maintained door whooshing open, footsteps resume on snow and wind is heard) (Roughly 1:36 minutes cut for brevity) (Footsteps stop, slightly winded breathing is heard) (Sounds of a piercing, reverberating, extremely loud howl resembling a hybrid of a wolf, a hyena, a train whistle, and a war bugle) (Roughly 1:02 minutes cut for brevity) (Sound of horse hoof beats on snow) (AKF) Over here! (Hoof beats get louder before stopping) (DMP) Hello! You’re Fedorov and [Roughshod]? (AKF) Yes! Do you have a marker on hand? This place is connected to the Shooting Star Division of the former USSR, and it’s mostly intact! We have as many documents as we could carry, but there are many more inside. There are also three unclassified ENTITIES here that were brought all the way from Greece, you can see the Lady Chryselephantine from here, she’s really bi- (DMP) Say no more, Konstantinevna! My poor Familiar’s gonna freeze if we stay here any longer! Save it for Anastasia and the debrief! (AKF) Fine. But we must save the ENTITIES that were held captive here, and track down the ones that escaped and did all this damage! (DMP) Aye! Once we get back to Moscow. (Sounds of mounting a horse, of hoof beats and ██████████) (RECORDING ENDS) SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Some of the documents found within Site-Nu can be accessed at █████.
by WandsAndScales
A single compass with two needles was found in the destroyed remnants of the northernmost building. It continuously points towards the intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian with its white needle while the red needle points towards the constellation Sagittarius whenever it is visible. It is made of an unidentified and possibly paranatural alloy that reacts violently to being brought into the presence of an ENTITY, Devotee, or other such paranatural sentient being; most notably, it ███████.
Comments
Author's Notes
If you couldn’t tell, this is a homage to the SCP Foundation. It’s the debut of the Shooting Star Division, or the PPZ (подразделение падающих звезд), a shadowy branch of the former government of the former USSR that labored to use the super-, preter-, and para-natural elements of their reality and the others within the Layered Earth for the benefit of the USSR. It’s also Moscow Branch’s first feature. We’ll be picking up this story in Australia next!