SCP-505-FR
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Item #: SCP-505-FR

Threat Level: White o

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: The entrance of SCP-505-FR has been sealed behind an armored gate requiring a Level-3 Clearance magnetic card for access. Once per week, a patrol of six (6) security agents is to enter SCP-505-FR, travel to SCP-505-FR-10 (Malkuth), collect all the baskets within and deliver them to the Site-Aleph kitchens.

Any questions regarding the history of SCP-505-FR must be addressed to Dr Cornélius Attano.
Any questions regarding the anomalous properties of SCP-505-FR must be addressed to Dr Anna Jerrison.
Any questions regarding the containment and exploration of SCP-505-FR must be addressed to Agent Jean-Marc Verstrat.

Description: SCP-505-FR is a network of troglodyte galleries carved inside Mount ██████ (France) dated to the XIIth century CE. They are divided into eleven (11) distinct sectors, depending on the composition of the walls:

SCP designation Original designation Wall composition
SCP-505-FR-0 Daath Diamond?
SCP-505-FR-1 Kether White limestone
SCP-505-FR-2 Chokmah Gray stone
SCP-505-FR-3 Binah Black slate
SCP-505-FR-4 Chesod Blue stone
SCP-505-FR-5 Geburah Red quartz
SCP-505-FR-6 Tipharet Brown stone
SCP-505-FR-7 Netzach Green stone
SCP-505-FR-8 Hod Orange clay
SCP-505-FR-9 Yesod Purple stone
SCP-505-FR-10 Malkuth Multicolored stones

Together, these rooms cover an abnormally vast surface area which is incompatible with the geometry of Mount ██████. The air inside SCP-505-FR is renewed through an unknown process, allowing a constant percentage of oxygen at any time. No electrical system can function inside SCP-505-FR; kerosene lamps are therefore required for exploration. Moreover, numerous freshwater streams have been observed inside the corridors in-between rooms.

Plan.jpg

Simplified layout of the distinct sections of SCP-505-FR, by Dr Jerrison.

The only entrance to SCP-505-FR was a 5 m high archway. An armored gate equipped with a magnetic identification system was installed in █████ 19██. It leads to a 20 m high, 2,000 m² cave designated SCP-505-FR-9 (Yesod) carved in an unidentified purple stone.

SCP-505-FR-10 (Malkhuth) is a set of twenty-six (26) rooms with a loose soil ground and multicolored walls, all connected to a central corridor. Each room spans 500 to 1,000 m² with an internal height of 3 m. The structure is supported by numerous caryatids holding various medieval agricultural tools. When no human being is inside of these rooms and the entrance is closed, various crops will develop at an abnormal speed (about 10 times faster than usual). These crops show no signs of lack of water, light or nutrients. When the produce reaches maturity, it is gathered inside willow baskets at the entrance of the rooms. Each of the twenty-six (26) rooms harbors a distinct monoculture: oats, beets, carrots, citrons, cabbage, lemons, quince, dates, spelt, legumes, figs, strawberries, pomegranates, beans, millet, bitter oranges, onions, barley, green peas, pears, chickpeas, apples, plums, grapes, buckwheat and rye. At the edges of these monocultures are a number of spices such as Chinese cassia, cloves, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, black pepper and sage.

SCP-505-FR-8 (Hod) is an area made of soft orange clay. Its surface area could not be measured, as the walls constantly change shape in a random manner, and can therefore trap visitors inside. Those who have met this fate could not be recovered and are considered lost. The ground is equally soft: any massive object placed onto it gradually sinks in until it disappears. The same effect can be observed when an item is pressed into the walls or ceiling. No successful crossing of this sector has been achieved so far.

SCP-505-FR-5 (Gueburah) is a room carved into red quartz, measuring 4.6 m in height by 520 m in length and 220 m in width. It is entirely sterile since the walls absorb any germs present in the air. Its architecture, with columns and semicircular arches, is reminiscent of some medieval synagogues. It contains twenty-six (26) steles carved from the same red quartz and engraved with inscriptions in Hebrew from the Sefer Yetsirah. If any living being falls asleep on one of these, it will enter a lethargic state where it no longer needs water, air or food to sustain itself, and no longer shows signs of aging or decay. There is currently no known way of awakening affected subjects.1

SCP-505-FR-7 (Netzach) is a circular room 1,200 m in diameter with mat green stone walls in which twenty-six (26) alcoves have been carved, all of which contain permanently soft clay. If one writes, using a stick or other pointed object, the word "אלגדה"2 in the clay, it will solidify and can then be pushed, like a door, to access SCP-2264-B. When this door is closed, sliding one's hand over the writing will erase it, turning the surface back into soft clay. It is assumed that writing other Hebrew words could open passages to other places, but this has not yet been demonstrated.

statue.jpg

SCP-505-FR-6A.

SCP-505-FR-6 (Tiphareth) is a collection of rooms with brown stone walls and a total surface area of about 20,000 m². A 5 to 50 cm thick layer of ashes covers the ground in the entire area. At least one hundred and thirty (130) black statuettes around 20 cm in height, designated SCP-505-FR-6A, are dissimulated within this layer. When no humans are present, they constantly move at a speed of 2 km/h, without ever exiting SCP-505-FR-6 and without following a clear path. When a human enters the area, the statuettes all converge towards the latter and follow them until they leave. If the statuettes touch their skin, their memories will rapidly fade, from newest to oldest, as if they were injected with Class-B amnestics, at a rate of 48 hours per minute of contact.

SCP-505-FR-4 (Chesod) is a room stretching across 8,000 m² and built similarly to a medieval synagogue. Its walls are made of a very hard, dark blue unknown material. If a human remains inside for more than one minute, they will feel compelled to go to the bimah3 and hang themselves with a rope that will manifest in their hands. On the Shulchan4 is a book in Hebrew. The retrieval of this book has been declared a Level 7 Priority by the O5 Council on 1███/12/20. However, no personnel member sent into Chesod was able to retrieve it, as they all hanged themselves before fulfilling their mission. It appears that the desire to take the book proportionately increases subjects' suicidal compulsions.

SCP-505-FR-2 (Chlokhmah) and -3 (Binah) are two similar rooms with walls made of gray stone and black slate respectively. They are both shaped like lecture theaters and able to accommodate 8,000 people each. Thousands of human skeletons, 11 to 61 years old, are suspended to both ceilings. During the initial exploration of these sectors by the SCP Foundation, SCP-505-FR-2 contained 4,951 skeletons and SCP-505-FR-3 contained 5,174. Only individuals identifying as male can enter SCP-505-FR-2: others (women, genderless individuals, animals…) seem to collide with an undetectable wall. Similarly, only individuals identifying as female can enter SCP-505-FR-3; moreover, individuals who remain inside for more than half an hour run the risk of experiencing serious bleeding from the nose, mouth, anus, vagina (if present) and urinary tract. There is no known way of interrupting the phenomenon once it has begun.

SCP-505-FR-1 (Kether) is a pentagonal, white limestone room. It has the highest elevation (████ m). When an individual located inside shouts the sentence "Let us visit the meek, whom the Hanged King did seek," they are immediately transported to a room whose location is unknown, designated SCP-505-FR-0 (Daath). This room has the exact shape of a cube whose sides are 5.04 m with walls made of an unknown, very strong crystal similar to diamond. Inside are twenty-six (26) skeletons wearing XIIth century Venetian masks. A high-relief representing a large, gender-less humanoid creature, referred to as SCP-505-FR-0A, has been carved in one of the walls. When a question is asked in Hebrew while looking at the latter, an answer will be heard after 5 to 30 seconds. This answer is always formulated in Hebrew by a deep voice. SCP-505-FR-0A has demonstrated knowledge of everything that occurs, or has occurred, inside SCP-505-FR. It is therefore considered a reliable source of information regarding SCP-505-FR's history.

Addendum: Historical information

The following information has been obtained by interrogating SCP-505-FR-0A.

SCP-505-FR was founded in 1218 by seventy-eight (78) kabbalist5 rabbis of the Burgundian school. They had been convicted of heresy in 1211 by Duke Odo III of Burgundy6 and forced into exile out of his land, with their wives and children.

At the time, SCP-505-FR was referred to as העיר א (Hairaleph or "Aleph city"). Kabbalistic techniques were used all throughout the location for civil engineering purposes. For example, the city was lit by eternal menorahs7 and many kinds of labor were carried out by golems.8 Politically, it was governed by a form of parliamentary, gender-egalitarian gerontocracy unique in Europe. Judicially, the only punishment for wrongdoers was banishment: writing the offender's name in the Book of the Shunned, which was kept in Kether but has not yet been found, would render them unable to pass the Yesod entrance gate. The official language was Hebrew, fluently spoken by most citizens.

It was divided into ten districts:

  • Malkhuth, the agricultural district where golems abundantly cultivated all sorts of fruits and vegetables. Thanks to this, the city never experienced famine in its hundred years of existence. Lacking any livestock, the diet of Hairaleph citizens was entirely vegan, which they viewed as a successful application of Jewish dietary laws.
  • Yesod, the vast lobby, where metics (non-citizens) resided, in now-missing wooden houses. They were offered food and shelter as long as they respected city laws, notably the obligation to remain within Yesod and Tiphareth. In the XIIIth century, it was common practice for European scholars to visit Hairaleph at least once. Hence, the city welcomed, among others, Bonaventure, Jacobus de Voragine, Moses ben Nachman, Roger Bacon and Thomas Aquinas. After two years of life in Yesod, any adult Metic could become a citizen if they so wished.
  • Hod, the embassy district. An envoy from every known kingdom was offered food, shelter and free access to the entire city as long as they did not disrupt public order. The number of housed ambassadors could reach sixty at times. Ambassadors were recorded from, among others, the duchies of Brittany and Guyenne, the kingdoms of England, Aragon, Castile, Burgundy, France, Granada, Norway and Sicily as well as the Holy Roman, Byzantine and Mongol Empires, the Papal State and the city-states of Mirmande and Venice. Every envoy lived in quarters specifically designed for them, as similar as possible to the styles of their native kingdom.
  • Netzach, the residential district. By engraving their names on the doors, citizens could instantly access their living quarters. Additionally, amulets called mafetekhott allowed access from anywhere and at any time. Now inaccessible, a number of these living quarters featured moving wall painting mimicking the outside world.
  • Tiphareth, the library district, the nervous epicenter of the city. All citizens and metics had free access and were assisted by miniature archivist golems. It featured historical, literary, philosophical and scientific works, all written or translated in Hebrew.
  • Gueburah, the medical district. Physicians well-versed in the most advanced contemporary techniques treated citizens for free. Thanks to them, the average life expectancy inside the city was 40 years, compared to 20 years in other kingdoms, and the child mortality rate was 50%, compared to 80 in other kingdoms.
  • Chesod, the massive synagogue where all religious service was performed, each citizen choosing whether or not to attend. Notably, it is where bnei mitzvah,9 a Jewish rite not yet widely practiced in the XIIIth century, were celebrated. In Hairaleph, it marked, for both boys and girls, the transition from childhood into adulthood and citizenship. Aside from religious celebrations, numerous secular events were hosted there, including theatrical performances, public speeches and concerts. While women were confined to the balconies during service as stipulated by tradition, they were allowed in the main room during these events.
  • Chokhmah and Binah, two assemblies consisting entirely of men for the former and women for the latter. Every citizen had a seat with their name engraved, which appeared after their bar mitzvah or naturalization and faded after their death or banishment. Each assembly could propose a law if a majority of members voted in favor. To be enacted, it would then need to be approved by a majority of the other assembly. The legislative council formed by these two chambers was called the Sanhedrin, in reference to the traditional legislative assembly of Ancient Israel. Respect of the laws was assessed by the haez, i.e. citizens under 20 years of age.
  • Kether, the chamber where the Council of Elders would meet. It consisted of the 13 oldest male and 13 oldest female citizens. Their mission was three-fold: keeping the haez in check to prevent abuse of power, maintaining good relations with outside kingdoms and supervising kabbalistic research. Additionally, they had exclusive access to Daath where SCP-505-FR-0A, the memory golem, was located. The latter recorded the entire history of the location.

The city prospered from 1218 until 1366, when the incident described below occurred (testimony obtained from SCP-505-FR-0A):

During Passover 5095,10 the Papal ambassador gifted the Council of Elders, on behalf of Benedict XII,11 an old literary work entitled Tales and Legends from Trinculo.12 Though he claimed it to be a mere sign of peace symbolizing a friendly attitude, the Elders were not fooled by the fine words of the Christian lord, and noticed the clever arrangement of the words inside the volume. Within was a dark and destructive power which they had never before seen. Despite their reluctance, curiosity triumphed in the Council and they accepted the gift.

The book was thoroughly and carefully studied for the next ten years. City scholars dissected its very words to extract kabbalistic formulas of unrivaled power. Thereupon, their hearts were swayed by hubris and they believed to have found a way to the land of angels, Atziluth. A major ritual was organized in Chesod for Roch Hachana 5126.13 Citizens were divided into ten groups, corresponding to the ten dimensions of the universe, and under the Elder's guidance, recited 26 novel formulas.

In response to their prayers, a celestial being arose. It was taller than the tallest citizen, and radiated light. It was draped in a broad white cloak tightened by chains and its face was covered by a white baked clay mask. It presented itself as the ambassador of the Kingdom of Alagadda, a kingdom that none had knowledge of, and that the Elders assumed to be Atziluth. He demanded that the city submit to his liege. Mistaking him for an angel, the Elders bowed respectfully and, from a common intent, gifted Hairaleph to his liege. The Ambassador instructed them to stand and declared: "Smile, for the Hanged King is now your lord. You shall pay him tribute, under three days, of your own accord." before vanishing.

The next day, a sinister melody resonated in the city, a choir of children singing blasphemous threats. Frightened, all metics and many citizens fled the city. At noon, the walls of Hod began melting onto ambassadors, threatening to smother them. Outraged and indisposed, they joined the defectors, with the exception of the ambassador of the Venetian Republic, who vanished into the walls of his quarters.

The next day, all female citizens started losing liters of blood, which the physicians of Gueburah were unable to appease. At precisely noon, every book in Tipharet caught fire. No amount of effort could quell the fire and before nightfall, every book had turned to ashes. Horrified by the loss of their treasures, the Elders took refuge in Daath while the remaining citizens met up in Chokhmah and Binah.

Finally, when night came, the blasphemous choirs stopped. Thereupon, the members of both assemblies shouted in unison: "We shed the blood of those chosen by Yah14 to please He who cries in Alagadda" before hanging themselves with ropes that had appeared on the ceiling.

The next day, the menorahs burned out, and the city was submerged in darkness. The Ambassador of Alagadda then presented himself in Daath, where the twenty-six Elders were awaiting him, their faces covered by masks gifted by the Venetian ambassador. The men kneeled before him and declared: "With the blood of vanquished men, the Hanged King will feed again." Then, the women, using hallafs15, slid their throats in the way of the Shechita rite. Thereupon, bowing before the Ambassador of Alagadda, they declared "This blood concludes the offering, this city owed the Hanged King." before dying of their own blood loss. The Ambassador of Alagadda walked in the darkness to the Netzach doors and carved the name of his Kingdom before departing for good.

Following this incident, the effects of most rooms was altered, rendering them more dangerous (see Description). The majority of states and kingdoms maintaining links with the city make no mention of it past this date.16

In 1367, thirteen male and thirteen female survivors of SCP-505-FR founded the "Kaballah of the Heirs of the Sanhedrin," whose purpose was to rebuild the kabbalistic know-how of the city. Together, they created the village of Espergy-les-Monts, facing the entrance gate, from which several expeditions were organized, with mixed results given that all the books had been destroyed and several rooms had become very dangerous. Nevertheless, this group would gradually gain renown among French Kaballists. It remained active until 1807, when it became the Kaballah of the Great Sanhedrin, one of the main constituents of Napoleon I's Singular Imperial Academy.

On 1998/12/18, following a suggestion by Dr Jerrison, Site Director Bruce Garrett declared SCP-505-FR-10 (Malkhuth) to be a viable source of food for Site-Aleph. This decision decreased the Site's dietary needs by 40%, but indirectly caused numerous complaints due to the repetitiveness of meals.

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