📖 On this page (click to open)
- ➤ FBC Reminder: Building Shifts
- ➤ Tommasi: AWE Report
- ➤ Furnace Research
- ➤ Astralnaut Liability
- ➤ A52 Testing
- ➤ Expedition Debrief
- ➤ FBC Reminder: Altered Workspace
- ➤ Salvador: Security Order
- ➤ FBC Reminder: Pink Documents
- ➤ Medical Examination
- ➤ Mirror Debrief
- ➤ feirbeD rorriM
- ➤ Threshold Log 1
- ➤ Threshold Log 2
- ➤ Threshold Log 3
- ➤ FBC Reminder: Windows
- ➤ FBC Reminder: Billable Hours
- ➤ Motel Observation
- ➤ Dr. Hartman’s Notes: The Darkness
- ➤ FBC Reminder: Law of Three
- ➤ Dr. Hartman’s Notes: Next Steps
FBC Reminder: Building Shifts
FBC Spokesperson: Reminder! If you experience an unanticipated Building Shift, follow these simple steps.1: Search the room for any Altered Items or Objects of Power. 2: Carry the Altered Item or Object of Power to the nearest Safe Room. 3: Wait for the Bureau staff to find you and the object. If there are no Altered Items or Objects of Power in the vicinity, then reach your supervisor via the nearest intercom and await further instructions. Thank you for your attention.
Tommasi: AWE Report
Tommasi: Alright, take this down.The situation in Cuba has been evaluated by the relevant authorities. The mysterious illness affecting the staff at the US Embassy in Havana was caused by sonic weaponry in the hands of a foreign power. Numerous personnel have damage to the inner ear, but most are expected to make a full recovery. Of course, the event also damaged their cellular walls, but we can’t blame that on some stupid noise gun. Thank god no local doctors examined them first. Honestly, what were the odds an Altered Item would show up inside a US embassy? Talk about good luck, huh? So much easier to—Hey, are you still recording this?
Furnace Research
Furnace Researcher: My name is Dr. Pierse, lead researcher of the Parakinesiology Department. I believe that I’ve discovered a code omega paranatural entity residing within the Bureau itself. Right under our noses! Darling refused to allocate me the budget or resources, so I’m taking matters into my own hands. Let this recording be the proof I need to convince them! The Furnace can speak! It has been talking to me for some time now. Listen. Did you hear that? It’s a sentient force, capable of communicating! I checked, and there’s no record of ever installing this furnace. I believe that—oh sorry, what? Yes, I can feed you. What do you eat? I see. I’ll try to find some volunteers.
Astralnaut Liability
Astralnaut Preparer: Please state your name for the record.
Warren: Paul Warren, Astralnaut first class.
Astralnaut Preparer: And you are aware that exposure to the Astral Plane can result in death, disability, personal injury, corporeal untangling, cognitive collapse, loss of ego, and partial-to-full dementia?
Warren: Yeah, yeah; yeah. I am.
Astralnaut Preparer: And you acknowledge that your use of the Astral Conduit, a.k.a The X-ray Lightbox, is purely voluntary?
Warren: Yes. I do.
Astralnaut Preparer: Perfect. Your suit is good? Okay, you’re all set. Open the door for Mr. Warren, please.
A52 Testing
Altered item researcher: Altered Item number 52-AE analysis, session two. I will begin by introducing various stimuli to the Item. First, a low-voltage electric shock. No response. Next, I will introduce heat via a standard Bunsen burner. No response. Next a series of solutions will be applied, each with a different value on the pH scale, from zero to 14. No response to any value. Next, I will attempt to communicate. Can you understand me? Can you understand my words? Quack if you can understand my words. No response. This concludes session two. Will need time to prepare further tests.
Expedition Debrief
Expedition debriefer: Ranger squad charlie-seven returned from an expedition into the Quarry Threshold just after zero five hundred Zulu. Can you please state your names and describe the purpose of your expedition?
Horowitz: Kevin Horowitz.
Wells: Rupert Wells.
Horowitz: Our mission was to map Quarry grid coordinates G-29. Secondary objective, as always, was to find a route from the Threshold entrance in Maintenance to the Formation. Secondary objective was not a success.
Wells: What a surprise.
Expedition debriefer: And did you encounter any previously unrecorded event or entity while inside the Threshold?
Wells: No, nothing… Do you think we should tell him about the mermaid?
Expedition debriefer: Excuse me?
Wells: Yeah, the mermaid. Horowitz here found this mermaid in the Quarry, just sitting on some Black Rock. She was singing this beautiful song and he was overcome with desire. She was so alluring.
Horowitz: I’d say she was more enchanting than alluring.
Wells: Fine, enchanting.
Expedition debriefer: Uhm… did you tell your CO about this?
Wells: No. Because it didn’t happen.
Horowitz: Nothing happened. As usual. The Quarry is full of rocks, that’s it. Can we go now?
Expedition debriefer: Fuck you guys. Get out of here.
FBC Reminder: Altered Workspace
FBC Spokesperson: Reminder! If the contents of your workspace have been re-arranged, removed, added to, or altered in any other way, you should immediately leave the area while speaking to yourself in a reassuring tone. This will not only keep you calm, but also the room. Thank you for your attention.
Salvador: Security Order
Salvador: This is Lin Salvador, Head of Bureau Security. I’m making a formal security order due to the incident in April, case number 21-HQ-593. Improper use of the Jukebox Altered Item led to two fatalities. We believe a pair of agents used the jukebox to travel to the Quarry Threshold and engage in… inappropriate workplace behavior. An expedition team found them decomposing at the Formation’s base a week later. At least we found out the Jukebox doesn’t bring corpses back when the song ends. I’m having the Jukebox placed in a secure location in the Executive Sector. It should never have been accessible to low-clearance staff in the first place. The new location’s security and proximity to a thought-traffic area will prevent misuse, while still allowing for expedition teams to access it when required. See me for any further details.
FBC Reminder: Pink Documents
FBC Spokesperson: Reminder! This week, any documents that suddenly appear pink, light red or any shade in between must be incinerated immediately. Failure to do so will result in termination and possible bodily harm. Thank you for your attention.
Medical Examination
Medical Examiner: Mark Gibson, made, age 28. Returned from the Astral Plane approximately 13 minutes ago. This was his 21st dive. Patient is experiencing migraine-like pain, intense pressure behind the eyes, and partial blindness. He has no recollection of his time in the Astral Plane and appears severely disoriented. Preliminary examination revealed no immediate cause, so we will be sending patient for x-rays and — What the fuck is that thing! God, it burst right out of him! Code black! Get Marshal!
Mirror Debrief
Mirror Researcher: Debrief for Mirror Excursion 7-C. Subject is Agent Hardy. Hardy spent approximately three hours in the Mirror, the longest time on record. Can you describe your experience inside, Agent Hardy?
Hardy: (unintelligible speech)
Mirror Researcher: Agent Hardy is physically healthy, all tests have come back clean. Yet the speech issue has persisted for hours.
Hardy: (unintelligible speech)
Mirror Researcher: Calm down, agent. It could be psychosomatic, but the fact that this only occurred after returning from the Mirror makes a paranatural explanation more likely. I recommend a battery of tests and a class-orange quarantine.
feirbeD rorriM
Mirror Researcher: (unintelligible speech)
Hardy: What? I can’t understand you! You need to listen. I saw something in there! There is something inside. You need to lock down the Mirror!
Mirror Researcher: (unintelligible speech)
Hardy: Why are you talking like that? What’s wrong with you? All of you! There’s something in that fucking Mirror!
Threshold Log 1
Lopez: Squad Captain Lopez, reporting on expedition 17-B. At the Formation now. Visually, no distinction from the previous visit. The link detectors are still standing. One arch has a light flashing so we’re going to give the area a once over. Then we’ll head back. Lopez out.
Threshold Log 2
Lopez: They’re all dead. These… things killed them all. There are so many. If you’re listening, get out. No! Stay the fuck away—
Threshold Log 3
Ramsay: So good… Need more.
FBC Reminder: Windows
FBC Spokesperson: Reminder! The Bureau does NOT have windows. If you notice a window, immediately close your eyes and make your way to the nearest safe room. You are permitted to fashion a blindfold from an article of clothing. Any resulting lapse in dress code will be excused. Thank you for your attention.
FBC Reminder: Billable Hours
FBC Spokesperson: Reminder! All employees are required to report their hours at the end of each month. The Federal Bureau of Control maintains that time is not subjective and hours passed on alternative planes cannot be claimed. Astral Dives do not accumulate overtime compensation. Thank you for your attention!
Motel Observation
Agent Fisher: Agent Fischer, day six inside the Motel. Utilized surveillance methods are as follows: fiber optic cameras slid under the individual room doors, motion detectors in the lobby area, trip wire triggering a flash camera across the main entrance, even finger print powder on the front desk. Results are varying at best, but mostly just… inconclusive and unusable. The footage is corrupted. Sometimes even the equipment is damaged. I don’t know how exactly. I uh… I think this place is making fun of me. That’s the only explanation. I can hear them, laughing and screaming behind the closed doors, I can hear the call bell going “ding” multiple times a day but when I look there’s no-one there. I know I’m supposed to stay out of sight but I’ve… I’ve seen the doors closing just before I can catch even a glimpse of anyone or anything. They’re messing with me, whoever they are. I think- Wait, shh. There’s something- I gotta get this, gotta get the cable out. Come on, you fiber optic fuck, co-operate… Okay, there we go. Alright, that was faint, but I definitely heard movement coming from the hallway. I think I might have finally caught one. The recording better work this time or I swear to god- Ah! What- Hello? Who’s there? Ah, shit. I’m with the FBC! Move away from the door! I have a… where’s my…
Dr. Hartman’s Notes: The Darkness
Hartman: My understanding of the Darkness is fragmented, incomplete. The abyss, this void, it very much does not wish to be understood. If light symbolizes knowledge, then it stands to reason that darkness would equate to ignorance. By its very nature, it abhors comprehension. Of course, my own nature drives me to comprehend all. We are opposing forces, destined to collide. And given this conflict of natures, we know that the light of truth will burn away the darkness, both figuratively and literally. Any significant light source can be used as protection, even weaponry, against this metaphysical gloom. And then there are the artists. I know for a fact that Tom, Wake, the Anderson brothers, and Lane all had some involvement with the Darkness. The question is whether their uncanny ability to affect reality through their art beckons the Darkness, or did their work perhaps even create it? With Wake now secure in my Lodge, I expect I shall grow closer to learning the answers to these questions. Assuming he cooperates, which is proving quite the challenge. Well, perseverance is the foundation of knowledge. Speaking of, I must be off on my rounds.
FBC Reminder: Law of Three
FBC Spokesperson: Reminder. The law of three also applies to all faucets within the Oldest House. Be mindful and don’t cause any aquatic misconduct. Thank you for your attention.
Dr. Hartman’s Notes: Next Steps
Hartman: These are the notes of Dr. Emil Hartman. I am continuing my work, alone again, since certain parties were too blind to recognize a golden opportunity. Despite my generous offers, the conversations came to naught. Some people simply do not value collaboration as I do. Though I believe now that it was for the best. The sort of bold, pioneering work that I am undertaking cannot thrive under the shackles of bureaucracy and regulation. I have a history of seeking such partnerships. There was a time when I had hoped Alan Wake and I could collaborate. Together, we could have produced art such that the world has never seen. But Wake was stubborn, egotistical. Writers usually are. Disappointing, nonetheless.
But, now, like Tom before him, Wake has disappeared into Cauldron Lake. And this is where my work turns… hypothetical. Since he was lost to the Lake, Thomas Zane has been observed by various townspeople. This indicates to me that the individuals within the Lake are not entirely “gone”. I anticipate Wake will similarly return one day. While I may harbor some resentment for the man, his raw talent and determination are undeniable. From this, I have concluded that the Lake, and the Dark Place within it, are not as removed from this world as I previously thought. Given my acute awareness of what awaits within, my meticulous preparations, and my considerable education, I believe myself much more prepared than either Tom or Wake. I should be able to cross into that dark realm with the chance to return, as they have. All that remains is the dive itself. It frightens me, I admit, but such is the burden of the truth-seeker. I will take my plunge into the dark tomorrow, with only the light of knowledge to guide me. It is time for a breakthrough. Until I return.