Per 
[[>]]
[[/>]]
SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXXX-2 in Primary Formation
Item Number: SCP – XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures:
Both SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXX-2 are to be stored in the formation depicted above at all times.
SCP-XXXX is to be kept in a 1.5-metre x 2-metre cabinet, locked with numerical keypad in the Archival Rooms of the Old Rectory Reliquary Site in [REDACTED], England. The code to the cabinet is restricted to Senior Research Staff. SCP-XXXX can be handled and/or moved with thick gloves with no adverse effects. At least two personnel should be present when studying SCP-XXXX, and gloves/high coverage items of clothing should be worn at all times with the exception of D-Personnel test subjects.
Description:
SCP-XXXX-1 is a carved wooden staff/statuette depicting a crude open-palmed hand, measuring approximately 30cm in height and 4.5cm in width. The material is solid, untreated English Yew (taxus baccata) and despite its pristine condition, primary construction dates back to the British Isles approx. 1450.
Historic analysis denotes the rough finish of the staff shows basic hammer and chisel work, much unlike the skilled sculptural carpentry of the Late Gothic/Early Renaissance Period that have survived to be observed in the present day. SCP-XXXX-1 resides upon SCP-XXXX-2; a carved stone plinth, construction of which dates to the neoclassical period of the 1800’s. Dr Harold Cartwright of the ██████ Historical Society briefly linked SCP-XXXX-1 to religious depictions of the Hand of Benediction in European Christian iconography; however the open palm symbol does not manifest in icons of this era.
Furthermore, SCP-XXXX-1 does not overtly represent other religious depictions of hands such as the Middle-Eastern Hamsa or the Palm of Buddha as presented at this time.
Phenomena surrounding SCP-XXXX-1 is only present upon direct contact with skin; however anomalous effects are amplified greatly when SCP-XXXX-1 is removed from SCP-XXXX-2.
Noted phenomena upon contact with SCP-XXXX in its PRIMARY formation are as follows:
- Phase 1: Subjects describe a warmth/prickling sensation in a 5cm radius upon area of contact with SCP-XXXX-1. Effects dissipate around 30 seconds after releasing object.
- Phase 2: Subject will become drowsy/trance-like after contact with object for over approx. 3 minutes. Drowsiness dissipates within 1 minute or so of relinquishing contact.
- Phase 3: The trance phase ends around the 10 minute contact mark; upon which the subject will become alert but unaware of their current surroundings. Subjects will often speak in coherent sentences, but only in Anglo Saxon (Old English). An attempted interview with D-3387 and Dr Cartwright is logged below. Text has been transcribed and translated with the help of Dr. P of the Languages and Dialects department.
INTERVIEW 361 – O.R. RELIQ. – RECORD ROOM [REDACTED] APRIL [REDACTED], 1982
Dr Cartwright: Good afternoon, D-3387. Please state your name and describe the room to me.
(D-3387 looks away from Dr Cartwright and up towards the ceiling. D-3387 begins to show outward signs of stress and shivering despite no changes in ambience or temperature)
D-3387: O Síþwíf Ceald… Ic biddan… <Oh Cold Lady… I ask…>
Dr Cartwright: D-3387, can you please respond to me? Can you hear what I’m- (Subject begins to speak mid-sentence as if Dr Cartwright is not present.)
D-3387: Ic biddan Síþwíf Fréorig beinnan sealtmere… Ic andgietléast.. <I ask the Frozen Lady in the [marsh/mere]… I want [understanding?]>
Dr Cartwright: D-3387, I would like you to respond to me.
D-3387: Ic biddan forgiefnes… ic ðú gierne… [unintelligible] <I [want/ask for] forgiveness… I beg you…>
Dr Cartwright: D-3387 is unable to respond to audible cues during attempts at conversation. Subject is sweating and violently shivering.
D-3387: (Begins sobbing) Ic ðú gierne… Ic ðú gierne… Mín folm Ic bēode <I beg you… I beg you… I offer mine hand>
Dr Cartwright: D-3387 can y-
D-3387: (Sobbing and prostrating) Beċeorf mín folm of dylsta! Ic ðú gierne! <Cut off mine hand of filth! I beg you!>
END OF INTERVIEW
- All test subjects during this state referred directly to:
1. A Cold/Frozen/Frigid Woman/Lady
2. A marsh/bog/area of wetland.
3. A plea of forgiveness/fealty and offer of the left hand (or both hands in Secondary Formation).
- Attempts to discover the exact location of said marsh has failed due to the lack of coherence between subject and Dr Cartwright, although estimates have been drawn between the found location of the object and the Doxey Marshes of the West Midlands.
- Prolonged contact with SCP-XXXX-1 in the Primary Formation (2 hrs or more) produces the aforementioned mental response, as well as a physical response (Phase 4) in which the left hand begins to wither and blacken due to rapid necrosis of the tissue. All subjects whom have come into contact with SCP-XXXX for prolonged periods were quarantined and given emergency amputations of the left hand within 24 hrs of first contact. The necrosis appeared to terminate halfway down each subject’s left forearm, after which it ceases to spread.
- Brain scans carried out during the contact sessions showed immediate shrinking of the hippocampus (approx. 20%) and the amygdala (approx. 35%); similar to those affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder, which may explain the sudden ‘switch’ between personalities.
- Even after prolonged periods in contact with SCP-XXXX, most test subjects returned to their original mental state within four hours of no contact. Subject D-8871 was left with severe confusion, dizziness and inability to speak for 48 hrs after first contact. Subject D-8871 has since returned to previous state with no adverse affects. All subjects cannot recall the period of contact with SCP-XXXX bar the first minute or so.
- The subjects who received amputations appeared physically normal otherwise, and remained in good health before relocation.
Should SCP-XXXX-1 be REMOVED from SCP-XXXX-2, (Secondary Formation) the subject in contact will immediately enter into Phase 3. During two trials, SPECT brain imaging showed extremely distinct asymmetry in the left and right temporal lobe; contrasting with previously similar lobe activity before testing.
This again adds to the hypothesis of a mental ‘switch’ to an entirely different persona. In Formation 2 testing, BOTH hands and forearms of each subject were subject to necrosis, resulting in double amputations in four personnel after contact of over 2 hours in the Secondary Formation. Mental states were drastically altered for several days following initial contact, the longest being of D-3391 who subject suffered severe dizziness, confusion and inability to speak coherently. Subject has since returned to previous mental state and relocated.
Addendum 1 █/06/82:
Dr. P of the Languages and Dialects department found that the specific dialect used upon contact with SCP-XXXX-1 predates the object by approx. 300 years. Both SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXXX-2 were X-rayed and were found to contain two bronze figures (SCP-XXXX-3 and SCP-XXXX-4) similar to the primary hand shape, around 2 x 0.5 inches. Samples taken from either object via micro-drilling dates the objects to as early as 1100AD. SCP-XXXX-3 (contained within SCP-XXXX-1) points upwards, whereas SCP-XXXX-4 (contained within SCP-XXXX-2) points downwards. Dr. Cartwright suggested this could be a nod to the aphorism ‘As Above, So Below’ associated with Hermetic scripture and the Tarot, although this cannot be concluded.
Addendum 2 █/11/82:
Tests with contact given to SCP-XXXX-2 only have garnered little to no response in subjects. It appears to be merely a catalyst of sorts for SCP-XXXX-1. Further experiments into the behaviour of the two objects in conjunction with each other will be carried out at a later date.
