Offsets
Offset 0
Name: Threshold 0
Offset 1
Name: Threshold 1
Offset 2
Name: Threshold 2
Offset 3
Name: Threshold 3
Info
Written by Praetor3005 (Author page) for Characterizacon2025!
Huge thanks to Mel-Raspberry,
LiminalDoctor,
ReyDay and
Greggita Mahayfaio for their crits!
Currently the only photo of the level.
PA52 is the PLACEHOLDERth level of the Backrooms. It takes the form of a vast expansion of corridors with locked doors.
Description
PA52 is a vast suite of relatively modern hotel corridors that seem to stretch on forever. Each of them is segmented into numerous others, all similar in look. It's therefore easy to get lost, given the lack of landmarks.
The level has numerous elevators and staircases that can take a wanderer to lower or higher floors. In view of all the numbers, and the fact that they change between elevators, it is not possible to give a definite number of floors, which have not yet been explored. Therefore, caution is advised if it becomes necessary to venture into the level.
The doors are all locked, making the rooms impossible to access. They numbered, however, although the symbols are sometimes cryptic or even unknown. They also tend to repeat themselves, making it impossible to use them as landmarks.
Corridor lights seem to go out at irregular intervals. These episodes of darkness can last from a few minutes to a few hours. As they make navigation more complicated, it is advisable to enter the level with a flashlight.
Entities
No entities have been found within the level.
Bases, outposts and communities
No bases or outposts have yet been set. It is possible, however, that campments exist in the level's corridors that haven't been found yet by the M.E.G.
Entrances and Exits:
Entries:
- It is possible to enter the level by opening a black door in the Level 5
- No other entrances have been discovered yet
Exits:
- It is possible to noclip in one of the doors to return to Level 5.
- Taking an elevator and pressing a button without a number will take you back to Level 0.
. . .
That's… That's it???
What do you mean, "that's it?"
You spent TWO DAYS there and didn't find anything else to mention??? Are you kidding me????
The level is just lame as hell! There's nothing to talk about, there's LITERALLY nothing interesting about it!
Each. Level. Is. Unique. By the Pantheon, and to think I trusted you with this—
It's not my fault if it's the blandest hotel level ever! And look at how we formatted documents four years ago, it's just as barebones! But of coooouuurse you're blaming me in particular!
The difference with entries from 2012 is that you spent six months at Base Alpha getting trained for exploration. You're supposed to have the experience to log things, and you DARE tell me THIS to my face?
Oh my god, I keep telling you there's nothing to see there!
You are the disgrace of this outpost. I don't wanna hear about it. You're getting back there tomorrow, and this time you write me a COMPLETE and DEVELOPED entry, do I make myself clear?
Are you kidding me??? You're sending me back there???
… Do I look like a clown Mr. McCalister?
…
That's what I thought. And I better not see you back here before I see an actual article from you! Do I make myself clear?
Yes… Sir…
. . .
It had been barely ten minutes since he entered the pristine white-grey corridors of PA52, but Rey was already dragging his feet, displaying obvious bad faith. He knew this place all too well already, and if there was something the previous two days of explorations told him, it was that this new mission would be purely useless.
PA52 is a sprawling, endless complex of white and grey hotel corridors, its monotony sometimes broken by the occasional brown wooden door, although these cannot be opened by any mean.
Rey sighed. Even with some fancy wording, his draft was still as bland as the previous one. It was a running joke within the archivist circles that many level notes of operatives could be summarized as a "place that is weird." Yet, PA52 wasn't even anomalous, let alone remotely strange. Simply corridors, over and over again.
Still, the teenager intended to put as much bad faith as humanly possible, just to spite "His Royalty" Mr. Rowan Olson. With a shuffling step, he headed to the nearest elevator, ready to document as many useless physical properties as possible.
Like many other indoor levels, PA52 is comprised of several redundant floors. Added to the labyrinthic nature of the level structure, this can prove to be disorienting to wanderers who are less experienced when it comes to the exploration of repetitive liminal spaces.
The different floors can be reached by the use of elevators scattered around the level1. They are mostly as simplistic as the rest of the level, safe from the presence of far more buttons than usually possible, scattering the entire wall, each of them corresponding to a specific floor.
Rey knew about these lifts far too well already. Pushing a random button, the teenager was reminded of the nonsensical order of the floor buttons there, as if the floors weren't created in order. He shrugged. Classic Backrooms weirdness. Not even worth pointing out, even with how desperate for information he was. Or maybe he should make a whole advice block on how to push buttons? Perhaps "His Highness" Rowan Olson would be pleased by such a showcase of writing literacy, he ironized as the elevator continued moving up.
With a faint bell sound, the metallic cage stopped its course, finally opening its doors. To Rey's surprise, however, the corridor in front of him looked… Different. Eroded hall colors and weak light panels replaced the pristine corridors he left just a minute ago.
Numberation confirmed it was still the same level, yet the change in aesthetics wasn't something he witnessed last time. Rey rolled his eyes, already thinking of the irritating smirk "His Honor" would display, all too happy about showing the operative how wrong his assurance was. Yet, all he could do was write it down. At least it wasn't that big of a deal.
Some floors showcase signs of age, such as the fading wall colors or the light panels sometimes flickering. It is currently unknown if this is linked to how high a floor can be, or how decrepit it can be.
As he continued walking around the new floor, a thought started to emerge in his mind. If the floor bared differences with the ones he visited some days ago, could the structure also be impacted? Split between the thrill of discovery and the dread of looking like a rushy idiot to Rowan Olson, Rey approached the nearest door.
Surprisingly enough, the door did open. However, the most destabilizing fact was what it led to. In front of the teenager was another corridor, emerging into what looked like a Northern French or Belgian landscape of the 1940s.
"Emerging" was the word of choice here. Looking at the corridor from outside revealed that it was coming out of a verdant cliff, yet the rest of the hotel wasn't to be seen anywhere around. Just like in the Terror Hotel, it was as if PA52 pierced into New Flanders.
As Rey went back into the hotel corridor, the thrill of discovery only increased. If two levels already were connected to this place. Perhaps more thresholds could be found where the corridors pierced into other pocket dimensions like 5 or 44-FR. This could mean PA52 could serve as reliable access to some other Backrooms levels. Perhaps Mr. Olson wasn't so wrong after all. Maybe all levels could have something interesting within them.
Expecting another corridor leading to another level, Rey opened another door. To his surprise, however, all this corridor led to a dense cloud of blue mist. While the teenager never saw the Blue Channel with his own eyes, the database descriptions matched perfectly with the view. Carefully walking into the passage, he started to distinguish something far away. While the corridor was cut short, Rey could make out a fluctuating landscape of tunnel hallways and corridors.
Rey didn't have to be a genius to put the clues together. PA52 created its own thresholds by extending into the Channel, breaking into other realms, and connecting its concrete appendages to it. Similar to The Hub, The Endless City, or even The Great Outdoors, it was clear that his thought from a few minutes ago was right. This place could be used as an efficient trading route by the M.E.G.
With his excitement overriding his pride, the teenager ran back to the exit to the Terror Hotel, eager to present his discovery to his superior.
. . .
> User @Nyx created the room.
> User @Nyx entered the room.
> User @VorKhos entered the room.
[Nyx]: Hi Anthony
[Nyx]: What is a PA52?
[VorKhos]: What
[VorKhos]: Well huh PA stands for Pending Aproval
[VorKhos]: They're M.E.G. level drafts that are waiting to get aproved, kind of like what I did with 523-FR some time ago
[Nyx]: But why is it a 52?
[VorKhos]: It's their 52nd major draft I guess?
[VorKhos]: Why do you ask?
[Nyx]: What is a Remodeling Co?
[VorKhos]: … I assume the context has no-clipped into the Blue Channel
[Nyx]: No it's the corridors that do
[VorKhos]: It's an expression Nyx
[VorKhos]: Wait wait wait a minute what did you mean by corridors into the Channel
[Nyx]: I got a an email from Loiseau, he said there was a PA52 that was hotel corridors that extended into other levels from Blue Channel
[VorKhos]: Oooooh
[VorKhos]: I mean that sounds pretty cool?
[VorKhos]: The M.E.G. will get their Silk Road project done after all
[Nyx]: Well he said it was bad, because it was made by the Remodeling Co
[VorKhos]: Ah
[VorKhos]: These guys again
[VorKhos]: How bad exactly?
[Nyx]: Well they said the PA52 could break levels and kill them
[VorKhos]: What??? Where does that come from what's the full thing
[Nyx]: Ad
[VorKhos]: What ad
[Nyx]: Come to Loiseau with me he has it he said
[VorKhos]: Maxilillien's office?
[VorKhos]: Like, right now?
[Nyx]: He asked for me to come
[VorKhos]: Gaaaaaah I don't like this guy
[VorKhos]: Sure I'll assist you I guess
[Nyx]: Thanks
[VorKhos]: Well, see you in ten minutes there
[Nyx]: See you
[END OF ARCHIVED CHATLOG]
. . .
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE BACKROOMS REMODELLING COMPANY
True order comes through furniture.
Dear clients,
Seven days ago, we started constructing a new Highway at coordinates 0,0,0,375,72,8,0,33,246,0,216 of the Blue Channel, in order to improve the efficiency of our future operations. Our devoted workers have been able to develop and use our cutting-edge Liminal TechnologyTM, in order to allow the Highway to spread to other levels, which will eventually enable us to work more quickly and efficiently in each one. As of today, the Highway is now developing on its own, guided by a central computer system.
Please note that over the next few months, it is possible that some levels will be destroyed by the inefficient corridors of the Highway, piercing the arrival zones and creating rifts in the Blue Channel. This can cause the onset of Disintegration, and total destruction of the area, if not of the entire level. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience, but we can assure you that it will be well worth it for our future operations.
The level is currently devoid of personnel for safety reasons. As such, if you wish to temporarily stop the development of the Highway for any reason, please contact us on our website to get an official to help you.
We apologize again for the potential logisctial issues that may arise and wish you a great day!
. . .
Operation "Remodeling Shutdown" - 19/06/2017
Due to the risk of PA52 breaking level structures and causing them to disintegrate into the Blue Channel, it has been decided that the M.E.G. will shut down the central network of the level to avoid further spreading, found within a Remodeling Company control room in the level.
External Collaborator "Nyxtlr’a" from Team Hermes, due to their skills in alien engineering and anomalous engineering, has been tasked with permanently stopping the computer system of PA52, as well as stabilizing the level. They will be led by Housekeeping operative Rey McCalister, as he is the only one to have ventured within the level so far, and assisted by Team Hermes scout Katya Hall, who possesses more experience in navigating indoor liminal spaces. Base Alpha operative Ale Venrick will supervise the entire team due to his leadership abilities, allowing two different group cultures to collaborate on this important mission.
M.E.G. — Bettering Humanity
Offsets
Offset 0
Name: Threshold 0
Offset 1
Name: Threshold 1
Offset 2
Name: Threshold 2
Offset 3
Name: Threshold 3
