Interviews with inhabitants of Freshwater show that they are aware 
of both the effects of SCP-2889 and their immunity to its properties. 
When questioned about the origins of this immunity, interviewed 
individuals will claim that it is a boon granted to them by an ancestral 
figure, referred to intermittently as "The Stag's Widow," "Beloved of 
Apollo," and "The Boy in the Grove." When questioned about a 
connection between this figure and the disappearances in 
SCP-2889, inhabitants will become aggressive and uncooperative, 
refusing to correspond to further questions. Genetic testing of 
Freshwater inhabitants shows them to have a 15% higher 
inbreeding coefficient that a standard town of a similar size. Genetic 
testing also shows certain genetic sequences corresponding more 
closely to the equivalent sequence in the red deer.’ Hunting is 
strictly prohibited in Freshwater and the hunting of any deer is a 
capital offence. 


Personnel assigned to SCP-2889's security perimeter for more than 
2 weeks will have all bodily fluids replaced with the oil exuded by 
SCP-2889. Affected individuals suffer no ill effects from the change, 
but the process is irreversible. The effect is not cumulative, however, 
so two security teams may alternate every week and be unharmed. 


Below is the recovered audio-visual transcript of an expedition into 
the center of SCP-2889. The team, consisting of Captain Harris, 
Agent Klein, and Agent Miller (delegates from MTF Epsilon-36 
"Druids and Rangers"), were outfitted in full haz-mat gear, and were 
accompanied by D-19245, who had been exposed to SCP-2889 oil 
immediately before entry. D-19245 had been outfitted with a body 
camera which was relaying to Agent Zhao, who was to remain 
outside SCP-2889 and call for extraction if needed. 


[BEGIN LOG] 


Harris: Alright. 19245, you're taking the lead, you've got 
the camera. And | just got word from Zhao that mics are 
working. Here we go. 


(Team enters SCP-2889. After three minutes of walking, 
they reach a fork in the path.) 


Klein: Which way? 

D-19245: Right. The smell's stronger that way. 

Harris: And here? 

D-19245: The middle path. Then a left, and another left. 
Miller: You can smell it that well? 


D-19245: I'd know it anywhere. That sweet, clean, 
Freshwater - 


Harris: Yeah, yeah, we know. Cut it with that crap. 
D-19245: If you could smell it, you'd understand. 


Harris: | think I'll pass. What about here? Jesus, you'd 
think this is some kind of maze. 


D-19245: Go right. Then straight, then left. 
Klein: | think it is a maze. 
Harris: And she's probably leading us right to the center. 


(The canopy begins to thicken and block out sunlight as 
the team continues along the path.) 


Miller: Noting for the record that the branching patterns 
of SCP-2889 become increasingly irregular as we get 
closer to the maze. Cypress doesn't do this. It's 
supposed to taper, but it's getting to look like a damn 
rainforest. 


Klein: How the hell do you know this crap? 


Miller: | was a forestry major in college. Wanted to be a 
forest ranger. 


D-1945: Left. 

Miller: Hey, anyone hear... 

Harris: Sobbing? 

Klein: Good to know it's not just me. 


D-19245: Straight. We're getting close now. | can almost 
taste it. 


(All overhead light has now been blocked. The team 
switches on their shoulder-mounted lights.) 


Harris: Stop. You hear that? 

(The team falls silent. Unintelligible mumbling can be 
heard. D-19245 moves closer while beginning to mumble 
to herself.) 


D-19245: Sempervirens, sempervivens! Cerve, erasta! 
Cyparisse, eromene!8 Hail the Verdant! Hail! 


Harris: What the... 
Klein: She's mimicking it. She can't help herself. 
Miller: Quick! Follow her! 


(The team follows D-19245 into the center of SCP-2889, 
where they encounter two figures. One is a 
Mediterranean youth in his twenties, tending to and 
caressing the other entity, a cervine-human hybrid with a 
skeletal face and cloved feet. There are multiple arrows 
lodged in its chest, shoulders, and legs. The young man 
appears to be feeding strips of an unknown meat to the 
cervine entity, kissing its skull intermittently and 
massaging its genitals. He notices the team and begins 
to speak.) 


Unidentified: | know, love. You're hungry. | know. But 
look! Right on time. The lure works, love. It always does. 


(D-19254 prostrates herself before the cervine entity, 
assuming a posture that allows the young man to cut her 
throat. Visual feed is blocked.) 


Harris: Go. Get back. Go! 
Unidentified: Come, love. Let's hunt. 


(The sound of footsteps, and cloven hooves following 
after. Two distant screams, followed by a short period of 
silence. A bellow, followed by a third scream, abruptly 
silenced. Footsteps, followed by the sound of hooves, 
passing by the camera, and deeper into the center of the 
maze. Silence.) 


[END LOG] 


None of the team members who entered SCP-2889 returned. Agent 
Zhao's attempts to call for backup failed despite a lack of observable 
outside interference. Subsequent unmanned expeditions returned 
with footage of a non-anomalous forest, with no sign of either the 
youth or the cervine entity (designated SCP-2889-1 and -2 
respectively). 


ADDENDUM: After the neutralization of SCP-3240, SCP-2889 is 
displaying similar effects as plant life within the area of effect, 
despite being further north than the anomaly's range extends. In 
addition, cypress trees within the affected area have begun 
displaying properties identical to SCP-2889 trees. 


Footnotes 

1. Despite Mediterranean cypress rarely being found in Vermont 
climates 

2. population is nearly 98% Greco-American, with few records of 
outsiders marrying into the town's family trees 

3. It is of note that the internal structure of trees from SCP-2889 
almost completely matches the internal structure of instances 
ofSCP-437-A. A link between these two anomalies has yet to be 


established. 

4. Notably, the town motto is "Let us wash your tears away." The 
phrase "Sweet and Clean" appears on the town flag and seal. 

5. natives to Freshwater appear not to be affected by SCP-2889 

6. the "Holly Jolly" limited edition holiday bath bomb and the popular 
"Guardian of the Forest" bath bomb 

7.Cervus elaphus 

8. Evergreen, everliving! Stag, lover! Cyparissus, beloved! 


« SCP-2888 | SCP-2889 | SCP-2890 » 


SCP-2890: Magic Certainly 


Item #: SCP-2890 
Object Class: Safe Euclid 


Special Containment Procedures: SCP-2890 is be stored ina 
standard storage locker at Site-28. 

Amended Procedures: As of / / , the following measures have 
been enacted: 


Due to the unique nature of SCP-2890's ability to escape 
containment, and the practical difficulties with creating a 
containment procedure without a non-zero chance of failure, this 
procedure is designed around early detection and mitigation of 
breach incidents, followed by rapid recovery of the artifact. 


¢ The site security control room is to monitor SCP-2890 at all 

times via closed circuit camera installed within the 

containment locker and the duty Containment Specialist is to 

make a logged physical inspection hourly. 

The artifact has been fitted with a GPS transponder. An 

audible alarm will sound in the control room and automatic 

email alerts will be sent to all relevant personnel if the signal 

leaves Site-28. 

¢ A hardened ruggedized laptop has been placed in the 
containment locker with the artifact and equipped with a 
dedicated hardline to a monitor in the control room. This 
system runs and analyzes a Monte Carlo simulation of 10,000 
die rolls per minute. In the event that the outcome of this 
simulation is more than four sigmas from the mean (or if the 
control room loses contact with the device) an automatic email 
alert will be sent to all relevant personnel and an audible 
alarm will sound in the control room. 

¢ Anomalous animation events fitting SCP-2890's profile have 
been added to the MTF Mu-4 ("Debuggers") internet 
watch list to be flagged as a possible containment breach. 


In the event that any of these alert mechanisms are triggered, 
Site-28 is to be locked down (Alert Condition One), and an 
authorized security officer or researcher is to conduct an immediate 
physical inspection of the SCP-2890 locker. 


In the event of a confirmed breach by SCP-2890, MTF Pi-1 
("City Slickers") is to mobilize and recover the artifact. If it is 
not located at the GPS coordinates, the search should continue with 
the public parks, elementary schools, preschools, and day-care 
centers within 50 km of Site-28 (see Supplement 2890-C) and 
expand from there, focusing on locations where prepubescent 
children congregate. 


Description: SCP-2890 is a black silk top hat, of a style popular c. 
1890. It is slightly worn, but is otherwise appraised to be in good 
condition. The label reads "Wilson and Sons", a haberdashery in 
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, that operated from 1879 to 1941. Imaging 
studies of the object revealed a crown-like object sewn into the lining 
(see Addendum). 


SCP-2890 is capable of animating any inanimate object that is 
intended to be representational of a humanoid when placed on the 
object's "head". It has been shown to be able to animate objects that 
have, at minimum, a defined representational "head". Animated 
objects are able to move in a human-like fashion, despite lacking 
joints, or even defined legs (a lower body segment meant to 
represent legs will provide locomotion). It is unable (or unwilling) to 
speak even when animating forms with functional vocal cords or 
playback devices. It cannot directly control living beings, humanoid 
or otherwise, but does exert a mild suggestive effect on 
prepubescent children, which appears to be limited to implanting the 
idea to place the hat on a suitable body and casual acceptance of 
the animated form. 


On th —_, during a comprehensive upgrade of Site-28's 
electrical systems, a combination of simultaneous unrelated errors 
by personnel and undetected failures of the security systems led to 
SCP-2890 breaching containment (see supplement 2890-B). 
Personnel were unaware that breach had occurred for 13 hours and 
SCP-2890 was able to remain uncontained for over seven years. 
The artifact was eventually recovered! on , th, after an 


Agents Strahm, Macabyern, Cinulure, and Smith, and Dr. Gunsther 
then attempted to lead the prisoner off the train. Despite all efforts to 
lead, cajole, and force him off the train, no efforts were successful. 
Agent Strahm ceased his efforts after the prisoner was threatened 
with deadly force by Agent Smith, screaming at his fellow agents 
that, "He's not holding onto anything, there's some kind of wall." 
Other agents appeared confused, claiming that the subject was 
maliciously attempting to impede exit by holding onto one of the 
supporting bars. They continued in this assertion until it was pointed 
out to them the impossibility that this could take place, given that 
both of the prisoner's hands were being held by agents at that time. 


In a last, desperate effort to extract the subject, the personnel 
attempted to dismantle the subway around the user through the use 
of cutting torches and power tools. Agent Strahm remained with the 
subject, while the others exited to help Foundation personnel 
prepare. While the equipment was being set up and everyone's 
backs were turned, the doors closed, and the train immediately 
started up and pulled away of its own accord. The agents did not 
manage to catch up to it until the next stop, and passengers 
immediately filed on, despite their commands not to. 


Agent Strahm was later discovered lying on the subway platform 8 
kilometers away in a comatose state. One end of his handcuffs was 
still attached to his own wrist, but the other was empty. Traces of 
blood found on the metal have been determined to belong to the 
subject. 


Addendum 342 E: Subway Experiment Three: Possibly due to 
mental trauma from his loss of Subject D-342-D, Agent Strahm 
volunteered to be the subject of the next experiment, stating that 
someone more knowledgeable of our terms and procedures could 
provide better communication. O5-07 approved this after much 
pleading from Agent Strahm. Agent Erin and Dr. Haber, both close 
friends of Agent Strahm, accompanied him on his trip. 


The ride on the subway started out normally enough, although Dr. 
Haber noticed that Agents Erin and Strahm appeared to share a 
closer understanding of the phenomena experienced by Strahm, 
perhaps as a result of their close friendship. Agent Erin's empathy 
allowed Agent Strahm to remain coherent and sane for the entire 


extensive search. It is estimated that the odds of this sequence of 
events happening by random chance alone are less than 1-in-1036. 
As a result, the object is now believed to possess the ability to 
manipulate probability, causing unlikely coincidences and accidents 
that are serendipitous to the artifact's presumed goals. This has 
been subsequently confirmed by the "near miss" incidents (see 
supplement 2890-B) which were prevented due to the revised 
containment procedures. 


SCP-2890 was initially located when a group of seven children from 
Saratoga Springs, New York went missing. When found three weeks 
later they all claimed that they had been learning to dance from a 
plush duck toy. The anthropomorphic toy, wearing SCP-2890, was 
recovered by MTF Iota-10 ("Damn Feds") agents operating 
as part of the FBI investigation into the possible mass kidnapping. 
The toy was determined to be non-anomalous and destroyed. 


Addenda: 
+ Analysis of Imaging Studies 


Summary of analysis (See Supplement 2890-A): 
CT scans of the object revealed the following elements 
of the "crown" sewn into the lining: 


* Seven segments of human skull bone, 
each a 37 mm x 23 mm rectangle. 

¢ Fourteen 46 mm lengths of jewelry 
quality silver chain connecting the short 
ends of the bone segment (two per end). 

« Each bone segment was intricately 
carved with a complex system of occult 
symbols. 


Summary of the Occult Symbology Working Group's 
report: 


The symbols are from a large variety of 
sources, with the majority sourced from 
decanic Kabbalah and Hermetic alchemy. This 
syncretic style is consistent with high 


thaumaturgical Hermetic Magick of the late 
19th and early 20th centuries. The group 
estimates that these workings were done by a 
talented practitioner with an estimated 87% 
effectiveness over random chance. There are 
seven distinct effects identified by the working 
group: 


1. The capture, storage and maintenance 
of a single, specific, discorporate human 
consciousness with a true name of 


2. The preservation of the physical integrity 
of the hat, and maintenance of its 
cleanliness. 

3. A point-of-contact psychokinetic effect. 

4. A subtle mind control effect, most likely 
a set of suggestions. 

5. A "luck" charm. Intended to bring 
"fortune" to the bearer and "vexation" to 
the bearer's enemies. 

6. A ward against hostile magic. 

7. Unknown. While the seventh segment 
clearly bears a distinct working, it 
otherwise defies analysis at this time. 


+ Test 21 


On / / , SCP-2890 was placed in a standard humanoid 
containment cell with experiment Group 2 (consisting of 
nine children from a refugee community). Furnishings 
were provided for medium term habitation. A department 
store mannequin (which seems to be a preferred 
simulacrum for animation by the entity) was included in 
the cell. As in previous tests the children placed 
SCP-2890 on the mannequin. It led the children in 
dancing during waking hours. The children participated 
fully, with breaks only for feeding and waste elimination. 
The dance became gradually more and more involved 
and complex? until the experiment was terminated after 


27 days.