Elkaline

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: Later.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a phenomenon that occurs at circuses with little to no audience members, exclusively in North American countries. When an instance of SCP-XXXX occurs, the regular ringmaster will be replaced by SCP-XXXX-1, a humanoid entity dressed in a tall, black top hat and a red suit with coattails, approximately six (6) feet tall. SCP-XXXX-1 will laugh and offer commentary throughout each performance, announcing each performer and performance as though it has known and practiced with the performers for a large period of time prior to the show. When SCP-XXXX-1 is present, audience members (designated SCP-XXXX-3) will appear in the stands as though the show is sold out (since non-anomalous audience members' actions are consistent with that of instances of SCP-XXXX-3, they retain the same designation). All performances will invariably go wrong, resulting in all performers (designated SCP-XXXX-2) ending up either dead or injured. Normally inert objects will gain anomalous properties, often being the cause of injury for instances of SCP-XXXX-2.

Instances of SCP-XXXX-2 will remain animate post-mortem and continue with a performance, regardless of the amount of damage done to the corpse. All instances of SCP-XXXX-2 and SCP-XXXX-3 will act as though the performance is successful. SCP-XXXX-1 will often call instances of SCP-XXXX-3 into the ring during a performance as "volunteers". Although these instances will sustain injuries, the injuries will not be to the extent of ones sustained by instances of SCP-XXXX-2, and will never be killed. At the conclusion of a show, SCP-XXXX-1 and all instances of SCP-XXXX-2 will line up in a curtain call. Following this, SCP-XXXX-1 will demanifest in a plume of smoke. Instances of SCP-XXXX-2 will revert to a non-anomalous state.

Those who come within a 5-foot radius of SCP-XXXX-1 will, in turn, become instances of SCP-XXXX-2 themselves. Instances created in this manner will always be killed during their respective performance. As such, physical apprehension of SCP-XXXX-1 is impossible (see Incident Report XXXX-A).

Incident Report XXXX-A: The first containment effort of SCP-XXXX-1. The Foundation is informed of an instance of SCP-XXXX occurring at a circus near Site-██.