SCP 5,05.

Lamplight

The SCP universe is generally not considered to be beautiful or poetic,

leaning more towards horrific and weird,

but there are occasional glimpses of evocative and poetic anomalies scattered about.

The SCP will be looking at today as part of the SCP 5000 contest,

so there is an air of mystery here, to be sure.

But this one stands a bit apart from most of the others that focus on horror and death.

SCP 5,05 is a settlement located 3,449 whalons to the multiversal east of the central

reality compass, whatever that means, and 87 whalons beyond where matter is ordinarily capable of permanently existing.

That means a bit more, as this settlement is located outside of normal reality, in a zone where

existence normally unravels, but something is keeping this place safe.

As far as the foundation is aware, 5,05 is the most remote matter in existence.

The settlement is constructed on an expanse of earth-like substance, which conveniently acts as fertile soil.

The foundation knows how big the settlement is, but isn't quite sure how big this expanse of ground is, as it's impossible to travel too far away from the town's primary light source.

This primary light source is a large biomechanical lantern hanging over the settlement,

which, in addition to casting a dim light akin to a full moon over the town, also acts as a

reality stabilizer, allowing the place to exist amidst the void.

This lantern is suspended above the town by a large protruding tendril,

emerging from the expanse of ground somewhere,

and is composed of a hardened and strengthened form of the same ground substance.

What exactly the ground substance is composed of is still unknown,

...