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)17:35 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)17:35 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)17:35 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)17:35 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)17:36 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)17:36 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)17:36 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)17:36 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)17:36 No. 1116703 ID: 6d3a6d
File 176279619702.png - (846.04KB , 1500x1000 , C01_12_I.png )

...

Silicon 2025/11/10(Mon)17:36 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)17:36 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.

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:51 No. 1118874 ID: be7ff9
File 176536389561.png - (436.00KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_A.png )

> 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!

> Fancy goggles! Alright that confirms that scrambling the image works.

I think you're right! Assuming that this... person in the photos made the basilisk and lived, it's safe to say they knew how to counteract it.


> Those goggles, they seem to act as a filter, fracturing the images so they don't fully connect all at once.
> Maybe you can do something like that. Put on cracked goggles filled with water, anything that lets you see in fragments.

I doubt it's that simple. The goggles I have are made of pretty thin plastic that doesn't refract the light very much at all. Just filling them with water might distort the image but not shatter it the way these goggles seem to. That's probably beyond our means to recreate, unfortunately.

You know... The hand mirror did crack when it fell... Perhaps if we cracked it some more, it could be used to look at the anomaly. Though I'm not sure what good that would do us exactly. It's certainly not as good as these green goggles would be. Figuring out the shape and size of anything with an unbroken mirror is already kind of confusing. I imagine it only gets worse if it's all messed up.


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

That'll be my go-to for now.


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

That's because I did eventually take off the goggles and look at all of the pictures without them.
Silicon: It's definitely not because I found these pictures too hard to look at with the spraypaint effect applied and got rid of it.


> 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.

Maybe? Impossible to say without access to the stencils. And even then. How would one test that? Honestly, those stencils should probably be destroyed.
Oh God... Stencils imply this is repeatable. They could just make more basilisks if they wanted. They probably will!


> 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.

I suppose that's possible. He got a better look than anybody else and it just killed him instantly? Maybe!


> 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.

Yeah I get it, it is very strange to think about. A picture that kills is already very strange, but one can imagine such a process to be... physical in a way. But it also destroys cameras, which are just not the same thing as a person. What's the connection?


> 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.

The wall certainly didn't feel very damaged when I touched it. Mostly felt smooth, which I presume was because of the thick paint. And the other parts felt just like all the other walls. But maybe the damage is deeper?

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:51 No. 1118875 ID: be7ff9
File 176536390626.png - (419.91KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_B.png )

> Whoever that guy was, they're either a skilled artist or filled with processing power.

> 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...

Yeah that's what it is, isn't it?! A halo! That's weird! I doubt that's just some guy with a visual arts degree.


> I kindof want to keep this camera, so that we can give it to our superiors as evidence of a secondary target...

I wonder if these superiors actually care. I mean they might. They should! But well... Agent Gladii didn't seem terribly interested in figuring anything out beyond what the anomaly is and how it might be neutralized. The mission orders, as far as we can actually read them, only instruct us to neutralize. But maybe Gladii's attitude isn't indicative of the Agency as a whole. I really hope it isn't.

> 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.
> 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.

It's not that big a store. I didn't see any cameras in there and I honestly would be surprised if they stocked that sort of thing in the age of smartphone cameras. Even the cameras our culprit used weren't disposable per se. Just fairly cheap digital cameras.


> 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.

Oh yeah we do have that form. Hm... I don't have a pen. But surely such a thing can be found. Maybe if I search the bodies one more time. Otherwise, David should have one.

But what do I actually do with it once I've filled it in? I don't think Gladii ever explained how it works. Ugh I guess I'll have to bother them again.

Fera: "Gladii?"
Gladii: "hhKkhh.. Just... just kill the... hhhHHh damn thing already..."
Fera: "I will! but I uhm... i need to use the requisition form. How does it work?"
Gladii: "ghhhHhhk just... Just... hHHhhh f-finish... hhHHHgkhhh"

No help there.

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:52 No. 1118876 ID: be7ff9
File 176536392259.png - (437.15KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_C.png )

> 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.

> 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.

Yeah I think they might both not be terribly bright. The removal of evidence is suspicious. I'd certainly like to follow up on all this with Ms. "Goth-chick" at some later date. Maybe she didn't mean to kill him. But she must be connected to the actual killer.

> Oh, hey.
> He had mints in his pocket. Help yourself.
> Cant have too much deadguy on them.

No.

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:52 No. 1118877 ID: be7ff9
File 176536393967.png - (436.20KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_D.png )

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

...

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:52 No. 1118878 ID: be7ff9
File 176536395168.png - (428.66KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_E.png )

...

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:52 No. 1118879 ID: be7ff9
File 176536396133.png - (446.19KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_F.png )

...

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:52 No. 1118880 ID: be7ff9
File 176536397542.png - (345.03KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_G.png )

...

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:53 No. 1118881 ID: be7ff9
File 176536398433.png - (409.94KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_H.png )

...

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:53 No. 1118882 ID: be7ff9
File 176536399218.png - (263.94KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_I.png )

...

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:53 No. 1118883 ID: be7ff9
File 176536400214.png - (396.84KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_J.png )

Seriously?

I mean... I guess I could try. I uh...

Should I?

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:53 No. 1118884 ID: be7ff9
File 176536401452.png - (242.19KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_K.png )

Do I have to?

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:53 No. 1118885 ID: be7ff9
File 176536402897.png - (777.40KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_L.png )

Okay, it's probably important that I get a grip on how this stuff works. So I pick up Gladii's card again and take a deep breath before moving over to the awfully ripe corpse of the athletic guy. Breathing shallow breaths, I gently push the card against his chest. And... It sinks in!

My every muscle tenses up painfully when the dead man raises his head and begins to speak in a quiet, raspy voice.

: "This sucks, being back. I sampled the great void and now I'm jealous of the dead guy over there."
Gladii: "What the f- hhkggk-uck?!"
: "Shit, now I'm getting all reflective. I shouldn't have made music. Every song, every note, every tone? Stains on perfection. I spent my whole life on... fucking up a perfectly good silence."
Gladii: "What d- did you do?! HhHHhhhgghkkk... Hk..."
Fera: "Uuuhhh..."
: "I gotta be done with it. If I can't die and stay dead, maybe I need to... silence the universe."
Fera: "Okay, nope!!"

I yank the card out of him and his head slumps back down. He's silent. Still. It's as if nothing happened. Eerie!

I get upright and turn to move away and-

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:54 No. 1118886 ID: be7ff9
File 176536404068.png - (466.83KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_M.png )

Fera: "UaaAAAGH!"
Gladii: "... hhHhgh"
Fera: "Sorry, you startled me!"
Gladii: "hHhh Let me see that."

Gladii snatches the card from my hand and looks at it.

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:54 No. 1118887 ID: be7ff9
File 176536405119.png - (448.47KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_N.png )

Gladii: "Huh..."
Their tone is wistful and sad.
Gladii: "... Huh..."

When they hand the card back to me, they have re-assumed their flat affect, however.
Gladii: "If this represents what I think it does, -ghhHhkh- you haven't taken it from me entirely. It's... dulled."
Fera: "Thank you. That's... really useful information."

Before I remember why we agreed not to look at it, I've already turned the card over in my hand.

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:54 No. 1118888 ID: be7ff9
File 176536406468.png - (1.69MB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_O.png )

That's the Ten of Swords, by my count.
Odd. Given what David's card looked like, I would have expected this to depict Gladii. But that's a different suit and the hair's not the right colour

Fera: "What do you think it represents?"
Gladii: "Again, I'll not put ideas in your head about how your own practice works."
Fera: "But..."
Gladii: "And I think sorting out which part of that grisly display was me and which part was the dead man will be a valuable exercise."
Fera: "Of course you think that."

I carefully tuck the Ten of Swords in the inside pocket of my jacket.

Gladii: "You are hhHh... covered in blood, by the way."
Fera: "Yeah I know."

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:54 No. 1118889 ID: be7ff9
File 176536409344.png - (426.99KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_P.png )

Fera: "You uh... Seem to be doing a lot better all of a sudden."
Gladii: "I... lost my train of thought."
Fera: "And that helped?"
Gladii: "Evidently."
Fera: "What were you thinking about that whole time? The basilisk?!"
Gladii: "I felt compelled to reconstruct it in my mind. I still do... It's... I think it's coming back. hhHhgh..."
Fera: "Do you mean like a supernatural compulsion?"
Gladii: "Possibly."

Fera: "The talking dead guy really spooked you, huh?"
Gladii: "It was not the... necromancy alone that shocked me. It was the things he said."
Fera: "Why?"
Gladii: "At the peril of spoiling the aforementioned exercise... hHhh... I related to the sentiment. That is all I will say."

Fera: "So the Peanut Gallery has suggested I use the requisitons form to get some gear. But you never explained how it works."
Gladii: "Fill... hHhhh it in. Deposite it in a slot. ghhkk... Most any slot will do."
Fera: "And then?"
Gladii: "And then y- hKk 're done."
Fera: "Okay that sounds simple. But what do I actually write in there?"
Gladii: "Fill in the blank boxes. Leave the hatched ones empty. Requisition is a powerful tool if you know the... Ghhkhhh structures and words it responds to. But for now, I suggest you keep it simple. A list of items perhaps? hHhhh..."
Fera: "Okay, I'll think it over."
Gladii: "Just don't... waste too much time. Mngghhkkhh..."

Silicon 2025/12/10(Wed)10:55 No. 1118890 ID: be7ff9
File 176536410502.png - (572.90KB , 1500x1000 , C01_13_Q.png )

Agent Gladii retreats to the corner of the room and sits down. Their breathing grows more laboured again.
Meanwhile, I quickly go over the sheriff's body again. Lucky! He's got a pen in his breast pocket.

All right, Peanut Gallery, what's our next move?

Silicon: For convenience, here's the form again: >>1102577
What should we put on the requisition form? Maybe some cameras? I don't know if a 'Gladii-fully-healer' is too abstract, but I guess we could try it? What else?

Is there anything we want to ask Gladii about while they're responsive?

And I'm almost scared to ask but... Should we experiment with the cards some more? We have the Nine and Ten of Swords. So far we've tried the Nine on Gladii and the Ten on the dead athletic guy.

>ten of swords
Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, bitterness, loss. Considering what the corpse said, I'm guessing that Gladii feels bitter that they are not allowed to die, or are not allowed to stay "gone" since they keep being sent out on missions. They wish for silence but are denied it. It might be that there are no tarot cards close enough to what they feel, though, and that's not them on the card. "dulled" would mean... the feeling is more intense than the card signifies? Like a deep desire for death but being unable to die?
...huh, intrusive thought to take a listen to her earpiece, but that would be very rude. I'm thinking her own Peanut Gallery must be pretty negative...

>But it also destroys cameras, which are just not the same thing as a person. What's the connection?
Well, it also forms a supernatural compulsion for survivors of the attack to reform the basilisk in their minds. So it's supernatural. But just going "it's magic" is kindof boring, so... uh, what if the basilisk is "big"? Like, if you look at it, your brain tries to comprehend it, but it's too BIG so the sensory overload causes you to recoil from it violently. Cameras just burn up from too much "input", like if you tried to shine a laser through the lens and take a picture of that?

Anyway, ways to kill it with the tools we have right now: shooting it to blast off bits of the paint, scraping it with the crowbar, smashing the wall with the crowbar.

Breaking the mirror further to get a really fucked up reflection does sound like a neat idea for getting the gist of what the basilisk looks like.

As for the requisitions form:
Requisitioning Agent: Fera
Type: Equipment
Request:
Something to help Gladii recover from cognitohazard exposure
Enough paint thinner to clean a 6 foot by 6 foot area
A 6-inch wide paintbrush
Some cheap cameras

I'll amend that, instead of "enough paint thinner", specify a gallon bucket of it. Maybe two.

Also I guess you can try the other card on the sheriff's body. ...you could even try using cards on yourself, but you might not want to use the 10 that way, it's dangerous.

>>1118885
Well, that was terrifying on an immediate AND existential level.
Thankyou for your contribution to science.
Have you reconsidered the mints?

>>1118892
All good requisitions.
Dont forget the thicker goggles we can fracture and refract the image through. Actually, a thought...
Maybe a place like the agency would be into esotaria sufficiently to understand a request for fractal goggles. Except properly attuned or reinforced to purpose rather than those fun ones ravers and shroom heads use.

>>1118893
I... I really wanna know how fera
Reacts to a card selfinsertion but...
Until theres a safer spot, keep yourself in the control group fera.
Seeing what the other card does to our fabulous dead volunteer would be interesting...
Are the cards physical manifestation of souls, codified to be understood by fera or are they fragmentsnof the same. Traits that can be tweaked and altered like... spirit lego.
Ismitmpossiblento insert two cards or would one sort of... nudge the other out the other side.
Oh, hey.
What would happen if you,put one in an animal?
Wait, no, stop.
Im Getting lost in the weeds again.
We can play with dead bodies later fera.
Promise you.

>>1118892
I think Gladii meant that the feeling they have is dulled (by the removal of the card? I forget how we got that but infer we pulled it from Gladii), not that the feeling expressed by the body is a dulled representation of the one Gladii feels.

Hm. Perhaps the image 'expands'? A superposition of all possible configurations of the basilisk, simultaneously imposed on whatever data incurs it all at once. Anything that can't process data, like matter, absorbs the excess photons simultaneously, but anything that creates data from data is overwhelmed with the impulse of parallel processing - and nothing in this universe is prepared to perform infinite parallel processes.

Gladii, in contrast, is every possible incarnation of Gladii, which... mitigates it? I dunno.

Requisition a machine that destroys data in every universe.

>>1118892
Get infrared goggles, a where's waldo book (to purge Gladii's visual memory), a paint scraper, and some plaster to cover up the paint if we can't get it all off.

I think we're overthinking this a bit. This problem can be handled with several gallon buckets of black paint, a paint roller with a long handle (plus paint tray), and a pair of those horizontal glasses that show you a 90 degree view.

As long as you don't look up you're safe. So keeping your view of the floor, paint over the entire wall. Starting with the bottom half and work your way up.

You will also need about a dozen digital cameras for testing.

How long ago was the camera installed? Halo guy might come back to check on his work.

I think we could probably use the broken mirror to get a look at the basilisk, safely. As an extra precaution we could view the mirror through the live feed on a camera.
But I don't expect there to be anything special in the next room, let alone evidence painted on the walls. We're already down an agent, we should do the coverup and get out.

Our orders are to eliminate the anomaly, by means. Is the anomaly the paint job in the next room, halo guy, or the deadly nature of the image?

>>1118885

Gladii isn't a musician and he is. Was. So it probably was him. Possibly along with whatever... stresses you pulled out of Gladii? Nevertheless it is well known that the dead would like to stay dead, and you should only disturb them if you have a very good reason to do so.

I'd suggest you appreciate the silence, but well, Gladii's breathing... maybe you should destroy that painting right now, so the mission is complete and the Agency can uh... make Gladii stop being. Injured.

>>1118924
If we paint over it, then it'll still be there, behind the paint...

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:40 No. 1120666 ID: 004009
File 176994601624.png - (817.71KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_A.png )

> Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, bitterness, loss. Considering what the corpse said, I'm guessing that Gladii feels bitter that they are not allowed to die, or are not allowed to stay "gone" since they keep being sent out on missions. They wish for silence but are denied it. It might be that there are no tarot cards close enough to what they feel, though, and that's not them on the card. "dulled" would mean... the feeling is more intense than the card signifies? Like a deep desire for death but being unable to die?

Well that all seems to track. Gladii being bitter about some kind of deep betrayal or loss would explain a lot. But why would they be bitter about being immortal? That seems like a pretty sweet deal!

Who is that on the card anyway?

> I think Gladii meant that the feeling they have is dulled (by the removal of the card? I forget how we got that but infer we pulled it from Gladii), not that the feeling expressed by the body is a dulled representation of the one Gladii feels.

That was also how I understood it. Removing the card hasn't removed the feeling entirely. And yes, this card popped out of Gladii when they looked at the Basilisk. So why does it seem to depict someone else?

> Gladii isn't a musician and he is. Was. So it probably was him. Possibly along with whatever... stresses you pulled out of Gladii? Nevertheless it is well known that the dead would like to stay dead, and you should only disturb them if you have a very good reason to do so.

Well, Gladii did say they found the sentiment relatable.

It occurs to me that I can just ask about stuff now that Gladii is a bit more lucid again.

Fera: "Part of the Peanut Gallery suggests that the dead would rather stay dead. But I think the death wish is actually yours."
Gladii: "Very astute."
Fera: "But why? Why would you want to die?"
Gladii: "The dead do not necessarily want to stay dead. They don't want much of anything, really, being dead. hhHhhhh... Enviable, no?"
Fera: "... Is it?"
Gladii: "Give it time. You'll see. It's pointless to try and explain."
Fera: "Mmmngh. All right. What about the person on the card? Who is that?"
Gladii: "Me. In a hkhh... In a way."
Fera: "Doesn't really look like you."
Though honestly... not entirely different either. Suit and hair colour don't fit, but the build seems the same.
Gladii: "Perhaps there used to be more to me than you know."
Fera: "Thanks. Very cryptic."
Gladii: "I try. hHHhhh..."

> Also I guess you can try the other card on the sheriff's body. ...you could even try using cards on yourself, but you might not want to use the 10 that way, it's dangerous.

> I'd suggest you appreciate the silence, but well, Gladii's breathing... maybe you should destroy that painting right now, so the mission is complete and the Agency can uh... make Gladii stop being. Injured.

If you don't feel strongly about it, I'd rather not futz with the dead again. Maybe some other time?

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:40 No. 1120667 ID: 004009
File 176994602817.png - (964.05KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_B.png )

> ...huh, intrusive thought to take a listen to her earpiece, but that would be very rude. I'm thinking her own Peanut Gallery must be pretty negative...

Fera: "... Say, Gladii. Could I listen to your Peanut Gallery?"
Gladii: "Hghhhh... I don't think so. Why?"
Fera: "I'm curious."
Gladii: "Well if it'll curb your curiosity and contribute to... mnggh hhHh.. you moving on with the mission, by all means."
Fera: "Really? You're sure?"
Gladii: "hhHhhh... It's not going to work, Fera. Other agents have tried it before."

They hold the earpiece out to me.

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:40 No. 1120668 ID: 004009
File 176994604055.png - (949.48KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_C.png )

I settle in against the wall next to Agent Gladii and pick up their earpiece. I hold it to my ear and...

> Eripe nos ab existentia!

> The Newbie sure is inquisitive.
> Stop sitting around! Do something!
> Apathia letum est!
> Murderer!
> Eripe nos ab existentia!
> This is Balor's doing. It has to be Balor, right? It's got his fingerprints all over it!
> Apathia letum est!
> Hello? Why am I still here?
> It fits. The Media are involved. It's a picture.
> What's the point? We're speaking to the void.
> Eripe nos ab existentia!
> For heaven's sake! Fera is the one person that has no reason to hate us and you're already fucking it up with fer.
> I don't understand. It was supposed to be over.
> You couldn't even get that part right. Absolutely comprehensive failure.
> Apathia letum est!
> No way out. No way out.

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:40 No. 1120669 ID: 004009
File 176994605639.png - (950.30KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_D.png )

I... I can hear them...

> Eripe nos ab existentia!
> When are you gonna stop rolling over and seize it all by the throat?!
> Wait what?
> One hand in the hair of the world. The other holding the blade. Cutting. Its. Throat!
> Yes, good. More murder. Awesome.
> No wait shut up! The little weirdo can hear us!
> Eripe nos ab existentia!
> Rude!
> Impossible.

Hello?

> !!!
> How?!
> Quickly now! Say something useful!
> Beware the Media of the Collective! The Eye!
> I said useful!
> Eripe nos ab existentia! A mundo!
> Do not trust the Agency.
> Easy now.
> Gladii rarely lies. But their greatest talent is being wrong.
> Eheu.
> Tell Cal we're sorry. Gladii never will.
> We're not sorry!
> Gladii is a lost cause!
> Why do you seem so familiar? Who are you?
> Please. Be kind to Gladii.
> They do not deserve it!
> Murderer!
> Even so.
> They ruined everything!

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:41 No. 1120670 ID: 004009
File 176994606996.png - (974.15KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_E.png )

Gladii is looking at me. I think they're... realizing what's happening.

> Okay Fuck! Gladii is a load-bearing pillar of the universe The Sole Survivor There is no end for us the Sword is Gladii is the Sword and it cuts the future
> Tell them I'm sorry.
> Tell them to stop moping!

They're reaching over.

> Aaah uuhh Gemini half Sinisterum Dexterum the one on the card Gladii Virgae Pentacula Calices Fera
> The Two of Swords
> Tell them I'm sorry.

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:41 No. 1120671 ID: 004009
File 176994608633.png - (0.96MB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_F.png )

And they rip the earpiece away from me.

Gladii: "All right, that's- hkghk... enough of that."
Fera: "I think they wanted to tell me something important!"
Gladii: "Forget it. I don't know how you did that, but hhHhh... that's the last of it."
Fera: "They wanted me to tell y-"
Gladii: " Ghkrkh! Keep it to yourself! If I wanted to hear what they have to say, I would."
Fera: "But-"
Gladii: "Do your damn job, F- hhhkgh- Fera!"

That was intense!

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:41 No. 1120672 ID: 004009
File 176994610031.png - (746.65KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_G.png )

> Well, it also forms a supernatural compulsion for survivors of the attack to reform the basilisk in their minds. So it's supernatural. But just going "it's magic" is kindof boring, so... uh, what if the basilisk is "big"? Like, if you look at it, your brain tries to comprehend it, but it's too BIG so the sensory overload causes you to recoil from it violently. Cameras just burn up from too much "input", like if you tried to shine a laser through the lens and take a picture of that?

What a strange idea of a picture that is too big for your brain but still somehow fits on a wall in a pretty small room.

> Hm. Perhaps the image 'expands'? A superposition of all possible configurations of the basilisk, simultaneously imposed on whatever data incurs it all at once. Anything that can't process data, like matter, absorbs the excess photons simultaneously, but anything that creates data from data is overwhelmed with the impulse of parallel processing - and nothing in this universe is prepared to perform infinite parallel processes.
> Gladii, in contrast, is every possible incarnation of Gladii, which... mitigates it? I dunno.

I guess that would make it big in a way that it still fits on the wall. But also I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say at all. Wish we could just ask the artist, right?

> How long ago was the camera installed? Halo guy might come back to check on his work.

Uuuhm... let's see maybe the camera can help... I fiddle with the buttons and I find something called meta-data aaaaand... The difference between the first picture and the final picture is is about 4 days and six hours.

> Breaking the mirror further to get a really fucked up reflection does sound like a neat idea for getting the gist of what the basilisk looks like.

> I think we could probably use the broken mirror to get a look at the basilisk, safely. As an extra precaution we could view the mirror through the live feed on a camera.
> But I don't expect there to be anything special in the next room, let alone evidence painted on the walls. We're already down an agent, we should do the coverup and get out.

While I am a bit curious, I also lean heavily towards never actually looking at this thing.

> Our orders are to eliminate the anomaly, by means. Is the anomaly the paint job in the next room, halo guy, or the deadly nature of the image?.

That's a good question. Let's see what Gladii thinks.

Fera: "Gladii-"
Gladii: "No."
Fera: "I swear this is mission critical."
Gladii: "Ugh hhghhh... Fine."
Fera: "What exactly is the anomaly? Is it the picture? Its deadly nature? Or is it the painter?"
Gladii: "What makes you think there's a p- hhghkkgh... a painter?"
Fera: "Oh the uh... The camera. They installed it before they went to work. And it caught them."
Gladii: "... hhHhhh... I see."
Fera: "So?"
Gladii: "So hHhh... it's not him. The painter I mean. The Agency term for that sort of thing is usually 'Person of Interest' or somesuch. hhHhhkkh... Between the other two... Does it matter? Destroy the picture and its deadly nature will be destroyed with it."
Fera: "You're sure??"
Gladii: "Educated... ghhhkkhhh guess."

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:41 No. 1120673 ID: 004009
File 176994611791.png - (907.50KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_H.png )

> I think we're overthinking this a bit. This problem can be handled with several gallon buckets of black paint, a paint roller with a long handle (plus paint tray), and a pair of those horizontal glasses that show you a 90 degree view.
> As long as you don't look up you're safe. So keeping your view of the floor, paint over the entire wall. Starting with the bottom half and work your way up.

Hey that's actually a really smart way of going about it! Let's try that!

> If we paint over it, then it'll still be there, behind the paint...

Hmm that is a good point.

> As for the requisitions form:
> Requisitioning Agent: Fera
> Type: Equipment
> Request:
> Something to help Gladii recover from cognitohazard exposure
> Enough paint thinner to clean a 6 foot by 6 foot area
> A 6-inch wide paintbrush
> Some cheap cameras

> I'll amend that, instead of "enough paint thinner", specify a gallon bucket of it. Maybe two.

You know what? I'm sure I can also apply paint thinner with a paint roller, so this is perhaps a good combination. And if the paint thinner doesn't work I can maybe wash it off and paint over the thing afterwards, right?

> You will also need about a dozen digital cameras for testing.

> All good requisitions.
> Dont forget the thicker goggles we can fracture and refract the image through. Actually, a thought...
> Maybe a place like the agency would be into esotaria sufficiently to understand a request for fractal goggles. Except properly attuned or reinforced to purpose rather than those fun ones ravers and shroom heads use.

> Requisition a machine that destroys data in every universe.

> Get infrared goggles, a where's waldo book (to purge Gladii's visual memory), a paint scraper, and some plaster to cover up the paint if we can't get it all off.

Okay, okay, I think I got everything. I hope this isn't too much at once...

Now... a slot... hmm... I look about the basement, but nothing jumps out at me. But surely the gas station has somewhere I can 'mail' this.

Fera: "I'll go send the requisition form. Will be back asap."
Gladii: "Gghhkk Good."

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:42 No. 1120674 ID: 004009
File 176994613058.png - (251.80KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_I.png )

The gas station doesn't seem to have a mail slot. Well. On a whim I try sliding the folded document under the door. And when I open the door... it's gone.

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:42 No. 1120675 ID: 004009
File 176994614043.png - (268.38KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_J.png )

I guess that worked! I wonder how long it's gonna take for the uh the stuff to- Oh.

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:42 No. 1120676 ID: 004009
File 176994614736.png - (789.27KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_K.png )

There are two documents here. The first is... Ah the requisition form again. Hmm. Seems we didn't get everything and-
What the- A gun? How's that supposed to help Gladii?

I check the other document.
...
What does that even mean?

... Okay I guess it's time to see if I can move all this stuff to the bunker.

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:42 No. 1120677 ID: 004009
File 176994615994.png - (668.51KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_L.png )

Gladii: "HhhHHhhhkkh gkhrghh??"
Fera: "Here. This should keep you occupied."

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:42 No. 1120678 ID: 004009
File 176994616981.png - (452.42KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_M.png )

While Gladii gets started on their picture puzzles, I try one of the cameras.

ka-chk

Works just fine. I point it around the corner at the basilisk and snap a picture.

ka-chrrzzzt

Smoke billows up from the camera. Yup. It kills cameras. Bizarre.

Silicon 2026/02/01(Sun)11:42 No. 1120679 ID: 004009
File 176994617825.png - (673.94KB , 1500x1000 , C01_14_N.png )

I take the paint roller and the 90-degree goggles and paint thinner to the next room and apply a generous coating of the stuff to the basilisk.
Oh this is so handy, being able to see the floor and the bucket as I work.

Wow I'm feeling a bit woozy after doing that.

A-anyway, what do we do while the paint thinner gets to work on the basilisk?

Question
Your
Sexuality!

Start counting to one thousand.

I hadn't thought about it before, but you should probably get out of there. The paint thinner fumes are either going to make you loopy, or pass out completely. You should also extract Gladii--it's not clear whether passing out would cure basilisk exposure, but it would be disadvantageous to lose an agent. (In case Mr. Painter guy shows up.)

Also, I would advise against using the Gladii-full-healer, since 'recovery' might mean they are rendered non-existent until the next mission, and you don't know how to end the mission and return to non-existence yourself.

Finally, it appears someone has tampered with the requisition form. I don't speak German, but I can guess a "splittergranate" is not something you want to use in an enclosed space.

>>1120670
Ohhh wow that's a lot.
The TWO of swords. There's two of Gladii. Or, used to be? Left hand and right hand. What we saw on the card was their other "hand". Also that one voice in the Gallery listed out all the suits, with "Fera" as the last one... which is interesting since that voice was also using latin and Fera in Latin is Beast. So I think we can conclusively state that's what your name means. That word... can be interpreted in many ways. Why is its symbol a spiral though? Or maybe that's just your curly hair.
"Eripe nos ab existentia! A mundo!" translates to "Rescue us from existence! The world!". It seems even Gladii's Peanut Gallery wishes for death. Also apparently they had some sort of plan and Gladii screwed it up which resulted in their current state. Gladii tried to kill the universe, but the act somehow got them tied into the very nature of the universe itself...

...your hair color changed while you had the earpiece in. It was a lighter shade of pink, close to Gladii's skin color. ...I just realized, Gladii has a skin color, but everyone else we've seen appears to have white skin! Does that mean anything...?

>>1120676
Someone tried to sabotage your requisitions by putting what seems like a bomb on the list... that means there's a double agent in the Agency? Good thing whoever's in charge of authorization has some sense. Ask Gladii what the item was, since we can't know for sure.
>gun to heal Gladii
Uh, but Gladii can't die? What good is that? ...unless, shooting Gladii right now would change them into their other "hand"? Ask them what would happen if you used the gun on them.

>>1120679
Be wary of the fumes. Close everything up and exit the room so you're nearer the ladder and thus the supply of air.

aw damn, we should have asked for a mask, probably a big fan too. Get out of the room before you pass out, fall down, and get an eyeful of bask.

Don't pester Gladii anymore, but just rest in the hall. If she wants to talk be ready to listen.

Huh.
Her peanut gallery are far less horny than yours fera.
I dont know what this means about you or her or your respective subconciouses but, bears thinking about.
>>1120679
Aw, dammit.
No raver goggles.
I guess the agency is having a secret party without you.

Hmn. That other paper and the gun.
I... i think it might be the agency solution to her injuries.
The document see...
Are they implying gladi cant die?
Or that she dies but it doesnt take?
And they use it as a reset button on her?
Thats what it seems like and i dont like at all.
Lets find reasons not to shoot our buddy, huh?
Oh hey, you missed a bit. Use more paint thinner. View the chemical inhalation as a perk ofmthe job.

>>1120676
Gladii's character sheet lists their physical stats as "construct" stats.
And they implied that the Ten of Swords card is really them, even though it looks totally different...
Does it mean that they look different whenever they manifest? Will you look different the next time you manifest?
I like your current look, but I'm sure the new you will be just as pretty!

But then, they have a "true" height and weight listed where all their other stats are "n/a". So Gladii has a real body that's smaller and much lighter than their human body, but has no skin, hair, eyes, or blood. Could it be that they really are a sword?

Oh, but don't ask this out loud. Gladii doesn't like us prying into their secrets and they're already having a bad time.

>>1120843
>Her peanut gallery are far less horny than yours fera.
Do you think that's part of why Gladii has such an unhappy outlook on life? Their operating buddies are always giving them grief, but we like to show our agents a good time.

Hey Fera, after this assignment is done, what would you like to do for fun? Have some nice food? Go for a joyride? Maybe figure out some things about your body?

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:25 No. 1123308 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323555110.png - (642.15KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_A.png )

> Aw, dammit.
> No raver goggles.
> I guess the agency is having a secret party without you.

So rude.

> Oh hey, you missed a bit. Use more paint thinner. View the chemical inhalation as a perk ofmthe job.

Really wondering if part of you is actually trying to kill me or if it's just jokes. I'm gonna go with the latter. And hope.

> Be wary of the fumes. Close everything up and exit the room so you're nearer the ladder and thus the supply of air.

> aw damn, we should have asked for a mask, probably a big fan too. Get out of the room before you pass out, fall down, and get an eyeful of bask.

Okay. I put the lid back on the bucket with the paint thinner and leave the room. I take a few deep breaths by the ladder. Hopefully that'll help.
Agent Gladii has opened the book and is apparently working on a puzzle.

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:26 No. 1123309 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323556075.png - (642.68KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_B.png )

> I hadn't thought about it before, but you should probably get out of there. The paint thinner fumes are either going to make you loopy, or pass out completely. You should also extract Gladii--it's not clear whether passing out would cure basilisk exposure, but it would be disadvantageous to lose an agent. (In case Mr. Painter guy shows up.)

Fera: "The air's getting pretty bad in here. Let's get you up the ladder, Agent Gladii."

Agent Gladii doesn't look up.

Gladii: "Please hhgkk leave me be, Agent Fera. We're so close to done here. hhHhhh"
Fera: "What if you pass out?"
Gladii: "Then I hhhgh pass out. Who cares?"

I sigh.
There's no way I can do this without their cooperation.

Okay what now?

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:26 No. 1123310 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323556996.png - (794.89KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_C.png )

> Start counting to one thousand.

To... measure the time it takes for the paint to dissolve? Is that what this is about? I'll consider it for later.

> Huh.
> Her peanut gallery are far less horny than yours fera.
> I dont know what this means about you or her or your respective subconciouses but, bears thinking about.

You all don't strike me as all that horny. I mean there was that one bit in front of the gas station, I guess.
I don't have much in the way of comparison. But I suppose you're right that out of everybody whose Peanut Gallery I've been privy to, I'm the horny one.

> Question
> Your
> Sexuality!

What's there to question? Do I even have one? I haven't actually met a lot of people to be potentially attracted to. But I guess I can think about it for a bit? Let's see.
Gladii's attractive, I guess. Looked very cool until I wrapped them up in gauze, nice voice. Kinda grating personality though.
David is... cute? Likeable. Strikes me as kind. Could be something there.

And that's everybody I've met. I've seen other people of course but I'd rather not evaluate the dead guys. Yuck!

That goth... woman... is also cute? I guess? She seems to be a complete disaster, which is... endearing?
And the mysterious painter, well... I haven't really seen much of them. They're compelling. But not in a sexy way, I don't think. Also there's that whole murder thing.

Is that everybody?
Oh wait.
Me.
Yeah I saw myself in the bathroom mirror earlier and let's not kid ourselves. I'm a smokeshow. And also adorable.

Conclusion: ... I have no idea.

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:26 No. 1123311 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323557911.png - (331.63KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_D.png )

> Ohhh wow that's a lot.
> The TWO of swords. There's two of Gladii. Or, used to be? Left hand and right hand. What we saw on the card was their other "hand".

Oh interesting. They did say "Maybe there used to be more of me" or something like that. Maybe they lost their other hand? Not sure what exactly that means, but I think we're on to something.
Not sure it matters, but I do wonder which hand was lost...

> Also that one voice in the Gallery listed out all the suits, with "Fera" as the last one... which is interesting since that voice was also using latin and Fera in Latin is Beast. So I think we can conclusively state that's what your name means. That word... can be interpreted in many ways. Why is its symbol a spiral though? Or maybe that's just your curly hair.

One of you suggested it might be a crystal ball earlier? I have no clue.
But okay, we know Gladii is swords. They also said earlier that Calices means cups. Pentacula is clearly pentacles. So by process of elimination Virgae must be wands.
It seems I'm the odd one out.

> "Eripe nos ab existentia! A mundo!" translates to "Rescue us from existence! The world!". It seems even Gladii's Peanut Gallery wishes for death. Also apparently they had some sort of plan and Gladii screwed it up which resulted in their current state. Gladii tried to kill the universe, but the act somehow got them tied into the very nature of the universe itself...

I... Okay I mean I definitely see the conclusion that Gladii has problems with the world, but... They tried to kill the universe? Is such a thing even possible?
That comment about uh... cutting the throat of the world was pretty graphic, I agree. I wonder, though. I don't do everything you guys tell me. Maybe that's just something they want to do?
In either case that's... That's worrisome.

> ...your hair color changed while you had the earpiece in. It was a lighter shade of pink, close to Gladii's skin color.

Hmm the colour thing again. I need to pay more attention to that. Really wonder what that could mean.

> ...I just realized, Gladii has a skin color, but everyone else we've seen appears to have white skin! Does that mean anything...?

Well I have a skin colour. It's just... Pretty light?

OOC: *Sweats in Quest Author who mostly interacts with white people IRL*
OOC: Please don't read too much into this. I accidentally frontloaded this cast with white people. My bad.

> Gladii's character sheet lists their physical stats as "construct" stats.

> But then, they have a "true" height and weight listed where all their other stats are "n/a". So Gladii has a real body that's smaller and much lighter than their human body, but has no skin, hair, eyes, or blood. Could it be that they really are a sword?

I was wondering about that... Yeah I think you got it. That height and weight seem like they might be right for the sword. That's so strange!

And now that I'm looking at it again, it lists Gladii's complexion as light brown instead of pink. Weird. And who knows what's up with the eye colour part?

> And they implied that the Ten of Swords card is really them, even though it looks totally different...
> Does it mean that they look different whenever they manifest? Will you look different the next time you manifest?
> I like your current look, but I'm sure the new you will be just as pretty!

I suppose that would be a possible alternative explanation. We'll see when it happens, I guess. If it happens.

> Don't pester Gladii anymore, but just rest in the hall. If she wants to talk be ready to listen.

> Oh, but don't ask this out loud. Gladii doesn't like us prying into their secrets and they're already having a bad time.

Awww but I have so many questions!
Fine. I'll give them a break. I guess I shouldn't push it.
Only important questions from now on.

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:26 No. 1123312 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323559269.png - (767.39KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_E.png )

> Also, I would advise against using the Gladii-full-healer, since 'recovery' might mean they are rendered non-existent until the next mission, and you don't know how to end the mission and return to non-existence yourself.

Yeah even if that worked, I'm not gonna do that! That's messed up! I'm not gonna shoot Gladii! That the Agency suggests this as a solution makes very uncomfortable. What kind of operation is this??

> Hmn. That other paper and the gun.
> I... i think it might be the agency solution to her injuries.
> The document see...
> Are they implying gladi cant die?
> Or that she dies but it doesnt take?
> And they use it as a reset button on her?
> Thats what it seems like and i dont like at all.
> Lets find reasons not to shoot our buddy, huh?

> gun to heal Gladii
> Uh, but Gladii can't die? What good is that? ...unless, shooting Gladii right now would change them into their other "hand"? Ask them what would happen if you used the gun on them.

This strikes me as important enough to maybe pester Gladii just a little. Surely this isn't a secret or anything.

Fera: "I requisitioned something to help you and the Agency sent us a gun."
Gladii: "Eeehhhhggkkhh Of course."
Fera: "I'm not gonna shoot you. But... If I did, what would happen?"
Gladii: "This body would die. The Agency would nngghh... reset me. That's how it operates."
Fera: "Huh... And if I died?"
Gladii: "The same, but- hhghh... Do not get careless. Sometimes the reset fffhgh- fails."
Fera: "Retrieval failure."

They look up from the book, eye narrowed.

Gladii: "Indeed. How did you know?"

Uuuuhhh, if I tell them about the document they'll probably be upset.

Fera: "Lucky guess?"
Gladii: "Mhmm..."

I don't think they bought that. They return their attention to the book anyway.

Gladii: "In any case, as I said: It hhHhhhh never sticks for me. You be careful, though."
Fera: "I will."
Gladii: "Good."

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:26 No. 1123313 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323560247.png - (740.24KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_F.png )

> Finally, it appears someone has tampered with the requisition form. I don't speak German, but I can guess a "splittergranate" is not something you want to use in an enclosed space.

> Someone tried to sabotage your requisitions by putting what seems like a bomb on the list... that means there's a double agent in the Agency? Good thing whoever's in charge of authorization has some sense. Ask Gladii what the item was, since we can't know for sure.

Wait huh? Hang on.
I look at the requisition form again.
Holy shit, you're right! Okay, that's definitely important!

Fera: "Gladii, look at this!"

They seem annoyed but they look at the form wordlessly. Perhaps they recognise the alarm in my voice.
I point at the extra line.

Gladii: "..."
Fera: "I didn't write that! I don't even know any German! What does it mean?"
Gladii: "One fragmentation grenade, pin pulled."

Oh that's bad.

Fera: "I did not write that."
Gladii: "I believe you, but... Who did?"
Fera: "I don't know. I didn't leave it out of my sight for even a moment between filling it in and sliding it under the gas station door!"
Gladii: "hhHhhh... That's not possible."
Fera: "There wasn't anybody inside the gas station either. I mean aside from David, who was asleep."
Gladii: "I have no explanation. hhgghkk That is very troubling."

I'll say!

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:26 No. 1123314 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323561037.png - (695.17KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_G.png )

After a few moments of silence, Gladii returns their attention to the book.
I sit. And I wait for Gladii to speak, in case they have anything to say.

I start counting to one thousand.

Gladii turns a handful of pages in the meantime, but doesn't say anything.
By the time I reach one thousand, I definitely feel less dizzy, so that's good.

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:27 No. 1123315 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323562080.png - (650.43KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_H.png )

I get up and head back to the other room with the angle goggles. Time to take another picture.

ka-chrrzzzt

Back to work I guess.
I give the wall another treatment of paint thinner with the roller and I find that the roller comes away distinctly orange. I keep going.

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:28 No. 1123317 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323569665.gif - (1.93MB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_I.gif )

When I start getting vertigo again, I set down the roller, close the paint thinner bucket and leave the room. And I take another picture.

ka-chrrk

Huh. Another?

ka-chrrk

The camera isn't dead! Does that mean we're done?
What's the best way to make sure?

Well, I can try the trick from before. I hide the camera's screen with the note and switch the camera to photo viewing mode. Then I slowly slide the note off the screen.

At no point do I feel anything bad except a slight nervousness. And finally. The full image is revealed.

That doesn't really look like anything to me.

Silicon 2026/03/11(Wed)13:34 No. 1123320 ID: 6d3a6d
File 177323608102.png - (708.28KB , 1500x1000 , C01_15_J.png )

Fera: "I think that did it. I have successfully taken a photo of the basilisk and the image didn't hurt me."

Gladii closes the book and sets it aside. The grip the sword's sheath tightly.

Gladii: "Good. Hhhggk.. Ack. I believe direct visual confirmation will complete the mission. I will..."

They attempt to rise to their feet, leaning heavily on the sword, but they don't get far.

Gladii: "Rrggh hhHhh... Damn it! Help me up, will you? I will have another look around the corner and bring this to an end."

Gladii raises their right arm towards me.

They really want to do this themself, huh? Get up and go look even though they can barely stand at all. Should I really be enabling this?

Gladii has agency, and also can’t die. If she really wants to check herself, she can. I feel like it wouldn’t be right to not object though! Mention her condition, make sure she’s SURE she wants to chance looking at it again. Possibly offer to look yourself instead? But if she says yes, so be it. We’ve probably rendered it harmless anyways, but it *is* good to have a person check, so if she insists, at least it’ll be productive.

Ok so. You slotted the requisition form into the gas station called the German word for gas station and the form was edited to include (in german) a object that would've killed you if it was sent to you.

Keep in mind that both the environment and the people in the environment give no indication that you are currently IN germany...

I think that gas station might be anomalous.

>>1123328
This... is a fair point. Last time i checked Germany doesn't have a desert.

>>1123320
Okay, we can confirm that you enjoy the way you look. Congrats! And also that our connection to the Agency is being sabotaged somehow. That gives us even more of a reason not to put your nice body at risk, which means act with extreme caution.

Fera, you're the lead agent on this case, and as the lead agent, I advise that you overrule your partner's self-destructive habits. Gladii will continue to rest. You will apply an extra round of paint thinner for good measure, and when that's done with, observe the anomaly yourself to confirm its neutralization.

Also, since our own Agency is behaving strangely, we should mention to Gladii that we got their "Agent Dossier" when we used the requisition form, even though we didn't ask for it. They won't be happy about it, but they have a right to know.

While we're waiting out the paint thinner one more time... like I said earlier, can you think of anything you'd like to do for fun after the mission?

>>1123320
Before we end the mission... ask to look at the sword unsheathed. Just curious.
But yeah you two can go look at the disabled anomaly together.

>>1123313
Different ink colours so no one hijacked your unconscious and autowrote it onto the list.
I dont know if thats a thing, but im a voice in your head so it might be.
Anyway.
The other note was also in german. The one with the symbols.

>>1123320
Shes your friend.
Tell her its dumb, but still help her to do it.
I mean, youve got to help her out of gere anyway so youre picking her up...
Need to Show you value her choices as much as her safety if youre gonna get along.
Besides, tell me you dont think she'll just try to do it anyway even without your help. You know she will

>>1123338
>The other note was also in german. The one with the symbols.
Your right! I completely missed that and just assumed the words shown to us in our interface were words Fera was seeing and understanding.
But if that's not the case then does that mean you couldn't read that note Fera and only saw the symbols? You didn't really mention anything about the note besides the symbols afterall.

Either way. I think the gas station may have SOME connection to this group.

...ah, it's probably that speech is automatically translated for the Agents, but writing is not. We're in Germany.

That suggests that somehow, someone from here intercepted the note and wrote the grenade request on it before it arrived at the Agency. Which, yeah, should be impossible... I wonder if there's a rival Agency? Or a rival group with similar capabilities at least. Gladii's peanut gallery implied as much.

Its hard to know how to help Gladii with they're going through. So best to show respect. Help her up, if she wants to do this then so be it.

Hopefully your next case will be a little less stop and go. You succeeded in this one, so they'll surely send you on another, for better or worse.