Everyone reasonable 
agrees that people 
should defend 
themselves against 
supernatural threats. 
But how can you 
protect yourself if you 
burn and bury the 
books and imprison or 
execute the people 
who could tell you 
how? Would you try to 
protect yourselves 
against nuclear 
weapons by telling 
everyone to pretend 
they don't exist? 


The Serpent's Hand 
were barred from the 
Library too, once. 
There was a reason we 
could not re-discover it 
until 1967. But no 
more. We've learned 
from our mistakes. 


To any members of the 
GOC and the 
Foundation who may 
read this: 


We are growing so 
large because of you. 
We were more like you, 
once, just one more 
inbred secret society 
hoarding occult 
knowledge to 
ourselves. 


Then the Foundation 
began increasing its 
scale. There have 
always been Jailors, 
but not like this, not in 
millennia. Yet, still, they 
kept themselves in the 
dark, with only their 
leaders ever knowing 
the full extent of the 
world on Earth outside 
the everyday. So they 
were tolerable, for a 
time. 


But then came the 
Seventh Occult War, 
the Foundation Civil 
War. The rise of the 
Global Occult Coalition 
— the Bookburners, 
the Big Brother — and 
the grand-scale 
campaign against the 
paranatural community 
that followed. The 


Coalition became the 
oppressive shelter to 
which the cowards of 
the paranatural 
community fled. A 
shame that there were 
only 108 slots, and only 
for human-dominated 
organizations. Or 
perhaps not a shame at 
all. Our old selves did 
not seek membership 
then, and we are 
fortunate for that. 


So the Serpent's Hand 
rose up. Not out of 
desire, nor fear, but out 
of clear and pressing 
need. To keep all 
peoples from being 
chained forever in the 
dark. 


We, the Serpent's 
Hand, ask both of you 
this: 


How many KTEs does 
the Global Occult 
Coalition catalogue? It 
must seem like the 
supernatural is a vast 
hydra — two new 
heads sprouting for 
each that is cut off. 
How long will you keep 
cutting? 


How many SCP items 
does the Foundation 


contain now? Two 
thousand? Three 
thousand? Five? More? 
How long before there 
is no more room for 
prisons to be 
constructed? Will you 
put the whole world ina 
containment cell? 


You admit it to 
yourselves, privately. 
The anomalous is on 
the rise. You cannot 
hold back the future 
forever. 


You are the monsters 
you are so afraid of. Let 
go of your fear, and join 
us in the light. 


And if you will not... if 
you keep imprisoning 
and killing innocents, if 
you keep forcing the 
world to stay in the 
dark... then you will 
meet the fate of all the 
slavers and murderers 
in the worlds' history 
before you. 


We will free those you 
keep imprisoned. We 

will rescue those you 

try to kill. 


The Garden is the 
Serpent's place. 


We are the Serpent's 
Hand. 


~M. 
The Wanderer's 
Library, 2014 


Spirit Staff of Eastern Avian Shaman 


Spirit Staff of Eastern Avian 
Shaman 


Ama-tsu-Mikaboshi-no-lshikawa (Ki2Z=2ZO04]||), 
Staff of Sylvain Ailier 


Conspectus 


When a student of magical arts is ready to 
venture into the world and seek out further 
knowledge on their own, their master will present 
them with a hand-crafted apparatus. The gift, 
usually a casting tool, is intended to guide the 
student’s journey by reminding them to remain 
true to the master’s lessons. The spirit staff's 
properties make the student responsible for 
maintaining the brotherhood of birds and to keep 
in touch with their master as they travel. 


This particular spirit staff! was crafted in the high 
mountains of Japan as a coming-of-age gift for a 
certain bird mage? in training.3: 4 The creator, 
greater mountainkinS Mikaboshi, honored 
scholar of the celestial arts, hermit of the snow 
paths, craftsman of Eightfold Mirror Guild, 
applied his skill in the navigational and 
astrological arts to shape an apparatus that 
would be able to track and allow communication 
with individuals of avian affinity®. 


Illustration 


The fragility of the apparatus indicates its 
primary use for communication over combat. 


Knowledge 
Traits: 


* Handmade, with raw materials gathered 
from Japanese mountain highlands 

* Elemental (Bagua)’ affinity: mountain, 
water, earth, heaven/sky 


© Mountain: bamboo and pine for 
flexibility, longevity, and self- 
discipline 

© Water: river crystals to help the 
traveling wind cross running water 

© Earth: dried berries to mark a 
traceable location, singing birds in 
particular tend to notice sweet 
things when tracking by thought 
projection 

©. Sky: rice straw twine spun from 
thread discarded by sky-dwelling 
weavers, to hold the rest together. 


* Focus: crane and crow feathers, to draw 
out the bloodline affinity 


Two raven wingspans in length. If handled well, 
will remain consistently pristine despite 
environmental conditions. Darkness and decay 
will corrupt the staff when the relationship 
suffers. A respectfully-treated spirit staff will 


never bow to weather or time. 


Nature: The spirit staff is used to magnify an 
innate Wind aura’ (common to those with avian, 
insect, sand, or dust kinship) to project thoughts 
and mental images to lesser and greater avian- 
allied individuals? over great distances.19, 11 


To commune, one needs air and sky. The staff 
will call the wind to carry songs shaped from 

aura. You cannot commune without song or air; 
speak aloud, sing to those you wish to reach.12 


Be wary: though the staff is mighty and the 
communion true, it can only sustain willing 
conversation. You cannot make others speak to 
you, nor can you penetrate protective magicks. 
The farther apart you are in spirit and in flesh the 
more difficult the communion will be. 


The Loyalty of the apparatus appears to be 
Steadfast'S as the effects will only manifest for 
current custodian. 


History & Associated Parties: Crafted by the 
greater mountainkin Mikaboshi-sama following 
the completion of his eighty-eighth14 
apprentice’s training. Said apprentice, Sylvain 
Ailier, is the current custodian. 


Approach: Communing activates with the 
(spoken or thought) invocation “see with my 
eyes, let me fly with thee”. You need not touch 
the staff but it is simpler to be near it. The staff is 
nearly as steadfast as the custodian’s will and 
song. Do not waver; else you will need to repair 
the apparatus. 


Though its allegiance is solely to the custodian, 
the staff is safe to hold for those without ill intent. 
Should those impure in intention attempt to 


handle it, the staff will call down a flock of one 
thousand birds that shall inflict one thousand 
cuts.15 


Other Detail: Additional affinities may be 
established with addition of feathers from regular 
contacts. Too many added feathers confuses the 
linking, do not attempt to add further decoration 
to attempt enhancement. The master knew what 
he was doing. 


Also, does not appear to influence 
communication with ostrich'6 or other flightless 
birds!7, will need to rectify this somehow 
(recommendations include fish oil and dirt). 


Observations & Stories 


Though the names of mountainkin apprentices 
are seldom shared, Mikaboshi students who 
loyally carry their coming-of-age staffs are fairly 
quick to recognize each other, as each staff 
bears a distinct six-pointed star-like design and 
incorporates the signature rice fiber twine. It is 


rumored that in times of dire hunger or danger, 
carriers of Mikaboshi staffs may unwind pieces 
of the twine and use it for various purposes, 
including trap materials, woven rope, or even 
sustenance. If used sparingly, the twine is said 
to “regrow” itself over time, nurtured by the 
reverence its owner has bestowed upon it. -## 


Doubt 


A few fellow crafters question the legitimacy of 


Mikaboshi’s crafting talent.18. 19 Given his 
reported air-headedness and tendency to 
become easily distracted by anything in the sky 
that moves (and his alleged acquaintance with 
folklore figure Hikoboshi “the cow-herder star’), it 
is possible that Mikaboshi is not the sole creator 
of his trademark staffs, but rather a lesser 
contributor. As a mountainkin, he is able to 
gather the materials necessary, but the actual 
crafting is sometimes said to take place within 
the sky, among the stars.20, 21, 22 |t is rumored 
that Mikaboshi merely passes on his collected 
supplies to be assembled into apparatus by 
those who are able impart the abilities that the 
staffs eventually carry. 


Similarly, the rice straw fiber is often associated 
with another artisan. The celestial “weaving 
princess” Orihime, in exchange for the 
mountainkin watching over the magpies that 
form a bridge between her and her lover 
Hikoboshi, is whispered to have spun a 
legendary twine that would ensure the survival of 
any quick-witted student. Mikaboshi’s chance 
relationship with magpies has led him to prefer 
to train students with avian affinities. 


1. The name “spirit staff” indicates that it’s intended to be 
used for communing. Many things referred to as just 
“staff” tend to be able to shoot fire or lightning or other 
dangerous things. | don’t think this shoots anything. 
~Sylvain 

2. Me! ~Sylvain 

3. He’s a bird hobo. ~Kata 

4. | can perform rituals that require avian components 
and sing the songs of hundreds of birds. |am a 
birdmage. At least I’m not an ostrich farmer. 

5. Noted as "mountainkin" because he lives in the 
mountains, not because of actual ancestry. ~Sylvain 


clenching that may indicate a seizure. If pressure on the thumb 
switch is released, pressure on the bite plate exceeds normal limits, 
or power to the system is lost, the shutters covering the floodlights 
will drop away and the light absorbing panel will drop into place in 
front of SCP-712-1's emitting lens. 


All personnel and test subjects who are present when SCP-712-1 is 
powered are to be administered vision tests to measure distance 
vision, near vision, and color perception before entering the room 
and immediately after leaving. Unless authorized by Dr. in 
writing and approved by a Level 4 staff member, no individual who 
exhibits any degree of colorblindness is permitted to enter the room. 
Individuals who exhibit diminished visual ability after an experiment 
will be held for observation for 24 hours and tested before being 
released. Any individual who continues to exhibit diminished visual 
ability after the 24 hour observation period will be prohibited from 
working with SCP-712 and reassigned to a non-research position for 
an additional 30 days. Individuals exhibiting diminished visual ability 
after 30 days will be permanently reassigned. No individual who 
exhibits any diminished visual ability after 24 hours may be assigned 
to experiment further on SCP-712. 


Research on SCP-712 is coordinated by Dr. 


Description: SCP-712 is a pair of colors designated SCP-712-a and 
SCP-712-b, produced by the light-generating apparatus SCP-712-1. 
SCP-712-a is described by test subjects as "reddish green" and 
SCP-712-b is described by test subjects as "yellowish blue." While 
prior published research into impossible colors had achieved limited 
success by projecting one of two component colors into each eye of 
participants, SCP-712-a and SCP-712-b are each discrete colors. 
While the colors of SCP-712 can be perceived by human subjects, 
their wavelengths are expressed as imaginary numbers rather than 
wavelengths found in the visible spectrum. Specific information can 
be found in Dr. 's research notes. 


Subjects who view these colors report feelings of unease or awe, 
with neither corresponding to particular post-exposure effects. 
Approximately 26% of subjects experience no effects after viewing 
SCP-712. Approximately 74% of subjects experience diminished 
visual ability after viewing SCP-712; approximately 95% of subjects 


6. Basically, anyone who gets along well with birds. Or 
has at least some bird in their family blood. ~Sylvain 

7. Bagua elements are favored by Eastern crafters. 
Those in the West are said to rely on a different set of 
elements. -## 

8. Not so much “life energy” as “personality energy”. Aura 
is thoughts, feelings, memories, surrounding a being and 
coalesced into power that can be called upon at will. Sort 
of a mist that moves within you and around you. ~Sylvain 
9. “Greater” indicates those who have transcended their 
first form and are able to take different shapes. ~Sylvain 
10. It’s like a cell phone for birds. ~Kata 

11. Lies. Phones cannot transmit feelings. ~Sylvain 

12. This comes in handy if I’m lost and need to ask 
directions, but don’t know where to look to find someone 
who can give me directions ~Sylvain 

13. In accordance with loyalty designations by Z.S. 

14. This is averylucky number. Apparently | have a lot to 
live up to. ~Sylvain 

15. Hopefully | never find out what kind of birds this 
refers to. The tiny ones would be terrifying. ~Sylvain 

16. It's a shame, Syl. I’m just a farmer who grows 
starfruit, but even | can talk to ostriches. ~Kata 

17. |am never letting Kata near my notebook again. All | 
needed was a ride to the village. | hope the rest of the 
farmer immortals | meet aren’t like him. ~Sylvain 

18. For all the bluster of master Mikaboshi, | stole one of 
these things, used it to scratch my back and received not 
a single bird peck. | was disappointed more than 
amused, though | did notice an odd cantaloupe odor. -2 
= 

19. You live in the heavens, cowherder. Enchantments 
follow stranger rules there. -2= 

20. Oh, indeed? -2# 

21. The magpies only come to you once a year. Earth 
birds simply cannot stand the air in heaven. Perhaps they 
feel the same about you. -2# 

22. Please stop writing in my notebook. ~Sylvain 


The Choir Below 


The Choir Below 


She who sings the deep 


Conspectus 


We are those who dwell between the plates 
tectonic and sing the songs chthonic. We are 
they who swim in sediment and breathe 


entrapped sulfur. When the Earth quakes we 
hear and harmonize for we are the Choir 
Below!. 


Knowledge 


Traits: We do not walk, we crawl and swim and 
burrow. We do not build for we do not have 
hands2. We recognize your faces and voices as 
our own and we wish to harmonize. We sing 
from uncountable mouths and pray to the Muses 
Between the Stars that our songs are sufficient 
to win us joy. We have journeyed far to be here, 
singing Ways into being. Our harmonies attune 
the universe to our wishes and our lyrics make 
them known. We are the Choir Below. 


Nature: There is no joy in conflict, nor blood, nor 


pain, nor hardship. The Choir sings so that all 
may sing and all may feel our joy. The Choir 
seeks new songs to learn, new languages, new 
times and arraignments‘. The sonic joy we feel 
is our sole desire. We acquiesce to flesh-bound 
needs only to sustain ourselves. We are fond of 
shrimp?. 


History & Associated Parties: We lived ina 
theater far from here and we were the only 
singers. Our songs were long and weaving. Our 
chorus layered cloudy. We had the attention of 
the stars, singing stellar lullabies for the nursery 
and arias for giants in planetary discs. One did 
not like our song. One decided it hated. One 
came close and consumed our star. The theater 
trembled and shook with gravatonic base. The 
oceans boiled as the corona approached. We 
fled, singing through the space between spaces 
to the Audio Visual Department in the Library. 
We are welcome there. We only want to sing 
and collect songs. We gather the songs of those 
who cannot write. 


Approach: Greet us as friends and give us 
crustaceans’. Sing us some songs or play a 
"recording". We are allergic to nuts®. 


Other Detail: The Choir can tunnel through 
almost anything. They can tunnel through the 
floors of the library without disturbing the 
bookshelves. They tunnel through liquids too. It's 
strange. I'm fairly sure that they sing their way 
through things.9