Note found in stonework jar in Florence, Italy at the place of 
SCP-1519’s discovery. Located within the jar a series of items were 
discovered including; a handwritten note, SCP-1519 (still active), an 
invoice, and blueprints for SCP-1519. The documents have been 
dated to roughly 1500. The note has been translated from Italian, 
with unnecessary portions edited and revised for readability. 


Dear patron, 


| am placed in a perilous position, but if God and my 
master will it, then work will continue. | fully trust he has 
my safety and yours in mind. 


The originals from the East are of far superior quality to 
what | have been able to craft with a sound conscience. 
Even now one of the original lamplighters - the parts of a 
deceased 23 year old male, now a forty year old man - is 
still active in my foyer. 


| have begun experimenting with the parts of sheep too 
sick to be killed for meat. Construction is fairly simple 
and the reformed parts from a sheep allow for a lamp’s 


life of thirty days. | should be able to improve on this 
design significantly. 


The lamplighters are placed below the apparatus for 
discretion, at the bottom of the jug. The apparatus with 
the device attached gives off enough light for reading or 
writing. | have learned that this device delivers a mild 
euphoric sensation when latched onto the human body. 


You will have a finished product delivered to you by my 
master’s house servant in no less than ten nights. Your 
patience is greatly appreciated. 


-X 


P.S. If they are found in your residence, most would 
simply mistake the things for a sea creature, or if the 
device is drained, a Scottish delicacy. Simply bury them 
when they are finished and nature will do its work for 
you. 


« SCP-1518 | SCP-1519 | SCP-1520 » 


SCP-1520: An Elderly Monk 


Item #: SCP-1520 
Object Class: Safe 


Special Containment Procedures: SCP-1520 is to be seated in 
the corner of a standard cell of the type used to contain Safe-class 
humanoid SCP objects. No furniture, fixtures, or amenities are to be 
provided. No external or internal light sources are to be provided 
except when SCP-1520 is being directly interacted with; when 
interaction is necessary, personnel shall wear low-light goggles and 
light provided shall be of a bare minimum necessary to allow their 
functioning. The chamber is to be soundproofed to prevent any 
external stimulus. Air shall be filtered constantly and silently to 
prevent any odiferous compounds from accumulating. Air 
temperature is to be maintained at 16°C. 


SCP-1520 is to be fed one nutritionally-supplemented wafer with a 
neutral taste profile once per day, as well as 30 mL of filtered water. 
Interaction with SCP-1520 for interview and examination purposes 
shall be kept to a minimum. Any physical interaction with SCP-1520 
is to be conducted by personnel wearing eloow-length gloves and 
direct contact between SCP-1520 and exposed flesh is not to occur. 
Medical examination of SCP-1520 shall be conducted once per 
month to determine whether additional attention is required; 
SCP-1520 is not to be adjusted from its current position during 
examinations unless necessary, and all examinations are to be 
performed as quietly and in as little light as possible. 


SCP-1520 may be provided, at its request, with a pair of opaque 
goggles. 


Description: SCP-1520 is a human male of Japanese ancestry, 
approximately 400 years of age at the time it entered Foundation 
custody. SCP-1520 is highly desiccated and dehydrated in a manner 
resembling the corpses of Buddhist monks prepared by an archaic 


process called sokushinbutsu, wherein the aspirant was gradually 
dehydrated by means of a special diet over the course of several 
years in order to produce a natural mummy after death. SCP-1520's 
flesh is dried and translucent and is stretched taut over its bones. X- 
ray and MRI analysis has shown that musculature and internal 
organs, excluding the brain, eyes, and ears, are severely atrophied. 
SCP-1520 has been noted to inhale and exhale once approximately 
every 8.3 minutes - heart rate is approximately 2-3 beats per hour. 
SCP-1520's circulatory system contains less than 0.5 liters of blood 
- other bodily fluids are found in quantities negligible to nonexistent. 
SCP-1520's body temperature is not significantly higher than room 
temperature. Due to its inhibited metabolism, SCP-1520 requires 
little food or water and does not appear to excrete or sweat. 


SCP-1520 is fully conscious and aware of its surroundings, and is 
able to speak a dialect of Japanese found in Prefecture in the 
16th century, and to make signs through simple movements of its 
hands and fingers. SCP-1520 is either unwilling or unable to engage 
in any other physical movements. When not being interacted with by 
Foundation personnel, SCP-1520 sits in a Lotus position, motionless 
except for breathing and occasional quiet recitation of prayers; at 
other times, it appears to be sleeping or meditating and does not 
react to external stimuli. It is not apparent whether SCP-1520 is 
capable of sleep or whether it remains aware of its surroundings 
during these periods of inactivity. 


SCP-1520 was surrendered to Foundation custody in 1946, when 
United States Army personnel found it enshrined in a Buddhist 
temple in , Japan during the Allied occupation. Temple priests 
referred to SCP-1520 as a "living Buddha" who had undergone 
sokushinbutsu in 1576, and had been revered as a god by the 
templegoers. 


+ Show Interview Log 1520 


Interview Log 1520: 
Date: / /19 


Interviewer: Dr. Y __, hereafter "Y." 


Interviewee: SCP-1520 


Foreword: SCP-1520 has, in general, politely refused 
any attempts to interview it, responding to any attempts 
to question it with silence or by saying "| cannot discuss 
that." The extent of SCP-1520's spoken comments have 
consisted of simple requests pertaining to its 
containment, such as clean robes, goggles when it is 
being examined in brightly lit areas, and to be given less 
water in its daily feeding. On / /19 , during a medical 
examination in its cell, SCP-1520 abruptly began to 
speak to Y., a native Japanese speaker, while Y. was 
monitoring its pulse. The following is a translation of the 
conversation that ensued.! 


<Begin Log> 
SCP-1520: It beats when it must. 
Y: What the... (Y. recoils from SCP-1520) 


SCP-1520: You are afraid? Fear not. Fear is only an 
aspect of Maya. 


Y: You're... you're speaking. (Y. attempts to regain his 
composure.) 


SCP-1520: Yes. 

Y: You've never just started talking before. Why now? 
SCP-1520: Because | must. 

Y: Why? 

SCP-1520: Because | have failed. 

Y: Failed at what? 


SCP-1520: | have sat and meditated and pondered for 
how long | do not know awaiting Nirvana, but this body is 
unwilling to release me from its grasp. | am... unable to 


achieve what | set out to accomplish. 
Y: Why? 


SCP-1520: | have regrets. They... keep me here. | am 
unable to rid myself truly of desire while this work is 
undone. | must ask you to help me do what | cannot do 
for myself. 


Y: Do you want us to kill you? 


SCP-1520: No. Death will come to this body when it will. 
You must bring a message to a woman | left behind 
when | chose this path. 


Y: No offense, but do you know what year it is? 
Everyone you knew before you "chose this path" is long 
dead. 


SCP-1520: It has been long since | counted the days. If 
she has died, take it to her children. Have you a scroll 
and ink? | shall wait. 


<End Log> 


Footnote: Following this conversation, Y. acquired a pen 
and paper and proceeded to transcribe a lengthy letter to 
a woman named , in which SCP-1520 apologized 
for leaving her, explained his reasons for becoming a 
monk, and stated his hope that their child would grow up 
wise and benevolent. Foundation historians were able to 
identify as having died in 1588; a descendant, : 
was identified living in Scranton, PA. An English- 
language copy of the letter was delivered to , who 
could not speak or read Japanese, under the pretense of 
being a family memento discovered during an estate 
sale. After delivery was completed, Y. returned to 
SCP-1520's chamber and informed it that the task had 
been completed. SCP-1520 exhibited no reaction to this 
news and has not made any attempt to communicate 
with Foundation staff since. 


Footnotes 

1. As no audio recording equipment was on hand when the incident 
occured, this translation is based on notes compiled by Y. after the 
incident occured. Y. has stated that the original Japanese spoken by 
SCP-1520 was considerably more "flowery" and "old-fashioned" 
than the version he has produced, and that it made use of several 
terms not used in modern Japanese which he was unfamiliar with. 


« SCP-1519 | SCP-1520 | SCP-1521 » 


SCP-1521: The Most Holy Bank of His Holiness Pope 
Leo the Tenth, Saint in Waiting 


Item #: SCP-1521 
Object Class: Euclid 


Special Containment Procedures: SCP-1521 is assigned a 
minimum of two “observers” and three additional support staff 
working in twenty-four hour shifts. Civilians observed approaching 
SCP-1521 are to be detained, identified, and processed as possible, 
future observers. Anyone observed exiting SCP-1521 is to be 
detained, questioned, and identified if possible. Due to the tedious 
nature of work with SCP-1521, staff rotation on SCP-1521 is to 
occur every two months. 


Description: SCP-1521 is a building, built in the early Baroque 
style, located on the in Rome, Italy. While the building 
appears to always be present, it is not directly observable. Subjects 
pointed in the direction of the building fail to notice its presence. 


Approximately % of tested subjects can observe! the building. 
Those that are successful in observing the building have identified a 
sign? attached to the front which identifies the structure as “The 
Most Holy Bank of His Holiness Pope Leo the Tenth, Saint in 
Waiting.” 


SCP-1521 plays host to a number of entities which appear human, 
often dressed in period garb of a Roman Catholic priest or nun. 
These entities are non-hostile and will attempt to defuse any 
situation in which they are threatened with physical violence. These 
entities have never been observed to exit SCP-1521. 


Presumably, anyone capable of observing the building is also 
capable of entry, though only six total expeditions into SCP-1521 
have been approved by O5. With the level of current information, no 
further expeditions are planned. 


Please see Addenda for all currently available declassified 
information about the expeditions. 


Side One 


Side Two 


Addendum SCP-1521-1: Exploratory Expeditions of 
Observer-1521-2 


Observer-1521-2 was given approval by 05-12 to enter SCP-1521 
and perform basic reconnaissance. Observer-1521-2 entered and 
was greeted by an apparently humanoid figure wearing the garb of a 
14th century Catholic priest, hereafter referred to as SCP-1521 
Humanoid Instance 1 (1521-HI1). When Observer-1521-2 inquired 
as to the nature of SCP-1521, 1521-HI1 provided him with a short 
explanation of what a bank was, then gave him a pamphlet: 
SCP-1521-1. While the original has been lost, copies have been 
retained, noted here. 


Observer-1521-2 was asked to survey the inner area of the building 
while present, reporting frescoes of various saints decorating the 
walls and several other humanoid figures at various positions. In 
total, Observer-1521-2 noted seventeen figures. 


After looking over the pamphlet while 1521-HI1 waited, 
Observer-1521-2 inquired as to the nature of some of the services. 
1521-HI1 requested an estimate of available funds, at which point, 
Observer-1521-2 was forced to admit that he had none. 1521-HI1 
further requested the Observer-1521-2 leave the building until such 
a time that he had said funds. 


Observer-1521-2 exited SCP-1521 and was allowed two weeks 
leave from SCP-1521 duty. 


Further expeditions into SCP-1521 by Observer-1521-2 are 
available at [DATA EXPUNGED]. 


Addendum SCP-1521-2: Exploratory Expedition 


Observer-1521-11 was located after searching several hospitals 
throughout Europe. When located, he was discovered to have a 
malignant tumor in his stomach. Observer-1521-11 was selected to 
enter SCP-1521 and request a miracle. 


After approval from 05-12, Observer-1521-11 entered SCP-1521 
and spoke with SCP-1521 Humanoid Instance 14. 1521-HI14 
inquired as to the nature of Observer-1521-11's visit, at which time 
he was informed that Observer-1521-11 was requesting a healing 
miracle. 1521-HI14 immediately called for a group of Humanoid 
Instances (number currently unknown, estimated more than six) to 
escort Observer-1521-11 to the Holy Fountain of Antioch. 


After paying 1521-HI14, he was lowered into the fountain. After 
being lowered into the fountain, the water in the fountain began to 
"whirl and tremble" as 1521-HI14 declared that "an angel was 
troubling the waters." After fifteen minutes of prayer, 
Observer-1521-11 was reported as healed and escorted from the 
premises. 


MRI scans later revealed that Observer-1521-11 was still suffering 
from stomach cancer, though Observer-1521-11 was so influenced 
by the experience that he refused to believe the diagnosis. 
Observer-1521-11 died from complications due to his cancer four 
weeks later. 


Addendum SCP-1521-3: Exploratory Expedition 


SCP-1521 Observer 1521-13 entered the structure as normal. Upon 
entering, he was immediately approached by a humanoid figure 
wearing a priests smock and robes, designated SCP-1521 
Humanoid Instance 47 (1521-HI47). 1521-Hl47 asked Observer 
1521-13 if he had any recently deceased relatives. When Observer 
1521-13 replied that his uncle had died recently, 1521-HI47 
immediately knelt to his knees and began praying loudly in what 
Observer 1521-13 believed was Latin. Observer 1521-13 was highly 
disturbed by this event. 


After approximately five minutes of loud prayer, 1521-HI47 rose to 
his feet and declared that Observer-1521-13’s uncle was currently in 
hell and being tortured by demons. Observer 1521-13 was 
extremely distraught, and 1521-HI47 offered to gather together a 
group of priests and “pray his soul out of hell” for a small fee. 
Observer 1521-13 immediately agreed. When asked how much the 
fee was, 1521-HI47 inquired as to the current funds available, then 
expressed that this was just the right amount. 


Observer 1521-13 was then privy to a group of twelve additional 
humanoid figures gathering together (tentatively classified 
SCP-1521 Humanoid Instances 48-59, pending confirmation) ina 
circle, then asking for the name of Observer 1521-13’s uncle, then 
beginning to pray in loud voices again. 


After approximately ten minutes of prayer, 1521-HI47 stepped 
forward from the circle, declaring that they had successfully prayed 
everything but his feet out of hell, and an additional 15000 lira was 
needed to finish. Observer 1521-13 quickly left the building to 
acquire additional funds from Foundation personnel on the scene. 


Observer 1521-13 was denied reentry to SCP-1521. 


Exhaustive Research Materials Included for Voluntary Perusal 


Pattern Determination: There does not seem to be any 
set pattern regarding who is able to perceive SCP-1521; 
during long-term testing, several hypotheses have been 
proposed, and subsequently disproved. Collected data 
on the unclassified seventeen SCP-1521 observers is 
available below. 


Numbe Age Religiou NationalCircumstances 
Affiliatio of 

Exposure 

1 36 Catholic | Italian Accidental 
Exposure: 
Subject 
worked as 
an 


inspector 

for the city. 
When he 
observed 
the 

building, 

he noted 
that it 
wasn’t on 
the map. In 
attempting 
to rectify 

the 

problem, 
others 
became 
convinced 
that the 
subject 

was 
mentally 
unstable. 
Subject 

was 
recruited to 
report on 
and