Sigmasquad's second page

+ Things I'm not sure of/would like feedback on most

In no particular order: Format of stages (table vs text), the way to determine reading levels (is there an international standard?), and how to draw focus to an addendum (maybe a bit of fancy page work? Not 100% sure here).

First Draft, Jan 2020

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Item#: XXXX

Level3

Containment Class:

euclid

Secondary Class:

{$secondary-class}

Disruption Class:

vlam

Risk Class:

danger

link to memo

Special Containment Procedures: No human settlement is to exist within the confines of SCP-XXXX. A buffer zone is to be maintained 500 meters from the border of SCP-XXXX. This zone is to be enclosed in a chain-link fence and patrolled by armed guards at all times. Site 773 has been constructed along a portion of the fenced-off buffer zone for containment of SCP-XXXX-1 instances, housing of personnel, research facilities, and shelter for armed guards during sandstorms. Foundation personnel are not to enter the buffer zone or SCP-XXXX except by approval of level 2 personnel from Site 773. Site 773 is to be provided up-to-date weather modeling software and detection equipment. Additionally, at least three members of Site 773 personnel are to monitor the area around SCP-XXXX and Site 773 at all times and report any possible sandstorms to Site security.

In the event of a sandstorm verified by Site 773 equipment and by watch personnel, Site 773 is to lock down the facility's exterior entrances including any and all exterior doors, windows, and ventilation ducts until no less than one hour after the sandstorm abates, verified once more by Site equipment and monitoring personnel. Armed guards patrolling the perimeter of SCP-XXXX are to return to Site 773 immediately, and only return to patrol no less than one hour after the sandstorm is verified to have abated.

All SCP-XXXX-1 instances are to be kept in humanoid containment cells of nonstandard construction. Cells are to be constructed without symmetry or patterns, in amorphous shapes and with no true corners. Furniture in cells containing SCP-XXXX-1 instances of Stage Four or higher must have safety coverings on any furniture in their containment cells and in their bathroom units to reduce the risk of self-harm, and must not be allowed access to sharp objects, glass containers, or any form of rope following Incident XXXX-I-1 on ██/██/86. The following list of furniture is to be provided in each cell, crafted in amorphous shapes. Instances may request additional furniture

• One (1) bed, with mattress and associated bedding.
• One (1) chair.
• One (1) desk.
• One (1) e-book reader, specially manufactured in an amorphous shape, loaded with reading material approved by Site 773 research personnel and updated with material appropriate to the level of deterioration of the specific SCP-XXXX-1 instance.

Description: SCP-XXXX is an amorphous area covering nearly 300km² located on the border between ███ █████████, Mauritania and ███████, Algeria, approximately centered on the coordinates █████, █████. Ingestion of sand inside SCP-XXXX results in the creation of an SCP-XXXX-1 instance when ingested or otherwise introduced into the human body. Introduction of sand into open wounds and nonstandard orifices results in production of these instances as well. Sand from outside the region does not cause these effects when introduced into D-Class subjects, butsand brought into SCP-XXXX from outside the boundaries that is subsequently consumed results in the creation of an SCP-XXXX-1 instance.

SCP-XXXX-1 is the designation for those individuals that have become affected by the anomalous properties of SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX-1 undergo a series of apparent neurological changes similar to some forms of dementia, such as loss of memory, and inability to recognize faces. Some individuals also may experience a form of pica,¹ with subjects vocalizing the urge to consume large quantities of sand until their condition progresses to the point that coherent vocalization becomes avoided or outright impossible.

SCP-XXXX-1 instances progress through a series of stages of deterioration of their ability to perform ██████████ and of an aversion to or fear of patterns in addition to dementia-like symptoms. Time spent in each stage varies between instances of SCP-XXXX-1, but has been recorded as anywhere from five minutes to ten weeks. These symptoms intensify over time, and as such no instance of SCP-XXXX-1 has been reported to survive longer than two years, with the longest lived instance surviving for one year and ten months.

A firsthand description of the anomalous effects of SCP-XXXX is contained within document XXXX-DAI-1, as documented by Senior Researcher Corrino.

Below is the same text in both drop downs, I think I like the table format better but I'll go with whatever people think is more readable.

+ Stages in text form

Stage One: The SCP-XXXX-1 instance will adopt an irregular gait when walking or performing other mundane, repetitive tasks such as chewing or brushing their teeth. Affected individuals will, when asked to perform tasks involving patterns or regular movement like dancing or masonry, politely decline citing either inability or aesthetic concerns. Coercion (through force or otherwise) is possible at this stage, although individuals state feeling uneasy when performing these tasks in a rhythmic or patterned manner. SCP-XXXX-1 instances in Stage One are allowed university or collegiate-level reading materials, upon request and review by Level 3 personnel.

Stage Two: The SCP-XXXX-1 instance will continue their irregular gait and aversion to repetitive tasks found in stage one, but will outright refuse to perform such actions. Coercion is much more difficult, with some individuals refusing regardless of consequence and others noting intense feelings of uneasiness and dread when performing such actions. SCP-XXXX-1 instances in Stage Two are to have their mirrors removed from their cells and their shower glass fogged to prevent them from [DATA EXPUNGED]. See Addendum SCP-XXXX-A2 for details. Stage Two is marked by the beginning of an instance's reduction in lingual skill and a notable increase in the use of the phrase "███ █████ ████ ██" in greetings and salutations.² Notably, Stage Two instances begin to forgo the usage of alliteration and do not consume prose. Stage Two instances are allowed high school-level reading materials, upon request and review by Level 3 personnel.

Stage Three: This stage is made notable by a drastic reduction in lingual capability in the SCP-XXXX-1 instance, with instances displaying an understanding of language equivalent to that of a young adolescent. Stage Three instances display this loss of linguistic capability both when speaking and when reading. Instances that previously possessed understanding of higher levels of mathematics such as physics and complex trigonometry display an aversion to these concepts. At this stage, music or other rhythmic sound universally excites a fear response in SCP-XXXX-1 instances, with instances vocalizing randomly while such sound is playing. See Addendum SCP-XXXX-A3 for details. Approximately 70% of instances will also try and stop playback of recorded music or interrupt live performances, citing that it "Attracts ████████."

Stage Four: The faculties of Stage Four instances are far more deteriorated than those in Stage Three. Exposure to regular geometric shapes possessing corners³ causes an extreme fear response in instances at this stage, and any instances that previously possessed knowledge of higher mathematics have either lost this knowledge or refuse to display their knowledge of such concepts. Subjects do not display this response when exposed to circles or spheres. Linguistic capability continues to deteriorate as well, with approximately 65% of recorded instances being unable to read material above the standards of the United States third-grade reading level. Exposure to rhythmic music at this stage causes extreme distress to instances, with most Stage Four instances dropping to the ground in an asymmetric posture while vocalizing to "████████."

Stage Five: Stage Five is the final stage in the progression of SCP-XXXX-1 instances. At the beginning of Stage Five, instances display a strong aversion to corners and symmetrical shapes as well as any form of pattern or rhythm. This aversion presents as an outright hostility to the creation or existence of regular patterns or beats. This inevitably results in death in most instances through [DATA EXPUNGED][footnote]Necessitating the removal of mirrors and the addition of safety precautions before the full onset of Stage Five.[/footnote] due to the instance's own heartbeat. Music played to these instances results in immediate violence against the source.

+ Stage progression in table format

Stage	Description
Stage One	The SCP-XXXX-1 instance will adopt an irregular gait when walking or performing other mundane, repetitive tasks such as chewing or brushing their teeth. Affected individuals will, when asked to perform tasks involving patterns or regular movement like dancing or masonry, politely decline citing either inability or aesthetic concerns. Coercion (through force or otherwise) is possible at this stage, although individuals state feeling uneasy when performing these tasks in a rhythmic or patterned manner. SCP-XXXX-1 instances in Stage One are allowed university or collegiate-level reading materials, upon request and review by Level 3 personnel.
Stage Two	The SCP-XXXX-1 instance will continue their irregular gait and aversion to repetitive tasks found in stage one, but will outright refuse to perform such actions. Coercion is much more difficult, with some individuals refusing regardless of consequence and others noting intense feelings of uneasiness and dread when performing such actions. SCP-XXXX-1 instances in Stage Two are to have their mirrors removed from their cells and their shower glass fogged to prevent them from [DATA EXPUNGED]. See Addendum SCP-XXXX-A2 for details. Stage Two is marked by the beginning of an instance's reduction in lingual skill and a notable increase in the use of the phrase "███ █████ ████ ██" in greetings and salutations.4 Notably, Stage Two instances begin to forgo the usage of alliteration and do not consume prose. Stage Two instances are allowed high school-level reading materials, upon request and review by Level 3 personnel.
Stage Three	Made notable by a drastic reduction in lingual capability in the SCP-XXXX-1 instance, this stage's instances display an understanding of language equivalent to that of a young adolescent. Stage Three instances display this loss of linguistic capability both when speaking and when reading. Instances that previously possessed understanding of higher levels of mathematics such as physics and complex trigonometry display an aversion to these concepts. At this stage, music or other rhythmic sound universally excites a fear response in SCP-XXXX-1 instances, with instances vocalizing randomly while such sound is playing. See Addendum SCP-XXXX-A3 for details. Approximately 70% of instances will also try and stop playback of recorded music or interrupt live performances, citing that it "Attracts ████████."
Stage Four	The faculties of instances of the penultimate stage are far more deteriorated than those in the prior stage. Exposure to regular geometric shapes possessing corners5 causes an extreme fear response in instances at this stage, and any instances that previously possessed knowledge of higher mathematics have either lost this knowledge or refuse to display their knowledge of such concepts. Subjects do not display this response when exposed to circles or spheres. Linguistic capability continues to deteriorate as well, with approximately 65% of recorded instances being unable to read material above the standards of the United States third-grade reading level. Exposure to rhythmic music at this stage causes extreme distress to instances, with most Stage Four instances dropping to the ground in an asymmetric posture while vocalizing to "████████."
Stage Five	The final stage in the progression of SCP-XXXX-1 instances. At the beginning of Stage Five, instances display a strong aversion to corners and symmetrical shapes as well as any form of pattern or rhythm. This aversion presents as an outright hostility to the creation or existence of regular patterns or beats. This inevitably results in death in most instances through [DATA EXPUNGED][footnote]Necessitating the removal of mirrors and the addition of safety precautions before the full onset of Stage Five.[/footnote] due to the instance's own heartbeat. Music played to these instances results in immediate violence against the source.

+ Interview logs

Interviewed: SCP-XXXX-1-G, an Algerian male of approximately 50 years of age,

Interviewer: Researcher Kudu

Foreword: Interview took place inside SCP-XXXX-1-G's containment cell and was conducted in English without the use of translators due to SCP-XXXX-1-G speaking English fluently. Researcher Kudu entered the cell with a tape player and tape for testing purposes. Subject was in Stage 1 at the time of interview.

<Begin Log, █/██/85>

Researcher Kudu: Good morning, SCP-XXXX-1-G, how are you today?

SCP-XXXX-1-G: Fine, thank you. May I ask what progress is made on my condition?

Researcher Kudu: Some progress has been made, though again what you have is rather rare. We hope to have you out of here in a few months. Thank you again for participating in this research.

SCP-XXXX-1-G: The subject nods and looks around his cell for a moment before returning his gaze to the researcher.

Researcher Kudu: Now if you don't mind I have some questions for you.

SCP-XXXX-1-G: It is of no issue, ask away.

Researcher Kudu: Thank you. Firstly, could you state your name and profession for me please?

SCP-XXXX-1-G: ███████-███, and I was a professor of literature.

Researcher Kudu: Alright, that follows from our last talk, now could you please tell me the last thing that you were doing before our rescue team picked you up?

SCP-XXXX-1-G: Oh, don't you already have that information?

Researcher Kudu: It's for tracking purposes, remember why you're here. This could help us understand your condition better.

SCP-XXXX-1-G: My apologies. Last I remember I was travelling to ███████ and the truck tipped over on the road. I sat for two hours, maybe three, but by then I decided to walk back to ███ █████████. I'd been driving for maybe an hour at that point so I believed that I could make it back before I ran out of water.

Researcher Kudu: That was until the storm, yes?

SCP-XXXX-1-G: Of course, you think I would get lost without it? I noticed the storm on the horizon and was shortly thereafter set upon. The accursed thing made me lose my way and next thing I know, your team is picking me up out of the sand.

Researcher Kudu: I see, thank you. This may seem like a strange question, but do you mind if I play some music to test a theory?

SCP-XXXX-1-G: I would rather not, but if you absolutely must.

Researcher Kudu inserts a tape into the player and presses play, beginning the song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics. Song was chosen due to its prominent, pulsing rhythm and also because SCP-XXXX-1-G has professed enjoyment of the song. Fifteen seconds into playback, SCP-XXXX-1-G is visibly confused.

Researcher Kudu: Is there something wrong?

SCP-XXXX-1-G: It, no. It is nothing. I thank you for picking this song, but please turn it off.

Researcher Kudu: At this time I cannot do that. Would you kindly dance for me? Anything is acceptable, I can't dance so I won't exactly pass judgement here.

SCP-XXXX-1-G: I must decline. I can't dance either, especially at my age. And please, if you no longer have questions leave me in peace.

(Note. SCP-XXXX-1-G has expressed this inability to dance before. It is unknown if this is out of embarrassment or is the truth.)

Researcher Kudu: Again, you have my apologies. I'll turn it off. No further questions.

Researcher Kudu then pauses playback of the song and removes himself and the tape player from the room. Interview concluded.

<End Log>

Closing Statement: After interviews with the family of SCP-XXXX-1-G it was found that the instance had been taking traditional dance lessons for three years at the time of acquisition.

+ ADDENDUM SCP-XXXX-A1

This will be a link to a longer document or else it will be a very very long insert.

Researcher Journal draft

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+ Title for showing text

[for copying, please ignore]

Footnotes

1. An urge to consume inedible material like sand, dirt, or glass.

2. Foundation personnel are not to return this greeting, and are not to use the term(s) in general conversation.

3. Cubes, pyramids, triangles, squares, etc.

4. Foundation personnel are not to return this greeting, and are not to use the term(s) in general conversation.

5. Cubes, pyramids, triangles, squares, etc.