Level 173

Level 173 is the 174th level of the Backrooms.
==Description==
Level 173 resembles an abandoned retirement home from the 1970’s in appearance. The wallpaper in the hallways of this level shares the same design as the wallpaper in Level 0 with a few slight changes. The hallways are very long, and usually have white wooden doors on both sides every few feet. While most of these doors are locked, they may rarely lead to an empty room, or sometimes an empty supply closet. These unlocked doors are a lot more likely to be found in the darker areas of this level.
The carpet in Level 173 is extremely dirty and stained, however the liquid staining the carpet, as well as its origin, is unknown, but it is not safe to consume. The color of the carpet in this level also depends on what area you are in, but it is most commonly red or brown. It may also rarely be blue or green, but it is unlikely to come across any other colors of carpet. The ground is also littered with broken glass, trash, and exposed metal and wiring, making it difficult to traverse around without getting injured. 
Most of the ceiling lights in this level are broken, and thus nonfunctional, so it is very common to find moderately large areas with little to no natural lighting. Exploring the dark areas of this level comes with the risk of running into hostile entities, so having a flashlight is essential to exploring safely. Another unique feature of this level is its layout, as the level features its own unique floors, and while the size of these floors are finite, the amount of floors are infinite. This makes mapping out the level beyond a certain extent impossible.
Each floor of this level also contains a center room with various useful supplies, such as Almond Water and unbranded energy bars. You can also find exits to the level in these rooms, and these exits will usually take you to Level 16 or Level 0. The center rooms are not carpeted, and instead have dark wooden planks for the flooring, and each of these center rooms will always branch out into four different hallways.
These four hallways are usually always dark, and unique, as they won’t contain doors or lights on the ceiling. These hallways are the most dangerous parts of the level, and shouldn’t be entered. Entities will use the center rooms as hunting spots, so be aware of your surroundings while exploring them. 
==Dark Areas==
The dark areas of level 173 vary drastically from the lit areas. The walls change from wallpaper to concrete, and the floors change from carpet to wood. Graffiti is littered throughout the walls in the darkness, and the wood on the floorboards becomes soft with rot.
The dark areas feature a thick white fog, and rarely may contain carbon monoxide in the air, which is obviously poisonous. The further into the dark you go, the more likely you are to become lost. You will also encounter many more dead ends than in the lit areas. Occasionally, you may also come across random staircases. These staircases may lead to a different floor, or they may just lead to another dead end. Entities will also stay near these staircases, and will primarily hunt here. 
Instead of white wooden doors, the dark areas of Level 173 feature heavy blue metal doors with bulletproof glass in the center. Breaking down any of these doors will lead you directly into The Void.
Rarely, you may find a fake, or decoy center room. You will know that it is fake by the lighting conditions of the room. If it’s lit up, it’s the real center room, if it’s dark like the rest of it’s surroundings, you are most likely being followed. Entities will hunt in these decoy rooms, so be on the lookout for them. The entities will usually hide behind furniture in these decoy rooms, and will ambush travelers when they attempt to leave the room.
==Discovery==
Level 173 is theorized to have been discovered sometime in early 2021 by an unidentifiable traveler, as evidenced by materials brought over from other levels being present within the first floor. This wanderer is presumed dead, as scraps of bloodstained clothing were found in a room near the border of the first floor.
==Entities==
There are a few types of entities present in the dark areas of this level, mainly Hounds, Skin-Stealers, and Smilers. It is possible to avoid these entities by simply staying in lit up areas, or by carrying a flashlight. This will not guarantee safety, but it will make a chance of survival higher.
==Entrances and Exits==
===Entrances===
* Wandering through Level 16 for an undetermined amount of time will seamlessly lead to this level.
* Noclipping into a retirement home on Level 11 has a chance of leading here.
===Exits===
* Doors in the center rooms may lead to either Level 16 or Level 0.
* Breaking through a locked door in the Dark Areas will lead to The Void.
Category:Levels
Category:Survival Difficulty 0