LEVEL
427
SURVIVAL DIFFICULTY
CLASS 2
Exit: 3/5
Difficult to Exit
Environment: 3/5
High Environmental Risk
Entities: 1/5
Mild Hostile Presence
An image of Level 427.
Level 427 takes on the appearance of a finite, water-locked tropical rainforest. Foggy skies, high humidity, treacherous terrain, overwhelming vegetation, high temperatures, and foul stenches are the primary characteristics of the jungle island. The level has a slightly lower gravity than Earth in the Frontrooms, with an estimated 8.8 m/s². A celestial body resembling an F-type main sequence star illuminates Level 427. A day and night cycle where daytime lasts for 19 hours, and nighttime lasts for 6 hours, totaling 25–26 hours. The celestial body never truly sets below the horizon, as it only sets 12–18 degrees, meaning that Level 427 never experiences absolute nighttime, with an astronomical twilight at maximum.
The climate of Level 427 is hot, tropical, and humid. The average temperature of the island is 40.5°C (104.9°F), depending on location. On average, the level's humidity is 97%, which is exceedingly high compared to other levels in the Backrooms and the Frontrooms. The high humidity and high temperatures create a tropical jungle-like environment in Level 427, where efflorescent megaflora thrives magnificently, hectic monsoons batter the landscape, and the blossoming biodiversity and frequent tempests drench the nutrients of its soil. The level features two seasons, each lasting a trimester. The first is the Calm Season, where the level receives low levels of precipitation and high levels of sunlight. During this season, the skies are unclouded, and visibility is higher due to lower fog. The second is the Hectic Season, where rainstorms constantly batter the island with high wind speeds and grueling landslides. The dangers of Level 427 heighten during this season due to higher sea levels, low visibility, extreme weather, and various biological hazards.
Another image of Level 427.
Level 427 posits a dynamic hydrosphere. Water evaporates in droves from the ocean, forming dense fog and brewing nimbostratus clouds in the sky, pouring down monsoons during the hectic season. The water cycle is much more relaxed during the calm season. The water in monsoons empties into streams and rivers, which empty into endorheic basins, although a few rivers empty into the ocean. On occasion, monsoons will rain hail, pelting the landscape. When a hailball impacts the surface, it releases a small amount of mist into the atmosphere, contributing to the mass of the already dense fog. After some time, the foggy mist will condense onto surfaces and dissipate rapidly. Level 427 has variable wind speeds, depending on the weather; for example, winds are strong during rain and calmer during clearer skies.
Level 427 sports varied geographical features. Most of the terrain is steep, resembling minor folded mountains and rocky terrain thriving with plant life, with occasional flat surfaces, including plains and plateaus. Small, dormant volcanic mountains occasionally dot the island. Thick vegetation appears more prominently in flatter lands and is slightly less common on rugged terrain. Aside from the island's shorelines and river banks, no absolute flat terrain exists on Level 427; the island's inner areas feature rocks, basins, cracks, and steep elevations carved by small rivers and creeks, disrupting the island's already tedious terrain. Akin to the Earth of the Frontrooms, vegetation is less common at higher elevations. The tips of the hills and mountains are mysteriously hot and release steam despite lacking volcanic activity.
Several differing types of flora dominate the expansive island of Level 427. These include trees, bushes, flowers, ferns, bamboo, and kudzu. The flora usually resembles their Frontrooms counterparts, although some look unusual and otherworldly. Some trees grow to staggering heights, standing out from the rest; some flowers grow bigger than Rafflesias; some trees have trunks that go hundreds of meters deep while being relatively tiny on the surface; and the soil surrounding these otherworldly oddities takes on a bluish, crumbly appearance. The bark of the trees is soft, and strong winds can easily upturn smaller trees. Upturned trees regrow unusually fast; their corpse usually biodegrades to make way for their replacement, or dead trees are anomalously reoriented and revitalized in rare cases. Flora in Level 427 is fire-resistant, thus rendering wildfires impossible.
Throughout the island of Level 427, one may find random abandoned structures. These abandoned structures resemble small shacks constructed with hollow blocks, grooved metal roofs, wooden support beams, stone foundations, aged wooden furniture, and random trash scattered around the shack. These shacks contain beneficial items, including Almond Water, MREs, Moth Jelly, Kalthoff Rifles with ammunition, and Backshroom Spore Grenades. One may also find farming tools and blueprints to build other shacks, which are vital for establishing settlements.
Level 427 features three biomes, which differentiate the level's terrain, geology, weather, and appearance. Each biome has its unique features from others. The three distinct biomes are The Ruthless Selva, The Expansive Azure, and the Shattered Chasms.
Overview[]
A famous image of an inner area of The Ruthless Selva.
The Ruthless Selva is the largest and most prominent biome of Level 427. It takes up roughly two-thirds of the island, mainly its deep interior. It is the biome with the most plants and vegetation. It receives the most precipitation and fog. The layout of The Ruthless Selva gradually changes as one gets deeper and deeper into it, initially starting sparse but still dense, increasing in traversal difficulty until the vegetation is so packed that the root systems of some trees merge. The biome has the fewest decrepit shacks and will contain few beneficial resources and weapons. The Ruthless Selva is the origin point of all rivers and creeks within Level 427.
Occasionally, one may find dirt paths within the biome. These paths are generally narrow, as only one individual can fit within their boundaries. Medium-sized rocks and twigs litter the pathways, disrupting their evenness. These paths are slightly overgrown with grass. When met with steep elevation, these paths become dilapidated, steep stone stairways lined with flimsy bamboo railing. Bamboo signs positioned near junctions where two paths meet or end display gibberish text and arrows. Rarely, arrows lead to a shack placed near the pathway.
Round volcanic lakes dot the outer sparse areas of The Ruthless Selva. On average, these lakes are 650 meters (2150 feet) in diameter, with a depth of 80 meters (260 feet). Rivers and creeks that don't drain into the ocean drain into these lakes. The lakes are devoid of marine animals and underwater plants. Similar to Level 37's waters, traces of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) exist in the lacustrine formations, having a naturally relaxing effect after engulfing one's body for enough time, relieving muscles, and alleviating bodily pains. Due to this, the lakes have been made a hotspot for wanderers wishing to relax after enduring the harsh jungle island.
Overview[]
A high-quality image of The Expansive Azure.
The Expansive Azure is a boundless ocean surrounding the main island of Level 427. Theoretically, its depth stretches indefinitely. The biome experiences the fewest storms, monsoons, and overall precipitation of any biome. The average temperature of the ocean waters is 17.5°C (63.5°F). The water's low turbidity allows wanderers to gaze at the ocean floor at 40 meters (130 feet). The Expansive Azure is devoid of multicellular lifeforms save for scraps of seaweed one may find near the coastline. The biome's waters have high pH and salinity levels and are thus unsafe to consume, although swimming in these waters is generally safe.
Several beaches line the coast of the island. They primarily consist of white, soft sand. On average, these beaches are 90 meters (300 feet) in width. The sand traps heaps of heat during a sunny day and may scorch a barefooted wanderer. Beaches line approximately a third of Level 427's coastline. Twigs and sharp rocks dot the pristine sands of the coastline. Wetter sections of a beach usually contain quicksand, which may be hazardous to wanderers. On the beaches, one may find rotten wooden signs displaying unintelligible information in what appears to be Frontrooms languages, seemingly pointing to specific directions.
The Expansive Azure's ocean floor primarily consists of beach sand, clay, rocks, and gravel. Other peculiar sights include dead corals, marine life carcasses, stone statues, shipwrecks, and pool tiles. The biome's seabed has only been mapped up to portions that reach 250 meters (820 feet) deep and 90 kilometers (55 miles) from the main island; more abnormalities likely exist, hidden from wanderers. It is unknown how man-made structures entered the bottom of Level 427's ocean floor. The locals of the level have superstitions for what exists on the ocean floor and what may be beyond it.
Overview[]
A popular image of The Shattered Chasms.
The Shattered Chasms are the smallest biome in Level 427. Tall, skyscraper-like rock formations clouded with dense fog and riddled with dense rainforest characterize the biome. The biome's lower areas extend below sea level. The biome has the highest wind speeds of any other biome, averaging 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour), and the lowest temperatures, averaging 11°C (52°F). Instead of small abandoned shacks, one may find caves carved into the pillars and cliffs, where one may discover items and furniture typically found in abandoned shacks throughout the rest of Level 427, including Almond Water.
Streams, monsoons, moisture, and waterfalls draw water into The Shattered Chasms. Eventually, water ends up pouring into a lacustrine deposit. It is unknown where the excess water goes, as according to various scientific models, water should have filled up the biome by the present day. Theorists posit that excess water drains into a hidden underground groundwater deposit — however — there exists no infallible evidence to back this claim. Another theory suggests that excess water noclips into other Backrooms levels or The Void.Four different events occur on Level 427. Some events are detrimental to a wanderer's survival. These events have had a significant cultural impact on Level 427's local population. These four events are the Water Spouts, Meteor Strikes, Super Monsoons, and the Halcyonight.
Overview[]
A Water Spout battering The Expansive Azure.
Water Spouts are an uncommon weather event that occurs on Level 427. They mainly occur on bodies of water, primarily The Expansive Azure, and rarely on lakes or rivers. They occur during storms and monsoons with drizzles. Waterspouts connect exclusively to storm clouds, dissipating once they lose their host cloud. The speed and trajectory of a Water Spout depend on the surrounding wind speed, which may lead to the spout entering land, although this poses no harm to the environment. Theories suggest that whenever a Water Spout occurs, it becomes the center of its storm due to reports of the storm moving along the spout and the spout being one of the farthest points from the edge of its storm. Theoretically, a storm can host only one or two Water Spouts.
When a Water Spout enters and makes landfall, it may shake trees, uproot small vegetation, throw around wanderers, damage shacks, and, on rare occasions, noclip wanderers out of Level 427. Fortunately, Water Spouts rapidly weaken in intensity on landfall, shortening their lifespan to 90 seconds to 4 minutes. Landfall also reduces a spout's power and speed. When a spout reenters water, it will regain its power until it decays. Water Spouts has had a significant cultural impact on wanderers living in Level 427, for it has birthed many cultural aspects for the level's older population.
Overview[]
An image of a Meteor Strike.
Meteor Strikes are an uncommon event that takes place on Level 427. It occurs when a meteor falls from the sky, leaving a bright trail behind, eventually crashing down in The Expansive Azure, distant from a wanderer's perspective. The resulting explosion is comparable to approximately 70–120 kilotons of TNT, visible from the coast, emanating a loud bang measuring 165 decibels. Anomalously, the explosion doesn't result in the release of a shockwave; nothing is affected on the main island of Level 427. The explosion of the meteor occurs on the ground and not midair. The event usually lasts 10 minutes; the meteor first appears, then gradually brightens up, and ultimately, the meteor impacts the surface.
Many accounts state meteors acting differently, including meteors taking unusual trajectories, the impact emitting no sound, the meteor impacting the surface but without an explosion, the trail taking on weird colors, the meteor spontaneously disappearing, and multiple of the above reports occurring with a singular meteor sighting. Additionally, some theorize the meteor sightings to be mere hallucinations due to accounts stating that only specific wanderers report the meteor's existence while some people will not. Currently, the Meteor Strikes event is classified as an event due to lack of evidence for it being a mere hallucination and the existence of photo evidence.
Overview[]
A Super Monsoon battering Level 427.
The Super Monsoons are a rarely occurring event on Level 427. It transpires when a monsoon covers over 80% of the main island. It is more potent than an average monsoon, possessing Category 4 or 5 hurricane-strength winds. Unlike regular monsoons or storms with Water Spouts and lightning strikes, Super Monsoons lack these weather anomalies. Super Monsoons' duration ranges from 2 to 36 hours. Before the storm transpires, the island will experience a week without any storms, indicating that a catastrophic event is brewing and waiting to happen at an unidentified time.
Only 47 Super Monsoons have been reported to batter Level 427 throughout its recorded history. Throughout its long history, the level's local populations saw Super Monsoons as significant in their culture, being the subject matter for rituals and end-times events. Locals flee to caves or attempt to exit the level whenever a storm of such magnitude occurs. However, structures built by outside Backrooms groups to settle in Level 427 can withstand a Super Monsoon. Weirdly, minuscule shacks can survive a monsoon, although they are not ideal places to take shelter.
Overview[]
An image of Level 427's night sky during the Halcyonight, taken with a special telescope.
The Halcyonight is an event where an innumerable number of stars in Level 427's night sky brighten ephemerally. The luminosity of the stars increases 60-fold, a light so powerful it shines light on the level. It lasts for two hours, gradually increasing the stars' brightness for the first fifteen minutes to their brightness slowly decreasing for the last forty minutes, creating a 55-minute period where the stars are at their brightest. The stars appear in several different colors, except green and purple. Aside from stars, nebulae and galaxies are visible during the event. The night sky slowly brightens during a Halcyonight to a dim yellow. The constellation Ursa Major from Level 200 can also be seen during the event, whose stars stand out as the brightest stars during the event.
Throughout Level 427's recorded history, the Halcyonight has occurred only 43 times, making it the level's rarest event. It has become a more frequent event over the past 20 years, with 23 of the 43 total sightings of the Halcyonight happening throughout the last 20 years, with the first account starting 80 years ago. Level 427's locals tie the event to luck, prosperity, and happiness. The Halcyonight is notorious as it anomalously awakens anyone fast-asleep wanderers. It is a potent effect that wears off as the Halcyonight slowly diminishes, with a sleeping wanderer falling back asleep once the event concludes. The term "Halcyonight" is a portmanteau of the English words "Halcyon" and "Night".Several entities populate the vast island of Level 427, both amicable and hostile. These entities include Dullers, both male and female Death Moths, Hounds, Skin-Stealers, Hydrolitis Plague, Capgras, Kats, Blood Wasps, Spines, Lighters, Sanguine Festivus, Jantlers, Cone-Spiders, and The Mare. Hostile entities are absent during nights with The Halcyonight, and such absence can be used to indicate whether the event will occur the following night. Hostile entities are less common during monsoons.
Indigenous Settlements
The Huts of the Crossroads
The Huts of the Crossroads are an indigenous settlement on Level 427. Their name is derived from the residents living in huts alongside an intersection between two paths. They are one of the level's oldest colonies, presumed to be three hundred years old. They are generally peaceful towards outsiders and are willing to trade if one doesn't show hostility. They tend to help wanderers by informing them about their surroundings, how to survive the level and directions to exit to a safer level or a modern settlement. Currently, 145 residents populate The Huts of the Crossroads.
The Lakebanks
The Lakebanks are a major indigenous settlement on Level 427. They derive their name from their geographical position on the banks of a lake. Their colony is the newest of the indigenous colonies, presumed to be seventy years old. While they are peaceful towards outsiders, trade is kept only between residents of Level 427 and members of the Major Explorer Group. They are the only indigenous colony with a functional government; they have a singular figure in power in charge of the laws and outside relations. They have close ties with the M.E.G. and the Backroom Colonists. Currently, The Lakebanks is home to 488 permanent residents.
The Chasm Watchers
The Chasm Watchers are a minor indigenous settlement on Level 427. They derive their name from their geographical position near a cliff on The Shattered Chasms. Their colony is the oldest of the indigenous colonies, at around 450-600 years old. They have secluded themselves from their surroundings and will not communicate or trade with outsiders. Unlike other indigenous wanderers within Level 427, the Chasm Watchers reside in caves or mud mounds. They have developed poisonous bows and arrows to defend against outsiders. The Chasm Watcher's extremely isolationist nature hinders further research and exploration of them.
The Shack Settlers
The Shack Settlers is a midsize indigenous settlement within Level 427. They derive their name from their housing, using the pre-existing decrepit shacks as housing. They reside in an area with a high density of shacks. They are a relatively old settlement at around two hundred years old. They are open to communications and trading and let wanderers reside with them if housing is available. The Shack Settlers have a small population of outsiders, resulting in a mixed group of locals and outsiders. They have plans to expand their group and colonize other levels of the Backrooms. Currently, The Shack Settlers is home to 258 individuals.
Outsider-Built Colonies and Outposts
Backroom Colonists Base Abarth
Backroom Colonists Base Abarth is a midsize colony within Level 427. The Backroom Colonists own and manage this colony. They are a relatively new settlement, dating back around forty years. They are one of two colonies on the level that have developed a sustainable food and water source. Their main goals are to research more about Level 427 and utilize it as a hub colony due to its many exits. They are currently developing weapons using materials and resources found on the level. Their colony resides within four apartment complexes, resembling a moderate tropical rural hotel resort. Currently, Backroom Colonists Base Abarth is home to 281 residents.
Major Explorer Group Base Phi
M.E.G. Base Phi, or Base φ, is a large colony within Level 427. It is one of the level's oldest settlements, dating back to the foundation's early days in the 1900s, at around 110 years old. It is a prominent colony for the expansive Backrooms group. They have developed an efficient food and water source, exporting these vital resources to other colonies and settlements within Level 427. The base is open to trading with wanderers, and their health division will heal any injured wanderers. It is one of the only places where wanderers can recruit to participate in the organization. The base has seen several renovations throughout the century; currently, the base resembles a modern beachside resort surrounded by work and service facilities. It is the largest colony on Level 427, boasting 1,100 residents.
BRC-Quaternius
BRC-Quaternarius is a small colony within Level 427. It is the fourth and newest colony of the Backrooms Association of the Red Cross. It is the level's newest settlement at nine years old. They import most of their resources from outsiders, even indigenous settlements. Their main goal on Level 427 is to expand their population, build production facilities, be utilized as a hub due to the level's many entrances and exits, and research medicinal properties Level 427's flora may possess. They are open to trading and will happily accept new members under the condition that they provide labor. They currently have a makeshift hospital where injured wanderers recover. Currently, they boast 121 residents.
B.W.0-01
B.W.O-01 is a sizeable colony within Level 427. It is the level's second-largest colony and is the de-facto capital of the Backrooms Wanderers Organization. The colony shares the same age as its group at 30 years old. The colony is home to the group's governmental office, research facilities, production facilities, and arsenal. While their capital exists in Level 427, they may consider changing it or having multiple capitals. Like many other communities within the level, they are willing to trade and accept new members within the colony. It has received assistance from other significant colonies to develop, resulting in a modern, semi-luxurious style for the colony. The colony currently houses 688 wanderers.
> ENTRANCES
- Noclipping through a green storage door in Level 104 sends one here.
- Going through a humidified glass door on Level 118 sends one here.
- Random noclipping in Level 119 sends one here.
- Noclipping through a dead tree in Level 426 sends one here.
- Noclipping through a hospital window in Level 435 sends one here.
- Going down a hatch in Level 503 sends one here.
- Noclipping through an oddly-colored uranium enrichment centrifuge in Level 289 leads one here.
- Noclipping while running fast in Level 332 sends one here.
- Doors in a deviational space in Level 176 lead one here.
- Noclipping through a tall tree in Level 199 leads one here.
- A rare sinkhole in Level 189 leads one here.
- Tripping through a staircase in Level 263 leads one here.
> EXITS
- Noclipping through ores in a cave sends one to Level 186.
- Entering a tight passageway in a cave sends one to Level 667.
- Noclipping through a beige concrete wall sends one to Level 350.
- Noclipping through the Expansive Azure's ocean floor sends one to Level 722.
- Tripping on a rock rarely sends one to Level 869.
- Climbing up a random staircase within the deep reaches of The Ruthless Selva will lead one to Level 54.
- Noclipping through a bright, turbid lake may send one to Level -44.
- Random culverts lead to Level 34.
- You've swam through an innumerable distance and finally found land.
