Per 
04 Clearance Detected
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures:
Any Foundation Personnel with less than 04 clearance are prohibited from reading this article. In the event that personnel without proper clearance gain access to this document, Foundation Enforcers are to engage the Clean-Slate Protocol, as designated in the Enforcer guidebook. Accomplices are also to be subjected to the Clean-Slate Protocol, depending on the extent of their involvement.
The ritual that comprises SCPXXXX may only be attempted when given permission by the current SCPXXXX Project Lead. Personnel who complete the ritual are considered to be missing in action, until further research offers the possibility of a stable gateway.
The site where SCPXXXX takes place must be monitored for abnormal activity. In the event of an anomalous incident, Task Force Delta-17 “Brothers Grimm,” are to lock down the perimeter and prevent civilian intrusion. Items or humans recovered from the site are to be contained at Site 116 for analysis and storage.
Description:
SCPXXXX is a ritual that causes the user to vanish without a trace, possibly reappearing in a pocket dimension, although this can't be confirmed. It requires two components: A carved stone tablet, designated as SCPXXXX-1, and the location where the ritual takes place, designated as SCPXXXX-2.
SCPXXXX-1 is currently contained in a secure vault at site 116. On its own, the tablet’s only anomalous property is that it can be interpreted in the native language of the reader. Through unknown means, the tablet can be interpreted by the illiterate and blind.
Transcription on SCPXXXX-1
To enter the Enchanted Woodland,
Say aloud your heart’s demand.
If in earnest, you have spoken,
In the Forest you will stand
SCPXXXX-2 is a circle of stones in Black Forest, Germany that is 50 meters in diameter, with 8 upright boulders spaced at every 6.25 meters. At the center of the circle is a pedestal, from which SCPXXXX-1 was recovered. Tests performed in the circle have shown Hume levels 50 points under the temporal average. SCPXXXX-2 may anomalously produce items or humans within its boundaries.
For the ritual to begin, the inciting individual must place the tablet on the pedestal and read the poem aloud. Immediately after, they must say what they want most. If they spoke truthfully, upon exiting the circle they will be transported to a pocket reality.
| Test 1: | D-Class is told to read the tablet and say, “I want to enter the Forest.” |
| Result: | Failure |
| Test 2: | D-Class is told to read the tablet and say what they want most. The D-Class chose to say, “I want to be rich.” |
| Result: | Failure |
| We aren't getting anywhere with these D-Class tests; they're too scared to tell the truth. Their usage has been discontinued. -Dr. Carter |
Warning:
The material concerning SCP-XXXX from secondary sources cannot be validated. The Foundation is undergoing efforts to verify this information.
On August 15, 2020, the Foundation received an alert about a possibly anomalous individual at a mental institution in Pirna. The individual claimed to be Thomas Wells, a member of the Hayes Expedition, which was partially lost in 1905 while investigating rumors in Black Forest. The Foundation was able to confirm Wells's identity and took him in for questioning.
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Interviewed: Subject Thomas Wells
Interviewer: Dr. Lewis Carter
<Begin Log>
Dr. Carter: Is Thomas Wells your given name?
Subject: Yes, I should think so. Who… Who are you people?
Dr. Carter: Do you possess any abilities or paranormal attributes that lengthen your lifespan?
Subject: No, and if you're wondering why-
Dr. Carter: Do you possess any means by which you can break the Chronological Barrier?
Subject: No! If you’d just let me explain, I’ll tell you what happened.
Dr. Carter: Very well, you may explain yourself.
Subject: I was on an expedition with Matthew Hayes. We were investigating rumors about a Fairy Circle in Black Forest.
Dr. Carter: For documentation purposes, I must ask what you mean by “Fairy Circle.”
Subject: Fairy Circles are a magical doorway carved from stones arranged in a circle. This one leads to a location known as the Forest.
Dr. Carter: Where is this Circle located?
Subject: If I remember correctly, it was north of the Donau and east of Ballingen. The forest is very dense and difficult to traverse, so you'll have to enter from the southwest.
Dr. Carter: How do you access the doorway at the Fairy Circle?
Subject: You have to read the poem inscribed on the center stone, say what it is you want most, and then leave the circle. If you spoke honestly, you will enter the Forest.
Dr. Carter: And what is this Forest?
Subject: I cannot hope to describe it; no words exist that would do it justice. Time is different there, the seasons rotate, the trees can see, and the sky can hear. It was beautiful beyond comprehension.
Dr. Carter: How did you leave the Forest?
Subject: I asked.
<End Log>
Expedition Report
| Summary: | On June 1st, 2021, Expedition team Omega-64, accompanied by Dr. Phillip Thales from the Research Department, were instructed to read the tablet and say what they desired most. |
| Result: | Upon exiting the circle, only Dr. Thales vanished. Search parties were unable to locate him or find evidence of his presence in the nearby area. His whereabouts are still unknown. |
Item Recovered:
On June 4th, 2021, Dr. Carter reported the sudden appearance of a journal in his work-space inside SCPXXXX-2. The Journal is marked by Dr. Thales and contains a series of 17 entries over the course of 15 weeks, with an 18th entry marked 2 years later.
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Entry 1: Day 1
I, Dr. Phillip Thales, have been assigned to be the expeditionary researcher for SCPXXXX on account of my work with another SCP of a similar nature. I am joined by 5 members of Omega-64. Our intent is to validate the claims of a pocket dimension enterable through SCPXXXX. Our journey begins at 7:00 on June 1st. Should we not return before the end of August, an extraction team will be sent to locate us.
I have reason to believe I have successfully completed the ritual. My surroundings are entirely different then they were previously. I am unable to locate any member of Delta-64; either they entered and are somewhere else in this dimension, or they failed the ritual.
I am located in a marshy area with a great degree of foliage. The temperature is 29° Celsius, with high humidity and fog. I have seen large swarms of insects, and can hear sounds belonging to crickets, cicadas, and other species I cannot identify. I see no sign of human or intelligent presence other than an overgrown footpath.
Entry 2: Day 2
In an effort to collect samples of the wildlife, I unintentionally fell into the bog, which rendered most of my tools and notebooks unusable. To save space in my only remaining notebook, I will only be writing entries once a week.
On the trail I thought I heard footsteps behind me, although nothing was there. I attributed this event to sudden paranoia brought about by extreme stress and isolation. However, I am beginning to entertain the possibility that I am being followed. I have seen several shapes in the fog belonging to entities with humanoid features and oddly shaped skulls. They left once I noticed their presence, but if I should see them again, I will try to get a more detailed description of them.
Entry 3: Day 7
The entities that were following me got closer and closer through my travels. They are humanoid, possessing muscular bodies and are wearing animal furs as a primitive form of clothing. Their heads are severed at the neck and replaced by animal heads like those commonly found in the forest. I have seen coyote, deer, wolf, mountain lion, and bear heads.
I encountered a strange alteration in terrain where the marsh has made way to a woodland with a thick canopy. When the sky is visible, it is overcast. Once I crossed over to the new area, the entities ceased to follow me.
I have taken refuge in an abandoned house of a Victorian style. It does not appear that anyone has been in this place for decades.
Entry 4: Week 2
There is something else in this house with me. There is something else in this house with me. There is something else in this house with me. There is something else in this house with me.. There is something else in this house with me. There is something else in this house with me. There i
My apologizes, I do not know what came over me. That was unprofessional, and I assure you it will not happen again. The house I stayed in was home to another entity which was also humanoid. It wore a hood on its head, but I do not believe it to be the same kind of entity I encountered earlier. It had an apron over black robes and held a rusted blade in its right hand. As soon as its presence was made clear I evacuated the building and continued down the path.
In the trees there are large winged beasts. I cannot see them well enough to describe them, but I know that they make low growling noises when you pass them.
The terrain has changed again. There are no trees in this area, and little plant life outside of large thorn bushes that can stretch on for miles. The wind speeds have picked up and the temperature has dropped. I have observed lightning striking several tall spires, but none of it has been close to me.
I hear voices but am unable to determine a source. They speak mostly in gibberish, but I have words I recognize such as “Run,” and “Seen.” Whether the terrain itself is the source of these noises or if unseen entities are responsible, I have yet to observe.
Entry 5: Week 3
While traversing the plain, I discovered an item that seemed to be a shard of glass. When I looked through the glass at my surroundings, I saw multiple entities ranging in size and proximity to me. They appear to be composed of black twisted vines and can have a multitude of limbs and eyes. The largest I saw was 10 times my height and had eight limbs, although it was a great distance away. The smallest was on the trail, and it seemed as though it preferred to stay behind me.
While investigating the entity, it changed its form into a complete likeliness of myself. I attempted to communicate with the entity, the result of which has been transcribed below.
Me: I am Dr. Thales of the SCP Foundation, are you capable of speech?
Entity: Dr. Selaht. Run. Hide. Turn. See.
Me: You are Dr. Selaht?
Entity: Selaht. It coming. Run.
Me: Run from what?
Entity: Mother.
Me: Your Mother? Who is your mother?
Entity: Run.
At this point the entity’s body contorted and mutated to include longer limbs and several smaller arms which sprouted from its torso. Several more entities were blocking the trail ahead, so I was forced to abandon the path and escape through a thorn bush. The resulting wounds slowed my progress considerably.
While traveling through the rough terrain, I located a small clearing surrounded by tall thorn bushes. At its center is a pool of clear water and a tall white tree. The water is drinkable, and the tree appears to be excreting a thick sap. It is very brittle, and removed pieces exude sap when pressed. When applied to my wounds, the sap rapidly increased my healing.
Entry 6: Week 4
I slept after writing my last entry. In the morning, a path appeared that I do not recall existing previously. Something more powerful is at work here and I cannot guess their intentions. Lacking any other option, I elected to follow this new trail.
I had another encounter with Dr. Selaht. His form seems to have reverted back to my image. I managed to conduct another interview.
Me: Dr. Selaht, do you remember our last meeting?
Entity: Yes, but barely. I was but a newborn at our first encounter.
Me: You are speaking much better now. May I ask a few questions?
Entity: Dr. Thales, when you entered the Windtorn Plains, I expected you to be like the others.
Me: Others?
Entity: Some who enter seek adventure, others wish to cause harm. I was mistaken about your purpose here. She has informed me of your intentions in this land.
Me: Are you speaking about your Mother?
Entity: No. She is much older and more powerful than Mother; it is not my place to tell you of her. Dr. Thales, she told me many things about you. You seek knowledge, and you will find it if you follow the path. Do not fear my siblings, they cannot harm you. Farewell.
After Selaht said this, he transformed again and stepped over the thorn bushes. The entity has not approached me since. I looked through the glass again and it seems none of the other entities will get close to me. I have reason believe that whatever it is that made the path also directed the entities away from me.
I have entered a new area that is distinctly different from the rest. I am in a green meadow, and the sky is clear. Tonight, while I am writing, I can see the stars. They do not resemble any constellation visible from Earth. There also appears to be 2 moons. I have not ruled out the possibility that I am in SCP-2922-C, but I also do not find it all that likely. From my experience with the SCP between 3999 and 4001, I can conclude that this forest is not the same as that one. My interactions with Selaht alone prove that point, but I had reason to suspect this ever since I encountered the first entities in the marsh.
Entry 7: Week 5
The trail I was on lead to a larger path, more akin to a road. Inspection yielded a large number of footprints, the most recent of which seemed to be headed south. There were other sets of prints belonging to animals, such as hoofprints and pawprints. I turned south in the hopes of encountering another human or entity.
I encountered another human going north on my second day on the new path. His name is Matthew Hayes, which I recognized as the leader of the lost expedition which Subject Thomas Wells was a part of. In the interest of saving space, I will summarize the interview I held with him.
The Forest has a consciousness and is apparently omniscient. It is sectioned off into different zones, each with a different terrain. Some sections of the forest are known as “The Dark Woods,” which is where I arrived in the Forest.
I also learned about the Lost expedition. Hayes said that he arrived with 4 other people in his expedition, all in the same place. It seems that I was the only one from my group to enter. Hayes seemed interested that Wells left the Forest. Exiting does not seem to be a common occurrence.
I asked Hayes how Wells exited the Forest 110 years after he entered and was told “Time is different here.” I asked him to elaborate, but he was unable to explain how exactly. Evidently there are several differences between this location and reality. Seasons rotate clockwise around a central axis, the closer to the center, the shorter the seasons. The day night cycle is consistent, with 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of night.
Since time is not normative, I cannot wait for extraction. Apparently, the only way out is at the center, where everything seems to converge. Hayes volunteered to take me there, although we would have to stop at his home to retrieve the necessary maps. I’ve started heading northward again. With Hayes along side me to provide insights into the Forest, I should be able to conduct enough research for the Foundation. Maybe I’ll get promoted.
Entry 8: Week 6
My time with Hayes has proved insightful. People do not age here, unless they choose to. Thus, death is rare and is usually the result of an accident. Hayes mentioned there may be other reasons but is hesitant to say what they are. He slipped and mentioned the word “Castellon,” which I am unable to decipher the meaning behind.
Evidently, Hayes was returning from the south after mapping out that region. I asked Hayes how large the Forest was, and he said that as far as he knew, it had no end. He knows there is an ocean to the east but says that the ships there have reported even more land a short distance out.
We exited the meadows, which Hayes referred to as the Elysium Fields, and entered a wooded region with tall white trees. Hayes calls it Ironmaker’s Call. The trees are metal, and I could faintly hear mechanical whirring inside. When we made camp for the night, Hayes caught sight of my dwindling rations. In response, he told me to ask the forest for food. When I did so, a tree grew in front of me and bore a large fruit, unlike any I’d seen before. It tasted quite good. It provided ample sustenance.
While on the edge of what Hayes referred to as, “The Firespring,” we encountered a group of entities bearing resemblance to the mythological centaur. There were 10 in total, 6 of which were males and 2 others were females who tended to 2 small children. They wore saddlebags bulging with miscellaneous items. Hayes referred to them as travelling merchants, and thus conducted business with them, trading maps for a telescope.
I bartered my watch for a new pair of boots and a new bag. I observed them briefly as they continued on their way. Seeing the children made me think of something. Apparently, they are not the only sort of nonhuman entity I can expect to encounter, although these appear to be natives, rather than aliens such as Hayes and myself.
We entered a new area which is called, “The Bells of Saunta Tina.” The trees here have scarce amounts of leaves, with bells filling most of the space on their branches. When the breeze passes through it produces a melody of sorts, despite it being clear the forest should be full of discordant ringing. I found it quite relaxing. The melody remained consistent.
Entry 9: Week 7
On a particularly breezy day, Hayes told me to sing into the wind. When I declined, he did so himself. Once he finished, a female voice took up the song, which seemed to be carried by the breeze itself. Hayes says the voice belongs to the Enchantress, who is the caretaker of the Forest. She lives in the center of the of this place, where I suspect she's the one who allows people to leave. I asked if she was the consciousness behind the forest, which Hayes said wasn’t the case.
We passed through another area, referred to as the Prophet’s Road. The paths diverged in several places in this location, each lined with statues of prophets and saints of different faiths. Among some of the busts I saw were Mohammad, Saint John, Moses, Joseph Smith, and the Buddha. There were many other humans there, which Hayes said was because they sought spiritual enlightenment. They wore attire from many different periods of history, and from many different locations.
I asked why such a place existed and was told that each person enters the forest asking for something, and each location of the Forest acts as a sort of fulfillment to that request. Those who seek riches will find caches of wealth deep in the Dark Woods, which they must quest through in order to receive. Those who seek a deeper faith find the Prophet’s Road. The Forest gives people what they ask for when they enter.
Since I asked for knowledge of the Forest, it makes sense that I was placed in the Dark Woods first, so that I may understand it before I move towards the center, where I hope more answers lay.
Still, the more time I spend here, the more I feel like I’m missing something. I’ve noticed in my last entry that I kept dropping my clinical tone. Even mentioning this is a violation of that requirement. I sincerely apologize for my failure.
Entry 10: Week 8
We arrived at Hayes’s cottage, which is next to Sapphirestone Hill, named after the large sapphire that pierces its peak. I was greeted by Hayes’s wife and children, who treated me very kindly. I saw Hayes’s full map of the Forest, which was so large it took up most of a wall. He showed me the path we will take to the center, involving passage through such places as “The Glass Canyon,” and “The Autumn Kingdom.”
It was odd to see children; I cannot remember the last time I saw a human child under the age of 20. I can’t even remember much of my own childhood, come to think of it.
After staying two nights, I interviewed Mrs. Hayes, and discovered she entered the Forest searching for a home. The forest seems very adept at giving people what they want. Is it so that they choose to stay? Is this done with malicious intent? I imagine only the Enchantress knows the truth.
We left today, set for the Autumn Kingdom.
While on the journey, I finally learned about Castellon. It was a kingdom which was swallowed by the Dark Woods after it attempted to increase its territory through conquest. The entities in the Dark Woods must also act as a policing force in the Forest. They remind me a little of the "Enforcers," but that's nonsense.
Hayes promised to tell me more about governing bodies tomorrow as we descend into the farmlands surrounding the Autumn Kingdom.
Entry 11: Week 9
Kingdoms in the Forest are more similar to City States. There are different types of kingdoms: Questing Kingdoms, Merchant Kingdoms, and Artisan Kingdoms. The Autumn Kingdom is a Merchant Kingdom, meaning it is a hub of commerce. I expect to meet many new peoples and species there.
I am beginning to experience what Hayes’s calls the Season Cycle. The trees have turned to red and gold leaves, similar to Fall in the real world, although it happened over night.
When we arrived at the Autumn Kingdom, I was surprised by its small size. It lacked walls, and the ramparts on the castle looked purely decorative. I don’t expect war is a common phenomenon, if it occurs at all.
I was right to assume there would be several species here. I recognize Centaurs, Satyrs, Gryphons, Dragons, Dragonborn, and other such species like the Children of the Night and even the Fae. Once I recognized the Faeries, I prepared my training, but it did not seem necessary. When they told me their names, it was with great power. They must have entered the forest before the rest of their kind lost their appellations.
There were also other fairytale creatures, like anthropomorphic animals. I saw foxes, rabbits, wolves, pigs, and several species of birds wearing clothing and conversing in English. The menagerie of colors, the overwhelming culture, it was hardly enough for me to process at the time. We purchased some horses from a dwarven trader and continued on our way.
We traveled through the Hills of the Singing Sparrow, which was populated with singing birds of all varieties.
I think I remember something. Maybe if I
Entry 12: Week 10
I saw a canyon today, and it brought up a memory I haven’t thought of in a long time. It made me think It was I thought
You know what?
I'm done trying to use an impartial, clinical tone. I hate it and I always have. The Foundation will just have to put up with this. They'll have to live with me writing about my "feelings," too. Maybe they'll grow a heart.
It has troubled me for weeks that I cannot remember my childhood, but seeing the canyon made me remember a family trip to the Grand Canyon when I was 10. I think I wrote some poetry about it for my class. Remembering that made me remember that I wanted to be a poet and a writer when I was young, but my dad insisted that I went into a STEM field.
But I don’t remember anything after that, not my time in college, and certainly not when I joined the Foundation.
Whatever, I’m done with this mushy stuff. I am a Doctor of the SCP Foundation and I must act professional. Should I?
The Glass canyon was a large ravine filled with crystals that glowed in the sunlight.
We passed through Pixie Gulch. Pixies are small insect like creatures.
Entry 13: Week 11
I remember now.
Valley of the Cotton Dancers.
The Spirit Glade.
Entry 14: Week 12
They stole everything from me. My memory still isn't complete, but I know that I wrote a paper in my college analytics class about seemingly random disappearances that were all actually connected. It apparently coincided with something the Foundation was investigating, so they took me into custody. The Enforcers strapped me to a chair and filled me with needles. They called me Dr. Phillip Thales. What's my real name?
Silverheart River
Crystal Caverns
Entry 15: Week 13
We are nearing the center, and the seasons are cycling into winter, for which I was woefully unprepared. The icy coolness seeps into me and holds me like iron talons. Still, it is a far cry better than the cold, dark laboratories and concrete enclosures I once called a home.
In my suffering I cried out, and the Forest heard my plea. Like a mother comforts their child, the Forest cared for me. When I was cold, a stag appeared out of the forest with a woolen coat in its antlers. It fit me perfectly.
I think about my poor colleagues, who are forced to take amnestics by the cruel hands of the Foundation’s Enforcers. I know now why none retired, and why it wasn’t uncommon for researchers to collapse on the spot. We are as much prisoners to the Foundation as the anomalies it collects. I was only sent on this mission because I was disposable. There was no extraction team. There is no one to miss me now that I’m gone.
Do I want to go back?
Peaks of the Wisemen
Mountain of the Lost
Entry 16: Week 14
Hayes has left, which is probably for the better since I really haven’t been much for conversation. He said it would be best that I meet her alone, and that if I choose to stay, we may meet again.
I’ve been thinking about that a lot. Leaving. Now that I remember some things from my past, I could try to piece my old life back together, find my parents, my family. But they wouldn’t remember me anyway, and the Foundation would always be hunting us.
There is nothing there for me.
But here, here I find solace. I was on the verge of weeping, thinking about all I had lost when I heard the Enchantress sing again. It beckoned me to her. I feel as though we are connected by a string that shrinks and tugs at me. She knows the answers. She can help me, right? Help me remember.
Spring has cycled in, and as I climbed the last mountain, I gazed down into the central valley. From my vantage point, I could see all 4 seasons converge on a single location: a large tree surrounded by rivers and waterfalls. The sight is so beautiful, no description I could ever write would do it justice.
In the darkness I was lost
Foundation crumbled, turned to dust
On crashing waves, I was tossed
Betrayed, abandoned, with none to trust
But in a place of colors grand
I feel the touch of comforting hand
In a valley cut from stone
I gaze upon the Giver's home
Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall
The Enchantress holds them all
Her song heals my wounded heart
And my mind, once torn apart
Entry 17:
I suppose I should write about her, shouldn’t I?
When I entered her home, I found her sitting by a pool which glowed with a rainbow of colors. She was singing a song about a lost sailor. In her auburn hair was a wreath of flowers. Her dress was woven of leaves and grasses. She was more beautiful than any human I’d ever seen. Flawless -almost godly.
She knows the Forest’s true purpose. People enter the Forest, searching for what they think will fulfill them. As they get their wish, they learn what they truely need most. For example, I entered the forest wanting to learn about it, only for it to restore some of my memory of myself.
She planted the forest around her childhood home. Her father is an author and a bookkeeper that keeps her library stocked, and her mother is an artist who makes vivid paintings and folds paper sculptures. Her brother still wanders the other world, searching for a domain to call his own.
She says she could send me back, although it may be a different time than when I entered. She also told me how much she knew about me, that I wanted to be a writer, that I had been abused and controlled my entire life. If I stayed, she could help me feel better.
I told her I would stay.
Entry 18:
It’s been a while since I last wrote. 2 years, by the other world’s time. I write now before the Festival of the AurDawn.
I decided I will send my journal back. Dr. Carter was always one of the better ones, so I thought he might be best to receive it.
Listen, to all of you who have been abandoned by the Foundation, to those of you whom it abuses and domineers, I invite you to escape to the Forest. The 05 and their Dark Horsemen cannot find you here. You will be safe, at last.
If you do come, seek the Lake of the Poet, where I live in my new home. I will be waiting, arms wide open for my brothers and sisters. The Black Shepherds will not find you. They cannot take you to rob you of who you are.
You will finally be free.
I cannot offer much, other than these words of encouragement.
Though lost, the wanderer is not afraid, for he knows no matter where he goes, he is still in the Forest. Though dark the day may seem, the sun will rise. Behold the light, how it casts away the shadows where the villainous monsters howl. It will protect you; it will show you a better way. Harken to her song, for it leads you home.
I hope to meet you soon.
-Charlie Wilson, formerly Dr. Thales
