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Photo taken on first contact by Field Agent █████ Leblanc
Item #: SCP-5840
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5840 is to be stored and tested in a 5m x 5m room, and must be kept inside a 1.30m tall podium that is located on the far side from the entrance. The Podium must have a tinted casing over the top, with a remote lock that can be opened from the observation room. This is to prevent accidental reading of SCP-5840. There is to be a 2m x 2m pool in the centre of the room, This pool is to have a remote covering over it, that can be opened from the observation room.
Description: SCP-5840 is an old riddle written upon parchment paper. SCP-5480 has endured significant damage over the years both by water and age. Covering the bottom section of SCP-5840 is a depiction of what appears to be waves on an ocean. The language used on this parchment has been confirmed to be of Old Norse. It’s not yet clear on how old SCP-5480 is as tests on this factor have been proven difficult to conduct due to its anomalies effects.
Once an individual enters within an unknown range that alternates depending on the location of SCP-5480, that individual will start to hear the faint sounds of horns. Following this, the individual will start to hear a distant chanting of what has been determined as Old Norse. During this time the individual will be drawn to SCP-5480 as if in a trance. It is to be noted that not everyone is locked into this trance and there have been recorded instance's of individuals breaking the trance state. Further testing is required to determine why this is the case.
If an individual makes it over to SCP-5480 and locks eye contact with the riddle they will freeze. Once in this state the individual will display no emotion and will not communicate in any form with external sources. After one minute has passed, the individual will spring back to life and start to get agitated. They will claim that they have solved the riddle. During this time the individuals will still be unresponsive to any external communication, and will only repeat that they’ve solved the riddle. During this time they will be drawn to the closest body of water, If the individual is stuck in a room they will begin to claw at the doors as an attempt to access the water.
Once at a body of water, any individual that has read and ultimately been affected by SCP-5840 will start to submerge themselves within the water, to the point where visual contact on the affected person is lost. After a time period of five minutes, the individual will return to the surface in a deep coma. It is unclear on where the individual goes once under the water and is yet unclear on how long the coma lasts, as all individuals that have been through this process have yet to recover.
Addendum: It is to be noted that after testing with Dr Luis Page there have been a few instances that have only occurred in certain individuals. These events don’t often repeat and Dr Luis Page believes that there are more that has yet not been seen. The following are some of these events that have been recorded.
- There have been two reported instances where the Class D personnel have reported feeling a rocking sensation as if on a boat, accompanied by the smell of the ocean.
- There have been four reported instances where the Class D personnel have broken free during the first initial trance state. After which these individuals would refuse to go near SCP-5840 and would be rendered unconscious if forced to comply.
