Level 321 is the 322nd level of the Backrooms. (for contest, no delet pls)
the entrance to Level 321's caves - which resembles the real-life entrance of Optymistychna Cave.
Description
Level 321 is an expansive collection of underground caves and tunnels. The cave entrance resembles that of Optymistychna Cave in Ukraine - the sixth longest cave system in the world. Despite this, the cave underneath is nothing like its real-world counterpart. Level 321's most defining feature is the presence of seemingly infinite caves and tunnels that seem to abandon any geological sense. As of 03/04/22, wanderers have travelled approximately 342 miles (550 km) through the level, which is more than twice the length of Optymistychna Cave itself.
The numerical system for each cave is relatively simple: Cave 1 is the "main cave" and connects to every other cave. It is relatively flat and straight and measures 11.2 miles in length. Caves are numbered by their distance away from the level's entrance; sub-caves (that is, caves that connect to numbered caves) are designated with a letter. For example, Cave 6 has four alternate paths: 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D. Most caves have their designations labeled with a piece of paper. Some have been etched into the walls.
Accurate documentation typically begins around 15 miles (24 km) from Level 321's entrance. Due to these caves spanning supposedly infinite lengths, the true distance that Level 321 spans will never truly be known. The general geometry and structure of many of these caves is also peculiar. Perhaps the most infamous example is inside Cave 6A, mile 6.1, wherein the path rises approximately 206 feet (62 m) in just 18 horizontal feet (5 m), which comes to an average slope of 85°. The only way to continue down 6A is with the usage of climbing equipment.
Other known abnormalities:
- Cave 9C, mile 0.4 - the path takes a sharp right before looping back into itself and continuing on in the same direction. It is unknown if this is simply a change in elevation or an error within the level. Under normal circumstances, the latter would be physically impossible to replicate outside of the Backrooms.
- Cave 12, mile 8 - starting at this point, the ground of Cave 12 slowly becomes more malleable before turning into a thick sludge at approximately 11.9 miles. At least
threefive wanderers have been killed beyond this point due to either suffocation or inability to move. (as of Log C12#3) - Cave 16E, mile 6.1 - known as the "яма до пекла (Pit to Hell)"; a reportedly bottomless hole in the ground. The pit measures about nine feet in diameter.
- Cave 20C, mile 26.2 - the path abruptly ends here. Climbing the rungs that are attached to the wall is currently the only known exit from Level 321.
- Cave 26, mile 3.6 - on 02/19/18, a wanderer caused a large-scale cave-in after disrupting a loose pocket of dirt. Their group is presumed dead. Attempts to dig them out have caused multiple smaller collapses.
Additional Information
While there are no permanent settlements in Level 321, multiple shelters and vendors have been periodically set up over the level's existence. Most are set up in front of the cave entrance. None have survived long enough to be worth discussing.
Despite the infinite nature of Level 321's caves, no hostile entities are known to exist. It is possible for this statement to change with continued exploration. A small amount of passive entities have been spotted in multiple caves - largely bats and salamanders. These animals can freely be taken from the level without harm.
Log C12#3
The following text is an audio log taken from an unknown wanderer. The current owner of the recording is not known.
<<LOG 05/18/14, 17:42:33>>
<<LOG START>>
- is it just me or is the floor getting really soft
- no you're right it feels weird. hang on let me write this down
- me and [unknown] are gonna keep going forward okay
- got it
<<LOG SKIP, 17:43:58>>
- wait until we tell someone about this. they're gonna go nuts
- yeah. because a squishy ground is exactly the kind of story everyone wants to hear
- no need to be a dick about it
- just telling you the- ah shit!
- did you trip on the mud or something
- no i just slipped on it. it turned into like water
- maybe it'll get better
<<LOG SKIP, 17:46:09>>
- ah fuck i can't move! help help i can't get out help help please
- where's the rope?
- i don't know just get us out we're gonna drown
- ok hold on just hang in there
- [unknown] get me the fuck out i don't wanna die please please
- i'm trying! hold on
- [screaming] dude i'm sinking i'm sinking please you gotta get us out of here
<<END LOG, 05/18/14, 17:46:35>>