Worldview

A human town at the southernmost end of Aincrad's 1st Floor. It is the largest town in Aincrad and the 1st Floor's main residential area. Surrounded by a circular wall one kilometer in diameter, the town boasts an extravagant streetscape reminiscent of ancient European cities. These avenues branch out from a large cobblestone square at its heart, which is itself surrounded by trees. In the square stands the town's symbol, a huge chapel called the Black Iron Palace. It is said that deep inside lies a large ruin made of dark elf steel, the source of the twin goddesses' magic. The town has a long history, with humans choosing to gather around the Black Iron Palace in worship of the high elves; indeed, its development spans a thousand years. The provenance of the town's name is fairly obvious, with the town functioning as most adventurers' introduction to Aincrad, and their first base of operations.

The doors of 2nd Floor homes are marked with various geometric symbols. These are traditional wards passed down among the city's tribes, and are said to protect against illness and misfortune.

A statue of a god praised by the inhabitants of this region back when it existed on the surface. Humanity's memory is short, however, and the inhabitants of Aincrad have long since forgotten its divine provenance—presuming it to be an effigy of a demon or some kind of monster.

Aincrad is a land without war. It is an isolated island, detached from the overworld to contain a great war that took place many eons ago, and then divided into multiple layers, inaccessible to each other to prevent nations from waging needless territorial skirmishes. The vacant folly of war can be glimpsed in the weathered ruins of ancient forts which mar the landscape like old battle scars.

Approximately one thousand years ago, the Alliance of the Nine Kingdoms, a human nation that existed on the overworld, was engulfed in a war that consumed the entire world. The belligerents of the war were the dark elves of the Lyusula kingdom and the forest elves of the Kales'Oh kingdom. The Nine Kingdoms allied themselves with the dark elves and the dwarves with Kales'Oh, pitting the denizens of the world against each other. Even with Aincrad banished to the sky, the scars of this ancient conflict remain on the land, haunting it.

When Aincrad was still part of the overworld, each human tribe believed in their own native gods. However, these old religions were forgotten in the Great Separation, and now many worship the high elves—the ancient beings who supposedly created Aincrad.

Many homes on the 2nd Floor are linked in winding, interconnected clusters. Designed to confuse outsiders, these layouts protect against rival tribes and bandits, showing just how harsh life is on this arid land.

Tucked deep behind winding paths and walls of rock, this place is said to have served as a vital stronghold in times of war. Its maze of passages and staircases were designed to slow any enemy advance and make a direct assault nearly impossible. Though no battles are fought here now, the layout still stirs something in people and curious adventurers wander in with surprising frequency. The footing is poor and visibility is low, though, and more than a few who've wandered in have found themselves unable to find their way back out.

A giant tower that connects Aincrad's many floors. Overworlders have taken to calling this tower the Maze, while Aincrad denizens named it the "Tower of Heaven" and worship it as an object of faith. The inside is labyrinthine, and any wild animals or demi-humans that dwell within it have been absorbed by the magic of the twin goddesses and now roam its halls as Guardians. It serves as a pipeline that supplies magical power from its base to the rest of Aincrad, and the pattern, color, and shape of its inner walls change geometrically from floor to floor, depending on the nature of the magical power flowing through that stratum.

This vast cavern is composed of a large chamber with open passages allowing access in the four cardinal directions. The ceiling is solid, so it should make for a fine shelter should the weather take a turn for the worst—though being caught outside a Safe Area means you can't afford to get too comfortable, even if you're just waiting out the rain. Multiple exits make access convenient, but that cuts both ways. With openings on all sides, an ambush could come from just about anywhere.

Tolbana's shipyard, which supports its fishing industry, is the heart of the city. Shipwrights there are held in such esteem that they outrank even nobles, and are regarded with both respect and awe.

The Item Seller stalls found around town are operated by the Adventurer's Association. Contracted merchants are provided with identical, mobile kiosks from which to run their business.

A simple light that illuminates the road. Or is it? It is in fact a trap set by a group of shrewd demi-humans who noticed that humans tend to approach sources of light to alleviate their anxieties. But because they chose the location poorly, it ended up on a busy thoroughfare, ironically proving helpful to the many adventurers whose way it lights.

A shrine that protects the road and wards evil away from the Town of Beginnings. Legend has it that if you pray at one on the morning of your departure, you are guaranteed a safe journey, making adventurers, who live their lives on the edge, a constant sight here. Many humans living in Aincrad revere the elves as gods, for they are believed to have created the world. However, the beings this shrine is dedicated to are closer to fairies or spirits. Perhaps it is the remnant of an old faith that existed when Aincrad was still part of the overworld.

The temple before you does not belong to the Twin Goddesses. While, yes, they may be maiden goddesses, beneath them is Nika, also known as the goddess of harmony. Then there is the god of destruction and other nature-based deities that each goddess created from the earth. In other words, this is likely a temple to one of those gods. Idolatry is permitted in the high elven faith, and it would seem that not only statues, but even mirrors and swords, are worshipped as symbols of deities believed to dwell within. —From an inscription left by a researcher.

I saw someone scary nearby, so I'm leaving this as a marker. I'm starting to freak out... Would things have turned out differently if I hadn't lied about my age? Maybe. But I'm not sure things would change even if I could go home. If I did, I'd still just be... — Message from an adventurer

Under the harsh sunlight of the 2nd Floor, awnings like these are a common sight. They are open to everyone, not just homeowners, and are often used as places to rest or conduct business.

The Kobold Lord's weapon was different from the one it had in the beta. Which means there's a good chance other monsters got a post-beta update as well. I should have seen this coming. Maybe if I had, Diavel would still be with us... Rumors of malicious players with bad intentions out in the game world have also been weighing on my mind. In this Death Game, I doubt these vicious monsters are our only enemies. — Message from an adventurer

After pushing through the cave for a while, this chamber opens up into a surprisingly bright space. Light pouring in through gaps in the ceiling provides more than enough visibility for exploring, so there's no need for a torch during the day. That said, you'd do well not to drop your guard. Ambushes from the shadows may not be a concern, but that doesn't mean danger is completely off the table. Water seeps through cracks in the cave walls and falls in small cascades along the stone. Caught in the daylight filtering from above, the mist from the falls gives the whole space a serene, mystical feel.

There are some in the church who know of the Great Separation—yet even they are ignorant in key areas. It is no surprise, for it was more than a thousand years ago that the cataclysm occurred. Only elves and dwarves, with their extended lifespans, could possibly recall the events with any clarity... Alas, only the royalty among them could possibly know the truth. Yet truth is a malleable thing, and the tales spoken by dark elves and forest elves may differ, colored by bias and failing memory. Indeed, we must work tirelessly to uncover the facts... —From an inscription left by a researcher.

Perhaps this is a sign, a blessing, to have found water in such arid lands beyond the Safe Area? Well, I like to think it is. —A message left by an adventurer.

The fallen elves resented the two kingdoms that banished them and, in a bid for revenge, continued their dark activities from the northern lands, attempting to start a war between the two sides. As a result, tensions between the two countries grew, with diplomatic relations finally severed following the assassination of the princess of the Kingdom of Lyusula. That's right; it was all part of the plan they had cleverly devised. —From an inscription left by a researcher.

The denizens of Aincrad have a variety of unique belief systems—some more socially accepted than others. Some even offer sacrifices to ancient gods in order to delay a coming apocalypse. Since such beliefs are ostracized for blurring the lines between human and demi-human, altars are typically set up in hard-to-reach places.

Behold, this tiny statue represents humanity. The people placed it next to the elven statue as a sign of their own righteousness in praising the high elves as gods. Little did they know that the high elves were the culprits behind this "caged world" in which we now live... Rulers who have learned of their deception now endeavor to unite the city-states scattered between the floors and create a unified "Supernation of Humanity," with their ultimate goal being the seizure of Aincrad. To achieve this, they are using the technology of the Heaven's Rift to summon overworlders and have them fight to unite the Tower of Heaven—all under the promise that they will be returned to their world. Is this truly fate, or merely another reflection of humanity's weakness? —From an inscription left by a researcher.