Description[]
Level 375, hostile only in its architecture, is a twisted, rickety slum built entirely on stilts in an ocean. The structure is built without a pattern or logic with any sort of infrastructure in mind. The paths are made entirely out of wooden sticks being, more often than not, made of bamboo. They are lashed and wound together in parallel, one with another. Sometimes the sticks are made from scrap wood, easily buckling or breaking beneath an unlucky wanderer. The drop below is not far. The salty ocean water is frequently less than a meter below the paths.
Though traversing the seemingly endless labyrinth of wooden paths, packed with makeshift dwellings and huts is maddening on its own, the smell of the whole level compounds the madness to a whole new level. It is said the stench is unbearable. The water is putrid, full of trash and waste. Dead fish assault the eyes of the wanderer daring to peek below. If a wanderer feels the need to vomit, they may do so in the water, as it is also polluted with human excrement.
The level has a day and night cycle, each lasting 12 hours. Temperatures stay warm, reminiscent of the tropics from the frontrooms. Every day, either in the morning or the evening, depending on the week, the water recedes. The water during low tide will only leave a few centimeters of standing water on the ocean floor which resides about 2 meters below the structures. Garbage and swarms of rats can be found littering the surface. Brave wanderers may find supplies in the form of scrap such as metal, wood, fishing hooks, fishing string, and rope. The tide returns gradually, raising the water to its normal height.
Rats seem to rarely ever be found above the stilts, even in the houses which are almost always one room. Doors are almost always locked but can easily be broken into as they are usually made from scrap wood or tin. Inside the houses a wanderer will usually find a bed, made out of thin bamboo slats. There are never any mattresses present, but the slats can feel rather comfortable once a wanderer has become accustomed. There is usually some sort of cooking apparatus such as a makeshift grill with coal inside. It is possible to find a propane burner, but no wanderer has ever recorded finding a propane tank with any propane inside.
Lining the paths, snaking across the entire level, are clotheslines, filled with laundry. The clothing found on these lines is usually small in size and petite, though larger sizes can be found. The material feels stiff, and it is always sun-bleached. Due to the UV exposure, the clothes have been determined to be rather clean and microbe-free. Be aware that the occasional rain will plague the area, wetting the clean clothes.
Though Level 375 seems desolate, several resources can be collected. Aside from the clean clothes and scrap found on the ocean floor at low tide, it is possible to find little corner stores. These stores are recognizable due to the large, hinged wooden or tin covers that secure a window. Breaking the locks or breaking into the house may yield a small cache of a few essential items found on shelves, facing the sealed window.
- Food - Wanderers may find small cans of tuna, sardines, packs of ramen, or junk foods like chips. It is also possible to find vinegar, soy sauce, salt, and oil. These stores are small, and these items are usually few.
- Water - Fresh water is a scarce resource, despite being on an ocean. These stores will sometimes have freezers with tied-up bags of water. The freezers never have power, but the water seems to be fresh. Rarely, a 5-gallon bottle, meant for water dispensers can be found. These are always sealed and fresh.
- First Aid - The rarest commodity possibly found in these corner stores is first aid supplies. The most common item is isopropyl alcohol. Some common medicines or bandages can be found. Again, these supplies are exceedingly rare.
- Miscellaneous - Other supplies like matches or school supplies such as loose-leaf paper or hot glue sticks can sometimes be found in low quantities.
Entities[]
There are rats present on this level, but no other entities have been noted.
Colonies and Outposts[]
It is presumed that many colonies and outposts have been attempted on this safe level. None ever seem to last. Ekko's Cove was only discovered via a long-forgotten journal and seemed to have lasted close to a year. Though a colony seems possible, due to the rarity and randomness of finding an exit, trade is unfeasible, and resources are scarce.
A journal discovered on a table in a common home. A corpse was found nearby on a bed. Cause of death assumed to be scurvy.
- Entry 1
- Entry 2
- Entry 3-5
- Entry 6-10
- Entry 11
After our less-than-pleasant chase from the Rizal Elitists in Level 859, we broke through a shop door with the intent of hiding. Thankfully the machete we stole made breaking into the shop fairly easy despite the half meter of water at our waists. It was dark and Ekko was pretty scared. I was proud of him for keeping quiet. This wasn't our first run-in with those bullies. We waited several hours, listening and waiting for any signs of life. Knowing that sitting in the dark was asking for a sneak attack by a smiler or something, we decided to try our luck and get back to our main group. To our surprise, the door opened to an outside space.
"Aaron! I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" Ekko shouted at me. I had never even been to Kansas, and I had no idea what he even meant by that. But he was right, we weren't at the market anymore. We were on a wharf with tattered, makeshift buildings sprawled about. The path was shaky at best, made out of mostly bamboo.
"Ekko, I don't know anything about this level. Stay alert, we might be here awhile. I didn't even know about an exit like that from the market. Good lord, do you smell that?" I wanted to vomit. Looking down I saw plastic, diapers, rotten, moldy foodstuffs, dead fish. I could feel my last meal trying to climb my esophagus.
We started checking doors, looking for resources. Food wasn't going to be a huge problem, there was dried fish everywhere. Most doors were locked but our machete made quick work of all the locks. Houses were usually empty; plenty of clothes though. After about 3 hours of searching, we found what looks to be a store, and jackpot, we found some bags of water. Not the usual method of carrying water, but it parched our thirst.
We took shelter in a larger house, taking turns keeping watch throughout the night. I could sleep pretty well knowing Ekko had my back. He always has.The first night wasn't too bad. We used a grill that we found that already had some coal inside. Luckily, we found some matches in another corner store. I had flint and steel just in case, but matches were way easier to make a fire with. We lit the grill, using some old clothes as kindling. We grilled some dried fish and ate that for breakfast. It was super salty. I sucked up a whole bag of water almost instantly.
We continued exploring the maze of huts and paths. We watched the water level drop towards the evening. Tons of rats at the bottom. We stayed topside. Nothing of interest for us down there.
"You know, with the occasional store and plenty of food, we could probably establish a colony here. Maybe make a big flag out of some old clothes to attract more wanderers?" I was thinking red, blue, white, and yellow.
"Yeah, that's not a bad idea. I think it could work. Maybe let's find a spot with a wider space so it doesn't feel so crowded? Maybe one with a little store too so we can trade with people." Ekko looked pretty hopeful. He was an optimistic kind of person.
With the sun dying out we broke into another house and crashed as was per procedure.We have been wandering for about a week now and I think we've finally found what we were looking for. It was a wide square with a spot of open water in the middle. There were 2 stores. We weren't super worried about entities as we have yet to see signs of even one so far. One of the stores had a Sharpie and I ripped up an old shirt after which Ekko started drawing a map. This would come in handy for scouting and finding water and other resources.
Ekko was the artist; I was the brute. We made for a good team. I spent a day scouting around the area, taking note of each turn, rarely finding supplies along the way. When I got back, Ekko had made a large flag and hung it on a large pole I think he stole from one of the houses. It marked our colony of 2. Hopefully, we can find others soon. Thankfully Ekko and I got along pretty well. We were brothers at this point.
Over the next few weeks, we would make the area a little more hospitable for when we finally do meet other wanderers, if that ever happens. This place seems to go on and on and it doesn't seem to have an end. Who knows if we ever find anyone?
Entry 4:
I think we've been here a month and unfortunately, Ekko fell through a bad piece of wood, cutting up his leg pretty badly. He didn't fall completely into the water, just his leg. Thankfully we have plenty of cloth to bandage it up. It'll leave a gnarly scar.
Still no signs of any entities which is great. I think they're either super rare or nonexistent, well, besides the rats. They might make a decent food source now that I think about it. I wonder if I can catch one? I bet I could make a few traps out of wire and metal for when the tide drops again.
Entry 5:
It's been a week and I think Ekko's leg is infected. It's all full of puss and it smells bad. The leg is swollen and red. He says it hurts to touch. I'm hoping it gets better soon. I'm going to search for more supplies. Maybe I'll luck out and find some alcohol to clean the wound with.
After another whole day of exploring further and further away from our camp, I went back again with just a little bit of water. No medicine again.
Good news! Ekko says his leg doesn't hurt anymore! I think he's getting better. Well, time to cook our favorite meal to celebrate. Dried fish...
Entry 7:
A few more days have passed, and Ekko has a fever that isn't getting any better. His leg looks like it's rotting, and I have a really bad feeling.
Entry 8:
Ekko didn't make it. I watched him fight for days. Eventually, he gave up. I don't know what to do... he was a brother to me. I cried, deeply. I will miss my brother.
I waited for the low tide and buried Ekko in the mud. It wasn't the most noble burial, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances. I didn't sleep a wink that night.
Entry 9:
It's been another few weeks and I finally got to meet 4 other wanderers. Ann, Rico, Seph, and Eric. They had been traveling for a long time in Level 67 and somehow ended up here. After some convincing and giving the grand tour, I persuaded them to stick around.
Once everyone settled in, we decided to name the colony Ekko's Cove, after my fallen brother. It meant a lot to me to have him honored in such a way. I wasn't the most social person, so I hoped that they didn't mind that I kept to myself. They all seemed pretty nice and willing to help scout out supplies, though supplies were starting to run low as I had already scoured at least 10km around the base colony at this point.
Entry 10:
It's been months and we're out of food and water. I hate to abandon what we have worked so hard to build but we just can sustain ourselves with such little resources. Ann had started feeling sick too. Her teeth started looking funny like her gums were shrinking. She feels nauseous all the time and she's weak. We have all decided to try and leave.Ann has died. We all feel sick. We have to find an exit and somehow, I think Eric did. He opened a door and disappeared without a trace. Poof! We tried to follow but couldn't. It just opened up to another shack. I don't know how much longer we will make it. I started complaining at one point, ranting.
"How can this be? This was a safe level. No entities, no hazards, food, water, I don't understand! This was the place!"
Rico replied like it was nothing, just so easy and casual. "Just because it's safe, doesn't mean it ain't deadly."Entrances and Exits[]
Entrances[]
- Breaking into a stall or store in Level 859 during a flood event has a chance to transport a wanderer here.
- There is a chance of entering a ship in Level 67 then exiting, leading a wanderer here.
- A door found on Level 350 made out of scrap wood or metal can lead a wanderer here.
- Swimming in a large body of water in Level 75 can lead one to Level 375.
Exits[]
- Opening a house and going inside has the possibility of transporting a wanderer to a random outdoor, water-related level. There is no pattern discovered about any of these houses and these exits seem to only work once for one person at a time. There is no pattern of distance or time spent on Level 375. This too seems random. If anyone discovers any pattern or reliable method of leaving Level 375 via this method, please make a note and share it with those who are unfortunate enough to get stuck in Level 375.
Author and Photo: TheDadams
Photo taken in Orion, Bataan - Philippines
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