Main Description[]
Entity 3-C, mostly known as “Rattlers”, and scientifically known as “Crepitus Nocturnus”, are a subspecies of Entity 3, aka the Smilers, and are very similar to the Smilers themselves. Rattlers are a hostile, rarely-seen entity primarily known for the distinct, rapid rattling noise it produces, similar to that of a rattlesnake. They are highly adept at utilizing darkness and stealth to hunt wanderers. It is currently somewhat confirmed if any Rattlers possess a solid physical form, as all wanderers that have survived a Rattler have been reported to claim that the Rattler that they encountered was moving like a snake. Current evidence suggests they are masters of striking from the darkness, dragging prey away before a response can be mounted.
Rattlers appear to be very animalistic, while still having more intelligence than the average human. There have only been 7 known people who survived an encounter with a Rattler, with 4 of those people having very brutal and serious wounds. The other 3 survivors have been recorded to have severe trauma. These 7 people were a search party team looking for a high-ranking M.E.G. officer who went missing on Level 8. That officer was never found. That was the first ever Rattler attack and also the only Rattler attack where people actually survived.
Biology[]
The physical appearance of a Rattler is partially unknown. M.E.G. has determined the Rattler species to be a member of the taxonomic family Luceatenebridae, consisting of all entities with glowing facial features and a black substance likened to fire comprising their bodies.
The only 2 confirmed biological aspects is the mechanism that produces the rattling sound being a snake-like tail, and how Rattlers are actually blind. It has been determined by M.E.G. that Rattlers are actually a biological mixture of Entity 3 and rattlesnake DNA. There is a very rare and uncommon hypothesis that Rattlers don't actually use their tails to make their rattling sound, and that they actually use some form of vocal cord to produce the sound. However, M.E.G. mostly believes in Rattlers using their tails to make the sound because of them seeming to shake their tails when the sound is produced.
The blindness of the Rattler is a key physiological distinction from other members of Luceatenebridae and fundamentally alters its interaction with the environment. Lacking conventional sight, the Rattler species has evolved to navigate and hunt using a sophisticated form of echolocation or heightened sensory perception, similar to a bat's sonar or a snake's vomeronasal organ. Their glowing eyes and sharp teeth, while perhaps intimidating in the dark, might serve a different purpose entirely—perhaps as a residual, non-functional trait inherited from the Smiler lineage or even as a form of biological mimicry designed to deceive the few witnesses who survive an attack. Their true sensory world remains a mystery, centered entirely around sound and vibration rather than light.
This reliance on alternative senses further reinforces their mastery of dark environments. Unlike Smilers who sometimes appear in dimly lit areas, Rattlers are almost exclusively found in places of absolute darkness where sight is useless to human and entity alike. Their ability to "see" through sound and vibration gives them a distinct advantage over visually dependent wanderers. When a Rattler rattles its tail, it might not just be a lure, but also a way to map out the surrounding area and pinpoint the exact location and movement of its prey. This sensory adaptation makes standard countermeasures like light sources less effective than against other nocturnal entities.
The proposed hybrid DNA theory suggests a forced, unnatural evolution. The presence of a snake-like tail differentiates it significantly from the standard humanoid structure of most Backrooms entities, providing the serpentine movement pattern observed by survivors. This unique appendage is central to its identity and hunting mechanism. The debate over whether the sound comes from the tail or vocal cords continues, but the core function remains a key survival trait: a sound that paralyzes prey with fear and confusion, allowing the blind but highly "aware" predator to close the gap and secure its meal in the safety of absolute darkness.
Behaviors[]
A Rattler operates as an ambush predator within the dark environments it inhabits, much like terrestrial snakes. These creatures are primarily active in completely dark areas, relying heavily on their unique, loud rattling sound as a primary hunting mechanism. This sound serves two crucial, deceptive functions designed to manipulate and capture wanderers. First, the noise is loud enough to cause auditory distress or sheer panic in unsuspecting victims, leading to disorientation and a loss of focus in the pervasive darkness. Second, the sound acts as a lure, potentially mimicking a source of potential help or a familiar noise from the Frontrooms, drawing unsuspecting individuals closer into danger.
Once a wanderer is within striking distance, the Rattler attacks immediately and with force. It often pulls its victim into the most absolute darkness where it can feed without the risk of being seen. Observers have noted brief, cautious interactions between these creatures and traders within the backrooms, with Rattlers occasionally managing to snag items from them. Their preference for total darkness highlights a reliance on sound and stealth over sight, making them a significant and terrifying threat in unlit zones. Rattlers also seem to fear Facelings.
The preferred habitat of the Rattler appears to be Level 8, which is a cave-like level that is known for having many dark spots. This environment perfectly suits an entity that relies on auditory cues and absolute darkness to hunt. The labyrinthine nature of the caves provides countless ambush points, allowing a Rattler to strike without warning and vanish into the shadows. While some reports suggest isolated incidents on other dark, unlit levels, Level 8 remains the primary zone of activity, leading researchers to believe the entity has an intrinsic link to this specific environment, possibly due to a unique food source or nesting conditions not found elsewhere.
Discovery & History[]
The documented history of Rattler encounters is extremely limited, underscoring their elusive nature. There have been only seven known individuals who have survived an interaction with Crepitus Nocturnus, all of whom were part of a single search party on Level 8 looking for a missing M.E.G. officer. Of these survivors, four suffered brutal and serious physical wounds, while the remaining three were left with severe, lasting psychological trauma. The missing officer was never found, serving as a grim testament to the entity's lethality. This initial and only documented survival event has shaped our current, albeit limited, understanding of the entity's threat level.
Even though the first documented Rattler encounter was made between 2013 and 2014, research shows that Rattlers may have been found way later than that, in 2001, during a series of disappearances that happened on Level 8. These disappearances mainly happened to wanderers that were alone in the dark. It has been estimated that about 3.5 quarters of the people who went missing were wanderers who were above the age of 20, suggesting that the Rattlers mainly attack adults. It is theorized that Rattlers mainly attack adults due to the fact that adults are bigger prey and less agile than kids, leading to them being an easy target for Rattlers. The other 0.5 quarters of people who went missing appear to be either 18 or 19.
The initial designation of Crepitus Nocturnus came from M.E.G. field operatives who analyzed the evidence from the 2013-2014 survival incident. The survivors' consistent reports of a "rattling" sound in the darkness, followed by a swift, unseen attack, led to the entity being nicknamed "Rattler." This discovery was pivotal because it established the existence of a new, highly specialized predator that was distinct from the Smilers, its supposed relative. The rarity of the entity meant its scientific classification was based more on this anecdotal evidence and its behavioral patterns than on any physical specimen.
Following the initial discovery, M.E.G. research teams began to re-examine historical logs and reports of disappearances, especially on Level 8. This is where the theory of the 2001 disappearances emerged. By cross-referencing similar patterns—unseen attacks, solo wanderers, and a focus on adult victims in completely dark areas—researchers began to piece together a much longer, unwritten history of the entity. The lack of any visual sightings in these earlier reports further solidified the conclusion that Rattlers were a threat that had gone undetected for years, perfectly camouflaged by their environment and hunting methods.
The ongoing search for the missing M.E.G. officer from the 2013-2014 incident became a defining moment in the organization's understanding of the entity. The fact that an entire search party, composed of skilled and well-equipped operatives, was nearly wiped out underscored the Rattler's lethality and intelligence. This event forced a fundamental shift in M.E.G. protocols for navigating Level 8 and other dark areas. No longer was a lack of visible threats considered a sign of safety; instead, any unusual sound became an immediate cause for alarm, and team travel with enhanced audio detection equipment became mandatory to counter the Rattler's stealth and ambush tactics. Even though the officer was never found, some people think he is still alive.
Do's and Don'ts with Rattlers[]
Do:
- DO carry a reliable, powerful light source in darker levels.
- DO freeze immediately if you hear a rattling sound and slowly back away toward a light source.
- DO assume that once the rattling stops, the entity is likely moving into position for an attack.
- DO bring anything resembling a Faceling with you into any dark levels, like a plush or an image.
Don't:
- DON'T follow the source of the sound out of curiosity or a belief it is another wanderer. It is a lure.
- DON'T run wildly in the dark if you hear the sound; you will become disoriented and an easier target.
- DON'T be alone during an attack. Bring a group and weapons if you need to.
- DON'T attempt to bring a Rattler anywhere close to a Smiler. They WILL fight.
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