Level 431 is the 432nd level of the Backrooms.
This is the only photo of Level 431 to ever be successfully taken. The photographer and the means by which they took it remain unknown. Photo was recovered near the jungle center.
Description
Level 431 is a tropical island, estimated to be 950 kilometers in diameter, that is surrounded by a vast ocean. The beaches are clear of any and all debris, and the sand is among the softest one may ever feel in their entire life. The land beyond the beach is entirely covered by a jungle with various hills, caves, and other minor geological landmarks to explore.
The island itself appears to be perfectly circular in shape as well, although one half of it cannot be accounted for, as the entire level appears to be anomalously “looped.” Explorers have referred to this a “mirroring effect,” because any attempts to travel to the other side of the island — whether around its shoreline or through the jungle — always bring Wanderers back to the side they just left. Even the ocean has shown to have a similar effect; any attempts to explore it and see how far it goes have led explorers back to the island, no matter where they go.
This image depicts the common result of attempting to photograph Level 431. How the sun interferes with cameras in such a way is currently unknown.
Another notable feature of Level 431 is the sun. Firstly, it heavily interferes with cameras, making it impossible to photograph the Level; even at night, cameras using a night-vision capability will not work properly. All attempts have yielded nothing but white, static, or bright lens flares in the resulting photo. Secondly, it poses an environmental hazard for those that remain in direct sunlight for too long: after approximately 90 minutes of direct exposure, Wanderers will begin to notice parts of their bodies (usually starting with the hands and forearms) melt off into a flesh-colored paste. The process is fairly painful and cannot be reversed. If proper precautions are not taken, the whole body will eventually melt, and the paste left behind will evaporate over time. It is not clear if Wanderers are dead or alive through the whole process.
The sun’s effects cannot be counteracted by merely being covered in clothes, but there are ways to avoid such a gruesome fate:
- Eating the special Ice Cream and/or Snow Cones sold only by the Beach Bums will provide an estimated 1 hour of immunity to the sun’s melting effect. Once the immunity has worn off, the 90-minute countdown before melting begins will have been refreshed.
- Standing in the shade of the jungle trees will protect any Wanderer. The 90-minute countdown can be reset if you stay in the shade for as long as you were in the sunlight.
- Oddly enough, being underwater in the ocean will provide protection as well, despite still being in contact with the sunlight. However, the countdown cannot be reset this way.
Entities
Very few entities reside here. Occasionally, friendly Facelings can be seen strolling the beach or exploring the jungle, somehow unaffected by the sun. There have also been unconfirmed reports of Skin-Stealers residing at the very center (an area of about 4 square kilometers) of the island’s jungle, so it is highly recommended to stay away from that area.
Hounds are also present, though they have somehow been tamed by the Beach Bums and act as guard dogs for their shack (which brings the true nature of the Beach Bums into question). They are actually fairly friendly and are only hostile to a person if their masters are provoked.
Even the ocean, despite having many coral reefs, caves, and such, is devoid of entities except one: the Whale of Level 431. This creature is rarely seen and is suspected of being the reason there are no other sea creatures present. Wanderers have also been swallowed by the Whale before, yet they survived the encounter to find themselves in another Level.
Colonies and Outposts
The Beach Bums
- Owns a single, tiny, wooden shack on the beach that they never leave, which is suspected of having an underground basement of sorts where they sleep and store resources; this structure has proven to be anomalous in its sturdiness, as the walls, windows, and doors cannot be broken through any conventional method;
- Only 13 individuals have been seen and accounted for, with only 2 being seen at a given time working in the shack;
- Friendly to everyone and open to any and all trade, but note that they will turn hostile if one attempts to steal/break into their property, or continually press them for answers on how they get their resources;
- Also trades Ice Cream and Snow Cones that provide temporary immunity to the sun’s melting effects; these items are unique to this Level and will instantly melt and lose all special properties once removed from it; attempts at their replication have all failed;
- Theories suggest that they are actually Inhumans from Level 9.1, rather than normal humans.
The Islanders
- This group has taken advantage of this Level as free real estate;
- Consists of 26 members, each skilled in construction and display great hospitality and friendliness; each are also armed and ready to fight anyone and anything that threatens them;
- Has built multiple shacks, shanties, and other forms of lodging across the island for Wanderers to rent from them in return for supplies and favors.
- Open to general trade, as well as renting out their aforementioned facilities.
Outpost Beachfront [R.I.F.T-TG]
- This is an Outpost established by R.I.F.T-TG to monitor and research the Level, as well as provide guidance to Wanderers;
- Consists of approximately 24 members, not including temporary personnel sent by R.I.F.T-TG; they are friendly to everyone unless provoked, in which case they will respond with deadly force;
- Has built a bunker in one of the larger hills on the island, and they are very well armed;
- Open to trade and basic assistance.
Entrances and Exits
Entrances
- Being rendered unconscious in Level 7's ocean has a 5% chance of sending you here;
- Noclipping into the aquarium on Level 43;
- Lying face-down in the water on Level 67 may send you here;
- Drinking the water on Level 130 has a 25% chance of sending you here;
- Continually sitting in the hot tub on Level 176 after 45 consecutive minutes will send you here;
- Drowning on Level 425;
- Going backwards from where you came in Level 430 will bring you here;
- All of these will have you wake up with you and your possessions washed up on the shores of the island.
Exits
- Falling asleep on the beach may cause you to wake up in Level 11;
- Wandering through the island’s caves for too long may send you to Level 26;
- Drowning in the ocean may cause you to wake up in either Level 149 or Level 425;
- Getting swallowed by the Whale sends you to Level 666;
- Dreaming of a hallway may send you to Level 432.
Discovery
This Level was presumably first discovered by the Beach Bums and Islanders, but detailed accounts of this are unavailable. However, R.I.F.T-TG began official documentation of the Level after an operative accidentally discovered an Entrance from Level 176, at which point a team was sent to search for her. They have willingly submitted their Discovery Logs and Audio Transcripts to the Database for public viewing.
[R.I.F.T-TG NOTICE: AUDIO LOG BEGINS AFTER TRANSPORT FROM LEVEL 176 TO LEVEL 431. EXPLORATION TEAM CONSISTS OF λ-1, λ-5, AND THE ENTIRETY OF THETA [θ] TEAM [6 MEMBERS], IN SEARCH OF λ-2. PAUSES IN RECORDING ARE INDICATED BY [>>], ALONG WITH THE TIME ELAPSED UNTIL RECORDING IS RESUMED.]
[BEGIN LOG]
[λ-1 is heard groaning momentarily. In the background, there are sounds of a soft wind, the shifting of trees and brush, and the splashing of ocean waves against land.]
λ-1: Wha…? Where…? Wow. That was freaky.
[λ-1 is heard shifting and moving.]
λ-1: Aw, sand? You’re kidding… Ugh, it’s all over me. How long have I been lying around in this crap?
[Noises of patting and brushing are heard as λ-1 attempts to rid himself of sand.]
λ-1: That’s… a little better. Now, where the heck am I? This… This isn’t the Frontrooms. It can’t be. Hey, where is everyone?
[Shuffling is heard as λ-1 walks through the sand.]
λ-1: Just for the record, it looks like this Level is a tropical island of some kind. Beautiful weather. Nice scenery. Really hot out, though.
[Voices are heard in the distance.]
λ-1: Looks like some of our people have already found each other… Hey! Hey, over here!
[The voices begin to draw into an audible range.]
θ-1: Oh, good! You did make it. We were just about to come looking for you.
λ-5: Yeah. We just met up a few minutes ago. About to go look for the others.
λ-1: How many are we missing?
θ-1: We’re all here except for two, Rich [DESIGNATION: θ-6] and Sara [DESIGNATION: θ-4].
λ-1: Alright. Well, we’ll need to round them up as well… Where did you all wake up at? Maybe that’ll help us find them.
λ-5: We all woke up on the beach. Like we just got washed up on the shore by the ocean.
λ-1: Same here. Okay, then. That makes the search much easier. Let’s start walking the shoreline. They’ve gotta be around here somewhere.
>> [ELAPSED TIME: 74 MINUTES]
θ-5: What…? I swear we’ve been here before… What the heck? We’ve looked all around the island! Where else could he be?
θ-3: Chill out, Jake [DESIGNATION: θ-5]! Rich probably woke up and went off looking for us.
θ-1: At least we found Sara… Speaking of which, how are you doing?
θ-4: I’m still a little groggy… But I’m fine. The whole thing just felt weird.
λ-5: Yeah, no kidding.
θ-2: Rich better have —
λ-1: Quiet! There’s something coming! From the trees!
[The rustling of leaves is heard in the distance.]
λ-2: Guys? Is that you?
λ-1: Nicole [DESIGNATION: λ-2]!
λ-2: I wasn’t sure if you were gonna be able to follow me! I… I’m not even sure of what happened.
λ-1: Looks like you accidentally found an exit to our HQ.
λ-2: Heh… And Trevor thought I wasn’t getting anything done…
λ-5: Are you okay?
λ-2: Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. I was a little lost for a while. Thought I was dreaming or something, until I met some of the inhabitants here.
λ-5: Inhabitants?
λ-2: Yeah… Looks like we’re not the first to discover the place. There’s a couple colonies here already. I’ve only met with one of them, though, and I don’t think they’ve been here for very long. They’ve got some basic information about this place, but beyond a few anomalies, a couple entrances and exits, and some stuff about the other colony, they don’t have a lot of details. I could — Wait. We need to get out of the sun!
λ-1: What? Why?
λ-5: The sun?
λ-2: Yeah, the sun, it… Too much exposure will kill you! Come on, we need to get to the trees!
[The team is heard running across the sand, followed by the brief rustling of leaves.]
λ-5: Okay… What’s wrong with the sun?
λ-2: Well… Let’s just say that if you stand out there for too long, you’ll basically end up like a snowman in the Bahamas.
[Theta Team can be heard questioning her statement in the background.]
λ-5: Uh… What?
λ-1: We’ll melt… Seriously?
λ-2: Yeah, that’s what the people here have said. I don’t really know how to explain it. Hell, I don’t even know what it looks like… Never tried to test it.
λ-1: Fair enough.
λ-5: Do these friends of yours have any idea what Level this is?
λ-2: Actually, yes. They said this is Level 431. They used the same method we did to figure out what Level our HQ was.
λ-1: They found what Levels this one bridges together?
λ-2: Yep.
λ-5: Huh… Well, makes my job easier. Why haven’t they submitted any information to the Database, though? Last I checked, there were no entries for Level 431.
λ-2: They’re very limited in equipment. They still haven’t gotten fully connected to the Database yet. Their main focus has been —
[A voice is heard in the distance, calling out.]
θ-4: Do you hear that?
θ-1: That’s… That’s Rich!
λ-2: You were missing someone?! How long have you all been out in the sun?
λ-1: Almost an hour and a half, if I remember correctly…
λ-2: Oh… Oh, no…
[θ-6 comes into more audible shouting range.]
θ-6: …ere! Guys? Are you still here? Please! I need he —
θ-2: RICH! GET OVER HERE! GET OUT OF THE — Oh, sh —
θ-3: WOAH! His… His arm!
θ-6: I… I need help! Something’s happening to me! I can’t…
λ-1: Is there anything we can do?
λ-2: I… I don’t think so. No one I talked to knows of a cure… NO! Don’t touch him! We don’t know what’ll happen to you!
λ-5: What the hell…
θ-5: C’mon, Rich! You can make it! Maybe… Maybe we can find a way to help him. Reverse the melting. He’s getting closer!
λ-2: It’s been tried… There’s nothing we can do.
θ-4: His legs… Oh god…
θ-6: Help me… Please! HELP ME! I can’t…
λ-1: Look away, if you must… There’s nothing we can do.
[The team remains silent as θ-6’s pleas for help shift into cries of agony. After some time, these cries of agony gradually become more and more distorted, slurred, and muffled.]
λ-5: Do you think we’re gonna end up like that?
λ-2: I… I don’t think so, as long as we take periodic breaks in the shade. I-It’s worked for me.
[θ-6’s cries cease. A thick, ooze-like bubbling can be briefly heard before there is a long silence.]
λ-1: I… I think we need a break. Some rest… Come on, we… we should find someplace to camp out for the time being.
>> [R.I.F.T-TG NOTICE: SINCE THE DEATH OF θ-6, THE EXPLORATION TEAM DECIDED THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO FIND A WAY BACK TO HQ TO SEND IN A NEW TEAM TO SET UP AN OUTPOST, WHERE RESEARCH WOULD CONTINUE WITH BETTER EQUIPMENT AND PREPARATION. THE FOLLOWING DETAILS THE CONFIRMATION OF THE EXIT TO LEVEL 11 AFTER ACQUIRING THE INFORMATION FROM THE ISLANDERS.]
[TIME ELAPSED: 21 HOURS 36 MINUTES]
θ-1: How long is this supposed to take? He’s been asleep for — what? — 45 minutes?
θ-2: Yeah, and what about the sun?
λ-1: I don’t know. He volunteered for the job. We’ll see what happens and act accordingly.
θ-4: Let’s hope it works fast… I’m sleepy after having to stay up all night.
λ-2: You’ll be fine. He should vanish any second now…
[There is a long silence.]
θ-2: This is dumb. We should wake him up bef —
θ-5: Woah!
[All members are heard reacting in amazement.]
λ-1: There we go… Good. I really didn’t want to have to kill any of those colonists.
λ-2: Heh… Quite literally, in the blink of an eye.
λ-1: You blinked, too?
λ-2: Yeah.
λ-1: Interesting… Okay, everyone. He made it, which means we’re next. Find a nice comfortable spot on the beach and catch some shut-eye.
[Theta Team is heard collectively acknowledging the command.]
λ-2: See you on the other side?
λ-1: Yeah. See you there.
>> [ELAPSED TIME: 63 MINUTES]
λ-1: Okay… I’m back. Looks like I made it. I don’t see the others, though. We probably all got sent to different areas of Level 11.
[λ-1 is heard moving to his feet.]
λ-1: Shouldn’t be a problem. They know what to look for. We’re all bound to find the [REDACTED] sooner or later… Huh. I actually feel like I got a full night’s sleep, but the recorder says it’s only been an hour… Oh, well. Not gonna complain about that.
[λ-1 is heard shuffling through some items and securing his equipment.]
λ-1: Alright, then… Time to head home.
[END LOG]
[R.I.F.T-TG NOTICE: SINCE RECORDING, ALL TEAM MEMBERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RETURNED TO HQ AND BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. AS DEEMED NECESSARY, TEAM ROSTERS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND SHIFTED AROUND WITH THE FORMATION OF A NEW TEAM, DESIGNATION: “Beachfront Division,” WHICH HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO ESTABLISH AN OUTPOST AND BEGIN DOCUMENTING LEVEL 431. THE FOLLOWING ARE SMALL UPDATES SENT TO HQ DETAILING THEIR PROGRESS.]
>> All basic information from pre-existing Colonies about the island’s geography, its anomalies, and the sun have been accumulated and submitted to the Database. One of the two Colonies has also agreed to provide information about themselves as well.
>> Construction of Outpost Beachfront has begun. Testing and confirmation of the information provided has also been completed. The information is mostly accurate, such as the island’s “mirroring effect.” However, the presence of Entities has proven to be more limited than suggested.
>> Ocean exploration has begun. Environment is deemed safe, with no hazardous anomalies. However, no wildlife has been found, and the ocean itself has been found to lead nowhere. All efforts to venture out to its limits have only led back to the island.
>> New Exit found in the caves has been documented. Limited information on the “Beach Bums” has also been accumulated via observation.
>> A new anomaly has been found. After an incident in which former Theta Team member, Sara [FORMER DESIGNATION: θ-4], drowned in the ocean, members of Outpost Beachfront found her back on the beach, unconscious, but alive and well. Volunteers tested this even further, and found that drowning can not only send you back to the island, but can also be an Exit to either Level 149 or Level 425. Which one happens is up to random chance.
>> A new Entity has been encountered: the Whale of Level 431. It is fairly docile, but will attempt to eat any being that gets too close to it. Getting eaten has been found to be an Exit to Level 666.
>> Outpost Beachfront construction has been completed and solidified. Outpost is charged with continuing research and exploration, helping travelers that pass through the Level, and recording any new Entrances that are found by other Wanderers.
