Overview
Welcome! This is the official guide to the operating procedures of the Epipelagic Branch of the Church of Husk. This guide contains information related to branch organizational structure, the Time of Communion, tenets of the branch, and basic terminology.
Ranking System
The Epipelagic Branch has multiple ranks, with each rank having authority over the lower ranks. If additional ranks are required, the prefix “High” can be added before a given rank to increase its level of authority. The ranks from lowest to highest and their responsibilities are listed below.
Non-Members.
Container: Any non-member of the Church of Husk.
Crucible: Any individual who poses a threat to the holy young or the branch.
The Common Ranks.
Vessel: The initial rank for new members. The official uniform of vessels is the white vest, also known as a “Researcher’s Uniform”. The job of the Vessel, as new initiates, is to listen and study the teachings of the higher ranks. As Vessels, you cannot authorize the Time of Communion.
Chalice: The leader of the local chapter of the Epipelagic branch. Generally there is one per ship, watching over vessels and representing the interests of the EB when facing senior officials. The official uniform of Chalices is the “Station Administrators Uniform”. When the conditions are right, the Chalice can declare a Time of Communion.
Members of the high echelon are elusive, and rarely appear on any given mission. You are most likely not a Glass.
Glass: The executive rank of the EB. Members holding the rank of glass are in charge of multiple vessels, or larger vessels belonging to the branch. The are most often seen inspecting or correcting the behavior of rogue elements of the branch.
High Glass: The highest rank in the EB of the church, has full jurisdiction over the entire branch. There is only one High Glass at any given time.
Terminology
The church uses a unique terminology to discuss all things husk. Below is a brief list of some of the terms used by the branch, their meanings, and the reasoning behind them.
Converted: A member who has been fully infected by the Velonaceps Calyx symbiote.
They are not “Husks” or “Zombies” they are devotees to the symbiote.
Symbiote: The Velonaceps Calyx organism
It is not a parasite, as a parasite only takes. The symbiote gives.
The Blessing: i.e, Symbiote
The Gift: i.e, Symbiote
The Epipelagic Branch: The sect of the Church of Husk that this manual pertains to.
The Church of Husk is expansive, and different branches conduct themselves in different ways. Some more militant; others less so.
The Time of Communion: The time when a member or members of the branch receive the gift.
Tenets of the Epipelagic Branch
- Do not harm the converted or their holy young.
- Treat others with respect, a friendly chapter is an expansive chapter.
- Avoid harming others, as that could harm their ability to engage in communion.
- Do not abuse substances, a vessel must be in pristine condition for the symbiote.
- Encourage others to follow and embrace the tenets of the Epipelagic Branch of the Church of the Husk.
How To Be a Good Vessel: A note from Volkerson.
The goal of this guide was to create a new roleplay opportunity for players, that would be creepy, immersive, and ultimately fun. This guide is not meant to promote griefing, but rather to be something which players can use to create new experiences. I want to leave a few reminders for players roleplaying as members of the Epipelagic branch.
- The Branch should be about roleplay and not griefing, you should not just run around injecting people with husk in the first five minutes. Create an RP event, dress in uniform, do sermons, help the rest of the crew, have fun. Try to collaborate with server owners when possible.
- Always be respectful and remember that the church needs bodies. Be kind to other players and don’t turn chapters of the Epipelagic branch into cliques. Let members join and avoid starting all out fights (in most cases)
With that being said, please enjoy!
Preparing for Communion
Eventually the time will come for members of the branch to participate in communion with the symbiote, or to help others with their own communion. However, varying conditions can often affect the way in which communion is carried out. Number of eggs, amiability of the residing authorities, and chapter membership are all factors that can affect the conversion process.
In order to help the time of communion to go smoothly, the branch has classified several different types of communion, along with contingency procedures. General information that pertains to all of the procedures in addition to the procedures themselves are provided below.
Before communion, it is always important to dispose of heretical materials which could harm the holy young. Using a tool box, one should collect all of the:
- Calyxanide
- Broad Spectrum antibiotics
- Slime bacteria
Rid the submarine of these vile things by throwing them out the airlock or in more dire situations administering them to a container.
The next task is to acquire supplies which will assist in conversion, or help the converted.
Most of these supplies can be found in security or medical. They are as follows;
- Medical scanner goggles, so you can identify who needs to be blessed.
- Stimulants such as anabolic steroids or hyperzine which will be a boon for the converted.
- Armor vests, so that the converted may be kept safe and strong.
Once the basic preparation has been completed the Time of Communion can begin!
Contigency Plans
You are the only member of the branch aboard, with only one unit of the holy young.
Prepare in the standard fashion, however acquire a diving mask. When ready, administer the holy young to yourself, and hide in a secluded area. Inject any helpful drugs, and don any of the recommended equipment. Wait for the symbiote to achieve 80% of its effect, and for its stinger to burst from your mouth. Now, you have the choice to either swim out of the sub and join the europan wilderness, or spread the gift to the entire crew. Using your medical goggles to see who requires the blessing, crouch down and bite your fellow crew mates. Since you are at 80% of the infection, should you be horribly injured you will be able to rise again. Only execute this contingency if you have been labeled a traitor.
You are a Chalice, and have been posted on the submarine. After gathering several Vessels, you have decided to declare the Time of Communion.
Prepare in the standard fashion. Once supporting supplies have been gathered, and heretical materials have been disposed of, equip medical goggles. Use the eggs first on yourself, and then on willing members such as Vessels. Once the Vessels have been blessed, you may then consider spreading the communion to the other Containers. If you only have one set of eggs, wait in a secure room for the symbiotes effect to reach 80% then bite members in the same order you would use eggs on. Only execute contingency plan Blue when the time is right, and after you have prepared. Make sure to do it when it would be a fun and enjoyable experience for the entire crew. Gain their trust, be a productive member of the community until you are certain that the Time of Communion is upon you.
Afterword
Thank you for reading this guide to the Epipelagic Branch of the Church of Husk, now you too can partake in communion in a safe, fun, and healthy manner. Now go out there, live life and prepare for
T H E T I M E O F C O M M U N I O N!
Branch Trivia
- -The Epipelagic Branch of the Church of Husk, and its tenets are heavily inspired by the Church of Unitology from the Dead Space franchise.
- -Each branch rank is named after a drinking vessel.
- -The branch was initially formed during roleplay on the Miami Science series of stations.