Schema of the Archipelago
The Archipelago is an enigmatic Backrooms level that was discovered gradually by many international groups in the 2010s, far away from the original cluster. Because of its specific location, you cannot normally access it from the main cluster. To actually access it in a reliable manner, you need to enter an international cluster from where you will be able to get to the Archipelago.
Due to security measures, this level is considered locked by the Nations that have found access to it. Indeed, this level has been confirmed to be located in the cross of most if not all international clusters, making it a folding point of the Backrooms themselves. All Nations who entered it once believed they were alone on a level like any other. However, after entering into contact with each other, they decided to unite into a special union to protect this level from the open world and keep its secrets safe.
For now, the Archipelago is divided into seven known islands. Six of them belong to certain Nations, while the last one is considered international. From the latter, you can get access to every nation's island, while the former only communicates with two other islands.
Although it is difficult to describe the appearance of each individual national island due to its completely different structure, it is known for certain that the central island is a desert plateau with a light haze. At the moment, it is considered neutral. An international trade outpost was built here by the efforts of all nations.
Remember, by keeping the secret you keep the islands safe.
Narrow alleys that are as dark as night even in the daytime.
A schematic diagram of the Submerged Kawloong City.
VERSION: Σν-1.6
ISLAND NAME: Sigma
DANGER LEVEL: Variation
Safe
Unstable Environment
Minimum Habitability
Info
The submerged kowloong city author: rukatyan
Translators: centurys lute,
cakelord114514,
Lambda Core
Image source information (listed in the order they appear in the text)：
Image 1: Made by cakelord114514.
Image 2: Taken by myself.
Image 3: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53060122 CC BY 3.0
Image 4: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HK_Sai_Ying_Pun_%E5%B9%B2%E8%AB%BE%E9%81%93%E8%A5%BF_Connaught_Road_West_%E5%94%90%E9%A0%86%E8%88%88_Tong_Shui_Hing_%E7%99%BC%E6%B3%A1%E8%86%A0%E9%A3%AF%E7%9B%92_lunch_box_with_%E5%9C%B0%E9%81%93%E7%B6%A0%E8%8C%B6_Green_drink.jpg?uselang=zh-cn CC BY-SA 3.0
Image 5: https://www.flickr.com/photos/44343967@N00/7243375954 CC BY 2.0
Image 6: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KWC_-_Alley.jpg?uselang=zh-cn CC BY 4.0
Image 7: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk70/14664596007/in/photostream/ CC BY-SA 2.0
Image 8: https://www.flickr.com/photos/41872041@N03/19210455603 CC BY-SA 2.0
Image 9: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121140798 CC BY 2.0
Image 10: https://www.flickr.com/photos/44343967@N00/7243376884 CC BY 2.0
Image 11: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24512729@N00/142654784 CC BY 2.0
Image 12: https://www.flickr.com/photos/67170142@N02/6554506759 CC BY 2.0
Image 13: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53190023 CC BY-SA 3.0
From the day I was born into this world of disorder, my parents named me Loong because they hoped I would be as tough and powerful as a loong. But I have never truly seen a loong, nor did I understand why loongs are considered so powerful.
Before I had a chance to ask my parents what a Loong was, a sea of azure blue spilled into my room from all sides.
Island Overview
A schematic diagram of the Submerged Kawloong City.
The mist shrouding the outskirts of the Submerged Kawloong City.
In the midst of the foggy seas of the Blue Channel lies an island city known as Loong City Island, also known as the Submerged Kowloong City, which is continuously sinking. Loong City Island is an immensely important resource island, its name deriving from the word "龙城"City of loong found in the names of many shops within the city.
From an overall perspective, Loong City Island is a severely flooded island city with four main areas. The outermost edge of the island consists of crossing beaches and tidal flats, leading towards the center of the beach into the Inner City. The city area has already become thoroughly eroded by The Blue Channel and is yet still sinking; countless fragments of buildings pulling along sand and soil settle in a large pit at the center of the island, while newer constructed buildings float like duckweed above the surface, providing a foothold for those advancing towards the city’s center
I asked an old man, “Why is the Loong City called the Loong City?”
He just smiled and didn’t say a word.
I tried again: “Are there any loongs here?”
Suddenly, a thoughtful expression appeared on his weathered face.
“There is; once you recover, go and see for yourself in the city,” he replied, covering me with a patched quilt and then left with a hunch in his walk.
Outer Beach
A beach littered with all manners of garbage.
Unlike the crisis-ridden and ever-changing Inner City, the outer beaches are relatively safe, stable, and where most scavengers choose to set up home. Large amounts of debris and garbage drift out into the ocean blue, carried by the pull of the tides to their eventual deposition on the beaches. Scavengers hunt among the debris for items of value. However, this line of work is grueling and inefficient. In the end, how much value can waste soaked by seawater hold?
A lunchbox and drinks prepared for explorers (picked up from the beach).
Aside from the ubiquitous trash, the beach also hosts numerous scavenger camps, where people construct makeshift tents and cabins out of the scraps to provide shelter from the elements. Since resources available on the beach are scarce, most of the young and able-bodied scavengers still need to enter the Inner City Area to search for supplies, leaving mostly the elderly and children at the camp. Typically, explorers venturing into the Inner City Area operate from tall buildings near the camps. Every evening, they lower the day’s collected supplies from the building windows to the ground using ropes tied to baskets or canvas bags. Family members on the ground receive these goods to sell or trade, and in return, they load the containers with dinner and daily necessities. The explorers then hoist these supplies back up. At dusk, ropes in the tall buildings near the camps move up and down like elevators, as explorers inside the buildings loudly communicate with family members left at the camp. Some families receiving good supplies may even sell their items right there, turning the area beneath these buildings into a bustling marketplace.
I found a camera near the beach, and surprisingly, it still worked. This made me see these damp piles of trash in a new light.
I took my first photo of those preparing meals for travelers. For some reason, it made me think of my parents from long ago.
The child of the old man who has been nursing me back to health has also returned. Tomorrow, I can go with him to explore the Inner City Area.
Will I really be able to see a loong?
The Inner City Area of The Loong City
Considering the dangers of the Inner City Area, no one lives there permanently, but scavengers venture into it daily to search for resources for survival and trade. Due to the overly damp environment, most of the food here has spoiled, but many of the daily necessities and small electronic/mechanical devices are still functional. Some non-perishable, storable canned goods and bagged condiments can also be found here, and these are highly sought after at the trading markets.But what I really want to see, is still loong.
Unlike the relatively safe and stable outer beach, the Inner City Area is constantly changing and collapsing, making past routes and experiences potentially obsolete. Streets that were once safe can become narrow and dangerous after a storm. Documenting routes and areas within the Inner City is futile, but we still need to understand its prominent features to ensure our safety during exploration.
Architectural Characteristics
Narrow alleys that are as dark as night even in the daytime.
From the floating bridges on the beach, one can walk all the way into the Inner City Area, constantly careful not to step into the void, lest they plunge into the bottomless blue channels. Soon, countless residential buildings and bungalows begin to emerge in the view, and the path beneath one's feet transitions from floating bridges to a network of streets and alleys, where it becomes less likely to accidentally step into deep water. Numerous high-rise buildings are lined with many unrecognizable billboards, the inscriptions on which have become illegible due to lack of maintenance and rain erosion. A chaotic network of electrical wires centers around these billboards, weaving a massive web above the cityscape. This web is also draped with many items of clothing still damp. With the obstruction of dense fog, even on clear days, not a ray of sunlight penetrates through the mesh of billboards and wires, maintaining a dead silence and darkness in the Inner City Area.
After crossing one street and lobby after another, it becomes difficult to discern exactly where one is within the Inner City Area, which floor one is on, or even whether one is indoors or outdoors. The only sensation is that whether it's the outdoor streets or the corridors within the buildings, they become increasingly narrow. Initially walking side by side, people now have to sidestep through one narrow alley after another, with pathways blocked by randomly discarded building materials and trash. Furthermore, expansions like vegetable gardens and shrines make it nearly impossible for the group to move forward. A suffocating silence fills everyone's lungs, and even rooms that appear spacious might be crammed with various containers and household trash upon entering, posing a risk of being trapped underneath if not careful.
Just when everyone was almost out of breath, a row of windows letting in light appeared before our eyes. Everyone leaned against the windows to rest, sharing their findings of the day. From the windows, one could see the camp below, a rest stop where scavengers rest and eat. They navigate through the oppressive city daily, attempting to find a bit of material in the massive heaps of trash like searching for a needle in a haystack. At the end of the day, they take a break in this narrow space by the light-filled windows, chatting casually with family and teammates. This routine remains their unchanging way of life.
Climate Characteristic
Rooms affected by the Huinantian phenomenon.
As we slept soundly, the pitter-patter of rain gradually started, and despite being dressed in thick clothes, I still felt a chill. The fluctuating temperatures and frequent precipitation made the Inner City extremely damp, shrouded in fog all year round. I vaguely remember this type of climate being referred to as "回南天"Huinantian or "返潮"Damp season. Merely resting against the wall for a while, the surrounding walls, ceiling, and the glass windows behind us were soon covered in thick condensation. Drops of water dripped onto the heads of those asleep, prompting everyone to realize it was time to head back.
The pitter-patter sound of the rain was gradually overshadowed by the howling wind, and what dripped from the ceiling was no longer droplets, but streams of water. Everyone quickened their pace upon seeing the whirlpool at the drain, wondering when the building might be completely submerged. However, the descent was far from smooth; the once clear corridors became perilous after being flooded, rooms with tiled floors turned slippery, and the stairs were submerged in filthy sewage, deterring anyone from daring to wade through. As we hurried along what seemed like an outdoor walkway, rising water levels had pushed open the manhole covers, making it impossible to climb out if one accidentally stepped in. Exposed electrical wires, torn by the strong winds and falling into the water, created high voltage zones that hindered our progress, forcing us to continually detour.
When a clap of thunder sounded, a violent storm with fierce winds struck us. My clothes began to dissolve in the torrential rain, and the raindrops stinging my skin felt like burns; numerous high-rise buildings collapsed before us, and the ground was filled with cracks, merely stepping on it could result in falling into a pit. We had no choice but to take refuge in a small, trembling shack amidst the storm and pray continuously. When facing such a mad disaster, what else could we do?
In the midst of the storm, all we could do was pray helplessly.
But under the powerful protection of Loong City, we managed to survive the storm.
Growing Buildings
I once wondered, even though it continually sinks, why the Loong City has not completely fallen into the blue channels. Those towering skyscrapers, even after sinking more than thirty floors, have not submerged completely into the sea. Could they really be towering giants reaching the heavens? But after the storm, as we tremblingly pushed open the door of the small house, all my doubts vanished.
On the debris of collapsed buildings, countless small houses and buildings sprouted like bamboo after rain, growing vigorously. They were the size of mushrooms, easily lifted by hand, and quite adorable. However, when I turned back to look at the small house that had sheltered us, I found it had become so tall—no, it had grown taller and more stable in the storm. The steel rods and wooden beams that had made eerie noises during the storm had broken, but the new framework had filled the gaps. My companions told me that this little house was a good seedling, and it would eventually grow into a towering skyscraper.
The storm and acid erosion never brought it down.
Even though it was once damaged and sinking, no matter how many times it was destroyed, Loong city could always be reborn from the ruins.
And those that did not completely kill it, only made it stronger with each rebirth.
Other Parts of Loong City
We had almost 10 people at start, but after this journey, only 5 left. We do hope they were just choosing a different path home, but all of us know the fact that there's no chance such of miracle thing would happen. After a short break, the resource gathering from the Loong city would be sold or exchanged. Food in this city is a vital yet rare resource, the only way to get them is by trading with other islands dwellers. I was lucky enough to join these merchants during their way to major trading streets of Loong City.
Loong City Street Market
The spice packs produced in the city, both sumptuous on quality and price.
Loong City Street was originally named "Ruined Skyscrapers Street Market". Just as its former name refers, it is a sea-crossing bridge consists of collapsed buildings, and also a place to allow merchants trading with other areas. The collapsed building is almost hundred storeys in height, it is so tall that the other end of the building lies on another island. Thus, this building becomes the vital bridge that connects these two islands.
As the inner part of the building wasn't severely damaged, peddlers of both islands used these parts of the building as their free shopping stand to sell their goods. Most of them are processed food like char siu, fish balls, chinese sausage and canned food. Besides, hand made tools like knives, kitchen knives, axes, and shovels are also commonly sold items here. All of the things were produced by modern gadgets which were found in this area. As for the supply from other islands, they will also be delivered through this street and sold to food factory and canteen in Loong City.
Shopping stand owners here usually use the brand boards they found in this place as their own, most of them had chinese names written on, like "龙城某某商铺"Loong city shop or "龙城饭店"Loong city Restaurant. As the communication between Loong City isle and other islands dwellers increased, the name "Loong City" then eventually became the official name of the island and wide spreaded among the Archipelago. And that's the reason why this street was renamed to "Loong City Street Market".
I took a photo for these hard working residents here, most of them just lost their partner or family because of that storm.
Holding the photo, my complex feelings can't even expressed by language.
"What are you thinking, young man?" An old man looking upon my face, asked.
"They all lost their family, why?"
"Because that's how life is here, young man, just look forward for tomorrow"
Iron Tree Rainforest
Iron trees growing by the seaside (not yet a cluster).
The southeastern part of Loong City is the only area in the entire city where plants grow, but these plants seem different from the "green plants" we normally think of. These plants grow from the beach all the way to the distant sea. The trees are close together, blocking the flow of water and forming a dam-like structure in the blue channel. By supporting these trees and carefully stepping on the dam, one can walk towards the distant sea and eventually reach a tropical rainforest. This place is on the edge of another island, where some islanders rent or buy specially made boats from the rainforest residents to travel between the two islands. However, there are also many residents who carry and transport goods on the dam.
However, a closer look at these trees reveals something amiss; the trees are extremely hard, with steel pipes and rebars inside the bark, and some iron trees even grow windows. Scavengers jokingly call these trees "iron trees." They uproot the entire iron tree when it is still a sapling and not so tall, transporting it to the city market to be forged into various iron tools. The equipment obtained in this way is superior in all respects to ironware made from recycled materials.
On the other hand, the expansion of the iron trees has caused trouble for the residents of another island, as the iron trees are also wildly growing in their tropical rainforest, severely interfering with the growth of other trees and crops. The crops grown in the rainforest area are exactly the food resources urgently needed by Loong City. Therefore, the residents are collecting acid rain from the Inner City to help the rainforest residents control the disorderly expansion of the iron trees.
Aerial Cable Bridge
The steel cables leading to the floating island.
In the northern high-rise area of Loong City, there is an aerial iron rope bridge made up of dozens of steel cables. These aerial bridges lead to a mysterious floating island. The steel cables intersect multiple times in midair, forming a mesh structure where some intersection points can serve as resting spots. Rumors has it that these peculiar pathways originated from several collisions between the floating island and Loong City, where the city's steel cables became embedded in the island. As the island drifted away, it gradually pulled the cables into the thick fog.
The residents of Loong City and the floating island need to use this rope bridge to commute. To facilitate trade, merchants carry thick backpacks loaded with goods and grip the steel cables with both hands as if walking on a tightrope, pausing at the intersections of the cables. The entire journey takes place high up in the sky, requiring extraordinary courage and physical strength to complete the route with a heavy load. On the return trip, these merchants walk back briskly with their packs full of orders, seemingly with ease compared to the strenuous ascent. For the northern residents who do not trade in the markets, the food brought from the floating island is crucial for their survival.
“Lad, just stop here, don't go any further, it's too dangerous.”
“My brother, if it's so dangerous, why aren't you afraid to walk it every day?”
“Afraid? I still need to eat something for living even if i am afraid. Besides, the view ahead is really beautiful.”
“How beauty?”
“Well, as long as you look forward, all the views are beautiful.”
Memorial Ceremony and Farewell
In Loong City, being a scavenger has never been an easy job; no one can guarantee a safe return from the city areas the next day. At the end of each month, various communities gather to mourn relatives who have passed away within Loong City, accompanying them through their final moments at home. For the residents of Loong City, there is no need for intricate and cumbersome rituals. Each household simply offers modest tributes—a cup of
liquor, a few grains of rice, or even a paper flower suffices. The elderly arrange these offerings on a simple altar, light incense, and each household takes a stick back home, symbolically bringing the deceased's soul back with them.
After returning home, the scavengers serve a small prepared meal and a few pieces of yellow paper. After briefly expressing unspoken words from the deceased's life, the meal will be thrown into the waters of Loong City and when the yellow paper is burned completely, marks the send-off for the deceased. Everything is kept simple as possible, embodying the scavengers' austere way of mourning. The next day, life continues as usual for everyone, and the dead, like the burned yellow paper, seem to vanish like smoke, leaving no trace.
Before packing up to leave, I took one last look at the small house from that day. Unfortunately, it didn't withstand the newly arrived storm and had turned into ruins.
After saying goodbye to the old man, his son dropped me off at the market and then turned back towards Loong City. I stares at his back, wondering if I would see him again the next time I visit Loong City.
The flowers of the Iron tree bloom wildly on the ruins of the collapsed house.
I stares the Loong City from afar, I think to myself that Loong City is beautiful and strong, storms and corrosion didn't defeat them. Perhaps, they are the real Loong.
Yet this beauty, is so cruel and heavy.
Photo of a non-foggy area.
Map of the French Island.
VERSION: Φρ-1.5
ISLAND NAME: Phi
DANGER LEVEL: Deadzone
Environmental Hazards
Strictly Uninhabitable
Potential for Anomalous Entities
[AWAITING DECLASSIFICATION]
Gorgona, an island in the Tuscan Archipelago, bears close resemblance to Island Roots when it comes to architectural style.
A sketch of a map of the island drawn by a wanderer. The thickness of the bridges is purely to make them stand out and does not comply with the actual size. The numbers on the right indicate the biome. (0: entry point; 1: plain; 2: forest)
VERSION: Ιτ-1.3
ISLAND NAME: Iota
DANGER LEVEL: Deadzone
Environmental Hazards
Strictly Uninhabitable
Potential for Anomalous Entities
SURVIVAL DIFFICULTY:
Class deadzone
- Anomalous properties
- {$two}
- Guaranteed death
"A man is born, adults, and puts down roots", or simply Island Roots, bears resemblance to a Mediterranean island suspended in a thick fog. It has been thoroughly documented by an anonymous group of Italian explorers around March 2010.
Description:
A sketch of a map of the island drawn by a wanderer. The thickness of the bridges is purely to make them stand out and does not comply with the actual size. The numbers on the right indicate the biome. (0: entry point; 1: plain; 2: forest)
Whilst the location is majorly obscured, the mapping of the island was rendered possible by a conveniently placed mountain — a kilometre away from the entry point — covered in a thick layer of snow. For instance, the formation has been observed casting an incredibly dark shadow onto the rest of the isle, reaching the edges numerous times during the day. And as secure in its appearance as it may seem, its atmospheric pressure rapidly decreases as one approaches the top, making all attempts at exploration fruitless without proper training. This spot, presumably reaching an altitude of 3000 metres, serves as the lobby for all wanderers, with no fauna or vegetation. Under all known accounts, there has not been a single incident in this location since its first exploration. At the bottom of this rocky formation lies the threshold between two biomes — a dense forest and a plain. While the former — making up the outermost portions of the island — is seemingly safe from the adverse effects of cold weather, the central plain presents a distinct lack of vegetation with no known reason. Any plant that could have grown in this latter biome in normal conditions will freeze and wither much more quickly than what should be possible, which is something that usually occurs within the span of five minutes. A penitentiary may also be found in the middle of the plain, being unnaturally torn down.
It is not clear as to how the island is illuminated, but there seems to be a dim light source coming from all directions. This source shifts rather unpredictably, rendering the day-night cycle highly irregular and with no known pattern. Despite this, experiments conducted with shadows confirm that light rays are almost parallel, hinting that this phenomenon might be caused by some exotic celestial body. The odd nature of this object, however, is a nuisance researchers are not particularly fond of studying as of today, as most of the effort seems to be directed towards understanding a few more tangible findings on the island.
Coastline:
The coastline of the island is not coated in sand and neither does it bear resemblance to a beach, contrary to expactations. Instead, a forest can be found engulfing the surroundings. One likely cause of this is the presence of the Blue Channel, which may have significantly disrupted the formation of the island at some point. This resulted in the absence of physical barriers at the edge, which may have brought about accidents in the past. The forest is essentially devoid of organisms, and the vast majority of insects — whether benevolent or malevolent — seemingly fail to persist, dying in a few hours. Despite its unthreatening appearance, the coastline represents quite the danger to wanderers passing as the fog easily disorients any inattentive travellers via psycological means.
As opposed to insects, seeds tend to sprout anomalously quickly. With the light coming from the anomalous source, new plants are keen to experience increased chlorophyll levels, alongside plenty of other chemical effects. Most of the trees on the island showcase growths of oranges, apples, pears and other fruits that can be typically found in the Mediterranean. These fruits, however, decompose the second they are detached from the parent plant, despite no clear evidence of fungi manifesting in these situations. In some scenarios, it is possible to safely remove them when surrounded by carbon dioxide clouds and effectively suppressing the presence of other gasses. This can achieved via the use of dry ice, although one should always be mindful of using it at the right time as plants predominantly consume oxygen at night. This exceptional conservation may last a few minutes, barely enough to conduct any experiments. Attempting to consume these fruits before they decay yields no positive outcome as they are bound to have their nutritional value vanquished.
Inner plain:
The island boasts an anomalously cold portion covering its centre. Most of the terrain is comprised of a sheet of frozen grass lying on the ground. Because of this, the plants' inner structures have been compromised to such a degree that they resemble samples previously thrown in liquid nitrogen and other such substances. The roots of each sprout and weed may still retain their integrity as they provide an anchor for the grass, for it can be easily peeled off of the ground like a carpet of sorts. The underlying dirt showcases a plethora of trapped droplets, being chemicals prone to evaporate on Earthly conditions. Even so, this effect only persists when in direct contact with the dirt and especially its clay, an aspect which could severely injure humans and animals under direct exposure.
Ruins:
Gorgona, an island in the Tuscan Archipelago, bears close resemblance to Island Roots when it comes to architectural style.
Aside from being generally fatal to flora, the plain is known to have previously borne the presence of human settlements, such as a single village equipped with a penitentiary at its centre — this is the entry point for most wanderers. Not a lot can be discerned by its pale look aside from clearly boasting pre-Roman architecture with a few Medieval additions. The community during its history most definitely relied on the gold mines — now emptied — that were once accessible on the mountain. All of this information can be retrieved from the papers and papyri present in the houses, especially the former town hall, and they have so far been crucial in order to understand many of the anomalous events centered around these lands. Many reports, written mostly in many vulgar languages of the Middle Ages, late Latin and pre-indoeuropean Etruscan, date as far back as the VIII century B.C. And since Etruscan used to be exclusive to modern-day Tuscany, this island must have been in one way or another connected to the Tuscan archipelago in some form. The closest match that could be found is the island of Gorgona, despite being radically different in both structure and size. This may indicate the forceful teleportation of a neighboring island into the Backrooms, ultimately creating this realm.
The penitentiary — the entry point — seems to be in a perpetual decaying state without ever ultimating the process. Its parallelipipedal shape alone would indicate to any wanderer that the exit should be trivially locatable, but that is no more than an illusion. In general, the way out of the penitentiary is never consistent, sometimes shifting so radically to the point it becomes impossible to escape. In the end, the biggest reason one should rush out immediately is the entity lurking both here and in the houses, as is discussed below.
Entities:
Unforseen Crook:
There have been encounters aplenty with an ever-present force of sorts permeating the insides of the structures. It does not bear resemblance to anything humanly experiencible, for it does not possess a physical form. At the best of human intuition, it is a spirit that can telepathically communicate with weakened wanderers in order to eventually feed off of their energy. Some speculate it to be a multitude of spirits bound together in an agonising fashion, which would explain its wide range of tones and voices. This strange presence has been observed utilising nearby furniture in order to harm wanderers. During the final stages of interactions with the spirit (or spirits), it starts affecting the body irreparably, morphing it into a tree of varying type. The Crook is quite arduous to awaken, usually taking several hours in the houses but only a few minutes in the penitentiary.
It is best to steer clear from any and all closed urban spaces on the island in order to avoid incidents. Wanderers should direct themselves to a nearby bridge to reach neighboring portions of the archipelago as soon as possible. Exits from the penitentiary are usually found near crevices in the walls. These may be found at dangerous altitudes, so look for more of these given enough time.
Celestial anomaly:
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A picture of the phenomenon.
An anomaly that has appeared during the first moments of the island's arrival lies somewhere in the sky. Unlike the Sun, binding Earth in a perpetual swing, this presence follows a predictable path a couple of kilometres from the surface. It gives this place an albeit irregular day-night cycle, alongside shielding some of the blue light coming from the surrounding void with the interference of the white variety. It is unclear as to how this object might be connected to the Crook. However, the survival of travellers at the borders of and within the island is currently being prioritised by scientists and the like, thus unabling the proper writing of this section for the time being.
Bases, Outposts and Communities:
Island Roots Operatives
This is merely an unofficial nickname for the anonymous group that discovered the island. They inhabit an area found at an altitude of 500 metres on the mountain inside of tents. They are also responsible for the logs shown in this page, even if they would rather not share any crucial information as to where they came from. However, they are currently heavily uninformed about the neighboring islands, being merely able to watch them from afar while they finalise their research.
Entrances and Exits:
The only way entry can be achieved is via a blue door in Level I-23, which can only let in one wanderer at a time. This usually results in the group being divided in the penitentiary, making for an easy target, so it is best to get out immediately. Egress can only be attempted via three distinct bridges, leading to three different islands. Please use the map shown above to locate these. A bamboo bridge will lead to a Vietnamese-themed island, while a concrete bridge will lead to a Polish-themed one. The third bridge, however, is inconsistent in texture and leads to unexplored land.
Map illustrating a Polish Island.
VERSION: Πλ-1.1
ISLAND NAME: Pi
DANGER LEVEL: 2
Safe
Partially Secured
Average Number of Entities
SURVIVAL DIFFICULTY:
Class 2
- Safe
- Partially Secured
- Average Number of Entities
Map illustrating a Polish Island.
The Polish Island is part of an enigmatic level — The Archipelago. For the sake of accuracy, the island will be called a level to avoid any repetition or various misunderstandings.
Description:
This level is a flying island surrounded by mist above a blue, strange void, measuring about 20 km². The island features forests, meadows, mountains, lakes, rivers, desert, marshes and places developed by the local people.
The temperature of the level varies and depends on the areas on the island. Precipitation most often in the form of rain occurs in wooded areas, meadows and marshes. There is no day and night cycle on the island making the horizon clear as day. Despite the bright skies, no celestial body can be observed on the horizon.
The fauna and flora on the island appear to be the same as in Frontrooms, and most are similar to parts of the Polish Commonwealth. In the forests, rivers, lakes, etc., you can find corresponding species of animals and plants from just such places in Frontrooms.
There are three rivers on the level. The first one called "Vistula" has its source in the north of the level. Coming out, appearing from the fog surrounding the island. This river has three mouths, one leading south and two forming other rivers — the "Oder" leading south-west and the "Notec" leading east of the island — all mouths of water, leading to the fog surrounding the island and disappearing there. Any marine animals that come into contact with this mist are also subject to disappearance. The rivers at some level have wooden bridges built by local wanderers; at the time of writing this article, there are 7 bridges on the island.
The level has 3 lakes. "Church Lake" is the largest of these, it is located to the north and is surrounded by the Agricultural Areas, Middle Island Church and the "Vistula". The second largest lake is "East Lake", this occurs in the north-east of the level. The third lake and the smallest lake on the island is 'Settlement Lake' which is in the north of the level and is surrounded by Agricultural Areas and the "Vistula".
(1) Dead Zone - Power Station
This area occurs in the north-west of the island, near Church Lake. This Dead Zone is a mixed forest with abundant dense fog. The flora of this forest is darker than usual, making plant species appear faded. In the middle of the forest is an abandoned coal-fired power station, where most things have been destroyed and/or partially burnt. The zone is marked dead because the Northern Eagle Beast prowls the area, killing wanderers and animals passing through.1 This area restricts explorers from getting to the bridge leading to Russian Island.
(2) New Warsaw
The town is located in the north-eastern middle of the island, near the Vistula River and Church Lake. It has around 3,000 inhabitants who have built their homes and other buildings here. Industry and services play the largest role in the labour market here, making most of the people here work for their own livelihood as well as that of the town. The main seat here is the 99th Forpost of the Polish Committee of Explorers, where meetings of the island's rulers are held, as well as debates concerning the city itself. Also to be found here are the two monasteries of the Blue Candle. The main purpose of this town at the beginning, was to build up around the entrance to the level, as all wanderers who enter the island appear in the place guarded by the soldiers of New Warsaw.
(3) New Poznan
This town is located on the western part of the level, near the bridge leading to International Island. It has a population of around 1,500, who, like those in New Warsaw, have also built here. The economic sectors here interact with each other and allow the local population to create new businesses. The headquarters of Nowa Poznan is the 27th Forpost of the Polish Discovery Committee, which is their second forpost on the level. Discussions on the development of New Poznan are most frequently held at this facility.
(4) Mountains and Caves
The site is located in the south of the island, next to the Vistula and the Excavation Desert. Some of the mountain peaks reach a maximum of 1,400m above sea level and their caves can be deep, tight and collapsed. The temperature here is the lowest recorded on the entire level. Various types of minerals can be found in the caves, however, these are protected and mined by the Bloody Cross fanatics settled there. It is advisable to avoid mountainous areas, given the nature of this group.
(5) Agricultural Areas
This area is in the north of the level and is surrounded by Church Lake and Settlement Lake. The number of people living there is around 500. The local residents farm the land on which they grow a variety of fruit, vegetables and other plants, sourced from the Frontrooms. The most common crops are potatoes, tomatoes, apples, pears, carrots, raspberries or cherries. Also some farms, are involved in the rearing of animals such as chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, etc., also coming from the previously mentioned Frontrooms. The farmers here collaborate with all the towns, making the agricultural business here a constant presence and playing a powerful role on the island.
(6) Middle Island Church
This building is located in the centre of the island, next to Church Lake. Catholic masses and festivals are held in this church. The building is one of the newest constructions at this level, as all the towns and settlements contributed to its construction. The church is cared for by 13 people who celebrate the previously mentioned events.
(7) Excavation Desert
The sandy area can be found in the southern centre of the level, next to the Vistula and the Oder. In appearance it resembles the Bledowska Desert of the Frontrooms. An archaeological camp has been set up on its Association of Interdimensional Archaeologists and members of this group, are engaged in carrying out research work. Interestingly, archaeologists have already discovered several skeletons resembling a dragon, a mermaid, a basilisk and a mighty eagle.
(8) Dead Zone - Swamps
The site is located in the south-east of the level and in the Notec area. The area is inhabited by dangerous Polish entities,2 making it advisable not to enter this zone. Most of the swamp is wooded and dark, making it difficult to navigate. Importantly, the entities that inhabit the area never go beyond the Dead Zone.
(9) Collective Town
A small town created by the Collective of Polish Backrooms Scientists, it is located in the northeast, next to the East Lake. The town has a population of around 500, whose job is to help with the collective's research as well as daily life. The group itself keeps hikers safe and cooperates with nearby farming settlements.
Bridges
The Polish Island is connected by 3 bridges leading to: Italian Island, International Island and Russian Island. All of them hover over a strange blue void and their ends are covered in fog:
- The bridge leading to Italian Island is located in the south-west of the level and measures about 13 km.This structure is made of compacted concrete, in a shape that resembles a kind of parallelogram. Also, the bridge has steel railway rails that allow you to get to the Italian Island in a shorter time.
- The bridge leading to the International Island can be found to the west of the level. It is made entirely of steel and, like the previous bridge, has railway rails. It thus allows extended trade between Polish Island and other islands. The bridge measures approximately 9 km.
- The bridge leading to Russian Island is located on the north-western part of the level, just behind the Dead Zone - Power Station. By location, it is the least visited bridge on the level and also causes trade problems with Russian Island. The structure itself is made of old timber and measures about 15 km. Importantly, the bridge sometimes collapses on its own as well as repairing itself, the reason for this is unknown.
The railway rails from the bridges leading to Italian Island and International Island, are still being developed and extended today. The aim of this project, is to build a railway station in New Poznan.
Artwork depicting the Northern Eagle Beast.
Entities:
The Northern Eagle Beast inhabits the Dead Zone - Power Plant, and can most often be found in the building of an abandoned coal-fired power station.
It is a humanoid creature with an eagle skull instead of a head, a lean body and, instead of hands and feet, bony claws. It is dressed in a folk costume - the Lubuskian costume - which distinguishes this entity, in the area in which it is located. It uses its claws as weapons and very often carries two sickles with it. This creature is dangerous and is advised to be avoided at all costs. When the beast spots any human or animal in its territory, it will attack, shouting in an eagle-like voice. All attempts to get along with the beast have failed, and most people who have been spotted by the beast have been killed and eaten after a fairly quick period of time. The beast lures people using the voice of the people it has eaten, however, most often the voices produced by the beast resemble a seplenia and screams. To avoid a confrontation with this creature in the Dead Zone, listen for human whimpers and screams and avoid the abandoned power station. The Northern Eagle Beast has never yet been reported to have left the zone.
In the Dead Zone - Swamp, you can encounter all sorts of dangerous Polish entities like: Entity PL-2 — "Deadcrows", Entity PL-3 — "Vanishers", red and purple varieties of Entity PL-5 - "Electric Fireflies" and Entity PL-7 - "Animasks".
It is rare on the level to find safe Polish entities that reside outside the Dead Zones, examples of such are the green, blue and orange varieties of Electric Fireflies that can sometimes be found on the island's rivers and lakes.
Bases, Outposts and Communities:
99th Forpost Polish Explorers Committee - N. Warsaw
- It is located in New Warsaw;
- Between 20 and 25 Committee staff are stationed there, as well as other groups and wanderers;
- Its tasks are to keep Polish society at peace on the level, to research the island and to protect the population. Also their task is to guard the capital and protect its economy;
- The Forpost is often referred to as the heart of the Polish Island.
27th Forpost of the Polish Explorers Committee - N. Poznan
- It is located in New Poznan;
- It holds between 10 and 15 Committee members, as well as other groups or wanderers;
- The tasks of this forpost are to cooperate with other towns, to explore the island and to protect the explorers. As in the previously mentioned forpost, they are also concerned with the economic protection of their place and the protection of the wanderers.
Camp of the Association of Backrooms Archaeologists - Desert
- It is located in the Excavation Desert;
- It is covered by about seven archaeologists;
- Aims to carry out research work in the desert area and discover skeletons buried deep beneath the area.
Bloody Cross - Church No. 9 of St Matthew's Church
- It is located in one of the caves, in the mountains;
- This church has about 17 members, but this number is constantly increasing and decreasing,
- The church is governed by Matthew;
- The church is not inclined to trade and is bad-tempered, but when someone offers it religious things and things related to entities, it will be inclined to trade;
- Members are advised to avoid, however, at this level, they are more friendly than is customary for members of this group.
Outpost of the Polish Scientists' Collective Backrooms (Town Hall)
- The staff of the Outpost includes more than 30 specialist doctors, 11 security guards and 11 members of the Collective's Rapid Response Unit;
- The mission of the facility is to help all those who need it, to protect the Collective Town, to cooperate with other towns and to carry out level studies;
- The facility is located in the centre of the Collective Town, which was built on the pillars of the outpost.
Two chapels of the Blue Candle
- The first building is located in the north of the Collective and the second in the south.
- Members of the group, form meetings there from time to time.
- The southern chapel is general and celebrates most sacred matters, while the northern chapel specifically venerates statues of entities and celebrates less sacraments due to its specific specialisation.
Church of the Coming of the Messiah
- It is located south of the Marshes and east of the Mountains and Caves.
- The number of people residing there is unknown, but it is estimated that there are approximately 3 priests and over 20 followers of the Church of the Sons of Arawn.
- The aims of this church are unknown, the discovery of any information about it is hampered by the deadly nature of this religious organisation.
- It is heavily guarded by a group of followers.
Entrances And Exits:
Entrances
Importantly, every entrance to the Polish Island leads to the centre of New Warsaw, which is guarded by the soldiers there. The troops there are ready to welcome new wanderers and to help them on their journey.
- Finding a door in one of the trees on Level PL-8 and going through it, leads to the Polish Island;
- The dark caves on Level PL-29 can lead you to this level;
- A random no-clip on Level PL-69 will cause you to appear here;
- Falling asleep in the bathroom of Apartment 6 on Level PL-88 will cause you to wake up on the level;
- Entering the floor of Level PL-98 will lead wanderers to this level.
By skipping levels, it is possible to get to the Polish Island via bridges from other islands, thus clusters. You can get here from the Italian Island, the International Island and the Russian Island.
Exits
As mentioned earlier, the Polish Island has 3 bridges that lead to others such as the Italian Island, the International Island and the Russian Island.
Additional Documentation
Russian Note
One day, when the population on the Polish Island was slowly growing, after the first discovery of the bridge leading to the Russian Island, the Polish explorers met the local population on the bridge.
This community appeared to speak Russian, however, among the Polish explorers, there were none who spoke the local language. After an unsuccessful conversation with the strangers, a member of the local population gave a note to the Polish explorers, after which the wanderers disappeared into the fog.
Daniel Ivanienkov Record
I have been assigned to decipher this note, because I myself know how to speak Cyrillic and am a Ukrainian, I have to say something about it.
To date we have not deciphered anything! It is, of course, written in Cyrillic, however, this also causes problems. We have been solving it for 5 fu###ng years now. I apologise for the vocabulary, but this is the status of our situation. To make matters worse, all attempts to read this cipher, by all sorts of methods cause headaches and rarely hallucinations. I don't know where these come from, but it doesn't make the job any easier. Of course, I tried to decipher this note with people from the Russian branch, but they could not decipher it either. I don't know if I or anyone else will ever manage to decipher it. It is sick, mysterious and terribly interesting. Of course I fear for my sanity in deciphering it, it is quite intriguing. Thank you for listening and have a good day.
Cooperation of Posts
Every community on the level contributes to its development, so that, as a rule, everyone cooperates, trades and is involved in different fields:
- Polish Explorers Committee — deal with the administrative part of the island and the organisation of the Polish Island organs.
- Association of Interdimensional Archaeologists — this group studies the level and helps other communities to understand the local flora and fauna.
- Bloody Cross — in part, the members there are involved in mining various types of minerals for the exchange of other items.
- Collective of Polish Backrooms Scientists — are concerned with level exploration and the protection of much of the community on the island.
- Blue Candle and the Church of the Middle of the Island — help people to support themselves on the island and create, participate in many level events.
- People living in the Agricultural Areas — are involved in harvesting and growing crops and raising animals. The community there has the most influence on the island's population because of their ownership of these farms.
"Vostok" Station
Map of the famous territory of the Archipelago
VERSION: Ρω-1.2
ISLAND NAME: Rho
DANGER LEVEL: Deadzone
Environmental Hazards
Strictly Uninhabitable
Potential for Anomalous Entities
[AWAITING DECLASSIFICATION]
Zeta-Buffalo Island
Digital map based on information collected from explorations.