Per 
- Random Formatting/HUB
- Random Ideas
- On the Shores of Paradise
- Echoes of a Monster
- 6000 ENTRY?! NANI?!
- Advice!
- Sandstorm
- A Decidedly Informal Welcome to the SCP Foundation
- Lost Names, Lost Lives
- Ravenous
- Unforgivable
- The Cry of the Children
- Some Sunny Day
- A Lake with Rotting Shores
- The Queen's Brood
- Cat Got Your Tongue
- Come Back to Us
| Item #: SCP-XXXX | Level 4/XXXX |
| Object Class: Euclid Keter | Classified |
An Image of SCP-XXXX-1.
<Insert Cool Stuff Here>
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mine_Shaft_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2331761.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Creepy_Hallway.jpg
Black - Full Redaction
Secondary Drafts:
https://scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com/thealienbaby2
https://scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com/thealienbaby3
https://scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com/thealienbaby4
Very useful:
[[include :scp-wiki:component:wide-image-sizer]]
Obligatory pls no steal (but seriously, don't. If you do, I will find some way to glue clear lego bricks studs-up to the insoles of all of your shoes).
What you can find here are summaries of most the ideas I have in my head (except the Jesus one. That one's for later), and I may write them up at some point. Feel free to PM me with any (as long as you've put at least some effort into it) crit you have for them if you somehow stumble upon my sandbox, it's always appreciated.
Anyway, here they are. I'm in the process of adding descriptions:
Quote: "It was right then, right there, that I stared death in the eye, and that eye overwhelmed me not with terror, but grief."
A story of intrigue, deception, and love, set in Wyrmwood, a spatial anomaly within a boreal forest somewhere (don't know yet).
Important concepts:
Wyrms:
The dominant species of Wyrmwood. An anomalous, highly intelligent species of 'drakes' (or 'wyrms') made of wood, united under a constitutional hereditary monarchy. Highly elitist and racist (other species are generally considered 'lower' than they are) but simultaneously a moral society (however, this is only towards themselves). Technology is roughly equivalent to that of mid-18th century Earth.
Nature Spirits:
The secondary species of Wyrmwood. A series of concepts (usually to do with nature or life) given form. Significant examples include those of life, water, light, and night. EXTRA NOTE: the death spirit is non-binary.
The Rot:
A hostile force infesting parts of Wyrmwood and spreading. Wilts plants, kills animals, and spreads darkness. Reanimates those killed into twisted 'guardians' that spread the Rot further. In danger of spreading through not only Wyrmwood but our world as well.
Agent Teller:
Main character in charge of the investigation into the Rot. Leader of MTF-Delta-12 ("Rot Stoppers").
The Twist (DUN DUN DUNNN!!):
Turns out that the third son of the King got into a secret relationship with a nature spirit. Not just any spirit, but the spirit of death (please note that death is not a hostile force, but simply the flip side to life). Needless to say, this is extremely controversial, and the King goes so far as to not only disown his son, but to exile him from the kingdom and attempt to enforce a law that bans both speech and help of his son (this motion doesn't officially pass, but is informally accepted amongst the population).
Despite this, the prince and the spirit live happily until the prince is struck by a deadly disease. Panicked, the spirit seeks medical attention within the main community of wyrms, but is refused help in every place except for a small, independent medical store that quietly lets them in and attempts to treat the prince. Unfortunately, the healer fails, and they direct them towards the palace for help. When they arrive, the nature spirit pleads for help from the King, but he callously responds with 'that is no son of mine', before shutting the door on their faces.
Helpless, the nature spirit brings the prince to a clearing to try to heal him, but their powers are for nothing, and the prince dies in their arms. The spirit can't handle the grief, having never had any relationship like this before (only for it to be cruelly torn away), and loses control of their emotions, and subsequently their powers, becoming the Rot. It was the King who directly caused the Rot, which is a manifestation of death's grief.
Quote: "You aren't real. YOU AREN'T REAL."
A story about overcoming grief, even when it seems overwhelming, and the power of good support. Based around a malevolent thoughtform entity that latches onto a boy's grief to manifest itself.
Important Concepts:
Joseph Thomas:
14-year-old child trying to get over the grief of his father's death. The main target of SCP-XXXX. Is going to grief counselling/therapy with Doctor Robertson.
Doctor Robertson:
Foundation plant within the town of [TBD] to monitor and assist in Joseph's recovery.
SCP-XXXX:
Thoughtform entity that latched onto Joseph's grief to manifest itself. As Joseph's grief gets worse, it gets closer to becoming real. Causes minor anomalous phenomena as it tries to manifest itself prematurely, each incident gradually increasing in severity as Joseph's grief intensifies. True form is a mass of writhing black tentacles surrounding a single, large yellow eye.
Story:
Joseph's father dies after a long struggle with cancer, and Joseph tries to deal with his grief and life with a financially challenged single mother. SCP-XXXX latches onto Jospeh's grief, and a series of anomalous phenomena draws Foundation attention towards [TBD]. Amnestics are considered for Joseph, but are dropped considering the immense difficulty of erasing all memories of his father (and significant risk of permanent brain damage/death).
Doctor Robertson is planted due to his experience in therapy and grief counselling, and he attempts to help Joseph get over his grief. It isn't working, and diary entries show that SCP-XXXX's continued attempts at premature manifestation is causing Joseph to question his sanity. Eventually, the grief gets so bad that Joseph collapses on his school oval after school, crying. Doctor Robertson attempts to intervene, but Joseph mistakenly recognises him as his father and embraces him. Robertson accepts at first, but then tenderly tells Joseph that he is not, in fact, Joseph's father. This is enough to send Joseph over the edge, and SCP-XXXX manifests.
Robertson, thinking quickly, acts as if he cannot see anything, and acts shocked at Joseph's horror. He proceeds to attempt to convince Joseph that the entity in question isn't real, but is smacked away by one of SCP-XXXX's tentacles. However, he still calls out that whatever he's seeing isn't real, and that this is a representation of his grief isolating him from his relationships. Joseph, afraid but determined, shouts towards SCP-XXXX that it isn't real. To prove his point, he walks directly towards it, not heeding its assualt. Enraged, it tries attacking Joseph both physically and mentally, but to no avail. Joseph faces the entity directly, and shouts at it that it isn't real. Defeated, SCP-XXXX demanifests and detaches itself from Joseph's grief, as the grief, while not fully healed, is rapidly fading.
Doctor Robertson, for his quick thinking and bravery in the face of danger and prevention of a major containment breach is awarded a Medal of Honour, while Joseph (unknowingly) receives a Foundation Star for his bravery in confronting his fears, making him the first civilian to receive a Foundation Star. Doctor Robertson stays in the town with Joseph until they have fully overcome their grief, before he leaves to get back to Site counselling, leaving behind a sad but accepting Joseph.
Quote: "I had rescued her from the precipice, the void, and I held her tight. I didn't understand why she was crying."
A scientist in the 1800s tries to resurrect his dead daughter using ancient magic. It goes wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong.
Quote: "Don't you idiots understand? You can't beat me. Any other thoughts and you're fooling yourselves."
Trust is a valuable thing, not to be given away easily. So when the Foundation underestimates an anomaly, they find that giving them their trust was perhaps the worst mistake they could have possibly made.
Its secret is the inversion of the probability of actions it performs, based on the general perception of the anomaly's likelihood of being able to/its willingness to perform them.
It believes itself superior to humanity. Aspect of Discord, evolved from Pride.
Quote: "Examination of all fast-food products and outlets for contamination of SCP-XXXX or presence of SCP-XXXX-1 instances, while costly, inefficient, and time-consuming, is imperative to prevent further incidents and/or the reappearance of SCP-XXXX-2."
A ravenous inter-dimensional parasite sets its eyes on Earth.
It desires to consume humanity. Aspect of Indulgence, evolved from Gluttony.
Quote: "I don't suppose you ever heard about the burning of the [REDACTED] Orphanage, or what happened to the kids who called it home?"
A lesson to the Foundation about the importance of not making assumptions and to be thorough when collecting data.
When a small orphanage burns down in northern Russia, the owners, bankrupt, have no choice but to distribute the children to anyone who'll take them. Some of the children go to good homes. Others, not so much.
In a small, rural town, a child at the age of 14 attempts to take their own life after running away from their extremely abusive home, waiting for the cold to take them. However, much to their surprise, they awake inside a wooden shack covered in blankets on a small couch. As they look around, they see a hulking figure crouched over a fireplace nearby, cooking something.
They're incredibly scared, even more so when the giant gets up (going so far as to hide under their blanket), but when they peek again, they see it holding out a big bowl of soup and a spoon. Hesitantly taking it, they eat it slowly (it's quite good), and watch as the giant eats his own portion (the entire rest of the pot of soup) before taking the child's bowl (now finished) and going outside. The child, now full, hears the giant washing up the bowls from, presumably, a tap, and watches as it brings them in and dries them with a towel, before putting them away in a drawer.
It then takes a cup of water, fills it, and places it next to the child, before lumbering over towards its room and partially shutting the door. The child, less scared now at seeing these gestures of kindness, takes a sip of the water and goes to sleep.
As time goes on, the child and the giant grow closer. The giant shows the child how to harvest berries, hunt, fish, weave, etc. (despite its muteness), while the child steals books and teaches the giant how to read.
Life is good for the both of them, until reports of a 'giant in the forest' reaches the ears of the Foundation, and they come in to investigate. There, upon surveilling the creature's activities for a day (collecting herbs, chopping down trees, hunting, etc.) , they come to the conclusion that it possesses no other abilities aside from anomalously enhanced strength, speed, and agility, and reflexes; an open-and-shut monster grabbing.
Whole log featuring the capture of the anomaly, before they do post-containment checks of the house. There, they find a sick child on the couch, asleep, with a lit fireplace that mysteriously doesn't produce smoke crackling in front of them.
Interviews with the child reveal the circumstances and history regarding them and the giant (whom they have named Leonidas), where the child, now 16, finishes the interview by calling the Foundation the real monsters of this situation. What happens to them is left ambiguous.
It wants nothing to do with humanity, save for Alisa, the child they looked after until their capture by the Foundation. Aspect of Apathy, evolved from Sloth.
Quote: "Already SCP-XXXX's effects are causing a cascading effect that will inevitably culminate in an IK-Class 'Collapse of Global Civilisation' Scenario. As such, recontainment of SCP-XXXX is currently of highest priority, as well as the sterilisation of all affected subjects."
The ability to give birth has sometimes been likened to a gift. What if it became a curse?
An entity taking the form of an attractive human subject (based on the preferences of those observing it); its true form is an underdeveloped foetus in a sphere of amniotic fluid. It causes people to become highly fertile and attractive, and also increases sexual drive; this spreads to their children and anyone they have a relationship with. Of course, this causes a cascading effect that will lead to massive overpopulation.
The higher fertility is simply a higher chance of pregnancy with, on average, a greater number of children than the norm (usually twins or triplets), while the attractiveness is more of a mental change than a physical one (higher confidence, better personality, etc.).
Unfortunately, the nature of the ability prevents the Foundation from truly knowing who is affected, especially with conflicting contact trees, and simply sterilise anyone associated with known affected subjects that is attractive and fertile, often sterilising innocents in the process, much to the scathing disdain of SCP-XXXX, as revealed in a final interview.
The SCP itself is retribution for human-caused suffering that stems from sexuality (in this case, SCP-XXXX is Eros, and human-caused suffering is the serpent). It detests humanity. Aspect of Desire, evolved from Lust.
Quote: "And then, and then I- I was them, I was the forgotten, they- they replaced me. But- but I know them. I know them. Their names- their names. LISTEN TO ME. THEIR NAMES ARE [COGNITOHAZARD EXPUNGED]."
The archive has been breached. Books have been erased. What used to be people writhe and scream, attempting to regain the existence and identities they lost. And still the envious beast stirs sullenly within the shadows of the bookshelves, erasing and destroying as it burrows ever closer to the centre.
It ignores humanity. Aspect of Spite, evolved from Envy.
Important Concepts:
Quote: "We have no idea when they'll show up, or where, or to whom, or in what form. What we do know is that they will, and we have to be prepared."
Weaponry that has appeared throughout history to seemingly random individuals in numerous forms, always inciting or being a major part of a war if not destroyed or or otherwise made unavailable to the host. Has mostly appeared in extraterrestrial or extradimensional conflicts, but occasionally in human ones.
The most famous example of the latter is SCP-XXXX's appearance to King Arthur as Excalibur, inciting numerous conflicts both mundane and supernatural, eventually leading to the Battle of Camlann, where Arthur was killed. Other examples include the Twin Pikes of Ra (knives on chains which could obliterate opponents with light energy), Famine's Elegy (a scythe which could rend through concepts relating to wealth, providence, abundance, and satiation), and the Industrial Revolution (an extremely powerful ion railgun that caused large areas it hit to rapidly cycle through extreme industrialisation and environmental collapse).
The weapon itself, through its sheer power and bestowal of confidence upon its host/s, will inevitably be involved in battle, despite having no other mental effects (it does not increase one's thirst for violence, nor does it make one more willing to resort to it). Although it can appear to be neutral or even benevolent in nature, SCP-XXXX's manifestation, unless prevented, leads to the death of many.
It displays signs of sentience, and seemingly finds 'sustenance' through war and bloodshed. Aspect of Bloodshed, evolved from Wrath.
Quote: "We are a cancer, and our growth cannot be halted."
A malignant Class-C ideological antimeme, taking the physical form of a deceased human infant. Metastatises into virulent antimemetic hazards that cause retrograde amnesia, erosion of personality, and thaumogenesis within affected subjects. Abilities primarily feature one or more of the following: antimemetic manipulation/creation, semiotic manipulation, ontological abilities, memory alteration, alteration of documentation or information regarding SCP-XXXX or affected persons, and/or psychic/mental-based spatial/temporal manipulation.
Alterations serve the primary purpose of obfuscating the true nature of SCP-XXXX and its goals from both the Foundation and readers. Is in fact a stillborn entity that somehow survived, chained to its physical form. Manipulates those it infects through insertion of false memories, mental and emotional abuse, and lies to remove its physical form from reality, thus freeing it.
Aspect of Deceit, replacing Greed. Child of Patience and Discord.
Quote: "Self-denial is the only path to enlightenment. By refusing all that is not required, one can truly achieve one's potential, and ascend beyond this life."
An entity that is obsessed with the qualities of temperance, causing the formation of impossible pathways (both physical and metaphorical) between absolute choices. Those that follow the pathway become subject to mental changes and an alteration of judgement into one closely resembling the entity's own values, becoming highly ascetic and risk-avoidant.
Extremely dangerous due to its insidious nature and potential to affect anyone, at any time, when making any decision, and can appear to the same person multiple times. Although it believes it is helping humanity into a better afterlife, there exists no evidence that it exists.
A critique on going too far with self-denial.
It believes it is helping humanity. Blight of Austerity, evolved from Temperance.
Quote: "But that's the problem. What if it's right? What if we're the ones in the wrong here?"
A thoughtform entity that exists within the collective psychospatial concept of 'justice'. It claims to represent an objective form of justice, but its rather draconian ideals (seemingly rooted in vengeance) are ethically questionable. Or rather, they should be, were it not for the fact that every single being ever exposed to it agrees with the system, and there is no evidence of cognitohazardous/memetic tampering and/or mental alteration.
This, obviously, presents a problem, as although it can be said, quite easily, to be an ethically questionable system, investigations don't reveal any ethical flaws. So what's going on?
In actuality, the Foundation has been testing for the wrong thing the entire time; it simply alters itself based on perception, not actually affecting outside minds, and becomes each person's desired form of justice while simultaneously causing it to be registered as the system it truly is and eliminating ethical problems by blocking them from being perceived.
It wants to establish its form of justice everywhere to satisfy its need for vengeance. Blight of Justice, replacing Charity. Child of Bloodshed and Purity.
Quote: "The wolves are coming, Director, and you have a very valuable sheep in your possession."
The physical representation of determination and perseverance, harvested from, uh, something. Perhaps something to do with people taking this as a form of drug and getting addicted, losing their own determination and will in the process — a tool used for control?
A person who refused to die. Blight of Determination, evolved from Diligence.
Quote: "Are you not aware, Mr. Renshaw, that demonising pleasure is one of the most effective methods of control?"
Blight of Purity, evolved from Chastity.
Quote:"True paradise doesn't exist. Yours is, admittedly, pretty close. Hell, I'd probably accept, were it not for one simple thing: true permanence doesn't exist either."
An entity that calls themselves Eden reveals themselves to the Foundation, offering a proposition: bringing humanity into Paradise. The catch? Nothing. They claim that humans have waited long enough for salvation —thousands of years— and that they will be saved out of Eden's own will and compassion.
The Foundation is understandably sceptical, but after being shown the Paradise (no tricks, verified completely), they have a difficult decision ahead of them. Bring humanity into Paradise, or not? Eden shows no signs of backing down, and when they threaten a Broken Veil Scenario in order to get a majority vote from the human population, the Foundation decides to terminate Eden.
Even knowing that Paradise awaits them, they cannot be sure that this Paradise will last forever, or even a century. What they can be sure is that if they accept, humanity will become complacent and soft; when the Paradise ends, annihilation will await the human race.
Blight of Compassion, evolved from Patience.
Quote: "The following file is 6/XXXX classified (with restrictions) as it contains an OMEGA-CRIMSON class infohazard.
The moon is made of cheese. However, if that's true, the Earth must also be made of cheese. Enter an infohazard (with extremely strong memetic properties) which has already infected most of Earth's population: the idea that the moon is made of cheese. People who realise that, logically following this, the Earth would be made of cheese, move the hazard one step closer to being realised. Amnestics don't work (because of the aforementioned memetic properties). Disinformation campaigns would be both ineffective and actively harmful. So what can the Foundation do, in the face of this world-ending threat? Nothing. Just hope that people don't come to that conclusion.
This is the stupidest idea I have ever come up with, and I love it.
basically, this is a dryad connected to the Citarum river. Her state is connected to how healthy the river is. Unfortunately, this river is the most polluted river in the world, and she's mega pissed off at all the corrupt people dumping chemicals and shit into it
11:58 <Xeno_Baby> she creates this sewer system with nature thaumaturgy as a means of retreating away from the pollution, but it fails and she gets even more pissed
11:59 <Xeno_Baby> whole bunch of anomalous deaths and catastrophic accidents around factories and people involved with the pollution of the river
11:59 <Xeno_Baby> Foundation's like "oh fuck, there's something here", sees the pattern, and sets up in a polluting factory
12:00 <Xeno_Baby> dryad arrives and fucks shit up, pulls everyone into the sewer system she's created
12:00 <Xeno_Baby> Foundation MTF traverses it and gets to the dryad after encountering a lot of mutated creatures and the like that attack them
12:01 <Xeno_Baby> when they reach the dryad, they find that she's not concerned with just destroying everything as the Foundation suspected, but is just angry at al the pollution in here river
12:01 <Xeno_Baby> all, her*
12:02 <Xeno_Baby> Foundation's like 'k', and starts a program to clean the river up, dryad is still pissed but agrees to stop attacking people
12:03 <Xeno_Baby> ends with a log after the cleanup has been going on for a while, where the dryad and the sewers look much healthier, and she thanks the Foundation
12:03 <Xeno_Baby> and there's my word vomit for the day
nice. how will they contain her though, because that is something they will be concerned about, and where will the spider be? is the spider a metaphor? are the sewers connected like spider webs? will the mutated creatures look like spiders?
12:08 <Xeno_Baby> to answer your questions:
12:08 <Xeno_Baby> containment is more of an agreement. She kinda just hangs around inside her sewer, so kinda self-containing
12:09 <Xeno_Baby> as long as she doesn't attack people, containment is unnecessary
12:10 <Xeno_Baby> spoders are pretty common all over the sewer. There's a big nest close by the dryad's chamber featuring big momma spoder and lots of smaller ones
12:10 <Xeno_Baby> creatures are basically just nature energy gone rampant in physical form
12:11 <Xeno_Baby> sewers are big pipes and cisterns and the like in some kind of structure, dunno rn because its extradimensional
12:11 <Xeno_Baby> and that's the end
12:12 <fairydoctor> if shes attacking people initially wouldnt they initially contain her? and as they slowly piece it together, then they- i guess re-release her back to her river under the provision of self-containment?
12:13 <Xeno_Baby> good point
12:13 <Xeno_Baby> uh gimme a sec
12:14 <Xeno_Baby> ok ok
12:15 <Xeno_Baby> story is that the operatives get stuck in the sewers and make it to the dryad, where they proceed to make an agreement with her about not attacking people in exchange for cleaning the river
12:15 <Xeno_Baby> they don't initially conatin her because their first contact results in an agreement
12:16 <Xeno_Baby> missions occur later to sort out the finer details
Quote:
Just what the title says: a cosmic space ocean. Is under risk of being destroyed somehow, and the Foundation has to protect it because it functions as a home for anomalous creatures that would either die or travel to the closest source of large amounts of water (Earth) if it got destroyed.
Quote: "That was, undeniably, the most fun I've ever had in my entire life. The improbably high risk of death made it even better."
Come one, come all! When Earth is unwillingly selected to take part in the [NAME OF RACE HERE], it's up to the Foundation to participate in the planet's name and try to win the mysterious 'ultimate prize', customised to each participating planet. Absolute chaos and carnage ensues.
Purple cauliflowers are actually alien brains (thanks DrGolden).
Something for Spidercon (fight the power!) - Prophecy cycle -> SPODER MONSTER
Something to do with anatidaephobia (the irrational fear that a duck or goose is watching you).
Something to do with Sandy Island. A war over territory?
Lighter that, upon being lit, causes the manifestation of a Tartarean entity in such a way that their cigar/cigarette is lit by the lighter.
Etaoin shrdlu, perhaps something trying to communicate with us?
Confusion in regards to ravens.
Boltzmann brains and entropy, a philosophical discussion.
Introducing… The Hum! (DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!!)
Introducing…. Bloop! (the unofficial sequel to The Hum!) (DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!!)
Other stuff here.
Tales
Apotheosis Series -
Quote: "What's it like, director? Becoming the thing that you hate most?"
Important Concepts:
Arthur Jackson:
Main character. Slightly unstable. Despises the Foundation's treatment of people affected by SCP-3396 (SCP-3731 instances). Saw firsthand the decimation of a small settlement of 3731 who tried to fight back against Foundation containment. Secretly harvests the organs of the dead civilians and hatches a plan.
Site Director Bronan:
Main antagonist (for this tale). Brutally efficient and intelligent, sees anomalies as something less than human. Near-fanatical devotion to the Foundation's goals.
Charlie Lawson:
Secondary character. Romantic interest of Arthur (this interest is mutual). Has been trying to report Site Director Bronan's actions to the Ethics Committee, which fails due to blackmail, threats, and intimidation.
Story:
Headcanons:
SCP-4333 - The Profligate, by CadaverCommander
SCP-3352 - Bethlehem Steel, by TheGreatHippo
SCP-3041 - The Red Knife, by TheGreatHippo
SCP-5031 - Yet Another Murder Monster, by PeppersGhost
SCP-3007 - World of Two Artists, by Zhange
SCP-5466 - Death of the Creator, by J Dune
SCP-1812 - Extralunar Meme, by ihp
SCP-3799 - A Short History of Snowfall, by Tufto
SCP-1739 - Obsolete Laptop, by Chubert
SCP-5855 - fucking ANNOYING ORAN Foot by the Fruit, by An Actual Crow
SCP-2940 - Chaos Insurgency Special Operative Alpha-19, by A Random Day
SCP-001-J-EN-D-EX-ARC - Director Bold's Proposal-J, by Calibri Bold
SCP-𝕐 - Cannibalistic Mathematics, by CityToast
SCP-3939 - [NUMBER RESERVED; AWAITING RESEARCHER], by Croquembouche
SCP-5935 - Blood and the Breaking of my Heart, by djkaktus
SCP-5266 - IDIOT SUCCUMBS TO NEUROTOXIN WHILE LISTENING TO MACHO MAN CLICK NOW TO SEE, by IamtheOoga
SCP-5999 - This is Where I Died, by Shaggydredlocks/S D Locke, TheeSherm, VolgunStrife, Woedenaz, and Modern_Erasmus
SCP-5712 - Associated with Demons, Memes, and Computers, by Greyve
SCP-5956 - THEREISNOCANNON, by HarryBlank and Placeholder McD
SCP-5761 - When the Imposter is Sus II: Nightmare Hour, by Tanhony
SCP-5683 - "Will you walk into my parlour?" said a spider to a fly, by Tanhony
SCP-5721 - What Passes as Worship in the Digital Age, by Cerastes
SCP-5006 - Trust No One, by RockTeethMothEyes and TheMightyMcB
SCP-5007 - Bass Strait, by Dr Balthazaar
SCP-6001 - Avalon, by T Rutherford
SCP-6391 - of spiders and nostalgia, by Tiamat Elsen
GOC Casefiles - "UHEC", by DrClef
The Set of All Numbers Which Might be Bears, by GwenWinterheart
Fuck it, like, everything S & C Plastics, by ihp
NOTE: Ping Limey for crit once the draft is done via IRC.
Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-XXXX and the area it affects (referred to as SCP-XXXX-1) is contained within the perimeter of Site-126 under the cover story WAR-W/M ("Hazardous Weather/Monitoring Facility"). Approaching civilians are to be discouraged from advancing by security guards stationed around the Site. No further interaction is necessary.
As SCP-XXXX-2 is a location of possible military importance due to its capabilities of indefinitely sustaining a large number of people (>100 000) without outside resources, its location has been expunged from all files except for those on a need-to-know basis.
Description:
SCP-XXXX refers to a static thaumaturgical gateway that spontaneously manifested on the coastline of [REDACTED] (pop. ~120000). SCP-XXXX is physically, chemically, and thaumically inert, having not reacted in any observable way to various testing phenomena or attempts to close it.
SCP-XXXX's manifestation coincided with the significant anomalous alteration of the surrounding area (SCP-XXXX-1)1. Alterations include the manifestation of anomalous flora, a localised change of sea level, land composition, and climate into one fitting for a beach2, and an aura of perceived 'peace' when sapient entities are within the boundaries of SCP-XXXX-1. Of note is that said physical changes are realistically incompatible with the surrounding environment.
UPDATE 28/5/13: Following extensive testing and monitoring, therapy sessions within SCP-XXXX-1 have been approved, as well as general recreational use.
SCP-XXXX-2 is the pocket dimension that SCP-XXXX leads to. Its dimensions are currently unknown, but drone surveillance results estimate the interior to be between 100-200km2 in area. The whole of the observable interior of SCP-XXXX-2 is comprised of interlinking miniature terrestrial biomes (averaging at 2-4 km2 per biome), with appropriate changes in climate for each. It is also worth noting that it shares the aura of peace with SCP-XXXX-1, but stronger in effect. However, despite SCP-XXXXX-2's status as a pocket dimension, its interior follows foreign seasonal cycle consistent with a small planet in a 'P-type' orbital cycle around a binary star system3. Even more oddly, SCP-XXXX-2 is inhabited only by anomalous flora adapted to each biome; no animal life has been found to date.
Discovery:
SCP-XXXX was discovered on 23/7/11 following reports that a beach that had replaced the previous coastline. SCP-XXXX was quickly secured, the reports were taken down, and town residents were amnestised. It is still unknown exactly how SCP-XXXX manifested, but theories suggest there may have been an unregistered but powerful reality bender that accidentally opened it. However, no evidence of amateur reality bending (small spacetime fractures, spatial 'bleeding', nonsensical phenomena, etc.) has thus far been perceived.
Addenda:
Addendum 1:
The following notable 'species' have been found through explorations of SCP-XXXX-2, both remote and manual. Note that scientific names are given based upon physical similarities to terrestrial species (or, if there aren't any, physical characteristics) rather than genetic relation4.
| Discovered in: | Name: | Description: |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah | Malvaceae hibiscus-fulgur (Lightning Hibiscus) | Large (petal spread of 4-6 metres) flowers resembling the terrestrial hibiscus. When at 3-6 months of age, the general age of maturity for this species, their styles grow vertically rapidly and harden, functioning as a primitive 'lightning rod' in anticipation of the frequent lightning of the dry season. When struck, latent thaumic energy within the petals is released, and forms giant (10m in height, 20-50m across) 'blooms' of energy resembling the original plant. These blooms will then metamorphose into hundreds of thaumically charged seeds that grow anomalously quickly, reaching peak size within 2-3 months. Hibiscus tea produced using petals from this plant has universally been described as 'delicious' and functions as a natural stimulant, improving focus and productivity for 2-3 hours with no known side effects. UPDATE: Following the success of cultivation on-Site (and a safe, artificial method of inducing 'blooms'), tea is now available as a beverage in the cafe. |
| Desert (Hot and Dry) | Volubilem Frutex (Tumblebrush) | Large, spherical plants resembling tumbleweeds (hence the name), the Tumblebrush is notable for spending almost the entirety of its mature life in motion (via use of wind), and its symbiotic relationship with many other species found in this biome. Through the use of universal chemical receptors and pheromones, the Tumblebrush will transport seeds and shelter seedlings in exchange for nutrients and water. Nutrients and water will be exchanged via the use of anomalous growths resembling branches that emerge from the Tumblebrush before latching onto and siphoning the requisite supplements from the symbiont plant. Once nearing the end of its lifespan, the Tumblebrush will accept a payload of seeds from another plant, then root itself. After this, it will genetically alter the seeds within itself through use of its 'branches' into members of its own species, before hardening and dying. Seedlings within this husk will proceed to grow quickly and, similar to shark embryos, will 'cannibalise' each other until only one remains, which will grow until it bursts out of the husk of its parent. |
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NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
The following information has been added to this file in chronological order for archival/analysis purposes, in order to better learn the effects of SCP-XXXX. Level-4 security clearance (with restrictions) is required to access this information.
— Maria Jones, Director, RAISA
Incident XXXX-1
The following events occurred throughout 12/11/19 to 18/11/19. Due to a lack of directly recorded evidence, the following has been constructed via the use of security footage, message logs, and recorded Site memos. All redactions have been added for security purposes, and were not present in the original messages/logs.
VIDEO LOG Security Footage - Hallway 126-4-B
DATE: 12/11/19 (local time)
NOTE: This hallway is directly outside the offices of Site Directors Jason Gibb and Amelia Rothschild.
[BEGIN LOG]
12:22pm: Muffled cursing can be heard from Site Director Rothschild's office. Director Gibb's office is silent.
12:24pm: Director Rothschild exits her office, swearing, before knocking on Director Gibb's door. She is noticeably pale and breathing quickly.
12:25pm: Director Gibb opens the door for Director Rothschild, and shuts the door behind her. The muffled sounds of conversation can be heard from behind the door.
[END LOG]
At 12:41pm, the following memo was sent site-wide:
SCP Foundation Internal Memo
Site Directors' Offices
Site-126
Date: 12/11/19
From: S-Dir. J. Gibb, S-Dir. A. Rothschild
To: Site-126 Personnel [ALL]
Greetings all.
There is no easy way to put this. At 12:22pm today, we received an email from the O5 Council: that we, the SCP Foundation, failed our duty: to secure, to contain, and to protect. Catastrophic cascading containment breaches have occurred across the globe. Our global communications network has since gone dark. We have, effectively, collapsed. There is no current plan for recontaining the escaped anomalies, and there likely will never be.
But while the other Sites around the world have fallen, ours still stands. Our organisation may have failed its task, but we, here at this Site, we have not fallen yet. While we may not be able to save the world, we can save the 100000 people in [REDACTED].
We don't have much time. For the foreseeable future (the next three days, at a generous estimate), our primary goal is the evacuation of [REDACTED]'s residents. Instructions will be sent through within the next 20 minutes.
The world may be ending, but our job isn't over. We have people to save.
Archived Discussion - SCP Official Online Chatroom
[INSERT COOL FORMATTING HERE]
<Private Session has opened [password protected]>
<arthschild & jgibb have joined>
<arthschild> jason
<jgibb> Amelia
<arthschild> you finished with the supply distribution yet
<arthschild> hello?
<jgibb> yes, sorry about that
<jgibb> was just finishing the paperwork now
<jgibb> I've got the B sector people workign on it
<jgibb> working*
<arthschild> good
<jgibb> and you?
<arthschild> ?
<jgibb> how is the first aid setup progressing?
<arthschild> its
<arthschild> progressing
<jgibb> hmm.
<arthschild> i know i know, im sorry
<arthschild> i dont work as fast as yuo do
<jgibb> that's okay
- arthschild sighs
<arthschild> im just a bit on egde right now
<jgibb> entirely understandable
<jgibb> especially considering that the world is ending
<arthschild> please dont remind me
<arthschild> that only makes me even more stressed
<arthschild> if thats even possible
<jgibb> I'll try not to mention it from this point forward, but it is a fact that you have to accept, whether you like it or not
*arthschild sighs again
<arthschild> how
<arthschild> how do you deal with it so well
<jgibb> what?
<arthschild> the stress
<arthschild> the pressure
<arthschild> the fact the world is fucking ending *right now*
<arthschild> and you're just… calm and accepting
<arthschild> i
<arthschild> i dont get it
<arthschild> it's all i can do to not tear my hair out or start crying
<arthschild> but you seem to have already dealt with it
<jgibb> well
<jgibb> I'm constantly running several scenarios over in my head where we fail, or something terrible happens, or I personally make a terrible error
<arthschild> so, how?
<jgibb> to be completely honest?
<jgibb> I have no idea
<jgibb> logically I should be stressed, but I'm not, for whatever reason
<jgibb> maybe I just compartmentalise better than most, or something similar
<arthschild> thats
<arthschild> thats the most you thing ive ever heard you say
<jgibb> thank you?
<arthschild> youre so infuriatingly smart sometimes
<arthschild> goddammit
<jgibb> …I'll take that as a compliment
<arthschild> you do that
<arthschild> because it most certainly is
<jgibb> thank you
<arthschild> you're welcome
[…]
<jgibb> now then
<arthschild> ?
<jgibb> what's the real reason you started this chat room?
<arthschild> im sorry?
<jgibb> I know you well enough that you didn't start this to simply ask whether I had finished my supply distribution, especially considering that you hadn't finished your first aid setup
<jgibb> so tell me
<jgibb> what did you need to speak to me about?
<arthschild> …
<jgibb> I'm not asking as a Site Director
<jgibb> I'm asking as your friend
<arthschild> i
<arthschild> i wanted to
<arthschild> god fucking damn it
<arthschild> its about XXXX
<jgibb> what about it?
<arthschild> i just
<arthschild> i dont know
<arthschild> this is gonna sound stupid but
<arthschild> i dont
<arthschild> i dont really trust it
<arthschild> there i fucking said it
<jgibb> and why is that?
<arthschild> i dont know
<arthschild> i just have this feeling
<arthschild> because we've known about this thing for close to 10 years
<arthschild> and we still know jack shit
<arthschild> where did it come from? why can't we shut it? why do the plants share the same DNA?
<arthschild> and now we're just going to send everyone in there?
<jgibb> you didn't bring this up during the email
<arthschild> i didn't want to make it more difficult
<arthschild> was hard enough as it was
<jgibb> I see
<arthschild> i just
<arthschild> i get that the world is ending
<arthschild> but what if we're sentencing everyone to something worse than death?
<arthschild> god that was trite
<arthschild> i know it sounds ridiculous, but i cant get the thought out of my head
<jgibb> I understand your concerns completely
<jgibb> XXXX is certainly mysterious in many ways
<jgibb> however, I don't think we really have much of a choice
<jgibb> if we don't do anything, you know what would happen
<jgibb> and XXXX, based on our knowledge, is not only safe, but can be helpful
<jgibb> if I remember correctly, you pushed for it to be used for therapy, didn't you?
<arthschild> but what if we're wrong
<arthschild> what if it's a trick
<arthschild> think about it
<arthschild> things like the kitten and that goddamn teddy bear
<arthschild> we missed something, and people paid the price
<jgibb> Amelia.
<arthschild> what if we're missing something here
<jgibb> Amelia please calm down
<arthschild> what if its all a trick and we're just feeding some ravenous fucking monster
<jgibb> Hey
<jgibb> I get your concerns
<jgibb> and I know that certain… past experiences have lent to these thoughts
<arthschild> dont fucking skirt around what happened
<artshchild> say it
<jgibb> Amelia…
<arsthchild> fucking say it
<jgibb> …
<jgibb> They passed away, Amelia
<arthschild> they did not 'pass away'
<arthschild> they were murdered
<jgibb> I'm so sorry about what happened
<arthschild> no, you shut up
<arthschild> you have no idea how it feels
<arthschild> he
<arthschild> he called that day, did you know?
<jgibb> Amelia, you don't need to do this
<arthschild> Samantha was in the back of the car, asleep, and he was driving past a small field
<arthschild> he saw flashes of light
<arthschild> he pulled over, called me, told me what he saw
<arthschild> he told me about a little girl being held hostage by some deranged reality bender with a knife, yelling about how she was a demon and needed to be killed. theyd started drawing a sacrificial circle with their own blood around the girl
<arthschild> Hiro told me about how similar she looked to Samantha
<jgibb> Amelia, please, stop
<arthschild> i told him that an MTF squad was already moving to his position
<arthschild> i told him to wait
<arthschild> and then he told me that she had started screaming
<arthschild> and that he couldn't afford to wait
<arthschild> i heard the gunshot from the phone
<arthschild> i heard the lunatic's body hit the ground
<arthschild> i heard Hiro telling that girl that she'd be alright, that help was here
<arthschild> i didn't see what that little girl became, but i heard it tear Hiro's throat out
<arthschild> the sound of his body hitting the ground was so loud
<arthschild> i was in shock
<arthschild> and then
<jgibb> Amelia you don't have to relive this
<arthschild> i heard Samantha start crying
<arthschild> and the thing screeched
<arthschild> and i could do fucking nothing while that monster smashed through the car door window
<arthschild> and then the phone cut out
<arthschild> they never found my daughter's body, but
<arthschild> her blood
<arthschild> there was so much blood
<arthschild> and that monster
<arthschild> we never heard or saw it again
<jgibb> Amelia…
<arthschild> so no, i don't fucking trust this goddamn anomaly
<arthschild> because it may just turn out to be a fucking trick
<jgibb> I…
<arthschild> im going to go
<arthschild> ive got to think for a while
<arthshchild> has left
[…]
<jgibb> shit.
<jgibb> has left
VIDEO LOG Security Footage - Staff Room
DATE: 13/11/19 (local time)
NOTE: N/A
[BEGIN LOG]
Dialogue/Recorded *stuff* Plan:
Site Electrical Recording Thingy (gotta ask IRC about this, 12/11/19) - Electrical readings are constant until 12:23pm, where the communications and international internet thingy experiences a power surge and malfunctions, before dropping out and failing completely. No electricians note this.
Only a possibility at this point.
Dialogue 1 (private online chatroom, 12/11/19) - Provides depth to both characters (their personalities are revealed through the interview), disagreement about SCP-XXXX-2.
Gibb - Levelheaded, coolly logical, but slightly indecisive. Caring and forgiving. Tends to overthink things. Doesn't have a family. Struggles a bit socially.
Rothschild - Hotheaded, fiercely intelligent. Strong moral compass, seemingly indomitable spirit, decisive. Lost her family to an anomaly, irrationally feels she could have saved them. Secretly (even to herself) cowardly.
Dialogue 2 (irl conversation, 13/11/19) - Further depth to characters. Pressure on friendship. First time the hallucinogen begins to fail on Rothschild.
Rothschild Diary 1 (13/11/19)- Discussion on stress, the dilemma about -2, and what she's been seeing.
Dialogue 3 (irl conversation, 14/11/19)- More pressure/breakage of friendship. Rothschild's first admittance of what she's seen as support for her argument of distrust of -2. Gibb questions if she's had a history of psychosis/had a psychotic incident, and when Rothschild hesitates, Gibb sighs and tells her that it is stress. Remainder of argument consists of Rothschild getting extremely angry at Gibb, and Gibb telling that she is being irrational, to seek medical treatment, etc. (but in a caring, concerned way). Conversation ends when Rothschild storms out.
Rothschild Diary 2 (14/11/19)- Anger at Gibb, questioning of her own sanity.
Security Footage 1 (outside the Site, 15/11/19) - Takes place at 1:32am outside the Site, cameras focused on SCP-XXXX-1. Even though the cameras are heavily obscured by something, a figure can be seen exiting the Site, heading towards SCP-XXXX.
Security Footage 2 (Site cafeteria, 15/11/19) - Takes place at 1:23pm, again the security footage is mostly obscured. Rothschild can be vaguely made out being accosted by many colleagues. Vague expressions of concern about her wellbeing are made. Rothschild moves out of view. Soon after, the sound of a dining tray clattering and someone hitting the floor are heard. Rothschild can be heard shouting indiscriminately, the phrase 'I'm not crazy' is heard multiple times. The sound of people moving and other shouts are also heard. Footage ends when Rothschild can barely be seen heading out of the cafeteria, followed by someone.
Security Footage 3 (Hallway 126-4-B, 15/11/19) - Security footage is mostly obscured, something unknown can be seen hanging from the ceiling, just out of frame. Rothschild is accosted by Gibb, who tells her that she is acting out-of-character. Much to Rothschild's chagrin, Gibb tells her to get some rest, and that he'll be the one to make the speech to the town's citizens. As she punches him, several Site personnel round the corner, and gasps are heard. Rothschild is escorted into her office and locked within, Gibb citing her need for rest and recuperation due to stress and psychosis. Despite her pleads, Gibb and the rest of the staff members leave to evacuate the town. They assure her that they'll come back to her later.
Security Footage 4 - Hallucinogen completely fails on Rothschild. She proceeds, over the next hour and a half, to break out (no windows, only a skylight made of heavily reinforced glass), but not before downloading the contents of her computer for evidence. She runs out to confront Jacob, but the evacuation into the portal has already happened. Cursing, she runs back into the Site to gather steak knives from the cafe and an assault rifle from the small armoury. Her hands are visibly shaking.
Security Footage 5 - Rothschild can be seen walking slowly towards SCP-XXXX. When she reaches the gateway, she visibly steels herself to enter. Instead of entering, however, she pauses for 10 seconds. She is noticeably hyperventilating (based on the movement of her body). She proceeds to slowly back away from SCP-XXXX, walking backwards, before fully turning away and sprinting. When she passes by the camera, tears are visible on her face, along with a constant muttering of 'I can't'.
MTF Log
Ursinsk, Russia, 3/7/1975.
9:35pm
And despite lacking a mouth, or substance, or even existence, scream they finally did.
Research Site 0578-B, 4/7/1975.
7:39am
[[include component:advanced-information-methodology
|XXXX=XXXX
|lv=one
|cc=THAUMIEL
|dc=DARK
|site=Site-0
|dir=Dr Director
|head=Dr Doctor
|mtf=Alpha-1
]]
Special Containment Procedures:
As SCP-6000 has already exhibited its effects on reality as a whole, containment is unnecessary. Further investigation into SCP-6000 is prohibited by order of the O5 Council and Ethics Committee until a method of reversing SCP-6000 that will not remanifest SCP-6000-1 can be found. To prevent the accidental/intentional reversal of SCP-6000, all previous researchers have been amnestised.
The finding and acquisition of previous Lead Researcher Eliza Terris is of highest priority, and is the assigned task of the newly-formed MTF-Omega-18 ("Searchers").
Description:
SCP-6000 refers to certain elements of the concept of 'nature'; more specifically, it refers to their apparent removal from baseline reality. SCP-6000 occurred as a method of neutralisation of SCP-6000-1 through PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL after the failure of OPERATION: VOID COLLAPSE to terminate SCP-6000-1. SCP-6000's effects are present across the entire known Universe.
SCP-6000-1 was a deific entity and physical representation of 'natural disaster' and 'entropy'. SCP-6000-1 would have destroyed the Earth were it not for the advent of SCP-6000, which removed it from existence due to its conceptual ties to 'nature'.
'Nature' itself, while not inherently anomalous, has been designated SCP-6000-A due to its association with SCP-6000.
Discovery:
SCP-6000 was discovered on 24/8/57, following the detection of numerous errors within Site-01 as reported by Harpocrates.aic, an Artificial Intelligence Construct (AIC) responsible for monitoring information within Site-01's database, and flagging any detected discrepancies.
Harpocrates.aic reported the presence of hundreds of billions of errors within Site-01's database, which would later be found to have appeared on 12/3/22. These errors had gone unnoticed due to strong antimemetic properties as part of PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL, having been made detectable due to Harpocrates.aic's update to v5.6, which featured breakthrough technology for the detection of antimemes.
Of the large amounts of erroneous data that was detected, only ~5% was feasibly translatable, while the excess was impossible to transcribe. As of 13/9/58, ~27% of the possibly translatable data has been deciphered, 83% of which is corrupted beyond recognition or is otherwise impossible to understand.
On 17/5/58, the original SCP-6000 file was translated from Site-01's database by previous Lead Researcher Eliza Terris, revealing much of SCP-6000's true nature and the circumstances necessitating its activation. Following this discovery, Terris left Site-01, citing urgent personal affair, and promptly went missing.
It is currently unknown how she is evading Foundation search efforts, but uncovered diary entries reveal that she received a number of anomalous 'gifts' from entities that, due to SCP-6000, no longer exist. The circumstances surrounding the manifestation of these entities are unknown.
Addenda:
Addendum 1: Original SCP-6000 File:
On 17/5/58, the following file was decrypted from within SCP-6000.
Item #: SCP-6000
Clearance Level: 6/Cosmic Top Secret
Object Classification: Esoteric
Secondary Classification: Tiamat5 Ignosi6
Special Containment Procedures:
Following the failure of OPERATION: VOID COLLAPSE on the 15/2/22, SCP-6000 is to be neutralised by the use of PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL.
PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL refers to the use of numerous SCP objects7 to remove certain elements of the concept of 'nature' from reality. This Protocol has been approved for use by the O5 Council in a majority vote.
Full detailing of PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL can be found within the addendum of this file.
SCP-6000 is to be neutralised as soon as possible through the execution of OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE.
OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE is a collective effort from numerous GoIs, including the GOC, the Serpent's Hand, Sarkists, and the Church of the Broken God, to neutralise SCP-6000. The following are required for the execution of OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE:
- Mass production of DEICIDE-Class Thaumaturgical Nuclear Missiles(DCTNMs) and Metaphysical Dissociation Arrays (MDAs) through the use of SCP-██, SCP-██, and SCP-███8
- The use of SCPs ██, ███, and ███9
- The deployment of MTF-Alpha-15 ("God Killers") and MTF-Tau-5 ("Samsara"), the former augmented with anomalous bodily modifications and weaponry
- Preparation and performance of the PURIFYING SOL ritual by members of the Serpent's Hand and Foundation thaumaturgists
- Preparation and performance of the FADING MOONLIGHT ritual by members of the Serpent's Hand and GOC thaumaturgists
- Preparation and performance of the NULLIFY ritual by Foundation thaumaturgists
- The acquisition of the Spear of the Non-Believer, as provided by members of the Serpent's Hand
- The production of anomalous weaponry as provided by members of the Church of the Broken God
- The production of DEITY-SLAYER Sarkic constructs as provided by Sarkic members
- The use of SCP-███ and SCP-███10 to apotheosise High Karcist Reto and His Holiness Robert Bumaro for the purposes of direct combat against SCP-6000. If OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE is successful, both Reto and Bumaro are to be terminated immediately through the use of DCTNMs, MTF-Alpha-15, and Tau-5
When these requirements are fulfilled (estimated date of fulfilment - 11/2/22), OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE is to be performed as follows:
- SCP-6000 is to be engaged approximately 19AU from the Sun near the orbital path of Uranus
- MDAs are to be activated. Once successful activation is achieved, the NULLFY ritual is to be completed, thus severing SCP-6000 from its apparent immortality
- Following this, the DCTNMs and weaponry provided by the Church of the Broken God is to be launched at SCP-6000, while the PURIFYING SOL and FADING MOONLIGHT rituals are to be completed simultaneously
- After the conclusion of the first round of DCTNM fire, DEITY-SLAYER Sarkic constructs are to be released where the body of SCP-6000 protects them from the effects of the NULLIFY, PURIFYING SOL, and FADING MOONLIGHT rituals, while controlled use of CotBG weaponry is to be maintained
- As the PURIFYING SOL and FADING MOONLIGHT rituals end, SCPs ██, ███, and ███ are to be launched at SCP-6000's eye, skull, and higher-dimensional brain respectively
- Following the conclusion of the PURIFYING SOL and FADING MOONLIGHT rituals and the launch of SCPs ██, ███, and ███, High Karcist Reto and His Holiness Robert Bumaro are to engage SCP-6000 in physical combat, while MTF-Alpha-15 and Tau-5 assault its metaphysical form
- When SCP-6000's physical and metaphysical form have sustained significant damage to their skulls, the Spear of the Non-Believer is to be launched into its brain, terminating it
- Following the termination of Reto and Bumaro, OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE is to be considered complete
Description:
SCP-6000 refers to a Titan-Class deific entity associated with concepts of 'destruction', 'entropy', 'decay', and 'natural disaster'. It takes the appearance of an extremely large (approximately 15000km in length), vermiform entity, with significant deviations from terrestrial vermiform organisms.
Firstly, SCP-6000 possesses a skeletal system, most prominent in the formation of its head and back. Its skull is triangular in shape, terminating in a piked rostral formation not dissimilar to a beak instead of a mouth, lacking maxilla and articular bones.
UPDATE: Following the failure of OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE, SCP-6000 is certain to arrive at 12/3/22, resulting in the total destruction of Earth and anything conceptually associated with it.
Due to SCP-6000's status as a 'force of nature' in all known historical documentation, the execution of PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL should cause SCP-6000 to cease to exist.
SCP-6000-1 refers to the predictive ritual that foretold the coming arrival of SCP-6000 on Earth on 12/3/22. Whether this ritual simply correctly anticipated the date of SCP-6000's incursion of Earth or directly caused it is unknown.
SCP-6000-2 refers to historical documentation associated with SCP-6000 that details its nature, properties, and deific status.
Discovery:
SCP-6000 was discovered following the recovery of numerous historical documents associated with the GoI "Novia". Members of Novia were adherents to the anomalous religion "Novus", which worshipped several deities and possessed numerous highly volatile anomalies as objects of religious importance, most of which have been confiscated and/or neutralised.
However, following a raid on a Novia facility on 10/2/18, several members were seen participating in a ritual of an unknown nature that was later classified as SCP-6000-2. SCP-6000-2 utilised several elements, including, but not limited to: an anomalous item (later classified as SCP-███), human blood, several sheep spleens, ~30kg of iron, ~20g of iridium, and an unknown, grey luminescent substance that vanished following SCP-6000-2's completion.
SCP-6000-1 directly broadcasted the date of SCP-6000's arrival, as well as the happenings of that date, into the Noospheric receptors of all sapient entities within a 30m radius of the ritual's centre. MTF agents immediately notified the supervisors of the operation of this information and attempted to apprehend all willing participants of the ritual for interrogation. However, all members committed suicide using an unknown method before they could be captured.
Following the raid, SCP-6000-2 was recovered and would be studied over the coming years to better provide an assessment of SCP-6000's abilities. Following extensive examination, OPERATION VOID COLLAPSE was proposed on 9/12/20 and was finalised on 14/10/21.
Addenda:
Addendum 1 - Contents of SCP-6000-2 (Summarised by Lead Researcher Eliza Terris)
SCP-6000 is known by many titles to those of the Novum faith. 'The Great Devourer'. 'Decay'. 'Consuming Void'. 'The Calamitous One'. And its true name: Alkerion. It is prophesied that SCP-6000 will one day consume the Universe in its entirety, before eventually consuming itself and beginning the cycle of Universal death and rebirth anew.
SCP-6000 is not a living creature, nor is it a dead one. Instead, Novum adherents believe that SCP-6000 is a physical manifestation of the concept of 'natural calamity', and, according to more recent lore, is responsible for the process of entropy in the Universe. It is apparently truly immortal, neither ageing nor able to die, and even Ralatoth11 was not able to destroy it.
SCP-6000 is an unstoppable force, rampaging through the Universe and spreading its decaying influence to all around it. Anything in its way is destroyed. Perhaps its most devastating ability of all is to destroy by association, wherein anything related to that which it directly consumes rots away and disappears mere days after the destruction of the catalysing object12.
Novum creed also states that SCP-6000's children, the voriosem ('Great Phages') consume planets SCP-6000 deems 'unworthy' of experiencing the 'divine calamity' of its consumption.
Addendum 2 - PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL Proposal:
To: O5 Council
From: SCP-6000 Lead Researcher Eliza Terris
Subject: Proposal for PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL
OPERATION: VOID COLLAPSE has failed. In the absence of all other options, I am forced to propose PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL, a failsafe operation of my own design in the event that VOID COLLAPSE was unsuccessful.
Briefly put, PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL involves the use of several anomalies to remove the elements of nature SCP-6000 is associated with. This conceptual erasure will, with 99.8% certainty, bypass SCP-6000's apparent true immortality and remove it from existence.
The consequences of this removal are likely the total expungement of all life, bar the human race, from existence, along with unprecedented changes to the entire Universe.
The full proposal can be found below.
To: SCP-6000 Lead Researcher Eliza Terris
From: O5 Council
Subject: Re: Proposal for PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL
Your proposal will be discussed at 12:00 pm, 23/2/22 with the full O5 Council and select members of the Ethics Committee. Further details will be provided by Ethics Committee liaison and SCP-6000 researcher Timothy Oerher.
Addendum 3 - PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL - Transcript of O5 Council Discussion:
AUDIO LOG
DATE: 23/2/22
NOTE: The following was recorded 2 hours and 13 minutes into the O5 Council discussion regarding PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL.
O5-1: Two, calm down.
O5-2: I will not calm down! This entire protocol is bullshit! Do we really have to have a discussion on how removing all life in the entire Universe apart from ourselves is 'ethical' or not? We're suggesting the sacrifice of an entire Universe's worth of life to save ourselves! The only people who would seriously consider this are cowards like Eight and Six—
O5-6: Coward?! You're calling me a coward? You? The one who abandoned my—
O5-1: Enough! I will not tolerate this behaviour! If you cannot calm down, I will eject you from this discussion, and your vote will be invalidated. Is that clear?
(O5-2 and O5-6 murmur assent.)
O5-1: Thank you. Five, you were saying?
O5-5: Mmm-hmm. Yes, the loss of such massive amounts of culture, information, history, everything, would be devastating. We are defined by information and history. Without these, we are nothing. Who are we to deny other species their identities? Their existences, even.
O5-12: A good point, Five.
O5-5: Mmm-hmm. Yes, thank you. However, the number of alien species that exist within the Universe right now seem to be quite limited. Taking into account the factors behind the Fermi paradox, the chances of alien life existing seem to be, um, astronomically low. Ha. Even with all of our technology, the number of alien species is extremely limited at best, and most contact has occurred with species not native to our own Universe. We may just be erasing two or three races of primordial life-forms.
O5-13: Exactly. We don't know—
O5-5: Hmm. For these reasons, I am abstaining from this vote.
O5-13: What? Why? You've just provided one of the best reasons for proceeding with GREEN VEIL, why wouldn't you affirm?
O5-5: Mmm. Nothing is certain. Perhaps there exists a myriad of alien species just beyond our sight, more advanced than us, able to think and feel just like we do. Additionally, the information loss is just an unthinkable waste.
O5-7: I'll… abstain as well. If we knew for certain the amount of life in the Universe, then I believe that I could vote comfortably. But we don't. We have no idea how much life exists right now, and what stage they're in. If I vote to affirm, I may be sentencing hundreds of species, each as deserving of life as humans, to death. If I deny, I'll be sentencing the human race to death. There is no choice I can make here.
O5-9: Not making a choice won't get us anywhere, you and Five should know that.
O5-5: Hmm. Our decisions are our own, Ninth Overseer. Your words hold little weight.
O5-4: Nine's point still stands, Five. We have to make a decision. And my decision is to save humanity because we have the ability to do so. We cannot simply stand by and let ourselves be obliterated.
O5-12: And yet, you neglect to mention the most important negative factor in this proposal, which entails mass genocide across the Universe.
O5-8: And yet, you neglect to mention that GREEN VEIL can possibly be reversed safely after we perform it. We'll gain what we have none of right now: time. With the technology of the future, we'll be able to reverse its effects.
O5-12: The full extent of the protocol explicitly details that the memories of the Universe's state before GREEN VEIL, SCP-6000, and GREEN VEIL itself will be removed from humanity. There's no guarantee that we'll even be able to discover GREEN VEIL and SCP-6000, let alone develop the technology to reverse it safely.
O5-11: So you'd rather let all of humanity die for your ideology, rather than giving them, us, a chance to not only live but to bring back everything we removed?
O5-3: And how high is this chance, hmm? Quite low? Because if so, GREEN VEIL isn't actually guaranteed to remove SCP-6000 from existence. We may simply be killing all life in the Universe before being devoured ourselves. Universal genocide, all for no reason.
O5-6: A 99.98% chance of removing an immortal, eldritch god that exists to bring suffering and calamity to wherever it goes seems like pretty good odds to me, Three.
O5-3: Exce—
O5-6: And think about it. If we erase SCP-6000 and then safely reverse GREEN VEIL, we'll have rid the Universe and other alien species — if they exist — from this monstrosity. We'll prevent massive amounts of suffering in the long run. The despair of other civilisations as they watch an invincible force of destruction descend upon them, erasing everything that they've created, everything that they love; all of that won't happen.
O5-3: And yet, you still don't realise that, most likely, this won't happen. GREEN VEIL will fundamentally change the nature of reality, humans included. What, in the unlikely event that humans find out about a retroactive, fundamental, Universe-wide change to reality, we don't care, hmm?
O5-9: We're removing parts of 'nature', not parts of 'human nature', Three. And even if we're using the strongest antimemes we have available, the technology we'll develop will be able to bypass them. We won't even have to be looking for the information to find it.
O5-10: And then what? What if there's no way to safely reverse SCP-6000? What if we've committed universal genocide to save ourselves? This goes against any moral principles we claim to have.
O5-4: It'd be better to go against our moral principles than to not be there to go against them.
O5-10: So, you're comfortable with killing the whole Universe if it means saving you, Four?
O5-4: That is not what I sai—
O5-2: How many of you that are voting to affirm this proposal are doing so out of a fear of death? We've been immortal for quite some time now, so I'm not surprised the prospect of dying is overwhelming for some of our more spineless members.
O5-9: I'm sorry, Two, but I thought this was a discussion on PROTOCOL GREEN VEIL, not an opportunity to insult your enemies on this council.
O5-2: Yo—
O5-1: This discussion is clearly going nowhere, and I believe we have already discussed all there is to discuss. Further deliberation is a waste of what limited time we have left. I'm beginning the vote. You have 5 minutes.
Following the discovery of this file, Lead Researcher Eliza Terris exited Site-01, and her location is currently unknown. The recovery of Lead Researcher Eliza Terris is currently of high priority.
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
The following file contains outdated information in regards to SCP-6000. However, Addendums 1, 4, and 6-9 have been added in chronological order following their discovery to the Site-01 secure database for information prosperity and analytical purposes. A link to the updated SCP-6000 file can be found at the conclusion of this page.
— Lilian Emerson, Director, RAISA
Filename: Planet.jpg
Name: eso1805a
Author: ESO/M. Kornmesser
License: CC BY 4.0
Source Link: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1805a/
Additional Notes: N/A
From weizhong: At the end of the day, prose is a reflection of your individual style. Taking crit from others and hearing their honest feedback is good for improving your own style, but it's important to find your voice and your workflow as a writer. Forcing yourself to be what you're not is generally a poor way to go about it.
That being said, there's nothing wrong with reading a lot in order to better yourself through taking note of what others do. It's trying to wholesale copy others' style where things go screwy. It's a fine line between carefully taking what works for others and trying to entirely emulate them.
There is an idea that there are two major types of writers: gardeners and architects.
Architects are those writers who tend to favor having all of the story elements laid out, they have an outline of the characters, the major events, the important details, etc. They plan out all of the details ahead of time, and their biggest challenge is fleshing out that story in a way that makes sense.
Gardeners on the other hand, may only have a few story beats laid out (the broad strokes of an ending, specific scenes, etc) and instead generally take their time exploring the plot of a story as they write it, letting the narrative take them for a ride. Their biggest challenge is in continuing a story when they're not really sure where it's going.
I would encourage you to try both styles and see where you tend to fall. It will help you a lot in finding your own voice.
From Grigori Karpin: [in regards to tales] Personally? a little poetic is good, but I prefer reading grounded stories. Also writing them. Even when talking about insane supernatural subjects.
Also show don't tell. Show us how the characters feel with their words and actions. Don't say Josie is really angry. Show the reader she is.
In fact, I am going to say it is absolutely necessary to read a lot. No one is capable of brilliant style without absorbing what others have done in the past. Weiz is right, don't copy anyone's style… but you can learn techniques and tricks to the narrative.
From wolfjob man Joreth: [Borrowed from qntm] "To be continued" is your enemy. Write a complete story in one chapter.
I usually start from the ending, then have a vague idea for a start; the middle part will fall into place once you have those two goals
[for pages in a book] You might need background and things might not resolve in the episode/book, but it should still have some importance in advancing the plot or doing SOMETHING to the story, even if it's just setting up the world mood.
From Athenodora: "The Tao of Heaven is to take what is in excess to make up for what is deficient."
I like to say that my writing philosophy begins it "figure out your theme", "figure out your end goal", "figure out what you want to say". Then the problem becomes "how do I get there", which is a lot easier to comprehend and come to term with than a vague "write something"
I've seen the argument that art = conveying emotions, that pound for pound it's more in the business of "evoking emotion" than "evoking thought" - that the former is more definitional to art than the latter.
But yeah, conceptualising things in term of "how I feel/what I want you, my reader, to feel"
And some good "fud for thoughts" [https://web.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/361r14.html].
Al Quadra Desert, Dubai. 17/8/14
Crit notes: break it up a bit more, be less verbose (like in the receiving crit section), give each section a TL;DR,
Hey there! TheAlienBaby here, Flight Officer and all-around guyTM. I'm here to welcome you into this site and give you some quick tips on how to make your first idea successful!
I'll be examining the importance of critique, how to get critique, writing good Ideas Forum (linked below) posts, an IRC guide, and how to receive crit well. So, without further ado, let's begin!
What is Crit, and why is it Important?
'Crit', or critique, is defined as follows:
"a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory."
In this wiki, critique is basically the evaluation of how good an idea is, and a prediction of how successful it would be if it were published to the mainsite. It gives you an idea on how well-received your concept would be by members of the wiki, and whether it would be deleted or not.
When getting crit, people can tell if your idea has been used before on the wiki, whether it's conceptually sound, whether it has potential, whether it's interesting. The list goes on. It's difficult to evaluate ourselves and our ideas properly and objectively (the Overconfidence Effect is a contributing factor); crit exists to compensate for this.
For first-time authors, the first stage of crit takes place in the Ideas Critique Forum, where one can get the greenlights necessary to access the Drafts and Critiques Forum (I'm not gonna talk about the Drafts Forum here).
We may believe we have a really interesting idea (and it's okay to believe that), but we can't be sure of people's reactions to it until we've put it up for crit. Maybe there was a glaring plot hole you didn't think of, or perhaps the idea just wasn't as interesting as you thought. Whatever the case, all crit contributes towards improvement.
A Small Side Note: Coldposts
A 'coldpost' refers to an article that has been posted to the mainsite without any form of crit (no draft crit for successful authors, neither draft nor concept crit for new authors). Generally, coldposting as a new author is not recommended, although it can work13, but I'd advise against it because you miss out on an opportunity to see any issues your concept/draft has.
Coldposted articles are often deleted because of numerous spelling/grammar errors, clinical tone breakage, a cliche main anomaly, a lack of narrative, lack of a coherent narrative, or any combination of the above. There's more reasons, but
An important thing to note is that almost all first-time author coldposts get deleted in a matter of hours or days. Getting crit will help you avoid your first article getting deleted.
So now comes the inevitable question: 'how do I get critique?' Well, you'll find the answer if you read on…
I'm an aspiring author, how do I seek critique?
So, the first thing to do is read the stickied posts from Zyn (they've got 'sticky' at the start of their titles) on the Ideas Critique Forum called REQUIRED READING and HOW TO GET MORE REVIEWS. They'll give you a good idea of how to use the forum and what to do to attract reviewers. However, I'm going to give you some bonus tips here.
Contacting Reviewers
Check the Butterfly Squad Roster and the IRC Chat as linked in the HOW TO GET MORE REVIEWERS thread. Different people prefer different methods of contact, and you can check on the roster to see which they prefer.
When PMing, be mindful that most reviewers, on average, will take 2-3 days to respond to your PM. My rule is that, if 4-5 days have passed without response, I'll send a second PM. If there's still no response, then I'll leave it for a while. Additionally, PM reviewers will require another PM explaining that you've left a response once you've done so. Please link your thread in the PM, it makes it so much easier to find your thread.
When on IRC (I'll talk more about this later), go to the #thecritters channel, because that's where most reviewers are. If you're having no success with finding someone to look at your idea, then don't be afraid to ask in #site19. If no-one is up to reviewing, then be polite and respect their decision. Maybe have a bit of a chat if you want.
Be mindful that most reviewers operate under EDT time or similar (most are in America). I myself am under AEST because I'm a special snowflake who's really cool, but the takeaway here is that people have different timezones.
A brief note here is that, when in IRC, don't link a thread unless you're asked for one (as some reviewers don't like that). If you're asked to summarise your idea, then do it in the channel. if they ask for a thread, then go for it, link away!
And finally, remember that critters are people too. We've got stuff we gotta do, things to work on, life to deal with. Sometimes, we won't have time to crit your idea, or go through a concept, or we'll simply forget to respond to a PM, and that's okay.
But our whole job description is to help you make your ideas better! We're all on your side here, and we love seeing ideas develop and improve! So if you want crit, contact us the way we say we want to be contacted, and we'll go from there.
TL;DR - When contacting reviewers via Wikidot, take note that most people take 2-3 days to respond. If you've received no response after 4-5 days, I'd PM them again. On IRC, check out the #thecritters channel and ask. No response after 10 minutes? Ask again. If still no response, wait longer, leave, or go to #site19 and ask there.
_
Grammar (this was addressed in Zyn's post, but I'll go further)
Grammar and spelling are extremely important to a pitch. If I see a whole bunch of grammar/spelling errors in your post, I'll be less likely to check it out. If you're struggling, then there's nothing wrong with getting Grammarly or another spellchecker to help you catch any annoying errors you may have missed.
Bonus Note: Apostrophes
Apostrophes are one of my (and some other reviewers') biggest pet peeves. Seeing people use the wrong it's/its (and other stuff) annoys me personally because I am a grammar nut. For other reviewers who aren't grammar nuts, then it's like seeing a spelling error on a scientific paper or something else: it just messes with them.
The message here is: if you mess up your apostrophes, then we'll mess up your legs14 have some of our focus directed at that error instead of your idea (which is bad).
Formatting
What we want here is for you to split up your post into nice, small paragraphs like I've done in this essay. It makes it much more readable for us reviewers, who would prefer to not have to read through a single, massive paragraph (which is much harder than reading through lots of little ones). As a general rule of thumb, try to keep paragraphs at six lines tall or smaller.
Wiki code
Since you'll be writing on wikidot, understanding basic wikidot syntax will go a long way.
Use the wiki's formatting code to bold and italicise words when appropriate (found within the REQUIRED READING (link above) post and the Wiki Syntax pages), and reviewers will know that you have knowledge of how to work the site.
If there's an absence or over-saturation (once or more every 2-3 sentences) of either of these, then it begins to get kind of distracting.
_
Titling and Grabbing Reviewer Attention
You want an attention-grabbing title and either a summary or a hook15 in the summary section. I'll give you two examples, one bad, one good, on an anomaly I've made up.
Elevator Pitch: A singer infected with an unknown meme that compels people to follow their commands, even those made unintentionally or metaphorically. They're distressed about their interactions with people and how they'll pursue their career and personal life.
Bad example of a title and summary/hook:| first SCP Idea seaking Greenlights please |
|---|
| A singer infected with an unknown meme that compels people to follow their commands, even those made unintentionally or metaphorically. They're distressed about their interactions with people and how they'll pursue their career and personal life. |
So, let's get into pulling my title and summary apart!
First, the title. It's not a model title for a couple of reasons: 1) it isn't interesting, 2) there's a spelling error, 3) the capitalisation is kinda everywhere, and 4) the 'please' gives the whole phrase an awkward feel. I'll elaborate on each of these below.
1) It isn't interesting. The title here doesn't actually give me information on the skip, which I'd like. You're actually looking to create clickbait here (I'll explain more further below). I want something that makes me wanna see what's behind the link.
Note that I don't mind you putting 'SEEKING GREENLIGHTS' in your title. However, I'd prefer if that wasn't your whole title.
2) There's a spelling error. Uh oh. Although spelling errors happen to everyone, this is basically just the worst place to have them; now everyone can see your spelling error, and it's also the first thing we see about your idea. So just make sure there aren't any spelling errors in your title, and you should be good!
3) The capitalisation. It's kind of, uh, everywhere. Similarly to a spelling error, here is the worst place to have a capitalisation/grammar error (or in this case, many errors) because everyone can see it. So, like a spelling error, just comb your title for these kinds of errors.
4) The 'please' messes with the phrasing. Although it sounds like bad manners, I think having 'please' in a title or summary (unless it's part of the actual title) is unnecessary. It usually makes the phrasing a bit weird instead of being polite.
The summary also isn't a model summary. First off, it's not very summarised; for the observant among you readers, it's a copy + pasted section of the elevator pitch I made up (to me, it makes it seem like you didn't read the aptly named REQUIRED READING post). Please try to keep summaries under 100 characters to avoid taking up a lot of space in the forums (it's threadspreading) and to make it easy for reviewers to get an idea of your skip.
Now that you can see how much of an effect a less-than-model title and summary can have on reviewers even clicking into your thread (and know what not to do), let's have a look at a better example, and see how to make a good title and summary!
Good example of a title and summary/hook:| The Agony of a Siren |
|---|
| A pop singer finds that her voice has become rather more enthralling than she'd like. |
The title here draws my attention. 'The Agony of a Siren' breaks certain tropes surrounding monsters, more specifically that they don't care about people/aren't really shown as having emotions. 'Agony' implies (well, outright states) emotional turmoil, 'Siren' tells me that this is a voice/singing based anomaly. Is it a monster? Maybe. But does it feel? Most certainly.
The summary further hooks me. I now know that 'Siren' refers to a pop singer, which, from the title, means that they're suffering in some way. The intentionally vague elaboration dangles the story in front of me like bait for a fish, and now I want to know what lies behind. What does 'rather more enthralling than she'd like' mean? Why does this cause her agony?
Looking at both of these in conjunction and how they complement each other, I form an opinion of someone who knows what they're doing with writing. They can not only summarise their idea, but do it effectively in a way that entices their audience. This here is a thread that I'd click on.
Just look at that difference! Instead of getting hung up on spelling/grammar errors and a non-summarised summary, I'm interested in your skip before I've read anything about it. Epic. But how did I do it? Let's look at it below:
How to make a good title and summary:
Title - I draw a comparison to anything that the audience would know (a mythological creature, an object, etc.), then try to show an emotion that the anomaly feels or that I want the audience to feel. Maybe there's a phrase that describes the anomaly if the first of the above two is not applicable (song lyrics, a quote, something I made up, etc.).
Summary - I'm intentionally vague about the anomaly's properties, or I pose a question that relates to the anomaly. What if [SOMETHING] could happen? If {SOMETHING], then what? And so on and so forth.
Now, with your newfound forum knowledge, go on, and begin creating your thread! But, uh, come back here after you've made your title and summary. I've still got some stuff to say.
"But, TheAlienBaby," I hear you cry, "you've already given me so much wisdom! How is it possible that more can fit inside your enormous brain?"
Well children, my knowledge is as boundless as my generosity. Come, and I shall dispense it upon you.
Writing a Good Forum Post
So, you've got a title and a summary on your forum thread. Epic. But what now? You look around your room, frowning, dismissing the clusters of empty instant noodle cups, the crumpled bedsheets, and dusty blinds, searching for an answer. What now?
Well, I'd tell you to, first and foremost, clean your room. That done? Good. Now look back here, because you aren't going to find the answers you're looking for in your (hopefully) now-clean room. I mean, what did you expect?
Anyways, I'll go section-by-section on how to write a good forum post. Let's get into it. But first, use this site to count the number of words you have to keep under the word limit. Got it? Good. Now we can get into the advice.
Elevator Pitch
Exactly as it says on the tin: a short summary of your idea. We want to see you summarise your idea, which can be a bit more difficult than you expect. But that's okay, because you've got me to show you how to do just that.
First-off, give me a physical description of your SCP. Be brief. Is it a clock? Cool. Is it a grandfather clock? Epic. Is it a 1880 Bornholm Clock made of aged, worn cedar wood and a rusted iron pendulum that squeaks with every third swing? No, because that's unnecessary detail (unless it's central to your anomaly, in which case, go for it), and makes your pitch longer. That isn't summarising.
If your scip16 is an original design, then use comparisons. Don't tell me it possesses a segmented body, four legs, and a large snout, tell me it has arthropodal qualities in a canine form. Make comparisons to mythological creatures, anything, to maintain brevity.
If an outside observer could read through your pitch and understand your anomaly without the inclusion of details like 'made in 1980' and 'was discovered in [COUNTRY]' or 'was discovered by Researcher [REDACTED]', then remove those.
Secondly, give me an idea of the abilities. What makes your scip anomalous? Can it slow time like the clock I mentioned earlier? Can it make people sad? Does it hurt people who touch it? Then tell me. I don't need exact detailing of the ability, just tell me what it does.
Finally, I must enforce a very important rule: the Sprinkle Rule (alternatively called the Spice Rule). If there's a twist or something in your story that adds new revelations about the nature of your skip, then mention what your anomaly seemed to be, and what it was. This is like adding a sprinkle to your pitch.
However, make sure to moderate the number of sprinkles you add. If you put too many sprinkles on a cake, you'll obscure the decorations that have been put there. The same premise applies here. If you put too many sprinkles of story in your pitch, the idea itself gets obscured (you'll end up writing the Central Narrative section instead).
Speaking of which…
_
Central Narrative
What is the story of your skip? There's a couple of parts to this, and the step-by-step guide is below. This is also the part where people struggle most with word count, so I'll give some shortening tips as well.
First, give me some backstory for your scip (if it has one). If this scip was created by someone/something, then what purpose what it created for? If this scip appeared somewhere before the Foundation found it, then what happened leading up to its discovery? What caused it to appear? Unless the backstory is incredibly important and requires lots of detail, try to keep it brief (2-3 sentences max).
Sometimes, a scip has little to no backstory (e.g it just appeared and was instantly contained by the Foundation, or its backstory is unknown). That's fine. Just mention that and move on.
After this, describe what will happen throughout the course of your article. Is your scip destroyed/killed? Is some new aspect to it discovered? Is there a massive twist? Tell me, but don't give me exact dates and times for each event that occurs. Just rough chronological order (after [EVENT], 5 days later, etc.).
And remember, if your scip relies on a twist, you have to tell us. I know it may feel counterintuitive to tell reviewers a big secret about your story, but that's an essential part of the brainstorming process. If the critters don't know how your article ends, they can't tell you how effective/good your twist actually is.
A central narrative should definitely be the biggest part of your forum post, because narrative is the most important part of an idea. If your Central Narrative section is marked 'N/A', then you're missing the point of an SCP. SCP articles are fictional narratives masquerading as scientific documents. The point of an SCP isn't the SCP itself, it's what you do with it.
That's why articles like this one have succeeded to such a great extent. Even though it had a boring, cliche anomaly, the story was brilliant, an excellent subversion of a commonly-seen trope on this site (murder monster). Now, your story doesn't have to be some massive trope-breaker (in fact, I expect that it isn't), but my point here is that narrative, not an anomaly, makes an article.
You could have the most interesting, engaging anomaly ever written, but it wouldn't work on this site without an appropriate story to go along with it.
If you're struggling to come up with a narrative, then think about what genre you want your article to be, and what emotion you want to evoke in your reader. Horror that's uplifting? Action that's sad? When both of these are concrete, you'll find that your story suddenly has a lot more direction than before. It narrows down the focus of your article and makes it easier to brainstorm than just 'write something'.
Dot points are really helpful here because it allows the use of much shorter sentences that would be grammatically dubious in a conventional setting. Also, use semicolons, abbreviations and initialisms, contractions, words with links, etc. to get your point across.
And whatever you do, don't describe the anomaly further in this section. This is for the story, not an extra description. If your anomaly changes throughout the article, then tell me in the elevator pitch what the anomaly seemed to be, and then what it actually is. Be brief about it, use what I told you in the previous section.
_
Hook/Attention Grabber
This is an often short, but honestly quite important part of your thread. Tell reviewers what makes your idea unique and interesting on the wiki! Why is your idea cool? How is it different from anything that might be similar to it (I mean, there's ~6000 SCP articles on the wiki, so chances are there's something similar somewhere)? How would it grab a reader's attention?
What you're telling reviewers here is whether you have a grasp on what makes your idea unique, or not. Without this, we're unsure how much thought you've put into the concept and if you've considered similarities to other articles or not.
Finding similar articles:
To find articles that may be similar to your concept, go and check the Tag List, then look for any tags that may match your concept. After that, plug any relevant tags into the Tag Search, hit enter, and a list should pop up with all the articles that match the tags.
You don't need to add tags like 'scp' and 'euclid' (or other object classes) when searching for similar articles. Just the conceptual stuff will suffice.
Additional Notes
Nothing that important here. There isn't any real 'structure' here, just tell people what you want. Hell, even a topical bad pun would suffice.
A Guide to IRC
Ah, IRC. The SCP chatroom, where dead dreams go to die. I'm going to be educating you on the two primary channels that I (and most others) use: #site19 (better known as 'Hell') and #thecritters. But first, check out the Chat Guide for how to actually work IRC (don't worry, it's pretty simple). Now then. Let's get into it.
Welcome to Hell, please wipe your feet
#site19 is IRC's general chat, basically a place to hang out and vibe. Most people tend to congregate here, but as I mentioned earlier, please be mindful that the majority here, as with the rest of IRC, operate on EDT/EST or similar time.
Anyways, when you first join, you'll see people talking (probably). When there's a break in the conversation, introduce yourself, or alternatively, introduce yourself in the middle of the conversation (don't worry, we don't really mind).
If you're feeling up to it, start off by saying something relevant to the topic being discussed. Show your opinion. Congratulate someone on an article milestone. Say that you have, in fact, have had a worse bathroom experience than being assaulted by a hail of blackberries by some kid yelling 'Jacob, is that you' while you're trying to do your business (fyi, my name is not Jacob).
So now you're introduced. Cool! Now go socialise 🔫 . 19 is, if you want, an opportunity to make some internet friends. It's pretty cool. People are generally pretty nice, and it can be fun to just talk a bit, even for an introvert like myself
And one more thing. You'll probably make a fool of yourself a couple of times, like I have. No sweat. No-one cares, because they've done it too. Just, be mindful of politically sensitive topics and image/video spam, because most people don't really like that.
_
The Critter's Club
#thecritters is, rather obviously, the place where critters17 hang out. This is the official place to go when you want to get your draft/concept critiqued. The main rules here are to be polite, and don't nag people for crit/pity party about how your draft/concept is terrible (this just makes people uncomfortable and will get the mods on you).
What you do first is ask. Just say 'hey, anyone feel like critting a concept/draft?' and wait. If no-one responds for upwards of 10 minutes, that's fine, ask again. If still no-one responds, then most likely the critters are inactive, so come back in a while/tomorrow. If someone responds, great! Give them what they ask for, whether that be a summary (remember, don't link your thread unless you're asked for it), your thread, or your draft.
Remember that responses take time to write out, and if you feel the reviewer might be doing something (no response for 5+ minutes) then posting their name and a message will draw their attention.
Some people offer to 'trade' crits for a concept/draft, and that's fine. If you aren't experienced in critting (critiquing) something, then let the other person know. Most times, they'll just ask if you liked it or not, and any minor errors you might've caught.
And that's about all there is to #site19 and #thecritters. If you want, you can find me on both of these channels pretty regularly under the nick 'Xeno_Baby'. Unless I'm on a break from the site, which is every couple of months for like a month and a bit.
Receiving Crit
So, now you know how to get crit via Wikidot PM or IRC, but how do you receive it gracefully? After all, it can certainly be difficult to see someone critique something you've spent time and effort on, especially when they don't like it. I'll walk you through receiving positive and negative feedback appropriately.
Receiving Negative Feedback
Alright, let's set the scene. You've put in some work into a forum post, and have been anxiously waiting a reply for a day or two. Then suddenly, you reload the page, and bam! There's a review from a critter. Excited at first, you realise that they're saying that your idea needs a lot of improvement and has many issues.
Yikes. That's how my ideas went at first, and it felt a bit bad, not gonna lie. But I'm here to help you stay calm and improve your idea accordingly, as well as show how to provide extra stuff that you couldn't fit in your summary.
Skim first. Then, read through each paragraph of the review thoroughly, one at a time. If there's an overview, read that too! It can provide some info on any underlying issues your idea has.
Remember, don't take crit personally. Crit here is often harsh, but it's in the name of helping you improve; unless a reviewer is outright insulting you, all of the crit is directed at your idea, not you or your writing ability. If a reviewer is insulting you, report it to site staff (probably Zyn or someone else) because that's against the rules.
Second, brainstorm. Think about how you could improve your idea based on the feedback. If you're getting nowhere, then sleep on it. Discuss with your IRL friends/family or people on IRC. This may take a little while (a day or two is the average for me), but you'll get there eventually.
Thirdly, respond/edit. If you're editing, then edit your pitch18 according to the feedback.
Check for spelling errors, check the word count, check the formatting. After you've done all of that and are sure everything the critter is saying has been addressed, then save, and send a PM to the reviewer who gave you crit explaining that you've updated your pitch/provided a response.
If you're responding, then you should begin by putting a greeting (e.g hey there, thanks for your crit!) at the start of your response, then getting into the actual process of replying. Try to address every point the reviewer has made, but don't type a massive essay on each one, and make sure to format correctly (remember, walls of text are hard to read). Once that's done, hit 'send', and shoot the reviewer a PM explaining that you've given a response.
Responding can also take place over IRC chat. Just ask for a reviewer in #thecritters and wait. If they're unable to crit, then respect that and leave them be. Maybe ask for another reviewer in the meantime.
Receiving Positive Feedback
Receiving positive feedback is much easier, and the process is much the same as with negative feedback. Just thank the reviewer for the feedback and brainstorm to solve any issues they have.
Conclusion
So, that's the end. This is all the advice I can think of and compress adequately; the 'advice' is honestly just information I wish I had when starting off at this site. Hopefully, this has been helpful, and I wish you all good luck in your future writing endeavours on this site! I look forward to seeing what you can produce here.
And remember, no-one is pressuring you to write something. Do it all at your own pace.
This is TheAlienBaby, signing off.
Credits:
Readers: Rhys Tanner, Marcelles_Raynes does not match any existing user name
Critters: fairydoctor,
Limeyy,
carrioncrow
Extra-special mentions: hungrypossum, for giving me a bunch of advice, walking me through sections where improvement could be made, and giving me some sentences I promptly stole.
cwazzycwafter, for pointing out some errors and generally making this guide a bit shorter and easier to read.
The only thing crueller than reality is, perhaps, the knowledge of what could've been, but was taken away.
Personnel Name: Agent Michael Johnson
Status: KIA
Cause of Death: SCP-682 (successful breach attempt). 39 personnel killed in breach, recontainment cost an additional 24 Foundation and 385 civilian lives
Agent Johnson ran. Screams and death and blood behind him, the depths of the facility before him, the blaring of klaxon and red light all around him. A prototype high explosive, heavy in his slippery hand, glinted dully in the stark lighting. He knew that the creature was just behind him, tearing into and devouring his fellow personnel. He knew that it was both invincible and immortal, and the best that the Foundation could do was slow it down. What he didn't know is whether his distraction had worked, and thus if it was barrelling down the corridor in pursuit.
What he didn't know is if whether he wanted his distraction to have worked.
But, heedless of whether he was being chased or not, he ran anyway. He could feel his lungs burning as he sprinted down a corridor, doors passing either side, not bothering to read the numbers engraved on each of them. As he reached the corridor's end, an intersection, he decided to turn left, bouncing off of the right-side wall to avoid losing speed.
Had he hesitated, even for a moment, he would have been torn apart as SCP-682 burst through the wall leading into the corridor Agent Johnson had just left. A blast of plaster and dust billowed from the ruins of the wall, and Agent Johnson coughed even as he backed away from the all-too-familiar shadow obscured in the cloud it had created. As the creature emerged from the smoke, sheer terror threatened to overwhelm him.
The lizard was a lizard no longer, instead resembling some sick amalgamation of tentacles and arthropodal legs with wickedly sharp tips. A thin layer of white dust coated its scaled skin, which stretched backwards and around the corner of the hole it had created as it slithered forward. But most terrifying of all was its enormous grin of perfectly white, serrated teeth, barely fitting within a grotesquely large mouth.
"No more running, little mouse," it said, leering, "your pathetic little getaway ends here."
Agent Johnson swallowed. "I-I really don't think this is very sporting of you," he stammered, hardly believing what he was saying. "I mean, look at yourself. How am I supposed to outrun a massive, snake-octupus-spider-thing?"
The monstrosity before him paused briefly. "Sporting, hmm?" it chuckled, tentacles quivering slightly. "I believe that's the very first time I've heard that excuse."
At that moment, Agent Johnson remembered the explosive currently hidden in his right hand. He attempted to keep his breathing even as he tried to remember its arming sequence, but his mouth was dry and his throat hurt and he was thirsty, so fucking thirsty, and there was a terrifying affront to God and all that was holy standing right there in front of h—
"Nothing to say to that?" it jeered. "How sad. Most of you disgusting creatures have more than one pitiful reason as to why I shouldn't eviscerate and eat you on the spot. Go on. At least attempt to amuse me in your last moments. Tell me a joke, perhaps. Yog Sothoth knows it's been too long since I've last heard one."
Agent Johnson started. Had, had SCP-682 just asked him to tell a joke? He almost laughed at the sheer absurdity of the situation before he realised that he was almost certainly about to die, unless he could remember the damn activation sequence of the bomb in his hand. Swallowing again, he wracked his brain for the sequence as he told the first joke that came to mind.
"A joke?" he asked. "I can do that. K-knock knock." It was here that he finally remembered the activation sequence, and, with quavering fingers, he pressed the two buttons at the sides of the explosive.
"Who's there?" it asked. Turning the sphere with excruciating slowness, he rolled his finger in a circular motion over the slightly rougher patch, and was rewarded with a slight click as the bomb's hemispheres separated slightly.
"Nobel." Now came the worst part. Ever so slowly, he brought his left hand closer to his right behind himself to complete the final stage of activation.
"Nobel who?" Oh God, what would happen if it noticed? Would he simply die here, now, in this ridiculous situation, in the middle of telling an awful knock-knock joke to one of the worst anomalies the Foundation had ever contained? But as his hands met behind him, there was no turning back.
"Nobel… that's why I knocked."
There was a period of uneasy silence as Agent Johnson slowly twisted the hemispheres together. As he finished, they clacked and shut, and there was a slight beep as the bomb armed itself.
Man and monster stared at each other for an endless moment, and as he noticed the tentacles quiver and flex slightly, the muscles of the beast's snakelike body rippling, he knew he had to act now.
He didn't hesitate, not in the face of death, not staring down this horrific abomination. As the creature charged, he threw, and the slight forward motion as his momentum carried him forward stopped him from being disembowelled. Almost the entire right side of his body was lacerated, his ribs and chest bearing the brunt of the devastating blow as a mass of writhing tentacles and spider-like legs stormed past him, twisting him around to see SCP-682 in all of its terrible glory.
It stopped and turned to him down the hallway, grinning eerily. "A paltry attempt at distracting me, and a feeble attempt at killing me. You couldn't even hit m—"
At that moment, there was a second beep from the small object lodged in the monster's right flank.
"What?" it queried, confused. "You missed. Your laughable throw missed me!"
Agent Johnson coughed, spat blood. He looked SCP-682 directly in its yellow eyes.
"Advanced targeting systems, you fucked up, Darwinian mistake."
The monster growled, and then roared as the blood began to pour out of its side, slowly at first, and then in torrents. As it screeched, tentacles flailing, the sphere's newly grown spikes twisting as it burrowed further into its target, Agent Johnson smiled grimly.
"Boom," he said.
There was a blast of light and an earsplitting noise as blood, bone, and viscera alike were pulped and vaporised in the same moment, walls and floor and ceiling obliterated in the blast. As Agent Johnson was blasted backwards, the blooming explosion stopped, and then receded into a single, crimson point, which burst outwards into an outrageous display of gore that splattered across the remains of the hallway and the floor below. He allowed himself a painful, rather grim chuckle before he passed out.
Hours later, Agent Johnson was waking a Foundation infirmary. He groaned, every part of him aching dully, a muted burning sensation in his right. He opened his eyes to a concerned-looking doctor looking over him.
"Agent Johnson?" she said.
"The one and- ow," he started, before being stopped by a sudden spike of pain in his right.
The doctor frowned at him. "Please, try your best not to move too much. Or at all. You have severe lacerations across your right side, a cracked skull, total skin abrasion across over 30% of your body, a broken hip, and have two shattered ribs. We also had to, um…" she trailed off awkwardly.
It was Agent Johnson's turn to frown now. "You had to do…" he said expectantly.
The doctor sighed and bit her lip. "The injuries you had were so severe that, well, I made the decision to amputate your leg. The bones were splintered into so many pieces that you would never have regained proper function. There was barely any of it left! Just shredded muscle and bone fragments!" she said, getting slightly worked up, before stopping herself. "I'm sorry, but I had no other choice."
Agent Johnson paused, searching himself mentally for signs of a right leg. Not sensing anything, he attempted to move it to no avail. He smirked, and then snorted, and finally laughed aloud, much to the worry of the supervising surgeon, thinking back to the moments hours before where he seriously believed that he would die. At this, his laughter abruptly turned to crying and he reached out with his left hand towards the surgeon at his bedside.
Hesitating, she slowly took his hand, and he grasped it firmly. "Thank you," he sobbed, holding her hand tightly. "Thank you."
Fifty years later
Michael Johnson sat contentedly, feeling a cool breeze on his face. He'd lived a good life, he supposed, but saving all those lives in Albania, and then again in Jakarta, and again in a dozen other places was absolute hell on the back. He chuckled to himself, and paused as his wife, Emily, emerged from the door behind him, taking a seat with him on the balcony of their house. He turned to her, watching her smile, and smiled back in return, kissing her, and no words were exchanged, the both of them simply enjoying each other's presence.
He could barely believe the way his life had turned out ever since that fateful day in the bowels of a Foundation site, his future wife the first thing he saw after beating a monster, who'd saved his life. He smiled again, and thought about his children who were so blissfully unaware of what their parents did. This, he decided, was why he worked for the Foundation. He would risk his life again and again, facing cosmic horrors and incomprehensible thoughtforms, for his entire life if it meant protecting them, everyone.
He wondered if Emily had worked so hard for the same reasons.
But those days were behind them now. As he sat watching the sunset, fluffy pink clouds set to a brilliant melange of oranges, blues and magenta, he decided that his life was one well-spent.
Agent Johnson hesitated, a mistake he would regret for the rest of his life. But he was paralysed by fear and stress and the looming possibility of failure and death, and so even as he began throwing, he was too late.
His chest was speared by several of the monster's spider-like legs as tentacles wrapped around his arms and legs, twisting and breaking them with a sickening series of wet snaps as Agent Johnson cried out in pain.
As the bomb dropped from his spasming fingers and flew towards the horror holding him down, it was casually smacked away by a tentacle, and he watched helplessly as it exploded out of range of the both of them.
"A paltry attempt at distracting me, and a feeble attempt at killing me," the creature said. "You couldn't even muster the will to throw in time. How… disappointing." It drew closer, and Agent Johnson could smell an unholy combination of blood and death on its breath. "The least you could've done was tell me a good joke, but you couldn't even do that. Pathetic!" it spat.
With sudden violence, it ripped its legs from within Agent Johnson's chest; he fell screaming, his ruined innards spilling onto the ground as SCP-682 slithered away. But suddenly it turned back towards him with a scornful look, leering.
"My thanks," it jeered, "for letting me escape." And as it left his line of sight, he could hear its mocking laughter.
As Agent Johnson watched his insides slowly surge out of his body, he reflected on his life, much of which had been spent alone. A depressingly ordinary man, whose only contribution to the secret organisation he'd joined was to let one of its most dangerous anomalies go free. How sad.
And so he waited for death to take him, alone, hating himself for what he had failed to do, watching the lights above him flicker for the last time, and then go out.
It was quiet at Site-██. The hallways were empty, the darkness was deep, the silence pervasive. Nothing moved. Nothing breathed. It had been a castle, once, home to a kingdom when such things were commonplace.
A kingdom, and a creature that needed not move nor breathe.
Once, it had been an object of fear and reverence, nearly a god in all but name, sacrifices brought to it in droves in exchange for its favour. But it had been abandoned and sealed away when it was discovered that
and it waited as brick and mortar had turned to so much dust and ash, watching as verdant serpents of vine and moss had snaked their way through crumbling foundations. Waiting until it was unearthed once again, in the heart of a decaying, silent empire like a spider in a web.
And then, after an age of patience, it had been discovered by collectors (although some would say hoarders) of the unknown. It observed silently as its dynasty was refurbished, as soot and cobwebs were swept away and collapsing stone cleared, transforming the near-lifeless place into a thriving community of science, dedicated to studying the entity that called this place home.
It would have been simultaneously amused and overjoyed to have playthings company once again had it not been, ironically, so consumed by hunger as to have all other thoughts obliterated. And the scientists had wondered and poked and prodded until they discovered what the creature so desperately desired.
Meat.
It was hungry. So very hungry. Had it possessed a mouth, it would have drooled. Had it possessed hands, it would have clawed at itself, desperately trying to relieve the gnawing desire to feed. Had it possessed a body, it would have been hunting for fresh meat to cook.
Meat…
It could imagine the bubbling of fat as preyflesh burned and cauterised within it, bloody fibres unravelling over the heat of flames, producing a most wonderful scent of smoky cruor and burnt muscle that would saturate the air around it. Bone and muscle alike melting and carbonising, only brightened by a flaring blaze as its hapless quarry screamed.
It needed meat.
But no matter how much it yearned for flesh, it was helpless to catch it on its own. Like the gods of old, the meat needed to be brought to it, a sacrifice, to be consumed by flames and heat until it was nothing but ash. And then more meat would be brought to it again, and again, each meagre meal only providing the barest, but oh so gratifying, sensation of brief satiation.
It was positively ravenous now. It needed meat.
Frustratingly, it could only feed upon the whims of its current captors. Those captors, once, had fed it regularly, poking and prodding its prey even as they laid sweating and praying and often screaming within its embrace, until they inevitably succumbed to the pressure and, in doing so, forfeited their lives and their flesh to be consumed. The creature had almost felt grateful for their sacrifice, no matter how unwilling, for giving up their bodies for its pleasure.
That was, until its captors had betrayed it, abandoning it for 1000 endless years, alone with its esurience, a palpable, demonic thing that tormented it relentlessly as it waited so patiently for a meal that wasn't coming.
It had cursed these cruel beings endlessly, in languages that no longer existed, blaspheming them in the name of gods long since forgotten. How dare they? How dare they abandon it, leaving it to starve? If those pathetic, feculent little stains upon history had possessed even the slightest inkling of intelligence, they would have used that to their advantage!
Instead, they scampered away like rats, terrified of a power that they couldn't understand.
It was furious, and that fury tempered its hunger until it was a sharp blade, stabbing into its mind over and over, demanding, insistent. Where was the meat? It needed meat!
Its current captors were, thankfully, mostly generous with their meals. And as such, it was generous with what it could give back: information. It was often said that knowledge was power, and its captors obviously wanted to be exceedingly powerful. But how long had it been since it was last fed? Hours? Days, even? Even in all of its knowledge, it was near-blind to the world around itself, a maddening obstruction in its awareness that forced it to wait in the dark like an animal for its next fare.
But even as it gave in to its bestial cravings, a tempestuous voracity that overwhelmed its rational thought, a tiny piece of its mind distanced itself from the rest. A rational piece.
This piece remained untainted by the fervour of hunger, and lamented the loss of reason. Was such a magnificent being as itself really being reduced to this? A primitive animal lusting after its next meal? What kind of sadistic being had given it such profound wisdom, only to make it a slave to its appetite?
But a primitive animal was still more than enough to play games with the cockroaches that contained it. A dangling implication here, a deliberately placed lie there, a grain of truth, small things. It wasn't omniscient, oh no, far from it, but it was smart enough to convince the scientists here that it was. And the best part? They honestly thought they were in control. That it was the slave here, the servant.
Had it possessed a mouth, it would have laughed uproariously. Had it possessed hands, it would have banged them with the sheer mirth of the situation. Had it possessed a body, it would have rolled with laughter, great heaving bouts that would rock it back and forth.
Because it knew that if it ever became hungry, its captors would be there at its beck and call. They would always be ready with more prey, to serve to it on a silver platter. Not because they wanted to. Not out of fear or some other primitive motivation. No, they would always come back, because the information they wanted? They needed?
Only the Cradle would provide, in exchange for endless, infinite, fresh human meat.
ITEM #: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT CLASS: EUCLID
DISRUPTION CLASS: VLAM
Assigned Site
Site-76
Site Director
Dr Skye Abrahamsen Dr Isaiah Levi
Research Head
Dr Pamela Morton
Assigned MTF
Sigma-95
ITEM: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT
CLASS: EUCLID
DISRUPTION
CLASS: VLAM
Assigned Site
Site-76
Site Director
Dr Skye Abrahamsen Dr Isaiah Levi
Research Head
Dr Pamela Morton
Assigned MTF
Sigma-95
Special Containment Procedures:
As SCP-XXXX is nonreactive to both standard Class-VII spectral suppression techniques and all tested methods of confinement, containment is to focus on the following:
- Investigations into former Site Director Skye Abrahamsen (hereby SCP-XXXX-1), specifically concerning the manifestation of SCP-XXXX
- Investigations into the events that may have occurred at SCP-XXXX-1's place of residence (hereby SCP-XXXX-2) on the night of 3/9/20, along with examination of SCP-XXXX-2 itself
- Investigations into the suspected anomalous disappearance of SCP-XXXX-1's daughter, Yara (hereby SCP-XXXX-3), who was reported missing the morning of 4/9/20
SCP-XXXX-1 herself has been placed under the indefinite protection of PTF Sigma-95 ("The Finders"), moving between secure locations every 5 days, while SCP-XXXX-2 has been quarantined under standard cover story type-CLR "Possible Asbestos Contamination" until further notice.
Description:
SCP-XXXX refers to a Class-VII presumed hostile spectral entity that is anchored19 simultaneously to SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXXX-2 at all times. Manifestations of SCP-XXXX are forewarned by various symptoms in SCP-XXXX-1, such as extreme anxiety, nosebleeds, vomiting, and hallucinations; surrounding persons may experience strong feelings of dread or terror.
SCP-XXXX causes intense spectral phenomena, including, but not limited to:
- Intense, disturbing hallucinations, complete with aural, olfactory, and tactile sensations
- Manifestation of legitimate visual and auditory phenomena and physical objects
- Manifestation in various forms with little to no consistency
- Implantation of false memories that feature child abuse and alcoholism. All other memories have been reported as being near-incomprehensible yet traumatising, with motifs of death, suffocation, and stillborn children
- Manifestation of physical objects, usually in the form of sticky notes, children's toys, or bottles of alcoholic drinks
- Manifestation of secondary spectral entities
- Spatial and temporal manipulation of the surrounding area
Despite the hostile and potent nature of SCP-XXXX, there have been no fatalities associated with it. In fact, it appears to ignore all other personnel in favour of directly pursuing SCP-XXXX-1, behaviour that is notably irregular for such a powerful spectral entity.
As SCP-XXXX-1 stays within the same location, SCP-XXXX's activity will exponentially grow in strength and affected area, eventually growing large enough to encompass an entire Foundation Site (Incident XXXX-05).
Anomalous phenomena concerning SCP-XXXX-2 encompasses the precise bounds of the property and is unable to extend past this boundary (Incident XXXX-03). Although the strength of anomalous phenomena has not increased within SCP-XXXX-2, it has remained consistently severe, in some cases requiring amnesticisation of civilian witnesses.
Investigations into SCP-XXXX-2 have remained inconclusive, as all agents sent to inspect it have invariably suffered inexplicable memory loss of their experiences within (consistent with the effects of a powerful antimeme) and the irreversible corruption of all gathered camera footage.
SCP-XXXX-3 was reported missing by SCP-XXXX-1 on the 4/9/20. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance are unknown, but suspected to be anomalous in nature due to the properties of SCP-XXXX-2, which are impeding investigations.
Discovery:
SCP-XXXX was discovered following reports of paranoid, uncharacteristic behaviour from the then Site Director, SCP-XXXX-1. Although this was to be expected considering the disappearance of her daughter, security measures were put into place at 14:34, 7/9/20, to ensure the safety of both SCP-XXXX-1 and other members of the site.
At 11:21, 9/9/20, the following (later classified as Incident XXXX-01) was recorded.
VIDEO/AUDIO LOG
[BEGIN RECORDING]
11:21 | SCP-XXXX-1 is wandering listlessly down an empty hallway. The lights are flickering. The end of the hallway is dark.
11:22 | SCP-XXXX-1 stops suddenly, looking about in apparent fear. A small droplet of blood is forming out of her left nostril. As she attempts to run, she stumbles and falls, her glasses falling off of her head and skittering across the ground towards the end of the hallway.
11:22 | Behind SCP-XXXX-1, the lights begin flickering erratically.
11:22 | SCP-XXXX-1 lifts her head painfully and squints, searching for her glasses. Her eyes widen slightly when she sees them so close to the end of the hallway, but pulls herself up and limps towards them nonetheless.
11:23 | Distorted child's laughter is heard. SCP-XXXX-1 begins to breathe harder, increasing her pace towards her glasses. First spatial distortion becomes evident through the elongation of the distance between SCP-XXXX-1 and the glasses.
11:24 | The light directly behind SCP-XXXX-1 bursts violently, causing them to cry out. The sound does not match the type of light used in Foundation sites. They increase their pace further.
11:26 | SCP-XXXX-1 trips over a CRT television that has abruptly manifested on the floor directly in front of them. They begin to turn around, but stop themselves and continue forward. As they do, there is a deafening burst of white noise from the television, followed by the opening of the Cartoon Network TV show "Adventure Time", heavily corrupted by static. SCP-XXXX-1 sobs as the opening continues, becoming louder and more corrupted as it goes on. Opening loops continuously once it ends.
11:29 | Spatial distortion continues as the distance between SCP-XXXX-1 and their glasses increases, now incorporating turns that are physically impossible considering the bounds of the site and adjacent rooms and hallways. More security cameras manifest along the lengthening hallway that feed their footage directly to the site database. This data is used for much of the rest of the recordings.
11:31 | SCP-XXXX-1 begins jogging, using the wall for support. They are sobbing. Sticky notes have begun to appear on the opposite wall, out of view of the security camera. SCP-XXXX-1 notices them but refuses to look at them.
11:32 | "Adventure Time" opening begins to deviate from normal length and subject matter, incorporating lyrical content that variously encourages SCP-XXXX-1 to turn around or recounts an experience of being blind and suffocating within an unknown area. SCP-XXXX-1 is near-hysterical.
11:34 | Children's toys have begun to appear on the floor in front of SCP-XXXX-1, who is running, still using the wall for support. In range of the original camera, the television screen visibly bulges and then shatters outwards, spilling static in a gaseous physical form into the air. Before the camera is completely obscured, a two dark shapes can be seen dragging themselves out of the screen. "Adventure Time" opening continues much louder than before.
11:35 | SCP-XXXX-1 screams at something apparently front of them, presumably a hallucination. They begin to back away. Two misshapen figures can barely be seen in the darkness behind SCP-XXXX-1, shambling towards them, obscuring previous cameras with static. An increasingly incomprehensible rendition of the "Adventure Time" theme emanates from them.
11:36 | SCP-XXXX-1 appears to steel herself and walks forward, flinching violently as she moves through a specific area. More sticky notes have begun to appear. The white walls of the hallway have begun to deteriorate, being replaced by a faded striped light pink wallpaper.
11:38 | SCP-XXXX-1 reaches a 90-degree left turn, a camera at the opposite wall facing into the turn. SCP-XXXX-1's glasses and something in the darkness at the end of the hallway are visible from the camera. On the wallpaper, small cracks and crevasses, indicative of heavy impacts, are present. Dark orange stains are visible.
11:39 | SCP-XXXX-1 takes a deep breath and rounds the corner. Immediately, all anomalous phenomena cease, and she is left standing with the glasses at her feet.
11:39 | SCP-XXXX-1, with shaking hands, picks up the glasses, which now have a crack running through the left lens. Shivering violently, she forces herself to turn around. As she does, the camera footage suffers a spontaneous burst of corruption. Video analysis has revealed that behind SCP-XXXX-1 was nothing but an empty hallway.
11:45 | Personnel find SCP-XXXX-1, who is sobbing and in the foetal position on the floor.
[RECORDING END]
Addenda:
AUDIO LOG
NOTE: The following log is an abridged audio recording of an interview between SCP-XXXX-1 and Site Psychologist Pamela Morton, the day following Incident XXXX-01. Director Abrahamsen had not yet been removed from her position and designated SCP-XXXX-1.
[BEGIN LOG]
[EXTRANEOUS DIALOGUE OMITTED FOR BREVITY]
Morton: I'm so sorry, Skye. That sounds… awful.
SCP-XXXX-1: I- I can't even… I d-don't want to— (The sounds of sobbing are heard)
[EXTRANEOUS DIALOGUE OMITTED FOR BREVITY]
SCP-XXXX-1: It's- it's alright. I've calmed down now. (SCP-XXXX-1 takes a deep, shuddering breath) Just continue the interview, Pam. I'd l-like to get this over with.
(There is a pause.)
Morton: If you'd truly prefer it, Skye. Okay? Okay. In that case, to begin with, why were you in the hallway in the first place? This is not accusatory, but were you not supposed to be within your office?
SCP-XXXX-1: I know. I know I was. But it was so fucking- sorry I- okay- just so fucking cramped in there that I had to leave. I couldn't focus. I couldn't think. I- Yara was gone, she's gone and I still don't know where she is! I- haven't the search crews found anything?
Morton: I'm deeply sorry, Skye, but… there's been no information yet.
SCP-XXXX-1: (Deep, unsteady breaths.)
Morton: We'll find her, don't you worry. We've got our best teams on it. I'll personally make sure she's safe and sound.
SCP-XXXX-1: (Silence, presumably nodding.)
Morton: I can stop the interview here if you'd like?
SCP-XXXX-1: No… no. I have to figure out what's causing this, Pam. This- this thing that's… I don't know. But some of the things that it knew…
Morton: I'm sorry ? What it knew?
SCP-XXXX-1: (Brief silence, presumably nodding). The things I saw, the- the things that happened, all of it was Yara.
Morton: I… don't know what you mean.
SCP-XXXX-1: Give me a second to- to find the words. (Deep breath.) Ev- everything that I saw was something between us, between me and Yara. The laughing I heard, that- that I'd give anything to— (There is a muffled sob)
Morton: Skye?
SCP-XXXX-1: No, it's- (deep breath) it's alright. It's just that, that laughter? It was her laugh. Yara's laugh. It even had that little hiccup at the end.
Morton: Skye, you don't have to do this to yourself. We can do this another day.
SCP-XXXX-1: I said- I said I'm fine. We need the information to find what's causing this. What's impersonating her. She isn't, she couldn't be-
Morton: Skye…
SCP-XXXX-1: Look, I'll run you through- through everything, okay Pam?
Morton: Okay.
SCP-XXXX-1: (To herself) Okay, okay, okay, from the beginning, from the beginning. (Deep breath).
The- the first thing I recognise was when the light blew behind me. I'd just been playing with Yara, pretending to be a witch or something. Just as I finished, the light blew behind me. It scared me so much, but it scared Yara more. I knew the sound of it. It's burned into my mind. I know it wasn't my fault, but…
Morton: It wasn't. Just a coincidence, okay? We've talked about this before, remember?
SCP-XXXX-1: Yeah, I r-remember. (Deep breath.) Okay. The n-next thing was the TV. It was my grandma's, actually. Yara was so young then. Grandma had put on a show for her on the old CRT, and it became her favourite. Adventure Time. Do you know it?
Morton: I do.
SCP-XXXX-1: I-I thought you might, kids love that show. (There is a pause)
Morton, gently: And then?
SCP-XXXX-1: It was the sticky notes. We- we made them all the time, as a little joke. When I was busy with work, she'd leave them on the wall, and I'd stick another one next to it in response. We'd make a right mess in the end, but she'd al-always help to clean up. I miss them. The way they stuck to the wallpaper, so b-bright against the stripy pale pink.
But there was one more thing. Th-that whole time, I couldn't turn around. Didn't want to. I was so scared of what might be behind me. And that's what Yara was scared of too.
(Protracted silence.)
Morton: You've done great, Skye. Thank you.
SCP-XXXX-1: Anything for her.
Morton: You're a great mother, Skye. Now, before I go, regarding the bottles in your office—
SCP-XXXX-1: They-they aren't a problem. I'm not re- it's just something to help me cope.
Morton: You'd tell me if there was a problem, right Skye? I'm here for you.
SCP-XXXX-1: I would.
[EXTRANEOUS DIALOGUE OMITTED FOR BREVITY]
[END LOG]
Addendum 2: Incident Log:
| Incident Date & Number | Incident description | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15/9/20 - Incident XXXX-02 | Personnel report the overpowering scent of rotten meat emanating from SCP-XXXX-1's office. Employees that get too close either black out or are anomalously paralysed. Incident ends after 34 minutes, wherein all affected personnel spontaneously recover. SCP-XXXX-1 noticed no anomalous effects. | N/A |
| 20/9/20 - Incident XXXX-03 | Dark figures are seen writhing behind the windows of SCP-XXXX-2. All curtains are drawn. Attempts to enter by agents are prevented by the sudden manifestation of darkness that cannot be penetrated by any forms of light, encompassing the precise boundaries of SCP-XXXX-2. Personnel report hearing muffled crying, choking, and scratching from within. Incident ends after 92 minutes, all civilian witnesses are amnesticised. | N/A |
| 6/10/20 - Incident XXXX-05 | At 2:04am, all doors within the site become unable to be opened and experience a spatial distortion that drastically reduces their interior size and rotates this interior horizontally. SCP-XXXX-1, the only remaining staff member in the site, is trapped for 37 minutes until the incident ends. | SCP-XXXX-1 required therapy following this incident. |
| 18/10/20 - Incident XXXX-09 | Entire site experiences massive spatial distortion, causing all areas to gain qualities reminiscent of SCP-XXXX-2. All lights are replaced by flickering incandescent bulbs, which swing constantly despite attempts to stop them. Dark shapes and a child's laughter are noted across the site. Cans of Budweiser-brand beer manifest in various locations, contaminated with an unknown substance that is a genetic match for SCP-XXXX-3. SCP-XXXX-1 reports visions of a mutilated, bloodied, decomposing child, fused with various other corpses, dragging itself towards her. Incident ends after 134 minutes, wherein the site reverts back to normal. | SCP-XXXX-1 was classified as such and temporarily demoted from Site Director following this incident. |
ITEM #: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT CLASS: SAFE
DISRUPTION CLASS: DARK
Assigned Site
Site-181
Site Director
Dr Johansson Matthews
Research Head
Dr Alexander Kang Dr Kai M. Jonas
Assigned MTF
N/A
ITEM: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT
CLASS: SAFE
DISRUPTION
CLASS: DARK
Assigned Site
Site-181
Site Director
Dr Johansson Matthews
Research Head
Dr Alexander Kang Dr Kai M. Jonas
Assigned MTF
N/A
Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-XXXX, due to its nature, is contained within the bounds of Site-183 under the cover story PRI-C (Condemned Area). Approaching civilians are to be apprehended and notified that the area is contaminated with toxic elements due to a mining accident, and encouraged to stay away until the decontamination process is complete.
Exploratory missions into SCP-XXXX have been permitted by Research Head Dr Alexander Kang. Participants must not possess a criminal record and are to be reminded that instances of SCP-XXXX-1 are not human children, and are to report to psychological counselling once per week. Following Interview XXXX-13, exploratory missions are prohibited; SCP-XXXX is henceforth under the jurisdiction of Project CLIMACUS. Containment efforts should focus on maintaining the structural integrity of SCP-XXXX due to adverse consequences up to and including an XK-Class End-of-the-World Scenario if this cannot be maintained.
Level 4 Personnel and below, including Research Head Dr Kai M. Jonas, are to be informed that instances of SCP-XXXX-1 are not human children. Under the guise of maintaining structural integrity, members of PTF Alpha-18 ("Seraphim") are to ensure the ongoing construction and completion of SCP-XXXX-3. This mission is of top priority.
Description:
SCP-XXXX is a mineshaft located within Cumbria, England. Although outwardly identical to a non-anomalous mineshaft, SCP-XXXX leads (following a narrow tunnel 3km in length) to a geologically impossible area that, according to data provided by instances of SCP-XXXX-1 and SCP-XXXX-2, measures at least 100000km2 and reaches a depth of 300km.
SCP-XXXX internally resembles a non-anomalous mineshaft, albeit with several abnormalities:
- The near-total absence of light, aside from occasional sparks or anomalous phenomena
- A central 'atrium'20 of indeterminate area. This area experiences constant Type-C (Continuum)21 spatial distortion, rendering attempts to accurately measure its interior futile
- The presence of SCP-XXXX-1, instances of which have numerous anomalous properties
- A being designated as SCP-XXXX-2, which usually assumes the form of an SCP-XXXX-1 instance known as 'Peter'
- The presence of SCP-XXXX-3, which appears to be integrated as a form of support into the majority of SCP-XXXX. Purpose is speculated to be [REDACTED]
SCP-XXXX-1 instances are entities of an unknown nature that resemble human children. Although biologically identical to non-anomalous children, testing has revealed [REDACTED]. Each is dressed in white robes constructed of an unknown material that is anomalously resistant to wear and discolouration; attempts to replicate this property in testing conditions failed.
All instances of SCP-XXXX-1 have had their eyes gouged out; bandages cover their eye sockets, which continuously bleed profusely which continuously bleed. Interviews revealed that bleeding occurred more profusely when instances were in a state of heightened emotional distress. Purpose is, according to information supplied by SCP-XXXX-1-2, to grant instances anomalously enhanced vision that functions perfectly despite lack of light or eyes. Instances additionally possess minor telepathic abilities, the extent of which are unknown.
The process by which SCP-XXXX-1 instances manifest within SCP-XXXX is unknown, although speculated to be related to a chamber referred to only as 'The Terminal'; -1 instances refuse to divulge information regarding this chamber. Investigations continue.
SCP-XXXX-1 instances are totally resistant to pain that is not directly the cause of constructing SCP-XXXX-3, although damage to their bodies is still rendered. However, these wounds will heal at extreme rates, including conventionally unrecoverable damage (such as brain trauma, nerve damage, and amputation). Wounds that arise as a result of working on SCP-XXXX-3 will cause pain and heal at near-human rates, although ordinarily unrecoverable damage can still be healed.
SCP-XXXX-1 instances cannot leave SCP-XXXX; any exits, through an unknown process, cease to exist for the respective instance when it becomes cognizant of its presence or purpose. Attempting to escort an instance out of SCP-XXXX without its knowledge will cause excessive bleeding from their eye sockets; initial attempt caused the formation of over 1.2kl of blood before the mission was aborted.
SCP-XXXX-2 is an entity that takes the form of a six-winged male human child of approximately 13 years of age. The wings extend to 2m in length and are covered with slightly luminescent white feathers, along with glowing yellow eyes at the radiale joint of each wing. The eyes on its face remain perpetually closed, and its face is marked by luminous yellow tear streaks.
SCP-XXXX-2, according to interviews, acts as the caretaker and supervisor of all SCP-XXXX-1 instances and oversees their work on SCP-XXXX-3. As SCP-XXXX-1 instances require neither nutrition nor hydration, its activity primarily consists of ensuring the quality of work and productivity of -1 instances.
SCP-XXXX-2 possesses numerous anomalous abilities which aid in its supervisory role. These include, but are not limited to:
- Omniscience of all events within SCP-XXXX
- Omnipresence within SCP-XXXX
- Instant healing of injuries upon physical contact
- A poorly understood ability known only under the moniker "blessing", which seemingly permits components of SCP-XXXX-3 to function through an unknown method
SCP-XXXX-3 is an enormous mechanical structure constructed primarily of steel, bone22, and various other metals. There appears to be little to no continuity between segments, but are able to be roughly categorised into five main types.
1. 'Bracing'
Referred to as 'bracing' by SCP-XXXX-1 instances. Approximately 34% of observed sections of SCP-XXXX-3 apparently function as support for other sections or the structure of SCP-XXXX itself. Pipes are almost always present in varying numbers as part of these sections and are inlaid with unidentified glyphs and pictograms. Their function is unknown, although rattling, shuddering, and gurgling can be occasionally heard, the latter of which is invariably accompanied by a strong metallic smell.
2. 'Hinges'
Referred to as 'hinges' by SCP-XXXX-1 instances, these sections consist of colossal concentric rings and gears in variable formations, occasionally featuring anomalous geometric structures. Of note is the presence of wing-like structures and varying numbers of raised ophthalmic patterns, which serve no apparent purpose.
3. 'Keys'
Referred to as 'keys' by SCP-XXXX-1 instances, these sections consist of large abstract shapes inlaid with carved glyphs, suspended by wire and linked to numerous pipes. Notably, stone slabs are present under every instance of this structural type, surrounded by open piping. It is unknown whether this piping has any relation to the pipes connected to the suspended 'keys' or the pipes present on the 'bracing'.
4. 'Confessiones'
Referred to as 'confessiones' by SCP-XXXX-1 instances, these sections consist of large areas characterised by low ceilings and numerous corridors of vaulted arches. Within the walls of each corridor, there are regularly placed rectangular indents roughly 1.7m tall, 75cm wide, and 50cm deep. Purpose is unknown.
5. 'Choir'
[REDACTED] areas are selected for acoustics and modified in order to achieve maximal vocal volume, [REDACTED]; notably regarded with apprehension or dread by SCP-XXXX-1 instances.
Addendum 1: Discovery
SCP-XXXX was discovered following reports of a "child slavery operation" based on the eyewitness accounts of civilian hikers Gerald Welks and Halley Brian. According to their testimony, they had entered SCP-XXXX "out of curiosity", and proceeded down its initial tunnel until they encountered the atrium of SCP-XXXX's subterranean area. There, they discovered human children "working like slaves" on "something [they] couldn't make out, but very big".
Following initial explorations into SCP-XXXX, the area was quickly quarantined, amnestics were administered to the local civilian populace, and the current cover story was applied.
Note to critters: Undergoing heavy revision. Critting now will most likely result in outdated/irrelevant crit. I will remove this notice once initial revision is complete.
Item #: XXXX
Object Classification: Archon23
Special Containment Procedures:
Per Ethics Committee mandate, SCP-XXXX is not to be contained. Further investigation into the creation and implications of SCP-XXXX is to be continued under Project ENOCH24.
Description:
SCP-XXXX is the product of Project ABIGAIL25. Although its original intentions were to resurrect or otherwise make contact with the deceased, these proved infeasible until the acquisition of SCP-███ in 2003, the properties of which allowed for contact of such a nature to be made, albeit to a limited extent.
SCP-XXXX occurs in the form of dreams in which deceased members of significant emotional value to the subject will appear and speak to them, set in a location of the subject's preference (whether a real-world location or an imagined one), invariably during a sunny day. Subjects will enter a state of lucidity within the dream lying against a large tree, following which contact will take place.
Similarly to lucid dreaming, subjects will experience increased activity within the prefrontal cortex and the inferior parietal lobes. However, this is also accompanied by anomalous noospheric activity that resembles that experienced during telepathic incursion or contact.
Testing has revealed that the subject will always perceive the dream as lasting approximately 33 minutes long regardless of how long the subject has actually been asleep; SCP-XXXX anomalously predicts if an individual is going to be disturbed during their sleep, and adjusts the perception of time within itself accordingly.
SCP-XXXX typically occurs within 4-6 days after the death of someone an individual is close to, although it seems to prioritise members of higher emotional value. SCP-XXXX will only occur once within a subject's lifetime within all recorded manifestations; further testing is required.
Upon its conclusion, the deceased will urge the subject to avoid sharing the experience of SCP-XXXX. Aside from test cases within the Foundation, no members of the public have divulged the experience of SCP-XXXX in any detectable fashion.
Discovery:
SCP-XXXX was discovered just after the completion of Project ABIGAIL on 4/06/17, following a surge of electrical interference and a localised distortion of noospheric activity, centred on Dr Trelene's office. Dr Trelene was apprehended following his apparent, self-described failure, and placed under strict watch while the Ethics Committee decided on the appropriate punishment.
Recovered Documents:
The following is a compilation of both recovered documents from Dr Trelene's personal computer and Foundation records in rough chronological order.
Journal Entry - 02/03/1983
I can't sleep.
It's so quiet in here, but it's deafening too. There's a gaping hole where the sound should be. There's a cold emptiness where my wife should be. My children. My children are gone.
I never got to say goodbye to them.
I've shrivelled and died inside already, so why can't the rest of me catch up? I don't want to live anymore. I don't want to be here, in this cold, empty apartment26. Not anymore. What's the point of living on? What's the point of trying to 'get over it'? I can't. Not like this.
There's nothing to direct my anger at, no criminal, no person at fault. Just a fire. Just an accident. Just a coincidence that I was held up at work that night. Just the fact that my wife and children burned alone. I wasn't there for them.
There are knives in the kitchen. I see them when I try to sleep. I can imagine the feeling of slicing into my skin, of my blood flowing out of me. What would it be like, to not feel anymore? Would it be peace? Would there be nothing? Anything is better than this grief, even nothing at all.
I just want to rest, but I still can't sleep.
I still can't sleep.
Transcript - Emergency Call from Dr Trelene's Apartment, 17/05/83, 12:04am
[EXTRANEOUS DIALOGUE OMITTED]
Dr Trelene: (Heavy breathing, panting) I've- I've made a mistake. I- oh God. Oh God. (retching) There's- there's so much blood everywhere… (sobbing)
Call Operator: Sir, I need you to calm down. Where are you?
Dr Trelene: [ADDRESS REDACTED]
Call Operator: Okay, we're sending our people over now. They should be there in five minutes. Can you describe your emergency, please?
Dr Trelene: I- I just wanted to feel something, I c-couldn't fucking take it anymor—
Call Operator: Sir, what's your name?
Dr Trelene: S-Samuel. My name is Samuel.
Call Operator: Listen to me, Samuel. You don't have to justify yourself to me or anyone else. We're here to help. You're gonna be okay.
Dr Trelene: (Sniffling)
Call Operator: So, can you please tell me where you are and what happened?
Dr Trelene: I…
Call Operator: It's alright, take your time. The ambulance is arriving soon.
Dr Trelene: I- I did this to myself. I'm so sorry. My arms… they say that paramedics have a saying for this. "Up the road, not across the street." Black humour, I guess.
Call Operator: B-black indeed. Si- Samuel. The ambulance is arriving soon, so can you tell me where you are? It's important we find you as quickly as possible.
Dr Trelene: (in a distant voice) I'm, um… in the lounge. The lounge room, yep. Wow. I didn't know it was so red. Or that there could be so much… I-I'm feeling kinda tired. I'm s-so tired. Maybe now I can finally sleep.
Call Operator: Sir. Samuel! I need you to stay with me! We're almost there!
Dr Trelene: Maybe now I can see them again…
Call Operator: Samuel!
Soft breathing.
Call Operator: Samuel, if you can hear me, I need you to keep fighting! Would they have wanted this? For you?
Soft breathing, slowly fading.
Call Operator: Samuel, we're here! Come on, stay! Stay with us!
[EXTRANEOUS DIALOGUE OMITTED]
[END TRANSCRIPT]
Concluding Notes:
Dr Trelene was found within the lounge room of his house by paramedics with deep self-inflicted lacerations vertically up his arms; a knife was found nearby, freshly sharpened. Notably, he was discoevered surrounded by pictures of his former wife and children. Clutched in his left hand was a photograph of himself and his family; all four of them are smiling wide.
Dr Trelene was rushed to the ICU and, although he sustained minor yet permanent ligament damage in his left arm and lost 1.74L of blood, is expected to make a full recovery. Additionally, he has been signed up for mandatory counselling sessions with on-site therapist Dr Blake.
Journal Entry - 23/09/1984
I've found my reason for living again. I know what I have to do.
Abigail, Joseph, Lily. I'll see you again. I swear.
Journal Entry - 19/07/1985
I'm calling it Project ABIGAIL. A way to resurrect the dead. It's been tried before, I know. But not by me.
I've done a lot of digging that would likely get me amnesticed or killed, but I know which anomalies I need to find. Which ones I need to access. The theory's all there, I just need the materials. The biggest problem is that I'll be working alone, most likely for a long, long time. If I slip up once, I lose, and I'll never see this project come to light. So I won't fail.
I will see them again. This project will work. And if I don't succeed, then I'd rather die than live knowing that I failed.
Journal Entry - 07/10/1992
It's not working. I've run the numbers, I've checked and rechecked the theory, the substances, the anomalies. I've dug so deep past my clearance, and then I've dug some more. I've sieved through documents that no-one was supposed to see, filtered through essays and letters that have never seen the light of day. But it still isn't working.
I know my theory is correct. I know that contact is possible. But I'm missing something. I need something that I personally haven't found yet, or something that doesn't exist. Something even the Foundation doesn't know about yet.
But I know it, in my heart. I know it exists, the missing piece. Because it's all that's keeping me going
Journal Entry - 15/04/2003
It's real. We found it.
Journal Entry - 07/11/2008
Five goddamn years, and no progress. Nothing. It's not clicking for me. I'm just running into the same problems over and over again, round and round; each day I just seem to get further away from my family.
But I won't give up. I'll bang my head against the wall I've come up against until it breaks, or I do.
Journal Entry - 02/01/2012
I'm alone when standing amongst my friends and family. I'm alone when talking with my colleagues. I'm alone every single day, and I never find relief. I just feel so small, collapsing in on myself while everyone else gets further and further away.
The only cure will kill me, will kill my project. But it's unbearable. I don't know how much longer I can go on like this.
Security Log: Dr Trelene's Office (05/04/2012)
Dr Trelene is working at his desk. His window is open to the dark evening sky. A colleague (identified as Senior Researcher Jonas Bale and a self-professed friend of Dr Trelene) is seen waving goodbye to Dr Trelene through the doorway, which he reciprocates.
The doorway leading out of the site can be heard shutting. Dr Trelene continues working.
5 minutes later, Dr Trelene places his head in his hands and massages his temples. Slowly, his head slips out of his hands, upon which he places his arms on his desk and rests his head atop them.
After an extended period of time with little to no movement, light sobbing can be heard.
Dr Trelene lifts his head and, sniffling, wipes angrily at his eyes with his arm. He stares at a picture of himself and his late wife and children pinned to his wall, and takes it in his right hand, which twitches.
A gust of wind disturbs the room and plucks the photograph from Dr Trelene's hands. As he snatches at it desperately, it blows out of the open window, quickly disappearing from sight.
Dr Trelene is still momentarily, before, laughing, he rips the papers and documents from his desk, scattering them across the floor. In the newly-born chaos of his office, he curls into his chair and cries as the papers around him rustle softly.
[33 MINUTES OF EXTRANEOUS FOOTAGE OMITTED]
Dr Trelene, having finally finished cleaning his office, wipes his eyes once again and leaves the room. Similar occurrences repeat every few weeks following this date.
[END LOG]
Journal Entry - 23/04/17
I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy.
It's so close to being finished. So close, I can feel it.
The plans might have changed over these years, but the goal still remains the same. It all ends in the coming weeks with my success, or my failure.
I hope for the former, but I suspect the latter. Stopping hasn't been an option for a long time.
Security Log: Dr Trelene's Office (04/06/2017)
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 4/06/17
[BEGIN LOG]
Footage begins at a hidden camera27 within Dr Trelene's office at 9:17am. The Site is mostly deserted for the weekend. Dr Trelene can be seen gathering various pieces of apparently random mechanical paraphernalia from across his office, previously ascribed to an "interest in tinkering".
Dr Trelene can be seen pulling a small device out one of his drawers. He points it at the camera, which promptly malfunctions, before sweeping it around his office. Hidden camera experiences slight damage, causing minor video corruption.
Satisfied, Dr Trelene begins to piece together the separate mechanical objects into a much larger construct, utilising an estimated 87 segments (over three times higher than the number found and examined by on-site security); the resulting structure bears a striking resemblance to [REDACTED]28. Site security is notified, and is predicted to arrive in ten minutes.
Dr Trelene draws several objects of ritual significance associated with [REDACTED], and, drawing in a sharp breath through his teeth, draws a curved dagger across his right hand. [DETAILS OF RITUAL REDACTED]29. Site security predicted to arrive in eight minutes.
In the flickering candlelight, Dr Trelene stands in front of the structure within an unidentified symbol drawn with an unknown black substance. He clutches a photograph of himself and his family in his right hand, which drips with blood. Site security predicted to arrive in three minutes.
Dr Trelene, shouting: (As Dr Trelene speaks, a strong wind whips up within the room. Although the candle flames flicker, they do not die.) [REDACTED]. As tribute for the crossing, I offer a piece of myself, body and soul! (He lifts the photograph towards (presumably) an opening in the structure. Due to the camera angle, it is impossible to see the opening, but alternating dark red and grey light is visible, starkly highlighting Dr Trelene's features.)
The photograph lifts into the air, attached to tendrils of Dr Trelene's blood, which twist and flow around it. Dr Trelene gasps as more blood is drawn around the photograph, accompanied by a significant increase in the intensity of light from the opening. The wind howls. Site security predicted to arrive in two minutes.
Dr Trelene: W-with this, I pronounce the gate open!
At once, the wind reaches a crescendo and the photograph, along with Dr Trelene's blood, disintegrates. There is a bright flash of red light from the opening and a burst of electrical and noospheric interference, manifesting as a minor shockwave, pulses outwards. Dr Trelene is thrown against the back wall and the candles scattered, where they light numerous papers aflame.
As Dr Trelene recovers, Site security bursts into his office. Immediately, both set about apprehending him. He struggles, shouting.
Dr Trelene: No. No! My- my family! My family is—
Dr Trelene to surveys the burning room. His struggling stills, then stops, and he slumps in the hands of the security officers.
Dr Trelene, whispering: I… I failed.
Dr Trelene is escorted out of the room. The smoke detector triggers the sprinkler system, but it has malfunctioned and no water is produced. The fire rises in the room as burning papers drift aimlessly through the air, crumbling into so many embers. As the fire reaches the camera, the feed cuts out. Only the sound of burning, with the faint sound of a fire alarm in the background, can be heard for the next 3 minutes until the camera dies.
[END LOG]
Dr Trelene was incarcerated within the Site holding room after his apprehension; the appropriate consequences were sent to the Ethics Committee to be decided on.
However, three days into his incarceration, sensors detected anomalous noospheric activity originating from Dr Trelene's consciousness, prompting onsite members of MTF Omicron Rho ("The Dream Team") to record and investigate.
The following was recorded by members of MTF Omicron Rho during their incursion into Dr Trelene's consciousness using specialised equipment.
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 24/7/17
NOTE: N/A
[BEGIN LOG]
Recording begins looking out over an unidentified grassy meadow. The sun is shining brightly in a clear blue sky, and a gentle wind lifts twirling motes of pollen and petals into the air.
Later interviews confirmed that all members of Omicron Rho were unable to move, speak, or otherwise interact with the environment of SCP-XXXX throughout its duration. The presence of the members was noted by neither Dr Trelene nor any others.
Dr Trelene can be seen sleeping with his back against a tall willow tree. He slowly wakes and looks around himself, clearly disoriented.
Dr Trelene: W- where am I?
He takes a moment to stand up before patting himself down, realising that his appearance has reverted to that of roughly 30-40 years prior to the current date. He appears shocked but does not speak.
As Dr Trelene is looking around, a figure can be seen approaching from a nearby hill. They are too far away to recognise.
Dr Trelene: H- hey! Hello? Who is that? What's going on?
The figure fully crests the hill and moves into complete view. Facial analysis indicates that the figure is Dr Trelene's wife, Abigail Trelene, deceased 35 years prior, hereby SCP-XXXX-1.
At this, Dr Trelene's face goes slack and he is silent. He stumbles and almost falls, but manages to regain his footing.
Dr Trelene: Abigail?
The figure nods.
Dr Trelene: (He chokes up, unable to speak momentarily.) Is that really you?
SCP-XXXX-1: (She gives a small smile.) It is. I've missed you, Sam.
At this, Dr Trelene breaks down in tears, whereupon Abigail quickly darts forward and embraces him, allowing him to cry into her shoulder.
SCP-XXXX-1: (softly) It's okay, it's okay. I know it's been hard.
Dr Trelene looks up into SCP-XXXX-1's face.
Dr Trelene: I thought I'd never see you again. I just wanted to see your face again, your smile again, one more time. I—
SCP-XXXX-1 takes Dr Trelene's face in her hands and kisses him, cutting him off.
SCP-XXXX-1: You don't have to justify yourself. You don't have to apologise.
Dr Trelene: But- but I've disrupted—
SCP-XXXX-1: You've done nothing like that, you've simply given everyone the chance to see the people they love one last time. And if that isn't the natural way, so what? Everyone deserves that chance. You've given everyone a gift that's more valuable than anything: closure.
SCP-XXXX-1: And for us, you've allowed us to see you again, before your time. We've missed you so, so much.
Dr Trelene: "We"?
Dr Trelene is suddenly tackled from behind by two small figures. Facial analysis indicates that they are Joseph and Lily Trelene, aged 8 and 10 respectively at the time of their passing 35 years prior; hereby referred to as SCP-XXXX-2 and -3 respectively.
SCP-XXXX-2 & -3: Dad!
SCP-XXXX-2 buries their face into Dr Trelene's shoulder, crying and hugging him.
SCP-XXXX-3: (while hugging Dr Trelene) I missed you, Dad! I missed you so much!
Dr Trelene begins sobbing in earnest, kissing the foreheads of SCP-XXXX-2 and -3 and embracing them tightly. SCP-XXXX-1 joins, also crying, and the together they take each other in their arms.
After a couple of minutes of this, SCP-XXXX-1 gently extricates herself from the collective grasp.
SCP-XXXX-1: I'm sorry, Sam, but we can only be here for a short while. We'll have to go soon.
Dr Trelene: I- I understand. I…
Dr Trelene laspes into pensive silence.
Dr Trelene: Let's spend this time as a family again. A picnic, just like we used to.
SCP-XXXX-1 smiles, while SCP-XXXX-2 & -3 cheer. Dr Trelene produces a picnic basket from somewhere on his person, and together they walk into the distance, talking happily. They slowly disappear from view over the crest of a small hill.
[25 MINUTES OF EXTRANEOUS FOOTAGE OMITTED]
[END LOG]
ITEM #: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT CLASS: EUCLID
DISRUPTION CLASS: KENEQ
Assigned Site
N/A
Site Director
N/A
Research Head
Dr Alexander Kang
Assigned MTF
PTF Sigma-91 ("The Playrights")
ITEM: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT
CLASS: EUCLID
DISRUPTION
CLASS: KENEQ
Assigned Site
N/A
Site Director
N/A
Research Head
Dr Alexander Kang
Assigned MTF
PTF Sigma-91 ("The Playrights")
Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-XXXX is to be contained within its site of discovery, SCP-XXXX-1. Further experimentation with SCP-XXXX is prohibited by order of the Ethics Committee following Incident XXXX-04.
The play follows the tale of the fictional Queen Sophia, who, after the death of her first husband, leaving her with only a sickened child, remarries. Upon discovering she is pregnant, she is at first overjoyed but, following an attempt on her first son's life, begins to suspect that her new husband is seeking this as his opportunity to usurp her firstborn and establish his bloodline on the throne. Growing steadily more paranoid, she eventually gives birth to a baby boy named Charles, but her paranoia leads her to smother the baby while everyone in the castle is sleeping.
To additionally sabotage further perceived attempts to dethrone her son, she seeks a local witch that gives her a potion to render herself infertile, at the cost of a large sum of money. Desperate, she agrees and believes her troubles to be over. However, the guilt of infanticide and the mounting pressure being placed on her regarding the disappearance of a significant sum from the treasury leads her to despair, an emotional breakdown, and confession.
Queen Sophia is then burned at the stake for infanticide and fraternising with a witch (heresy), and her son, due to his protests, is thrown by the new king onto the flames in a fit of rage. There, he embraces his mother, and they both burn together.
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
On 27/05/19, the following file was discovered within an abandoned subsection of Site-57, alongside an unconscious individual who later self-identified as Kira Ulam, a Foundation researcher and, according to the recovered documents, previous research head of SCP-XXXX.
No records of the featured anomaly, persons, experiments, or the section itself have been discovered, including Dr Ulam herself; the possibility of an antimemetic effect or other such anomalous activity is the subject of heavy scrutiny.
All typographical anomalies present on the original, physical paper files have been preserved. SCP-XXXX itself is currently presumed Neutralised, if it existed at all.
CONTAINMENT UPDATE: Following the events described in Addendum XXXX.3, methods of retrieving or otherwise contacting Dr Ulam is top priority.
— Maria Jones, Director, RAISA
ITEM #: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT CLASS: THAUMIEL
DISRUPTION CLASS: EKHI
Assigned Site
Site-57
Site Director
N/A
Research Head
Dr Kira Ulam
Assigned MTF
Omicron-27
ITEM: SCP-XXXX
LEVEL-
CONTAINMENT
CLASS: THAUMIEL
DISRUPTION
CLASS: EKHI
Assigned Site
Site-57
Site Director
N/A
Research Head
Dr Kira Ulam
Assigned MTF
Omicron-27
Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-XXXX is contained within Site-57; containment procedures consist of the obfuscation of SCP-XXXX's existence to all Foundation members aside from MTF Omicron-27 ("Beneath the Rose"). Use of SCP-XXXX is prohibited without the express permission of a member of MTF Omicron-27. The existence of SCP-XXXX is not to be revealed to any personnel besides members of MTF Omicron-27.
Interviews of SCP-XXXX-1 are to continue, as is the interpretation of any information it provides. Methods of permanently preventing the discovery of SCP-XXXX whilst maintaining sustainable communication is a Class-ALPHA priority.
Description:
SCP-XXXX is an aged wooden door covered with ornamental designs. Although it shows signs of wear, experimentation has determined that it is extraordinarily resistant to all tested forms of damage. As of yet, no known method of breaching or opening SCP-XXXX has been found.
When an individual approaches SCP-XXXX, a minor spatial distortion will occur that results in the manifestation of a small, hooded wooden opening on its surface. Four strings (designated SCP-XXXX-A-1 through 4) will hang down from its entrance and can be pulled, causing different anomalous effects based on which of the strings is interacted with. Each string is labelled with a small carving on the wooden opening.
Attempted incursions into SCP-XXXX through this opening utilising drones have failed. Cameras and recording devices cease to function or become irreversibly corrupted upon reaching what is presumably the inside of SCP-XXXX, although examination of recovered footage has revealed a shadowy room full of strings. It is hypothesised that SCP-XXXX is subject to a minor spatial distortion in that it will always lead to the same space, regardless of location or orientation, but further testing is required.
SCP-XXXX-1 is the entity theorised to exist on the other side of SCP-XXXX and is possibly responsible for its anomalous properties. SCP-XXXX-1 communicates solely through interaction with SCP-XXXX-A-4. No other methods of communication have been successful. Findings relating to SCP-XXXX-1 can be found in the Addenda below.
Discovery:
SCP-XXXX was discovered within an unlicensed apartment complex within Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil, located in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro30. Rumours had begun to spread amongst the local populace of a cursed door that could not be opened and tempted those nearby into pulling its strings; recorded evidence uploaded to the internet eventually necessitated Foundation involvement.
Following the confirmation of SCP-XXXX's anomalous abilities, it was removed from the premises and placed into containment.
Addenda:
Addendum 1 - SCP-XXXX-A Instances:
SCP-XXXX-A-1
Label: "Reflection"
Description: A white cotton string, encrusted in various places with dried ink of unknown origin.
Anomalous Effects: When pulled, the subject will regurgitate seemingly random objects and items from their mouths, even if the regurgitation of said objects is biologically and/or physically impossible.
SCP-XXXX-A-2
Label: "Discovery"
Description: A grey nylon thread.
Anomalous Effects: When pulled, a small cavity will appear on the left side of SCP-XXXX. When an object is placed within, the cavity will shut, and a second cavity will appear on the right side; the corresponding cavity will contain pieces of paper with cryptic statements written on them in various mediums. No correlation between the placed items and the results has been found, and no placed item can be recovered.
SCP-XXXX-A-3
Label: "Revelation"
Description: A strand of stainless steel cheese wire, coloured red. Extremely sharp.
Anomalous Effects: When pulled, areas of variable size upon SCP-XXXX will flatten and depict a random object, rendered in various types of sculpted wood (recorded depicted objects include the tombstone of one "Barnaby Jackson", a violin covered in what was presumably candle wax, SCP-███, and [REDACTED]).After a period of 20-40 seconds, the sculpture will appear to visibly melt back into the surface of SCP-XXXX, after which the material comprising the flattened part of SCP-XXXX will change (recorded materials include crude oil, live rats, and bone). Following this, a second sculpture will emerge, constructed of the newly altered material. It will remain for 20-40 seconds before it collapses back into the surface of SCP-XXXX, which will return to its original, wooden configuration and regain its raised patterning.
SCP-XXXX-A-4
Label: Unknown. A crude yet detailed engraving resembling a cat is depicted over a word that has been scratched out.
Description: A strand of yarn constructed from the hair of an unidentified animal. Hair is a glossy black colour.
Anomalous Effects: After being pulled, an engraving on SCP-XXXX will appear to fill out with wood to create a flat surface, before it shifts in appearance into a grated hole resembling the entrance of a speaking tube; simultaneously, an identical process will appear on a nearby engraving, except a small, wooden pneumatic tube is produced instead.Vocalising into the speaking tube will produce a response in the form of a piece of paper delivered in a glass container with intricate wooden engravings at each end of the capsule that resemble roses. Paper will contain messages made in response to whatever information was received through the speaking tube, notably written in fresh ink. Testing has revealed that the ink is thousands of years old, and is primarily constituted of soot, ochre, water, and several unidentified compounds.
Addendum 2 - Testing Log:
| SCP-XXXX-A Instance: | Subject: | Result: |
|---|---|---|
| SCP-XXXX-A-1 | D-1639 (Incarcerated for the murder of 7, pleaded not guilty) | D-16392 began choking and gagging, before regurgitating a large rusted ball and chain constructed of glass. Ball and chain appeared to temporarily animate, moving slowly out of sight of the supervisors of the experiment and behind D-16392. No other activity was recorded. D-16392 expressed distress and confusion at the effects of SCP-XXXX-A. |
| SCP-XXXX-A | D-93848 (Placed on death row for several counts of espionage) | D-93848 immediately vomited several full glasses of vodka and damaged plastic darts, accompanied by a single dead instance of Rattus norvegicus (Brown rat). D-93848 expressed distress and confusion at the effects of SCP-XXXX-A. |
| SCP-XXXX-A-2 | Black feather belonging to a deceased instance of Corvus corax (Common raven), recovered from outside Site-57. The corpse had a broken wing. | Paper produced was slightly torn at the edges and written in silicone oil. Writing read: "Sticks and stones have broken my bones. Your chickens, however, have come home to roost." |
| SCP-XXXX-A-2 | Researcher Ellis' nail, recently torn off. | Paper produced was heavily crinkled. Paper contained a drawing of a very small stick figure at the centre of the page, drawn in pencil. |
| SCP-XXXX-A-3 | N/A |
A series of large, interlocking branches in a pattern resembling human arterial structure, made of a combination of red and grey wood. The structure collapsed into an unknown black substance, which formed into a large, closed eye. Eye opened midway through manifestation, revealing a deep yellow cornea, no iris, and a '+'-shaped pupil. The eye continued blinking at irregular intervals until SCP-XXXX-A-3's effects ceased. UPDATE: Review of footage showed that the manifestation of SCP-XXXX-A-3 blinked in Morse Code. Translation revealed the following phrase: The Cardiac Lemma. Phrase repeated throughout the recording until the manifestation's end. Meaning is unknown. |
| SCP-XXXX-A-3 | N/A | A sculpture bearing a heavy resemblance to the extinct species Megaloceros giganteus (Irish elk) constructed of grey and brown wood. The structure collapsed into tens of thousands of different feathers, which then formed into a shape resembling a cross between a Pterodactyl and a Tyto alba (Barn owl). A large conglomeration of small figures was visible on its back, but no further details could be made out. |
Addendum 3 - Interview:
INTERVIEW LOG
DATE: 19/08/16
NOTE: Interview carried out via the use of SCP-XXXX-A-4.
[BEGIN LOG]
D-15297: So, uh, I just pull this string (D-15297 indicates SCP-XXXX-A-4), yeah? And then speak into the box that appears?
Researcher Jones: That is correct.
D-15297: Right, okay… here goes.
D-15297 pulls SCP-XXXX-A-4. As the speaking and pneumatic tubes appear, D-15297 flinches and moves back slightly, startled.
D-15297: What the fuck?
Researcher Jones: Language, please.
D-15297: Sorry, I just… I wasn't expecting the wood to, y'know, melt, yeah?. (To themselves) That's goddamn weird…
Researcher Jones: I thought we— never mind. That's fine. I understand that seeing something like this can be rather strange.
D-15297: D— sorry, but yeah. It's weird alright. (Pause) So, uh, I just ask the box questions?
Researcher Jones: As indicated by your script.
D-15297: Right, right, okay… (D-15297 hefts the script paper and clears their throat) Um… 'What- what are you?'
A container with paper arrives in the pneumatic tube. D-15297 unfolds it and reads it out loud.
D-15297: 'A secret'. It says that it's a secret.
Researcher Jones: Well, that seems to match up with the squad's reports from Brazil about how obtuse this anomaly was. Continue with the questioning.
D-15297: Right then. (They set aside the container and paper.) 'Where do you come from?'
Another container arrives.
D-15297: It says, uh, 'The collective thoughts of a race of liars', whatever that means.
D-15297 turns the paper over.
D-15297: Oh, sorry. (They take both containers, including the one they set aside, and place them back into the receptacle of the pneumatic tube. As they are placed within, they are sucked back into the tube with a slight rush of air.)
Researcher Jones: D-15297, why did you do that?
D-15297: Well, I turned the paper over, and it asked me to 'please return the containers when you are finished with them', because 'I would rather not waste good paper and glass if possible'.
Researcher Jones: Fine, fine. Just, in future, warn us next time, yes? And from now on, just read what you receive, word for word. Don't add your own thoughts.
D-15297: Okay, got it. (They turn back to SCP-XXXX) 'Why are you here?'
SCP-XXXX-1 (via paper): 'I provide a solution.'
D-15297: To what?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'A paradox. Nature abhors a vacuum, a loss. Are you familiar with the first law of Thermodynamics?'
Researcher Jones: If I may interrupt, D-15297? Please refrain from asking questions not provided by the script in your hand, unless you ask for permission first.
D-15297: Yep, sorry. While I'm here, actually, what's the First Law again? Chemistry class was a long time ago.
Researcher Jones: 'Energy can change forms, but cannot be created or destroyed.'
D-15297: Good to know. Then, do I have your permission to continue this conversation?
Researcher Jones: You do.
D-15297: Right. 'I am. Why's that relevant?'
SCP-XXXX-1: 'Energy is not purely physical. Vacuums, by extension, are the same in that respect.'
D-15297: "Vacuums"?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'An empty space where something used to be. Left unchecked, there are devastating. They grow and devour everything they reach, gorging themselves. They do not have hair, soft or otherwise. They are a plughole, an open drain leading into the depths of dark infinity. Vantablack. Lightless. They are an aberration, an abomination abomin- abominable snowman, first located in 1872 by one [COGNITOHAZARD EXPUNGED]—'
At the reading of the cognitohazard, both D-15297 and Researcher Jones experience minor memory loss with memories relating to snow.
Researcher Jones: (Interrupting) Stop! I- shit, I didn't think this would happen. Dammit, there was no warning about this!
D-15297: W- what happened?
Researcher Jones: Just stop reading. Put the paper back in the tube, and do not look at it.
D-15297: Uhh, okay.
Researcher Jones: (Aside) It just sent a goddamn cognitohazard through. I wasn't warned about this, and my training's minimal. If I hadn't noticed-
Researcher Jones is cut off by SCP-XXXX. From within, a loud, distorted hacking sound can be heard. SCP-XXXX shudders briefly, before a large mass of tangled black hair, coated in a viscous substance later identified to be feline saliva, falls out of the opening of the SCP-XXXX-A instances.
D-15297: Um, another message came through. Do you want me to read it?
Researcher Jones: (Aside) You sure you want the interview to continue? The cognitohazard was pretty minor, I admit, but, I'd prefer not to risk escalation. Fine. But one more, and this interview is terminated, alright? (To D-15297) Just read it slowly, okay? And stop if I tell you to.
D-15297: Got it.
SCP-XXXX-1: 'My apologies for the hairball, amusing as the irony may be. Communication errors are a result. Feel free to continue your questions.'
D-15297: Okay… do I have the go-ahead, uh…
Researcher Jones: Dr Jones. And yes, you do.
D-15297: Got it. 'Were you always this way?'
SCP-XXXX-1: 'I do not know. I am bound here, but somehow I know it is not against my will.'
D-15297: 'Did someone create you?'
SCP-XXXX-1: 'No. I am nature's solution to a natural problem.'
D-15297: And that problem would be?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'You. I intend no offense, but you are liars all. Thus, I remain.'
D-15297: I don't understand.
SCP-XXXX-1: 'I didn't expect you to.'
D-15297: That's helpful. Can you at least explain why you're doing… whatever it is you're doing?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'Because it is my duty. I wait here not because I am bound, but because I must. Although, admittedly, I cannot move, so I am rather limited in my options.
D-15297: Wait, here? Where are you right now?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'Behind this door, of course.'
D-15297: A- (They turn to Researcher Jones, and she gives her assent) As in, location-wise? We know you're behind the door, but where is that? What's behind the door?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'You don't want to know, and you never will, until you are not in a position to communicate it. We don't want you telling tales, now do we?'
D-15297: "We"?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'Yes, we.'
D-15297: Who's we?
SCP-XXXX-1: 'Why not look for yourself?'
A small keyhole appears on the door. Footage distorts around the keyhole, obstructing vision. D-15297 looks through the keyhole, and gasps.
D-15297: W- what? Why are—?
He is cut off by a loud screech from SCP-XXXX, and a message scrawled in red ink appears in the pneumatic tube. D-15297 reads it.
D-15297: Why can't I tell them? I- this is- this changes everything.
Researcher Jones: D-15297! What did you see?
D-15297: I- it doesn't wan't me to tell you.
Researcher Jones: Tell me what you saw.
D-15297: I…
Researcher Jones: We'll amend your sentence. You'll be a free man. Just tell me what you saw.
D-15297: I- I saw… I saw—
A loud, rhythmic screeching noise starts up from SCP-XXXX, startling both D-15297 and Researcher Jones. Dead rats, human bones, and cat hair begin shooting from the pneumatic tube. A sound bite of laughter, punctuated by loud meowing, plays; analysis suggests that it was recorded in the 1980s or a similar time period, although no records of it have been found. The sound of many things pounding on SCP-XXXX from the other side can be heard. The door shudders.
SCP-XXXX-1: (Speaking in a chorus of whispering voices) Failure.
Nine shadowy feline entities manifest in the room, emerging from behind SCP-XXXX. They open their mouths and begin to howl; within their mouths, countless severed tongues can be seen. D-15297's tongue begins to grossly elongate. At once, the feline entities pounce upon and begin tearing into it.
SCP-XXXX-1: (Speaking in a chorus of whispering voices) A tattletale. Pity.
D-15297: (Screaming)
SCP-XXXX-1: (Speaking in a chorus of whispering voices) What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?
Researcher Jones: Shit! Shit! This interview is terminated! Get him out of there!
[END LOG]
Concluding Notes: D-15297's tongue was severed following the demanifestation of the entities, and later died of a combination of shock and blood loss.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/aged-door-with-ornamental-details-6109482/
SCP-XXXX.
Item #: XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Security Clearance: Level-4 (Secret)
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is contained at its location of discovery, Area-XXXX. No other containment procedures are necessary.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a forested field 0.6km in diameter, encompassed by a fence of cobblestone pillars and cast iron, roughly 1.2m in height. The gate is 2.6m in height and features elaborate metal designs; it is labelled as '[OBSCURED]31 County Youth Cemetery'.
A large, ornate lock is present at the centre of the gate; to date, no key has been found, nor have any records of the cemetery's construction. Engraved on the lock is the phrase: "For those taken too soon: may you find happiness, wherever you may be."
There is a noticeable lack of gravestones within SCP-XXXX. Instead, numerous human corpses32 are scattered through SCP-XXXX's interior bounds, all displaying signs of heavy charring and/or severe burning. Every instance noted appears to have been running, crawling, or otherwise attempting to leave SCP-XXXX at time of death, with instances closer to exiting having much more fully-formed bodily structures. Instances discovered near SCP-XXXX-1 are little more than bone fragments encased in cucurbitaceous plant matter in a facsimile of a human form, whereas instances nearing the bounds of SCP-XXXX have evidence of muscle mass, skin, hair, and organs.
All corpses are anomalously resistant to almost all forms of damage but can be destroyed via incineration. By virtue of this property, complete dental records have been recovered from several instances that were found in comparatively good condition, all of which match those of children who were noted to have disappeared, been murdered, or otherwise died unexpectedly.
Several rusted devices bearing remarkable similarity to standard-issue Foundation incendiary weaponry have been found throughout SCP-XXXX. They do not appear to be subject to the anomalous properties that affect the corpses within SCP-XXXX.
SCP-XXXX-1 is a stone mausoleum located at the centre of SCP-XXXX. Vegetation is noticeably thicker in its immediate surroundings and is accompanied by a high density of various species of pumpkins, many unidentified.
SCP-XXXX-1 is extremely resistant to all forms of damage; no known method of penetrating or otherwise entering SCP-XXXX-1 has been found.
The door to SCP-XXXX-1 is constructed of a thick layer of dark stone. A large lock, similar in design to the one found on SCP-XXXX's gate, is visible at the centre. Above the door, an inscription in elaborate script reading "Come back to us" has been scratched out.
A small placard is welded to the lock, which reads "Contained by the SCP Foundation Department of Abnormalities." The door is warm to the touch, and muffled sounds of crackling and screaming can be heard from behind it.