Habitats: Most, if not all, levels.
Risk: Facelings are non-hostile.
Description
The most recognisable feature of a Faceling is their face, or more aptly, the lack thereof. Instead of a face, a Faceling has smooth, featureless skin. Despite this, they are seemingly capable of sight and even limited vocalisation— although this speech is little more than gibberish. In all other regards, a Faceling resembles a normal human being, aside from a faint smell of almonds.
Biology and Origins
Facelings are the result of excessive consumption of Almond Water for a prolonged period of time. The process of becoming a Faceling has multiple stages, and in the earlier stages it can be stopped— although as the process becomes more advanced, stopping the process becomes more difficult and eventually impossible.
The stages are as follows:
Stage 1: Stage 1 is characterized by a permanent loss of minor memories and increased difficulty remembering things in the short term. The memories lost during Stage 1 are often negative ones. It can be quite hard to recognise this stage of the process. However, at this early stage, the process can easily be stopped and even slightly reversed by immediately stopping consuming Almond Water, eating proper food, and resting.
Stage 2: At Stage 2, more memories have begun to be lost, including more major memories. Names and faces of friends, parents, spouses, siblings, etc may be forgotten, as might memories of significant events. It has been noted that the memories lost during this stage never include events that took place within the Backrooms themselves, or the memory of the initial no-clip. The cause of this is unknown. Apathy and depression are often observed at this stage, as is a compulsion to consume more Almond Water. The process remains stoppable at this stage, however, it no longer can be reversed through conventional means. The method of stopping it remains the same— no longer consuming Almond Water, eating proper food, and resting. Wanderers who have successfully stopped the progression are advised to continue to abstain from Almond Water unless absolutely necessary.
Stage 3: At Stage 3, memory loss becomes extreme. Practically all memory of life prior to entering the Backrooms is lost, and the sufferer begins to exhibit a deterioration of language skills. The sufferer develops an intense craving for Almond Water, and may often refuse to consume anything except it. While it remains possible to stop the process at this stage, doing so is practically impossible due to the sufferer's behaviour. Stopping the process at this stage can be achieved through the same means as before; however, as mentioned prior, the main obstacle at this stage comes from the sufferer's behaviour.
Stage 4: At Stage 4, the process has become unstoppable. Amnesia is near total, and the sufferer becomes completely incapable of forming new memories. The deterioration of language skills becomes more pronounced, although a certain degree of communication remains possible. The depression and apathy associated with earlier stages disappears, replaced with a constant bliss. As Stage 4 progresses, language skills continue to deteriorate to the point of near or complete non-verbality. At this stage, the sufferer will often become intensely attached to an object which either resembles or was of some significance to them. The sufferer does not yet exhibit any physical alterations, however, some have claimed the sufferer starts smelling faintly of almonds.
Stage 5: Stage 5 is characterised by the development of physical alterations. At this stage, the sufferer has even forgotten their own name. Wanderers who have observed a person in this stage have described the facial features of the sufferer "fading". What little capacity for communication remains disappears, replaced with muffled vocalisations. During this stage, the sufferer will begin to wander and may even travel between levels. The end of this stage and the completion of the transformation is marked by the total disappearance of any remaining facial features.
Behaviour
Facelings wander aimlessly around levels, often those resembling places that they had some attachment to prior to their transformation. While Facelings may be found in clusters and groups, they do not interact with one another while in the group, and it is possible that they might not even be aware of the existence of the others in the group. Facelings are generally passive, although they can become aggressive if attacked or if a wanderer attempts to take the object that they are carrying from them. Depending on the level in which they are encountered, Facelings may exhibit slightly different behaviours.
Do's and Don'ts
Do
- Remain calm when encountering a Faceling. Despite their disconcerting appearance, they are practically harmless and will not attack without provocation.
- Check your memory, especially if you've recently consumed a large amount of Almond Water.
Don't
- Try and take an object a Faceling is carrying.
- Drink too much Almond Water.