Contents
Level 431 - "Tropical Heat Wave"
Survival Difficulty: Class 1
Safe
Mostly Secure
Minimal Entity Count and Environmental Hazard
Level 431 is the 432nd level of the Backrooms.
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.
Another notable feature of Level 431 is the sun. Firstly, it heavily interferes with cameras, making it impossible to photograph the Level; 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.
Entrances and Exits
Entrances
- Being rendered unconscious in Level 7's ocean has a 5% chance of sending you here;
- No-clipping 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;
- 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.