Report: Investigation of Spire Thor Level Epsilon Zeta

[Aug 21, 2024]

-Initial Follow-Up involved another interview with the patient Jaem Tesserak, the Spire Thor hiver that Eizen sampled and was discovered to have inert particles in his blood. Located in Spire Thor Level Epsilon Zeta (Levepszet); works at a Las Gun Pack Manufactorum, along with his brother Fex who he lives with. 

-Discussion with Jaem yielded knowledge that Doran was scheduled to speak a few levels down in Spire Thor later in the day. He also disclosed that he previously had an illness that had improved into his current state of excellent health.

-Fex had apparently gone missing for the past several hours, and his brother was concerned, given his recent strange behavior. Jaem noted that he might be visiting his friend Madeliene, and/or her romantic partner Medicae Estagon Wheetle, who worked at the clinic. He also showed us a picture of his brother in a group of Spire Thor phenotype individuals, wearing athletic clothes for the game "Furnace Ball." In the picture, Fex was outfitted with a modified blood filtration machine, apparently provided by the clinic that Eizen previously visited. (We have since gained more insight about these machines: see Vigil Device)

-Quint's psychic abilities were somewhat distracted by the sense of psychic cleanliness in the general area.

-Estagon was in possession of an odd card device that had been given to him by Fex. He had no knowledge of the blood filtration machines being equipped in such a manner to any patients of the clinic, and had not seen Fex since the previous day. He indicated that Madeleine could be found at either the local slop house or with a fortune teller that she has been spending time with, Ysme. Locating this woman, of remarkably poor posture, we founds her using cards similar to the one held by Estagon, though these are painted with the Emperor's Tarot. Quint detected no psychic emanations from her or her customer.

-She was speaking to Madeleine, who was apparently experiencing relationship difficulties, and seeking advice. Verity approached to learn more about the situation, including more intelligence about Fex's possible location (like the others, she had not seen him since the day prior, and confirmed Jaem's mentions that he'd been behaving oddly). She also mentioned that he occasionally went to speak to Preacher Osten.

-The Church was built within retrofitted Legio Cybernetica facility. Preacher Enoch was able to connect with the priest of the Church, and gain further insight into the movements of Fex. We noted that a slot for cards containing written prayers was installed in the altar, with dimensions matching those of the previously noted devices; supposedly this was attached to an incinerator (though indication would later prove that the prayers were deposited elsewhere). Behind the church we located prayer booths, one of which had a similar slot installed. The movements of Fex, as well as predicted structural/storage elements of such a facility, indicated that one of these might have a hidden chamber attached.

-Preacher Osten further explained the sentiments of the Spire with regard to Preacher Doran (largely positive), including a particularly zealous follower, an arbites called Solomon (unusual, given that the arbites usually are referred to only by designation codes to remain anonymous to the public. Follow-up with Ysme indicated that some knew Solomon as a priest.

-After confirming that the cards previously encountered were used as a sort of premium prayer card, we requisitioned Estagon's card. Interfacing with the prayer booth's mechanisms and utilizing the card opened—as expected—a secret room. Previously a Cybernetica Dataforge, the chamber was now entirely dedicated to a Shrine to Preacher Doran, demonstrating massive obsession with Smythe. There were also a number of the blood filtration devices. Quinten was detected a psychic aura, as well as a "smell" that he recognized as something from a time-span of several thousands of years ago. Combined with the presence of the inert particles, it was predicted that something similar to the Nemesis Device might be involved.

-We also found:

1. Drafts of litanies about "St. Doran the Kind." The poetry was somewhat amateur in its design, but the concepts evocative enough to prompt further analysis and synthesis.
2. A many times folded letter that clearly contains a code within it contents, signed by a Brother Gideon. It has been written over in Solomon's handwriting with the words "coward" and "betrayer." The identity of this individual is uncertain; however, it is possible that this is a cover identity of Interrogator Gideon, similar to Interrogator Saends's identity of Brother Sands.
   
3. A calendar of events marked in correlation with the miracles that occurred. These events seem to have begun a year and a half ago, similar to the time of Preacher Doran's meteoric rise. There were 26 x marks, and roughly 60 circles. Some dates were marked with circles without x marks, but none of the reverse circumstances were noted to have occurred.
4. The aforementioned prayer cards, some tacked to the wall, signifying particular interest or importance.

-All evidence was confiscated prior to leaving the area.

-Solomon was likely to be present at Doran's sermon; our team went to the location—Thor Level Epsilon Theta—to apprehend the target. Upon our arrival, Quint located two key points of psychic emanation to be investigated. One proved to be Fex, currently experiencing the process of vitality transference and thus a rapid deterioration of his health. The other was Solomon, posing as a beggar with the name "Old Saul."

-Under Ambassador Lethe's direction, Quint and Logis Eizen were able to sever the psychic connection between the two targets and stabilize Fex's condition. Preacher Enoch and the Major were able to successfully apprehend Solomon without causing collateral damage, though not without causing some discord in the crowd of the assembled faithful. The psyker was also deal an injury that under most circumstances I would consider fatal; however, investigation of Solomon's affects and body yielded the predicted discover of a prismatic five pointed star device is embedded in his neck; this is almost certainly a variant of the Nemesis Device—however, the distinct differences in its design and apparent capabilities warrant an alternative designation, and it shall hereafter be referred to as the Philotes Device.

-While the patient and the prisoner were transported back to Bluehull-92, Kelle liaised with Sister Yvestina to explain the conflict, utilizing a cover story that we had learned of a potential threat to Preacher Doran and moved to apprehend the target. Avarast was understandably displeased that we had not sent her a communication to inform her of the possible assassin, but Ambassador Lethe was able to provide both an explanation and gain additional insight by claiming that we had evidence of possible traitors to Preacher Doran within the Clerics Regular, and inquired after her knowledge of Brother Gideon. She has no knowledge of this individual, though an absence of acquaintance is itself a possible lead. Kelle eventually managed to calm the crowd enough for Doran's sermon to continue as planned.

Conclusions:

-The miracles performed by Preacher Doran are likely all caused not by holy intervention of the Emperor but use of the Philotes Device by Solomon, an obsessed and dedicated zealot. It would appear that Smythe is entirely unaware of this fact. Through the Nemesis Device, we should be able to continue providing the illusions of these miracles and aid the Clerics Regular in maintaining their growing popularity over the Eternalites. It should be noted, however, that the Nemesis Device has been known to purge certain individuals as well as heal them, and that this addition to the miracles may prove to alter the perception of Doran and possibly the philosophies of the Clerics Regular.

-Other variants of the Nemesis Device may exist and be present on Asterion (Update: Existence confirmed); it will be of paramount importance to learn where Solomon acquired the Philotes Device, and whether others are aware of its existence. The possible link between Solomon and the Inquisition is disturbing, as is a hypothesis that the psyker may have once served on an Inquisitorial Retinue. At the time of writing this report, Solomon's status as a sanctioned psyker has yet to be determined, but evidence indicates enough control over his abilities to suggest such training.

-The assault on an arbitrator in Spire Thor may be linked to Solomon's presence; whether he was the individual that fell under attack by Lady von Tarquinius's agents has not yet been determined, but the Navigators interest in acquiring psykers is compatible with such a hypothesis. Should this be the case, it may well be true that Solomon is an official member of the arbites, or that a different arbitrator was attacked due to incorrect identification conflated with false intelligence of the psyker's occupation, or that the attack was unrelated and solely motivated by the Procuratia who ordered the Arbitrator Abductions.