Riko-based Lifeform's drafts of questionable quality

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX-01, -02, -03, -05, -06 and -09 are kept in Reinforced Greenhouse-43AB within Biological Research Site-104. The containment cell is coated in heat-resistant alloy, environmentally regulated to resemble subarctic climate and fitted with automated UV-light, air control, fertilisation and ground watering. SCP-XXXX specimens must be kept at least 5 m from each other and at least 1 m from the containment cell's inner walls. All specimens are required to have their designation and orientation painted on their trunk. SCP-XXXX are not to be exposed to any kind of precipitation and/or wind speeds above 1.15 mph.

Removal of SCP-XXXX from their greenhouse requires permission from two (2) Level-3 researchers. The extracted specimen will then be uprooted and replanted in one of the specialized transport carts present on-site with the assistance of the remote manipulators present within the containment cell.
Pollination of SCP-XXXX requires Level-4 permission.

The remains of SCP-XXXX-04, -07 and -08 are stored in a separate frozen storage unit. All documentation and archeological findings pertaining to SCP-XXXX are held in Archeology Wing 15D of Research, Reliquary, and Containment Site-76, and may be accessed with permission from current research director, Dr. Isaksson.

Description: SCP-XXXX are indistinguishable from normal Scots pines,¹ but display anomalous characteristics following any kind of force, even of minuscule strength, being applied onto the upper branches of a specimen. When triggered, SCP-XXXX will bend themselves to near ground level, achieving this without any biological structures required for movement or elasticity. No methods to visually determine SCP-XXXX's orientation aside from marking the direction in which it bends have been discovered.

When in this position, the upper branches will shift to create the shape of a roughly hemispherical, concave recipient. Upon a secondary force being applied to the recipient, the specimen will violently straighten itself and return to its normal height. SCP-XXXX is immune to any structural damage this action would cause, but can still be harmed through normal means.

SCP-XXXX can be used to propel objects weighing up to a maximum of 60 kg at a distance between 300 and 500 m from the specimen in use. SCP-XXXX ignore any damage that would be expected from such a task, excluding any attempts to throw an object heavier than 60 kg, in this case shattering its trunk while attempting to raise itself. It is unknown how this method of propelling can generate the force required.

When a solid surface is in contact with SCP-XXXX's lower end, the roots of the specimen will attempt to wrap around the perceived surface and stiffen. When planted, the roots ''grip'' to the ground with a strength of ███ N: this ensues that, without exceptional strength, SCP-XXXX cannot be uprooted through normal means. However, SCP-XXXX possess a ring of fine roots up to a maximum of 70 cm in length, held above-ground. When pulling the roots in a certain direction, SCP-XXXX's roots will release their tension, allowing for easy uprooting or rotation of the specimen.

While SCP-XXXX is capable of reproduction, no male cones are present on SCP-XXXX's branches. Rather, pollen is produced in a sack within a cavity found on the bottom of the tree. It is naturally improbable for SCP-XXXX to naturally fecundate itself or other specimens.

Addendum #XXXX-AC.01: Discovery

SCP-XXXX instances numbered -01 through -08 were recovered at a presentation regarding a private collection of Norse archeological artifacts belonging to Arvid Isaksson, Norwegian archeologist and historian specialized in Norse history. The event, hosted on the ██/██/20██ in █████, France, included a seminar of Norse populations's usage of siege engines.² Field agents already present at the event contacted the Foundation after a live test of SCP-XXXX-02. All visitors were administered Class-A amnestics and the organizers, along with Isaksson, were brought in for questioning.

Isaksson claims that he recovered SCP-XXXX-04 at a previously unknown archeological site near Larvik, Norway, in 197█. The specimen supposedly still possessed a functional pollen sack,³ from which Isaksson privately generated SCP-XXXX-01, -02, -03, -05, -06 and -07. SCP-XXXX-08 was retrieved from a separate site near Paris, France, in 198█. Isaksson's collection was reviewed and objects related to and/or referencing SCP-XXXX were confiscated and brought to Site-76. The presentation's organizers were administered Class-B amnestics and Isaksson was involved in the following investigations, at the conclusion of which he was employed by the Foundation due to his remarkable cooperation and competences.

From Dr. Isaksson's records, a total of 8 archeological sites related to SCP-XXXX and its possible creators, designated Points of Interest-A1 through -A8, were identified. Research teams were dispatched to all points of interests.

Addendum #XXXX-AC.04:

[Request=DOC.XXXX.AC.04]

[ACCESS GRANTED]

Log of Points of Interest-A1 through -A8

#POI-A1: Original archeological site near Larvik, Norway, where SCP-XXXX-04 was initially retrieved by Isaksson. The site held an underground complex composed of a round hall 9 m in diameter with an entrance and 8 rooms 3 x 4 m. Dr. Isaksson claims that the site also held several artefacts and organic remains that were used in seiðr,⁴ all of which were found in his collection. All POI share this basic layout, excluding POI-A2.

After no further information could be retrieved, the POI was demolished.

#POI-A2: Original archeological site near Paris, France, where SCP-XXXX-08 was initially retrieved by Isaksson. The remains of a ship burial⁵ were discovered in the area. The contents of the burial mound, including 3 fractured human remains, weaponry and jewellery dated to the 9th century, a runestone and SCP-XXXX-08, were all found in Dr. Isaksson's collection.
The runestone, written in Younger Futhark, depicts a Viking raid against a walled town, possibly Paris. An SCP-XXXX instance is shown standing upright on a Viking ship, the roots seemingly wrapped around a horizontal axis.⁶ Three Vikings are shown in mid-air. The runes framing the scene read:

''In memory of brothers Tori, Ingmar and Vali stands this stone,
manning the false giant they took flight,
over the town's walls and towards Odin's halls.''

After no further information could be retrieved, the POI was demolished.

#POI-A3: Discovered near ██████, Norway, and previously visited by Isaksson. A stone ca. 29 m in diameter was found on site, with evidence of impact in the area. Both Dr. Isaksson's records and Foundation geologists confirm that the stone originated ███ km from the site.

#POI-A4: Archeological site near Skara, Sweden, previously visited by Isaksson. Both Isaksson's expedition in 198█ and the current investigation recovered no objects, save for a number of parchments composed of birch bark, hidden inside a cubical altar at the center of the central hall. The mechanism within the altar was anomalous in nature and required a delegation from the Department of [REDACTED] to open it, also explaining why Isaksson's group was oblivious to the altar's contents. Several remains of humans and cattle from the 9th century were also discovered in a 500 m radius around the site. Together, the parchments create the following text in Younger Futhark:

''We are sorry. We were too scared to explain ourselves, so we fled in these hills.''
''We know it is not for men to become völvur⁷, but our interest was too strong. We learnt so much, but we'll never teach it. That saddens me more than to think of all the ones we have slain to hide ourselves.''
''They think there are rock-throwing giants in these hills. Our Protectors are very helpful in the disguise. We have still stained our hands with blood, and for that we will be punished. I count on it.''
''I do not ask you to absolve us, we do not deserve it. Just know that I am glad that the art has spread in your time.''

After no further information could be retrieved, the POI was demolished and the retrieved parchment moved to Site-76.

#POI-A5: Archeological site near Roskilde, Denmark, previously visited by Isaksson. Isaksson's expedition in 198█ discovered several human remains in a 340 m radius around the site, all of which were found in his collection. An inscription in Younger Futhark was discovered on the inner walls of the 7th room of the structure, here transcribed:

''Jarl has learnt of our rouse. Wants Protectors. Berserker from Norway is leading raid south, Jarl wants to join.''
''Will cut down as all Protectors. If he wants catapultas⁸, take them from south. Protectors have claimed enough blood already.''

After no further information could be retrieved, the inscription was recorded, a physical copy of which stored at Site-76, and the POI demolished.

#POI-A6: Archeological site near █████████, ██████. No objects were retrieved within the site's premises; however, several remains of humans and cattle from the 9th century were discovered in a █.█ km radius around the site.

Eight SCP-XXXX specimens, distinct from those in the Foundation's possession, were discovered in a circular pattern around the site. Permission was granted for a test on field, and a pine cone found on-site was employed as the trigger and projectile.
The specimens were visually identical to Norway spruces⁹ and functioned by pulling a branch, holding an item of small weight on said branch, then releasing both. In this test, the branches acted as a slingshot and hurled the pine cone at speeds exceeding ██ km/h not towards the direction in which it was being aimed, instead hitting Researcher ██████, who was stationed ███ m away, killing her instantly.

After no further information could be retrieved, the alternate SCP-XXXX specimens were retrieved and the POI demolished. All SCP-XXXX specimens were lost 20 minutes after leaving the site, as they spontaneously combusted during transport. Researcher ██████'s family was given compensation and personnel allowing the field test were reprimanded.

#POI-A7: Discovered near ████, Sweden. A stone ca. 35 m in diameter was found on site, with evidence of impact in the area. Geological analysis confirmed that the stone originated ███ km from the site.

#POI-A8: Archeological site near ███████, Norway. A human skeleton, belonging to a man between 30 and 40 years of age, most likely killed by blunt trauma to the head, was recovered within the structure. Additionally, a wooden chest containing several parchments of birch bark was discovered, buried in the site's premises.
The following text, transcribed from the parchments, was written in Modern English using the Latin alphabet:

''I cut down all the Protectors. Enough blood was on our hands. The others are spying the giants, but they will be back soon, and it will be the end of me.''
''The giants are here, yet we just keep killing our own people. Yes, other schools tried to slay them, and they were easily crushed, but it's better to fight and die than to hide in this cave like a cowardly rat!''
''People don't understand. Our fathers would see us dead, rather than welcome us and what we have learnt. But they will understand later, we have seen it! Why tarnish our reputation now, if we know that our art will be studied and accepted in the future? Why not help them now, against our enemy?''
''I don't know why I'm writing this down, and to you specifically. Maybe I just wanted to vent off. I am argr¹⁰, so? I won't let all the hate I received and the resentment I hold transform me in a monster.''
''Anyways, there's a Protector and some of our things at an abandoned school near Larvik. It can still produce offspring, I made sure of it. Perhaps you'll come up with something better. I mean, Arvid, you already know what a Protector can do. It's not really a catapult, is it?''

After no further information could be retrieved, the POI was demolished and the chest, parchments and human remains moved to Site-76.

SCP-XXXX at the time of discovery, exposed at the ██████ Museum of ██████, Finland.

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be kept in Containment Locker XXXX at Site-39, in a dark, dry environment. SCP-XXXX is to be regularly inspected every month, with personnel involved required to wear padded, full-body protection gear, earplugs and a mouth and nose cover. Personnel are instructed to also wear said equipment during testing. A couch and a first aid kit have been placed within the laboratory and test room granted to the SCP-XXXX project.

Update as of 20██/██/██: Further attempts at replicating SCP-XXXX-1 have been forbidden until further notice.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a whistle dating to the 19th Century AD, carved from the humerus of a North-Atlantic grey whale. The sound produced by the object induces heavy drowsiness, loss of concentration and, in a minority of cases, a trance-like state in which the listener will be extremely gullible to any statement or claim. This effect wears off after approx. six (6) hours, or after sleep of any duration. Couches are present in the facilities provided to the SCP-XXXX project for treatment of accidental exposure to the noise.

Approximately seven (7) seconds after playing, an entity designated as SCP-XXXX-A will manifest in the immediate surroundings of the individual that played SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX-A will then physically assault the individual. Only the entity’s limbs employed in the attacks, bearing both human and avian features, are visible or detectable. It is speculated that SCP-XXXX-A’s complete appearance is that of a humanoid of 1.75 m in height with a long, grey plumage covering its back and limbs.

After SCP-XXXX’s user drops, or loses a hold over the object, SCP-XXXX-A will address its victim in Finnish, warning against using SCP-XXXX again, then demanifesting. SCP-XXXX-A possesses impolite, aggressive manners, suggesting frustration and antipathy towards SCP-XXXX’s users.

According to SCP-XXXX-A’s comments after its attacks, SCP-XXXX is the central component of a ritual in Finnish shamanism, hereafter defined as SCP-XXXX-1. SCP-XXXX would have been employed, along with several other ingredients, to put the practitioner in an altered state of consciousness, supposedly allowing access to Tuonela.¹¹ It is believed that SCP-XXXX-A acts as a means to prevent, or otherwise deter practitioners from performing SCP-XXXX-1. Research in the additional components required for SCP-XXXX-1 is ongoing.

Addendum XXXX-01:

A series of tests was performed in order to have SCP-XXXX-A unintentionally reveal the ingredients required for SCP-XXXX-1 through its sarcastic additions to its warnings. It was discovered that these ingredients trigger, aside from a hostile response by SCP-XXXX-A, a secondary effect where a specific anomalous condition is inflicted upon SCP-XXXX-1’s practitioner. These conditions, albeit permanent, have been deemed manageable and innocuous. Affected personnel, including D-Class, have been allowed to continue their work as normal. It is believed these effects act as a ‘‘punishment’’ for pursuing the ritual, but it is unknown whether the cause is SCP-XXXX-A or the ingredients.

The following is a list the requirements needed for SCP-XXXX-1 to take place:

SCP-XXXX (no additional effect);

a drum with skin taken by the practitioner from the third cub of a ringed seal (the practitioner’s body hair and nipples will turn light blue in colour);

the fur of an elk, killed and skinned by the practitioner during a third quarter and a full moon respectively (the practitioner's ears and hands will assume the appearance and genome of those of an European mink);

the horns of a wild reindeer that was killed by the practitioner, providing it rode it for 7 hours while challenging Ukko¹² with practices concerning large consumption of sahti (every twelve hours, a 40 V electric charge will go through the practitioner, followed by the manifestation of approx. 0.75 liters of brown bear urine above the practitioner’s head);

a duck egg, painted gold by the practitioner while it praised the beauty of Kuu¹³ (every full moon, the practitioner’s eyes will be extremely irritated until sunrise);

the fur of a gray wolf with circular holes cut in it by the practitioner as it praised the physical beauty of Mielikki¹⁴ while defaming Kuu (every half and full moons, the practitioner’s eyes and groin will be extremely irritated until sunrise; additionally, after a full lunar cycle, a green post-it will manifest in the practitioner’s eyesight, reading ''Call me ;)'' in Finnish);

the skull of a brown bear that rubbed itself against the practitioner (any member of the Ursidae family within a 50 km range of the practitioner will hunt it, immobilise it and defecate on it before returning to its normal behaviour);

the pelvis of a minke whale, crushed in a fine powder by the practitioner while on a canoe painted with 7 red and 5 white stripes at sea, all the while throwing unspecified insults against Iku-Turso¹⁵ (practitioners have reported perceiving insults in Finnish aimed at their mother from any body of water within hearing range);

a roasted red-breasted goose (SCP-XXXX-A will manifest a second time, kicking the practitioner’s groin before vanishing without any further comments; the practitioner will hallucinate an advertisement for [REDACTED]¹⁶ every 48 hours).

In a subsequent experiment that met all these requirements, D-Class personnel D-3923, who was involved in the experiment, fell in a trance, muttering incomprehensibly to herself. SCP-XXXX-A manifested in the entirety of its body, not assaulting D-3923, instead monitoring the D-Class. An interview was quickly arranged, and Dr. Ketola entered the testing room.

Addendum XXXX-02: Interview SCP-XXXX-A.01

Date: 20██/██/██

Interviewed: SCP-XXXX-A

Interviewer: Dr. Ketola

[BEGIN LOG]

SCP-XXXX-A: Huh? Are you friends with the orange guy here?

Dr. Ketola: No. I just wish to ask a few questions, if that is alright.

SCP-XXXX-A: You an egghead?

Dr. Ketola: You could say so.

SCP-XXXX-A: You’re probably better than all these [EXPLETIVE] oranges that keep trying to come in, anyway. Think it’s a [EXPLETIVE] New Age cult or some [EXPLETIVE] like that.

Dr. Ketola: Why are you not assaulting the… orange guy?

SCP-XXXX-A: It’s not assault, I am legally ''allowed physical violence against potential trespassers''. And I can’t touch the guy ‘cause he isn’t under my jurisdiction anymore.

Dr. Ketola: Could you elaborate on that?

SCP-XXXX-A: Uh, sure. One night, I was at a pub with other… bouncers, I guess, drinking sahti, [EXPLETIVE] about. I told this guy about this weird, orange religion, you know it. He then tells me a very interesting thing. Turns out, the contract I… we signed is only about attempts at accessing Tuonela by living humans, which result in curses, as these poor [EXPLETIVE] can tell you, but not actually entering the place.

Dr. Ketola: This person is now in Tuonela?

SCP-XXXX-A: Yup. At long last, these [EXPLETIVE] actually managed to get in there. I don’t pity them: they’re in big [EXPLETIVE] trouble, now.

Dr. Ketola: Why is that?

SCP-XXXX-A: Because then, they fall under my [EXPLETIVE] boss’s jurisdiction. He keeps everyone in, be they dead or alive. Speaking of which, he’s finally here. It’s been nice talking to a smart guy for once, but I need to get back to my shift or the guy’ll have my [EXPLETIVE] for dinner. I suggest you cover your ears: it’s not pretty when a guy gets their soul taken.

Dr. Ketola: Wait, hold o-

[END LOG]

Closing Statement: The interview was interrupted prematurely, as SCP-XXXX-A disappeared whilst D-3923 began screaming in agony, then losing conscience. Following examination, D-3923 was declared in an irreversible coma, with euthanization now pending approval. Further attempts at practising SCP-XXXX-1 have been denied by the Ethics Committee.

Footnotes

SCP Sandbox III

Sandbox III: Revenge of the Sandbox