Backrooms—Level 0

Description: A massive, potato-like creature with yellow, bumpy skin. On the sides of its head are dots resembling eyes, from which flow "tears" (a blue liquid used for camouflage). When hunting, it opens its mouth, revealing real eyes inside.

Behavior: A territorial solitary, Level 0 is home to only one individual. It doesn't wander the level, but simply sits in one corner. It attacks if a wanderer gets too close. Slow but smart, it chooses locations from which it's difficult to escape.

Tips: Keep your distance and don't enter his territory. If he gives chase, run to the starting point; a shutter will drop there, blocking him. He seems harmless, but don't be fooled.

Description: A tall, humanoid creature made of thin wires and tubes, with rough skin and a sieve-like head. It emits a loud roar (earning it the nickname "Howling"), which is capable of deafening.

Behavior: Appears on Level 0 3 minutes after the start. Initially, it lures its prey by mimicking footsteps or knocking sounds. Upon spotting the player, it begins to pursue them, but loses their trail when they turn frequently. In other levels, it's faster than the player—they require hiding in vents or lockers.

Tips: Keep turning corners to throw her off the scent. Run in short bursts to conserve stamina. Don't follow suspicious sounds—they're traps.

Description: The Madmen are people (or former people) who have completely lost their minds due to prolonged exposure to the Backstage. They appear as emaciated, dirty figures in rags. Their skin is pale, their eyes are wildly bulging, often red from lack of sleep. They constantly mumble incoherently, laugh for no reason, or cry. Their movements are jerky, twitchy, and unnatural—they can suddenly freeze or start running in one direction.

Behavior: The Madmen are extremely aggressive towards any wanderers. They make no attempt to communicate or negotiate—their only goal is to attack. They lack tactics or cunning, acting erratically: they might attack with a scream and attempt to bite or strike with a found object. Sometimes they simply run straight at a person, not even attempting to dodge. Despite their outward weakness, they possess superhuman strength in fits of rage. The Madmen feel no pain or fear, and do not stop until they destroy their target or lose consciousness from exhaustion.

Detection: First signs:

· Indistinct screams, muttering, or hysterical laughter are heard in the distance. · Random knocks on the walls or floor are heard. · The sound of quick, shuffling steps that suddenly stops. · Figures are visible randomly banging their heads against the walls or scratching them.

How to protect yourself:

Avoid any contact. If you hear screaming, quietly move away. · Madmen react to noise. The quieter you move, the less likely they are to notice you. If an attack is unavoidable, use any weapon, hitting them in the head or knees to immobilize them. They feel no pain, but their bones are fragile. · Running from them is pointless; they can chase you endlessly until they collapse. It's best to hide in the dark (their vision is poor) or move to another level.

Origin: The Madmen are believed to be wanderers who have been in the Backstage for too long and couldn't cope with the isolation, hallucinations, and constant fear. Some researchers believe they are not separate entities, but rather lost "past ones."

Description: Hounds are tall (approximately 2 meters), thin, and completely black creatures, resembling anthropomorphic dogs or wolves. They have long limbs, pointed ears, and glowing white or yellow eyes. Instead of a face, they have a smooth surface with a mouth lined with sharp teeth. They walk on all fours but can stand on their hind legs. Their limbs twist at unnatural angles, making their movements eerie and unpredictable.

Behavior: Hounds are pack hunters. They rarely attack alone, preferring to surround their prey from several sides. Their primary tactic is a long, exhausting chase. They don't run faster than a human, but their endurance is nearly limitless. They will stalk their prey for hours, giving it no respite until it collapses from exhaustion. Hounds are highly intelligent: they can set ambushes, cut off escape routes, and even imitate the voices of others to lure a traveler into a trap.

Detection: The first signs of the Hounds' appearance:

· An unexplained feeling of anxiety or the sensation that you are being watched. · The sound of many paws stomping in the adjacent corridors. · A low growl or whine coming from behind the walls. · Red or yellow lights in the dark are a reflection of the light from their eyes. If you notice even one sign, immediately seek shelter or an exit from the level.

How to protect yourself:

· Running away is useless over long distances. You need to find a narrow corridor or a small room with one door—they won't be able to surround you there. · Hounds are afraid of loud, sharp sounds (explosions, gunshots), this can scare them away for a while. · Some sources claim that they cannot tolerate bright flashing lights - use a flashlight in strobe mode. · The most reliable option is to find another level through an anomalous door or hatch before the pack closes the circle.

Important: Don't try to engage them in combat. Their skin is very thick and their regeneration is rapid. If a Hound wounds you, consider yourself dead, as their blood contains an enzyme that attracts others.

Description: Skinstealers are tall (approximately 2 meters), pale yellow humanoids with sunken white eyes. Their main threat is their ability to mimic humans down to the last detail. They remove the skin from their killed victims and apply it to themselves using microscopic suction cups. To prevent the disguise from decomposing and to make it appear alive, the suction cups pump blood and nutrients into the skin. After approximately 24 hours, the skin is digested, and the Skinstealer returns to its normal state.

Behavior:

· Well-fed state: Usually wander aimlessly and are not aggressive unless provoked. · Hungry state: They actively hunt lone travelers, stalking them. Upon spotting a prey, they become enraged and pursue it tirelessly. Their speed is comparable to humans, but their endurance is inhuman, making it almost impossible to escape for long. Speech: They can speak, but they don't understand language. They only repeat phrases they hear, trying to lure victims, so strange or incoherent speech is a cause for suspicion.

Biology and Vulnerabilities:

· Incredibly strong and resilient: their muscles and bones are very durable, they ignore serious wounds. Their blood is completely transparent. This is the key way to distinguish them from humans. · The only known weakness is not very good hearing. If you hear someone speaking loudly, it's best to quietly move away.

Rules of survival:

What to do: Walk away slowly and calmly if you see one; be sure to check the blood of your fellow travelers. · What not to do: Trust silent or strange-speaking people; provoke the Skin Thief; engage in combat with him - the chances are practically zero.

Remember the main sign that has saved more than one traveler: "If blood is flowing maroon, the death count has begun early. If blood is flowing clear, you didn't leave, that's your miscalculation."