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| Registered Phenomena Code: 933 Containment Rating: Gamma Lethality Rating: Yellow |
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Containment Protocols: Direct involvement in the concealment of RPC-933 is not required, as the anomaly is self-censoring. What means of information control are necessary (primarily webcrawlers and administrative backchannels in internet resources) should only be used to eliminate visual evidence of RPC-933: owing to the size of Villanueva and the status of the Casanare department as a mostly rural province, it is unlikely to attract any attention, even if it were to attain the status of an urban myth.
Although chemical threats have been ruled out, given the Authority's poor understanding of the anomaly and its ecological effects, research endeavors merit region-wide efforts and resources. Assigned personnel must prioritize the development of a means of gaining safe access to its 23rd floor.
Description: An unfinished office tower in the city of Villanueva, Casanare department, Colombia. Abandoned circa 1999, likely due to the economic collapse of Colombia declared the prior year. Located across the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Parish, along the 10th Avenue (Carrera 10). Although RPC-933 is taller than all other buildings in Villanueva (being 23 floors tall), it is remarkably difficult to perceive, even while one is aware of its presence.
This phenomenon is akin to an ocular blind spot. Rather than being invisible, it is naturally interpolated so the affected visual space does not appear "missing" from view. This is true even in cases where RPC-933 directly blocks another structure from sight, generally causing passersby to assume the obscured building is elsewhere. Such an assumption is remarkable given the size and population of Villanueva, which makes most citizens closely familiar with the town's layout. Videric intake is only partially effective, indicating that anopticin filtering is not the only intervening mechanism in RPC-933's concealment.
Although RPC-933 is superstructurally complete, no enclosure or cladding work was ever conducted (i.e. outer walls, separation of rooms, etc), which makes it possible to see a permanent, steady flow of smoke from its topmost floor. Its source is a perpetual fire, burning at approximately 1,100 degrees Celsius.
Both smoke and fire grow in intensity at nighttime, waxing at approximately 3:00 AM. During the ensuing 90-minute period, it illuminates most of Villanueva and even becomes visible from outside the town. It is at this time where RPC-933 is most often noticed by citizens of Villanueva, who generally fail to report its existence to others and thus become aware of its abnormal qualities.
As well as luminosity, temperature in the topmost floors of RPC-933 fluctuates in a 24-hour cycle. Heat ranges between 430 and 700 degrees Celsius, which makes human ascension difficult even by day. Exploration is further complicated by the metamorphic properties of the light emitted by the anomaly: at sufficient proximity and intensity, exposed human skin is gradually transmuted into clay.
Although a manned expedition has never been conducted, the presence of 17 humanoid sculptures across floors 21 and 22, all of which are in an approaching posture, implies that the anomaly is capable of psychological influence. This is reinforced by the apparent limits of its metamorphic influence. Once aware of RPC-933, observers become capable of perceiving of an intensely sweet, metallic smell in its immediate proximity, which is strongly suspected to emanate from the interior of these sculptures.
The temperature of the 23rd and 22nd floors makes approximation impossible by ground drones, heavily limiting visual assessment of the fire's epicenter. As the wind speeds necessary to disperse the smoke emitted by the anomaly are prohibitive to rotary drones, equipment is often destroyed by collision or overexposure to heat. Existing footage of the 23rd floor shows a number of extant unidentified objects close to the epicenter, but it remains debated whether their shape is humanoid or otherwise.
A limited number of audio recordings taken in the proximity of floor 23 include faintly audible music. These have been agreed to feature an acoustic guitar and an aged male singer, possibly speaking a Slavic language. Style and genre are debated, but the consistent usage of classical guitar technique suggests a solo performer.
Addendum: On 07/07/2009, it was observed that a Lesser Anomalous Object (previously designated LO-556) held at Site-009 possesses remarkably similar qualities to RPC-933. Its original document is attached.
Designation: LO-556
Description: A cuboid papier-mâché sculpture which appears to depict a 47-story office tower and a few surrounding houses. Stubs of what is suspected to be an unfinished 48th floor remain on its rooftop. It is sculpted on a flat 50cm by 50cm cardboard square. The tower is 38cm tall and 7cm wide.
Site Location: Site-009, Russia
Properties: Although it is visible, perception of LO-556 is abnormally difficult. To exemplify that behavior, when requesting an observer to describe all items among a set which includes LO-556, the object tends to be identified last, even if it is more visually salient. All floors from 23 onward are covered in a perpetual, self-sustaining fire.
Addendum: Discovered in Putre, Parinacota, Chile. LO-556 exerts a minor suppressive effect upon cognition, disallowing the identification and awareness of certain highly specific concepts within its immediate proximity (maximum radius under ~3m, exact size of influence uncertain). Known suppressed concepts include:
- a fetish (as in totem, or talisman),
- string instruments, especially fiddle,
- the gualicho.
The exact relationship between RPC-933 and LO-556 (pending redesignation as a sub-item) is uncertain. The potential implications of LO-556's anomalous properties that have no known equivalent in RPC-933 are at present being considered. It is of particular note that the concept of a gualicho is highly regional, belonging to the Mapuche culture, which is indigenous to Chile and Argentina but scarcely represented in Colombia. Its meaning is somewhat ambiguous, interpreted as a malignant spirit, spell, or a curse. It is traditionally distinct from a devil or imp, but increasingly considered synonymous.
Internal documentation pertaining to the circumstances of discovery of LO-556 is yet to be found.