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EO3/Yggdrasil Labyrinth
Armoroad's Yggdrasil is not made by human hand, but is instead a guardian deity of sorts that came to the planet eons ago, taking the form of the giant tree. The Yggdrasil blessed Armoroad with its knowledge and its leaders used this to bring an age of prosperity to the city.
However, 100 years ago, a portion of the city was hit by a giant earthquake known as the Calamity and sunk beneath the waves, with the entrance to the a giant underwater cavern ― the Yggdrasil Labyrinth ― appearing at the base of the giant tree afterwards. The Senatus sent out a call to adventure, hoping for brave explorers to map its depths and find the Deep City that sank during the Calamity. Many facilities such as the Explorers Guild, Butterfly Bistro, and Napier's Firm serve explorers who arrive in the city.
The labyrinth is separated into several four-floor strata, each one resembling a different biome and playing host to different monsters.
Waterfall Wood
- Main article: Waterfall Wood
The Waterfall Wood is the first stratum located beneath the Yggdrasil tree. These tropical woodlands contain many trees and waterfalls surrounding a deep chasm. The environment is also dotted with patches of thick mud that impede the party's movement once they step on them.
Its lower reaches are guarded by a cowardly catfish known as Narmer.
Undersea Grotto
- Main article: Undersea Grotto
The Undersea Grotto appears to be located at the bottom of the sea, but contains breathable air for terrestrial explorers to navigate. It is also much more dangerous, with starfish, walruses, and ancient schools of fish residing in the trenches, and it is home to currents that sweep exploration parties to and fro.
At the bottom of this maze lies the Deep City, guarded by Ketos, a telepathic whale.
The Deep City
- Main article: Deep City
Located between the second and third strata is the Deep City, a section of Armoroad that fell into the ocean during the Calamity. It is ruled by the Abyssal King, and serves as a secondary hub for the remainder of the game. Lodging is provided at the Twinkling Tavern, while Napier's Firm opens a branch office down here - Napier's Branch.
Molten Caves
- Main article: Molten Caves
Just beyond the Deep City is the entrance to the Molten Caves. These caverns are located in deep sea volcanic rifts, requiring the utmost caution for adventurers to navigate safely. Extremely hot magma tiles burn the explorers that traverse them, and lava flows must be crossed with the help of floating platforms.
This stratum contains the Hall of Conviction, a chamber where the Eldest One of the Deep Ones is quarantined by the Abyssal King. In the lowest reaches stands the formidable Gatekeeper, an automaton set to prevent further incursions from the Deep Ones.
Abyssal Shrine
- Main article: Abyssal Shrine
Once a part of Armoroad, the Abyssal Shrine has since sunk to the fourth stratum of the labyrinth. This temple is now overrun by the Deep Ones, piscine horrors that dwell in the oceans. The shrine has numerous gates that slam shut after the party passes through them and can only be unlocked by a nearby switch, which can trap both explorers and FOEs alike and become a major element in navigation puzzles here.
At the bottom of the shrine is a teleporter that leads to the royal forest, though the clash between Kujura and Olympia may lead to the party getting stalled by Kirin or Shin.
Porcelain Forest
- Main article: Porcelain Forest
Normally forbidden to travelers, the Porcelain Forest is the sacred grove of the Armoroad royal family, also known once as the Mirror Forest. It is only accessed by a teleporter in the Abyssal Shrine, and exploration is forbidden to outsiders by an invisible barrier unless the royal family permits them access. These brightly lit woodlands contain many slushy bogs and dangerous creatures that call this place home. Exploration is further impaired by befuddling glades that impair map reception, and torii gates that teleport those who walk through them.
At the bottom of the forest is a serene clearing where Princess Gutrune rests. Depending on your choices during the story, you may either be forced into a confrontation with the Deep Princess and her guardian Kujura, or with the Automaton King and his servant Olympia.
Cyclopean Haunt
- Main article: Cyclopean Haunt
The deepest reaches of the royal forest holds another teleporter. This leads to the Cyclopean Haunt, the final stratum of the labyrinth which contains five floors compared to the previous strata containing four floors each.
This unsettling forest contains writhing trees and the deadliest creatures that live in the labyrinth. Navigating this eldritch realm will put one's exploration skills to the test, between reception-impairing regions, pitfalls, deadly thorny tiles, slippery and spinning tiles, and giant eyes that alert the denizens to your presence. Those who manage to brave its depths may eventually face the great evil behind the Deep Ones, the Abyssal God.
