Level 468.1

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Recorded sound of waves against rocks in Level 468.1.
==Description==
Also known as the Rocky Sea or the Sea of Serpents, Level 468.1 bears resemblance to it's parent level, Level 468, with the sea appearing very similar to said parent level. However, numerous jagged rocks of various sizes jut up from some areas of the sea, with some being small and others reaching sizes comparable to large mountains, though these mountainous rocks are few and far between. The dim green-blue glow that is present when it is dark in Level 468 is dimmer still in this level, typically making traversing Level 468.1 even more difficult in times of darkness.
The weather of Level 468.1, unlike it's parent level, fluctuates much faster and different ways over time, ranging from clear skies to stormy weather. The unexplained water disturbances are also absent, though regular water disturbances that have a logical source can still occur (for example, wave collision and human or entity movement within water).
Wanderers close to or in the sea of Level 468.1 have, on rare occasions, allegedly spotted pirate ships sailing by in the distance, apparently lacking any pilots or other inhabitants. However, the closer curious observers got to these ships, the more the ships took on a misty, translucent quality, until the ships faded away entirely. Because of this, these ships are commonly referred to as 'Ghost Ships', though some simply call them 'the pirate ships' or 'the ships'. If one observes one of these ships from a distance instead, one will see the ship continue sailing in the same direction and toward the distant horizon until it is no longer visible. Moreover, if one looks away from a Ghost Ship when it has already passed one and sailed some distance away, it will be gone when one looks back. Currently, it is unknown whether Ghost Ships are some kind of hallucinatory phenomenon, a corporeal one that can disappear and reappear, an as-of-now undocumented entity, or simply a rumor.
==Entities==
Level 468.1 is home to only one type of entity, that being a level-exclusive species called Sea Serpents, with their name being based on similar, folkloric creatures from The Frontrooms.
===Sea Serpents===
Sea Serpents are extremely deadly entities that inhabit the sea of Level 468.1. They are completely hostile to wanderers and entities alike, as proven by their frequent attacks on humans within the level and one of them having quickly devoured the only other recorded type of entity to ever enter the level: a Skin-Stealer. However, Sea Serpents do not attack Ghost Ships, possibly as a result of the latter not truly being entities.
Sea Serpents physically resemble giant, serpentine creatures, approximately two meters wide, two meters tall, and 20 meters long. Their bodies are covered in light-blue scales that have been shown to be highly resistant to external trauma, with spears, hammers, and even bullets never leaving so much as a dent in them.
The head of a Sea Serpent somewhat resembles that of a reptile, possessing a large mouth ringed with long, razor-sharp teeth, as well as a highly flexible lower jaw capable of opening extremely wide to bite down on prey. Sea Serpents each have a pair of slitted eyes with either bright yellow, lime-green, or ocean-blue pupils.
Sea Serpents will quickly swim toward any prey they detect; they have keen and far sight, as well as being highly sensitive to disturbances in the water, possessing extremely good hearing, and having a likewise good sense of smell. As a result, one should not assume that they are safe from any nearby Sea Serpents simply because one cannot be seen. Moreover, one's chances of survival when in a confrontation with a Sea Serpent — let alone one's chances of defeating it — are microscopically low, though one should definitely still attempt to escape in such a confrontation.
While Sea Serpents are capable of rearing high up out of the water (provided almost half or more of their bodies are still in the water), they cannot travel on land, so seeking refuge in high regions of rock outcrops is a good idea to avoid them. If one is near — and especially in — the sea for too long, one will almost surely meet their end.
Recovered NoteScourges of the Sea
While the range of different entities in the Backrooms is certainly diverse, I did not expect Sea Serpents to be one of them. They are too mythical — too folkloric — to exist within a realm such as the Backrooms; and yet, they are plentiful in Level 468.1, which is often quite fittingly referred to as the 'Sea of Serpents'.
These titanic, serpentine, sea-dwelling predators are, in my humble opinion, both terrifying and captivating to behold. They are powerful, resilient, and skilled at hunting their prey, wherein they almost always succeed in their endeavor. Their dominion over the sea goes unchallenged, and it will likely be that way for centuries to come. Nothing poses a threat to them; unfortunate wanderers in the Sea of Serpents — or any wanderers at all, for that matter — are far from capable of combating them, and would likely quickly lose their life in such an encounter. Likewise, any other entities that might pose a challenge to the Sea Serpents are otherwise preoccupied, stationed, or trapped within other levels entirely, far from being able to do any harm.
Yet, Sea Serpents also hold a certain allure: they are fantastical and grand, very different from other entities residing within the Backrooms. Their serpentine bodies are covered in light-blue scales, their eyes are of bright blues, yellows, and greens, and their jaws are lined with sharp, even teeth. Their heads are shaped more like that of a dragon than a serpent, adding to the grandiosity of their overall appearance.
This grandiosity, along with the very nature of Sea Serpents, seems too alien to the Backrooms. Entities more commonly embody surreal horror and the unknown, befitting a domain such as the one that hosts the Sea of Serpents. However, it also makes a certain sense that Sea Serpents should exist here; after all, are they not creatures from fairy tales — tales that many of us have heard of or read about in fantastical books and novels as children, thus meaning that Sea Serpents embody remnants of nostalgia? Were these creatures not later overlooked as time passed, allowing them to sink into the deepest recesses of our memories and, thus, the Backrooms?
I have spent quite a while pondering, fascinated, over Sea Serpents; they are unlike anything I have seen before and are majestic in their own way. Yet, I will not be going back to witness them again; creatures as deadly as this are best to be avoided and admired from a distance, regardless of any uniqueness or grandiosity.
- Geoffrey Byrd, 5/09/2004
==Colonies & Outposts==
Due to the presence of Sea Serpents and the uneven structure of the rocks above sea level, almost no one has established any colonies or outposts in Level 468.1 so far, and as creating any is too risky and dangerous, no one should ever attempt to do so. Nonetheless, a cult is known to reside in the level against all odds.
===The Cult of Krakalis===
The Cult of Krakalis, sometimes simply referred to by those near or in Level 468.1 as 'The Cult', is a dangerous group of individuals who reside on a decently high outcrop of rock in the level. Monoliths of stone surround their abode, which consists of five dark-blue tents lit up from the insides. Each monolith is engraved with two identical strange symbols (see the image to the right) that glow faintly in different shades of cyan, with each monolith having a symbol that faces into the camp and out. It is unknown what is causing these glows, though it is presumed that it might have something to do with some kind of ritual that the cult performs, implying that the Cult of Krakalis is more than simply a cult.
Cultists within the Cult of Krakalis are always spotted wearing long, dark-cyan, hooded robes, and as such, none of their identities have thus far been identified. The upper frontal torso areas of each robe has the Cult's signature symbol depicted, further implying that this symbol has some sort of significance. One of the cultists — presumed to be the leader of them all — has ocean-blue, apparently crystal decorations on their robe. The other cult members are each armed with a long, ceremonial knife with light-blue, carved-in patterns on the blade, with these knives normally being concealed within the cultists' robes.
Each individual in this group is dedicated to worshiping a god called Krakalis for reasons unknown, though from what is known about the Cult of Krakalis, they believe that this god will one day rise and rule over the Backrooms, and that it will bestow them with great power in return for their devotion.
Encounters with the cultists may result in one being attacked, though there is also a chance that they will attempt to recruit one instead. If the latter occurs, one should refuse the offer and immediately try to escape, as any who refuse to join the Cult of Krakalis will likewise be attacked. If the former occurs or if one refuses to join the Cult, one's best chance of survival likely lies in fleeing. One may have to continue to do so even after the cultists lose sight of one in order to truly escape them, provided the chase is occurring high above the sea; the cultists tend to only hunt wanderers who have stumbled upon their abode if there is no danger of being attacked by Sea Serpents.
==Entrances & Exits==
===Entrances===
* Coming across an apparently endless ocean in Level 135 and venturing out into it may lead one here.
* Swimming away from any glaciers or icebergs and out to sea in Level 202 may lead one to the sea of this level.
* Sometimes, the environment of Level 468 may transition into this level's sea.
* Traversing the sea of Level 722 will occasionally take one to the sea of this level, wherein outcrops will be visible between approximately 100-500 km away in the direction one is swimming.
===Exits===
* Swimming away from land and out to sea may lead one to Level 468.
* One may encounter a floating wooden bridge connected to a high section of rock on a rock mountain and extending apparently infinitely into the distance; stepping onto this bridge and traveling far enough across it will lead one to Level 505.
* Noclipping through a salt formation sends wanderers to Level 597.
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Category:Sub-Levels
Category:Unconfirmed Levels
Category:Cluster I
Category:Aquatic
Category:Levels
Category:Safe
Category:Dangerous