This card 
represents 
violence, 
destruction, and 
loss in all aspects 
of life. Proper, it 
indicates imminent 
and unavoidable 
dangers. Reversed, 
it offers the 
possibility of 
escaping or 
forestalling danger 
at great personal 
cost. As the 
representation of 
the Querent, it 
indicates continuing 
losses or 
destruction. 


VII Strength 


VIII Resilience 


A group of warriors 
upon a sunlit 
grassy field, 
attacking a 
hovering starry void 
in the shape of a 
lion, alligator, bear, 
or other predatory 
animal. None of the 
weapons used 
make contact with 
the void, anda 
variety of broken 
spears, arrows, and 
swords lay on the 
ground beneath the 
void. 


This card 
represents 
overcoming 
obstacles and 
perseverance in the 
face of adversities. 
Proper, it indicates 
the ability to adapt 
to surprising or 
adverse situations 
and successful 
outcomes. 
Reversed, it 
indicates 
unnecessary 
sacrifice, austerity, 
and survival. As a 
representation of 
the Querent, it 
typically indicates 
inner strength and 
fortitude and 


XVI The Tower 


changeable 
personal situations. 


XVI The LighthouseA stone lighthouse, 


either black or dark 
gray, arising froma 
featureless plain of 
the same material. 
Backed either by a 
clear blue sky with 
the sun in an upper 
corner, or a clear 
night sky with a 
moon in one upper 
corner and a 
starfield in the other 
upper corner. A 
series of candles 
are arranged in 
windows at the top 
of the lighthouse, 
and rays of light 
radiate, separating 
the lower portion of 
the card into three 
to seven sections. 


This card 
represents 
boundaries, 
rejection of 
absolutes, and the 
importance of 
necessary but 
forgotten duties. 
Proper, it's an 
indication of 
change, danger, 
opportunity, and 
age. Reversed, it's 
an indication of 


XII The Hanged 
Man 


XII The Sacrifice 


failure of one's 
responsibilities, 
inability to adapt, 
and stagnation. As 
a representation of 
the Querent, it 
typically indicates 
that the person is in 
a state of transition 
from one powerful 
condition or state to 
an opposing one. 

A naked man in 
profile carrying a 
leafy club in each 
hand, crossing 
them in front of 
himself to block a 
sword attack from a 
person in full 
modern military 
gear. The man is 
bleeding from 
gashes to his hip 
and neck. The man 
is standing at the 
edge of a grave or 
pit beneath a 
flowering tree. 


This card 
represents 
unwilling, painful 
sacrifice and the 
cyclical nature of 
life. Proper, it 
indicates personal 
growth through 
hardships. 
Reversed, it 


XXI The World 


XXI The Battlefield 


XXI The Cosmos 


indicates being 
trapped in 
damaging patterns 
of thought and 
behavior. When 
representing the 
Querent, it 
indicates the need 
to break free of 
one's current 
situation. 

A photorealistic 
representation of 
the Earth, usually 
similar to The Blue 
Marble photograph, 
set in a black 
background. 
Surrounding the 
Earth is either a 
ring of pages or a 
braid of gold and 
silver. In the 
corners of the card 
are a partially 
unfurled scroll with 
the Sator Square 
written on it, a dual- 
faced head with 
one bearded and 
one hairless face, a 
computer screen 
with many lines of 
computer code 
listed on it, anda 
blank white or pale 
green oval with 
lines radiating from 
it. 


Although the 
iconography of 
these cards is 
highly similar, The 
Battlefield only 
appears in the 
proper position 
(with a ring of 
pages) and The 
Cosmos only 
appears in the 
reversed position 
(with a shining 
braid). Both are 
indicative of a 
protracted battle 
against an 
implacable 
opposition, with the 
implication that 
there is no 
opportunity to 
compromise. The 
Battlefield indicates 
conflict, subtlety, 
and misdirection, 
while The Cosmos 
indicates 
resolution, 
dominion, and 
either fresh starts 
or the resumption 
of the status quo, 
depending on the 
placement of other 
cards. When 
representing the 
Querent, it 
indicates that they 
are either currently 


Five of Wands/ 
Staves 


Five of Implements 


or will soon be 
involved in a high- 
stakes conflict or 
competition that 
they do not want to 
lose. 

One of the few 
cards that changes 
its imagery after 
being placed, the 
scene depicts four 
individuals 
attacking a fifth 
using staves or 
sticks. The 
attacked individual 
usually resembles 
the Querent and is 
attempting to 
defend themselves 
with a staff/stick 
similar to those of 
their attackers. 
After being drawn, 
placed and 
observed, the 
defender's 
implement will 
change into 
another object 
inappropriate for 
defense, such as a 
sheaf of papers, a 
twig, or a soft cap. 
Simultaneously, the 
defender's face will 
change to show a 
dismayed 
expression. 


individual cells, which are then converted into further instances of 
the plant-like organism. It is currently unknown precisely how 
nonliving matter is altered, but the process appears to involve initial 
conversion into single-celled life forms, which then agglomerate with 
anomalous speed into the "plant's" tissues and organs. 


The plants created by SCP-697 bear no significant biological 
resemblance to any known species, though their physical 
appearance has been described as normal. They possess a 
physiology unlike any other known organism: they do not undergo 
photosynthesis, nor do they rely on nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Their 
primary waste product is an argon- and cobalt-based gas. The 
source of these elements — neither of which is present in sufficient 
quantities in any common Earth environment — is unknown, as is 
the chemical basis for the plants' metabolism, which runs at 
approximately six times the speed of any Terran plant. As of this 
writing, the only viable method of destruction is combined 
incineration and neon gas saturation (see Experiment 697-003). 


Though initial contact with the plants is not fatal, long-term exposure 
has proven extremely hazardous to terrestrial animals. Inhalation of 
the waste gasses gradually inhibits cardiopulmonary function, while 
contact with the neurotoxic leaves or flowers results in sudden 
spreading extreme numbness, with nervous system and respiratory 
failure occurring soon after. The average time from initial exposure 
to death is thirteen (13) hours. No treatment for either effect has 
been developed. 


In addition to creating new lifeforms, SCP-697 is apparently capable 
of self-replication: the effects of a spill invariably spread far beyond 
the initial area coated in the substance. Prior to the ban on off-site 
testing, the observed range extended out to six kilometers. 
Incineration plus neon flooding, as detailed above, are also effective 
in halting the spread of chemicals. 


Addendum-697-001: Six (6) instances of SCP-697 were initially 
discovered off the coast of __, California, in the spring of 20 . 
Fortunately, no spills had occurred at the time, though the incident 
prompted mass investigations of Duslo a.s.'s waste disposal 
practices, drawing Foundation attention. Over a period of six 
months, fifty (50) of the drums currently in containment were 


Three of Pentacles Three of Discs 


This card 
represents sudden, 
unexpected 
misfortune, 
especially 
regarding the loss 
of necessary 
resources. Proper, 
it indicates loss of 
trust and negative 
surprises, but with 
a slim potential for 
success. Reversed, 
it indicates stronger 
aspects of 
misfortune, without 
a possibility for 
recovery. 

An archway or 
open doorway set 
into a metal wall. 
Set above the 
entrance is a trio of 
discs inscribed with 
two to three 
concentric circles 
with three or five 
radially-symmetric 
inward-pointing 
arrows connecting 
the circles. A figure 
clad in a white coat 
or cloak stands with 
its back towards 
the viewer and is 
reaching through 
the doorway 
towards a pair of 
figures within. The 
figures are typically 


depicted by people 
with close 
emotional ties to 
the recipient of the 
reading, one 
masculine-oriented 
and one feminine- 
oriented. 
Occasionally the 
doorway is barred 
by a closed 
portcullis, usually 
when in the 
reversed position. 


This card 
represents safety, 
security, and 
protection, and the 
efforts put forth to 
achieve and 
maintain this. 
Usually oriented 
towards emotional 
and spiritual 
concerns, but rarely 
refers towards 
physical safety as 
well. Proper, it 
indicates 
appropriate and 
effective efforts. 
Reversed, it 
indicates 
confinement, 
overzealousness, 
and rejection. 


FoldUnfold 

Table of Contents 
The Spread 
The Reading 


The Spread 


Shuffling the cards always soothed him. The feel of the cards 
slipping through his fingers, card slapping against card. The soft 
susurrus with each cut, shuffle, cut, shuffle. Even when he didn't 
have a client, he would frequently spend hours shuffling the 
deck while paying half his attention to something else. 


Laying out a spread was almost as satisfying. Almost. Whether 
a simple 3-card layout or a traditional Celtic Cross, or one of the 
special spreads he'd developed over the years, the cards 
springing free of the deck was gratifying, but not as much as 
when they remained whole, together. 


He looked up as a gentle chime rang in the front room. A client, 
so soon? He wasn't expecting anyone until at least dusk, the in- 
between time when the cards were most potent. He lay the deck 
into its cedarwood box before walking out through the curtain. 
Oh, her. 


He bowed slightly to the tall, stocky, stormy-clothed woman 
waiting for him. "Greetings, Ms. Gray. | was not expecting you to 
return for quite some time, given how you looked after last time. 
What brings you to grace my domain this day?" 


The grimace on the woman's face faded into a neutral 
expression, then a faint smile. "Greetings to you as well, Mr. 
Seerson. | had not expected to return so soon, myself." She 
sighed, then continued. "Unfortunately, my path has become 
tangled again and | can't see my way forward to the ends | 
desire. | would greatly appreciate guidance, and yours is the 
best around." 


He snorted in amusement at her flattery, then waved her into the 
back room. "Go, take a seat. I'll get us some iced tea. You 


prefer lemon, as | recall?" 


"Yes, thank you." She waited for him to clear the doorway, then 
walked into the back room. A stereotypical fortune-teller's den, 
this was not. True, there were gauzy curtains covering the large 
windows, but they were a calming white cotton instead of 
something intended to convey a sense of mysticism. The small 
desk in the corner held a laptop computer and an open three- 
ring binder instead of a crystal ball. The walls were sparsely 
decorated, with a pair of half-filled bookcases gracing one wall, 
a few black-and-white photographs framing the doorway in, and 
a framed child's crayon drawing hung on the wall behind the 
desk. Ms. Gray knew from prior visits that it has been given to 
the Seerson by his niece several years ago, and he prized it. 


Even the work table in the center of the room spoke more of 
hearth and home and comfort rather than the occult or divine. It 
was a Solid, round oak table about two-thirds of a meter in 
diameter, but was covered in a cheery butter-yellow tablecloth 
with an occasional thread of bright blue or green woven through 
it. The intricately-carved wooden box that was sitting on the 
table was the only real sign of anything out of the ordinary. She 
took a seat in the wicker-backed wooden chair with her back to 
the door and waited patiently. 


Seerson walked into the room, his short, compact frame briefly 
shadowing her from behind. He carried a small wooden tray 
bearing two glasses, a pitcher, and a small bowl of lemons. He 
set the tray down on the table and passed Ms. Gray a small cork 
coaster before pouring her a tall glass of sweet iced tea and 
giving her it and the bowl of lemons. 


He poured himself a glass as well, sans lemon, and said "I'm 
sorry it's so warm in here. I'm trying to save on electricity and 
the breeze can only do so much." 


She waved off his apology. "Oh, it's fine." 


He sat in another wooden chair across the table from her and 
took a sip from his glass before opening up the box and pulling 
out the deck of Tarot cards. 


"So what level of detail would you like? Remember that the 
more detailed, the longer the session." 


Ms. Gray took a sip of her tea in turn, brushing a lock of her 
graying brown hair out of her face while taking a moment to 
gather her thoughts. "As | said, I'm feeling blocked, like there's a 
path open before me that I'm just not seeing. I'm not seeking 
anything terribly in-depth, but I'll leave it up to your judgment." 


Seerson steepled his fingers and hmm‘d. "I think | Know 
something that should work. Here." 


He handed her the deck of cards. She shuffled them once, 
twice, three times, then handed them back. 


Seerson placed the deck on the table between them, slightly off 
to the side, and lay his hand on the top card. "Let us begin. This 
first card represents you and your present circumstances." 


He turned over the card and lay it in the center of the table. An 
armored man riding a horse, a bowl held by both hands. "The 
Knight of Vessels. A messenger, a dreamer, a diviner of truths." 
The space above the table began to waver slightly, like looking 
through heat waves above a desert road. 


"Next is the path behind, that which brought you to your current 
circumstance." He drew and placed another card to the left of 
the first, from her perspective. A shrouded figure laying ona 
mortuary table with a hunting rifle laid across its chest, three 
large cleavers hanging from a rack above the scene. "The Four 
of Weapons. Vigilance, retreat, and exile." 


The shimmer deepened, hints of color appearing in it. 


"Next is the destination sought, that which you have as your 
goal." Another card, placed to the right of the original. A black 
lighthouse against a blue sky, four rays of light illuminating the 
dry plain below it. "The Lighthouse. Change, danger, the 
rejection of absolutes." 


The shimmering space pulsed, slowly, shapes slowly forming 


and fading. 


"The obstacles you have to overcome." The card is laid 
horizontally across the first and third cards. A doorway barred by 
a portcullis, with a white-jacketed figure reaching through the 
bars to a pair of shadowed figures within. Three discs bearing 

an emblem familiar to Ms. Gray were above the door. "The 
Three of Discs, reversed. Emotional or spiritual restrictions, 
confinement, and overzealousness." 


The space expanded outwards, obscuring each person from the 
other's vision. Distinct images of hallways and jewels appeared 
before tumbling away. 


"Finally, the key issue you need to confront." The card is laid 
across the fourth, depicting eight wooden staves, carved to look 
like different serpents, with a sense of stilled movement. "The 
Eight of Implements, reversed. The stinging of your conscience, 
foolish haste, and jealousy." 


With the placement of the last card, the space between the two 
expanded down to meet the table as it became a perfect 
hexagon, the images within sharp and clear. A stone hallway 
leading towards a silver door inlaid with gemstones. Metal 
branches growing out of the walls, copper-colored leaves gently 
rustling in an unfelt breeze. A row of fluorescent lights extending 
the length of the ceiling, steadily glowing and leading towards 
the distant doorway. 


Seerson heard Ms. Gray's chair scrape against the floor as she 
pushed back from the table. "You know the drill. I'll be waiting 
here when you get back." 


"Thank you. I'll try to be quick."