Historical Hat
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chaperon.jpg
Pencil sketch by Subject XXXX-1-E of SCP-XXXX and the original owner.

Item: SCP-XXXX

Containment Level: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: Item should be contained in a vented opaque medium item container, in any Site that possesses a dehumidified research wing; the current location is Site-76. Further testing is to only be done with approval from O5 Command.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a gray chaperon-style hat, created no later than 1434-12-25. It is scalloped at the edges and is constructed of thick wool. SCP-XXXX is remarkably well-preserved for its age, apparently due to prior owners taking fastidious care of it. It was remanded to Foundation custody on ████-██-██ by the ██████████ Police Department.

The anomalous properties of SCP-XXXX manifest when worn. All subjects who wear the hat will, after a brief delay, acquire the memories of all previous wearers. MRI scans show potentially anomalous abnormalities in the occipital cortex and hippocampus from the time of exposure to expiration. All adults and children tested thus far exhibit the pivotal components of the anomaly, but the ability to act on the expanded knowledge provided appears to be dependent on the subject.

Human testing began on 1963-07-22 and ended 196█-██-██. A summary log of findings is presented below; consult a 2/XXXX researcher for full A/V feeds of each interview.

Subject XXXX-1-A was Junior Researcher ██████. Upon wearing the hat, subject was unresponsive to verbal and visual stimuli for approximately 29 seconds. Once responsive, subject expressed dizziness and nausea and was instructed to sit. Nausea was treated with over-the-counter medication. On questioning, interviewer found that certain verbal cues were able to trigger an "unlocking" of the memory of a previous wearer. During the "unlocking" the subject was incapacitated for roughly 8 seconds. In this instance, the word was "peasantry" and the memory was that of Lord ████████ ██ █████████, a baron in 15th-century England. Subject remembered receiving the hat as a gift by a court wizard known as ████████, who was the presumed creator of SCP-XXXX. Subject displayed a thorough knowledge of law pertaining to feudal Europe, gardening, anatomy and field medicine, and dining etiquette. Independent research was later able to partially confirm subject's claims. No further "unlocking" prompts were found over two weeks of testing. It was also found that the additional memories could still be recalled after removal of the item.

Memo: Seeing ██████ go lights-out like that really messed with me. There is no need to test this on our own people. -Sr. Researcher █████

Subject XXXX-1-B was D-43234. Upon wearing the hat, subject was unresponsive to verbal and visual stimuli for exactly 31.2 seconds. Nausea was again a complaint and dealt with. A new prompt was discovered almost immediately, "subject" unlocked the memories of Junior Researcher ██████ (XXXX-1-A). Subject was incapacitated for exactly 17.3 seconds. Subject displayed thorough knowledge of numerous SCP entities; after consideration, this was not considered a containment breach. Notably, the subject additionally retained the memory of Lord ████████ ██ █████████ without any prompt needed. XXXX-1-A was called in to observe the interview and confirm or deny the veracity of XXXX-1-B's statements. Several questions were prepared and both Subjects A and B gave roughly matching statements in response. Additionally, during post-interview conversation, a joke by the interviewer inadvertently unlocked another wearer's memories. The prompt was "bull" and the memory was that of █████, a servant in Lord ████████ ██ █████████'s baronetcy. Subject was incapacitated for exactly 4.4 seconds. Subject displayed knowledge of court housekeeping, food preparation for large parties, and tuning and playing the lute. XXXX-1-A indicated he had no recollection of the events in question.

Memo: Despite my discomfort with the idea, I need to test with Junior Researcher ██████ again. We have some important questions to answer. -Sr. Researcher █████

Subject XXXX-1-C was again Junior Researcher ██████. Upon wearing the hat, no change in disposition was noted, and there was no period of unresponsiveness. The unlocking word "bull" was spoken, and no affect was noted. Questioning indicated subject had not gained any additional insight on either Subject B, or the servant unlocked by her. Senior Researcher █████ hypothesizes that a prior wearer is not able to "unlock" anything further after another person has worn it.

Subject XXXX-1-D was D-68418. Unresponsive 33.7 seconds. Subject instantly retained all memories unlocked to date. Subject C's last name was sufficient to unlock memories. Incapacitated 14.4 seconds. The name of the item's presumed creator, "████████," was insufficient to unlock any further memories. MRI scans during proceedings noted hyperactivity in the occipital cortex and hippocampus during both unresponsive states. Additionally, when the subject was asked a question regarding a previous wearer, only baseline activity in the aforementioned regions was observed. Subject was asked to sketch Lord ████████ ██ █████████; the drawing was of very poor quality and discarded. No further progress made over six days.

Subject XXXX-1-E was D-95177, formerly a trained artist. Unresponsive 35.0 seconds. Retention consistent with prior tests. Subject D's last name was sufficient to unlock memories. Incapacitated 6.5 seconds. No further progress made over eleven days. Subject was asked to sketch Lord ████████ ██ █████████. Previous subjects were shown the sketch without context and identified it correctly, and agreed the likeness was uncanny.

Memo: We're early into testing, but I think we can conclude a few things about this item. All of the contained memories are transferred to the hippocampus on first applying the item. The business of a "prompt" seemed confusing, but it occurred to me that we have a similar mechanism in the brain as it is; just as we all have words that will bring back a flood of memories, so must these memories work on a similar basis. I haven't yet determined why we need to "unlock" the last wearer by hand, as it were, but not the memories that they unlocked, but it's been trivial to do. If we get what it appears to say on the tin, this has potential in many applications. -Sr. Researcher █████

Subject XXXX-1-F was D-83311. Unresponsive 34.1 seconds. Retention consistent. Prior last name sufficient. Incapacitated 25.9 seconds. Interviewer recited from a dictionary to subject, who unlocked 4 new memories. Incapacitated 3.5, 7.2, 1.3, and 11.0 seconds respectively for Lord ███████ The Brash, a feuding baron of Lord ████████ ██ █████████; Sir ██████ Two-Hearted, a knight of Lord ███████; █████ The Simple, a mentally deficient squire; and ████ ███████, an 18th century American purveyor of antiques. Subject displayed knowledge of animal husbandry, geography of southern England, mounted combat, whittling wooden toys and baubles, double-entry accounting, 18th-century American politics, and fishing locations in Massachusetts.

Subject XXXX-1-G was D-87110. Unresponsive 45.2 seconds, during which time subject ceased breathing and began to asphyxiate. Item was removed, subject was hospitalized. Anoxic brain damage had occured; subject was later found to have suffered from emphysema most of his adult life. Test halted.

Subject XXXX-1-H was D-72794. Oxygen mask was applied before proceeding. Unresponsive 45.4 seconds. Retention consistent. Prior last name sufficient. Incapacitated 5.1 seconds. On recovery, subject became thoroughly intractible and refused to answer questions. Testing halted after 4 hours due to severe emotional distress. Heavy breathing, elevated blood pressure, and elevated pulse were noted throughout the interview.

In the evening of 196█-██-██, approximately 9 hours after his interview, D-72794 died by suicide. Senior Researcher █████ hypothesizes we may have "corrupted" the item by introducing a fresh, panicked memory. Testing postponed pending advisory meeting with Research Council.

Testing resumes 196█-██-██.

Memo: I really hope we haven't done what I think we have. -Sr. Researcher █████

Subject XXXX-1-I was D-96324. Oxygen used, unresponsive 49.3 seconds. On recovery, subject was similarly distraught. Relevant transcription follows:

Interviewer: D-96324, do you need oxygen?
XXXX-1-I: Fuck your oxygen! Oxygen's not the problem!
(At this time, subject begins clawing at his own head and eyes.)
Interviewer: Restrain him!
(Brief scuffle follows as subject is handcuffed.)
Interviewer: Now please, explain yourself. What is the problem?
XXXX-1-I: (crying)
Interviewer: Come on, it'll be okay. Talk to me.
XXXX-1-I: He killed..he killed her. She was so young. He did so many… (breaks down)
XXXX-1-I: It's all I see, and I'm seeing me doing it. I can't… (crying)
At this point, it is presumed that Senior Researcher █████ administers a Class-C amnestic to D-96324. The exact circumstances are unclear as visibility is obscured by the close proximity between the interviewer and subject. Life signs normalize and test is ended. Further research indicates that, due to clerical error, it was overlooked that D-87110 was in fact a transfer from [DATA REDACTED] and thus should never have been a viable candidate for experimentation.

Subject XXXX-1-J was D-62087. Oxygen used, unresponsive 52.2 seconds. On recovery, subject is distraught and, after a time, confirms D-87110 was sociopathic, and had been on antipsychotic medication prior to arrival. Senior Researcher █████ administers a Class-C amnestic to subject and test is halted.

Senior Researcher █████ tenders his resignation, effective two weeks hence. Researcher ██████████ selected to head testing going forward.

Incident XXXX-1-K occurred approximately 14 hours after the previous interview. Senior Researcher █████ sets up A/V feed, no interviewer present. Unresponsive 55.1 seconds. Senior Researcher █████ exhibits heavy breathing and apologizes to D-72794 to the camera, then self-administers a Class-Ω amnestic. He was found the next morning and hospitalized. We have been unable to restore Senior Researcher █████'s cognitive levels to any appreciable degree.

Subject XXXX-1-L was D-88309. Oxygen used, unresponsive 0.3 seconds. On recovery, subject was in catatonic stupor. Test halted.

Subject XXXX-1-M was D-77742. Oxygen used, unresponsive 0.3 seconds. On recovery, subject was in catatonic stupor. Test halted.

Subject XXXX-1-N was D-94581. Oxygen used, unresponsive 0.3 seconds. On recovery, subject was in catatonic stupor. Test halted.

All further testing halted after O5 review.

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