The Backrooms

Introduction

There are many dangers lurking in the Backrooms: hostile entities, dangerous phenomena, and the environments hosted by the infinite levels. But none are as dangerous as the storms that wrack the static and calm skyboxes of levels in the Backrooms. These "Destabilizing Storms" wreak havoc on the environment and inhabitants of whatever level they appear in. However, their dangers are most apparent in "safe" levels, especially if the warning signs are ignored.

We don't know what was lost to Storm Fermi. All we can see, all we can feel, are the holes left behind by what was washed away. I can feel it, a nagging sensation tugging at the back of my brain, a word on the tip of my tongue. But I don't know what it is, what it was.

What did we lose? What did it become?

I get this feeling that whatever it was was important. What should have been an explosion is nothing more than a ripple to most people. Only a few get the same feeling I do— that something is missing.

I don't know what to do. I don't know how to prepare. All I can do is wait for the next one, watch for the signs, and run.

There is no shelter from the storms.

Storm Safety

To ensure your safety, and the safety of those around you, be aware of the following signs.

The first sign will be joint pain, regardless of your age or general bodily health. It'll be deep in your bones and radiate out toward your extremities. For most people, this pain will be a mild nuisance, but occasionally the pain will be so great that movement is impossible. When a majority of inhabitants feel joint pain, evacuation efforts should begin, with every effort taken to move wanderers, important equipment, and important documents out of the level.

Note the unusual cloud color.

The second sign is the sky suddenly becoming overcast. In indoor levels, this is reflected through any windows that may be on the level, regardless of if they're real or not. While many clouds are the usual grey or white, unusual coloring may appear as well, such as chartreuse, #90963a, and NULL.

Once "lightning" appears, either manifesting as typical lightning or other sources of light rapidly brightening and dimming, the storm is already close enough to affect reality around it. However, there may be a chance for escape with your body intact, given that the intervals between lightning flashes are greater than 10 seconds. Past that point, the chances of escaping with an unchanged mind or body are slim.

During the Storm

If you are somehow caught in a destabilizing storm, use a Reality Freshener during every thunderclap until the storm ends. While it may not stop the effects of the storm completely, it may mitigate more drastic changes to your person.

If you are caught in a storm without Reality Fresheners, take the time to reflect on and appreciate your current state of being while it lasts.

No form of shelter will protect you from the storm.

Destabilizing Storms

Destabilizing storms get their name from their effects on reality in the Backrooms. Anything caught in a storm changes rapidly. These changes may be superficial or may completely rewrite how something functions. Matter, energy, and fundamental laws of the The Frontrooms are all affected by the storms. There is no way to predict what kinds of changes will happen, but generally, a storm's changes will all be the same or similar. For example, a single storm's effect will change only biological functions or affect a particular material. A single storm can hit multiple levels at once, causing widespread destruction and chaos.

Documentation of highly destructive storms has been recorded far before the creation of the General Public Database, having been recorded on clay tablets, paper, and even carved into metal as warnings.

Below is a list of notable and particularly devastating storms.