Level 881

## Level 881: "August-1B"

### Description:

Upon entry into **Level 881**, wanderers are deposited on the surface of a small planet named August-1B bearing striking similarity to the planet Mercury. Resemblance between the two is noted in their size, grey, crater-covered surfaces, lethal levels of incident surface radiation, and extreme temperatures.

Although this may initially lead wanderers to believe that they have actually emerged on Mercury, several key differences quickly prove otherwise. Upon further exploration, one may soon notice the following:

* Unlike Mercury, August-1B contains an atmosphere with breathable oxygen. However, the 10.2% surface concentration of O2 (as opposed to healthy levels of ~21%) is insufficient for sustained habitation without life-support systems.
* Temperatures recorded on August-1B are less extreme. Mercury has temperatures ranging from -173°C (-280°F) to 427°C (809°F), while August-1B's temperatures range between -98°C (-144°F) and 221°C (430°F).
* Despite similarities in the terrain of August-1B to that of Mercury, the former's ground actually consists of weathered metal oxides instead of metal silicates.
* August-1B orbits a blue supergiant, termed "August-1A", rather than a yellow dwarf.

Most importantly, August-1B contains a sizeable terminator (or "twilight") zone. Unlike Mercury, which rotates about its own axis, tidally locked astronomical bodies such as August-1B do not contain a day-night cycle. Having one side perpetually facing the sun (August-1A) and one side perpetually facing away, half of the planet is constantly engulfed in blazing sunlight with soaring temperatures, while the other half is plunged into perpetual, frozen darkness. However, the area lying just between these two halves remains at a relatively safe low temperature. Though these may reach the likes of 40° C (104° F), the small, ring-shaped region is able to support life, and may be traversed even without hermetically-sealed exploration suits.

### Other Planets:

August-1B is only one of three planets in its solar system. The other two planets, named August-1C and August-1D, can be seen directly from August-1B's sky. August-1C, the closer of the two, appears to be comprised entirely out of crystals. August-1D, on the other hand, is thought to be a vast, ocean-like planet, theorized based on its orbit to have its own moon.

Comets are also numerous in **Level 881**—as many as 1,000 distinct comets have been documented in orbit of August-1A. Consequently, the skies of August-1B are frequently visited by mesmerizing meteor shower displays, especially in the months between April and September. Meteors are often colored blue-green, but have also been observed in white, purple, pink, and orange hues.

### Space Station:

August-1B is home to a massive, dilapidated space station. Exploration of the location has been limited, due to challenges posed by August-1B's harsh atmosphere and terrain.

### Entrances and Exits:

The only known entrance and exit to **Level 881** is a single window within Level 3. The window opens up to a crater wall within August-1B's terminator zone, about a mile (1.6 km) from the Space Station.

At present, there are no other known entrances or exits.

Please note that additional entrances and exits found on other pages are not to be trusted. Their erroneous appearance has been attributed to the Mandela Effect.