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Registered Phenomena Code: 747
Object Class: Beta-White
Hazard Types: Aquatic Hazard, Extreme Temperature Hazard, Climatological Hazard
Containment Protocols: Containment protocols of RPC-747 are integrated into the overall containment effort on Antarctic Region 017. A comprehensive physical and informational blockade is in place over both locations. RPC-747 exploration is currently ongoing; proper containment protocols will be enacted once definitive properties are determined. RPC-917 has been assigned to assist in containment of RPC-747, provided TRB-618 security measures remain in place.
fig 1.1: Location of the Ross Ice Shelf. Red cross marks access point to RPC-747.
UPDATE - 3/12/2019: Direct observation of RPC-747 is forbidden, as is the viewing of any media depicting it, until the possibility of cognitohazardous infection can be ruled out. All photographs taken within RPC-747 have been expunged from this file.
Description: RPC-747 refers to a massive stone complex located 12km below the Ross Ice Shelf in the Antarctic continent. RPC-747 extends horizontally for about 60km2, with varying heights, and is largely encroached by ice, rendering exploration almost completely unfeasible.
RPC-747's oldest dated area is approximately 1,590 years old, coinciding with the Classical Greek period. Despite extensive damage, the majority of RPC-747 remains intact. Preliminary analysis has postulated an effect produced by a tychokinetic or regenerative force responsible for the state of limited repair.
Similarly, objects recovered from RPC-747 have been proven to follow an unusual decomposition curve, decaying up to ten times slower than non-anomalous objects recovered from similarly dated sites. Investigation is ongoing.
The history of RPC-747 is largely unknown, with no registered interactions between its inhabitants and contemporary cultures. It is also unknown how the city was supplied. However, its culture has so far proven to be similar to modern Children of Nihil beliefs, allowing for a certain degree of investigation.
The accessible portion of RPC-747 is subdivided into four zones, designated RPC-747-1 through -4. Each area contains specific symbology, exhibiting unique properties. For an in-depth description of each area, see Addendum 747-A, Torquemada Report.
RPC-747 was discovered on June 23d, 2019, along the adjacent Antarctic Region 017, following reports of varied, long-lasting anomalous phenomena within the surrounding area. Such phenomena included unusually frequent and abundant rain, water failing to freeze as expected, and widespread glacier melting. Several UN-Funded expeditions, starting on June 4th, 2017, failed to find a natural cause for these events, leading to Authority involvement on May 4th, 2019.
Expedition Number 44, launched on June 20th aboard the AFV Torquemada, encountered a number of brick buildings in a previously unexplored area of the Ross Ice Shelf, inhabited by a large number of Children of Nihil cultists. Upon further observation from a distance, it became apparent that an unknown, frenetic ritual was being performed, involving a large number of unidentified relics. A steel box, marked with words in English, was believed to be the centerpiece of the ritual, remaining at the epicenter of all activity. No violence took place while the ritual was being observed, with participants focused on moving relics and tracing lines into the ground. After an hour of observation, no apparent pattern could be found. Observation was cut short once permission to engage was granted to the Torquemada's crew.
Most characteristics of this ritual remain unknown, as all participants and involved objects demanifested upon apparent completion.
fig 1.2: Access point to RPC-747.
Eight hours, six minutes, and approximately six seconds later, the Antarctic surface began to melt at an accelerated rate, sinking the surrounding ice and structures into a rapidly expanding borehole, claiming the lives of sixty Authority personnel presently stationed off-ship. The Torquemada escaped the area along with the eighty personnel on board, and began broadcasting an SOS signal. Two days later, the support ship AFV Chromed Jaybird arrived to the site, to aid the crew of the Torquemada on exploring the borehole.
The borehole was found to branch into two paths, one leading to an underside of Antarctic Region 017, and the other to RPC-747.
Addendum 747-A - The Lesser City
RPC-747 can only be accessed through a large archway, 2m in height and 1m in width. It is partially embedded in ice, leaving a 1.5m high and 0.7m wide opening. This archway is heavily decorated in a fashion unique to RPC-747, consisting of several depictions of water running then freezing to a stop. Ice is represented in low-relief, while water is represented in high-relief. This motif is present in most of the accessible zones of RPC-747, particularly RPC-747-4.
RPC-747 has the general appearance of a Roman city, with certain differences exclusive to each designated zone. With an estimated population of 5 thousand individuals, the habitation areas are particularly small in contrast to other, similar cities. RPC-747 is also encircled by a large stone wall, at least ten meters in height. A number of vigilance towers and unique cannon weaponry were identified, but remain unreachable. Only a small section of the wall is currently accessible, adjacent to RPC-747-1.
Torquemada Research Report
19/8/19
Description of Explored Areas of RPC-747
RPC-747-1 - Entrance and Temple of Passing
RPC-747-1 designates the entrance archway, the hallway connected to it, and the temple at the end of said hallway.
The hallway, being eight meters long, has four unlit torches fixed to the walls, two per side. From each torch extends an identical relief, consisting of a circle around the torch, and long lines of varying length stretching from it, continuing into the floor, and ending in a central relief representing a city.
The placing of the torches is deliberate; a common decorative element of RPC-747 is a circular pattern enclosing a source of light, often placed in rows of eight. According to murals found in RPC-747-4, these decorations represent eight different suns, contrary to modern Children of Nihil beliefs, that include nine.
From an introductory speech by Román Fernández, prominent Children of Nihil member:
"In the beginning, there were Nine Suns, for that is the number of the Bringers of Rain.
Each of them brought both light and flood, of water and snow, to the Holy Waters Between Land. When one would sink into the ocean to renew its strength, one of it's brothers would rise and arc across the heavens, to then join again its underwater dancing brothers.
However, it would not be forever. One by one, the first Five fell:
The first of the first was the Savage Redness. His sin of anger against the Early Light froze his soul, and thus he fell from the heavens, too heavy for the clouds to carry his body. The waters became angered when he was buried by them, and as ice is water enraged, seven tenths of the waterbound beings of Earth died.
Then down came Empty Monarch. In his attempt to better the world in his plan, he cast the Essence of Carbon across the air, and in this crusade he killed seven tenths of all beings across. He was cast down, yet even he fears the rage of Azrael.
Third fell the Eighth, she who is now a pit of darkness unending. Of her, as you all know, we shall not speak, but two of the remaining Five died, and she was locked in a steel box. The world may forever regret the passing of Orrery of Ages and the Early Light, for without them there is no Paradise, only Judgement, and nine tenths of all life died with them.
Who is the fourth, we do not know, except that she Was. Her ghostly call can be heard from the depths of Earth, rocky and dry, when great pests and blights fall upon life. Her passing killed seven tenths of all beings, and the Pilot sailed across quintessence in despair, forever lost.
Fifth was Exiled Sun, brought to madness after the Early Light faded. Speaking foul words, dooming and doomed, the Engineer cast him down, and in his sorrow, he cut through his fallen brother's heart, fulfilling the doom the Exiled had promised, and seven tenths of all beings died.
Only the Engineer remains, the Bringer of Mercy and the Caster of Rain. He is exhausted, and soon he will too pass, his body turning to graceful rain that may heal this ravaged world forever. But this is not the end; one day shall Nihil, creator of All, rise from beneath the graves of the Eight, and deliver Death in the form of an endless flood that may finally give all life peace."
Note: While this is correct for most modern Children of Nihil cults, it does not fully apply for RPC-747.
Of note, near the end of the hallway is another relief, believed to represent a much larger tower. This relief has been recently damaged, with little analysis possible.
The hallway connects to a temple, thought to be the only entry to RPC-747. It is a 10m wide hemisphere, with a 1.3m wide pillar in the center. The wall is decorated with varied depictions of rain, all dated from different times. The pillar in the center is believed to represent lightning, as the ground around it shows several reliefs of fire. A number of large channels, similar in construction to small Roman aqueducts, cut across the ground, forming an eight-pointed star, with each point ending in a circle.
A Latin phrase is carved on the central pillar, translating to "Drown Across the Temple of Passing." This line refers to the ancient Children of Nihil practice of remaining completely covered in water for periods of up to ten minutes. It is thought that this rite was compulsory in order to access RPC-747 when it was inhabited.
From a common Children of Nihil saying:
"Only those who may breathe from water yours are to be welcomed home."
Observing this room for long periods may result in the gradual development of acute thalassophobia. In at least one case, the opposite effect was observed, resulting in death through self-drowning.
RPC-747-2 - Houses and Armory
RPC-747-2 is remarkably smaller than all other explored RPC-747 zones, with the exception of RPC-747-1.
The housing area consists of eight two-floor buildings, 6m high and 15m wide, each counting with eight rooms for sixteen inhabitants, as determined by the number of wooden bed chassis, and a large main hall both for cooking, nutrition, and social gatherings, reinforced by five stone pillars. Each house has ten 0.5m wide and 0.3m tall windows, one per room and two for the main hall, with no other identifiable lighting methods. In a specific house (Designated RPC-747-2-H for being the farthest away from the entry), remains of a half-consumed meal for one were recovered upon a table, consisting of four small pieces of bread. These are believed to have been soaked before being left.
Nearly all houses, with the exception of 747-2-H and 747-2-A, that lacks any decoration, are scarcely decorated, with a single carving of a human silhouette being found on them, each in the main hall. Four of these have been identified as female, and two of them as male. Beneath the floor in front of each figure is an empty 2m long and 0.5m high stone chamber, thought to be a coffin. No human remains have been found on them.
747-2-H is heavily decorated, with each wall having unique, detailed carvings of people dancing beneath abundant rain. The ground of the main hall is decorated with low-reliefs of people drowning in what appears to be the sea. The roof of the main hall is carved with several concentric circles, growing thinner as they approach the center of the room. A faded humanoid outline is carved there, depicted as cracked, or otherwise broken. The chest of this figure is occupied by a low-relief circle, marked with the Latin word for "nothing". A smaller Latin sentence covers the forehead of the figure. Sections of this sentence have been recently damaged, with the sole surviving segment being "raising flood".
RPC-747-2 also includes an armory, identical to the previously described houses. Externally decorated with humanoid outlines without arms or legs, being replaced with wings. All of these figures point with their heads to the rough location of Antarctic Region 017.
Items recovered from the armory include:
- 128 swords, in various states of decay. Nearly all blades are heavily damaged from recent, improper use.
- 5 undamaged swords, coated in a layer of rust. When used to pierce or cut through a solid material, target transmutates to water, invariably composed of 55% chloride and 31% sodium, among other substances, making it identical to seawater. Classified as LO-███.
- 128 short daggers, believed to be ceremonial. Decorated with depictions of striking lightning. 8 were recently blood-stained upon recovery. No anomalous properties yet found. Ritual testing forbidden by order of the Office of Ethics and Review.
- 4 longbows.
- A supply of 327 arrows, unused. When the tip is embedded in a solid material, and left beneath a storm, unusually frequent lightning strikes occur in an area of 10m around the arrow. Remarkably, the arrow itself is not immune to its properties. Classified as LO-███.
- 1 large cannon, carved with several ritualistic symbols. Upon restoration and testing, it was found that, when loaded with approximately 2L of water, would uniformly heat it to 91ºC, then launch it at 820m/s, with no additional input required. May often overheat, resulting in a blast of vapor. Classified as LO-███.
- 2 light iron gauntlets, made of 7 interlocking pieces each. From each knuckle a short blade extends. All blades were recovered broken.
- 4 papyrus scrolls, each depicting a section of Antarctic Region 017, drawn in an unknown substance that has resisted all analysis. Entrances to Antarctic Region 017 are circled in red. It is believed that they form part of a larger, complete map. Requisitioned for exploration of Antarctic Region 017.
- 8 heavily decorated pillars. Purpose unknown.
It is believed that the armory used to house a greater number of weapons, as evidenced by:
- A majority of the armory being empty.
- The expected local population capable of engaging in combat greatly exceeding the available weaponry.
- The possibility of an armed excursion from the inhabitants of RPC-747.
RPC-747-3 - Library
RPC-747-3 consists of an immense library, 50m in height, containing hundreds of ancient, wooden shelves housing papyrus scrolls. These are bound to the shelves through nails next to the title, and several other points, preventing removal without damaging it. Each scroll is also kept in a small metal cage, held together by a key lock. No keys have been found in the explored section of RPC-747, and as every cage has so far resisted all breach and lockpick attempts, a limited amount of scrolls have been recovered, either from broken cages, or in the ground, apparently left in haste.
Most scrolls in the interior of RPC-747-3 have either been taken, or suffered water damage. It is believed that flooding was attempted, with the shelves and RPC-747-3 itself remaining undamaged.
Recovered scroll fragments are listed below;
From Recovered Document 747-1 - "On The Empty One":
[DAMAGED] 8: Destiny of Her Boundless Horror
It has been long known that the [DAMAGED] was the strongest of the Eight, requiring the [DAMAGED] the remaining Five to cast her down, and even upon Death, the Unending Void kept biting on the lives of two of her brothers.
We now know, however, that she has not died yet; her still beating essence has been recovered by the Ancient Unknown, and sealed upon their Second Axis. What purpose she has for them, or them for her, is still unknown. However, from our recent dialogue with their Ambassador, we have deduced that they are still fooled, and believe she is dead.
What is, then, the logical response to what chance has brought upon us?
We believe we must recover the Coffin. We must take the prison from the Ancient Unknown, and harness its power, now more than ever before; for we can unbind the Faceless from the tethers that move the World as a dancing puppet, and strip her from all her ancient power. It shall take long [DAMAGED] of investigation upon Their Ancient Machinations to open the door and recover the box, or produce one similar to it, if need be, and replicate the process.
We will [DAMAGED] through the Deep Gate, and rise from the borders of their [DAMAGED], storming the Axis and taking it for our [DAMAGED] We shall bind the world to our desires, and then we will bring the Infinite Flood of Nihil across All That Is.
[DAMAGED]
From Recovered Document 747-2 - "On The Frozen Scythe":
Resume for Inductees - Azrael First Part
The greatest danger to the prosperity of the Holy Water is not drought; for the Flood cleanses all that is dry and dead.
There is no cleansing of what is frozen. There is no water that can soften or melt Ice, as frozen water is turned against itself, and no brother can harm its brethren.
However, frozen water can corrupt and hurt in other ways; all water near Ice will become too enraged, and then freeze, perpetuating the Curse.
This is the power of Azrael, the Frozen Scythe. Less than power, it is curse; condemned to forever lash at everything he loves, and corrupt all water. He is condemned to walk desolation wrought by none other than himself.
As you've been told, this is the punishment enacted by the Dead Sun upon the Sin of Rage Azrael committed. Since the Suns can never truly die as long as there are eyes that can see, no true punishment can be brought on them, and the Dead Sun is rendered near powerless outside Her domain.
However, the living can still hurt and maim and tear their exiled bodies. This is what the Ancient Unknown have done; their enigmas ripped Azrael's heart from his body, and they sealed it in their Second Axis and bound it to the strings of reality, now controlling the rage of all waters.
Azrael's body remains; with a broken heart, it is no more than a brutal beast, more powerful yet less cunning. The body is caged in the deep of this city, never to savor a single drip of water.
However, rage is not invincible! With peace and calm, you will learn to walk past it. With training, you can undo Ice. The following page shall instruct you to do so, and the rest shall be taught in class.
[DAMAGED; REST OF SCROLL MISSING]
Note: This site has an interesting contrast with other Nihil cult places; no names match up. Yes, if you've read Research Division's registry, you'll find that a number of these
mythical events do line up, while others differ. This is expectable, as Nihil cultists are wildy variable and often plain batshit insane. However, not once have we seen a variance on the Nine Suns. Not a small deviation. And yet, here we are. Not only do the names not match, the number of suns isn't the same. There are only eight Suns ever named. However, we do have a little suspicion, based on the title of a document we've recovered. The rest is missing, probably ripped, but the title is this one; "The Building of a New Sun." Draw your own conclusions. - Asst. Researcher Grant, lvl 4
From Recovered Document 747-3 - Title Missing:
their names were; Azrael, Maalik [DAMAGED] Ridwan, Israfil, Mikail. The other one's [DAMAGED]
[DAMAGED] Their bodies remain in heaven, yet they can be redone. With water, fire, diamond, [DAMAGED]
In times were hope is needed, we shall remake [DAMAGED]
From Recovered Document 747-4 - [DATA REDACTED]:
come below the chapel of tears, Adrianus
the ice keeps growing and its empty chest leaks rage into our city
we are no longer strong enough
we should have not attacked Babel
RPC-747-4 - Temple of Sunset
RPC-747-4 is a religious temple, approximately 100m in height. RPC-747-4 is impervious to damage, and appears immune to decay. As such, it remains in better state than the rest of RPC-747, and is believed to be in an identical state to 1,500 years ago. Remarkably, all ice brought within 50m from RPC-747-4 will melt instantaneously. RPC-747-4 is accessible only through a wide, 5m per 5m hallway.
RPC-747-4 is subdivided into eight sections, named "Chapels of Tears", according to translated inscriptions.
Chapel 1
Chapel 1 is found directly across the entry hall. It is 10m tall, and is widely decorated by representations of sunlight, and commonly enclosed places illuminated by daylight. For example;
- A small room, believed to represent some kind of office, in which a human figure stands upright A ray of sunlight pierces the figure's forehead, and it appears to be smiling. A scroll lies in the ground beside the figure, apparently dropped by it. Its title reads "EPIPHANY - THE PIERCING LIGHTNING OF THE MORNING SUN."
- A prison cell, being escaped by a human figure that appears to be phasing through the bars. A second figure is set five meters apart, apparently applauding the first. The floor beneath the first figure reads "IN MORNING LIGHT THE EVIL SHALL BE FLOODED BY VIRTUE."
The wall in front of the entry hall is entirely occupied by a single mural; a smiling woman, rising from the water, holds a sphere in her hand. The woman is covered by a dress, apparently made of water. Of note, her eyes lack pupils, and from her mouth drips a dark liquid. The left side of her chest shows a large hole, from which additional liquid drops.
A small, 1m tall pedestal lies in front of this mural, carved with the words "SHED A TEAR IN THE CHAPEL OF ISRAFIL, THE SUN THAT ROSE OVER THE HORIZON."
Chapel 2
Chapel 2 is accessible through a spiral staircase ascending from Chapel 1. It is half the size, being 5m tall, and significantly less decorated, with only one mural above the entry. This mural consists solely of a representation of a humanoid male figure. He appears to be weeping, yet his face remains in a stoic expression. He is dressed in long rags, and appears to have sustained significant wounds, from which blood drips. Four angelic, tattered wings sprout from the back, apparently dragged from a long distance, as evidenced by a trail of feathers carved behind the figure.
A crown, shattered in half, is left behind the figure's wings.
Another pillar lies in front of an undecorated wall, carved with the words "SHED A TEAR IN THE CHAPEL OF MAALIK, THE MISGUIDED ROYAL FROM WHOM ALL NOBILITY DESCENDS. LIKE HIM WILL FALL ALL WHOM DARE ACCEPT AN EMPTY CROWN, AND LIKE HIM ALL NOBLES SHALL DIE."
Chapel 3
Chapel 3 is accessible through two hallways connecting both from Chapels 1 and 2. It consists of a semicircular dead-end, 10m tall. Several circles of varying sizes are carved across the semicircular wall, in front of the entry. All circles have a single spiral carved inside, growing thinner as it grows closer to the center. Some of the larger circles hold a skull, with eight ocular orbits each, inside their respective spirals.
This room's pillar is carved with the words "SHED A TEAR FOR RIDWAN, GUARDIAN OF TIME WHO ALL SHALL MEET. REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL DIE, AND KEEP YOUR SOUL CLEAN FOR HIS DEAD EYES TO SEE."
Chapel 4
Chapel 4 is accessible through a long hallway extending from Chapel 1, ending in the opposite side of the pyramid. It is similar to Chapel 1, and appears to mirror it.
Chapel 4 is decorated by varied representations of the Sun setting, and sunlight fading. Many human figures, and a few animals, stare from what appears to be a beach. All figures sit in a ridge above the beach itself. A single figure looks away from the suns, and writes on a large scroll, reading "ALL LIGHT FADES TO DARK AS ALL SMILE FADES TO CRY."
The wall above the entry is decorated differently. A male human figure, evidently old in age, sinks into the ocean. His face remains expressionless. His figure has little to no detail in comparison to other decorations.
This room's pillar reads "SHED A TEAR FOR JIBRIL, THE UNJUST EXILE. WHEN YOU DESPAIR IN THE DARK, EITHER ATOP THE MOUNTAINS OR BURIED BENEATH YOUR HEART, REMEMBER THAT ALL STORMS COME AT NIGHT, AND THAT LIGHTNING IS BRIGHTEST WHEN LIGHT HAS LONG FADED."
Chapel 5
Chapel 5 is accessible from a spiral staircase, descending from Chapel 4. It is the smallest room in RPC-747-4, being only 2m tall and 5m wide. It is decorated solely by a single representation of a hill.
This room's pillar reads "SHED A TEAR FOR HER WHOSE NAME IS NOT KNOWN. DO NOT TURN YOUR FACE TO THE WHISPERS BENEATH THE EARTH, FOR ALL LIES TREAD PATHS TOWARD DROUGHT."
Chapel 6
Chapel 6 is accessible from a spiral staircase, ascending from Chapel 1. It occupies the center of RPC-747-4. It is also the largest room in the pyramid, being a 50m tall and wide cylinder. In its center is a dry, circular fountain, extensively decorated with evergreen leaves. The fountain extends into a 3m tall humanoid sculpture of indeterminate gender, with eight wings, claws for hands, and nine eyes. The sculpture holds a metal sword in its right arm, appearing to be a larger and more decorated instance of LO-███, all other instances of which have been found in RPC-747-2. The sculpture's face shows signs of psychological strain, appearing exhausted and desperate.
The walls of this chapel repeat patterns of what appears to be ice struggling against depictions of rain and water. These decorations have been shown to change, increasing or decreasing the amount of ice. What triggers these changes is still unknown.
The ceiling of the room is decorated by a large circle, with the word "NOTHING" being carved inside.
A metal plaque is affixed to the fountain, reading "SHED YOUR TEARS FOR MIKAIL, SOLE SURVIVOR AND ENGINEER, ABANDONED BY THE PILOT-GUARDIAN HAFAZA. KNOW THAT YOU BATHE IN THE RAIN THAT HIS TEARS OF PAIN ARE, AND THAT HE LIVES FOR YOU."
Chapel 7
Chapel 7 is accessible through a trap-door in Chapel 6.
It is unlit, decorated solely by an open steel cage, 1m tall, right below the entry. Chapel 7 has no walls, and extends infinitely, leading to the supposition that it is a pocket dimension. Due to potential cognitohazardous contamination, no further exploration has been conducted.
Chapel 8
Chapel 8 is accessed through a spiral staircase descending from Chapel 6. It is at least 10 meters below ground, and is identical to Chapels 1 and 4. However, all decoration appears to have suffered damnatio memoriae shortly after its construction. Due to the extensive and methodical nature of the damage, no religious decoration or imagery remain, with the exception of a pillar akin to those found in prior chapels.
This pillar reads "SHED NO TEARS FOR AZRAEL, THE FROZEN SCYTHE. LEST YOU BE CAUGHT IN FREEZING RAGE, STARE NOT AT THE EMPTINESS OF ANGER."
Addendum 747-B - A Sinking Feeling
On 23/9/19, after the anomalous climate conditions began inexplicably fading, the scattered remains of an armed contingent, dated similarly to RPC-747, and anomalously conserved the same way, were located between RPC-830 and the westmost, inaccesible point of RPC-747. These remains have been designed RPC-747-A.
Remains of approximately 2,000 individuals were found, armed with several instances of previously described Lesser Objects, plus a number of unregistered ones, as listed below;
- 230 light iron gauntlets, made of 7 interlocking pieces each. From each knuckle a short blade extends. When swung with sufficient force, liquids in a 1m diameter will become electrically charged, and when used to strike a solid surface within 10 minutes of this effect's activation, an anomalous electrical discharge will take place between these liquids and the struck surface.
- 543 spears, double-tipped. When carried by a human being, the spear appears to deflect all kinetic force directed towards the user. May shatter after use.
- Nearly 2,000 shields of varying size, with a Children of Nihil logo painted on the outer side. When carried by a human being, the shield improves the user's ability to move through liquids. Users also become unable to ignite, or otherwise be damaged by heat. When exposed to heat for more than 1h 23m at a time, it shatters.
- 8 wooden staffs. Purpose unknown.
A second force, 5,000 individuals strong, was located, buried beneath the ice. Although no analysis has been completed at the time of writing, it appears that steam-powered machinery was abundantly used by this contingent.
Additionally, four poorly preserved short scrolls, believed to be either a journal or messages to be sent, were recovered onsite.
And so we come marching toward Babel
Our greedy, inglorious bastard of a king, has decided that the many peoples of the tower are in a time of despair and hunger.
We have decided that he has listened to the Prisoner, the Savage who desires nothing but war and death and rage.
His heart grows colder by the day, and no priest or friend is able to reach him anymore. But our folk are to blind to see doom in front of their eyes.
The fool! Has he forgotten the power of Babel?
This affair is coming out… Successful.
The beasts from Babel fell quickly before our strikes, quicker than ever before.
They were only scouts, but they were mighty nevertheless. Their weapons of fire and vapor held not against the strength of our flood!
Perhaps, this is our long neglected day of glory after all.
I fear the icy beast may be tricking our minds. Bloodlust is a dark and crawling red sickness, and we are not untouched by it.
But the Priests of Nihil back home are calling upon the light of Israfil, and the morning sun will soon shine above us all.
Yet little can sunlight do against the cold metal machinations of those wicked peoples. They have not shown yet, but they soon will.
Tomorrow, we shall take Babel. Tomorrow we will take the Tower.
We were all fools. Their desperate bones cannot stand the tiniest drop of water, how can they fight against our storm?
Even when outnumbered, all we face are walls of bone, falling like dead trees in strong winds.
They will BLEED. YOUR BLOOD SHALL FLOOD OUR LANDS EVERMORE!
The light of morning is no longer comforting to us. When we come home, we will show them the freezing glory of AZRAEL.
Those were no machines.
They were beasts.
The priests know of our blasphemy. They will abandon us.
I can see them, the ones here. They brought eight staffs.
When I walk to judgement, please forgive me, Ridwan.
Addendum 747-C - The Other World
On 25/9/19, an additional section of RPC-747 was successfully thawed and explored. This section was incorporated to RPC-747-2.
The newly thawed area is believed to have been a government building, and is very similar in appearance to RPC-747-A through -H, while slightly larger. It is undecorated, and has suffered extensive and methodical flooding, destroying most documents and furniture. Remarkably, a small padlocked safe was recovered, holding what is believed to be a series of weekly updates on an unknown affair. The recovered texts are listed below, chronologically ordered.
Hello, Kzar Nartha.
This is the first report on the Axis takeover. To little surprise, usual communication channels won't work. We believe there is a dry space between their otherworldly lands and our own, preventing the flow of all waters in between. Luckily, the Deep Gates allow our flood to flow through all Places that Are.
After penetrating through the Axis' gate, we found ourselves on an unknown building, uncomfortably small and pastry yellow. Perfectly rectangular pieces of star essence are stuck on the ceiling, and dimmed down to allow for illumination, always perfectly spaced and white shining.
This space is divided into cubicles for one, and hallways between, with strange chairs set before a wooden construct, each sustaining two metal boxes on top. One box has had its lid removed, and shows a black substance inside, thought to be ice. However, it is not cold.
After a long walk across the halls, this space ends into a spiral staircase, of metal and wood. It infinitely continues above and below, forever stretching and connecting the pieces of their dimension. This truly is the Axis. We now need to find the core, but we shall rest for today.
However, I rest uneasy; how can our remaining armies travel so far away from home, when the King and five sixths of our military have perished? How can we travel away when our families are in home, endangered?
Dearly, Lowby Uther
Hello, Kzar Nartha.
Confrontation with the Ancient Unknown has yielded great glories; in terror they left ancient, alien relics, including the metal box I send with this scroll. This box has a spinning metal circle, marked with symbols engraved by its progenitors. It can be opened by spinning the circle in a certain manner, so that the white line points to a number of symbols in order. I have left this key in the bottom of the report.
Ascending through the spiral stairs leads us to confusing and strange pieces of other lands; dark caves, cutting deep into different earth. Pantheons for dead alien gods, worshipped by nonsensical creatures, us ants to their immense size. Titanic metal cities, with metal tubes pumping from the deep and feeding into living, breathing towers of metal, breathing toxic fumes into the air. White halls twisting upon themselves. Islands floating in seas of quintessence. Their realm vastly exceeds the reach of our hand, and attempting to conquer it is like squeezing sand, refusing to let the fleeing grains go.
We have, however, found the core.
It is no more grandiose than a house, but its interior holds a great prison; a prison for beings bound to the threads of existence.
We have found the Void Unending, and Azrael's heart locked upon inaccessible rooms. It is only a matter of time until we breach their feeble metal.
Dearly, Lowby Uther
(Numbers 0, 9, 9, and 2 are crudely drawn below)
Hello, Kzar Nartha.
Azrael's Heart melted.
We don't know how, or why. It is all trembling, and the remaining locals have fled.
We can no longer descend or ascend through the stairs. We are locked to two floors. There is not enough water to run away.
Please, respond. We need help.
Dearly, Lowby Uther
Our camp is surrounded. Great blue whirlwinds opened up, and armed men, impervious to all weaponry, began stepping through.
We know not their names, but their symbol is a triangle pointing up, with a net inside.
They are as scared as us, but have shown no scruples in executing the captured. Their bodies turn to water and it flows through the ground somewhere else.
It is growing cold. We fear they might have awakened Azrael's heart again.
Help us. Please. Don't let our home freeze.
Addendum 747-D - Black Downpour
On 29/11/2019, a second section of RPC-747 was successfully thawed. As it is disconnected from other explored sections, it has been denominated RPC-747-5.
RPC-747-5 consists of a massive pit, ninety meters wide and two kilometers deep, with large numbers of chains affixed to the walls and dropping down. Every fifty meters rest the remains of a one-meter thick stone floor. It is believed that massive pressure from the inside caused them to break.
At the bottom of the pit, a massive open stone coffin, fifty meters long, is affixed. It is believed that the previously described chains would be connected to it, and through an unknown mechanism, keep it shut.
Further analysis has revealed that the density of Antarctic ice decreases as distance from RPC-747-5 increases.
