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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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| “ | Jahaa, jaa-a, you think there's a dog buried in this? | ” |
— Ahti | ||
Ahti (designated Entity A-001 by the FBC) is a mysterious paranatural entity and the "janitor" of the Oldest House. Assuming the appearance of an older Finnish man, Ahti appeared without explanation in the Oldest House and has subsequently roamed the building as its "cleaner," while being monitored by the Federal Bureau of Control. He performs tasks that seem menial but are vital to the safety of people within and constantly instructs Jesse Faden to help him. His origins and significance have been investigated by the FBC, to no avail.
Biography[]
Ahti's origins are wholly unknown, and Bureau agents have struggled to understand him for years. The earliest known date for Ahti's presence in the Oldest House was around 1964, shortly after the Bureau first discovered and began exploring the Oldest House. During his expedition into the Foundation, Dr. Theodore Ash, Jr. was taken by surprise by Ahti's presence. Ahti claimed to be the janitor of the Oldest House, confounding Dr. Ash as to how the cleaning crew could be hired down there so quickly. The doctor constantly attempted to interrogate Ahti, but always the janitor eluded him with surprising knowledge of the place. While Ahti is alleged to be its "janitor", in reality, he is an extremely powerful paranatural entity, regularly facing deadly challenges with very nonchalant and aloof behavior. In the Bureau's attempt to film Ahti, they unintentionally created the VHS Cassette Tape Altered Item. Members of the staff sometimes note his presence in restricted areas despite his lack of clearance. However, their concerns are summarily dismissed and they are told to never interrupt Ahti in his day-to-day tasks so the Bureau can continue with their observations.
Ahti himself possesses a number of powers. He is capable of telepathy, responding directly to Jesse's inner conversation with Polaris and constantly conversing with Jesse without being physically present. He can appear anywhere within the Oldest House, and possesses a cassette player capable of navigating the Ashtray Maze, a feat once considered impossible without the Cigarette Object of Power. Aside from Jesse, Ahti is the only individual in the Bureau to resist the Hiss without an HRA.
Ahti seems to be connected in some way to the Foundation, a place where he was first seen by FBC staff and that he described as his "vacation spot," suggesting a connection to the Astral Plane or the Board, or the origins of the Oldest House. After aiding Jesse in subduing the Hiss during the Hiss invasion, Ahti disappeared into the Foundation and has not been seen since. If Jesse completes extra janitorial tasks for Ahti in the Investigations Sector, she will receive a postcard showing Ahti in front of a sauna in the town of Watery, Washington, which is described as "America's Little Finland."
Personality[]
Assuming the appearance of a Finnish man, Ahti is an offbeat and somewhat unsettling individual with a nonetheless kindhearted personality. While Jesse sometimes has difficulty understanding him, she trusts him and believes him to be a friendly, welcome face in the Oldest House. He constantly refers to her, even after she has been promoted to the Director, as his "assistant" and assigns her some of his vital tasks, such as restarting the coolant pumps and saving the NSC Plant from meltdown. Through his dialogue, he reveals that he intends to drill Jesse on these tasks before he goes away on "vacation." Jesse's view of Ahti is shared by Simon Arish, who describes Ahti as his "favorite coffee break buddy," mentioning how Ahti apparently has the "craziest stories." He frequently uses Finnish idioms, many of which are translated literally into English regardless of context.
Trivia[]
Ahti's Runnerboy from Pony's "Sports" series
- Ahti first appeared in the E3 2018 Control demo. His character was officially revealed on the Control Twitter page on June 3, 2019.[2]
- Martti Suosalo won a BAFTA Games Award for Performer in a Supporting Role for his role in Ahti.
- Ahti's ability to traverse the Oldest House at will, along with him referring to the Director's position as his "assistant" may imply he is affiliated with The Board itself.
- Ahti refers to the tape of "Take Control", which allows Jesse to bypass the Ashtray Maze, as a "present from my friends to you." This could imply a connection with the Old Gods of Asgard (Tor and Odin Anderson) from Alan Wake, or with the literal old gods Thor and Odin, or could refer to The Board.
- As an avid music fan, Ahti carries a Runnerboy from Pony's "Sports" series around with him.
- Ahti is the name of the ancient Finnish god of water. In Alan Wake 2, Ahti tells Alan Wake stories about water on two separate occasions.
- In an in-game monologue, Zachariah Trench mentions a "sea god."
- Ahti likes to swear in Finnish and uses a lot of Finnish idioms translated literally to English.
- For example, "yesterday's grouse's son" (eilisen teeren poika) is an idiom with the same meaning as "I wasn't born yesterday", while "last winter's snow(s)" (menneen talven lumia) means things that are long forgotten.
- The notable presence of a janitor's closet in the lobby of the Oceanview Motel & Casino could suggest a significant connection between Ahti and Places of Power, perhaps even a hint at his origin. However, any potential association between the two is currently unknown.
Gallery[]
Alan Wake II[]
