SCP Archives

SCP-3840: “We Stand On Guard For Thee.”

21 min
Feb 12, 20263 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

SCP Archives presents SCP-3840, a fictional anomaly documented as an emaciated humanoid entity manifesting in Canada's boreal forests. The episode explores recovered documentation and interviews revealing a group of conspiracy theorists who seemingly summoned or interacted with the entity, with themes of national sacrifice and Canadian patriotism woven throughout the narrative.

Insights
  • Fictional horror narratives can explore themes of governmental control and citizen sacrifice through anomalous entities
  • Conspiracy theory communities serve as narrative devices to examine how misinformation spreads and alternative explanations develop
  • The SCP Foundation's containment strategy relies on public perception management and treating anomalies as urban legends
  • Recovered media (videos, photos, audio) can be used as storytelling devices to create immersive fictional documentation
Trends
Increased use of found-footage and recovered-media formats in horror fiction podcastsBlending of conspiracy theory culture with cosmic horror and anomalous entity narrativesCanadian settings and patriotic themes in speculative fiction exploring governmental secrecyAudio-based storytelling using Morse code, radio broadcasts, and sound design for narrative depthFictional documentation frameworks (SCP Foundation model) gaining popularity in indie audio drama
Topics
Anomalous Entity Manifestation and BehaviorFoundation Containment Procedures and ProtocolsConspiracy Theory Communities and Online ForumsRecovered Media Documentation and AnalysisRadio Broadcast Anomalies and Morse Code CommunicationCanadian Military and National Defense ThemesWitness Testimony and Interview InterrogationBoreal Forest Phenomena and Geographic ManifestationSacrifice and Patriotic Duty NarrativesPublic Perception Management and Misinformation
Companies
Spotify
Mentioned as platform where listeners can leave reviews to support the podcast's growth
Apple
Mentioned as platform where listeners can leave reviews to support the podcast's growth
People
Cyrille Mercier
Conspiracy theorist detained by Foundation after campsite incident; primary subject of investigation and interview
Jason Kenney
Canadian Minister of National Defense referenced in corrupted video declaring mobilization of military forces
Quotes
"People have to sacrifice for their country. If you can't handle that, then you don't deserve protection."
Cyrille MercierInterview Log 3840C excerpt
"Attempting communication with SCP-3840 is forbidden."
SCP Foundation DocumentationSpecial Containment Procedures
"The entity cannot be physically contained. Containment will focus on disseminating fictional accounts."
SCP Foundation DocumentationSpecial Containment Procedures
Full Transcript
Hi guys, it's Daisy. I feel like I need to apologize for last week's bit. Pacific is fine, they just had a cold. I didn't realize how many of you would actually get concerned for their safety, that is my bad. Anyways, if you do want to support Pacific's continued good health, you can brighten up their day by leaving us a review on Spotify and Apple. Word of mouth is how our shows grow. Thank you. The game has only just begun. Radio Silence directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillette are back for round two with their new horror comedy film, Ready or Not 2, Here I Come. Samara Weaving returns as Grace, the battle-worn and bloody bride, and is joined by stars Catherine Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Haddesey, Nestor Carbonell, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood. After Grace marries into a mysterious family and is forced to play a life-or-death game of hide-and-seek. She emerges victorious, but what she didn't know is that by winning, she triggered a whole new twisted battle, this time with her estranged sister Faith at her side. The duo faces a shadowy group of rival devil-worshipping families who control the world, and they must fight to the bloody death for the ultimate prize. Two times the kills, two times the satanic rituals, and two times the human combustion. Don't miss the full tilt insanity. Ready or not to, here I come when it hits theaters March 20th. The N.B.I.C.H.O.S. is the origin of the most notorious phenomenon. The N.B.I.C.H.O.S. Item number SCP-3840 Object Class Keter Special Containment Procedures Due to the size of the area SCP-3840 can manifest in, the entity cannot be physically contained. Containment will focus on disseminating fictional accounts of SCP-3840 sightings intending to convince the general population that information pertaining to the anomaly is derived from an urban legend, along with explanations that attribute sightings to native fauna or hallucinations. Amnestics may be administered if witnesses attempt to heavily spread information on SCP-3840. As radio broadcasts from the object are interpreted as number station broadcasts and are only known to fringe groups, further containment on these is unnecessary. Revision as of August 2015. Attempting communication with SCP-3840 is forbidden. Description. SCP-3840 is an emaciated humanoid entity that manifests in the boreal forest region of Canada. It appears to be covered in severe burn wounds and is estimated to be 2 meters in height. Manifestations involve SCP-3840 being ejected out of a section of the forest, reaching a height of 50 meters above the canopy, and descending to another forested section 20 meters away. This process will repeat for a variable length of time, normally around 3 minutes, though reaching an hour on occasion. during which SCP-3840 moves toward the nearest population center until reaching a distance of 20 kilometers from the location. D-manifestation has not been directly observed. Of note is that at all points during movement, SCP-3840 appears to be largely limp. Certain objects that enter an undetermined radius around SCP-3840 will be pushed by an unseen force into following the same leaping motions as the entity, invariably colliding with trees or the ground in the process. These objects will vanish when SCP-3840 demanifests and do not appear in subsequent manifestations. The most frequently observed objects seen alongside the entity are deceased animals, damaged articles of clothing, and computers. Shortwave radio broadcasts at the frequency of 2 kHz are released from SCP when manifested These broadcasts consist entirely of a repeating monotone buzzing sound A sample of this audio is below Addendum 1. Recovered Documentation. Investigation 3840-2015. On August 21, 2015, Foundation assets began detecting a stationary radio broadcast at 2,156 kHz, originating from Spray Valley Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada. The signal consisted entirely of a female voice repeatedly saying, hello, in English and French. After 12 hours, the broadcast ceased, and undercover Foundation operatives were dispatched to the location. Operatives discovered a campsite within a forested area. A heavily damaged camping van and the remains of a makeshift radio tower were present at the location. Burnt articles of clothing and a cell phone were found inside the van. The only person present was Cyrille Mercier, a member of multiple online conspiracy theory forums. Mercier was detained for questioning. Investigation 384010 Recovered Files The following are files recovered from the cell phone found with Mercier. A majority of data on the phone was corrupted. Designation Rec. 38401 Document type, image Description Four young individuals, including Mercier, stand next to each other in front of the camper van. All of them have their arms placed on each other's shoulders and are smiling. A male subject holds a white sign with ParaWatch written on it in black paint. ParaWatch is one of the conspiracy forums Mercier was active on. As of the time of writing, the forum has been added to the MTF Gamma 5 Red Herrings watch list. An individual, hereafter subject one, is drinking from a beer bottle, holding it in a comedically exaggerated manner. Several cell phones, earbuds, and portable chargers are suspended in the air above them. Note, due to the reluctance of Mercier to provide information, the names of these individuals are not known. Designation, REC 38402 Document type, video Note, the file was partially damaged. Corrupted data has been expunged. The camera rapidly moves up from a view of the ground and pans between various trees. An entity resembling SCP-3840 can be seen moving between branches, though the erratic movement of the camera and anomaly prevents a clear view of it. Holy fuck. SCP-3840 slows and goes limp on a tree branch. Corrupted data expunged. A small fire is present on the tree branch. SCP-3840 is missing. I... Oh. I wasn't expecting that. End log. Designation. Rec. 38403. Document type. Image. Mercier and one of the photographed individuals sit in fold-out lawn chairs next to an unlit campfire. Facial expressions suggest that they are uncomfortable. Mercier is looking over their shoulder at a collapsed and burnt tree, which is largely obscured by the chairs. The upper torso of a body under the tree is partially visible, surrounded by blood and possessing clothing matching that of another photographed individual. Hereafter, Subject 2. A helical antenna extends from behind Mercier's chair, suspected to be originating from the unseen head of Subject 2. Designation. Rec. 38404. Document type. Video. Begin log. The interior of the van can be seen, with the camera apparently at the rear bunk bed. All side windows are covered with blinds and the white para-watch sign is obscuring the windshield. The camera momentarily shakes, briefly showing the edges of a black metal object on the bed. The scraping stops after 10 seconds and a heavy impact occurs on the left side of the van There a second impact from the opposite side and over the next minute the impacts occur more frequently on all sides of the van The windshields break, and the sign falls over. Only darkness can be seen through the window. A hand grabs onto the metal black object. The impacts stop. Really now? Could you quiet down in here? You're gonna get the range. Note. Analysis has found that the timing of each collision corresponds to a Morse code message. Signal. Radio. Shut. Designation. Rec. 38405. Document type. Video. Begin log. The camera moves erratically as the subject holding it runs. Light from a flashlight illuminates patches of grass, though few details can be discerned. There is an electronic whine, and the subject collapses, rolling over and scrambling back. The flashlights point at SCP-3840, which is a meter away and lying on the ground. Its head turns to face the camera, and its mouth widens, exposing a megaphone that protrudes from it. As the nation makes preparations. Meanwhile, Minister of National Defense Jason Kenney has declared the mobilization of all Canadian military forces. In his statement, he announced that citizens must be willing to provide any necessary... Corrupted data expunged. End log. Designation. Rec. 38406. Document type. Audio. Description. A repeating monotone buzzing sequence, forming the following message in Morse code. Wait signal for operations start. Subject 1 This will work. I can't. I'll be nice enough. Subject 3 is abruptly thrown to the side by an unseen force. Subject 1 does not appear to react, and continues walking to the radio tower until reaching it after a minute. The tower is shoddily built, with radio equipment on a metal platform that is welded to numerous support beams. A tangle of cables extend from the back of the equipment and connects to two portable electric generators. Subject 1 grabs the phone and drops it onto the ground, with the camera facing upward. Severe burn wounds are seen on his right hand until he walks out of view. SCP-3840 is momentarily observed in the canopy, followed by a severed arm. Two minutes later, the worm stops, and Subject 1 walks past the phone. One of the generators is ejected through the tower, causing it to violently collapse. Metal debris lifts into the air and follows the path of the generator. End log. Designation, Rec. 3840-8. Document type, video. Begin log. A person entirely encompassed in flames sits on the ground, holding a beer bottle. Mercier, who is presumed to be filming, starts speaking. So, uh, anything I could get you? The person lifts the beer bottle and begins drinking from it, making no apparent response. Melting cell phones fall out of the person's head. Yeah, alright, alright. Well, if you spot anything, come holler. You never know what's out here. Mercier turns around and walks towards the van, which is on fire. Designation, Rec. 38409. Document type image Description members of the Rocky Mansion Rangers march through an unidentified city Half of the Rangers lack any facial features Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers accompany them on horseback with their faces covered by black masks. One of the Rangers is identical in appearance to Subject 1. Designation, Rec. 384010. Document type. Audio. Description. A performance of O Canada. Artist unknown. O Canada. Our home and native land. True patriot love in all of us command. With glowing hearts we see Thee rise The true north strong and free From far and wide, O Canada We stand on guard for Thee God keep our land glorious and free. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Addendum 2 Interview Log 3840C Mercier Excerpt Interviewee Cyril Mercier Interviewer, researcher Victor Villeneuve Date, August 22nd, 2015 Begin excerpt Could you tell us what you saw out there? Like... Like what? When you were out camping, what did you see? Uh, we saw some nice mountains and forests. Did anything eventful happen to you? Did you see anything out of the ordinary? I guess one of the mountain rangers came over on a noise complaint and confiscated some stuff. But other than that, it was fine. I don't really get what this is about. We have seen the videos and photos you and your friends took. Nothing about this was fine. I... What are you on about? Is shutting up so as to not interfere with something really that strange? We found you unconscious in a burnt camper van. That's normal? Uh, yes. And? God, you actually locked me up to know this. Do I need to remind you what was out there? I have the photos. Jesus, just look If a ranger needs a rifle, would you give them a rifle? If it is necessary for defense, yes Right, so if a ranger comes down and asks for your electronics and lives, would you give it to them? I, wait, lives? Would you give it to them? No, I wouldn't Don't you get... Don't you... Mercier begins profusely coughing and gasping for air until a burnt phone battery is ejected from their mouth, which collides with the ceiling and lands on the table. Don't you get it? People have to sacrifice for their country. If you can't handle that, then you don't deserve protection. Your support means the world and makes all of this possible. SCP Archives was created by Pacifica Sobidaya and John Grills. SCP-3840 was written by Natville Tank. Script is by Daisy McNamara. Our narrator was Elisa Park. Mercier was Kale Brown. Villanueva was Russ Moore. Subject two was Bailey Wolf. Subject three was Chris Harris-Beachy. SCP-3840 was Dustin Parsons. Dialogue editing was by Daisy McNamara. Art is by Eduardo Valdez-Hevian. Music was by Dana Kreisman. Our theme song was by Maddie Royberger. Sound design was by Chris Harris-Beachy. I'm your showrunner, Daisy McNamara. Our creative director is Pacifica Sobidaya, and our executive producer is Tom Owen. A Bloody FM show.