LEVEL 37.9
THREAT INDEX
CLASS 3
Exit: 3/5
Difficult to Exit
Environment: 4/5
Extreme Environmental Risk
Entities: 2/5
Some Hostile Presence
Level 37.9 is a sub-level existing between Level 37 and Level 38, sharing characteristics of both levels.
Description[]
Level 37.9, also know as Polluted Pools, or Poolution consists of two sections: The Pools and The Houses.
The Pools[]
The Pools are the area wanderers find themselves in after first entering the level. Level 37.9s pools resemble those of Level 37 in structure, being a complex of tiled rooms and winding hallways with mostly shallow water. Passages vary in width, ranging from being barely wide enough to move through to being wide enough to move a vehicle through, although the latter is rare. Occasionally, some corridors can be found made of concrete or stone instead of pool tiles, but are still in the same general layout as the rest of The Pools. The stone making up these walls has a similar appearance and composition to that of Level 38's buildings.
However, the environment of Level 37.9 is drastically different than its parent level. Level 37.9's air is similar to that of Level 38 in being uncomfortably warm and humid as well as heavily polluted, reaching temperatures up to 98.2°F. The air contains a mixture of ozone, smoke, an unknown form of pollen, and toxic chemicals. Unprotected exposure to the air can cause several negative symptoms, especially for wanderers with respiratory conditions, with prolonged exposure resulting in death.
The water of the level is also polluted, appearing a murky greenish-brown and is opaque, making it impossible to judge the depth at a glance. Sediment floats within the water, mostly consisting of clumps of dust particles and unidentified biological matter, giving it a strange smell. One should not ingest this water, as it contains a variety of diseases, including the Hydrolitis Plague. It is highly recommended to wear protective gear, such as face masks or goggles to avoid ailments within the air and water.
Level 37.9s tiling appears to be in a decrepit state. In many places, the tiles are slimy and covered in mold and algae, making tiled surfaces within the level slippery. Many are also cracked and have fallen from the walls and ceiling. Occasionally, tiles can fall from their places, potentially injuring wanderers. Additionally, some rooms and halls in the level are tiled in a brick-like manner. These sections are in a less damaged state then the rest of The Pools, and have a lower chance of tiles falling, although the ever-present danger of pollution remains. Strangely, the water in the bricked rooms also contains a small amount of Cashew Water.
Some of Level 37.9's pools are deeper than the rest, reaching a maximum depth of 20-30 feet. These deeper pools and the rooms that contain them are visually identical to ordinary pools. This and the water pollution makes it hard to judge the exact depth of a given pool. Supplies ranging from Almond Water to flashlights have been known to be found at the bottom of these pools. However, attempts to retrieve these supplies manually are unadvised, as prolonged skin contact with the chemicals in the water has been shown to be dangerous.
Transit[]
Precise information about transit from The Pools to The Houses is currently unavailable, as there are many conflicting reports from wanderers who travelled between the two. Known methods of transit are listed below:
| Entrance method | Confirmed Cases | Notes |
| Entering a sewer drain | 32 | Can also lead to Level 49 |
| Random Noclipping | 18 | Seems to work best in the bricked sections |
| Climbing a ladder and opening a hatch | 67 | Wanderers are encouraged to be careful, as polluted water falls out of the opening |
| Climbing a flight of stairs | 102 | Most commonly reported entrance, be aware of slippery tiles. |
The Houses[]
Upon entering The Houses of Level 37.9, wanderers will find themselves at the bottom of an outdoor pool. The depth and type of the pool varies, with both in-ground and above-ground pools being reported, although all recorded pools have been known to be circular in shape. Due to these pools also being polluted, wanderers should exit them as soon as possible. It is possible to re-enter the previous area by opening a hatch at the bottom of the pool.
The first thing one notices upon exiting the pool is the house. Houses in this section are singular suburban homes with architecture being most similar to those in Level 38 and Level 38.1, although some houses have also been recorded to resemble those of American suburbs. Most houses have 2 floors and a spacious backyard. Houses also have various forms of vegetation such as trees and flowering plants in their yards. It is unknown how these plants survive the environmental conditions of the level.
Around the house is a stone wall slightly taller than the height of an average adult human. Attempts to scale the wall are futile, as it appears to grow in length the closer one is to the top, despite appearing the same to an external observer. This is thought to be due to a variant of Shifting Geometry. Beyond the wall, a road bordered by houses akin to that one is in can be seen, but cannot be accessed. It is theorized that these houses are other houses seen in the level, and that all of Level 37.9's houses are located in an innaccessable neighborhood, although the fact that breaking the wall leads to other urban levels suggests that they may instead belong to another level.
The air around the house has a worse level of pollution than the air in The Pools, although it is less humid. The heat is similarly sweltering, with a maximum temperature of 101.5°F. The composition of the pollutants in the air also differs from that of The Pools, having more dust, sulfur dioxide, and trace amounts of an unknown chemical also found in Liquid Pain. Thus, it is advisable to enter the houses, where the level of pollution is somewhat lower, although protective equipment should still be worn at all times.
Unlike the ones on Level 38, the rooms inside of the houses are spacious, with rooms containing little furniture or debris. The interior walls of the houses are painted a drab white, and have no decorations. While the spacious and empty nature of the homes prevent a potential tripping hazard, it means that potentially useful supplies are also absent from the area. Additionally, notes and supplies left by wanderers can be frequently found in the houses. Some of these items have been reported by different wanderers, suggesting that there are a finite number of houses, the number of which is estimated to be at least 200.
Entities[]
Hydrolitis Plague[]
Like many other aquatic levels, the Hydrolitis Plague, can be found in Level 37.9. The plague seems to thrive in the dirty conditions posed by the level, and is unaffected by the toxic chemicals making up the pollution.
Symptoms of the plague include:
- Fever and chills
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
Silver Slimes[]
Silver Slimes are also found in the level, due to their ability to survive the toxic environment.
Pool Slugs[]
Pool Slugs are an entity unique to Level 37.9. A pool slug is an eyeless, black-colored slug 5 inches in diameter. Pool Slugs are found in The Pools, where they mindlessly graze on bacterial growths on the walls. The slugs are amphibious, being found both above and underwater. Rather than being harmful, the conditions of the level are beneficial to Pool Slugs, as attempts to remove them from the level result in their deaths.
Pool Slugs are not aggressive to wanderers, seeming oblivious of their presence. However, if provoked or shocked, a Pool Slug will extend tiny toxic barbs through its skin. The poison on the barbs of a Pool Slug is similar in composition to the toxins found in the level's water, albeit more concentrated, suggesting that the slugs somehow store these toxins when feeding. The barbs can penetrate human skin, but cannot penetrate thick fabrics. Thus, any wanderers trying to move a Pool Slug should wear thick gloves while doing so. Since the slugs have no natural predators in Level 37.9, some have thought they initially came from a yet undiscovered level where their defensive reactions were needed.
Colonies[]
Despite wanderers being able to interact, establishment of a colony is infeasible due to the ambient environmental risk.
Entrances[]
- Entering a polluted hallway in Level 37.1 leads one here.
- Corridors in Level 34 can lead here.
- Exiting Level 4's windows during the summer has a chance to send one here.
Exits[]
- Entering sewer pipes sends one to Level 49
- Breaking through the wall surrounding one of the houses sends one to Level 9, Level 9.2, Level 38, or Level 85
- Entering a house's attic has a low chance to send one to The Attic or Level 28
- Exiting through a gate sometimes found in the wall surrounding a house leads to Level 38
- Going through a large, circular white door will lead to Level 348
Image 2 from R/Liminalspace