A hardcover pamphlet that is barely 12 pages long. It has a portrait of a man on the cover who’s figure is fading at a rate faster than that of the rest of the cover.
The contents of the book is the short story “A school story” by M. R. James. The book states it was published 1910 despite “A school story” not being published until 1911 in a collection of stories not alone.
The book diverts from the original with the Latin warnings referencing a chapel in the fog. Sampsons Byzantine coin also differs having “J.W.1279” inscribed upon it. The coin is also later located near a country estate in Kent instead of its original location.
If read cover to cover the reader will disappear from the world. Reading one or two words of the Latin will allow the reader to hide from sight for a duration.
The Red Cap
Appearance:
A hardcover book titled “The Red Cap” it appears to be a 50 page Novelette. The cover is yellowed with a depiction of an old military hat of some sort depicted in its centre. The hat is obscured by layers of blood stains.
Plot:
In summary it is about an old heavily scarred man only ever called “Red Cap” gifting unusual knives that compel bloodshed without reason. Red Cap never harms anyone directly and comes across as a kind and well spoken individual when talking to victims. He appears after the bloodshed to soak his hat in the killers blood after their death.
Abnormality:
Reading it does not seem to cause any harm to the reader instead the cover seems to be where its power manifests.
Skin contact with the blood on the cover leaves bloodstains on the victim that is only visible to them and can not be removed. The stain will slowly grow over time.
The stains will begin to cause pain over time as well as heightened aggression. The only way to cease the pain is by coating the infected area in blood. This seems to only be temporary with diminishing effects. The only permanent cure is removal of the affected area.
Classification:
From Red Cap’s description as a mutilated old man wearing worn military attire to the random butchery his victims perform this book clearly belongs to the Slaughter. It will be stored in the appropriate wing and monitored.
The book is considered safe to access with the appropriate protection. Caution should still be taken when reading in case of any additional undocumented effects.
