Scratch

In Sburb, a scratch (also known as a "rift") is an occasional phenomenon that occurs in certain sessions. They appear to be portals through different incipispheres. They are potentially useful for the average session.

However, the kids' scratch is somehow indirectly responsible for The Great Undoing, and the summoning of a "Demon", who then wrecks the Trolls' session. The trolls take refuge in The Veil, where they begin trolling the kids. Due to time shenanigans, the kids have not yet caused the scratch, but will do so some time in the future. Jack Noir's ascension probably has something to do with why it happens, but the kids ultimately set it off. It appears that the creation of the scratch is a part of the kids' plan, devised with the help of the trolls. Karkat's first (from his perspective) conversation with John confirms, or at least heavily implies, the theory that the kids and trolls may meet in person after the Rift. This theory is further confirmed in a memo Karkat has with John and Dave later on his timeline, where he states that the trolls have a plan that might (read: will) result in them meeting face to face.

The consequences of the scratch completely break Trollian, as seen at right. The trolls are unable to see the future of either themselves or the kids after this point.

In billiards, a "scratch" is a term for a foul, most often for the act of pocketing the cue ball. While scratching is to be avoided most of the time, there are HS 4503 (scenari0s f0r which it might be prudent t0 d0 s0). However, a player that scratches while pocketing the 8-ball immediately loses.

Before Hivebent, the scratch is referred to as "the Rift".