Rectors:
227.819.M41 - My Burden has opened the hole in the ground, widened it enough for a human to pass through. As they reach the bottom of their rope, they are attacked by gloomhaunts. The bat-like creatures latch onto their heads. My Burdens killed three of them, signalling to the others that they best look elsewhere for prey.
Beyond the dead creatures, they find water pooling in the dips and crevasses. Searching for any clues, they discover a rusty spoon at a fork in the tunnels. Taking the descending tunnel, they find a collection of worn and rotting bunk beds surrounded by miscellaneous cooking tools and a large improvised fire pit. In the ashes of the pit are the remains of a dataslate. Garvel tries to coax it back to functionality, but is unable. The second tunnel ascends upward to daylight. The hole is covered in debris, which they remove. Exploring the area, they once again find the old foundation of the outbuilding.
Descending again into the tunnel they return to where they had climbed in and move past it. My Burdens uncover a cavern filled with desks and some vials, possibly a laboratory, though it has been cleared out in a hurry. Beyond this, there is a larger cavern where they found one lone mutant. Without even speaking to it they shot it such that it's head exploded like a melon under a sledgehammer. This room houses a broken vox and the remains of many grox, their bones poking out of another pile of ash. This fire was covering a circle carved into the rock. A symbol with eight lines radiating out of the center where a smaller symbol sits of three circles in front of three points. It is likely some sort of ritualistic circle.
Kaltos informs Abdelus about the existence of the cave and explains that it is under control, the rancher should return to his work. Unsure if the cultists are going to return, my Burdens plan to set up an ambush outside the entrance, hiding in the tall prairie grass.
228.819.M41 - At night, while they wait in the tall grass, a shuttle lands just outside the ranch. Abdelus calls for help over the microbead. My Burdens quickly move in on the farm house and discover four Adeptus Arbites, led by Arbitrator Ramirez, arresting Abdelus and his family. They have been accused of heresy, witchcraft, and a laundry list of other charges. The warrant for their arrest is signed by Investigator Wathus and it founded on the testimony of Carnelia Lorayne. Kaltos challenges this arrest and persuades Arbitrator Ramirez to find information on Lorayne.
After returning to their overwatch on the cave, the eventually sun rises. They return to Yokes and find a message for them waiting at the train station. It is from Arbitrator Ramirez and it has Carnelia Lorayne's address. It is in Theolum, which is odd. That evening, they take the train back to the capital city where they sleep again in Ketten's house.
229.819.M41 - Carnelia's address is an apartment building in the factory workers district. Pressing the buzzer gets no response, so they call on the building manager. He's never heard of Carnelia, but is willing to check the apartment on the address. Unlocking the door, they find it completely empty.
Unsure what to do next, Garvel rebuilds the broken dataslate using parts from a new one. He uncovers an amateur encryption protecting what appear to be laboratory notes by a man named Vorgen. They tell of experiments on grox which seem to be trying to create a virus or disease to wipe them out. The effects this would have on the Calixian economy are incalculable.
They return to the Precinct-Fortress in search of some answers. They find that Ramirez and Walthus' department was moved out of it's offices and placed in temporary accommodations. Their offices have been infested with rats, and there is a team of exterminators cleaning it out. The team is a specialist company called Marra and Sons. Ramirez is unsure why Carnelia was not at her apartment. He confirms the address in the database. And unfortunately, Walthus is not available, so they return to Ketten's and sleep.
230.819.M41 - In the morning my Burdens decide to visit Marra and Sons, discovering that they do not know how the infestation started. Marra himself has not seen a case like it. Set back, the team head back to the Precinct-Fortress where a message is awaiting them. It is from Walthus and has an urgent classification.
Arbitrator Kaltos,
Last night the Seeds of Freedom bombed the train headed from Segetes to Theolum. It has been confirmed that Aegrius participated in this attack. Ramirez and I will be in Segetes for a few days assisting with the investigation.
Investigator Walthus
My Burdens act immediately to requisition a shuttle and pilot from the Arbites. The shuttle takes them to the crash site where they find a train shattered. The engine has been destroyed and the rest of the cars bunched up behind it. Many passengers, crew and grox died in the crash including the engineer and the maintenance technician. There is no sign of pests or psychic powers being used. They continue on to Segetes. They find Walthus who tells them that Aegrius is definitely here and that Carnelia is now in Yokes visiting relatives.
Kaltos tells Walthus they will go to Yokes and speak with Carnelia. They also pay a visit to Mae's Exterminators Inc. The woman behind the desk is unable to recall any incidences of unexplained rat infestations, citing only minor outbreaks.
Until the next report
I am your eyes,
Oculus
