Item #: SCP-ES-181
Object Class: Keter Neutralized
Special Containment Procedures: The containment protocols of SCP-ES-181 are obsolete and have been removed from this document.
The current containment of the subject is reduced to the maintained supervision of Dr. Richard Barnard, who will rest exclusively in a room equipped entirely with fireproof padded material with a fireproof mattress and will receive fireproof clothing for his periods of sleep. It has also been recommended that Dr. Barnard receive additional supervision and psychological support to avert his emotional toll; although Dr. Barnard has declined, Area-08 Management considers minimal psychological follow-up to be essential.
Description: SCP-ES-181 was a humanoid entity residing inside a 2nd century palace complex in Puerto Isabel (Area-08-C administrative district). Although many architectural and decorative elements of this complex indicate that it is a Secite construction, SCP-ES-181 repeated on multiple occasions that he came from a culture much later than that of the Secites themselves. It claimed noble and royal titles of which obscure but consistent references have been found in several of the Palacian Incunabula, of which the most common is the "King Icarus" or the "King Who Burnt".
SCP-ES-181 had the appearance of a humanoid being equipped with a metallic mask, which according to eyewitnesses would be made of calcined cast iron and which covered almost all of his face, except for both eye sockets. The skin of the eye sockets, including eyelids, lower eyebrows and both eyes, were fully vitalized and often bled with the object's facial gesticulation. The remainder of SCP-ES-181's body was that of an adult male, one meter and eighty-five centimeters tall, completely charred.
Despite its condition, SCP-ES-181 was able to move and speak as a human being would. SCP-ES-181's mask emitted flames with no obvious fuel of varying brightness, heat and volume from the moment it was discovered by the Foundation. These flames formed a kind of flaming disk that SCP-ES-181 defined as "its crown" or "its mane" around its mask. In exceptional moments of inactivity, the fire would dwindle until only a candle-like flame remained on the subject's forehead; during times of increased activity, anxiety or agitation, the flames would become violent and voluminous.
SCP-ES-181 was extremely dangerous to any human being with whom it came in contact. SCP-ES-181 was capable of communicating in several anomalous languages, including emphytic languages, fact that it took advantage of in all its contacts with the Foundation's staff to issue offers of servitude, threats, insults and claims of other anomalies. SCP-ES-181 coerced several Foundation staff members to act on its behalf, forcing them to pledge their allegiance on its terms.
The moment any subject who had sworn allegiance to SCP-ES-181 failed to obey it, regardless of distance or separation by physical barriers, SCP-ES-181 would raise an arm and clench a corresponding fist. The chest cavity of the subject in question would burn from within, and the subject would survive conscious and able to feel the corresponding pain until death. Heart and face were the only parts of these subjects that did not burn.
Should they refuse to obey it, SCP-ES-181 could cause the same effect on those subjects inside the space in which it used to reside, a west-facing audience hall with a throne of a carved metamorphic rock whose provenance is unclear. All surfaces of the hall are charred and any pictographic markings on its surfaces have been lost, but abundant traces of organic remains that could belong to humanoid corpses and combustible furnishings have been detected.
Addendum SCP-ES-181-01 ; First Contact, on 05/02/2018.
SCP-ES-181 was identified on 08/02/2018. E-44510-08-3, Agent Molly Arellano, entered the containment environment of SCP-ES-181 as part of the systematic exploration effort of Puerto Isabel (having begun exploration of this particular building thirteen days earlier with the rest of her squad from the Esoteric Mobile Containment Task Force ϱ-4 ("Red Net")). A transcript of the events follows.
| Video camera transcription (headset) E-44510-08-03 |
Agent Arellano: (…) and I don't know what you want us to do… okay, fifth door of the sixth north corridor, third floor. The door is made of metal, about three meters high and carved… well, carved. The inscriptions are vandalized, chiseled from top to bottom… doctor, I've got a door here that's been turned into a cat scratching post. The door is made of iron, I believe. (The Agent leans with one hand on it) Sturdy. Very sturdy.
Mission Command: Roger that, Molly. Proceed.
Agent Arellano: Órale.
(The Agent leans against the door, pushing it open with a creak. She enters an empty room, with a central atrium open to the sky over what could be an empty swimming pool. Piles of sand or ash are visible inside. The back of the room, some thirty meters, is not open to the sky and is left in shadows except for a single unsteady light source.)
Agent Arellano: It's a kind of inner courtyard, but… it's not a tenement house, let's say. Something burned here for a long time, Dr. Farcaster. Do we know what happened here?
Mission Command: Same as in [REDACTED] (Note: residence in another building in Puerto Isabel, doubt it's the same event), maybe? I don't know. Drop a drone, have it mapped and let's continue….
Agent Arellano: Um, doctor.
(The Agent turns to the light source, which is flaring up.)
SCP-ES-181: (speaking in High Palacian; slowly, raspy sound at first, more powerful later) A supplicant? Here. Here, with me… how good, how wonderful, how late it has become and after so, so long…
Agente Arellano: Doctor?
Mission Command: Hold position, Arellano. I'm calling the rest of the squad. Stay where you are.
Agent Arellano: Aye, aye.
(The Agent aims her weapon — standard submachine gun — at the entity. It reacts by illuminating its face with progressively larger and brighter flames. The Agent holds her position.)
SCP-ES-181: (High Palacian) Hello, half-breed daughter from East and West. Hello, little mouse, skin of clay, soul of fire. Hello, and welcome. (Tilts head) Your attire is of black night and your weapon… is that the arm of a handmaiden serving the Silver Goddess? What a black glow, what an evil oil. But what a weak weapon, in the end. What became of the men with muskets? Of the holy men and the crusaders? Have they all fled?
Agent Arellano: Don't move. (turns to Mission Command) Doctor, let the heavy weapons come, but let's get some f-
(The entity rises up, covering the distance between his throne and the Agent in less than three seconds. It takes three shots from a burst of five, with no serious damage that can be confirmed on the recording. From the sounds and the relative position of the camera, the entity has suspended the Agent in mid-air holding her by her right wrist).)
SCP-ES-181: Weapons are no good. Lead is no good. Hate is no good. But you are a good servant… I call you Clay. If you serve me, if you swear subservience to me… what you are will be better, and when you shall be, it will be glory in my name.
Agent Arellano: (shouting) Doctor! Request immediate backup!
SCP-ES-181: Leave your wooden icons. They will burn. (the entity holds in its hand a wooden cross, confirmed by EMCTF ϱ-4 members as a personal property of the Agent; the object burns spontaneously, SCP-ES-181's flames now measure over a meter long and do not seem to harm its own body) Let your loyalties burn with the same fire, for I am ICARUS KING and I stole my fire from the hair of a god. Aid me in my ascent and I will grant you the privilege of life, for it is not yours. Now it is mine. I am greater than you, greater and more beautiful, and from you I shall demand it all.
Agent Arellano: Fuck you so much, you little snout.
SCP-ES-181: Too bad. Thanks for waking me up. And now, burn.
(The entity raises his free hand and clenches its fist.).
Agent Arellano: (screams) It burns…. it-[UNINTELLIGIBLE]!
SCP-ES-181: (sound corrupted by ambient noise; flames, liquid crackling, bony crunching, popping, tearing) Let my crown be this fire-(Agent Arellano screams) [UNINTELLIGIBLE]
It is suspected that the Agent died a few minutes later, like the other cases observed after the fact. The other members of her squad attempted to contact the entity against the orders of Dr. Helena Farcaster, recently assigned to EMCTF ϱ-4; all died without managing to cause perceptible damage to the entity and refused to serve it, with no further information of relevance obtained.
Addendum SCP-ES-181-33 ; 08/14/2018 Incident.
SCP-ES-181, having declared on at least twenty-five occasions during previous contacts that the Foundation and all its members would be unable to stop "their ascent", turned out to have much critical information about several SCP objects located in Puerto Isabel. As included in multiple Palacian Incunabula and following the indications of several esoteric experts, the O5 Council decided to order the dismantling of SCP-ES-181. After █ attempts to terminate the entity by multiple aggressive and esoteric means, including an attack by SCP-ES-███ (now Neutralized), it was decided that SCP-ES-181 was not prone to dismantling by conventional means.
In addition, SCP-ES-181 succeeded in subverting three D-Class subjects on 07/11/2018. The subjects had been instructed to attempt to destroy the entire building in which it was located by explosive charges; the entity convinced them instead to detonate them in the walls of its throne room, which would "free" it. The explosions left the room unstable, though they did not demolish it; SCP-ES-181 began attacking its walls, and several expert Foundation engineers reported that the walls would fail in less than a week of sustained attack.
SCP-ES-181 was approached by Dr. Barnard, who requested an opportunity to attempt the use of a memetic kill against SCP-ES-181. Dr. Barnard had on several occasions demonstrated his talent in dismantling dangerous esoteric anomalies. The hypothesis constructed by Dr. Barnard explained that SCP-ES-181 was ultimately a human being endowed with anomalous qualities; like any other transhuman being, SCP-ES-181 would be vulnerable to appropriate memetic agents.
He was therefore authorized to conduct a contact with the intention of employing [REDACTED], with [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] as viable alternatives, to attempt to dismantle SCP-ES-181 preemptively.
Dr. Barnard was brought into SCP-ES-181's throne room, equipped with a megaphone. A transcript of the events follows.
| Video camera transcription (chest harness) E-44510-08-39 |
(Dr. Barnard remains silent after crossing the entrance to the throne room. He crosses the rubble-strewn area near the entrance, stepping over several fresh corpses. SCP-ES-181 is on the south wall of the room, repeatedly hitting it. It is observed that SCP-ES-181 has managed to crack the solid rock at the cost of notable damage to its own upper extremities; it is suspected that the rock had been imbued with specific anomalous properties to contain SCP-ES-181. The entity does not stop hitting it as it speaks. The conversation is held entirely in High Palacian, a language in which Dr. Barnard is fluent.)
SCP-ES-181: Look at him. White as paper. White as white wax and like the white light you encase in glass and wire. Pure white, and yet so dirty. (The entity stops hitting, turns to Dr. Barnard.) Like a piece of old paper. Moldy, dusty, torn at the edges… You have gone from hand to hand and now you cannot even remember what story you were telling, can you? I name you Diatribe, impure and annoying, but nothing more. Nothing more you are worth, nothing more you are. They have sent so many warriors, but now they only send me a sucker! (laughter) Will you serve me?
(SCP-ES-181 stops about two meters away from Dr. Barnard without touching him. This behavior is atypical. Its flames shrink by a few centimeters and take on a more reddish color, typical of a cooler flame.)
Dr. Barnard: I see we understand each other, ICARUS.
SCP-ES-181: (SCP-ES-181 leans over Dr. Barnard.) Are you a wise man among your people? Or a fool? You come to fight with words and bring only those of my ancestors. You will get nothing from me but my scorn or my lordship. Declare your allegiance or burn.
Dr. Barnard: (in ysian) You know I do not bow.
SCP-ES-181: Ah, the tongue of the Rotten Queen! I dislike it. Too nasal for my taste. Your accent is nefarious, Diatribe, but… I respect your wisdom; I still despise you, but only because you are also a fool. Was it not you who sent brave men to die at my hands? Why do you find courage once there is no hope? Prostrate yourself. Kiss my throne.
Dr. Barnard: ICARUS KING, I have come to speak with you. The Law is clear. The Law has kept you here. I am your enemy and this is your throne; before it, you must speak the truth and listen to me.
SCP-ES-181: There is nothing in the world that is my enemy.
Dr. Barnard: You mean no one can rival you?
SCP-ES-181: No, little scribe. No. I mean I have no enemies. I mean that I choose my enemies, and before me I see only little inconveniences to pluck the cold from within to burn on their own.
Dr. Barnard: I have seen that you have devoured their hearts.
SCP-ES-181: They are my lifeblood. Centuries of loneliness sadden; centuries of confinement mute; centuries of hunger… what do not centuries of hunger do? I suppose they drive them mad in the first place.
Dr. Barnard: What will you do when you ascend, oh, ICARUS KING?
SCP-ES-181: I will seek out my brothers and sisters. The thrones will not be vacant forever. The City of Many Thrones will return to what it was. The world is old and there are no powers left to stop us… you will not be able to stop us. (The entity bows even more. Dr. Barnard is partially surrounded by the flames of SCP-ES-181, who now speaks louder; there is a noticeable, metallic rumble in its voice) I name you, Foundation, the shadowy swamp in which my flesh and blood are lost; but I have no flesh and blood, only ash. Only ash for you. Only fire for you. Serve me and be my SERVANTS, for I am ICARUS KING and I stole the highest and brightest FIRE in the world. Serve me, little paper doll. Serve me and you will be more than a footnote.
Dr. Barnard: (feigns to ponder) Yes. I see. Allow me, oh, KING, to whisper this in your ear: [AUTOCENSOR ACTIVATED - MEMETIC KILLER 55103-D - DATA EXPUNGED]
(SCP-ES-181 falls backwards, its back arching to the point where several crunches can be heard. Both legs begin to decay into ashes. Flames become jagged and throw up fumes.)
SCP-ES-181: YOU DARE ACCUSE ME WITH MURDEROUS WORDS, MURDERER OF MEMORIES, PRODIGAL POET, GRAVEDIGGER OF PALA-
Dr. Barnard: (raises the megaphone) [AUTOCENSOR ACTIVATED - MEMETIC KILLER 06703-F - DATA EXPUNGED], you piece of shit.
(SCP-ES-181 loses most of its torso and both arms. SCP-ES-181 howls until it begins to emit a shrill screeching sound. The entity begins to crawl in jerky movements away from Dr. Barnard. Its flames have become completely erratic and appear to be dying out.)
SCP-ES-181: NO, NOT LIKE THAT, NOT IN MY INDIGNITY, NOT ON THE FLOOR, NOT LIKE A WORM, NO. NO. I FLEW, I FLEW TO THE SUN AND STOLE A FIRE MORE RADIANT THAN THAT OF THE FORESTS, MORE ETERNAL THAN THAT OF THE SAILS OF A THOUSAND SHIPS IN A STORM OF LIGHTNING, MORE FURIOUS THAN THAT OF A MILLION PYRES FILLED WITH THE DAMNED.
Dr. Barnard: Whoa, whoa… (sic.)
SCP-ES-181: MY FLAME HAS BURNED IN WHOLE LEGIONS. MY HATRED HAS FORGED THEIR WEAPONS TEMPERED. MY LIGHT HAS GUIDED THE LOST. DARE NOT TOUCH ME, FOOL. I AM YOUR OVERLORD, FOUR TIMES TRIUMPHANT, A THOUSAND TIMES RIGHTEOUS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND TIMES SATIATED BY MY COURT OF FAITHFUL, SWORDS SWORN WITH SHIELDS OF IRON AND HEARTS OF FIRE AND BLOOD IN FLA-
Dr. Barnard: [AUTOCENSOR ACTIVATED - MEMETIC KILLER 00910-A - DATA EXPUNGED]
SCP-ES-181: … what?
Dr. Barnard: One more syllable and you're dead. You have an alternative. I recommend you take it. Now.
SCP-EN-181: … you are not a Diatribe. I name you Well; may my flame burn your shadow. And now, swallo-
Dr. Barnard: [AUTOCENSOR ACTIVATED - MEMETIC KILLER 00910-A - DATA EXPUNGED]
(SCP-ES-181 launches a final incoherent flare toward Dr. Barnard. As it disperses, SCP-ES-181's mask falls to the ground with the rest of the ashes that made up its body; Dr. Barnard, apparently unharmed, requests to go into functional quarantine in Area-08-C's Scranton Box, declaring the entity decommissioned.).
Follow-up note: Dr. Barnard suffered an attack tonight in his Area-08-C quarantine room. An extradimensional entity similar to SCP-ES-181 (but lacking its mask, which is now inert and contained in a Standard Locker for Anomalous Objects) materialized in it and attempted to assassinate him in his sleep, but Dr. Barnard was able to physically repel it. The subject dematerialized, producing a flare as his body decomposed.
Given Dr. Barnard's poor physical combat ability, it has been suggested that the entity was of remarkable weakness and that, beyond the flare manifested when the entity dematerialized, it is in no danger. A two-month functional quarantine will be maintained, during which time his escort personnel will carry fire extinguishers and specialized ϱ-4 handguns.
Dr. Barnard will return to his normal duties at the Foundation after this time, barring extraordinary events. I want to believe that ES-181 is really decommissioned, but for the time being I will just be glad he did not eat this madman; he is too good for us.
-Dr. Farcaster, responsible for the Operational Command of the Esoteric Mobile Containment Task Force ϱ-4 ("Red Net")
