Archival photograph of SCP-5XXX taken at a live performance in 1968. The lead bandmates are labeled accordingly, though SCP-5XXX-1 is seen here without microphone or violin. The two individuals in the background are unknown civilians.
Special Containment Procedures (Archived): SCP-5XXX is currently uncontained. Containment is considered unnecessary at this time. The anomaly is to be contained as soon as possible and by any means necessary. Any manifestation originating from SCP-5XXX (whether in digital or physical form) is to be promptly removed and destroyed. Any personnel who refuse to contain the anomaly after exposure are to be considered infected and must be isolated and treated with amnestics immediately. Report to Site Director Carlisle for debriefing.
Update 05/24/2010: Musical venues within what is traditionally defined as the region of Auvergne, France, are to be extensively monitored for visitation by SCP-5XXX. Assigned personnel—of whom none can be individuals previously treated with amnestics—will attend any live performances armed with durapolymer earplugs, posing as bouncers hired by a Foundation front security firm; their assignment is to ensure nobody touches SCP-5XXX after sundown. Assigned personnel are not to look at SCP-5XXX-1 through -3 unless absolutely necessary. Interactions with SCP-5XXX-1 through -3 are strictly forbidden except under special circumstances; physical contact is disallowed with no exceptions. A scan of every major online music distribution service is to be performed every 24 hours to detect any possible manifestations of SCP-5XXX and subsequently remove them.
Description: SCP-5XXX is a traditional folk music group known as [EXPUNGED] hailing from Issoire, Auvergne, France. The specific identities of the individuals that comprise the group cannot be conclusively ascertained, further complicated by the group appearing to trade individuals in and out at unknown intervals of time, sometimes having as many as twenty people. The only individuals which do not ever change are the three lead musicians, hereafter SCP-5XXX-1, -2, and -3. Despite the group being active since 1964 at the latest, these three individuals appear to never age, with contemporary photos and modern photos both showing them as middle aged men (5XXX-1 and -3) and a middle-aged woman (5XXX-2).
The primary anomalous effects of the group manifest in the music they produce. Unless a listener is trained with anti-memetics, they will begin to experience a potent relaxation impulse upon exposure, affecting their entire body and its systems. After the song is over, they will search for more music by the group, or in the case of a live performance, they will begin dancing or participating. The group will very quickly enter the listener's list of personal favorite music acts regardless of their previous taste in music, and in at least 98% of cases the group's music has been confirmed to alleviate stress, anxiety, paranoia, and even severe depression.
Under particular circumstances which are not fully understood as of yet, video footage of SCP-5XXX will result in the viewer beginning to sob uncontrollably, alongside potentially other (generally positive) effects. If individuals other than SCP-5XXX-1 through -3 perform the music, described effects will still ensue. Peculiarly, any prior treatment with amnestics will be reversed upon exposure, causing the afflicted subject to suddenly remember everything since their first exposure to SCP-5XXX as well as anything previously wiped from their memory.
Individuals suffering from a total loss of auditory senses face no anomalous effects when hearing music produced by SCP-5XXX; however in live performances, they will begin to exhibit the usual described effects—dancing to the music despite being unable to hear it or describe it afterwards, and becoming acutely fond of the group.
Cover of the album released by SCP-5XXX on iTunes in 2006. The group's name is whited out for safety.
Knowledge of SCP-5XXX went completely undocumented until 2006, when an album composed by the anomaly in 2004 titled Après soleil couché (French for "after sundown") was released on iTunes. Foundation agents embedded on various internet forums noticed a sudden 1200% uptick in frequency of recommendations for a group named [EXPUNGED]; upon cursory investigation merely out of curiosity, these agents also grew acutely fond of the group's music, despite their previous tastes in music ranging from heavy metal to hip-hop. One agent identified the feelings they were experiencing as anomalous, and reported this to the Foundation. This resulted in research into SCP-5XXX and subsequent contact.
Post-Encounter Report 5XXX-A
Traveling to Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, Dr. Lasing met with the group—at the time comprised of 14 band members—whilst accompanied by other agents, and after an extended investigation, Dr. Lasing concluded that containment was not necessary and erased all of his other notes. Lasing and Site Director Carlisle proceeded to share the following correspondence via email:
Lasing, ████ on 08/14/2006, 12:39
Subject: this is wrong
they just want to help people
Carlisle, █████ on 08/14/2006, 13:11
Subject: Re: this is wrong
Lasing,
I'm not sure what they did to you, but it's clearly anomalous. The anomalous must always be contained. Who knows what might happen next? Maybe this is just how it starts, before the music corrupts your brain entirely.
I expect you to send a proper report by midnight. If you are unable to do so, I'm going to schedule you for psychiatric evaluation.
█████ Carlisle, Director of Site-43 Bitch
Lasing, ████ on 08/14/2006, 13:13
Subject: Re: Re: this is wrong
im sorry sorry im just i feel so free
It should be noted that Dr. Lasing, in all other known interactions, uses proper capitalization and punctuation and is usually described as highly verbose in his writing. Despite initial suspicions of an impostor, biometric data indicates that his emails here were not sent by someone else.
Shortly after this exchange took place, Dr. Lasing was treated with Class-A amnestics.
As of the publication of Post-Encounter Report 5XXX-A within Foundation records, the use of Class-A amnestics in response to affective exposure to SCP-5XXX has been authorized by the Site-43 Administrative Council, citing a precaution that prolonged exposure to and fondness of SCP-5XXX could potentially result in undesirable effects; with a caveat that long-term D-Class testing in order to properly map out the effects of SCP-5XXX would begin promptly.
It was also suggested that music produced by SCP-5XXX be tested on various other SCP anomalies, particularly humanoid ones, to determine the extent of its effects.
Goddamn it, Kyle, no, N-O! Strike that shit out. I want it cut from the document by the end of the week. Unless the O5s themselves demand it, it won't happen. I won't let it. — Carlisle
Reminder: Start testing on other SCP anomalies in Site-43 after I'm through with the fucker up top.
[ERROR: FILE NOT FOUND]
A message from Director43;
Hello employee,
This is Site Director Carlisle. Most other site admins would just redact the file you're looking at and call it a day, but I like to give a more personal touch. The file you're trying to access, I'll be frank, I don't want you looking at it. Reason being, the results have proven uneventful. Don't waste your time.
If you have proper clearance and feel like wasting precious hours of your time, go ahead and email me an access request form filled out as necessary.
█████ Carlisle, Director of Site-43
This document has been requested a total of 16 times, with all except 3 being denied.
[WARNING: DOCUMENT CORRUPTION DETECTED]
NOTICE FROM YOUR BOSS
As of 16 February 2007, this file is now accessible to all personnel in possession of Clearance Level 1 or higher. Because Carlisle is a fucking prick. — Dr. Lasing
The Long-term Effects of Exposure to AO-"Auvergne Daze"
- Purpose of the experiment: To learn and understand what befalls a person or group of persons following affective exposure to AO-"Auvergne Daze".
- Result: AO-"Auvergne Daze" has shown to be entirely beneficial to all test subjects, with the exception of D-23328.
- Subject: A pool of 27 D-Class personnel, mostly pulled from duties with other SCP anomalies.
- Date/Location: 09/19/2006 - 01/26/2007 | Site 43, ████████, France
| DATA LOG |
|
| Subject |
D-61934 |
| Protocol |
Subject was exposed to Auvergne Daze and given unrestricted access to music produced by the anomalous folk group. Observation lasted for one week. |
| Results |
Subject was alleviated of all stress and depressive tendencies within 24 hours of exposure. Subject notes that they no longer experience suicidal thoughts. |
| DATA LOG |
|
| Subject |
D-77304 |
| Protocol |
Subject was exposed to Auvergne Daze but then disallowed all access to the music for the following week. |
| Results |
Subject was alleviated of all stress and depressive tendencies within 24 hours. They consistently asked for music, but lost interest when personnel informed them that none from Auvergne Daze was available. Subject grew highly irritable after 72 hours, but never resorted to violence. |
| DATA LOG |
|
| Subject |
D-23328 |
| Protocol |
Subject was exposed to Auvergne Daze but then disallowed all access to the music for the remainder of the test. Observation lasted for four days. |
| Results |
Subject was alleviated of all stress and depressive tendencies within 24 hours. After 48 hours, without subsequent exposure, subject began to display increasing signs of distress. Subject was recorded repeatedly mumbling "Oh god, what have I done? She didn't deserve that… oh god…" |
Carlisle: Where did D-23328 come from?
Dr. Giraud: Site-19. But there's no record as to where he was assigned specifically.
Carlisle: God. Even I don't know the shit that goes on with that place. Didn't they amnesticize him?
Post-Encounter Report 5XXX-B
A second extraction attempt was made three months later in which Carlisle sent MTF Kappa-42 ("Party Boys") to an ongoing live performance by the band in Lyon, with the objective of shutting down the performance and quietly moving civilians out of the venue while restraining the musicians. Instead, site administration lost contact with the MTF squadron for nine days. An elite force of agents trained against cognitohazards known as "the Junebugs" was sent in to track the squadron down, locating their uniforms in some bushes along a countryside road. The MTF agents were eventually found amongst the crowd of another live performance located in Aulnat, wearing clothes purchased from local stores. The Junebugs waited out the performance to ambush the musicians backstage, whilst the head of the operation, Agent Chabenat, waited in a remote location with audio detection equipment designed to scramble any music going through the speakers.
Upon entering the backstage area, all individuals in the corridor evacuated except for a vocalist/violinist (-1), an accordionist (-2), and a hurdy-gurdyist (-3). The latter two refused to speak, while -1 continuously offered to play the agents a song. According to the sole Francophone among the Junebugs, Junebug-7, SCP-5XXX-1 kept reiterating different ways to express a very deep desire to make people happy.
Chabenat eventually ordered the Junebugs to stop conversing and begin moving to restrain the musicians. However, Chabenat received no response until five minutes had passed, at which point he received audio from the Junebugs reporting that containment is unnecessary. Nonetheless, the agents retrieved the instruments used by SCP-5XXX-1 through -3 to see if they were the source of anomaly.
Junebug-2 Audio Journal:
The following is a transcription of an on-the-spot audio log made by Junebug-2 describing the encounter shortly after it had concluded.
Date: 11/20/2006
The violinist kept talking and talking and talking. We all kind of just let him. Something about the way he spoke—it was, I don't know, soothing. I don't even speak French, I was just hearing it all secondhand from Junebug-7 who does.
The lady with the accordion had this infectious smile. She never spoke, but I had this weird urge to pay attention to her even as the violinist kept talking. Not because she's, you know, I wasn't looking at her like that, but something about her was alluring.
The third guy, he had a… they call it a, hurdy-gurdy? Now, he was especially interesting. He also never said a word, but I just felt… inspired around him. He had this commanding, charismatic presence. But not like, you know, I didn't want to follow him or pledge my allegiance or whatever. He made me feel like doing something. Motivated! He made me feel motivated. And he was just… sitting there… the whole time. I don't know, it's weird.
The Junebugs received appropriate disciplinary action for failing to contain SCP-5XXX along with disobeying and undermining administrative orders.
Following Encounter 5XXX-B, extensive testing was done on the instruments retrieved by the Junebugs in order to determine if the instruments were the source of anomaly. On the orders of Carlisle, research teams utilized generic procedures to this effect as well as technically unauthorized use of SCP-████. It was found that the instruments may have been crafted using wood from another reality, though the nature of this other reality is not known at this time. Each of the instruments had very small etchings (requiring a microscope to properly view) of Phoenician script roughly spelling out "VNTS TRSK. Research as to the meaning and origin of the etchings is currently underway.
Thorough testing which culminated in a brief controlled performance by Foundation personnel trained in the instruments' use has ultimately yielded no anomalous effects. It was thus concluded that the humanoid entities at the head of the music group were the true anomaly.
SCP-5XXX-EX Extended Investigation Report
Photograph taken by Agent Desq during investigation. SCP-5XXX-3 can be seen looking towards the camera.
Realizing anyone sent to capture SCP-5XXX would simply grow too fond to try to contain it, Site Director Carlisle dispatched a force of six agents with durapolymer earplugs (though one agent was fully deaf) to watch and investigate movements of SCP-5XXX. They would be posing as fans and event photographers. The following list was compiled by Agent Desq over the course of one month:
- SCP-5XXX never seems to venture far outside of the region of Auvergne, with the Lyon performance from PER-5XXX-B being the farthest known.
- Casual conversation with other fans who travel with SCP-5XXX reveal that they once toured along the entirety of the Loire in the 1990s.
- Although fans and auxiliary musicians of SCP-5XXX still eat and sleep as normal, the lead bandmates were never observed to eat or even drink, and instead of sleeping they seem to vanish some time after 21:00 every night. They do not visibly dematerialize whilst visual contact is made, instead walking behind an object (such as a tree or the stage) to disappear from view before vanishing. The mechanism by which they disappear and to where they vanish are both unknown at this time.
- They rematerialize with identical restrictions regarding visual contact some time before 06:00 in the morning.
- When fans and auxiliary musicians are asked about the lead bandmates, they always seem to answer confusedly or evasively, and claim to never notice the aforementioned strange behaviors. Whether this is an effect of prolonged exposure to the music or a secondary effect of being within proximity to the lead bandmates is unknown at this time.
- Occasionally, individuals known to travel with SCP-5XXX disappear.
Following an incident in which SCP-5XXX-3 made eye contact with Agent Desq during the taking of a photograph, the deaf agent was apparently swayed into participating in the dance crowd, reportedly following the rhythm of the music perfectly despite her handicap. The other agents were then instructed to extract her and return to Site-43, with the operation declared compromised. During extraction whilst being dragged away from the outdoor performance venue, Agent Desq reportedly began sobbing happily.
The following is an excerpt of Agent Desq's personal informal report of the incident:
(…) but then his eyes met mine. And I felt like I could do anything. I felt like I had to. So I started dancing. I'm not sure how I kept up with the other dancers—I mean I'm not blind, I could watch and eventually get it—but here it just came naturally. I can't explain it.
After I was grabbed and pulled away, the music kept going despite the commotion. Nobody on stage or amidst the crowd was any the wiser. But he—SCP-5XXX-3—kept looking at me. And then he smiled. And I became overwhelmed with… emotion. I think it was happiness. I can't say for sure. It feels like I hadn't experienced that sort of thing, not really, for… a long time before this.
Agent Desq was sent on paid leave following the conclusion of the investigation. Two weeks later, a package arrived at her apartment in Toulouse containing a VHS tape labeled "Pour vous et pour eux" (French for "For you and for them") and a generic white card with the following message (translated from French):
Hello lovely,
We just wanted to thank you and those who employ you for showing so much interest in our cause. We are glad to make you all happy.
(a smiley face is drawn underneath the message)
Agent Desq played the VHS tape on an old television set, and reportedly (according to herself) broke down crying again as she "could hear everything now". She then called her Foundation handler to have the tape acquired for examination. She attached an enveloped note to Carlisle on the VHS tape.
After the VHS tape was recovered from Desq's apartment, Site Director Carlisle first had D-Class personnel involved in long-term exposure tests watch the video in isolation. Every single D-Class broke down in tears from the video.
The forty-five second video was described as being in black and white and extremely poor camera quality. The lead bandmates, surrounded by auxiliary musicians, appear in choir formation, with SCP-5XXX-3 being in the front and center. SCP-5XXX-1 proceeds to apologize for the bad camera quality, after which the auxiliary musicians all laugh; -1 then thanks the viewers ("plus the rest of you watching") for "choosing happiness" and remarks how special every fan is. They all give a bow before the video cuts to black.
Site Director Carlisle proceeded to lock the video in the site's vault, with explicit orders that it never be recovered unless demanded by an O5. Carlisle then opened the letter Agent Desq wrote to him:
How can you justify containing what should be left free?
The letter had a flash drive attached to it. Carlisle sent the flash drive to Dr. Lasing for examination, whereupon it was revealed to contain only an audio file of Agent Desq singing a song by SCP-5XXX in perfect tune. They then shared the following correspondence via email:
Lasing, ████ on 02/16/2007, 18:02
Subject: Explain this, asshole.
She can hear now. Desq can fucking hear now. How's that long-term testing turning out, by the way?
Carlisle, █████ on 02/16/2007, 18:20
Subject: Re: Explain this, asshole.
Lasing,
Calm down. Positive effects don't mean an anomaly gets a free pass. They all need to be contained.
And I'll have you know, progress is being made.
Lasing, ████ on 02/16/2007, 18:31
Subject: Re: Re: Explain this, asshole.
Is what we do always what's best for humanity?
And in my experience, "progress is being made" is a funny way of saying "I have nothing".
Carlisle, █████ on 02/16/2007, 19:46
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Explain this, asshole.
Lasing,
You're being unreasonable. Obviously we have humanity's best interests at heart. We have no idea what we're dealing with, and that's that. Hence, containment protocol.
Lasing, ████ on 02/16/2007, 21:59
Subject: Resignation
I, Dr. ████ Lasing, hereby resign from my duties with the SCP Foundation on the basis of moral quandaries. I have attached an audio recording in which I verify that I fully intend to go forward with this.
This link has been removed per orders of O5-█, as it actually contained a studio version of SCP-5XXX's song "Jours Joyeux" ("Joyous Days"). Site Director Carlisle was promptly infected by SCP-5XXX and, due to extensive involvement with the project to contain it, was treated with Class-C amnestics and rotated to another site. Dr. Lasing was then terminated shortly thereafter. This document is currently under examination and is scheduled to be updated at some point in the future to properly reflect these developments.
At this time, the Foundation is suspending pursuit of SCP-5XXX until further notice.
— O5-█
Per 
