[SIGHTING] Cult Activity

[Fly_Mulder]

[X]SIGHTING - [ ] UNCONFIRMED
[X]FIRST HAND - [ ]SECOND HAND - [ ] QUESTIONABLE

DATE OF ENCOUNTER: 10/22/95
SUSPECTED ENTITY: CULTISTS
APPLICABLE MYTHOS: WESTERN
LOCATION: CALIFORNIA, US

I'm pretty sure I stumbled upon a cult meeting this weekend. I'm a still a bit shaken, but figured I should share what I found with you all.
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It was a lovely Sunday. Since winter was near, I figured to get in a last good hike of the season and see if I can get any good pictures in while at it. There are some great trails near my condo, so with a small bag of essentials, I grabbed my camera and set off to the trial head.

I arrived a bit before sunset and was able to take my time hiking the rocky hills to finally get a picture of a stunning sunset at the peak. After basking in the last rays of the day, it was time to head back. Luckily the parking lot was just a quick jaunt back down the hill so I should be there well before dark when the rangers close the gates. Oddly though, I could see a new batch of hikers making their way onto the trial. Why would you show up after sunset? There's no camping here.

It wasn't until I made it to the lot that it hit me, I hadn't passed them on the way down.. Where did they go? Slightly curious and, upon reflection, incredibly stupid, I turned back to the trail and attempted to track them down. A few minutes of backtracking and I found their trail, a good number of footprints turned off the trail and headed down a ravine between the giant granite boulders. My Curiosity thoroughly piqued, my path followed theirs.

A few more minutes of walking later, I finally saw more proof than just tracks in the dirt. Packs. Set neatly along the trail, leading to a threshold where two massive boulders sat resting against each other. It was also about now that I started to notice a low, rhythmic drone. Heart racing, I slowly approach the pass. The light of dusk was beginning to fade, but still the path before me was clear, it wound up to a shallow depression at the top of the hill I had never seen.

Here, the hikers were no more. Dressed in dark blue robes, they stood around a stone arch in congregation. The Stars were bright above, When had it gotten so late? The drone which had been becoming steadily louder resolved into a chant. I don't know the language, but it felt off (I'm actively trying not to remember it). I crouched there behind a rock stunned for what felt like minutes, I'd not witnessed anything like this ever before. Even as a member of this forum, it was beyond my wildest dream (or nightmare) to do so.

Then she stood, and the chanting stopped. Back to me, Iron headdress towering above the rest, she rose her arms in supplication toward the arch and began to.. Preach? Intone? Beckon? Her volume wasn't loud enough to make out her words but I'm glad for that. Her appearance finally snapped me out of the fugue I was in. Perhaps against better judgment, I managed to take a picture of her. I'd have taken more, but my camera is a manual wind and i didn't want to risk the noise of a second. As quietly as possible, I snuck away from the gathering, back down the path and out the threshold. It seemed much brighter out here, the stars only barely starting to appear in the sky. Anyway, I hightailed it out of there and managed to make it back to the parking lot without incident. The ranger who normally closes up the park was no where to be seen and the gate was still open.

It wasn't until later that I realized how absolutely crazy this all would seem on retelling and how many questions I should probably just forget about. Who were they, what was that arch, what the hell did i just witness. My adrenaline had faded and fatigue set in. I slept poorly that night.
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I dropped off the film to get developed yesterday and managed to pick it up Just now. Here is the picture:



I think I might go back to the trail this week to see if I can find any more info. They shouldn't be back again so soon should they? Is there anything I should look out for? Does anyone have any ideas who these people are? Is this just one of those Larp things?

[Efthis]

Ominous and creepy. Did you go back there? I don't know if I'd go back there right away, maybe some careful research first.

[Fly_Mulder]

I went back yesterday, early in the day this time to hopefully avoid meeting them again. Being a public trail, It took a while to retrace the path with a whole week of new tracks cover. After about an hour of back and forth, trying to get my bearings I spotted the ravine. My memory of that night made it much more obvious, but now In the day light, it was obscured by brush and blended very well into the surrounding landscape. Cautiously I continued and followed the path. I found the threshold not long after. Same as before, but much to my relief, devoid of packs this time.

With on a few moments hesitation, I crossed the threshold and climbed the winding path up to the gully once more. Again, it seemed darker.. later in the day than when I entered the path. The gully was empty thank goodness. At its center stood the Stone arch. Monolithic. Ancient. Daunting. I have no idea how they managed to build the thing this far from an access road, it must have weighted tons. The outer surface was a smooth, I could see a wavy striation in it (My Rock Hound buddy calls it Gneiss). The inside of the arch however was uneven. Like the smooth ripple of chipped obsidian. I made very sure not to enter or pass through the arch.

At the base of the arch lay what I only be the remnants of a ritual? A triangle pointed away from the arch was traced in the sand, packed with a white powder or ash. At the western point was a iron cup, still filled with a viscous white fluid. In the center, a square plate holding some type of animal brain with a rattle snake encircling it. Now, you'd expect after a week in the California elements the smell of this would be absolutely vile, but the air here smelled of tobacco and sage.

I experienced a myriad of emotion there. Revulsion at the display, intrigue into its meaning, the general unease that had been building since arriving. It was only when I glanced up at the arch and realized I was standing where She was did I feel watched... Seen. Every hair stood. The familiar sensation of ice cold adrenaline washed over me. Starting from behind my ears, down my back and across my limbs. Crouched there frozen, staring through the arch waiting for my lizard brain to decide between fight or flight, I swear I saw something. A ripple in the air like the heat rising off the hot pavement. Flight? Yup, Flight!

As much as I'd like to describe the next few minutes as a "Sensibly expeditious retreat" I assure you it wasn't. It wasn't until I emerged from the raven, sweating and sporting a few new scrapes and bruises, did I regain my composure. I collected myself and made my way home and preformed Nik's cleansing shower ritual -[[First Hand] [Unconfirmed] I Think I Did Magic]

I feel pretty ok now. A bit sore and exhausted, but overall just fine. No sense of being watched or anything otherwise strange. Depending on how I feel in the coming days, I was thinking of borrowing a trail camera from my dad. Its a camouflaged automatic camera that snaps pictures when it detects movement. I might set it up in the ravine to see if I cant get any more pictures of them.... I must be out of my mind.

[JPalmer]

Sounds to me like you're in way over your head. Some things are best left undisturbed and unknown.
Your skin is worth more than some knowledge, regardless of how interesting. Who's to say these cult folks aren't the reason you don't see the Ranger anymore?
Even if you've cleansed yourself and you're fine at the moment. Someone - Or something - noticed you. Maybe they can't locate you right now, but they might be prepared for you to show up again. What if they jump you and punish you for not minding your own business?

Take my advice, stay away from that. If you don't.. Bring a friend you trust. Safety in numbers!