Chapter 3: The Material World

The Divided Lands existed on only one world in the Material Plane, a massive unnamed world filled to the brim with magic. People of all different species, including several not found on any other world in the Plane, lived together in something mostly resembling harmony. While some individuals bear hatred for certain species, as a whole the globe condemns racism. However, this did come with something resembling a cost.

Technology in this world was actually incredibly advanced. Wonderous cities made from steel and glass rose higher than the mountains, metal chariots powered by fuel found in the ground made travel a cinch, and entertainment could be found in most any form. However, one field of technology in particular never advanced past a certain point: weaponry, and through that, armor. Furthermore, robotics also never really became more than science fiction.

Why technology halted in those areas is unknown, though it's generally agreed upon to be outside influence of some kind, as the many gods were often active in this world specifically.

In the southern hemisphere of this world, however, lies a rather strange place. A massive continent who's square milage would probably be worth two or three of that of other continents. This continent was known as Arcanath, the Continent of Chaos. More so than anywhere else in the world, this place was overflowing with magical energy, to the point that most technology began to struggle to function, and in some places it was almost toxic to beings already mostly made of magic. The outer perimeter of the continent only had two cities and a single small village, all of which were ports negotiating trade from the outside world to the inner section of the continent: The Divided Lands.

The Divided Lands made up the majority of Arcanath, and its mere existence defied the logic of scientists and arcane scholars alike. It was a place of shifting landmasses, constant change, and impossible ecology. One day there might be a mountain range 50 miles across, the next that same space would be a crystal clear lake bordered by two different forests, or perhaps a desert with a tundra in the center. How and why the land could and did move like that was a subject of debate all across the world, as well as the question of where the land went if it wasn't in the Divided Lands. Furthermore, buildings, ruined cities, and caves of all sorts randomly popped up all over as much as any other type of terrain.

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Despite the chaos filling this particular section of the world, a single town has maintained a set location against all odds: Haven, the new home of one of the most famous adventurers of this world, as well as the organization they created to help contain the Divided Lands and, perhaps, study it further. However, this organization wasn't known for its studies, but instead, the glory associated with it.

The adventurer, a woman going simply by Foxtail, founded Foxtail's Mercenary Corps. What was essentially an adventurer's guild expanded to a town of decent size, and the Corps itself was known for great heroes of all shapes and sizes.

It was in this town, Haven, that Vesk'ra found himself after stepping through the portal.

The town isn't all that impressive in comparison to the rest of the world, at least at first glance. The main wall stretched about a mile in length on all sides and 40 feet tall. The immense length allowed for several farms to exist inside, one nestled inside each corner of the wall. Just inside the gates, several buildings acted as barracks for the multitude of guards who patrol the walls and watch the gates. The main streets are lined with three story apartment buildings, each level containing different sized apartments for different sized adventuring groups.

At the center of town is the most impressive building: the Mercenary Corps. A massive building, it towered over even the city walls, and yet it was seemingly made from one single piece of stone; a white marble swirled with greys and blacks. Vesk'ra quickly discovered that the inside was no less impressive, either. The main room was a massive tavern-esque area filled with numerous tables, each with at least four chairs; the exception being two tables in the corners closest to the massive double doors (made of an unknown wood), which each had a booth built neatly into said corners. The far wall primarily consisted of large bar, with several employees in white uniforms milling about behind it, cleaning and stocking supplies.

In the back right corner of the room was a fairly big bulletin board, on which a multitude of papers and pins hung. Not far off was a desk, the kind of squarish one that wraps around the seat and is attached to the wall.

One thing that really stood out to Vesk'ra, though, was how utterly empty the town seemed to be, both the streets outside and the Corp Hall. There were only four people inside, though luckily for him, these four were exactly who he needed to see.