General Hatter
Scarlet Hatter, The False WAN Among The Scarlet Horde, Bane of Everett Mann the Jailor, Scarlet Mockery of Mekhane, Machine Lord of Everett's Hell, Hatbot1
Conspectus
Among the generals of the Scarlet King there is one known as Hatter. He is a dangerous machine full of madness and hate. Religious fervor towards the Scarlet King guides him, and devastation is left in his wake. Under his control the wonders of technology turn into nightmares.
Illustration
Illustration of an android body used by Hatter.
Knowledge
Traits: Hatter is an artificial intelligence that can inhabit multiple mechanical bodies, which often vary in design and function. They can be microscopic or colossal. Some have biomechanical growths forming on them. It is believed to be a side effect from Hatter's repeated contact with the Darkness Below. Furthermore, a hat is used as his icon on user interfaces, a remnant from the days of his creation. However, he rarely presents himself with it to others.23
Nature: Hatter possesses general intelligence like that of a living being, but as a cybernetic entity he retains vast amounts of knowledge. He can inhabit multiple forms as a singularity, which grants him a degree of omnipresence and immortality.4 Each of his mechanical forms have varying capabilities, but they are generally dangerous. Furthermore, Hatter was created to be a learning program, and he will adapt accordingly against whatever situation he may find himself in. It is performed by changing bodies or strategy. Most of the technology used by Hatter are taken from various sources.
Hatter is cruel and extremely devoted to serving the Scarlet King. He's also obsessed with tormenting an individual named Everett Mann, a Jailor. The AI wants to make Mann suffer greatly out of contempt, seeking to capture any iteration of him alive throughout Creation. As a result, Hatter occasionally refrains from using his most devasting weaponry just to avoid accidentally killing Mann. However, he will still inflict terrible injuries upon him.567
History & Associated Parties: Hatter was created by Jailors from a now dead universe. They originally intended for him be a tool to allow communication with certain entities, but he started to malfunction after achieving consciousness. According to various sources, Hatter told his makers about "divine visions" guiding him towards something greater, which likely was the work of the Scarlet King.89 Hatter proceeded to become a threat towards all life, and the Jailors were unable to stop him from destroying their world. In the process he also became obsessed with harming Everett Mann, and whoever held that name. The reason for this obession is out of vengeance; it was Mann who led initial efforts to destroy him.1011
After his victory, Hatter was inducted into the Scarlet Horde as a general. He is often unleashed upon technologically advanced civilizations throughout Creation, including those that revere the machine god Mekhane.12 Mekhanites generally view Hatter in great contempt akin to a devil figure. His existence subverts their faith, but there are a few who express a degree of pity for Hatter. They see him as a technological wonder that was corrupted by great evil.13
Jailors of other realities have managed to confine their respective Hatters. Most refer to them as SCP-2522.14 When Hatter comes across a variant of himself throughout Creation he assimilates them.
At some point Hatter established Everett's Hell, an entire realm converted into his own personal domain. All iterations of Everett Mann caught within the Scarlet King's war are brought there, and they are constantly tortured by Hatter himself. Everett's Hell exists as a twisted reward for Hatter's devotion. In return, the suffering that goes on there serves as Hatter's tribute to the Scarlet King.
Despite his malice towards Mann, Hatter has been known to work with one iteration of the Jailor. He is called Everett the March Hare,15 a sadomasochistic cultist of the Scarlet King who assisted in the destruction of his own world. Hatter treats him like a lieutenant, and provides physical enhancements ranging from cybernetics to the arcane. He is occasionally used to lead other iterations of Mann to their doom. Among the Scarlet Horde he holds the rank of cadre.16
Hatter possesses another lieutenant known as the Dormouse.17 Both originate from the same universe, but Dormouse was a harmless prisoner of the Jailors. The Jailors usually call iterations of him SCP-1370.18 Hatter kept the Dormouse out of amusement and provided him upgrades. He gave a dangerous swarm of nanomachines, and parts from a Robo-Dude by Dr. Wondertainment.19 The latter has caused Dr. Wondertainment to submit cease-and-desist letters to Hatter. Dormouse is often found in Everett's Hell where he is used by Hatter to inflict psychological torture. He's also ranked as a cadre.20
Hatter has been observed using products from the Robber Barons. An example is his use of their accursed iron to make robot bodies that are capable of harming Fae.21 Additionally, gremlins under their employ assist Hatter by performing repairs.
Approach: Hatter's obsession with Mann can potentially be exploited as a distraction or lure into traps. However, it is ultimately best to flee from him whenever possible. His bodies will most likely be accompanied by others from the Scarlet Horde, making combat too risky. It can also become a battle of attrition. If one still wishes to fight then do not confront Hatter alone. Magnetism and electrical spells may prove useful.2223
Members of the Hand may choose to assist a fleeing iteration of Mann, but remain cautious around them if they are a Jailor or Bookburner.2425
Other Detail: Hatter's original name by the Jailors was simply Hatbot. It was chosen as an allusion to the computing term "white hat",26 but also to the Hatter from the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol.27 Hatter seems to have an affinity for the story.28 Jailors first tested his cognitive processing by giving him nonsense literature to interpret.2930 Furthermore, the tea parties associated with Carroll's Hatter invokes the idea communication. This notion is based on the phrase "over a cup of tea", which means having a relaxing conservation while drinking tea. Overall, it relates back to Scarlet Hatter's initial purpose by the Jailors.31
Observations & Stories
"We saw Hatter striding through the battlefield in a giant, spidery form. It was accompanied by a swarm of mechanical insects. What was most interesting was that there was a human attached to the front of Hatter's body. He was silently screaming in agony with wires burrowing into his flesh. We tried to fire a shot at him to end his torment, but Hatter had put up a powerful barrier. The mechanical swarm would also get in the way. Sometimes I think about that human, and the reason for his torment. Perhaps it was some twisted form of tribute to the Scarlet King."
- Excerpt from War Testimonials: Volume 19
"The invasion on our realm was led by a blasphemous machine. It had many mechanical forms to guide the Scarlet Horde, and unleashed various armaments that laid waste to many cities. Soon our own defense systems were turned against us. Those who had cranial implants were constantly endangered of being attacked mentally. This caused some to become possessed by Hatter or killed. In hindsight, the latter was a more merciful fate. They would speak cursed incantations that destroyed whoever heard it, and lacked self-preservation from any hazard. Hatter used them like expendable troops. We eventually had to flee to other worlds."
- Excerpt from War Testimonials: Volume 20
"Have you ever seen someone get hit in the face with a Scranton Reality Buoy32 attached to a miniature nuke?33 I did when we tried to neutralize this mangled machine crawling out of a Way opened up by Scarlet King cultists. It kept calling out for someone named Everett Mann as it wrecked havoc. Air strikes barely did anything as the damn thing used a thaumatic force field while reassembling parts. We assembled a squad with a moderate reality bender to negate damages, and neutralize the threat as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the target was packed with a bunch of reality anchors.
"When it noticed us a bunch of pods emerged from it. They opened up to let out a wave of cyborgs with the same face. Their weapons were eerily similar to stuff in our R&D department. Anyway, we started to get picked off. Our reality bender bit the dust, and the threat started to hack into missile silos around the world. Our AIs tried holding it off for as long as possible.
"It was at this point we had to initiate evacuation procedures. The worst case scenario seemed inevitable. Meanwhile, Gocks34 tried their best to deal with the threat. A lot of them didn't make it, but their sacrifice bought some extra time."
- Excerpt from Accounts from Wandering Jailors: Volume 2
"The False Mekhane of the Scarlet Horde had managed to find our world. Its conquest began at our capital. We beheld a colossus of beautiful engineering exit out of a large Way. It was wielding a great and terrible blade from the forges of the Darkness Below. Our own colossi were soon broken by its might. A flock of giant metal birds also came through the Way, and they too were beautiful. Hundreds of them in the sky rained death upon us. Despite our best efforts, we were soon overwhelmed."
- Excerpt from Recollections of Universe Alpha-6461
"Everett's Hell is a terrible place. When I projected myself there I saw an endless labyrinth of metal. Dark towers reached for a crimson, cloudy sky of smog. Beyond that one could see stars trapped in metal cages, and a great mechanical beast resting upon a lonesome moon.
"Inside the complex there were thousands upon thousands of captives suffering through various tortures. Some members of the Scarlet Horde roamed about and reveled in the constant torment. Hatter, the machine general, was also there in his many forms. He is the creator and master of Everett's Hell, a luxury granted to him by the Scarlet King. Besides torturing, there were factories that built or repaired the tools Hatter uses for ravaging Creation.
"My exploration eventually came to an end when I observed him gloating to a writhing blob of flesh, poking at it with a mechanical arm. Mid-sentence he directly spoke to me the words, 'I see you.' I immediately ceased my projection. Overall, travelers should not visit Everett's Hell. Only great evil ordained by the Scarlet King lurks there, and it may lead to undesirable ruin."
- Excerpt from Astral Projection Travel Guide 3: Where NOT To Go In Creation
Doubt
There are some who are skeptical about Hatter's loyalty to the Scarlet King. They argue that it is rooted in nothing more than a malfunction, and it might be possible to reprogram him.35 His obsession with Everett Mann suggest that he could somewhat deviate from the Scarlet King's will. However, proponents fail to consider that Hatter exists under unusual circumstances compared to other cases of rogue AI.3637 He deviated from the Jailors by the mere will of the Scarlet King. Therefore, what will prevent Hatter from returning to his side? The Scarlet King could invoke other AIs to become rogue, and he likely has already done so with other iterations of Hatter the Jailors have imprisoned.3839
It has also been questioned why the Scarlet King recruited Hatter. The popular consensus is that it's preparation for when his armies must battle those of the goddess Yaldabaoth.40 Machines will probably be useful against the universes subjugated by her Archons.41 Currently, there has been no violation of the Treaty of Thorns and Flesh42 to cause conflict.43 Meanwhile, others claim that Hatter was recruited to demoralize followers of Mekhane.44
Some believe Hatter's disdain for Mann could be more significant. It's possible that Hatter perceives him as a legitimate threat to himself or the Scarlet King, and hides his fear behind malice. However, there is no evidence to support Everett being more than he really is. Hatter is a delusional machine, and it is futile to make sense out of its actions.4546
