 Item number SCP-3838 Object Class Euclid Special Containment Procedures A perimeter is to be established one kilometer away from SCP-3838's area of operation. A single entrance is located on the eastern edge to allow entrance and egress to and from the area of operation and the research base. To prevent incursions by SCP-3838-4, the perimeter is heavily armed against both internal and external threats. SCP-3838-4's activities are currently limited to occasional raids on the other SCP-3838 instances, but conversations with members of the other SCP-3838 instances indicate that SCP-3838-4's occupation is currently due to begin in 2054, with a strong likelihood of this occurring at an early date due to SCP-3838-4's military strength and aggressive behavior. Efforts to engage SCP-3838-4 diplomatically are underway, but this should not be done at the expense of the Foundation relationship with SCP-3838-3. Federal disputes or conflicts between SCP-3838 instances are not to be interfered with. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule. One, if said conflicts may cause a containment breach, or two, if any conflict occurs between SCP-3838-4 and either SCP-3838-2 or SCP-3838-3, as per our agreement with these groups. Many members of SCP-3838-8 are to be detained and interrogated upon sight. No such members have been encountered thus far. Description SCP-3838 refers to a series of eight nomadic Turkmen tribes. These tribes all occupy a space of 10 km2 at a site of western Turkmenistan near the Caspian Sea. However, these tribes possess an ability to travel through time, and thus, each SCP-3838 instance occupies the land at a different point in history. SCP-3838 instances treat different periods of time as if they are different areas of territorial pasture land, owned by one tribe or another. Agreements and conflicts over the periods owned by each tribe are common, with sudden raids into a particular time period common. Two time periods have been set aside for particular common purpose, under which there is an agreed-upon parlay between the tribes, an unspecified period in the early 15th century BCE, and a period from 1800 to 1858 used as a marketplace and as a place for intertribal councils and gatherings. SCP-3838 instances travel through time through an unknown ritual, which is not shared with outsiders. It is known that this involves the travelers entering a guhr, with two planes flanking the entrance, but nothing else about the process has been conclusively determined. Often called a yurt, a guhr is a type of tent used by the nomadic peoples of inter-Asia. SCP-3838 instances do not occupy their time period continuously, but ordinarily move to a different time within their period, forwards or backwards, every six months. The continual raiding, conflict, and reuse of already used years has resulted in a number of temporal paradoxes occurring. These have not, however, caused any significant temporal disabilities due to unknown method of temporal preservation. The culture of SCP-3838 is typical nomadic tribes of the region. They primarily live in gures, and each tribe is ruled by a Khan, despite the small sizes of each group. They all speak the same antiquated dialect of Turkmen, believed to have been common in the region during the 15th century. Some also speak Persian and Shoghattai, with a small number possessing knowledge of classical Arabic. SCP-3838 instances often practice a fusion of traditional and Islamic beliefs, with some exceptions detailed below. Economically, SCP-3838 instances primarily live off the milk and meat of goats and sheep, with a natural spring located within the boundaries of physical territory providing water. A large number of handicrafts were created by the SCP-3838 instances. This is often the role of the women, although the traditionally egalitarian nature of nomadic societies also affords them a limited role in herding, rearing, combat, and sometimes tribal leadership. The exception of this is SCP-3838-2, which is a solely matriarchal tribe. Of note is the possession of large quantities of advanced technology and weaponry possessed by all the SCP-3838 instances. These have reportedly been raided or traded from tribes whose territory is in the future. SCP-3838-3 is the current SCP-3838 instance occupying the pastureland. The Foundation has promised protection for SCP-3838-3 against SCP-3838-4, a hostile tribe seeking to aggressively expand its territory into the 21st century. In exchange, SCP-3838-3 voluntarily offers the Foundation advanced technology, which the Foundation believes may be useful. The Foundation has a similar arrangement with SCP-3838-2, although as their territory is now in the past, this agreement is rarely activated in modern times. Communication with the tribes is difficult, as the Foundation encounters them at wildly different points in their personal timelines, and often receive contradictory information as a result. A problem exacerbated by the continuous rewriting of the timeline. SCP-3838 was first discovered in 1698, when the Foundation predecessor organization Divan E Yadui, Office of Magic, a part of the Sohovit governmental apparatus which would later become an independent organization, responded to reports of disappearing and reappearing tents by relocated Kurdish tribesmen in the area. The Divan E Yadui continued to contain the tribes until it was absorbed into the Foundation in 1834. The anomaly itself is believed to have been started in the 15th century BCE, following a vast battle. They have, however, been heavily influenced by later Turkic and Islamic nomads, and their oral history contains few reliable elements from before the 1st century CE. Below are details of all the SCP-3838 tribes, their zones of control, and the nature of the two Parley zones. Note that some of this information was recorded during earlier periods of the Foundation's history, and that of their predecessors, when social attitudes and data gathering were performed under markedly different standards. Tribe zone, period, details, the Holy Years, circa 15th century BCE. Within the variant of Tengri Belize practice, often synchritically with Islam, by SCP-3838, these years are considered to be a particularly holy site, where a great conglomeration of spirits gather. It is believed that a great battle occurred shortly before the beginning of these years, but there is uncertainty as to its nature. SCP-3838-1 Circa 110CE-290CE Little is known about this tribe. They were only observed in the marketplace years. They are rumored to produce particularly fine earthenware pots, and these were often seen in the marketplace. Unusually, they appear to follow strong Manichean beliefs, but associated darkness of Manichean dualism with the color red. SCP-3838-2 Circa 1130CE-1799CE A matriarchal tribe, combat, herding, and tribal leadership are solely the preserve of women. This unusual arrangement is credited to a hero during the ancient battle mentioned earlier. Their unusually large territory is a mark of their particular success of the tribe. Information on this tribe is scant, and filled with exaggeration and myth by earlier writers. It is known, however, that they were skilled hunters who often ranged further afield in the other tribes, engaging in the Mongolian tradition of the Nerj. A type of ceremonial hunt, wherein the hunters encircle an animal together before firing upon it. They practice a mixture of shamanism and Islam. The Marketplace 1800CE-1858CE A place of pre-agreed upon gatherings. Tribes often arrive here to trade technology and talismans, as well as to arbitrate disputes. SCP-3838-4's hostility has resulted in their exclusion from this period. SCP-3838-8 instances are never seen. A description by Foundation operative Ali Kuli Beg describes of where on offer as strange and terrible things, muskets and rifles altered to emit bolts of light, pagan talismans which glow with strange fire, an antique funeral urn with shifting markings, and arrows which followed their targets like helms. SCP-3838-3 1870CE-2054CE The current tribe SCP-3838-3 is ruled by a Khan in consultation with several Begs, perhaps marrying the traditional position in the region of a Khan before a senior governor and a Beg being a lesser governor. Members of SCP-3838-3 are known for the particular quality of their carpet weaving, which they often use as objects of bartering. They formerly held many more years, but have been pushed back by SCP-3838-4. SCP-3838-4 2054CE-3000CE The largest known tribe in terms of time occupied, SCP-3838-4 is shunned by and hostile to other tribes and to the Foundation. They are often dressed in human skins, although captured members claim that these are only the skins of SCP-3838-8 members. Nevertheless, this practice has led them to be abhorred by the other tribes. The only exceptions are the SCP-3838-7 survivors who have a good relationship with SCP-3838-4. They are reportedly obsessed with SCP-3838-8 and are attempting to create an empire of time to stand against them. They often enslave or incorporate other tribes into their own. They are known for their protection of a particular funeral urn, which houses the body of a fallen foe. Interestingly, oral tradition among SCP-3838-2 includes a reference to an ancient urn and older survivors of SCP-3838-7 have talked of losing their urn. SCP-3838-5 Circa 3000CE The Circa 3020CE A small tribe, SCP-3838-5 had been almost wiped out. Its members are renowned for their skill at cooking and could be found in large numbers in the marketplace and sometimes within other tribes. Reportedly, they are running low on good pastureland and constantly meet themselves within the tiny sides of their remaining territory. SCP-3838-6 Circa 3020CE The Circa 3450CE Traditional allies of SCP-3838-5, SCP-3838-6 possess particularly advanced technology often found in the marketplace. SCP-3838-6 are known for their lack of syncretism, practiced in a relatively pure form of Shi'i Islam. They are known to have dealings with a group calling themselves the Empire for the Reclamation of Islamic Artifacts, believed to be a future variant of the ORIA. They are, however, extremely friendly and cooperative with the Foundation despite this. SCP-3838-7 None Formerly Circa 3500CE The Circa 4100CE This tribe was destroyed. Surviving members and their descendants can occasionally be found in other tribes and at the marketplace, although most were incorporated in SCP-3838-5. Although the other SCP-3838 instances ascribed as destruction to SCP-3838-4, surviving SCP-3838-7 members claim it was done by SCP-3838-8. SCP-3838-8 Unknown in the Far Future Very little is known as this tribe. No members have ever been encountered, and the other SCP-3838 instances ordinarily refused to speak of them outside of their oral tradition, which states that they were the tribe bought against at the Great Battle, although other sources state that it was a single powerful figure who was bought against. Both traditions are believed to have been created well after the event. The only exception is SCP-3838-4, who refers to them as the Enemy Above All Enemies and the Rejectors. Limited contact with SCP-3838-4 has prevented the Foundation from learning more, however. On January 2, 2011, a member of SCP-3838-4 approached a research base attached to the perimeter defenses, claiming to be an envoy. The figure asked for an interview with the site director, which was granted. A transcript can be found below. Interview 3838-1 Dr. Syeda Aisha Rizvi Site Director Interview E, an envoy from SCP-3838-4 Date, November 2, 2011 Begin log Hello there. The envoy is silent. Look, tell me what you want. You're lucky we're even granting you his interview. We have met your kind before. You'll understand my hesitancy in trusting you, condom. You capture our people, kill our soldiers. We do not easily forget. You kill ours. You kill our friends among the tribes. Oh, what is the point of this? I could tell you we have a purpose. I could tell you we have a purpose behind our raids, that I take no joy in the killing of our brothers, but to what end? It would convince you of nothing. Let us stick to the matter at hand. Go on then. What was it you wanted to discuss? What do you know of the battle, the great battle that defined our world? Little. The envoy sighs heavily. It matters little. Let me find another way to put it. Imagine we made a prison. I didn't think you were into that kind of thing. A prison, but one of many aspects. If you want to truly lock something away, you make its substance uncertain. You trap part of it in another reality, another in a different concept of existence, and another in a pocket of time. Something is being imprisoned by you? Yes. I'll need more than that. And I cannot give it to you, condom. We have nine centuries of time to look after, pastors and children and women folk. Our years are good and vast, and we protect our own. Nobody else remembers. They all forget. They see as only as bloodthirsty tyrants. They all forgot, and now we stand alone. The Seventh Tribe were the only others, and they died. We need help. You contain things, yes? You keep them hidden? We do, but that's not how it works. We need to know what we're dealing with, what? No, we cannot. I'm sorry. Then we cannot make a deal. Look at it. You can stand on your principles or your like, but this is happening, condom. The Eternal Heaven has orchestrated this. If we told you, we would be breaking our promise. We made a pact. We will not bend, and if you do not, then it will be released. What do you want from us then? To talk, to have you as an intermediary, for they will not trust us. We cannot unite the tribes, so we must join with them. Please condom, please help us. The envoy is visibly shaking at this point. How do I know that you won't? You don't condom, but you are the jailers. You are the ones who keep us safe, everyone safe, from the dark behind the eyes. A pause for five seconds. Alright, come with me. There are some people you should speak to. And log. Following this, SCP-3838-4 has agreed to stop its program of aggressive expansion against the other SCP-3838 instances. SCP-3838-4 has refused to elaborate further on the nature of SCP-3838-8, but the Foundation has agreed to support its efforts at political alliance and communication with the other SCP-3838 instances. As it is believed, the nature of the threat described is serious enough to warrant precautions. Addendum 2. On September 20, 2017, several documents in the personal collection of the 19th Century Foundation Operative and Orientalist John Callahan were recovered by the Foundation. Among these were the translation into English of a song Callahan heard during the Marketplace Period, said to originate among SCP-3838-8. It reads as follows. They forget the hallowed words upon the death of time. May they share the fate of those who deny to me what's mine. They forget the howling chains that bind me safe away. One of the many-owned cognates forgotten in this way. A term used for the leader of the steppe tribe before Kahn. They forget the steel swords they use to cast me down. They shall not forget again before my flaming crown. They forget the seven brides that wait for my return. Such loveliness is lost upon the children of the urns. They forget the seals that are used to keep me still. Only one remembers and is not bent to my will. Some seals, seven tribes, six reclaimed, one shall be mine. And ere the end of all your days, the crimson Kahn shall ride.