History NightmareFuel / MysteryFleshPitNationalPark

* In a disturbing [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] of the MonsterClown trope, the Circus Clown Chymus deserves special mention. As the result of a [[TooDumbToLive circus stunt above the Superorganism]] GoneHorriblyWrong, 50 circus performers fell down the Superorganism's throat. After hours of searching by rescue workers, they found all 50 stunt performers [[BodyHorror melted together by digestive fluids]] And in an attempt to reduce the acidic effects of the fluids on the performers, the workers sprayed the mound with an antacid. However, the spray instead [[TakenForGranite flash-calcified the screaming mound]], creating a birthday cake-colored rock formation out of the mound. It's never stated whether or not [[AndIMustScream the performers are still alive.]]

--->''10:16 PM July 4th - Many guests attempting to flee the stalled elevator near the entry orifice attempt climbing out the upper moisture crop [[YankTheDogsChain but are ultimately unsuccessful]] due to torrential rains causing the surfaces to become very slippery. Many end up falling back into the maw.\\

** It's implied here and there, and then outright ''confirmed'' - in the story, there's an ancient Sumerian slab that describes a deity referred to as "𒀭𒄿𒋾," whose name roughly translates from Sumerian to "living underworld." Don't get the memo? ''There are more Superorganisms yet to be unearthed.''

* Yet another formation is the Well of the [[HumanoidAbomination Abhumans.]] A fluid duct discovered in the early 80s that was cut open and found to be not only full of formaldehyde, but also contained the remains of three heavily decayed mammals partially preserved by the formaldehyde. Their remains were initially believed to be human, but careful examination suggested otherwise. The [[MindScrew scary part]] comes from the radiological dating of the bones. Not only are two of the three organisms [[FishOutOfTemporalWater dated]] ''[[FishOutOfTemporalWater long]]'' [[FishOutOfTemporalWater back]] (one dated from the 10th century A.D., and the other all the way back to ''35,000 B.C.''), but the third specimen was determined to have bones made from a '''[[BizarreAlienBiology plastic polymer material]].'''

* Yet another formation is the Well of the [[HumanoidAbomination Abhumans.]] A fluid duct discovered in the early 80s that was cut open and found to be not only full of formaldehyde, but also contained the remains of three heavily decayed mammals partially preserved by the formaldehyde. Their remains were initially believed to be human, but careful examination suggested otherwise. The [[MindScrew scary part]] comes radiological dating of the bones. Not only are two of the three organisms [[FishOutOfTemporalWater dated]] ''[[FishOutOfTemporalWater long]]'' [[FishOutOfTemporalWater back]] (one dated from the 10th century A.D., and the other all the way back to ''35,000 B.C.''), but the third specimen was determined to have bones made from a '''[[BizarreAlienBiology plastic polymer material]].'''

* Another formation within the pit worth noting is the Peeking Druid. Hundreds of years ago, a stampede of a thousand migrating buffalo were swallowed by one of the Superorganism's orifices, and underwent "simultaneous mass amalgamation," merging into an enormous, immobile mass of constantly suffering animals, that was able to survive for ''centuries'' by [[{{Autocannibalism}} eating itself]]. Eventually, the Superorganism grew a cocoon of flesh around the fuse stampede in an attempt to digest it, but the hundreds of horns were able to pierce a hole into the tissue (forming the Druid). Up until 2007 at least, the majority of the herd was ''[[AndIMustScream still alive]]'', trapped and tormented, but nonetheless displayed to hikers and guests just like the Chymus.

** A lot of the park's [[https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/hnlqho/mystery_flesh_pit_national_park_major_parasitic/ other fauna]] aren't much better in terms of looks. You know how animals that live in caves and/or deep underwater tend to look rather freaky due to the extreme adaptations they had to evolve in order to survive? Now imagine that, except the cave is the throat and gullet of a giant EldritchAbomination a la the [[Franchise/StarWars sarlacc]]. Some highlights include the Venous Shamble (a worm-like creature with veins for limbs), the Greater Ballast Siren (a giant, fleshy, tentacled... ''thing'' that secretes ballast fluid) and the Amorphous Shame (a loose tangle of organs, veins and membranes that's [[BodyHorror actually a mustelid relative]])

** A lot of the park's [[https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/hnlqho/mystery_flesh_pit_national_park_major_parasitic/ other fauna]] aren't much better in terms of looks. You know how animals that live in caves and/or deep underwater tend to look rather freaky due to the extreme adaptations they had to evolve in order to survive? Now imagine that, except the cave is the throat and gullet of a giant EldritchAbomination. Some highlights include the Venous Shamble (a worm-like creature with veins for limbs), the Greater Ballast Siren (a giant, fleshy, tentacled... ''thing'' that secretes ballast fluid) and the Amorphous Shame (a loose tangle of organs, veins and membranes that's [[BodyHorror actually a mustelid relative]])

* Yet another formation is the Well of the [[HumanoidAbomination Abhumans.]] A fluid duct discovered in the early 80s that was cut open and found to be not only full of formaldehyde, but also contained 3 living organisms [[BodyHorror in serious decay]], but otherwise [[AndIMustScream preserved by the formaldehyde.]] However, the [[MindScrew scary part]] comes from the discovery that the 3 living organisms are not only ''not'' human, and not only are two of the three organisms [[FishOutOfTemporalWater dated]] ''[[FishOutOfTemporalWater long]]'' [[FishOutOfTemporalWater back]] (one dated from the 10th century A.D., and the other all the way back to ''35,000 B.C.''), but the third specimen was determined to have bones made from a '''[[BizarreAlienBiology polymer material]].'''

--->''10:16 PM July 4th - Many guests attempting to flee the stalled elevator near the entry orifice attempt climbing out the upper moisture crop [[YankTheDogsChain but are ultimately unsuccessful]] due to torrential rains causing the surfaces to become very slippery. Many end up falling back into the maw.
--->''10:27 PM July 4th - Peristaltic action crushes one of the tour vehicles and sucks the other two vehicles back into the nexial cavity and down into a digestive organ. [[UncertainDoom These vehicles are presumed destroyed]].''
--->''11:42 PM July 4th - Radio contact established with ranger vehicle trapped within "Oyster's Shame." Due to ventricle closure, no feasible rescue strategy can be developed before [[EatenAlive complete mastication occurs]].''
--->''12:35 AM July 5th - Three inter-pit lifeforms are identified as having been ejected onto the surface. Fifteen visitors are injured and seven are hunted by inter-pit lifeforms during panicked evacuation of surface resort.''

** A lot of the park’s [[https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/hnlqho/mystery_flesh_pit_national_park_major_parasitic/ other fauna]] aren’t much better in terms of looks. You know how animals that live in caves and/or deep underwater tend to look rather freaky due to the extreme adaptations they had to evolve in order to survive? Now imagine that, except the cave is the throat and gullet of a giant EldritchAbomination. Some highlights include the Venous Shamble (a worm-like creature with veins for limbs), the Greater Ballast Siren (a giant, fleshy, tentacled...thing that secretes ballast fluid) and the Amorphous Shame (a loose tangle of organs, veins and membranes that's [[BodyHorror actually a mustelid relative]])

--->''11:42 PM July 4th - Radio contact established with ranger vehicle trapped within "Oyster's Shame". Due to ventricle closure, no feasible rescue strategy can be developed before [[EatenAlive complete mastication occurs]].''

*** Also of note is a report from the Department of Energy (probably developed in the wake of the 2007 disaster, although this is never stated explicitly), exploring the likely outcome if the military had chosen to exercise its nuclear option. Only the cover is seen in the post, which leaves a lot of details to the imagination, but the overall conclusion is obvious anyway. Nuclear weapons, bombs more powerful than anything else made by mankind, capable of ending Western Civilization over the course of an hour or so, would be utterly useless if the Permian Basin Superorganism were to wake up and "enter an active phase".

* Yet another formation is the Well of the [[HumanoidAbomination Abhumans.]] A fluid duct discovered in the early 80's that was cut open and found to be not only full of formaldehyde, but also contained 3 living organisms [[BodyHorror in serious decay]], but otherwise [[AndIMustScream preserved by the formaldehyde.]] However, the [[MindScrew scary part]] comes from the discovery that the 3 living organisms are not only ''not'' human, and not only are two of the three organisms [[FishOutOfTemporalWater dated]] ''[[FishOutOfTemporalWater long]]'' [[FishOutOfTemporalWater back]] (one dated from the 10th century A.D., and the other all the way back to ''35,000 B.C.''), but the third specimen was determined to have bones made from a '''[[BizarreAlienBiology polymer material]].'''

** And it gets ''so much worse.'' [[https://nasa-oic-va-gov.tumblr.com/ NASA scanned Venus' surface using X-rays]] and found [[https://i.imgur.com/8oTGueT.jpeg something there.]] In a WhamShot to remember, there's what appears to be ''the fossilized remains of an Immanis colosseus'' buried underground, and hydrazine[[note]]A key ingredient in rocket fuel[[/note]] was found in the rocks around the fossil. The implications are very clear considering what we know about the Pit, and they're not good.

* Another formation within the pit worth noting is the Peeking Druid. Hundreds of years ago, a stampede of a thousand migrating buffalo were swallowed by one of the Superorganism's orifices, and underwent "simultaneous mass amalgamation," merging into an enormous, immobile mass of constantly suffering animals, that was able to survive for ''centuries'' by [[{{Autocannibalism}} eating itself]]. Eventually, the Superorganism grew a cocoon of flesh around the fuse stampede in an attempt to digest it, but the hundreds of horns were able to pierce a hole into the tissue (forming the Druid). Up until 2007 at least, the majority of the herd was ''[[AndIMustScream still alive]]'', trapped and tormented, but nonetheless displayed to hikers and guests just like the Chymus.