Field Logs: 
SCP-3288-L1 
Field Log 01: 10/06/1988 


Twelve MTF Sigma-6 operatives patrolled the 
Leopoldstadt District at 1800 hours while ten maintained 
watch at positions with unrestricted views of known 
sewers holes and access tunnels. At 0021 hours, 
operatives 2-6(12) and 2-6(09) reported hearing a 
muffled scream near the Donaukanal'S and sought to 
investigate the matter while requesting backup. 


Support arrived three minutes after the initial request and 


found the mangled remains of both operatives as well as 
the half consumed body of a local civilian. The 
decapitated body of 2-6(12) was pulled from the 
Donaukanal; although the head was never located, his 
neck had sustained injuries suggesting that it had been 
severed or destroyed by a single bite. A trail of blood and 
entrails led to 2-6(09), who had been torn in half along 
the waist; he had successfully crawled into an alleyway 
before succumbing to his injuries. 


The mission was deemed a success despite the loss of 
life, as 2-6(09) had successfully struck the SCP-3288 
instance with a tracking dart - achieving the mission's 
primary objective. The entity had escaped into the 
sewers, its movements tracked until the signal began to 
fade before entirely disappearing somewhere below the 
Hofburg!®. Due to the progressively declining nature of 
the signal, it is believed that the device had been brought 
far deeper than even the Viennese sewers should have 
accommodated. 


SCP-3288-L2 
Field Log 02: 10/07/1988 


Constructed in the mid 19th century, the Viennese 
sewers are part of a larger network of subterranean 
tunnels that include catacombs, abandoned wine cellars, 
and underground rivers. MTF Sigma-6 operatives were 
divided into four teams of five; three teams to investigate 
the sewers and one to remain on standby. By 
triangulating on the last known location of the tracked 
SCP-3288, the Foundation hoped to minimize the 
possibility of escape and public exposure. For this 
mission, while it is preferable that operatives secure and 
contain the threat, lethal force may be used at their 
discretion. 


At 0900, MTF Sigma-6 operatives reached their 
destination without incident but initially failed to discover 
anything of significance. After several hours of 


investigation, 2-6(04) encountered human skeletal 
remains while wading through waist deep water. Closer 
analysis of this area uncovered a number of loose bricks 
whose removal revealed an unrecorded subterranean 
chamber whose walls were engraved with the House of 
Habsburg's coat of arms. 


The chamber included 24 sarcophagi and was 
presumably a family crypt belonging to the House of 
Habsburg despite there existing no records of its 
creation. The statues primarily depict women wearing 
veils over their eyes with a single finger held to their lips. 
The tombs, though intricate and reflective of their status, 
lacked any indication as to who may have been interred 
within. Prying open the sarcophagi revealed the skeletal 
remains of over 300 infants, all displaying severe and 
likely fatal deformities. 


The original entrance had been evidently destroyed, the 
stairs shattered and buried in soil. At the far end of the 
crypt was a vault door composed of bronze with no 
apparent means of access and seemingly impenetrable 
without proper equipment. The door displayed the House 
of Habsburg's coat of arms and was engraved with the 
words "Ad puritatem sanguinis"(English: "For purity of 
blood"). MTF Sigma-6 operatives were ordered to hold 
their current location and await the arrival of an 
infiltration team. Foundation agents organized the 
temporary evacuation of the Hofburg and the sealing of 
all sewer access points throughout the city. 


SCP-3288-L3 
Field Log 03: 10/08/1988 


MTF Sigma-6 maintained shifts throughout the night, 
making repeated attempts to open the vault door. At 
1200 hours, the surface had been fully evacuated and an 
infiltration team had arrived at MTF Sigma-6's position. 
The bronze gate was carved apart via oxy-fuel cutting 
torches over an approximately 2 hour period, bypassing 


intricate mechanisms (likely related to its conventional 
means of access) and revealing a spiral staircase. 


An eight-person squad (each operative equipped with an 
M16 rifle with attached flashlight, heavy tactical armor, 
and helmet-mounted live audio/video recording devices) 
descended the staircase, with radio transmission 
growing increasingly faint as the operatives traveled an 
estimated 65 meters underground. Red ground flares 
(fusee) were periodically lit and discarded, providing a 
clear path of return. 


Operatives reached the bottom of the stairwell, where 
the grey stone halls of the crypt were replaced by 
masterfully crafted marble floors, carpets, and white 
painted walls and ceilings. The large chamber was found 
to be architecturally identical to the Swiss Wing of 
Hofburg Palace, closely resembling 18th century 
depictions and reflecting the late Baroque/early Rococo 
artistic style popular during the era. The location (since 
classified as SCP-3288-1A) contained various sculptures 
and Corinthian columns, while paintings and tattered 
tapestries adorned its walls. All depictions of the human 
form had been literally defaced, regardless of artistic 
medium. 


Operatives described the air as having an odor not 
dissimilar to rotten meat and stale sweat. The floor and 
walls were discolored with what appeared to be blood 
(most of the stains appearing to be exceptionally old). 


Traveling through a southeast corridor, operatives 
entered what appeared to be SCP-3288-1's equivalent of 
the Hofburg's Imperial Library. One notable difference 
between this section of SCP-3288-1 and Hofburg Palace 
is the presence of a working 18th century laboratory. 
2-6(07), the only member of the acting squad to be fluent 
in both German and Latin, discovered documents 
involving alchemy, biology, and the occult. 


A decorative writing desk and accompanying throne 


were located at the far end of the chamber. The desk 
contained documents relating to transactions, contracts, 
and private journals. These documents, along with those 
relating to the occult sciences, were gathered and 
delivered to Field Command. See the SCP-3288-1: 
Recovered Documents subsection for further details. 


Operatives reached the ballroom and opera hall, 
describing the air as especially fetid; the aroma of 
perfume was also noted, though its presence did little to 
disguise the smell of decay. The area contained a 
number of instruments (standing harp, harpsichord, 
violins, etc.), all of which displayed evidence of recent 
use. There were several refectory tables!” located 
through the chamber - the ballroom evidently used as a 
dining hall as well. Atop the tables were human remains 
in various levels of decomposition and culinary 
presentation. 


A bell abruptly began to toll and was followed by the 
automatic music of a nearby pipe organ, the discordant 
song played for approximately three minutes. When the 
pipe organ ceased its playing, it was followed by the 
sound of opening doors and an increasing number of 
shuffling footsteps. Operatives were ordered to find a 
hidden and defensible position and to deactivate their 
flashlights. Seven successfully hid behind the curtains of 
the opera hall but 2-6(18) fell behind, having tripped over 
a pile of bones and forced to take cover behind a 
harpsichord. 


2-6(01) was able to observe the entire ballroom without 
obstruction from the far corner of the stage curtain. The 
ballroom's wide gates opened as video revealed the dim 
light of lanterns swaying in the hands of their shambling 
carriers. Closer analysis would show that these figures 
(SCP-3288) were dressed in the garb of 18th century 
courtiers. They are followed by others, wearing 
increasingly extravagant (if ragged) attire. All outfits 
appeared to contain different shades of red, deeply 


contrasting with their chalk white skin, porcelain 
masquerade masks, and powdered wigs. 


A pair of diminutive SCP-3288 entered, lagging behind 
the others. One blew a rusty trumpet while the other 
acted as standard-bearer, holding a crudely painted 
ensign depicting a red lion on a black field. The 
trumpeter appeared to make an announcement, the 
words unintelligible due to the guttural nature of their 
speech. 


The trumpeter and standard-bearer quickly moved aside, 
their stunted legs causing them to tumble and roll as they 
fled. There now appeared to be several hundred 
SCP-3288 throughout the ballroom. 2-6(01) activated a 
silent distress call, requesting heavy support. All 
SCP-3288 proceeded to kneel and lower their heads. 


An exceptionally corpulent instance of SCP-3288 
entered the room, carried by other SCP-3288 via an 
enlarged and reinforced sedan chair'8. The morbidly 
obese individual (classified as SCP-3288-ALPHA) was 
dressed in a patchwork of noble finery, stitched together 
from various fabrics to create a single outfit capable of 
fitting its frame. It wore a crown that had come to more 
closely resemble a torture device, too small for its head 
but held in place by an overgrowth of flesh; in lieu of a 
masquerade mask, it hid its face beneath a red shroud. 


A large iron cauldron was delivered to SCP-3288- 
ALPHA's table, the container appearing to vibrate of its 
own accord. A dwarf SCP-3288 climbed atop SCP-3288- 
ALPHA's shoulder, proceeding to lift its red veil while 
leaving its eyes covered; a second diminutive specimen 
removed the cauldron's cover. SCP-3288-ALPHA sniffed 
the air then proceeded to lift the cauldron and pour its 
contents down its anomalously large mouth and gullet. 
Part of its meal wiggled free, revealing that the cauldron 
contained living infants displaying severe deformities. 


The other SCP-3288 raised their masks and began to 


feast with voracious enthusiasm. An exceptionally tall 
specimen approached the harpsichord and snatched 
2-6(18) from behind it. It lifted him by his head but made 
no effort to alarm its fellow SCP-3288. Instead, the entity 
unhinged its jaw and quickly forced the operative down 
its throat feet first, his screams unheard among the 
sounds of feasting and discordant music. 


The gathering became orgiastic as the SCP-3288 turned 
to fornication and violence, making no distinction 
between the apparent age or sex of the participant 
(willing or otherwise). An explosion rocked the event, 
causing mass casualities among the SCP-3288. It is 
hypothesized that 2-6(18) survived his ordeal and was 
able to (likely after some struggle and consideration) 
activate an explosive device, sacrificing himself in order 
to terminate or otherwise incapacitate a great number of 
hostile entities. 


Panic spread among the remaining SCP-3288. MTF 
Sigma-6 would exploit this opportunity and employed 3- 
Methylfentanyl to render the SCP-3288 unconscious. 
With the arrival of reinforcements, the survivors were 
secured and contained at Humanoid Containment 
Site-282. The sheer size of SCP-3288-ALPHA 
necessitated the use of a specialized crane and the 
creation of a shaft directly connecting SCP-3288-1 to the 
surface. Following the removal of SCP-3288-ALPHA (as 
well as all relevant documents and objects), SCP-3288-1 
was filled with cement and reburied. 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: Interview Log (10/10/1988) 
Interviewed: SCP-3288-ALPHA 
Interviewer: Dr. Tobias Moser 


Foreword: Despite its corpulent morbidity 
(1632 kg) and lack of mobility (its atrophied 
legs entirely vestigial), subject is considered 


dangerous and to be approached with the 
utmost caution. Subject is blind and incapable 
of reading or writing, the interior of its hollow 
sockets pushed outward to the point of 
prolapse. 


Subject is fluent in Austrian German, preferring 
to speak the Schénbrunner Deutsch - a 
sociolect spoken by the imperial Habsburg 
family and the nobility of Austria-Hungary. 
Subject has been stripped nude, bound and 
muzzled, and equipped with electrodes in 
order to prevent hostilities and ensure 
cooperation. 


<Begin Log> 


Dr. Tobias Moser: Hello. Please begin by 
telling me your name. Your cooperation is not 
optional. 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: The MEAT wishes to 
speak? It speaks when not spoken to! Meat... 
Must the meat taunt us? The aroma is... 
[Gurgles] ...*Intoxicating*. [Subject struggles 
against its bindings and saliva spills from its 
muzzle] 


Dr. Tobias Moser: As | said, your cooperation 
is not optional. [Dr. Moser activates the 
electrodes, causing the subject to shudder and 
growl] 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: [Croaks] Impossible! How 
does meat hurt? How does meat disobey? 


Dr. Tobias Moser: You will answer me. [Dr. 
Moser activates the electrodes again] 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: [Subject appears 
unaffected] Is this how you wish to play? We 


do not submit. We DOMINATE! We will rape 
you until your entrails spill! We will devour you 
and your peasant kin! Do you believe your 
witchcraft can harm us? [Chuckles deeply] Our 
blood is pure. Our blood is resilient. 


Dr. Tobias Moser: [Turns to security officer] 
Sir? Would you be so kind as to illuminate the 
subject? My vision doesn't work so well in 
these dim cells. [Security officer complies, 
flashing approximately 32000 lumens at the 
subject] 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: [Subject screams and 
convulses] NO! NO! NO! WE YIELD! THE 
FIRE! OUR SOUL SKITTERS FROM THE 
FLAME! 


Dr. Tobias Moser: [To the security officer] 
That's enough. Yes. | noticed light sensitivity 
during your transfer. Extreme photophobia, 
even without eyes. I'll be sure to make a note 
of that. Now tell me. What is your name? 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: The Imperial Majesty, 
Emperor Maximilian the Great - King of Austria 
and Patriarch of the House of Habsburg. 
[Subject attempts a courtly bow] We have not 
entertained outsiders in so long. Excuse my 
uncouth ways - you are clearly a superior 
creature and have asserted yourself. We are 
at your mercy. Does our guest wish to feast 
upon our flesh? To rape the festering wound? 


Dr. Tobias Moser: [Taken aback] Good God, 
no! Why would you even... [Dr. Moser takes a 
deep breath] No. That won't be necessary. | 
see that our customs differ quite significantly. 
Might | ask, were you blind from birth or did 
you lose your vision accidentally? 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: Ah. But the pleasantries 
have yet to reach completion and you now 
have us at a disadvantage. What is your 
name, outsider? You are fluent in German but 
your accent is distant and strange.19 


Dr. Tobias Moser: | am, ah, King Tobias 
Moser of the Foundation.29 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: A king! Yes, yes, of 
course. It all makes sense now. We sensed 
nobility. A duke, we mused. Can you believe 
that? A DUKE! But certainly you have proven 
yourself far stronger than a simple duke.21 
We've heard of this "Fondaishun"; a marvelous 
land and people, well known for its many 
cheeses and wines. As for our eyes, our 
*royal* true seeing eyes... [Gurgles] Alas, we 
were hosting a banquet and our eyes, it 
seems, were too big for our stomach! Have 
you heard that one? Oh the mirth... 


But yes, you see - the meal? The meal was 
too big. They warned us, of course. "Oh His 
Imperial Majesty, let us cut this meat for you" 
but NO! WE ARE KING! WE ARE EMPEROR! 
WE WANT TO SWALLOW IT WHOLE! WE 
WILL DEVOUR EVERYTHING! And well, you 
see - our eyes, our eyes burst forth from their 
sockets. Not enough room! He he he. Feh! 
They served us little. And the dangling orbs, 
yes, yes, of course, they plummeted down our 
royal gullet. Gone forever. Unmissed. 


Dr. Tobias Moser: | see. Well. That was quite 
a story. Tell me of your court and the House of 
Habsburg. 


SCP-3288-ALPHA: We are of the same noble 
blood. But some... [Subject lays their left hand 
over their stomach] ...are more noble than