MAGP-1-01: First Shift

Art by interdimensionalbugs

Audio
Transcript
Warnings

## Pre Case

Through a computer recording, the staff of the O.I.A.R are heard attending Teddy's farewell party, he is leaving to work in insurance. The party is being held at 6 am, the end of their night shift. Lena demanded it be held on the premises. Sam meets the other employees. Colin, Teddy, Sam, Alice, and Gwen, leave for the pub. As Teddy is leaving, Lena Informs him that his computer is on and he turns it off, ending the recording.

Alice is teaching Sam about the job as Sam is filling out some paperwork. Sam accidentally ticks a box for "Response 121", which Alice claims is no longer used. Alice shows him his workstation, an old computer running a modified version of Windows NT 4.0. They are using such an old computer as it is the only thing compatible with the software FR3-d1, "Freddy", which crashes if you try to update it or link it to new tech. Freddy's function is to search through online databases, newspapers, forums, and more for incidents which are then passed on to the employees for assessment.

Sam reads the first email and Alice shows him how to look it up in their classification binder. Alice works out that the incident code is CAT2RC1157-12052022-09012024 and enters it into the system. The following incident is read aloud by a voice from the computer that Alice has named Norris. About a year ago roughly 1 in 20 incidents started being read aloud by three different voices, which Alice have named Norris, Chester, and Augustus. Colin does not know why this started happening but has suggested some kind of error is responsible. Sam and Alice point out that it makes no sense for such antiquated software to have accidental text-to-speech.

## Case #1

An Email dated May 12th,2022, from Harriet Winstead to Darla Winstead regarding a familiar strange figure in a cemetery she believes to be her deceased loved one.

Harriet lost someone close to her named Arthur and was struggling with the grief. She had been talking with someone who claimed he could bring Arthur back and received a phone call, telling her to go to Arthur’s grave that night. Harriet knew it might be a scam but ultimately decided to go anyway. As she approached Arthur's grave, she saw a figure standing by it. The figure was the wrong shape to be Arthur but it spoke to her in his voice. As it approached Harriet, she saw that it had discoloured skin and mismatched features. It moved with jerky steps and something was pressed against its skin from the inside. Harriet asked it if it was Arthur and it replied "Some of him". It then started to laugh and violently threw its head back and forth, to the point of bones breaking. Harriet ran back home and became afraid to leave her house. She kept thinking she saw something at the bottom of the garden but was too afraid to check. She asked Darla if she could come stay at her place instead and that she thinks it is Arthur that she is afraid of.

## Post-Case

After listening to the incident Sam is taken aback, Alice confirms that the incidents are all upsetting and horrible. Sam goes to file it under zombies, Alice encourages this noting it is mostly alphabeical. Gwen corrects him to reanimation and warns Sam of getting a misfile for incorrectly filing. Alice says “You basically never get misfiles, no one is checking” Gwen recommends reanimation (partial)-/-regret. Alice notes that Gwen is far behind on her work, Gwen rebuts by saying she has the highest accuracy rate in the office, Alice emphasises to Sam that accuracy rate means nothing. Sam chooses Gwen's reanimation suggestion.

Lena Calls Gwen into her office. Lena makes a note of how far behind Gwen is and goes on to say Gwen was disrespectful to her in front of Sam. Lena is aware that Gwen dislikes her. Lena suggests Gwen resigns, however, Gwen wants Lena's job. Lena points out most people move on from the job within 12 months and that Gwen has been there much longer. She says Gwen does not have what it takes to reach her position. Gwen leaves angrily.

## Case #2

Chatlogs dating from April 10th, 2022 to May 9th, 2022, on forums.lostcityurbex.com, regarding the exploration of The Magnus Institute ruins, case assessed by Samama Khalid and read by Chester, January 9th, 2024.

On April 10th, 2022, internet user RedCanary started a thread on forums.lostcityurbex.com about wanting to go spelunking in the ruins of the Magnus Institute, Manchester. While the site was marked as "cleared" by previous moderator Devan, RedCanary visited the site anyway and informed members of the forum of their findings. According to their account, the ruins looked like they hadn't been touched by the fire that happened around 20 years previous. The third floor was gone and lots of damage and scorching could be seen. No old papers were present as was expected, however RedCanary remarks the lack of paper dust or signs of the documents having been destroyed. There is evidence of a massive library/archive on the first basement layer that has been cleared out. The Institute was described as having "Victorian asylum" vibes. Old graffiti in the form of symbols was seen, along with suspicious stains on some floors.

RedCanary became increasingly paranoid after the visit and was unable to upload any photos taken to the forum. After revealing that they had taken an empty wooden box with similar symbols on it from the site, they were sent threatening direct messages. When pressed again for photos, a picture likely containing RedCanary's eyes was uploaded to the thread accompanied by the comment "Canaries should stay above ground." Due to the site's policies, RedCanary's account was banned.

## Post-Case

Sam is visibly shaken which causes Gwen to tell Sam that he needs to toughen up. Alice offers Sam a drink in the early morning and Sam thanks Alice for the job. Alice advises Sam to think of the cases as words on the screen.

At the end, we hear Colin rummaging through a desk, speaking to a screen, and saying that he knows that *someone* is listening and shuts the computer off.