isle
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the%20projector.jpg

The earliest known image of SCP-XXX, along with an unknown subject.

Item #: SCP-XXX

Object Class: Safe Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXX is to be stored in a wooden crate of adequate size and shape, stored in Site-15. SCP-XXX is not to be activated without confirmation from research director Doctor D████ A███████.

SCP-XXX is to be kept in a locked room with at least one Type-E socket. This room must have at least one light switch or other devices to change the light level of the room, as well as seating areas for five individuals. Once a week, Foundation personnel must connect a media player to SCP-XXX. This device must have recording software, in order to monitor the instances of SCP-XXX-1. Under no circumstances are direct video records of SCP-XXX-1 and SCP-XXX-2 to be taken or kept. Personnel are then instructed to play a film, television series, or documentary, using SCP-XXX. Five D-Class personnel are to be assigned to sit down in the seating area and watch the entirety of the instance of SCP-XXX-2. Following the ending of the instance, each D-Class personnel are to be reassigned away from the anomaly.

Foundation personnel are not allowed to see SCP-XXX-2 themselves, directly, without express permission from the Director of the site. Digital recordings of SCP-XXX-2 lack the memetic effect direct visual contact has and are therefore allowed to be reviewed and cataloged. If a member of Foundation staff witnesses a direct visual instance of SCP-XXX-2 more than once, they are to be administered a Class-D amnestic and monitored for any memetic and cognitohazardous effects for a period of three months. Any signs that the cognitohazard has continued to affect the staff member after this will require the administration of a Class-E amnestic and reassignment.

Description: SCP-XXX-1 is a late-19th-century projector, with the sole exception of carrying cable connection interfaces for anachronistic devices and cables. A vast majority of these interfaces have been identified as modern cable connectors, but a number remain unidentified. The device has a power cord with a standard Type-E plug, despite the fact the object can function without power. SCP-XXX is approximately 2.4 meters tall.

The anomalous properties of SCP-XXX are threefold:

  • SCP-XXX is seemingly aware of its surroundings despite the fact that it has no external sensors.
  • Each film has its original audio or an altered form of the original, despite the fact that no speakers are connected to the device.
  • Any film projected through SCP-XXX, the films hereby referred to as SCP-XXX-1, will have been edited to feature a non-existent actor named “Edmund Imitacja”, hereby referred to as SCP-XXX-2.

There are believed to be no further anomalous effects.

SCP-XXX-1 and SCP-XXX-2 both have memetic and potentially cognitohazardous effects on the human mind. First-time viewers of SCP-XXX-1 will not have any inherently negative effects but are more seemingly more prone to believe that the instances of SCP-XXX-1 are legitimate media. This symptom seems to wear off within a month if there is no further direct contact with SCP-XXX-1 or imagery of SCP-XXX-2.

Should a viewer directly watch it a second time, within a limited period of time between a month and a year, they will begin to believe that SCP-XXX-3 was a real actor and recall the subject in other roles. Depending on the original work’s time period of creation, those affected will name contemporary pieces to the unaltered work. If the subject experiences three instances of SCP-XXX-2, they will begin to “recall” other false actors, directors, and films.

Instances of SCP-XXX-2 have no anomalous ideas or unique forms of messaging, the films are simply altered to allow SCP-XXX-3 to have a starring role within them. This leads to main characters being recast or documentary narration instead being taken over by SCP-XXX-3. In certain instances, plot points have been altered and even entire episodes altered to feature SCP-XXX-3 in a guest role. When these videos are played back on other devices, they are returned to their original form. The only remaining way of viewing instances of SCP-XXX-2 without risking anomalous effects is to record the projecting device digitally.

SCP-XXX is seemingly aware of the passage of time and will begin to play more cognitohazardous instances of SCP-XXX-1 if proper measures are not taken. These instances have been shown to induce subjects to believe that SCP-XXX-2 is real, quicker than traditional instances of SCP-XXX-1. They are not based on any known film, television, or documentary programs and begin to play on their own, whether or not a device is plugged into SCP-XXX. In order to prevent these errant instances, an instance of SCP-XXX-1 must be activated weekly, with proper cautions taken. Should one of these requirements not be met, the instance of SCP-XXX-2 will continue to project, but with significant alterations to the plot, in usually violent, crude, and threatening ways. Should the requirements continue not to be met, it has been shown to result in a new program with little resemblance to the original, featuring excessive and graphic violence.

SCP-XXX was acquired in 19██ in ████████, Poland. A local movie theater had ordered the device from an unknown supplier and reported it to a local newspaper. The Foundation was able to prevent the newspaper from distributing and commandeered the device from the theater, administering Class-B amnestics to any potentially affected by the anomaly. Following further research into the device and the identification of cognitohazardous effects, any still potentially affected were given Class-D amnestics, under the guise of a new vaccine. The search for the vendor of SCP-XXX-1 was unsuccessful, with the only evidence of pre-19██ SCP-XXX-1 being late 189█ photographs with an unknown individual.

Addendum-XXX-1: The unique properties of the anomaly are incredible, we haven't seen such media-altering effects in some time. The fact that we have so much little on the history of SCP-XXX is shameful. We should conduct further research into this "Edmund Imitacja" and see if anyone of that name exists or existed in the ████████ region of Poland. We're lucky to have such a great entrance into the history of the subject. - Doctor D. A███████, June 5th, 19██

Addendum-XXX-2: Following the lack of leads in the history of the subject over the few months, I've been forced to re-aim our directions in what effect this has on the films. Quite frankly, it's a shame how little we've researched into the effects this has on the media. We've had decades, people, there has to be something we aren't seeing. - Doctor D. A███████, January 12th, 19██

Addendum-XXX-3: I believe we've finally cracked it, with the regularity of showing, these programs turn more and more normal. This projector doesn't seem to do much besides that, in truth, and I'm not sure if we need to continue the research into it. This really should be more of an anomalous object than needing containment protocols. - Doctor D. A███████, March 23rd, 19██

Addendum-XXX-4: There's absolutely nothing anomalous in these files. It's a projector. An old one with adapted cables, but it's a projector all the same. There's no difference between the non-anomalous originals and the adaptions on the projector, they're identical. I see no reason to continue research on SCP-XXX and suggest we mark it as explained. - Doctor A███████, April 2nd, 19██

Addendum-XXX-5: The head of research on SCP-XXX, Doctor D████ A███████, viewed six successive instances of the violent SCP-XXX-1, resulting in the researcher failing to notice the anomalous effects of SCP-XXX and requested the ending of the program. Following an interview, the Foundation identified Doctor A███████ was under the belief that SCP-XXX-2 was an entirely real actor. Doctor A███████'s entire staff was given a Class-D amnestic and reassigned from SCP-XXX. Doctor A███████ is under confinement under suspicion of further irrationality and is feared to be unrecoverable. We have reason to believe there are cognitohazardous effects gained from viewing SCP-XXX-1 and imagery of SCP-XXX-2. In his private logs, Doctor A███████ began to catalog several alarming things conducted by SCP-XXX-2, including mentioning several Foundation personnel by name that have never researched SCP-XXX. Following these events, SCP-XXX has been reclassified to Euclid. - Director K███████