Level 11

The perpetually rain-soaked urban expanse of Level 11, as depicted in City in the Rain (2027)

Level 11, also known as "The City," is one of the most expansive and enigmatic levels of the Backrooms, gaining particular notoriety as the primary setting for City in the Rain (2027), the final installment of The Backrooms Trilogy. This vast urban environment exists in a state of permanent twilight and endless rainfall, consisting of an infinite grid of art deco skyscrapers, neon-lit streets, and abandoned storefronts that extend in all directions. The level has become particularly significant in Backrooms lore due to its role as the headquarters of the Major Explorer Group (M.E.G.) and the site of the climactic confrontation between Maria Diaz and Dr. Arnold Malkinson.

Environmental Characteristics

Level 11's most distinctive feature is its perpetual rainfall, which varies in intensity but never completely ceases. The rain itself has been extensively studied by M.E.G. researchers, who have documented its unusual properties - while it appears and feels like natural water, chemical analysis reveals trace amounts of the same compounds found in Almond Water, suggesting a potential connection to the Backrooms' reality-stabilizing mechanisms.

The architecture of Level 11 follows a consistent art deco style reminiscent of 1930s American cities, though careful observation reveals impossible geometric features and subtle violations of normal architectural principles. Buildings typically range from 20 to 50 stories in height, with some structures appearing to extend upward indefinitely into the dark, cloud-covered sky. The street layout follows a precise grid pattern that repeats infinitely, though the specific buildings and their internal configurations appear to shift and change when not directly observed.

The heavily fortified M.E.G. headquarters, converted from an former bank building in Level 11

Significant Locations

The M.E.G. established its primary headquarters within a converted art deco bank building near what they designated as "Origin Point Zero" - the location where the first documented human entry into Level 11 occurred. This massive structure serves as both a research facility and safe haven for wanderers, protected by advanced security systems designed to repel hostile entities, particularly the Partygoers who launched their final assault on the facility during the events depicted in City in the Rain.

The Neon District represents another notable area within Level 11, characterized by its dense concentration of illuminated signs and advertisements that cast their glow through the perpetual rainfall. This region is known for its higher concentration of Reality Bleed events, where the fabric of the Backrooms becomes particularly thin and unstable. These conditions made it an ideal location for Dr. Malkinson's controversial experiments with reality manipulation, ultimately leading to the catastrophic events that concluded the trilogy.

Historical Significance

Level 11 was first documented in early Backrooms exploration records, but its true significance emerged when the M.E.G. discovered its unique properties as a "nexus level" - a space where multiple other levels intersect and overlap. This discovery led to the establishment of the M.E.G. headquarters and subsequent development of the level as a central hub for Backrooms research and exploration.

The level gained particular prominence during Dr. Arnold Malkinson's tenure as M.E.G.'s chief scientist. His research suggested that Level 11's unusual stability and consistent physics made it ideal for studying the fundamental nature of the Backrooms. However, his increasingly unethical experiments, particularly those involving forced exposure to Reality Bleed events, ultimately contributed to the level's partial destabilization during the trilogy's climactic events.

Inhabitants and Entities

While Level 11 is home to various entities common to the Backrooms, it is particularly notable for its population of Urban Dwellers, entities that appear as shadowy humanoid figures going about seemingly normal city activities despite the perpetual rain and emptiness. These beings generally ignore human presence unless directly interfered with, though prolonged observation of their behaviors can induce severe psychological distress in witnesses.

The level also hosts one of the largest concentrations of surviving human inhabitants in the Backrooms, mostly consisting of M.E.G. personnel and refugees who have found relative safety within the organization's protected zones. These communities have developed unique cultural adaptations to life in the eternal rainfall, including elaborate systems for water collection and purification, as well as social rituals centered around the rare moments of rainfall intensity variation.

Hazards and Survival

Despite being considered one of the more stable and habitable levels of the Backrooms, Level 11 presents numerous dangers to unprepared wanderers. The perpetual rainfall can lead to hypothermia if proper shelter is not found, while the complex urban environment makes navigation extremely challenging without proper guidance or equipment. The M.E.G. has established a system of safe houses and marked routes throughout the level, though these are constantly threatened by hostile entities and the level's own shifting nature.

The most significant danger comes from Reality Bleed events, which can cause temporary or permanent alterations to local physics and geometry. These incidents became more frequent and severe following Dr. Malkinson's experiments, leading to the implementation of the Reality Stability Protocol by the M.E.G. to monitor and contain such occurrences.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Level 11's prominence in City in the Rain has made it one of the most recognizable locations in Backrooms media, with its distinctive atmosphere and architecture inspiring numerous works of art, literature, and game design. The level's combination of familiar urban elements with supernatural horror has been particularly influential in the development of the "architectural horror" subgenre.

See Also

• The Party Host
• Reality Bleed Events
• Urban Dwellers

References

• M.E.G. Architectural Survey of Level 11, Volume III
• "The Rain Never Stops: A History of Level 11" by Dr. Sarah Chen
• City in the Rain: Official Production Archives
• Backrooms Stability Index, 2027 Edition