Meld

Meld is a meat-like fungus that has infected The Stairwell, wet and fleshy, with a surprising smell of fresh-cut grass according to the in-game journal. It was added on August 28, 2026 with the floor. It is usually neutral, but it blocks the way: on some landings it takes the form of a door you cannot pass until it is gone. It is implied to be the reason Creak is hostile to players.

Getting past it

Interact with the white string-like structures nearby and Meld opens. The more permanent fix is the fire alarm: the sprinklers incinerate every Meld, which earns the "Fried Mushrooms" badge. After that, use the Emergency Override on the gate Terminal.

Fire shortcuts and their cost

A lit Candle, Flare, Lighter or Lantern forces it open, but the enraged Meld wraps veins around you and slows you down. It will not hurt you, so use that trick only to escape Hijack, Creak or a pile of Stems. Creak can force Meld open on its own while chasing or backing away, and the Meld closes soon after. The journal's theory: it thrives in the cold and burns in heat, so the fire system is both its strength and its weakness.