Duncanmunn

Seeking Greenlights: YES

Page Type: SCP Article

Genre: Animals, History, Gods, Interdimensional.

Page Layout: Initial containment procedures with discovery of incident, followed by 3 addendums.

Elevator Pitch:
This SCP ties together legends in multiple parts of the world, while combining real world climate change and human migration history with high fantasy with shamanistic or forest spirit undertones.

Central Narrative:
Mythical creature from Appalachian legend is found, this Mythical creature is proved to be a common animal from another part of the world, but displays ability to generate portals. Portals are found to occur codependently with the entirety of this species when located in a specific geographic zone. Further backstory provided with testing by D-Class personnel, by excavation of archaeological site and during an SCP breach. Potential misuse addressed as historical addendum including Soviet forces and the Serpent’s hand.

Hook/Attention-Grabber: This story incorporates factual scientific methods, ancient human migrations, explains current real world legends that have not been covered before by the SCP Wiki and simultaneously ties into the pre-existing SCP world.

Additional Notes: Thanks for any feedback!

A Messenger of The Gods, Colonization, Refuge

Item #: SCP-5156

Object Class: EUCLID

Special Containment Procedures:

Due to the huge geographic region that SCP-5156 encompasses, containment is exceedingly difficult. In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature rated the Japanese Serrow as Least Concern due to a concentrated conservation effort by the Japanese government that brought the number of SCP-5156-1 instance from 3,000 in 1935 to 80,000 in 2008.

Capitalizing on the Post World War II Sister City peace building endeavor between US and Japanese cities, Foundation Personnel were able to both create and embed Foundation members in many sister city councils in both Zone 5156-A and Zone 5156-B locations. Foundation personnel have created 5 wildlife refuges evenly spaced across Zone 5156-B with roughly 150 inert members of the Japanese Serrow present at any given time. Through local education endeavors, many instances of SCP-5156-1 that are reported are contributed to the escape of one of these animals.

Occasionally, Individuals or Wildlife Cameras have witnessed the manifestation of SCP-5156. When this occurs, Class B Amnestics are delivered and all evidence is destroyed. Currently, Foundation personnel actively seek out instances of SCP-5156-1 in Zone 5156-B. When they are discovered, SCP-5156-1 instances are anesthetized until their SCP-5156 portal period has elapsed. At this time, they are either added to the refuge or returned to [REDACTED]. This policy will be reviewed if there is a decline in the Japanese Serrow population. Due to the revered status that the Japanese Serrow or Kamoshika holds in Japan, instances that are observed in Zone 5156-A are not contained.

DESCRIPTION

SCP-5156 manifests approximately 10 centimeters from the ground as a 5-meter by 4-meter oval portal with rough edges that have a mirage like quality. SCP-5156 is otherwise nearly invisible as the topography of the forested environment that is shown on either side of the portal appears to be identical to the environment that the viewer stands in. Instances of SCP-5156 only appear between the 44th and 46th parallels on the island of [REDACTED], Japan (Zone 5156-A) and between the 44th and 46th parallels in [REDACTED], United States (Zone 5156-B). Instances of SCP-5156 have not been observed west of -74 degrees longitude and have not been observed to open directly over bodies of water.

Instances of SCP-5156 are causally linked to the presence of Capricornis crispus otherwise known as the Japanese Serow, hereafter referred to as SCP-5156-1. No instance of SCP-5156 has been observed without the presence of SCP-5156-1. SCP-5156-1 instances seem to be normal representations of their species and appear to use instances of SCP-5156 to traverse dangerously steep terrain in search of food sources. Instances of SCP-5156-1 that enter SCP-5156 are transported instantaneously between Zone 5156-A and Zone 5156-B locations.

Instances of SCP-5156 remain open for a period of 42 seconds every 42 hours regardless of the passage of a SCP-5156-1 instance. During this 42 second period, any creature may enter the portal and travel between the two zones freely in either direction. Instances of SCP-5156-1 are often seen darting back and forth between the two sides of the portal in what appears to be play behavior. After 42 seconds has elapsed, SCP-5156 will close. If the SCP-5156-1 instance used the portal, SCP-5156 will appear again to the same SCP-5156-1 instance exactly 42 hours after the first appearance for a period of 42 seconds. If the portal is used to return to Zone A, the portal will again appear to that instance of SCP 5156-1 42 hours later. SCP 5156-1 will not appear again to the same SCP 5156-1 instance if the portal is not used to return to Zone A.

If this happens, the SCP-5156-1 instance is reclassified as Capricornis crispus. Returning instances of Capricornis crispus to Zone A by any mode of travel does not result in the return of SCP-5156 portal generation for that animal. SCP-5156 portal generation is not present in members of species Capricornis crispus found outside of Zone 5156-A and Zone 5156-B. However, if a Japanese Serrow travels into Zone 5156-A of their own volition, within 42 hours that animal will have a portal generated and be classified as SCP-5156-1. This does not apply to Japanese Serrow that have otherwise lost portal generation ability. Due to the random generation of these portals, as well as the ability for other flora, fauna and sapient creatures to travel between these two continents, SCP-5156 has been classified as Euclid.

SCP-5156 first came to the foundation's attention in May of 1936 when the creature described in Appalachian legend as the Wompahoofus or Sidehill Gouger was claimed to exist by the [REDACTED] Warden Service. Upon further investigation, the species was identified as Capricornis crispus and the incident was dismissed as a case of illegal importation. Foundation personnel were prepared to leave the scene when SCP-5156 appeared and the SCP-5156-1 instance used the portal to disappear.
Following this incident, four D class personnel were assigned to Research Unit 420 Omnia Vincit Veritas “Truth Conquers All” and designated D-5156-1 through D-5156-4. Unit 420 was assigned to [REDACTED] and setup multiple base camps in an attempt to locate another instance of SCP-5156-1. In December of 1941, an instance was successfully sedated and D-5156-3 entered the generated SCP-5156 portal equipped with 2 weeks of rations and supplies. The SCP-5156-1 instance was kept for study.

Following this event, D-5156-3 was not seen for 5 months and was thought to be lost. No further instances of SCP-5156-1 were observed, and portal generation did not occur for the instance in captivity. In April of 1942, D-5156-3 was apprehended by a foundation site in DATA EXPUNGED and relayed the location that the portal brought him to as well as how he was able to return through the use of another SCP-5156 instance. When it was discovered that D-5156-3 had been transported to [REDACTED] Japan, further research was delayed due to regional complications associated with World War II, see Addendum C.

It is unclear for how long instances of SCP-5156 have been occurring. Recent advances in DNA testing have allowed for closer examination of skeletal remains of ancient humans in both Japan and the [REDACTED] United States, see Addendum A.

ADDENDUM A COLONIZATION

It is of particular note that no instances of Capricornis crispus have been found in the fossil record of the world. In 20** unknown skeletal remains (later found to be Capricornis crispus) were found in ZONE 5156-B by a Harvard University Archaeological team. The remains carbon tested to approximately 12,000 BCE. Through Strontium testing of the animal’s teeth, it was determined that this specimen’s levels did not coincide with levels in the local area, with the closest match being [REDACTED] Japan. A Foundation Agent imbedded in the University was informed of the peculiar nature of the finding and alerted Site personnel. Class B amnestics were delivered, all research findings confiscated and the archaeological site was appropriated by the foundation.

Upon further excavation of the site, multiple human remains were found and also carbon dated to approximately 12,000 BCE. Of particular note, the Strontium tests were mixed showing that some of these individuals grew up in Japan with others showing a mix of strontium levels from both localities. The remains were all descendant from the Y chromosome Haplogroup D which does not reflect the Haplogroup of the indigenous peoples from Zone 5156-B. It appears that the Jomon people who were a hunter gatherer culture from early Japanese pre history had at some time domesticated the Japanese Serrow and used the animals portal abilities to expand their foraging and hunting grounds.

Due to the lack of Haplogroup D in the Current DNA record of indigenous persons in the region, it has been determined that these portal foragers did not successfully establish colonies in Zone 5156-B, nor did they integrate with cultures in the area if there indeed were any at this point in time.
This information indicates that the SCP-5156 portals have been linked with SCP-5156-1 instances for at least 14,000 years. Further clues to the origins of SCP-5156 can be found in Addendum B.

ADDENDUM B REFUGE

Interviewed: [SCP-323 and SCP-5156-2 Here after referred to as DOGU]

Foreword: [A clue to the origins of SCP-5156 came during a 2006 containment breach by SCP-323 Wendigo Skull at site [REDACTED]. At this time, an instance of SCP-5156-1 was being studied at the site. After killing SCP guards, SCP-323 made its way to the SCP-5156-1 containment cell. Audio and Video recording equipment captured the below conversation.

Begin Log, […. 2006]

SCP-323: Speaking in Ojibwe: I sensed you… you come here after all this time… after what you did.

At this point in time the only known instance of SCP-5156 occuring outside of Zone 5156-A or Zone 5156-B generates in SCP-5156-1’s containment cell. An approximately 120 Centimeter woman emerges with Asiatic features, geometric tattoos and goggles appears from the portal.

DOGU: Speaking in Ojibwe: My pets still come and go as they will. Though my time has passed. It seems you bested me in that at least, your people would sustain you still had these not taken you.

SCP-323: Undo it. Undo the hunger…

DOGU: My influence on you ended long ago. It is your own faction that keeps you as you are.

SCP-323: Lies!

DOGU: The forests weren’t as bountiful then, the groves hadn’t regrown after the ice. All they needed were a few extra nuts from your bountiful trees. All they needed was a refuge.

SCP-323: They were not theirs to take! They ate of me and so I ate of them… undo the hunger.

DOGU: I do not keep you as you are. With the belief that they gave me, the power they gave me with that belief, I could, if the doing were my own. But it is not. Your own faction grew with these humans as well, grew to be… more.

SCP-323: If you do not… not undo it, then I shall eat…

DOGU: That is why they keep you as you are. So all you can do is eat. Gods need their demons.

At this point, SCP-323 lunges as SCP-5156-2 as she recedes into the portal and it dissolves. SCP-323 crashes through the space where the portal had been and dismantles the SCP-5156-1 instance, though it tries SCP-323 is unable to bring any of the meat to its mouth.

End Log

Closing Statement: If what Research Unit 420 states is true, DOGU is the Jomon goddess of fertility and appears to have been directly involved with the circumstances that created SCP-323. NOTE: This is the only instance in which SCP-323 has been observed to attempt to eat meat other than that of humans. Further testing to be conducted with SCP-5156-1.]]