While there are numerous reports of wanderers initially noclipping into Level 0, Level 1, and occasionally Level 2, there are no confirmed accounts of first entering the Backrooms in Level 3. At present, it is the lowest-known level that is entirely inaccessible from baseline reality.
Description
Level 3 is a sprawling complex of derelict maintenance halls and utility tunnels fitted with electrical machinery. Similar to other levels with instances of shifting geometry, the layout of Level 3 has been documented to gradually shift when unobserved, seeming to twist and connect in a senseless manner. This effect reportedly correlates with distance traveled, as its layout seems to increase in complexity the farther one travels from their initial entrance point.[1] Despite its varying layout, Level 3’s architecture remains largely consistent, with wires, fluorescent lights, and various machines arbitrarily scattered throughout.
A variety of machinery borders the level’s corridors, often in large groups of transformers, conductor circuits, and industrial fans. Long wires lay sprawled throughout the level, running from the ceiling and through the walls, linking each unit to one another and connecting to adjacent electrical rooms.[2] How the machinery in Level 3 remains powered is currently undergoing investigation, as well as what exactly is being powered by its output, though a popular theory states that the level may be responsible for supplying power to other levels of the Backrooms. In addition, investigation of the pipes lining the level’s hallways has revealed many of them to contain boiling-hot water, with a small number being empty or carrying various substances.[3] Due to the heat of the machinery, along with the boiling contents of the pipes, many corridors within Level 3 are uncomfortably hot and humid, ranging from around 90°F (32.2°C) up to 115°F (46.1°C).
The exact source of Level 3’s electrical current has yet to be located. All machinery documented thus far only transforms and utilizes electricity sourced from another part of the level. Deeper investigations have drawn no clear conclusion as of yet; explorations describe an unending series of repeating transformers, coils, and wires continually carrying electricity from one another, all drawn from an unknown part of the level.[4] While some theories suggest the existence of a massive electrical generator somewhere within the depths of Level 3, with a supposedly infinite generation capacity, others hypothesize that the level may be self-powered in an endless cycle of transmitted electricity, with no actual origin point of power generation.
A vast network of circular utility tunnels lies below the hallways of Level 3, closely mirroring the layout above. The architecture is noticeably distinct from the rest of the level, lacking any machinery or pipes, though they typically serve to connect between electrical rooms. Entrances to these lower areas are typically found below manhole covers scattered throughout the level. A strange difference in climate has been reported upon entering this portion of Level 3, sharply dropping from the heat above to below-zero temperatures almost instantaneously. Despite these conditions, the stagnant water within the tunnels does not appear to freeze, oddly remaining in a liquid state. The water level is also known to rise and fall at irregular intervals, varying from mere puddles to roughly one meter in height. The rising, frigid water, along with a generally higher concentration of entity sightings compared to the rest of the level, has led the majority of wanderers to avoid the tunnels altogether.[5]
Entities
While none have been confirmed as of yet, there have been many reported sightings of entities within Level 3. Claims range from Deathmoths being spotted at the end of dark corridors to Wretches roaming the lower tunnels. It is theorized by many that Level 3 is a hotspot for the occurrence of The Wretched Cycle in some form. Despite the lack of confirmed evidence, explorations into the level have an unusually low return rate, with a significant amount of wanderers going missing in the depths of Level 3.
Colonies and Outposts
Many wanderer groups have tried and failed to create permanent shelters in Level 3, with the most common reason being its high disappearance rate. This phenomenon frequently occurs when groups split up into smaller numbers or lose sight of one another for an extended period of time. Due to this, the creation of outposts within the level is not recommended and should likely be avoided.
Entrances and Exits
Entrances
Several locations have been reported to lead to Level 3, most notably that long hallways in Level 2 may seamlessly lead into its utility corridors. Other documented entrances are listed below.
- Certain locations within Level 3’s sublevels may lead back to their “parent” level;
- Doorways marked by a small, illegible sign may lead to electrical rooms within Level 3, appearing most commonly in Level 5 and Level 19;
- Noclipping near dilapidated machinery in Level 23 may lead to this level; and
- Certain passageways in Level 92 have been documented to lead to Level 3.
Exits
A commonly reported method of exit from Level 3 is via various elevators found sparsely throughout the level. Pressing any button in said elevators will often lead one to Level 4. Other methods of exit are listed below.
- Several areas of Level 3, notably the utility tunnels, have been documented to lead to one of its various sublevels;
- Using an elevator exit may instead transport one to Level 5, though rarely in comparison;
- Dark, dimly lit passageways may lead to Level 6; and
- Ladders have been reported within Level 3 leading to a manhole cover that opens into the streets of Level 11.
Footnotes
- ↑ This has led to outlying instances in which wanderers have been unable to reach an exit, often left to wander the isolated bowels of the level.
- ↑ These areas tend to experience localized power outages, ranging from a few minutes to multiple hours in length, often causing nearby lights to fail. These blackouts, along with the generally inconsistent placement of lights throughout the level, results in many areas being entirely shrouded in darkness.
- ↑ While boiled water is typically safe to consume once cooled, traces of spore-forming bacteria have been discovered within the pipes of Level 3, rendering it unsafe to drink.
- ↑ While wires of this potential length would typically experience significant voltage drop, the electrical current throughout Level 3 inexplicably maintains a consistent power level, despite being carried over such long distances.
- ↑ In addition, reports have described these lower areas instilling a strange sense of paranoia, anxiety, and other unpleasant feelings that, while relatively mild, may lead to significant mental degradation over a long period of time.
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| Levels | The Electrical Station | Cave System │ The Bumper Crop | Concrete Jungle │ Sublimity | Interrogative Infohazard │ The Centrifuge |
|---|---|
| Locations | The Void | The Broken |
| Misc | The Cameraman | The Kauer Thesis |
| Guides | Threat Index Guide │ Wikitext Guide │ List of Canons │ Frequently Asked Questions |