So I'm sure anyone who knows more about our foe than us will think we're complete idiots for this but The Last Rites guys neglected to inform either of us of his connection to religion. I mean yeah we could have made the connection ourselves what with it being called The Archangel and being connected with death and the afterlife and stuff but we weren't thinking of stuff like that.
So we were tired and hungry and trying to get through some random town when we're stopped by a priest. He tells us "Ah my children you look so distraught! Come with me we'll get you some food and a place to rest."
As far as we knew we had no reason not to trust him so we went with him.
He brought us to a rather large church. The sign above the door just said "The Holy Father's Church of Eternal Rest." The sign on the front lawn said "ETA" and then assorted news items and scheduled events. Inside, the atmosphere was kind of hushed and depressed. I figured this might be one of the more apocalyptic churches. You know those really serious ones that you hear about all the time talking about how the world is ending soon and we all need to repent.
Oh the church was aesthetically just like all other churches except I couldn't get over the idea there was something missing...
Anyways so we were brought inside and then we were separated. A bunch of nuns came and took Kycilia away while the priest led me away to a small set of rooms. I was given a small cot like bed and some food. I ate quickly than drifted off to sleep. I don't know how long I slept exactly.
I woke up to the sound of hushed voices and a humanoid shape leaning over me his hand hovering near my waist. My first thought was that I had been about to be molested my second thought was that he had been trying to take my gun. I shoved him away and pulled my gun out, aimed it at him and turned off the safety. He didn't seem afraid or even startled and then I noticed two other silhouettes. They were both holding black candles which somehow seemed to turn them into dark silhouettes in the light as opposed to illuminate them. They both seemed to be wearing red robes with hoods and so did the man I had pushed away. It was at this point that I noticed two things. I noticed what had been missing earlier. The entire church was devoid of crosses. The other thing I had noticed was that the man I had pushed had a symbol on his robe. I had never seen the symbol before only had it described but I could recognize it for what it was. The Twin Triangles. The Symbol of The Archangel.
This is going to sound horrible possibly but I didn't wait for them to speak. I shot the first one then the other two as quick as I could. I then rushed out shot that fucking priest who had lured us here, He was standing on the pulpit reading from a book I'm willing to bet was not The Holy Bible.
I then went after Kycilia heading through the doors the "nuns" had taken her through.
This turned out to be a bathhouse of sorts and I was instantly met with a number of women in varying states of dress. I aimed my gun which thankfully seemed to hold them at bay since I'm not sure I would have been able to shoot if they had forced me too.
I asked them where Kycilia was and one of them pointed at a door. I went to the door keeping an eye on the women as I headed to it. As I reached the door I heard a gunshot... Followed by quite a few more.
I burst in and found Kycilia. She was standing, naked and dripping wet. There was a drawn bath near her and lots of water on the floor. There was also a body. It was clutching a knife loosely in it's hand and it's face had been shot so many times that it was entirely unrecognizable. She turned to me and dropped the gun then dropped herself. I attempted to rush forward and catch her as she fell but instead managed to slip on the wet floor and careen into her knocking us both against the tub and getting us tangled together.
Not the smoothest move ever I admit. After that I grabbed her soaked clothes and helped her get dressed. She didn't speak at all. She seemed shocked... I guess this is the first time she ever killed a person. I mean she killed her son but that wasn't really a person and she knew it.
Actually this is the first time I've killed anyone... I'm not sure how I feel... Giddy is probably the best description... Is there something wrong with me?
Anyways we headed back out. The women were watching us. I lifted my gun to threaten them but Kycilia lifted hers first and fired. One of the women went down. They seemed shocked and merely stared at Kycilia in surprise. She was about to shoot another one but I stopped her and dragged her to the door and out into the main chapel area.
We went towards the doors when suddenly there was a terrifying howl and all the windows shattered. A bright light seared my eyes and an overwhelming pressure pushed me down to my knees. Through my watering eyes I could see Kycilia bowing as well. However I also saw her struggling to pull her gun up. There was a gunshot and I fell flat onto the ground.
For a good five seconds I thought I had been shot then I realized I was still alive and I could stand. I stood and Kycilia was lying on the ground. The light was gone. I helped Kycilia up and headed outside. There was a car outside and there was a key in the ignition.
Probably stupid but we stole the car and drove off as fast as possible.
I'm driving now Kycilia still seems to be in shock.
At least she's still not speaking or responding to my questions.
Shooting them doesn't sound horrible it sounds *smart*, except for the part where it's loud and draws cops. Never ever trust what looks like a Christian church but lacks crosses. Or any other religious institution that lacks the proper symbol set for the religion it's supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if your companion suddenly begins to repeat everything you say, shoot her. If she does that it wasn't water she was in. http://scribesigma.blogspot.com/2011/06/pre14-ichor.html
Why the hell Archangel cultists would be making Camper I have no clue. Are you sure the signs said ETA and not EAT?
Yeah it said ETA.
ReplyDeleteAlso I read that link... So there are more monsters out there? Somehow this does not surprise me... Hopefully we won't be running into any of the other things. One is enough for me.
Kycilia seems normal though just a little shocked. Unfortunately the link you gave doesn't seem to have a detailed post about these camper so other than her repeating what I say is there any other way I could tell?
The Camper is constantly evolving as is the Ink used to create new Camper. The information I gathered here may be partly out of date (for example I'm not seeing nearly as many known Camper who display the symptom of constant dampness as I used to. It must have evolved out of the local strain). The stages should still be accurate though. http://the-most-dangerous-game.blogspot.com/2012/01/lets-go-camping.html
ReplyDeleteAnd it should be noted that my theory about purging Ink from ones system with a diuretic is not only untested but only applies to pre-stage 1 infections. While it may be effective during the obsessive stage once all liquids have been replaced you're not getting the Ink out short of turning them into jerky.
Also stage 10 Camper have been encountered since I made that post. Gross mutation was observed in known stage 10 Camper but I see no reason they could not also evolve more subtle mutations that while useful to them would go undetected.
Related more to the being you're fleeing from, since the folks you're joining don't seem to have put you through orientation yet I should probably provide the information I have on the Timberwolves, a gang/cult devoted to the Archangel. http://the-most-dangerous-game.blogspot.com/2012/03/archies-puppies-timberwolves.html