SCP-XXXX: The Prelate

#page-content .collapsible-block { 
    position: relative;
    padding: 0.5em;
    margin: 0.5em;
    box-shadow: 2px 1.5px 1px rgba(176,16,0,0.7), 0 0 0px 1px lightgrey;
    overflow-wrap: break-word;
}
 
.collapsible-block-unfolded{
    color: black;
    overflow-wrap: break-word;
 
}
 
.collapsible-block-unfolded-link {
    text-align:center;
}
 
.collapsible-block-folded {
    text-align: center;
    color: dimgrey;
}
 
.collapsible-block-link {
    font-weight: bold;
    color: dimgrey;
    text-align: center;
}
 
.addendumbox {
    padding: .01em 16px;
    margin-bottom: 16px;
    margin-top: 16px;
    padding-bottom: 1em;
    box-shadow:0 2px 5px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.16),0 2px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
}
 
.material-box {
    padding: .01em 16px;
    margin-bottom: 16px;
    margin-top: 16px;
    padding-bottom: 1em;
    border: 1px lightgrey solid;
    box-shadow: 1px 2px 2px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.16);
}
 
.material-box blockquote {
    border: 1px double #999;
}
 
.wiki-content-table {
    width: 100%;
}
 
.addendumbox blockquote {
    border: 1px double #999;
}
 
.addendumtitle {
   opacity: 0.8;
   margin-bottom: 10px;
   color: #b01;
}
 
.maintitle {
   margin-bottom: 10px;
   color: black;
}
 
.scp-header {
    text-align: center;
    font-size:x-large;
    color:#b01;
}
 
.addenda-header {
    width: 100%;
    border-bottom: 2px black solid;
    color: black;
}
 
.scp-info {
    display:flex;
    justify-content:space-between;
    font-size:large;
}
 
.scp-info-box {
    display:flex; 
    justify-content:space-between;
}
 
.object-info {
    color:black;
    align-self: flex-end;
    font-size: large;
}
 
.title-style {
    opacity: 0.8;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    color: #b01;
    font-size: large;
    text-decoration: underline;
    font-weight: bold;
}
 
.update-div-empty {
    text-align: right;
    font-size: x-small;
    color: lightgrey;
}
 
.update-div {
    text-align: right;
    font-size: x-small;
}
 
.computed {
    border: 1px black solid;
    width: 50%;
    display: inline-block;
text-align: left;
    padding: 3px;
}
.computed:before {
    content:"Computed Code";
    font-weight: bold;
border-bottom: solid 1px black;
width: 100%;
}
.rawcode {
    border: black solid 1px;
    width: 50%;
    display: inline-block;
text-align: left;
    padding: 3px;
}
.rawcode:before{
    content:"Raw Code";
    text-align: center;
    font-weight: bold;
border-bottom: solid 1px black;
width: 100%;
}
.codebox {
    display: inline-block;
    width: 100%;
    text-align: center;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a em,  .yui-navset .yui-nav a em{
        padding: 0.25em .75em; 
        top: 0px;
        margin-bottom: 0px;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a {
     background: gray;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav .selected {
       margin: 0px;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a, .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a:focus, .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a:hover, .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a {
         background: gray;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav a:hover,
.yui-navset .yui-nav a:focus {
    background: gainsboro;
    text-decoration: none;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav a, .yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav a {
background-color: none;
background-image: none;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav a {
background: none;
}
.yui-navset .yui-nav li{
margin: 0px;
}
 
#page-content .licensebox .collapsible-block {
    position: unset;
    padding: unset;
    margin: unset;
    box-shadow: unset;
}
 
.licensebox .collapsible-block-unfolded{
    color: inherit;
}
 
.licensebox .collapsible-block-unfolded-link {
    text-align: left;
}
 
.licensebox .collapsible-block-folded {
    text-align: left;
    color: inherit;
}
 
.licensebox .collapsible-block-link {
    color: inherit;
    text-align: left;
}

 

SCP-XXXX: The Prelate

Authors: MalyceGraves.

Image Credit: See comments.

---

▸ More by this Author ◂

---

{$comments2}

F.A.Q.

{$doesthisfixthebug}

5/XXXX LEVEL 5/XXXX

CLASSIFIED

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Keter

Assigned Site	Site Director	Research Head	Assigned MTF
Site-12	Dr. Stefania Jilani	Elder Ruslav Diaghilev	Omega-88 ("The Oathkeepers")

---

Oh howe are the myghtie ouerthrowen.

- Old Testament, 2 Samuel 1:19. The Great Bible, 1539

---

Special Containment Procedures

SCP-XXXX is being held in a Class IV Humanoid Containment Cell at Site-12. Personnel assigned to SCP-XXXX must be able to consistently fail a Faith, Ecclesiastic, and Religious index with a maximum FEaR rating of 3. This test is to be administered at the beginning and end of each shift.

Researchers involved directly with the study of SCP-XXXX must be inoculated against Class V audiohazards and undergo monthly psychiatric examinations by the on-site psychiatric .aic.

Personnel that pass the FEaR index at any point, or fail to report for their monthly examinations are to be immediately reclassified as SCP-XXXX-2 instances. SCP-XXXX-2 instances generated in this manner are to undergo permanent amnestication and re-assigned to another site or remanded into the custody of the Foundation Mental Health Division for permanent hospitalization.

---

Description

SCP-XXXX, c. 1848

SCP-XXXX self identifies as the 16^th-century mathematician and alchemist John Dee. While it is impossible to prove conclusively that SCP-XXXX is the same individual of note, its assertions have been corroborated by Director Diaghilev and the College of Alchemists.

What is clear is that SCP-XXXX showcases a knowledge of alchemy that extends well beyond that of even some of the Elders within the College of Alchemists. While not everything that it espouses has been fully verified due to the difficulty inherent in communicating with it, Director Diaghilev maintains that the knowledge he has so far gleaned from conversations with SCP-XXXX matches several fundamental truths within the science of alchemy.

Communication with SCP-XXXX is exceptionally difficult as it insists on speaking almost exclusively in a secret cant that was developed in the 16^th century by scientists and theologians that were known for occult studies.¹ While early versions of this cant have been since translated by Foundation linguists, SCP-XXXX has further developed and expounded upon it by including an extensive array of audiohazardous phrasing and tonal inflections.

Director Diaghilev is currently the only Foundation asset with the requisite clearances and alchemical inoculations necessary to make verbal communication a viable means of gaining information from SCP-XXXX. Even so, SCP-XXXX has shown to understand and even speak in modern languages, occasionally responding to prompts in English or French.

Aside from its ability to integrate audiohazardous material into its speech patterns, SCP-XXXX has displayed a wide array of anomalous capabilities. While most of these abilities are alchemical in nature, some of them appear to have been acquired during SCP-XXXX's time in Alagadda.

Attached Addenda

Discovery

SCP-XXXX was first acquired by the Foundation in June, 1918, shortly after the implementation of the Great Seal by the College of Alchemists. The local constabulary of the village of Mortlake apprehended SCP-XXXX after they received a complaint that "a strange old man" had been caught snooping around the Mortlake School for Girls.

The Foundation became aware of SCP-XXXX once it arrived at the Tower of London to be held for questioning by the London Metropolitan Police. Once there, SCP-XXXX began exhibiting its anomalous audiohazardous capabilities, necessitating intervention by members of the newly-formed MTF Alpha-3 ("Codebreakers"), who had been stationed there at the end of WWI. Several members of Alpha-3 were injured in the confrontation, and SCP-XXXX was shot twice in the head after non-violent efforts to contain it failed.

Noting the rapid regeneration exhibited by SCP-XXXX, the Alpha-3 team leader had the body bound, gagged, and hooded prior to full rejuvenation, which allowed the team to transport SCP-XXXX to Site-12.

Once there, Site medical staff were able to induce a persistent medical coma using substantial quantities of available medication. This was seen as necessary in order to prevent further containment breaches, as stipulated in XXXX.ord.02, a copy of which is available upon request. SCP-XXXX remained in this coma until 1988, two years after the O5 Council allowed the creation of the Alchemy Department and Director Diaghilev was appointed its first (and so far, only) Director.

Additional Research

SCPF Internal Memorandum

FROM: R. Diaghilev, Director - Dept. of Alchemy
TO: Dr. Stefania Jilani, Diretctor - Site 12
DATE: Feb 12, 1988
RE: SCP-XXXX

---

Doctor Jilani,

You have no reason to know who I am, but I have recently come into possession of a certain bit of knowledge that leads me to believe that you may be in charge of something important to me and my work. Whilst a great deal of the things that we contain is of varying degrees of importance, it is my understanding that SCP-XXXX may be of much greater significance than was originally believed.

When SCP-XXXX was captured, I noted that he had in his possession a document, a copy of which is included for reference.

It is of utmost importance that I speak to this person, at once. You will find that I have the requisite clearances and I am trained specifically to deal with the kind of anomalous properties it has so far showcased.

Respectfully,

Ruslav Diaghilev

---

■ Attachment: deeletter.pdf, 1.64Mb ■

June 12, 1849

Unto His Majesty, George the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and Lord Emperor of the British Empire;

Before the Almighty our God, I come again to thee this day to share with thee a most divine discovery. Twas by the Grace of the Almighty and through His Holye Ambassadore was I transported through the Aethirs unto Heaven itself. I prithee, grant unto me the honore of an audience, so that I might open thine eyes to the glories beyond.

Sincerely and forever thy loyal subject,

■ XXXX.doc.02 - Interview Transcript ■

Date: Feb 24, 1988
Researcher: Director R. Diaghilev
Research Objects: SCP-XXXX, initial interview
Foreword: On February 21, 1988, SCP-XXXX was removed from its medically-induced coma. After several days of recuperation under the observation of Director Diaghilev, SCP-XXXX had recovered enough to be interviewed. This interview was conducted within SCP-XXXX's containment cell and has been translated ex post facto by Director Diaghilev.

---

[BEGIN LOG]

Dir. Diaghilev: Elder Dee. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. To be honest, I never expected to have the opportunity.

SCP-XXXX: What have you done?

Dir. Diaghilev: Excuse me?

SCP-XXXX: [DATA EXPUNGED]²

Dir. Diaghilev: That is not very polite, Elder. I have tried to treat with you in respect, and this is your response?

SCP-XXXX: You are a child, in the presence of your better. I have walked the planes-

Dir. Diaghilev: I'm not here to discuss pedigree with you, Elder. I think the ease at which I defeated your Alagaddan hex should be more than apt to tell you what I am capable of.

SCP-XXXX: I have stared into the eyes of the Ambassador himself, boy. Don't-

Dir. Diaghilev: It appears that I have been mistaken in my valuation of your worth. I will have the doctors return you to your-

SCP-XXXX: No. I refuse to allow you to do that to me again.

Dir. Diaghilev: I am afraid you have little choice in this, Elder. If you refuse to even speak to me without trying to impress upon me your importance, then we have nothing to say.

SCP-XXXX: Must I… must I beg? That place where I go, it is a hell.

Dir. Diaghilev: If you have chosen to spend your time in Alagadda with the Ambassador, then it is a hell of your own creation, and I have no pity for you.

SCP-XXXX: Fine. What would you know of me?

Dir. Diaghilev: Nothing, now. I had hoped that you had been a prisoner in the Xanthous Court. I now know that hope to be false and I have learned a thing.

SCP-XXXX: You know nothing of that holy city, novice. The glory of God sings there on the voices of endless angels and radiates from the very ground we trod upon.

Dir. Diaghilev: You have been deceived, Elder.

SCP-XXXX: No! It is YOU. Kelley³ showed me that it WAS possible to speak to the angels. I tried for years, and finally it came to me! The Lord High Almighty whispered to me in a dream, opened the path unto his heavens for me! He sent his Ambassador, and I walked with him as Enoch did.

Dir. Diaghilev: You have been deceived, Elder.

SCP-XXXX: Ha! You would try and turn my own abilities against me, boy?

Dir. Diaghilev: Why does the Black Moon howl?

SCP-XXXX: [shaking his head, confused] Because the sky is full of diamonds. [shaking his head again] What… what did you do to me?

Dir. Diaghilev: The alchemists of Alagadda aren't the only ones that can teach us new things, Elder. I repeat, one last time. You have been deceived.

SCP-XXXX: I… uh… it cannot be thus.

Dir. Diaghilev: And yet, here we are.

SCP-XXXX: [shaking his head again] I must pray on this.

[END LOG]

---

Afterword: SCP-XXXX lapsed into prayer, and continued reciting a variant of the Anima Christi for the next 26 hours

Footnotes

1. For further information on this cant, please see J. Gwynfor Jones Encyclopedia Lingum Esoterica Foundation Press, 2004.

2. Dir. Diaghilev: SCP-XXXX attempted to utilize a powerful compulsion directive, one that the College has previously associated with the alchemists from Alagadda.

3. Edward Kelley, English occultist and self-declared spirit medium. Not previously known to have legitimate ties to the anomalous world.

‡ Licensing / Citation

Cite this page as:

"SCP-XXXX: The Prelate" by MalyceGraves, from the SCP Wiki. Source: https://scpwiki.com/prelate. Licensed under CC-BY-SA.

For information on how to use this component, see the License Box component. To read about licensing policy, see the Licensing Guide.

Image 1

Source: The Met
License: Public Domain
Title: johndee.jpg
Author: Louis-Pierre-Theophile Dubois de Nehaut
Release year: 1848

Image 2

Source: The SCP Wiki
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Title: deeglyph.png
Author: MalyceGraves / John Dee
Release year: 2020, 1564

---

 Additional notes

Thank you to my critters:

If you enjoyed this piece and would like to read more, please visit my Author Page