Spoke with Five again, still trying to clear my 
head of what happened. She's not like the 
others and I'm beginning to question just how 
senile she really is. When she speaks of me, 
and her faith, there is a tone of regret. 


| asked her more about Sarkicism (don't worry, 
| didn't say the "S-word")19. And, when she 
tells me about lon, | feel like a child again - 
listening to my baboushka talk about Jesus 
and the old prophets. Whimsical, and like her, 
skipping over the parts that involve glorified 
torture and murder. 


I'm no researcher, historian or theologian or 
whatever. But | think these cults, this 
"Sarkicism" didn't begin this way (but | 


suppose that goes for most religions). Five 
talks about honor, friendship, virtue, and 
liberation. The gentle reindeer folk of Adi-um 
against the evil Daeva. She's old, but | take it 
the faith changed long before her; maybe she 
has begun to interpret the texts differently. 
Maybe she's wrong, seeing good under layers 
of madness and atrocity. 


| can relate. It's always the same. Another 
failed revolution. Regardless, | suspect Five is 
an aberration. Perhaps that is the reason she's 
confided in me. The others talk about the 
Great Mothers, say they can see things. At 
times | wonder if she knows who | really am. 


And then my training tells me to eliminate her. 

| think I'll ignore that training for now. Besides, 

no point taking out a source like her. Not yet at 
least. 


P.S. The arena. It isn't just for initiation. Blood 
sport disguised as ritual; or maybe ritual 
disguised as blood sport. Six enter; only one 
comes out. A lot of folks willing to pay to see 
and bet on it. Many wear the skulls of beast 
and the clean suits of billionaires. Five's nota 
fan; it's like listening to people complain about 
the commercialization of Christmas. | know the 
Black Lodge has been classified as Neo- 
Sarkic but the Great Mothers are pretty clearly 
Proto-Sarkic - they're traditional, celebrate the 
high holidays, and still think in terms of some 
greater good. The rest only care about how to 
make themselves stronger, wealthier, etc. 
Otari has an animal cunning to him but he is 
hardly an intellectual - nor does he appear to 
be a karcist (or at least, the term hasn't been 
thrown around at all). 


+ Missive 05/01/1995 


They've got me working the "dungeon" (but 
they don't literally call it that). As | said before, 
I'm certain this place was in use well before 
the revolution. | wonder if the Czars knew how 
many they more or less sacrificed atop an 
altar. Maybe they did. It wouldn't surprise. 
Sarkicism is a disease and has more carriers 
than we ever imagined. 


They actually call it the "basement's 
basement"; somehow creepier than 
"dungeon". 


Torture. Information gathering. Not that it is 
ever reliable. Examples are made; one last 
warning not to cross the Black Lodge. Organ 
harvesting too (you'd think these Sarkic types 
would have them growing from trees). 
Sometimes it is just to satisfy Otari's sadism. 


There's one cell that's different. Asked a 
boevik about it. Said he didn't know and that 
he didn't need to know, so neither did I. 


A heavy door, different from the rusted bars of 
every other cell, built with a small slit to peer 
through and another for food. Inside | saw a 
man, or what was left of him; his face, at least 
the eyes and nose, were gone - the whole 
area carved out and now just a gaping hole. It 
reminded me of a cyclops, like the hole was 
gazing back at me. Kind of like that tattoo, so 
they may be related. 


He was sitting on the floor, nude and cross- 
legged; a muscular body covered in tattoos, 
scars, and dried blood. Chain-linked hooks 
held his body in place, so he couldn't move 
even if he wanted to. | honestly thought he 
was dead at first but | could hear his heavy 
breathing and see the slow expansion and 


reduction of his chest. 
I've no idea what to make of him. 
+ Missive 05/06/1995 


Five let me in on a little secret. Otari has a 
brother by the name of Mikhail. Same father; 
different mother. And he's that half-dead thing 
in the cell. 


Apparently Otari and Mikhail have somewhat 
of a rivalry, but that isn't why Mikhail's been 
imprisoned and defaced; Five was vehement 
about that. It seems that Mikhail volunteered 
for some sort of ritual. 


Things are getting pretty fucked up here. Not 
sure if it's the drugs or not. I'll leave a vial20 
with this report. I'm seeing things. The angles 
in the club, and everything below, are wrong. 
The architecture gives me a headache if | 
stare at it too long. Yesterday | woke ina 
bathroom stall with a half-eaten woman. 


The whores at Red Lanterns - they look 
human one moment then the next, well, | know 
‘monster’ isn't really appropriate in this line of 
work but not sure how else to describe them. 
They stare at me with feral, hungry eyes. Five 
once called the them Rusalki21; | thought she 
was just being figurative but now I'm not so 
sure. They slither off into the backrooms with 
fresh meat tailing behind; they'll be back an 
hour later, looking satisfied - but the men that 
go in don't ever come out. 


And when | watch the pit fights. There are 
things in the audience that aren't entirely 
human. There are sounds | can't explain; like a 
heartbeat, sometimes roars - something from 


deep below, where all the blood and corpses 
go. 


AgentS__ was declared MIA on 05/28/1995. 


On 06/04/1995, after much deliberation, raids were conducted 
against multiple Black Lodge sites, including the Red Lanterns 
nightclub. During the assault, SCP-2408-1 were directly observed 
undergoing transfiguration. Despite their aggression and 
anomalously augmented combat prowess, the SCP-2408-1 threat 
was thoroughly neutralized through the use of incendiary armaments 
(with the Foundation unexpectedly suffering only minor casualties). 
As operations continued, it grew readily apparent that the Black 
Lodge had provided minimal manpower - a mere fraction of its total 
population in the region. 


The mission would result in the discovery of SCP-2408-3. 


SCP-2408-3 is a megalithic temple complex located within a large 
cavern deep beneath the city of Moscow. Approximately 3000 years 
old, it is the oldest standing structure in Russia and is the type site of 
the Sarkic culture group. SCP-2408-3's composition comes in two 
forms: inorganic and organic. Its inorganic portion encompasses the 
exterior and is constructed from stacked megaliths of gabbro 
(commonly known as "black granite"). Its anomalous organic portion 
fills the interior and is composed of bone, muscle, and viscera. 


Found among the 'grounds' of the complex was a gladiatorial arena 
and a large altar. From the cavern ceiling dangled the remains of 
twelve elderly women - apparently disemboweled and hanged via 
their own intestines. lron grates on the floor are similar to those 
found in meat processing plants and are likely designed to capture 
blood and general viscera. 


+ Access Restricted to Level 4 or Authorized Sitra Achra Personnel 


SCP-2408-4 is a humanoid organism located directly 
beneath SCP-2408-3, horizontally positioned with its 
arms and legs outwardly extended. Entity is apparently 
disabled/immobile and likely brain dead. Genetically 


human (albeit one with many normally dormant genes 
being expressed), SCP-2408-4 displays many features 
that do not naturally occur among humans (save for 
certain genetic and almost universally fatal deformities) - 
these include: 


* Asingle eye located at the center of the face. 

¢ Flat nasal slit rather than a protruding nose. 

¢ Tusks, horns, and various other corneous 
protrusions. 

¢ Three rows of sharpened teeth; enlarged (relative 

to its size) and heavily muscled jaws. 

Partial exoskeleton in coincidence with an 

endoskeleton; both skeletons being anomalously 

strong with a tensile strength comparable to 

carbyne. 


SCP-2408-4's most notable anomaly is its size, with an 
estimated standing height of 300 metres and a weight of 
70,000-72,000 tonnes; far larger than what should be 
physically possible for a terrestrial animal. Based upon 
the unusual length of its arms (relative to the rest of its 
body), SCP-2408-4 likely moved with a gait not dissimilar 
from that of a gorilla. Further DNA analysis resulted in 
the discovery of certain inconsistencies which has 
resulted in the hypothesis that SCP-2408-4 achieved 
part of its anomalous biomass through the absorption of 
potentially more than 100,000 human and non-human 
organisms. 


SCP-2408-4 can only be directly accessed via 3 distinct 
shafts, 2 of which are equipped with mechanical lifts 
analogous to those used in mining operations. Each 
shaft connects to a specific region of the body (the skull, 
the stomach, and the groin) and it is feared that the 
creation of further shafts would result in structural 
instability, potentially endangering a large area of 
Moscow. The passage to the stomach, which lacks a 
mechanical lift, appears to directly connect to the arena - 
ultimately providing SCP-2408-4 with sustenance. 


The bronze tips of over 3,000 arrows, harpoons, and 
spears (belonging to a wide range of Eurasian cultures) 
have been extracted from its muscle tissue. An exact 
cause for SCP-2408-4's current disabled state remains 
unknown and some portions of the body appear to be 
undergoing slow decay while other parts appear to be 
regenerating. 


SCP-2408-4's body is believed to be the source of 
SCP-2408-2A and SCP-2408-2B. Evidence indicates 
that prior to its discovery by Foundation operatives, 
certain SCP-2408-2 producing organs and glands were 
surgically removed (such as the adrenal gland, pineal 
gland, testes, and hypothalamus) and likely smuggled 
out of Moscow by members of Gol-0432. The secure 
containment of these anomalous organic objects is of the 
utmost priority. 


At present, Gol-0432 has expanded its influence while 
SCP-2408-2B addiction has reached epidemic 
proportions - with long time addicts developing unusual 
physical traits (e.g. leathery skin, black sclera and yellow 
irises, skeletal protrusions, and various other mutations). 
Unable to contain all those addicted to SCP-2408-2B, 
Overwatch has ordered the capture and humane 
termination of afflicted individuals at designated kill sites; 
remains are to be disposed of per hazardous waste 
protocols (unless authorized for research). This order will 
remain in effect until SCP-2408-2B is properly contained 
and/or eliminated. 


Footnotes 

1. English: "Wrath". 

2. English: "Lust/carnality". 

3. Having so far been found in North America, Europe, and 
Southeast Asia. 

4. English: "Red Death". 

5. These spines appear superficially chitinous and, despite showing 
strong structural similarities to coral, contain human DNA. 

6. Sarkicism (derived from the Greek oapé, or “flesh”) is a religion/ 


philosophy that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and 
spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to "Grand 
Karcist lon", its deified founder. Adherents practice ritual 
cannibalism, mortification of the flesh, human sacrifice, corporeal 
augmentation ("flesh-crafting"), dimensional manipulation, and 
thaumaturgy. Unlike Proto-Sarkicism, Neo-Sarkicism displays no 
qualms with technology and may be found in heavily populated 
environments, their daily lives differing little from others of their 
culture and social status. 

7. AgentS would place a message (written in security ink) within 
an empty alcoholic container, such as a beer bottle, and discard it 
within a specific waste container outside his apartment complex. 
Agent Miron Antonovich, disguised as a homeless local, would later 
search through the waste, retrieve the missive, have it 
photographed, and then proceed to destroy the initial missive. Image 
data would then be encrypted and delivered to the Foundation 
electronically. 

8. Wetwork is a common euphemism for murder or assassination, 
alluding to the spilling of blood. The expression "wet job" (moKpoe 
Aeno) has been a part of Russian criminal slang since at least the 
19th century. 

9. Bpatsa ("brothers", "brotherhood") refers to the collective of 
criminal organizations in the former Soviet Union. 

10. Literally "cow" but can also refer to a clumsy individual. In the 
Russian Gulag system (where it is believed that Gol-0432 first 
developed), it referred to someone brought to a prison break with 
the intention of cannibalizing them in order to survive the Siberian 
wilderness. Based on Gol-0432's history and reputation, it is 
believed that the intended meaning was the latter. 

11. A company long suspected of having Sarkic ties. 

12. It is presently hypothesized that the "Great Mothers" 
areVolutaar, a high rank of Sarkic cultists known for serving as 
advisers to a Karcist. 

13. Criminal enforcers of a bratva. 

14. A traditional Russian peasant dress. 

15. The spiritual and secular leaders among Sarkic organizations. 
Karcists are considered biologically immortal and vary in form and 
anomalous ability. It is theorized that they are able to control their 
Halkost (SK-BIO entities) via the release of complex pheromones. 
16. Further research suggests that a church, presumably Russian 


Orthodox, once existed at the site now occupied by the Red 
Lanterns nightclub. 

17. English: "The Bitch Wars". Occurring within the Soviet labor 
camp system between 1945 and around the death of Joseph Stalin 
in 1953, the Bitch Wars was an internal prison war between the 
Russian criminal underground, or "Thieves in Law", and former 
members who had committed the taboo of collaborating with the 
government (specifically, serving the military during World War II). 
Officials turned a blind eye and many were killed; rape and even 
cannibalism was said to be common. The survivors would become 
the modern Russian Mafia (or Bratva). 

18. Special request for redaction accepted. Redacted data has been 
deemed unnecessary to the understanding Gol-0432 and SCP-2408 
anomalies. 

19. Context: True Sarkicites refer to their belief system asNalka, 
from Proto-Uralicnaxli+ -ka, meaning "hunger". 

20. The vial was found to contain the venom of an unidentified 
organism. Further research is pending. 

21. Water nymphs from Slavic folklore known for using their beauty 
to lure men into the water and ultimately to their death. 


« SCP-2407 | SCP-2408 | SCP-2409 » 


SCP-2409: Lost Precinct 


Item #: SCP-2409 
Object Class: Safe 


Special Containment Procedures: As of this writing, SCP-2409 is 
contained by ECRG technology from the early 20th century’, and 
has remained inactive and undisturbed since the Foundation's initial 
response. 


The exterior stone surfaces of the structure may be penetrated with 
masonry drills to a depth of about 10cm before tool failure; this may 
be exploited to mount any necessary hardware. A minor 
ectoentropic leak from within prevents paint from properly adhering 
to the glass surfaces, so other measures have been taken to 
prevent excessive light leakage from within at night, which might 
arouse local curiosity. All doors and windows that potentially provide 
views of the interior have been covered with black fabric, then 
boarded up with plywood to about 8cm thickness; those on the first 
three floors have been reinforced with bars to further prevent 
tampering. Notices from the Environmental Protection Agency have 
been prominently posted warning potential intruders of toxic 
concentrations of asbestos and arsenic dust. 


Exterior surfaces are under video surveillance, and remotely 
monitored for vandalism from Site-28. The probability of breach due 
to failure of the containment tech has been deemed negligible until 
July 5th, 2023. A new threat assessment and containment strategy 
must be prepared before that date.