Entity 144 - "Nonbelievers"

Entity Number: 144

Habitat: Majority (Most commonly levels inhabited by humans)

Behind every mask, there is a face and behind that face, there is a story that must be told. These heathens abandoned their own beliefs for the sake of their new aspirations. To our eyes, they will always be cursed — marked as "Nonbelievers".

— Highmarshal Naruyama, of the Eyes of Argos

Description:

A depiction of the Nonbelievers.

Entity 144, preferably regarding themselves as Nonbelievers, consists of converted wanderers. They roam the Backrooms to enroll subjects to join their so-called "faith”. They refrain from communicating vocally, rather they express their words through sketches of the scenery around them. Their main base is situated on Level 20 and is known as "The Faithful Grounds".¹

Behaviors:

These occurrences are to be anticipated when encountering Merciful Nonbelievers:

Merciful Nonbelievers often travel in groups consisting of 3-6 members, wandering the levels in search of humans to be part of their "faith". If they come across a human subject, they will then insist they join. They will offer items as hospitality such as Almond Water, [[[object-16|Royal Rations], and other supplies to persuade individuals.²

If a subject rejects their hospitality or tries to run, the Nonbelievers will be sent into an aggressive state. Merciful Nonbelievers have the same endurance as humans, able to keep up with sustained chases. However, they lack physical strength, meaning they usually try to latch on to their victim and drag them to the ground. Once a Nonbeliever has someone pinned, the group will pile on top of the unfortunate wanderer, grasping their arms and legs to prevent escape. Smoke will begin to materialize from no apparent source from within the pile. The process of "Circumlocution" takes about a minute to complete.³ After the ritual is complete, the subject would be unable to recall their memory and accept their new “faith” with the rest of the Nonbelievers.

Merciful Nonbelievers worship at sites of prayer:
Merciful Nonbelievers usually congregate in groups of 5-20 members, remaining stationary for a period of 5 minutes to 2 hours. During this time, they kneel down on one leg with their fists making contact with the floor and their heads tucked into their chest. If a wanderer catches their attention or makes physical contact with them during this period, the Nonbelievers will become hostile.

Involuntary Sacrifice:
What is to be expected on the off chance of encountering a Blue coat with a red mask Nonbeliever:

Blue coats with red masks variants travel alone when hunting. If one comes across a humanoid subject, it will protrude red bolts of electricity from its hands in an effort to immobilize the target. Once it makes physical contact with the still living subject, all hope is lost. The subject will begin to have all life drained from it and will rapidly decompose. Any attempt to resist only accelerates the process. All bodily elements of the subject are absorbed as nutrients for the Nonbeliever.

Biology:

Nonbelievers consist of four different colored variants. Their clothing includes buttoned raincoats, matching colored rain boots, blue jeans, and a mask.

Merciful Nonbelievers:
Nonbelievers that behave passively toward other humans have orange coats with blue masks, green coats with purple masks, or gray coats with white masks. However, inflicting physical harm or committing an action against their beliefs within their presence will turn them hostile. Their faces are concealed with a plastic face mask; a black colored substance is used to create the impression of a surprised expression.

Blue coats with red masks Nonbelievers:
This variant is extremely rare and are the most hostile among the group. Blue coats with red masks Nonbelievers assert a hostile aggression toward all life within the Backrooms. They are the only variant of the Nonbelievers that possess inhuman strength and having the ability to levitate. While in a hunting state, they will seek out humans or other humanoid entities (including Merciful Nonbelievers) to absorb their physical structure. On this variant’s mask, a menacing smile with large teeth is drawn in a white substance. Avoid them at all costs.

Discovery:

Sightings of Nonbelievers were first reported on Level 20 after the recent extinction of the Partypoopers. The exact origin of how the group first commenced remains unknown. It has been hypothesized they are still humans that had abandoned their initial beliefs in the Frontrooms to accept a new cause within the Backrooms.

The following is a list of rules displayed along a wall outside of their main base:

1. Everyone is to be treated as equals.

2. Refrain from speaking.

3. Always keep your appearance concealed.

4. Circumlocution must be utilized to convert sinners.

5. Always save time to pray.

6. Do not engage with those red mask traitors.

7. Welcome the Partygoers with open arms. =)

Additional Info:

Unlike Merciful Nonbelievers, blue coats with red masks variants have a high pain tolerance. They have been capable to withstand the majority of handheld and throwable weapons within the Backrooms. The most reliable method of stopping them has been through the use of Firesalt. Larger ingots consisting of 50 grams or more have been proven to briefly weaken them, giving an opportunity to escape.

Access M.E.G. Entity 144 Recovery Report:

Hide M.E.G. Entity 144 Recovery Report:

This report was recovered on Level 5 from a journal detailing the origin of the blue coats with red masks Nonbelievers. The author of the journal remains unknown. M.E.G. officials presume the writer was a blue coat with a red mask Nonbeliever member.

I am writing this to document the events that had occurred in these past few weeks. It's against my nature to speak out loud which is also another reason why I am writing in this journal. I suppose it doesn't really matter since were no longer directly affiliated with the nonbelievers. At the start, we had a purpose as a community. We created our own beliefs and allowed anyone to join, no questions asked. Every growing civilization needs to have some sort of faith to spread even the slightest chance of hope. To whoever is reading this, I assume you're familiar with the nonbelievers. From your perspective, you could possibly overlook them as a compassionate group with their intentions to aid human explorers. However, I have learned from self-experience haven't always been "merciful" as their name suggests.

If you have not known already, a nonbeliever tries to persuade a wanderer with hospitality to become a fellow nonbeliever and worship their own set of beliefs. Wanderers or whichever unit of an organization you're associated with could regard their intentions to be cruel while others would disagree. However, there was one color in particular that had their own ambitions unlike the rest of the nonbelievers. We wore blue coats with red masks and never understood the point of offering hospitality. If our primary purpose was to expand our numbers, then what is the point of allowing the option to not become a nonbeliever?

So the blue coats with red masks nonbelievers, (including myself) began to forcefully convert wanderers against their will in an effort to expand our numbers. The rest of the group acknowledged this behavior, claiming these actions were both “vicious” and “immoral”.

As punishment, we were outcasted by the rest of the group. The other colored nonbelievers began to kill every member that wore a blue coat with a red mask. So with no other option left, we fled in desperation. As time progressed, our numbers grew thin. One after another we would be eliminated by our former comrades, the violent nature of certain entities, or would disappear in the never-ending levels within the Backrooms.

It seemed the blue coats with red masks nonbelievers were just hanging off the edge of complete extinction. We prayed one final time, this time not for forgiveness but instead for vengeance. A bright, blue light materialized before us, reigniting lost hope. A voice from within the light promised the bloodshed that we had so much desired. We were frozen in bewilderment as the light transmuted to the color red. There was a sudden flash of light and everything went dark.

Now, I had never thought praying would had given us a second chance. I still had no idea what that light creature or entity was, but it had given us a gift. A gift that has revolutionized the structure of our bodies. Our lives as tyrants had begun; possessing inhuman strength and flight was only just the dawning of our new divine power. I wonder what type of nourishment humans and other entities could provide. Maybe we can have a taste of everything.

We were betrayed and came close to death more times than I could count. Wanderers, nonbelievers, all life within the Backrooms deserves to crumble and perish before our very existence. This shocked expression no longer had any value. We need a new look, something that would distinguish us from our former comrades. Human blood will just blend in with our red masks, but the blood from a Skin Stealer is white. Yes, their blood is just what we need to spread a message across our masks.