Scp-4355

SCP-4355, referred to by researchers as the "Dreamstone," is an ancient stone artifact measuring approximately 10 cm in diameter. The surface of the stone is engraved with swirling, abstract patterns that seem to shift and flow when observed. The material of the stone itself is unusual, appearing to be a type of smooth, obsidian-like glass but with a faint iridescent quality.

History and Origins

The origins of the Dreamstone remain shrouded in mystery. Analysis suggests it was created by an advanced, unknown civilization that thrived thousands of years ago, potentially in a region that is now under the ocean. Attempts to carbon date the artifact have been inconclusive, and no definitive historical records or cultural context have been identified.

Various occult and archaeological groups have sought to uncover the Dreamstone's history and origins, but their research has been fraught with strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena. Some believe the artifact may be connected to ancient legends of magical, dream-inducing relics, while others speculate it may have been a ritual object used by a long-lost culture.

Effects and Properties

When an individual touches or focuses intently on the surface of the Dreamstone, they quickly enter a trance-like state accompanied by intense psychedelic hallucinations. Subjects report being transported to vivid dreamscapes, encountering bizarre entities and landscapes that feel powerfully real. The experience can last for hours, though users typically lose all sense of the passage of time.

The nature of the hallucinations appears to be highly subjective, varying based on the individual's psychology, beliefs, and subconscious. Some see tranquil, pastoral scenes, while others encounter nightmarish visions. A small number of users have never returned from the altered state, their fates unknown.

Extensive research by the SCP Foundation has not yet revealed the precise mechanisms behind the Dreamstone's psychoactive properties. It seems to somehow tap into the neurological processes underlying human dreaming and consciousness, though the specifics remain elusive.

Interested Groups

Given the Dreamstone's extraordinary and enigmatic properties, it has attracted the attention of various occult, esoteric, and archaeological groups seeking to study or possess the artifact:

• The New Aeon Order, a powerful occult organization, has made multiple attempts to steal or infiltrate the Dreamstone's containment.
• Independent researchers, some backed by wealthy patrons, have offered substantial sums to gain access to the artifact for study.
• Several prestigious universities and archaeological institutes have petitioned the Foundation to allow limited, monitored experiments with the Dreamstone.
• Rumors persist of a black market trade in Dreamstone fragments, fueling fears of uncontrolled proliferation.

The SCP Foundation has resisted these external pressures, maintaining strict secrecy and control over the Dreamstone to prevent its misuse or escape.

Containment Procedures

SCP-4355 is kept in a secure, temperature and humidity-controlled containment chamber at one of the Foundation's highest-level research facilities. Access is heavily restricted, with stringent protocols for any personnel who must interact with the artifact.

Foundation researchers continue to study the Dreamstone, running a range of physical and neurological tests. However, direct interaction with the object is limited due to the profound and unpredictable effects on human subjects. The full extent of the Dreamstone's capabilities and origins remains an ongoing mystery.