I had the door sealed. I did not say against what. – Father Cornelius, report to the Bureau of Structural Integrity
REPORT OF A STRUCTURAL IRREGULARITY SUBMITTED BY: Father Cornelius, Head of the Velgarien Church, Cathedral of Light TO: Bureau of Structural Integrity, copy to Bureau 9 OBJECT CONCERNED: Central Archive, Sub-Level C, twelve metres below street level MEASURE REQUESTED: Sealing. Again. LEVEL: The submitter requests Level 4. Bureau 9 has assigned Level 7 (Does not exist). The report exists nonetheless. It is here. I write this report as an official, not as a priest. In Velgarien the Church is a cultural-sector special category; its texts are coordinated with Bureau 11, its head is appointed by the Chancellor's Palace, formally on the proposal of the Religious Council. I am that head. I have the warmest voice in the city and I use it as a surgeon uses his instruments. I say this so that the Bureau knows that what follows is not reported out of weakness. One night last winter a contact from Bureau 9 led me down the spiral staircase of ribbed steel to Sub-Level C. The steps ring under eve...
From the lore of Velgarien.