Level 888

Content Warning!
This article contains content, themes, and implications that are potentially disturbing. Use caution before choosing whether to read if you're sensitive towards the following:
* Physical & Mental Trauma
* Domestic Abuse & Assault
* Animal Abuse
* Self-Starvation
Level 888 is the 889th level of the Backrooms. It is a massive, frigid terrain consisting of a barren forest surrounded by hillsides. This level houses several unique entities that collectively form an ecological system which, while self-sufficient, is particularly effective at entrapping humans via manipulation of the psyche. There is no known way to mitigate any of the effects instigated by these Entities.
==Description==
Photo taken during mild weather.
The most explored and understood area of Level 888 is its wooded landscape. It is entirely composed of deciduous trees and shrubbery which are either dead or dying. Temperatures here have been measured as low as -34°C (-29.2°F) and as high as -5°C (23°F). The day/night cycle is evenly divided within a 40 hour period, and seasonal changes are borderline non-existent. Though it resembles snow, the white powder covering the ground is a form of diatomaceous earth with concentrations of crystalline silica considered toxic to humans. In fine enough consistencies, this dust can form a cloud that hangs in the air when disturbed. Visibility is limited by an ever-present fog made up of said powder as well as sulfuric acid, water, and trace amounts of unknown compounds. It is recommended to wear protective clothing and utilize the best respiratory apparatus available while inside this level.
Exploration teams that crossed the edge of the forest have deduced that the area has a diameter of roughly 1400 km (~850 mi). Beyond that lies a series of rolling hills and plains, the overall size of which remains undetermined. Larger deposits of faux snow and harsh winds make traversal especially perilous. Wanderers who ventured into this region have either perished from exposure or exited the level before finding any alterations in topography or notable landmarks. For reasons unknown, none of the human remains discovered at Level 888 have displayed signs of the Wretched Cycle in any stage.
==Entities==
===Siphonaps===
Translucent insects that are similar in anatomy to fleas, typically growing up to 20 cm (7.8 in) in length with a maximum leaping distance of approximately 12 m (~40 ft). The barbs on their legs act as hooks to assist in keeping a firm grip on a wide variety of surfaces. They are known to submerge themselves in areas with a thick coat of faux snow and lie in wait before bursting out and directly latching onto their prey. Their bites inflict little pain due to a numbing agent secreted from their mouths.
The initial bite of a Siphonap draws a small amount of blood in proportion to its body size, as its main purpose is to carry the numbing agent into the bloodstream. Once enough is introduced, it causes a rapid onset of changes to the victim's mental state. Symptoms include an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, derealization, deterioration of self-worth, and a desire to seek the nearest source of "comfort,” namely other entities. These effects will wear off after two hours unless another dose is administered. Siphonaps prefer to gather near sources of heat and will avoid causing immediately lethal damage to exothermic lifeforms.
===Broodweavers===
Bloated, pale humanoids reaching 4.3 m (14 ft) in height, with a bundle of tendrils hanging from their face that conceals any other features. Due to their vestigial legs, they are unable to stand fully erect and possess limited mobility. Broodweavers have formed a symbiotic relationship with Siphonaps wherein they allow them to burrow shallow holes into their backs to create nests. In turn, the Siphonaps will occasionally venture out to find prey and lead it towards their hive after it has been reduced to a vulnerable state.
Once something is within suitable range, the Broodweaver will grab it and firmly cup it against its chest to ensure that it cannot escape. It then drapes its tendrils over the captive and latches onto its head with its main set of mandibles. This initiates a slow process in which a significant portion of the individual’s memory is assimilated. Memories, particularly ones from an organism's youth, provide sustenance for the Broodweaver. Based on circumstantial evidence, it is believed that those involving stress and trauma are especially nutritious.
To aid in keeping its source of food alive for as long as possible, the Broodweaver will insert a specialized tube into the victim's throat or navel that pumps out a purple-colored slurry once every 20 hours. The only somewhat safe time to be near a Broodweaver is during its feeding on another person, as it will promptly discard anything with a lower level of sapience in favor of commanding its hive to attack a human.
===Shroudstalkers===
Leech-like creatures with multiple sets of arms running down their sides and a vertical bisection along the entirety of their heads. Eyewitness accounts report them as being around 3 m (9.8 ft) in length. Photographing them has proven difficult due to anomalous streaks of light obfuscating their form, which are thought to be a self-defense mechanism that activates when threatened. These lights also persist post-mortem for an indeterminate amount of time.
While they are estimated to have a ground speed of 10 m/s (22 mi/h), Shroudstalkers are averse to direct engagement. They instead act as scavengers, opting to steal from roaming Siphonaps or wait until a Broodweaver discards its prey, as it will usually still be alive. Though these are their favored methods, they have also been inclined to ambush sleeping humans on multiple occasions. In any case, they will quickly constrict their quarry with immense force by using their appendages as anchor points before dragging it to an isolated location and initiating a series of shrill vocalizations. These serve both to deter other predators and soothe the victim, despite the fact that they are not rooted in any existing language.
Once its captive becomes calm, the Shroudstalker will inflict a severe injury upon it, usually by snapping a bone or causing blunt force trauma with its tail. This cycle of inducing pain and the subsequent nurturing of its prey back to a relative state of good health and peaceful demeanor is how the Shroudstalker feeds. It is particularly obsessed with obscuring the damage it causes from the naked eye, almost always ensuring that bones break cleanly and that bruises are hidden from view. It will simply toss its meal aside once its pain response becomes overly dulled.
===Amicas===
Stocky, bipedal mammals with numerous deformities. They superficially resemble hairless canines, except they do not possess anything below the ribcage nor a lower jaw. Aside from humans, these serve as the main source of food for other entities that dwell in the forest. They subsist on the byproducts and carcasses of others using an egregiously inefficient digestive system that absorbs nutrients through a small bladder before the remainder is regurgitated. Between this and a myriad of other health defects, their natural life cycle rarely extends beyond 10 to 20 days.
When an Amica comes into contact with a comparatively large life form, it will develop an immediate and inseparable attachment to it. The rest of its life will be spent in service of its bonded partner, be it human or entity. This sense of loyalty is completely unwavering, with documented cases of Amicas remaining unresistant to intentional harm up to and including the point of expiration. If any other being approaches its partner in an aggressive manner, it will attempt, however ineffectually, to defend it. Some have noted that they will engage in "play" behavior when prompted.
Upon an Amica's inevitable demise, whether by outside factors or natural causes, its chosen companion will enter a state of grief that lasts for several weeks. This only amounts to slightly dulled movements for entities. On the other hand, humans will often experience near-catatonic depression and refuse basic necessities for days at a time. In extreme cases, this will lead to loss of life via dehydration or starvation. Those who have bonded to an Amica are at risk of suffering these effects even if they have already exited Level 888. It is fairly easy to avoid them, as they move too sluggishly to catch up to any person jogging at a moderate pace.
===Other Entities===
The only entity that has been observed in the lands outside of the forest. Very few Wanderers have come into contact with it, and all accounts of its appearance vary wildly. Reported inconsistencies in physical attributes are as follows:
*Its number of respective limbs, torsos, eyes, mouths, etc ranges anywhere from none to several hundred thousand.
*Its size has been described as "a bit smaller than a skyscraper", "a great, wide mountain", "stretching into the sky infinitely", "the same as me", and "he doesn't have a size because he's actually inside of your eye".
*Its skin is "scaly", "like water but darker than nothingness", "as smooth as silken sheets", "pretty normal I suppose", and "as if all of Noah's ark was made as one".
*Its movements are "blindingly fierce", "more gentle than my mother's", "on a plane that isn't for me to see", "in step with my own", and "unquestionably euphoric".
The only prevailing similarity is that no witnesses have ever described it using a pejorative. In fact, they refuse to speak negatively of it in even the slightest regard. Any human who either attempts to converse with this entity or looks directly at it for an extended period undergoes a permanent change in their psychology, adapting the following personality characteristics:
*A heightened sense of empathy.
*Above-average sociability and an outgoing demeanor.
*Willingness to trust those they meet, including strangers.
*The compulsion to hug anyone that they see.
Based on the latest piece of testimony gathered, it may be that the Outer Being serves as the progenitor for the rest of the fauna in Level 888. As with other conflicting information, it should be considered speculation until definitive evidence can be obtained.
==Colonies and Outposts==
Due to the nature of the level, colonies and outposts are unable to be established.
==Entrances and Exits==
===Entrances===
There is a chance to no-clip into Level 888 while experiencing emotional distress in the majority of nature-based levels. Level 888 can also be accessed by falling 0-1000 meters on Level 606, where you will find exits on the walls leading to this level. Wanderers that attempted burning the "doll in the hut" from Level 110 and escaping into the woods have noted feeling great anguish and distress. They were consistently transported to Level 888. 
One could end up in Level 888 by reaching the termination point of the Dreadxit in Level 455. 
===Exits===
Only three methods of exiting Level 888 have been confirmed:
*Faint into silica from this level and don't die will noclip you during your sleep in the silica of the level 35.1.
*Defeating and subsequently terminating a Broodweaver or Shroudstalker that has targeted you as prey can cause you to no-clip into Level 63. While it is not guaranteed, the odds are significantly bolstered by consuming its flesh within five hours of its passing.
*Interacting with an Outer Being will eventually result in being warped elsewhere. This exceedingly rare occurrence has so far resulted in being teleported to either Level 11, Level 394 or Level 974.
*Be very lucky and spawning into this level may end up with a wooden cottage being behind you in the distance. Entering the cottage will lead to Level 726. Noclipping into the cottage may send you to Level 191
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Category:Cluster I
Category:Dangerous
Category:Unconfirmed Levels
Category:Levels
Category:Frigid
Category:Dangerous