This story will not be for the faint of heart, containing references to cannibalism, murder and possibly high levels of gore. You have been warned.
One word, yet so full of meaning for the peoples of Rheinland and Kusari, a plague on both the houses. A plague of murder and visceral crimes. Crimes so horrific theyd made this facsimile of a man one of the most wanted single men in both the houses.
His crimes had made front page headlines whenever the details were given to the press, and hed become known by the name hed chosen to smear on each of the victims walls, with whatever appendage he had to hand, as it were. Syn.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
The creature referred to as Syn, upon his death, could not truly be described as human. Extensive modifications meant that his form was more animal than human. The considerable amount of cyber-replacements woven into his form could have accounted for his insanity, but it must be pointed out that Syn could not have been wholly sane to begin with.. His body dismorphia is apparent from the sheer number of facial and cranial implants this creature chose to place into himself, from cranial ridges to fangs and venom sacs beneath his tongue allowing him to spit poison. Cat’s eyes implants enabled him to see in the dark as well as auditory and olfactory enhancements that increased all senses.
His other modifications could be described as even more spectacular. His pelvis was modified for sockets which enabled him a choice of legs, one set digitigrades for better agility on land and one set for ship piloting. His arms were elongated and his hands equipped with razor sharp claws which were once again fitted with poison sacs under the claws enabling him to inflict paralysis on his chosen victims. His internal organs were nothing if not spectacular, Including a new heart and lungs for increased stamina, new kidneys and renal system for enhanced filtering, new gastro intestinal system allowing him to digest raw matter, such as his chosen delicacy, human flesh.
I found the first reference to Syn in a Rheinland news site. The details of his gory slaying of a young family were thankfully omitted but now so many years after his demise the police records from that time have been unsealed. And I have access to a most horrific account of the acts he perpetrated on that unfortunate trio.
Forgive my going into details but I feel that for an accurate description of this monster we must delve into something of the monstrosities perpetrated by this man.
Referring to the following image we can see that Syn’s methods are distinctly animalistic, involving a lot of rending and tearing, clearly the cuts and slashes show he was using a single bladed implement, from this we can deduce that at this point he had not yet received his claw implants, also his footprints indicate a standard human leg configuration, also indicative of his lack of leg replacements.
Perhaps the most telling image of this collection is the one of the young child of the family, not more than seven years old, she was eaten alive whilst paralysed. Able to watch her tormentor chewing through her limbs, it was not long before she died, and apparently Syn grew bored with her at this time, then moving on to the now paralysed father and mother. These two suffered similar fates but were much more resilient than the unfortunate daughter.
That is the end of today’s lecture, we’ll reconvene tomorrow.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Excerpt from a Historical Lecture by Dr. Irvine Shelling M.Phil
In the early half of the 9th century AS, Syn was incredibly active as a serial killer within the borders of the former Rheinland House, but as the first half of the century closed it was clear he had chosen to move to greener pastures, as it were. He effected a migration to the former Kusari House, and what prompted this migration will be the subject of today’s lecture.
In 812 AS Syn was particularly prolific, his murder count rising as high as 4 a week. However his lack of control and inability to hide any form of clue relating to his crimes were proving to be a useful tool for the authorities now closing in on him. The only thing in his favour was the police’s inability to find any data linking genetic material found at each of his crime scenes to any known human. From this it was assumed that records had been altered. In the latter half of 812 this fact was confirmed after the particularly violent death of known cortex hacker, Rafael Santiago. His death was clearly much more controlled than the usual crimes committed by Syn, but bore all the hallmarks of the creature now feared.
Collating the evidence from this scene showed that Santiago had hacked into the Rheinland Medical Records as well as the Federal Police’s database of genetic data and erased some 400 entries. The Federal Police assumed that one of those entries was Syn’s. They were right.
Syn’s last act in Rheinland, before his migration at least, was the brutal murder of two wealthy corporates, Herr and Frau Naumann. Their deaths sent shockwaves through the upper echelons of Rheinland society, both being dedicated to the cult of the Gottkanzler and well known in the social scene. Their deaths were particularly abhorrent; as such I will only go into surface detail. Syn had forced the couple to feast upon each other, high levels of psychotropic drugs were found in their systems and study of these led to the discovery that the victims would have been well aware of what they were doing, yet unable to stop it. This theme continued throughout the house, the staff also being subjected to hideous tortures. One police report describes the crime scene as a charnel house,. However, certain information came to light from this scene which finally allowed the police to discover exactly who Syn was, or at least used to be. Whoever he had started out life as, he was now, irrevocably, Syn.
We will take a short recess here. Fifteen minutes only.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Syn sat in the hovel, listening to the voices that had been his constant companions for the last 15 years. They beseeched and implored him to greater acts of depravity, in order to silence them he had no choice but to give them what they wanted. He had began to enjoy it recently, taking to marking his kills and leaving minor clues, the last one had been special though, exquisitely special. A wonder of depravity and pain, so visceral, so muchfun. This had been truly personal. Something he had been intending for the last few years. His own parents. What exuberance he had felt during those few hours, so little time to achieve his goals, but achieve them he had. It had felt so good to feed his mother to his father and vice versa. He had enjoyed one other thing, but that had taken time and more energy than even his parents had. In fact he still had further to go. .
The sounds from his hole suggested that his victim was awake. However the lack of screams were disconcerted. After all his victim should currently be staring at the entirety of his skin. Syn descended to where his victim was currently entangled. The former senior security officer of his parents company was sitting in a chair with his muscle structure fully on display. A powerful coagulant prevented the victim bleeding to death and being a former member of the BDM meant he was tougher than a normal Rheinlander. Too tough to succumb to the shock of what was hung in front of his eyes. However to Syn the scene was eminently disappointing. There on the floor was the victims tongue, bitten out by this man. Syn was enraged, violently enraged. The voices reached a crescendo driving him to violence. He lashed out at the man, raking him with his claws, the man smiled as Syn pounded on him, destroying tissue and causing the man untold damage. After a short time the man was merely a ragged husk, torn to pieces by the fury of Syn.
Syn collapsed into the mess. Exhausted but unsated. He decided that now was the time to leave, to find greener pastures.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Excerpts from a Historical Lecture by Dr. Irvine Shelling M.Phil
The arrival of Syn within the borders of the former Kusari house was met with shocked horror. The traditional Kusari were appalled at the inefficiency of the Rheinland Federal Authorities in capturing the man. However historical evidence suggests that it was not down to the inefficiency but rather down to the intelligence of Syn himself.
Syn’s egress must have been planned for weeks prior to his departure from Rheinland, and recent studies have a, as yet unproven theory as to how this might have been conducted. Syn’s appearance was very distinct and would have drawn serious inquiries from the RFP had he attempted to pass through any Rheinland Spaceport. His configuration would have been enough to involve the BDM and from there it would have only been a matter of time before he was captured and sent to his death. Clearly this was not to be tolerated. Syn turned to yet more radical modifications to effect his chosen migration. Installed deep within his, now metallic, body was a deep space survival mechanism which turned all his internal organs almost off in order to prepare the body for hibernation. Locked in the freezing cargo hold of a large form of transport, Syn would be safe from the elements outside. However the only difficulty know, would be actually finding a way to hide on the transport.
Syn’s chosen method, or at least his most likely chosen method, was to “post” himself to Kusari. Perhaps I should explain that better. Whilst in hibernation Syn exhibited no signs of life. Brain and body activity were almost down to nothing, and only minimal power was needed to keep him alive. In this fashion he was undetectable as anything other than mechanical parts. Of course upon visual inspection of whatever vessel he was contained in, he would be sure to be found, any form of scanner would only pick up mechanical parts. Syn, we believe, chose this method as his best option.
Syn marked his arrival in Kusari with his most spectacular slaying yet. His attack on a family home in the Hansu sector of Honshu was called truly abominable by the press. Six children were brutally murdered and dismembered for Syn’s depraved appetites, and the parents were forced to watch having no choice after Syn removed their eyelids.
When police arrived on the scene the parents were still alive and screaming, whilst forensic analysts could only account for five of the six dead children. The only clue as to the identity of the killer, and one which left no trace for doubt was the word SYN inscribed in blood on the walls and a discarded head, as if Syn had finished his work and thrown his “pen” aside.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Excerpt from Syn: Serial Killer and Monster by Dr. Irvine Shelling M.Phil
It is true I have dedicated much of my career to chart the depths of Syns mind and history. Some may say this life is wasted but I feel quite the opposite. In trying to understand Syn I have discovered things about myself that were I to have shared during my tenure would have forced me out of academia. However knowing full well that this will be my last text, I feel free to divulge the secrets I have kept hidden for the past seventy years.
First I must elaborate on the state of Syns mind during his last years, he was then feared not only as a planetside killer, but also as a capable fighter pilot, in the employ of an unknown and shadowy cabal. His modus operandi was to leave a ship without shields and nearly without life-support, board the vessel and committing his own brand of terrorism. His trademark had changed from his planetside bloodbath. To compensate for the lack of large surfaces upon which to scrawl his name, Syn took to arranging the corpses or what was left of them, on the outside of their vessels and then hitting the distress beacon. By the time help arrived Syn was long gone, but his handiwork remained.
Syns mind could only be described as unstable at this point, recruited by unknown hands to a group to which he never referred to by name. They fed his psychoses and neuroses to the point where they were able to direct him to do as they bid without fear of insubordination. His ship logs indicated a schizophrenic disorder, constantly referring to voices and their commands their incitement to ever increasing levels of violence and depravity. Where two victims were involved the depravity escalated, generally forcing one to perform vile acts on the other, only to be rewarded with Syns brand of praise.
It is these logs which lead me to discover my own inner demons, and to try to resolve them as best I could without giving in to temptation. However I was not always as successful as I had hoped.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Syn sat in the room of his latest victim. A sarririman in the employ of Kishiro he had attracted Syns attention three days ago, although possessing no children, by far Syns favourite victims, his acquaintances would be quite displeased by this mans death. A successful business man he would have risen highly in his chosen profession, but alas no longer. Syn had brutally cut short this mans career by the simple expedient of strangling him with his own intestines. Said organs now decorated his flat in a macabre depiction of the winter festival here in Kusari. The mans Skull was now being used as a bowl with various organs placed inside like hors douevres, as if Syn himself was expecting guests.
Syn gorged himself on the red meats now available to him before taking a now redundant limb with which to inscribe his name, it was always this last act which quietened the voices to a dull murmur, at least for a few days. During this time Syn would sleep and gather his needed energy.
Finishing his task Syn allowed himself a fanged smile, this victim had screamed and screamed until he finally could scream no longer. Knowing full well that the apartment was sound proofed enough, but Syn. Like most serial killers required an audience for his masterwork and thusly placed a most obvious clue to his crimes in the letterbox of the businessmans apartment. His left lung would give Syns art an unwilling audience. This was the first of his crimes for the Kusari State Police to deal with. Syn smiled to himself. His new life was going great already.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Excerpt from a Historical Lecture by Dr. Irvine Shelling M.Phil
It is noted and generally agreed that Syns multiple mental inadequacies are what caused him to become the monster he was, during the last years of his incarceration he was extensively tested for problems, and discovered to lack many of the social restrictions normally placed upon a child by their parents.
Clearly Syn did not have possession of a clear sense of right and wrong and his familial connections were distinctly lacking It was the combination of lack of familial connection and general dislike for humanity in general which caused Syn to murder his own family in such a horrific and barbaric fashion The Naumanns were greatly respected by their community and Syn was always noted as a dark and sombre child. However his true problems did not manifest until the age of about 14. His first act of anger was the brutal beating of one of his schoolyard friends, although friend is perhaps too strong a word for a man incapable of forming any bonds with his fellow man. The child beaten by Sterlyn was comatose for some 12 months before finally awaking and was said to be afflicted with harsh visions and nightmares until his death at Syns hands some 16 years later. Syn it seemed was not a man to forget.
The victim was decapitated with an implement unknown to forensic scientists, long after suggested to be a weapon forged by his eventual keepers, the Phantoms. But before he suffered this final indignity he was forced to watch the one person he could connect with after the incident earlier in life be tortured to death in a manned most unspeakable. It is likely the poor wretch was mad before his final end.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Excerpt from a Historical Lecture by Dr. Irvine Shelling M.Phil
Syns departure to Kusari was an unusual and incredible act of either lunacy or genius. Unable to pilot a ship himself at this time, he decided to stow away on a transport heading for Kusari. Known to be hunted and aware his appearance would give rise to serious questions, Syn had to affect a plan to allow himself to infiltrate the spaceport without being discovered by the RFP. His plan was simple, effect a distraction of such magnitude he would be able to access the spaceport without question. He did so in his usual brutal manner.
Finding an alley near the entrance to the spaceport, he set himself up as a beggar, the first person to stop by him would also be the last, such was the case for Katarina Von Haumkapf, a young woman merely 22 years of age. On her way home from work, it would be the last walk she ever took. News programs reported her death as tragic and unnecessary. For Syn it was entirely necessary. He took the young woman to one side and then without pause or comment, gouged out her eye. Forensic reports show she was unable to scream due to intense pressure being placed on her mouth at the time. The pressure was so great that her jaw was fractured in four places. When he did finally release her mouth, it would seem she opened it to scream, Syn then ripped out her tongue with his teeth. For one small moment she must have thought this was going to be a very unpleasant rape, but even that would have been preferable to what was to come next. Unable to scream and bleeding from her eye socket she resisted as Syn proceed to flay the skin off her right arm with his claws. He took his time and by the time he had finished the poor girl had passed out from shock. This signalled the end of the game for Syn, simply tearing out her heart with his prodigious strength.
Moving out onto the street he allowed a blood trail to follow him and dropped her heart in the middle of the sidewalk. Then he moved to an innocuous position outside of the spaceport. When Ms. Von Haumkapf was found he simply slipped into the port whilst the RFP manning the gates were investigating..
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.