Entity XX - Goldposts (or, the first draft nought ever showed up in)
CONCORD ENTITY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
ENTITY ID: XXX
HABITAT(S): Statutum
PROPERTIES:
HVM
VRL-A
VRL-B
NCR
MCH
CBR
SYN
DMN
SSV
CVL
RAD
NRO
TXC
PYR
RLA
UNQ
AGR
BNV
{$custom-name}
Description:
Entity XX designates any and all physical or digital advertisements, promotions, and public service announcements throughout the Backrooms that contain depictions of sub-entities XX-A, B, C, or D.
Instances of Entity XX differ in the exact message they contain, but most contain themes of general level and entity documentation safety. The source(s) of these appearances (print, or otherwise) is completely unknown and untraceable, and is not affiliated with any known group or organization.
Definitive proof of the existence of Entity XX-A, B, and C is unattainable at this time. No records outside of Entity XX-D's testimonies attest to their existence outside of Entity XX instances.
All known instances of Entity XX are abiotic. Due to the categorization and experiences of Entity XX-D, however, discussion surrounding its reclassification to an object has been tabled for the present.
Until further evidence is available for review, Entity XX-A, B, and C are presumed to be entirely fictional.
Behaviors:
Most reports of Entity XX occur in regions with established civilization, likely due to higher amounts of advertising space and civilian populations. However, there are exceptions in which Entity XX instances manifest outside of cosmopolitan areas.
A survey of reception strength of a radio instance of Entity XX, taken over a portion of Level 10. This survey lacks the distance gradation expected from a single-source broadcast.
The exact behaviors of Entity XX differ by medium.
Print instances of Entity XX appear without warning on any dedicated surface (billboards, bulletin boards, barren walls, etc.), and—if left undisturbed—will linger for four to seven weeks before disappearing. If the advertisement is removed from its original position, it will not disappear, even after the specified period of time.
Such instances, despite their anomalous nature, are still susceptible to physical processes that may damage typical print material.
Several print instances of Entity XX, referred to collectively as "guides", can only be found in Entity XX-D's storefront. Other than the self-updating properties described below, these are physically identical to non-anomalous paper booklets.
Radio instances of Entity XX can be received in the majority of existent levels. No definite source of these transmissions has ever been traced, as these radio signals coexist and behave alongside normal background radiation; that is, they are omnipresent in representative levels. If an active broadcasting system is present in a level, these instances air regularly every 90 to 120 minutes. In levels where no such system exists, the time period between reception may extend up to three days.
Existent levels with heavily compromised spatial-temporal stability, such as Level 322, Level 30, and Level 110, do not receive these signals in any location.
A small subset of otherwise typical levels, including Level 6, Level 400, Level 73, and Level 160, are also devoid of any radio presence.
Video instances of Entity XX are restricted mainly to central Level 11 and areas of Level 138, as these are the only established urban areas in the Backrooms with significant quantities of electronic signage (billboards, tickers, etc.). These messages are unremarkable in their behavior.
Of note is the complete lack of Entity XX instances in televised broadcasts, ad-space or otherwise.
All instances of Entity XX in levels with established civilization—past or present—are translated into the predominant language(s) spoken in that area. This is known to include languages that are currently untranslatable.
Radio instances received in areas not known to host civilization will cycle through a number of identified and unidentified languages and dialects.
There are no known anomalous effects of viewing or listening to Entity XX-based content. The extent of Entity XX's effects on the mind are mild imprints of often-used phrases or mottos in the memory.
Entity XX-A ("Nought")
Appearance:
Entity XX-A is a humanoid of childlike stature bearing a heavy resemblance to the art and body style of early 20th-century cartoon characters. XX-A wears ochre shoes, pants with suspenders, white gloves, a black tricorn hat, and a cape made of beige carpet.
Of particular note is their head, which appears as a cuboid room. The upper left portion of the room is truncated; what is visible of the inside perfectly resembles a typical room in Level 0. All depictions of XX-A leave their left eye closed.
Behaviors:
Entity XX-A appears in most instances of Entity XX that carry some message relating to level exploration and documentation, as well as several smaller topics relating to general daily well-being. They also voice over the majority of audio/video Entity XX instances.
Entity XX-B ("Cross")
Appearance:
Depictions of Entity XX-B in media are heavily stylized to match late 20th and early 21st-century cartoons. XX-B resembles a typical—albeit stocky—instance of Entity 10. although they have no visible nose or mouth.
XX-B wears a cropped blue tank, a dark blue baseball cap, and a dark blue backpack; the latter of which is frequently used in instances of Entity XX as an example of how to effectively prepare for inter-level expeditions.
Behaviors:
In contrast to their companion, Entity XX-B typically appears in instances of Entity XX that carry some message relating to entity/object encounters and documentation.
A minority of audio/video Entity XX instances are voiced by XX-B, although their muffled speech can prove difficult to clearly listen to.
Entity XX-C ("The Catch")
Appearance:
Entity XX-C has no morphological differences from a typical instance of Entity 13.
Behaviors:
Entity XX-C differs in typical Entity 13 behavior in that its appearance is not restricted to the vicinity of hallway intersections, and that it does not attempt to grab or "transport" any nearby humans or entities.
Entity XX-C is not capable of verbal, written, or facial expression; it has never been recorded or known to speak—or even move—in the promotional material it features in. Despite this, plenty of Entity XX material contains helpful "quotes" inexplicably attributed to XX-C.
Entity XX-D ("Queens Patrician")
Biology / Appearance:
Entity XX-D (alternatively referred to as Patrician) is the only confirmed human prevalent in Entity XX media, as well as the only individual to appear outside of promotional material in the real world.
Behaviors:
All physical appearances of Patrician are within their sales kiosk, both of which migrate between levels. There is no known pattern or schedule to Patrician's appearances, but neither he nor the kiosk stays in a single level for less than one week.
Patrician spends whatever daylight hours the level contains selling various goods from their kiosk. The inventory of this kiosk cycles regularly, but some products have been pulled over concerns from individuals or groups.
The prices of these items generally fall within the expected retail price.
Goods:
Below is a list of objects Patrician has offered on at least one instance.
Log XX-1:
Equipment:
- Water, in varying containers.
- Standard first-aid kit (includes bandages, peroxide solution, eye drops, antibiotics, hand sanitizer, Object 11.
- Object 11 in small standalone bottles.
- Standard ration kits, boxed and bagged.
- Backpacks, in varying shapes and colors.
Guides (Note- these guides also function as instances of Entity XX):
- Booklets titled "You Can No-Clip: A Beginner's Guide". The cover features an illustration of Entity XX-B ("Cross") no-clipping out of Level 0.
- The contents of this booklet are not to be published in any Web-accessible format.
- Copies of a video form of the above booklets, loaded to compact disks.
- Likewise, audio or visual content of this video are not to be published in any Web-accessible format.
- Booklets titled "Nought & Cross' Definitive Level Directory".
- These booklets feature a page-long description of every publicly disclosed level in the Backrooms, along with a survival difficulty placement. Approximately once every three months, every such booklet creates and updates its pages to match whatever level information has been modified or made accessible. This is done on its own.
- Booklets titled "Nought & Cross' Essential Entity Directory".
- These booklets feature a page-long description and illustration of every publicly disclosed entity in the Backrooms, along with a placement on the standard Concord Entity Classification System. These update themselves in tandem with their sister directory.
Merchandise (Plush):
Plush recreations of the following:
- Entity XX-C (in disproportionately large quantities).
Merchandise (Other):
- Round button pins. Designs include depictions of all four Entity XX mascots, short motivational phrases, and hearts colored to resemble LGBTQIA+ flags.
- Keychain accessories depicting Entity XX-A, XX-B, and XX-C.
- Various early 21st-century handheld games. A significant portion of these ( > 50%) come loaded with an instance of Entity 106.
- Safety/awareness posters. These behave as all other dislocated print instances of Entity XX.
Additional Information:
Besides confirmation of their humanity, all attempts to glean personal or occupational information from Entity XX-D have proved unsuccessful.
The following personal information provided is truncated for privacy and relevancy.
Name: Queens Patrician
Alias(es): None
Position: Senior Archeologist
Last Known Location(s): Level 299, M.E.G. Outpost "Windup"
Queens Patrician last made contact with M.E.G. personnel on 1-5-2017. Further attempts were made but received no response; no reports collected between 1-5-2017 and 7-2-2020 matched their description.
Patrician reappeared in Level 11, two blocks (190 m) from M.E.G. Base Beta, on 7-2-2020 between 4:30 and 5:30 PM.
Patrician claims to have no knowledge of their time before or during service for the M.E.G., even when presented with old identification material and testimonies from former coworkers at Outpost Windup, who will remain anonymous.
Since their reappearance in July of 2020, Patrician has divulged little about their disappearance and the events that occurred afterwards. The following statements are the extent of what can be concluded from conversations enacted between 7-3-2020 and 12-22-21. Due to their supposed memory alterations, these statements cannot be verified.
- Patrician enters a currently unrecorded level or sublevel of 299, which he only describes as "a great big mess of brass halls and roofs, held up by the Lady's will alone".
- Patrician, through undisclosed means, ascends to a position of servitude to the aforementioned "Lady", which is maintained for upwards of two years. Their descriptions of this figure are varied. Valentine obtains a variety of fine garments due to this position, many of which he brings with him on their further travels.
- Patrician meets Entity XX-A, and later XX-B and XX-C. Further inquiry into the details of this meeting are met with refusal.
- Patrician leaves the Lady's domain, and begins to work full-time with Entity XX-A.
Although Patrician has never displayed hostility towards further questioning, and is of little overall threat, M.E.G. operatives are requested not to pry about these events further.
Recorded Instances:
Any and all instances of Entity XX are to be reported in this section. Photos and text descriptions can be uploaded to M.E.G.'s Entity Watch Portal anonymously.
Log XX-2:
Date: 7-10-2020 - 9-30-2020
Contents: Several photographs of ticker text messages on rail cars within Level 158. These messages, formatted as quotes from either Entity XX-A or XX-B, are tailored towards physical and mental well-being; likely due to the high amounts of strain participants in Level 158's main attraction put themselves through, often regularly.
Date: 7-30-2020
Contents: A single blurry photograph of what is presumed to be a roadside billboard, taken at nighttime in Level 50. Image of Entity XX-C is barely discernible, text cannot be made out.
Date: 10-5-2020
Contents: Two photographs of several poster Entity XX instances within the tunnels of Level 34. Contents unclear. Lower side of posters show signs of mild water damage.
[show=M.E.G. ω-CLASS CLEARANCE REQUIRED - INPUT CREDENTIALS|hide=CLOSE]
Date: 3-4-2021
Contents: Several photos of print instances of Entity XX taken by a member of M.E.G. Outpost "Wild Wonders" in Level 302. Said posters are affixed to tree trunks, interspersed along various trails created by the outpost. Each poster contains an illustration of Entity XX-B, along with a message about treating entities with respect for their space.
Additional Notes: No intrusions into Level 302 were detected within 72 hours before the reports were filed. Page updated in accordance.
[[/li]][[/ul]][[/div]]
Date: 11-2-2021
Contents: A screen capture of a PC copy of Entity 106 uploaded by a Completionist identified only as "professionaljongler", containing a pop-up (right) of Entity XX-A and a message about preventing overexposure to computer activity.
Notes: Further investigation by an anonymous Completionist moderator revealed that professionaljongler had been active on Entity 106's servers for a consecutive 23 hours before reporting the pop-up. Multiple similar reports are filed for several following days from users with similar records of online activity.
No further modification to copies of Entity 106 outside of the pop-up have been recorded, and the perception of Entity XX by Completionists has shrunk to little more than a nuisance to more dedicated players.
Date: [FORMATTING ERROR]
Contents: Several text reports by attendants and visitors to the Cygnus Archive on the spontaneous appearance of print instances of Entity XX in Level 906, affixed with adhesive tape to the ends of the Archive's bookshelves.
The contents of many of these posters reflect the typical set of messages purveyed by Entity XX, although a small number contain advice on general library etiquette.
Date: 12-16-2021
Contents: A photograph of a single print instance of Entity XX, taped to the entrance of what the added description states to be Level 136. The poster warns the reader of the level's properties, and encourages the reader to leave the door open. Contains an illustration of Entity XX-B's foot stuck in a door.
Date: 12-18-2021
Contents: A photograph of the same print instance of Entity XX in the same area as previous, now left on the floor. The entrance to Level 136 is nowhere to be seen.
[[/div]]
Do's and Don'ts:
Do:
bruh
Don't:
bruh