SCP-5987 Sirenhead | object class: euclid
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
The following file is a digitalised copy of an American Secure Containment Initiative
file that has been preserved for posterity.
Please consult your local HCML Supervisor before acting on any information in this file.
— Maria Jones, Director, RAISA
Item Number: 6789-AH
Object Class: Humanoid Ontokinetic (possibly)
Threat Level: Green No Threat Currently
ASCI Protocols for Containment: A bounty of 10 thousand francs has been placed on 6789-AH's
head, with an additional 100 francs for each of his crew members.
As political complications resulting from Emperor Napoleon's military campaigns have
prevented the Estate noir from supporting the ASCI, business in the state of France
concerning 6789-AH should be conducted through intermediaries.
Description: Item 6789-AH is the French captain François Aregnaudeau, captain of the Duc
de Dantzig.
The item is believed to be a Preternatural Being of some renown, though a full description
of its abilities is unconfirmed.
What has been observed is that 6789-AH is able to physically control the paths of other
ships within eyesight, manipulating their sails and riggings any way it pleases.
6789-AH has used this ability to run vessels and their crews aground, or dash them against
rocks and collect whatever of value remained.
As a result of these abilities, 6789-AH was able to become a highly successful privateer
in service to France, capturing over 30 military and merchant ships in under ten years.
Apprehension of the item while at sea is highly inadvisable.
Officers should wait until Item 6789-AH has disembarked, and sink Duc de Dantzig as soon
as possible to cut off a means of escape.
14/12/1812: In December of 1812, a report was published in a local French newspaper
of a naval ship's encounter with the Duc de Dantzig.
Due to the Second War of Independence, a full examination and review of the event was not
possible.
We had spotted the vessel floating at sea late last night, floating on the waves with
seemingly no direction.
The decision was made to contact the crew.
If they were good and courteous Frenchmen, we would assist them in whatever distress
they had found themselves in.
If they were brigands, we would assist their distress.
As we drew closer, we were perplexed at the silence at which the ship stood.
There were no signs of a recent skirmish, or the impact of a storm, it was in perfect
condition.
A boarding party came up beside it, and I was first among them.
We found an ungodly amount of blood staining the deck.
It appeared that the whole crew, at least fifty men strong, had been slaughtered.
Men were hanging off the ropes like criminals, others laid on the ground with their entrails
thrown astride, and many had simply had their faces caved in with cannonballs fired from
their own cannons.
One man, dressed in the finery of a captain (and with the putrid stench of a corpse),
had been lashed to the main mast, swords piercing his hands and feet like a ghastly crucifixion.
Bloody papers in the hold identified the ship as the Duc de Dantzig, a privateering ship
of some small fame.
It had gone missing some time ago and resurfaced here.
What had happened?
Had the crew gone mad, overthrowing the captain?
But why would they destroy themselves in such a manner?
Francois made the decision to burn the ship, one I agreed heartily with.
Whatever evil occurred there, it was best to leave it.
Based on the details of the scene above, it is the opinion of ASCI Command that a mutiny
occurred against Item 6789-AH in which it was slain, but not before it used its anomalous
abilities to enact the deaths of its crew.
The possibility of other members of the Duc de Dantzig having had similar powers has not
been ruled out.
With the death of Item 6789-AH, the mission has been closed.
Item #: SCP-5987
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: A 3 km radius around SCP-5987's manifestation area has been
blocked off from all sea and air traffic.
Foundation vehicles should not go within 2 km of SCP-5987.
Description: SCP-5987 is a Type-4H Apparition centralized to a small area in Arcachon Bay,
off the southwest coast of France.
Between the time of nautical twilight on the evening of one day, and nautical twilight
on the following day, a 19th century brig will appear, sailing around the bay before
vanishing.
SCP-5987 has been observed to always stay within a kilometer of its manifestation point.
All vehicles that approach SCP-5987, hereby referred to as SCP-5987-1 instances, will
be unable to be controlled by their operators.
Wheels, pedals, and other methods of directional movement will still function, but will not
produce their desired results.
SCP-5987-1 instances will then immediately dive underwater, typically killing all passengers
onboard.
An annual analysis of predecessor files in 2017 revealed that the ASCI had documented
an anomaly similar to SCP-5987, centred around a vessel two hundred years earlier that was
believed to be neutralized when Item 6789-AH, the captain François Aregnaudeau, was killed
at sea as part of a suspected mutiny.
Due to an increasing risk of sightings by civilians, current containment efforts are
being redirected towards Neutralization of SCP-5987.
A mission was approved to search the manifestation area for any signs of spectral significance.
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 01/07/2019
VESSEL: SCPS Submersible Nephthys
[BEGIN LOG]
23:00: SCPS Nephthys approaches the radius of SCP-5987's area of effect.
23:05: SCP-5987 turns towards the submarine.
Command loses communication with Nephthys as it submerges.
23:05-23:16: Command attempts to re-establish contact with the submersible.
23:16: Communication is re-established.
Captain Doumer reports that the submersible experienced heavy but non-essential damage
from colliding with the ocean floor.
However, anomalous influence on Nephthys has ceased.
Doumer requests an update on his current objective.
23:16-23:34: Deliberations are held between the members of the research team.
Some wish to take the opportunity to investigate SCP-5987 more closely, while others insist
on relying on the original mission parameters.
23:34: Deliberation ceases when SCP-5987 is observed retreating to a further distance.
A white flag is raised from its mainmast.
23:37: Taking it as a sign of approval, Nephthys is cleared to proceed on its original parameters.
23:45 Nephthys reaches the approximate manifestation point.
Numerous wooden and steel shipwrecks can be seen dotting the sea floor.
Nephthys switches to search mode.
[EXTRANEOUS LOGS REDACTED]
2:18: Nephthys pauses by a small wooden shipwreck, readying the diving team.
At sea level, SCP-5987 lowers its flag to half-mast before raising it to full again.
2:19: This information is relayed to Doumer, and the divers are deployed to clear access
to the wreckage.
2:25: Several skeletons are found, all with various levels of saltwater corrosion.
2:30: Agent Lacroix finds a large ornate figurehead carved to resemble a siren or mermaid, buried
underneath a large section of the hull.
Notably, the figurehead lacks any damage.
2:35: A loud bell chime is heard as the divers depart, and SCP-5987 vanishes prematurely.
The mission is declared over and Nephthys returns to the surface.
[END LOG]
At nautical twilight the next day, SCP-5987 did not appear and was considered Neutralized.
The figurehead has been designated as SCP-5987-1 pending further examination.
ITEM#: 5987 LEVEL1
UNRESTRICTED
containment class: euclid disruption class: dark
risk class: notice
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5987 has been treated for saltwater protection and
fitted to a historically accurate miniature 19th century sailing ship, which has been
placed in the saltwater enclosure at Area 34's Marine Observatory.
SCP-5987 should be examined once a month for any signs of damage.
Description: SCP-5987 is the former figurehead of the Duc de Dantzig, a French privateer
brig from the early 19th century.
However, analysis of the composition has revealed that SCP-5987 was made approximately two hundred
years prior and was most likely added after construction of the brig.
SCP-5987 is able to control all seafaring vessels within a kilometer of its vicinity.
In the past, its ability was used to sink rival ships or run them aground for looting.
It appeared to resent this task however and ended up killing its captain François Aregnaudeau
and his crew in 1811.
After it was burned at sea by a French naval ship, the manner of its "death" was strong
enough to create an spectral disturbance tied to its location.
Currently, SCP-5987 uses its abilities to sail around its enclosure.
Personnel in close vicinity report hearing an unknown chorus of voices singing the French
sea shanty Boney (Was a Warrior).