SURVIVAL DIFFICULTY:
Class: Habitable
- Safe
- Sustained Communities
- Devoid of Harmful Entities
Description
Level 76, locally known as the Charwood Hills, is a vast, subtropical, highland expanse of tea fields and lofty peaks with verdant spurs that pierce the shifting, thick clouds. The rainy, humid climate and rolling terrain resemble the southern regions of China from The Frontrooms with the average temperature being around 21.C (70.F). The air is laden with an aroma of damp, earthy soil and rich tea leaves, which have been described as soothing to smell. The Charwood Hills has an estimated area of 10,000 square kilometres, and due to the non-Euclidean geometry, traversing to the outer reaches will cause wanderers to loop back on themselves.
Photo of a tea field with a mountain in the distance taken 18/08/23
The Charwood Hills has an unusual diurnal cycle, consisting of twenty-one hours of daylight with only three hours of darkness. While exploring at night, wanderers should always bring a light source with them; if no source of light can be found, then it is recommended by the locals of the Charwood Hills to tread with caution or stick to familiar areas, as the topography of the level is very gnarled with hidden rocky ditches and deep ponds.
While exploring the terrain, wanderers will find dirt roads with dilapidated wooden wagons containing supplies such as pouches of loose tea leaves. Old remnants of past communities, such as ropes, miscellaneous tools and tattered maps of the area, can be occasionally found on the ground, which are heavily detailed and quite useful for navigating. Old derelict huts can also be found perpendicular to the dirt roads, roughly every three kilometres; these huts serve as a bothy1 for wanderers, providing a sleeping surface and commonly containing a portable backpacking stove supplied with butane gas cylinders, some huts even have a well outside for drinking.
Within many copses2 in the Charwood Hills, intricately carved stone statues depicting a life-sized Saola3 can be seen; in the present day, these statues are merely used as waypoints for wanderers, but centuries ago, these statues were symbols of worship, embodying the belief that the Saola brought fortune to those who saw it. This belief stemmed from an old adage within this land where a man got extreme prosperity after encountering a Saola. However, this reverence turned to hysteria amongst the inhabitants of the Charwood Hills, and in their mad pursuit of luck, they doomed the environment of their land and the very creature they sought.
Almost 15 centuries ago, the Charwood Hills suffered a cataclysmic fire, which was believed to be caused by wanderers in their pursuit for the Saola's fortune. Many parchments were found preserved under the ash about the levels past, all in traditional Mandarin4 writing, one translated to: "Scour the valleys, the mountains and the forests by flame; fortune favours us," with an illustration of a Saola. Interestingly, these parchments have recently been found on other levels, indicating that at one point, the Charwood Hills were advertised for people to invade and pillage due to its rumoured wealth.
The consequences of the fire for these invaders were likely deadly, as the fire was so widespread and catastrophic that the original inhabitants of the level fled, and their communities were split and scattered across the Backrooms. On the other hand, the Saola is still believed to roam the vast landscape of the Charwood Hills; hoof prints have been found in the soil, and eyes can be seen glaring in the distance. Another phenomenon in the Charwood Hills is that fire is almost impossible to sustain; whenever a campfire is made, rain starts or gets heavier, and the wind gales get stronger. This has been reported hundreds of times by wanderers; therefore, it is likely not a coincidence and probably tied to the supernatural tendencies of the Saola.
Regeneration
Upon the discovery of the Charwood Hills by The M.E.G. in 2017, many wanderers have started retreating to this land for its purity and fine air quality; the temperature is at a fine medium, and the trading opportunities are excellent.
Photo of a female Saola in the Frontrooms
The soil was investigated for agricultural and horticultural purposes and was discovered to be very ashy, giving it high fertility. The fertility combined with the level's climate, provided perfect growing grounds for tea, which is now part of the Charwood Hill's core identity.
The famous hot tea found in this level is named Smoky Steep for the ashy aroma it produces and is only served in the Charwood Hills, although exportations to other levels are a possibility. This classic drink can be made at any time using the equipment found in the huts and is made from ripe, ground-up tea leaves from the tea fields, doused with boiling water and steeped for six minutes; supplementary cinnamon sticks and milk can be added as well if available.
Bases, Outposts and Communities
Smoky Steep Farm
Photo of the Smoky Steep Farm area, taken on 09/07/20
Smoky Steep Farm is a farm base containing a group of 23 members located near the centre of the Charwood Hills. They are friendly and approachable, welcoming wanderers and open to trading their signature Smoky Steep Tea. They are known for their great understanding of the area's geography, as they can provide accurate directions to help wanderers navigate the terrain safely by the use of their maps. The maps have the hazardous areas of the Charwood Hills, such as the ravines and mountains, marked and labelled, with all dirt roads and huts in the level marked as well. Smoky Steep Farm was founded immediately after the level was recognised for its perfect climate and soil conditions for growing tea.
The M.E.G. and B.N.T.G. also have a notable presence in the Charwood Hills; although they do not yet each have their own outpost, they usually travel in groups across the terrain and can assist wanderers if needed.
Entrances and Exits
Entrances
- Extinguishing an uncontrolled and accidental fire of any size on any level will immediately noclip a wanderer to a random location in the central area of Level 76.
- Finding a dirt path deep into Level 10 and following it will lead to the outskirts of Level 76.
Exits
- Finding a gravel track deep within the Charwood Hills and following it for a while will transport wanderers to Level 10.
- Walking through a rusting metal archway will take wanderers to Level 607, although using this exit is highly ill-advised.
- Touching the horns of one of the Saola statues will noclip wanderers to a random safe level.
