Inside of a shelter in Base Seedling.

Level 23 is the 24^th Level of the Backrooms.

Description

Level 23, otherwise known as the Petrified Garden, is a massive, planetoid-sized superorganism comprised primarily of several intertwining tree specimens resembling those found in the Frontrooms. Despite having a gravitational pull extremely similar to that of Earth's, the M.E.G. estimates that the surface area of Level 23 is approximately the same as the dwarf planet Ceres. Travel throughout the Level is possible due to pockets of air and winding tunnels inside the Level's surface, similar to a large cave system. Most entities live underneath the surface in these areas. The Level contains Volpes, Hounds, Clumps, Smilers, Death Rats, male and female Deathmoths, and Curabitur Birds. Several unknown native entities live in the glow rooms that resemble Frontrooms animal species. Research on them is currently underway. Wranglers can also be found, although very rarely.

The surface of Level 23 is an extremely dense forest that lets little to no light through. There is no day or night cycle on this Level. A star is visible in the sky above the surface canopy, but it never changes its position, even when traversing the surface of the planet. The M.E.G. has determined that the entire planetoid is permanently bathed in sunlight from all directions.

The trees that comprise Level 23 are extremely variegated. Their Frontrooms counterparts come from all different types of habitats. Some of the most common trees in Level 23 are Douglas firs, aspens, mahoganies, redwoods, cedars, cypresses, and white oaks, though many trees are exotic, endangered, or even extinct in the Frontrooms. In addition, several trees have been seen that cannot be identified as any known species of tree from the Frontrooms.

A picture of one of the glow rooms in Level 23.

Glow Rooms

Surface of a very lush glow room.

Under the surface of the Level, there are several large open caverns where trees inside the Level may grow into and sprout leaves. These caverns are lit by endemic entities called Gardener's Sorries. The Sorries act very similarly to glowworms and are bioluminescent, showcasing a variety of different colours. They get their names from the strange sounds they emit at all times, which sound like voices whispering "sorry…"

These rooms are large enough to appear like underground forests. In addition to trees, much smaller flora thrive here, such as glowing fungi and bushes. The air is very damp and cool in these places, and these areas house the highest concentrations of entities.

The Ancient Ruins

Front entrance of an ancient ruined building inside a glow room.

The strangest part about the glow rooms is that many abandoned, ruined structures can be found deep within their forests. These structures are almost always overgrown and covered in moss and fungi. They bear an uncanny resemblance to famous Frontrooms buildings, but with significant differences. A pyramidal Lighthouse of Alexandria, a spherical Great Pyramid, a square Colosseum, and a triangular Parthenon have all been found.

Inside these ruins are multiple artifacts that bear a resemblance to historical artifacts across many periods from the Frontrooms. The most common artifact is pottery, but some damaged paintings and cloth have been found. One thing that these artifacts all have in common is that they are significantly worse in quality than their Frontrooms counterparts. Writing, usually in the form of faded, hastily-made messages, can be found on the walls of these ruins. These words are always written in Latin. No buildings resembling any structure built later than 1000 A.D. have been found on this Level.

The Buried Sentries

When inside Level 23, it is highly advised that you do not utter the words "it's only a matter of time." Doing so will awaken the buried sentries. These entities are thought to be trapped inside the walls of wood and bark, unable to do anything but scream. Upon uttering this phrase, the sentries will proceed to do just that. Depending on the number of sentries within earshot, the resulting sound can be loud enough to burst eardrums. Several Wanderers have reported that the screams sound like rusty chainsaws cutting wood.

The Heart of Water

The core remains the most unexplored part of the Level. It has been reported to be hollow. A spherical ceiling encloses the core, supported by the trunks and branches of the Green Giants that grow from the centre. Some trees grow downwards into this space, while others grow out of it. This area of the Level is the lushest, housing strange flora and fungi that cannot be found anywhere else. Several species of exotic wildlife dwell on the massive branches of the Giants that extend into the open air.

At the very centre of the planetoid is its heart — the Heart of Water. Surrounded by the entangled roots of the Giants, the Heart is a massive water reservoir that feeds the entirety of the Level. This water is absorbed by the Giants and expelled through their leaves into the open cavern above. Then, the roots of the trees on the ceiling take in condensed water vapour and ferry it into the glow rooms. More water vapour is released into the rooms, which is collected by both the roots of the trees growing on the surface, and the roots of the trees growing downwards back into the core. By using bioluminescence from the Sorries, and the natural, permanent sunlight, these trees gain enough energy to survive.

The Green Giants

The Green Giants are massive trees that grow out of the core of the planetoid. They are taller than the tallest trees in the Frontrooms, the largest Green Giant measuring approximately two miles (3.2km) tall and sixty feet (18.3m) wide. The Green Giants are responsible for supporting the inner ecosystems of the planetoid, both by distributing water vapour to the other trees and by providing habitats for other flora and fauna to live. It is unknown how old these trees are, as no attempts have been made to cut them down. These trees are essential to the stability of the Level, and thus must not be tampered with.

The Gardener's Failed Earth

The following plaque was found at the base of the ruins of the "Great Sphere" in one of the glow rooms on Level 23. It has been roughly translated from Latin.

Bases, Outposts, and Communities

M.E.G. (A.k.a. "Major Explorer Group") Base Seedling:

• An exploration, anthropology, and research base established within a glowing room on Level 23
• Current population is approximately 30 active members and five rescued volunteer Wanderers
• Friendly and open to trade
• Armed with Almond Water squirt guns to dispel entities
• Area has been cleared of any hostile entities
• Area is free of buried sentries
• Limited access to food, but has a steady supply of water
• Guards the only known consistent exit out of Level 23

Entrances And Exits

Entrances

Level 23 can be entered through massive hollow trees found in Level 37 and Level 47. These trees will be significantly larger than other trees around them and will have conspicuous green bark. There is also another hollow tree entrance in Level 135 that will lead to Base Seedling. Level 23 can also be entered through a hollow log-shaped structure in Level 121.

Exits

Upon entering the water reservoir at the core of the Level, you will be randomly no-clipped into the middle of the ocean in either Level 7 or Level 121. There is also a chance to no-clip into one of the exhibits in Level 43. In the centre of Base Seedling, there is a hollow tree that will take you back to the Level 135. This exit serves as a two-way gateway between Level 135 and Level 23.