Chapter 64 “White Oak’s Encounter With Duncan”
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The White Oak’s return was a tense moment for the members of the Explorer’s Association, a prestigious group boasting this state-of-the-art steamship as one of its treasures. Following a harrowing spell of silence—during which no communications were received and the ship unexpectedly strayed from its planned path—it finally reappeared. The ship was found drifting aimlessly back towards the harbor of Pland.
A tense crowd had gathered at the harbor, their anxious faces turned towards the distant shadow of the White Oak as it neared the shoreline. Among them stood Inquisitor Vanna, a figure of authority and resolve, her intense gaze locked on the approaching vessel.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically when the White Oak’s whistle cut through the silence, breathing life into the harbor. Dockworkers sprang into action, using an age-old system of lanterns and flags to guide the ship safely to its berth. Meanwhile, the guardians of the church, tasked with managing the deep-sea relics, were already at work. These relics, large bronze markers dedicated to Gomona, the Storm Goddess, not only marked boundaries but also promised divine protection. Placed at Pier No.1 under the last light of the sun, their bases filled with sacred oils and spices, these relics created a consecrated zone, ensuring the goddess’s watchful presence enveloped the dock.
Simultaneously, sheriff marshals from City Hall began establishing a perimeter, well-versed in mundane threats but novices in the supernatural. Their practical knowledge, however, affirmed that while bullets might not deter spectral threats, they were quite effective against more corporeal dangers.
From time to time, Inquisitor Vanna could not help but admire the marvels of modern engineering. The advances in technology had equipped even ordinary people with tools to manage the supernatural, significantly reducing casualties among her church colleagues through the support of artillery.
Her attention returned to the ocean as the White Oak sounded its second whistle, following the lights guiding it into the harbor. Slowing its advance, the ship stopped at a safe distance from the pier.
A priest next to Vanna exhaled a sigh of relief. “The White Oak has followed our instructions. It appears to remain under human control.”
Vanna, however, remained skeptical. “We can’t be certain yet. Those touched by anomalies or otherworldly forces might seem normal until an abrupt change reveals their true state. Signal the second team to send the inspection unit and keep the coastal artillery ready. If anything out of the ordinary happens… give the order to fire.”
This directive was quickly communicated using the only means left intact on the White Oak—flag and light signals. The ship acknowledged by lighting three lamps on its prow and lowering a rope ladder.
A motorboat powered by a compact steam engine cut swiftly through the water from the dock. It carried eight guardians and a storm priest, who began their sacred rituals by lighting incense and invoking the Storm Goddess as they circled the White Oak. Instead of boarding directly, they cast holy oil into the surrounding waters.
The moment the sacred oil touched the sea, it sparked into a brilliant glow. This iridescent light spread out, merging into a radiant halo that encircled the ship, a visible sign of the goddess’s enveloping protection.
Once the sacred circle was formed, the clerics on the motorboat cautiously moved towards the ship. They climbed onto the deck using a swinging rope ladder. High above in the observation tower, Inquisitor Vanna watched over this intriguing ceremony with a keen eye.
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The task at hand was to guide a ship, previously thought to be lost at sea, safely back to the harbor—an operation filled with risks. This was particularly true for the White Oak, a vessel known for transporting unusual and potentially hazardous cargo on previous journeys. Before being allowed to dock at Pland’s harbor, the ship had to be inspected at a safe distance to check for any signs of contamination by supernatural entities. Only after passing this initial screening was the ship permitted to move closer to the dock. However, its crew was forbidden from leaving the vessel until they and the ship underwent a second, more thorough round of inspections by the clergy. This included a detailed search and a purification process for the ship.
Subsequently, all crew members were required to stay within the dockside church, under observation for a period ranging from several days to weeks. The ship itself was also subjected to a week-long purification ritual involving the use of sacred incense. Only upon successful completion of these procedures would the wider society welcome these sea wanderers back. If any part of this rigorous protocol failed, the fate of the White Oak and its crew would be a grim one: a sinking into the depths of the ocean. However, they would find peace in the embrace of the Storm Goddess, Gomona.
This strict protocol, perceived as harsh and rigid, was not designed out of malice. It evolved from a deeply ingrained “Law of Survival” that human societies had developed over centuries. Not surprisingly, some city-states either struggled to implement these stringent measures or chose not to follow them at all. Most of these non-compliant states are now primarily mentioned in the early chapters of middle school history books, becoming an integral part of the curriculum and examinations.
As time ticked away, the air was thick with tension as everyone awaited a signal from the inspection team. There were only two possible outcomes: if the ship was cleared, the team would signal their approval for docking through a unique telepathic communication. If, however, the ship was compromised, infested with an anomaly or another formidable entity, the inspectors would fight valiantly to the end, eventually detonating their motorboat loaded with nitroglycerin as a last resort.
In the face of a large, possibly heavily infected ship like the White Oak, the small team of inspectors stood little chance of surviving, let alone escaping.
From her vantage point, Vanna, with her arms crossed, tapped the metal of her vambrace thoughtfully, her mind awash with contemplations.
Suddenly, the calm was broken by the rhythmic tolling of bells from the quaint chapel on the dock, accompanied by three prolonged hoots from the steam pressure valves near the bell tower. This was the sign everyone had been waiting for. The clergy had received the positive report from the inspection team, and the combined sound of bells and hoots signaled to all the teams on the dock that the ship was secure. The White Oak was formally requesting permission to dock, and there was an unusual situation that needed attention.
A relieved sigh escaped Vanna’s lips.
For now, everything seemed normal with the ship, which was the best news she could have received. The report of an unusual situation didn’t unsettle her; it would have been more surprising if a ship that had mysteriously disappeared and reappeared didn’t have some peculiar circumstances to report.
The White Oak, a ship that had weathered many storms, was carefully maneuvered into its docking spot. This sturdy vessel, which had faced numerous challenges at sea, was now safely anchored at a port within the civilized world. Though still not permitted to disembark, the crew could finally relax knowing they were back on familiar ground.
At this moment, a second team of the church’s guardians boarded the ship in an organized manner, ready to carry out a thorough inspection and conduct interviews. Vanna, having just left the observation tower, led a group of priests across the long gangplank that connected the pier to the White Oak. Upon reaching the deck, she was greeted by the ship’s captain, a man distinguished by his white hair and robust build.
The captain, clearly weary from the ordeal at sea, appeared visibly stressed. However, his demeanor shifted to one of resolve as he saw Vanna, the church’s inquisitor, approach. He greeted her with renewed vigor.
“Welcome, Captain Lawrence. I am Inquisitor Vanna, appointed here by the Storm Church,” Vanna introduced herself succinctly, dispensing with any small talk. “We can skip the formalities. I need to first apologize for the stringent inspections by both the city-state and our church. I hope you and your crew can appreciate our reasons for such caution.”
“Of course, Inquisitor,” Captain Lawrence replied, nodding in understanding. He was mentally prepared for this level of scrutiny after the prolonged silence from the White Oak.
Vanna responded with a brief nod, then dove right into her inquiries. “Can you tell us what happened aboard the White Oak? Why was there a loss of communication? Why did you take an uncharted course? And most critically, what can you tell us about Anomaly 099, the unusual cargo you were transporting?”
Faced with these questions, Lawrence looked both worried and tense. He sighed deeply, glanced around nervously, and then whispered his response. “You might find this difficult to believe… but we encountered the Vanished…”
Vanna’s expression swiftly turned from stern to one of utter astonishment. Lawrence tried to read her expression, similar to his own shock when he first encountered the Vanished.
“Inquisitor…?” he asked tentatively.
“Captain Lawrence,” Vanna quickly regained her composure, her eyes intently fixed on him. “Could you repeat that last part?”
“I said it might be hard to believe…”
“No, after that.”
“We encountered the legendary Vanished…”
“I believe you,” Vanna said firmly, leaving Lawrence momentarily taken aback.
“Then…” he began, but Vanna quickly interrupted him.
“You and your crew might need to stay at the dock for a few more days,” she announced gravely. “This is very serious. You’re saying you encountered the Vanished, and everyone survived?”
Her skepticism was evident, prompting Lawrence to quickly add, “We’re all safe, but the Vanished took possession of Anomaly 099, the Doll Coffin. I suspect that phantom ship came specifically for it.”
“The Vanished took Anomaly 099?” Vanna’s concern deepened, her eyebrows furrowing. “And then it just let you go?”
“Yes, it did,” Lawrence confirmed, his voice tinged with fear as he began to grasp the full implications. “Inquisitor, has there been any other…?”
Vanna sighed heavily, “Given your ‘encounter,’ this situation might be more severe than we initially thought. Captain Lawrence, you’re not the only one to have recent dealings with the Vanished. We need to relocate to a more private setting. I need to fully understand everything that has occurred.”
“This harsh, seemingly cruel rule was not born out of malice but rather the hard-won “Law of Survival” carved out by human societies over time. Of course, there were city-states that either could not or would not adhere to these stringent rules. Most of these non-conformist states now predominantly feature in the first two chapters of middle school history textbooks, forming crucial content for the final examination.”
Holy shit this is one of the most sickest burns I’ve ever read!
Hm, is Alice unrelated to the anomaly?
It seems the coffin is the real anomaly, not alice