Lore for our story

The Founding: Channel 435 was not always what it is now. In the early 1980s, it was a small, local television station in a mid-sized American city. It broadcasted cheap local programming, infomercials, and the like. Nothing special. But in 1987, something changed. No one knows exactly what. The records were lost—or perhaps erased. What is known is this: on October 13th, 1987, Channel 435 broadcasted something. Something that shouldn't have been broadcasted. A frequency. A signal. A door. And people started getting pulled in. The Early Years: The first victims (though "victims" is a strong word—many chose to stay) were those who watched too long. The station had a way of becoming... addictive. People would tune in at 3 AM, unable to change the channel, watching static for hours. And then they'd... disappear. Most were never seen again. But some came back. Changed. Unable to leave the television completely, they existed in the in-between—part of the Channel now, part of its signal. The Modern Era: By the 1990s, Channel 435 had developed a reputation. Urban legends spread about it—the channel you can't change, the channel that watches back. Parents warned children about it. Websites discussed it in whispered corners of the internet. The station itself had evolved. It now existed in multiple places at once—every TV that ever tuned to 435 was a door. Every screen was a potential entrance. The boundaries between Channel 435 and the real world had become porous. The Illusion Incident (2015): The worst event in Channel 435's history. Cams, then newly formed and desperate to prove himself, broadcasted a signal—a radio wave meant to communicate with viewers. Instead, it hypersynchronized with the brains of everyone watching. Ten thousand people, across three states, experienced a shared hallucination. They saw things that weren't there. They heard voices commanding them. And when they woke up—many didn't wake up at all. The event was covered up as a mass hysteria event. A bad batch of contaminated water. A shared dream. Anything but the truth. Channel 435 went quieter after that. The broadcast hours shortened. The signal weakened. But it never stopped. THE RESIDENTS Channel 435 is home to many beings now. Some human, some less so. They exist in the spaces between channels, the gaps between frequencies. The Cats: Ash's cats. They appeared over time—some brought in by residents, some born within the Channel. They are more than normal cats, though. They exist in the static. They can walk through screens. They are loyal to Ash above all others. The Strays: Other beings. Lost souls who wandered in and never found their way out. Some are dangerous. Some are sad. Most just want to be left alone. The Hosts: Ash and Cams. The only two beings capable of existing fully within the Channel, with full form and voice. They run the broadcasts, maintain the frequencies, and keep the Channel alive. THE RULES Never watch Channel 435 for more than three hours. The static gets into your brain. It becomes difficult to leave. Never, ever call Cams "Cameras." This is the most dangerous rule. He will find you. He will strangle you with his cord. He will broadcast your screams. Don't touch the frog collection. This is almost as dangerous. The frogs are his. He will know. He will always know. If you see an arm reaching through your television screen, don't grab it. It's Ash. He's not trying to pull you in. Not yet. But he could. If you hear a voice from your radio that isn't a voice, turn it off. It's probably Cams. He's trying to communicate. He doesn't mean to hypnotize. But he will. Channel 435 never stops broadcasting. Even when your TV shows "no signal," it's there. Waiting. Watching. The cats are watching. They report to Ash. They always report to Ash. If you dream in static, you've already been touched. The Channel has marked you. You will find yourself tuning to 435 eventually. You will come home. THE SIGNAL Channel 435 broadcasts on a unique frequency—one that exists in the spaces between other signals. It can be found at: 435 on the dial (for analog sets) 435.0 (for digital) Hidden in the static between channels In the background noise of old radios In the hum of fluorescent lights In your dreams It is always there. Waiting. Welcome to Channel 435. We hope you enjoy your stay.