Pedagon_Drafting

SCP-8701

+ Original

Description: SCP-8701 is a Hansen “Writing Ball” (serial # 125), manufactured in1882 by the inventor Rasmus Malling-Hansen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The “pincushion” design sees the arrangement of 52 keys on a large brass hemisphere suspended above a semi-cylindrical frame (which holds one sheet of paper) by use of a mechanical escapement and clips. The 52 keys are arranged with the vowels to the left and consonants to the right. This, combined with the short pistons connecting the keys to the semi-cylindrical frame make typing speed very fast. The writing cylinder can be moved both rotationally and longitudinally as letters are manually spaced by the typist.
Labeling of the 52 keys has been done with unremarkable black ink, the exact composition of which has not been identified. The 52 keys include all 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, number keys from 1-9, 1 “space bar”, 1 “period”, and 15 blank keys (the purpose of which is unknown). Keys containing a comma, exclamation mark, or question mark are all absent. The machine has a seemingly never ending supply of ink which has not had to be refilled since coming into the possession of The Foundation.
The use of SCP-8701 always begins with the same ritual wherein a typist must type the following poem, by the devices original owner Friedrich Nietzsche, verbatim using the Latin alphabet keys (the 15 blank keys are always immovable prior to this ritual):
‘The Writing Ball is a thing like me: of iron
Yet twisted easily – especially on journeys.
Patience and tact must be had in abundance
As well as fine [little] fingers to use us.’
Following this input SCP-8701 will begin typing of its own accord using only the 15 blank keys (now movable) until it fills the blank page left in its semi-cylindrical frame. The page, in all cases, will contain text which exposes the most deeply held secret of the typist who instigated the opening ritual in expansive detail. Should the page be removed or destroyed SCP-8701 will begin its typing process anew and create a new document as soon as a new page is inserted. In cases where the original typist attempted to damage or destroy SCP-8701 the machine proved impervious to damage and if a new page was not added to SCP-8701 to replace a destroyed document within five minutes the text would begin appearing engraved onto the typists skin in such a way as to scar the text to their body while SCP-8701 typed away on its 15 blank keys.
SCP-8701 came into The Foundation’s possession in 1975 when Agent REDACTED discovered it was being used as a data collection tool by a doctoral student. The doctoral student, while investigating the phenomenon of secrecy, was concerned with the trustworthiness of their data. So, they used SCP-8701 as an interview tool. Results proved disastrous as many of the participants suffered from SCP-8701’s scaring side effect. The Foundation deemed this un-ethical and quickly confiscated SCP-8701, and all related files, moving it to our REDACTED facility. SCP-8701 was classified Level 3 so both SCP-8701 and all its created files to date have been contained in the deepest levels of our REDACTED facility.
While only one machine like SCP-8701 has been encountered it is possible that similar units exist outside of Foundation control. The Foundation is closely monitoring Faculties of Graduate Studies around the globe in case on shows up again under similar circumstances to SCP-8701.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-8701 is catalogued as a Safe-class inanimate object fit for storage at The Foundation’s primary facility (Storage Site 07). Paper of any kind should not be stored or brought into contact with SCP-8701 at any time outside of pre-determined Foundation testing. All created files are to be stored separately at an undisclosed location and both SCP-8701 and its files are accessible only by level 3 clearance personnel.

Item #: SCP-8701

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-8701 is stored at Storage Site-07 how? and is accessible only by personnel with level 3 clearance or above. No paper products of any kind are to be stored near or brought into contact with SCP-8701 outside of testing. All documents created using SCP-8701 are to be stored separately at an undisclosed location Undisclosed to the researchers working on it? They would need to know where to put documents after testing wouldn't they? .

Description: SCP-8701 is a Hansen “Writing Ball” (serial # 125), manufactured in 1882 by the inventor Rasmus Malling-Hansen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The “pincushion” design sees the arrangement of 52 keys on a large brass hemisphere suspended above a semi-cylindrical frame. One sheet of paper is able to be fed into the semi-cylindrical frame by use of a mechanical escapement and clips. The 52 keys are arranged with the vowels to the left and consonants to the right. This, combined with the short pistons connecting the keys to the semi-cylindrical frame make typing speed very fast. The writing cylinder can be moved both rotationally and longitudinally as letters are manually spaced by the typist.
Labeling of the 52 keys has been done with unremarkable black ink, the exact composition of which has not been identified. The 52 keys include all 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, number keys from 1-9, 1 “space bar”, 1 “period”, and 15 blank keys (the purpose of which is unknown) we do know what their purpose is but not how they work. Keys containing a comma, exclamation mark, or question mark are all absent. The machine has a seemingly never ending supply of ink which has not had to be refilled since coming into the possession of the Foundation.
The use of SCP-8701 always begins with the same ritual wherein a typist must type the following poem, by the devices original owner Friedrich Nietzsche, verbatim using the Latin alphabet keys (the 15 blank keys are always immovable prior to this ritual):
SCP-8701's anomalous properties are initiated whenever a typist inputs the following poem by Friedrich Nietzsche¹ verbatim using the Latin alphabet keys. The 15 blank keys are always immovable prior to this ritual.

‘The Writing Ball is a thing like me: of iron
Yet twisted easily – especially on journeys.
Patience and tact must be had in abundance
As well as fine [little] fingers to use us.’

Following this input, SCP-8701 will begin typing of its own accord using only the 15 blank keys, which are now movable until it fills the blank page left in its semi-cylindrical frame. The document created by SCP-8701, in all cases, will contain text which exposes the most deeply held secret of the typist who instigated the opening ritual in expansive detail. Should the page be removed or destroyed, SCP-8701 will begin its typing process anew and create a new document as soon as a new page is inserted. In cases where the original typist attempted to damage or destroy SCP-8701, the machine proved impervious to damage. If a new page was not added to SCP-8701 to replace a destroyed document within five minutes, the text would begin appearing engraved onto the typists skin in such a way as to scar the text to their body while SCP-8701 typed away on its 15 blank keys Does it then type until it runs out of room on the subjects' body?
SCP-8701 came into The Foundation’s possession in 1975 when Agent ████████ discovered it was being used as a data collection tool by a doctoral student nice.. The doctoral student, while investigating the phenomenon of secrecy, was concerned with the trustworthiness of their data. So, they used SCP-8701 as an interview tool How did they know to seek out SCP-8701 to solve this problem?. Results proved disastrous as many How many? of the participants suffered from SCP-8701’s scaring side effect. The Foundation deemed this un-ethical and quickly confiscated SCP-8701, and all related files, moving it to Site-07. SCP-8701 was classified Level 3 so both SCP-8701 and all its created files to date have been contained in the deepest levels of our REDACTED facility.
While only one machine like SCP-8701 has been encountered, it is possible that similar units exist outside of Foundation control. The Foundation is closely monitoring Faculties of Graduate Studies around the globe in case on shows up again under similar circumstances to SCP-8701.

SCP-XXXX: Adytum of the Forgotten
Author: ItsDenali and thanks to Placeholder McD, cybersqyd, and yyy for crit. Also huge thanks to King Deis from the Dr. Cimmerian Discord for the original concept that evolved into this!

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• "Galdöpiggens topp.jpg" is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported. I made minor edits to the image.
• "KZ Sankt Valentin Luftschutzraum.jpeg" is in the Public Domain. I cropped the image from its initial size.
• "Tyrrell - Ruee Klondike - 1898.jpg" is in the Public Domain.

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More works by this author

NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

The following file is pending deletion after having appeared on Overwatch Command's archival servers, lacking a determined origin or appropriate credentials, and having resisted all attempts at modification or removal to date. Personnel are to be reminded that the statements and assertions described in this document are to be regarded as baseless and untrue.

— Maria Jones, Director, RAISA

5/XXXX LEVEL 5/XXXX

CLASSIFIED

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Safe

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SCP-XXXX's surface installation prior to demolition.

Special Containment Procedures: Personnel outside of the O5 Council and Ethics Committee who were previously aware of the existence and contents of SCP-XXXX have been amnesticized and reassigned as necessary.

The installation on Galdhøpiggen's summit has been demolished and the access hatch to SCP-XXXX has been sealed by emergency order of O5-1; any attempts to overturn this order or to access SCP-XXXX will result in detainment, interrogation, and potential termination of involved persons.

Description: SCP-XXXX denotes a massive subterranean complex located beneath Galdhøpiggen,² in Norway. SCP-XXXX is solely accessible via a metal hatch located within a small installation on the summit of the mountain. A plaque mounted on the exterior of this installation reads "SCP Foundation Department of Abnormalities."

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The following addenda are restricted solely to members of the O5 Council.

Proceeding without proper authorization is strictly forbidden.

• • _
  ◆ Access Addenda ◆◇ Hide Addenda ◇

  Welcome, Overseer.

  SCP-XXXX Interior

  

  A portion of SCP-XXXX's primary entryway.

  The interior of SCP-XXXX consists of an entry hallway, an office, a collection of empty living quarters, and a cafeteria. Initial inspection of the office space revealed nothing of note except files regarding unknown anomalous entities and internal communications, and a photograph of a group of men³. Most documents present have previously sustained some degree of water damage, though proved to be legible (see below). The remaining rooms were empty aside from basic furniture and a single cigarette butt found near the entry hatch. A lift system is present at the rear of the entryway, and provides access to the remainder of the facility.

  When taken below the entryway, the lift system will descend down a transparent shaft oriented in the center of a massive space with seven walls, measuring approximately 100 meters to a side and 900 meters in height. Inset into each wall is a large chamber cordoned off from the main space by large door composed of a frosted glass-like substance extending the height of the room. Each door is engraved with a unique symbol and appears to be sealed by a wide variety of installations, including conventional locking mechanisms, tubes, minor thaumaturgical channels, and additional apparatuses of unknown composition. Each door constantly emits a blue light from behind its window, which acts as the room's only means of illumination.

  Recovered Files

  Nearly all recovered documents refer to non-existent personnel, unallocated funds, and mentions of approval from several extant Foundation members, all of whom have denied any involvement in such a project. Investigative leads found within these documents have proven almost entirely inconclusive.

  Portions of these documents have been made unreadable due to water damage.

  Item designation number: #290519YS-025

  Item Class: Eikon

  Warning: Item is hostile and dangerous

  Description of item:

  Currently 524 meters tall, unknown weight, unknown age. Entity is a muscular humanoid possessing pale skin with patches of white hair on its head, chest, armpits, and crotch. Entity lacks genitalia, anus, and other bodily orifices. The subject has the ability to liquefy its body like water and can assimilate nearby water sources into its mass, and can crystallize itself into ice at will. Hostile to all other lifeforms, and wields immense physical strength, though appears to be rather unintelligent.

  Detail of current containment:

  Currently contained within Chamber ᚦ. Interaction with the entity is forbidden.

  Report:
  Entity first appeared outside of the town of Gåsvatnan, Norway on 12/02/1927 and proceeded to attack and destroy most of the area before retreating into a local lake. Upon arrival of Foundation forces, entity reemerged and attacked. The present containment team was able to eventually subdue and capture the entity through the use of Item 09791-001. A total of 300 casualties were recorded, with at least 50 more missing afterwards. Amnestics and a cover story were administered as required. See Fig. 34-0A for reference.

  Addendum: Entity has attempted escape on multiple occasions, though current containment measures continue to hold. Continually hostile behavior has been noted.

  Notably, on 07/06/1930 the entity partially breached containment following unauthorized access by the late Researcher McClaisey who appeared intent on making contact with the creature.
  

  (Remainder of file is illegible.)

  
  

  

  Fig. 34-0A: Local villagers salvaging their belongings following the entity's initial attack.

  
  
  

  Item designation number: #700619WY-001

  Item Class: Aechelon

  Warning: Item is mind-affecting, limit exposure

  (Many lines have been rendered illegible.)

  Report:

  The object was first excavated by members of a Finnish archaeology group near a northern portion of the Swedish-Finish border sometime in September of 1909. Object's uncovering resulted in immediate exposure of researchers there at the time and began a gradual alteration of the local environment. This transformation became apparent once local trees began bearing otherworldly fruits and flowers, while also turning pink in color.

  Foundation field agents in the area noted the changes to the environment and approached, discovering the archaeologists and questioned them on the environmental transformation that had taken place. They discovered that the archaeologists had become severely influenced by the presence of the Abnormality and had established a sort of cult dedicated to its worship.

  Upon further intervention by backup forces, acquisition of the Abnormality, a breaking-up of the cult, and administering of amnestics, the terrain slowly began to return to normal.

  Addendum: To date, all containers that the object has been placed in have created an opening of some sort through which the object's light can be emitted. When moved to Chamber ᛟ, a portion of the paneling cracked open, though the interior of the cell remains otherwise obscured.

  The following note was found discarded in a waste bin in the restroom, appearing to have been torn from a notebook of some sort. It has been translated from its original transcription in Bokmål.

  4/9/1939

  I haven't been able to shake the feeling that something big is coming down the pipeline.

  The higher-ups have been moving a lot of people around to a lot of places, installing new locks and god-knows-what-else onto the Doors, and even talking about leaving the Site for a while. There have even been rumors that some of the other Sites have been shifting operations or shutting down entirely. Between that and the politics down south getting more and more heated by the day, I'm beginning to worry about what's to come.

  Pier hasn't responded to any of my letters either. I'm starting to think they're not allowing any of our messages out, which doesn't make sense. We all swore oaths not to breach secrecy. Does our word truly mean so little to these damn bureaucrats?

  To hell with it all.

  (Part of the note has been crossed out and made illegible.)

  … I just want to go home.

  
  The following was transcribed from a telegram that was at the top of a pile of communications found in the main drawer of the desk.

  SCP FOUNDATION
  DEPARTMENT OF ABNORMALITIES
  Internal Telegram

  RECEIEVED: 8/9/1939

  SENT FROM: D.o.A. Command

  DELIVER TO: Dr. Fidd Nelsen - Site-107NW⁴

  CONTENT: evacuate site. council-elect votes tonight. likely to activate protocol 001. site-107 will hold unmanned. war comes soon in the south. the contingency begins now. good luck.

  secure. contain. protect.

  Chamber Analysis

  Contained within each chamber is an entity or object of unknown composition. All attempts to directly view these entities or the chambers' interiors have generally failed, though indirect observations have been made. These observations are as follows.

  Chamber Jeran

  Symbol:

  

  
  Observations: Based on the its silhouette, entity resembles a thin humanoid with wildly exaggerated bodily proportions exceeding the total height of room in size. It has been noted to remain motionless at most times, rarely tapping on the glass.
  

  Chamber Odal

  Symbol:

  

  
  Observations: Chamber exhibits no external activity, though its door is slightly warmer than the surrounding area. A very small crack is present in the lower right corner of the glass pane, through which a bright light of varying color is constantly emitted. Personnel exposed to this light report drastically increased dopamine levels⁵, feelings of euphoria and hope, and extreme happiness that persists up to several weeks following exposure.
  

  Chamber Kaunan

  Symbol:

  

  
  Observations: Chamber contains a highly active swarm of small organisms, comprised of millions of individuals. Personnel in close proximity to the chamber report persistent feelings of dread.
  

  Chamber Thurisaz

  Symbol:

  

  
  Observations: Contained entity is estimated to be around 500 meters in height and humanoid in shape. Entity will occasionally strike the glass pane, then slowly retreat further into the chamber. A sloshing sound may sometimes be heard from within.
  

  Chamber Mannaz

  Symbol:

  

  
  Observations: No silhouettes have been observed, though sounds of human-like sobbing and laughter can be heard from within.
  

  Chamber Peorth

  Symbol:

  

  
  Observations: Glass pane appears to have been partially distorted by the presence of an extreme heat source present within. Personnel in close proximity to the chamber report hearing quiet music playing behind the glass, though acoustic technology has been unable to detect such sounds.
  

  Chamber Algiz

  Symbol:

  

  
  Observations: The chamber door is slightly open, allowing access to its interior. The room is pure white and well-lit, with a large circular depression in the floor surrounded by a ring of blue roses. In the center of the depression is a pedestal with a single piece of paper placed on it that reads:
  

  I hope you know that I am truly sorry, but we both know that desperate times such as these call for even more desperate measures. I'll try to get this back here as soon as I can, but I honestly can't say that'll be any time soon.[[/span]]

  I have faith that you'll be able to manage until then.[[/span]]

  Good luck.[[/span]]

  — The Administrator[[/span]]

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Footnotes

1. The device's original owner

2. The tallest mountain in the Jotunheimen mountain range.

3. Attempts at identifying persons in the photo have proven unsuccessful.

4. No person by this name is known to have ever been employed by any branch of the SCP Foundation, nor has a Site ever been registered under this designation.

5. The introduction and decline of which has been observed to cause addictive behaviors that can culminate in an obsession with the object.