Overview
The Scarlet King is a central, mysterious, and potentially world-ending entity in the SCP universe, surrounded by numerous myths, tales, and interpretations. The SCP Foundation's varied efforts to contain threats linked to the Scarlet King highlight the complexity, ambiguity, and horror inherent to his lore.
Origins and SCP-231
- SCP-231 involves seven girls, all found pregnant after a raid on a cult called the Children of the Scarlet King.
- Each girl's childbirth resulted in increasingly catastrophic entities, with only SCP-231-7 remaining.
- The Foundation believes SCP-231-7 giving birth would trigger the apocalypse, leading to the institution of the secretive and horrific Procedure 110-Montauk.
- The exact nature of 110-Montauk is unclear, with documentation and tales suggesting it may rely more on the perception of horror and fear than actual cruelty.
Myths and Interpretations
- Alternative tales propose SCP-999 (a kind and benevolent entity) was born from SCP-231-7, destined to oppose and eventually defeat the Scarlet King.
- Some stories suggest the Foundation's perpetuation of the 110-Montauk myth is to manipulate beliefs and keep the cult and the King at bay.
The Scarlet King's True Nature
- The tale “Dust and Blood” describes the Scarlet King (Karak) as an ancient god cursed with self-awareness and pain, consuming other gods and spawning monstrous children.
- Seven brides and their offspring are central to his mythos, with the seventh giving birth to heroes instead of monsters.
- The conflict with the Scarlet King is ongoing, with stories predicting a final battle.
Related SCPs and Proposals
- SCP-2317 is a massive interdimensional entity, possibly linked to the Scarlet King, restrained by seven weakening chains.
- The Scarlet King is also featured in an SCP-001 proposal, described as an entity existing in multiple dimensions, unable to enter ours but constantly attempting to break through.
- Procedures to contain him focus on ritual, belief, and emotional states (fear, hate), not just physical containment.
Laws and Philosophical Themes
- The three laws related to the Scarlet King are: the law of blood (rule by hatred and chaos), the law of concrete (modern rationality), and the law of howling (tension between the two).
- The Foundation’s need to categorize and understand anomalies may have paradoxically helped create or empower the Scarlet King.
Enduring Ambiguity
- The Scarlet King's true appearance, motives, and ultimate threat remain intentionally vague, reinforcing the mythos of an unknowable, Lovecraftian entity.
- The Foundation's current stance suggests not fully understanding or classifying the Scarlet King may actually be safer.