SCP-1936

Daleport

Photograph believed to have been taken during a meeting of a local religious organization, The Victory Society. Individual in photograph is believed to be Reverend Michael Hawshore.

Special Containment Procedures

SCP-1936 is to be contained behind a two meter electrical fence, which is to be patrolled by security elements. The area contained is roughly circular, 1km in diameter. Security cameras are to be installed to cover areas not currently being patrolled. Expeditions into SCP-1936 are to be escorted by an armed element as specified by Area-37's Security Director. Personnel are not to enter spatially anomalous locations without specific authorization, with the conditions of such authorization dependent on recent anomalous activity within SCP-1936.

Area-37 is to be set-up on the outskirts of the town to support these operations and to provide facilities for the initial testing and classification of objects recovered from SCP-1936. Once classified, these objects are to be sent to the appropriate Site for long-term storage and study.

Dead biological samples recovered from SCP-1936 are to be kept under strict quarantine and taken to Area-37. Summary incineration may be performed if the samples are deemed hazardous. In the event that any live biological samples are found in SCP-1936, investigating personnel are to remove themselves from the area and Mobile Task Force Zeta-29 (“Mad Mountaineers”) are to be sent in to recover and bring it into containment.

Description

SCP-1936 is the New England town of Daleport. In the year 1997, the town fell victim to what is presumed to be a highly destructive event or a series of highly destructive events over the course of several days. During this time, the Foundation was unable to enter the town or observe any event that occurred therein due to the presence of SCP-1936-1, a gaseous area centered on Daleport that covered the whole town. (For further information, see Attempted Expedition 1936.) This anomaly is no longer present at SCP-1936, having dissipated a week and a half after its appearance.

Dimensions of the remaining buildings have become significantly altered from the original plans and a large number of them have become topologically inconsistent. Investigations report spatial anomalies including rooms that become smaller when they are entered, eventually preventing the occupants from moving,¹ doors that lead to different points at different times of the day and corridors that despite leading to only one location also lead to several different locations.²

X-ray radiograph of recovered biological material. Contrast has been altered to emphasize mutated tissue.

No survivors from the anomalous events which affected Daleport have been found within the town proper, but the remains of a large number of Daleport citizens have been recovered. Cause of death varies, but it appears that a large number committed suicide. In many cases, the remains of these citizens demonstrate anomalous properties, presumed to be a result of the anomalous event. Some of these remains have included:

A smear of entrails and viscera capable of picking up audio radio transmissions from up to six miles away. Sound is created through vibration of tissues. Subject was found with a small plant that gave out a small constant flame.
A torso embedded in a wall. Slight movement of the torso was visible when investigating personnel spoke. Blood continually manifests fifteen centimeters above the torso.
The body of an older male with both eyes gouged out. A steady stream of ashes pours from the body's eye sockets, nose, mouth and ears without any apparent source.
Several human corpses discovered in a row on the main street. Flesh, skin and bone had been removed from a circular portion of their foreheads. Skin and brain tissue surrounding the wound had undergone severe charring.
At 19:42 each day, several floating torsos manifest outside the Johnson Public Library, simulating the motions of running, heading southwest along Market Road. Three minutes after manifesting the torsos attempt to leave the road and fade out.
The body of a young female that floats steadily upwards when subject to any applied force, regardless of the force's direction.³

Attempted Expedition Log-1936:

Due to the unknown status of Daleport’s residents, manned and unmanned expeditions were made into SCP-1936-1 to determine the safety of entering SCP-1936-1, ascertain the nature of SCP-1936-1 and its effect, and to facilitate possible recovery of civilians. These expeditions took place over the course of several days as resources arrived on location.

Open Expedition Log

Attempted Expedition Log-1936-1:

Unmanned Ground Expedition:

Sample image from UGV imaging systems.

Procedure: Following the detainment of relevant witnesses and the establishment of a containment perimeter, an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV-1) was sent into SCP-1936-1. UGV-1 was equipped with atmospheric sampling sensors, closed- and open-circuit biological samples, including several Rattus norvegicus (brown rat) instances. Video and audio recording equipment were also included.
Results: UGV-1 found SCP-1936-1 to be composed of sulfur, nitrogen and carbon oxides. The concentration was found to be at a level where irritation occurs, but would not present a lethal hazard. Biological samples were unaffected in any anomalous manner. Video recordings showed a smooth, wasteland-like landscape, starting at 100m into SCP-1936-1 and extending up to 2km from the edge of SCP-1936-1. At this range, radio communication with UGV-1 became degraded⁴ and UGV-1 was returned to the SCP-1936-1's perimeter.

Attempted Expedition Log-1936-2:

Manned Ground Expedition:

Procedure: Two D-Class (D-512 and D-513) were sent into SCP-1936-1, aboard UGV-2.⁵ UGV-2 was equipped with a higher wattage radio transceiver than that of UGV-1. D-512 and D-513 wore Level A (Gas-tight) hazmat protective clothing and biotelemetry sensors during the expedition.

Results: D-512 and D-513 were initially taken 1km from SCP-1936-1's boundary. D-513 was ordered to de-suit. D-513 had been previously briefed on this and complied promptly. D-513 reported no-ill effects from exposure to SCP-1936-1. Medical telemetry showed D-513 had slight difficulty breathing, similar to breathing smog. D-512 and D-513 continually reported flat featureless terrain while in SCP-1936-1. Unacceptable levels of radio interference began at 3km from SCP-1936-1's boundary and UGV-2 was returned to SCP-1936-1's edge. Medical examinations performed upon their return on D-512 and D-513 showed they had not been abnormally affected during the expedition.

Attempted Expedition Log-1936-3:

Armed Manned Ground Expedition:

Foreword: The following audio log is a transcription of an attempted expedition by mechanized infantry platoon Kilo. The platoon was assigned six Piranha LAV V vehicles (designated Alpha through Foxtrot), with mounted environmental analysis equipment. Log begins 3km into SCP-1936-1.

C&C: Kilo Actual, Kilo Actual, this is Mike. Requesting update on your status, over.

Kilo Actual: Mike, this is Kilo Actual. We’re still seeing the terrain as flat. SCP-1936-1 doesn’t seem to have changed since we went in.

Bravo Actual: Kilo Actual, this is Bravo Actual. We can see upwards incline ahead.

Alpha Actual: This is Alpha Actual. We aren’t seeing any incline. Checked your mark ones over there, Bravo?

Bravo Actual: Alpha, we’re going down the incline right now.

Alpha Actual: Yeah, we see it. Following you down.⁶

Charlie Actual: Kilo Platoon, this is Charlie Actual. Anyone else seeing the sky out there? We’re getting a lot of red and blue patterns. Seems to be screwing up the radio a bit.

Unknown 1: Y'hah hlirgh fm'latgh ebumn.

Charlie Actual: Uh, C&C? I think we're getting a bit of interf-

Unknown 2: They said, "Amen, may that heretic burn in the pit". As in, "I fucking hate him so much, I hope he dies a slow painful death in a burning hole".

At this point, two-way communication with the expedition team was lost, with C&C only able to receive messages. Sounds of a firefight and wildly varying descriptions of the attacking forces are heard. After approximately 30 minutes, the following message is received.

Unknown 3: Blargh, I am Ssvlsrr, the Shivering Mist. I am the n'ghft currently covering the town of Daleport. While traversing my ftaghu, your men have been attacked. Some have become n'gha, but the rest are in safe hands. Evil has been summoned to this town, by a society of hlirghh. The worst shall be contained within me by vulgtmm and tharanakk, but the town and its people will not remain unaffected. A great battle shall rage and a victor must be decided. In time, those who can stop the ehye will be here in time and see the hlirghh fm'latgh. Please do not send any more soldiers into me as I cannot keep them from the shogg. When all throd before the victors, I shall leave and the shugg will be yours again. I hope you shall survive it. Y'hah.

Closing Statement: Unmanned observations continued to operate but were unable to reach the town of Daleport. No manned expeditions were sent into SCP-1936-1 prior to its dissipation.

Recovered Materials-1936:

A large number of documents were retrieved from SCP-1936. These are assumed to have been written by the town's previous inhabitants.

Open Recovered Written Documents

Security cameras and other video devices continued to acquire footage while the SCP-1936-1 was present.

Open Recovered Video Footage

Video recovered from a ruined gas station’s surveillance camera on the outskirts of SCP-1936. Start time is 2139.

The cashier of the establishment is handing a customer a plastic bag. The window next to the two individuals smashes, and an unknown organism enters through the broken window. Its appearance is unclear, as its center is surrounded by multiple tentacle-like appendages. It is roughly the same height as an adult human.

The customer attempts to flee. The organism lashes out at the customer with a tentacle. The customer is decapitated and, due to the impact of the tentacle, the head is propelled off-camera.

The cashier hides behind the counter, but the organism moves itself over the counter and out of sight, presumably having landed on them. Blood and viscera consistently splatter on the wall above the counter for the next thirty seconds.

What appears to be an elderly human wearing a bowler hat and waistcoat enters the establishment. The footage becomes mildly distorted when the individual enters the shot, and increases greatly when it becomes apparent that instead of a face, the individual has a triangle branded into their skin.

The first organism moves back onto the counter, appearing to be wary of the individual. The distortion of the footage increases as several multi-jointed appendages burst from various points on the individual's body.

The first organism and the individual engage in hostilities. The organism appears to be in a large degree of pain when touched by the individual and attempts to retreat out the store. The individual throws the organism out of the store through a wall, creating a large hole in it. The ceiling is seen bulging downwards when the footage ends.

Video recovered from security cameras outside the Johnson Public Library, facing Market Street. Start time is 1940.

A speeding car is seen entering frame from the left, travelling along Main Street. The driver appears to lose control over the vehicle and crashes into a lamppost outside the library. As the lamppost is broken, it splits and buckles as a partially translucent spectral entity emerges from within the lamppost. The car's occupants leave the vehicle and begin running southwest along the street away from the entity. The entity gives chase, floating through the air.

This goes on for several minutes with the entity gaining little ground. Eventually the entity stops giving chase and undergoes several changes in colouration. A blue coloured shock-wave of unknown composition is then released from the entity and travels after the fleeing people. The shock-wave passes over the people as they attempt to turn off the road, which causes the people to become transparent and fade.

The following footage was pieced together from several partially surviving sources, centred around the entrance to the town hall.

The exterior town hall is shown having sustained damage with the roof in a partial state of collapse. The front doors to the building are missing, replaced with a circular phenomenon glowing the blue/violet end of the spectrum. A convoy of vehicles appears travelling towards town hall at speed. The convoy consists of dozens of civilian cars and trucks, as well as Foundation vehicles matching those sent on the Manned Exploration of SCP-1936-1. A small number of humaniform robotic entities armed with firearms of unknown make and manufacture are seen running along side the vehicles.

As the vehicles approach the town hall, the civilians and the Foundation personnel disembark. The civilians⁷ move towards the circular phenomenon at the apparent urging of the robotic entities and Foundation personnel. A triradially symmetric organism approximately 3 m tall and covered in various technological items is seen exiting the lead Foundation vehicle. The organism interacts with one of the devices and appears to undergo a series of controlled convulsions for several seconds.⁸

As the first civilians reach the circular phenomenon, a fractal-shaped⁹ sheet of motile skin jumps from the roof of the hall towards the crowd. Due to its low mass and high drag, this takes several seconds, during which the robots and Foundation personnel open fire on the skin sheet, doing little damage. As the sheet reaches the ground, it leaps towards the nearest civilian and wraps itself around the civilian's head. The triradially symmetric organism runs towards the two, rips the skin sheet off the civilian, throws it to the ground and activates a flamethrower, severely charring the skin sheet and rendering it non-ambulatory. The organism then indicates to several nearby stunned civilians to enter the circular phenomenon. They do so, causing them to disappear from view.

The robotic entities and Foundation personnel allow all civilians to enter, before collapsing inside the circular phenomenon themselves. When only the radial organism remains, it burns the phrase "PANGLOSS GRANTS YOU SANCTUARY" into the stonework above the town hall's entrance. The circular phenomenon remains in place as the organism leaves.

The manifestation at Area-37 of 94 live civilians and of almost all of the missing Foundation personnel in the weeks following SCP-1936-1's disappearance is believed to be related to the above events. Individuals recovered so far have suffered memory loss regarding the events in Daleport, leading to no new information being gathered during debrief.

While analysing recovered documents to determine the cause of SCP-1936-1's arrival, numerous references were made to a cult named The Victory Society.

Open Cultist Documentation

The following note was discovered in the jacket pocket of a recovered body. The head and left arm of the corpse had swollen to three times their regular size. The corpse is believed to be that of James Curtis, who was a member of a local religious organization known as The Victory Society.

What we need:
Two trout
A bottle of milk
Virginal blood (where am i even meant to get that) to be mixed with the milk (he who walks beneath dreams is into that sort of thing apparently)
Assorted souls, willingly sold (alliteration is big deal for that which waits inside the horizon)
At least two hundred beetles
Lots of ice (if hawshore thinks i’m doing the sculpture for this shivering mist thingy, he’s got another think coming)
two dead bodies, have to have been dead for at least a year
some human eyes (the blind one’s meant to have thousands of sockets, i dont think a few eyes are going to do it for him BUT OH WELL)
marky and dan are getting the rest of the stuff. laura too, i think. hawshore just sits at home with his books though, the fuck.

The following passage was written on the inside cover of a charred book, outside the church at the center of Daleport.

The border of the mural is encompassed by Ssvlssr, the Shivering Mist that will descend upon the world during the Time of Awakening. The mist is all-encompassing, and shall act as a barrier to those wishing to stop the Awakening, as well as confine the Great Trinity of Potential Victors. The three at the center of the mural are the Great Victor of Flames, the Great Victor of Frost, and the Great Victor of the Storm. They rain down destruction upon one another, with their true names inscribed in unreadable, unknowable runes

Around the three are visions of the Great Battle that contain the majority of those that shall come to this realm, with Djrr, the Dark God of Lamp-Posts, The Blind One illuminating the way for his followers, who leave tributes upon crooked light posts. Djlp manifests as the flies pouring out of the mouths of his beloved and becursed to assist in the conflict any way he can, while Yni-Yni, the Trepanner, frees his followers from the skulls of their oppressors. The Shredded Cabbage of Misfortune will destroy those who oppose the vegetable monarchy. Zinn, Herald of Maarp commands the army of Lepidoptera to carry those away who sleep with the flowers beneath the Silver Ash in the Dream Attics of Inanimatum. The Voice of Ages, though not visible, is omnipresent, represented by the yellow runes bearing his name hidden throughout the mural.

Finally, at the bottom, the minor minions and deities pledge their allegiance to the three victors. Those who pledge their allegiance to the Great Victor of Flames are tinted orange, the Great Victor of Frost violet, and the Great Victor of Storms green. Many, such as He Who Walks Beneath Dreams, his face a mere triangle, remain unaligned, and are painted in black, for they are opposed to none and yet opposed to all. The Dark Deer Dm'axx is shown around the edges, forever excluded by the rest. Sheogorath remains, ruling his kingdom of two faces before he himself brings its downfall, only to be stopped by a great prisoner of the dragon king. Twenty goats stuck together making a goat ball, spin round and round all the way to goat hell. The skeletons forever fight their final war. The conflicts of these minor deities will have little impact on who the Great Victor of this battle shall be.

Several documents were recovered from what is believed to be the body of Reverend Michael Hawshore, the leader of the religious organization The Victory Society. The body showed extreme spatially anomalous properties, and was incinerated after recovery and analysis. It appears that these pages were removed from a journal or diary, but their original source has not yet been found.

Image found on the body of Reverend Hawshore. Believed to have been removed from a book Hawshore had in his possession.

July 22nd, 19██
I am returning to Daleport. Godfrey wished me luck as I left, but I know he hoped for my failure. He is too idealistic to believe in my cause. I took all the necessary books out of the Library before I left, though. I suppose I could have just waited until I got home, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find a proper Way there, and I very much doubt Godfrey would assist me.

Hard to get all the books around. Had some trouble with the Lost Wanderer Dasa’n’asad’s Seventh Tome, but the container my contact gave me helped with the heat worries. Burnt my hand handling the thing, but still. You can’t hope to do something like this without minor sacrifices.

James is meeting me at the station, but he’ll most likely be late. He always is. You have to work with what you’ve got, but it’s disheartening there aren’t some more respectable people interested in this venture. I worry about the next time.

August 1st, 19██

I am a little shaken up. The priming ritual for The One Of Broken Nines needed blood sacrifice. I had hoped anaesthetic could be used, but the ritual didn’t allow for that. The child is dead now, and it is done. We can’t lose track of the goal. The child would thank me, thank me from the bottom of his heart, if he knew why we were doing this. It’s for the good of everybody. It’s for the good of everybody. IT’S FOR THE GOOD OF EVERYBODY.¹⁰ The Victor shall walk from the rubbles of man and restore clarity to those who remain.

I am beginning to doubt James’ devotion to our cause.

August 13th, 19██

The Voice of Ages needed the blood of a heretic. I suppose it just means heretic in general, the Voice wasn’t picky about what kind of religion. James was not eager to contribute, but the fact that his blood worked proved that my suspicions were correct. The liar. He would have doomed us all in his selfishness. Things do not get easier, but my time is coming to an end. I have decided that we will not operate over the next two days. It will be a time for rest, so we can prepare for what is to come. I will welcome my death, even if it is not quick.

The world will lie still again on Monday, and it will thank us for it.

Additional notes found near the body of Reverend Hawshore. The first of these appears to be a transcript from a speech made by the Reverend, presumably to the members of The Victory Society.

Brothers and sisters, we come together for the last time today. It has been a honor to work with you all. I could not have hoped for a better group with which to secure the future of mankind.

From the dawn of time, terrible impossibilities have spawned from the darkness between stars, not hating life, simply being indifferent to it. We are as ants to these abominations, these demented Gods. I use this term as this is what they are called in older texts. You will not find any biblical God here. Or perhaps you will, I do not know. The use of ‘Gods’ here is this specific form of creature, born from the primordial chaos of this reality, not just a powerful being. Simply powerful beings do not reach the uncaring depths of cruelty and depravity that the Gods do.

They are so far above us that we are but insects. Accordingly, we shall look as such. In order to gain the forgiveness and favour of the Gods, we must learn to know our place before them.

Each of these things seeks dominion over the laws of reality itself, imposing the nature of their twisted existences upon stars and planets and people. The only answer to this threat? These Gods must be destroyed, the slate wiped clean. We could not do this, by no means, no. But we cannot allow these things to exist. A kingdom cannot have a billion kings. We cannot kill the Gods, no, only a God can kill a God.

We will bring them here and bind them. Bind them until their bloodlust is sated, until all but one is dead. Always a single God remains: the Victor, who returns to whence they came as the only God remaining. But their primordial chaos eventually spawns more Gods, more twisted angels and demons. And so it all comes to pass again. Our vigilance must be constant, for a new Victor must be found again and again. We will leave a mark in creation, but it will fade. It will heal.

Stand strong as our people have before. Stand strong as the near-men in ancient cities did. Stand strong as we did at the Gates of Sodom. Stand strong as we have always stood strong, because this must always be done.

Fortune favours those who take bold steps. We shall become Unified with Inanimatum, entering the Somnium Aeternum. May we be forgiven.

The following section was found in the back cover of Hawshore's journal.

AND THE VICTOR SHALL WALK FROM THE RUBBLES OF MAN AND BESTOW CLARITY GLORY MAJESTY TO THOSE WHO REMAIN

from the red of my eyes i see them yes i do yes i do AND THEY SEE ME

i do all of it right and this is repayment?? i do not fear the rubbles of man they are our glory are our i dont know what they are i dont know what i am my throat goes somewhere else. my throat goes somewhere else and i do not like where it goes.¹¹

in a war there is fire but here the fire is cold and sideways and in the atoms themselves. in the minds even because my headache like a nut that is cracking because of the baby bird inside it. i must clean my wounds but my hands are made of wire and cyanide

I CAN SEE THEM TOWERING and they are nothing they are the shadow of the tip of a fingernails fingernail nonononono

to quell the titans for fire ice and lighting we must eat babies and live happily ever after its not right theyre meant to be dead now notmeanttobehereno

the victor shall walk from the rubbles of man and others shall walk behind him

Video recovered from a camera found on a rooftop during an expedition near a church in the center of Daleport.

Open Additional Video Footage


^{Frame from recovered video footage.}

Footnotes