Special Containment Procedures: Given SCP-090-VN’s current geographical location, additional security measures to prevent information leak via media or airborne vehicles is deemed unnecessary.
A perimeter of covert observation posts has been established around SCP-090-VN. These posts serve the purpose of documenting SCP-090-VN-A’s manifestations and subsequent activities, as well as monitoring and recording any unexpected abnormality.
Nomads travelling towards SCP-090-VN will be redirected under the pretence of ongoing military conflict. Proposal to disrupt activities conducted by SCP-090-VN-A is pending approval.
The location of SCP-090-VN, marked by a red dot on the map.
Description: SCP-090-VN is a geographical area located in the central Sahara Desert, near the Sudan-Egypt border, with an estimated area of 19.300km2. A constant large storm with a radius of about 80 km, wind of Beaufort force 12-13, and an eye slightly west of SCP-090-VN’s centre isolates the area from its surrounding environment and thwarts any deliberate attempt at intrusion.
Satellite images of SCP-090-VN during clear weather have provided an overview of natural geographical features, as well as distinctive architectural clusters in the area. SCP-090-VN is composed of a large metropolis, surrounded by several smaller villages. Many tombs and religious structures occupied the majority of the outskirts, all bearing identifiable characteristics of ancient Egyptian dynasties. It is notable that there is no dedicated area for livestocks or agricultural activity.
At specific times of the year, a group of entities has been observed exiting SCP-090-VN1 and performing a series of random activities with undetermined purpose, presumed to be related to religious rituals. The leader of this group (designated SCP-090-VN-A) is an unidentified subject of unknown gender, approximately 2 metres tall and wearing a long-sleeved black robe with a wide-brimmed hat covering its head. SCP-090-VN-A always leads or plays an important role in these rituals.
All attempts to capture SCP-090-VN-A’s face using remote devices have failed. Photographs and videos typically only show a dark spot with faint outlines.
These events are the only evidence supporting the belief that a relatively stable and active population is maintained inside SCP-090-VN.
Discovery: SCP-090-VN came to the Foundation’s attention after a group of nomads spreaded rumours at the border of Sudan about a constantly stormy area in the desert, forcing them to make a detour, extending their journey and causing health issues in some members.
Addendum 1: The following table details observed activities and their timings.
| Time | Description | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, full moon nights | The group emerged from SCP-090-VN and marched on without rest. It was led by SCP-090-VN-A who carried nothing, while others carried logs or large quartz slabs. At midnight, they turned back, crossed the storm, and re-entered SCP-090-VN at exactly sunrise. | The longest recorded distance travelled was 18 km. Logs used during the ritual appeared to be sourced from nearby oases. |
| Winter, moonless nights | The group emerged from SCP-090-VN with torches, candles, and other light sources. At a stopping point, a random individual was chosen, who would be attacked by SCP-090-VN-A with a random weapon concealed underneath its robe. The attack was intended to not kill the subject immediately. The subject was then stripped of clothing and laid down on the sand, with the clothes placed underneath. SCP-090-VN-A then lay down next to the subject while others meditated. When the subject died, SCP-090-VN poured an unknown liquid on the corpse, which seemed to accelerate the decomposition process. If the corpse was reduced to bones by sunrise, the group left it behind and returned to SCP-090-VN. Otherwise, if the decomposition was slower than expected, SCP-090-VN became visibly angry, attempting to destroy the corpse by repeatedly attacking until the others burned it completely. The group returned to SCP-090-VN once the ritual was concluded. |
SCP-090-VN-A occasionally carried a finely crafted lantern. The sacrifice was often the oldest-looking individual. Based on multiple observations, it appeared that the ritual was only considered a success if the corpse was reduced to bones before sunrise, and all other outcomes were considered failure. |
| 15th or 16th of even months, daytime | The group emerged from SCP-090-VN, with each individual carrying a sack. The group immediately split in half, with one half standing at the inner edge and the other half at the outer edge of the storm. They all simultaneously raised their sacks to eye level and took out a mixture of grains, which was immediately blown away by the storm. The group continued this action and retreated back into SCP-090-VN when their grains were exhausted. | SCP-090-VN-A often stuck with the group outside the storm. |
| 15th or 16th of odd months, daytime | The formation was similar to the aforementioned ritual, but a large animal, such as a cow or a horse, was brought along instead of sacks of grains. SCP-090-VN then struck the animal with a leather whip, causing it to panic and rush into the storm. The animal was quickly blown apart under the intense wind speed, with its skin and flesh being torn away until the entire body disintegrated. For this ritual, the group retreated into SCP-090-VN as soon as the sacrificial animal was swept into the storm. | SCP-090-VN-A often stuck with the group inside the storm. |
Addendum 2: On May 6, 1978, Mobile Task Force Eta-77 (Unyielding Disciples) was deployed to explore SCP-090-VN. The team managed to avoid the storm and infiltrated the area through a tunnel. They were also provided with field ration, necessities and other essential survival equipment for several days.
Below is a log report recorded by the members, compiled and arranged based on the information obtained from them.
Note: Some audio recordings deemed relevant to the report have been added to ensure comprehensive information and coherence of the document.
Report from Agent Pal Neth
First day at SCP-090-VN.
According to the plan, each of us took turns emerging from the tunnel, as it would be very suspicious for all three of us to all appear. The first person to emerge would go ahead for a while, and once out of sight, the next person would follow, and so on. As long as we kept in contact via radio, everything would be fine. I volunteered to go first.
I quickly stole an outfit from a nearby household and put it on. It was a sleeveless cloak with a hood, made from a rough and stiff fabric. The fabric seems to be made from shredded and woven dried tree barks, which made me itch constantly.
I hid in a corner and observed for hours. As expected, the language of dwellers inside SCP-090-VN is similar to the Berber language of the Afroasiatic family, like the nomads of the desert. Although there are many differences likely due to the isolated culture over a long period of time, some words they use are archaic, unaltered by Arabic influences like their modern counterpart. As this is a great opportunity to collect materials for the Foundation’s linguistic research, I will try to record as much of it as possible.
…
It’s been over a day since I arrived. I have visited almost the entire residential area within a few hundred metres from the starting point, only stopping to eat and rest. Whenever I encountered a crowd, I always stopped by to listen and observe closely.
Life here is relatively miserable. Wild berries are the main sources of nutrition for the denizens since there seem to be no vegetables, crops, or animals that can be served as food. Grains like rice, corn, or peanuts exist but only in small amounts. I have seen groups of denizens go into areas with dense vegetation and return with baskets full of tiny fruits. One surprising thing easily noticed is that they consume very little food each meal, not even as much as a child. This might be why most people here are puny and frail.
Like any desert in the world, water is scarce in SCP-090-VN. I tailed a group of men and women collecting water for daily use from a large well in the urban area centre. It’s not really a well however, just a deep hole where underground water seeps up. Still, I wonder who dug it and how.
This place is busy all day, with people coming and going continuously. This made me believe this well is their only water source. A thought crossed my mind that if I frequent this place, I may run into Trang or Nel, albeit occasionally.
…
It’s been almost a week in SCP-090-VN, and I have gradually gained more knowledge about other aspects.
Land is not considered property here, every part of SCP-090-VN can be used freely and occupied as long as it’s still vacant, meaning it has never been occupied before, or the previous occupant is dead or has left without a trace.
Knowing this, I found an empty plot of land, picked up some sticks to build a frame, adding large leaves for the roof. In less than an hour, I got a small hut to shield myself away from the sun. With this, I would feel more comfortable performing my task.
From the way SCP-090-VN denizens live, it seems that their community might not have moved past the primitive way of life. I say this because I have yet to find any group displaying ruling power, like security forces, military, nobility or royalty, along with their political headquarters. Some men seem to take on leadership roles in gathering wood and stone for house building, but that’s it. Outside those activities, they are like everyone else. But this is just my speculation.
…
Day 10 in SCP-090-VN, close to the deadline, I need to wrap up this mission quickly.
Until now, I have gathered most of the basic information regarding SCP-090-VN and its denizens, the rest are things that can’t be understood by mere observation. Indeed, I am talking about their spiritual life.
There are dozens of tombs - or temples, I’m not sure - scattered around, all built from boulders of various sizes, piled chaotically, in a somewhat crude manner. But it is clear that these tombs are important to the denizens as I often see people being sent to take care of them.
People don’t visit these places often, which is understandable as they are busy making ends meet. But I believe this may change soon as the moon is nearly full, and if the Foundation’s documents are accurate, something is bound to happen in a few days.
…
It’s now midday, and the denizens are preparing for a ritual. To shed some light on this, I have to pretend to participate, even if I have no clue what purpose it serves.
They have been marching continuously for half a day without eating or drinking. Along the way, they danced and reenacted some scenes that I believe to be creation myths. They also recited words from a bible, though too faint and quick to hear clearly. However, I still recognised familiar words like “salvation”, “noble path”, and “grace”. This is a long and arduous journey, some people nearly collapsed from exhaustion and had to give up, sitting down by the roadside. They could only helplessly gaze at the group marching further away, some even broke into tears.
I knew I would look like a fool if I outright asked someone “Where are we heading to?” or “Teach me how to recite the bible.” I recalled Trang saying “Ask old people for advice, and the young for directions”, so I struck up a conversation with a boy lagging behind.
Pal: Kiddo, where are we going?
The child: Toward the sun, toward Risu-a.
Pal: You’ve been walking for a long while, are you not tired?
The child: No, because Risu-a is ahead.
Pal: Is that so, who is this Risu-a you are talking about?
The child: The enlightener, the grace bestower, the one who will depart.
Pal: Grace? What has Risu-a given us?
The child: Life. Eyes. Houses. Sweet fruits.
Pal: And what do we do to repay those things?
The child: We vanish alongside Risu-a. We walk the path he once took. Once and forever.
Pal: Oh, is he waiting for us?
The child: No, Risu-a waits for no one, Risu-a will leave, forever, we must keep up with him.
Pal: For what, kid?
The child: To cease living. To cease existing. To transcend the cycle of suffering.
That’s it, perhaps the belief of SCP-090-VN’s denizen is a form of simple and original monotheism. Their philosophy sees death as a path to happiness, something so familiar it isn't even unusual, let alone anomalous.
Moreover, I boldly asked about SCP-090-VN-A and learned that the people here call him a name that can roughly be translated to “Black Robe Pontiff”. It seems that he plays the role of a prophet or an oracle. Nobody knows of his origins or his true face, just that he has lived for hundreds of years, always assuming this position.
…
I have frequently conveyed everything I know to my two colleagues, while also receiving information from them.
I also planned an escape and received an immediate response from Trang, which means she’s still doing fine. But I had trouble contacting Nel, it seems like he’s currently somewhere with poor reception. According to the protocol, should we fail to gather at the designated time, the mission will be deemed a failure and we will have to leave him behind. May the gods bless him.
END
Report from Agent Trang Ngô
Ahem… This is the exploratory report on SCP-090-VN by Trang.
Pal had already gone quite far when I moved out. Although I couldn’t see him, the radio still detected a reply, so it’s still okay for now.
…
I tried to minimise the denizens’ attention. Pal’s disguise trick works well, but not well enough for a Southeast Asian like me. Fortunately, I made some preparations in advance.
I supposed that wandering around and spying on people is a waste of time. “To understand something, you have to practise it” is my personal motto.
…
I have to admit that this mission is somewhat challenging because our origins from the outside world is a “sensitive” matter. I can’t just run up to anyone and say “Hi, I’m new here, can you show me around?” Anyway, I’m good at talking, and some language barriers can’t stop me from engaging in conversations and garnering information through them.
It would be long-winded to list out everything in details, so I will summarise the result of the past few days:
SCP-090-VN has very few species. I saw a few typical cactus species and small shrubs but no woody plant, so most houses here are made of stone. The only edible vegetation is a strange fruit that looks like a mulberry but it is very hard and tastes quite tart. There are no animals except for worms, centipedes, and scorpions.
In SCP-090-VN, women are treated very well, they even have many privileges regarding labour, maternity and menstruation. However, these might simply stem from basic rights and needs rather than to benefit any group.
Moreover, their community is very peaceful, with no theft, conflict, or violence, which is obvious when essentials like food and water can easily be obtained by oneself. No one would waste effort to steal them from others.
Emotionally speaking, I believe that SCP-090-VN denizens rely on emotions and intuition more than dry and rigid logic. They raise their children with positive values like compassion, kindness or empathy and sharing. They preach that applying these will make themselves and others better rather than expecting anything in return.
I don’t think any political ideology can form and develop here, for the living conditions are already too harsh.
…
I befriended a girl named Akha on my way to get water, someone so small that I initially thought she was just a young girl. She heard me complaining about not having a place to stay and suggested that I move to the plot next to her house.
As mentioned, I’m not as fluent in African languages as Pal, so I couldn't say much. Fortunately, the communication style here is very simple. We discussed various topics from family and friends to love and life. Beside her parents, she has a younger brother and they live together on the edge of the village, in an earthen house, which is pretty luxurious. Everyday, she spends half the day getting water and the other half bringing it back, while her brother goes fruit gathering with his father, and the mother takes care of the house. There’s nothing much to say; after all, their primary concern is finding something to eat each day.
But then she told me about her partner, whom she thought she could be with forever until one day, the Pontiff came to recruit him to work at the tomb. She said that those who were chosen must stay there forever, so they will never see each other again. What a cruel twist of fate!
I’m aware that in studies of primitive communal societies, romantic relationships are often not mentioned and equated/replaced by the need for reproduction. I question the universality of those conclusions, I think we have overlooked one or several significant hypothetical situations, with SCP-090-VN being a prime example. Love, in some cases, can be a lifeline helping people escape the depth of misery.
…
I’ve just noticed now that the weather inside SCP-090-VN is more pleasant than expected. Despite being in the centre of a large desert, the difference between the day and night temperature isn’t much, the humidity is moderate, like my homeland. This may have stemmed from the isolation caused by the storm, allowing a relatively closed environmental cycle to develop. This is noteworthy, however, it is obvious how low biological diversity affects various aspects of life.
…
One night, when Akha and I were resting on a small hill near her house, I tried to ask about the terrible storm surrounding this place.
Trang: Have you ever imagined what it would be like on the other side of the wind wall?
Akha: Wall, you mean Tes-u? No, I haven’t, but I guess it would be terrible.
Trang: Why do you think so?
Akha: People living on the outskirts say that the Pontiff and his attendants often go outside, but not all of them return. There’s always a few missing.Trang: None of us really knows what happened, do we? Have you ever thought about leaving this place?
Akha: You are well aware that privilege is reserved for the Pontiff and those he chooses.
Trang: I mean, leaving forever, without coming back.
Akha: Leaving Risu-a? No. Why?
Trang: Maybe there is better stuff out there.
Akha: What stuff? Here, in the embrace of Risu-a and Tes-u, we have fruits to eat and water to drink. What more could we want?
Trang: You are right, what more indeed. By the way, Akha, what do you know about… Tes-u? I want to know if you know more than I do.
Akha: As I was taught, Tes-u is the embodiment of motherhood, Risu-a gives us life, Tes-u life gives us purpose. She nurtures us with a warm and kind embrace. But the inevitable must come, Risu-a gradually fades into nothingness, leaving only Tes-u. Our ancestor, panicking at Risu-a’s departure, begged Tes-u to hold him back. And… She heeded their call, Tes-u’s wind became more fierce and violent to stop Risu-a from leaving us and us from leaving him.Trang: What do you think Risu-a’s thought was at that moment?
Akha: Must he have thought about something?
Trang: Yea, He must have felt something, because what Tes-u did was more than holding on, it’s imprisoning.
Akha: You’re speaking forbidden words.
Trang: Really?
Akha: Yes. If mother and father heard you, they would punish you. Tes-u is our benefactor.
Trang: Anyway… vanishing with Risu-a, that’s everyone’s mission, right?
Akha: Correct.
Trang: What’s wrong? You seem disappointed when you mention it.
Akha: Just that… I don’t know if you feel the same, but lately, I’ve been wondering if it’s really necessary.
Trang: What do you mean?
Akha: Take my brother as an example, he hasn’t yet experienced the joy of playing and having fun with his friends. Some people aren’t truly ready.
Trang: You think we should abandon it.Akha: That wasn’t what I said. I’m just wondering if this act is really good when not everyone can peacefully leave with Him.
Trang: Not everyone can think like you did.
Akha: Of course. Listen, I’ve heard about a group led by a priestess. They claim to have seen another path. We won’t have to transcend if we follow it.
Trang: You want to oppose the Pontiff?
Akha: But we get to live, we will mourn Risu-A, and maintain his legacy. Surely He would be very happy about that.
Trang: I’m not sure if we should, Akha. But I respect your thoughts. I’ll keep this a secret for now
Akha: Should you change your mind, tell me.
In summary, to the denizens of SCP-090-VN, the storm or Tes-u is a divine presence, an opposite extreme accompanying Risu-a in their creation myth. I think information about SCP-090-VN up til now helped us easily understand why they worship a natural element instead of other living factors.
…
In the past few days, I haven’t gathered anything new. I’ve received Pal’s message saying that this mission is nearing its end and urging me to plan my escape. I think I’ll just need to find an opportunity to blend into a crowd on their way to get water and quietly disappear.
As for Akha and her friends’ plan to resist SCP-090-VN-A, I have decided not to participate. SCP-090-VN has its own history, and I do not wish to crudely intervene with it. I will leave SCP-090-VN, leaving nothing but footprints, and taking nothing but knowledge.
END
Report from Agent Nel Jackson
I exited the tunnel after Trang, now heading towards a residential area.
My first impression of SCP-090-VN, and what truly surprised me, was that there were multiple ethnic groups living here. I’m not sure whether it’s normal or abnormal, but I believe this is an important note for anthropologists and historians.
…
Before arriving here, my team had studied the terrain of SCP-090-VN. Based on the distribution of the structures, we could see that the population would be denser in the centre and gradually sparse towards the edge. While my two colleagues chose to delve deep into the urban area, I decided to explore the outskirts.
…
This area is larger than I initially thought. On the first day alone, I passed at least three villages, five tombs and two temples which always have people inside regardless of the time of the day.
Along the quiet roads to the tombs, it is easy to spot men sitting cross-legged along the roadside. They are shirtless, gaunt and their skin blackened. I approached them out of curiosity as they were motionless like statues. I thought they were dozing off, but they were actually meditating, extremely focused with very slow breaths.
The temples always welcome people to rest, similar to temples and churches in the rest of the world. People can even stay overnight, for several days if they wish, but I didn’t see many people doing so.
…
I tried to strike up a conversation with a group of denizens and surprisingly, they were willing to share food with a stranger like me, even though they didn’t seem to have much.
There are still people getting around during the day, but it is completely deserted at night. But that’s a good thing as I can comfortably use up my rations or take documentary photos without anyone watching.
…
The day before yesterday, I shared some of my reserved rations with a kid who seemed exhausted by the roadside. The child then went around telling everyone about the extremely delicious food eaten. Now the whole area is buzzing about it, with some keen believers rejoicing, thinking the great god Risu-a has returned.
I may have underestimated how devoted people are. Normally, they are always busy looking for food and water, never resting. But deep down, they still hold unwavering respect for the divine and an unstoppable desire for salvation.
…
Day three in SCP-090-VN.
I think I was really lucky that just yesterday, when I was wandering around, I saw a crowd running in the opposite direction, shouting that there was going to be a selection to find servants for the tombs. I thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it would be dangerous to venture into the unknown, but in the “all for nothing” spirit, I decided to join the selection. And it was surprising to find out that the personnel manager was none other than SCP-090-VN-A.
The process was quite simple, similar to a routine military health check. The candidates were divided male and female groups, then forced to strip completely, including footwear. SCP-090-VN-A didn’t just observe but also checked by directly touching each person. The results were immediate after he finished touching someone: Those with outstanding physical features were chosen, while those too skinny or showing signs of illness were driven out immediately by his subordinates. It seems that he just wanted to see if the candidates were healthy enough to serve his cause.
Honestly, I was quite nervous at that moment. Even though he stood in front of me, covered by a long black robe with a hood covering his entire face, I still felt a presence hidden beneath the clothes. It wasn’t just a sharp gaze that made one’s skin crawl, but also an intense charisma intensely radiating, twisting the surrounding space, paralysing anyone facing him.
I could barely breathe. That feeling only disappeared when he turned away, and his subordinates led me into another room. At that moment, I knew I had passed and now become one of his attendants.
…
The selection ended when it was late afternoon, the room I entered now packed full of people. We waited in silence. A moment later, SCP-090-VN-A walked in, looked at us, then signalled us to follow.
He led us to what I think is the centre of all religious activities in SCP-090-VN. In front of me was a large temple, three times bigger than those I had seen. It looked cleaner, the carvings more intricate and decorated with small shrubs.
We were left in the main hall, the door locked behind us, and SCP-090-VN-A disappeared into the darkness.
…
A few days have passed since we came here without any progression, it has been quite comfortable actually. We were provided with ample food and water, and even allowed to shower regularly, in exchange for doing some light cleaning.
But then, what was inevitable happened. Every one or two days, SCP-090-VN-A returned and took a few people with him. They followed him into a long, dark corridor then disappeared and never came back.
We had no idea what happened. Anxiety and unease accumulated, a gloomy and bleak atmosphere spread throughout the temple.
…
In just a week, the group was reduced to less than half. Even so, the queue was still too long, and the mission deadline was approaching. I couldn’t just keep waiting like this.
A few days ago, I received a lot of information regarding SCP-090-VN-A from Pal, and judging from my current situation, I am the most likely to be able to approach him, which was unexpected. I plan to volunteer to go with him tomorrow, which means I’ll be under his control for the following period. This might be my last report from the temple.
…
It’s me again. (panting) Excuse me… I’m running while speaking… I can’t stop right now, there’s nowhere to hide.
…
How deep is this place even, how many levels have I gone through… I don’t even know how many days I’ve been down here.
…
He has ceased chasing me, but I’ve got to keep moving.
…
There’s something unusual in the air, SCP-090-VN-A, he must have done something.
I… (panting) This can’t be…
…
(Howling wind).
END
Addendum 3: 090-Salvat Event.
On 20/05/1978, the exploration mission of SCP-090-VN ended as planned, with only agents Pal Neth and Trang Ngô safely returning from the tunnel. Both of them stated that they had lost contact with agent Nel Jackson about 3 to 4 days ago, coinciding with the time he decided to follow SCP-090-VN-A as mentioned in his report. Agent Jackson was temporarily listed as missing. While a rescue attempt was being prepared, a series of anomalous phenomena (designated 090-Salvat) occurred in SCP-090-VN.
090-Salvat Event developments
21/08/1978: Humidity increased in the area. White smoke rose from the ground.
22/05/1978: Dense accumulation of cloud, temperature continuously rose to 570C, personnel at the containment site reported an intense stench.
23/05/1978: Wind speed increased by 1.75 times. The clouds gradually dissipated.
Midnight of 23-24/05/1978: Numerous crystal shards of multiple colours, approximately 0.5-1 metres in size, were swept into the storm. Under the intense wind, they were shattered and ground into dust at an altitude of 160 metres.
24/05/1978: All crystal shards were completely pulverised, maintaining a uniform dissipation inside the storm. SCP-090-VN displayed reflective property and could be seen from over 200 metres away.
After Event 090-Salvat concluded, Agent Nel Jackson managed to escape SCP-090-VN through the original tunnel. He did not suffer any severe problems other than some health issues.
Addendum 4: Interviewing members of MTF Eta-77 after the mission .
Interviewer: Dr. Diane Ross
Interviewed: Agent Pal Neth
<Begin Log>
Dr. Ross: Hello, Pal. Good to see you making it back safely.
Agent Pal Neth: Hello, Doctor.
Dr. Ross: What is your assessment of this mission?
Agent Pal Neth: More peaceful than I expected. I mean, for me at least, I’m not sure if the other two think the same. We haven’t had much time to chat since we came back.
Dr. Ross: Don’t you mean “catch up”?
Agent Pal Neth: Yea, yea… catch up..
Dr. Ross: I’ve reviewed your report, and I must say that the information is quite detailed and comprehensive, so I don’t think we need to discuss it more. But I called you here to know more about your feelings. Agent Pal Neth, what are your thoughts after experiencing life in SCP-090-VN?
Agent Pal Neth: I don’t have any special feelings, you know, I’m just a boring soldier. But to answer your question, I’ve watched a lot of documentaries about Africa and other third-world countries, along with the location of this mission, I could somewhat imagine how the mission would go. But I was still surprised, can you imagine it? There’s nothing there but the sand and… the sun shining above. But they still lived on, and quite well too. Quite hard to believe, isn’t it?
Dr. Ross: You’re right, this is unprecedented. Is there anything you’d like to add? You mentioned a well, and you said it seemed suspicious.
Agent Pal Neth: I didn’t say it was suspicious or anything like that. Just that it was difficult to determine whether it was a natural formation or man-made. It seemed quite neat as if someone dug it, but it could also have been a small oasis.
Dr. Ross: We are also looking into that. Can you tell us more about the denizens of SCP-090-VN? Who do you think those people really are?
Agent Pal Neth: I’m clueless about that. I think they’ve been there for a long time, thousands of years ago even. I don’t know why they were in the desert, maybe they were migrating from Egypt. Then the storm appeared, they got trapped and had to do their best to survive.
Dr. Ross: Very well. Let’s talk about their religion and then we’ll finish. You commented that the religious activities in SCP-090-VN are not anomalous, can you elaborate on that?
Agent Pal Neth: You should know that there are many religions in this world that directly mention, or imply that death is a path to happiness. I can list at least three or four of them right now. If we ignore the storm, everything appears completely normal. Nevertheless, to be completely honest, this ideology is a bit more extreme inside SCP-090-VN. I think the reason is that their life is much harsher compared to other places. Makes sense, right? If I had to live there without my rations, I’d have wished I was dead too.
Dr. Ross: I see, thanks for being here today, goodbye. And please call Trang in for me.
> End Log <
Interviewer: Dr. Diane Ross.
Interviewed: Agent Trang Ngô.
<Begin Log>
Dr. Ross: Hello, it’s nice to see you again.
Agent Trang Ngô: Thank you, same here.
Dr. Ross: This is only your second or third time doing a mission of this type, right? How did you feel about it?
Agent Trang Ngô: Erm, it’s the third time to be exact. I think I’m getting used to this type of mission, everything went quite smoothly this time.
Dr. Ross: Your report mainly focuses on abstract and grand problems. What’s your reason for this emphasis?
Agent Trang Ngô: In my opinion, the living conditions of an individual or a community greatly affect the formation of their thoughts and emotions. But humans are sapient beings, I believe that in any circumstance, our minds always contain general ideas about morality and emotions, and this mission allowed me to explore that.
Dr. Ross: Very interesting. What’s your assessment of the result you obtained after the mission?
Agent Trang Ngô: I was pleasantly surprised, there has never been any case like this before. Their mental life is something we find desirable, yet when considering some other aspects, I find it to be bittersweet. I think I understand what sacrifices they had to make.
Dr. Ross: That’s good. It seems here that you managed to gather quite a lot of information regarding the storm, or Tes-u as it’s called in SCP-090-VN, is my pronunciation correct? And another deity called Risu-a. Neth made the assumption that the denizens in SCP-090-VN practice monotheism, do you agree with it?
Agent Trang Ngô: I don’t know much about religion. I am an atheist, so my opinions may not be accurate, but I half agree with Pal. On one hand, they put Risu-a in high regard, but their worshipping activities focus on giving offerings to Tes-u. I think there is some difference between their mythology and their actual culture. It is regrettable that I couldn’t delve deeper into it.
Dr. Ross: It’s alright, that much information is enough. After all, the influence of their belief is limited. Let’s discuss the internal conflicts between a group of denizens and their leader, SCP-090-VN-A. Do you believe the explanation given by the girl named Akha? Or is there an ulterior motive behind their plans?
Agent Trang Ngô: I trust Akha’s way of thinking completely. As I said earlier, the human mind always contains certain instincts, and self-preservation is one of them. I don’t know how long SCP-090-VN-A had controlled their perspective on the world but I’m certain that all of that ordeal could not extinguish their survival instinct. Life is precious, regardless of circumstances and reasons.
Dr. Ross: I get what you’re feeling. Do you think they have made their move?
Agent Trang Ngô: They probably have, after I left.
Dr. Ross: You mean during the time Agent Jackson was stuck there.
Agent Trang Ngô: Probably. I heard he managed to escape.
Dr. Ross: Yes, he’s fine now. When was the last time you saw Agent Jackson?
Agent Trang: A few days before I left SCP-090-VN, at the well.
Dr. Ross: Do you think there’s any link between the denizens’ rebellion and the recent series of anomalous phenomena?
Agent Trang Ngô: It’s highly possible. It’s still an anomalous area after all.
> End Log <
Interviewer: Dr. Diane Ross.
Interviewed: Agent Nel Jackson.
<Begin Log>
Dr. Ross: Hello, Jackson. Are you feeling any better?
Agent Nel Jackson: Yes, I feel much better now. It’s nothing serious, I just need a meal and some sleep.
Dr. Ross: We’ll get started right away then. The report says that you chose a different approach to the mission compared to your colleagues. Why did you do that?
Agent Nel Jackson: We were allowed to act freely within limits as this mission didn’t require any specific plan. We agreed to divide the area for each person, as you could see in the report..
Dr. Ross: I see. Did you anticipate all possible situations?
Agent Nel Jackson: According to the outcome of this mission, the answer is probably no. But the situation at the time forced me to make a decision.
Dr. Ross: Highly skilled soldiers like you are valuable assets to the Foundation, I’m sure you understand this. Since you violated safety principles during the mission, you will have to face some disciplinary actions. Now, let’s continue with the report. Information provided by your colleagues shows that SCP-090-VN denizens have strong religious beliefs, but your observation doesn’t fully support that.
Agent Nel Jackson: Um… I’m quite sure what I’ve seen is true. The temples were mostly empty. I reckon they were too busy gathering food. You can’t be a devotee on an empty stomach.
Dr. Ross: Perhaps so. Let’s talk about SCP-090-VN-A, you are the only one to have direct contact with the subject so far. You usually refer to SCP-090-VN-A as “he”, do you have any evidence regarding the subject’s gender?
Agent Nel Jackson: Not at all, it seems to be intuition. When talking about something mysterious, evil, and wicked, we often think of it as male, don’t we?
Dr. Ross: So your guess wasn’t based on any concrete evidence.
Agent Nel Jackson: Sorry, but I want to stick to my guess.
Dr. Ross: Alright, if you insist. Please explain why you stopped reporting and cut off communication with your colleagues.
Agent Nel Jackson: As stated in the report, that was when I volunteered to follow SCP-090-VN-A. He led me to a trapdoor, underneath was a long staircase leading down. It turned out that in the temple, there was an extensive underground tunnel system, each level consisting of rooms interconnected through a dense web of corridors, like a labyrinth, and they were all pitch black. When the trapdoor was closed, the place became isolated, I suppose that radio waves couldn’t get through..
Dr. Ross: Please continue, what were you doing down there?
Agent Nel Jackson: I followed him to the deepest level, which felt very spacious and empty. SCP-090-VN-A then vanished into the darkness. A minute later, I heard many sounds like locks clicking continuously. That's when I realised I had been trapped alone, in darkness and silence, losing my sense of time. I didn’t know how many days had passed, how my colleagues were doing, or had the mission been concluded. He only came back when I passed out from starvation and dehydration. He forced me to strip off all my clothes, leave them there and follow him, now that I had no strength to resist. What happened next was a horror, something I could see so clearly despite my blurry vision.
Dr. Ross: What did you see?
Agent Nel Jackson: What I saw was a goddamned giant mechanical machine. Humans were grown in glass capsules containing nutrient solution, of various sizes and ages, from foetuses to the elderly. Next to it was a large tank filled with highly concentrated corrosive substance, tens of metres high, and a large staircase leading from the ground to the mouth of the tank. That was where selected “specimens” like me had to climb and jump down, until the bodies were dissolved completely. We were dancing in his palm, that black robe bastard. The whole SCP-090-VN area and everyone inside are all his toys.
Dr. Ross: How did you escape in that situation?
Agent Nel Jackson: I ran. Maybe he didn’t expect that my stamina was far superior to the others. When they collapsed from hunger and thirst, I still had some strength left to put up a fight. I returned to the empty room earlier, and grabbed my clothes, in which I hid my recorder. I had to keep running since it was his domain, through the darkness and corners. I could only guess his position based on sound. When I reached the surface, the only thing on my mind was to not stop until I got out of SCP-090-VN.
Dr. Ross: Your escape coincides with the 090-Salvat Event, which we informed you about. I assume you know what happened, don’t you?
Agent Nel Jackson: Of course. Perhaps when I was fleeing, he did some sort of trick. When I reached the surface and got to where the rest of the people in the temple were, I saw them all kneeling, head facing the sky, eyes rolled back and mouths wide open. I ignored them and rushed out as I said, and tried to escape SCP-090-VN. On the way, everyone was in that same position. I ignored everything and kept running, but the longer I went, the hotter the air became and a stench started permeating. Only when I stopped for a moment to catch my breath did I realise that the smell was coming from the denizens. Along with it was smoke, or more precisely fume, rising thickly.
In the next one or two days, I slowed down as I was exhausted. Under the moonlight, I could see that the denizens of SCP-090-VN became dry corpses. But strangely, they were not wrinkled and pale like the ones we usually see, they became shiny, transparent and hard. The moonlight helped them shine in multiple colours like green, blue, yellow…
Upon reaching the edge of the capital, the storm had become terrifyingly strong. I could hear the wind howling in my ears, and the pain as it whipped my face. I had to tread very carefully because dust was being blown everywhere. Fortunately, I reached my destination. I cleared the thin layer of sand covering the entrance and went down. At the last moment, I turned back to give everything one final look and saw that mixed in the storm were the crystalized pieces of human corpses.
What you saw were humans, Ross. Those crystal shards were created from humans.
Dr. Ross: The information you provided is very valuable, thank you. What’s your thought regarding this whole ordeal?
Agent Nel Jackson: The only thing I can say for sure is that this was an elaborate and sick plan of that black robe guy. And it wouldn’t have ended like this if it weren’t for me, the one that alerted him. Since he failed to catch me, maybe he assumed that when I made my escape, I would reveal the truth to everyone. If only he had been calmer, things wouldn’t have gone so badly. But it is still undeniable that I forced him to sabotage his project.
Dr. Ross: Alright. I have one extra question, in your opinion, do you think the action taken by SCP-090-VN-A was evil?
Agent Nel Jackson: I think it is an inevitable thing. The denizens of SCP-090-VN had also been preparing for this for a very long time. In the end, they received what they yearned for. But I’m not sure if they deserved to die in that manner.
> End Log <
Update on 16/06/1978 After the 090-Salvat Event, there are no longer any signs of life activities inside SCP-090-VN and the rituals led by SCP-090-VN-A have ceased to appear. SCP-090-VN will continue to be monitored to timely record any changes that may occur in the future.
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"SCP-090-VN" by MI SA, from the SCP-VN Wiki. Source: https://scp-vn.wikidot.com/scp-090-vn. Licensed under CC-BY-SA.
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File name: SCP-090-VN.jpg
Author: MI SA
License: CC-BY-SA 3.0
Source: https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/images/39363/drought-in-africa