The Hiss in Control originated from an alternate dimension, a malevolent, resonant entity that breached our reality through an Object of Power known as the Slide Projector.
This otherworldly invasion dramatically transformed the Federal Bureau of Control's headquarters, the Oldest House, twisting reality and possessing many of its personnel.
The Origin of the Hiss
The Hiss is not a phenomenon indigenous to our dimension but rather an invasive, extra-dimensional force. Its insidious presence first manifested in the Oldest House following the activation of the Slide Projector, an Object of Power originally discovered in the town of Ordinary. This device acted as a conduit, creating a portal that allowed the Hiss to flood into our reality.
The Hiss is characterized by its distinct, ominous red glow, the guttural, echoing chanting it projects, and its ability to corrupt both organic life and inanimate objects. It operates on a resonant frequency, subtly altering perception and reality, and driving those it infects into a state of violent, controlled aggression or catatonia.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Nature | Extra-dimensional entity, resonant frequency |
| Entry Point | Slide Projector (an Object of Power) |
| Origin Locale | An alternate dimension, accessed via the Slide Projector from the town of Ordinary |
| Manifestation | Red glow, echoing chant, reality distortion, possession of individuals |
The Slide Projector: A Gateway to Another Reality
The Slide Projector is a pivotal Object of Power responsible for the Hiss's incursion. Unlike typical projectors, this device projects images from various alternate dimensions when certain slides are inserted. Through a series of events, specifically one of the slides connected to the device, a pathway was inadvertently opened to the Hiss's home dimension. This unleashed the entity into the Oldest House, marking the beginning of the crisis that the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) faces. The FBC, a secret U.S. government agency, is tasked with containing and studying Altered World Events (AWEs) and Objects of Power, yet the Hiss proved to be an unprecedented challenge.
Impact on the Federal Bureau of Control
Upon its arrival, the Hiss quickly spread throughout the Oldest House, affecting both its environment and inhabitants:
- Possession: Many FBC agents and staff were immediately possessed, becoming hostile entities known as "Hiss Incantations," "Hiss Corrupted," or other variations, attacking any uninfected personnel.
- Environmental Corruption: The Oldest House itself, a shifting and sentient building, succumbed to the Hiss's influence in many areas. Walls pulsed with red light, and the architecture would twist into unnatural, hostile forms.
- The Hiss Chant: A distinctive, guttural, and repetitive chant became a constant, unsettling auditory backdrop throughout the infected zones. This sound is deeply tied to the Hiss's presence and its attempt to imprint its will on reality.
- Altered World Event: The Hiss's arrival constituted a massive Altered World Event (AWE), an event where the laws of reality are bent or broken, and the mundane is infused with the paranormal.
The Director of the FBC, Jesse Faden, through her unique abilities and connection to another Object of Power, the Service Weapon, actively combats the Hiss, seeking to understand its nature and expel it from the Oldest House. Understanding its extra-dimensional origin is crucial to containing and ultimately stopping its spread.
