Level -8

Level -8 is the 9th negative level of the backrooms. This level is commonly referred to as the rusty abyss, as it resembles a large, mostly flat, artificial underground area full of heavy industry.
==Description==
The ceiling of this underground level is at an average height of 500 m (1,600 feet) above ground level, but can come lower or go higher up at times. Large pillars of varying thickness support this ceiling. The environment consists mostly of broken industrial facilities, pipes, cranes, walkways, crates, containers, train tracks, polluted canals and evaporation ponds. Both small and large floodlights illuminate this level, while in some areas, lights are hanging down from the ceiling. A weak, black haze permeates level -8, which makes it impossible for one to see more than a few kilometers/miles ahead, despite the abundance of light sources. Walls have not been found yet, so the extensions of the level cannot be estimated, but have to be upwards of 1,000s of km2/miles2, based on already visited areas. Some wanderers claim it is infinite.
Decaying ruins and construction sites are both common, sometimes even intersecting each other. The entire ground and ceiling are sealed off with concrete, tiles, bricks, metal or other artificial flooring agents. Pipes, walkways and ventilation vents run across both, many of which are at least partially broken. Some of the industrial facilities are active and appear to be running automatically, producing various goods like steel, glass, chemicals, motorized vehicles and construction equipment. The factories continue to do so, until they eventually break. As a result of industrial activity, decay and construction, the landscape changes slowly, but consistently.
Bodies of water, mainly in the form of artificial canals, puddles and evaporation ponds, are contaminated with varying amounts of organic, inorganic, radioactive and microbial materials. Consumption will therefore lead to serious disease and/or death. A combination of methods including activated charcoal filtration, microbial remediation and sterile filtration can turn some pools and pipe contents into drinkable water, although this is time and resource intense. The equipment necessary for this can be found within the level, if one knows what to look for. However, bringing bottled, drinkable fluid is, so far, the best option.
Although all motorized vehicles stand still and are often broken and covered with dust, some of them remain functional. Wanderers have reported, that they drove up to a few 100 km/miles with things like trucks, motorbikes, trains, boats and even small aircraft through the level, before they broke.
Hazards in this level mostly stem from the unsafe aspects of the industrial facilities found here. Hazards include: Falling off of walkways, falling into pools filled with chemicals, getting hit by falling debris, electrical shocks and infections from injuries, alongside others. One especially important danger are the beams of microwave lasers, which are emitted by some facilities. Some can reach diameters of multiple meters or a few dozen feet. Contact with such, ever for a short time, will cause severe burn injuries. Be aware of heat and heat ripples emanating from places without obvious causes.
== Addendum ==
===Blackouts===
At irregular intervals, blackouts can occur. The voltage on power cables drops to almost 0 volts during these, causing a loss of power to all facilities and subsequently plunging the level into darkness. Blackouts recorded so far can last between seconds and days.
=== The Atmosphere ===
The atmosphere of level -8 is breathable. Despite this, elevate amounts of CO2, CO, H2, CH4, CHCl3, NOx, SOx and other noxious or combustible gases are present in certain industrial locations, which should be avoided as such. For this, wearing an atmosphere monitoring device is recommended. The source of O2 regeneration could not yet be determined, but might be linked to some of the industry found within the level.
=== Wind bursts===
Strong bursts of wind can occur, again at irregular intervals. The winds are not strong enough to lift wanderers off their feet, but walking is extremely difficult during these. The biggest hazards during these stem form tossed around objects, inhaling dust and being blown off of walkways. The winds usually last between a few minutes up to a couple of hours.
=== Food ===
Only small plants like mosses, lichens and microbial algae’s grow naturally next to illuminated, wet areas. They are inedible to humans, and due to the bioaccumulation of heavy metals and radioactive isotopes cannot be feed to livestock either. The same fact prevents compostation and use as plant substrate. Experiments with introduced plant life, mainly food producing crops, trees and bushes, have failed, due to lack of sustained growth for yet undetermined reasons. Insects and other non-entity animals have not been found in the level. Mold, different fungi and microbes are present in wet areas, but are plagued by the same contaminates.
There is only one known viable food source, which is not likely to be beneficial to human health in the long run. Those are the pure chemicals found inside facilities, containers and pipes. Those can include: ethanol, organic acids, fatty acid esters, sugar and sugar alcohol syrups, amino acids, mineral salts and powders of vitamins like ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and nicotinic acid (vitamin B3). Growth of beneficial bacteria and yeast on those substances can increase the nutritional value, but care must be taken with the earlier mentioned contaminates, which are sometimes found inside open containers. Opening sealed ones is therefore recommended. Multiple wanderers have perished due to the consumption of chemically contaminated chemicals.
==Entities==
Viologi (sing. Viologus) are native to this level. Smilers and windows can also be found in Level -8 as well.
===Viologus===
Viologi are entities made from a viscous, at times almost solid, oil like black fluid with many kinds of different mechanical and electrical parts submerged in them. They are dangerous and attack wanderers once aware of them. Body shapes are non-humanoid and vary widely, but tend to stay consistent per individual. They are blind but appear to have an excellent sense of hearing, smell and touch. Body mass varies from a few kilograms up to at least a few thousand tons for the largest individuals. Incorporated parts can be used as weapons. Examples include: Jackhammers, saws, high energy microwave emitters, nail guns and high-voltage power cables. A Viologus does not make any intrinsic sounds. However, due to the large amounts of incorporated objects they can still be quite loud while moving around, as they scrape metal across the floor.
The liquid a Viologus is made from is highly flammable and as such, the entity is scared of fire and can be combated and killed with such effectively. Weapons like knives and guns only show an effect after excessive use. It is therefore recommended, to carry fire producing weapons/tools like flares at all times to defend oneself against potential assaults.
==Colonies and Outposts==
The colonization efforts of this level have been hampered, due to the inability of farming food and the lack of easily accessible drinkable water. The dark nature of the level can cause psychological problems after prolonged time. Despite this, one small outpost was created. It serves as a hub to transfer the valuable goods found in this level to places more sustainable for human habitation. These objects and materials include: Construction equipment, steel, bricks, various industrial chemicals, radioactive materials and copper wires in the form of cable drums.
==Entrances and Exits==
===Entrances===
*Jumping out of the door in level -40 “Leap of Faith” can lead you here. Doing so will not result in any injuries.
*Some staircases and ladders in level 34 may lead to level -8.
*The basements of houses in level 38 rarely lead to this level.
*Doors in level 79 can lead here.
*One wanderer reported, that they found a rusty hatch sticking out of the ground in level 100, which lead here. Given level 100’s nature, this is next to impossible to verify.
===Exits===
*Ladders and stairs have a chance to lead to level 23.
*Falling asleep after having the intense desire to leave this level can cause one to wake up in level 37.6.
*Setting fire to something big or being engulfed by flames will lead one to Sublevel -8.1. The chance for this increases, the less of its surroundings the wanderer can perceive.
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Author: Ercerus
Category:Levels
Category:Cluster -I
Category:Dangerous