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WARNING: The content on this page has been tampered by the entity itself, and we're currently working on recovering the original document. Do NOT trust any text written in CURSIVE PURPLE as the color imply corruption from the entity. Currently, we do not have the capacity to completely stop or block its power, but we can figure out the trick. Remember, this entity thrive in lies and manipulation, amusing itself in doubt and confusion. See through the illusion and trust your heart. Do not let it lead you astray.
I would rather call it a “creative liberty” rather than those unsavory words.
Besides, what is real and unreal in the weird world we live in?
Well, I've written enough stories for everyone else.
Now, let's see how they write mine.
Possible illustration of the Storyteller.
Description
The Storyteller, also known as the Bookmaster, Poet, Muse, Author, Head Librarian, Magus Maximus and many more titles, is the boss entity that rules the Infinite Library and all its content, including the space within. It's implied that the Storyteller is the one behind the chaotic state of the library, but it's uncertain on how or why it happens.
According to what gathered so far, the Storyteller is a psychic entity that manipulate memory and knowledge, and also a shapeshifting master of illusion, among countless magical capabilities. Apparently, its main power is its ability to rewrite or manipulate reality to a limited degree, and this is mainly done through the media of the library and its book. The Librarians mentioned the abilities of the Storyteller in multiple accounts, calling it as the power to bring fiction to reality, manipulating knowledge, memory, and perception. Initially, we believed that it has the power to brainwash its victims, but apparently, the creature bend information itself. Think of the physical world as a digital data, and someone edited the code, thus rearrange the order of the place.
There's currently no evidence that the Storyteller truly exist, as there's no surviving records of the entity. The Librarians imply that, apparently, many of the surviving wanderers did actually encounter the Storyteller, but none of them ever remember the encounter. This is due to the fact that the entity would always wipe their memory to prevent them from leaking any sensitive information, unless for those chosen to bear the forbidden knowledge. Strangely enough, the entity may wipe any photograph of itself, but allow a painting or such illustration to stay. Apparently, it's fond of creative liberty, and thus, prefer if everyone interpreted him in their own ways. Due to this, then we know nothing about the appearance of the Storyteller, other than from what told by its victims. Every single one, from over fifty different sources, described the Storyteller differently. Because of this, then we cannot even determine the gender of the entity, let alone its biology and attributes.
Artwork by Elisabeth Nagurnaya.
Due to the possibility of the entity manipulating every information that we ever gathered, then there's almost no credible source regarding the Storyteller, as everything that we knew could be wrong, and everything that we believed might be fiction. However, if everything that we learned was true, then the Storyteller is one of the most powerful entities in the Backrooms. There's even a theory that the Storyteller has control over some other levels, albeit much limited than in his own dimension. Due to this, then we should start reconsidering everything that we ever know about the Backrooms.
What is real, anyway?
Does it really matter?
I can bring your wildest dream to reality.
I can grant any of your wish.
Just visit the library and let's chat over a tea, shall we?
Artwork by Li Qian.
Behaviors
As a master of the level, the Storyteller manage the state of the library and constantly rearranging the structure of the level in pattern we have yet to understand. It's theorized that the Storyteller is an entity of order, as it seems to be constantly reworking the library almost in an obsessive compulsive manner. However, also an entity of chaos, as it enjoy fabricating lies and confusion, rewriting stories, mixing facts and fictions for amusement.
The Storyteller is a crafty and cunning creature of lies and deceit. Psychological manipulation is its forte, and there's much more to say if we include its abilities. Illusion, shapeshifting, telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation are among its standard tricks. Many sources mentioned some more complex abilities, such as clairvoyance, transformation, matter manipulation, elemental bending, spiritual power, among many others. Keep in mind that we cannot trust any of the eyewitnesses due to the nature of the entity, so all of these might as well be lies.
The only undeniable, confirmed power of the Storyteller is its capability to rearrange the library and all its content. There's a theory that the power of the Storyteller is limited on its level, or the level itself is the source of its power. Apparently, the Storyteller tend to summon books in order to perform something. This implies that the Storyteller itself is not an all-powerful entity, and is somewhat reliant on its books.
Artwork by Jason Chan.
Another interesting behavior of the Storyteller is its tendency to present itself in the most favorable form for its victim. There are accounts of the entity appearing as an old man, young woman, even a child, and sometimes, as a copy of its audience. From nine out of ten cases, the Storyteller would mimic a person that someone valued the most, but idealized to become more favorable against its subjects. (For example, your mother might seem more caring than the usual.) On the rare case, the Storyteller would instead assume the form of what most respectable and admirable in the eyes of its witness, such as a powerful mage or even a holy maiden. However, without a doubt, that the true form of the entity is something entirely inhuman, and might not even remotely humanoid. According to the Magus Association that inhabit the library, they consider the Storyteller as an entity of pure magical energy, theorized to be composed of mystical, arcane essence given sentience and knowledge.
Artwork by Jiema.
Albeit not entirely trustworthy, the Crimson Wanderer seems to be the only one that could handle the Storyteller, and know the truest nature of the creature. The Crimson Wanderer seems to avoid the creature, and he reportedly said, “Don't go near that thing unless it's imperative.” which suggest that the entity is more powerful or at least equally powerful as him. Unfortunately, he refuse to speak much. Not like he ever speaks much to us anyway.
Oh, trust me, he speaks a lot, as soon as you know him enough. You need to earn his trust. He's always afraid that he'll hurt others by merely existing. Always want to save everyone, and always feel bad for every death that he caused.
He, just like the divine, judged me as if I committed the most sin, even though I have saved so many lives too.
Tell me, how can I be evil, when I relieve the suffering of so many wanderers? I erase the scars of terror and trauma that haunted their lives. I bring their dream to reality. Likewise, I fulfilled all their wishes. Furthermore, I remove them from the bitter reality, and grant them the bliss of whatever fantasies that they desired the most.
In comparison, he revels in bloodshed as he simply kills everything out of mercy. His intention might be noble, that he seek to end every torment, but he himself is the most bloodstained, and he knew that. How could someone like him be seen as a hero for so many peoples?
Alas, I should not judge… He has his side of the story, just like everyone else. In the eyes of the lost lambs, he's their shepherd. In the dark, gloomy lives of those stained by pain, corrupted by loneliness, consumed by despair as they wander in the nightmare of the endless liminal spaces, then he shines bright, like the brightest star.
But he's not the only hero of the Backrooms…
After all, everyone is the hero of their own story.
Well then, wanderer…
Shall we write our story together?
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