日付: 1985年05月15日

探査チーム: 機動部隊シータ-120 ("ティルヴィング・ブラック")

探査対象: SCP-5373、下水区

隊長: アシュワース博士

隊員: リベラ博士、コンウェル保安長

Foreword: Due to the relative importance of the video logs gathered from MTF Theta-120, theirs are the only ones currently attached to this file. For a full log of Project Neverland video logs, contact Site-120's General RAISA Chairman, James Moore.

[記録開始]

The camera feed connects, revealing a small and tight corridor located within SCP-5373's sewers, with portal-entry-induced visual bugs relatively stabilizing themselves. With a total of five MTF units standing within the murk waters of the location, all of them silently nod to each other and start to walk forward to the end of the tunnel, from which a light is coming.

Asheworth: To make sure — we're going with Alpha-2 to Ruling, right?

One of the men present within the room turns back to Asheworth, with the thaumaturge snapping his fingers, resulting in a dim light above everyone's head lighting up.

Alpha-2-1: Yes. We split up here and re-join near the stairs to the Grand Temple. Everyone else asserts the situation.

Alpha-2-1 pauses for a second.

Alpha-2-1: If you see or hear anything weird, report through the radio.

Asheworth: 了解。

他の4つのチームはすぐに出口へ向かうが、残りされた3人はしばらくそこに留まる。

Rivera: ちょっと待ってください。

アシュワースが振り向き、リベラの方を見る。

Asheworth: 何だ?

Rivera: 右に行ったほうがいいかもしれません。

Cornwell: 渡された指示書には明確に左に行くように書いてあります。そこでナインと合流する手筈で—

Rivera: 左に行くと早く着きすぎます。

Cornwell: な...... どうやったらそんなことが分かるんです?

Rivera: 知りません。私はただ......

リベラは自分の額に手を当て、優しくマッサージし始める。

Rivera: ただ、私にはそれが"分かる"んです。

彼女は少しの間立ち止まる。

Rivera: いい? 私が5795で現実改変能力に目覚めてから...... それ以来、色々なものが変わってしまったんです。私自身...... 自分でも完全には理解できていませんが—

Asheworth: 大丈夫だ。

全員が少しの間立ち止まる。

Cornwell: 魔術師と現実改変者を扱うサイトを運営する、魔術師と現実改変者ですか。ハハ。

コンウェルは神経質に笑う。

Asheworth: <ため息> ジョークなんか言ってる場合じゃないだろ。

Cornwell: すみません。

Rivera: とにかく進まなければ。

As Rivera starts to walk left, the team follows. Shortly after, the camera reveals a long corridor, populated with numerous market stands, lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and doors and windows leading into living spaces near them, all located within the sewer despite its everpresent wetness. At the end of the tunnel, there is light.

Cornwell: Ew.

Coming close to the local market stands, a widely smiling SCP-1000 instance appears from behind one of them. The entity approaches the team with a small bag filled with unidentified items in its hands.

The entity: <in a thick accent>: Hello there, fellow humans. <chuckle> Would you possibly like to—

Cornwell: <少し後退りする>: 何なんだ、おい— <自分の拳銃を実体に向ける> 止まれ!

実体の表情がショックを受けたものに変わり、その後すぐに逃げ去る。

Rivera: 何をしてるの、ジェレミー?

Cornwell: 何ですって?

Rivera: 「何ですって?」とは何? 自分で分かっているはず。なぜそのようなことをしたのか聞いているのですよ。

Cornwell: 僕が何をしたって言うんです?

Rivera: あの哀れなSCP-1000個体に対してやったことがあるでしょうが。彼は何も—

Cornwell: 僕のせいじゃありません。恐怖を感じるのは仕方のないことで—

リベラは嘲けるように笑う。

Rivera: そもそもあなた、私の話をちゃんと聞いていたの—

Asheworth: 静かにしてくれ。

両者は口論を止め、アシュワースに注目を向ける。

Cornwell: もし今のであなたが—

Asheworth: 静かにしろと言ったんだ。

Rivera: どうしたんです?

Asheworth: 奴が近くにいる。

Cornwell: へ?

Asheworth: 私は奴の存在を感知できるんだ。

Rivera: 本当に大丈夫なんでしょうね? 以前に同様の状態だった時のあなたは—

Asheworth: 大丈夫だ。過去のことはずっと前に捨てた。

アシュワースは一瞬だけ足を止める。

Asheworth: All I care about now is making sure this piece of shit doesn't hurt anyone else.

チームが下水管を出る際に、カメラはオフにされる。

[記録終了]

[BEGIN LOG]

The feed reconnects, revealing the prior exploration team walking up pearl-white stairs leading to a large temple building located atop it. On the cover of the large opened stone doors leading to the building's interiors, numerous highly detailed pictographs of humanoid entities being worshiped can be seen, covering almost all of the doors' area. Within the walls around them, tall pillars as well as detailed decorations can be seen, with a large, curvy-lettered sign sitting atop the entry.

Asheworth: "Show repentance, mortals, for you are entering the house of gods." That's… one cheesy way to put it.

Cornwell: What?

Asheworth: <pointing towards the sign:> That's what it says. In Fae, I mean.

Asheworth chuckles nervously, proceeding to walk up faster; Rivera and Cornwell quickly catch up, a moment later standing near the entry to the building. From within, a silent whistle can be heard, immediately alarming Rivera.

Rivera: That's our sign. Let's go.

The team enters into the building through the large doors, revealing a gigantic hall with a ceiling held up by numerous pillars scattered throughout the room. Along its walls, numerous large mosaics with Fae descriptions can be seen, all showing a large humanoid entity — however, the details of them remain mostly unknown due to the distance between the team and the pictures.

In the background, a large altar with an extremely large mosaic, covering almost all of the wall, can be seen. The painting showcases a large field among which numerous entities stand. Among them, a large stag, a large, pale humanoid, a man carrying a sword of pure light, a Child of the Night walking with a cane in his hand, large tree, and a mass of flesh with eyes can be seen located on its left, with the destroyed images of two Fae wearing crowns, crowned humanoid painted crimson, a mass of gears and metal, as well as a large serpent encompassing all of these entities on the right. In the center, a featureless humanoid entity is standing, visibly above all others; the material previously used to make it up seems to be destroyed, purposefully leaving only its silhouette visible. Above it, red tendril-like appendages coming from the top of the mosaic can be seen.

Cornwell: Woah.

As the entire team looks around in disbelief, two members of other dispatched MTFs approach them from their right, showing them to come closer. Doing so, Theta-120 slowly uncovers the area within which the wall mosaics are seen.

Alpha-2-1: You good?

Asheworth: Yes. All's fine. The rest?

Alpha-2-1: Omega, Beta, and Gamma are guarding the outsides. We really don't want anyone to know we're here for the info.

Cornwell: But, uh, we didn't see them anywhere?

Alpha-2-1: That just means they're doing their job.

All pause for a second.

Alpha-2-1: <pointing towards the rest of the team located near the altar:> Our correspondent said they'll only accept us to pass on the info, meaning you'll have to wait here. Won't take longer than a couple of minutes.

The man joins the rest of his team near the altar, near which a hooded entity can be seen. They start to engage in a silent conversation.

As neither of Theta-120 members have anything else to do, Asheworth and Rivera start to investigate the wall mosaics present near them — Cornwell appears to not be interested with them, as he sits down in one of the wall cavities and starts to clear his gun.

Rivera: And what on earth are those?

Asheworth: Well, they are murals, I suppose.

Rivera rolls her eyes and sighs.

Rivera: No shit.

The duo comes closer, revealing the entire wall is separated into 5 identically-sized panels, located within shallow cavities and with small descriptions in Fae located beneath them.

Asheworth turns back, looking at the other side of the wall — there, an identical mirroring of the location can be seen.

Asheworth: "I. The left-behind kingdom."

He looks up, showing a mural showcasing a large, blue, featureless humanoid entity located in the center of the image, sitting atop a throne. Around it, numerous smaller blue humanoids can be seen, kneeling near it. In the background, a large, luminous, red mass with tentacle-like appendages can be seen. It doesn't touch any of the other entities present in the painting.

Rivera: <pointing at the red mass:> Is that… Yaldabaoth?

Asheworth: It's too transparent and… ghostly, I think? Never seen any representation of it before.

The two slowly move to the left, showing the next panel.

Asheworth: "II. The deal."

The second panel showcases the tall blue humanoid, kneeling under the red mass. Within the humanoid's hands, numerous smaller blue humanoids can be seen, each being presented to the red entity. From one of the apendeges of the red entity, unidentified items can be seen; behind it, a number of small red humanoids equivalent to that of the offered blue ones are present.

Rivera: So someone… dealt with something, in exchange for people, getting what in return, exactly?

Asheworth: Technology, I imagine. Or at least some material wealth. No idea.

Shrugging, he proceeds to the next image, which showcases two visibly divided parts — the top one, within which the red mass with numerous parts of it covered in holes, numerous unidentified items from the last panel, as well as a number of red humanoids identical to the one of the blue ones from panel one can be seen. Separated from the bottom panel with a black line, within the down portion, the tall blue humanoid can be seen, in visible stress, with parts of its body missing. Despite this divide and most of the red mass being located atop the panel, a slight red appendage penetrating this wall can be seen.

Asheworth: "III. The escape."

Rivera: They fought, I imagine?

Asheworth: Probably. Ended in the blue one running away from whatever its home was.

Rivera: Why though?

Asheworth points at the red humanoids.

Asheworth: The red one probably overpowered the blue one by sheer numbers. Too many deals to do anyone good, I guess.

Proceeding to the fourth panel, the team reveals an open plain, with the tall humanoid present in its center — from its hands, plants and two small entities looking similar to humans can be seen emerging. Within the blue entity's eyes, a slight red light can be seen.

Asheworth: "IV. The creation of life." Eugh. Seen and heard too many world-creation stories. Sick of them.

Rivera: Agreed.

The fifth mural showcases five smaller circles located around the entity — the tall humanoid has parts of its body missing, with one of its eyes burning with a red light, sand its visibly connected to the five circles, with parts of its body present within them. One of these circles is slightly damaged.

Asheworth: "V. Imprisonment.."

Rivera: So it… put itself in a prison? Why?

Asheworth: The red one somehow penetrated the barrier and got to it. Wanted to lock itself with red so it won't destroy everything again, I suppose.

Rivera: <proceeding after a short pause:> What does all of this mean?

Asheworth: <rolling his eyes and chuckling nervously:> Nothing. Weird religious bullshit, I guess. Wouldn't give my head to the imagination of a weird sculpturer from hundreds of years ago.

Rivera: I guess you're right.

As they both stop talking, suddenly, all three members of Alpha-2 can be seen rushing towards them, visibly stressed. The hooded entity is nowhere to be seen.

Alpha-2-1: <sigh> It's becoming a goddamned catchphrase during this entire case, isn't it?

Rivera: What's going on?

Alpha-2-1 speeds up his walk, quickly showing near the exist.

Alpha-2-1: We're already too late.

[END LOG]

[BEGIN LOG]

Entering into the large opening from which the port can be seen, the entire team can be seen quickly moving up the road leading uphill towards the Living District. Despite the normal traffic, the location would offer, almost no one can be seen around them. Passing near houses, doors, and windows seem to be shut along the team's walk path.

Asheworth: So what the fuck is even going on?!

Alpha-2-1: <panting:> I… Nowak's here. Already.

Alpha-2-1 speeds up.

Alpha-2-1: He's in the Market District with everyone.

Asheworth: Everyone?

Alpha-2-1: Everyone. His monsters and the monsters that live here.

Rivera: H-how is that possible? No scanners of ours detected anything, even today—

Alpha-2-1: I don't know. The priest told me something within everyone called them to the market. Whatever the fuck that means.

Asheworth frowns, starting to run. Rivera quickly catches up, visibly panting and tired.

Rivera: D-do you… know anything… about what that… means?

Asheworth: I… yes, I do. There's a legend he used to tell us when new people joined.

Rivera: Joined what?

Asheworth: <rolling his eyes:> The cult, Rivera. It's not that hard to think out.

Asheworth cracks his fingers, with the runes on his gloves starting to dimly lit themselves up.

Asheworth: He used to tell us we are, on a fundamental level, the same — that there is something within us that made us the same.

Rivera: The fuck does that… m-mean?

Asheworth: I don't know. I'm just afraid he used whatever that is to call all of them there.

The team approaches a thin alleyway, blocked by numerous crates and chests, blocking entry. On them, a large red rune can be seen.

Asheworth: Fuck, fuck fuck fuck fuck, fuck!

Asheworth backs off, snapping his fingers and whistling quietly. The crates suddenly engulf themselves in flame as the area around the thaumaturge's eyes starts to slightly wither.

Rivera: I… What—?

Asheworth: It meant sacrifice. He's ready to open another one of his seals. Here, now…

Rivera: Oh Jesus.

The two run out of the alleyway, finding a way around it — this time, they're visibly closer to the hill housing the Market District than before.

Asheworth: …and he's ready to sacrifice the entire city to do it.

Asheworth suddenly stops. As he does so, Cornwell catches up to them, catching his breath.

Cornwell: And what the fuck are you doing?!

Asheworth starts to kneel, closing his eyes, and touching the ground.

Asheworth: Run. Get his pets and mages before they can finish the ritual. I'll catch up.

Rivera: What?! Why?!

Asheworth: <quietly;> I'll put a failsafe up for when you inevitably fail.

Cornwell: I—

Asheworth: I said — go!

The two start to run, heading up the hill. Doing so, they reveal a large opening near the buildings, from which the Great Market can be seen overlapping with the living district down below — there, an extreme amount of individuals, both anomalous race-wise and nonanomalous, can be seen. Due to the distance however, their details cannot be made out. From within the mass, a loud speech can be heard — similarly, no details can be heard.

Rivera: Shit, shit, shit!

Rivera picks up her communication device, quickly putting it to her ear.

Rivera: Command?

No response is given.

Rivera: Command?! Do you copy?

She gently slaps the device a couple times, to no result.

Rivera: Alpha-2?! Beta?! Where the fuck is any—

Cornwell approaches her, touching her shoulder. He slowly points towards the sky above the Great Market.

Cornwell: L-look.

Said sky rapidly changes into a large circle, quickly expanding with each second — with this expansion, numerous other details, such as thaumaturgic details within it can be found.

Rivera: Oh no. No no no no no.

Rivera backs off a little, in result falling to her knees. Standing up, she looks backwards.

Rivera: Oh Jesus.

Cornwell: Wh— oh.

Cornwell looks backwards, from which a large wall made out of flame can be seen expanding around the entire Living and Market District from where Asheworth should be located. The barrier is around 4 meters tall and 2 meters thick, with no signs of spreading beyond its area being seen.

Cornwell: Has he lost his mind?!

Rivera: He… he didn't bluff. Jesus Christ.

Both pause for a second, catching their breath.

Rivera: So… what the hell do we do?

Cornwell: We can't go back, or that psycho will burn us to death with his insane barrier…

Rivera: …but if we go forward, another one will murder us, this time intentionally.

Rivera sighs.

Rivera: Let's end this here, once and for all.

She steps forward, reading her gun.

Rivera: For the better of everyone.

As they charge down into the crowd of people located in the market, the feed suddenly disconnects as the shouting from the area gets louder.

[END LOG]

[BEGIN LOG]

The feed reconnects, revealing Rivera and Cornwell standing in a large, densly-packed crowd standing around a large open area, filled to the brim with a mix of humans, Children of the Night, Fae, and other anomalous races. All of them are focused on a large platform located in the center of this market, upon which approximately 20 individuals can be seen. One of them, identifiable as PoI-5936, is visibly the center of the attention.

Rivera, holding a gun in her hand, looks around the entire area, scouting around its perimeter. Though initially not noticing anything, she quickly notices four Project Neverland MTF squads standing within entry alleyways into the market — they establish eye contact with her, nodding in the process. Just as she is about to turn her focus back at the man standing atop the platform, for a moment, she notices a man wearing a red tuxedo and a hat standing near the edge of her vision, quickly disappearing into the crowd around him. She disregards it as an illusion and focuses on Nowak.

Nowak: —ever. For years, all they have done is cause suffering towards everyone they deem "anomalous." Am I wrong?

The crowd cheers. Above them in the sky, a large, red, thaumaturgic circle can be seen growing, with dim, red light appearing near the eyes of individuals standing in the crowd. They do not notice it.

Nowak: And even after all of this, do you still really believe they won't double down? They rooted your natural habitats out, they burned your forests, and they murdered your families — do you genuinely think they won't destroy this heaven you've built yourself here, after all they've done?

Nowak turns around, kneeling on the ground with one knee and starting to draw a circle around himself using chalk. Similarly, the men around him start to do the same.

As Rivera attempts to walk closer to Cornwell, her messaging device suddenly starts to buzz aggressively.

Asheworth: <inaudible> —let him finish. I repeat — do not <inaudible>!

Rivera taps the device numerous times, putting it next to her ear.

Rivera: What?! I can't hear you?!

Asheworth: I've put the barrier all around Living and Market Di— <inaudible>; I'm currently near you from your <inaudible>.

Rivera: But what were you saying the first time?!

Asheworth: I said do not let him finish the ri<inaudible>ual! I decoded the signs and it literally means "to sacrifice rage;" he <inaudible> to rally them up and then literally consume their rage <inaudible> a vector to break the second Seal, I— <inaudible>

Silence for several seconds.

Rivera: Asheworth? Asheworth?!

Asheworth: I repeat — do not let him finish the ri<inaudible>! It will most likely destroy all of Es<inaudible>; even if you have to result to violence, do— <inaudible>.

Further contact cannot be established.

Rivera walks away from the crowd, connecting into the channel linking to the other MTFs.

Rivera: Command, do you read?

Response Channel: Yes, but there are dis<inaudible>tions, we— <inaudible>

Rivera: Did you hear what Asheworth said?

Response Channel: Yes, do not comply. We will be there— <inaudible>

Nowak: It is high time we take back what is rightfully ours, friends! With the power of Father we will gain after letting him out of his prison, breaking the Five Chains guarding him, we will be free!

Nowak pauses for a second.

Nowak: Join me, friends, as we take back your forests. your bogs, your seas, and your hills! Join me, as we take it back with the power of the God that made us all the way we are! Join me, as we do it together, with no divides, no Foundations, no prisons, and no wars! Scream, my friends, for we will be free!

The crowd screams with applause, and Nowak bows at the scene. With each increase in the sound of the roar, the circle above the crowd grows, encompassing almost the entire sky around the Living District.

Unknown voice: New orders. Engage with PoI-5936 under any circumstance, even through force. Do not let the ritual be finished, even if you have to murder these people in return.

Rivera: W-What?

Unknown voice: Direct order from O5-9.

Rivera: What does that mean?

No response is given.

Rivera: What does that mean?!

Response Channel: I'm sorry, friends.

The response channel turns off, showing only static. As red, luminescent light starts glowing from each of the members of the crowd into the circle, all MTF units surrounding the market walk down into the crowd.

The circle abruptly explodes, releasing red mist everywhere in sight — due to this, Rivera's vision is visibly obstructed. From her left, screams begin to be heard as a fire starts to take over the buildings around her. She glances at the stage, only to see Nowak quickly running away into the block surrounding the location around the area.

As the crowd starts to run away from the direction from which the MTF units engaged, Cornwell gets pushed into the direction it's walking in. Suddenly, Asheworth runs into Rivera from the back, grabbing her by the shoulders.

Asheworth: What… the.. fuck is going on?!

Rivera: I… I don't… I don't—

Asheworth: Grab a hold of yourself, for fuck's sake! What's going on?!

Rivera: O5-9 suddenly ordered military engagement with the area, wanting only to capture Nowa—

Asheworth looks around, noticing the squads coming from the left. From within their eyes, highly dense red light can be seen.

Asheworth: Oh Jesus. Oh no.

Rivera: Wha—

Asheworth: It was all true. We need to get away from here.

Rivera: What was true?!

Asheworth: The murals, the— everything! We need to get him, now! I understand everything now, it's—

Asheworth notices Nowak running into one of the buildings, which appears to catch fire from the ones surrounding it. As the fog falls down upon the city, more and more screams can be heard.

Asheworth: We end this, here and now.

Asheworth grabs Rivera by her hand and takes her into the flaming building within which Nowak is located. The feed disconnects.

[END LOG]

[BEGIN LOG]

Rivera is standing in the living room of a burning building, breathing quickly. Her left hand is located in the air, near which Asheworth levitates slightly above the ground, unable to move. Around him, a purple transparent bubble can be seen. His right arm is bleeding, and he is breathing heavily. Rivera's eyes are burning with a bright, purple light, with the woman being visibly tired. Her right hand is holding a pistol, pointed at Nowak, who is holding his knee in an expression of pain. From within the pistol, smoke is coming out.

Rivera: Explain yourself.

Nowak: W-What?

Rivera: During that speech, I heard some reason within your voice. You have two minutes to explain yourself and your actions, here and now.

Nowak: I, I don't—

Rivera: Why? Just… why are you doing all of this?

Nowak looks angrily at her, crawling slightly back. he touches the ground with his right hand.

Nowak: Exactly why you heard me back there. You take everything from everyone. I will take it back for them, even if I had to do it through awakening gods. That's what Heaven is, at its core. I—

Asheworth: Liar!

Nowak: Oh, can you just shut up? You've already proven how faithful you are all those years ago, and I—

Asheworth: You dare to tell me—

Rivera: Can the both of you just shut the fuck up?! Just tell me what on earth happened between you, or I fucking swear to god I will end this here and now!

She gasps violently, hissing in an expression of pain.

Asheworth: Years ago, I was a part of his cult. I believed his cause, blinded by his words like an utter idiot…

Asheworth pauses.

Asheworth: I rose through the ranks quickly and with relative ease, eventually ending up as one of the leaders of it, even finding love in one of my friends. Natalie. Her name was Natalie.

Asheworth sighs, scratching his eye in the process.

Asheworth: Then, one night, he discovered something. Something so big we needed to execute the ritual to do it immediately. Ignoring everything else.

Nowak: That night, I found Father. He spoke to me, telling me to contact him in any way possible. He told me he'll help us. And so I did. I initiated a portal through which we could speak normally. And then he and his little lover tried to murder me, betraying everything we—

Asheworth: What?! You dare to tell me I attacked you?! After being the conduit for the goddamned ritual, you tried to murder me! I survived solely because… because, she… she—

Nowak: Yes, because I killed her! You and her wanted to kill everyone there, trying to end everything we worked so hard to accomplish, I—

Asheworth: No!

With two moves of his hands, Asheworth breaks from the bubble, materializing a flame within his hand. He rushed to Nowak, but is immediately stopped by another invisible wall. Rivera screams, trying to hold him back.

Rivera: No! Stop! I—

Asheworth screams, charging at the other man, snapping his fingers. The flame around his fingers moves quickly, attempting to locate Nowak, which violently dashes backward in an attempt to dodge the attack.

Doing so, the floor beneath him collapses, revealing a large, orange circle, which entirely consumes Nowak. He grins angrily, and looks at Asheworth.

Nowak: Two seals down, three to go.

As the portal closes, Rivera falls to the ground, unable to sustain Asheworth's prison any longer. She holds her head in her hands and starts to weep. The thaumaturge falls on the floor, quickly standing up.

Rivera: I.. I'm.. I'm sorry, I… I tried, I wanted to… I… he sounded reasonable, I just… he escaped, again and I… I…

Asheworth: It's… <sigh> It's okay. I don't fault you for wanting to see good in people.

He comes near her, trying hugging her in the process.

Asheworth: But I will say this — I assure you this will be the last time he will ever escape.

Rivera looks directly into Asheworth's face.

Rivera: W-What? Why?

Asheworth: Because this time, I know where he's going.

[END LOG]

"SCP-5373" by FattyAcid, from the SCP Wiki. Source: https://scpwiki.com/scp-5373. Licensed under CC BY-SA.