Level 406: When the Music Stops...

Reviewer's advisory:
Gary, read this in dark mode for the full experience.

Level 406 is the 407^th level of the Backrooms.

Description

Level 406 consists of the inside of a lovely, well-lit Victorian house consisting of the following rooms: Master Bedroom, Five-Identical, Spare Bedrooms; Kitchen, Dining Room, Bathroom, Living Room, Study, Well-Furnished Basement, and Sunroom. (Pictures were provided to save time on writing out a description for each room.) You can randomly appear in any room, with the only exception being the sunroom.

Level 406 is in a perpetual state of midmorning. The house is a consistent, cozy 76⁰F (24.4⁰C). You can hear the sweet, regal melody of classical music playing in the distance. There is no "outside world" to explore. This place will be your demise if you do not follow the rules, heed the warnings, and leave before time runs out. These rules are posted up somewhere on the outside or inside of each room. Review the rules before proceeding.

General House Rules

Where ever you go, you will hear classical music playing delicately in the distance. Moving through the home does not get you closer to the music. The source of the melody is unknown.

Collections of Audio Log from Level 406

4 M.E.G. researchers, 5 explorers (one who was a musician), and 3 wanderers reportedly recorded the ambiance heard in Level 406 using different audio recording devices. (Samples included below.) Again, this music does not play to completion and is interrupted with sporadic pauses that also last for (depending on the situation) fixed or random intervals. These 12 individuals' audio recordings were collected to be clipped and spliced together and cleaned of any background noise or interference to reveal what this music sounds like unhindered and complete. The cleaned, spliced, clipped and completed audio has been provided below the provided samples:

Audio Clip Log #1

「Recorded by: Wanderer K.Y.」

「Received and filed by: M.E.G. Level Assessor and Appraiser, George R. Brown」

「Date: 02/02/20██」

「Time: Unknown」

「Requester: Classified」

Audio recording #1 consist of the music heard in Level 406 by wanderer K.Y. Wanderer K.Y. recalled traversing the Master Bedroom and the hallway outside of the 5 Spare, Identical Bedrooms. This recording is roughly 1 min 17 secs. The first 15 - 20 seconds of the complete audio was missing from wanderer K.Y.'s recording for reasons unknown. This recording consists of 4 intermitted pauses that last 5 to 30 seconds. This recording consists of 5 intervals of music lasting 2 to 10 seconds. Wanderer K.Y. insisted this is the only audio recording they had of Level 406 because they were forced to flee into one of 5 Spare, Identical Bedrooms. Wanderer K.Y.'s audio was included below:

Recorded ambience of Level 406, wanderer K.Y.

Audio Clip Log #2

「Recorded by: Wanderer B.B.」

「Received and filed by: M.E.G. Level Assessor and Appraiser, George R. Brown」

「Date: 05/12/20██」

「Time: Unknown」

「Requester: Classified」

Audio recording #2 consist of the music heard in Level 406 by wanderer B.B. Wanderer B.B. recalled exiting the Kitchen into the Dining Room. Wanderer B.B. insisted that he found a spiral staircase in the dining room. This recording is roughly 1 min 28 secs. This recording consists of 5 intermittent pauses that last 2 to 5 seconds. This recording consists of 6 intervals of music lasting 2 to 30 seconds. Wanderer B.B. commented that you are safe to move if the music starts up again but be ready to hide if it immediately stops again. Wanderer B.B.'s audio was included below:

Recorded ambience of Level 406, wanderer B.B.

Audio Clip Log #3

「Recorded by: M.E.G. Junior Level Assessor and Appraiser, Tana V. Minx」

「Received and filed by: M.E.G. Level Assessor and Appraiser, George R. Brown」

「Date: 08/02/20██」

「Time: Unknown」

「Requester: Classified」

Audio recording #3 consist of the music heard in Level 406 by M.E.G. Junior Level Assessor and Appraiser, Tana V. Minx. Junior Level Assessor and Appraiser, Minx, recalled entering the Well-Furnished Basement after exploring the Living Room. Minx insisted that she did not have time to exit the Well-Furnished Basement as the music immediately stopped after she got downstairs. She was forced to take cover in the sofa cushions. This recording is roughly 1 min 28 secs. This recording consists of 3 intermitted pauses that last 5 to 10 seconds. This recording consists of 4 intervals of music lasting 2 to 50 seconds. Minx's audio was included below:

Recorded ambience of Level 406, Minx.

Audio Clip Log #4

「Recorded by: M.E.G. Security Officer, Eno C. Petinrin」

「Received and filed by: M.E.G. Level Assessor and Appraiser, George R. Brown」

「Date: 10/29/20██」

「Time: Unknown」

「Requester: Classified」

Audio recording #4 consist of the music heard in Level 406 by M.E.G. Security Officer, Eno C. Petinrin. Security Officer, Petinrin, recalled entering the Bathroom after exploring the Master Room. Petinrin believed she only survived this 'reality' because she was prepared to hide at a moment notice, and she stayed hidden more times than not. This recording is roughly 1 min 28 secs. This recording consists of 6 intermittent pauses that last 1 to 10 seconds. This recording consists of 7 intervals of music lasting 10 to 30 seconds. Petinrin's audio was included below:

Recorded ambience of Level 406, Petinrin.

Complete Audio: When the Music Stops...

Recorded ambience of Level 406 all clipped together.

With that said, there is only one general house rule…

When the music stops… “HIDE"! The music will stop and start in sporadic intervals. You only have 30 seconds to respond to the music stopping. If the music starts again shortly after stopping, you can resume your normal activities, but keep your guard up for the music to stop again. Each room has its "hiding" protocol. It is better to stay hidden than out in the open.

***

The Hidden Attic

The Hidden Attic: This image was taken by the demon game show host. They gave this picture to wanderer B.B.

The Attic is a difficult room on Level 406 to access. Most explorers do not even know there is an Attic in this home. The handful of explorers who found this space found it by an accident. Explorers recalled a spiral staircase appearing in a random spot in the house. It is strongly advised to not go up these winding stairs as you might encounter the homeowner. The homeowner is none other than the demon game show host from Level 511. When going up these stairs, be prepared for the following:

If you come up the stairs, around the corner, and see 'them':
1. Reading a book, DO NOT disturb them. You will know if you disturbed them. They will clean you up once they are done reading their book.
2. Gesturing with their index finger for you to come. They just want to talk. Listen to them. Obey or die!
3. Cooing, cuddling, and coddling this massive, unholy and grotesque looking beast. He knows what you saw, and he will make sure you will not tell the others.
4. Sleeping, DO NOT wake them up. You did not see him sitting on the other side of the room because he is as quiet as a mouse. DO NOT struggle. He will enjoy it immensely.
5. Cover their face and uncover it while mouthing, “Peekaboo!” 'towards' you. The last thing you will see is his massive hand palming your face. The last thing you will feel is your head being severed from your body.
6. Staring dead at you with this malicious grin on their face. You were followed up here and he will make it quick. No more screaming now, Gary.
7. Lighting candles. The one brooding next to them will decide to assistant them by lighting you.
If you come up the stairs, around the corner, and see no one up there, you are not in the clear... 'they' are right behind you. Do NOT show fear and walk into the room calmly. Fear will excite them.
You can avoid all of the above by walking up the stairs backwards. 'They' are there, they are everywhere and nowhere at all. Offer to talk with them. They will not refuse. They like strange people a lot. They will keep you here until the music stops.
When the music stops, stop whatever you are doing (if you are still alive) and close your eyes. You will feel 'them' walking around you. Keep your eyes closed, and wait for them 'all' to go downstairs.

Master Bedroom

Master bedroom: This image was taken by wanderer B.B. Wanderer B.B. is a confirmed escapee of Level 406.

If you enter this room and the door slams shut behind you, run to the nearest corner of the room and stare into the corner. You have 15 seconds to get to a corner. DO NOT look behind you. Whatever is behind you will lick your ear, smell your hair, and breathe down your neck. You might even hear some clicking behind you. Stare at the wall, and it will go away.
Leave the curtains open. The window will assault you if you get too close to it.
DO NOT get into the bed. Whatever is living under it will grab you by the ankles and pull you under it.
DO NOT look at your reflection in the mirror. Everything your visage does to itself, it is also doing to you.
When the music stops, hide in the closet.

Spare, Identical Bedrooms

One of the Spare, Identical Bedrooms (2 of 5: presumably Amara's): This image was taken by M.E.G. Junior Entities Investigator R.C. via drone. Junior Entities Investigator R.C.'s drone was outside this room soaked in blood. Junior Entities Investigator R.C. is presumed dead.

Before discussing the rules, each door to these rooms has a name labeled on it in scarlet, Papyrus font. The doors have been labeled with the following names and in this order: Javaraya, Amara, Kritanta, Dearil, and Tuwile. No wanderer who has escaped Level 406 can tell you who these individuals or entities are, outside of Amara. It is safe to assume these beings are giants as the furnishings in these rooms seem to be designed for humans several times the size of your average man. There are some evidence other wanderers have encountered these beings but did not survive based on the rules for these rooms provided below:

DO NOT go into any of these rooms.
If any of these doors are open, but the room is clean, check behind you and get ready to run.
If any of these doors are open, but the room is covered in blood, you are next.
If your entrance into Level 406 is any of these rooms, you are already dead.
If any of these doors are closed, do not knock or force entry.
If you send a drone into these rooms to check them out, do not make any attempts to try and get it back.
When the music stops, being near these rooms is the worst place you can be. Close your eyes and sit on the floor in front of these rooms. There is a 50% chance you will be spared.

Kitchen

Kitchen: This image was taken by wanderer N.A. This photo was found in the living room. It cannot be confirmed if wanderer N.A. escaped Level 406, but they are presumed dead.

Do not drink from the sink, Liquid Pain flows from the faucet.
Stay away from expensive China. There is a 75% chance these dishes will explode with the force of a bomb and launch porcelain shards at you.
If all the cabinets and drawers suddenly fling open, exit the kitchen immediately.
If the door to this room locks and you feel an increase in temperature, embrace death.
When the music stops, there is no place for you to hide. Climb onto the counter and lie out on it. Keep your eyes closed. Oddly enough, this prevents the attack.

Dining Room

Dining Room: This image was taken by wanderer T.D. This photo was found under the table in a pool of blood. Scratch marks were found leading out and away from under the table. Wanderer T.D. is presumed dead.

Do not stand under any chandeliers.
Do not touch any food or dishes on the table unless you want to be served for dinner.
If one seat suddenly pulls away from the table, sit down.
If you are seated at the table, wait for a bell to chime to dismiss you.
If all the seats suddenly pull away from the table, RUN!
When the music stop, hide under the table, close your eyes, and do not make any noise. They know you are hiding under the table, but they will let you be for now.

Bathroom

Bathroom: This image was taken by wanderer X.L. This photo was floating in a puddle in the bathroom. Wanderer X.L. might have escaped Level 406 via transfer to Level 7. Wanderer X.L. is presumed missing.

Do not drink from the sink, Cashew Water flows from this faucet.
If the mirror above the faucet turns black, leave the bathroom immediately. Check back in 2 minutes. If the mirror is still black after you have returned, it is now following you. DO NOT go to the dining room if you have not been there already.
If any mirrors in the bathroom are cracked, do not touch them.
If the light in this room starts to flicker, get into the closet.
If you approach this room and there is water on the floor, DO NOT enter.
When the music stops, climb into the tub and close your eyes. DO NOT open your eyes. Yes! They are standing over the bathtub looking down at you. They are only allowed to stand over you for 5 minutes. Wait it out.

Living Room

Living Room: This image was taken by M.E.G. researcher J.K. This photo was neatly tugged in this random book. Researcher J.K. wrote quickly on the back of this photo,

I looked at them. I wish I did not. One gestured for me to keep writing. They were all smiling and waving at me, some were snickering and chuckling. I do not know why they let...

The message ends erupted. Researcher J.K. is presumed dead.

If you approach this room and the world outside the window is red, calmly go to one of the couches or sofas and sit down. Showing fear will excite them.
If you approach this room and something is calling you back out, go into the room.
If you approach this room and something is calling you into the room, do not enter.
If blood begins to pour and seep from the cushions, it will all be over soon.
When the music stop, there is no good place to hide. Sit down on the sofa. A thick book will appear on your lap. Open it up and put it to your face. Pretend you are reading. They are behind you. They were told to kill you if you made eye contact with them. Do not look away from the book. This is your only hope.
You cannot leave this room until one of them dismiss you. Ask Amara. He just wants to play with your psyche. The others want you dead.

Study

Study: This image was taken by wanderer K.M. This photo was found in a desk drawer in the study. What happened to K.M. cannot be confirmed. They are presumed to be missing with a strong possibility of being dead.

Do not touch any of the books in this room. They cause memory loss and mental dissociation.
Do not look out the windows. Something is watching you and it is not the windows.
If the lights go out in this room, hope for the best outcome.
Do not read the writing on the walls.
When the music stops, go over to the desk. Take a seat. Fold your arms and place your head down into your arms. Close your eyes. Do not look up. They are surrounding you. One is hissing and thrilling into your right ear. A second is stroking your head. One is giggling manically. You do not know where the other two are but, you know they are close. They will leave in 20 minutes.

Well-Furnished Basement

Well-Furnished Basement: This image was taken by M.E.G. Junior Level Assessor and Appraiser, Tana V. Minx. Junior Level Assessor and Appraiser Minx claims there is something or someone living in the sofa.

You, Gary, coming down here was your first mistake. You have until the count of 10 to go back upstairs. If you decide to stay down here, the door will slam shut behind you and lock. You must survive for x > 30 minutes.
DO NOT turn on the flatscreen. Something might crawl out of it.
DO NOT touch the pictures in this room. Something might try to pull you in.
DO NOT investigate any screams, cries, wails or pleads for help from the nearby closet, unless you want to join them in there.
When the music stops, hide in the cushions of the sofa. DO NOT look for change. No one knows what happens to the explorers who dared searched that couch.

Sunroom

Sunroom: This image was taken by wanderer B.B. Wanderer B.B. claimed they survived this room because they quickly took the picture before evacuating.

DO NOT enter this room.
If you decide to enter this room, the room's lights could increase in luminosity, and you will cease to exist.
If you decide to enter this room, do not touch any of the plants.
If you decide to enter this room, do not look out the windows. Handprints on the glass mean you are already too late.
If you hear a haunting choir resonate from down the three hallways adjacent to this room, you have 20 seconds to evacuate this room.
When the music stops... there is nowhere for you to run or hide. They will block your means of escape. In delight, they will rip you to pieces. This was a place you could have avoided. You should have left this room when you had the chance.

Nuances

You are being timed, but for how long is not disclosed to you.
Following the "hiding" protocol for any room does not guarantee your safety.
Trapping you in the sunroom is the goal, but sometimes they cannot wait or help themselves.
They know you are reading these, Gary. They enjoy it. They are always wanting to see you in person. Watching. Waiting to see you.

Colonies and Outposts

Do not establish colonies or outposts here. The homeowner will not allow it.

Entrances and Exits

Entrances

You can randomly appear in any room with the exception of the sunroom. Randomly appearing in a room will cause you to not recall what level you came from. There is no level you can exit from to get to the sunroom. If you wish to enter a specific room on Level 406, below is a list of level exit points you can exploit.

No clipping the walls on Level 17 might transport you outside of one of the spare, identical bedrooms of Level 406.
If your karma on Level 995 is -100 to -150, you may be transported to the master bedroom of Level 406.
Falling asleep on one of the chairs in Level 5 might transport you to the living room of Level 406.
Touching expensive dishes in a house in Level 9 might transport you to the kitchen or dining room of Level 406.
Trying the sink's faucets in Level 99 might transport you to the bathroom of Level 406.
Wiping the dust off any desk in Level 4 might transport you to the study of Level 406.
The Basement is difficult to exit. If you managed to escape, you might be transported to the stair landing leading down into the well-furnished basement.
Entering a room playing Victorian ballroom music in The Balcony may transport one here.

Exits

Tripping and falling onto the carpet in the master bedroom might cause you to no-clip the floor and be sent to Level 39.
When the music stops outside of the spare identical bedrooms, closing your eyes and sitting on the floor in front of these rooms might send you to Level !.
Crawling into a lower cabinet in the kitchen might send you to the kitchen in Level 53 or Level 88.
Touching any cracked mirrors in the bathroom might transport you to Level 14. Unfortunately, you will not recall exiting Level 406 to get to Level 14.
Stepping on water on the bathroom floor might transport you to Level 7.
Attempting to read the writings on the walls of the study might transport you to Level 407.
If the lights go out in the study, you will be transported to Level 6 or The Void.
Touching the plants in the sunroom will transport you to Level 461.

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Original Author: MoonlightSerenity
Direct and Open Peer-Review was provided by: Cringeaccount123456789, ALwaysWand3ringg, RiverMan18, and Starnest