ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ"Explore, create a government, be human... this place isn't so different, is it?" - the First.ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤThis page is a property of the Major Explorer Group.
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ㅤㅤLevel 367 is the 368th Level of the Backrooms.
Description
Level 367, otherwise known as Subterra, is a non-linear space resembling a large group of catacombs. Although the Level, previously known as the Medieval Mines, garners relative difference throughout its rooms, the impact of this effect is more apparent when one ventures deeper into the Level. The carvings on the walls suggest that Subterra has previously, and possibly presently, been inhabited by people of varying origin points.
Liminal space in Subterra is unfamiliar and perplexing. Although many expeditions in this Level have attempted to understand the aforementioned property very commonly present in the Backrooms, all have been in vain. This is due to the nature of the non-Euclidean geometry of Subterra, which allows one to return to their former location in ways that should not be possible. It is due to this that mapping Subterra is impossible; coordinate mapping would not work, as the catacombs are always changing and space is altered.
Subterra appears to be a vast space resembling a large group of catacombs. Upon initial discovery, the catacombs were compared to those of Paris; however, Subterra lacks the most influential trait of the Parisian catacombs, the skulls along the walls. Disassociation of the two could be furthered by the ambience of this Level; someone in Subterra may hear the dripping of water in the distance. The source of the sound is relatively unknown, as approaching it will cause it to disperse or get further away.
An image of a sculpture in Level 367, likely resembling a European castle from the Late Medieval Ages.
Subterra seems to have strange sculptures throughout it; some are of castles, some are of people. The origin of the majority of these sculptures is unknown, although it is presumed that they were sculpted by long-dead wanderers who either escaped the catacombs or died within them. Either way, by careful consideration, most researchers have agreed that the sculptures were sculpted ranging anywhere from three-hundred (300) to two-thousand and five-hundred (2,500) years ago, likely a mix of both. What the majority resemble is unknown, although many interpretations by scholars and historians of the Backrooms have been, and are in the process of, being created.
Although presently unconfirmed, several Major Explorer Group personnel persist that, very rarely, sewers can be found and entered in Subterra. A photograph was taken by one of these researchers, however it is yet to be confirmed if the photo actually existed in Level 367. Past tense applied due to the non-existence that now affects the sewer system photographed; the researcher states that he left the area to gather a few of his peers to observe the strange phenomena. When they returned, it was supposedly gone, adding to the odd, non-Euclidean geometry of Level 367.
The supposed image of a sewer in Level 367. Existence thereof, as to date, is unconfirmed.
The idea of the existence of widespread commune and congregation on Level 367 has died down immensely, primarily due to the impossibility of it. As has been shown previously, congregation on such inhospitable, non-Euclidean Levels seldom ends in success. It is due to this that the only Major Explorer Group personnel active in Subterra are small groups of researchers, with supplies lasting for up to two (2) weeks. Exit is necessary for research teams to survive, and it is not a rarity for them to go missing altogether. Nevertheless, the Major Explorer Group is persistent in its efforts to learn about the strange properties of Subterra. Although the matter has not yet reached the Impresarios, several members of the Editorial Council, the lower governing body of the Major Explorer Group, express interest in the claims of the XVI Research Team.
Some rumors have also spread about there being a “surface” to Subterra; however, these are likely baseless and not inspired by truth. “They probably exist to explain 367, a place in which the logic that we know does not apply,” one Major Explorer Group researcher says.
A photograph found in Level 367. For an unknown reason, light is being emitted from the ceiling; researchers have yet to find the source of this light. Material is mostly sandstone.
Although it follows a generally similar pattern, geography and design in Subterra oftentimes change; this is usually a slight change of biome and rock type / shape. Some of the ever-changing locations in Level 367 are made of smooth, seemingly man-made stone; others are made of sandstone, and some are a mix of both. Conclusively, material in Subterra varies massively, for an unknown reason.
Over all, Subterra is not fit for human settlement or congregation; as aforementioned, groups may often stay in the Level with short-term supplies, but they must be recalled. Even with this strategy, there is a chance of loss. Without supplies, a wanderer is very likely to perish; water is a scarcity, only being found very rarely dripping from the ceilings (dripping sound increases in dB due to there being two sounds; one of true, genuine water, and one of an anomalous property,) and food is nonexistent. With this knowledge, the longest a wanderer could survive is three weeks without any pre-packed supplies.
Subterra is likely inhabited by several entities; however, it's unlikely that any wanderer will come across one, similarly to Level 0. The non-Euclidean space is simply far too large for there to be such an encounter. Such an encounter, of course, is not impossible; simply very, very rare.
As was aforementioned, Subterra has several different rock types and geographic differences; three have been noted as major, whilst more are waiting for approval by the Editorial Board's Cluster I Council. They will be listed below. In order, the images on this page accurately reflect each type; the Rocky Range, the Smooth Range, and the Sand Range.
The largest documented room in the Rocky Range; this architectural gem serves an unknown purpose due to all attempts to rediscover it having failed. Some speculate that it serves as a tomb; whom is buried is entirely unknown, if that is its true service.
This image of the Smooth Zone is a rather run-down part of it; the other image on this page is a wonderful example of that.
- 3/14/2016; Wilhelm O. (000.363.963), Stephany B. (001.395.269)
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"The Moon is beautiful, isn't it? |
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The blue sky's grace never occurred to me.
The glory of the daylight sky, blessing the entire world.
Such a simple occurrence that I grew so used to. That everyone grew used to.
That everyone took for granted.
And then came the night sky, just as gorgeous, as the Moon floated above.
But, this privilege, this grace, was taken from me.
I found myself there.
The never-ending space of horrifying beings, most of which were in my mind, and pure, raw, atrocious, horrible nothingness.
You know it as Level 0. I don't. I know it as a nightmare.
The daylight, the sun, in my life had faded. I was now on to the next phase.
The night. I was called for a greater purpose.
Eventually, I found my way there. The labyrinths of stone. I wandered for days, which soon turned into weeks.
And then, I saw the note;
It informed me of the glories of Her. The graceful, divine Mater Lunae.
It had already happened. But now, I truly knew.
And then, I stumbled into the passageway. It took me here. I found it, Gary
Here, I am free.
The rolling hills, the caverns that appeared as cracks in the perfect ground; the deep ocean, and the highest of mountains-
All greatness was present here. All that remained missing…
Lunae Zonam ☽
Lunae Zonam ☽ is the fourth (4th) range of Level 367.
Artwork by caelgibran. Depicts the return of the moon.
Lunae Zonam, classified by a “☽” logo, is in constant waiting. Within the range, life has gone on as usual for hundreds of years. Those within Lunae Zonam spend a large amount of time in dedication to Mater Lunae ☽, waiting for Her return. Upon the occurrence of this event, Lunae Zonam is believed to become paradise; the flowing rivers turn to crystals, the deep oceans are warmed and life is spread throughout them, the caverns return to one another, and life flourishes. The return of Mater Lunae, if it occurs-
When it occurs.
Artwork by Somatonic. A tree, near one of the rivers of Lunae Zonam.
Will occur through unknown means. Mater Lunae ☽ exists on the Moon, a Level to which the people of Lunae Zonam hold an immense disliking. The “return” of Mater Lunae is classified as a “return” for unknown reasoning.
Before the disdainful Members of the Moon tricked Her into a voyage across the realms, we prospered, Her grace blessing us all. Without Her, we do not have long. Luckily, we do not have to wait long.
Lunae Zonam comprises a multitude of different biomes, as is common in Subterra. A vast multitude of notable differences apply; for instance, Lunae Zonam’s ceiling is much higher than that of the other three ranges; it often does not even appear to have one, due to the illumination of the region. Lunae Zonam appears to stretch out in any direction for around 986 miles (1,586.81 kilometers,) and the expanse, as aforementioned, is filled with many different biomes. Attempts to map them out have been unsuccessful due to the lacking knowledge we have of Lunae Zonam; as is on The Moon-
We, nor she, change a thing. The only reason that the researchers and workers that you have sent do not return is that they realize the truth of Lunae Zonam. They realize the truth of Mater Lunae. You, too, can, Impresarios. Don’t be silly. We know much more than you believe, and that the matters of “Subterra,” as you call it, have reached you. You just do not desire to provoke us. Very well. I suppose that is kind, yet ignorant, of you. Mater Lunae will accept you. You just need to accept her.
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Entities
- Leichtleaves. Leichtleaves are leaves that emit a glow, native to several trees in Lunae Zonam. The bioluminescent properties of Leichtleaves are present because of bioluminescent bacteria’s attraction to the leaf; the reason of which is yet to be discovered. The bacteria are perfectly safe to consume, although the leaves are not suitable forms of nutrition. They are often used in house decor throughout Lunae Zonam because of the bacteria surviving long after leaves
Ah, yes, Leichtleaves. Truly, we believe not that bacteria causes this, but instead that these leaves are the remnants of the Power of Mater Lunae upon our most gracious Lunae Zonam. Of course, you are welcome to argue with this. The truth is in your hands, yet all you seem to want to do is drop it. Very well; we are not at the fault of your ultimate demise. We oftentimes drop these leaves from mountains to symbolize the constant change and movement of Mater Lunae, of the Moon. Maybe, you, too, shall change. Maybe not.
- Luxflies. Luxflies are entities shaped like small birds; their wings are constantly in flames, so long as they are in motion. The bird remains unharmed, yet warm, whilst it is flying. They often float around places like grasslands and forests, yet catch nothing on fire. They are not sources of food for any other known Entities, or humans.
Luxflies ignite our hearts. As they fly around, in our beliefs, they symbolize the graciousness of Mater Lunae, and how She should be spread. Of course, as I have stated multiple times, you are ignorant, and are welcome to reject Her. Your demise is imminent. But, as I have stated, things change; and the spread is unstoppable.
- Taubolsh. Taubolsh are large, dove-like entities that float around the rivers and oceans of Lunae Zonam. The humans of Lunae Zonam frequently use them as mounts, as they allow the user to quickly traverse over water because of the speed of the dove-like creatures; up to 45 miles per hour (72.42 kilometers per hour). Many rivers have bridges constructed in certain shapes so that Taubolsh of different shapes and sizes can fit beneath them. People often bring Luxflies and Leichtleaves along for rides, having them within jars and containers.
Ever heard of the Festival? It's like a migration event. Hundreds of Taubolsh, alongside Luxflies in the air. Almost everyone has a halo made out of Leichtleaves. We move along the river, to see if Mater Lunae has returned. She hasn't for a thousand years, but we still have hope; we still believe, something that you never will. Accept Her.
I spun around in excitement for the Festival, the Festival Lunae. The bright colors of Leichtleaves and Luxflies seemed to circle around me as what looked like a tornado. Sounds of chattering, likely in excitement for the Festival, were heard all around. I looked down over the bridge, waving to all of those riding Taubolsh. They waved back. I looked to the sky, which, even though the Moon was not present, was bright. Luxflies flew all around, and Leichtleaves were being blown a bit up due to the heavy wind. Speaking of which, that is when I felt it against my back. I shivered for a second, before turning around. I left the bridge, walking along the sidewalks. “When will she get here!?” I thought to myself. “You can't miss a Festival,” I said under my breath. “What was that?” the girl in front of me asked. I looked up, slightly taken aback.
“Julia! I have been waiting for ten minutes! I thought you were going to miss the Festival,” I said. “I would never,” she replied, slightly offended at my remark. We both looked to the sky. “I hope She returns,” Julia mumbled. “Me too,” I said. “Joshua, we haven't seen Her, ever. It's been a thousand years.” “I know,” I said. “But, we have to have hope. That's what we've always been taught, right?”
Our conversation was interrupted by the announcer, whom we walked towards. I looked down at the reflective river. Taubolsh riders were still present, releasing jars of Luxflies and throwing Leichtleaves into the sky. Looking to my right, I saw the lush, multicolored forests of Lunae Zonam. Several kittens and foxes scurried across the leafy floor, as the wind blew the leaves of the plants towards the announcers. Several Leichtleaves created a beautiful image of pure, gold, luminescence. Golden Leichtleaves had to be my favorite. The blue Leichtleaves looked wonderful, but the golden ones just fit so well with where we were.
I looked ahead again, continuing onwards. The two of us eventually reached the announcer, and took our seats. “Today, 1023 years ago, our dearest Mater Lunae departed for the Moon,” he said, silencing the crowd. None were mad at Her.“We hold nothing against Her for this. She was tricked. She deserved not what happened to Her, and I believe that ever since Her departure, Her only goal has been to return to Her home.”
“As the time draws near for our ceremony, I would like to speak of the great achievements we have made, even without Her. I believe that, upon Her return, be it within my lifetime or not, She will be astonished at all we have done, and will continue blessing us.”
The crowd clapped in applause, looking towards the Announcer, who was also the Mayor, George. He bowed, before stepping down from the stage. My eyes returned to the sight of the beautifully reflective river. I felt drawn to one of the bridges, an older, more overgrown one. It was made out of dark brown wooden planks, whilst most of the visibly newer ones had linen colored planks. There were still Luxflies and Leichtleaves decorating it, but they were…"I do not know when She will return. What I do know, is that She shall. She shall travel across the realms to Her home, Her home in Lunae Zonam, Her one and only Home!”
That was impossible. I'd never seen this before. Flickering? Yellow, blue, green. I walked forwards, the wind raging on, even more than it had before. “What?” I questioned.
There was, of course, no response. I walked over the arching bridge. No Taubolsh went under this bridge. I looked towards the sky, confused at what was happening. I heard the usual ruffling of leaves from the wind and the crowd speaking. I was alone, though. No one seemed to notice that I had gone off, not even Julia. I looked back, before returning to my glance of the sky.
Flicker.
The Luxflies, the Leichtleaves- they had stopped flickering. Now, they had just… stopped. Not just there. It was everywhere. Looking back, I saw no one. I only saw the darkness of the empty Lunae Zonam, and only heard the wind beating against everything in its way.
The water splashed due to the aforementioned wind. The rich multicolored forest went silent. The animals made no sounds. Not even crickets. Pure silence was all that remained. “Hello?” I said, hearing the sound of my voice echo throughout Lunae Zonam. There was no response. I spun around, yet slower, as I had before. The true nature of this place was strange. A sense of hireath washed over me, as I looked at the mountains, the trees, the creek, the village off in the distance, which, too, emitted no light. As I looked over one side of the bridge, a light shone from behind me. I turned around to see where it was coming from.
That's when I saw it. I gasped, looking down to bow. I grabbed a token from my pocket and placed it in my hands, which I stretched outward, offering the token to Her. It glowed, as it floated towards Her hand. “Thank you,” she said. “I am not here for gifts, however,” she stated. “I am here to inform Lunae Zonam that my return shall be delayed,” she announced. “Return?” I gasped, still bowing. “Yes. Initially, I was going to return within the year. However, I have foreseen chaos. Within decades from now,” she started, “the balance of the Backrooms as you know it shall be rocked like a rocking chair.” What? What were the Backrooms? “What are the Backrooms?” I asked, intrigued. “Reality as you know it, for you, young one, have never left.” I did not respond to this, as I did not yet understand.
“Why me?” I asked. “The Mayor is just over there,” I said, pointing at the large stand, formerly filled with people. “Because they do not represent me,” She spoke. “And I do?” I asked. “You question me?” She responded. “I- I'm so sorry,” I replied, bowing.
“This is why you do represent me,” Mater Lunae replied.
“And there is somewhere that you shall, soon, represent me.”
“Where?” I asked, intrigued.
“The Major Explorer Group,” she said, fading away. The lights began flickering yet again, and everything came to life.