Administrators at The Facility, a research and science division of Random Musings, today released video surveillance footage which many observers call "extremely disturbing."
The footage was recorded earlier this week at The Facility's Level 3 Subterranean Threat Assessment Unit, and appears to show a staff researcher performing a routine examination of a woman's scarf patterned with strange markings. As the taped sequence progresses events unfold which, according unofficial sources, "came close to heralding the arrival of a new age of horror for the planet."
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| Do not look at this design. |
"I admit that initially we were not terribly concerned about the arcane-looking symbols," says Dr. Quentin Bloor, director of The Facility. "Garment-makers have always been keen to use designs with a South American or quasi-Mayan motif in their fabrics. I suppose they believe it will make the wearer feel somehow more worldly, or some such nonsense. Needless to say, we've since re-evaluated our diagnosis."
According to Facility sources, the staff member conducting the examination is Professor Willamina Gottlieb, considered by many to be the nation's top authority on ancient languages and occult symbology.
"It was Professor Gottlieb herself who insisted that the scarf be isolated for further study," says Bloor, shaking his head sadly. "Had we known of its terrible powers we would have quarantined it forever at Level 6. Alas, we allowed the investigation to proceed, and now it appears that poor Willamina may have perhaps opened a door for the return of the malign Elder Gods spoken of in the Necronomic Texts, and in the process been possessed by something quite unspeakable herself."
Robert "Rock" Abslab, security chief at The Facility, was in the surveillance center when the event took place. In a brief press conference where the tape was played back for reporters (minus the audio track, which was removed for security reasons), he explains the chain of events:
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| Rubber gloves. Not enough protection. |
"Okay, as you can see here, she's holding the scarf up and pointing out the symbols, which she says are some sort of pre-Sumerian language having to do with an ancient demon-god named Yog-Sothoth, and how it's the 'the one that opens the void', or some [censored] like that. She goes on about that for awhile, then for some [censored] reason she starts reading the [censored] thing out loud... kind of chanting it, you know?"
Abslab fast-forwards the tape to the point where Professor Gottlieb, apparently still chanting, appears with the scarf wrapped around her shoulders. The image quality has begun to distort wildly at this point, an effect caused by what Dr. Bloor refers to as "dimensional warpage." In the background the lab appears to be collapsing into some sort of whirling vortex while, disturbingly, the scarf seems to be in absorbing into Gottlieb's skin.
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| ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn |
"It was right here that Bloor freaked out and ordered the shutdown," says Abslab, freezing the tape on a frame showing the dim outlines of a vaguely octopus-looking shape shimmering in the background. "We dropped the [censored] blast doors and sealed the lab off, then flooded the room with knockout gas. Looks like Willamina got herself a live one this time."
According to The Facility's medical staff Professor Gottlieb is resting comfortably in The Facility's Maximum Security Healthcare Chambers. Dr. Bloor notes that while at this time she has been rendered "utterly and completely insane as a result of her misadventure," hopes are high that in time she will make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, authorities at The Facility are remaining tight-lipped on further specific details regarding this weeks events, but insist there is no immediate danger to local residents. However, citizens within a 20-mile radius of The Facility are being asked to avoid touching anything resembling a moth, or looking into mirrors for the next 48 hours.
