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Item #: SCP-4340
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-4340 is currently contained within an air-tight acrylic box, located at Containment Site-19. Research personnel interacting with SCP-4340 are instructed to wear standard issue respirator masks, and to avoid ingestion of SCP-4340-1 under any circumstances. Any personnel who ingest or inhale SCP-4340-1 are to be lead to an off-site location, given adequate fire-starting implements, and allowed multiple attempts to successfully self-immolate, before termination through gunfire.
The inscription on the bottom of SCP-4340’s lid is to be concealed under a strip of reflective duct tape at all times. Analysis of the inscription may only be carried out through images taken during preliminary inspection of the object. Personnel who have viewed the inscription are to be sent to a secure off-site facility for further monitoring and study.
Description: SCP-4340 was found amongst the rubble of a burned down two story residence in Cape Cod, MA. It was brought to the Foundation's attention, after the charred remains of three Barnstable County firemen were found in an open field only 600 feet from a nearby gas station.
SCP-4340 is a slate gray ceramic urn measuring approximately 9” in height and 5 1/4” in diameter. It has an internal capacity of roughly 180 cubic inches, 3/4 of which is filled with a finely milled confectioner’s sugar known as SCP-4340-1. Analysis of SCP-4340-1 has shown it to consist primarily of ordinary glucose, with an average particle size of around 50 microns. Further analysis has revealed a small amount of anti-caking agent, which is thought to have been added to prevent clumping, and to improve the powder’s flow.
An unknown symbol is painted on the front-facing hemisphere of the urn, in vermillion acrylic paint. The symbol resembles a six-pointed asterisk, with the bottom point extended downward as in a christian cross. During preliminary inspection of SCP-4340, a cryptic inscription was found painted on the bottom face of the urns lid, which is thought to be the chemical equation for the combustion of glucose.1
Subjects who ingest or breath in a significant quantity of SCP-4340-1 are immediately overcome with an irrepressible compulsion to self-immolate. This compulsion does not fade over time, and those who are unsuccessful in their first attempt will continue their efforts until they are unable to move, or life functions cease. Those who are unable to find fire-starting implements in their immediate vicinity will calmly continue their search until adequate implements are found. All attempts to prevent subjects from self-immolation have failed, due to subjects simply “trying again” after intervention attempts concluded.
Though subjects are unable to repress this compulsion, their personalities remain largely unaffected, and only a slight sense of urgency has been reported by researchers. Additionally, subjects who read the inscription on the bottom of SCP-4340’s lid were found to be significantly more likely to commit arson within the following twenty-seven days than control populations. Further testing is required to figure out whether this effect is permanent, or whether it fades over time, though current data leans toward the latter possibility.
Addendum: Due to an incident involving deaths of eleven researchers during an annual facility bake-sale, level 3 security clearance is now required to enter SCP-4340's containment cell.
