SCP Idea: Lizards In The Mountains

Summary:

Hereʻs an idea I got from Hawaiian legends.

SCP Idea: Lizards In The Mountains

Dr H Watson 21 Oct 2019 21:35

Giant lizards, called moʻo, roamed across the Hawaiian Islands but they have long since settled or been slain. These moʻo are said to have the ability to shape shift and usually are female. Some are also said to protect specific areas on the islands. They must be kept in stasis and cannot be allowed to be awoken.

- A mo'o body (covered in stone) is discovered and taken by the foundation. The old companion (also a mo'o) of the mo'o realizes this and tracks down a researcher to try get the body back. The researcher returns bloodied the next day and relays that the body of the mo'o must be returned

- An MTF squad is sent to find and capture the mo'o but through a series of tricks pulled by the mo'o companion it manages to get into a position where a Kailua Town (the town near) is in danger and a breach of security imminent. The foundation try to negotiate but while doing so other mo'o across
O'ahu "awaken" and get into positions of danger towards multiple towns and even Waikiki.

- The mo'o demand the American presence to leave (because of over-development and militarization e.t.c) and threaten that they will destroy said towns and Waikiki if the foundation does not pull back. The foundation wants to attack the mo'o but doing so would cause an enormous breach in secrecy and could cause the death of hundreds.

- While the situation unfolds the large sovereignty movement in Hawaii begins to protest heavily and the state begins to suffer. International pressure is placed on the US government to solve the issue (as living standards and such are decreasing rapidly) and the US try to send forces but to no avail

- The movement, through sources and eye witness accounts, get a hold of information regarding the mo'o and riot heavily sending the state into bankruptcy. The US governments control is slipping and it begins to look like the mo'o are to attack. In an effort to resolve the issue without insane loss of life and a massive breach of security the 05 council and US government propose to cede Hawaii by recognizing the treaties they had signed with the previous government, the Kingdom of Hawaii. Support for this decision is enormous in Hawai'i and the proposition passes.

- A new government, named the "Hawaiian Confederacy" is formed in Hawai'i and the mo'o recede. The Hawaiian Confederacy and the foundation work together and relations become positive.

Last edited on 27 Oct 2019 04:58 by Dr H Watson Show more

Re: SCP Idea: Lizards In The Mountains

gee0765 22 Oct 2019 11:59

As this is, it's a little simple. These are just big lizards, and not much else. I also find it very hard to believe that they can make up ridges on the island without anyone noticing, especially as they are vulnerable enough to have been slain. In reality though, that's not the biggest issue: it's the lack of substance. As I've already mentioned, they don't do much. An SCP article needs to be interesting, and a description of big sleeping lizards doesn't really do that.

The biggest issue is that your concept lacks a narrative. While you could possibly have got away with this in Series One, that was a decade ago. Nowadays, SCPs need a narrative, even a subtle one. For a good example of an obvious narrative, check out something like SCP-3001. For a more subtle narrative, check out something like SCP-3683. Also, have a look at the Guides and Essays tab of the site, where you can find pages that could help you.

+ Helpful Guides/Essays

http://www.scp-wiki.net/yourjouney-part-1
http://www.scp-wiki.net/yourjouney-part-2
http://www.scp-wiki.net/you-already-know-what-the-fuck-is-going-on
http://www.scp-wiki.net/ideation

Last edited on 22 Oct 2019 21:35 by gee0765 Show more

Re: SCP Idea: Lizards In The Mountains

Dr H Watson 22 Oct 2019 22:21

thanks, this was very helpful. I will add more substance and may message you if I feel it has changed significantly enough.

Re: SCP Idea: Lizards In The Mountains

Dyslexion 27 Oct 2019 16:36

Due to our extensive conversation in the IRC chat, here is my Greenlight

Edit for Clerical purposes:

After discussing the ins and outs of this creature, as well as the complex dynamic the author wants to show within the article, I am confident that this SCP is well-grounded by a narrative, and will not turn out as just a monster manual entry. While I initially had some concerns, OP has sufficiently demonstrated they have thought a lot about this subject and are willing to take additional steps in researching for their article.

Last edited on 27 Oct 2019 22:54 by Dyslexion Show more

Re: SCP Idea: Lizards In The Mountains

PrLosash 27 Oct 2019 23:23

After getting clarification about the conversation with Dyslexion - greenlight.

I personally enjoy the narrative and want to see what the author can do with such a topical theme. However, while I have no problems with ceding Hawaii - I do not like how the mo'os are overpowered. Perhaps make them a little bit easier to contain, at least initially.

Clarification ported

1) the scp themselves, the mo’o, would be incredibly hard to contain. The reason why the foundation wouldn’t launch a full assault is because the danger it would pose to citizens. The mo’o can shape shift into most animals in Hawaii as well as human and are highly intelligent. They can speak English but prefer Hawaiian. This makes them very dangerous but, the mo’o almost never expose themselves unless someone or something else forces them or takes something from them. They usually operate in stealth and don’t interact with human society. They usually contain themselves.

2) The plot. The US could in real life cede Hawaii through recognizing their illegal occupation and re-recognizing their treaties with the kingdom of Hawaii. The foundation, while powerful, I think would have limitations and the mo’o would absolutely test that limit. There are many mo’o and they all are very strong and combined could cause mass damage. They positioned themselves towards towns and cities while the foundation was focused on one problem. This took them by surprise obviously and because of the swiftness forced the foundation into inaction. If they moved then they could cause the mo’o to attack and so on. This gave time for things to go wrong and it did. The rioters forced the state into bankruptcy and pressure from the international community on the living conditions in the state and police action caused combined with bankruptcy and the scp threat the US caved in and gave up Hawai’i.

3) alternatives. As stated before the capture of the mo’o would cause massive damage to infrastructure and could potentially become a large breach of secrecy. Leaving them alone would be the best option as they naturally contain themselves. They travel through old lava tubes and the aquifer and this would make it nigh impossible to stop them from traveling without destroying the water system. The ceding of Hawaii may seem unrealistic but it is in the range of comfortable possibility with the conditions presented and could very well happen. A change by the state could work but the mo’o has stated their disapproval for the US government and not ceding could potentially cause an attack. The safest bet would be to cede and form a new government.

Last edited on 29 Oct 2019 18:53 by PrLosash Show more