Per 
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Captured instances of SCP-XXXX are held in standard 5m x 5m x 5m containment cells at Site-███. Unless otherwise approved by Level 3 staff or higher, the containment cells are not to be opened for any purpose. Bludgeoning-like sounds coming from inside the cells when personnel are in close proximity is considered normal, and lack thereof should be reported to site staff as irregular behaviour.
As of the current revision of these procedures, efforts to capture further SCP-XXXX instances have been indefinitely discontinued. Further documentation of sightings must still be recorded.
TODO: Reveal their current state here.
Description: SCP-XXXX collectively refers to a species of bipedal creatures that appear across the west coast of North America. In particular a high number of them have appeared in the Klamath Mountains, most likely due to its secluded environment.
During nighttime and while no humans are present, SCP-XXXX instances will start materializing in groups of 1-5, appearing up to 1km apart from each other. Once the group appears, they will immediate start walking towards each other in an attempt to meet up.
Regardless of whether or not they achieve this, after approximately 20 minutes they will attempt to reach the highest possible location in the vicinity to get a clear view of the moon. From here the entities start performing a series of rituals as if they are praying to the moon. These rituals include a series of stationary dances/gestures, expressive vocalizations that resemble songs, and sometimes collective silence with their arms outstretched to the moon.
Once sunrise is minutes away, the entities will cease their ritual and disappear. High speed photography of this event reveals that they do not vanish all at once, but rather fade away. Attempts to capture SCP-XXXX instances under an "invisibility" hypothesis have failed. (TODO: Superfluous info?)
SCP-XXXX instances will also vanish when either a human enters within a 30m radius of them or their vision of the moon becomes obstructed. Covering an entity's view with a translucent object also triggers a disappearance. Non-human based sentient creatures and machines do not have this effect. Capturing and interacting with specimens is possible through the use of robots. Contained SCP-XXXX instances do not dematerialize when put in the presence of humans but instead repeatedly throw themselves at the opposite walls of their containment in an attempt to escape.
When not agitated, captured SCP-XXXX instances have demonstrated to be highly intelligent. Through the use of remote-controlled robots, they are capable of being taught American Sign Language (ASL) through repeated teachings. They do not appear capable of reciting or comprehending spoken languages. Subjects have demonstrated to be very informed about current events circulating in the world but are not very talkative. They often complain about containment and request to be released (See Incident XXXX-B).
Addendum XXXX-A: As of ██/██/19██, 53 members of SCP-XXXX have been contained. Personnel dedicated to capturing subjects have noticed a sharp decrease in the prevalence of the species during nighttime patrols. This potentially indicates that there are a finite number of them in existence or that their replication methods are slow.
TODO: Consider rewrite/expand these?
Addendum XXXX-B: A notable testing log with an SCP-XXXX subject:
Following this incident, Dr. ██████ requested a suspension on the containment of further SCP-XXXX instances in the event that SCP-XXXX-██'s statements were factual. The request was denied.
Addendum XXXX-C: Following a night patrol near Redwood National and State Parks, Foundation drones picked up a coastal flooding. Prior to this date researchers already noted abnormally higher tides during nighttime in the region that were inconsistent with other locations across the planet. However, this flooding was a record high for the region, forcing a temporary evacuation of the area.
6 days into the anomaly, a large group of 14 SCP-XXXX instances appeared and began performing their traditional rituals. In a matter of minutes, the tides receded to pre-anomalous levels and is now consistent with the moon's position. The group remained visible all the way into the first 15 minutes of sunrise. In the last minute of their appearance, they stared directly at overhead Foundation drones and repeatedly said "not your wish" in ASL. No other erratic behaviour was found in observed SCP-XXXX instances since, and contained specimens have no knowledge of these events.
As of ██/██/20██, 105 members of SCP-XXXX have been contained. Following this incident, the now late Dr. ██████'s request has been approved and capture efforts have been terminated until further notice. The decision of whether or not to release captured SCP-XXXX instances is still being debated.
Concept pitch.
Group of creatures that pray to the moon each night in order to hold back the apocalypse. Then the Foundation starts containing them and things get worse.
If I'm being honest I don't feel too confident about the narrative I put forth here. Initially it was just going to be that the Foundation re-releases the contained specimens and then all is well, but after writing a quick draft of that iteration it felt like too short/bland of an article.
I figured that by adding a little bit of a subversion to that idea (the Foundation actually figures out how to render the species useless and indirectly causes their extinction), it would make it more interesting, but I'm still not sure. I'd rather see if this idea's worth greenlighting before rewriting that draft.
