The following document has been cleared for release by the Department of Nomenclature
Item#: 9281
Level3
Containment Class:
safe
Secondary Class:
ticonderoga
Disruption Class:
vlam
Risk Class:
danger
Special Containment Procedures: A one-kilometer perimeter is to be established around all known areas with access to SCP-9281. Communication with entities found within SCP-9281 is to be strongly dissuaded. SCP-9281 entities are not to be referred to by name. SCP-9281 events are not to be joined, either voluntarily or under duress. Foundation personnel who find themselves involved with SCP-9281 events must immediately begin PLATO Protocol, as follows. Affected subjects must:
- Immediately begin training in at least two of the following martial arts: jiu-jitsu (Brazilian or Japanese), judo, Olympic or collegiate wrestling, catch wrestling, aikido, capoeira, sambo, sumo, malla-yuddha, shuai jiao, or other grappling-based martial arts.
- Within two weeks of the previous step, begin training with carnomancy, hemomancy, or other forms of bodily augmentation, including technological or thaumaturgic
- Where time permits, begin a strength training regiment designed to supplement the above steps.
- Where time permits, but at least three times a week, take public speaking and performance classes tailored to large scale crowd work.
- Generate an alias and persona that can be played into to enhance the appearance of the above step.
- Anabolic steroids or other performance enhancing substances are highly recommended but not required.
SCP-9281-Alpha (The CEO) is to be avoided at all costs.
Description: SCP-9281 is an extra-dimensional space that contains a coliseum of indeterminate height. The space inside the facility includes many of the expected amenities, including food vendor stalls, functional bathrooms, and informational booths with placards written in a language that should not be read. The Department of Nomenclature recommends that food and drink not be taken from these booths not be taken without knowing the cost.
Structural analysis of various elements of SCP-9281 are similar to facilities constructed in roughly 700 B.C.E. in ancient Greece, yet carbon dating of small samples from the floor of SCP-9281 date to over 10,000 B.C.E. The arena floor of SCP-9281 has been measured to exactly 1000 square meters (one stremma), with a border carved along its perimeter. Stands surrounding the arena have been observed to extend several hundred meters, with seats being made of various materials that decrease in quality the higher the row.
SCP-9281-A instances are the spectators, the watchers that occupy the stands during SCP-9281 events. SCP-9281-B instances are the combatants, both hero and villian that compete on the arena floor in a series of physical contests, denoted as SCP-9281 events, with rules similar to Ancient Greek palé. SCP-9281-B instances are noted to have hyper-regenerative capabilities, as well as other assorted thaumaturgic or pseudo-biological capacities that aid them in hand-to-hand combat.
Discovery: SCP-9281 was first discovered by a Foundation agent who has given up their name. Upon receiving a distress signal from an unknown source, a recovery team was dispatched to investigate. Surviving members of the team returned with various samples and photos from within SCP-9281, though the photos have not been cleared for official publication. In addition, the team recovered a series of notebooks with writing believed to be from the missing agent.
Addendum: Video Log from Recovery Team
SCP-9281 Exploration Log Transcript
Assigned Team: Recovery Team Sigma
Team Members: Sigma-1 (Scott Gross, Lead), Sigma-2 (Amanda Reins, Deputy), Sigma-3 (James Caldwell, Communications), Sigma-4 (Ellen Petrides), Sigma-5 (Warden Lee), (UNRECOVERABLE)
[BEGIN LOG]
Sigma-1 runs the team through a systems check. Sigma-2 repeatedly adjusts her visor anxiously.
Sigma-4: Hey, listen, I hate to say this, but it's best not to get your hopes up. It's been a few months. If we don't find him here, there's plenty of other places he could have gone.
Sigma-2: I know, I know, it's just… I'll be fine. Work first, right?
Sigma-2 smiles faintly and nods.
The team enters a densely forested area in the vicinity of the location designated by Sigma-1. After several minutes of clearing underbrush, the team enters a clearing in front of a massive stone coliseum that stretches far above the trees overhead. The team enters through an archway with a series of turnstiles across it. They stop in a large hallway with one path that continues around the arena and a set of stairs on either side. Sigma-3 sighs.
Sigma-1: Yeah, yeah, you know what to do. Four, come with me, we'll go up. Three and Five go down. Two and Six go around. Clear?
The team nods. Sigma-1 hands Sigma-2 and Sigma-3 each a cannister of spray paint.
Sigma-1: Mark your paths, entry, and exit points. Don't want anyone getting lost. Four, Five, and Six, keep your cams up.
Sigma-2 continues to the left of the stairways. There is an area of heavy visual distortion next to her that she speaks to as she walks.
Sigma-2: No, no, I'm fine. Sleeping good.
Sigma-2: I get the whole occupational hazards thing. I know this is what we both signed up for.
Sigma-2: I guess that's how memory works.
Sigma-2 freezes and raises her weapon as a series of clicking and tapping echoes down the hall. Ahead of her is a large, puppet-like entity with several dozen appendages protruding along its torso and multiple faces wrapped around its head. It sees her and scuttles toward, before noticing her weapon and raising a group of its arms.
???? : Oh, oh, hold on! I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just trying to see who's down here. It's my job after all. I need to know who's running around making all this noise. Better I find you than some of the others wandering around here, no?
Sigma-2 turns and whispers something inaudible.
???? : Now, now, it's rude to gossip amongst yourselves.
Sigma-2: Uh, my apologies. We are…investigators. We were sent here possibly to… retrieve someone. They've gone missing, and we are looking for… information as to their whereabouts.
???? : Ah, well, I wish I could help you, but I don't know to whom you refer.
The entity's main face contorts in mild confusion.
???? : I assure you, I am neither friend nor foe. But, I can't offer assistance to mere strangers.
The entity sighs:
???? : Very well. Discuss what you might be able to offer me. I'll have you know, I'm quite cheap.
Sigma-2 whispers inaudibly as audio noise overlays her voice. She steps forward.
Sigma-2: We can, uh, make our time here a bit shorter, if that would please you.
???? : Oh dear, I'm not that cheap. Can you at least tell me who sent you here?
Sigma-2 hesitates.
Sigma-2: I'm not sure, actually. I'll have to check.
The entity lowers its head closer to Sigma-2's face.
???? : You've never dealt with my kind before.
Sigma-2: I've been trained.
The entity crawls around Sigma-2, its faces scanning her.
???? : I know who you are. I have something for you. And fortunately for you, you've already given me something of value in exchange.
Sigma-2 pales as a wooden ear hops off of the empty static in the space next to her and back onto the entity.
Sigma-2: No, no, I didn't-
Her eyes widen.
Sigma-2 That's his callsign, not a name!
Sigma-6 : It is an identity. And he responded each time.
Sigma-2: That's bullshit!
She fires her weapon at the entity. The shots impact but do not disturb him.
Sigma-6 : My dear, listen. I will give you something of equal value in return. That is how these things are done. I am truly sorry. Your companion ought to stay here now, lest he fade away too quickly. At least here, there is a chance for something better.
He holds out a worn notebook to her.
Sigma-6 : I promise you, I do not wish to hurt you. This book will help you find what you are looking for.
She turns and runs back down the hall. Her voice cracks as she speaks into her comm.
Sigma-2: Command, this place…belongs to…Nameless creatures. Advise extreme caution… fuck
She stops at the marking she left before the stairs. Sigma-1 and Sigma-4 find her shortly.
Sigma-2: I fucked it, we gotta go, this place is fucked, I'm so stupid-
Sigma-1 holds her shoulders.
Sigma-1: Hey! Hey! We're gonna make it. We find the others and extract. OK?
She nods. A voice crackles through their comms.
Command: Negative, Sigma-1. Two has been given a lead. Orders are to follow it.
They both focus on the notebook clutched in Sigma-2's hands. She shakily opens it.
Addendum: First Notebook Recovered by Sigma Team
The rest of the text is illegible.
SCP-9281 Exploration Log Transcript Cont.
[RESUME LOG]
The team hears several gunshots and a scream from below them. They scramble to pick up their weapons.
Sigma-1: Three, come in, Three! What happened?!
The comms hiss static. Sigma-1 swears. They move quickly as clicking and tapping is heard behind them.
Sigma-6 : A word of advice, as what you gave me is truly worth more than what i gave you!
Sigma-2 fires at the entity and swears. He is undisturbed.
Sigma-6 : You are a competitor only if you step into the arena!
The team enters a room with lines scored across the floor, the deeper lines forming a rough hexagon. In the center of the room is another notebook covered in viscera. Sigma-5 sits on the other side of the room, one arm dangling by threads of cloth and sinew. He turns weakly as the team enters.
Sigma-1: Five? Where's Three?
Sigma-5 turns slowly to the wall next to the rest of the team. Sigma-1 follows his gaze and immediately steps in front of it, shaking his head.
Sigma-1: Don't. Don't.
The team turns as they hear shuffling from the other side. Sigma-5 has stood up and stumbles toward them.
Sigma-2: Warden, stop!
Sigma-5 dives toward the notebook, flinging it to the rest of the team. Almost instantly, his body is torn in half as a gust of wind impacts him. Sigma-4 retches as she catches the book. On the other side, a figure with a lightning bolt can faintly be seen. Sigma-1 grabs Sigma-4 by the arm.
Sigma-1: Move!
Addendum: Second Notebook Recovered by Sigma Team
Agents Gross and Petrides were extracted from SCP-9281 after exiting the coliseum. Agent Reins is listed as MIA.