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A related dossier from the UIU, recovered and digitized.
Electronic copy below as per Federal Records Act
UIU File 1915-021: Land of Honey
Summary: Suspect is an anomalous person, a known capo of the Five Points Gang, and directly responsible for the disappearance of 2,012 adolescent and adult female immigrants. Often, these immigrants were housed in secret warehouses known as "honeypots".
The suspect has an extensive background in esotericism and parlays frequently with various contacts belonging to crime organizations such as the Chicago Spirit, Beati Paoli, and Irrealta, respectively.
Name: Leo "Stella Marina" Lombardi, or "Marina"
Irregularity Cross-reference: Human, Gangster, Five Points Gang, Fugitive
Physical Description:
/* RESPONSIVE TABLE CREDIT TO Woedenaz */
Capabilities: Suspect is capable of distributing low-level anomalies to its subordinates. By all accounts, the suspect presents outwardly as a non-anomalous person.
Suspect retains an eidetic understanding of global esotericism. This has allowed it to seek out persons with active or latent anomalous abilities across New York City and establish a hidden crime network centered around various boroughs, which procures the services of immigrants via coercion, blackmail, and threats of physical violence.
The suspect itself does not carry out any physical violence.
Purpose/Motive: Based on UIU interviews, the suspect has the desire to manufacture a Ley line — known formally as a geothaumic current: a conduit of anomalous energy — in Manhattan. Based on cartography maps found at the suspect's residence, the alignments for such construction are derived from sigils implemented on streets, lampposts, people, Churches, and various undisclosed places — each with the number "5". The most prominent location is the Five Points in Lower Manhattan.
Modus Operandi: Suspect desires to become a demiurge by taking over the underground paranormal market and establishing a unified faith sourced from various religions. Notably, those in its inner-circle are learned, anomalous persons — the majority of which went on to form "The First Fifth Church of Manhattan" in 1915. Other members include immigrant"Church of the Second Hytoth" (AKA Ortothan) archivists, who the suspect persuaded to join shortly after arriving at Ellis Island.
The suspect believes that long-term syncretism will develop a new, more potent religion, focused primarily on ascension.
Means of Acquiring Goal: In order to secure the Ley line construction and its associated territory, the suspect has transfigured multiple female subordinates under its employ, which it later referred to as its "Patrons." UIU forensics and third-party accounts suggest that the Patrons had two primary capabilities — the ability to levitate, and the ability to remain invisible to normative methods of detection — which the suspect used frequently. The Patrons would act as aetheric conduits for the "Grand Manhattan Apothesis".
According to testimony, individual Patrons do not possess facial dermis or tissue; rather, each Patron's exposed flesh is covered with an ivory-bronze mask. In lines of five, Ortothan iconography is etched into dotted ridges and convex patterns behind the mask. Each Patron's optic nerves are wrapped around bronze nails, which pierce their eyesockets and tighten the mask into the Patron's cranium. In addition, angular plastic wings are noted to have been grafted onto each Patron's shoulder bones.
The suspect extensively used a Patron named "Magdelena" or "Maggie", which would act as the focal point for the Ley line's energies via unknown means.
Behavior: The suspect has hereto remained compliant to all UIU inquiries, with the exception of revealing the names, identities, and operations of individuals with which it had business transactions in the past. Despite 45 separate assassination attempts made on its life by hostile associates while in UIU custody, the suspect remains undeterred and optimistic.
NOTE: The following is a compilation of related cases and/or contracts directly related to the suspect's modus operandi, insofar as each case contributes to the design of the Patrons and the entity known as Magdelena. 55 unverified cases have been omitted.
EXHIBIT A. │06/01/1901: The Chin family — a rival triad group — were found without their epidermal layers of skin or facial tissue; each wore a thick coating of bronze, nickel, and iron alloy. Given the family made first appearance after their transformation near a busy street, and were each found standing next to a small tarp and paper cup, witnesses mistook them as street performers.
The only surviving member — Joseph Chin, age 12 — was coerced into the suspect's employment.
CONTRACT TITLE: WRIT OF STREGHE
STIPULATIONS: THE SOLE SURVIVOR IS GRANTED THE ABILITY TO ALTER METALLURGY AT WILL. THE SOLE SURVIVOR IS TO DEVELOP MASKS AS DEPICTED IN THE TAOIST MANUSCRIPT "FIVE-STARS-FIVE-FACES" FOR MR. MARINA UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH.
EXHIBIT B. │06/01/1907: The bodies of Arnold and Sofia Kristóf — recently inducted Fifthists — were discovered in a ravine located in Central Park. Each had crude pentagrams etched into their faces. The lacerations matched the cutting-edge of a bowie knife.
Their two daughters — age 11 and 14, respectively — were coerced into the suspect's employment.
CONTRACT TITLE: WRIT OF BENEDICARIA
STIPULATIONS: THE TWO SURVIVORS ARE GRANTED THE ABILITIES OF LEVITATION AND INVISIBILITY. THEY ARE TO SCOUT POTENTIAL MAGIC USERS FOR MR. MARINA. NO PENALTY REQUIRED.
EXHIBIT C. │02/23/1908: Peter Smith — an Indian anthropologist, age 21, who had studied (as paid for in full by the suspect) at the University of Sheffield, Liverpool, Britain — was taken into UIU custody. Mr. Smith was selected due to his family's adherence to a Hindi delineation of the Church of the Second Hytoth. In 1901, the suspect renamed Mr. Smith from his original name ("Asha Punja") and had him serve as a personal Ortothan translator after his graduation.
When questioned, Mr. Smith stated that the suspect was akin to a patriarchal father figure, and a scholar that "embodied the ideals of Rakmou-leusan and their susse-euk[untranslated]". Mr. Smith refused to answer further questions.
No contracts were found.
EXHIBIT D. │07/16/1911: Shortly after a costume/textile maker accidentally made mention of the suspect in a UU interrogation, UIU agents discovered equipment aligning with Patron materials at their workplace. One week later, the person suspiciously fell from a 10-story apartment building. Forensic analysts found the person in a vegetative state without any identifying facial features, genitalia, fingers, teeth, or limbs.
CONTRACT TITLE: WRIT OF STREGHE
STIPULATIONS: THE DEADMAN WAS TO REMAIN SILENT AND WAS GRANTED THE ABILITY TO LEVITATE. SINCE THE DEADMAN HAS NOT REMAINED SILENT, MR. MARINA RESERVES RIGHTS TO HIS IDENTITY IN THE AFTERLIFE.
EXHIBIT E. │05/05/1915: 55 anomalous individuals were found in a subterranean sewer below the First Fifth Church of Manhattan. Forensics believe that they had been burned alive, as indicated by the state of their bodies.
The following diary excerpt was found in a storm drain further down the street:
[…] can you see the stars falling, can you see the stars falling, can you see the stars falling, can you see the stars falling, can you […]
A black trail. A white chapel.
Candles have lit oceans. Wildfires are soft as air. Our bodies shall be breathed! We are wet and all and God.
The Patriarch wears a white-suit-smile. His eyes are wet from stars and lines.
The Matriarch flies to auspicious stars. She falls from the Land of Honey. Once consumed, a God shall emerge.
Mother, Father.
Father, Mother.
Mother.
EXHIBIT F. │05/17/1915: The cadavers of 8 women — each missing various organs and limbs — were found by law enforcement inside a location known as "the Lockhouse".
The 9th woman, depicted in a newspaper photo by onsite reporters, is believed to be Magdelena.
CONTRACT TITLE: WRIT OF STREGHE
STIPULATIONS: THE NINE MAIDENS ARE GRANTED THE ABILITIES OF PSYCHOTRONIC AND METAPHYSICAL MANIPULATION. THEY ARE TO REMAIN UNSEEN IN THE BODY OF THE NINTH. THE NINTH IS TO BE MR. MARINA'S ESCORT, BODYGUARD, AND SECRETARY.
Current Status: Detained
UPDATED — Currently: Deceased.
Crimes: The suspect is charged with blackmail, torture, extortion, terrorism, racketeering, use and misuse of illicit anomalies, multiple accounts of second and first-degree murder, and criminal possession of anomalous individuals.
Sentencing: Indefinite Detainment
History of UIU Action: On July 4, 1915, an assassination attempt by a rival mafioso destroyed the suspect's place of worship. The suspect then sought protection under UIU jurisdiction and was safely detained on December 10, 1915.
AGENT POULSEN PERFORMED THE TRANSCRIPT OF INITIAL INTERVIEW
[ START LOG ]
P | Agent Poulsen: Greetings, Mr. Lombardi.
M | Leo "Stella Marina" Lombardi: Marina. That's what my friends call me.
P: Alright, Marina. I am Agent Poulsen. Let's get down to brass tacks, shall we? Tell me what happened in Lexington. Who was it, exactly?
M: [ Shrugs and smiles. ] Why, don't you know? They were all over the news. A group of anarchists that mishandled a few pipes of dynamite. Surprised you didn't know.
P: Bullshit. Better start giving names, Marina.
M: Relax, alright? It was probably some disgruntled enforcer, or a dealer — De Luca, maybe? At least, I think I gave one of the Luca's pyrokinesis.
P: You burn a lot of people, Marina. We have a stack of prime-suspects; all with grudges and guns aimed solely at you.
M: That's the price of fame. It's why I chose this ritzy resort destination, anyway. [ Opens arms wide and smiles. ]
[ Poulsen starts speaking, but Marina interjects. ]
M: Whoever it was — I assure you, they won't die fast. Those Fifthists? Got a thing for prolonging pain.
P: And the women? How do they factor into all this?
[ Marina leans back. He takes a lighter from his coat pocket, lights it, and bites on its head. ]
M: Ah, the dames. Couldn't make headway on my deals and transactions without'em. They always knew where to look whenever I needed to find someone or something. They always knew where danger's coming from. [ Marina inhales the cigar. ]*
P:** Yeah, well, the burnt corpses our boys dragged outta the rubble say different.
M: [ Separates cigar from lips, exhales ] You mean those rats? Mags practically did me a fuckin' favor. Told me to stay put. Thank God the shitters in that place were all broken — wouldn't have had an excuse to go outside otherwise.
P: Mags? [ Opens a yellow envelope and produces a photo. ] Who, her?
{ Marina snatches the photo and caresses it with his forefinger. ]
M: Magdelena. A Queen among whores.
P: What? Regicide's a romantic gesture to you loons at the Five Points?
M: In a manner-of-speaking, yes. Can't expect you passionless fucks to know what love is. She wanted to go home. Told me she saw her family every time she closed her eyes — well, I mean, I got a shoddy optometrist to hook those out with a melon baller — but the sensations never went away. She kept imagining her family home, picturing all the papers and poems I couldn't give her.
P: [ Throws five photos out of the envelope ] By the looks of these recent photos, seems like you left a lot of the same call-signs on a bunch of other women.
M: It's not the same. { Waves left hand dismissively. ] She could've been the Queen of this land of honey along with me, her King. We'd rule this land of rats and pigeons and snakes. Our skyscrapers would scratch the clouds. Our numbers would be heralded by men of faith. Our children would inherit the world, but…
[ Marina takes a long drag from his cigar and exhales. ]
M: Well, she wanted to go home.[ END LOG ]
11/20/1925: Security guards and operatives stationed at the Specialized Queens Detention Facility experienced a widespread cognitohazardous outbreak, after which all detainment cells in the facility unlocked on their own. Ancillary UIU agents responded to the outbreak and discovered the suspect dead in its cell. The cadaver was found bisected: the mutilation started from the genitals/anus up to the forehead. The pelvic bone and genitalia were missing; the lacerations matched human incisor teeth. Marks corresponding with the hells of the suspect's loafers were found on the ceiling and walls.
11/20/1926: Immigrants witnessed a large avian entity perched atop the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island, and a secondary humanoid silhouette clutched in its claws. Reports indicated it then flew upwards, turned around, and dove into the ocean.
