SCP-314 (“Motion-Seeking Blade”) represents one of the early SCP articles that originated on 4chan’s /x/ board.^[1]https://archive.ph/jmVa6#selection-5257.34-5257.48^[2]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-314 The object was subsequently transferred to EditThis, and then to WikiDot, where it currently remains, albeit in a substantially rewritten form.^[3]http://web.archive.org/web/20080412092156/http://www.editthis.info/scp_wiki/SCP-314^[4]http://scpclassic.wikidot.com/scp-314^[5]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-314 In its initial conceptualization, the anomaly was described as an object whose shape transformed rapidly while generally maintaining “the appearence [sic] of a spherical series of regular three-dimensional shapes” and that would actively pursue any movement detected within its vicinity. While the original author remains anonymous, they have been identified in archived materials.

SCP-314 holds historical significance within SCP lore as it introduced several firsts: it was the first known SCP to specify a containment site other than Site 19, the first to implement a rudimentary form of “[REDACTED]” text, and the first to utilize cross-testing procedures. Additionally, during its tenure on WikiDot, it introduced the concept of an SCP Foundation ethics committee.

Historical Development

The article was initially posted to 4chan’s /x/ thread #446341^[6]https://archive.ph/jmVa6 on January 19, 2008. Within that same thread, the author revised the content and added a supplementary entry to another SCP object cross-referenced in the original document.^[7]https://archive.vn/jmVa6#selection-9897.0-9897.84^[8]https://archive.ph/jmVa6#selection-9897.1451-9897.1619 SCP-314 was subsequently transferred to EditThis at an undetermined date, where it received the title “Motion Seeking Blade.”^[9]http://web.archive.org/web/20080409210737/http://editthis.info/scp_wiki/SCP_Series On July 26, 2008, user far2 migrated the article to WikiDot,^[10]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-314, rev. 1 and it was later added to the SCP Classic page in 2012.^[11]http://scpclassic.wikidot.com/scp-314

The complete revision history of SCP-314 remains partially obscured. The original /x/ version appears consistently across all available EditThis archives, which extend until July 4, 2008.^[12]http://web.archive.org/web/20080704070636/http://www.editthis.info/scp_wiki/SCP-314 However, by the time it appeared on WikiDot on July 26, 2008, the article had undergone substantial transformation, with DiffChecker analysis identifying 7 removals and 37 additions. While the article title remained unchanged, SCP-314 experienced a comprehensive rewrite with minimal verbatim preservation, though core concepts were maintained, including references to Site 47, the object’s “kill radius,” its levitation capabilities and behavioral patterns, the inclusion of classic rock, and other vestigial elements apparent when comparing the versions. The identity of those responsible for this rewrite remains unknown.

SCP-314 underwent another significant revision in 2011 by WikiDot user and SCP author Sorts,^[13]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-1269264

though this version wasn’t implemented until September 2012, when the then-current version’s rating had declined into negative territory.^[14]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-314, rev. 6^[15]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-1527391^[16]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-1558041 This rewrite reclassified SCP-314 from Keter to Euclid, introduced new characters, and concluded with a containment breach scenario.

Contributions to SCP Lore

SCP-314 pioneered several concepts that would become standard in SCP documentation:

1. It was the first to designate a numbered containment site other than “19” (specifically Site 47), establishing it as a provisional site (the second such instance in SCP history).^[17]https://archive.ph/LZKOU#selection-2763.10-2763.23
2. It introduced the practice of cross-testing, wherein one SCP object is utilized to gather information about another.^[18]https://archive.ph/jmVa6#selection-5257.1568-5257.1674^[19]https://archive.vn/jmVa6#selection-9897.1426-9897.1622 The early SCP-314 referenced SCP-497, which the author later developed into one of the earliest “-J” articles.^[20]https://archive.ph/jmVa6#selection-9983.30-9983.44 Contemporary commentary noted cross-referencing as an innovative approach, encouraging authors to integrate existing SCPs and develop new ones with these interconnections in mind.^[21]https://archive.ph/jmVa6#selection-6151.176-6151.287 This methodology would soon be applied in the creation of SCP-002 and SCP-003.
3. The initial WikiDot version of SCP-314 contained the first in-universe mention of a “SCP Human Rights and Ethics Committee,” which was acknowledged as an original concept in community discussions.^[22]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-343285^[23]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-1269357 In 2012, user Voct simplified this designation to “Ethics Committee” as the site’s lore regarding this Foundation component evolved.^[24]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-314, rev. 5 This reference was subsequently removed during Sorts’ rewrite and is absent from the current version.^[25]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-1269357
4. The EditThis version of SCP-314 included a partially obscured phrase due to insufficient clearance level, displayed as “[CLEARANCE INSUFFICIENT].”^[26]https://web.archive.org/web/20080704070636/http://www.editthis.info/scp_wiki/SCP-314 This represents the first documented use of redaction in SCP history.

Trivia

• A thread on /x/ reveals the identity of the author, who, in a discussion regarding excessive cross-referencing, wrote: “As the writer of the Rimmer from Red Dwarf one [the initial SCP-497], I’d like to apologize. 314 mentions a 497 that could be used relatively safely to get information on other SCP’s. I like that 314 references another SCP and thought a harmless one would be kind of funny…. Worth mentioning on /x/ for a few lulz, but definitely not worth archiving.”^[27]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-9087.0-9087.425, brackets added
• Both the original version and Sorts’ rewrite of SCP-314 feature the object playing classic rock music, functioning as a thematic pun.
• In May 2013, SCP-314 was again considered for revision, though this never materialized.^[28]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-1780210 Sorts commented on the pre-rewrite version:
• “It could use a tone update but we don’t really need to constantly fix everything old to maintain high standards for new content.”^[29]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-115736/scp-314#post-1112924
• The EditThis version of SCP-314 referenced “Warehouse 19” as a provisional containment site for the object, representing a blending of “Warehouse 13” and “Site 19.”