Description[]
With the essence of dust permeating the air and harsh heat, Swallowing Dust (Level 340) is an expanse of arid steppes, mountains, and occasional military bases. The level's environment is stationary, making exploration and travel easier; the rocky grounds of the level are loosely covered in patches of greenery or tracks of armored vehicles.
Level 340 encompasses various structures and locations among its steppes, usually military bases. Varying in size, these military bases are often surrounded by fences or concrete walls and have a plethora of internal buildings such as garrisons, bunkers, and more. Inside them, there is poor furnishing, with wide sections being empty or having strangely placed furniture. Military provisions have been found, although the state of them is concerning at best—similar to the state of most of the bases located within the level. Additional military equipment, such as vehicles, mainly the BTR-80 and T-72, is present, though it isn't functional. Guns, ammunition, and shells of varying calibers are common; however, some ammunition seems to have been burnt or cooked.
Another form of structure found within Level 340 has been colloquially named "Black Tulips." Black Tulips are conglomerates of destroyed Soviet vehicles, often covered in bullet holes and being engulfed by a thin line of dust and sand. Within the misshapen vehicles are notes, letters, and newspapers, whose contents are usually regarding the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and their subsequent withdrawal. Black Tulips are always in close proximity to airfields, being large, flat constructions with a plethora of helicopters and the occasional plane[1] in a orderly linear fashion; albeit drivable, they lack fuel.
Level 340 follows a day-night cycle. During the night, the level's skies experience discernible phenomena. Among the most noticeable phenomena is the illumination of the environment via flares and rockets. To date, the launch site has never been found. Additionally, certain events may happen under specific occurrences.
For example, "Razvedka" is an event that occurs only if a firefight occurs long enough for it to reach nighttime; it manifests itself as a flight of five Mil Mi-24 helicopters in a "V" formation, flying by the approximate combat zone. Another such event is "Tyul'pan", occurring once a battle has resulted in ~500 casualties, whereupon an Antonov An-12 will circle the combat zone for up to 40 minutes before leaving.
The level's abundance of military supplies and potential for settlement has led it to be a hotspot for various factions in the Backrooms, whom utilize the level to garner useful supplies such as artillery shells, as well as to salvage or revitalize the vehicles located in the bases. Outside of exterior groups, there exist various local communities. The amount of communities and accesability of weapons has led to an increase in conflicts, most notable regional[2] wars being the Fayzan War and War in Dagas.
⮡ㅤGallery[]
Entities[]
Level 340 holds a relatively low entity count, most being native to the level. Other exterior life forms are also present but are negligible; the main ones present are Entity 90 and Sticky-Centipedes.
Hanakani Disease[]
““And bullets will turn into flowers, grace will bloom where violence leaves.”
Named after the fictional disease, Hanakani disease is a disease that causes the sudden and rapid outgrowth of flower-like objects from artificial orifices, such as bullet wounds or stab wounds. Hanakani is both a beneficial and detrimental disorder, as it stops the bleeding, although the flower growth occurring during flare-ups may result in the loss of mobility to affected joints, including, if the jaw/mandible is involved, the inability to fully open the mouth, limiting speech and eating. Occurrences in the foot/ankle joints can result in the limited ability to put a foot flat on the ground or immobilization of the knee or hips.
Napravlyayushchiye Peshekhody[]
Napravlyayushchiye Peshekhodys, or "Tvyordiy Znak" for simplicity's sake, are humanoid entities that take the appearances of Soviet soldiers during the time period of the level. Instances of Tyordiy Znak are only sighted during a near-death or imminent death experience; they may help the individual experiencing near-death cases or comfort those whose death is imminent by giving them cigarettes or telling a story.
Communities and Outposts[]
Numerous communities exist within Level 340 as previously stated. We will include only the two most notable regional states.
The Kibestani Republic of Resa’adh (KRR) is the homeland of Kibestanism and home to Kibestanism's upmost holy shrines in Jizaydah and Iy-Jadah. Established by Antlian refugees in 1964 escaping from religious oppression, the KRR acts as a religious safehouse for Kibestanis all throughout the Backrooms. Antlian influences are felt in the Kibestani Republic's political, economic, and especially cultural stances, albeit being more progressive than it.
A highly influential state within Level 340, in recent times it has taken inspiration from both the Republic of Aurielle and the Socialist Republic of Rauhallinen, even being part of the VSESA Mutual Defense Treaty, which is directed by the former, as it has taken on a role of regional "peacekeeper." It also controls some of the level's most vital and lucrative spots, including the level's largest oil and gas reservoirs.
Established by Syafeko Nurasi after unifying the seven Njatausaharian tribes in 1934, it was a largely isolated kingdom up until the September Coup in 1954, which established a totalitarian state under the brutal regime of Nasifaris Buresh. The 1966 Káválasemq Revolution toppled Buresh' regime but left the state's government in a very weak position. A Ruphis-sponsored coup in 1993 set up the modern communist and oligarchic People's Republic of Káválasemq.
The Safanyet Struggle established a pro-democratic, pro-KRR front that is waging the ongoing Republican insurgency in Safanyet.
Entrances and Exits[]
Entrances[]
- Certain buildings within secluded locations in Level 245 will lead here.
- Areas in the Outskirts in Level 32 may lead here.
- The Dumidrafidj Entrance in Level 339, found on the Auriellen city of Patuasajah, will lead here.
Exits[]
- Going back to the Dumidrafidj Entrance will lead you back to Level 339; it is the only consistent entrance and exit point.
- Abandoned mine shaft entrances will lead to Level 166.
- Noclipping on a vehicle within a Black Tulip will lead to The Warzone.