- First Person View (Amber) -
My name is Amber. I am slightly taller than average height, with orange hair and orange eyes. I am the type of person who loves to explore. I've explored forests and small caves when I was young, but I have a normal job now. I work at a plant shop that sells various types of flowers and plants. It has generous hours. I like to look through exploration games, but none of them scratch that itch.
One day, I sat down looking for more exploration games, and I found something interesting. "The Backrooms." The part about exploring liminal spaces got me intrigued, as well as it claiming to be very realistic. It's also a VR game. It doesn't have any videos on the page, but has a few pictures. I saw places such as a weird space with mono-yellow wallpaper, a parking lot with random machinery laying around, and more. Now I am definitely interested.
I decide to purchase it, the price being $10. It makes me a little suspicious, but my love for exploration washed that away. I also took the chance to buy a VR headset, considering I don't have one. The plant shop also has generous pay, and I have a good amount of savings. I set up the headset, before hooking it up to my computer. I cleared out a good space, since I'm likely to be moving around a lot.
I stood up ready, and booted up the game. To my surprise, however, the game gave me a unique warning.
[Notice. To play the game in the best condition, find a position comfortable to you and sit or lay down.]
"That's different." I said to myself. I decided to listen, since I thought the game wouldn't give me this for no reason. I went to my bed, and laid down. The game gave me a new prompt.
[If you have found a position comfortable, please think 'yes.']
'Yes...?' Suddenly, I felt like I was having an out of body experience. I couldn't feel my real body, but I know it's there.
[Enter Username.]
'I'll just use my name.'
[Username Selected: Amber]
[You can alter your physical appearance up to 20%.]
Seeing my own body in front of me, with a blank shirt and shorts, was definitely off-putting. There's also an option to change the shirt and shorts for underwear, but I'm not doing that. In the end, I decide that I will increase all muscles slightly and add a yellow tint to my eye and a yellow streak in my hair.
"Here we go..." I said to myself as I hit the accept button. I suddenly landed on some sort of carpet, which put me a little off balance. Now, looking around, this place is similar to one of the images. Mono-yellow wallpaper, yellow carpet, fluorescent lighting, random electrical outlets, and other things.
[Level 0 - Tutorial Level (NEW)]
[Class 1 - Safe | Secure | Minimal Entity Count]
[Beginner Task: Go to Level 1 - Habitable Zone, and look for the M.E.G Outlands Outpost.]
[Backrooms Journal has been opened. All information found by you is recorded here.]
[You are the first to discover this level. Would you like to announce it?]
[Yes/No]
*yelp*
I was bombarded by multiple notifications. I decided to go over them one by one. 'Level 0 - Tutorial Level...? This is the first level, but why zero? Next, Class 1? It's safe and secure at least, but there's something called entities? Sounds bad. Beginner task. Go to the next level and find a location, pretty much. Simple to understand. Backrooms Journal? This is definitely going to be one of my favorite features. First to discover? Guess I'm the first player. I don't want to announce it.'
The "No" option was suddenly highlighted, and a new notification appeared in front of me.
[Announcement refused. Title 'Level 0 Pioneer' is awarded regardless. This title can not be seen unless you wish it to be.]
'That's good. I don't like attention, so this is nice.' I was thankful, and decided to move on. The walking was taking a long time, so I decided to open up the journal.
[Journal opened. Select the category.]
- Levels -
- Sublevels -
- Negative Levels -
- Entities -
- Items -
'Items? Of course there would be items.' I thought.
[Items Category Unavailable. No Items Found.]
'Damn. I'll try levels then. I should have one in there.'
[Levels category selected. Select the level.]
- Level 0 | Tutorial Level -
[Level 0 selected. Generating description...] (A/N: Thank you, Wikidot.)
[Level 0 is a non-linear space, resembling the back rooms of a retail outlet. All rooms of Level 0 appear uniform and share common features such as mono-yellow wallpaper, damp carpet and inconsistently placed fluorescent lighting and electrical outlets. No two rooms are identical.
The lighting present flickers inconsistently and hums frequently. This buzzing is noticeably louder and more obtrusive than ordinary fluorescent humming. Attempts to determine the source of the humming has been unsuccessful. The substance present in the carpet is not water, and has not been identified. The substance is unsafe for human consumption.
Linear spaces in Level 0 are altered drastically; it is possible to walk in a straight line and return from where you started. Retracing your steps will lead to different sets of rooms than the ones that have been passed through. Consistent navigation is extremely difficult. Devices such as 'compasses' and 'GPS locators' are unable to function within the level. Radio communications are distorted and unreliable.
Level 0 is devoid of life. Despite being the most common entrance into the Backrooms, contact with other wanderers have not been reported. The most likely causes of death of Level 0 is dehydration, starvation, and psychological trauma due to sensory deprivation and isolation. No corpses have been reported, however. Attempting to enter Level 0 as a group will result in the group being separated until the exit of the level.
Rooms with red wallpaper and dim lighting appear very rarely. If you have found one, do not approach or enter it.
Hallucinations are common in Level 0. The most common being humming from the lights increasing in volume, then abruptly silencing, the appearance of doors or stairs, acute déjà vu, human-like speech resembling no known language, movement in peripheral vision resembling insects crawling under the wallpaper, disappearing when the wall is observed directly, and insect like chittering.
Entrances:
Accidently no-clipping from reality.
???
Exits:
???
Description generated.]
...
'... That was a lot. In short, this place will make you go insane. Is this game even safe?' I wondered. 'What I'm most curious about are these rooms with red wallpaper.' As I am thinking this, I trip over some sort of metal can.
- First Person View (River) -
I'm currently laying in the lounge area, with my eyes closed.
{Did she just trip over Almond Water?}
[Yes.]
{...}
[...]
[{It's tradition now.}]
- First Person View (Amber) -
'What is this metal can?'
[New item added to Journal]
'New item? I'll check the Journal.'
[Journal opened. Select the category.]
- Levels -
- Sublevels -
- Negative Levels -
- Entities -
- Items -
[Items category selected. Select the item.]
- Almond Water -
[Almond Water selected. Generating description...]
[Almond Water is a substance commonly found in the Backrooms. It is a very useful substance that has high nutrition comparable to a healthy, 600 calorie meal. Almond Water is a very easy way to obtain sustenance and maintain physical health. Almond Water is also useful for restoring sanity.
Stolen novel; please report.
Most of the bottles are usually slightly damaged or worn with marks, such as dents or scratches in the paint. Every bottle found is always filled to the brim. If you have found a bottle that isn't full, do not drink it. It could have been possibly tampered with, or had a virus attached to it.
Almond Water is the most popular item to use for bartering. Standardized currency across many levels is impossible, so this has been used as a substitute. It is most commonly traded in Level 5.1 or The Trader's Vault.]
'So this is useful. Very useful. Well, bottoms up.' I felt the odd taste, but I felt as if everything was clearer. 'I can deal with some odd taste considering how useful this is.' I continue to walk.
'This game is pretty interesting so far. I don't know if I'm the only player or not. There's no way it’s just me.' As I'm thinking to myself, I stumble across the entrance to the room with red wallpaper. 'I know it said I shouldn't approach or enter it, but...' I start heading in. 'What kind of explorer would I be if I'm afraid of that!'
- First Person View (River) -
{This is bad. Did you set up a failsafe or two, at least?}
[I am not ignorant. I have prepared for multiple possibilities.]
{Let's just hope this won't weigh on them too much. I don't want them to quit.}
[9 other players have joined the game.]
{NOW?! This is a bad time. Are you able to watch over them?}
[I can watch over everything. Do not underestimate me.]
{I really hope that player will be fine.}
- First Person View (Amber) -
'This place makes me feel uncomfortable. How can a game even do this? Maybe it's all the red.'
[Level 0 Sublevel - Red Rooms (NEW)]
[Class 5 - Unsafe | Unsecure | Dead End]
[New sublevel added to Journal.]
[You are the first to discover this level. Would you like to announce it?]
[Yes/No]
'It's a sublevel? That's new. I'll check out the description. Also, don't announce it.'
[Announcement refused. Title 'Red Rooms Pioneer' is awarded regardless. This title can not be seen unless you wish it to be.]
[Journal opened. Select the category.]
- Levels -
- Sublevels -
- Negative Levels -
- Entities -
- Items -
[Sublevel category selected. Select the sublevel.]
- Red Rooms -
[Red Rooms selected. Generating description...]
[The Red Rooms are greatly similar to their parent level, Level 0. Some key differences set them apart, however. The area is shrouded in a deep red hue, from the crimson wallpaper to the darkroom-like lighting. The carpet is coarse and sticky, contrasting with the moist carpet of Level 0. Dark corners harbor colonies of mushrooms and black mold.
Radio communication is as unreliable as Level 0.
The area has been described as viscerally uncomfortable and generally distressing to exist inside of. Individuals in the Red Rooms report feelings of disgust, despair, paranoia, and claustrophobia. These strong emotions greatly heighten the stress of the individuals inside the Red Rooms.
If you see these rooms, do not approach or enter. If spotted, turn the other way and do not attempt to enter it in any circumstance. Though... you already disregarded the warning, considering you have this log.
Entrances:
Find a room with red wallpaper in Level 0
Exits:
Unknown
Description generated.]
'Chilling.' I shivered. 'Maybe I shouldn't have gone in here. I already feel so mentally drained.' As I turn around... 'Where's the entrance? Where's the entrance?!' The entrance I came in from has disappeared. 'No choice but to move on.' As I'm walking through these red rooms, I start feeling disgusted by the things in the dark corner, the paranoia of something watching me, the despair of never making it out of here, and the feeling of being trapped, never able to escape. These feelings are heightening... and they keep heightening until...
[WARNING! Mental state is detected to be unstable! Forcefully quitting...]
I got up from my bed immediately. 'Relax, you're home, you're not trapped, there's nothing watching you.' I said to myself. 'Holy shit that was insane. I should've read the tags. I just saw exploration and the realistic images and went in. I really need a break.' I went over to my phone to browse through social media. However, I can't help but think back to the game. 'I ignored the warning, so this is kind of my fault, isn't it...?' I decide to head back in.
[Due to your last logout cause being an unstable mental state, you have been repositioned in your last level that you were able to survive.]
'So I'm back in Level 0.' I mused to myself. I turned around and... 'Of course I see the Red Rooms. Other way!' I start walking around Level 0. 'Thankfully this game has a failsafe. I don't know what would've happened had I stayed in there longer.' As I was thinking to myself, I passed something interesting that I barely noticed. 'Wait. Wait. Is that wall lighter than the walls around it?' The wall was a lighter yellow than the regular wallpaper, even being closer to white. 'This has to be a secret. But...' I was hesitating due to my last experience with a new area.
'Fine. Go in.' As I went in, I felt as if I walked out into some sort of hallway. Which I did. The hallway was gray, with the old carpeted flooring being closer to black. The lights are oval shaped and hanging by wires, with a quiet buzzing, much more tolerable than Level 0. The hallway felt air conditioned, making it cold.
[Level -1 - Grayscale Halls (NEW)]
[Class 2 - Unsafe | Stable | Low Entity Count]
[New negative level added to Journal.]
[You are the first to discover this level. Would you like to announce it?]
[Yes/No]
'Now it's a negative level. Again, no announcement.'
[Announcement refused. Title 'Level -1 Pioneer' is awarded regardless. This title can not be seen unless you wish it to be.]
[Journal opened. Select the category.]
- Levels -
- Sublevels -
- Negative Levels -
- Entities -
- Items -
[Negative Levels category selected. Select the negative level.]
- Level -1 | Grayscale Halls -
[Negative Level -1 selected. Generating description...]
[Level -1 is a long hallway that comprises of concrete walls and old carpeted flooring. Wooden doors are on each side, approximately 2-6 feet apart. These doors most often lead to various negative levels, leading to Level -1 being referred to as the "Negative Hub."
There are decorative items on the ceiling and walls such as ceiling lamps, inoperable fire alarms, broken exit signs, ladders, fire extinguishers, and blank paintings. The decorations have been reported to behave oddly, that being floating, exploding, and teleporting.
The hallway contains many fluorescent lights, with a buzzing quieter than Level 0. Some of the lights have light switches, though it doesn't work for every light. Air conditioning is present in the level, keeping it at -0°C (-32°F).
Level -1 creates new copies for every wanderer who enters, making outposts and bases impractical. The majority of the hallway is a straight line, with very rare dead ends, curves, loops, etc. Some hallways may even be narrow and enclosed, making it difficult to move through.
As one progresses, the saturation of the level will decrease, eventually resulting in the level being completely grayscale. One will begin to see static, and the level will begin to glitch out.
Entrances:
Find a whitish-yellow wallpaper in Level 0.
???
Exits:
Go through any of the various doors.
???
Description generated.]
'Alright, where do I go from here?' I mused.
Chapter Word Count: 2,503