The Dirge

SCP-4068, taken by Dr. ████

Item #: SCP-4068

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-4068-1 is to be kept in the center of a standard containment cell with 1 m thick walls, monitored by a manned turret in each corner of the cell. SCP-4068 is to be contained withing a carbon steel box bolted to the floor in the same cell as SCP-4068-1. The box is to be constantly monitored via said turrets.

Any instances of SCP-4068-A are to be detained and questioned, and afterwards be administered the appropriate amnestic (usually Class-A).

No personnel, excluding test subjects, are to be present in SCP-4068's containment cell during testing. If any instances of SCP-4068-A are to attack Foundation personnel, or attempt a security breach, they are to be immediately terminated via manned turret.

Description: SCP-4068 is a book, bound in organic tissue which corresponds to no known organisms on Earth. The book contains no observable title or illustrations on neither the front nor back covers. The contents of SCP-4068 are unknown due to its anomalous effects.

Reading as little as one page inside of SCP-4068 will cause the subject to enter into a trance-like state and begin speaking to any unknown entity, often resulting in an argument. These individuals are referred to as SCP-4068-A. Occasionally, SCP-4068-A will shift all focus into attaining SCP-4068-1.

SCP-4068-1 is a dilapidated stone case measuring 20x56x5 cm, secured with a silver latch. Numerous cracks and chipped edges imply it has been in use for an extended period of time. Analysis concludes that the stone is crafted out of granite. Red velvet lines the inside of the case. Numerous eating utensils made from human bone of unidentified origin lay inside the case in an organized manner: Five forks, four spoons, and five knives.

Once in possession of any of the eating utensils, SCP-4068-A will have attempt to kill any living humans in sight using the acquired utensil as a weapon. Victims of SCP-4068-A will immediately begin to heavily mutate and expand, transforming any nearby solids into organic tissue identical to the victim. Links to SCP-610 (besides its links to Sarkicism) have not been discovered.

If no living human comes within sight of SCP-4068-A for an extended period of time (approximately 20-30 minutes), the anomalous effects will demanifest. Any eating utensil(s) removed from SCP-4068-1 dissolve into a small puddle of blood. DNA analysis of said blood remains inconclusive. The eating utensil(s) appear back inside SCP-4068-1 within an average of 2.94 seconds, without retaining any damage it may have been exposed to. The blood dematerializes after a constant of three minutes. SCP-4068-A will contain no memory of their conversation or the contents of SCP-4068. They will often enter a panicked state once realizing what events took place, and, after questioning, will be administered Class-A Amnestics if needed.

Questioning reveals that upon viewing the contents of SCP-4068, SCP-4068-A will display immense knowledge on Sarkic culture, history, and mythology, though this will not invariably cause them to convert to Sarkicism.

SCP-4068 and SCP-4068-1 were discovered by the Foundation after reports of an unexplained source of anxiety and paranoia within a local Catholic church in the remote village of ██████, located in █████, were intercepted SCP-4068 and SCP-4086-1 were discovered the church inside a hidden chamber. Inside the room, seven individuals were found practicing a previously unidentified Proto-Sarkic ritual in which one individual was reported to be exposing themselves to SCP-4068 and SCP-4068-1's affects in order to [DATA REDACTED] an individual reported to have gone missing ██/██/██.

Scrawled on the northern wall of the chamber was the phrase, written in the Adytite language, "Consume. Consume until your sickly form can no longer bear to. Only then, shall you muster the power to consume the gods. Ikunnan awaits."¹ Beneath the phrase, an unknown seal was drawn in blood later concluded to have originated from each of the individuals practicing the ritual. After Dr. Askret attempted to kill the remaining field operators (believed to be the result of examining the contents of SCP-4068), he was terminated. Once contained by the operators, SCP-4068 and SCP-4068-1 were transferred to Site-██.

The individuals using SCP-4068 and SCP-4068-1 were terminated after attempting to attack the field operators.

According to civilians of ██████, these individuals appeared to be ordinary people. All civilians were administered Class-B Amnestics.

SCP-4068 and SCP-4068-1 are currently contained in Site-██. Research into how the anomalous affects are produced and the contents of SCP-4068 are ongoing.

Addendum: After Tests E and F, members of the O5 and the Ethics Committee Orientation have denied all future human testing.

+ Show Test Log-A 

Test A - 30/7/28

Subject: D-9827: 24-year-old African American male. Incarcerated for armed bank robbery.

Procedure: D-9827 is to view the contents of SCP-4068 and, after the effects dissipate, attempt to explain what he had read.

Results: Once exposed to SCP-4068, the subject opened SCP-4086-1, grabbed one of the forks, and entered an unresponsive state, neglecting to communicate with research operatives (from this point forward, D-9827 will be referred to as SCP-4068-A1). He roamed around the cell, appearing to search for any nearby living humans. After 22 minutes had passed, SCP-4068-A1 returned to a 'normal' state and the fork dissolved into a roughly 28 mL puddle of blood. Within 2.46 seconds, the fork reappeared inside SCP-4068-1. The blood dematerialized after exactly three minutes.

SCP-4068-A1 expressed a "blank space" in his memory of his experiences between being exposed to SCP-4068 and the fork reappearing in SCP-4068-1. He displays immense knowledge on Sarkic tradition, confirmed by the Foundation's Sarkic Cult database, but contained no memory on the actual contents of SCP-4068, clearly differentiating the two. When asked his opinions on Sarkicism, he simply replied "It's some twisted shit."

Analysis: Instances of SCP-4086-A appear to lose all memory of their encounter with SCP-4086 after being released from the anomalous affects, but will have acquired knowledge on the Sarkic following. Further testing to confirm the contents of SCP-4086 is ongoing.

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+ Show Test Log-B 

Test B - 31/7/28

Subject: Foundation personal drone with expandable 'arm' and camera; controlled by Dr. Blaine.

Procedure: Drone will be used to open SCP-4068 and provide video feed of contents to Dr. Blaine.

Results: Video feed of SCP-4068 affected Blaine, as was proven when she attempted to murder the guards in order to access SCP-4068's containment cell (Dr. Blaine was henceforth referred to as SCP-4068-A2). She was promptly quarantined by Foundation personnel until the affects disappeared. Like A1, SCP-4068-A2 expressed no memory of what she had seen in SCP-4068, or her following quarantine, and proved to have instantly acquired knowledge on Sarkic cults, despite having never been required to have dealt with neither them nor any anomalous object related to them.

Again, similar to SCP-4068-A1, A2 expressed a disgust towards the Sarkics.

Analysis: Direct physical viewing of SCP-4068 is not necessary to trigger the anomalous affects.

Note: Instances of SCP-4068-A will not necessarily transition into a Sarkic follower despite displaying clearly immense knowledge on the Sarkic cults.

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+ Show Test Log-C 

Test C - 01/8/28

Subject: D-7406: 37-year-old Caucasian woman. No violent or criminal history.

Procedure: D-7406 will be placed in SCP-4068's containment cell with a specimen of Sus scrofa and be exposed to SCP-4068's anomalous properties. Experiment will be done to conclude if instances of SCP-4068-2 will target live animals.

Results: D-7406 does not show any reactions towards the Sus scrofa specimen and remains in an unresponsive state for 25 minutes until the properties begin to disappear (D-7406 will be referred to as SCP-4068-A3 from this point forward). During said state, SCP-4068-A3 carved the words "Devour he who exhales thy starlight"² in the Adytite language into her left forearm using a knife from SCP-4068-1, despite having no presumed understanding of the language before testing.

Whilst in the catatonic state, SCP-4068-A3 displayed no apparent signs of feeling any pain or restraint when carving the statement into her arm. After the anomalous properties dissipated, SCP-4068-A3 displayed signs of extreme pain and anxiety. The knife obtained from SCP-4068-1 dissolved into a roughly 29 mL puddle of blood and reappeared inside SCP-4068-1 within three seconds. The blood dematerialized after exactly three minutes.

SCP-4086-A3 was immediately rushed to Foundation medics and her wound was later examined by research operatives, but displayed no unusual properties. When questioned, she exclaimed acute knowledge on the Sarkic religion, and exclaimed that the quote carved into her arm was describing the process of theophagy³ After questioning, SCP-4086-A3 was administered a Class-A amnestic.

Analysis: If in the presence of a live animal, instances of SCP-4086-A will proceed to self-harm, as opposed to instances not in the presence of any live organisms. Instances of SCP-4086-A appear to have no reaction towards the animal or the self-harm.

Note: Not only will instances of SCP-4068-A attain knowledge on Sarkic tradition, they will also portray an understanding of the secret Adytite language.

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+ Show Test Log-D 

Test D - 01/11/28

Subjects: D-4336: A 28-year-old Asian male with a criminal history of arson. D-1089: A 42-year-old Caucasian male with no violent or criminal history.

Procedure: All utensils are to be removed from SCP-4068-1. D-4336 will be exposed to SCP-4068 and be observed to analyze how he would react without the utensils.

Results:After D-4336's exposure to SCP-4068, he enters a catatonic state; the eating utensils immediately disappear from containment and reappear inside SCP-4068-1 (D-4336 will be referred to as SCP-4068-A4 from this point forward). SCP-4068-A4 proceeds to grab a spoon from SCP-4068-1.

SCP-4068-A4 immediately shows clear signs of stress, exclaiming phrase such as "It's not real, it's not real, it's not real", "I can't do this, not even for salvation", and "I'm just hallucinating". He eventually 'snaps' and attacks D-1089 with the spoon from SCP-4068-1.

After attempted resistance from D-1089, SCP-4068-A4 gouges out the subjects eyes, effectively killing him in the process. During the attack, SCP-4068-A4 repeatedly apologized to D-1089.

SCP-4068-A4 proceeds to consume D-1089's eyes and left ear before SCP-4068's properties disappear. The spoon from SCP-4068-1 dissolves into a roughly 28 mL puddle of blood and reappears inside its case after precisely 3.1 seconds. The blood dematerialized after exactly three minutes.

SCP-4068-A4 displays extreme anxiety and acute paranoia; muttering incoherently after the event, realizing what he had done. He proceeds to be detained and questioned, with the usual response of attaining knowledge of Sarkicism, but not remembering the contents of the book or the experiment. D-1089's body is examined but displayed no unusual properties and was later incinerated. SCP-4086-A4 was administered a Class-A amnestic after questioning.

Analysis: If the eating utensils are contained away from SCP-4068-1, they will immediately reappear inside the case following a subject being exposed to SCP-4086.

Note: SCP-4068-A4 displayed resistance towards attacking D-1089, unlike Dr. Askret who immediately attacked the MTF who acquired SCP-4068 and SCP-4068-1.

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[REDACTED]

Test E - 01/14/28

Subjects: D-3087: 22-year-old Caucasian male; history of manslaughter and domestic abuse; D-5462: 43-year-old African American male; no criminal history, and D-1267: 45-year-old Caucasian man, incarcerated on charges of vehicular manslaughter.

Procedure: D-3087 is to be exposed to SCP-4086. D-5462 and D-1267 are to be placed in the cell with D-3087, armed with standard-issue handguns. This test will be done to determine the strengths of SCP-4068-A, as SCP-4068-A4 was capable of killing a man of much greater stature with ease.

Results: Once D-3087 was exposed to SCP-4068, he acquired a knife from SCP-4068-1 (D-3087 will be referred to as SCP-4068-A5 from this point forward). SCP-4068-A5 attacked the two subjects, resisting all gunfire despite displaying what would otherwise be fatal wounds.

SCP-4068-A5 killed both subjects, and consumed pieces D-5462's left leg and 4 of D-1267's teeth before SCP-4068's affects dissipated, immediately succumbing to his wounds and dying. The knife from SCP-4068-1 dissolved into an approximately 30 mL puddle of blood and reappeared inside SCP-4068-1 within approximately 3.2 seconds. The blood dissolved after exactly three minutes.

Analysis: Instances of SCP-4068-A are resistant to heavy damage, but immediately die or lose consciousness once SCP-4068's affects disappear.

Note: Researchers at Site-██ reported a series of multiple whispering voices coming into earshot during Test-E. When questioned, all researchers displayed immense knowledge on Sarkic beliefs, culture, and history, despite very few having worked with many Sarkic-related objects. Most individuals experienced acute psychosis and paranoia, while a select few attempted to kill the others before being terminated. Dr. Hicks was killed in the attack. All surviving researchers have been temporarily replaced and sent to Foundation psychiatrists.

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[REDACTED]

Test F - 01/20/28

Subjects: D-7139: 27-year-old Caucasian male; incarcerated on death sentence multiple offenses of manslaughter, and SCP-2833-128.

Procedure: Because of SCP-2833's relationship with Sarkicism, D-7139 will be exposed to SCP-4068's affects and viewed to determine how an instance of SCP-4068-A would react to a Sarkic-related entity.

Results: After D-7139 was exposed to SCP-4068. he acquired a fork from SCP-4068-1, and immediately attacked SCP-2833-128 (D-7139 will be referred to as SCP-4068-A6 from this point forward). SCP-4068-A6 quickly incapacitated SCP-2833-128 and began consuming his corpse.⁴ The affects ended after approximately 57 minutes, noticeably longer than other SCP-4068 events. Because of this, SCP-4068-A6 was capable of consuming 64% of SCP-2833-128's body. He also retained complete memory of the event, including the contents of SCP-4068; however, he also displayed clear signs of extreme psychosis.

Analysis: See: Interview Log-1.AA (O5 CLEARANCE REQUIRED).

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Interview Log-1.AA (O5 CLEARANCE REQUIRED)

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING FILE IS LEVEL O5 CLASSIFIED

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ANY ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THIS FILE WITHOUT O5 AUTHORIZATION WILL BE LOGGED AND WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION ON THE USER. THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING.

Interviewed: Formerly D-7139, now known as SCP-4086-AΩ

Interviewer: Dr. ██████

Foreword: After Test F, SCP-4068-A6 had proven to retain full memory of the experiment (compared to other subjects who had lost complete memory of their involved experiments), but displayed signs of extreme psychosis.

Because of these unique characteristics, SCP-4068-A6 was henceforth referred to as SCP-4068-AΩ This interview was conducted in order to learn of any new information regarding SCP-4068 and its contents.

SCP-4068-AΩ was placed behind a military-grade barrier of bulletproof glass in a cell containing speakers and audio recorders; all for the protection of Dr. ██████.

Note: SCP-4086-AΩ is referred to as D-7139 in this interview as an attempt to keep the subject calm.

<Begin Log, ██/██/██>

Dr. ██████: Hello D-7139. Are you doing alright?

SCP-4086-AΩ I am doing quite alright. You?

Dr. ██████: I am doing well. Let's just get to it. What gave you and the other subjects the compulsion to kill and eat another living being?

SCP-4086-AΩ Compulsion? It was never any irresistible urge. It was an active choice, a decision to obey the callings of our true creator. It isn't an easy task, no, but is a necessary one nonetheless.

Dr. ██████: Interesting. Can you describe to me the contents of the book?

SCP-4086-AΩ There are none. There is no written text inside the book. It projects these images and voices upon our minds, revealing to us what the future could look like if we just simply obey its commands.

Dr. ██████: What makes these commands so important, to the point where you will actively choose to murder another human being?

SCP-4086-AΩ Like I said; it isn't easy. I didn't want to do it. But how else can you explain a book who's contents you fully understand without reading a single word of text? It has to mean something. Something more powerful than us, something beyond man-made morals. It has to be the work of a god, and who in their right mind, would, even if their morals say otherwise, disobey a god?

Dr. ██████: Alright. Are there any… other peculiar thoughts running through your head at this time?

SCP-4086-AΩ: Far too many. I've communicated with them, and once you do, the images never stop.

Dr. ██████: Can you try to explain some of these thoughts? Who exactly have you communicated with?

SCP-4086-AΩ: His Archons. They have shown me what strengths I hold. What strengths we all hold.

Dr. ██████: Could you elaborate on these strengths?

SCP-4086-AΩ: The strengths to cast down our stillborn minds. Before the initiation, I could never have thought it possible to change my moral compass and my fears, let alone actually view some things such as cannibalism as a moral imperative.

Dr. ██████: What makes you believe that murder and cannibalism is morally justified?

SCP-4086-AΩ: It brings us one step closer to salvation. Simply murdering in the name of your own petty goals is nothing. But to do so in the service of a god, will only encourage him to grant us such gifts. This is all for the greater good.

Dr. ██████: Thank you. Now, from before, who exactly are these Archons you speak of?

SCP-4086-AΩ: They are his children. The repugnant angels of chaos. The unimaginable judges of our mortality. (SCP-4086-AΩ briefly hesitates) That is all I can speak of them.

Dr. ██████: Understood. Now, are you capable of describing to me what you were thinking of during your exposure to SCP-4086?

SCP-4086-AΩ: It is titled Thy Irrefutable Exactitude, not SCP-4086, and I ask that you please refer to it as such.

Dr. ██████: It does not have any written title. No such name is apparent on either of the covers.

SCP-4086-AΩ: You have no right to disrespect his truths just because you are unknowledgeable. The title has no place in the physical realm, just like the rest of its contents. But if you learn of the truths spoken within me, then you shall know what title it is deserving of holding.

Dr. ██████: (Dr. ██████ displays a brief annoyance with SCP-4086-AΩ) This is standard protocol, D-7139. I do not care what title you think it has, I will only refer to it as SCP-4086. Now please answer the question.

SCP-4086-AΩ: Fine. Now, what I felt during the rites of passage is beyond the uninitiated's comprehension… it felt as if a closed-off portion of my mind was unraveling, revealing itself to me the inescapable knowledge of all the universes. We can only be truly free if we cast aside our barriers; the tendons bridging together morality. It is clear to me now, that 'morality' is just a trick, a trick used for heresy and to keep us shackled to this premature world. I have experienced what I reasonably believe to be the beginnings of Apotheosis, and the first steps to paradise.

Dr. ██████: Hmh… Are you aware of the terms 'Sarkicism' or 'Yaldabaoth'? What you are describing is extremely similar to what the Sarkic cults believe. And, not to mention, you consumed a being related to them.

SCP-4086-AΩ: The secrets of Yaldabaoth and the Nälkä have always been stowed away in all of our minds, ever since he birthed us. The thoughts were blocked from being accessed by us; the gods feared our power and chose to corrupt our world with machines and policies, and to block out these thoughts. Thy Irrefutable Exactitude acted as a key to unlock the gates into the forbidden sects of my mind, and now I know the truth that has been so desperately hidden. The unadulterated flesh will join us soon. Our congregation will form, and our divine feast will be initiated. It is inevitable, activation has already occurred.

Dr. ██████: And what is this 'truth' you speak of?

SCP-4086-AΩ: The truth of The Great Winnower. It will join us soon, and our crowning supper will be put into action.

Dr. ██████: And what was this… 'activation' you mentioned?

SCP-4086-AΩ: The book. Or what you like to call, SCP-4086.

Dr. ██████: Care to elaborate?

SCP-4086-AΩ: You see, none of the other test subjects contained any memory at all of Yaldabaoth's visions. I was the first, and only because I fed upon a Sarkic being. A sacrificial ritual using the blessed instruments of consumption. I am the source. I am patient zero. I am the harbinger of our salvation.

Dr. ██████: What will you do to bring about this idea of 'salvation'? How are you patient zero, and not the other subjects? What made consuming a Sarkic being so much more special?

SCP-4086-AΩ: All the knowledge I have learned will branch off of me. Like divine tumorous growths, it will spread uncontrollably. When enough have learned, a war will break out. A war between all living humans. They will all attempt to kill and consume each other, and only few survivors will remain. You've seen what has happened in previous experiments - when the blessed do not see any other human, they will become what you like to call 'normal' again. This is how the chosen are formed. Lucky for the previous test subjects, they already got a free pass.

Dr. ██████: We aren't going to allow you - or SCP-4086 - to leave the Foundation. I'm sure you are aware of that?

SCP-4086-AΩ: I wont have to leave. The truth has already been shown to you. My very presence is enough to project these images into your subconscious mind, and soon you will be like me. A pure, uncorrupted monster. You can stop all testing. You can attempt to destroy Thye Irrefutable Exactitude. You can even try to repair Mekhane. But all will amount to naught.

Dr. ██████: Your fanatical ramblings will not lead me towards your twisted idea of salvation. We will not let SCP-4086 out of containment, and none of its effects will ever spread, no matter how desperately you want them to.

SCP-4086-AΩ: You saw what happened in Test E. The calling, the voices, the empathizing. These voices will become perfectly clear to all who have heard it; soon, you will not need to even open the book. The utensils are merely just a tool for the proper ritual; now, they wont be needed at all. You will kill and consume using nothing but the very flesh of your being. The locked portions of your mind will be unraveled nonetheless, and we will all consume the gods after you consume your fellow man. Only the chosen will survive. Yaldabaoth has risen and will sacrifice himself to guide us to our salvation, if we only spread his truths far enough. Ikunnan awaits.

Dr. ██████: (Dr. ██████ suddenly loses breath and holds head in pain) What… What the Hell was in that book?

SCP-4086-AΩ: It's too late for you now.

Dr. ██████ (shouting): End the interview! End it now! We're done here!

<End Log, ██/██/██>

Closing Statement: SCP-4086-AΩ was terminated and his body incinerated soon after the interview. He appeared to contain knowledge of a previously unknown Proto-Sarkic cult. This cult, codenamed "The Church of the Divine Flesh"⁵

Dr. ██████ fell into a psychotic state, rambling about the many beliefs of the Sarkics. He was later terminated after violently attacking Foundation staff. Researchers and guards who heard unidentifiable whispers or voices during Test-E fell into psychotic and extremely hostile states, similar to Dr ██████. All future human testing will be denied by the O5. The Ethics Committee Orientation will play no part in this decision, but will be mentioned to keep suspicions at bay.

SCP-4086 and SCP-4086-1 will be transferred to a remote location, possibly Site-██. Protocols for an XK-Class End-Of-The-World scenario regarding SCP-4086 and Yaldabaoth have been prepared. Any humans displaying affects of SCP-4086 and/or SCP-4086-1 are to be terminated on sight. Those who aided in the transferring of SCP-4086 and SCP-4086-1 have both been terminated, as well as Dr. Blaine and any other subjects used in the experiments.

Research into destroying SCP-4086 is currently underway.

Footnotes

1. Untranslated: Sewe. Čäčke kOńćV lelV kulV kärte sE, sewe. TE, satus alka, sewe-ilmas-kunčV, tE taca. Ikunnan OmVs.

2. Untranslated: SE ki kuńćV-kepa tE pala.

3. The process of devouring gods as a source of power.

4. SCP-2833-A was contained before the experiment, and was 'implanted' into another subject, D-3098, as to not waste any specimen.

5. The Church of the Divine Flesh appear to worship Yaldabaoth as their God or savior, as compared to others who simply view him as a source for power through theophagy. [MAY ADD GoI PAGE DESCRIBING THEM IN MORE DETAIL]