[INTERNAL MEMO - CONFIDENTIAL]

From: The Archivist
To: The Inner Circle of the Pale Veil
Subject: Investigation Report on the New Acquisition: "How Chocolate Is Made"
Date: September 25, 2025

Overview:

Following the directive issued during our last conclave, I have conducted a thorough examination of the company, ChocoVérité LLC, which recently came into possession of Hollow Pines through undisclosed channels. This report details findings that not only shed light on their ostensibly simple operations but also hint at the involvement of The Choir, which may associate with broader implications for the Ashen Gospel.

1. Company Background:
ChocoVérité advertises itself as an artisanal chocolate maker, focusing on 'bean-to-bar' purity and ethical sourcing. Pre-acquisition documents indicate no prior connection to Hollow Pines or any known affiliates of the Pale Veil.

2. Acquisition Process: The purchase records were obscured by several shell companies. However, deeper investigation revealed insignia linked to The Choir in one of the ledgers (Refer to exhibit A — obscured ledger page with Choir symbol). The missing 13th page from the ledger (see Open Thread t2) remains unaccounted for.

3. Manufacturing Process:
a. Transcript of Tour Given by The Thin Boy (alias unknown)

Archivist: "Can you describe the process from the beginning?"

The Thin Boy: "Certainly. We start with the selection of beans. Only the finest cocoa beans are handpicked from our partner farms."

[Muffled sounds. Footsteps.]

The Thin Boy: "After selection, the beans are roasted. Roasting is both an art and a science. It transforms the beans, releasing complex flavors and aromas."

[Sounds of machines whirring.]

The Thin Boy: "Next is the winnowing process, where shells are removed to extract the pure cocoa nibs."

Archivist: "What happens to the shells?"

The Thin Boy: "Disposed of, mostly. But sometimes, they find other uses. Nothing is without potential."

[The sound of rustling papers — possibly the missing ledger pages?]

The Thin Boy: "The nibs are then ground into a fine cocoa mass — a pure, liquid essence. This is the soul of chocolate."

[A pause. A faint chanting in the background — akin to a hymnal verse of The Ashen Gospel.]

Archivist: "What is that sound?"

The Thin Boy: "The factory has its own rhythms, like a heartbeat. You get used to it."

b. Notes on Suspect Activities:
Post-winnowing operations are conducted in a restricted area where employees are not allowed. Observations indicate frequent visits by known members of The Choir. Surveillance footage shows these individuals carrying unmarked crates into the area.

4. Analysis of Byproducts:
Chemical analysis of discarded shells revealed trace amounts of an unknown compound, structured similarly to those found in glyphs related to the Ashen Gospel (refer to document on "Chemical Composition of Sacred Glyphs").

5. The Choir’s Involvement:
a. Exhibit B: Confiscated Audio Recording

[The sound of a low, continuous hum. Footsteps echoing.]

Unknown Voice 1 (UV1): "The batch from last week has been sanctified?"

Unknown Voice 2 (UV2): "Yes, sanctified and sent to the inner sanctum. The glyphs ensured the essence remained intact."

UV1: "And the outsiders?"

UV2: "Unaware. The process is hidden in plain sight. 'How chocolate is made,' indeed."

[Laughter.]

b. Marginal Note found in a Choir Bible:
In the margins of Page 78, obscured by chocolate stains, the text reads: “Utilize the essence in the Pale Veil sacraments. The confluence of taste and faith remains undetected.”

6. Discussion:
It is evident that ChocoVérité's operations are a front for Choir activities, potentially a new form of sacramental preparation or glyph activation utilizing the medium of chocolate. The ongoing mention of 'essence' and ‘sanctified batches’ align with forgotten practices detailed in subsection ◬ of the Ashen Gospel (refer back to Open Thread t1).

Conclusion and Recommendation:
There is a clear and present risk that The Choir is attempting to disseminate their influence more broadly through commonplace products. The missing 13th page of the ledger and the sanctified batches need immediate attention.

Further, I recommend an escalation in surveillance measures and possibly an intervention to halt these operations before the essence of the Pale Veil permeates any further into the unsuspecting public. A detailed examination of all ChocoVérité distributions should be initiated posthaste.

The Choir's Hymn (Overheard during last visit):
In the shadows of the ordinary, under the veil of night,
We bind the essence hidden, with the Pale Veil’s might.

Archivist’s Final Note:
As this investigation has unveiled, what’s unseen remains the most potent. "We do not sleep. We wait." They have been waiting in the most unexpected of places. As we decipher these tendrils of darkness woven into the mundane, consider this: every bite of sweetness may hold a whisper of the choir. What is not yet revealed sinks deeper, growing from within the shadows. We must remain vigilant.

[End of Report]