Nostalgia Children

==Description==
Nostalgia Children are hostile entities that can be encountered in many parts of the Backrooms, with varying degrees of rarity. Usually favoring Levels with environments that have a sense of familiarity and remembrance, they appear as manifestations of nostalgic imagery in the minds of their victims, often taking the form of a child, which could be a childhood friend or even just a subconscious image that draws out feelings of tenderness and nostalgia in the Entity’s target. They use these emotions and sensations to trick Wanderers and 𝔸𝕃𝕃𝕆𝕎 𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕄 𝕋𝕆 𝕁𝕆𝕀ℕ 𝕌𝕊 in what is theorized to be their own 𝕎𝕆ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝔽𝕌𝕃, 𝕊𝔸𝔽𝔼 ℍ𝕆𝕄𝔼. It is currently unknown what happens once they have captured their victims, as no one who has attempted to follow them to this place has ever returned.
==Behavior==
Nostalgia Children attack the mind of an individual Wanderer; they cannot attack more than one person at a time, and any other Wanderers they are not attacking cannot see them, except for children. There is no physical way to repel them, which makes resisting them difficult. The mental effects are subtle, at first, and only become stronger with time. Those who have survived encounters with these Entities have reported that Nostalgia Children always appear as “one child, speaking with the voices of many children.” Though the mouth of the illusionary child will not move, Wanderers hear many whispers encouraging them to accomplish a specific task that ℍ𝔼𝕃ℙ𝕊 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕁𝕆𝕀ℕ 𝕌𝕊, while also using the surrounding environment to create further illusions to manipulate them into doing as they wish. This will quickly erode sanity unless one has a strong enough will to resist these voices long enough to escape. Sometimes, a Nostalgia Child may give up if they are resisted long enough, but others may persist even longer, even to the point at which the only hopes of escape are to either exit the current Level or find fellow Wanderers to help regain sanity.
==Biology ==
As of now, they have no confirmed biology. Instead, they appear in a variety of forms according to the mind of the Wanderer. However, it is said that they do have a “true form,” but only children can see it. Based on the descriptions given by these children, this “true form” is incorporeal and shadow-like, with eyes that have a bright, white glow. They have no discernible face or physical features beyond a basic humanoid shape.
==Recommended Action ==
Here is a small list of precautionary measures, tips, and courses of action given by R.I.F.T-TG if one encounters a Nostalgia Child.
*To reduce chances of encountering a Nostalgia Child, try to avoid Levels and areas of Levels that commonly evoke a strong sense of memorability or familiarity. Environments such as abandoned playgrounds, suburban homes, and shopping malls are where approximately 97.4% of encounters occur;
*Given that these Entities can only attack one person at a time, it is recommended to travel with other Wanderers unless you are absolutely confident in your mental strength. They can “snap you out of it,” even when the illusions have reached their peak levels of strength;
*Carry sanity-boosting items for a stronger resistance to their mental attacks;
*If the Entity simply will not give up, try to find an exit to the Level. They cannot follow you;
*While it is NOT recommended to purposely bring a child into the field, it is encouraged that you do take advantage of their ability to see Nostalgia Children should their presence become necessary via circumstance (i.e. finding them lost in the Backrooms, bringing them from one colony/outpost to another, etc.).
==Discovery==
Nostalgia Children were first encountered and recorded by a R.I.F.T-TG Lone Wolf [Designation: “Imajinary”] after accidentally stumbling into Level 65, which is believed to be the source of their presence in the Backrooms. He recovered an audio recording by a man named Halal Akra, and then came into contact with a Nostalgia Child, as documented in the following transcript.
[BEGIN LOG]
>> Is this…? Ah, good. Alright. Lone Wolf Operative, “Imajinary,” checking in once again. Day 13 of travel. It’s only been six hours since my last log, but this is important.
I’ve arrived at a new Level. Or at least, I think it’s new. I was in Level 9 when I came across an old playground that seemed to have brought me elsewhere. Now, as far as I know, there has not been any documentation of any exits matching such a description, so I can only assume no one has ever seen this place before.
It’s… Huh… Oddly familiar. It’s almost as if…
One moment. I’m going to take a look around and come back to this.
>> [ELAPSED TIME: ESTIMATED 83 MINUTES]
This place is familiar, alright. I used to come here as a child! I remember coming here with my mom. She used to sit on the benches and watch me as I ran off to play with the other kids. My dad, when he came, would push me on the swings and make me go as high as I possibly could. My mom never liked it, but I would sometimes jump off for the fun of it. My dad would laugh with me, and even though my mom didn’t approve, she couldn’t help but smile with us…
I sometimes brought friends, too. We’d imagine ourselves as pirates on a ship, soldiers defending a fort, or even kings in a castle. Now and then, when our parents weren’t around to watch, we’d play King of the Hill and explain away whatever bruises we got the best we could. This place… It was amazing, for a little old playground. I… Wait…
No… This isn’t the same place. I’m still in the Backrooms! Ugh, gotta keep my head on straight… But… What is this, then? It’s not the real thing, but there’s no way it could look the same… Yet every detail is just as I remember it. This… I don’t get it.
It could be an illusion of some kind. From what, though? I’m not sure wh —
H-Hello?
[Silence]
Who’s there? I heard you. I know you’re here.
[Silence]
Alright. Fine.
[“Imajinary” is heard unholstering his weapon.]
I don’t know who you are, but you can’t stay hidden forever!
[Footsteps are heard in quick succession.]
I don’t know who or what the hell you are, but I’d prefer to get this over with quickly.
[Silence]
Find you? What?
[Silence]
No… Oh, no. There’s no way in hell that I’m falling for that. Get out of my head!
[No response, though “Imajinary” is heard breathing heavily.]
Shut up! Dammit, get out of my head! You annoying little f —
>> [ELAPSED TIME: ESTIMATED 92 MINUTES]
I… I don’t know if this thing is picking up what I’m hearing, but… Look, I’m hearing whispers. Like, a large group of children whispering. Most of the time, I can’t make out what they’re saying, but now and then, one of them speaks up and tells me something. They say a lot of different things, but they most commonly ask me to “join them” or “find them,” whatever the hell that means. I have no intention of listening or GOING DOWN THOSE SLIDES, EITHER! YOU HEAR ME? SO LEAVE ME ALONE!
[“Imajinary” pauses, catching his breath.]
I don’t know… I might just be losing my sanity… Either way, there’s a chance this could be my last log… Just like that other guy… Damn…
Sorry… I don’t think I ever mentioned the audio log I found… Someone else was here before me. Akra, I think was his name…? Yeah, I think so. Anyway, he found this place the same way I did, and it sounds like he had a similar experience… Only he decided to go down the slides. I won’t, though. I don’t care how many voices get into my head. I won’t. I’d rather starve. I’d rather —
What the hell?
[Silence]
Who are you? What are you doing here? Are you lost?
[Silence]
Hey, wait! Come back!
[“Imajinary” is heard running, presumably chasing after the unidentified individual.]
Wait… Wait…
[“Imajinary” comes to a stop.]
No… This isn’t right. Okay… For the record, I just saw… a child. A damn kid. Just standing around here like nothing’s happening… He ran off, though. Didn’t say a word. I… I don’t think he was everything he seemed to be. Something was off…
I… I need to just… rest.
>> [ELAPSED TIME: APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS]
Okay… Okay…
[“Imajinary” is heard fumbling with the audio recorder.]
This… This might be my last log… That kid… He came back. I thought I should try to help him. Maybe he was just a small kid lost in the Backrooms. I couldn’t just leave him here if he was. I… But now, he’s just screwing with me. The voices… They won’t stop. They never stop. They won’t leave me alone!
And that kid… He just keeps taunting me. Keeps trying to trick me into following him. Sometimes, he makes it look like he’s in trouble and needs help. Other times, he tries to get me to follow him to a way out of here…
[“Imajinary” pauses to slow his breathing.]
… But I know better. I… I’m not stupid. I’m not that weak-minded. Like I said, I’d rather starve to death than follow some Entity to something worse.
I need… I need to lie down. Try to sleep… Try to ignore all this, to forget it… This is “Imajinary,” potentially signing off.
>> [ELAPSED TIME: UNABLE TO EXTRAPOLATE]
Okay… This is “Imajinary.” Still alive and breathing. Somehow.
I… I don’t remember how I got out of there, that playground place that my logs say I was trapped in. Truth be told, I… I don’t remember much of anything anymore. From when I was younger, at least.
The memories I had described in the previous recordings… I don’t remember them at all. Hearing myself talk about them just feels so… Foreign. Like it wasn’t me talking, because I don’t have those memories.
[“Imajinary” pauses and sighs.]
I don’t know. I feel normal again, at least. That’s what matters. That child, though… I do remember him, more than anything… His eyes… They still haunt me. To think I came so close to falling for his little trap…
It’s little trap. Yeah. It. That wasn’t a child. That was a damn Entity. Should’ve known from the start… Still, it wasn’t like any Entity I’ve ever seen before. It was crawling around in my mind, pulling every possible trick it could to manipulate me into doing… whatever the hell it wanted me to do. Every fond memory, every subtle fear… Damn thing might be why I can’t remember anything anymore.
Doesn’t matter now. This could be huge. I don’t know if I’m the only person to encounter one of these things, but I should still report to the Science and Research Divisions. They’ll want to hear all about this…
[END LOG]
“Imajinary” was found by a R.I.F.T-TG Recon Team on an undisclosed Level, seemingly in good health. After taking some precautionary measures to ensure that the operative was not an imposter or under the influence of some sort of Entity, he was taken to HQ for debriefing. Both this log and the one found by “Imajinary” on Level 65 were taken for research purposes. The operative himself has since recovered and returned to his normal duties.
Category:Entities
Category:Dangerous
Category:Mental Hazards
Category:Strange Entities