Winterthorn
rating: 0+x

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Veteres%20Card.png
An instance of SCP-XXXX

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX should be contained in a secure document storage locker. Remote handling gear should be used by research personnel to manipulate instances of SCP-XXXX during testing to avoid accidental activation.

Description: SCP-XXXX refers to a collection of 7 12 26 off white 85 x 55 mm business cards for "Veteres Irae, Ltd." bearing the subhead "the old firm". No company has been registered under that name in any country.

At the bottom of the card is an image of a stylized human head, beneath which is printed "press here for service." Testing has shown the cards to be printed with India ink on card stock of quality consistent with professional printing.

When an individual holds an instance of SCP-XXXX in his or her dominant hand and places their thumb over the image, one of three things occur immediately:

  1. Gravity increases by ~30 G for three seconds in a 1 m. area directly beneath the activating individual.
  2. The individual holding the card is struck by lightning, regardless of weather conditions.
  3. The individual holding the card spontaneously combusts, burning at 5000 C for three seconds. Flames vanish completely at the three second mark.

All instances can yield any of the effects, and there is no discernible pattern to which effect an activation will yield. However, occurrences of Effect 2 account for 50% of all recorded activations. Instances of SCP-XXXX are immune to the effects of activation, but but can be readily damaged by other means.

broken%20sidewalk.jpg
Initial recovery site of SCP-XXXX

SCP-XXXX was initially recovered when Foundation agents responded to reports of a Mr. ████ █████ being crushed when a sinkhole opening unexpectedly near a university in █████████, ME despite Mr. █████'s remains being found on top of the depressed area with no visible means of being crushed.

Agents recovered an instance of SCP-XXXX from a local police evidence locker, and located four more on billboards at the university.

Addendum: Investigation of freak lighting strikes, spontaneous combustion in public places, and sinkholes that match initial recovery circumstances has yielded an additional 21 instances to date. Inquiries into the source of SCP-XXXX are ongoing.