SCP-049 - What Actually is the Pestilence? The Plague Doctor Questions and Theories (SCP Animation)

SCP-049 is a Euclid Class anomaly also known as the Plague Doctor.
The Plague Doctor is one of the most mysterious creatures in SCP Foundation containment. Where did he come from? How old is he? Is he a human or something else entirely? Is he powerful enough to kill SCP-682 the Hard to Destroy Reptile? And most importantly, what is "The Pestilence" that he is on a constant quest to cure? And why do his methods seem to always end in death? Today we're looking at all of these and more in this explainer of SCP-049 The Plague Doctor and all of the questions, theories, and hypotheticals about one of the most famous and frightening of the anomalies known to the SCP Foundation.
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Narrated by / hitherehunter
Content relating to the SCP Foundation, including the SCP Foundation logo, is licensed under Creative Commons Sharealike 3.0 and all concepts originate from www.scp-wiki.net and its authors.
SCP-049 - What Actually is the Pestilence? The Plague Doctor Questions and Theories (SCP Animation) is based on "SCP-049" by Gabriel Jade and Djkaktus: www.scpwiki.com/scp-049
#scpexplained #scp #animation

[@willropa4226]

Hmm, why not ask SCP-5094 "Miss J" to teach what "The Pestilence" is? She seems to be able to know anything and be capable to teach anything to anyone, she might be able to do what Plague Doctor refuses to do.

[@SCREW_TITLES]

Oooo smarty

[@al_isstrange8975]

SEE?! SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS ME, FINALLY! (my english is not the best btw)

[@al_isstrange8975]

But maybe she will say something like: "I have never heard of that before but I can tell you about tha bubonic pague" or something closer

[@PDragonBaby]

Ooooh yes!!!

[@manzanajoemerj.9849]

Apparently, she knows some things that shouldn't be shared and its reasons so it's hopeless

[@deusexvesania1702]

Anyone: coughs SCP-049: loads shotgun with medical intent

[@red-dudedaantibabypillen6682]

North korea be like.

[@theaceofspace6110]

"I'm a healer but..."

[@spamton.g.spamton.1164]

That face... I know that face... Omega Flowy

[@scp049leplaguedocter3]

Lol

[@adhikaripinki2k8]

@@scp049leplaguedocter3 yo dude u have to take medical school again or u boutta kill more

[@daisygurl6747]

I think the pestilence is the “fear” of death. That’s probably why when he came the foundation he noticed a lack of it. Being faced with death so often probably numbed them to it

[@aaronrodriguez9376]

He asked them once and he said it's a disease but not the pestilence.

[@parkeralan19]

Animals have a fear of death too. Could it have something to do with the scp story of the guy who resets the world after the scp foundation went crazy? In that story they the crazy people say that their is something hidden in humanity that has to be purged. Sounds kinnda similar.

[@parkeralan19]

Nvm It just got to my theory as I was watching this lmao

[@unicornforever4257]

If he is unable to physically touch another living being without them dying, meaning he can't control it. Maybe his bringing his victims back from the dead is his way of working around his killing touch. He doesn't want to kill others, but he really wants to cure "the pestilence," caring more about that than killing others and he needs to touch others to work on curing it. So when he inevitably kills another being, he works on their body to try to bring them back without the pestilence.

[@zethiant]

pretty sure he can wear gloves

[@brigidtheirish]

@@zethiant He *does* wear gloves. Except the gloves also seem to be part of his body.

[@zethiant]

@@brigidtheirish i meant maybe he can wear gloves on top of his gloves if u know what im sayinggg

[@brigidtheirish]

@@zethiant Yeah, he probably could. That he doesn't probably says something about his character.

[@somememeguy3166]

Honesty, I appreciate the Plague Doctor’s attempts to heal people. He’s just trying to help!

[@spaceeex8123]

Too bad he does it by death

[@nipsthecat9685]

Yes, I appreciate doctors! And yes, I am a real cat. I know what it is like to be contained, I am half human-cat test subject

[@liker-qd4fz]

@@spaceeex8123 maybe he is trying to make them deathproof? Like how you need vaccines containing weaker versions of a disease so that your body adapts to it in case it's non neutralized form comes.

[@vannei1]

@@nipsthecat9685 so you is furry

[@esteban938]

He's not bad. Just misunderstood.

[@ajd182]

I think SCP - 096's psychic ability to know who has seen his face from continents away is the same way 049 is able to find out who has the pestilence. The reason he cant explain and refuses to explain is because its like instinct and he thinks that all the doctors and scientists have the same instinct like its hard for us to explain what happened in a dream or our imagination except for him its more real. he might have fantasy prone personality where he cant differentiate reality from fiction and if someone says his fiction doesnt exist thats when he gets violent.

[@dragondestroyer8465]

I think the pestilence is a more scientific look on fear and the irrational action through it, when SCP-049 kills it’s fairly merciful, a touch and you flatline; no pain or suffering. I think SCP-049 is trying to eradicate fear, which in and of itself is fairly difficult to explain and going through lengths to cure something arguably incurable would spark fear, which is why doctors of the foundation were supposedly infected. If we were to no longer fear death or our time alive as mortals, we would no longer fear anything, and we would all be cured

[@slavarodu5062]

@@dragondestroyer8465 thats a really interesting idea. Thats why those he reanimates are "cured" for they no longer need to fear death.

[@michaelwhitmire9015]

@@slavarodu5062 They're also dead

[@koopatroopagamer2854]

I feel like if I were a scientist in the organization, I would push for the further study of the actual identity of the pestilence. If its really as dangerous as 049 states, its not impossible that it could end up being a K-class end of the world scenario in the future.

[@UnusualActivity195]

You probably would be the laughing stock of the foundation

[@koopatroopagamer2854]

@@UnusualActivity195 idk man. Sounds pretty reasonable to me

[@theanathema3062]

@@koopatroopagamer2854 hey, I’d believe it.

[@isaacgodby9848]

I think it is scp-2718

[@zethiant]

and then you'd offend scp 049 somehow and have him leap across the room to 'heal' u

[@jartist2344]

My theory of the Pestilence is that it's self doubt. It wasn't until Doctor Hamm started to question himself if he could get answers of what the Pestilence is when 049 started to behave aggressive. Plus, because at the time, the SCP that apprehened 049, they knew the importance in what they did and believed in themselves, hense why 049 stated 'there is so little Pestilence here' Also, since the zombies he creates have, (as far as we know) no sense of 'self', 049 would see them as 'Cured' though not perfect because they are no longer human.

[@jamesmorris3133]

The pestilence is fear, when Jacobs was interviewing him the Dr was going to kill him. But when Jacobs was ready to die no longer afraid of death and willing to face the pain the Dr promised him would come, the Dr stayed his hand stating the pestilence had receded

[@AcesFurryAdventures]

That would make sense

[@BigManDaichi]

Animals show fear, though. So perhaps a fear of something more specific, like an existential/philosophical fear of death versus an instinctual fear?

[@montikore]

I hadn't always thought something like this. That's rad af

[@edwardbo4666]

@@BigManDaichi Etac frisk: Welp, guess I'm clean.

[@NineInchNailslover]

What if the pestilence is the fear of death, then?

[@ComicalRealm]

049: touches person Person: dies 049: Oh no anyway

[@frfergedflwdpfepdflerpfl86]

Why did you comment 3 times on this video?

[@randomperson8994]

@@frfergedflwdpfepdflerpfl86 u exposed them

[@FlufftheDragonPup]

Whoops......

[@Lizum213]

On that bombshell...

[@way2spooky4u50]

How does 049 react to questions from people who don't have a background in medical education? For instance, how would he react if a child were to ask him what the Pestilence is? While the Pestilence maybe common knowledge, it would be reasonable for a child to not know about it or how it works.

[@strikermodel]

It seems to me he views the pestilence as the opposite of the hypocratic oath. If someone has the capacity to do harm, and are not devoting themselves to helping others, then they have a stage of it. This is why he sees those of a more learned stature as being "less infected"

[@thechillgameplaychannel420]

What if the foundation asked scp 049 to lecture younger children on the pestilence? He would clearly know that they don’t know what it is so he would probably give them general and useful information. edit: to clarify he would not be seeing them directly. he would be helping the scp foundation to make a short video on what the pestilence is and how to stop it from spreading.

[@trebormints3739]

I agree with you

[@intelegintaxolotl2155]

i had that exact same idea

[@quas3r__]

He might not see it as worth his time, as they are children and have the capacity of a worm some times. Maybe a bit older, like in an 7th grade health class type ordeal.

[@dredge_is_cute]

Interesting idea

[@xaitheloser]

what if the children have the Pestillence

[@hyldandan2040]

Scp 049 actually called shy guy ‘child’ you see when he touched scp 096 or looked at him he calmed down a bit but when they escorted scp 049 out of 096 cell 096 began to cry even more

[@Flowdrei]

awww

[@jaxlumin]

Lowkey maybe he was what "created" 096 in the sense that he "cures" people of the pestillence and therefore he saw something within the shy guy and named it that and is on a mission attempting to keep what happened to his son of sorts from happening to anything else?

[@nameofthename]

wtf my heart 💔

[@IzukuMidoryia-]

Not true it might be IF you were a SCP foundation researcher or guard

[@DeletedTroll]

@@IzukuMidoryia- Isn't that a canon event tho?

[@kuzurihanma5963]

Why not have a youngster tell 049 he wants to become a doctor when he grows up, and someone suggest that 049 tells the kid about the pestilence?

[@azimuth6855]

Honestly the good doctor is just a gentlemen, and I'm curious to see, if I, as not a medical professional, were to ask he might take the time to try and explain the pestilence

[@arlogleich6174]

Mobile Task Force: **Bursts through door** THERE HE IS, THAT'S THE GUY THATS BEEN KILLING EVERYONE SCP-049: DON'T SHOOT, I'M WITH THE SCIENCE TEAM

[@marrissa_x3]

litterally lol

[@rebenbalen826]

FBI:FBI open up 049 MTF:Kicks fbi out of the way and bursts in GOGOGO

[@arlogleich6174]

@@rebenbalen826 Lmao

[@Oath_Of_The_Ancients]

Scp-049 after barreling through containment door:greetings

[@seangaball4930]

scp-049 after killing all the staff and finding the cure to the pestilence on the last person alive: Y E A H B O I I I I I I I

[@comrademason7835]

they should try taking a picture of him with the camera that shows your deepest desires. that might shine some light on the mystery

[@zxz-hardbrass-yt-zxz2889]

Good point

[@fluffybum204]

Bloody genious

[@agentgamer1816]

:0

[@LiltiredB]

Actually they did and the picture that came out is 049 holding a baby thats still alive surrounded by 049-2 (im not shure if its cannon tho)

[@LiltiredB]

@@trollrat2828 ok

[@Light77788]

Theory: The pestilence is sadness and depression because one of his patients were a bit afraid when talking to 049 so 049 cured him and in one of the interviews SCP-049 got scared when a scientist told him, he looked a bit sad while talking to other scientist

[@hcorp3819]

Has anyone ever thought that the pestilence may be a mutated version of the Black Plague that is easily hidden and can mutate a human?

[@literallydeadpool]

12:24 I bet Scarlet King's salty that he still doesn't know that Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell lol

[@Not_Diamond]

If you die when skin to skin contact is made with 049 and his 'outfit' is part of his skin, does that mean you could be killed by touching any part of him?

[@jackjeffries4823]

No because his hands seem to be made out of similar skin to humans compared to the rest of his skin which is made out of fabrics

[@Master_E444]

It's more like putting gloves over his already gloved/glove skinned hands. Or better yet, you wear a full body suit that covers you from head to toe

[@astoria8644]

Shoulder check him and find out

[@moscorof2656]

What are you implying....

[@agentdevil7891]

Wait why can you not take him for a walk around the foundation and see if any of the scps have the pestilence and does the pestilence just appear or forms slowly in the objects that he claims have the pestilence

[@lolman1213]

Theory of my own SCP: 049 OC: Euclid Note: Combative are known for their combat ability, essentially harming others. Departments that work for the better side of things, like MD and ScD, are ignored. My theory would be that harming others is the disease, or the desire to do so. The Pestilence could be a mental disorder that can only be cured by the complete removal of sentience, hence why 049-2 are mindless.

[@shirothefish9688]

He admits that his cure is incomplete and that their lack of thinking ability is a fault with his cure, which would argue against this theory. however, the idea that mal-intent is related to or the source of the pestilence is similar to my ideas.

[@Lunarcreeper]

i originally assumed that it could've been the "pain isn't real" stuff but pestilence is sort of in the name. being a pest. he probably is trying to cure hostility.

[@blobo6398]

My hypothesis is that 049 is specifically targeting the lazy. When a scientist was with 049. He said he was going to take a break. That's when 049 got aggressive and killed him. Since the SCP foundation is very hard working 049 sensed little to no laziness. Hence why hes so cooperative

[@NovumSB]

Good theory

[@PDragonBaby]

Oooo

[@aidangamertv3235]

Wow great theory 👍

[@crossbownana6508]

Ooh

[@confusingfaun361]

Well shit ima get cured then sadge

[@Trolled-hc6qk]

The pestilence is the pestilence And I sense it in you

[@goatingwildisabutcrack]

Ahh yes this floor is made out of floor

[@soupz3557]

Alright who approved giving Scp-049 internet access? Someone is getting fired today...

[@kumarikanchan5978]

Don't worry. Your all secrets are revealed by SCP exploration.

[@mariannazanforlin]

Even me? UwU

[@Try-hard-emily]

Ok

[@shayoko6]

I love the idea that the pestilence is tied to what happens after death.

[@tsato1980]

i need a part 2 of scp -049 in the endless ikea.. such a great episode!!!!

[@SCPExploration]

Great video! You should do more SCP Theory videos!

[@spiralbaguette598]

Ayy you're here

[@F-14B]

Only 10 likes?

[@omnamoshivaye12]

Oh my

[@infernoreaper494]

Yes

[@Neptune7246]

Yes

[@eddysha1]

I think the Pestilence is the fear of death, Thanatophobia, after all, humans are the only creatures that can have a phobia, and Thanatophobia would be rare to find in the SCP Foundation

[@depressedninjaturtle1813]

You may be actually right. That makes so much sense.

[@battery6512]

Not really, as in many cases people have been close to 49 and become comfortable with him, only to be killed later on even though they weren’t scared

[@depressedninjaturtle1813]

@@battery6512and also he receives live animals and says they have pestilence okay yeahs it’s no fear of death

[@szymonpinkowski256]

@@depressedninjaturtle1813 maybe sin or evil,foundation does A lot of fucked up bs but it always ends up benefiting humanity, he makes people in to zombies cause without free will you cant do anything wrong

[@cryomight5277]

It's probably a mixture of all these things, fear, bad intentions, and even hate.

[@cyboric]

The way he could tell you what it is is maybe tell him that your a doctor in training and ask him to tutor you.

[@rolyngeorges7315]

Tbh: SCP-049 is one of my favs and he’s da best.

[@detectivespot8074]

Here's my theory, the "pestilence" is the fear of death and hes curing it. (In a way) (2:27) When he entered the site he complemented the staff of how little "pestilence" there was. Maybe meaning that most of the workers there knew what dangers lie inside the site and weren't afraid of dying. Also his "cure" allowed his victims to become not dead, but undead, perhaps ending their fear. Just my theory.

[@viktorijavaicekauskaite1994]

That seems a pretty good theory

[@mithuljana5488]

the people who were scared of death were nothing but d class they fear their life all lol

[@ill_bonepeep8277]

I Definitely agree with you there!!! Should Check out "Scp 049 Sedition" vid I think it gives a lot of support to the (fear of death=Pestilence) theory

[@epsilon-eleven]

That's one of the more reasonable possibilities.

[@Hashazer]

This is it for me

[@Void_Suzerain]

I believe the pestilence is the rage of mankind, as when he "cured" an ape, he said that he had finally rid it of rage and explained how he did so. It was extremely docile and almost infant-like.

[@nae6028]

i believe the reason he got rid of the rage on the ape is because the scientist were complaining of that even though he says hes curing them they are becominh mindless hostile zombies and so he removed the rage part of the brain to make then non hostile maybe as a way to prove he could make them not hostile if he so wants

[@aqua396]

Pestilence is a disease created by the 4th daughter of The Scarlet King. Her name is "A'distat"

[@callahanreath1177]

I don't really think it would be rage as much as it would be free will.

[@Mikeygamer03]

That is very true that he couldn’t do the ape but it helped him more understand his surgeries because the ape was slightly harder to work on so he had to get a new patience because it wouldn’t work on the ape he did rage but he also was intrigued of the ape.

[@Mikeygamer03]

Oh and yes he does remove the rage from the brain to make them non hostile

[@ajindersingh6525]

the plague doctor is my most most most or infinty fav ever scp

[@zhichenggong7487]

You can't say that 049 doesn't have bright mind, he's just trying to help - in his own way

[@egocentricblack3278]

Why doesn't the foundation give him a pill from scp 500 for him to study? Maybe he can study it and make a cure that doesn't have the side effect of death.

[@metaparalysis3441]

Did They? I'm getting deja vu I think the article might ahave touched that

[@nill4910]

90th

[@afghanball6823]

WIKI WRITERS DO IT

[@filipking0075]

I think wiki writers know about this but they didn't try this Because he might make humans Imortal to everything or make scp-049-2 even more stronger

[@itskeith6542]

D. O. I T

[@ChronoYGaming]

“His cure is imperfect, he hasn’t found full success in curing the disease without causing death yet” 😂

[@wastelandsniper0102]

Cure not cute

[@ChronoYGaming]

@@wastelandsniper0102ahahah you made the same typo

[@ChronoYGaming]

@@knie1172 hahaha

[@wes10566]

69 LIKES HA!!!! NOICE...

[@alexthegreat8001]

I just realised something. If he thinks the pestilence is common knowledge to doctors, then why not get a guard or D-class to ask him?

[@oogabooga5826]

I think 049's definition of "the pestilence" is the Negative things in humans such as Hate,anger,jealousy,sadness,annoyance and also the ability to suffer and feel pain i might as well be wrong but that's what i think it is

[@user-bo3wf2pc8q]

The doctor is one of the best scps EVER

[@fellowtemplar5679]

He tries to cure the fear of death, not death itself. Some people don't fear death and that's why he spares them.

[@TeacherOfPhilosophy]

That's a great theory. I also like the free will theory.

[@CrescentChaser49]

Interesting theory! Makes sense to me!

[@jrlopez1027.]

So you’re saying the people in the foundation containing the most strange and dangerous anomalys that can end all reality don’t fear for their lives? 049 said himself theres little to no pestilence inside the foundations walls

[@TeacherOfPhilosophy]

Maybe they're there because they're braver than most.

[@xfrostyresonance8614]

@@jrlopez1027. That'd be why they're in the foundation, no? They're not afraid of death. If you're part of that kind of thing, or something real like the US Army's Delta Force, you'd have to be pretty selfless to do either. But hey, that's just my hot-take on it.

[@tsunamicauserr]

Actually, SCP 049 and SCP 096 actually did interact, and 049 ended up bringing a father-like comfort to 096

[@tridking9744]

That wasn't canon

[@pipsqueakking7263]

@@tridking9744 nothing is Canon here.

[@sylwiaw3634]

source ?

[@slaughterinthespotlight1669]

@@sylwiaw3634 yes

[@scifigirl7004]

Yeah I like that documentary 🥰

[@BBSSAKitchen2]

I think it is failures, regrets, and pain. He attempts to cure them through various means, but only ends up killing people.

[@thegreensinatras9683]

There was a video of SCP 049 vs. SCP 096 on another channel and 049 gave 096 some sort of needle and became completely docile to anyone who looked at his face.

[@Plaugonic]

About 049 vs 096, this brawl already happened. Upon entering his cell, 049 looked at the shy guy, (not eye contact) and went over to him with a syringe. He said "This will only pinch a little", and injected an unknown liquid into 096 This tale was confusing at first, as the story describes a tree with laughing vines was in 096's room, when 049 "vaccinated" 096, the vines stopped laughing one by one. A small child emerged from the tree and went over to 049 and looked up at him and started crying, gripping onto 049's robes and sobbing onto them, the plauge doctor, flustered by the sudden emotion, only said "there there, your cured now, my child". After a while the child stopped crying, and went back to the tree, and so did 096, where he went back to his position, and weeped. Minutes later 049 was escorted out of the cell, there was no battle, and no blood. For context for those who are wondering, the child's appearance looked beated up and bloody, and his back looked as though someone whipped him.

[@mickido7891]

Was it fan made?

[@Plaugonic]

@@mickido7891 Maybe, I'll have to check

[@Plaugonic]

@@mickido7891 It's not fan made, it's an actual entry log from what I could see.

[@mickido7891]

Kk thx

[@zyrillesadventurei5104]

Maybe that kid was the past look of 096

[@EncephalonBubble]

Aging. The pestilence is aging. When he says that the foundation has a very low rate of pestilence, it is because a lot of employees or D class personnel dies from SCPs before becoming enough old to die from natural causes And that is also why he thinks that everyone, or at least every doctor, knows about it And also every specimen « healed » by SCP-049 was terminated very quickly, so we couldn’t see the loss of the effects of aging in them

[@boch2411]

Fear of death. D class and everyone else too, usually, has to be on terms with death and what happens after more than other, basic people.

[@AndyfnB]

Hot Dam! I think that's his actual goal and why he isnt proud of his work. His touch is supposed to be reassuring like a doctors hand in your shoulder telling you that you are going to be OK. And you than get to experience death without actually dying when he brings you back. However he doesn't have the last part quite figured out yet.

[@chytry6302]

I completely agree

[@scrp6638]

He’d love one Jack Bright

[@Beau-Bo]

what about animals?

[@snowbird1381]

One of the other groups put SCP-999 in against the doctor. 049 said 999 is completely free of the “pestilence.” I wonder if it’s fear, hatred and anger. That would explain why the doctor is selective on who has it. Plus SCP-999 is made of pure joy and kindness, he wouldn’t have a hateful bone in his body.

[@tachyon7904]

i think the theory that holds the most weight is that SCP-049 knows about the entity in the human collective unconsciousness.

[@GoosePretzel]

I think it might be from a different dimension where, say, the pestilence is widespread as he says and there was no black death, etc etc. It would tie up a lot of loose ends.

[@garnetember8569]

I had the same theorie

[@smolchungus9213]

hmmm a very interesting idea and all we need is to give 049 a reason of how and why he ended up here

[@scp049leplaguedocter3]

Pesticide aka black death there is no sufficient cure but according to plague doctors there are different types of pestilence 1 it's called pestilence it has cure in our history humans call it pestilence but we call it kepler-1987 A the second type of pestilence is pesticide wich plague doctors found no approved cure to it

[@vali_bg5234]

I thought it was human character flaws.

[@spinyjustspiny3289]

One thing I always considered after his remark that the Foundation is very low in The Pestilence is that The Pestilence is "Ignorance", specifically OF The Pestilence. An interesting detail about his history with the foundation is that initially, he treated a researcher assigned to his case cordially, sensing he was free of it. However, as he grew increasingly unable to humor 049's research as it became readily apparent his research was based exclusively on qualities 049 either can't put into words or just assumes should be common practice and refused to explain further, he saw that the researcher had become infected. Because the Foundation tends to be very cautious overall, his observation of there being very little of The Pestilence could be from them assuming that there could be something they're not seeing since they don't have his perspective, no matter how indecipherable his notes are. After all, they have a wide array of anomalous diseases locked away, and at least one book that makes you believe you have a disease so badly that you actively die from it. In short, the more likely you are to believe in him and his methods, the less likely he is to see you as infected. It's not that he's a liar, mind you. It's that his worldview is so vastly incompatible with ours.

[@harryo8102]

Wait. But if The Pestilence is Ignorance. Then isn't his act of turning the Infected into mindless, ignorant zombies meaningless?

[@voxvolhynia5400]

@@harryo8102 Maybe ignorance is a symptom, then? It may not be the Pestilence itself, or what the doctor is trying to cure, but it could be what tips him off to someone being infected. That would explain everything in the original comment, since it's based on his detection of the Pestilence, but his cure isn't targeting the symptom, rather the mysterious disease it comes from. That still leaves what the Pestilence actually is, though, but it would be an interesting step closer.

[@harryo8102]

@@voxvolhynia5400 Yeah. That perspective is indeed interesting

[@Firestar4041]

Thats a good take on it; hes not intending to lie, but he is ultimately only doing more harm, and denying it. Like, sadly, some actual doctors, come to think of it... Also, i always saw it as he himself was infected

[@LordBloodySoul]

Anyone ready to make an SCP game, where Gangsters Paradise plays everytime the Doctor appears somewhere? XD SCP-049: "Greetings." *Theme song plays* XD

[@Jaszi007]

10:38 I could see that being the case if it was more defined as a set of particular hereditary diseases or defects that cause early death.

[@thenecrodancer4833]

This actually made me come up with a theory of my own: SCP-049 is a former member of the Sarkic Faith. In his studies before he became a doctor, he became obsessed with the evolution of humanity. Transcendence through the flesh and mind so to speak. This obsession grew him to discover the practices of the Sarkic Cult and began to delve into the practices, though eventually became disgusted with what he saw. What he thought he would find with the Sarkists were like minded people who treasured the biological human evolution, but instead he found paragons of disease and corruption. People who were rejected the technological advances of humanity and revered the primality of the bodies which they were born into. As for what the pestilence is… well, it’s human weakness and fragility, it’s the very concept of being susceptible to disease in the first place that is the pestilence. The pestilence is the wall between achieving the next step of human evolution. The mere fact that life can end in a heartbeat is upsetting to 049. With this in mind, 049 loathes the Sarkists, being an actual representation of human weakness and the rejection of progress. They are resistant to change and actively guard the wall stopping humanity from achieving a state of being greater than the current. Being worshippers of disease, they are the angels of the pestilence. That is why 049’s zombies have certain attributes to them that make them physically stronger than average humans. They cannot succumb to old age nor disease, they are a step in 049’s progress to a brighter future towards humanity. But at the same time… as he said himself, they are imperfect… they lack the ability to think, to speak, and to just… live. His creations can even be a reminder to the Sarkic abominations he once studied, monsters of disease and corruption. But… these unthinking and unfeeling zombies are different… they’re free of corruption, they live longer, they’re stronger than humans. Clearly he is on the right path, and he’s not about to give up now… he’ll do anything to achieve his goal now… no matter how many shambling corpses he creates… one day his cute will be a success. And on that day, he’ll be overjoyed to see that the person he cured can live a full life in the next stage of human existence, one without disease or pain… and even maybe, without death.

[@evesherlocked]

I agree with you on the point on what the pestilence could be. I suspect it's something like anger or envy or similar things

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

interesting theory.

[@Braken3]

Highly interesting…

[@windway2936]

Tldr

[@karicrouse2931]

TLDR

[@renal2612]

Since the Plague Doctor assumes that all medical professionals know, or should know, about the pestilence, perhaps if he were asked to teach about it to medical students/in a med school, he may be more willing to explain.

[@KamikazePlane147]

Ikr!

[@zeedeejay242]

Bingo...

[@eliotoole4534]

I thought so two

[@jkd3359]

No, he believes its already a common sense and would not teach it as it wouldn't find the proper words to discribe and prolly refuse

[@superevolvedshinamalgamleo8168]

@@jkd3359 true

[@yeeyeeedits]

nice video

[@lindabermudez4888]

049:why thank you for your heartwarming words

[@matejdamankos5736]

Just an idea: Why not send a D-class personal to directly ask what the pestilence is? Since SCP-049 thinks the scientist's know what it is. Why not send some who he thinks wouldn't know what the pestilence is

[@SolarSeeker45]

Because D class personnel are likely to be simply killed as infected.

[@insomniagobrrr5542]

That makes sense. More than some explained SCPs

[@pkhl_1617]

That's if they can find a D-Class that isn't infected with it

[@pkhl_1617]

@Scp-Staff ☺️ Not a bad idea

[@thenovicecraftsman712]

I think they tried that and he cured them immediately.

[@TheSinfulGamer]

So, you missed out the part where 096 was actually soothed and calmed when 049 was around, and actually stopped crying! 049 felt bad, and it seems as if 096 is a tortured child

[@monomate]

I thought that video wasn't canon, though.

[@TheSinfulGamer]

@@monomate It was written based off of a file on the SCP website for 096 I believe, that or it's on 049s page, eitherway, it is canon

[@kingandros4819]

096 was formerly a hiker tortured by another SCP on a mountain.

[@etherealhawk]

@@kingandros4819 rly?

[@jimmy12234]

@@TheSinfulGamer I thought with the scp foundation, you read up on things and stuff and make your own cannon, and that's the beauty of it, you make your own story of the thousands of stories of others

[@valentinagorgone9372]

You guys are the best🤩

[@christianroberts6851]

tis calls for a scp096 theory and question!

[@1iqsquad911]

Scp 049: one shot kills by touching * Scp 343: STOP OVERPOPULATING HEAVEN

[@PDragonBaby]

Lol

[@jane_xd3977]

Bruh

[@apollo1694]

a dozen kills a month isn't going to overpopulated heaven

[@theteletubbiemafia2603]

I believe that the pestilence is literally just death and he’s trying to ‘cure’ death When he diagnoses someone he may know that they will die soon.

[@NathanRotic]

But then why do he coperate with the scp foundation worker? they all gonna die too.

[@Nyxedmisfit]

They literally say in the video that that’s incredibly unlikely

[@serowisetheglicth1056]

nah man, if it was dead then he wouldn't have said "it seems that the animal are infected by disease" TO FRIKIN 682

[@SamHowell7582]

Ive always believed that the pestilence is the original sin... And I think that entity who lives in us in scp 5000 is a phisycal manifestation of it

[@researchertoast]

Its FEAR of death FEAR

[@onyourleft4194]

Regarding the time-travel theory, it could actually make sense for 049 not to know what the Black Death is if they're from far enough in the future. There's undoubtedly been plagues we don't know about, and if there **is** some sort of apocalyptic pestilence in the future 049 came from, then the Black Death could've been wiped from history or simply stopped being common knowledge in favor of the new plague.

[@digitalaxolotlanimates5576]

This is my favorite SCP besides the axolotl one :3

[@zerachmiel4756]

Ok hear me out: if 049 doesn’t want to tell fellow researchers why not make a D-Class with no medical knowledge and make them question 049

[@Metternich_Enjoyer]

That’s a genuinely good idea. What would happen if we confronted him with another medical/scientific SCP?

[@vanetessora152]

I was thinking that too.

[@egginator_69]

Thats is a good idea but he would turn him into a zombie

[@Danny-pk6lk]

He'd probably just tell them to ask the foundation researchers as 'obviously' they all know about it and might explain it more articulately.

[@puzzlesandstuff737]

i agree

[@catholicphoenix7969]

I reckon what makes him one of the most interesting SCP's is the fact that it isn't clear if he's an ally or a threat. He could be legitimately trying to deal with a greater threat, perhaps a disease SCP similar to 008. Or, he could be lying and like 106 could be a being of pure cruelty. This ambiguity allows the audience to project trust or repulsion into him. Trusting people might want to work with him and take the risk to make an alliance with him. Untrusting people will consider him deluded or deceitful. He's my favourite SCP because of this depth.

[@USA_August_6_1945]

Ive let the channel cook for 1 year or 2 so now to catch up!

[@SergalDragon]

I see what you did there, with that last reference! I want to see the plague doctor animated to gansta's paradise

[@michauncobb6265]

I wish I had caught the community post, but alas, here we are. My theory: pestilence could be fear. His comment on there being a lack of it at the SCP Foundation would make sense considering the fact that at the SPC Foundation, there isn't a lot that they haven't seen yet. This is supported by how he's been found with aggressive, mindless "patients" for what through his experiments, he's caused them to go into a fight or flight state, which is often caused by fear. The one animal he considered cured was mindless, and unable to feel primal emotion. Perhaps his goal is to prevent the scarlet king from entering this plane through eliminating the thing he uses to rule people (fear and torment)

[@toobeedoo]

It cant be fear cuz only humans have it, animals also have fear

[@michauncobb6265]

@@toobeedoo That is true, but I believe that instinctual fear and conscious fear are two different things. The Scarlet King doesn't appear to animals. For them, fear is always fear. Fear to a human on the other hand can be manipulated or/and overlooked.

[@SCP]

A very interesting theory! And there will be a new community post about the next questions and theories video soon

[@toobeedoo]

Ok that makes sense but why does 049 say the pestilence is lesser is the foundation when the sites are CRAZY SCARY?

[@michauncobb6265]

@@toobeedoo Because they have an understanding of what they contain. They know they could be killed at any moment. But they continue working there because they have some understanding of the thing they contain and how to stop them. They have a far lesser fear of them than someone outside of the foundation.

[@disboigottafreetaco2580]

tell him to explain the "pestilence" to a child. A child typically doesn't know much, so 049 could be so nice that he explains this "common" knowledge to the child

[@darionmiller6136]

My best guess is that the pestilence is humanity and what i mean by that is the human soul. So to speak, thing like Empathy compassion, anger, love joy jealousy ect. So when it clears people of the pestilence they become nothing but mindless zombies incapable of those emotions. This is also why for the most part he finds the SCP Foundation to not be plagued with a pestilence because most of these scp doctors are very pragmatic basing their decisions on rationality instead of emotional base. But there have been occasions where the the doctor has found some scp to have the pestilence. And i quote we are cold but not heartless.

[@obothehobo173]

I really like the SCP-5000 theory. Perhaps in the universe where SCP-5000 does not take place, It has not spread to everyone yet. But once it does, that's when the Foundation realizes what's going on and eliminates humanity. Maybe 049 is trying to prevent SCP-5000 from happening in the first place.

[@mitch_meap7761]

The "pestilence" being death could be an interesting idea, considering he himself is immune to mortality, everyone with "the pestilence" could have died a few days later of natural causes without "intervention". Him being "disturbed" by 682 could be because him sensing the hate and death he has caused. However, a notable outlier is that only humans contract the pestilence, maybe animals most often dying by humans in his time, may not be seen as dying naturally.

[@slavarodu5062]

In hist time animals were thought to not have a soul at all kind of like walking plants therefore he probably doesnt even percieve animals as "alive"

[@soteriasystem6400]

He has complimented the foundation on how little pestilence they have, however the foundation has quite a lot of death of all kinds

[@charlotteshenkenberger345]

I like to think the Pestilance just depends on what timeline he's currently in. Fear? In one timeline yeah. Alternates (Mandela Catalog Exclusive)? Sure, why not? Aging? We can work with that!

[@sammatthews1602]

What is the Mandela catalog exclusive

[@charlotteshenkenberger345]

@@sammatthews1602 It's a particularly creepy Analog Horror. Basically, Satan tricked everyone at the very beginning and now demons like to come over, look like off model versions of you and your family and drive you into offing yourself. Makes more sense if you watch the series or an explanation video.

[@Maximara]

Here is one for you - Cancer.

[@zan821]

@@sammatthews1602 the mandela catalogue is basically an analogue horror ARG with these monsters known as alternates which are basically your evil twin. pretty much all i know about the mandela catalogue

[@LlorDrei]

It would be interesting if they would show him the edited video recordings from the SCP-5000 suit from the other reality, namely the knife test, the screaming interrogation, and the stretched out creatures, and then ask him if this is the Pestilence. He seems unable to directly tell anyone what it is. In this manner, all he has to tell them is yes or no, to understand it, or cross it off the list.

[@raelikestoplay3633]

12:30 and 049 literally said he was impressed how little pestilence was inside the foundation site.

[@remotetaken5221]

Perhaps the “Pestilence” 049 refers to is decay, or more accurately the idea of decay, as he is a medieval doctor, he may not view other living creatures like pigs, cows, sheep, or even other SCPs as needing to be cured, basically anything other that humans.

[@rashmirekha1615]

My theory is that 049 is actually from an alternate reality similar to ours where the *pestilence* exists and he Actually does possess the power to cure it but when he fell into our reality, he may have mistaken something that people in our reality have for the *pestilence* so he tries to cure it but because their is no such thing as the *pestilence* in our reality his powers end up killing his patient

[@DeathnoteBB]

Yeah but if it was something like that, you’d think he’d at least humor someone and explain what it is. Instead he just insists its “so obvious its not worth explaining”.

[@a_member_of_the_O5_council]

I know what the pestilence is but it's highly classified but the answer is simpler than you think.

[@mr.smooth05]

"Terrify with a glance and kill with a touch" reminds me of my grandma

[@Randomdudethatplaysgameyeahfr]

Oh... bad roast

[@a_lxander]

The guy she doesn’t tell you to worry about: *SCP-049 in the thumbnail* You: *SCP-049 in the video*

[@Council_Member]

Lol

[@mrcheese6162]

༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽

[@Happy_Panic_]

(;´༎ຶٹ༎ຶ`)

[@sarahjackson9564]

for some reason on the thumbnail of the "When Day Breaks SCP 049" video under his metal beak thingy I can see a bit of human skin even though 049's body is the robe and mask he wears so we should see like bones or veins or something else like that

[@Rahhelthethird]

I'd like to think that the Plague Doctor will recognize the Voynich manuscript as something that is written in his style and penmanship, but not have any memory of its contents. He might even identify the names of some of the plants that don't exist in this world, but nothing else, so the codebreakers won't be able to decipher the rest. Leaving it up in the air if he's conning the SCP or if the book is from a parallel world written by his counterpart.

[@atomf9143]

"This SCP is one of the most mysterious ones out there." They said this. Cough**2165**Cough

[@mantis638]

That’s not how you spell 055.

[@hugo57k91]

@@mantis638 "I don't think we have a 055 yet"

[@mantis638]

@@hugo57k91 I mean, I’ve been looking at the reports and I noticed there was an empty space between 054 and 056. I’m just wondering if it’s empty on purpose.

[@40watt53]

@@mantis638 There's an 055?

[@kraken8978]

@@mantis638 No we would remember if there was a 055

[@radiantduality8366]

I can now just imagine that the only way to "pacify" The Doctor is to just start playing Gangsters Paradise, and he will immediately start dancing, giving you time to escape.

[@PDragonBaby]

LOL

[@mmraynor8957]

I think youve seen that "video"

[@fight8238]

@@mmraynor8957 what Video

[@mmraynor8957]

@@fight8238 just search dancing plauge doctor or plauge doctor gangsta paradise youll see

[@nrgbunni.]

According to the wiki putting lavender in the room has a calming effector him as plague doctors used to put lavender and other fragrant herbs and flowers in the end of the mask so as to not catch it

[@gameyboii9248]

The last one tho, I very much agree too

[@ja-nozreaper5865]

8:50 he frees the souls from bodies

[@jimvloemans3645]

What shall happen if scp-049 confronts Dr. Bright, he is Immortal, but is still completely human so he can catch the Pestilance.

[@blaisebajak8926]

Doctor bright definitely has the pestilence

[@TheodoreJohnKaczynski997]

no dr bright doesnt have the fear of death

[@jonahj9519]

Well dr bright is immortal because his soul is in that necklace. So that body would die and they’d just put the necklace on someone else.

[@VERGILGASM]

Doctor Bright is basicaly Foundation's Florida man.

[@kingfloridaman5274]

@@VERGILGASM basically

[@furnoprime9439]

I'm glad everyone at the Fountain wholeheartedly agrees that his theme song is Gangster's Paradise. Truly they are people of culture

[@ibraheemshuaib8954]

You misspelled foundation as fountain

[@furnoprime9439]

@@ibraheemshuaib8954 I know what I typed

[@juango500]

@@furnoprime9439 So? what are you trying to say then?

[@furnoprime9439]

@@juango500 Simple: That I'm glad everyone at the Fountain of Dreams can wholeheartedly agree that his theme song is Gangster's Paradise and how they are true people of culture.

[@TheWeird0ne0]

I have been extremely sick this week. When is the next open spot for an appointment with 049?

[@kafkaesk3449]

SCP-049: There is pestilence Humans: LOL After Covid-19: Humans: FUCK, he's speaking the truth

[@PDragonBaby]

LOL

[@glitch602]

Lol

[@kafkaesk3449]

Lol

[@lorenzomartin6127]

“The pestilence finally revealed” We did it mr stark we won!

[@lenzies4238]

I- Okie.....deep inhale

[@ungodfearingghost5476]

STOP NO THIS BRINGS ME *PAIN*

[@lorenzomartin6127]

Cry as much as you want boys I won’t judge

[@gottderzweite4740]

I could Imagine that the pestilence is the will of gaining knowledge. I looked over several informations about his patients and they're mostly people who doesn't seem to be interested in learning something or researchers who learned as much as they can about the doctor and slowly giving up to get any information out of him.

[@lilbunny2138]

7:05 the stalemate if you haven't seen the other videos just puts 096 to sleep, temporarily

[@Nyurzo]

A little theory to support Doctor vs King thing. "The Pestilence" is whatever attracts Scarlet King in current universe. 049 see this potential in every human but tries to "cure" only those who "contribute" in this the most. This is why Foundation in general feels for him mostly "Pestilence Free" but individual employees still pose a threat.

[@memedealer4424]

Imagine if he just doesnt know about the pestilence and forgot about it and wouldnt tell anyone cuz he doesnt know it

[@XxELITEREAPERxX]

I’d like to imagine scp 049 is one of the first people on the planet and the language he writes in his book is his own he made. It would also explain why he views death as the presence in that one theory. He probably thinks death is a sickness seeing some of the first people die and not having a name for it while also his sole purpose being a doctor

[@xXLizzedXxGaerBoy123]

take a picture of The Plague Doctor using the Desire Camera

[@functionalfork2888]

Theory: I think that scp 049 was an actual doctor in the medival era and became obsessed with the pestilence, whatever it may be and tried to cure it. As he didnt have any willing subjects back then he did a half baked zombie making process which made him semi-immortal and resistant to pain and as he belived in the hipocratic oath which wasnt as popular before he started to put so much fluids and vaccines into himself that his bones started to bulge up and his half zombie body started to dry out in some areas which made it like leather and most dead skin so he couldnt kill you with touching him there. He came into contact with many other diseases as his body started to mutate to make another being entirely. he may have been also affected by seeing deus ex machina machine and gone half insane wanting to fix the world from flippin itself over again and gotten stuck in a time loop and he tries to recreate the methods of the machine but on a smaller basis thus curing the world of the pestilence by changing the machines power just a bit to fit it to its needs.

[@shot4359]

This comment is so underrated

[@creepypastas2717]

I like it its a good thereo

[@GFCOLCQuote]

I'm surprised the theory of it being "Free will" didn't pop up here.

[@kieranmcginley1262]

Ikr

[@epsilon-eleven]

Same.

[@noxious9832]

Yeah

[@Azzzzzzzz]

Mhm

[@anonguy772]

Well yes but that kind of doesn't make sense. If the Pestilence was free will, he would view waaaaaaay more people as infected - perhaps even himself. Also, humans are the only targets of the Pestilence. Cool theory ngl but unlikely