Worldview

Sanctums found throughout Aincrad that contain the relics of ancient elven saints. The Guardian that protects each relic is sealed along with it, and is said to bring misfortune to any who dare release them. Some researchers believe that Arks are a test to see if any can remove the fetters that bind Aincrad, and when all have been severed, the path to all of Aincrad will open.

An underground fortress that was once vital to the Alliance of the Nine Kingdoms before its collapse a millennia ago. Its structure is deep and vast, and is imbued with elven magic that changes its shape every time someone enters. It has since become a den for demi-humans—many of whom, at the mercy of the magic themselves, are unable to leave.

Taran is a beautiful town decorated with colorful flowers. However, what is truly distinctive is Taran's faith in the "Bull God," which is more deeply rooted there than the high elven faith typically followed in Aincrad. This may be related to Taran's close proximity to the 2nd Floor's Maze, and the bull-headed monster called Taurus that dwells within.

Homes in Taran often display tapestries bearing the family's crest. When members of different families marry, both their crests are hung together, making the household's lineage immediately clear.

Thanks to Taran's abundant fruit harvests, the village tavern serves fruit wines alongside a wide variety of delicious and unusual cocktails.

The land of Aincrad, in which space itself was transferred from the surface to the sky through dimensional holes, is still connected and synchronized with the surface area it was originally from. These severed portions of land, some of which have a diameter of around 8 miles, will thus never dry up due to the water being transferred from the surface.

Remnants of extreme tactical magic used during the Great War a millennia ago. The Twisted Fangs were a mere experiment; the perfected version would be several hundred times more numerous and powerful. Blessedly, the earth was said to have been separated just before they could be unleashed on the battlefield.

The elves rarely show themselves to humans, so where could they possibly be living? One theory is that they use spells to hide their presence whilst staying close enough to keep an eye on the other races. Another posits a hole in the great tree that only elves can use, allowing discrete travel between the many floors. All of these theories seem dubious at best—yet plausible nevertheless. After all, elves are the descendants of the "gods who created this world."

Rivers flowed through this land when it was still one with the surface, sustaining the land and its people with water, the source of all life. After a thousand years it has withered away, and now the dried riverbeds carry a different, but no less vital, source of life—trade. Peddlers walk the once-flooded paths carrying water and food to various settlements. Indeed, though the land may change and shift, humanity's capacity for survival remains unwavering.

Originally, the main industry in this region was ore mining, with its excavation technology being particularly advanced. The dwarves, also in search of ore, joined with those who lived here, and as they mined together, the humans of the 2nd Floor acquired enough technology to build a city on the plateau. It is said that the dwarves disliked such barren environs, however, and soon moved on.

The waterway is the only safe way to cross the 1st Floor, which is teeming with monsters. Because there are no seas on the first floor, boats and other vessels remain underdeveloped, and the most that can be managed is a simple craft to cross a lake or river. Though simplistic, it is enough to allow for trade between the various cities.

A tower with bells that chime in various patterns to mark time, festivals, and emergencies. One sequence, however, has never been rung—and must never be. It signals that the Safe Zone has been breached and monsters have invaded the city.

Curious what was behind that door? Something big... Really big. That's all I can say. The second I opened it, something huge stepped on me! Oh, wait... I can hear really loud footsteps behind me. — Message from an adventurer

Giant statues of knights can be found throughout the 1st Floor. Unlike overworlders, the people of Aincrad, who were vulnerable after the Great Separation, placed these statues as a show of force to protect themselves from external enemies. However, as humanity lacked the ability to produce such large statues at the time of their creation, it is theorized that they were constructed by dwarves in exchange for the rich-flavored mead that the ancient humans brewed.

While the trolls support the Sanctuary's flora with their spiritual power, in actuality, their power alone is not enough to support the trees throughout the area. This is where the "fairy circle" plays a vital role, creating formations around older trees and drawing spiritual energy from a separate dimension wherein the spirits reside. Researchers believe that this arrangement is extremely similar to the relationship between the elves and the Sacred Tree, and are actively working to unpack its mysteries, while also experimenting with its appropriation by humans.

Tolbana is a bustling town and the fastest way to the Maze, but thanks to its extensive history, it is also regarded as a town of culture. The town's amphitheater is especially famous for its theatrics, with touring troupes putting on shows according to the season, enriching the lives of the town's people through art.

Like the transfer gates, this was once an equipment terminal used to circulate magical power throughout Aincrad; however, human researchers rewrote its magic formula so that it could function as a space allowing for quick transferal and relative safety. These magical paths connect to the Teleport Gates and other Safe Areas, allowing users to travel instantly between terminals to a variety of locales. It can even be used as a Safe Area by creating an impenetrable magical barrier, barring monsters from entering. Since such places are invaluable to adventurers as places of rest, various camping tools, such as simple, magic-powered stoves, are often left behind. Terminals that have not been activated are like faucets that have been left open, spilling magical light from the terminal's orb that rises high into the sky. Adventurers subsequently use these as landmarks when searching for Safe Areas. Interestingly, while the term "Safe Area" is commonly used by overworlders who have been summoned to Aincrad, these places are called "small gates" by Aincrad's own denizens.

In Aincrad, monsters roam beyond the city gates, making transfer devices based on elven technology vital for travel. The largest, located in main districts, are called Teleport Gates, while those at city entrances are known as small gates.

This robust bridge, which its creators claimed would last a thousand years, has evidently fallen into severe disrepair. This vantage also offers a stunning display of the extreme magical power that caused the Great Separation. —An excerpt from a researcher's notes.

What a shame. Even being reduced to this sorry state isn't enough to get you out of this godforsaken world. — Message from an adventurer

One of the many fascinating sights to be found on the 1st Floor. A small cave lined with fang-like rocks, its name comes from the resemblance of the cascading falls to hungry wolves on the prowl. Despite numerous monsters blocking the way, one glimpse of this scenery somehow makes it all seem worth it.

Fishing in the lake beside Tolbana is the town's primary industry. However, fishing is only permitted within the Safe Zone, and being able to judge that invisible boundary atop the water is a fisherman's most essential skill.

Falling ash caused by volcanic activity has left the forest gray, its dead trees a mocking reminder of its former vibrancy. Many gloomy demi-humans who enjoy such desolation now call it home, though it is said to have originally been part of the Sanctuary.

Kobolds: 52 Trolls: 12 Spines: 27 Elites: 14 This isn't enough. If you don't want anyone to die, you need to take down more—