Knife Image source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakutian_knife#/media/File:Yakutian_knife_left_side.jpg Image is CC BY-SA 4.0
Gamayun-Alpha, Gamayun-Beta and Gamayun-Gamma Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_Native_Faith#/media/File:Rodnover_symbols.png
Image is Public Domain

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F.A.Q.

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SCP-4896 before commencing with experimentation

Item #: SCP-4896
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-4896 is to be kept inside a standard locked safe-deposit box within Site 73. All testing is to be approved by SCP-4896 Project Head. Any subjects that have had their neck or throat affected by SCP-4896, or have any of the procedures detailed in SCP-4896-Gamayun carried out on them, are to be contained in a standard humanoid containment cell.
Description: SCP-4896 is a knife bearing physical resemblance to traditional Yakutian knives1, with a blade 17.78cm in length. SCP-4896's anomalous effects manifest when the blade is used to cut another person, with varying results depending on what area of the body was cut. To date, all anomalous effects from SCP-4896 have resulted in the subject's body becoming more avian, specifically with new features resembling the genus Corvus corone2, in both form and function. This effect only occurs when the item is used to injure another human, and does not manifest when used on non-human entities or when used upon oneself.
Biological samples taken from affected individuals show a fusion of both Corvus corone and Homo sapiens DNA. Growths from affected area are not rejected by the subject's body, despite vast differences in structure from the base human norm. When an affected area is injured it will heal to the state it was at pre-injury, while maintaining its Corvid features. For more information, see SCP-4896 Test Logs below.
Discovery: SCP-4896 was initially discovered in the weeks following the Chernobyl Disaster. During the efforts to contain the fire within Reactor 4, fire crews manning the helicopters reported a black winged humanoid within the smoke. Foundation agents already present dispatched MTF Beta-7 ("Maz Hatters") to investigate the surrounding area under the pretense of searching for and providing clean up detail for irradiated debris and materials.
On 8th May 1986, MTF Beta-7 encountered a group of cultists operating within the countryside 16km outside of Pripyat, and after a brief engagement secured their base of operations. Alongside several documents and texts pertaining to the group's functions and goals (See addendum SCP-4896-Gamayun) SCP-4896 was discovered. The winged humanoid was not encountered during the search or engagement with the group, and no reports of them have been made since the initial sighting.
Addendum:

_

+ Access SCP-4896 Test Logs- Close SCP-4896 Test Logs

Date: 27/07/1986
Subject: D-8349
Area(s) Cut: Left and right forearm
Result: A 9cm incision was made along the outer side of the left forearm. Several black feathers grew from the wound. The wound itself healed rapidly, with no visible scarring. Two 20cm incisions were made along both outer and inner sides of the right forearm. Black feathers grew across the entirety of the subjects forearm. Another incision was made between the two initial incisions which rapidly healed with no visible scarring. D-8349 attempted to remove feathers but was restrained by security personnel.

Date: 05/08/1986
Subject: D-14332
Area(s) Cut: Both left and right feet along the dorsal and plantar regions.
Result: Calcaneus extended from the heel of both feet, breaking the skin before narrowing into a black talon. Surrounding tissues became more scaled in appearance and also darkened. Hallux extended into a talon akin to the calcaneus, while the second and third toe fused to produce a similar effect. The fourth and fifth toe also underwent this process. Subject reacted with extreme distress, and commented that the physical alterations were exceedingly painful.

Date: 11/08/1986
Subject: D-5503
Area(s) Cut: Neck
Result: Incisions were made along the top, bottom and sides of the neck. Entire neck was rapidly covered by feathers, Subject's vocalisations were identified as matching Corvus corone specimens.
Notes: Groundskeeping staff noted an abnormally large group of crows around the perimeter of the site. Experiments involving incisions of the neck are to be halted for the time being. - Dr Heller

Date: 15/08/1986
Subject: D-7207
Area(s) Cut: Lips, and left and right scapula
Result: Incisions were made down the entire length of scapula, whereafter a set of black wings measuring 6.7m from wingtip to wingtip grew from the incisions. Incisions around the lips caused a complete keratin beak measuring 42.19cm in length to grow from the subject's lips. The subject's teeth fell out as the gum line receded, though the subject retained full capability to communicate. Subject displayed a great amount of distress and attempted to escape confinement, during which the right wing ulna was broken due to mishandling by security personnel.

Date: 23/08/1986
Subject: D-8037
Area(s) Cut: Head, arms, legs, hands and feet
Result: Subject underwent expected metamorphosis, skull morphology altered during the process to become more avian in appearance. The neck and throat underwent this process as well, with a similar result to the test on D-5503 despite not receiving any incisions. Subject's hands became similar to the feet, with dark scales and talons growing from the flesh and nails respectively. Subject to undergo additional testing to establish full parameters of anomalous effects.

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+ The following test logs are restricted to Level 3 Access. Enter password- Password accepted

Upon complete translation of document SCP-4896-Gamayun three distinct symbols and their functions were discovered. Each symbol was tested in isolation as detailed below.

Date: 21/09/1986
Subject: D-3398
Area(s) Cut: Lumbar region
Result: Pattern Gamayun-Alpha was cut into the subject's lower back. The subject's skin became waxy and pale in colouration. Subject began to complain of a deep itchiness across their entire body. Subject's hair and teeth fell out, as well as nails on both hands and feet. Subject began salivating intensely and adopted the fetal position. Over the span of 3 minutes and 32 seconds, the subject's skin grew to encapsulate their entire body before calcifying. Subject did not move for 11 days after this with only faint, muffled vocalisations being heard. After 11 days, the surface of the calcified skin began to crack and 1 hour 12 minutes later a 1.8m tall Corvus corone instance hatched. The instance spoke in a distorted call of Corvus corone. Later analysis of this call revealed it to be a distorted version of D-3398's voice.

Date: 28/10/1986
Subject: D-6083
Area(s) Cut: Chest
Result: Pattern Gamayun-Beta was cut into the subject's chest. Subject began convulsing upon completion of Gamayun-Beta and collapsed to the floor. Subject's skin around the rib cage showed numerous anomalous growths. After 37 seconds of steadily increasing in size, subject's ribcage broke through the skin. 7 anomalous growths could be seen within, having replaced subject's lungs. 12 seconds later, the growths each erupted with a full grown instance of Corvus corone. Security personnel terminated all instances. All personnel who had been injured in some manner by the instances were found to have Pattern Gamayun-Beta appear around the injury within 30 minutes. Affected personnel underwent a similar process, with the anomalous growths appearing underneath the affected area.

Date: 12/03/1987
Subject: D-11923
Area(s) Cut: Forehead
Result: Pattern Gamayun-Gamma was cut into subject's forehead. Subject rapidly formed black feathers across their body and extremities. Feet formed into the feet of Corvus corone including talons. Head remained unaffected. Arms formed into a full pair of wings, with fingers receding into the wing structure. Subject spoke in Russian for the duration of the process, recorded statements have been matched to documents within SCP-4896-Gamayun.

Incident Log SCP-4896-12-03-87-Alpha
Foreword: D-11923 was moved to a standard humanoid containment cell after completion of the Pattern Gamayun-Gamma test. For 3 hours and 52 minutes D-11923 patrolled the perimeter of the cell repeating statements that match with those recorded in SCP-4896-Gamayun.
<Begin Log>
09:23:33: D-11923 ceases patrolling the cell and faces the southern wall. D-11923 stretches their wings out, facing the wall as numerous unknown symbols manifest on the wall itself.
09:23:58: Patterns Gamayun-Alpha, Gamayun-Beta and Gamayun-Gamma are identified upon the wall. D-11923 begins speaking in as of yet untranslated Russian dialect.
09:24:12: Numerous other symbols3 manifest along the eastern and western wall. Security is notified of a potential breach in progress.
09:24:56: Instances matching the physical appearance of Corvus corone manifest from the Gamayun-Delta instances, flying around D-11923 in a clockwise fashion. These instances are composed of the same steel used in construction of the cell. Security arrive and enter the containment cell.
09:25:07: Corvus corone instances assault security personnel, prioritising any exposed skin or flesh. Instances that are successful proceed to burrow into the flesh of the victim. Of the six security personnel at the scene of the incident, only one is unaffected. The remaining five begin to convulse and collapse to the floor.
09:26:18: Remaining security personnel retreats from the containment cell and requests for the containment wing to be locked down. Request granted. Seven seconds after lockdown is in effect, all contact is lost with security personnel.
09:34:27: Deceased security personnel are seen convulsing, before a Corvus corone instance bursts from each victim's cranium, having enlarged itself in the process. Other growths can be seen pressing against the uniforms of the victims across all areas of their bodies. All security personnel and D-11923 proceed to leave the containment cell.
09:38:32: MTF Upsilon-12 ("Bird Watchers") are directed to Site-73, a site lockdown is initiated and a containment breach declared. As D-11923 traverses the halls numerous Gamayun-Delta instances manifests on the walls, generating further Corvus corone instances.
09:57:11: MTF Upsilon-12 arrive at the scene of the breach and engage D-11923 and Gamayun-Delta affected personnel. D-11923 is tranquilised and recontained. A total of 13 Foundation personnel were killed as a result of this breach.
<End Log>

+ SCP-4896-Gamayun LEVEL 3 ACCESS REQUIRED. ENTER PASSWORD

- PASSWORD ACCEPTED

The following excerpts have been translated from documents taken from the group encountered during the recovery of SCP-4896. For a full archive of related documents, please submit Article Request Form 4896-Gamayun-R to Head Researcher Heller.

SCP-4896-Gamayun-Alpha

Document SCP-4896-Gamayun-Alpha
We dwell in darkness, and must regain our way in the light, my brothers and sisters. With the Kolovarat4 we shall enrich ourselves, grow strong into the dawning of a new age. We shall break the bonds of ignorance and fear, and stride proudly out into the world with our heads held high. The night of our undoing shall be burned away in the light of knowing, the empty wind of nothingness shall be filled with the calling of fulfilment.
From Veles we shall see a new day, upon which our children and their children will know of all in this world.

SCP-4896-Gamayun-Beta

Document SCP-4896-Gamayun-Beta
The sign of Perun will protect us, and give us our guardians in time of strife and hate. From his protection we shall thrive, his messengers will make our enemies our protectors in death. We shall be safe from the strikes of our foes and hated enemies. He shall lead us to glory and war in the darkest days, and watch over our fields in times of great peace. His fury will be as lightning and his foundation like stone.
From those who try to keep us dwelling in darkness, Perun will deliver us.

SCP-4896-Gamayun-Gamma

Document SCP-4896-Gamayun-Gamma
The symbol of Veles himself, and his holy messenger on black wings. From him we gain our wisdom and knowledge of all, his voice of feather and skin and blessed with the work of man and god. From their song shall come the ending of the dark unknown, the veil shall be lifted and the light shall reign once more. When the Gamayun speaks we shall listen, for they will carry the divine words of Veles.
Praise be to Veles, and praise be to his messenger, may the sky and wind bless them forever and more!

Footnotes
1. Traditional knives used by the Yakut people of Siberia
2. Carrion crow, native to Europe
3. These symbols have been designated Gamayun-Delta and are currently still under investigation for relevant entries in SCP-4896-Gamayun
4. A Slavic Pagan symbol for the Sun

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