Azulryu

[[The Cup & Ball Game]]

Item # SCP-4071

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures:

SCP-4071’s containment area is located on Site-62 secured inside a 4’x4’ steel observation room. SCP-4071 is to be secured within its pressurized steel cylindrical container in stacked formation at all times unless authorized by Site Director {REDACTED}. Small objects that could otherwise fit into SCP-4071’s cups are to be confiscated prior to entrance of SCP-4071’s containment room. All personnel entering SCP-4071’s containment room are to wear hazard suits devoid of any articles of wear to avoid potential object insertion. Any objects produced by SCP-4071 are to be confiscated immediately by Class C personnel and provided to Site Director {REDACTED} for further containment. Class C personnel are also to dry surfaces affected by SCP-4071. Since the events of Experiment 2C (see note) and Incident I-9709 (see note), only D-Class personnel authorized by Site Director {REDACTED} are allowed direct interaction with SCP-4071 during experimentation.

Separating any cups further than 4 feet 9 inches from any other cup is to be avoided - if cups are moved or move outside this perimeter and relocate themselves outside of intended placement, they are to be carried in stacked formation as a set back into containment. Any and ALL internal observation of SCP-4071’s cups during its “game” are forbidden. All personnel in this way are forbidden from utilizing SCP-4071 as a game unless authorized by Site Director {REDACTED}. All personnel involved in experiments associated with SCP-4071 are to be physically examined prior to and post experiment to see if any member has been marked. Marked individuals will be escorted via Level 5 personnel and undergo Class E containment procedures after SCP-4071’s game.

Since Incidents J-234 & J-235, some members have discussed whether SCP-4071 should enter Euclid Class. O5 Council Member {REDACTED} has since instructed that SCP-4071 should remain Safe and allow for experiments to continue, placing Site Director {REDACTED} as head of containment procedures.

Description:

SCP-4071, or “The Cup & Ball Game” as it’s currently called, are three small cups that have the appearance and temperature of brass but the texture and weight of smooth bone. Each of these cups is accentuated with a single scratch mark as if scored with a talon or claw. The cups were discovered on a street corner in [REDACTED} on //19— being utilized as a side act for a self-declared street magician.

SCP-4071’s intended purpose appears to be to lure people into playing its game. If a small object is placed beneath any of the cups, the cups will begin to shuffle themselves at a slow and predictable pace - the pattern of which remains consistent (only one object may be placed inside one cup at one time otherwise SCP-4071 will not begin its game). Once shuffling has commenced, the player must select a single cup at which point the cup will lift up to indicate whether or not the selection was correct via revealing another object or none - the original object placed inside the cup is lost in this way and its whereabouts become unknown. A selection can be understood as a gesture, touching the cup, and in some cases, implicit thoughts suspected to be understood via some form of telepathy. If anything attempts to move the cups prior to final selection, the cups will stay in place and any and all attempts to move them appear impossible until a reveal has been made and SCP-4071 “resets” its game.

Only sentient beings were thought to be required to play SCP-4071’s game, however since Experiment 7.5A (see note), this has since been challenged and further research is required. In 0 cases has there ever been a non-selection. Despite the placed object’s obvious location due to the predictable shuffling, the object’s actual whereabouts appear completely unknown despite multiple forms of trackers. Trackers, however, have made it apparent that an object placed inside a cup “disappears” prior to the shuffling process. What occurs exactly inside SCP-4071’s cups during the game remains inconclusive and since the events of Incidents J-234 & J-235 (see note), internal visual observation is forbidden. Water condensation also appears on the surface where SCP-4071 is placed during the course of SCP-4071’s game. The presence of this condensation appears to originate from either one or two cups during each instance: the cup where an object is placed and the cup that SCP-4071 reveals after selection. Only the surface appears to be affected as the cups, after the game concludes, remain dry. Once SCP-4071 “resets” the game, SCP-4071 will not begin a another game until another object is provided.

“Winners” of SCP-4071’s game sometimes report a desire to keep the revealed object as a “gift” and also showcase a strong desire to continue playing to obtain said gifts. These reports eventually decline and some personnel will admit a feeling of “fulfillment” as well as a lack of desire to obtain more gifts (note: “Losers” will at times report a similar feeling of fulfillment despite losing, however these reports are less prevalent than that of winners). Not all winners appear to be affected by these desires. All objects revealed by SCP-4071’s cups differ from the original object placed and do not appear to have any consistency between them - this is with the exception of Experiment 2C (see note) in which Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} placed their keycard in one of the cups, won, and was provided the very same keycard. Most common objects provided by SCP-4071 include mechanical joinery such as bolts, screws, and wires, and general refuse such as rocks, debris, and pieces of concrete or wood.

One anomaly associated with SCP-4071 is that some players of the game have been found to be accompanied by the sudden appearance of a permanent scar along their left wrist. This scar appears similar to the claw mark on SCP-4071’s cups - exact reasons for this anomaly remain unknown and not all players receive these scars. SCP-4071 has also shown anomalous signs of teleportation. This has occurred when any of the cups are outside of an area past 5 feet 5 inches from any other cup at which point all of the cups will suddenly “wink” out of existence and appear adjacent to another cup’s location standing upright. At this time it remains inconclusive as to why SCP-4071 exhibits this behavior as the locations the cups travel to currently appear random.

Notes:

Experiment 2C:

Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} volunteered to join us for the second series of experiments. However, when directed to place a marble inside to detect whether sound was produced when SCP-4071’s cups moved, Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} disobeyed the directive and placed their keycard instead. SCP-4071 began to shuffle their cups at which point the experiment was allowed to proceed. Statistical computation placed the object within the right cup at 100% accuracy. However, Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} chose the left cup. SCP-4071 then lifted the left cup to reveal Assistant Researcher {REDACTED}’s very same keycard.

Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} was escorted for debriefing and the keycard was confiscated for testing and research prior to containment. The Research Facility found no anomalies within the keycard and confirmed it was the very same keycard originally provided to Assistant Researcher {REDACTED}. After debriefing and parole, Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} was provided a replacement keycard and transferred to Site-58.

Addendum 1:

//19—

Two days after transfer, Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} was involved in a small containment breach involving SCP-2324-A-1. It appeared that Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} accessed one of the adjacent cells to SCP-2324-A-1. However, when accessing this location, SCP-2324-A-1 was also released. Internal review found that Assistant Researcher {REDACTED}’s keycard had malfunctioned and caused a short-circuit through the system, releasing an instance of SCP-2324-A. Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} was later to be confirmed infected after this exposure and their body later expunged to avoid further breaching.

Addendum 2:

//20—

Re-examination of Debriefing Record reported that Assistant Researcher {REDACTED} was found to have a claw-like scar on their left wrist at the time of debriefing. However, no mark was observed when Assistant Researcher {REDACTED}’s body was exhumed. It remains unknown as to whether interaction with SCP-2324’s infection caused this anomaly.

Experiment 7.5A:

A D-Class personnel was used in this experiment and directed to place a 1x1 acrylic 2-holed button inside one of SCP-4071’s cups. The object was placed in the center cup and shuffling commenced. During the slow shuffle routine, D-Class personnel was removed and replaced with an electronic mechanical arm set to “point” at a random cup - selection was randomly generated. The mechanical arm selected the center cup at which point there was a delay and SCP-4071 did not seem to respond. Eventually the left cup lifted revealing nothing. No marking was found on the D-Class personnel or the robotic arm.

Incident I-9709:

Head Researcher {REDACTED} oversaw Experiments 4D, 6.5C, 9D, and 10A. Players of SCP-4071’s game during Experiments 4D, 6.5C, and 10A produced objects whereas Experiment 9D’s player made an incorrect selection and was provided nothing. All players in this way were D-Class personnel. In Experiment 4D, SCP-4071 produced a triangular piece of clay pottery approximately 1x0.5x0.5 inches in diameter. Experiment 6.5C resulted in a rectantular piece of laminated floor tile approximately 2x3 inches. Whereas Experiment 10A resulted in producing a single steel hex bolt screw. Head Researcher {REDACTED} had confiscated the items and held them in a private sector of Quadrant 26D for containment. None of the D-Class personnel were reported to have SCP-4071’s mark.

Initially after Experiment 10A, Head Researcher {REDACTED} failed to show up for duty the next day. A Field Agent was dispatched to investigate and found {DATA EXPUNGED} spread over their kitchen. A ceiling box light appeared to have unhinged and decapitated the Head Researcher after they had apparently tripped over a broken floor tile. A missing hex bolt screw appeared to be the cause for the broken light as it hung only by a loose wire. Further investigation confirmed our suspicions. The floor tile piece fit and matched perfectly in the missing section of the tile, the hex bolt screw was also identical to the other screws that supported the ceiling box light. Both objects were found to be in Head Researcher’s personal possession alongside {DATA EXPUNGED}. Head Researcher {REDACTED}’s personal notes were also found and segments were added as an addendum to SCP-4071.

Addendum:

//19—

Piece of tile appears to gone missing from my dining room - matches SCP-4071’s gift. Will maintain observation and report later. Too important to return to containment, deserves to be put on display. Will buy a frame later today.

//19—

Second experiment was a success. Need more gifts, will have to be approved for 3rd.

//19—

Approval came through. Framed tile moved to center of kitchen - yields no notable observations or anomalies, perfect as is.

//19—

Note: Head Researcher {REDACTED} had built a shrine for the floor tile located in his kitchen where they also kept their personal notes. The hex bolt screw that was meant to be contained was found in a glass display container adjacent to their body. SCP-4071’s mark could not be located.

Incident J-234:

After the events of Experiment {DATA EXPUNGED}, all video recordings were extinguished to avoid duplication of the events. This was due to the fallout that occurred after the experiment where a surveillance camera was placed below a glass table for internal observation of SCP-4071’s cups. The only secure record kept was the audio recording and notes of the experiment:

{Disembodied Feminine Voice}: “This is Researcher --, performing Experiment on SCP-4071. —, do we have visual yet?”

{Disembodied Masculine Voice}: “We do mam, ready to proceed.”

{Disembodied Feminine Voice}: “Excellent. Bring it to the observation deck… *teleprompter sound* No current anomalies detected. *mic sound* You may begin.

“Please note. D-Class personnel has just placed a paperclip into the bottom of SCP-4071’s center cup. Please advise for obser- ——, are you getting this?”

{Disembodied Masculine Voice}: Smoke? Mist? It’s moving, they almost look like ten-.

{Disembodied Feminine Voice}: “It’s picking up the paperclip, something is appearing. Please note the appearance of a something akin to a black marble within the —- *multiple hard repeated slamming sounds with gurgling echo both directly and in the background* HNNNNGGHH HNNNNNNGGGH HNNNNNNNNGGHHHHHHHHH!!!! *choking noises*

…… *static*

Thus ends the audio recording. Experiment {DATA EXPUNGED} Staff were found dead at their stations - internal review found that all members suffered what appeared to be self-inflicted head trauma coupled by a grand mal seizure leading to swallowing their tongues and asphyxiating. Attempts to observe the video capture of Experiment {DATA EXPUNGED} has since resulted in Incident J-235 whereby both members of the review team, {REDACTED} and {REDACTED}, died in the exact same fashion. Visual of the event appears to be the catalyst of these deaths. To avoid further exposure and fallout, video recording of Experiment {DATA EXPUNGED} has been extinguished. Only the D-Class personnel was recorded to be alive. D-Class personnel reported that they placed the paperclip inside the center cup, watched SCP-4071 shuffle the cups, and then chose the right cup, which revealed nothing. D-Class personnel was later {REDACTED} following Incident J-235. Review of these incidents found that no member involved in Experiment {DATA EXPUNGED} showcased SCP-4071’s mark, including the D-Class personnel.

Addendum:

Head Researcher {REDACTED} has suggested a working theory that SCP-4071’s shuffling is actually a message. SCP-4071’s shuffle pattern is inscribed below:

— example —

Attempts at deciphering a message are currently underway.