Twelve FinLukes of Stralls, they wander the Halls1, for crates of almond water
The Finlukes boast, "let's raise a toast, for we're the strongest to roam Gild Sector"
Out come the Hounds, shrieking spine-chilling sounds, to turn each FinLuke to batter
"Hark!" screams Vadihords, "Let us ready our swords, for the strength of FinLuke cannot falter"
Twelve FinLukes of Stralls, meet up with their group in the Halls, to feast of Hounds and almond water.
A common nursery rhyme within Level 11 which details a small group of FinLukes of Stralls being sent to gather resources for their clan, only to encounter, then defeat, a pack of Hounds.
A tent left behind by Clan Vadilow on Level 31.
The Venosha are a group of nomadic wanderers that are speculated to have originated from the early 1100s, though clans didn't stop forming until the late 1800s. The Venosha claim to descend from two separate nomadic groups, though knowledge on these two groups is scarce, and not even as much as their names are known. One of these two groups is the descendants of people who no-clipped from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and the other is people who no-clipped from East Asia. In the century after their formation, people from throughout the British Isles began joining Venosha clans in high numbers, leading to Venosha culture having a large amount of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic influence.
The Venosha divide themselves into different clans, similar to the clan system of Scotland. Although it was after Celtic migration that these divisions were referred to as clans, the earliest clans are speculated to have originated three or four decades prior. This article will later include a list of all notable Venosha clans, as well as give short but informational descriptions of the history and culture of these clans, as well as The Venosha as a whole.
General Culture
Although the exact culture of each clan varies, with each group of Frontrooms people The Venosha descend from having more or less influence depending on the clan; all clans have elements of all of these cultures within their own.
A sketch of a member of Clan FinPaul found on Level 11.
Clothing within the different clans used to be a mix of common clothing from the various cultures they descended from. However, during the 1800s, Venosha fashion quickly shifted towards the fashion that was popular in Europe during that period, which remains the choice of clothing for most Venosha today. Why this change occurred is unknown. Some speculate it to be an attempt to fit in with the members of modern society that had been travelling into deeper levels commonly explored by The Venosha. However, this contradicts their usually traditional and conservative nature. Another theory is that they found the newer clothing more comfortable to travel in, which is the widely accepted theory.
A more unique part of Venosha clothing, which is still used today, is the use of scarves. The Venosha will wear scarves either around their neck or tied to their chest, depending on the temperature of the level they're in. Each clan has its own unique pattern to display on its scarves. This usage of scarves is slightly akin to the use of sashes among the Canadian Métis people. However, this is merely a coincidence, as this tradition has been recorded to exist long before the Métis people existed.
Some Venosha clans also wear ornaments, usually made out of wood taken from walls and/or metal taken from the piping of various levels, which are often connected by string. These serve no purpose other than fashion and acting as marks of what levels the wearer has explored. However, followers of a religion may take stone or wood and carve it into a symbol of their religion before connecting it with a string to create a necklace.
A gathering of FinzeBotaine Vitovenosha on Level 70.
Throughout history, members of these clans have assimilated into different groups, choosing to leave the nomadic lifestyle behind them. However, it's important to note this is uncommon. These people, referred to as "Vitovenosha," usually adopt their clan name as a proper surname and continue to express pride in their heritage whilst assimilating into the local culture. The title of Vitovenosha is also given to the descendants of these people, unless they properly join back with the clan.
The Venosha have one language known as "Venoshan," which each clan speaks fluently. However, every clan has its own dialect, often influenced by which part of the Frontrooms influences their culture most prominently. As such, if one were to study Venoshan from one clan, they may have difficulties talking with another. Despite this, different Venosha clans seem to understand each other perfectly.
Chasoderma and Citalda
A famous drawing depicting Chasoderma Valoshido II of Clan FinLuke within that clans citaldas.
The chasodermas act as the chiefs of The Venosha clans, and are responsible for the protection and welfare of the clan a chasoderma represents, as well as the conservation of their culture. They decide if their clan goes to war or not, and if they declare war, they're expected to fight alongside their clan.
Amjaley, the citaldas of Clan Alajilay located on Level 10.
As it is necessary for a chasoderma to be in one area as much as possible for them to properly fulfil their duties, each clan has one town, referred to as a citaldas, within a level. Due to non-nomadic lifestyles being heavily discouraged by The Venosha, these towns serve as retirement homes for Venosha who are no longer able to wander, whether it be due to age or any other reason. The only other people able to live in a clan's citaldas are their chasoderma, the chasoderma's family, and the chasoderma's guards and advisors.
The Venosha prefer to construct these towns themselves as opposed to claiming land within levels that already have habitable buildings, such as Level 11. The reason is that they believe permanent settlement of those levels to be signs of weakness and cowardliness. citaldas are characterised by the buildings made out of stone and wood, the flags containing the clan crest, and the giant castles within the centre, which belong to the chasoderma. They may also contain attempts at recreating modern technology, such as utility poles using rope or string instead of actual wire, or street lamps containing fire inside them. Various clans have stated that these are meant to act as decoration, serving little purpose.
A clan's current chasoderma, as well as the name and location of their citaldas, will be listed in their clan's respective sections.
We call ourselves "Vadilow," that means "ruler of water." What's funny about that is I haven't had a single drink of real water in my life, It's all Almond Water. Though I've heard it tastes much better than the real thing. Next time I'm in Mastaterrand I'll have to ask if there's a way to turn the water there drinkable, though I doubt it.
I miss Mastaterrand. The way the wood and stone compliments the white and green walls of the level in its own strange way. Perhaps that's what keeps me going, the thought that someday I'll get to live there if I survive to be old enough.
A diary of an unknown member of Clan Vadilow found in Level 78.
Wandering
A drawing depicting a member of Clan Eterlados within a tent.
A tent left behind by Clan FinLuke on Level 9.
As each clan consists of hundreds of members, they usually divide themselves into groups of fifteen to thirty people referred to as "nomadic groups" to make wandering easier. These groups are encouraged to go wherever they like but are expected to attempt to return to their clans citaldas when they reach either the level said citaldas is located in, or a level they know leads to an entrance to the level containing their citaldas. The reason is so they can be informed on important events, such as if the chasoderma has died or declared war. Although this could theoretically be done more conveniently via the internet, The Venosha prefer not to do this purely for the sake of tradition.
As the chasoderma requires guards, nomadic groups will take turns staying at their clan's citaldas to fill that role for at least a month before returning to wandering. Due to being a significantly easier task than wandering, this is often treated as a reward for hard work within some clans, and given to nomadic groups who've done something the clan deems "heroic," such as being the first member of that clan to step foot in a certain level or slay a certain entity.
Some clans have entire divisions of nomadic groups that only wander a certain selection of levels, only ever deviating to return to their citaldas after three to seven months of wandering. These divisions are given the name of their clan, followed by "of" and then the Venoshan word for whatever area of the Backrooms they wander2. Below is a list of the groups of levels that have the most clan divisions associated with them, and what those divisions are called in Venoshan.
| Venoshan Name | Meaning | Level(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Stralls | Trinity | Level 03, Level 1, and Level 2 |
| Hera Stralls | Dark Trinity | Level 9, Level 10, and Level 11 |
| Migorsin | Stores | Level 179 |
| Senedonisal | Roughly translates to "Connected spaces." | Level 40 and Level 159 |
Wandering itself is a notoriously hard and often cruel process for anyone, let alone groups of up to thirty people. During their time exploring, nomadic groups will need to find enough food and drinks to feed everyone, as well as a comfortable place for all members to sleep.
The solution The Venosha have come up with for the issue of sleep is to have a constant supply of tents on them, which will be set up every one to three days of exploring. These tents are often shared by up to five people, despite their small size. Although this can sometimes cause an uncomfortable sleep, especially when one takes other issues such as weather into account, it leads to the group carrying around significantly less.
As for food and drink, The Venosha have memorised what exits lead to where within levels one commonly enters, such as Level 1, Level 2, Level 4 and Level 10. As such, they can locate levels that commonly contain things such as almond water or boxes of food. However, this knowledge does not always equate to a reliable food source, especially if wandering an unexplored level, and groups may go periods of starvation if unlucky.
I don't care how much of a struggle nomadic wandering is, I refuse to give it up. I'd be betraying centuries of my blood if I were to do so, and my ancestors would spit in my eyes. This is my tradition, and the Backrooms will have to learn to respect that.
The diary of a member of Clan Alajilay, found on Level 2.
Religion
Due to The Venosha having heritage from multiple places within the Frontrooms, their choice of religion varies from person to person. Most Venosha are agnostic, including their chasoderma's. And no clan subscribes to a single religion. However, members of a clan that follow a specific religion are often lumped into one nomadic group, so as to make practicing that religion with others easier.
Given that the chasoderma's are required not to follow any form of religion, they make up for it by commonly interacting with the followers of the various religions in their clan and allowing them to share cultural traditions of said religions, such as food, dance, and sometimes even prayer. As such, followers of a religion tend to have more loyalty to their chasoderma than agnostics or atheists, as the chasoderma not only promises to allow them to keep their religious practices, but also doesn't follow a religion they believe to be false.
Names
Multiple unique names exist within the Venoshan language, often originating from an older version of the language, and are commonly used between all clans. However, they still commonly use the names of the Frontrooms groups they originate from. A list of commonly used names unique to The Venosha will be shown below. The full list exists elsewhere within the database.
Boys Names
| Name | Historical Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ahangatorus | Navigator |
| Aplengomisi | Smith |
| Chusakrand | Stone skin |
| Megalorden | Protector of honour |
| Kinsedorno | Burning flame |
| Lidromoto | Light |
| Vadihords | Ruler of space |
Girls Names
| Name | Historical Meaning |
|---|---|
| Taigachusak | Sharp stone |
| Relseri | Star |
| Sesoral | Kind soul |
| Sladakodorno | Strong flame |
| Vadifremma | Ruler of the cold |
| Vadisor | Ruler of the light |
| Wetonalda | Great wave |
Docile entities within Venosha Clans
It's not uncommon for nomadic groups to have a tamed Deathmoth or Dunk along with them as a pet for the sake of morale. However, these usually don't go beyond one pet, as they take up valuable resources.
Although it's a common rumour that The Venosha will allow intelligent, docile entities to venture with them, this is false. The Venosha rarely allow outsiders to join them, entities or otherwise, that aren't Vitovenosha. However, the current chasoderma of Clan FinPaul, Kinsedorno II, has since allowed Architects to join. As well as this, he's also placed art depicting a figure known as "The Gardener," which some Architects are known to worship, in his castle. However, he also stated he didn't want "any newcomers whatsoever" having too much influence and soon intends to shut down the ability for anyone to join Clan FinPaul, including Vitovenosha, which he says will last until he dies.
List of notable clans
Alajilay
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Lidromoto IX.
Citaldas name: Amjaley.
Citaldas location: Level 10.
Divisions: Alajilay of Stralls, Alajilay of Hera Stralls.
Clan motto: Ma fursara don low/A spill of water.
Given this clan's citaldas is located on Level 10, they're influence on the Backrooms as a whole is greater than other clans, and they have common encounters with groups such as The M.E.G. or B.N.T.G., who will commonly attempt to exchange information or trade with Clan Alajilay. As such, The Alajilay have become well known among other Venosha clans. However, this fame is very recent. Before the rise of groups such as the M.E.G., The Alajilay were relatively obscure to other clans, only notable to the various divisions of Hera Stralls.
As stated within the "general culture" section of this article, all the clans are influenced by every culture The Venosha descend from, but some have more influence than others. The cultures that influence The Alajilay the most are various Middle Eastern and Celtic cultures, with a large amount of Greek and Anglo-Saxon influence also being notable.
The origin and history of this clan are a mystery, as the clan itself has few documents about it, though speculation exists. Most believe them to have split off from a different clan at some point in the 1500s, though the exact clan is debated. Most think it to be either FinAbdullah or FinNoach, though some theorise it to be FinLuke.
Amjaley is believed to have been built very shortly after the clan's formation, as with most clans. However, the clan insists that Abraham I or Robert II, the third and fifth clan chasoderma, was the one to begin construction of the citaldas. Despite this, most of The Alajilay also believe Amjaley was constructed very shortly after the clan's formation. Although this can quickly be explained by both chasoderma's having an extremely short rule, some still insist it was built much later than commonly believed.
Clan history from the 18th century onwards is described as remarkably boring, with The Alajilay staying out of most conflicts between clans. The only exception being a minor skirmish with The FinLuke.
It is in our tradition to keep peace between humans, humanity cannot survive in this place without it. It's time the other clans figure that out.
An excerpt from an interview between The M.E.G. and Chasoderma Lidromoto IX.
Ergaljurolmen
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Ren II.
Citaldas name: Rodidaltan.
Citaldas location: Level 170.
Divisions: Ergaljurolmen of Stralls, Ergaljurolmen of Hera Stralls, Ergaljurolmen of Migorsin, Ergaljurolmen of Senedonisal.
Clan motto: Lo Nukill faitos us/The Swarm fears us.
Although this clan also has little known about its origin and early history, they are believed to be one of the earliest clans to form. Most of their unique culture is exclusively Mediterranean and East Asian, with the weakened influence of other cultures being much more noticeable than others, implying that this clan was forming before heavy influence from the British Isles was introduced to The Venosha. This is also backed up by The Ergaljurolmen being the second biggest clan, only rivalled by Clan FinLuke.
The Ergaljurolmen are also particularly known for the daring decision to not only construct their citaldas on Level 170, but do so by demolishing an area of type 1 concrete boxes, which are known to commonly be infested by Deathmoths. According to Clan Ergaljurolmen, before Rodidaltan was constructed, there had to be a massive battle between the clan and a large swarm of Deathmoths. The exact number of Deathmoths changes depending on who tells the story. This story is referenced in the clan motto.
As Level 170 lacks proper food and water, people living within Rodidaltan have adopted the unusual practice of hunting and eating Reviooks, and nomadic groups will bring back Almond Water during their trips back to Rodidaltan to give to its people. Although unreliable, Rodidaltan has been living off this for centuries.
In direct contrast to The Alajilay, The Ergaljurlmen are notorious for commonly getting into wars throughout the 1400s all the way up to the late 1900s, only stopping recently. The most infamous war fought was between Clan Ergaljurlmen and Clan FinPaul, which almost wiped out that clan. More information will be provided within Clan FinPaul's section of this article, as this war affected them much more.
I can't imagine being The Ergaljurlmen during the construction of Rodidaltan, whether the legend about the Deathmoth swarm is true or otherwise. Imagine, you and the chasoderma are removing concrete boxes from the wasteland of Level 170, only to find out you have disturbed a good ten or so Deathmoths hanging out there. You fight the bloody things until they all drop dead, whilst a member of your clan also dies. And then the chasoderma turns to you all and says "Right, lads. Let's do that a good twenty or so times, build a town in its place using the concrete and some of the wood we brought, and then we can throw a party!"
Backrooms historian "Arthur Barley."
Eterlados
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: James IV.
Citaldas name: Shibanortan.
Citaldas location: Level 4.
Divisions: Eterlados of Stralls, Eterlados of Hera Stralls, Eterlados of Briposimakas4.
Clan motto: Sing mokus ist ma hafada/Bloody is the sword.
Unlike the previous two clans, much is known about the early history of The Eterlados. They were a group of FinzeBotaine's of Stralls who broke off from that clan for whatever reason at some point within the 1600s, constructing Shibanortan a couple of years after.
Shibanortan itself is infamous for its location, Level 4, as most citaldas are constructed within outdoor levels. On top of this, Level 4 was formerly a commonly explored place by other clans before Shibanortan's construction, even having its own division of nomadic groups known as The "Prasailera5". This changed after its construction, as The Eterlados went on to drive out The Prasailera, in some cases going so far as to massacre entire nomadic groups.
Exactly how Shibanortan was constructed is unknown. The area of Level 4 in which the citaldas is located is a wide open space6 very unlike the layout of the level. The story within the clan is that they had to fight a white dragon guarding the level to settle, who then cleared land for them after its defeat. However, this story is disregarded as a myth for obvious reasons. The more likely scenario is that this is simply a unique pocket of Level 4 The Eterlados were lucky to stumble across.
What's interesting about this legend is that Level 4 is described to be the same as now. This means that unlike levels such as Level 1 or Level 11, Level 4 was always a modern office and never went through any form of terrain manipulation to take that appearance, as seen with Level 1's "Fabled Sector."
The location is also of great convenience for The Eterlados living within Shibanortan, thanks to Level 4's supply of Almond Water. Due to the location of Shibanortan, one might think this clan would have a similar, if not much greater, influence on the Backrooms as a whole to The Alajilay. However, this clan, for whatever reason, is heavily distrusting of other settlements within Level 4, and refuses to seek out groups such as The M.E.G. and similar organisations. Despite this, Clan Eterlados is notably more friendly towards small groups of wanderers than most others and is even open to trade. And due to the location of their citaldas, they're commonly spotted within the first twelve levels.
Outside of Shibanortan, this clan's history is relatively uninteresting. Apart from the aforementioned battles with other clans on Level 4 during their inception, Clan Eterlados has faced little conflict, usually minding their own business. However, they have still fought a couple wars, the only notable one being an attempt from multiple clans7 in the 1700s to eliminate the clan, which backfired horribly as The Eterlados only grew after the war and caused the disbandment of Clan FinMegalorden8.
And after the fight, the beast cleared out this level for us. Our ancestors fought like hell for it to leave, and you all must remember that. When you wander, and your group encounters some common entity, I want you to remember something. To this clan that entity is a mere mosquito.
a quote from a speech given by Chasoderma Chusakrand II, describing the legend of the white dragon.
FinAaron
The clan crest.
A scarf found near a corpse of a member of Clan FinAaron, most likely the clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Unknown.
Citaldas name: Unknown.
Citaldas location: Unknown. Most likely Level 8, assuming it even exists.
Divisions: N/A
Clan motto: Komars, soley hallers/March, loyal soldiers.
Debates were held on whether Clan FinAaron should be included in this article, as they behave completely differently from the other clans. However, they are still a group of ethnic Venosha who follow a common name pattern within Venosha clans, have a known clan crest, motto, and scarf, and are considered to be a clan by the others.
Interestingly, Clan FinAaron dress noticeably differently from the average Venosha clan, choosing to wear soldier uniforms from the Napoleonic Era, often in extremely poor condition. The scarves are often used to cover up any rips that might be present within the outfit in order to make them look more imposing. Reports exist of The FinAaron carrying various types of wind instruments used by the various militaries of Europe during the 1800s, though these do not come from credible sources.
Members of Clan FinAaron do not roam multiple levels, choosing to stay entirely within the confines of Level 8. Their methods of survival within a level that dangerous are unknown, as very little is documented about them. What is known is that they are incredibly hostile towards other humans and are to be avoided at all costs. Although it's unknown why The FinAaron attack other humans, the leading theory is that they've become so starved that it's become ingrained in their culture to view different groups of humans as food, though this leads to the question of why they stay on Level 8 in the first place.
Although there have been attempts by the M.E.G. to seek out Clan FinAaron to find out what their motives are, these have all been unsuccessful. The FinAarons have learnt to avoid The M.E.G. due to them being significantly better equipped than them and will actively avoid areas close to M.E.G. Outpost "Hollow Nest," as well as other groups, such as the U.E.C.
The origin of this clan is unknown. However, records exist of various clans banishing people to Level 8 for breaking whatever laws that clan may have; it's speculated Clan FinAaron might have been formed by these banished outlaws. However, this still doesn't answer why they act so hostile towards any other humans, and why they remain within Level 8.
In the early 1900s, The FinAaron's were at their peak and were a great threat to anyone within that clan, the other Venosha clans not being an exception. As such, a vast number of clans formed a coalition with The Lost, as well as various wanderers they promised to reward with permanent residence within their citaldas, who then went into Level 8 to kill as many members of Clan FinAaron as possible with the intent to wipe out the clan completely, almost succeeding. However, the clan slowly began to grow back and has returned to a relatively threatening but still small presence.
It's important to remember that despite their hostility towards humans, The FinAaron are, at the end of the day, humans themselves. Multiple corpses of FinAarons have been found, the cause of death usually being starvation or an entity attack. In some cases, The FinAaron have been documented to spare people if offered resources, though this is believed to only be done out of desperation. Despite all this, in most instances, they will kill other humans without hesitation and should be avoided. This group serves as a dire example of what could happen to starving wanderers if they give in to temptation.
If the theories are true, I honestly feel bad for the poor sods. A group of men so starved they have to resort to cannibalism, but not starved enough to start going through the Wretched cycle.
Backrooms historian "Arthur Barley."
FinAbdullah
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Megalorden III.
Citaldas name: Alorelferma.
Citaldas location: Level 184.
Divisions: FinAbdullah of Hera Stralls.
Clan motto: Umafar don hado/Folk of power.
A clan much smaller than the average on this list, the nomads of Clan FinAbdullah prefer to remain within levels close to Level 184, and avoid interaction with other clans. As such, this clan has the second most notable presence within Hera Stralls, beaten only by Clan Alajilay due to their presence on Level 10. The origin of this clan is simplistic; they were a group of Ergaljurolmen who, at some point in the 1300s, split off to form Clan FinAbdullah.
Inhabitants of Alorelferma live a healthy life, residing within a level with plenty of resources, mainly food. This clan, although still keeping to itself, is more willing to interact with groups such as The M.E.G.9 However, the two rarely trade, as they often have the same resources.
A lot of comparisons exist between Clan FinAbdullah and Clan Alajilay. Both are clans that have their citaldas located on field levels and keep to themselves. However, The FinAbdullah are much more willing to engage in combat with other clans, despite also generally tending to avoid it. As such, Clan FinAbdullah has partaken in events such as the aforementioned war against Clan FinAaron, as well as a minor presence within the war against Clan Eterlados due to the loss of their Prasailera division, whereas Clan Alajilay abstained from these conflicts.
Let us be thankful for the canola, for it's what keeps us happy. Due to the use of grains, the people of Alorelferma have access to some of the best food around, truly a paradise for all of our nomads to long for.
A translation of a piece of paper found outside Alorelferma, the origin of said paper remains unknown.
FinLuke
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Donald I.
Citaldas name: Blanafenor.
Citaldas location: Level 469.
Divisions: FinLuke of Stralls, FinLuke of Hera Stralls, FinLuke of Migorsin, FinLuke of Senedonisal, FinLuke of Glofonhords10, FinLuke of Barasterrand11.
Clan motto: Mitum visai don ma Kurto/Strength of the Clump.
Being the largest and most well-known of all clans, Clan FinLuke has become a force to be reckoned with. Not only are they large in numbers, but they are hardly pushovers either. They have declared and won the most wars out of any clan, often wiping out entire clans during said wars. As to be expected, all major conflicts mentioned above, such as the war declared on Clan FinAaron, saw heavy participation from this clan.
Although it's often assumed The FinLukes were one of the first clans due to their size, this isn't true. Clan FinLuke was a combination of two different groups that split off from two different clans, those two clans being Ergaljurolmen and FinRen12. However, Clan FinLuke is still an old clan, and the first clan to form by splitting off from other clans.
The main cause of The FinLukes' tendency to declare war easily is a series of wars declared on them by multiple clans during the 1400s. After losing multiple of these wars, leading to the death of most of their Stralls and Hera Stralls, Chasoderma Alexander II was overthrown by his brother, Aplengomisi IV, who then led the clan to win multiple wars out of revenge. Later that same century, The FinLukes became extremely territorial over levels they commonly wander, most being levels wandered frequently by other clans. As such, plenty of clans have been entirely wiped out due to The FinLukes.
Although the clan under Donald I has tried to be much more peaceful, they'll still occasionally get into wars. The most recent being a minor skirmish between Clan FinzeBotaine in 2018.
And brave Chasoderma John of FinOliver could not make it, and his clan were in need of a new leader. Unfortunately, most of their chasoderma's family had also been wiped out, causing a change in the ruling family, almost unheard of for Venosha. They have not gone near a FinLuke since.
A section of a translation of an old story depicting a war between FinLuke and FinOliver that took place from 1716 to 1719. The battle depicted was between both of their Stralls in 1719 within Level 2, which led to a massive loss for Clan FinOliver and the death of their Chasoderma John I, causing their defeat in the war as a whole.
FinNoach/FinNoak
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Vandihords II.
Citaldas name: Lowtuno.
Citaldas location: Level 43.
Divisions: FinNoach of Hera Stralls, FinNoach of Batonterrand13.
Clan motto: Hado, beek wos/Power, be with us
Clan FinNoach is most known for its tendency to explore deeper parts of the Backrooms, despite also having a small but notable presence in the earlier levels. The main reason for this is the location of their citaldas, that being the Park Area of Level 43. Said level is difficult to return to upon leaving, especially considering Clan FinNoach usually leaves through the exit to Level 58.
This clan is also known for their unique cuisine. Nomads of this clan will take various grains and food dye and then tint the grains in different colours of the rainbow. What circumstances led to this tradition is unknown, though certain religious nomadic groups within the clan claim it to signify a connection with whatever spiritual entity they believe in. Paintings depicting Clan FinNoach performing this tradition date back to the late 1500s. However, the tradition is believed to have come from the early 1400s.
Due to their nomads often being much deeper within the Backrooms than other clans, this clan will rarely declare war on others. The only known instance of this clan declaring war was the aforementioned war between Eterlados and various clans, in which The FinNoach had a surprisingly large presence. Interestingly, The FinNoach abstained from the war declared on Clan FinAaron, most likely due to having no interest in commonly venturing into Level 8.
Despite their tendency not to declare wars, this hasn't stopped others from declaring war on them. Multiple wars have been fought between Clan FinNoach and Clan FinLuke or Clan FinPaul. Most of these took place on Level 2 and Level 10, furthering their desire to stay within deeper levels.
It's now time to leave, dear old Level 11
It's now time to leave, dear old Level 11
Wanderings over, we're bound for Level 7.
And whether it be Level 17 or 7
And whether it be Level 17 or 7
When all is over, I know I'll be bound for heaven.
An excerpt of a translation of a FinNoach travel song14.
FinOliver
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Arthur IX.
Citaldas name: Obarserton.
Citaldas location: Level 36.
Divisions: FinOliver of Hera Stralls, FinOliver of Migorsin.
Clan motto: Terrand der terrand/From land to land
The most well-known fact about Clan FinOliver is that they have the most Celtic and Anglo-Saxon influence on their culture, with most members even speaking Middle English and/or Scots.
Clan FinOliver is another one of the few clans to have their citaldas built within an indoor level, this time Level 36. Obarserton is entirely constructed out of wood and located within the terminals, making it easy to spot. As opposed to other clans, Clan FinOliver is willing to let wanderers in need enter Obarserton and, in some instances, even supply them with food.
Despite their friendly attitudes towards other wanderers, they're known to commonly declare wars on others, though not to the extent of clans such as Clan FinLuke. They were an extremely notable part of the wars against both Clan Eterlados and Clan FinAaron, and have engaged in seven different wars with Clan FinLuke. The last, as well as most notable, war between the two took place in 1719, mostly between their Stralls and Migorsin divisions. The war ended in a catastrophic defeat for Clan FinOliver, as not only their chasoderma, but most of his family were killed while fighting. As well as this, their Stralls division was completely wiped out, and to this day Clan FinOliver still hasn't worked towards creating a new one.
And so I thanked all the people for the meal, then headed back to exploring the Airport, wondering if I'll ever meet a settlement so generous again. How cruel to give all these kind souls the curse of being born here.
An anonymous wanderer describing their encounter with Clan FinOliver.
FinPaul
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Kinsedorno II.
Citaldas name: Nash Braltan.
Citaldas location: Level 283, formerly Level 11.
Divisions: FinPaul of Stralls, FinPaul of Senedonisal.
Clan motto: Let atoo beek honorte/Let you stay strong
The FinPauls are a clan that first formed in the early 1500s by two different groups that split off from other clans, one being Clan FinNoach, and the other Clan FinAbdullah, with multiple groups who split off from Clan Ergaljurolmen joining in the following century.
Although Clan FinPaul's citaldas is located within the lounges of Level 283, this wasn't always the case. Shortly after forming, the clan would go on to create the citaldas of "Braltan" in Level 11. As permanent settlement within buildings that exist already is viewed as cowardly within Venosha culture, they instead chose to build wooden houses atop the buildings, connecting them with bridges, as well as stairs connecting the bridges to the level's streets, heavily reducing the issue of the multitude of exits. Braltan took sixteen years to build but was eventually completed under the leadership of Julius I.
The residents of Braltan enjoyed good relations with both the capital and New New Amsterdam, with Clan FinPaul often trading with the two. Mostly due to the good relations between the two, as well as their relatively close proximity, the Capital is the society that houses the most Vitovenosha, most of them being descendants of this clan.
As Level 11 is known for its abundant entrances and exits, The FinPaul quickly became one of the most influential clans throughout the whole Backrooms due to the places they had easy access to. The clan became the first to commonly traverse levels such as Level 20 and Level 215, as entrances to these levels were located directly under their citaldas.
In the late 1700s, Clan FinPaul got into a war with Clan Ergaljurlmen, in which The Ergaljurlmen completely wiped out most of the clan's nomads. Later on in the war, Clan Ergaljurlmen ended up burning down Braltan completely, causing everyone there to flee the level, eventually ending up in Level 121, where the Architects of Domum Terra gave them hospitality whilst they sent search teams to find any nomadic groups left. It's for this reason that Kinsedorno II is letting Architects join the clan.
A couple of years later, Clan FinPaul ended up leaving, eventually settling in the lounges of Level 283, and slowly growing throughout the next century, quickly gaining back a Stralls division and, more recently, a Senedonisal division.
With the lights speed, great Chasoderma of FinPaul
carry your people, aye, carry them all
Away from the burnt remains of your citaldas
And to the safety of good Domum Terra
An excerpt from a song originating within the Capital describing Clan FinPaul's flee from Level 11, written by Vitovenosha "James FinPaul Cockburn" in 1873.
FinzeBotaine
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Pierre III.
Citaldas name: Verterrand.
Citaldas location: Level 39.
Divisions: FinzeBotaine of Stralls, FinzeBotaine of Hera Stralls, FinzeBotaine of lufterrand15.
Clan motto: Shirotemo cors ma bosogo/Calm as our forest
The first thing one might notice about this clan is their name, which includes a "finze" as opposed to "fin." Both translate to "son of," though finze was only used by certain clans with heavy cultural influence from the Mediterranean. As such, plenty of clans used to exist beginning with finze, though those clans no longer exist for varying reasons, leaving Clan FinzeBotaine as the only clan left.
It's a common misconception that the name "Botaine" comes from the Scottish surname "Botane." However, the name is a Venoshised version of multiple different unique Backrooms names, which themselves are believed to come from either the Welsh name "Baeddan" or the Japanese name "Botan."
The clan's origins can be traced back to the early 1300s, splitting off from the now non-existent Clan FinzeAlexander, creating Verterrand in Level 39 shortly after. Verterrand is located a couple of kilometres from the border so as to lessen the effects the level has on the mind. However, Clan FinzeBotaine was not the first clan to build their citaldas here, as another clan that no longer exists, Clan FinAdonis, built the first citaldas here a couple of decades prior. The citaldas quickly fell due to being located within the Borders, a notoriously hazardous part of the level, leading to them abandoning the level to settle elsewhere before quickly merging with Clan Ergaljurolmen.
The beliefs of Clan FinzeBotaine, despite varying from one nomadic group to another, differ from those of the other clans by putting a larger emphasis on spirituality or religion. This was largely caused by the first couple chasoderma's fascination with various religions throughout Europe and Asia, followed by most of the clan believing there to be some form of significance to Level 39.
Although Clan FinzeBotaine tends to stay out of conflict, wars were commonly declared on them throughout the late 1500s to early 1800s. Although the reasons for the wars varied depending on the clan, a reason common among clans was their rapidly growing relations to groups like The Lost, which most clans felt gave The FinzeBotaine too much power. Due to this, Clan FinPaul, which also had good relations with the Lost, would usually support Clan FinzeBotaine in these wars, which is one of the reasons that led to the aforementioned war between Clan FinPaul and Clan Ergaljurlmen.
Lufterrand, the heaven that angels can only dream of. How lucky are we to be the ones to inhabit it. No other clan will know the bliss of this level like we do, cherish that fact.
A translation of a speech given by Chasoderma Lucius I in 1657.
Vadilow
The clan crest.
The clan scarf.
Chasoderma: Roman VII.
Citaldas name: Malstaterrend.
Citaldas location: Level 233.
Divisions: Vadilow of Hera Stralls, Vadilow of Migorsin, Vadilow of Senedonisal.
Clan motto: Naldas yuma ameni wos/Waves bow before us
Clan Vadilow is one of the earliest clans to form, tracing its origins to the early 1200s. What's unique about this clan is the myth of how they were formed. Members of this clan will say that they originally didn't have a citaldas, and, for reasons that vary depending on who's telling the story, refused to build one. This changed when an entity resembling a floating sea creature of varying types, usually either a squid, octopus, or jellyfish, told the clan's then chasoderma, Zadok I, to build one in Level 233, or "the rooms of the great flood," as the entity described it, before granting the clan the name "Vadilow."
The clan then went on a great journey to find Level 233, often involving encounters with various undocumented entities that are believed to be fictional. Upon finding Level 233 and building Malstaterrand, which translates to "promised land," the entity that sent them on the quest appeared in front of them and blessed them with "years of existence equal to every level of the Backrooms" before vanishing.
Although the story is disregarded as a myth by most, Backrooms historians and researchers alike will still speculate about how much of the myth is fiction and how much was actual encounters with undiscovered, and possibly extinct, entities. Given that the clan tends to agree that the mysterious entity visited them on Level 5, some theorise the sea-creature entity to be The Beast of Level 5, and over time, the story changed to the point where its description was barely recognisable. Though this leads to the question of what its motives were in order for it to interact with Clan Vadilow in such a way.
Due to Level 233 being difficult to enter, returning to their citaldas is a bit more challenging for this clan. The Vadilow will usually enter the level from Level 37, a level known for its possible isolation property; as such, separating the clan until they meet up again within their citaldas. This will usually lead to some members within Level 37 accidentally exiting to a different level and then having to work their way back in a process that can take months, depending on the circumstances.
Whether Clan Vadilow will commonly declare wars or not has greatly varied depending on the chasoderma. chasodermas such as Roman II and Robert IX were notorious for carrying out constant wars against Clan FinLuke due to a series of wars that the clan declared on them a century prior, whereas chasodermas such as Robert III and Vandihords I are considered some of the most peaceful chasodermas of their time. As with most other modern chasoderma, Roman VII is currently aiming to avoid declaring wars, despite the multiple wars carried out by his father, Zadok IV.
The thing about the various Venosha myths is that none of them can be proven wrong. The Backrooms is a strange place, therefore it's possible Clan Eterlados did fight a giant dragon in order to secure the spot of Level 4 they built their citaldas in. Especially when we consider the Backrooms was a very different place hundreds of years ago. The myth of Clan Vadilow's creation simply happens to be the most realistic to the Backrooms as we know it now. As such, it's the most talked about.
M.E.G. researcher and Vitovenosha "Relseri FinLuke."
Relations with other groups
Being one of the oldest groups to exist today, The Lost has had a significant impact on the history of The Venosha. Overall, The Lost have relatively good relations with most clans, as demonstrated by them joining the coalition against Clan FinAaron. However, there have been multiple occasions throughout history where The Lost have attempted to convince The Venosha to join as their own allied society, despite the common wars between clans. Every clan views this as an insult, and as such, The Venosha are very suspicious of their intentions. Due to this, any clans deemed "too close to The Lost" by others are often labelled as traitors, sometimes using this as a justification for war. Despite this, relations between the two are slowly getting better, with The Venosha being less sceptical of them.
As stated multiple times within this article, the relationship between The Venosha and the three main groups of the modern Backrooms is rather mundane, with The Venosha often avoiding them. The U.E.C. has no known interest in forming any relations with The Venosha, and aside from encounters with Clan FinAaron on Level 8, the two groups hardly interact.
More interactions take place between certain Venosha clans and The M.E.G. or B.N.T.G., but these interactions are usually limited to interviews and occasional trade, respectively. However, the number of clans that would rather avoid these groups is much greater than the number of clans that are willing to act friendly towards them.
Relations between The Venosha and other notable groups are essentially nonexistent, with both parties often ignoring each other. The only exception being The Followers of Jerry, who saw a war declared on them by Clan FinLuke in 1995. This was caused when The F.O.J. performed a series of attacks on various groups of FinLukes of Stralls in an attempt to sedate them and then bring them to Jerry to be indoctrinated. Although the operation as a whole was a failure, and most of the nomadic groups targeted survived, The F.O.J. did succeed in indoctrinating a few nomadic groups.
The war itself was quick, only lasting a couple of weeks. The FinLukes launched multiple attacks on both "Blue Salvation" and "Jerry's Salvation," whilst The F.O.J. launched an attack on Blanafenor. The war ended with The F.O.J. pushing for peace, claiming that it was "Jerry's holy will." This remains the only time a Venosha Clan has declared war on a non-nomadic group.
Ironically, it is common for most of the major groups to have Vitovenosha members, and plenty of notable members of these groups are Vitovenosha. Roughly one in four members of The M.E.G. that were born in the Backrooms are Vitovenosha, one in six for The B.N.T.G.
I'm so happy we decided to go to the lovely beach of Level 48 instead of back to Level 1 or Level 11, those levels get boring really quick. I can't believe I'm saying this about the Backrooms, but it feels like there's too many people in those levels, not something I'm used to.
At least I haven't had any encounters with one of those big groups yet. Not that they do us any harm, I just think they're a bit "annoying" for lack of a better word. I remember reading an interview between The M.E.G. and the chasoderma of Clan Alajilay, and some of the questions were just ridiculous. One of the questions was if any clan was considering a war on The Lost, and my only thought was "why would anyone ask that?" First of all, probably not. Second of all, even if one of us was how the hell would the chasoderma of a single clan know that? If Clan FinPaul wanted to declare war on us, no other clan would know until it happens, including us.
What's worse is the sheer number of these big groups, more than I can keep count of at least. I recall exchanging stories with one of the older nomadic groups, I want to say they were a Stralls, and them talking about encountering a bunch of groups over the years. He was able to name all of them and everything. I can't remember any of their names outside of the main three, I think one of them might've had something to do with a circle?
I'm just happy to be in Level 48 for the first time, it's levels full of nature I long for. Verrafes seem like they'd be an easy hunt, and I don't think they'd taste bad either. Veroka juice sounds good too.
An excerpt from the diary of a member of Clan FinLuke, found in Level 10.
The Venosha in modern times
As stated multiple times prior, most of the current chasodermas have taken to avoiding war if possible, in direct contrast to the last few centuries, in which wars would be common. 2019 marked the beginning of annual meetings between various chasodermas to discuss issues peacefully. However, some Venosha are opposed to these meetings, and certain clans are looking to distance themselves from them. Most notably, Chasoderma James IV of Clan Eterlados refused to attend the meetings of 2024 and 2025.
Overall, the future of The Venosha remains unclear, as they're still figuring out how they want to adapt to the modern day. Some Venosha think they should seek alliances with the prominent groups that have recently formed, whereas others believe they should be avoided. Some even suggest clans move their citaldas into parts of the Backrooms as far away from the main twelve as possible. However, the most prominent opinion within most clans is that they do what they've been doing for the past few centuries, not letting any outside forces stop them.
I think people treat The Venosha too harshly. Even if they do routinely get into wars, even if they are distrusting of others, aren't all humans like this? Think of it this way, this group of humans has survived wandering the Backrooms, survived the multiple food and water shortages all groups of nomads will go through at least once, survived conflict with millions of different entities, survived conflict with each other. And despite all these hardships, despite constantly facing issues both human and foreign, they've survived the past eight centuries. The Venosha should be a beacon of hope and inspiration. A group that, despite their flaws, all of humanity can look up to.
Backrooms Historian "Alice Gaul."
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