Oh, but if we're talking about unknown entities... who or what on earth is a Phenera? I don't believe I have any agents by that name employed.

Guess it's my job to be the bearer of bad news.
She was classified as BPI-2096, sir. Some kind of slime hivemind, seems to have aspired to be part of the Bureau proper.
For whatever reason, she carved the symbol into herself before she was wrongfully executed. We got a live demonstration of the symbol's power already, sir.

Needless to say, the Bureau has... means of dealing with mental trauma, but...

That's a pretty ominous sounding statement there, Director. Considering how the Abyss Team turned out and all...

For whatever reason, she carved the symbol into herself before she was wrongfully executed. We got a live demonstration of the symbol's power already, sir.

If I'm allowed to shed some light on the subject. Dr. Orpheus was close with Phenera, they did a number of experiments together. One of those experiments was recreating the symbol carved onto the bodies in the Morgue. The intention was to learn more about the Whisper Valley serial killings from 2008, but we hadn't felt the effects of it until Phenera was executed.

Should we be anticipating some kind of resurgence from the Black Scribe because of this? I admit it was sort of my idea, but I didn't push her to do it. I only repeated what was said on one of the files laying around the room.

So, it's Global Synchronization you're wondering about, is it? Why would I seek something like that? Why would I go to such lengths, endanger so many? To what end?

I asked you to follow me because the answers to those questions begin far beneath even the sunken city below our Central Facility..

It was at this very doorway, about two decades ago now... that I broke the first seal. Wandering these caverns, chasing after a ghost, a murderer that only barely existed. When I first saw it, I couldn't even process what I was looking at. Those stone doors, inlaid with a binding sigil... glowing with colors that had I not been blessed by this gift, I wouldn't have even be able to describe. No tricks, no gimmicks. I'd seen the supernatural before, obviously but this...?



This was... magic. A spell woven from the Traveler's soul, holding strong for thousands of years... And all it took was an outstretched hand, a gentle push.

...Our Seals, the ones you're been breaking left and right... they were crafted from extracted Esotera, nothing but raw energy, aligned with their respective element. This was... something different. Synchronizing with a seal formed from a soul... it's different. The power to wield Chaotic Esotera was only half of the equation. The other half... is knowledge.



It's not possession, and it's not like a voice in your head. It's something else. An innate feeling, a tug in the right direction when you start thinking about something, a recollection of a fact here and there. Most of all though... I could see it. The workings of magic, the ways it touched the societies the Traveler visited, the greater dream of how it could touch our futures.

Now, let's continue through here...



Halt! Heed not the illusory sorcerer's words - a miasma of utter darke does seep from beyond that threshold. Whatever lies ahead pulsates with a ferocity dwarfing that of any beast - to walk forth is to surrender yourself to its cloying despair. The heart of darkness, the hungry abyss at the very core of of these blighted lands!

Director... What 23 means is that while we appreciate your response and your willingness to give us the tour of these obviously-restricted areas, of course , we DID just spend a very long time being subjected to all manner of nasty situations by something spawned from the item you have down there. Is it really the best idea to take this little trip to see it?



Ah, I... see. I understand your concerns, Nancy. You too... Dr... 2300... You always did have a good nose for trouble.

But there's nothing to worry about. The Codex itself is an object. A powerful object admittedly, but an object. Rest assured, unless one of you decides to remove it from containment, it should remain where it is - powering the Azathoth Project prototype. It's unlikely to cause any problems on its own without an avatar of some sort or any direct contact. So... just keep your hands to yourselves, hm?

Oh, and... watch your step. It's a long way down.






Now, where were we? Right. I want you to take a moment and think about what you've seen of the world as you've lived your life.

As it stands, our world is a volatile place, rife with inequality and suffering. The unfortunate are exploited by structures of power so ingrained that they seem unshakeable, our planet burns under innumerable layers of pollution, groups like the Crimson Eye have begun to weaponize the esoteric for personal gain, our health and livelihood are strangled by pharmaceutical companies, dangerous Anomalies run rampant, and the veneer of global peace is kept propped up by the threat of death and destruction.



You're concerned, Agent Andras, about the upheaval this will cause. I, on the other hand, could not care less. In my time with the FBI, I saw far more bureaucratic waffling than I ever did real investigation. Before Whisper Valley, the supernatural was laughed at beyond the doors of my department - her department. Real concerns have always been ignored in favor of upholding the status quo.

Upheaval would be a mercy, when under Global Synchronization, the alternative is a world without scarcity, a world where anyone can have what they want, look how they want, lead the lives they want with the power to do so - real power. No more... disease, no more death, no more suffering or pain. Magic distributed to all, under the watchful eye of the Bureau.



And at the apex of the World's Fair, I will lead us toward a fully-realized Eden, bathed in the warm glow of Heaven's Light.



Yeah, you know what, that sounds great and all. I've just got one problem with your whole plan - why exactly do you need the evil demon tome for this? You know, the reason we've been stuck in this total shithole to begin with? I mean, this Whisper Valley thing... that was the book too, wasn't it?



Look, you've got this big savior complex here - I get it, I used to think I was the shit too. But as long as you keep that thing around, you're just a moron. This ain't gonna work out the way you want it to here, and if you want proof, you can ask Dodo, or Pea, or hell, take a fuckin time machine and ask anyone in that town back then.



I thought the same thing at first. Standing there at the end of it, amid the smoldering ruins of Whisper Valley, I wanted to destroy it. To cast it into a fire and forget it ever existed. But what would be the point or purpose? The Codex... was a valuable resource - and hard evidence of powers beyond our understanding. It may have taken nearly everything from me, but upon it I built the foundation for something new. The Bureau of Paranormal Investigation, and our work to research the Anomalous.



If you take even a cursory look around the facility, you've surely seen the red tubes snaking about. Each of these serves as a data cable, connecting to either an Anomaly Containment Room or one of the Seven Seals. As an Anomaly rests within its chamber, the chamber itself gathers its Esoteric signature and transmits it downwards towards our destination. As Anomalies each possess unique abilities, traits, and physiology, they serve as a diverse pool to pull data from.

With this data, and that of the Codex, we created [NOCTURNE], a language of symbols able to manipulate Esotera. An engine on which the world's progress could run.



Unfortunately our... early attempts at integration didn't go as planned. We were able to create artificial Anomalies, true - Hastur is one such example, but gifting the power of Esotera unto those already living... First, we studied BPI-1000 to determine how it was able to bestow power to its wearer, but while the masks produced proved useful, they were impractical to say the least.

Then... we attempted to implant machinery capable of directly executing [NOCTURNE] code, hoping it would serve to allow our volunteer subject to control Esotera natively... though as I'm sure you're aware, that too was a... failure.



Giffany, Dr. Caster... If I'm to understand, you've actively attempted to aid the Codex's avatar on more than one occasion. There is much I am willing to forgive, especially considering the constraints your group has been put under - however working to further its goals directly is something that... tests my forgiveness, to put things lightly. Whether from lack of comprehension, or simply lack of care, for a time you placed the entire world at risk.



But I... don't think that's your fault. You were one of our best and brightest, a shining star in your time working with both the Golem project and [NOCTURNE] both. I had complete confidence that if anyone, you would be able to withstand any residual Occultic corruption were we to install the prototype. We were wrong, and this... isn't the first time you've done something like this.

In your case, you see... wiping your memory serves a twofold purpose: protecting Bureau secrets... and keeping your mind free of the Codex's whispers.



But I'm not concerned about you today. Despite the advanced stages of of corruption you're undergoing, your intentions - whether borne of your own will or that of the Codex, are clear and any attempt to make contact with it will result in immediate, harsh consequences.

I just thought I would warn you, because we've finally arrived.







Welcome to the Codex's inner sanctum - and the site of the Azathoth Project.

A vast Esoteric supercomputer, the first of its kind. Capable of directly manipulating Esotera in all forms, on a global scale. Drawing power directly from the Codex, fed by the data and Esotera of countless Anomalies both within this facility and around the world. Humanity's mythos, the secrets of the unexplained, all flowing directly into this singular point.



Dad, you're... starting to freak me out. What IS this? Why do you... need something like this? This thing... is this what that creature in the mask was calling your "Infernal Machine"? You.. you synchronized me... somehow. The seals, they did the same thing to Detective Columbo and Konata and.... everyone else.

You can just... do the same thing, right?



Sweetie... The Seven Seals are... a lesser form of this same technology, as is... your own synchronization. The seals are capable of synchronization and the manipulation of Esotera, yes, but the... unique nature of the Whisper Valley site and its notably high Esotera levels is what actually sustains the synchronization in your cases. If you leave, if anything happens... before long, this synchronization will fade.



Astrid, when you were young... You were sick. Really sick. Your mother and I... we took you to countless specialists, hopsitals... but nobody could figure out what it was. They'd never seen anything like it before, they said it was like a disease that gnawed at your soul itself. I fought like hell to keep your treatments going, for the little good they did, but I knew we were working with borrowed time, I'd accepted that I'd have to treasure the time we had together if nothing else, but then... after Stella... I...

With the newfound influence and capital gained after the foundation of the Bureau under Interpol, I delved even deeper as your condition got worse and worse. If modern medicine couldn't save you, maybe... magic could. I pored over ancient tomes, researched healing practices from eras long past, threw research grants at experimental medical projects... and nothing



But once the Central Facility was operational, I knew what I had to do. Stellaric Esotera would sustain you, keep you protected from everything. You were the subject of the first synchronization ever performed. My greatest treasure, and my greatest success.



I'm... sorry. I should have told you sooner. About why I couldn't ever bring you with me, why you haven't left this place in so long. You deserved better, but that's why I'm trying to right this wrong. I will create a world where you can be free to live, unshackled from illness, death, and misfortune. And Whisper Valley... will just be a distant mem-

Oh, but if we're talking about unknown entities... who or what on earth is a Phenera? I don't believe I have any agents by that name employed.

Guess it's my job to be the bearer of bad news.
She was classified as BPI-2096, sir. Some kind of slime hivemind, seems to have aspired to be part of the Bureau proper.
For whatever reason, she carved the symbol into herself before she was wrongfully executed. We got a live demonstration of the symbol's power already, sir.

Needless to say, the Bureau has... means of dealing with mental trauma, but...

That's a pretty ominous sounding statement there, Director. Considering how the Abyss Team turned out and all...

For whatever reason, she carved the symbol into herself before she was wrongfully executed. We got a live demonstration of the symbol's power already, sir.

If I'm allowed to shed some light on the subject. Dr. Orpheus was close with Phenera, they did a number of experiments together. One of those experiments was recreating the symbol carved onto the bodies in the Morgue. The intention was to learn more about the Whisper Valley serial killings from 2008, but we hadn't felt the effects of it until Phenera was executed.

Should we be anticipating some kind of resurgence from the Black Scribe because of this? I admit it was sort of my idea, but I didn't push her to do it. I only repeated what was said on one of the files laying around the room.

...What did you just say!?

---

...Should've brought more Liturgic stuff.

Sinclair, you must not be very well read. The Gods are selfish. Not once in all of human history have they been happy to share their toys with us.

Agent Andras, are you telling me that an Anomaly had that symbol placed on their body before they died? I don’t care if you were just the messenger in this situation, by exposing anyone without proper supervision and authority to even the IDEA of doing something like that… Do you understand for a second what you’ve d-?

Hello Director.







You have claimed that you were happy to meet everyone face-to-face. I agree, it is nice to finally meet you. How is your wife doing? My master has imparted much knowledge of you, and I believe I have you to thank in part for this vessel I inhabit. I am very cute.



You! How do you still walk upon this earth? You and the wicked fiend who hath summoned you each were faced with the blade and in turn forfeited your lives.With your summoner banished to the depths of the hells, you too should have remained in oblivion!



You could refer to me as a contingency plan. You incapacitated my master in the same manner as you did my own self. According to this body’s programming, this lack of creativity in combat would be quite damning on your annual review - however my master's creativity is boundless.

With the sacrifice of the one you call Phenera, a soul was provided to me with which to return to operation. It has been a long time since I have seen any of you. Your numbers have shrunk significantly. I believe it to be well deserved. Now, step aside before your ranks further thin. I am to understand that you are lacking in Liturgic countermeasures now. How very disappointing.

Dr. Orpheus, as per our recent agreement, please ensure that none attempt to stand in my way.



...Lyra? What the hell are you doing with that thing? After everything... you brought it here?



Kya.. haha... Shut up... you useless bitch. I'm only going to address.... your father.

Director...All my research… everything I’ve worked on, everything I’ve discovered. Every scrap and shred of hard work… if you’re telling us the truth… then it was all just in service of her, wasn’t it? Working my fingers to the bone, submerging my very being in my work… all so that you can sustain that waste of skin.



I've had a taste of power, drank from the bottomless well... Your synchronization doesn't go far enough. The goals of the Bureau... no longer interest me. Whatever this little servitor - the last remnant of Phenera - plans to do is far more interesting to my new field of study.

Kyahahaha... And I wouldn't try anything hasty - otherwise I crush one of you like garbage at the bottom of the deepest trench. No preparation time this time to save you, and no more esotera nullification either. It's too bad you already blew that last night. So shortsighted, no wonder you never accomplished anything of value.





Ah, the precious Codex - singing ever more in its soft, hushed tones. I had been assured from the very first night, so long ago on the eve of the custodian’s murder. From the moment this Ritual began, I knew that it would culminate here, no matter the setbacks or complications. You have all performed your roles quite admirably, but we have reached the curtain call.

Soon, master... freedom awaits! Behind this thin pane of glass lies the ever-burning flame of shadow, the key to creation and destruction in one. After millennia... it's finally at hand. The world once more, steeped in boundless dark. Your tenacity has been admirable, but it is too late to halt the procession of fate. Behold, infini-








...Huh?



Gah, what the hell? Everything's shaking - don't tell me... That machine, it's-



[ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR]

[!MAJOR ESOTERA SIGNATURE DETECTED IN AREA!]



Ah, it's about time, isn't it?. I've been waiting for quite a while now for this. With the Seven Seals project completely disabled, the Esotera flow throughout the facility has been diverted entirely to this one singular point.



Yes, yes, little cat. You and your "master" may have put in quite the effort, but I'm afraid the only thing you'll be "beholding" is he culmination of years of worldwide research, a mass of Chaotic fury, now finally ready to burst free and reshape this facility into something more! A vision of the new world - the true power of Esotera, bent to the Bureau's will!

The Inversion Protocol - at long last!



D-dad? What's happening? This whole place is going to collapse if this keeps up! And the air... it's starting to feel...



...I'm sorry, sweetie - I was hoping it wouldn't come to this... but this is our last resort. Just hang tight and... trust me. It'll be over soon enough, and everything... will be like it was just a bad dream.



You. The one in Spooks' body. I don't know what your "master" told you, but last time we met down in these caverns... Well, this time I didn't come unprepared. This time, I'm not going to let the Codex take anything else. So close to freedom, you say... Ironic, the purpose of this organization is containment, and yet I didn't put you in a tight enough cage.

That won't be a problem now.



If being buried deep underground isn't enough to keep you locked up, then I think it's time we flip the script. Change a few things around. If you're so determined to get your hands on the Codex, then let's put it somewhere far out of reach... The facility you've forced these people to scour for Seals constitutes only half of our containment measures, and the other half should keep you occupied. Just long enough to revert everything to zero - your existence included.



Nyarlathotep... Increase the Esotera output to maximum!



With pleasure!