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WARNING: HIGHLY CLASSIFIED DATA ACCESS RESTRICTED TO AUTHORIZED AGENTS ONLY
The following contains major < Plot Details / Spoilers > of Control and its expanded media.
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| “ | < You/We wield the Gun/You > < The Board appoints you > < Congratulations, Director > |
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— The Board during Welcome to the Oldest House | ||
The Board is a group of extremely powerful paranatural entities that exists within the Astral Plane. The Board had important connections to a variety of paranatural phenomena, including the Astral Plane, Objects of Power, and the Oldest House. On multiple occasions, they often assisted the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control with dealing with paranatural threats.
Appearance[]
The actual appearance of the Board is unknown; like the Hiss and Polaris, they appear to lack a physical body and/or bodies, perhaps being a resonance-based intelligence. However, the implication of the Former once being a member of the Board suggests that Board members can or do possess physical bodies of some form. It is unclear however if the physical form that the Former has taken is its original form, if it chose its form and if so, how it settled on that form, or whether its form is the result of leaving the Board. This leaves speculation on what extent and ability members of the Board have to control how they or their fellow members appear to human perception.
The Board broadcasts messages from an enormous inverted Black Pyramid located in the Astral Plane. The Pyramid does not appear to be the board itself, but is rather under their control. Astralnauts and others using astral projection to enter the Astral Plane are always in the vicinity of the Pyramid.
Theodore Ash, Jr. made note that the Pyramid is always seen from below by observers, and speculated that there might be someone looking down on it from above. He connected this to the symbolism of triangles, and that they symbolize stability and strength standing on their base, but conflict and stagnation when inverted. Ash also associated the triangle symbolism with esotericism and theology, including its symbolic use in Christianity, but clarified that it is unlikely such theological imagery can be used to define alien entities.
Nature[]
The Board is a group of unseen paranatural entities which exist within the Astral Plane, an alternate dimension or "mindscape" which can be reached via astral projection through Objects of Power. The Board controls the Black Pyramid, an enormous inverted pyramid-shaped construct in the Astral Plane which is always located overhead to the observer. The Pyramid does not appear to be the Board itself, but rather an object under their control, as they are distinguished from the Pyramid on multiple occasions. Casper Darling stated that the Bureau has determined that the Board controls the Pyramid, but not the entirety of the Astral Plane.
While initially appearing to be humanity's interdimensional benefactors, empowering and directing the FBC on how to combat, contain and research paranatural events; it becomes clear over time that The Board are not to be entirely trusted. After Jesse encounters a dissenting ex-member of The Board known as the Former, The Board unsubtly threatens her- saying that siding with them results in numerous benefits, (such as a great health care plan,) and that going against them would very likely result in her death. Seemingly this is in the hopes that Jesse won't be convinced of something by the Former that might turn her against the agenda of The Board.
During the events of the DLC story The Foundation, it becomes even more apparent that The Board is not to be trusted. They withhold a power from Jesse Faden that would prove incredibly helpful to her task. They react hysterically and threateningly toward her, demanding that she give the power back after the Former bestows it on her. Helen Marshall notes that Zachariah Trench changed drastically after continued contact with The Board. Suspecting that The Board was heavily involved with his downfall and eventual death leads her to the break The Nail, (a key part of The Oldest House that grants The Board much of their influence over it,) in order to lessen their control over the House and FBC; An act that results in Marshall's death after an Astral Spike breaks in and damages her HRA. It is made clear that the Astral Spike was sent by The Board in retaliation.
While The Board's exact plans and overall goals are uncertain, Helen Marshall notes that The Board's ultimate allegiance is to itself and its own interests, and that it considers all others expendable in this pursuit.
Communication[]
The Board communicates via telepathic broadcasting from the Black Pyramid. While the Board's messages are auditorily incomprehensible, they can nonetheless be understood by those who receive the messages. However, these messages are often scrambled, with some words having multiple possible meanings. For example, the Board initially states that it is broadcasting from "the Pyramid," but this could also be understood as "the Other." It is unclear which meaning is the "correct" interpretation of the Board's messages, if not both. The Board appears to occasionally struggle to communicate meaningfully, possibly due to its alien intelligence or other linguistic or cognitive barriers.
Objects of Power[]
The Board is one of the most significant factors in the creation of Objects of Power. Theodore Ash, Jr. theorized that Altered Items become Objects of Power when the Board establishes a connection to them through the Astral Plane. Unlike Altered Items, Objects of Power can be bound by parautilitarians to wield their abilities. Emily Pope has noted, however, that not all Objects of Power share this connection with the Board, and theorized that these connections were forced upon the Altered Items in question rather than being innate.
Because of their connection to the Board, Objects of Power are among the only means of reaching the Astral Plane; when an individual (i.e. an Astralnaut) interacts with an O.o.P., they experience an astral projection or "dive" into the Astral Plane, a phenomenon which can be recorded by monitoring the brain activity of the individual in question.
The Oldest House[]
The Board appears to have a strong connection to the Oldest House. According to Broderick Northmoor, the Board considers the Oldest House to belong to them, though this is strongly implied to be an imposed connection rather than an intrinsic one. Various areas of the Oldest House contain symbolism of the Black Pyramid, such as the Central Executive division of the Executive Sector.
The Board is believed to be tethered to the Oldest House through The Nail, a paranatural pillar located in the Foundation. Theodore Ash, Jr. was convinced by his meetings with Former that The Board's relationship with the Oldest House was essentially parasitic.
Director of the Federal Bureau of Control[]
Since 1964, the Board has dictated the role of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control via the Service Weapon, an Object of Power. Only the individual the Board determines worthy to wield the Service Weapon is considered to be the Director, who henceforth possess special control over Objects of Power and other paranatural phenomena, including the Oldest House. Objects of Power such as the Service Weapon and the Hotline, both of which are under the Board's control, possess deadly effects on anyone who is not the Director. This suggests that the Board is hostile towards those whom it has not determined worthy of the power that it controls.
The first Director chosen by the Board was Broderick Northmoor, followed by Zachariah Trench and Jesse Faden. Northmoor in particular was instrumental in making the Board a central power in the operations of the Federal Bureau of Control, including its depiction in the FBC seal.
Trivia[]
- They are most likely inspired by cosmic deities known as the "Great Old Ones" found within H.P. Lovecraft's popular fiction mythopoeia, the Cthulhu Mythos.
See also[]
- The Board/Quotes
- Astral Plane (Darling Presentation)
- Astral Plane (Research)
- Astral Plane Counteressay
Gallery[]
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