Anthology Locale part 1

***Note to reader- this anthology was collected by Peter Resig and published posthumously by Half Empty Bookshelf***

Anthology Locale Introduction & C_01+02

My name is Peter Resig. I am a private investigator and I have accumulated a series of cases over the last few months that have piqued my interest. I do not propose any hypothesis for my findings. I merely wish to provide a reservoir of information should anyone come looking for answers. I am planning to release these documents after my death as I am under contract until then.

I received my first two odd cases on the same day in the same house. A husband and wife were found dead with no apparent cause of death unless you count the head being on backward.

Allow me to revise my previous statement, "With no apparent cause of the head being altered in any way". The scene was clean. Not a trace of blood. Without getting too into the gory immaculacy I will move on to the more interesting part. Each was found with a silver pen that appeared to be surgically attached to the bone of the hand. If that wasn't weird enough the walls were entirely covered in gibberish. Probably some kind of code. The only intelligible script was written at the desk of the dead man and the table at which the dead woman sat. Each had taken notes of a place unlike earth.

The time of death registered to approximately 2:00 on the day before I arrived. But the stories told me otherwise. The ink was still wet when I walked in and one was clearly unfinished. Although I knew it to be impossible I couldn't wave the thought that if the bodies had not been packed up and sent to the morgue, they may have kept writing.

The two had few external connections it was only through the mailman that I had been tipped off. Below are the two writings:

Her:
1/17
I stepped out onto empty space. Its a step of faith but my feet were rewarded as they sunk into the Repocant Solid. I joined a caravan on the second morning of January 3rd. We spent two weeks crossing the dunes to get here. The Repocant Solid was the only way across the Abyss but it isn't safe. We were advised to travel in large groups tethered to each other should one of us miss the edge. The Repocant Solid took an abrupt turn 2 miles out that we would surely have missed alone.

1/20
Over the Abyss for 3 days now. The dark is so intense now that it spills over the forms in streaks as though it were light rather than the absence of it. We have had the first contact with the native people here. Their skin is very pale and their pupils are so dilated that the iris is a hairline accent. They are peaceful but skittish.

1/21 The natives left us. They seem to be able to see the Repocant Solid although this must be impossible. Since it amplifies darkness and all is pitch dark over the abyss. Tonight we gathered together to listen to the elders tell stories. No caravan returns from these pilgrimages but who would want to. The natives describe it as a city of light.

1/29 We crossed a larger pack of natives today. These seemed more civil. While their speech is still difficult to understand their clothing appeared almost modern They were headed in the opposite direction. I wish I had time to study their cultures. How wonderful to be a civilian of the great city of light.

3/27
The city is within sight! a bright point has appeared at the horizon. Also of note, I believe I have begun to understand the Repocant Solid a the natives do. I have spoken to several and they describe it similarly. While all is dark, and perfectly so, the intensity of this darkness varies. If I lie upon it, the darkness is nearly overwhelming but when I stand it stays at bay. The presence of darkness remains but the power is less overwhelming.

3/29
We are quite close to the city now. Our eyes ache from staring into its brilliant light. I can no longer see my caravan but I hear them. Not that I could see much of them in the darkness of the Repocant either. We press onward. We are nearly there.

4/1
Brilliance or Oblivian. I am living in a dichotomy. If I look to the city I am blinded by the light. If I turn my back to the city I am blinded by the dark. Several of the people of the caravan can see neither light nor dark I suspect they have been permanently blinded. Half of them have turned back but we continue

4/2 Half of them have turned back but we continue

4/3 All of them have turned back but I continue for I know the king is good.

5/19 I woke up today in a bed by the dunes where I began my journey. I don't understand. I can feel the sand and hear the voices but I cannot see. I had hoped it a dream but this journal proves otherwise. I will head back into the Repocant tonight. The King awaits me.

5/20 I entered the Repocant this morning to find my sight restored in part. I see the ground now its scales shimmer and it grows to follow wha

**End of Transcript***

Him:
The stylus guided me to the Cliffs of Amagrad. The city is more wonderous then even I had imagined. I understand now why it could not be conquered. Who could reach its heights?

*** The man's Transcript was much less wordy but it was accompanied by an image that I believe you will find fascinating unfortunately the original was confiscated by local authorities but I have described it below***

a man stands beneath an overhanging cliff face which continues vertically for at least several hundred feet before traveling off the page. A ladder reaches down off of the rock face. above the ladder is what appears to be a city extruding sideways from the cliff face. The city is built of perfect metal cubes which are embedded in the rocks and connected by ropes and ladders. A light in one window is the only evidence of life.

***close case 1+2***