Item#: SCP-4405
Object Class: Keter
A photograph of the outermost interior of SCP-4405 taken by a drone.
Special Containment Requirements: Containment Site-██ is a 76,000-acre restricted zone surrounding SCP-4405. A cover story has been disseminated claiming this area has been chosen as a preservation habitat for reindeer. Access to SCP-4405 is prohibited to those of Level-3 and higher. Security teams are stationed at around the perimeter fence are to be changed every [REDACTED] hour. All personnel entering SCP-4405 are to be screened for emotional disturbances for up to 5 days. All civilians witnessing entities from SCP-4405 are to be to be administered Class-C amnestics. The preserve surrounding SCP-4405 is to by stocked biannually with reindeer, wild boar, and musk ox to sustain local populations of SCP-4405-A.
Personnel are forbidden to enter SCP-4405 under any circumstances unless for testing purposes. All unauthorized personnel within SCP-4405's boundaries, attempt to gain unauthorized entry SCP-4405, are to be removed immediately by force. Instances of SCP-4405-A are allowed to traverse the entire containment area so long as they nest exclusively in SCP-4405. Hostile SCP-4405-A instances are to be subdued through the use of heavy sedatives. Termination of a SCP-4405-A instance is to done as a last resort to maintain a peaceful relationship with the entities. All instances of SCP-4405-B are to be terminated upon exiting SCP-4405, using automatic weapons, stationed artillery emplacements, and/or ceramic-piercing shells, as necessary. If an instance of SCP-4405-B manages to breach containment, all available security teams must engage the entity via aircraft.
Description: SCP-4405 is a cave located in the Northernmost border of the Scandinavian Mountains in the country of Norway. The mouth of the cave is approximately 40m in diameter and leads to a spiral tunnel that descends approximately 1.5 kilometers below the surface before opening up to a vast cavern approximately 30 square kilometers long, which is too immense to be part of the landscape's geology. Leading researchers to believe that the internal structure is a pocket dimension. The ceiling of SCP-4405 is lined with a bioluminescent fungus of an unknown genus that provides ample lighting to the cave's interior, collecting samples of this fungus has so far remained impossible as it will degrade rapidly upon leaving SCP-4405. The floor of the cave is covered to a depth of three (3) meters in gold coins, jewelry, and various artifacts of Celtic origin. Most notably, the walls of the chamber are lined with statues/sculptures depicting dragons, Norse gods as well as a few that bear a strong resemblance to notable SCPs such as SCP-3000, SCP-682, and SCP-███. All objects, removed from SCP-4405 have so far possessed no anomalous properties. Attempts to seal or damage SCP-4405 will cause the entrance to emit a bright red light before [DATA EXPUNGED], causing heavy losses of both Foundation equipment and personnel.
SCP-4405 exerts powerful hypnotic effects on humans within a 900-meter radius from the mouth of the cave. Individuals within this radius reported feeling a strong curiosity towards SCP-4405 after twenty (20) minutes of exposure. After thirty (30) minutes to two (2) hours of exposure, individuals will attempt to enter SCP-4405, 60% of individuals have known to display high levels of aggression and paranoia towards those who try to intervene, but will attempt to encourage others within close proximity to SCP-4405 to join them. These effects will last for up 4 days after exposure to SCP-4405. Upon reaching the interior of SCP-4405, individuals will collect the artifacts around them, gathering treasure into mounds between one and two meters high, which the subject will then bury themselves in. Once inside, the subject enters a comatose state lasting between (2) to (3) hours. The process that takes place, however, has yet to be examined. But after this stage, the individual is to be classified as SCP-4405-A or SCP-4405-B.
Instances of SCP-4405-A are reptilian entities measuring between 10-20m in length and 4-7m in height depending on the subjects age and sex, female instances in general being slightly larger than males. While they vary greatly in appearance and color, SCP-4405-A are quadrupedal using their long prehensile tails for balance which are often adorned with fins/spines. The subjects forelimbs are replaced with muscular wings resembling specimens of the Chiroptera genera approximately 15-19m in length, each ending with three dexterous claws which augment ground-based locomotion such as running and climbing. All instances of SCP-4405-A adorn horns/crests that vary between entities and seem to have no function other than display. The majority of SCP-4405-A instance's skin is covered in thick, iridescent scales comprised of an unknown metallic alloy. A minority of instances have been documented presenting dorsal and trans-cranial feathers as well.
In spite of the enormous size, all instances of SCP-4405-A are fully capable of sustained flight through the aid of buoyant gas chambers placed just above the lungs containing [DATA EXPUNGED] and can reach speeds of up to 150 mph and have a diving speed of 350 mph. SCP-4405-A are strictly carnivorous and primarily consume fish and hoofed mammals. Currently, there have been no cases of SCP-4405-A instances hunting or consuming humans according to interviews with Dr. Ravenfield, whether this may be tied to their origins or their tendency to avoid human contact when outside of SCP-4405 is still up for debate. The defining trait of SCP-4405-A is the ability expel a stream or blast of fire from their jaws at a temperature in excess of 1200-2000 Celsius at a maximum distance of 40 m, organic matter that comes into contact will be become completely engulfed in flames and [DATA EXPUNGED] leaving no trace of the subject behind.
SCP-4405-A instances are capable of oviparous reproduction requires both a male and female entity. Eggs of SCP-4405-A are laid in clutches of 1-6 per nest; nests are build in dens elevated least 20 meters above the floor of SCP-4405 constructed using branches, stones, and animal hides which is maintained by both parent entities. Upon hatching, the offspring are classified as another instance of SCP-4405-A. Population is regulated through the instinctive cannibalism of undesired eggs.
Skull replica of Field Researcher Dr. Ravenfield made using X-Ray scans several days after she returned to the foundation in 05/24/20██.
While instances of SCP-4405-A retain memories of their lives prior to their exposure to SCP-4405's anomalous properties, many traits have been altered as a result their transformation:
- Instances of SCP-4405-A are highly are predatory in nature and will actively hunt and consume live prey regardless of prior lifestyle choices or belief systems. D-18292, a lifelong Buddhist and vegan, adopted typical hunting behavior patterns immediately after transformation.
- All SCP-4405-A instances seem to lose their desire to safeguard the artifacts within SCP-4405 after their transformation and allow samples to be taken freely.
- All known instances of SCP-4405-A are strictly nocturnal and will retreat back to SCP-4405 during daylight hours.
- Most instances of SCP-4405-A are solitary while outside of SCP-4405 and will actively avoid any attempts at human contact with the exception of site personnel as per agreements for their containment.
- Female instances SCP-4405-A tend to be more aggressive and boisterous than male entities and will often compete with one another for hunting grounds and enrichment while the latter are more docile and prefer to negotiate as opposed to fighting.
- While fully capable of speech, most instances of SCP-4405-A communicate to one another through simple vocalizations and body language, [DATA EXPUNGED].
- New-hatched instances of SCP-4405-A are extremely capable, and progress to self-sufficiency within weeks, entities are mature at the age of (25)yrs.
- Instances of SCP-4405-A appear to be incapable of stopping humans from entering SCP-4405 unless provoked. But in a separate case, a rogue instance would actively capture humans and expose them to SCP-4405's hypnotic effects. When questioned of this behavior, they claim the it is beyond their control.
- Most subjects metamorphosed into SCP-4405-A appear to be unalarmed by their transformation and will assume the natural behaviors of other SCP-4405-A instances. The only exception to this being Dr. Ravenfield.
- SCP-4405-A instances appear to become distressed by upon the manifestation of SCP-4405-B and will instinctively retreat deep within the caverns of SCP-4405, perhaps this is due to SCP-4405-B's unpredictable and violent nature.
SCP-4405-B are enormous, reptilian entities with a body length of 80 m and a wingspan of 100 m. Studies of deceased instances of SCP-4405-B have been found to be physically and genetically identical to one another and so far there have no reports of more than one instance of SCP-4405-B manifesting at once. Instances of SCP-4405-B are hexapodal, with four limbs placed directly below the body, and two wings resembling that of instances of SCP-4405-A located above the shoulders. The skin of SCP-4405-B is covered in black iridescent scales which are highly resistant to most conventional weaponry, sedatives and fire-based artillery proven to be least effective. Heavy artillery and explosives have proven to be moderately effective in damaging and subduing the entity, however, ceramic piercing shells are most effective when terminating SCP-4405-B. SCP-4405-B instances possess rapid regeneration and will learn from previous incarnations. Each of its forelimbs ends with five hooked claws, which aid it in climbing and gripping objects but make for lethal weapons.
Instances of SCP-4405-B have a long, prehensile tail ending with a large arrow-shaped barb. The basic function of which appears to be used as a counterbalance and a secondary weapon which has so far been capable of incurring heavy damage to armored Foundation personnel carriers. The front of SCP-4405-B's jaw is lined with long, curved serrated teeth similar in function to specimens of the Varanus komodoensis, each up to 1 meter in length, with powerful molars in the back of the jaw. Through the use of unarmed tanks driven by D-class personnel, the bite force SCP-4405-B instances have been estimated at a minimum closing force of 64,000 psi.
Instances of SCP-4405-B appear to share the same memories and behavior to their previous manifestations. However, individuals transformed into SCP-4405-B instances upon exposure lack the memories or characteristics of their former lives. This has led researchers to believe that SCP-4405-B uses human hosts as a means to achieve physical form. Instances of SCP-4405-B are proud and arrogant, and views humanity as inferior, demonstrating predatory behaviors towards all sentient life with the sole exception of SCP-4405-A instances unless provoked.
Instances of SCP-4405-B can expel fire in a through similar means to instances of SCP-4405-A, albeit on a much more destructive scale. The Instances of SCP-4405-B have demonstrated extremely high resilience to attack. So far, there have been 9 manifestations of SCP-4405-B, each resulting in an attempted containment breach, █ of which were successful.
If an escape attempt is successful, SCP-4405-B will travel up to 800 miles from SCP-4405, targeting human settlements and dense congregations of wildlife, often shouting profanity and berating its victims. Within 3-7 days after its escape, the entity will search for a suitable territory, usually mountains isolated from human habitation, but are always accessible by foot. SCP-4405-B will then proceed to clear the area of obstructions and [DATA EXPUNGED], resulting in another instance of SCP-4405.
SCP-4405 was first brought to the foundation's attention in 07/25/19██ when reports of ███ hikers going missing in a span of (14) years which seemed to coincide with sightings of "dragons" within the area. Task forces were dispatched to investigate the source of these reports, whereupon they discovered SCP-4405 and its anomalous properties. Witnesses of SCP-4405-A were given Class-B amnestics and a cover story claiming that hazardous terrain and snowstorms being responsible for the disappearances. Instances of SCP-4405-A already inhabiting the area surrounding SCP-4405 were cooperative with foundation personnel and the site was established with minimal difficulty.
Addendum SCP-4405.1: Incident SCP-4405-B-1
On 12/13/1985, two Class-D personnel were sent to SCP-4405 so the foundation could study SCP-4405's anomalous properties. D-120 was given a radio to inform staff of the events that may occur during their exposure to SCP-4405. After 1 hour, both D-120 and D-054 entered the cave and fell under SCP-4405's compulsive effect, connection was lost after D-120 proceeds to bury himself in gold upon reaching the interior of SCP-4405. Approximately six hours into the experiment, loud roaring resonated from SCP-4405. Followed by the emergence of an instance of SCP-4405-A which was presumed to be D-120 with massive puncture wounds in its throat and head, and the membrane of its wings were shredded and crumpled. The entity staggered 30 meters from the entrance of the cave shouting profanity at the direction of SCP-4405. Emitting several screeches before collapsing to the ground, expiring from blood loss and extensive physical trauma. Mobile task forces were sent to the area surrounding SCP-4405 to investigate.
Only five minutes after they were dispatched, and the first instance of SCP-4405-B (formerly D-054) rushed from the cave, reports from surviving personnel claim that the specimens' forelimbs and snout being covered in blood and tissue from the instance of SCP-4405-A. The SCP-4405-B paused momentarily to survey it's current location, before turning its attention to the deceased SCP-4405-A and violently consumed the entity. Personnel was ordered to move in closer to SCP-4405-B when the entity took notice of the task force. SCP-4405-B immediately attacked the site personnel, decimating nearly the entire squad while only sustaining a few superficial injuries that regenerated in █ minutes. The creature took flight and attempted to breach containment, but became preoccupied in destroying the guard towers and facilities within Site-██ with its fire breath, resulting in ███ staff deaths and 432 injuries. During this, SCP-4405-B boasted endlessly of its destructive prowess, identifying itself as "Níðhöggr, Lord of Dragons". SCP-4405-B continued its attack for two hours before being successfully shot down by Agent ██████ who managed to fire a rocket launcher from a helicopter into SCP-4405-B's left shoulder, severely damaging its wing. SCP-4405-B was subsequently terminated via concussive missile artillery, but not before exclaiming to surviving foundation staff.
SCP-4405-B: You wretched, short-sighted, covetous, mammalian scum! You cannot prevent what has been foretold-(coughs and wheezes)-We all know mankind's dominion over this world is coming to an end! You may have beaten me now, but I will see you all in Hellheim yet… (SCP-4405-B collapses into a seizure and foams blood from its jaws for 7 minutes before expiring)
The body of SCP-4405-B was taken to Armed Bio-Containment Area-14 for dissection and genetic testing despite receiving extensive damages sustained to the corpse. Other SCPs that breached containment during the incident were eventually contained with no further casualties. SCP-4405-A entities resumed their normal behavior the following day when questioned of the events that transpired, many of which claimed to be unaware the entity's existence and became abnormally distressed when questioned further.
Addendum SCP-4405.4: Since SCP-4405-B's first containment breach, all testing conducting on SCP-4405 with human subjects have been suspended indefinitely without exception. Any persons attempting to approach or enter SCP-4405 are to be restrained or terminated depending on their distance from the cave's entrance.
Addendum SCP-4405.5: Incident SCP-4405-B-2
On 3/2/1986, reports of a lone SCP-4405-A instance patrolling over the security barrier were followed by a sudden power outage in the southwestern border and the disappearance of Agent ████ while at his night shift. 7 hours later, an instance of SCP-4405-B (presumably Agent ████) emerged from the entrance of SCP-4405 and attempted to breach containment, causing 78 deaths and 124 injuries before being shot down by missile infantry after a 2 hour struggle. Engineers tasked to find the cause of the power outage revealed that the power generator within the site had been damaged.
Addendum SCP-4405.6: Incident SCP-4405-1
On 10/14/1986, Researcher Dr.██████ was attempting to barricade the entrance of SCP-4405 to stop further manifestations of SCP-4405-B when [DATA EXPUNGED] By the time control of Site-██ was reestablished, 46% of security posts and containment facilities had received major structural damage with an estimated ██ deaths and 125 injuries. Several SCP-4405-A instances assisted Task Forces in the rescue of 82% of the missing staff. All of the SCPs within Site-██ have since been recontained, Dr.██████ and all personnel involved in the experiment, however, were never recovered. All further attempts to obstruct or neutralize SCP-4405 were suspended indefinitely.
Addendum SCP-4405.8: Several SCP-4405-A instances have been questioned for the disappearances of several site personnel and D-Class followed by the sudden manifestations of SCP-4405-B instances over the the past three years since the first incident. All the entities interviewed claim to have no involvement with the incidents; however, a few of the SCP-4405-A stated that they know of a large male with red stripes on his wings who has been behaving quite unusually ever since the first incident. So far, this target individual has resisted all attempts at communication and has evaded all attempts at capture.
All living SCPs within Site-██ Euclid or higher are to be transported to other sites to reduce the likelihood of a major containment breach as a result of a potential manifestation of SCP-4405-B.
Addendum SCP-4405.9: Incident SCP-4405-B-4
On 6/15/2008, the rogue instance of SCP-4405-A was sighted flying over the western border of the security barrier in the early evening before vanishing into the clouds before task forces could capture the entity. All personnel within Site-██ were advised to remain indoors until further notice, however Prof. Jonah Malcolm and his assistant Junior Field Researcher Margaret Ravenfield had left against regulations and were unaccounted for. Three hours after the lock down, an instance of SCP-4405-B (presumably Prof.Malcolm) manifested from SCP-4405 and attempted to breach containment. The entity took flight within thirty seconds upon exiting SCP-4405 and directly targeted onsite communications and security forces, before it began actively hunting site personnel resulting in 82 deaths and 230 injuries. SCP-4405-B was successfully incapacitated after Agent ██████ crashed his plane into its side, it was then subsequently terminated via electrocution and high-powered explosives.Dr. Ravenfield has yet to be found and until found will be presumed deceased.
Addendum SCP-4405.10: SCP-4405-A-1
On 3/23/2009, the rogue instance was sighted patrolling the northernmost border of the security barrier in the early morning. All site personnel were advised to remain indoors while security teams were dispatched to locate and capture the rogue SCP-4405-A instance. However, before the task forces could reach the target, the entity noticed the team and attempted to retreat into SCP-4405. The instance of SCP-4405-A managed to cross into SCP-4405's area of effect, rendering capture impossible. The entity escape was hampered however when it was struck down by an adolescent female SCP-4405-A instance (later confirmed to be Dr. Ravenfield). The two entities engaged in a brief struggle, before the larger entity managed to pin down Dr. Ravenfield. But as the rogue instance attempted to kill its assailant, it was ambushed by two adult instances of SCP-4405-A and was quickly subdued. After recovering from the fight, Dr. Ravenfield interrogated the rogue entity for roughly 5 minutes before killing it with a blow to the head.
Dr. Ravenfield returned to Site-██ to resume her work in the Foundation and submitted her research on SCP-4405 during her disappearance. The following interview was taken approximately a month after the event.
INTERVIEWER: (Senior Researcher Dr. ██████)
INTERVIEWED: (Field Researcher Dr. Margaret Ravenfield)
FORWARD: Interview with Dr. Ravenfield conducted by Dr. ██████ to explain certain events following her disappearance. Dr. Ravenfield is moved to a large containment cell and has been given a elevated platform designed to accommodate for her increased size with a properly butchered pig carcass hanging above to encourage her to use it.
[BEGIN LOG]
Dr. ██████: Margar-I mean Dr. Ravenfield, please enter the containment cell,
Dr. Ravenfield: I'm coming! I coming! Sheesh! You don't have to tell me how to do my own interview.
Dr. Ravenfield slinks into the cell and immediately explores her cell. Paying careful attention to chew on the support beams of the perch before noticing the suspended carcass.
Dr. ██████: (sighs) Margaret, what are you doing?
Dr. Ravenfield: Just making sure that this tacky piece of junk even works. No hands remember (gestures with her right wing)
Dr. Ravenfield flies onto the perch and proceeds to consume the meat.
Dr. ██████: Don't give me an attitude, young lady! This is an interview, I need you to focus.
Dr. Ravenfield: (growls) Alright… lets get this over with.
Dr. ██████:
Dr. Ravenfield: